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Chapter 30: The Battle for Minas Tirith
Chaos was the easiest way to describe the people of Minas Tirith as woman and children scrambled to find a place to hide. Men pushed towards the attacks hearing the clank of steel against steel following the sounds closely. Hearing shouting the lower we went my ears picked up Gandalf's voice in the crowd searching around as the orcs breached the upper parts of the city. Pippin was right beside me his dagger at the ready looking around worried. Watching a boulder fly over our heads I pulled Pippin to the side to avoid the falling rubble seeing a flash of white.
Watching more orcs begin to pour into the city we stopped seeing Gandalf, but it seemed a few orcs spotted us. Pippin began to back up in fear while I stepped forward taking my daggers out killing the first orc that approached. Seeing more approach, I tensed up going to attack knowing I was outnumbered but Gandalf stepped in the way taking them out.
"This is no place for you two." he said watching more come but he began taking them out with his staff and sword.
Noticing two more try to sneak up on him Pippin and I sprang into action taking them out before they could strike him down.
Looking towards us surprised he said in a serious tone, "Make haste for higher in the city, stay near the tree."
Nodding our heads, we began to fight through the city seeing the higher we went the less orcs had breached. Slipping past the panic people we were able to reach the tree as I looked over the edge feeling myself shake. Thousands of orcs had grouped together noticing the sun being completely eclipsed by the shadows or Mordor.
"Where are the others, shouldn't the beacon have reached them by now?" Pippin asked worried while I replied, "I'm sure it did but they have thousands to move, for now all we can do is hope they reach us before the city is captured."
I felt him grab my hand as he squeezed it making me squeeze back saying softly, "For now we are on our own."
What felt like hours went by without seeing any sign of help coming but we heard the palace doors open behind us. Turning we saw Denethor and his men carrying Faramir's body as I looked towards Pippin knowing we had to see what was going on.
Keeping to the shadows we followed them as they silently made their way through a deserted part of the upper city hearing the cries of the lower city still ringing through the night. Stopping for a moment we watched them enter a crypt as Denethor said something to the men who began to move. Watching them set Faramir down they spread out as I crept closer.
My eyes widened seeing the men bring firewood towards a marble slab looking towards Pippin saying, "They mean to burn him."
"We need to do something." Pippin said as I nodded knowingly looking back to see the men hadn't noticed us watching yet.
I could see Denethor lean over his body touching his face as we got into the crypt as I said angrily, "He's not dead!"
Denethor looked towards Pippin and I with an icy sneer while Pippin tried moving the wood but was grabbed by Denethor while another man grabbed my neck. Pippin was screaming he's not dead as I clawed at the man who held me glaring daggers towards him.
"Peregrin Took, I release you from my service as steward." Denethor said as we were both thrown from the crypt as he glared towards us saying, "Go now and die in the way you both feel is best for you."
He slammed the door on us as Pippin came over making sure I was alright as I said fearfully, "We must find Gandalf, he's the only one who can help us now."
Pippin nodded as we stood up taking our weapons out knowing we'd have to fight our way to find Gandalf. Going down the darkened streets wounded soldiers were making their way up while we went down looking around for Gandalf.
Despite us asking the soldiers they were too busy yelling orders at one another trying to get the ones in need somewhere safe. Pushing past them we heard the soldiers yelling that the bottom level had been overrun and they needed to retreat to the next level.
"Move to the upper city!" I heard perking my head to the side seeing white among the steel grabbing Pippin's hand as we tried to maneuver around the soldiers.
"Uncle Gandalf!" I yelled seeing him turn Shadowfax in our direction as Pippin said out of breath, "It's Denethor he's gone mad and trying to burn Faramir alive."
Holding his hand out we grabbed onto him holding on to one another as we rode up towards the crypt easily getting past the soldiers. Seeing that it was getting brighter out not realizing how long we'd been fighting I held onto Pippin tightly as we rode through the chaos of the city.
While riding I felt Shadowfax halt suddenly neighing terrified as large wings appeared seeing the rider on top, the Witch King himself. My body began to tremble at how large the creature he rode was as a screech could be heard shielding my ears from the noise.
"Go back into the abyss, fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your master!" Gandalf yelled holding his staff out in the defense.
Pippin began to cry out in pain as the Witch King spoke, "Do you not know death when you see it old man?"
Watching him raise his sword it became engulfed in flames as he said, "This is my hour!"
A pulse was pushed in our direction watching Gandalf's staff shatter to pieces sending us flying off the horse as I hit a wall with Pippin beside me.
"Gandalf!" Pippin yelled getting his sword out but as soon as the creature roared, he stopped dropping it making me wince taking my daggers out.
"You have failed, the world of man will fall." the Witch King said as the creature began advancing on Gandalf making my fist tighten getting up.
Stepping in front of the creature it roared at me as the Witch King looked down at me while I said angrily, "If the world of man should fall, I will protect it!"
Its creature growled at me, but I glared towards it seeing it go to strike but I side stepped slicing its neck causing it to hiss in pain. The Witch King pointed his sword towards me bracing myself for what was to come until I could hear in the distance the sound of a horn.
Turning my eyes, the Witch King stared at me for a moment before he flew off running to the ledge seeing with the rising sun the men of Rohan came with it. Turning to movement behind me Gandalf stood up calming Shadowfax while I ran over to Pippin making sure he was alright.
"Come on we have to save Faramir before it's too late." I said watching him nod as we all got back on Shadowfax making it to the crypt.
Holding on tightly the door to the crypt was still closed but one kick from Shadowfax the door was easily kicked down. Seeing Denethor up on the pyre above Faramir his men stood around him holding the fire as I watched them in worry.
"Stop this madness!" Gandalf yelled as Denethor took one of the torches making me flinch as he held it next to him.
"You may triumph in the field of battle for a day but against the power that has risen from the east there is no victory." Denethor said before dropping the torch in the pyre as it started to burn.
Acting fast Gandalf grabbed a pike from one of the men hitting Denethor out of the fire while Pippin jumped in to save Faramir. Seeing him struggle I jumped in after them helping to push him out of the fire as we all rolled out feeling the heat from the flames begin to singe my clothes. Landing on the ground by the fire I began to pat out the flames that had caught on our clothes.
"You will not take my son from me!" Denethor yelled grabbing onto Pippin as I called his name while Gandalf came towards them using Shadowfax to knock Denethor into the fire.
Feeling movement under my fingertips I looked down seeing Faramir's eyes being to open stare towards his father who looked down at him in anguish. As the flames engulfed him, he cried out in pain jumping out of the fire, but he was completely covered watching as he ran from the crypt.
"So, passes Denethor son of Ecthelion." Gandalf said solemnly as I looked towards the men in the room saying, "You four take Faramir into the keep."
Watching them look at one another I stood up saying, "Your lord is dying so if you wish him to see tomorrow you would do well to listen."
They nodded quickly as he was picked up and brought towards the keep seeing another soldier who was wounded come in saying, "They've reached the top floor."
"Let us make haste then." Gandalf said picking myself and Pippin up as we rode towards the other soldiers.
Next Chapter will be out soon!
