Chapter 31: A Battle Won
Hearing the pounding on the gate the men stood ready with spears and pikes hearing the roar of a cave troll on the others side. Gandalf whispered something to Shadowfax as he went back up towards the keep before sitting beside Pippin and me.
"I didn't think it would end this way..." Pippin said softly holding his sword as the pounding got louder frowning while Gandalf looked towards him.
"End? The journey doesn't end here, death is just another path, one we all must take." Gandalf began as I held Pippin's hand softly while he continued, "The gray rain curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass and then... you see it?"
"See what?" I asked quietly watching him smile towards me replying, "White shores and beyond that a far green country under a swift sunrise."
"Well, that isn't so bad." Pippin pipped in seeing the smile grow on Gandalf's face as he said, "No… no it isn't."
Suddenly another pound resonated in the air reminding us of what was happening looking towards Pippin saying, "We will meet each other on the shores should the worst come."
"Together." he said hearing the wood crack as we stood ready for the attack that was coming.
Just as the wood gave way, we heard the orcs cry out in anguish as a misty green began to creep through the door. Like a wave, a sea of green spirits descended upon them watching as they tore through the orcs like a plague. Feeling the chill of them pass through our body the air suddenly became calm as if underwater.
"It seems Aragorn found some powerful allies in his travels." Gandalf said relaxing making me smile hugging Pippin tightly saying, "Looks like the white shores will have to wait longer."
Once it was apparent the danger had been subdued, we made our way to the keep seeing how Faramir was doing. Healers were already tending to him seeing he was asleep, but they assured us the worst had passed.
Hearing the door burst open I saw Eowyn being carried in by her brother as he said, "She is badly injured please help."
Watching her get taken to another room we followed as Pippin approached them saying, "Are the others okay?"
"Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are unharmed, Lord Theoden was slain by the Witch King." Eomer said looking down at his sister grimly as her eyes opened hearing Pippin say, "What about Merry!?"
"We did not see him, but he helped protect my sister." Eomer said not looking at us watching Pippin begin to rush out of the room as I followed saying, "We will find him."
Pippin nodded seeing the scared expression on his face as we ran past the soldiers not even seeing our friends knowing we had to find Merry. Once we exited the city, I stopped short seeing the orcs lay dead all over the battlefield. It seemed to go on for miles looking towards Pippin seeing the fear written on his face making me squeeze his hand.
"If he fought with the men of Rohan he will be further out towards where they battled." I said while he nodded making our way out onto the field of death.
It felt like hours we had been searching, the sun had set in the sky feeling the chill of the air creep in as Pippin was yelling Merry's name. Walking past the large Oliphaunts I frowned moving another body seeing it was just a man of Rohan.
Frowning at the dead horses and fires that were dying from the battle I wrapped my arms around myself walking slowly. Soldiers were still on the field trying to limp towards the city watching as Pippin picked up Merry's cloak. Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on the sounds around us, doing my best to feel any form of life in this bed of the dead.
Opening my eyes at sudden movement I saw Pippin approach an Oliphaunt pushing over a dead body seeing Merry laying still under it. He began calling his name softly as I ran over falling on my knees beside them rolling him onto his back.
"Merry… it's me Pippin..." Pippin said seeing the tears begin to fall from his eyes watching Merry open his to look at him saying weakly, "Pippin… I knew you'd find me..."
He fell against the ground saying softly, "Are you going to leave me?"
"No Merry..." I said softly stroking his hair gently saying with a smile, "We are going to look after you."
Pippin grabbed his cloak placing it over him to keep him warm as his eyes closed hearing though weak his breathing was steady.
"We should let him rest a little longer, but we will need to move him eventually." I said to Pippin who nodded keeping his eyes on Merry making me put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
After a few hours the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon as I looked towards Merry saying, "We should head to the city, he'll need medicine."
Pippin looked up towards me nodding as I gently placed my hand on Merry's head seeing his eyes open saying softly, "We are going to move you, if you are in too much pain let us know."
He nodded as Pippin and I got on either side of him helping him to his feet hearing him cry out in pain but made no attempt to stop us. Walking at a slow place towards the city we navigated around the carcasses of the orcs knowing once we made it to the gates someone would help us.
Looking up we saw soldiers approach us as they brought a stretcher laying Merry down gently on it while Pippin said, "Be careful, he's hurt bad."
Following the soldiers up the city towards the keep we made it to the healing quarters as he was given a room. They began taking his armor off to wrap and dress the wounds and clean them as Pippin watched them closely.
"I will go seek the others and check on you both after." I said seeing him nod watching the tears still in his eyes kissing his cheek softly before walking towards the throne room.
Opening the large door, I was greeted to Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Eomer who look towards me surprised as I ran towards them.
Wrapping my arm around Aragorn he grunted at my impact as I said, "I'm so happy you all are safe..."
"Where is Pippin?" Gimli asked as I replied, "He's with Merry, we found him in the carnage, but the healers are attending to him now."
"I'm glad you both stayed safe." Legolas said while I nodded hugging him and Gimli next as Gandalf looked off in thought.
Gimli sat on the steward's chair lighting a pipe as he began smoking in peace just as Gandalf said, "Frodo has passed beyond my sight, the darkness is deepening."
I frowned at the comment but was glad that he was still safe and going while Aragorn replied, "If Sauron had the ring we'd know."
"It's only a matter of time… he suffered a defeat yes but behind the walls of Mordor he is regrouping." Gandalf said hearing the worry in his tone as Gimli pipped in, "Let him stay there… let him rot, why should we care?"
"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." Gandalf began seeing him stare at us in sadness saying, "I've sent him to his death."
"I don't believe that." I pipped in as they all turned to me while I finished, "There is still hope for him so long as we still breathe."
"Marina is right, he needs time and safe passage through Gorgoroth and we can give him that." Aragorn said hearing Gimli reply, "How?"
"We draw out Sauron's armies, empty his lands, and we gather our forces and march on the Black Gate." Aragorn said hearing Gimli choke on his smoke in response.
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms." Eomer said staring towards Aragorn who replied, "Not for us but we can give Frodo his chance with Sauron's eye fixed upon us."
"So, keeping him blind from anything else that should pass through?" I asked seeing Aragorn nod with a smile hearing Legolas, "A diversion."
"Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" Gimli pipped in making me nod as Gandalf said quietly, "Sauron would suspect a trap, he will not take the bait."
"Oh, I think he will, especially when he learns who rides with them." Aragorn said confidently seeing Gandalf nod looking towards us all, "We will take a few days to rest we are all in need of it but afterwards we will ride for the Black Gate."
I'll try to have the next chapter up by next week.
