Hello, and welcome to a new chapter. It contains the main battle and its end. You will find content of men only. (Boromir, Éomer, Aragorn, Faramir)

No entry this time but two friendly argumentations between inseparable companions and brothers.

Enjoy.

Rohan prevails

Boromir´s suspicion proved to be right. The archers were the first ones who witnessed a heavy strike of the enemy. So, the decision to stay with Faramir was a good one. When the orcs revealed ladders, fear was visible on his brother's face for a short moment, then it was gone. "Draw your weapons!" the older one commands.

"Éloden stay behind me," Faramir addressed to the boy who was with them. Both brothers draw their swords and aimed for the orcs. Once again, they fought side-by-side, this time with the boy between them. One orc tries to hit him in the side but Boromir blocked it and successfully accomplish a strike at the upper half of his opponent. The next one made an attempt to hurt his sword arm. A very unwise decision because it was a too obvious strategy and Boromir prevented its execution. He dared a short view back to his brother but thankfully Faramir handled the situation quite well. An orc tried to use the older one's unconcentrated state for his advantage but Boromir transact a backward blow with his sword. What earned him a faint smile of Éloden.

The Captain General retorts the smile, then he turns around again. Next, they tried to attack him from two sides, being two orcs this time. Faramir registered it and shoot an arrow at one, while Boromir brought the other to the fall. In the short pause that followed, he could make out that Legolas was highly at work. The elf seems to count each effective fall of an enemy. Assuredly, Gimli and the archer compete against each other. He could only wonder about these two. Then an orc came into sight and Boromir made short work of him. Afterwards he decided to took part in the little rivalry of his two friends and reckons this orc. Out of the corner of his eye the older one saw an orc that sneaked behind Faramir but before the enemy could hurt his valued little one, he clutched the orc tightly and aimed a blow with his sword at the creature. The younger one turned around when the orc fell down, bows his head and gave Boromir a weak smile. After that short exchange both brothers took part in the battle again. The outer walls were defended most bravely but a bunch of enemies used the culvert and were inside the fortress, attacking them from behind. A grim smile formed on his face. Once Boromir was done with the orcs on the wall, he will proceed to aid Aragorn. Then another orc solicited his attention and before the Captain General brought this one to the fall, he punched it's face out of frustration. That was number seven and he was most eager to increase figures.

A troop of footmen commanded by Éomer and Aragorn effectively prevented that the gate broke down. Two sneaky orcs knocked the marshal to the ground and he was unconscious. However, Éomer was rescued by Aragorn and awoke when the man placed him down. From then on, regardless of his headache, he fought alongside the footmen. The enemy used the culvert to get inside and his men did their best to push them back. Still, quite an amount made it to the outer walls to give the archers trouble. Then the dwarf who was introduced as Gimli, lead some of their men to the hole of defence what was the culvert. The enemy was repulsed and the vent closed. Next to him a boy was hurt by a blow to his leg and Éomer blocked the next aim of the orc who attacked the young soldier of Rohan. Suddenly the marshal witnessed a heavy explosion. Éomer exchanged a view with Aragorn. Both knew that the blockade of the culvert was no more, with it a part of the wall. The fair-haired man closed his eyes, opens them again and with a battle cry helped the dwarf with the squadron of enemies. They fought brave but Éomer knew it was time for a retreat. He led the men to the caves where a new strategy had to be established. On the way Éomer collected the boy he defended recently. Aragorn was nowhere to be seen. However, Faramir followed him into the caves together with another young soldier.

Aragorn could not make for the caves. He must reach the citadel. Estel parries a blow from ahead and then from behind. In this way he prevented the next attempts to strike him down. Then two orcs came at each side and Aragorn was trapped. But then arrows brought two to the fall and a sword the others. Legolas and Boromir found him. They continued to climb the stairs. Fought their way upward. When the end was reached Estel calls, addressed to their attackers," Consider a parley if you wish to leave this fight unharmed." All he received was laughter on the part of the Uruk-hai. He barely evaded the arrow that was shot at him. Aragorn entered the Citadel and met Théoden inside.

"Éomer headed to the caves," the king began.

"Majority of the archer unit followed him, my brother included," states Boromir.

"To attack me was the first mistake they made and to underestimate us is their second," declares Théoden. Horses were mounted and then the king led a vicious cavalry charge out what hindered the attackers to proceed after the destruction of the gate. They were repulsed of what remained of the gate. Simultaneously, Éomer's unit started their attack at the orcs that resided in the Deep. At both fronts the enemy was surprised and fell back into the Deepingcoomb. Then Aragorn saw the sun and remembered Mithrandir'words. A sight opens up in front them. Soldiers over soldiers appeared at the edge of the mountain. It looked like thousand men, in front of them he saw the wizard. Their opponents were trapped in the middle of the newly arrived Rohirrim and the army of Théoden. As well, support came from the forest itself and the of the path of the enemies was cut off. Their enemy realized that the battle was lost. The Dunlendings surrendered and the Uruk-hai escaped in between the trees.

When the newly arrived Rohirrim got nearer Aragorn recognised Erkenbrand as leader of the army. "You came at the right time," he greeted Mithrandir. Estel received a smile of the wizard in return. The Dunlendings were taken prisoner and ordered to help repair the fortress. Afterwards they would be allowed to return to their homes and they received help to bury their fallen people. Then Théoden's men returned to the caves while Erkenbrand monitors the Dunlendings. Aragorn rode next to King Théoden and Mithrandir was on his left.

"Forty," Boromir states from behind. Legolas who rode next to the Captain General seemed to know what he was referring to.

"Forty-One," the elf answers with a knowing smile. Estel closed his eyes and restrained a laughter. Only Valar knows what it is this time. Then they reached the caves and were welcomed by Éomer who informed Théoden that his people had suffered one loss. Háma fell at the hand of orcs but all others were still with them. Few were wounded and Gimli received one on his head. The very one spoken of approach them.

"How many?" Gimli asks the elf.

"Forty-One," Legolas replies.

"Forty-Two went on my count. T'is means the dwarf won," their friend exclaimed.

Boromir bend forward in saddle and laughs, "Well deserved my friend. You beat me too. I only counted forty." Théoden wisely chose to pass on a comment and left but Éomer joined in the laughter while the marshal shakes his head.

"Elf you own me an answer," Gimli declares.

Aragorn dismounted and adds," Before that you should let me treat the wound of yours." Boromir followed his example, hand his steed over to soldier and made for the caves.

"The head of a dwarf is as strong as the dwarf itself," Gimli responds.

"However, the dwarf should accept Aragorn's offer," Legolas counters. In combination with a stern look of Estel, the dwarf gave in with a grunt. The tree companions followed Boromir inside the caves. Aragorn sat down and gestures Gimli to join him. Fortunately, the wound was not severe. He checked the avail supplies, applied a healing salve and bind it with linen.

"Estel, our friend would like to ask you something," Legolas said aloud what earned him a fierce glimpse of the dwarf. Aragorn darts questioning looks at his attendants. At last his gaze rested on Gimli.

"I heard you are one of the Dúnedain and wondered since then about your age. The elf wanted to tell me if more went on my count but you cannot trust him," his friend replies while he gives Legolas a look of reproach.

Aragorn chuckles and responds," Actually, Legolas never queries my age so he is not to blame. I am eigthy-seven." Estel rises and Gimli's gaze followed him.

"At least we are not as far apart from age as we are in high," the dwarf states.

"I do not think so," the prince teases their companion again.

"You were not asked to voice your opinion elf," Gimli counters.

Faramir was leaning against one wall of the caves. Next to the young ranger Éloden reunited with his brother. He was entirely concentrated on the two that Boromir could give him a scare. The younger one regarded him with a look of reproach. "Finally, success came," his brother defines. The older one then realized that Faramir's right hand was bandaged. His brother nods towards it and adds, "How did that happen."

The younger one viewed Boromir, then his hand and replies, "During the attack in the caves to herd them out. It is nothing."

His brother took the injured hand," And how can you tell?" Faramir withdraw it and once again regards Boromir.

"Because I treated it," he declares.

"It is not nothing. Little one, you have to take better care of yourself," the older one states in serious voice.

"Boromir, I am not a child anymore," Faramir responds with a smile on his face.

"Still, you will remain my little brother. Regardless, of your age," the Captain General counters and returns his smile. Then the younger one saw the deep scratch on his brother's sword arm. In the same way Boromir drew attention to his injury now Faramir did it with him.

"You talk big, considered the wound at your arm," he says while examining it. The older one followed his view and was surprised about the scratch.

"Must have happened when we climbed the stairs," Boromir determines.

"May I treat it?" Faramir asks him.

"I suppose if I would say no you will force me to say yes," was the respond he received.

"Correct," the younger one counters.

"Then you may treat it," his brother answers.

"Wise decision Captain General of Gondor," Faramir teases him and began. He fetches out some healing herbs stored in a pocket of his garment, wrapped them in some linen and carefully bandages Boromir's arm.

"Thank you. Again, good to have a ranger by my side," his brother states.

"If you say so then it has to be correct," Faramir responds.

"Did you use my own words against me, little one?" counters Boromir feigning a stern gaze.

The young ranger bows his head and a smile forms on his face. "Maybe," Faramir returns.

Hope you enjoyed the two little 'word battles'. My mind still surprises me with new ideas about their content. To write them is one of my favourite tasks and the entries in Faramir´s diary the second. But a story would be not complete without the feedback. At this point, thanks again for the awesome reviews and views this story received.