Hey, everyone. Back with another chapter. Hope you like this one.
Let's get to it.
eragon95159: Maybe not with a ship, but that's not that bad of an idea. Also, unfortunately, I don't plan on pairing Eowyn and Jakan.
Chapter 15- Wolves of Isengard
The column of refugees from Edoras stretches for more than a mile over the plains of Rohan as it makes its way towards Helm's Deep. It's been two days since they departed Edoras, and they have just a day left in their travels.
Jakan is riding Lodreng next to Theoden. Hama is on Theoden's other side, with Boromir on Hama's other side. Theoden and Boromir had had a lengthy discussion between them about Gondor's current situation, as well as the situation they would find at Helm's Deep and how they would conduct the battle to come.
However, for the past little while, Theoden has turned his attention to Jakan, asking Jakan about his armor and where he comes from. Jakan has by now summarized the history of the Mandalorians to Theoden, as well as the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire.
"To think that life exists in the great beyond, and on such a scale," Theoden says as he stares off into the sky. Then, he looks back at Jakan and says, "No matter the questionable parts of your people's history, Rohan is lucky to have a warrior of your capabilities aiding us."
"It is my honor to be here, King Theoden. I will do all I can to safeguard your people," Jakan says respectfully. Theoden inclines his head slightly in thanks
At that moment, there is a disturbance up ahead. Theoden and Jakan look ahead to see the horse Gimli is riding suddenly break into a canter. Seemingly, Gimli had unintentionally spurred the horse forward. Gimli is caught off guard by the sudden change in pace of his steed. Unable to keep himself on, he unceremoniously tumbles off the horse, to several exclamations from surrounding people. Eowyn, who had been walking beside Gimli, hurries forward to help him up.
Jakan laughs to himself as Theoden rides ahead and alongside Aragorn, who is also chuckling at the sight. As Jakan watches, he sees Eowyn look back, seemingly staring at Aragorn.
(the next morning)
It's somewhat overcast as Jakan rides over slightly more rocky ground. They're now only hours away from Helm's Deep.
Jakan had volunteered to ride ahead of the main column with Gamling and Hama to scout ahead. He had begun a conversation with the two leaders of the Royal Guard, sharing some stories of their past adventures and battles, with Jakan trying to explain his stories in terms the two Rohirrim could understand.
As they ride alongside a massive outcropping of rock, Hama's horse suddenly stops, shifting and whinnying nervously.
"What is it? Hama?" Gamling asks.
"I'm not sure," Hama says.
As Hama, Gamling, and Jakan scan their surroundings, they suddenly hear a loud growling from above them, and look up to see a warg, with an orc on its back, leaping down at them. Before any of them can react, the warg knocks Hama off his horse, and knocking the horse over.
The warg turns back to Hama, ready to attack him. Immediately, Jakan whips his blaster rifle off his back, aims, and fires. The bolt hits the warg in the side of its head, killing the beast. Jakan then dispatches the orc with another shot.
Hama breathes heavily for a few moments before turning to Jakan and saying, "My thanks, Jakan Shan."
"What the h*** is this thing?" he asks, gesturing with his blaster rifle towards the warg.
"A warg. A wolf like creature often ridden by Orcs," Gamling says.
Jakan glances around for any more, and sees Aragorn and Legolas at the top of a ridge behind them. "A scout!" he shouts, knowing what the warg and its rider were doing.
Aragorn rushes back to the column, while Legolas hurries to Jakan, who moves towards a ridge up ahead. Hama gets back on his horse, and he and Gamling wait for Theoden and the other riders.
As Jakan rides up to the ridge, Legolas beside him, they see a massive pack of wargs, all with orcs on their backs, charging over a hill a few hundred yards away, howling.
Jakan aims his blaster rifle towards one of the leading wargs. His helmet's systems automatically calculate the lead he'll need to put in to make the shot. Aiming his rifle, he fires. The bolt hits the warg in the face, killing the warg and causing it to go tumbling, throwing the orc on its back off.
Jakan shifts his arm to another warg, as Legolas looses an arrow. Together, they each are able to kill a total of ten wargs.
After killing the ten wargs, they hear the horses of the Rohirrim riding up behind them. Jakan spurs Lodreng forward, and Legolas swings up onto Gimli's horse.
Riding forward, Jakan realizes there are still dozens of wargs charging towards them. Knowing that many Rohirrim are going to be killed if he does nothing, Jakan pulls out one of his precious few grenades and throws it towards the incoming wargs.
The grenade explodes among the wargs, killing eight outright and wounding more. The warg formation is thrown into chaos by the explosion. The Rohirrim horses also begin to cry out in fear, but at their riders' push, continue forward.
Several wargs continue their charge, and clash with the Rohirrim. However, with the advantage given to them by Jakan's grenade, the Rohirrim quickly gain the advantage, killing any orc and warg they can reach.
The wargs begin to recover, and they begin to strike back as they can, with the orcs attacking any Rohirrim in arms reach of them.
Jakan is riding among the wargs and orcs, guiding Lodreng with one hand and holding a blaster pistol in the other, firing his blaster at any orc or warg he can see.
A riderless warg leaps to attack Jakan. Unable to fire in time, Jakan clenches his fist and punches the warg. Thanks to the added strength given to the punch by the crushgaunt he's wearing, Jakan breaks the warg's jaw and throws it back. The warg howls in pain, but stops when Jakan dispatches it with a blaster bolt to the face.
Reigning Lodreng around, Jakan sees Gimli, sitting under the body of a warg and an orc, with a live warg standing on top of the bodies, ready to kill Gimli. However, before the warg can, Jakan raises his blaster pistol and fires, hitting the warg in the temple and killing it. The dead warg collapses on top of Gimli, who groans from the sudden added weight.
Jakan spurs Lodreng forward. As he rides forward, he sees Theoden engaging several wargs and their riders. However, he spots one warg charging up behind Theoden, completely unnoticed. Jakan raises his blaster and dispatches the warg with a single shot. Theoden whips around just in time to see the blaster bolt kill the warg. He looks over at Jakan and gives a single nod of appreciation before turning to find another target.
Jakan whips around, looking for more targets. However, to both his relief and his dismay, he sees that most of the wargs and orcs are now dead, with the Rohirrim chasing down and finishing the last few. Although glad the threat is over, he's a little disappointed the battle is over so quickly.
"Aragorn!" Legolas' call catches Jakan's attention. Jakan looks around, and with a chill, realizes he can't see the Ranger anywhere.
Jakan swings off Lodreng and begins walking among the bodies, searching for Aragorn. Suddenly, he hears a course laugh. He, Legolas, and Gimli simultaneously turn and see a wounded Orc lying on the ground, laughing.
Gimli walks up and holds out his axe in front of the orc. "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing!" he growls.
The orc, unmoved by Gimli's "offer", says, "He's (cough) dead! He took a little tumble off the cliff!"
Legolas quickly gets down on his knees, grabs the Orc, and pulls him up a bit, saying with anger rather uncharacteristic of him, "You lie!"
But it's no use. As soon as Legolas says those words, the orc coughs a few times, then dies. Legolas quickly realizes this and lets the Orc go. The elf then notices something in the Orc's hand. He reaches down and pulls it out of the Orc's relaxed grip. As he opens his hand, he realizes that it's the Evenstar pendant.
Jakan and Boromir, who has walked up, hurry over to the edge of the cliff, where Theoden is already standing. The three men stare down at the gorge below, and the river running through it. Jakan scans the area using his helmet's systems, but sees no sign of Aragorn.
Hama and Gamling walk up behind the three of them, drawing Theoden's notice. He looks at them for a moment before saying, "Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead."
Theoden turns to Boromir, and the two exchange a look before the king follows Hama and Gamling.
Legolas and Gimli both walk up, and the four remaining members of the Fellowship stand together for several moments before Boromir asks, "With Aragorn gone, you are our sole captain now, Jakan. What would you have us do?"
Jakan stands there for a moment before he says firmly, "We're going to accompany the Rohirrim to Helm's Deep. And there, we're going to defend them from Saruman's army or die trying."
And, that's it. I hope you guys liked this chapter.
So, the battle for Helm's Deep is coming soon. I think you guys are really gonna like it.
Next chapter will be up soon. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!