Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
So, this chapter will begin the Battle of Helm's Deep, which may actually be my favorite battle of the Lord of the Rings movies. I hope you're excited.
Let's settle back, imagine a Mandalorian at Helm's Deep, and get ready to go!
Chapter 17- Battle of Helm's Deep
Silence has fallen over Helm's Deep. The gravity of the situation has fallen over the defenders. There is almost no sound within the fortress.
The arrival of the Elves had changed Theoden's battle plan. The Galadhrim, along with all the members of the Fellowship, had been deployed along the Deeping Wall, while the Rohirrim were being held in the Hornburg. About 150 Elves were stationed on the wall, with the rest behind the wall.
Jakan is standing with Boromir, and the two are standing next to Legolas and Gimli. The two stand in silence as they watch the army of Uruk Hai marching down the valley towards Helm's Deep.
"This is going to be a battle to remember," Jakan mutters.
"Indeed," Boromir replies, not taking his eyes off the approaching Uruk Hai.
As they stand there, Gimli, who is trying to see over the wall, groans and says gruffly to his three friends, "You could have picked a better spot." Jakan smiles slightly under his helmet.
Aragorn walks up to the four of them, standing behind Legolas. Gimli glances back at Aragorn and says, "Well, lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night."
Right then, a flash of lightning illuminates the valley, exposing the true size of the army for all to see. Looking out at them, Legolas says soberly, "Your friends are with you Aragorn."
"Let's hope they last the night," Gimli adds. Aragorn smiles before walking off down the wall.
Another bolt of lightning illuminates the valley, followed by a clap of thunder. Moments later, a few raindrops begin to fall, which quickly grows into a steady rain.
The Uruk Hai march relentlessly towards the fortress. As they near the fortress, the Uruk Commander climbs up on a boulder in the valley, letting out a bellow to urge his army on.
As the Uruks approach, Aragorn walks among the Galadhrim. " A Eruchin, u-dano I faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas! (Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!)" he declares.
The Uruk Commander looks out over his army and let out a loud bellow, causing his entire army to come to a halt, with the leading ranks just a few hundred yards from the Deeping Wall.
For a little while, the two sides just stare at each other, not moving.
Gimli, still trying to see over the wall, asks, "What's happening out there?"
"Shall I describe it you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Legolas asks in return.
Gimli looks back at Legolas, then smiles and lets out a hearty laugh.
At that moment, the Uruk Commander lets out two loud bellows. At that signal, the entire Uruk army begins slamming the ends of their massive spears against the ground, as well as roaring and banging their chests with their fists.
Jakan feels slightly impressed, knowing that they're trying to demoralize the Rohirrim. Also knowing they can't afford any loss of morale, Jakan turns to Boromir.
"Boromir. I think the Rohirrim could use a little extra morale right now," he says, gesturing to the Horn of Gondor on Boromir's hip.
Boromir glances down at the horn, then smiles. Without a word, he removes the horn from his belt and holds it up to his lips. He pauses for a moment, and thinks to himself, You are wrong, King Theoden. Gondor stands with you. And with that, he blows into the horn, letting out three loud blasts that echo through the valley.
A number of the Rohirrim cheer as they hear the horn, feeling a surge of morale.
As this is happening, one old man is struggling to hold an arrow to his bow. With his body not what it used to be, he finds himself unable to keep holding it. Without warning, his grip on the arrow relinquishes, and the arrow flies from the bow. The arrow flies down and strikes an Uruk in the upper chest.
"Dartho! (Hold!)" Aragorn yells.
The Uruk groans and collapses to the ground. Around him, the other Uruks begin to growl in anger that the defenders got the first hit in. Then, the Commander roars as he thrusts his falchion forward. And as one, the Uruk army surges forward towards the Deeping Wall.
Up at the top of the Hornburg, Theoden is watching what is going on. As he watches the Uruks surge forwards, he mutters, "So it begins."
Jakan watches as the Uruks race towards the wall. Then, a few yards away, he hears Aragorn yell, "Tangado a chadad (Prepare to fire!"
As one, the Galadhrim on the wall pull arrows from their quivers and fit the arrows to their bows. At the same time, Jakan slings his blaster rifle off his back and aims it down towards the incoming Uruks.
"Faeg i-varv din na lanc a nu ranc (Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arm)," Legolas says to the Elves around him.
"Leithio I phillin! (Release arrows!)" Aragorn yells.
The Galadhrim release their arrows, and Jakan fires his blaster rifle. Unhampered by the time it takes for the Galadhrim to reload, Jakan continues to fire his blaster rifle as fast as he can.
The Galadhrim stationed behind the wall join in, and all 200 Galadhrim continue to rain arrows down on the charging Uruks as fast as they can as Jakan continues to fire his blaster rifle.
Then, a number of Uruks armed with crossbows begin to fire their weapons at the defenders. A number of Galadhrim are killed when the heavy bolts pierce their armor.
Jakan suddenly jerks back, feeling something hit him right in the chest. He looks down and sees a crossbow bolt fall to the ground, having hit him in the chest. Thankfully, the beskar of his armor held up against the bolt.
Then, he notices the ladders start to be raised. Almost in sync, he and Aragorn both shout, "Swords! Swords!"
The Galadhrim draw their sabers, ready to attack.
Each of the ladders being raised by the Uruks have a new Uruk Hai breed at the top. These Uruks are known as Uruk Hai Berserkers, and were created to fight an unquenchable ferocity. They wear no armor, just a loincloth and mask. Their weapon is a massive two handed sword.
Jakan sees a Berseker coming down right at him. Clenching his fist, he draws back and punches the Berserker in the chest so hard it breaks the Bersekers' ribs and knocks it flying back over the wall.
Jakan rapidly unsheaths Hadhafang, while pulling out one of his blaster pistols with the other. Looking around, he sees a Berseker preparing to scythe down several Galadhrim just a few feet away. Jakan solves the problem by burying Hadhafang in the Berserker's brain.
Turning around, he sees Gimli standing up from a kill. He looks at Legolas and exclaims, "Legolas! Two already!"
"I'm on seventeen!" Legolas replies.
"Huh? I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!" Gimli declares before turning to kill another Berserker.
"Well, I'm on 21. And I'm about to add to that!" Jakan says smugly. With that, he activates his jetpack and soars into the air, flying down the length of the wall, dispatching any Uruk Hai Berseker he can see with Hadhafang or his blaster.
Once all the Berserkers on the wall are dead, Jakan flies back towards his friends. He sees Boromir going toe-to-toe with two Uruk Hai at once. Wanting to help his friend, Jakan flies in and beheads one of the two Uruks. Boromor then kills the other with a stab to the stomach."
"I had that covered!" Boromir says.
"Sure you did!" Jakan says with a bit of a laugh before turning to find a new target.
Two Uruks race towards Jakan. He dispatches the first with a blaster bolt to the face. He then ducks under the sword of the second before lunging forward and driving Hadhafang through the heart of the second Uruk.
Suddenly, he hears something behind him. He whips his head around to see an Uruk ready to bring its falchion down on him from behind. With little else he can do, Jakan whips the hand holding his blaster around, and shoots a brief jet of flame from his vambrace, torching the Uruk's face. The Uruk drops its sword, roaring in pain. Jakan quickly dispatches the Uruk with Hadhafang
Jakan glances around and sees Gimli standing on top of the wall between two ladders, alternating between killing the Uruks on the two ladders, counting each kill out loud.
However, something beyond Gimli catches Jakan's eye. Looking beyond Gimli to the causeway, he sees Uruk Hai advancing up the causeway towards the gate. The Uruks are holding their shields over their heads, and the ones in the front are holding their shields out front. They're virtually untouchable from the Gatehouse. However, their sides are open.
Jakan resheaths Hadhafang, slides his blaster pistol back into its holster, and pulls his blaster rifle off his back. "Causeway!" he shouts as he fires his blaster rifle.
A number of Galadhrim still using their bows turn their bows towards the causeway and fire. A number of Uruks are hit and fall of the causeway, and Jakan continues to fire into their midst.
Up at the top of the Hornburg, Theoden is watching the battle unfold. He sneers slightly as he taunts his distant enemy, "Is this it? Is this all you can conjure Saruman?"
Jakan continues to fire his blaster rifle at the Uruks on the causeway. Suddenly, he hears Aragorn yelling at Legolas.
Jakan whips his head around, wondering what is going on. Then, he sees it. The last Berserker, holding a massive torch, is running towards the small culvert in the Deeping Wall.
Jakan stares at him for a split second, wondering what the Berserker is doing. But knowing it can't be anything good, and seeing two arrows already in its body, Jakan raises his blaster rifle and fires. The bolt hits the Berserker, but the monster holds onto the life. As the last bit of life struggle to escape from its body, the Berserker lunges into the culvert.
Instantly, the two explosive mines the Uruks had secretly placed in the culvert detonate, blasting a large section of the Deeping Wall apart.
Jakan reacts instantly, using his jetpack to take to the air to avoid the blast and the rubble. He flies back to where the Galadhrim waiting behind the wall are standing. There's currently about 100 Galadhrim standing there, including the fifty that were there at the start of the battle, and fifty more that have come down from the wall in the course of the battle.
As Jakan lands, the Uruk Hai begin to charge through the opening that has been blown in the wall. To Jakan's horror, Aragorn is lying right in their path.
Gimli notices this as well. "Aragorn!" he yells. With no time to plan out anything more sophisticated, Gimli runs right up to the breach in the wall and leaps off, falling down on the Uruk Hai with a battle cry.
Aragorn has by now regained his feet. "Gimli!" he yells in concern for his friend.
Gimli attacks the Uruks with his axe. He successfully takes out two of them before an Uruk knocks him flat on his back in the water.
Aragorn yells a command to the Galadhrim, who unleash a volley of arrows into the Uruks, killing many.
"Helio!" Aragorn yells. And as one, the Galadhrim charge behind him and Jakan towards the Uruks.
Jakan sees the Uruks beginning to bunch up and level their massive spears at the charging Galadhrim. Not wanting any of the Galadhrim to be impaled on the spears, Jakan pulls out another grenade and throws it. The grenade detonates among the foremost Uruks, killing many of them and knocking others flying. Others are unnerved by the blast and momentarily lower their spears.
The distraction provided by the grenade is enough for the Galadhrim. They charge into the Uruks and tear into the monsters with their swords.
Jakan launches himself into the midst of the Uruks, beheading one with a stroke of Hadhafang. He attacks two more Uruks with the sword, while firing his blaster pistol at any Uruk he can.
Jakan makes his way over to the water and reaches out with one hand, hauling Gimli to his feet.
"You know, Gimli. I think I'm pulling ahead a little bit," Jakan says humorously.
"Those grenade things don't count!" Gimli says firmly.
"That's fine. I'm still in the lead," Jakan says with a laugh before whipping around and beheading an Uruk about to attack him from behind.
Jakan charges into the midst of the Uruks charging through the breach. He raises his fists and sends jets of flame out of both of his vambraces. Several Uruks began to scream as their hair catches on fire, and more suffer serious burns to any exposed skin. Jakan takes advantage of their distracted states and fire his blaster pistol into their ranks as fast as he can.
Several Uruks recover from the flame attack and charge towards Jakan. Jakan raises Hadhafang in readiness. Two Uruks try to slash at him with their falchions, but Jakan blocks their blows with Hadhafang before stabbing one in the heart and burying Hadhafang in the other's brain.
Another Uruk attacks Jakan. Jakan is a split second too late in responding, and the Uruk manages to knock Hadhafang out of his grip. The Uruk then tries to slash his falchion at Jakan's head, but Jakan dodges the blow and grabs the Uruk's wrist with his now free hand. Using his crushgaunt, he crushes the Uruk's wrist, forcing him to drop the falchion. He then raises his blaster pistol and fires it into the Uruk's face at point blank range, killing it.
Jakan picks up Hadhafang and attack the Uruks again. However, moments later, he hears Theoden yell from the top of the Hornburg, "Aragorn! Fall back to the keep! Get your men out of there!"
Within seconds, Aragorn is yelling in Elvish, ordering the Elves back to the keep. Jakan joins in, yelling loud enough for any Elf near him to hear.
Jakan sees Boromir just ahead of him and hurries towards him. As Boromir cuts down an Uruk he's been fighting for a several moments, Jakan yells, "Come on, Boromir!" He grabs Boromir's shoulder and pulls him along.
Together, the two men start running back towards the keep. However, as they run, Jakan glances up to the wall and sees Haldir trying to fight his way off the wall. And as he watches, an Uruk manages to stab Haldir in the stomach.
Jakan reacts immediately, taking to the air with his jetpack and flying towards Haldir. As he flies up towards him, he sees an Uruk coming up behind Haldir, ready to bring its falchion down on Haldir's head.
Jakan raises one fist and fires cable from his vambrace. The cable wraps around the Uruk's neck, and Jakan yanks the cable towards him, yanking the Uruk off the wall.
Jakan lands next to Haldir and bends down to pick him up. Haldir looks back at the Mandalorian and says, "Do not allow me to slow you down, Jakan Shan."
"I'm not about to let you die, Haldir," Jakan says. As soon as he has firm enough hold on Haldir, he activates his jetpack and soars towards the entrance to the keep.
Jakan sets down right in front of the gate, where Aragorn and Boromir are waiting. Jakan sets Haldir down and says, "Get him inside." He then hurries down about halfway down the stairs.
Drawing the Darksaber from his jetpack, he ignites it and stabs it into the stairs. He holds it in position for several seconds, melting a hole in the stairs. He then deactivates it and replaces it on the side of his jetpack. He then pulls out another grenade and drops it into the hole he just melted in the stairs.
Jakan dashes back up the stairs. As he does, the grenade explodes, blasting a huge hole in the stairs, leaving the Uruks unable to reach the entrance into the keep.
As Jakan enters the Hornburg, he hears a massive commotion from the direction of the gate. He turns to Boromir and says, "Boromir, see that Haldir makes it safety, then take the rest of the Elves up to the top of the fortress."
Boromir nods, and with the help of one of the Galadhrim, carries Haldir up towards the hall at the top of the Hornburg so he can be treated. The remaining 43 Elves follow them towards the top of the Hornburg.
Jakan follows Aragorn and Gimli towards the gate. As they reach the area of the gate, they see the Uruks have punched a large hole in the gate with their battering ram, and they and the Rohirrim are fighting for control of the breach. At the same time, Jakan sees Theoden leaning against a wall, wounded in the shoulder.
"Hold them!" Theoden yells to his men.
"How long do you need?" Aragorn asks as loudly as he can.
"As long as you can give me," Theoden replies.
Aragorn nods, then says, "Gimli, Jakan, come on!" He ushers Gimli into a passage that leads to a small door on the side of the Gatehouse before hurrying after the Dwarf. Jakan hurries to follow them.
The three exit the Gatehouse through the door. They slowly make their way along the rocky ledge ringing the edge of the Gatehouse, heading towards the Causeway.
Aragorn peaks his head around the side of the Gatehouse, and sees the Uruks banging on the door with their fists and falchions.
"Oh, come on! We can take 'em!" Gimli says encouragingly.
"It's a long way," Aragorn says knowingly.
Gimli glances around Aragorn, seeing that there's a gap of at least seven feet between the ledge and the causeway. He pulls his head back, then glances up at Aragorn and mutters, "Toss me."
Aragorn and Jakan both look at Gimli in amusement, and Aragorn asks, "What?"
"I cannot jump the distance. You'll have to toss me!" Gimli says, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Aragorn just nods once and grabs hold of Gimli. But, before he does anything, Gimli looks up at him and Jakan and says, "Uh-uh. Don't tell the Elf."
"Not a word," Aragorn and Jakan say simultaneously. And then, Aragorn throws Gimli towards the causeway.
Gimli lets out a war cry as he crashes into several Uruk Hai, knocking them down. Aragorn then leaps onto the causeway with his own war cry, and he and Gimli attack the Uruks. At the same time, Jakan slings his blaster rifle off his back and begins firing into the ranks of the Uruks, killing an Uruk with every shot.
Seeing that the three have bought him some time, Theoden calls for wood and timbers. Rohirrim rush forward, bringing materials to try and reinforce the door.
Jakan continues to fire his blaster rifle for almost a full minute. Then, he hears THeoden shout, "Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!"
A split second later, Legolas yells, "Aragorn!" He throws a rope down for Aragorn and Gimli to climb.
Jakan slings his blaster rifle back onto his back and draws Hadhafang. He leaps the gap between the ledge and the causeway, attacking the Uruks charging towards Aragorn and Gimli.
"Go! I'll cover you!" he shouts. Aragorn doesn't hesitate. He grabs the rope Legolas has thrown down, grabs Gimli, and then leaps off the causeway out of reach of the Uruks. Legolas begins hauling the two up the side of the Gatehouse.
Jakan waits until he feels the two are safe. Then he sheaths Hadhafang, and lets loose with his flamethrowers. The Uruks double back as the first few are hit with the flames. Jakan then pulls out his two blaster pistols and activates his jetpack. Jakan takes to the air, firing his blaster pistols into the ranks of the Uruks before he lands on the top of the Gatehouse.
He slides one of his blaster pistols back into its holster, then draws Hadhafang again. He lunges into the Uruks that have climbed ladders up to the Gatehouse, slashing Hadhafang at any Uruk he can while firing his blaster pistol.
However, what seems like just moments later, he hears Hama shouting, "Fall back! Fall back!"
Then, he hears Theoden shout, "They have broken through. The castle is breached! Retreat! Retreat!"
Now, Jakan realizes what Theoden was doing. He realizes the king knew that the Uruks were going to breach the defenses sooner or later, and had just been trying to buy enough time for the defenders to pull back.
Jakan returns Hadhafang to its sheath and pulls out his other blaster pistol. He begins firing both blasters into the charging Uruks, trying to slow them down to give the defenders time to retreat.
Within just a minute or two, Jakan is the last defender outside the main hall. He fires a few more shots, then turns and runs into the hall, knowing that its soon going to be time for their last stand.
Jakan snaps his head towards the gate as he hears the battering ram hit it again. It's been a few hours since Theoden ordered the retreat.
Jakan glances around the hall. Most of the defenders are now dead. Of the original 352 Rohirrim defenders, only 40 are still alive. And of the original 200 Galadhrim, only 38, including Haldir, are still alive. Several of the Elves have also made it clear that had it not been for Jakan, there would probably be a lot fewer of them still alive.
A number of the Rohirrim, as well as Legolas and Aragorn, are trying to reinforce the door. Jakan and Boromir are both standing with Theoden and Hama.
"The fortress is taken. It is over," Theoden says with despair.
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it! They still defend it! They have died defending it!" Aragorn says quite loudly.
The Uruks ram the door again. Jakan looks at the door, then turns to Theoden. "Is there any other way to get the women and children out of the caves? Any way at all?"
Hama looks at Theoden, then back at Jakan. "There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk Hai are too many," Hama says.
Jakan turns to one of the Galadhrim. "Take 10 of your Elves and 10 Rohirrim. Lead the women and children to the mountain pass and ensure their safety," Jakan says. The Elf nods and hurries to gather the other Galadhrim and Rohirrim to escort the women and children to safety.
"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Theoden says in more despair.
Aragorn looks at the king for several moments. Then, he says, "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them."
"For death and glory?" Theoden questions with skepticism.
"For Rohan. For your people," Aragorn replies.
"The sun is rising," Gimli suddenly points out.
Both Aragorn and Jakan look to the window, and the light of the sunrise streaming in. And both remember Gandalf's words uttered in the stable of Edoras five days ago.
The two return their gaze to Theoden, who now suddenly looks more confident. "Yes. Yes," he says softly. He then takes a step forward and declares, "The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time!"
"Yes!" Gimli responds before hurrying off towards the stairs leading to where the Horn is located.
Theoden walks over to Aragorn and says firmly, "Let this be the hour in which the Kings of Gondor and Rohan again drew swords together."
The horses are brought up to the Hall, enough for Theoden, the rest of the Fellowship besides Gimli, Hama, Gamling, and six Royal Guards. The remaining Rohirrim and Galdhrim that are not following Jakan's order will remain in the hall as a last line of defense.
Jakan pats Lodreng on the neck. "It's been an honor to ride you, Lodreng. If this is our end…then let's make it an end to remember," he says. Lodreng snorts as if in agreement.
Theoden, now on his horse, looks towards the door into the hall as he says, "Feel deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!" He then slides his helmet onto his head, and draws Herugrim. As he does, Jakan removes the Darksaber from his jetpack and activates it, its pure black blade shining brightly and drawing every eye. The Rohirrim and Galadhrim who can see it stare in awe at the weapon.
Then, on top of the Hornburg, Gimli blows into the Horn of Helm Hammerhand, the massive, deep blast echoing through Helm's Deep and down the valley.
As Gimli blows, the Uruks finally smash down the door and begin running into the hall.
"Forth Eorlingas!" Theoden yells. Everyone behind him utters their war cry as Theoden spurts his horse forward. As one, the group rides out of the hall and into the mass of Uruks outside the hall. The banner of Rohan, held by Gamling, waves in the wind. As the group rides out, the Rohirrim and Galdhrim remaining in the hall attack any Uruk that get past them.
Jakan holds the Darksaber out to the side, not even moving it, and just letting it cleave through anything it touches. In his other hand, he holds one of his blasters, firing into the midst of the Uruks. He grips Lodreng's side with his legs, trying to keep his balance, trusting the horse not to accidently make him fall off.
The group rides down through Helm's Deep, cutting down every Uruk they can. Finally, Theoden emerges onto the causeway and rides carefully down it, the rest of the riders following him. The Uruks on the causeway begin to fall like flies.
As Jakan rides onto the causeway, he briefly deactivates the Darksaber and returns it to its place. He then pulls out his remaining grenades and throws them down into the midst of the Uruks below the side of the causeway. The grenades explode, killing over a hundred Uruks.
Finally, they reach the end of the causeway, and Jakan pulls the Darksaber back out as he returns his blaster to its holster and grips the reigns with his other hand. He guides Lodreng carefully as he slashes the Darksaber through the Uruks surrounding him, not trying to be sophisticated in his attacks, knowing the Darksaber will cut right through anything it touches.
Then, suddenly, Jakan looks up and sees a white horse and its rider at the top of the slope to the east, the horse whinnying in a way that echoes through the valley.
"Gandalf," he says to himself with a grin.
Everyone seems to notice Gandalf, and combat in the valley seems to come to a halt. Then, another rider rides up beside Gandalf before yelling, "Rohirrim!"
A second later, dozens of Rohirrim on horses appear at the top of the slope. Theoden smiles and says the rider's name, "Eomer!"
"To the king!" Eomer bellows, and the Rohirrim yell their war cries as they follow Gandalf and Eomer down the slope.
The Uruks, seemingly forgetting about Theoden and his riders, start running towards the slope to meet Gandalf, Eomer, and their riders. Then, out of nowhere, a strange sound fills the air. Before anyone can see where it's coming from, a flying ship appears over the mountains behind Helm's Deep.
Jakan looks up at it, and in an instant, recognizes it as a modified Kom'rk class fighter, with this specific model being modified especially for transport purposes. He begins to grin under his helmet.
Then, the back of the ship opens up, and three Mandalorian warriors fly out. The Mandalorians fly down and drop grenades onto the Uruks that have gathered at the base of the slope with their spears.
The grenades explode, killing the Uruks that had been ready to kill the charging Rohirrim. With them dead, the charging Rohirrim scythe right into the Uruk army, killing all Uruks in their path.
The three Mandalorians fly over the army, stopping the air above Jakan. The other Rohirrim and Theoden stare at the three Mandalorians in amazement.
"Well, Jakan. Looks like you got yourself into quite a mess since we last saw you," one of them says.
Jakan laughs and says, "Kind of. But we can chat later. Any of these black skinned creatures are enemies. Let's finish this battle." He then spurs Lodreng forward, and charges after the Uruks, which are now beginning to flee.
The three Mandalorians fly over the Uruks, firing their blasters down on them. Now filled with more fear seeing that they now have enemies that can fly, the Uruks break into a full rout.
The Rohirrim pursue the Uruks, but halt about halfway up the valley. As Jakan follows them, he suddenly spots something strange.
"That forest wasn't there earlier," he mutters to himself as he sees a large forest blocking the mouth of the valley.
Eomer rides back and forth across the front of the army, shouting, "Stay our of the forest! Keep away from the trees!"
Jakan watches as the Uruks run into the trees. Then, as the last Uruk disappears from view, it begins. The trees begin to move, swaying from side to side. The creaks of the trees and the cries of the Uruks can be heard as the trees kill every last Uruk.
The other Mandalorians watch as this is happening. One of them leans over to another and says, "Figures it would be Jakan to find a world like this."
The Rohirrim return to the fortress. Eomer's riders set up camp outside the fortress, whiel Eomer himself accompanies the King back into the fortress.
Efforts to gather the dead begin immediately. The Rohirrim and Galadhrim who fell are to be buried in a mass grave behind the Deeping Wall, while the Uruks are to be burned outside the fortress.
Legolas walks among the bodies of dead Uruk Hai towards Gimli, who is sitting on a dead Uruk while smoking his pipe. One of Gimli's axes is embedded in the Uruk's head.
Jakan walks up as well. He removes his helmet and smiles. "Well, I think it's time we settle this," he says.
Legolas wipes some blood off the tip of his bow and says confidently, "Final count…62."
"Oh. Sixty two? That's not bad for a pointy eared elvish princeling. I myself am sitting pretty on sixty three," Gimli says smugly.
Legolas suddenly whips an arrow out of his quiver, fits it to his bow, and fires it into the Uruk Gimli is sitting on.
"Sixty three," Legolas says smugly.
"He was already dead," Gimli points out.
"He was twitching," Legolas protests.
"He was twitching because he's got my axe embedded in his nervous system!" Gimli replies, moving his axe a little bit to emphasize the point, causing the Uruk's body to twitch.
Jakan can't stop himself, and begins to laugh, and finds himself unable to stop for several moments. Finally, he manages to recover himself. He looks at Legolas and says, "I'm sorry, Legolas. But I don't think that one counts."
Legolas looks a little miffed, but still smiles. Jakan then grins and says, "But I still beat both of you, because my total was 140."
Legolas and Gimli both look at him in surprise, and Jakan just chuckles. Then, he hears a voice behind him say, "A kill competition, huh? Wish we'd known, or we would have counted."
Jakan smiles as he turns to see the three Mandalorians, all with their helmets removed, walking towards him. Two are men, and one is a woman.
Jakan grins and says, "My brothers and sister!" He walks towards them and says, "Oh, I am so glad to see you."
"We're glad to see you as well," one of them says.
Jakan grins and says, "I must introduce you to my friends." He then turns around, and sees that Aragorn and Boromir have both walked up, as has Gandalf.
"My friends, these three are some of my good friends from the Alliance of Free Mandalorians. This is Gar Rook, Fel Vizsla, and Mirta Vizsla," he says, gesturing to the two men first, and the woman last as he introduces them. He then turns to his comrades and, gesturing to the Fellowship as he says their names, "My brothers and sister, this Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf, Legolas, and Gimli. Some of the greatest friends I have ever had."
The members of the Fellowship incline their heads to the Mandalorians. Then, Fel asks Jakan, "Jakan, what is going on here?"
Jakan laughs and says, "Oh, Fel, that is one of the longest stories in the history of long stories."
And, I'll end there.
I hope you liked this chapter, and don't mind I put the whole battle in one chapter.
So, the Mandalorians have finally found Jakan. None of the names of the three Mandalorians are actual Mandalorians from canon or Legends. They're just random names I made up.
Now, obviously, Jakan isn't leaving with them. So, we will see our three new Mandalorian friends joining the Free Peoples in their struggle against Sauron. I hope you're excited to see that. The ship will not be remaining, as it will be going back for more help. But Jakan won't be the only Mandalorian in Middle Earth anymore.
I also hope you liked that I saved Haldir. I was so sad when I first watched The Two Towers as a kid and Haldir died, so I decided to make it right in this story.
Next chapter will feature them going to Isengard and confronting Saruman. I hope you're excited for it. It will be up soon. Until then, please, please leave a review, and stay tuned!