Hey, everybody. Back at last with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 28- The Mouth of Sauron
Jakan grunts a bit as he tightens his leg armor in place. Almost his entire suit is now on, except for his jetpack and his helmet, as well as his weapons.
Today is the day that Aragorn's plan begins. While some forces are headed to protect Rohan and others are to remain behind to protect Gondor, Aragorn will be marching with an army of almost 4,000 men of Gondor and Rohan, which he has dubbed the Army of the West, to the Black Gate to make their distractionary attack.
Jakan grabs his jetpack and slides it into position on his back, making sure it's locked in place. He then slides his blaster rifle onto his back, secures the Darksaber to his jetpack, slides his blaster pistols into their holsters, and then sliding his knife into position before finally securing Hadhafang on his belt. Jakan checks his gauntlets to make sure they're in good shape, then reaches over for his helmet. Jakan looks at his helmet head on before turning it into position and sliding it onto his head.
"Jakan."
Jakan turns around sees Mirta behind him, helmet under her arm. "Aragorn's gathering everyone. It's time to head out," she says.
"Then, let's go," Jakan says. Jakan walks out of the room, and he and Mirta head down to the main gathering area just inside the remnants of the Great Gate.
It doesn't take the two very long to get down to the muster. Aragorn is dressed in a very regal suit of armor, Anduril resting against his side, and is sitting atop Brego, directing everyone as the army begins to gather.
Jakan walks over to where Gar and Fel are waiting with their horses, as well as Jakan and Mirta's horses. Most of the army will be on foot, and the plan doesn't even call for anyone to be fighting on horseback at the Black Gate. The officers and members of the Fellowship will be riding on horseback to the Black Gate, but will send the horses away prior to the battle.
"Are you guys ready for this?" Jakan asks his friends as they all circle up.
"Couldn't be more," Gar says with a chuckle, his helmet concealing his expression.
"This is gonna be fun. And if this is how we die, it's gonna be a good way to go out," Fel says.
"Men of Gondor and Rohan! We ride for the Black Gate! It is time to bring freedom to our land once and for all! Let us go!" Aragorn yells out loud enough to be heard across the entire square. He then wheels Brego around and starts riding for the Great Gate.
Jakan looks at the other three Mandalorians and says, "Mount up. Let's ride." He then turns to Lodreng and swings himself up onto the horse's back. He rubs Lodreng's neck and says, "One more time, Lodreng." The horse snorts in response as the other Mandalorians mount their horses. The four Mandalorians then ride off after Aragorn.
The army forms up as it moves out of the city. Aragorn is leading the army on Brego. Riding right behind him is Boromir, who is holding the Standard of Elendil, brought out of storage for the first time in centuries. EOmer is also following close behind, as he is now recognized as the heir to the now empty throne of Rohan, with Merry riding behind him. Gandalf is following close behind them on Shadowfax with Pippin riding in the saddle in front of him, with Legolas and Gimli on their horse and Jakan on Lodreng beside him. The other three Mandalorians are riding behind them, and the rest of the army in column behind them, stretching back for a great distance.
As the army begins to turn towards the north, turning to a course that will eventually lead them to the Black Gate, Jakan grips the reigns tightly. Knowing that a final confrontation with Sauron's forces is coming, he feels a sense of anticipation. This is going to be the fight of his life.
(Several days later)
Jakan narrows his eyes a bit as the Black Gate comes into view up ahead. The Army of the West has been on the move for several days, and have finally come to their destination. As he finally gets his first look at the entrance into Mordor, he feels a slight sense of intimidation. The Gate is massive. Almost like a small mountain on its own. It's a massive wall of black metal, towering well over a hundred feet.
Jakan zooms in on the gate. He can see some Orcs on the top of the gate, but not as many as he expected.
"They know we're coming," Jakan says under his breath. He just has a gut feeling that that's the case. Sauron has to have some surprises in store.
Aragorn and the other leaders manuever the Army of the West forward onto the plain before the Black Gate, arranging them into a tight formation. They're not too far away from the Gate.
Aragorn and the other leaders and member of the Fellowship, ride up in front of the Army, and turn towards the Gate. They wait for a minute or two, but nothing happens. There's no sign of any large forces, and even the few Orcs that Jakan and the other Mandalorians can see atop the Gate are acting like normal.
"Where are they?" Pippin asks in a low voice.
Nobody answers Pippin, but his question seems to spur Aragorn into action. Aragorn looks around at everyone, then looks back at the gate before spurring Brego forward. Boromir follows him immediately, holding the Standard of Elendil aloft. In quick succession, Gandalf, Eomer, Legolas, and Jakan spur their horses forward to follow Aragorn.
The team rides up almost to the Gate, stopping maybe a hundred feet, max, from the gate itself. They wait a few more moments before Aragorn calls out, "Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him."
For what seems like an eternity, there is nothing but silence and no movement from the top of the gate. Then, they hear something. A loud cranking. Then, the noise amplifies tenfold as the Gate begins to open, opening so slowly Jakan finds himself willing it to just open faster to get this over with.
Finally, the Gate is open just far enough to allow at least two people to walk through side by side. Then, everyone there sees someone coming through the opening. A dark figure on a dark horse is riding slowly through the gap towards them. As the figure slows to a stop just feet from them, Jakan sees that the figure is wearing a massive peaked helm that covers his entire head except for his mouth. The emphasis that puts on his mouth makes his mouth, which looks incredibly diseased and bloody as well as at least twice the size of a normal person's, that much worse.
"I am the Mouth of Sauron, and My Master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome," the figure says in a voice just as terrible as his mouth, smirking at the group with his horribly diseased and disfigured mouth. Nobody gives him any reaction.
The Mouth looks around at the group before asking sarcastically, "Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?"
Gandalf now speaks up and says, "We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed!"
The Mouth snarls at those words, not sure whether those words are directed at Sauron or himself.
Gandalf continues speaking to the Mouth, saying curtly, "Tell your master this. The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."
The Mouthy scoffs as he says, "Ah, old Greybeard." He then gasps as if just remembering something before saying, "I have a token I was bidden to show thee." He then reaches into a pouch resting in the saddle in front of him, then yanks out the contents and holds it up for them to see.
Everyone who was a member of the Fellowship feels shock and horror run through them as the recognize the item as Frodo's mithril shirt. The Mouth holds it up for a moment before snarling and throwing it to Gandalf, who just manages to catch it.
"Frodo," Pippin gasps out.
"Silence," Gandalf says, still wanting to maintain control of the situation.
"No!" Merry can't help but cry out, drawing the Mouth's attention.
"Silence!" Gandalf says quickly, not wanting the Mouth to know too much.
The Mouth looks from person to person before fixating on Gandalf and saying, "The Halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host." He looks around a bit as he says this, then whips his head back towards Gandalf with a smirk.
"Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf, he di-" the Mouth starts saying.
"Oh, shut up, will you!" Jakan says loudly, out of patience with the Mouth, before slinging his blaster rifle off his back and firing it three times. The bolts strike the Mouth right in the mouth in rapid succession, one going into his mouth and hitting the back of his throat. The impacts of the bolts knock the Mouth backwards off his horse, where he falls in the mud, smoke raising from his mouth.
Everyone turns to look at Jakan in shock. He looks back at everyone and says, "What? First of all, his stupid voice was getting on my nerves. Secondly, do you really think he's telling the truth? If he was telling the truth, Sauron would already have the Ring, and we know that he doesn't. Plus, we all know that Sam would never abandon Frodo. Put that all together, and this freak is lying."
Everyone feels a wave of relief come over them as they realize Jakan is right. Then, they hear the cranking of the Gate opening start back up. Looking up, they can see the Gate start to open further. Then, looking back at opening, they can see the front ranks of Sauron's army through the gap as the sound of their marching hits their ears.
"Pull back. Pull back!" Aragorn orders. Everyone then turns and starts riding back towards the army as they see the light caused by the gaze of the Eye of Sauron falling all around them.
As the group returns to the Army of the West, they can see the men shifting nervously, fear obvious on the face of many of them. Holding Anduril out and somewhat upright, Aragorn shouts to the men, "Hold your ground! Hold your ground!"
Everyone in the army directs their attention as Aragorn begin riding along the front of the army as he begins shouting passionately, "Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! Of Mandalore! My brothers!" He gives a brief look over to Mirta and gives her brief nod to acknowledge her as well, being the only woman in the army, before returning his attention to the whole army as he continues his speech, "I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails! When we forsake all friends and break all bonds of fellowship! But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear, on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!" He finishes by thrusting Anduril high over his head. His impassioned speech reaches the hearts of everyone there. The men of Rohan and Gondor all draw their swords, ready to follow Aragorn into battle.
Jakan looks at his three fellow Mandalorians, who have all drawn their sword as well, with a blaster pistol in their other hands, all tensed and ready for battle. He grins a bit under his helmet, good to have some of his brothers and sisters of Mandalore here for this final battle.
And, I'll end there. Hope this was a good chapter.
So, next chapter may be one of the longest of the story, if not the longest. It will cover the entire Battle of the Black Gate, and feature some moments I'm sure you all will be excited to see.
The next chapter should be up sometime in the next few weeks. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!
