A/N: Chapter 19 and 20 are short, so I'm
posting both of them. After this, there are two more
chapters. I've left you with a bit of a cliffhanger at the
end of 20.
Europa, that was one decision I agonized
over--whether to send Worf with Aragorn or Théoden. Anya,
when I wrote my M*A*S*H crossover, I posted that as I wrote it.
I don't want to do that again--too much time pressure.
This story was complete before I even started posting.
It has evolved a lot thanks to all the input I've received,
thanks to all of your reviews, and hopefully for the better.
BTW, if anyone still has unexpressed opinions about the
ending, let me know!
Anyway, enjoy!
Ch. 19: A Glimmer of Hope
A yell broke into Worf's
musings. Crying, "Death! Ride, ride to ruin and
the world's ending!"¹ Éomer King and the remaining
Rohirrim rode off to battle, a few remaining to bear Théoden and
Éowyn into the city. The headlong charge carried the
Riders deep within the Southron ranks. Some of the
Southrons rode great beasts like elephants, called mûmakil
by the Rohirrim, which frightened the Riders' horses.
Worf stilled his horse long enough to shoot one in its eyes, but
their hide was so thick little other attack prevailed. When
his horse shied away from one, he threw himself off it and hewed
at the thing's legs, bring it to its knees before he was
forced back onto his horse by the enemy around him.
The battle continued, but soon
enemy reinforcements poured in from nearby Osgiliath, where they
waited to take the city. The Rohirrim readied themselves to
take all they could with them, but they saw black-sailed ships
approaching. The cry went up, "The Corsairs of Umbar
are coming! So Belfalas is taken, and the Ethir, and
Lebennin is gone. The Corsairs are upon us! It is the
last stroke of doom!"²
With that, Éomer gathered his
forces to stand to the last. They would fight until the
last fell. Worf spoke for them all, "Today is a good
day to die!"
Suddenly, a new standard unfurled on the lead ship,
a white one, bearing the White Tree of Gondor and the Seven Stars
and crown of Elendil. The enemy was seized with confusion,
and the from the east, the knights of Dol Amroth, led by Prince
Imrahil, rode out onto the plain. Éomer attacked from the
south. From the north, the Dûnedain leapt from the ships,
and leading them, Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Andúril
like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old;
upon his brow was the Star of Elendil.³ A
sense of awe fell on the defenders. They had gone from
hopelessness to assurance of victory.
In the midst of the battle,
Éomer and Aragorn were reunited, and along with them, Worf,
Legolas, and Gimli. "Thus we meet again, though all
the hosts of Mordor lay between us. Did I not say so at the
Hornburg?" Aragorn said, before clasping Éomer's
hand.³ Pushing back exhaustion, they went back to the rout
of the enemy. Soon the only enemy that remained was cold
and dead. The battered, bloodied and weary defenders were
the only ones left standing.
The next morning, they woke to a clear sky
with light clouds. Legolas found Gimli and Worf early that
morning, and after asking leave from Prince Imrahil, they went
into the city to visit the hobbits. The companions soon
came to the Houses of Healing, guided by one of the Prince's
servants. They walked and sat with them, smoking and
telling tales. Pippin and Gimli taught Worf to blow circles
in the smoke. Legolas was distracted, watching the
gulls over the river. Gimli refused to speak of the trail
through the Paths of the Dead, but with prompting, Legolas told
the tale. Many years before, the people of that place had
broken a vow to uphold Isildur and were now doomed to wander the
earth without rest until their debt be repaid. Aragorn had
summoned them to fight for him, and with their help had taken the
Black Fleet. The southern wind aided their return to Minas
Tirith, and the rest was common knowledge.
After all they had been through, it was sheer
contentment to sit and smoke and enjoy each others' company.
Worf took the opportunity to reflect. The battle had
taken him through highs and lows he would never have experienced
in his other life. The battle with the Witch King had
forced him to face more fear than he'd ever before experienced,
and then the grief at Théoden's fall, then he'd
joined Éomer on a suicide mission, only to be brought back
from the brink by Aragorn's sudden return. In the face of
death, he had found a life truer than the one he had known.
He was left to wonder what turns fate still held for him.
¹ p. 131 Return of the King
² p. 133, Return of the King
³ p. 135 Return of the King