Ch. 23: Alternate Ending 1
A/N: I said I was done with this, but I've taken that back. GreyLadyBlast asked for this, and she somehow managed to twist my arm (without much effort, I'm afraid :-) ). I'm afraid the writing is even more sparse than usual, since I threw these together rather quickly (the first alternate version is actually my first idea for the actual ending, but it just didn't really fit for Worf). What follows immediately is a version of chapter 21 without Worf being injured. Alternate ending 1 follows in this chapter, and ending 2 is in chapter 24. Thanks to all!
Chapter 21: alternate version
With that signal, horns blew and Sauron sprang his trap. The doors of Morannon swung wise, and out of them came a battle host like a river. The captains of the West quickly retreated back to the army, but the enemy attacked from all sides. Aragorn and Gandalf took position on one hill, and Éomer and Imrahil on another, the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond taking the front facing the Black Gate and Mordor where the battle would be fiercest.
Along with Orcs, there were Easterling men, and a company of hill-trolls, taller and broader than men. Worf took one, surprising the thing by meeting its force with strength no less than its own. He blocked the first attack with his bat'leth, then broke away from the thing and spun, slicing the weapon across the troll's belly, then spinning again to remove its head. He had to leap back away from it when the carcass fell forward, spewing black blood. Éomer, beside him, stared at him in awe for a moment, before turning to a new opponent. "There is strength in you beyond the grasp of my mind, Worf. I do not know from whence you get your strength, but I am glad to have you at my side!" Pippin took down another troll as it bent down to bite the neck of a fallen warrior. He struck upwards, piercing into its vitals, but it fell on top of him, smothering him, and he fainted to cries of "The Eagles are coming!" ¹
The Eagles swooped toward the Nazgûl, but the Black Riders suddenly turned and fled. All the hosts of Mordor trembled in that moment, and the army of the West soon gained the upper hand. Gandalf held them back and would not allow them to pursue. He cried, "Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom." ²
As Gandalf spoke, the earth below them bucked like a wild horse. Far away beyond the black gate, a darkness came into the sky, and fire. The Black Gate fell to the ground, and a drumming rumble filled the air. A great, enormous shadow rose above the Land of Mordor. It stretched out a terrible hand toward them, but a great wind took it and blew it away.
"The realm of Sauron is Ended! The Ring bearer has fulfilled his Quest." ² It was over. They had dared the impossible and somehow, succeeded. Carried by the Eagles, Gandalf flew with all haste into Mordor, to Mount Doon itself.
It was in Ithilien that Frodo and Sam, carried back by Gandalf and the Eagles, finally regained consciousness, two weeks later. Sam thought he had dreamt it all for a moment. Frodo was missing one finger. Worf joined the throng that greeted them as heroes. Aragorn himself, the Lord Elessar, bowed before them and set them upon his throne. The hobbits were overwhelmed, but took the attention as well as they could.
They swapped many stories; Gimli had found Pippin beneath the troll and helped to throw the thing off. Legolas had felt the call of the Sea, as the Lady of the Wood had warned him; it would not be long before he passed over the sea. Frodo and Sam told the story of their long trek into Mordor, and Gollum's attack on the slopes of Mount doom.
Alternate ending 1
Returning to the city, they were met by Faramir, brother of Boromir, and son of Denethor, steward of Gondor, who had killed himself during the siege. The last steward of Gondor surrendered the city to its rightful king. Faramir brought forth the crown of the city, but Aragorn would not take it from his hand, but rather had Frodo bring it, and Gandalf set it upon his head. With that, the Lord Elessar, heir of Elendil, entered the city and the third age of Middle Earth was brought to an end. A new age had begun.
Arwen Evenstar arrived with her bothers, Galadriel, Celeborn, and her father, and she and Aragorn were married Midsummer's day. Éomer would still not admit the Lady the fairest of all beings, but claimed rather that the honor belonged to the Queen Arwen Evenstar, and so he and Gimli made their peace. The hobbits returned to the Shire to scour it of the men and rules forced upon them by Sharkey. The Wild Men of the Woods were given the Forest of Druadan as their possession forever, never to be troubled by outsiders. Worf's vow of service had been to Théoden, and Éomer was ready to release him from it, but Worf would have none of it. He stayed in Rohan and served Éomer King of the Mark until the end of his days.
¹ p. 187, Return of the King
² p. 252, Return of the King
A/N: I said I was done with this, but I've taken that back. GreyLadyBlast asked for this, and she somehow managed to twist my arm (without much effort, I'm afraid :-) ). I'm afraid the writing is even more sparse than usual, since I threw these together rather quickly (the first alternate version is actually my first idea for the actual ending, but it just didn't really fit for Worf). What follows immediately is a version of chapter 21 without Worf being injured. Alternate ending 1 follows in this chapter, and ending 2 is in chapter 24. Thanks to all!
Chapter 21: alternate version
With that signal, horns blew and Sauron sprang his trap. The doors of Morannon swung wise, and out of them came a battle host like a river. The captains of the West quickly retreated back to the army, but the enemy attacked from all sides. Aragorn and Gandalf took position on one hill, and Éomer and Imrahil on another, the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond taking the front facing the Black Gate and Mordor where the battle would be fiercest.
Along with Orcs, there were Easterling men, and a company of hill-trolls, taller and broader than men. Worf took one, surprising the thing by meeting its force with strength no less than its own. He blocked the first attack with his bat'leth, then broke away from the thing and spun, slicing the weapon across the troll's belly, then spinning again to remove its head. He had to leap back away from it when the carcass fell forward, spewing black blood. Éomer, beside him, stared at him in awe for a moment, before turning to a new opponent. "There is strength in you beyond the grasp of my mind, Worf. I do not know from whence you get your strength, but I am glad to have you at my side!" Pippin took down another troll as it bent down to bite the neck of a fallen warrior. He struck upwards, piercing into its vitals, but it fell on top of him, smothering him, and he fainted to cries of "The Eagles are coming!" ¹
The Eagles swooped toward the Nazgûl, but the Black Riders suddenly turned and fled. All the hosts of Mordor trembled in that moment, and the army of the West soon gained the upper hand. Gandalf held them back and would not allow them to pursue. He cried, "Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom." ²
As Gandalf spoke, the earth below them bucked like a wild horse. Far away beyond the black gate, a darkness came into the sky, and fire. The Black Gate fell to the ground, and a drumming rumble filled the air. A great, enormous shadow rose above the Land of Mordor. It stretched out a terrible hand toward them, but a great wind took it and blew it away.
"The realm of Sauron is Ended! The Ring bearer has fulfilled his Quest." ² It was over. They had dared the impossible and somehow, succeeded. Carried by the Eagles, Gandalf flew with all haste into Mordor, to Mount Doon itself.
It was in Ithilien that Frodo and Sam, carried back by Gandalf and the Eagles, finally regained consciousness, two weeks later. Sam thought he had dreamt it all for a moment. Frodo was missing one finger. Worf joined the throng that greeted them as heroes. Aragorn himself, the Lord Elessar, bowed before them and set them upon his throne. The hobbits were overwhelmed, but took the attention as well as they could.
They swapped many stories; Gimli had found Pippin beneath the troll and helped to throw the thing off. Legolas had felt the call of the Sea, as the Lady of the Wood had warned him; it would not be long before he passed over the sea. Frodo and Sam told the story of their long trek into Mordor, and Gollum's attack on the slopes of Mount doom.
Alternate ending 1
Returning to the city, they were met by Faramir, brother of Boromir, and son of Denethor, steward of Gondor, who had killed himself during the siege. The last steward of Gondor surrendered the city to its rightful king. Faramir brought forth the crown of the city, but Aragorn would not take it from his hand, but rather had Frodo bring it, and Gandalf set it upon his head. With that, the Lord Elessar, heir of Elendil, entered the city and the third age of Middle Earth was brought to an end. A new age had begun.
Arwen Evenstar arrived with her bothers, Galadriel, Celeborn, and her father, and she and Aragorn were married Midsummer's day. Éomer would still not admit the Lady the fairest of all beings, but claimed rather that the honor belonged to the Queen Arwen Evenstar, and so he and Gimli made their peace. The hobbits returned to the Shire to scour it of the men and rules forced upon them by Sharkey. The Wild Men of the Woods were given the Forest of Druadan as their possession forever, never to be troubled by outsiders. Worf's vow of service had been to Théoden, and Éomer was ready to release him from it, but Worf would have none of it. He stayed in Rohan and served Éomer King of the Mark until the end of his days.
¹ p. 187, Return of the King
² p. 252, Return of the King