AGARWAEN-BOR
CHAPTER 9 – ALL THE KING'S HORSES AND ALL THE KING'S MEN
Aranwë and Celeblhing had taken refuge in the outskirts of Fangorn Forest, near to the Gate and the Orcs searched frantically for them. Aranwë had run out of the few arrows that he had found and Celeblhing's quiver was half-empty. Aranwë drew forth Anormegil and held it aloft. It was glowing a dark red, for it was forged in Gondolin, and though neither Elf knew it, Aranwë's grandsire had made it for Celeblhing's father in the Hidden City. As such, it would glow when Orcs were near. Aranwë quickly returned it to its sheath, lest they be caught.
"You should not have come." Celeblhing said, turning to him.
"I am quick to repay my debts and never forget about them. I do not think I would have been able to repay someone for saving my life if they were dead."
"You did not-" her sentence was never finished as they both heard the pounding of horse hooves. They stepped to the outermost part of the forest and espied from a distance the banner of King Éomer.
"The Men of the Mark have come… the Rohirrim…"
"They have come to overthrow Falathar…"
A host of Orcs issued from the gates hoping to meet the Rohirrim on the plains in front of the Gate. Éomer quickly sent two large groups of men under Erkenbrand, one of the Marshals of the Mark, to meet them, while the rest of the men waited. Erkenbrand's two groups outnumbered the Orcs and had slain all of them in a short amount of time, with a small amount of injuries and no casualties. Éomer sent the main part of his host to the Gate, which now had Orc archers placed on top of it. The Orcs were once again overwhelmed, though they did kill a fair few of Éomer's soldiers.
The Gate was thrown down and the troops poured forth into the Ring of Isengard. There they met a large army of Orcs, which drove them back with great slaughter to the walls. Aranwë and Celeblhing took place in this fight.
"There are at least 5,000 of them and not all of the troops have yet gotten inside of the Ring." Aranwë said as an arrow just barely missed his head. Celeblhing fired back and the two backed up a little as the Orcs, with yet more reinforcements swarmed around the statue of the White Hand.
"And not just Orcs. Some of them are those wretched goblin-men. The Uruk-hai." Celeblhing added. Aranwë ducked, turned, and stabbed an Orc as it dove and missed him. Celeblhing had run off to aid the other archers, at Aranwë's prayer. A lone archer would be no good with hundreds upon hundreds of Orcs charging at them.
An Uruk-hai jumped up and latched onto Aranwë, pulling him to the ground. He took his sword and smote the creature on the head. He wiped the Orc-spit off with disgust and readied himself for another inevitable charge.
Éomer changed his strategy. Instead of an all out assault, he would draw the enemy into the plains. He gave the order for the troops to make it back tot he fields. However, for many soldiers, this was their undoing. Countless were slain trying to make it out of the Gate. Aranwë and Celeblhing were able to get outside and Éomer rode up to them. "Elven folk? What is your business hear?" he asked.
"My friend here was captured by Orcs and I came to help her out. We did not know prior to about an hour ago, that there would be any sort of attack on Isengard. We've just been helping your troops."
"I suggest you leave at once." He said as a stray arrow barely missed Aranwë. "Men have short lives, and Elves have an eternity. We must fight ere our strength fails us, but you may have yet another chance to fight again if you flee. I will not consider you cowardly, either, for I know of you and your deeds Aranwë son of Glorfindel, as you have been to the Mark more than once."
"But-" Aranwë began. Éomer shook his head.
"Go! Hurry while we can still resist the Orcs. If you absolutely yearn to do something for us, bear tidings to Lord Aragorn of our battle here. There is a pass into Gondor that was just won back by Lord Faramir. You must go around the southwestern tip of the White Mountains and so come to the land of Belfalas. Go with haste." The Elves nodded after looking hard and long at Éomer.
"Yes Lord of the Mark, we shall bear these tidings to Lord Aragorn."
-End Chapter 8