A/N: Its back! Due to popular request, I have decided to write an epilogue to this story, so you know a little bit of what happens to them all. This is just a short one, taking place the morning after the battle. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything belonging to Tolkien, characters, places, and all that other stuff unfortunately are his.
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I glanced around, the sick feeling that I had recently grown so accustomed to rising in my stomach yet again. The horrid smell from the bodies piled up all around me was so strong that it clouded my mind, making any trace of coherent thought impossible. Trying to escape the fumes, I walked quicker along the wall surrounding the fortress, the very wall I had all stood on, surrounded by the neighbors I had known my entire life, all of us awaiting the Orc army. Even though the sun shone brightly now, misery still overcame my mind as I though about all those who had died. A great number had fallen, all in ways more gruesome then the last, several of which I myself had been forced to witnessed.
I looked at the faces of those who had fallen for Rohan with a great sadness, recognizing many of them. Too many of them. I stopped for a moment, reaching out a hand to someone on my left. It was one of the men I had fought beside in battle. I stumbled, pulling my hand back sharply, as images invaded my mind, images I had fought hard to repress.
I saw all over again the intense blackness of night, the rain falling hard on both men and orc. I watched as the creature that had killed the man in front of me, drove the spear through his chest. I looked on in horror at the look of pain and terror that froze on the mans features as his heart beat for the last time, and he collapsed to the ground. This image pushed even more into my mind, like the first time I got a close look at an Orc.
The first time I looked into the mutilated face of one of those horrific creatures, one that had just managed to climb up the wall by way of a ladder, I had been paralyzed with fear, knowing as it raised its crude ax that I should try to strike out at it, or at least move out of the way, though I found I did not have control of my legs. I probably would have died then had it not been for the arrow so expertly shot from one of the elven archers. I blinked my eyes sharply, shaking my head vigorously to banish the thoughts. I had hoped that my memories would fade with the rising sun, but I was not so lucky.
I kept walking, my pace quickened now, tears welling in my eyes. As I continued, I passed the elf captain, whose name I had later learned was Haldir, though that information was of no use to me now. Even in death, I couldn't help but notice that he still held that grace that all of the elves had possessed, though his bright eyes were now empty.
I reached a clear spot on the wall and gazed out over the land, images again flashing through my head. Images of the army, standing in formation, ready to attack. I saw the lightning reflect off of the heavy plates of armor strapped across their chests, and heard the war cry of that lone Orc standing slightly above the others on the large boulder. A single tear fell down my face as I again watched the army rush forward, holding no grace or agility like the elven army, but instead something that made you want to run and hide, to surrender and to beg and plead for mercy. I remembered the feeling of panic and fear that had coursed through my body as Lord Aragorn cried out in a language that I could only assume was a form of Elvish and watch as the thousands of arrows that rained down upon the Orcs backs killed many, but not nearly enough.
I watched as the thick wooden ladders were hurled against the wall with such force that the stone under my feet shook, and as the first few Orcs pushed their way onto the wall. Again I blinked my eyes, brining myself back to the current time, where the sun was bright and sky clear, and forced myself on.
I walked slowly along the length of the wall, trying to keep my mind focused on anything but the battle. It was still to soon to think about, and I was afraid that if I if I did let my mind wander to it, one particular event from the night would come back to haunt me. I didn't want that to happen.
Unfortunately, Just the single thought in reference to the memory was enough though, and it didn't help when I realized in my mindless walking I had stumbled upon the very location. I stood right now on a stretch of the wall that looked out on a view I normally would have called beautiful. All of the bodies had been cleared away, both Orc and man, and the air was fairly clean. Just being here made that temporary dam I had built over those thoughts break, and they came flooding back in an instant.
I took a few unsteady steps to my left, and sank slowly to my knees, reaching out a tentative hand to touch the cold, rough stone. This was the very place that Ethaon, my dear brother, had fallen. A tear fell down my cheek, leaving a tiny wet trail that was soon accompanied by another. Images began to flood into my head again, but this time not ones of death and horror. A picture of Ethaon, laughing merrily with me, as he pulled me down the sullen dusty street that our small house was built on came to mind. I could hear his laughter echo through my head one last time, though ever so slowly it faded, and was replaced by the shriek of pain that was haunting me, as I remembered exactly what I had fought so hard to forget.
I recalled the exact look on his face as the crude Orc sword hit him, the exact look of fear, terror, and awful realization. I remember as I stood frozen in place, the call had come to retreat back to the main building, though for the second time in the one night, I couldn't make myself move. I watched as Ethaon's face paled considerably, and blood, his blood, shone through his tunic. I had watched, unable to do anything to help him as Ethaon drew his last breath, the shaky breath of a defeated warrior. It was then that I found my feet, though I wasn't moving to retreat, instead, I was rushing to my brothers side.
As soon as my hands reached out to him, he fell, and I just barely caught him. I could tell he was already dead, yet I didn't want to accept the fact, I couldn't except the fact, I thought, holding his body close to mine. I felt a hand take a firm hold of mine and pull me to my feet, though I didn't respond at all.
"Come little one, you must hurry," someone said in a soft, gentle voice. It was one of the elven warriors from Lorien, who had paused, if only for a minute to help me. I looked up at him, knowing he was right, almost all of the men were already safe inside. Quickly, I pulled fathers sword from where it hung on Ethaon's belt. It was not only now, the last bit of Father that I had left, but the last bit of my brother as well. Hugging the sheathed sword to my chest, I ran for the narrow path leading to the building, the Elven warrior following behind me, shooting perfectly aimed arrows at those Orcs close enough, and shouting Elven words to his companions. My eyes focused on what was around me again, and the darkness faded, giving way to daylight again.
It seemed unreal to me still. That Ethaon was truly gone. Yes, I myself had witnessed his death, yet I still held some faint hope that he would walk up behind me right now, rest a hand on my shoulder and whisper comforting words as he had before the battle had begun. If it hadn't been for his words, I never would have gotten through the night alive. If only I had been able to return the favor. I rested my head in my hands, not giving any attempt at wiping away my tears, simply allowing them to fall freely. I cursed under my breath, touching the worn sword, the very sword that I had taken from Ethaon last night that hung now about my own waist, suddenly knowing how those who had had family members die in the small battle that had occurred before we reached the fortress must have felt, even though that small battle seemed like it had happened days, maybe even weeks ago.
I felt a light hand rest gently on my shoulder, and glanced up quickly, startled, for I hadn't heard anyone approach. Besides even though I knew it couldn't happen, I still held a faint, crazed hope that it might be Ethain. However it was not, and standing over me, a concerned look on his face, was the elf that had helped me the night before, and probably saved my life. Elarandil was his name, and he had served almost as a friend during the long night.
"Try not to be sad, though I now it tis hard. The grief will pass, and however hard it may seem you must go on with your life," he said giving me a sympathetic look. "Your brother would wish it so." I nodded, giving him a sad, yet thankful smile, for those words would live on in me forever. Years later even, when grief ate away at my insides till I felt I could stand it no longer, I would become my nine year old self again, standing on that wall, hearing those words, and knowing that I could indeed carry on, and even more importantly, that I would. I stood slowly, the old sword still in my grasp and began to slowly return to where the others were preparing things, though for what I do not know, for my mind was numb. Elarandil was watching me go, I could feel his piercing eyes on my back, but it was a comforting feel. To know that without a father or a brother, you can still have someone watching over you, whether you knew them well or not was a welcome realization.
A/N: Hope you liked it! Again please try not to flame if you can help it, though constructive criticism is welcome. I want to give a special thanks to every one who reviewed, you are the ones who helped convince me to write this, and a super special big thanks to PinkPinapple for being my beta reader.
LilMissMe: Thanks for the reviews! They meant a lot to me. And I love reading all of your thoughts on this story, they helped out quite a bit. Thanks!
Psycho Goddess: Ya, it is powerful to see war through the eyes of a child. I think especially after the battle, like in this chapter. I was nearly crying writing this. Thanks for reading this!
valin: I realized that once I had posted it and got a ton of reviews asking for more. I hope this is up to you requests! And thanks for reviewing!
Grunge-Muffin: Thanks for the reviews! And yes, I think that is the right book. I absolutly love it! And now its a trilogy! The next book 'Lirael' is the one I'm reading now, and then that one has a sequel called 'Abhorsen'. Great books really.
PinkPinapple: Thanks for the reviews, and for being such a great beta. Also, for helping me condemn poor Ethaon. He still wont talk to me.
JenJen: Thanks Jenny! Your reviews mean a lot to me!
June Augustine: Yes, I have decided to continue this as I'm sure you can already see, thanks to your wonderful review and several others who wanted it as well. Here you go, hope you enjoy! And thanks again for your reviews!