MaverickGirl: It does kinda suck that Shantel doesn't get to fight, but no worries I will include battle scenes. There are just some parts that are too good to leave out.
Elen: Hi again! Thanks, I'm glad you liked that last segment. Here's more!
Aislin: I know bad typo last chapter, I was just being too lazy to look his name up at the moment. I'll probably fix it in a bit today, along with Edoras :oP I loved that part with Haldir being hugged one of my favs, so of course Shantel is going to hug him too. I do that to my guy friends, lol! Then he give me a noogie, dang it! Anywho! I know Théoden is a pig when it comes to men powerful, women weak kinda thing, ugh him, but we kinda need him for the moment, we'll send him to the void later. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about Haldir, love that elf, actually it's coming up below. We need to find a muse trap for you.
Mrs. Ekeena Greenleaf : Well they are just the bad guys, and Saruman thought he had picked a fan who knew all about the story. He just didn't realize that she was waiting for the movie, lol! For now I am thinking that I will end up finishing the whole story, because I still don't know how I'm going to get Shantel home. As for Frodo and Sam, I believe they may make an appearance again. Possibly not until later chapters, but I'm sure they will. I'm just keeping the story to where Shantel is at.
Blahblah: Thanks
After this chapter I'll be relying on the books, so you don't have to worry about waiting for the third movie, lol! So on with the battle!
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Théoden set out scout guards at the Dike ahead, which spread over a mile long and hard to defend from. Hama double checked for Théoden to make sure that Shantel and Eowyn stayed their place below in the caves. They argued about going below and wouldn't hear of it, until Hama gave up and reported to Théoden that the girls were safe. Even archers were positioned all along the catwalk, while the rest of the guards and fighters were placed strategically around the battlefront. Waiting, the time seemed to drag, until a sound was heard, thunder. Rain started to fall in heavy drops and the heads of men turned upwards towards the down pour. In the hall, Shantel and Eowyn peeked out the door, seeing the rain and letting loose a sigh.
"Maybe this will make the battle harder for the Uruk-hai, harder to get in," Shantel said softly.
"I do not know," Eowyn replied. "I have never encountered these creatures."
"Imagine an orc," Shantel turned to Eowyn and closed the door. "Make it bigger, smarter, stronger and able to move in sunlight." Eowyn tried not to show it but let out a shudder. "That's what the Uruk-hai are like to me."
"And that is what is coming to us," Eowyn sighed looking towards the door.
"And what we may face," Shantel finished.
"I grow weary of this wait, Shantel," Eowyn said. "I am weary of being made to sit back and wait."
"Your time will come," Shantel said to Eowyn touching her arm lightly. "I highly doubt that we're going to die in this rock." Eowyn smiled at Shantel. "And be sure as all get out that if they do get in here, I'll take as many with me that I can, as I go down." This got a small laugh from Eowyn who then shook her head.
"I shouldn't laugh," Both girls jumped when the sounds of screams could be heard in the distance. "They've breeched the Dike," Eowyn whispered.
"What does that mean?" Shantel asked feeling her heart start to thud.
"It's where my uncle, Théoden," Eowyn clarified. "Would put scouts. Sounds like they were
discovered."
"Those poor men," Shantel gasped and took in a deep breath. "Now we
wait."
"Now we wait," Eowyn nodded.
Aragorn was pacing behind the elven archers, shouting out a pep talk of sorts, about what they were to do, and what they were about to face.
"A Eruchin, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le." Aragorn called (Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!) Gimli stood next to Legolas but only the top of his helmet was visible over the wall of the catwalk. A storm of marching is heard and the clash of metal hitting the ground approached showing what would seem to the eye was an endless source of Uruk-hai and orcs.
"What's happening out there?" Gimli demanded impatiently. Legolas looked down at his friend and smiled.
"Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Legolas fiend innocence. Gimli looked up and gave him a hearty laugh. The uruk and orcs stood there, simply staring at the walls. An arrow was let loose, hitting a Uruk-hai in the front killing as it hit it's neck.
"Dartho!" (Hold) Screamed Aragorn. The Uruk-hai looked at their fallen and then back up at where the archers were visible. One Uruk was up on top a rock and raised his sword as a signal and let out a roar. The other Uruks, responded with a roar back and charged the wall, letting loose arrows as they went.
"Faeg i-varv dîn na lanc a nu ranc!" (Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arms.) Legolas said in aim.
"Hado i philinn!" (Fire) Aragorn shouted! The elves let loose their arrows on the Uruk, making many fall, but many returned in their place.
The cry of the battle could be heard from inside the, the walls trembled at the vibrations it caused. Shantel and Eowyn had started pacing, both edging to go and help their friends, and the people and fighting with their promise to stay inside the keep, out of sight, and hopefully our of mind of the Uruk. The sounds seemed to die down and the girls stopped and looked at each other. What was going on?
The advance and retreat of the Uruk was on going, but with each come back, they would come on stronger and harder. Gimli stood growling with his ax, eager to getting in on the action, but secretly wishing no more harm come to the elves, or any to his friends.
"They fall back again!" A guard cried.
"Pendraith!" Aragorn yelled at the same time a guard yelled out, "Ladders!" The Uruk have made it to the wall, and along with the ladders, grappling hooks were being thrown over the edge with a force the drove the spikes into the walls, making it unable to let the men thrown them back.
"Good!" Gimli smiled. As they enemy crossed the top, Gimli attacked taking them down right away. "Legolas, two already!" Gimli shouted.
"I'm on seventeen!" Legolas replied back, catching an orc with an arrow. Seems it was more than just Uruk-hai.
"Arg! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!" Gimli swung his ax taking three down in the blow, one orc hit another off the wall was the third.
"Nineteen!" Legolas continued. Legolas was turning off orc, after Uruk after orc, until one charge at him with a sword from behind. Sensing his enemies motive, Legolas flipped his bow onto his back and pulled out two elven blades parrying the attack. He grinned at the confused orc, then quickly did away with that creature then turned to another one. The rush of the enemy was slowing down, and many were wondering why. They had seen the number and knew that there were more than enough to keep coming for a bit. Maybe they had scared them off, many men thought hopefully.
"Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty one. Twenty two," Gimli almost chanted as he took each orc and Uruk out. Théoden paused in his battle and laughed at the sky.
"Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman?" Hitting a Uruk from behind, Théoden turned back and headed for a few orcs and Uruk that have made it past the catwalk. Aragorn was on the catwalk, a little distance away was Legolas, Gimli was in the middle, closer to Aragorn. Through the clashing of swords, steel and pain, a movement caught Aragorn's eye and he saw an Uruk running to the wall, much like the ones with the ladders did, but this one had a large ball on his back, carrying a torch. Eye's widened, Aragorn looked for Legolas and saw that the elf was getting even farther away in battle.
"Dago han! Dago han, Legolas! Dago han!!!" (Kill him! Kill him, Legolas! Kill him!) Aragorn yelled watching the Uruk getting closer. Turning his keen elvish eyes, Legolas spotted who Aragorn was shouting about and flew arrow after the creature. Two arrows hit it, but the creature kept running, and the two watched in horror as it disappeared from their sight.
"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, there they are standing in a row," Shantel stopped when she saw Eowyn looking at her oddly. Shantel chuckled, a bit embarrassed and shrugged. "Sorry kinda bored, just a song in my world." Eowyn smiled and looked to the door, concern in her face.
"Maybe we should practice," Shantel suggested grabbing her sword. "Just take it easy on me okay, you are way better than me."
"You are as good as you think you are Shantel," Eowyn said, stepping up in a defense position. "Just do not be cocky and if entered into battle I am sure we'll both leave alive. Only a little practice, so not to tire ourselves out." Shantel nodded and waited, copying Eowyn's defense. Eowyn swung first, which Shantel raised her sword and blocked the blow. With out a pause, Eowyn swung low and Shantel jumped letting the sword pass under her. Shantel replied, using the broadside of the sword as she was taught, and went towards Eowyn's side. Turning with the spin, Eowyn stopped with her sword blocking Shantel's blow. They went back and forth for a few minutes, until both seemed to step back at once.
"We should probably rest now," Shantel said, she was sweating and breathing a little hard. Eowyn smiled and nodded, there was maybe a start of sweat on her brow but her breathing was even.
"You have a good defense," Eowyn commented. "Let me show you some offense." Standing next to Shantel, Eowyn showed her how to put her weight, using her hips behind any thrust to deliver a more powerful blow, how to size up the enemy in a second's glance and use that to help decide how to over come him, and suggested to use the surrounding walls, objects, as helpers and shields in battle.
"Many of those will be more difficult unless used in practice," Eowyn acknowledged. "But it should help you."
"Thank you," Shantel said.
"May I see your blade?" Eowyn asked. Shantel handed it over and watched Eowyn's eyes widen with its lightness.
"A gift from the Lord Elrond," Shantel said not being able to help but smile. "I was originally going to Lothlorien to go home, remember?" Eowyn nodded swinging the blade around. "They knew I would need defense. You should have seen the cave troll, I think that's where I learned most of my dodging from."
"You faced a troll," Eowyn stopped and looked at Shantel. "Tell me what happened." Shantel started to explain how Pippin made a dwarf skeleton fall down a well then how the orcs came."
"If it wasn't so scary I would have laughed with how Boromir said, 'They have a cave troll.' And we barricaded the door." Shantel laughed with Eowyn. She explained how they thought Frodo had died but he had mithril, and paused as she started to describe crossing the bridge where Gandalf faced the Balrog. Sure Gandalf was alive but the memory was still scary.
"You can stop if it's too painful," Eowyn said. She had sat down and was watching Shantel jump around as she described what happened.
"No, I can tell you about it," Shantel said. "It's just a very vivid memory. At the bridge Gandalf made sure we had all crossed first then turned a faced the monster. It was like living flame, makes the Uruk-hai look pretty and tame." Eowyn's eyes widened and waited for Shantel to continue.
"Gandalf then raised his staff, telling the Balrog it couldn't pass, over and over, until finally he shouted it!" Shantel had found a stick and raised it above her head like Gandalf did. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" And Shantel brought down the stick like Gandalf did, and the ground shook as it touched the ground. Alarmed screams came from below and Shantel was thrown off her feet, closing her eyes as the memory flashed back through.
The Balrog fell, and the whip disappeared for only a moment, then as Gandalf turned Shantel saw the whip come back up wrapping around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him down. She then remembered rushing forward as Gandalf's fingers brushed hers as he hung there for a moment. But this time he said something different.
"Open your eyes Shantel." Confused Shantel shook her head. "Yes, open your eyes." That was when Shantel realized she was reliving the past and that her eyes were closed. Gandalf and the scene faded and was replaced with the black fuzziness you see when you close your eyes at night. When her eyes, opened Eowyn was there, and had Shantel propped up in her arms.
"What happened?" Shantel asked. Eowyn sighed and shook her head.
"I am not sure, but listen," Eowyn said and both were silent. The sounds of clanging footsteps were sounded and the sounds of battle was coming closer. "I think we have been breached," Eowyn said slowly.
"Then we need to be ready," Shantel said and got up, grabbing her sword. Eowyn nodded and followed suit facing the door waiting for it to open to an unfriendly face.
Hoards of orc and Uruk clambered into the hole of the wall, many lay in the ground that were on the catwalk. Aragorn watched from above as he saw Gimli get up and was swallowed by the on coming of the enemy.
"Gimli!" Aragorn shouted then turned to the elves that were still standing. "Prepare to charge! Hado i philinn! Herio!" (Hurl the arrows! Charge!) Elves fired arrows onto the enemy many fell but many were still entering. Legolas saw his friend at the bottom and a shield lay discarded on the ground. Jumping on it, he slid down the steps, firing at the enemy making many fall as he did. At the bottom stair an orc grinned thinking Legolas to be an easy target once he reaches the bottom. Towards the end of the stair, Legolas kicked up on the shield and it flew straight into the orcs, throat, making it fall back.
"Aragorn, pull back to the gate!" Théoden's voice was heard.
"Na Barad! Na Barad! Haldir! Na Barad!" (To the Keep! To the Keep! Haldir! To the Keep!" Aragorn yelled heading down. Haldir nodded and called to the others. A pair of guards saw Gimli and one pair grabbed each of his arms dragging him away.
"What are you doing? Stop it!" Gimli struggled but not able to free himself. Haldir was one of the last if the elves still living on the catwalk. An Uruk sneaked up behind Haldir and raised his sword to strike. Haldir turned at the last second deflecting the blow that would have inevitably killed him. The Uruk's sneer turned to one of fear as Haldir gave the monster a grin and whipped his sword about slicing the creature's head off. Jumping down to the stair, he gave on last glimpse to his fallen kin and went to the keep. Behind the gates, Haldir was pulled in as they shut the doors and guards leaned against them, trying to block entrance.
"Brace the gate!" Gamling, a guard called.
"To the gate! Draw your swords!" Théoden called pulling his own sword out. A few planks were broken off one slicing into Théoden himself, he paused gripping his injured shoulder.
Seeing Haldir, Aragorn went up to his comrade and looked at him.
"Na le maar?" (Are you all right?) Aragorn could tell that Haldir was injured. Haldir shook his head and moved his hand away from his side. There was a gash and blood was starting to seep into his clothes.
"Make sure he gets to the caves," Aragorn called to a young boy who took Haldir's arm and led him away. Turning Aragorn saw that the gates were nearly breached themselves and needed to be repaired, quickly.
"How long do you need?" Aragorn asked Théoden.
"As long as you can give me!" Théoden replied. Catching a sight of Gimli pacing Aragorn called to him and had him follow to a side door. Climbing out, the looked over a gap to where the Uruk and orcs were gathered trying to gain entrance.
"Come on. We can take them!" Gimli growled.
"It's a long way." Aragorn looked down, amused. Gimli looked briefly over the edge and gave a sigh.
"Toss me!" Gimli quickly commanded. Aragorn raised his eyebrows.
"What?"
"I cannot jump the distance so you have to toss me." Gimli complained, then had a second thought. "Ehh.. Don't tell the elf."
"Not a word," Aragorn promised then flung Gimli over the gap before jumping himself. The path to the gates was narrow not letting many of the enemy able to advance at once. As they sliced, diced and pushed many over the edge, and laughed at the ones who lost balance and sent themselves over. The doors were able to be repaired and Théoden looked out a gap that was still left.
"Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!" Théoden yelled before putting a board in it's place, completely blocking all entry. Legolas who was shooting arrows from above saw his friends and threw a rope down.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called. Aragorn grabbed on with Gimli and held on as they were pulled up and over to safety, then the three went down to where the king was waiting.
The door to the keep opened and Shantel braced herself with Eowyn. When two figures were visible the girls jumped forward then skidded to a halt, Eowyn because she saw the boy, and Shantel because she saw Haldir was injured. Sheathing her sword, Shantel ran forward and took Haldir's arm.
"Haldir, man ta…" (What is?) Shantel paused in her question seeing where Haldir was wounded. Helping over to a chair, she helped him sit while Eowyn came over with some bandages.
"What happened?" Shantel asked. He briefly covered what happened, and confirmed Eowyn's suspicions that the wall was breached.
"Right now, they are blocking the gate," Haldir said, and sat up a little as Eowyn finished with the bandages. More commotion at the door, Shantel and Eowyn jumped up with their swords. They relaxed again when they saw Aragorn enter, with Gimli, Legolas and the king and his men.
"The fortress is taken. It is over." Théoden said before anyone could comment.
"That is not possible?" Eowyn whispered.
"Oh it's possible," Shantel said. "Like when the Titanic was built and claimed as the unsinkable ship then it sank, never mind not important." Shantel waved it off when everyone stared at her.
"No I believe that it is" Aragorn said walked over to Shantel. She looked up at him wondering what in the word could a ship do, in here?
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!" Aragorn said to Théoden. "Tell me Shantel?" Aragorn turned again. "Did people survive the sinking ship?" Shantel nodded. "Even when all seems lost there can still be success," Aragorn turned back to Théoden. "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves? Is there no other way?"
"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains." Gamling said. "But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many."
Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!" Aragorn told him and Gamling ran off. "You should go with him," Aragorn meant for Shantel and Eowyn.
"No heck in way are we going anywhere," Shantel said standing her full height.
"Not until we know all women and children are in, or that it is safe are we leaving," Eowyn said. Aragorn nodded and turned to the king who was muttering quietly.
"Maybe we should be poised at the entry way of the cave," Shantel whispered.
"At least in front on the inside," Eowyn said back. "There is naught much we can do here." The girls edged away almost to the caves when a narrow hole on the outside caught their eyes. Eowyn slipped through first and Shantel followed. There were some Uruk about but it would be shorted to cross from there to the small opening below. Not big enough for Uruk and orcs but the girls could slip through. The girls edged away towards the caves, silently working around the Uruk and orcs as to not draw attention to themselves. Eowyn entered first and Shantel moved to follow but paused at the sound of a horn. The enemy stopped and looked about in wonder. Shantel looked about and that's all it took for one Uruk to see her. Looking up, Shantel gasped seeing the Uruk running up and turned to slip into the hole, Eowyn had gone through. Eowyn grabbed Shantel's arm and pulled her through when a tug stopped her.
"They have my arm!" Shantel yelled. "Leggo!" Shantel kicked out with her foot and felt them pulling her back out. A few other women ran forward and started to help try and pull Shantel back but they were no match for the strength of the Uruk.
"Eowyn, hand me my sword," Shantel called. Pulling it from the sheath, Eowyn thrust it into Shantel's hands. Careful not to hit the woman, Shantel raised the sword and plunged it through the hole into the head of the monster pulling her. Immediately he let go and the women all fell back.
"Cover the hole, quickly," Eowyn shouted as orcs started sticking their arms through. Bashing any limb into view with rocks, the women all barricaded the hole and started to file out towards the mountain.
On horseback, Legolas, Aragorn, Théoden and a few other rode out, separating the hordes of orcs and Uruk and paused at seeing a figure at the top of the hill.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn said, when the figure was able to be seen clearly. The enemy stopped in its tracks then sneered at Gandalf's words.
"Théoden-king stands alone." Gandalf said.
"Not alone." Eomer rode beside Gandalf. "Rohirrim! To the king!" The sneers faded to looks of fear as the new army rode down meeting with the orcs and Uruk. The battle turned as men and guards from the inside came out fighting, until the orc and Uruk were running, knowing they were beaten.
"Forty two, Master Legolas!" Gimli cried when he saw the elven archer. "Alas! My ax is notched. The forty second had an iron collar about his neck. How it is with you?"
"You have passed my score by one," Legolas smiled. "But I am glad to see that you are well."
Inside the deep of the caves, Shantel and Eowyn waited. It had grown quiet outside and both girls were becoming nervous.
"It's quiet," Shantel said. Eowyn nodded. "A little too quiet." It had been at least an hour and the girls were getting restless.
"I say we take a peek," Eowyn got up and walked to the barricade. It took them a few minutes but got the last of the barricade moved and no enemy was in sight.
"Tricky, tricky, tricky," Shantel whispered as she leaned out a bit.
"Boo!" Some one jumped at Shantel from in front.
"Ahhhh!" Shantel screamed and fell back knocking her and Eowyn onto the ground. Rubbing a soar rear, Shantel looked up into the smiling face of Legolas and Gimli was next to him chuckling.
"It's over?" Eowyn was astonished.
"We won?" Shantel jumped up. Both dwarf and elf nodded. "Eowyn tell the women to stop and turn back" Going over, Shantel climbed out and smiled at her friends. "Give me a hug!" Legolas leaned forward, his body was clothes were damp with sweat but Shantel didn't care, same with Gimli.
"Where's Haldir?" Shantel asked.
"Gandalf is looking over him right now," Legolas said. "For now we are resting before we leave for Isengard." A look crossed Shantel's face and both knew what it meant.
"You are not going, lass," Gimli started.
"Yes I am!" Shantel retorted and started to walk towards the hall Haldir was in. "I'm going to get my necklace back!"
