Random Orcs, or We Fell to Middle Earth
Chapter Eleven: Shattered Darkness
by Galadriel Tolkien
The Dike rose ahead and to our right as we approached it. Behind the Dike lay a long strip of land, banded on the sides by the mountain crags and at the back by massive walls hewn of stone. Probably rock straight from the caves under the Deep. Not far behind us, I could hear the army of Saruman cresting another small rise. The timing of this would be close, but we could do it.
Before the Dike stood many brave men. The rear guard of the Rohirrim, and I was saddened to see them there, for not all would survive the run for the Gate at Helm's Deep.
We waited on our small hill, watching the back road. The hillmen were near the forefront of the column, behind them the orcs and a mix of what seemed to be werewolves and other strange and twisted creations. I stared at them, remembering tales of things wizards would create with power, and feeling sickened.
::Later.::
::Yeah.:: We watched the first phalanx pass us, boots marching in quickstep and echoing in the earth. Far in the fields behind us fires raged, and I felt sickened to know that these things had not only raped the land and its people, but burned it deeply.
They would pay.
Carefully, I gathered a small amount of power, feeding it into the roadway several yards from the front of the troop. As they reached it, I yanked, and the road erupted upwards, dirt and rocks exploding into the men and orcs, sending them into confusion.
I had no battle cry, none I could use responsibly, anyway, so I merely rode down on them silently, trusting that shock and surprise to win us more heads.
We slammed into the side of the phalanx and cut through diagonally leaving death and destruction behind us. As the surprise wore off, the going became more difficult. But my blade was sure and my companion swifter on her feet than they expected.
Breaking free near the front, we rode for the Dike, turning at the last minute to await the oncoming hoards.
"Green Rider! The Green Rider is with us! All hail the Lady Rainbow!" The cry rang up and down the Dike and I blushed, wishing they wouldn't do something so silly. But this was the way they gained hope, and I knew there was little of it.
Quickly, I grabbed the young captain in charge, "Sir! We shall not be able to keep them."
"I know, my Lady."
"Heroism is all well and good, you idiot, but suicide isn't going to keep them from overrunning the Deep."
His face was a mask of sadness as he surveyed his troops. "I know."
I dropped his arm. "I'm sorry. I... I shall stay until the last possible moment. Send who you wish to the Deep, though, for this shall not be a long engagement."
There was no more time to talk, but I caught a faint gratitude in his posture as he turned away and snapped orders to his archers. We raised our bows, then fired. I shot until there were no more arrows in my quiver, then shoved my bow around my shoulder and unsheathed my sword.
Uruk-hai hit us first, massive things that took huge gashes in their hides and didn't fall. Alayna and I were nearly separated twice before I killed the three around us. More surged forward to fill the gap, and I knew the Dike was lost.
I shot a glance around, frantic to find the captain. And watched in horror as he was gutted by an orc. "RETREAT!" I screamed, throat feeling raw, "TO THE GATE!"
Something slammed into the side of my head, and I fell, tumbling from the saddle for the third time that day. Highly irritating, but it happens. I rolled to my feet and fired concussive bolts of energy into the orcs surrounding me. They exploded messily, and I jumped back into the saddle. My sword still in my hand, I used it to decapitate the orc attempting to maul the banner-bearer. I grabbed him by the arm, dragging him up behind me.
::That's it, bitch, we're out of here.:: Alayna announced.
Around me I heard the screams of many, but I couldn't stop. We had to reach the Gate before they closed it on us. The young man clutched my waist, panting rapidly as we galloped. Ahead, I could see some sort of activity, and hoped it meant they were opening the gate. Arrows whistled over my head, and I cursed, hoping the lad wouldn't be hit before we were under cover.
"The Green Rider comes! Hold the gates!"
Hold the gates indeed. The army was closing on us, exhaustion and a long day of skirmishing tiring Alayna to the point that two riders was seriously slowing her down. I twisted around and aimed down my sword-blade, firing several concussive bolts into the first wave. They disappeared in a shower of blood and bone, and the ones behind them slowed for a moment before continuing.
The gate was ahead, then behind us, my legs scraping it as we slid in. They slammed the gates closed completely as we skidded to a halt, and I dropped the kid into the arms of someone, then fell out of the saddle into Eomer's arms.
::I am off to find a nice warm mash.:: Alayna announced wearily.
::Go.:: I let Eomer set me down, and looked around at the others, "Has Gandalf returned?"
"Nay, my lady. The White Rider remains far off from us." Eomer smiled, "But you have returned. Hope is not lost."
"Hope is never lost while there are still those willing to stand and fight the darkness." I tried to smile, and ended up half-grinning. "I'm hoping you have more arrows around?"
"We might be able to find some, yes. But you must come tell my King how you fare."
I shook my head, "Time for tales later, lad. I need to get up to the top of the walls." I turned to look up at them and shivered. Men would die tonight. More than should. More than I wanted to lose.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was good as a staging place. To the east there was a spot under the walls that a stream came through. I assumed they had someone watching it, but didn't worry overmuch. At the back lay a hulking building, thick stone blocks as its mantle. I was betting that the king was there, and a small guard.
He led me to the armoury, and I grabbed as many quivers as I could hold, then sprinted for the stairs onto the wall. By the time I'd reached the top, my worst fears were confirmed. The enemy was setting seige engines and ladders at the walls, scaling them. As soon as one was sent down, another took its place.
I found Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in the midst of the melee, and joined them, shooting one orc right off the wall.
"Marya!" Aragorn caught my arm, smiling. "Glad I am to see you've made it."
"Same here, guys." I glanced around, and spotted a torch nearby, "Say, you wouldn't know if we're lobbing burning pitch out there, would you?"
"Nay, lady." Legolas shot another arrow down into the morass.
"Oh well." I dropped a quiver and grabbed an arrow, firing into the nearest siege engine. The concussive blast shattered it, sending debris falling into the crowd below. Another and another, I picked them off, cursing. For as soon as I destroyed one, another appeared. And I was running out of the energy to create concussive blasts.
Time passed, Legolas and Aragorn and I spent arrow after arrow, every one hitting a target, every one feeling more and more futile as the hoarde kept coming. Eomer joined us at one point, and he and Aragorn took off to fight sword to sword as they had long ago said they would.
Around us, the men of Rohan fought on bravely. The night was beginning to tinge into grey morning, dawn close. But it wouldn't reach us to do any good, considering the orcs and hillmen had marched all the day before. We were out-numbered by a good 7 to 1, but we would fight unto the death.
Great songs would be sung of our valour, and poems would be written. I grimaced. And those who survived would hold the scars of these days in their hearts forever.
Life sucks, heroes have it the worst. And the common men? They just die over and over again, ground to dust beneath the boots of empires.
We fought because there was no way out, and there was no hope. At least, I felt hopeless. I did my best to keep a happy mind and face to all outward appearances. Legolas may have sensed my disquiet, but he and Gimli were playing a tally game.
The orcs along the walls suddenly heightened their offensive, sending many siege engines and ladders up the walls. I fired down into the eye of one, then realised why they'd started this push.
"Aragorn! The gate!" I didn't know when the Heir to Gondor had reappeared, but he was a welcome sight.
He glanced towards it, and blanched as he saw what I had seen. The orcs had found some massive tree and hacked it down, then stripped its limbs from its body. They were now running it at the gate, smashing it. And they would break it down, given the time. I wasn't about to give them that time, though.
With a muttered curse, I ran along the wall till I was at the gap where the gate lay. I aimed down and fired shooting orc after hillman after hellbeast until there were no arrows left. And they filled the gaps as I killed them. Down in the courtyard, Eomer and several of the Riders were mustering, mounting up and preparing to ambush those who would enter through the gates. I glanced back and found Aragorn right behind me.
Together we ran into the courtyard, and I unsheathed my sword, wishing Alayna weren't napping in a stall somewhere as I reached the cobbled stone.
::I'm not.:: She snapped, skidding to a halt nearby. ::C'mon.::
I climbed into the saddle, wincing as several sore and stiff muscles protested. Then I didn't have time to care as the gates shattered inwards.
"Forth Eorlingas!" Eomer cried.
We surged into the gap, immediately facing multiple enemies on all sides. Alayna and I whirled and danced, sword cleaving heads from bodies, hooves smashing in chests and legs. Around us others did the same, some few fighting for their lives. Nearby a swordsman was unhorsed, his animal going down shrieking. Alayna slid us his way, and we found him still standing, fighting as hard as he could.
I took out two of his opponents, then gestured. He shook his head, face bleak and stabbed another orc. "C'mon!"
"My horse-sister is dead!"
"Fuck that! We need everyone in this battle!" I snapped the neck of a hillman and dropped from the saddle, landing to stand back to back with him. "You're an idiot."
"The Green Rider is--"
He never finished his sentence, as four orcs took my attention away for one second too long, and I turned back to find him spitted on a boar-spear. "NO!"
"My lady..." The light left his eyes, and he died there, broken and defeated.
Something inside me snapped, and I turned, hacking and slashing my way through the line. Rage held me, and I wove a dance of death, every strike building up the energy that writhed around the gates. If Gandalf had been there, he might have stopped me. But I was anger and rage, cold and filled with something that I hadn't felt for a long time.
The magic gathered as I fought, bleeding into the air like a cancerous wave of decay, it began sending the army running from me as I stalked their deaths. Halfway down the valley, I realised we had cleared the gate, and turned back. The surviving force of Rohirrim were staring at me, stricken with fear, and I realised I had let myself go too much.
::Marya Louisa Susanna DeZorga.::
It was Alayna, her worry and concern echoing through my head. There was the musty sense that I should be able to answer, that there was something vaguely wrong with my allies and friends looking upon me in horror.
Something struck me in the back, and I lurched forward, startled. I turned, to find the Uruk-hai standing before me, half-bowing as if *I* could command them.
For a long moment, I stared at them, reveling in the power that surged around me, the darkness that touched the edge of my vision.
A flicker of memory slammed into me, and I buckled at the knees, the power fleeing, bottling back into the recesses of the darkness in my mind. I wept there, rocks digging into my hands and knees, crying for the power to come back, to wrap around me again like a warm blanket.
"Marya." Aragorn stood above me, Anduril pointed at the Uruk-hai, who were backing away as if startled.
"Go away." I had failed.
All these years of locking the darkness inside me, and it had spilled out, tainting everything around me, dredging up memories I would rather have never seen again.
He touched my shoulder, and I flinched away from him. "You must come back inside."
"I can't." Leave me out here! I wanted to scream. Let me die, my body turning to so much dust and ash!
"My lady, you must come inside before they finish closing the gate."
I looked up at him, tears blurring my vision, "I failed."
"None of us are perfect, Marya. We all give in to the darkness inside. It is not bad, yet it is not good. Now come inside." He replied simply, hand held out to me.
You can't understand, I thought sadly. I am insane, inside. I am darkness and power, my life is a sham. I hurt things. But I didn't say any of that, I simply took his hand and rose, wiping at my tears, "Let's go in. Before that dwarf closes the gates upon us."
He chuckled, and we ran back inside the gates, turning to help them bolster them against another attack.
Alayna waited for me silently as I strode away towards the armoury, intent on more arrows. ::You can't keep holding yourself to this standard. Everybody slips.::
::When I slip, planets die.:: I replied bitterly.
::Don't be an arrogant bitch. Melodramatic, too.::
::You--::
::"Don't understand." My god, Marya, get the fuck over yourself.::
::No.:: I snorted. My sense of humour was rapidly recovering this latest slam against it.
::There's no time for this.::
::I know.:: Without paying much attention, I grabbed several quivers and ran back to the courtyard. As my foot touched pavement, I heard cries of pain off to my right. And an explosion rocked the ground I stood upon. ::What--?::
"My lady! They breached the wall!" Eomer caught my arm, eyes wide with shock. "We left a guard on the stream, but they over-powered it and set off some sort of wizard-device."
"C'mon." I followed him to the right, Gimli joining us as we ran.
More joined us as we ran, thirty, at most. Aragorn and Legolas were not among them. "Gimli! You shall have a higher tally than the elf after this!"
"Indeed, Lady Rainbow." He sounded pleased.
We hit the advancing band of orcs and hillmen head on, many cries from our throats about glory, honour, death, and Rohan. For a time, both sides might have been evenly matched, then reinforcements arrived on their side, and we were driven back. I led one charge that took us back into the caverns, and they followed us.
Behind them, Eomer led his half into the fray, and the enemy was shocked for an instant, caught between two pincers of death. For that moment, they panicked, and we slew and slew, swords and the rock beneath us saturating with blood. By this time, I'd been covered with blood for ages, now I was soaked in it. It would have been icky, but I hadn't the time to care. The orcs were rallying, and our forces were splintered, not strong enough in half to fight them.
"Eomer! Join us!" I screamed across the gap. He seemed to nod, and as his side moved towards ours, I renewed my attack on the orcs, scattering them long enough for us to regroup.
We fled into the caves, the orcs following us, sure in their victory. One of the men with us knew these caverns, though, and he led us to the spot for a perfect ambush. Gimli stood beside me as he waited, occasional murmurs exclaiming about the caves came from him, and I knew he'd found a place that equaled the beauty of Moria.
A good thing, since Moria was unfathomable, and this was fathomable. I'll admit the caves were quite lovely, jewel-tones shining here and there next to normal stone. Formations that echoed delight and majesty...
The orcs arrived, and we ambushed them, killing many in the first surprise. Then they regrouped, and we found ourselves battling for our lives. Gimli fought well, his ax hewing and cleaving the orcs as if their armour was butter under a hot knife. My sword matched him, and we killed quite a few before the orcs realised their mistake and tried to retreat. But victory was at hand, and we chased them, leaving the bodies of the dead for later.
Eventually, there were no more to kill, and we began retracing our steps, dragging the bodies of the dead behind us as we went. For the thought of leaving them their to befowl the caverns was unthinkable.
I went among the twenty that were left, tending injuries, and offering words of comfort and grace as I could. It felt awkward to do, but I sensed they needed it.
Eomer, I came upon last, dragging the carcass of a great orc. "Need some help?"
"We triumphed, my Lady." He moved, letting me grab hold of a limb.
"Yep." Damned thing was heavier than it looked. My estimation of the lad went up a few notches.
"This was but a small battle, though. A skirmish."
"And you wonder that we have the audacity to win a war with these odds?"
He had no chance to answer, for we had come upon one of our fallen comrades, his body brutally torn and violated. I felt sick, staring at the young man's face. He looked about 15, baby fat still evident.
"The devils..." Eomer knelt next to me, weeping softly. "They could not leave him lie, they had to destroy him."
I reached out and gently closed the eyes staring at us sightlessly. "Often I have seen the winners and the survivors more grievously harmed than those who lost." Bitterness moved through me, exhaustion chasing it, "It never ends, it goes on and on." I wasn't talking to anyone now, save myself. "Men die, men fight, men rend and tear and destroy. And still we endure as a people, our children happy and fruitful."
"Sad words, my lady." Eomer touched my arm, "But we have won this one moment of peace, let us not spoil it with pain and bitterness."
Wiping a tear from my cheek, I smiled slightly, "I thought I was the one who had this job."
"I am the captain, my troops answer to me." He replied simply.
"Good man." I straightened, my back protesting. "It should be dawn. Indeed, my bones tell me it is later than dawn."
We spent another hour heading back to the surface, bringing our dead with us, and attempting to leave the enemy in some semblance of order, so their removal would be swift at battle's end. It was while we were exiting the last chambers, that the echoes of great horns reached us. I listened, and felt something inside me gladden.
"Carefully now!" Eomer called as we started to pick up the pace, our run turning into a stumble due to the high amount of orc bodies we crawled over.
I chuckled, the dawn had arrived, and with it hope. There was hope again, even in the darkest night there had been hope. And I felt ashamed at my loss of control.
::Erkenbrand!:: Alayna called to me, ::He has arrived, and with him is Shadowfax. Oooh. Damn, and I look like shit.::
Gandalf. I winced, wondering what he would think of my folly, but didn't dwell on it. For we had reached the outer caves, and the light of the sun shone down upon us as we exited the caverns of the Deep.
With a loud cry, our troop surged forward. The walls were empty, but beyond them, the glittering of many men and pikes shone from the Dike. We ran, sheer happiness giving our weary legs the energy we needed to meet those of our friends who were left.
The King sat his horse as we approached, conversing with several other people including Gandalf, Aragorn, and a man I guessed was Erkenbrand.
Of the orcs and others, there was no sign, but I caught a glimpse of massive trees at the top of the valley, and pondered the fact that they felt of Fangorn.
"My King!" Eomer knelt, "We have won the day."
"Gimli!" Aragorn and Legolas looked pleased to see him. "We had thought you lost."
The dwarf snorted, "I have slew forty-two. Though my ax be notched now, I am pleased."
"Alas," Legolas replied, "For you have passed my score by one."
I chuckled, watching the greetings between friends. If wistfulness touched me, I let it pass, knowing I would have times like this myself. Aragorn touched my shoulder, "Are you well, Marya?"
"Yes." I smiled, "Glad I am that many have won this day."
"And yet, you would have seen none perish in the attempt."
I nodded, looking at the devestation the battle had left in the surrounding area. Great gashes had been ripped in the ground, and the seige engines lay overturned and rotting in the bright morning light. I remembered the fires of the night before and knew the devestation extended to more than just this spot.
"Do not become bleak, my lady. It is the way of war."
"It is, Aragorn. And I wish it were not." I smiled, "But we have won. What news?"
"Gandalf found Erkenbrand yestereve, and convinced him we were in need, and so they marched all night to arrive here at this time."
"And the trees?"
"Of that, you must ask him yourself."
I would. In the meantime, we gathered together, and listened to Erkenbrand and Theoden decide on the disposition of the troops. Or at least, I thought I was going to listen to them discuss it. Alayna had other plans.
::You're falling asleep on your feet.::
::So?::
::Sleep.::
::Can't. Things to do, places to go, people to see.::
She snorted, and nudged me in the back. I stumbled and would have fallen had Aragorn not caught my arm. He seemed slightly alarmed as he looked at me, "My lady, you are not hurt?"
"Nope."
"Idiot."
I glared at Gandalf, "Look who's talking."
"I did not attempt to take on an entire army."
"That has nothing to do with anything."
"You're exhausted."
Aragorn was watching us, bemused.
I glared at Gandalf, unable to refute his comment. "So?"
"You're being irrational. Wouldn't you counsel an exhausted man to lay down his cares for a time and sleep?"
"Irrational?" I choked, anger filling me, "Irrational is trying to leave me behind, Gandalf."
"You have only proved that I was right."
My mouth dropped open, and I stared at him, utterly enraged. Seething, I couldn't see anything but him, hazed in red. And a slight greying at the edge of my vision, but that was something I'd gotten used to over the last hour. "You--"
He glared at me, "You. Need. Sleep."
"I am *perfectly* fine." I snapped, my teeth gritted. My jaw ached as I clenched it tight on the thousand and one things I wanted to say.
::He's right.::
::SHUT. UP.::
Alayna shoved me in the back again, and I stumbled, falling into Gandalf. As he caught me, he touched my forehead gently, and breathed a soft word. I blinked, muzzy, trying to figure out what was going on. The world was darkening inexhorably, and I realised right before sleep took me that Gandalf and Alayna had conspired to send me down into the dark.
They would pay. Later. Now I got to go dance with my nightmares.
Chapter Eleven: Shattered Darkness
by Galadriel Tolkien
The Dike rose ahead and to our right as we approached it. Behind the Dike lay a long strip of land, banded on the sides by the mountain crags and at the back by massive walls hewn of stone. Probably rock straight from the caves under the Deep. Not far behind us, I could hear the army of Saruman cresting another small rise. The timing of this would be close, but we could do it.
Before the Dike stood many brave men. The rear guard of the Rohirrim, and I was saddened to see them there, for not all would survive the run for the Gate at Helm's Deep.
We waited on our small hill, watching the back road. The hillmen were near the forefront of the column, behind them the orcs and a mix of what seemed to be werewolves and other strange and twisted creations. I stared at them, remembering tales of things wizards would create with power, and feeling sickened.
::Later.::
::Yeah.:: We watched the first phalanx pass us, boots marching in quickstep and echoing in the earth. Far in the fields behind us fires raged, and I felt sickened to know that these things had not only raped the land and its people, but burned it deeply.
They would pay.
Carefully, I gathered a small amount of power, feeding it into the roadway several yards from the front of the troop. As they reached it, I yanked, and the road erupted upwards, dirt and rocks exploding into the men and orcs, sending them into confusion.
I had no battle cry, none I could use responsibly, anyway, so I merely rode down on them silently, trusting that shock and surprise to win us more heads.
We slammed into the side of the phalanx and cut through diagonally leaving death and destruction behind us. As the surprise wore off, the going became more difficult. But my blade was sure and my companion swifter on her feet than they expected.
Breaking free near the front, we rode for the Dike, turning at the last minute to await the oncoming hoards.
"Green Rider! The Green Rider is with us! All hail the Lady Rainbow!" The cry rang up and down the Dike and I blushed, wishing they wouldn't do something so silly. But this was the way they gained hope, and I knew there was little of it.
Quickly, I grabbed the young captain in charge, "Sir! We shall not be able to keep them."
"I know, my Lady."
"Heroism is all well and good, you idiot, but suicide isn't going to keep them from overrunning the Deep."
His face was a mask of sadness as he surveyed his troops. "I know."
I dropped his arm. "I'm sorry. I... I shall stay until the last possible moment. Send who you wish to the Deep, though, for this shall not be a long engagement."
There was no more time to talk, but I caught a faint gratitude in his posture as he turned away and snapped orders to his archers. We raised our bows, then fired. I shot until there were no more arrows in my quiver, then shoved my bow around my shoulder and unsheathed my sword.
Uruk-hai hit us first, massive things that took huge gashes in their hides and didn't fall. Alayna and I were nearly separated twice before I killed the three around us. More surged forward to fill the gap, and I knew the Dike was lost.
I shot a glance around, frantic to find the captain. And watched in horror as he was gutted by an orc. "RETREAT!" I screamed, throat feeling raw, "TO THE GATE!"
Something slammed into the side of my head, and I fell, tumbling from the saddle for the third time that day. Highly irritating, but it happens. I rolled to my feet and fired concussive bolts of energy into the orcs surrounding me. They exploded messily, and I jumped back into the saddle. My sword still in my hand, I used it to decapitate the orc attempting to maul the banner-bearer. I grabbed him by the arm, dragging him up behind me.
::That's it, bitch, we're out of here.:: Alayna announced.
Around me I heard the screams of many, but I couldn't stop. We had to reach the Gate before they closed it on us. The young man clutched my waist, panting rapidly as we galloped. Ahead, I could see some sort of activity, and hoped it meant they were opening the gate. Arrows whistled over my head, and I cursed, hoping the lad wouldn't be hit before we were under cover.
"The Green Rider comes! Hold the gates!"
Hold the gates indeed. The army was closing on us, exhaustion and a long day of skirmishing tiring Alayna to the point that two riders was seriously slowing her down. I twisted around and aimed down my sword-blade, firing several concussive bolts into the first wave. They disappeared in a shower of blood and bone, and the ones behind them slowed for a moment before continuing.
The gate was ahead, then behind us, my legs scraping it as we slid in. They slammed the gates closed completely as we skidded to a halt, and I dropped the kid into the arms of someone, then fell out of the saddle into Eomer's arms.
::I am off to find a nice warm mash.:: Alayna announced wearily.
::Go.:: I let Eomer set me down, and looked around at the others, "Has Gandalf returned?"
"Nay, my lady. The White Rider remains far off from us." Eomer smiled, "But you have returned. Hope is not lost."
"Hope is never lost while there are still those willing to stand and fight the darkness." I tried to smile, and ended up half-grinning. "I'm hoping you have more arrows around?"
"We might be able to find some, yes. But you must come tell my King how you fare."
I shook my head, "Time for tales later, lad. I need to get up to the top of the walls." I turned to look up at them and shivered. Men would die tonight. More than should. More than I wanted to lose.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was good as a staging place. To the east there was a spot under the walls that a stream came through. I assumed they had someone watching it, but didn't worry overmuch. At the back lay a hulking building, thick stone blocks as its mantle. I was betting that the king was there, and a small guard.
He led me to the armoury, and I grabbed as many quivers as I could hold, then sprinted for the stairs onto the wall. By the time I'd reached the top, my worst fears were confirmed. The enemy was setting seige engines and ladders at the walls, scaling them. As soon as one was sent down, another took its place.
I found Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in the midst of the melee, and joined them, shooting one orc right off the wall.
"Marya!" Aragorn caught my arm, smiling. "Glad I am to see you've made it."
"Same here, guys." I glanced around, and spotted a torch nearby, "Say, you wouldn't know if we're lobbing burning pitch out there, would you?"
"Nay, lady." Legolas shot another arrow down into the morass.
"Oh well." I dropped a quiver and grabbed an arrow, firing into the nearest siege engine. The concussive blast shattered it, sending debris falling into the crowd below. Another and another, I picked them off, cursing. For as soon as I destroyed one, another appeared. And I was running out of the energy to create concussive blasts.
Time passed, Legolas and Aragorn and I spent arrow after arrow, every one hitting a target, every one feeling more and more futile as the hoarde kept coming. Eomer joined us at one point, and he and Aragorn took off to fight sword to sword as they had long ago said they would.
Around us, the men of Rohan fought on bravely. The night was beginning to tinge into grey morning, dawn close. But it wouldn't reach us to do any good, considering the orcs and hillmen had marched all the day before. We were out-numbered by a good 7 to 1, but we would fight unto the death.
Great songs would be sung of our valour, and poems would be written. I grimaced. And those who survived would hold the scars of these days in their hearts forever.
Life sucks, heroes have it the worst. And the common men? They just die over and over again, ground to dust beneath the boots of empires.
We fought because there was no way out, and there was no hope. At least, I felt hopeless. I did my best to keep a happy mind and face to all outward appearances. Legolas may have sensed my disquiet, but he and Gimli were playing a tally game.
The orcs along the walls suddenly heightened their offensive, sending many siege engines and ladders up the walls. I fired down into the eye of one, then realised why they'd started this push.
"Aragorn! The gate!" I didn't know when the Heir to Gondor had reappeared, but he was a welcome sight.
He glanced towards it, and blanched as he saw what I had seen. The orcs had found some massive tree and hacked it down, then stripped its limbs from its body. They were now running it at the gate, smashing it. And they would break it down, given the time. I wasn't about to give them that time, though.
With a muttered curse, I ran along the wall till I was at the gap where the gate lay. I aimed down and fired shooting orc after hillman after hellbeast until there were no arrows left. And they filled the gaps as I killed them. Down in the courtyard, Eomer and several of the Riders were mustering, mounting up and preparing to ambush those who would enter through the gates. I glanced back and found Aragorn right behind me.
Together we ran into the courtyard, and I unsheathed my sword, wishing Alayna weren't napping in a stall somewhere as I reached the cobbled stone.
::I'm not.:: She snapped, skidding to a halt nearby. ::C'mon.::
I climbed into the saddle, wincing as several sore and stiff muscles protested. Then I didn't have time to care as the gates shattered inwards.
"Forth Eorlingas!" Eomer cried.
We surged into the gap, immediately facing multiple enemies on all sides. Alayna and I whirled and danced, sword cleaving heads from bodies, hooves smashing in chests and legs. Around us others did the same, some few fighting for their lives. Nearby a swordsman was unhorsed, his animal going down shrieking. Alayna slid us his way, and we found him still standing, fighting as hard as he could.
I took out two of his opponents, then gestured. He shook his head, face bleak and stabbed another orc. "C'mon!"
"My horse-sister is dead!"
"Fuck that! We need everyone in this battle!" I snapped the neck of a hillman and dropped from the saddle, landing to stand back to back with him. "You're an idiot."
"The Green Rider is--"
He never finished his sentence, as four orcs took my attention away for one second too long, and I turned back to find him spitted on a boar-spear. "NO!"
"My lady..." The light left his eyes, and he died there, broken and defeated.
Something inside me snapped, and I turned, hacking and slashing my way through the line. Rage held me, and I wove a dance of death, every strike building up the energy that writhed around the gates. If Gandalf had been there, he might have stopped me. But I was anger and rage, cold and filled with something that I hadn't felt for a long time.
The magic gathered as I fought, bleeding into the air like a cancerous wave of decay, it began sending the army running from me as I stalked their deaths. Halfway down the valley, I realised we had cleared the gate, and turned back. The surviving force of Rohirrim were staring at me, stricken with fear, and I realised I had let myself go too much.
::Marya Louisa Susanna DeZorga.::
It was Alayna, her worry and concern echoing through my head. There was the musty sense that I should be able to answer, that there was something vaguely wrong with my allies and friends looking upon me in horror.
Something struck me in the back, and I lurched forward, startled. I turned, to find the Uruk-hai standing before me, half-bowing as if *I* could command them.
For a long moment, I stared at them, reveling in the power that surged around me, the darkness that touched the edge of my vision.
A flicker of memory slammed into me, and I buckled at the knees, the power fleeing, bottling back into the recesses of the darkness in my mind. I wept there, rocks digging into my hands and knees, crying for the power to come back, to wrap around me again like a warm blanket.
"Marya." Aragorn stood above me, Anduril pointed at the Uruk-hai, who were backing away as if startled.
"Go away." I had failed.
All these years of locking the darkness inside me, and it had spilled out, tainting everything around me, dredging up memories I would rather have never seen again.
He touched my shoulder, and I flinched away from him. "You must come back inside."
"I can't." Leave me out here! I wanted to scream. Let me die, my body turning to so much dust and ash!
"My lady, you must come inside before they finish closing the gate."
I looked up at him, tears blurring my vision, "I failed."
"None of us are perfect, Marya. We all give in to the darkness inside. It is not bad, yet it is not good. Now come inside." He replied simply, hand held out to me.
You can't understand, I thought sadly. I am insane, inside. I am darkness and power, my life is a sham. I hurt things. But I didn't say any of that, I simply took his hand and rose, wiping at my tears, "Let's go in. Before that dwarf closes the gates upon us."
He chuckled, and we ran back inside the gates, turning to help them bolster them against another attack.
Alayna waited for me silently as I strode away towards the armoury, intent on more arrows. ::You can't keep holding yourself to this standard. Everybody slips.::
::When I slip, planets die.:: I replied bitterly.
::Don't be an arrogant bitch. Melodramatic, too.::
::You--::
::"Don't understand." My god, Marya, get the fuck over yourself.::
::No.:: I snorted. My sense of humour was rapidly recovering this latest slam against it.
::There's no time for this.::
::I know.:: Without paying much attention, I grabbed several quivers and ran back to the courtyard. As my foot touched pavement, I heard cries of pain off to my right. And an explosion rocked the ground I stood upon. ::What--?::
"My lady! They breached the wall!" Eomer caught my arm, eyes wide with shock. "We left a guard on the stream, but they over-powered it and set off some sort of wizard-device."
"C'mon." I followed him to the right, Gimli joining us as we ran.
More joined us as we ran, thirty, at most. Aragorn and Legolas were not among them. "Gimli! You shall have a higher tally than the elf after this!"
"Indeed, Lady Rainbow." He sounded pleased.
We hit the advancing band of orcs and hillmen head on, many cries from our throats about glory, honour, death, and Rohan. For a time, both sides might have been evenly matched, then reinforcements arrived on their side, and we were driven back. I led one charge that took us back into the caverns, and they followed us.
Behind them, Eomer led his half into the fray, and the enemy was shocked for an instant, caught between two pincers of death. For that moment, they panicked, and we slew and slew, swords and the rock beneath us saturating with blood. By this time, I'd been covered with blood for ages, now I was soaked in it. It would have been icky, but I hadn't the time to care. The orcs were rallying, and our forces were splintered, not strong enough in half to fight them.
"Eomer! Join us!" I screamed across the gap. He seemed to nod, and as his side moved towards ours, I renewed my attack on the orcs, scattering them long enough for us to regroup.
We fled into the caves, the orcs following us, sure in their victory. One of the men with us knew these caverns, though, and he led us to the spot for a perfect ambush. Gimli stood beside me as he waited, occasional murmurs exclaiming about the caves came from him, and I knew he'd found a place that equaled the beauty of Moria.
A good thing, since Moria was unfathomable, and this was fathomable. I'll admit the caves were quite lovely, jewel-tones shining here and there next to normal stone. Formations that echoed delight and majesty...
The orcs arrived, and we ambushed them, killing many in the first surprise. Then they regrouped, and we found ourselves battling for our lives. Gimli fought well, his ax hewing and cleaving the orcs as if their armour was butter under a hot knife. My sword matched him, and we killed quite a few before the orcs realised their mistake and tried to retreat. But victory was at hand, and we chased them, leaving the bodies of the dead for later.
Eventually, there were no more to kill, and we began retracing our steps, dragging the bodies of the dead behind us as we went. For the thought of leaving them their to befowl the caverns was unthinkable.
I went among the twenty that were left, tending injuries, and offering words of comfort and grace as I could. It felt awkward to do, but I sensed they needed it.
Eomer, I came upon last, dragging the carcass of a great orc. "Need some help?"
"We triumphed, my Lady." He moved, letting me grab hold of a limb.
"Yep." Damned thing was heavier than it looked. My estimation of the lad went up a few notches.
"This was but a small battle, though. A skirmish."
"And you wonder that we have the audacity to win a war with these odds?"
He had no chance to answer, for we had come upon one of our fallen comrades, his body brutally torn and violated. I felt sick, staring at the young man's face. He looked about 15, baby fat still evident.
"The devils..." Eomer knelt next to me, weeping softly. "They could not leave him lie, they had to destroy him."
I reached out and gently closed the eyes staring at us sightlessly. "Often I have seen the winners and the survivors more grievously harmed than those who lost." Bitterness moved through me, exhaustion chasing it, "It never ends, it goes on and on." I wasn't talking to anyone now, save myself. "Men die, men fight, men rend and tear and destroy. And still we endure as a people, our children happy and fruitful."
"Sad words, my lady." Eomer touched my arm, "But we have won this one moment of peace, let us not spoil it with pain and bitterness."
Wiping a tear from my cheek, I smiled slightly, "I thought I was the one who had this job."
"I am the captain, my troops answer to me." He replied simply.
"Good man." I straightened, my back protesting. "It should be dawn. Indeed, my bones tell me it is later than dawn."
We spent another hour heading back to the surface, bringing our dead with us, and attempting to leave the enemy in some semblance of order, so their removal would be swift at battle's end. It was while we were exiting the last chambers, that the echoes of great horns reached us. I listened, and felt something inside me gladden.
"Carefully now!" Eomer called as we started to pick up the pace, our run turning into a stumble due to the high amount of orc bodies we crawled over.
I chuckled, the dawn had arrived, and with it hope. There was hope again, even in the darkest night there had been hope. And I felt ashamed at my loss of control.
::Erkenbrand!:: Alayna called to me, ::He has arrived, and with him is Shadowfax. Oooh. Damn, and I look like shit.::
Gandalf. I winced, wondering what he would think of my folly, but didn't dwell on it. For we had reached the outer caves, and the light of the sun shone down upon us as we exited the caverns of the Deep.
With a loud cry, our troop surged forward. The walls were empty, but beyond them, the glittering of many men and pikes shone from the Dike. We ran, sheer happiness giving our weary legs the energy we needed to meet those of our friends who were left.
The King sat his horse as we approached, conversing with several other people including Gandalf, Aragorn, and a man I guessed was Erkenbrand.
Of the orcs and others, there was no sign, but I caught a glimpse of massive trees at the top of the valley, and pondered the fact that they felt of Fangorn.
"My King!" Eomer knelt, "We have won the day."
"Gimli!" Aragorn and Legolas looked pleased to see him. "We had thought you lost."
The dwarf snorted, "I have slew forty-two. Though my ax be notched now, I am pleased."
"Alas," Legolas replied, "For you have passed my score by one."
I chuckled, watching the greetings between friends. If wistfulness touched me, I let it pass, knowing I would have times like this myself. Aragorn touched my shoulder, "Are you well, Marya?"
"Yes." I smiled, "Glad I am that many have won this day."
"And yet, you would have seen none perish in the attempt."
I nodded, looking at the devestation the battle had left in the surrounding area. Great gashes had been ripped in the ground, and the seige engines lay overturned and rotting in the bright morning light. I remembered the fires of the night before and knew the devestation extended to more than just this spot.
"Do not become bleak, my lady. It is the way of war."
"It is, Aragorn. And I wish it were not." I smiled, "But we have won. What news?"
"Gandalf found Erkenbrand yestereve, and convinced him we were in need, and so they marched all night to arrive here at this time."
"And the trees?"
"Of that, you must ask him yourself."
I would. In the meantime, we gathered together, and listened to Erkenbrand and Theoden decide on the disposition of the troops. Or at least, I thought I was going to listen to them discuss it. Alayna had other plans.
::You're falling asleep on your feet.::
::So?::
::Sleep.::
::Can't. Things to do, places to go, people to see.::
She snorted, and nudged me in the back. I stumbled and would have fallen had Aragorn not caught my arm. He seemed slightly alarmed as he looked at me, "My lady, you are not hurt?"
"Nope."
"Idiot."
I glared at Gandalf, "Look who's talking."
"I did not attempt to take on an entire army."
"That has nothing to do with anything."
"You're exhausted."
Aragorn was watching us, bemused.
I glared at Gandalf, unable to refute his comment. "So?"
"You're being irrational. Wouldn't you counsel an exhausted man to lay down his cares for a time and sleep?"
"Irrational?" I choked, anger filling me, "Irrational is trying to leave me behind, Gandalf."
"You have only proved that I was right."
My mouth dropped open, and I stared at him, utterly enraged. Seething, I couldn't see anything but him, hazed in red. And a slight greying at the edge of my vision, but that was something I'd gotten used to over the last hour. "You--"
He glared at me, "You. Need. Sleep."
"I am *perfectly* fine." I snapped, my teeth gritted. My jaw ached as I clenched it tight on the thousand and one things I wanted to say.
::He's right.::
::SHUT. UP.::
Alayna shoved me in the back again, and I stumbled, falling into Gandalf. As he caught me, he touched my forehead gently, and breathed a soft word. I blinked, muzzy, trying to figure out what was going on. The world was darkening inexhorably, and I realised right before sleep took me that Gandalf and Alayna had conspired to send me down into the dark.
They would pay. Later. Now I got to go dance with my nightmares.