Author's Note: This story draws near its end; there are just a few chapters left to post. I will be sad when I put up the final chapter. I have really enjoyed writing this story, and I hope you all have enjoyed reading it. (Side note: I have started a new pre-LotR story, The End and Beginning of it All, which has delayed my updating this story. Sorry!)

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Chapter 7: The Battle Ends

Eowyn is filled with peace as she waits for the end. A great screech startles her, and her eyes open in time to see the orc that had towered above her topple to the ground and gaspingly draw its last breath. A dagger is buried in its neck. 

She blinks slowly in surprise and looks around. Thathien stands several feet away, weaponless, her eyes large as she stares at the scene. Her throw was true and made its target. Eowyn slowly tries to sit up, still holding her side. Her other hands comes up to her brow as her head pounds, and she feels momentarily dizzy. Thathien rushes over, draws the dagger from orc, and then helps Eowyn to stand, while watching for any orcs that may attempt to sneak up on them. Eowyn sways slightly and then gains her balance. Thathien picks up Eowyn's sword and hands it to her. She accepts it gratefully, and then she draws her hand from her side and, not minding the blood, places it around the hilt of her sword.

"Thank you," she manages in a whisper.

Thathien nods, then turns, her dagger clashing with a sword.

Eowyn grips her sword tightly, tensing. She looks to where she had last seen Ethoethien, but she is not there. Eowyn quickly scans the scene and see that only a few orcs are left. She does not see Larewen or Freda or Neisa anywhere. Suddenly screams and cries and shrieks are heard, echoing through the passage from behind them. Eowyn pales. Some orcs must have gotten past them!

Screams… The same screams and cries that haunted her in her dreams. The defenseless…. The hopelessness…. No! Her dream cannot become a reality! She will not allow it. She will not fail…. A new anger rages through her, and she throws herself into the battle again.

As her sword clashes with others, she stumbles among the corpses on the ground. If they can just kill these last few remaining orcs and help the others…. Everything starts to blur for Eowyn. She will lose it soon; she knows it. She is battling an orc, pushing it back farther and farther. Each swing of her sword and each step she takes are more painful than the last.

A roar resounds off the walls, and a burst of heat warms Eowyn. She glances behind her and sees that some of the corpses have caught on fire somehow. The flames are spreading rapidly among the other bodies. The orc has also paused in dismay, giving Eowyn her chance. Using what strength she has left, she lifts her sword in both hands and quickly sends the beast's head flying in one direction while its body falls to the ground.

Eowyn brings her sword down slowly. She breathes heavily, her body covered in sweat. The unnatural heat brings Eowyn back to her senses. She quickly turns to the fire – it has spread more and will soon block the passage.

"Eowyn!" voices from the other side shout urgently.

Eowyn starts running toward the fire, hoping to get past the wall of fire before it cuts her off. Her side aches, but she tries not to break her pace. She stumbles over some of the bodies, which the flames start licking. Mowen and Laesien grab her and drag her over the bodies, just ahead of the flames. They race ahead of the fire and stop when they reach Tralede and Thathien and Ethoethien.

Eowyn nods thankfully to Mowen and Laesien and then surveys the scene. All the other orcs are on the floor, lifeless. Soon they are all kindling to the fire.

The battle is over.

After watching the flames for several moments, Eowyn then turns her attention to Thathien, Ethoethien, Tralede, Laesien, and Mowen. Their dresses, hair, and faces are covered with dirt and blood and sweat. Their wounds appear to be only scratches -- nothing life-threatening, it seems. Some of them have tears streaming down their faces; others are pale, numb, and in shock from their ordeal. All are exhausted. Some sit on the ground or lean wearily against the walls.

The smoke and smell of the burning bodies cause them to start choking. Eowyn wishes also to sit, but they must move away from the flames and fumes and ash and terrible smell.  With a sudden jolt, she remembers the others.

"Hurry!" Eowyn says, and runs as well as she can down the passage back the way they had originally come, trying to ignore the pain in her side. She chokes a little on the smoke. They cannot go to the mountains. Not with the bonfire. They will have to go all the way back to the caves. But they will not be up for another battle if the event occurs. But it is no good staying in the passage. Eowyn checks to see that the others are starting to follow, and they take off down the passage as fast as they can.

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Let me know what you think.