Authors Note: Guys, do you think I torture Legolas in a senseless manner just for the sake of torturing him? I got told this through an e-mail and it made me think. Oh well. Whatever I'll keep torturing the guy just because it's something I like to do. On with the story!
Severity of Silence
Chapter 11: Never let you down
(A soldiers POV while fighting)
The battle between Druth and Gondor is relentless, although a few of our warriors lay on the ground, dead or badly wounded we do not fare as badly as the others, Druth's army is made up of nothing but farmers with little training in warfare. Sending these farm boys and simple men is like sending a herd of sheep to the butcher, an endless bloodbath. Still their warriors keep coming; many so young haven't even gone beyond a nineteenth winter. Sadly I cut through another opponent, this one seemingly younger than the last, my heart shielded by my anger for their attacking of my kinsmen. All around me the attacking forces fall dead, my sword ringing with every swipe and within my head I recite my pledge to my King, my country, my home. This is who I fight for, yet this is the same that these young men are fighting for as well. All this, is nothing but a Civil War where no one will win either way, but still I keep fighting. My pledge.
(Aragorn)
On the ground stands Gimli, his Ax held ready and pale eyes holding nothing but the cold of his people's caverns. There we sit, atop a small hill watching the blood bath only get bigger, my father's troops fighting with everything they have. My eyes track my father's mighty charger the stallion rearing and striking opponents while my father literally chops his way to the Earl of Druth, who seems to be doing the same. So many people are clashing their swords and firing their arrows the sky and air are filled with the sounds of battle.
" What is so good about the outcome of battles anyway? Everyone dies in the end." I sigh and Gimli gives me a sharp look from his post beside Slayer. The mighty Dwarf puts the shaft of his Ax on the ground and rests his arm on the head, slowly stroking his beard.
" Well Lad, I know naught the answer to that, but I do know that the outcome of his battle will be that your friends, Legolas and the others. They will not have to live in fear any longer, for this will show what lengths Gondor, your father will go to, to protect those close to him." I stare at the Dwarf, the wisdom he chooses to show amazes me sometimes. Smile I lean over and clap the stout being on his shoulder, laughing as he give me a slight growl
" Master Gimli, you truly are a wonder." He laughs and nods, smiling as he looks at me. For being alone in this world the Dwarf has not allowed much to get him down and has helped so many of the people of Gondor, I truly have no idea what we would do without the man. A shout from the field brings me back to the battle, watching in horror as my horses charger is suddenly brought to the ground by a pike imbedded in its chest, the noble horse screams in pain and anger as he falls to the ground. My father kicks from the saddle and rolls, his sword in hand as he gets back on his feet. His stance strong and soon he is in an array of battles with both sword, pike and club of Druth warriors. Glancing at Tracker I see the elder man's slight shake of his head, telling me to wait for the signal. Growling to myself I sit further in the saddle, causing Slayer to give an annoyed snort and paw the ground. My eyes are suddenly drawn to movement down on the plain, a group of riders and runners now coming to the fight.
" Bowin, your viewing glass!" I hiss at the young Ranger who tosses me a rolled strip of leather and a glass insert. Putting the insert in and putting the smaller end to my eye I direct it toward the riders. The glass brings the faces of Legolas, Elrond, his sons and Glorfindel to my eyes and a smile to my face. Behind them are others, village people who seem intent on fighting this battle along side Gondor.
" Seems there are a few people coming to join this fight!" I call to Tracker who smiles and I toss the spyglass back to Bowin. With the coming of these new fighters I'm sure the battle will turn around. My eyes track Legolas as he slows King at the base of a tree and watch as the elf disappears into the tree. Next thing a Druth warrior falls to the ground, dead from an assassin's expert shot.
" There's the signal!" Tracker yells and we charge down the slope, heading into battle with cries of animals and sounds of madmen, the look upon those warriors faces is one of stricken horror and fear. Racing into the array of warriors near my father I slash as most and they fall quickly, their blood staining my sword.
" Hello Father, need a hand?" I smile and my father gives me a grateful smirk. I dismount, handing him the reins of Slayer.
" Go!" I shout and block another sword aiming at my father and my horse. He mounts and takes off, flying across the plain to where the Druth Earl is. Turning back I find Kerrick stabbing a Druth in the neck before coming around to face another. His weapons singing as he ends countless lives with only a few blows.
(Arathorn)
"So you have come." I cringe at the snarl that comes from the man, his mouth curling in disdain. I slow the small beast and hold my sword up, blood running down the blade to flow across my arm and drip onto the horses' shoulder.
" This is stupid. End this battle and I shall see you die quickly." I tell the Earl but the man only raises his own wickedly curved blade and kicks his horse with a wild yell. Slayer seems to know what needs to be done and soon is fighting with the Earl's horse, both angry and strong willed. Our swords clash, bringing us close to each other than I was comfortable with but still I push on, Slayer dancing in a way so that I can get clean and clear swipes at the man. We battle for what seems a lifetime but soon that comes to an end when the Druth horse raises its neck and Slayer attacks, biting down into the beasts throat and ripping it out. Rearing back in pain and panic the Earl is dumped onto the ground under Slayers hooves. Slayer being as hyped up as he was reared up as well and the scream of the earl is heard, as the hooves come down on his head with a wicked crack much like a melon being split. I cringe, and pull the reins back forcing the horse to back away. Glancing at the once Earl of Druth I shake my head
" Should have ended it when you had the chance you poor bastard." I mutter and grab his sword, the symbol of the battle being done. Pulling the great Ram horn from my side I stand in the stirrups, blowing the loud and mournful sound. To my surprise everyone on the plain stops, minus the guy who just fell dead with an arrow through his head, to look at me. Holding the sword high above my head I yell, in a clear and commanding tone
" PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN AND SURRENDER! YOUR LORD IS DEAD AND THIS BATTLE IS DONE. IF YOU WANT YOUR LIVES WALK AWAY NOW AND NEVER RETURN TO THIS REALM OR FACE CONSEQUENCES FAR WORSE THAN THIS. GATHER YOUR DEAD AND LEAVE!" My men begin to back away from those and collect weapons the Druth people drop, and some even shove them in the direction of their homeland. I sit back in the saddle and nudge the horse to where my son and Elrond stand, Aragorn's eyes going wide at the blood matted coat of his horse.
" I lend you one thing father and you can't even take care of that! Next time your not going to be borrowing my horse." He says with a slight smirk but hugs me as I dismount. Clapping my hand on his armored shoulder I pet the great horses neck
" Your Slayer here is worthy of his name, he is a cannibal of his own kind. That's how we brought down the Earl, he ripped the throat right out of the beast." I tell him as the horse nuzzles my son's neck. Aragorn's eyes go wide and he pushes the horses nose away, giving the animal a shocked, scared look. Looking at Elrond we share a laugh before the others join us, Glorfindel's armor and hair matted with blood, a huge smile upon his youthful face. The twins remove their fierce war helmets and laugh at the look on their fathers face.
"Where pray tell did you get those hideous things?" he asks, curious and horrified at the helmets. The twins put a false look of innocence on their similar faces
" Adar, you know when we were traveling with Gandalf" Elladan begins
" We went through many settlements and things" Elrohir ends, their father nods, a slight groan coming from the elder elf.
" They belonged to some men named Witch Kings" Elladan says a serious look on his face
" So we bought them" His twin chirps in, Elrond groans and is about to say somehting to them when they both say
" Gandalf said it was okay! Blame it on him!" I laugh, the twins faces were a classic expression of innocence and pure childish wisdom. Elrond sighs and places his head in his gloved hands before saying something in Elvish, then looking at me.
" They're your sons Elrond!" I laugh and he groans again
" I know.. I know.. Believe me I know." He mutters and Glorfindel laughs heartily at his unhappy friend.
" Yes and you have to deal with them for another few thousand years, their still puppies yet!" Kerrick says, making me jumps as he suddenly appears behind me, his dripping pike making the Arkots warrior look even more menacing. The demons golden eyes hold my own in a silent plea and I know what he wishes for me to do. Nodding I take out my sword as he kneels on the ground. Inhaling I ask him to look at me
" Kerrick, I Arathorn King of Gondor release you from this world where you were to walk for an eternity. I release you from the pledge you gave me and send you to meet your family on the other side." Kerrick looks at the ground and I close my eyes, swinging the blade I behead the human soul trapped within the demonic body of a once man. His body falls and hits the earth with a lifeless thud, replacing the sword in the scabbard I watch as the body begins to glow a pale yellow and slowly disappears into the air and ground.
" Good-bye my friend, may you find what you search for." I bid him and slowly turn as the glowing fades and the body of Kerrick is no more. Looking at the people who have become my family I find myself wishing my wife could see who saved me from my grief of loosing her. Watching as my son hugs his dear friend I can't help but pray that their friendship will carry them to the end of time and beyond. Glancing at Elrond, his sons and Glorfindel I know, this is my family and a family protects it's own.
" Come let us go back to Gondor and sleep for a century or two." I get hearty laughs from the people around me and mount King, Legolas' horse and lead the way. Lead my family back to our home, now and forever.
Okay, that's it! The story is done! I know probably not what ya people were expecting but.. I had no real pre-set plans for the battle, I just thought I would type what sounded good.
Oh, the whole part about Slayer ripping the throat out of the other horse came from a news report about a horse that had ripped apart his whole barn mates. He did it again after the farmer who owned him was beginning to restore his stock. They shot him no doubt and now studying him to see what made him go nuts. I thought that was cool though! Maybe not for the farmer but… well.. horse lovers like me (deranged ones) find that fairly neat.
Okay, well REVIEW! And look for another story that I've started. TILL THEN AND THANK YOU! I COULDN'T HAVE CONTINUED WITHOUT YOU ALL! THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! REVIEW!