A/N: YAY!! 100 REVIEWS!! AND IT'S ALL DOWN TO YOU GUYS!!
Virtual chocolate to my 100th reviewer... zeldagrl436!! Thank YOOOOOOUUUUUU!!!
elvenstorm: Aha! Tha's my secret!
Moralinde: O thank you! S'ok to criticise – I don't mind.
Neko: Yup... Pretty much.
Allasea2: I's cos I follow the Films... Sorry! I've only read the books once and that was like... aaaaaaaaaaaages ago, so could you please refresh my memory and tell me where they come in? I might write them into the story...
Here, the story splits again and Keikæ is separated from Laila. Hope you don't get too confused.
assbb!!
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Chapter 22 – Let the Wars... Begin! Big Time!
Riding along the road to the Dimholt. Sharp grey rocks surrounded us on a the narrow path.
Gimli: What kind of an army would linger in such a place?
Legolas: One that is cursed. Long ago the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last King of Gondor, to come to his aid, to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their oath.
I guess tha's one way of saying it.
At the end of the path, we saw a small opening crafted into a rock. Primitive paintings were above it.
Gimli: The very warmth of my blood seems drawn away.
Legolas: The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and The Dead keep it. The way is shut.
We dismounted, still holding the horses by the reins. Aragorn had Andúril in his hand. The sheath was attached to Brego's saddle. The horses seemed nervous. We slowly approached the opening. The horses suddenly went crazy and I was forced to let go of the reins of mine. Aragorn and Legolas did the same, and the horses galloped off.
Aragorn: Brego!
Aragorn turned and looked back at the tunnel into the mountain.
Aragorn: I do not fear death!
Keikæ: Oh, well that's ok then.
He walked quickly and firmly into the darkness behind the opening. Legolas hesitated another second, then followed him determinedly.
Gimli: Well, this is a thing unheard of. An Elf will go underground where a Dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!
Keikæ: c'mon – there's nothing to be afraid of. Just a few thousand murderous dead people.
::I don't think that was very encouraging.::
He stamped his feet a few times, finally found his courage and followed his companions.
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Laila
The Rohirrim werepreparing to leave. Fires were put out quickly, Men jumped on horses. Théoden left his tent with Éomer.
Théoden: We must ride light and swift. It's a long road ahead, and Man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight.
Merry stood with his white pony. Théoden passed him on horse.
Théoden: Little Hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc.
Merry: All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind!
Théoden: It's a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith, and none of my Riders can bear you as a burden.
Laila: That is so unfair!
Merry: I want to fight!
Théoden: I will say no more.
Théoden rode off leaving Merry standing, lost and ashamed, watching the Riders pass him by.
Laila: That is so unfair. I'm really sorry, Merry.
Laila mounted her horse.
Laila: Actually, ride with me.
She extended her hand, but as one Rider approaches him, he reached out with his arm, grabbed the Hobbit and pulled him on his horse.
Éowyn: Ride with me.
She put an arm around him. Merry smiled happily and proudly.
Merry: My Lady!
Laila: Well, ok then, ride with her. Either way, you still go into battle.
Laila caught up with them. Éowyn turned to face her and smiled.
Éomer: Form up! Move out!
Théoden: Ride! Ride now to Gondor!
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Keik
We rushed through the mountain. Aragorn had a metal torch. Thankfully. We eventually reached a huge hall, that felt really creepy. It felt as if the whole place was watching us – as if there were eyes everywhere.
Keikæ: Cosy place to hang out when you're dead, isn't it.
Aragorn: Do you really have to say such useless things? Do me a favour, and don't.
Keikæ: Yessir.
The next thing I heard was him muttering to himself. "I swear the first thing I'm going to do when this is over is put her in jail." Nice to know. A figure appeared - the King of the Dead. He looked like a ghost, better and more realistic than anything I'd ever see on the screens.
::This is not a film – this is the real thing, Keeks.::
King of the Dead: Who enters my domain?
Aragorn: One who will have your allegiance.
King of the Dead: The Dead do not suffer the living to pass.
Aragorn: You will suffer me.
The King of the Dead laughed. I couldn't help feeling a little scared. The Dead appeared and surrounded us.
King of the Dead: The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead and The Dead keep it. The way is shut. Now you must die.
Legolas released an arrow. It went straight through the one aimed at as if through thin air.
::Not the best thing you've ever done, Legolas.::
Aragorn: I summon you to fulfil your oath.
King of the Dead: None but the King of Gondor may command me.
Aragorn lifted Andúril. The King of the Dead attacked him with a sword. Aragorn blocked and then grabbed the King by his throat. Neat.
Keikæ: Ya see, Aragorn kicks but.
King of the Dead: That line was broken! (A/N: not sure about that line)
Aragorn: It has been remade.
He released the King, and addressed The Dead surrounding him.
Aragorn: Fight for us, and regain your honour.
He walked through the crowd of ghosts.
::Now, ya pushing ya luck.::
Aragorn: What say you?
::I believe the line is 'What say ye?', but then, we're not in PotC. We are in LotR.::
The Dead shuffled about, looking uncertain.
Aragorn: What say you?
Gimli: You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honour in life, they have none now in death.
I nudged Gimli whispering: "Shut up."
Aragorn: I am Isildur's heir! Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled!
The Dead watched Aragorn, unable to decide.
Aragorn: commanding What say you?!
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Bex
At Minas Tirith, Bex watched the Orcs and siege towers approaching.
Soldier: Open the gate, quick!
The gate opened and an unconscious Faramir was dragged in by his horse, his body struck with arrows. Be turned to look at the Orc army, where the leader, Gothmog, rode among his troops on a Warg, looking pleased. Faramir was carried up to the top of Minas Tirith.
Soldier: Quick, hurry!
Denethor ran into the courtyard.
Denethor: Faramir!
The soldiers lay Faramir down beside the White Tree.
Denethor: Say not that he has fallen!
Soldier: They were outnumbered. None survived.
Bex: Wrong.
Pippin watched from afar.
Gothmog: Fear. The city is rank with it. Let us ease their pain. Release the prisoners!
Orc: Catapults!
The catapults fired. On the walls of Minas Tirith, Men ducked from what is flying in amongst them - the heads of Faramir's soldiers. Meanwhile, Denethor leant over Faramir's body.
Denethor: My sons are spent...
Bex: Wrong again.
Denethor stumbled away from the litter that bore Faramir, torn with grief. Pippin ran to Faramir's side.
Denethor: My line has ended!
Bex: Wrong yet again!
Pippin touched Faramir's brow.
Pippin: He's alive!
Bex: Corrrrrrrrrrect!
Denethor: The House of Stewards has failed!
Bex: Could you at least try to get the right answer?
Pippin: He needs medicine, My Lord!
Bex: Correct! 2 points to you Pippin!
Denethor ignored both Bex and Pippin, and continued to stumble towards the walls.
Denethor: My line has ended!
Bex: You're not very good at this, are you?
Pippin: calls My Lord.
Denethor reached the walls. His eyes grew wide as he looked upon the massive army that stood at his gates. His mind broke and he went insane.
Denethor: Rohan has deserted us.
Bex: Well you didn't exactly help them, did you?
Denethor: Théoden's betrayed me.
Bex: No, no NO. Wrong. Just, listen to me for 1 second, yes?
Denethor turned to look at her.
Bex: 1. It was you who refused to light the beacons. 2. They are on their way, about 6000 of them. 3. You never went to their aid, so truthfully, there is no reason why they should ome to yours. Capish?
Denethor paused, but thought the better of it than began to shout:
Denethor: Calls to soldiers Abandon your posts! Flee! Flee for your lives!
The Gondorian soldiers looked about uncertainly and in fear. Gandalf whacked Denethor in the forehead with his staff, then in the stomach, and the steward fell down in shock.
Bex: Dude, you go Gandalf!
Gandalf: Prepare for battle!
Gandalf rode towards the outer defences.
Bex: Come on, Peeps. To the wall! Defend the wall...
Soldiers and civilians rushed about in fear and confusion.
Gandalf: Return to your posts!
Bex grabbed someone who was running in the direction of the nearest wall, seized his collar, spun him around and gave him a good shove towards the outer wall.
Bex: Its... THAT direction.
Gandalf rode up the steps on Shadowfax onto the outer wall, to see the oncoming army.
Gandalf: Send these foul beasts into the abyss.
Rocks were hurled and pieces of buildings towards the Orcs with trebuchets.
Soldier: Watch out!
A rock flew towards the outer wall, flinging several people off of the wall. Bex, who had been up there, was just missed, but decided to get down nonetheless.
Soldier: Down to the lower level. Quick!
Before turning to go, Bex looked at who seemed to be the Orc leader. One rock came perilously close to killing him, who neatly steps aside at the last minute, and spat on it. Bex noted what he looked like. The Nazgûl on their fellbeasts then arrived, and struck terror in the hearts of the Gondorian soldiers, by picking up random Men and dropping them. Pippin appeared, holding his ears with his hands, to block out the sound of the Nazgûl cries.
Gandalf: Hold them back. Do not give into fear! Stay at your posts!
By now the siege towers are nearly at the wall.
Gandalf: to the archers Not at the towers. Aim for the Trolls! Kill the Trolls!
The siege towers now connected with the walls, the bridges on them destroying some of the battlements and Orcs began swarming in. Gandalf saw Pippin coming down the stairs towards him, closely followed by Bex.
Gandalf: Peregrin Took, go back to the Citadel!
Pippin: dazed They called us out to fight.
An Orc headed towards Pippin, and Gandalf hacked its head off, killing it.
Gandalf: This is no place for a Hobbit!
The Wizard fought off several more Orcs, but one came up behind him while he was busy fighting another. Pippin, noticing this stabbed the Orc just as it was going to hit Gandalf. Pippin had a look of disgust on his face.
Gandalf: smiling Guard of the Citadel indeed. Now, back! Up the hill! Quickly! Quick!
Bex ran to the top of the battlements again, to see huge creatures pull the massive battering ram, Grond, towards Minas Tirith. It was shaped like a giant wolf, with flames licking inside its mouth.
Armies of Sauron: chanting Grond! Grond! Grond!
Gandalf looks down from the wall with great concern. Bex had an expression of sheer terror on her face.
Several trolls pulled back Grond, then released it, hitting the gate with a heavy thud.
Gandalf: Back to the gate! Hurry!
Bex saw Pippin wandering up to the courtyard. She saw Denethor carrying a lit torch. Behind him followed guards who carried the litter with an unconscious Faramir on it. Denethor pushed open the doors to the House of the Stewards on Rath Dínen and entered.
As much as Bex wanted to see what would happen, she decided against it, knowing that apparently 'Everything would turn out alright'. At least, that's what Keikæ said, along side many other things that may've helped Bex on her own. Bex could do nothing but trust her. Her attention turned back to the gates, where the Orcs were still attempting to batter the front gate down.
Gandalf: Steady, steady!
Grond's nose broke through, and the Gondorian soldiers look more than a bit scared.
Gandalf: You are soldiers of Gondor. No matter what comes through that gate, you will stand your ground.
The doors burst wide open. It was the most frightening and terrifying thing Bex had ever seen. Several Trolls in full battle armour carrying spiked clubs came rushing in.
Gandalf: Volley! Fire!
Archers shot at the Trolls, without much success. Fighting ensued.
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A/N: What d'ye think? Yeah, a little shorter than the previous two, but long enough. Please review and me a very happy Authoress! assbb!!
Kess ;P