Chapter 9

The ride its self was treacherous enough, but the army of horsemen galloped on undeterred by the harsh terrain and the unforgiving weather. Legolas looked across at Raeya as she rode; her face was unyielding with a look concentration and fear. But fear was written across everybody's face, as what they were about to do dawned on them. Soon the riders had left Rohan and were entering Gondor. They rode on past mountains and field, past ruined villages and corpses of the innocent, past streams and rivers, until they sighted the city. It sparkled white on the horizon like a fallen star trapped on the mountain side. To his left Legolas heard Gimli mutter,

"Here we stand, or here we fall."

The party rode on. Behind them they could see the black mountains of Mordor with the dirty choking black smoke that rose from behind them. Soon they were entering the gates of the city. King Aragorn met them and looked bleak.

"We have a grand battle to fight." He called, "But it shall not be in vain." He turned. "Legolas I need you to protect the keep. Take what ever men you can. But the walls must not fall."

"I understand" said Legolas, and he beckoned Raeya over to him. "We must protect the city, we shall be situated by the turret, and prevent the enemy from breaking the walls."

"The turret?" Raeya thought for a moment. "Yes that would be for the best."

Legolas called over Theoden and after a short conversation he nodded his head and shouted to the horsemen. Two divisions dismounted and marched to the turret. Their men gathered the two elves turned to each other. "It will not be long now." whispered Legolas, Raeya exhaled deeply. "Do not fear Raeya." He said and took her hand, "We will not fail."

Raeya looked up into his eyes and smiled. She saw his courage and his love for her glimmering like a guiding light in the dark.

"No, we will not fail." She said. She reached to her back and pulled out one of her arrows and offered it to him.

"Here." she said, and he took it. He placed it amongst his arrows and offered her one of his. She accepted it. "May they bring us all the fortune of this world."

The immense orc army charged out of Mordor and headed to Minas Tirith. Soon they could see the city shining on the horizon but they cared not for beauty, they were here for one thing and one thing only, to destroy the world of men. They ran, weapons already drawn and screamed as they arrived at the city. Tonight they would slaughter all who stood in their way. The onslaught began, and the two elves picked off orcs as they broke through the infantry lines, but soon there were too many of them. Raeya drew her father's sword and charged into the swarm of orcs and began to slash and hack her way through the Ura-Ki. Legolas too drew his knifes, and together they sliced their way through the orcs. The elves fought bravely along side their men but the overriding numbers of the orcs were too great. And as more men fell they felt their hope fading.

"We must pull back and protect the turret!" Raeya cried. Legolas nodded and they pulled what remains of their men back to behind the walls of the keep. From here they mounted a defensive, again using bow and arrow. They could catch the orcs as they began to enter, thus clogging up their entrance and making it harder for them to storm the keep. But soon the orcs streamed in from every angle and the defensive seemed more and more desperate. Yet still the orcs couldn't flush out the army of men as they fought bravely on. So they brought forth their weapon. The gigantic catapults were dragged forwards, and loaded with boulders. Raeya watched as they loaded it, what could they do against this weapon? These orcs were intent on destroying us even if it means bringing down the city on top of us, she thought. She looked up at the turret, then again at the catapult. She knew what would happen.

The boulder came hurtling towards the turret and smashed into it. Raeya looked up, as it swayed and moaned, slowly it began to crack, and huge chunks of rock flew to the ground and smashed into the floor. And gradually it drooped to one side, until suddenly the entire turret came racing to the ground. Those who could get out of the way ran for their lives, but Raeya couldn't move, she was fixed in a trance. When she looked up she didn't see the falling masonry, but the beautiful light that must be saved. She could smell the choking dust in the air, as the light came towards her. but this time it had a form. Legolas held out his hand to her, and she took it and he pulled her up from the rubble. He looked deep into her eyes,

"Your safe." He said. He then turned and ran back to the battle. Raeya's eyes burned she could not focus on anything, she saw blurry images running towards her, but she was confused. She rubbed her eyes and tried to focus. She saw Legolas again he was running towards an oncoming orc, he drew back his knife and slew it with a single slash of the blade. He paused, and turned back to Raeya. She watched him curiously as he walked over to her, her eyes had cleared now and she could see him clearly. He was walking towards her but stopped suddenly, his body jerked and he fell to his knees. An arrow dug deep in his heart, his beautiful pale elvish clothing now turned to crimson, and his ice blue eyes stared wildly ahead. He keeled over and lay face forward on the ground. He did not stir, he just laid still.

In Raeya's mind she saw the light, it blurred, then flickered and suddenly faded out.