Chapter 45
The allied forces stood halted at the black gate. The gates were closed and everyone stood silent, waiting. Nothing was happening…
God let this work, Carla thought desperately, please for Erin's sake…let this work!
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" Look!" Erin cried, pointing out to where the massive amounts of Orcs stood, " They're moving! They're clearing out!"
Sam and Frodo looked on, seeing exactly what Erin was pointing at. All the orcs that had been blocking their path to Mount Doom, were moving away towards where the black gate stood.
" You see," Sam spoke, his voice attempting to sound light, " some luck at last!"
" But we still have to get past that," Erin replied, tilting her head towards where the eye of Sauron was still scanning over the orc troops, " and we'll have to wait until the orcs have moved out. You two could blend in, but they'd know that I and Elijah weren't orcs,"
"We'll have to wait until we can have safe passage through," Frodo replied, sitting down upon a rock, resting.
Frodo pulled out his water bottle, only to find that it was empty. Sam, noticing his friend's dilemma, handed over his own.
" Take mine. There's a few drops left,"
" No," Frodo shook his head, pushing the bottle away, " save it for Erin. She needs her strength to take care of the baby…"
Erin was off sitting by herself feeding the baby silently.
" Come on then," Sam spoke softly, " The orcs have moved on enough for us to start moving again,"
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" Where are they?" Pippin asked, looking back at Aragorn.
" Good question…" Niori mumbled from her position mounted on a horse sitting behind Legolas.
Aragorn gave a small nod forward, and he, Gandalf, the two Hobbits, Legolas, Niori, Gimli, Eomer and Carla all rode towards the gate.
" Let the lord of the black lands come fourth!" Aragorn cried loudly, breaking the silence, " Let justice be done upon him!"
There was nothing for a long time, and Niori was starting to wonder if this was all pointless, but then slowly, the huge gates creaked open.
A single rider came from the opening in the gates. It was an orc (she thinks), his face completely covered by a helmet all except for his mouth, which was torn, cracked and disgusting.
" My lord Sauron the great has sent me to welcome you to his lands," the Orc spoke, and Niori gave a shiver of disgust, " is there one who comes to treat with the great Sauron,"
" We do not come here for a treaty, but to destroy the armies of Mordor," Gandalf sneered.
A sickly amused smile came across the Orc's lips " You speak bravely old man…perhaps this will dire that,"
The Orc pulled out something and held it up for a moment.
Niori was the first to realize what it was and let out a sharp gasp. The Orc tossed the item to Gandalf, who grabbed it.
It was Frodo's shirt of mithranduil (yes, I spelt that wrong…)
" Oh my God…" Carla whispered in fear and horror.
" It was from the halfling…" the Orc sneered.
" Frodo…" Merry and Pippin both whispered.
" Be silent!" he hissed at the two Hobbits.
" I see he meant something to you," the Orc gave a cruel laugh at the grieved faces, " it is amazing how much one halfling can endure, and I promise you Gandalf, he endured much before his end,"
" You bastard!" Niori cried, tears in her eyes, knowing that if Frodo was had met his end, so had Erin…and so did their baby…
With his face full of fury, Aragorn rode up to the Orc, who only sneered at him.
" Who is this. The heir of Isildur, who has only a broken Elvish blade,"
With a cry of fury, Aragorn brought his blade up and cut off the Orc's head.
" I do not believe him," Aragorn told them seriously, " I will not believe him!"
" Neither do I!" Carla spoke defiantly.
Then, they saw the forces of Sauron coming as the gate opened further.
" Pull back! Pull back!" Aragorn cried, and all who stood beside him went back and rejoined the rest of their defenses.
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Sam, Erin and Frodo all moved towards Mount Doom…all tired but unwilling to stop and rest again.
We're never going to have the strength to make it back, Erin thought miserably looking down at her beautiful son and feeling tears come to her eye. She would give anything, even her own life to get her son out of here…for her son to be safe.
From beside her, she could tell that Frodo was having a difficult time continuing. His breathing was labored and forced. He clutched on to that damn ring like his life depended upon it.
Damn that ring! Erin glared at the small golden trinket, damn it to hell! It isn't fair! Why did all of this have to be thrown on Frodo! On all of us?
" Get down!" Sam cried suddenly, breaking Erin out of her thoughts, " Hide!"
Erin looked around frantically, thinking that Orcs had found them. But it wasn't Orcs that were moving towards them, but the gaze from Sauron's eye.
She stood frozen, her gaze transfixed upon the moving light. It took her a few moments to even realize her danger, but when she did, her eyes widened in terror and she dashed to a large rock, hit the ground and hid behind it.
She pulled Elijah into her and tried to make herself even smaller than she already was. She looked up to see if Frodo and Sam had hid, and her eyes widened in complete horror as she saw Frodo standing completely still…just seeming to wait for the eye's gaze to be upon him.
" Frodo! What are you doing?" Erin screamed out frantically, " Get down! You can't let him see you! Frodo!"
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Carla stared out at the ever-growing number of Orcs and felt fear leaping into her throat. Despite the fact she had already survived two battles with seemingly impossible odds, but for some reason, Carla knew that this was going to be the worst one yet.
As I have thought many a time since I got here, Carla thought with a groan, WE'RE SO GOING TO DIE!
All around her, the men of Rohan and Gondor were looking on with the same fear Carla felt. They stirred restlessly, knowing that they were most likely going to die.
" Hold your ground!" Aragorn cried out over them all, turning them all silent, " Man of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! Friends from distant lands! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me, but you cannot let it take you! A day may come when the courage of men fails, but it shall not be this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this earth, by all that you love, hold fast men of the west!"
Aragon then dismounted (so did everyone else on horseback) and stood beside Legolas and Gandalf.
No matter how pretty Aragorn makes it sound, we're STILL going to die! Carla thought sarcastically.
Then, in a very un-Carla like action, she moved in front of Eomer, who looked out solemnly in front of him, went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Eomer's eyes widened in surprise and shock…but soon enough he realized what was going on and kissed her right back.
" There," Carla spoke after she and Eomer had broken apart, " now I can die," with that, Carla moved back to where she was originally standing, leaving Eomer to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
I wonder if every woman in her world is like that, he thought shaking his head.
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"Frodo!"
Yet still he stood there, transfixed. Then suddenly, the eye's gaze hit him. He stood there for a moment before his eyes went even wider and he fell down to the ground with a dull thump.
Erin let out a scream, not knowing what was wrong with him. She started to get to her feet, but the fact she still had Elijah to protect, stopped her.
Then, just as suddenly as it had come upon them, the light swerved away from them.
She sat frozen for a second, just waiting for the light to return to them. When it didn't, Erin bounded to her feet and moved towards where Frodo lay and Sam was helping him to his feet.
" It's gone Mr.Frodo…something else has drawn its gaze," Sam told him softly as he got him to his feet.
" Come on then," Erin whispered, bouncing her baby as he was starting to fuss again, " lets move again,"
Without another word, the trio started to yet again move wearily towards Mount Doom.
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The massive amounts of Orcs had by now surrounded them on all sides. They all sneered at the humans, obviously anxious to attack.
Niori was sharing Carla's thoughts of earlier.
We are so going to die!
She gripped her sword tightly at her side and shook her head.
" Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf," Gimli spoke suddenly, looking up at Legolas.
" What about side by side with a friend?" Legolas asked, a small smile on his lips.
Gimli seemed to ponder this for a brief second " Aye…I can do that,"
The Orcs still stood all around them, waiting for them to make the first attack.
Niori stared out in front of her, trying to hide the fear that shone so brightly in her sea blue eyes, Carla stood to her right and Legolas to her left.
"Hey Carla," she spoke, her voice breaking the acute silence, " it's been one hellva ride!"
" It's not over yet!" Carla smirked, giving Niori one of her dangerous/daring looks, " If we're going to die, let's kick some Orc ass first!"
Niori smiled despite herself.
That one moment of pleasantness was broken, and Niori felt fear seize her heart once again. She reached down and took Legolas's hand, hoping to bring herself some comfort.
Legolas looked down at her, he could tell just how frightened she was, and had every right to be. The chances were that they would both die before the black gate on this day. But he wouldn't tell her so, he'd have hope…hope for both of them " You'll get through this Niori, you've proven time and time again that you're just too damn stubborn to die. Besides…if you truly believe that I'd ever let anything happen to you, you're mad (as in crazy)," With that, he kissed her softly and quickly.
" Legolas I-" she started, but Legolas silenced her by placing a finger on her lips.
" You can tell me after the battle," he whispered, " that way it gives us both a reason to survive this,"
Niori smiled and nodded in understanding.
Aragon, who stood a little ways away from Niori, took a step forward. After a moment, he turned back to look at them, a soft smile on his lips.
" For Frodo," he told them.
" For Erin," Niori whispered, looking to Carla with a small smile.
With that, Aragorn charged at Sauron's army, sword raised high. Merry and Pippin followed behind him and then the rest followed, running at Sauron's forces with weapons raised.
The final battle for Middle-Earth had begun.
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" I can't do it…" Erin spoke, falling to her knees, " I'm sorry…I just can't do it anymore. I'm exhausted…I can't even move anymore…"
She felt hot tears slipping down her cheeks. She couldn't even move anymore…she hurt all over. It wasn't fair…here they were on the slopes of Mount Doom, so close, but she was too tired to make it all the way up.
" We can rest again…" Sam spoke, seeing both Erin and Frodo's exhaustion and feeling his own.
" It's pointless Sam…" Frodo spoke softly, falling to the ground himself, " It's all over…I cannot do it either…the ring has taken everything out of me…"
" Then let us be rid of it! We are so close! Once and for all, let's destroy the wretched thing!"
With strength he didn't know he had, Sam lifted Frodo on to his shoulders " I'm sorry Erin…I can't carry you. Stay here and wait if you must…"
" No…" she spoke, wiping the tears off her face, " I promised to go with you and I will…to the end," Using what little strength she had left, Erin pushed herself to her feet.
Side by side, Erin and Sam continued to trudge up the side of the mountain.
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Niori swung her blade around her, catching the sword of an Orc who stood behind her. The two blades clanged together with powerful force.
No way am I dying this early in the battle! Niori swore to herself, releasing her blade from the other and shoving through the Orc's exposed flesh.
But with every Orc killed, it seemed like ten more were there. Their forces were tiny compared to those of the enemy.
Another Orc came at her, its sword raised to attack. Niori took a step back to distance herself so she could be further prepared for the strike, but walked right into a body that was lying on the ground and went tumbling over backwards.
" Shit!" she cried out, trying desperately to catch herself.
She hit the ground hard on her back, and on impact, her sword fell out of her hand. She looked up with wide eyes to see the Orc who had been after her as she fell. He stood above her, sword ready to be brought down into her.
Niori's looked on in fear and helplessness…her sword was too far away to help her now. She tried to grope the ground to find something…anything to help defend herself. There was nothing. Just as the Orc was started to bring it down, a blade appeared from behind and cut deep into it's neck.
It's black blood sprayed down on her and it's body fell down towards her. She rolled to the side to avoid the body crashing down upon her.
Niori grabbed her sword from where it had fallen and turned to see Aragon standing above her.
" Thanks," Niori spoke as Aragorn pulled her to her feet.
Aragorn gave a slight nod and then back to the battle.
How come I know the worse is still to come? Niori thought, raising her sword in her defense.
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The three continued moving up the slope of the mountain, even though each felt like they couldn't do it anymore.
Erin felt dizzy and light headed. Her head was buzzing and pounding. Her vision was blurry and she felt like she was going to pass out. Her arms were so tired…like they weighed a million pounds, but she wouldn't let Elijah go.
" There's a door…" Sam looked up at the mountain, causing Erin to look up also, " we're almost there…"
A glimmer of relief shone in Erin's heart. No matter what would happen, it would be over soon. No matter what happened to them afterwards, they would be out of this hell soon, the ring would soon be destroyed.
" Let's go," Erin spoke through grit teeth, forcing her legs to move forward, " let's finish this once and for all!"
Sam gave a slight grunt and continued to move towards the door.
Suddenly, a few pebbles fell down from above and hit Erin on the shoulder. She looked up, confused as to what could have caused the rocks to fall. Her eyes widened when she saw who sat on the rock above.
" Clever to climb so high," Gollum sneered angrily, and lunged down at them.
Erin let out a scream as she realized he was heading towards Frodo and Sam.
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Carla fought hard, but soon discovered just how difficult fighting with one arm in a sling really was. She was still holding her own, but she knew that sooner or later, her luck would have run out, that she'd make s mistake.
Suddenly, there was a ear piercing shriek from the sky above her. Carla whipped her head up to the sky. Her eyes widened and she let out a groan as she saw the ringwraiths riding upon their dragon creatures.
Like things aren't bad enough already! Carla swore in her mind, plunging her sword into another Orc.
" The Nazgul are here!" Carla cried out the warning over the battle field before she went back to fighting.
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" Watch out!" Erin cried out frantically, knowing that her warning was to late.
Gollum smashed into Sam, sending both him and Frodo flying into the rocky ground. Erin let out another scream as the two hit the ground and Gollum went after them. He attacked Frodo, who was attempting to get to his feet, and he was thrown right back down as Gollum landed on him and started to choke him while screaming to give him the 'precious'.
" LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Erin screamed angrily, picking up a rock and throwing the stone at the ugly little creature (she shifted Elijah and was holding him in just one arm).
Gollum leapt angrily at Erin, growling insanely as he did. With wide, terrified eyes, Erin stumbled backwards. She hit the ground with a dull thud. A bit of pain shot up her spine as her body connected with the rocky ground, but it was dispelled quickly as Gollum appeared only inches from her.
" Maybe Hobbitses will trade precious for little baby!" Gollum hissed at her, and before she could stop him, he ripped Elijah out of her arms.
" NO!" Erin screamed in horror, for moments unable to move from shock, " ELIJAH!"