Chapter Eighteen: The Black Gates
The Black Gates certainly earned their name. That was all that went through Kendra's mind as she stared at them. They were large, hulking, and black. It would take hundreds of men to get those open. Or several trolls, which she just happened to see standing on top of the gates on either side.
The army formed up, with Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Eomer, Kendra, and the standard bearer being right up front. Merry rode behind Eomer, Pippin rode in front of Gandalf, and Gimli once again rode behind Legolas. They waited for what seemed like hours before they all rode towards the Black Gates.
"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth. Let justice be done upon him," Aragorn shouted.
They waited until they heard a creaking sound, which signaled the opening of the gates. Out from the gates rode a figure, dressed in black. The only visible part of this figure was the mouth.
"My master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome." The figure grinned, a truly unpleasant sight. "Is there any in this route with authority to treat with me?"
The conversation continued until the figure held up something that the Fellowship remembered. It was a mithril shirt. The figure taunted them, trying to make them believe that Frodo had suffered and died, leaving the quest unfinished. Aragorn, though, was having none of it. He rode towards the figure, confidence in his figure.
"And who is this? Isildur's Heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken elvish blade."
Aragorn didn't listen to anymore and they watched as Aragorn quickly lopped the figure's head off.
"Guess this concludes negotiations," Gimli muttered.
"I will not believe it," Aragorn said, turning to face the group.
Kendra, meanwhile, was not paying attention. Her sight had gone to what she could see through the partially open gates. Black as far as the eye could see. But there, in the distance, she thought she saw a spot of color. It was yellow, small and yellow. There was another spot close to it, but it was a dark brown, almost invisible against the black.
"Fall back," broke through her concentration.
They all rode back to join the army, and to get away from the army of Mordor that was soon going to come through the gate. But, hope was there, for Kendra knew she had seen Sam.