Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Authors Note: Heya, this chapter was the result of sugar rush, and it's a bit of an in-betweeny chapter. Oh well. I have just finished writing chapter 48. Felt inspired to carry on writing, it doesn't happen very often so have to make the most of it when it does! Hope you like this chapter, it is a bit mad, but then so am I after I've consumed too much sugar. Scientists reckon there is no such thing as a sugar rush, pah how come I go loopy after cream eggs then? Oh well Happy reading, and reviewing would be nice as well!
Thanks for pointing out my mistake Elwen. You'd think with the amount of times I read through these chapters I would spot something that blatant. Obviously not!
Chapter 44: The Final March
Amy woke early the next morning, the pre-dawn light streaming through the high windows. Smiling she stretched and nudged the blonde elf lying next to her. She emitted a small squeak as she felt Legolas' arms wrap round her and his head nuzzle into her hair.
"Come we need to get up." She said trying to untangle herself from him.
A small content sigh was the only noise that answered her as she felt him snuggle deeper into the soft blankets.
"Come on!"
"I'm up." Legolas said as he let go of Amy and kissed the back of her head.
Standing up fully Amy leant back and smiled with satisfaction as several of her vertebrate cracked. Leaning forward again she touched the smooth marble floor with her palms. Knowing with pleasure that Legolas watched every move of her supple body, she shivered slightly as she felt him run a hand down her bare back. Walking to a chest that had been placed at the end of their bed she pulled out some travelling clothes that had been obviously been specially made. The pale red tunic coat had a large silver and gold dragon embroidered onto it, and the soft breeches had tiny little dragons stitched into the waist band. On every hem, of both the breeches and the tunic, was the tengwa script 'Child of the dragon'.
"What person in their right mind would wear this? What was the point of writing 'child of the dragon' on it? As if the monstrosity of a winged worm on the front doesn't give it away. If any dragon catches me wearing this I'm going to be a laughing stock!" She said holding up the breeches in disgust.
"Obviously someone who has nothing else to wear as the rest of her travelling clothes have been taken to be destroyed. And perhaps people do not know what a dragon looks like." Legolas said finally standing up and letting the blankets pool around his ankles.
"You are joking? Well they sure as the Valar don't look like that!"
"Nope, it was ordered that all of our clothes be destroyed and new ones made. Which is a good thing as your top was practically shredded after the battle. None of our clothes were in good shape." He said walking over and pulling out a green tunic. His pale nose wrinkled at the sight of the little embroidered leaves.
"Well at least we can suffer together. As soon as Aragorn becomes king he is getting some new seamstresses!" Amy said pulling on some undergarments.
Legolas hopped on one foot as he pulled on his breeches, he steadied himself against the bed post before speaking again. "Well let's hope he is having to wear something equally embarrassing."
Amy snorted as she watched Legolas pull on his breeches. "Eleven people a year die while pulling on their trousers."
Legolas toppled to the floor.
BREAK
Aragorn stared in horror at the sight in front of him. He had woken up expecting to find his usual travelling clothes folded up on the chair where he had left them. No. His lovely supple leather tunic was gone. His worn but fine quality green breeches, gone. His soft leather boots, gone. The only thing that had apparently survived the purge was his elven cloak.
Now he stood staring into a full length mirror wondering whether or not he should just stay inside and forfeit the entire war in order to still his embarrassment.
He was wearing a pair of sparkling black breeches, skin tight, leaving nothing to the imagination. Around the waist band and the stitching there were little silver trees. The smart black knee length boots were nice, yet so stiff he did not think he would be able to bend his ankles in them let alone fight. The silver shirt was not too bad, yet a bright blue tunic was also given too him. On it, embroidered in silver, was the white tree and seven stars of Gondor. Not only that, but someone had given the seamstresses a tengwa script and so on every hem he had 'Hail the King of Gondor' written in Quenya.
A knock to the door brought his attention away from his reflection.
"Come in."
He grimaced as he saw Amy's head peek round the door. His grimace turned into a smile when he saw what she was wearing as well. "I see they got you to."
"I was hoping this would all be a bad dream, but no. I have to go to battle with a bloody dragon stitched to my top." Amy said making his bed instinctively then sitting on it.
"Count yourself lucky, at least you have not got 'Hail the King of Gondor' written on every hem. Really, I am not even the king yet!" Aragorn said struggling to tie his hair up with a leather thong they had given him.
"Come here, and sit down." Amy said gesturing to the trunk in front of her.
Aragorn nodded and sat down, very conscious of how his breeches were clinging to him, and gave her the thong. He gave a start as he felt her begin to comb his hair and feelings arose that he knew should not be there. Squashing them down quickly he fiddled with his tunic.
"Can't have you going out to meet your people with your hair looking like you've been dragged through Mordor backwards can we?" Amy said smirking and plaiting the front of his hair away from his face. Once done she tied the thong and tapped him on the shoulder signalling she was finished.
"Thank you."
"Legolas has already gone to find some food and to see what everyone else looks like. On the plus side they have placed Anduril in a new scabbard for you, as I know you lost the last one. And they have made me another set of arrows." Amy said standing up.
"Well might as well get this over and done with. Then we can have some food and go." Aragorn said holding the door open for her and wincing in pain as his boots restricted any sort of movement.
BREAK
"Well what a lovely group we are!" Gimli said as they all sat down to eat.
"Pray tell me that the designers have been gotten rid of." Èomer said as he picked at the stitching of a white horse on his sleeve.
"The clothes are of a good fit, you cannot deny that. They are just a little extravagant." Gandalf said, looking lovely in white robes that appeared to be covered in little multi coloured stars.
Breakfast was eaten slowly as the upcoming battle weighed heavy on their minds. Most knew in their heart that without a miracle they would not be coming back. Once everything was cleared away servants brought all their armour and weapons out. All had been cleaned over night and swords and blades shone so much you could see your face in them. Legolas stroked his bow, like a child would stroke a dog, its wooden surface shining under the polishing it had received over the night.
Amy sighed as she slipped into her mithril mail, thanking the lords for the person who had discovered the metal. Shrugging her shoulders to make sure that it sat in the right place she tied up the leather thongs and placed her cloak over the top. Checking once to make sure the Dragon sword was strapped to her securely she made her way to the stable block.
A predatory grin lit her face as she saw the tack outside Moridin's loose box. Hefting the blanket and light mail into her arms she kicked the kick bolt open and opened the door. Moridin was just standing up as he heard her come in.
"Good morning, my lovely horse. How are you this morning?" She said making the rug and mail hover in mid air while she summoned a brush.
"I would be much better if you and elf boy hadn't been rutting all night long." Moridin said leaning his neck into the brush strokes.
"Rutting! I can think of nicer things to call it." Amy said as she worked the brush furiously over the black back getting rid of any sign of dust and straw.
"Well what ever you want to call it. One night I am going to find the best looking filly I can and mount her all night long to see how you like it!" He said stamping a hoof.
"You would have to find one who would come near you first." Amy said teasingly.
"They all want me. And you know it." Moridin said before a tremor went through him. "Up a bit, bit to the left. Ahhhh, just there."
Amy smiled as she found a sensitive spot just behind his withers. The large black horse behind her was turning to jelly.
"Why did you stop?" The black horse asked butting her in the back as she reached for a hoof pick.
"Because you are clean, and we haven't got much time. Leg up please."
Moridin responded quickly and let his hooves be picked out, quite happy to show off his new shoes and trying desperately not to laugh whenever his frog was brushed.
Finally dropping his last hoof Amy grabbed the mail and settled it over his back, laying the blanket over the top she grimaced as she saw it too had dragons on it. Securing the buckles she sighed and secured it even more with flows of Air. There was no way she was going to let it slip with her on it! Walking out the box she picked up the last pieces of tack and snorted, there was no way he was going to agree to wearing that. A large gold and red crest stood in front of her mail coming down either side to cover his neck. Sighing she thought she would give it a go anyway.
"I've got to wear that!" Moridin said looking horrified at the crest in Amy's arms.
"I'm afraid so. All the lead horses have got to wear them, even Shadowfax. And unless you want to ride with the dwarven ponies you have to wear it." Amy said brushing his mane down to one side and placing the crest over his neck.
"Well it isn't that bad I suppose, just a little restricting. What is that?" He said turning his head to the last piece to tack hovering behind the dark haired girl.
"That is your face plate. Quite impressive I think. Think how many Orc's you could speak on that horn." Amy said as she finished tying the last of the leather thongs on the crest.
"I like that. It will make me look handsome." Moridin said before lowering his head so that she could place it on easier.
"You look handsome anyway; it is just your ego that needs deflating occasionally. Now this is meant to be worn with a bridal, but seeing as you do not wear one, I will secure it to your head with Air. Is this ok?" Amy said holding it in place.
"Yes that is fine."
BREAK
Just out side the gate of Minas Tirith all the horses and ponies lined up. Amy, Gandalf, Èomer and Aragorn were to be riding at the front and leading the column, the rest of the army was spread out behind them. Men mixing with Elves, Elves mixing with Dwarves, even two hobbits were there. The men all mounted on the strong horses of Rohan, the elves on their long limbed, flighty horses and the dwarves on their short, stocky ponies. Merry and Pippin had been found two dwarfish mounts and had spent all morning galloping them round getting used to them. Gimli rode on his own pony that had been given to him by Throd the evening before, and Legolas was given a tall elvish horse by his father. Arod had been given to Damer for Hasufel's wounds from the battle were too great and he was still recovering.
At the forefront of all this were the four horses of Mearas blood; Smokescreen, Brego, Shadowfax and Moridin. Amy had been interested to find out that all pure Mearas were white, like Shadowfax, and the only reason that Chinky had been piebald and Moridin pure black was their allegiance to her rather than Rohan. Both Smokescreen and Brego had Mearas sires yet their dams had been of ordinary Rohan stock and so their coat colours were steel grey and dark bay respectively.
Amy gave the signal to move off when the wind caught the dragon banner and flew it out above them. With a spirited buck from Moridin they set off. Each of the lead horses lowering their heads to show off their bright crests.
"With these crests we could laugh Sauron into submission." Moridin said.
Amy laughed and gently stroked the stallion through the mail.
"We look like a carnival procession." He said with resignation.
BREAK
Faramir stood and watched the war party walk off. Èowyn came and stood next to him. They had both been healed by Amy yet they were still recovering and were told to stay and run the city in Aragorn's wake. Gently he reached for her hand and clasped it as he watched the dragon banner go out of sight. He knew that for many it would be their final march.
