Chapter 13
As soon as she had said her piece Aica left the hall for the stables. Once in Halroch's stall she let her mind wander. A hand on her shoulder made her jump. 'He is a beautiful animal.' Legolas was the one who had found her.
'His name is Halroch. He has been my only friend and companion for many years.' Aica turned to look at her fellow elf.
'Are you okay?' Legolas asked.
'I am different. It has been strange to get used to being who I am now, but I prefer it. I just do not know where I shall go when this is over.'
'You could come to Mirkwood.' Legolas suggested.
'You would have me, despite what you now know about me?'
'I trust you Aica. You are no longer the hardened elf I met all those months ago.' Aica dropped the brush she was holding and wrapped her arms around Legolas's waist. 'I missed you.' Legolas whispered into her hair, returning the hug.
'I missed you too.' Aica mumbled into his chest.
The next day Aica rode out of Minas Tirith alongside Legolas and Gimli, who were on Arod. Aragorn led the army, dressed in the King's armour. Time meant nothing to Aica as they made the journey from Gondor to Mordor. As they rounded the cliff the Black Gates came into view. They halted in front of the gates, waiting. 'Where are they?' Pippin asked after a few moments. Aragorn spurred Brego forward, followed by Gandalf and Pippin, Legolas and Gimli, Aica, Éomer and Merry and Aragorn's herald.
They stopped right before the gates. 'Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!' Aragorn called out.
There was a pause, before the gates swung open slightly. A dark horse and rider stepped out. Halroch flattened his ears, squealed and half-reared. Aica ran a hand down his neck, calming him. 'My master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome. You are a traitor young assassin.' The Mouth of Sauron grinned.
'No more than you are to these men.'
'And they shall die.' The Mouth continued.
'So I shall die alongside them.'
The Mouth turned his attention on the others. 'Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?'
Gandalf was the one to speak up. 'We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this: The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return.'
The Mouth sneered. 'Old Greybeard. I have a token I was bidden to show thee.'
The Mouth reached to the front of his saddle, and produced Frodo's mithril shirt. 'Frodo!' Pippin cried. The Mouth tossed it to Gandalf. 'Frodo.'
'Silence!' Gandalf ordered.
'No!' Merry cried.
'Silence.'
'The Halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did.' Gandalf passed the shirt to Pippin, who clutched it to his chest, as the Mouth continued to speak. Aragorn nudged Brego forward. 'And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken elvish blade.'
With a yell Aragorn unsheathed his blade and cut the Mouth's head off. 'I guess that concludes negotiations.' Gimli commented.
'I do not believe it. I will not.' Aragorn said fiercely.
They all looked up as the Black Gate creaked again and swung fully open, revealing Sauron's army marching towards them. 'Pull back! Pull back!' They turned their horses and cantered back to their own army. 'Hold your ground! Hold your ground.' Aragorn began to ride back and forth in front of the men, who were fearful. 'Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down. But it is not this day. This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!' Inspired by Aragorn's speech the soldiers drew their weapons, ready to fight.
Now on foot Aica stood among the front rank. 'Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf.' Gimli said to Legolas.
'What about side by side with a friend?' Legolas asked.
Gimli looked up at the elf. 'Aye. I could do that.'
Legolas looked up, catching Aica's eye. The Prince of Mirkwood and the former assassin shared a small, sad smile. No one knew if any would survive this battle. Aica took a deep breath as Aragorn turned to them. 'For Frodo.' He stated simply, before charging.
There was a beat, then Merry and Pippin followed Aragorn and then everyone else made their move. As one they charged towards the stationary Orc army. Aica, blades in hands, swung herself into the fray. Black orc blood mixed with the red of the humans as the battle escalated. Aica's fingers and blades were coated in black blood. As well as the blades Galadriel had given her, Aica was also using her throwing blades, to try to protect soldiers of Gondor and Rohan. With a shriek the Nazgûl joined the fight, circling in the skies above. Aica cut down orc after orc, her back protected by a Gondorian soldier whom she did not know. On and on they fought. Aica had gained a cut lip, as well as other superficial cuts, but nothing serious. The Nazgûl were diving in and out of the Men of the West, every attack was draining their spirit. Then Pippin's yell caught their attention. 'Eagles! The Eagles are coming!' Sure enough the giant eagles dove out of the sky, aiming for the Nazgûl.
Joyed by the appearance of another ally the defenders of Middle Earth threw themselves into the battle once more.
After some time the Nazgûl abruptly left the fight, soaring off towards Mount Doom itself. Aica threw a knife into yet another orc, and cut down one that was trying to sneak up on her. She tossed another knife into an orc behind Legolas. The blond elf spared a glance at his love and nodded at her. Aica's blades flashed as she continued to fight. She did not know how long she, or anyone else, could last against the seemingly endless stream of orcs. Suddenly there was a great screech, and the eye began to contort in pain. The forces of Mordor began to flee as the tower of Barad-dûr began to crumble and fall. The eye exploded, sending a ripple of cracks across the land of Mordor. The ground began crash down upon itself, Mordor falling in upon itself, many members of Sauron's army falling to their death. The soldiers began to cheer.
Around them the men were celebrating as they joined the other members of the Fellowship. Merry was cheering Frodo's name. The Fellowship exchanged smiles and slaps on the back; they had achieved their goal, and so much more.
It was then that the top of Mount Doom exploded. Everyone froze, if anyone was up there then there was no way they could have survived. Merry and Pippin fell to the ground in shock. The others were frozen to the spot. 'No.' Aica whispered.
Three eagles alighted on the ground nearby. Gandalf turned to Aragorn. 'Make camp here and tend to the wounded. I will go search for them.'
The soldiers used what little resources they had to set up shelters and build fires. As day turned to night the temperature dropped. The men and hobbits huddled closer to the fires, they were more susceptible to the cold than the elves and dwarf. Aica sat by one of the fires, men talking around her, staring into the flames. She sat there as one by one the men drifted off to sleep. She only looked up when Legolas sat down next to her. 'Are you alright?' He asked gently.
'I'm free.' Aica replied quietly.
'You've been free for a long time.'
'Not truly, I've always been bound to Sauron. But now that's he's gone...' She trailed off as Legolas slipped his hand into her's.
'Sometimes being free simply means being able to make a choice. You made a choice many months ago to help us.'
'If only everything was that simple.'
'Well, it doesn't always have to be difficult.' Legolas lifted his free hand and stroked Aica's cheek. He expected her to pull away, like in Lothlorien, but instead she leaned into his touch. 'Some things are as simple as a few easily spoken words.'
'I guess that depends on the words.'
'Words like I love you.' Aica raised her head in surprise, her black eyes locking with Legolas' blue ones, that were full of love and trust. Aica's free hand snaked around the back of Legolas's neck, pulling his head down, until their lips touched. Both elves melted into the kiss.
The pair broke apart at the sound of a gruff cough. 'Not interrupting anything am I?' Gimli stood before them, a smirk on his face. Aica buried her head into Legolas's chest, he wrapped his arm around her, a smile gracing his lips as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Aragorn joined them at that moment. 'The beginning of a new era.' He said.
'A new beginning, a new time, a new life.' Aica said. 'That's what it is to me.'
'I think it's a new start for all of us.' Aragorn agreed.
The four sat around the fire late into the night, talking quietly about the changes that were surely to come.
