The Strangers in Middle Earth

I do not own the rights to Lord of the Rings

Chapter Three

The Journey to Helms Deep

I stood outside the Golden Hall, where Gandalf and I spoke to each other the night before, on the morning of the evacuation. I was wearing the clothes I arrived in, including my mail armour, just in case. My armour was still in my pack, apart from the mail shirt. Hundreds of people were hurrying to pack up their provisions while soldiers were trying to organize the evacuation. I watched it all with a strange feeling. I didn't belong here and I had nothing to gain by fighting with them. But then I remembered that I did have a reason. By His will God sent me here to do something and God knew what I was best at; fighting. I had been trained since I was a boy to fight. The doors behind me opened and I turned around to see Gandalf leaving the Golden Hall with three others. I had learned all of their names by now. The man Aragorn, an Elf with blonde hair named Legolas and a Dwarf named Gimli.

'John,' Gandalf said to me, 'a word.'

'Yes My Lord,' I respectfully addressed him.

'Don't bother calling me Lord. Just call me Gandalf, everyone does. John, I have told these three and King Theoden about who you are and where you come from. For now I feel that it would be best if you didn't tell anyone else.'

'Very well,' I agreed with him. 'Is there anything more I should know?'

'Yes. As I told you last night others from your world may have come through as well. In fact, I am sure that others have come through. If you encounter any others I want you to make sure they stand with us not with darkness.'

'But My Lor-but Gandalf I'm not even sure who the enemy is. Why are they attacking Rohan? What do they want?'

'It's a long tale,' Gandalf informed me.

'Then can I be told the short version?'

Gandalf sighed at me, it was clear that he had a lot to do that day. 'In brief, there is a land named Mordor ruled by the Dark Lord Sauron. Sauron wants to rule all of Middle Earth and has gained the support of a wizard named Saruman of Isengard. It is Saruman's forces which attack Rohan but after that we may have to face the even larger armies of Mordor itself.'

'What will happen if he conquers Middle Earth?'

'All that is good will perish and all light will fall into shadow.'
I took a moment to think this over. Even if I chose not to fight I would still have to fight Sauron and Saruman.

'I take it that we are outnumbered,' I asked Gandalf.

'Yes.'

'Well, frankly it all sounds hopeless but I'd rather die fighting on my feet than running from an evil maniac. I'll do what I can to help.'

I stood outside the hall and watched Gandalf on a white horse riding into the distance as fast as he could. It was then I decided to get Julius ready for the journey. I went to the stables where I found him drinking from a trough.

'Long journey ahead of us,' I said to him as I strapped his saddle onto him and put on his reigns. 'It looks like we're in another mess again,' I told him and patted his snout to which he grunted something.

I led Julius out of the stables and down towards the gates where I expected many of the people of Edoras were waiting to get going. It wasn't long after I arrived at the gates that King Theoden arrived. With an order the guards opened the gates and the people of Edoras left their city behind.

The next day the column went on and on as midday turned into afternoon. I had volunteered to help scout the way ahead in case of any trouble. I was riding on Julius about a hundred and fifty yards ahead of the column amongst a group of rocky outcrops. So far I had found nothing but I was on edge. It was a new world and I didn't know what to expect.

'John,' I spun around and saw Legolas standing on top of the rocks nearby.

'Are you trying to shock me to death?' I asked him.

'No. I just wanted to let you know that I'm taking over your post for now.'

'Thank you,' I said and then started to ride back to the column.

It didn't take me long and after reporting to Theoden that there was no sign of an enemy ahead of us I found myself riding alongside Aragorn. He didn't talk very much, by the look of him I'd say he was someone who was often outdoors and probably by himself a lot. By the time the sun started to set the column had been ordered to stop for the night. Soon camp fires were being started all along the column as the people began to prepare their rations. I sat down next to Aragorn as we got the fire going. Soon the Kings niece Eowyn had walked over to us carrying a cauldron of stew.

'I made some stew,' she stated, seeming a little nervous around Aragorn. 'It isn't much but it's hot.'

'Well I'm never one to turn down food,' I said and both Aragorn and I held out our bowls which I instantly regretted when I saw the stew.
She poured some of it in and I let Aragorn try it first, Eowyn appeared to be more interested in what he thought of it more than I. After a moment's hesitation he nodded his approval and said,

'It's good,' very quietly as though something was blocking his throat.

'Really?' she asked, sounding a little relieved but at the same time happy.

She started to walk away and when her back was turned Aragorn began pouring the contents of the bowl onto the ground near him just as Eowyn turned to look at us again. Realizing this, and not wanting to offend the lady, he quickly stopped what he was doing and accidently splashed some of the stew onto his hand.

'My uncle told me a strange thing,' she said. 'He said that you rode to war with Thengal, my grandfather but he must be mistaken.'

'King Theoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time.'

'What?' I asked. 'How old are you?'

'At least sixty,' said Eowyn as she crouched next to him and Aragorn shook his head slightly. 'Seventy?' he shook his head again. 'But you cannot be eighty!'

'Eighty seven,' Aragorn clarified and I almost dropped my bowl.

'What?'

Eowyn stood up and realization came to her face.

'You are one of the Dunedain. A descendent of Numenor blessed with long life. It was said that your race had passed into legend.'

'There are few of us left,' he told her and then with sorrow added, 'the northern kingdom was destroyed long ago.'

'I'm sorry,' Eowyn apologised, feeling some regret over apparently bringing sadness to him. 'Please eat.'

She stayed to watch as Aragorn and I both drank a little and both of us tried to keep it down. Fortunately she was gone quickly and Aragorn poured the remainder of the stew away as did I.

'Thank God she's not a cook,' I said to Aragorn.

'Agreed.'

'How long will it take for us to reach Helm's Deep?'

'Another two days at most,' he answered and I nodded. Then we were joined by Gimli.

'So you two lads fell victim to the ladies stew?'

'I'm afraid so.'

'I'm sorry and I'm glad I had the sense to avoid it.'

'We were just being polite Gimli,' I told him. 'Besides, I've tasted worse.'

'When?' they both asked me at the same time.

'When two of the cooks at my uncle's castle got drunk before cooking dinner. Have you ever wondered what half a barrel of salt on one roasted pheasant tastes like?'

'HA!' Gimli belted out. 'You know what John, when we're finished with this mess I'll take you to Erebor where we never make mistakes with our feasts.'

'I'd very much like to try one of them.'

'You've never seen a real feast until you've tried a Dwarf feast,' Gimli proudly declared. 'Hundreds of roast birds, entire pigs lining the table, mountains of cheese, barrels of beer flowing like a river.'

'As long as there's meat I'll be there.'

'Trust me John,' Gimli said to me with certainty, 'you'll want to go to Erebor.'

'I'm sure I will,' I told him.

'So can you tell us a little about yourself?' Gimli asked me.

'Where would you like me to start?' I asked him.

'Family maybe,' Gimli suggested.

'Well,' I thought about it. 'I was brought up by my uncle James at his castle. My father Daniel was killed in a civil war when I was twelve at a place named Tewkesbury.'

'I'm sorry,' said Aragorn.

'Thank you. I have two cousins as well, Rickard and Markus. When we were boys we'd always be getting into trouble whenever Rickard came up with a mad idea and then Markus would come up with a way to get us out of trouble.'

'Sounds like you had a good life,' Gimli said although I thought he seemed unusually pained at learning that my father was dead, someone he never knew.

'I did. My family's had a long line of service you know. My grandfather fought in one of the greatest battles in my countries history. Agincourt.'

'Agincourt.' Gimli muttered. 'What's his name?'

'Bartholomew Harris. If you must know he unfortunately died there. It's a pity.'

'Aye it is,' Gimli said and I thought I saw a strange look in his eyes but I ignored it.

...

Two days later I had volunteered to scout again that morning. It gave me some time to be alone with my thoughts. I somehow had to explain to men from my world that they had been transported to another world filled with beings which only existed in children's stories. On top of that I had to convince them to fight in a war against a massive army led by a man who calls himself "Dark Lord". As I rode ahead of the column I came past an eight foot tall cliff wall. So far I had found nothing and I knew that another scout would be coming to relieve me soon. That was when I heard something. It sounded like a horse walking along rock and I realized that the sound was coming from the top of the cliff I was next to. Then I felt it. Sharp steel pressing against the back of my neck. It was a sword. I froze completely as did Julius but my hand drifted towards Alaric.

'You know, if I was an enemy your head would be gone by now,' a voice said from above me. With shock I realized I knew that voice.

'Rickard?' I asked, hardly daring to believe it.

'That's me John,' my cousin answered and took the blade away from my neck.
I looked up and it was indeed him. He wore leather and mail armour apart from steel vambrace's while a black cloak waved and flapped in the wind around him. Hanging from his belt was the sheath for his falchion, a barbute helmet and a mace while strapped to his back was a heater shield.

'What were you doing you damned fool?' I almost shouted at him.

'Getting your attention,' he answered me. 'Although I must say I'm disappointed in you. Usually you're a hard one to sneak up on.'

'Well I was busy thinking.'

'About what?'

'Come down here and I'll tell you.'

'Alright, let me just get my horse.'

A few minutes later Rickard came from around the side of the cliff on his brown horse which he called Black Fire. Now I noticed that he also had a large sack like the one which I had and used to carry my armour.

'So what were you thinking about so hard that it put your life in danger?' he asked me with a slight grin.

'Well to answer that you'd have to ask me where we are first.'

'Alright, where are we?'

I paused before answering his question. This was going to be hard. I opened my mouth to answer when I heard a voice behind me snap,

'Who is he?'

Rickard and I both turned to face the voice and saw Legolas with an arrow notched into his bow.

'He's my cousin,' I quickly told Legolas before Rickard could say something stupid.

Legolas slowly lowered his bow and looked at Rickard in surprise and then looked at me.

'Have you told him?' he asked me.

'I was about to before you interrupted me.'

'I'm taking your place as scout. Take your cousin to the column.'

'No problem. If you get attacked shout for help.'

Rickard followed me to the column where I reported to King Theoden that there was no sign of an enemy and I also introduced Rickard as my cousin. After that we rode for a while and I explained to him where we were, what I've done and what was going on. When I was done he was silent for a moment until he finally found words.

'Blimey.'

'Wait. Is that all you can say? Blimey?'

'Well you just told me that we're in another world filled with magic, elves, dwarfs and monsters that will want to turn me into some type of meal and on top of that you're asking me to help fight in a war we'll probably loose. Blimey.'

'Will you help?'

Rickard was silent for a moment until he said,

'Why not? We'll need to find Markus and my father though.'

'Agreed. We'll find them no doubt.'

'Rickard, you're taking the news that we're no longer on Earth better than I did.'

'Well my outlook on life helps a lot. I just keep reminding myself that no matter how bad things are it could be a lot worse.'

'I suppose you're right.'

Then the column came to a stop as sounds of roaring and growling mixed with barking and shouting filled the air. A minute later I saw Aragorn running to the head of the column and gave us the news.

'Warg's! We're under attack!'

All of those in the column who weren't fighters screamed in panic. I didn't know what Warg's were but whatever they were I knew it wasn't good.

'All riders to the head of the column!' ordered Theoden.

'Sounds like a fight,' said Rickard as he strapped his helmet onto his head and then pulled down the visor which covered the lower half of the helmet leaving the eye slit open but the mouth section protected. 'Want to score kills again?'

'Alright,' I answered as I drew Alaric from his sheath. My helmet was still in my sack with the rest of my plate armour. My blade glinted in the sunlight as I took a practice swing at the air.

'Follow me!' Theoden ordered and he rode towards the battle with all of the other riders following him.

Rickard and I rode next to each other over a hill. The ground beneath me was a blur as Julius galloped forwards as fast as he could, kicking up patches of dirt and grass and throwing them behind us. The wind whipped past me and stung at my face. I felt excitement and nerves attacking me as they always did before a battle. Rickard was getting ahead of me and I commanded Julius to go faster. I wasn't going to let my cousin beat me in the kill count again. We came over the hill and I froze at the sight ahead of us. Dozens of giant wolf like creatures being ridden by foul creatures wielding long curved axes and swords; that was the first time I had ever seen an Orc or a Warg. Julius didn't stop. He kept going on and on towards the snarling, howling, barking monsters that sought only to kill us. As we neared them Theoden let out a cry which was echoed by all of us. Just before we crashed into them I yelled out as loud as I could,

'SAINT GEORGE!'

The battle began.
Men were thrown from horses. Spears slammed into Orc's and Warg's felling them. Horses were torn to pieces by the jaws of Warg's. Men were stabbed and Orc's were shot. I rode past an Orc and with one quick slice I cut its head clean off.

'One!' I shouted at Rickard.

An Orc swung at me with an axe which I blocked with my sword and then I stabbed it through the chest. The mount was then killed by an arrow which was fired by Legolas. I rode through the battle and swiped down at an Orc on foot killing it. A Warg roared as it charged towards me and leapt up, trying to grab my head in its jaws. Before it could get me I sliced across is neck and then finished off its twitching body with a hack to the top of its head. The battle was chaotic. What started as a cavalry battle had transformed into a brawl with pairs of mounted soldiers battling each other while soldiers who had lost their mounts fought in a brutal battle on foot. I battled another Orc on a Warg. Its foul helmet was in the shape of a skull and in its eyes was only malice. It was armed with a spiked flail. The chain wrapped itself around the blade of Alaric and yanked my sword from my hand sending it flying through the air. It them raised its weapon to try and take another swing at me. I pulled my war hammer from my belt smashed its blunt head against the Orc's weapon hand and I felt bones break. The creature hissed in pain and I used the spike end of my hammer to break through its crude iron helmet and crack open its skull. The creature fell dead and I killed the Warg with three hammer blows to its neck and skull. I scanned the ground for Alaric and saw it. It had landed with the blade in the ground and the handle in the air not far away. I put my hammer back on my belt and galloped towards my sword yanking it out of the ground as I went past it. I then engaged another Orc on a Warg. This one was armed with a sword and possessed greater skill than the other Orc's I had battled. It swung at me three times and I blocked each blow. Then I swung at it but it blocked my blow and swung at me high, managing to cut me along my right cheek. I felt blood rush out of my wound and I ignored the pain. I swung at it three more times until it failed to block one and I sliced off the demons sword hand. Then I impaled it through the chest and hacked the Warg in the back killing it. Quickly I rode on to another enemy. With a swing I hacked off the arm of an Orc and then I killed an Orc on foot. My sword arm ached and sweat was thick on my brow. Black blood covered my blade and arm. I was growing tired in the battle. That's when I saw three Orc's on Warg's riding away from the battle. I looked around me and saw others were retreating. The enemy was running. We'd won. I let a smile creep onto my face and slid Alaric back into his sheath. I then took another look around me and saw what I never wanted to see. Our own dead. Slain men and horses littered the battlefield and injured men were crying out in pain. I climbed off Julius and walked where we had fought our battle.

'Aragorn?' I heard Legolas shout.

Where was Aragorn? I couldn't see him.

'Aragorn? Gimli echoed the Elf.

I found them both by an Orc just as it said,

'Took a little tumble off the cliff.'

'You lie,' Legolas hissed in anger just as the Orc died.

Then he saw something. In the Orc's hand was a white jewel. I remembered seeing Aragorn wearing it. I quickly ran to the nearby cliff where I saw Theoden standing and I looked down into a roaring river. I shook my head. Aragorn dead. I didn't know him well at the time but I could tell that he was a good man. An honourable man. Gamling, one of the Royal Guards of Rohan then appeared ready to receive Theoden's orders.

'Get the wounded on horses,' the King commanded. 'The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead.'

Legolas looked at him with angry, shocked and pleading eyes and I chose that moment to walk away. I soon found Rickard standing next to his horse. He held his sword in his right hand and it was coated with black blood. There was a cut in his leather armour but the mail beneath was still intact.

'What was your score?' he asked me.

'Does that matter now? We've over half of our men.'

'Look John, don't get guilty over surviving. At least we can avenge them later.'

I was silent until Julius rode up to me slowly at nudged me with his nose.

'Eight,' I told Rickard.

'Eight,' my cousin said to me.

'Let's go,' I said as I climbed onto Julius.

Soon what was left of the battles survivors rode out towards Helm's Deep. Ahead of us was only more blood and more death.

AN: Well, what do you think? Longest chapter so far. I hope I did the battle well, after all we all loved the fight scenes in Lord of the Rings. I know this is a little late but funny story here. I had this chapter finished for last Thursday but I accidently deleted it so I've had to re write it. I'm an idiot!

Review responses:

Kiya: Thanks for your review. By the way I hate spoilers as well that's why when my friends talk about Game of Thrones I cover my ears. I hope you liked this chapter.

TMI Fairy: I know John Harris is accepting of his new surroundings but that's the way he is. He believes that things happen for a reason and that you can't get away from destiny, it's just better to get on with it.

Have a nice day.