To Whatever End: Chapter Sixteen

-Erin-

I swung a punch and connected hard with a Haradrim man's jaw, stunning him for just long enough to cut him with my sword and turning as he dropped to the ground. My eyes swept back and forth for what felt like the hundredth time, disappointed yet again when I saw no familiar faces anywhere. Where the hell are Kaia and Kathryn? They've got to be out here somewhere! Another Orc ran up and tried to slice my chest open with an axe, but I blocked his swing and forced him back before advancing and taking him down. I'd been steadily working my way around the battlefield for awhile now, sword slick with blood as I fought relentlessly through the frenzy. For now, at least, I was managing well enough, sweating and bloodied but still unharmed. I ducked beneath the curved blade of another Haradrim as it arced toward my head, lashing out and hitting him across the legs. As I stepped aside and turned to clash with another, I glanced down, noting the mix of both enemies and allies lying dead in the grass. For a second, the darkest of thoughts entered my mind, but I forced it aside as I spun to dodge a hit and strike my opponent from the back. I couldn't think like that now. They had to be alive still. I would find them.

Screeches from the right drew my attention, and I turned to meet a trio of Orcs as they charged me, eyes wild with bloodlust. The first one swung hard, and I stepped back to let him miss, pivoting to elbow the second in the chest as he reached out to try and grab me. I lunged toward the third, catching him in the shoulder, and as he fell I brought my sword back up and around to shove it straight into the belly of the first when he leapt towards me again. A meaty hand snagged a hold of my cloak and yanked, and I stumbled back, seeing the flash of a knife on the edge of my vision as the final Orc moved to slit my throat. But I was quicker and ducked my head, flipping my sword and driving it back behind me in an instant, a pained squeal escaping the creature as blade tasted flesh. I kept moving as his hold on me went limp, getting a few paces forward before colliding with another enemy. It seemed like they were everywhere, despite the Rohirrim having taken out a good many of them when they'd arrived. As I wrenched my sword free of another dead Orc, I glanced up at Minas Tirith, knowing Sauron's forces had likely closed in on the second level by now. Part of me regretted abandoning Faramir and the others, but I had more reason to be out here than inside the city. I hope Pippin made it back to them okay, I thought, parrying another stray attack and doubling back before slashing clean through my opponent's arm. If anything happened to Pip, I'd never forgive myself.

Just then, a shout came from behind, and I spun just in time to dodge the blade of another Haradrim as he all but pounced on me. I turned as he missed, pausing to spit some unknown curse at me before flashing his twin knives and launching into a second attack. Keeping my sword up, I blocked every blow, stepping further and further back as I moved with him, his strikes quick and precise. We were evenly matched, with neither of us able to get an opening on the other, until finally he switched tactics and drove one knife down toward my hip. I sidestepped just in time to evade it, but as I turned, his other knife caught me in the arm, and I hissed in pain as he drew blood. I bent to swing my sword low at him, but the man spun away, and suddenly a sharp pain blossomed in my back as he kicked me down from behind. I caught myself as I hit the dirt, rolling out of the way just as he brought his knife down and stabbed the ground where my neck had been. As I scrambled to push myself up, I twisted around and swung my sword high, catching both his blades against it at once as he attacked again. But then, before I could even blink, he drew back and kicked me a second time, and a scream burst from my lips as his booted foot connected directly with my stomach.

Instantly, a searing pain exploded in my abdomen, and fell back, crumpling to the ground as I felt flesh rip and tear. Tears stung my eyes as I gasped for air, unable to move, and a shadow fell over my face as the Haradrim man stepped over me, a sadistic gleam in his eyes. I tried to reach for my sword where it'd fallen from my hand, but he stopped me, pinning me in place with a foot on my stomach, and as he pressed down again it was like my insides were on fire. Every muscle in my body went rigid as another strained scream slipped through clenched teeth - fuck, it hurt. It hurt so bad. I stared up at him as he laughed, amused by the pain he'd caused me, gloating in his victory. But what he didn't see as I held his gaze was a hand slowly creeping towards my belt, and as soon as my fingers reached it, I ripped my knife free of its sheath and plunged it deep into my enemy's thigh. He cried out in pain and in shock, stumbling to the side, and I grit my teeth as I sat up, shoving him off me and reaching to grab my sword where it lay in the grass. With an enraged shout, I turned and was on him in an instant, shoving the blade straight into his chest and pushing it through down to the hilt. My hands were clenched white-knuckled around the weapon as I pulled it free, his lifeless form falling aside as I fell back again, hand immediately flying to the fierce pain in my gut.

My shoulders slumped as I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath, wincing as I drew my hand away and looked down to survey the damage. Shit. Sure enough, blood had begun to stain the bandages crimson as I lifted my tunic, and I swore under my breath as I looked around for anything that might help. Pushing myself to my feet, I headed towards a dead rider of Rohan not far away and ripped off a large section of his cloak, tying it as tightly as I could stand around my middle. That'll have to hold me together for now. I tugged on the knot to make sure it wouldn't come loose, pausing to catch my breath as I went back to collect my sword. Damn. And here I thought I could make it through this without ripping myself open again. The pain was still there, but I couldn't afford to dwell on it now, pushing the sensation to the back of my mind and forcing myself to focus on the battle at hand. It's not over yet. I have to find the others, I can't stop now. Slowly but surely, I started forward again, praying to the gods above for at least five minutes without another enemy jumping me.

I didn't get more than twenty paces, however, before I heard another shout, and despite my wounds, instinct kicked in as I immediately stopped and gripped my weapon tighter. Oh, come on. Blade ready, I spun on my heels to face my oncoming opponent... but once I saw who it was, I nearly dropped to the ground, sword falling uselessly to my side as she leapt forward and all but tackled me in a hug.

"What do you take me for, some kind of Orc?!" Kathryn said, beaming as she pulled back. "Fine, then, I didn't miss you, either!"

"Kathryn!" My jaw dropped as I stared at her, everything else forgotten as relief flooded me. "Oh my God, you're alive! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Eyes scanned her form as she stood in front of me, still hardly able to believe it. "You alright?" She looked a little bruised and scraped up, but not too bad, all things considered.

"Yeah, I'm fine! What about you?"

I shrugged. "Could be better, but I'm still standing." I glanced around again, though, noting she was alone. "Kaia's not with you?"

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second as something unreadable passed across her face, and she shook her head. "No, she's coming with Aragorn."

I frowned, confused by the abrupt shift, but didn't get the chance to ask about it as the growl of an Orc suddenly snagged our attention, and Kathryn turned to cross swords with him twice before taking him down. Another came in from the left, trying to sneak up on her as she was occupied, and I gave a shout as I stepped forward to intercept him. As he dropped, I looked back to Kathryn with a smirk. "Not bad."

She rolled her eyes, a small smile growing on her face as well as she spun to block an incoming Haradrim. "I'm a little out of practice!" The man swung at her with his curved blade, but she moved to avoid the hit, reaching to her back and drawing two knives at once to fling into his chest.

I almost laughed. "You don't look it!" I stepped up to meet her as she took back her knives, wiping my own blade clean on my cloak as I nodded to the rest of the battlefield. "What do you say we take these guys on together? I think we'd make a great team."

Kathryn looked back at me with a gleam in her eye, smile widening as she stood. "I couldn't agree more. They'll never know what hit them." We laughed as she sheathed her knives and nodded to each other before taking off side by side across the Pelennor, swords in hand.

-Kaia-

I stayed absolutely still in my position by the ship's rail, squatting low to stay out of sight as we awaited Aragorn's signal. My fingers drummed anxiously on the hilts of my swords as the ship slowed, and I swallowed as my mind raced, remembering what was to come. Part of me was itching to get out there and jump into the fray, but it was mixed with an underlying fear that'd been building in my stomach for days. I almost wasn't entirely sure I wanted to get off this boat anymore.

"Kaia." I blinked, looking up at Aragorn where he was crouched just ahead of me. "Are you ready?"

Though it didn't feel entirely sincere, I nodded and gave him a wry smirk. "I was born ready." He smiled back, turning away again as our ship drew up to the shoreline. As soon as he wasn't looking, the smirk disappeared, and my gaze lingered on him for the briefest second before falling to the deck again. Even now, I could hear the distant roars from the battlefield. You have to do this, I reminded myself. Focus. Remember your mission.

It wasn't long before I heard the rough shouts of Orcs yelling at us from the shore. "Late, as usual! Pirate scum! There's knife work here that needs doing!"

At the sound of them, my face twisted into a scowl. "Got that right," I muttered. I glanced back to Aragorn, waiting.

"Come on, ya sea rats! Get off your ships!"

"Now!" he hissed. As the boat finally came to a halt, Aragorn leapt up to vault himself over the rail, and I followed suit, landing squarely on the ground next to him as Legolas and Gimli came right behind us. Together, the four of us stood before the large party of Orcs, staring them down as they drew back in surprise - an elf, a dwarf, a woman, and a man against a hundred of them? It probably looked bizarre, and pretty stupid as the Orcs began to cackle amongst themselves, drawing their weapons to take out these seemingly insignificant enemies.

But they couldn't even begin to prepare for what was coming. As we strode towards the Orcs, Gimli glanced up at Legolas with an impish sparkle in his eye. "There's plenty for the both of us, may the best dwarf win!" I grinned, drawing my black blades from their sheaths as we broke into a full run, the army of the dead materializing out of thin air from behind us and charging forward. The Orcs immediately went from cocky to terrified at the appearance of the undead, shrinking back, but had nowhere to go before the ghosts were on them, gliding over them with ease and killing all within their sight.

I leapt towards the first one in my path with a roar of fury, energy surging through me as I knocked away the Orc's weapon with one blade and sliced his stomach open with the other. Bodies dropped left and right as I fought through them with all I had, adrenaline pushing me forward as I spun and lashed out to slit another Orc's throat. One came at me from behind, and I flipped to a reverse grip to drive one blade back into his chest before kicking back a second enemy. He stumbled, and as I ripped my sword free of the previous Orc, I was on him in an instant, shoving both my swords into his head from opposite sides to kill him. I heard a roar from behind and whirled to face my next foe, but he jerked to a stop and collapsed, a golden-feathered arrow in his neck. I glanced to the left, nodding to Legolas in thanks before quickly getting my swords up to block another incoming Orc blade. It was madness, but a familiar madness, and one I'd long missed. In that moment, all thoughts of foreboding slipped from my mind as I fell into my natural routine, cutting through the beasts without slowing. One came rushing towards me with his scimitar raised high, but I swung up and cut clean through his arm before he could ever bring it down on me, my momentum carrying through as I turned with it and slashed through another's chest armor in the same swing.

I heard a low bellow from nearby and caught sight of Gimli taking out three at once with a wide swing of his axe, shoving another dead Orc aside and stepping back towards him. He turned as he struck another down and caught my eye, a wide grin showing from beneath his beard. "Hey, Kaia! What's say we send these bastards running for the hills?"

I cast a glance over my shoulder, matching his grin as I stood back to back with him. "Let's kick some ass!" Gimli let out a guttural laugh as he attacked again, and I pinned the next Orc to approach me with a withering glare as I crossed my blades at his neck and took his head off. We stood firm against each other, neither Gimli nor I moving an inch as the Orcs came at us from all sides, only to meet their deaths as they assaulted us. Gimli dealt fatal blows with every hit, knocking Orcs down like they were made of cardboard as I slashed and sliced my way through the horde. The Orcs closed in around me tighter, threatening to swarm, and I looked back to see them advancing on Gimli as well. "Hey!" I shouted to the dwarf in between blows. "We've got to drive them back!"

"Aye, lass!" He knocked an Orc in the head with the butt of his axe, denting its helmet. "D'you have any ideas?"

I raised my arm to block a punch before stabbing the offender in the stomach. "One!" Reaching back, I got a firm grip on Gimli's shoulder, glancing to the enemies in front of him. "Duck!" As he did, I pushed off the ground and vaulted myself over him from behind, coming around and roundhouse kicking an Orc square in the face before I hit the ground and immediately swung wide to take out two more. The second there was open ground, I took it, surging forward and continuing to push through. Gimli roared in delight from behind me as he forced them back further, and before long I'd broken away from the dwarf and stumbled out through the other side of the landing party as the ghost army swept through again to finish off the rest. My eyes swept over the remains of the Orcs we'd obliterated as I turned back, taking out one more stray just as Aragorn came into view from the right. We both looked towards Minas Tirith, which seemed so close now, smoking and burning as it stretched up into the sky. Even from here, I could see the city had taken heavy damage, and I cast an apprehensive glance toward the ranger. "Looks like we got here just in time."

He nodded, lips pressed into a thin line as he stared ahead. "Their darkest hour is at hand. Come, quickly!" He motioned for me to follow as he ran forward, and I nodded, taking a breath as I spun my twin blades in my hands and charged after him to the awaiting battlefield.

-Kathryn-

Erin and I, when put together, made a damn good team as we tore through the Pelennor. We fought side by side through the masses, covering each other while killing off dozens of Orcs and Haradrim as we went. I blew through two more as I flung knives into their necks, Erin ducking beneath the swing of another and cutting him across the back two steps behind me. It was crazy, but somehow we managed to stick together through it all. I doubled back to let a Haradrim miss before catching him in the chest, glancing over my shoulder to my short-haired friend. "How you holding up?"

She stepped back from where she'd shoved her blade into the belly of another Orc, letting out a breath as it fell away lifelessly. "Better than that guy." I stifled a laugh, and she grinned, but a second later it was replaced with a pained grimace as she stopped short.

I frowned as she winced. "Erin?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she waved dismissively. "I got hit back there, but it's whatever, I'm okay."

"You sure?" I'd noticed the makeshift rags tied across her stomach, but hadn't thought to question it until now.

"Yeah, it's all good," she insisted. "Promise."

My gaze narrowed slightly as I watched her - I wasn't convinced. Just as I opened my mouth to protest again, though, an inhumane screech drowned out my words as a shadow fell over us, and I cried out as we ducked, a Fell Beast swooping down from above and passing just over our heads. As I looked up, my eyes widened in fear, horrified as I watched its jaws close around a defenseless Théoden several yards away. "Oh God... no..." For a second, I couldn't bring myself to look away, transfixed in the worst way by the brutality as the beast slung him back out across the ground, pinned beneath his horse. I only snapped out of it when I heard Erin shout in warning, turning just in time to meet an incoming blade with my own and force it aside before kicking the Orc back. I could still hear the beast roaring behind me, knowing the Witch-King was preparing to close in on his prey, and felt a dull sorrow in my heart for the fate of the King. After stabbing another Haradrim in the side, however, I turned to look back at the scene, and as I caught sight of a familiar golden-haired figure now standing between Théoden and Sauron's right hand, I felt the color drain from my face. Immediately, I remembered the extra sword I held, realizing she now stood before the Witch-King of Angmar weaponless, and terror shot through me like lightning. "Éowyn!" I stabbed an incoming Orc in the leg, shoving him aside as I rushed towards her. "ÉOWYN!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Erin staggering towards me, hand outstretched. "Kathryn, DON'T!"

But it was too late. I barely heard her, shoving enemies aside as I leapt over bodies in a blind panic, reaching for a knife at my back and whipping it forward in a flash just before Erin grabbed me by the cloak. The knife sailed through the air in a desperate attempt to save Éowyn, and a squeal of pain erupted from the Fell Beast as the blade pierced its eye, sinking deep into the socket. I skidded to a stop as I watched the beast fall back - not a killing blow, but enough to cripple it and throw its rider from the saddle. Éowyn jerked back, shocked by the sudden interference as she turned and spotted me, but I was no longer looking at her, now entirely rooted in place by fear alone as I stared ahead.

He rose from the ground like a ghost, a being made entirely of darkness, cloaked in black so deep it seemed to swallow all light within itself. A terrible, enraged hiss sounded as he turned, sending chills down my spine, and my mouth went dry as I found myself looking straight into a pit of utter nothingness beneath a spiked helm. His grip tightened around the sword held in one hand, and for a moment I felt as though I were staring into the face of death itself.

But then, with a cry of fury, Éowyn lashed out, having taken up a nearby shield and her uncle's sword as she leapt towards the Witch-King with a wild swing. She didn't strike him, but drew his attention, and not a moment later I heard the growls of more Orcs from behind as I turned to intercept those advancing on me. I forced them back, fighting as hard as I could, though trying to catch glimpses of Éowyn against the Witch-King all the while as I cut my enemies down. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I slashed through another.

Erin was also holding off a couple more Haradrim nearby, glancing over as she took out one. "What the hell were you doing, Kathryn?!"

"I don't know, trying to help!" I kicked another Orc back and sidestepped the swing of another. "I had to do something!"

"She's okay, Kathryn, she'll be fine! Let her do this - it's her big moment!"

I pulled out another knife and stabbed the second Orc in the lower back as I slipped behind him, glancing to the shieldmaiden once again. Don't be stupid, I told myself, you know how this plays out. She'll be fine, she has a sword now, everything's fine. I had confidence in Éowyn's skill with a sword, of course, though it was still terrifying to watch from afar. The Fell Beast was still knocked back, licking its wounds and leaving the fight between woman and Ringwraith, and I felt another small jolt of fear as the Witch-King swung his massive chain mace at her with incredible force, making a direct hit and splintering her shield to pieces. Éowyn cried out in pain as she fell back, arm shattered, and I was drawn away to clash with another Haradrim once again. I crossed blades with him overhead, catching sight of Erin being cornered by three Orcs on the edge of my vision, and pulled back to give myself an opening before swinging at his side. He blocked, but I was one step ahead of him, grabbing a knife from behind and whipping back to slash clean across his throat before he could make another move.

As the Haradrim man dropped, I turned back to Éowyn, just in time to see her moment of victory as the wraith loomed over her, grabbing her by the neck and pulling her close to his face. Even from here, I could hear his chilling, rasping voice. "You fool... no man can kill me. Die now..." An incoming Orc from the side tore me away from the scene for the briefest second as I knocked away his clumsy swing and stabbed him. Just as I sunk my sword into his stomach, however, I heard a scream of pain, and when I looked back, my entire body went absolutely rigid. The Witch-King held Éowyn high in the air, feet dangling, hands feebly pulling at the armored fingers clawing into her neck. For a second, her eyes were wide with terror as she looked at him, one final gasping breath escaping her before he tightened his grip, crushing her neck in his hand. And then the light in her eyes vanished, and I felt something inside me shatter as I watched Éowyn's body go limp.

The scream ripped from me as soon as she hit the ground, everything else forgotten as I barreled forward in horror. "NO! ÉOWYN! NOOO!" I dropped to my knees, sword falling uselessly aside as I screamed, feeling numb with shock. NO! What?! How is this happening? What happened; she was supposed to make it, she was supposed to make it and -

And then it hit me. Merry. Merry hadn't been there. In the normal timeline, when the Witch-King grabbed her by the neck, Merry crept up and stabbed the Witch-King in the back, forcing him to let her go. And Merry hadn't been there. I stared down at Éowyn's face, unseeing eyes staring at the sky above, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Tears rolled down my face unhindered as I sat there in shock, barely able to process what was happening. ...She was dead. Éowyn was dead.

But then a hiss from behind drew me out of my stupor, and I blinked, arms shaking as I reached out to touch her body. Éowyn was dead. My best friend was dead. Three times now, I had watched Sauron's darkness take someone I loved from me. My jaw clenched, fists tightening in anger as I turned to the Witch-King, still standing. "...You... You killed her," I whispered, reaching for Éowyn's fallen sword. "You bastard, you KILLED HER!"

Though he had no face, I swear I could hear the arrogant smirk in his voice. "She was a fool, weak and powerless. None can challenge me."

"NO!" I screamed, trembling with rage as I got to my feet. "ENOUGH! I've HAD IT with you! You and your cowardly, false, blackhearted fucking master! You have taken EVERYTHING from me! EVERYTHING! And I'm fucking done with it! This ends NOW!"

The Witch-King hissed again, tightening his grip on both his sword and chain mace. His gaze cut straight through me like ice, as if he could see straight into my very soul. "You have not the power to bring about my end," he said. "You will die, just as all you love have before you."

But I stared straight back, holding my weapon in front of me with an iron grip. "Fucking. Try me."

From somewhere further back, I heard Erin shouting for me to stop, but I ignored her as the Witch-King let out a piercing shriek and swung his chain mace high, aiming to bring it down on my head. I dodged and let out a furious cry of my own, lashing out with my sword as hard as I could swing. He blocked it with his own, shoving me back with incredible force, and I stumbled aside as he swung his mace again, careening through the air. Again, I jerked back just in time to miss it as it slammed into the dirt just inches past my toes. Reaching behind me, I drew a knife and whipped it towards his head, but the wraith deflected it easily, raising his arm to send the blade bouncing harmlessly off his armguard. He swung again, and I dodged again, and on and on we went as I evaded his blows over and over, fighting for the smallest opening I could get to attack him. I knew nothing but blind rage with every movement, determined to exact revenge on the undead puppet of Sauron as I pounced on him again with a wild swing. But the Witch-King was powerful - the air around him was thick and cold, as if just being in his presence alone was draining my strength.

The Witch-King whipped his chain mace around at me again, and this time it sailed high, coming straight for my head. I ducked beneath it, trying to catch him in the legs with my sword, but I missed and had barely any time to recover before I saw his sword arcing toward my side. I twisted out of the way just in time, spinning and throwing another knife, but it sailed harmlessly past him. Before I could even blink, I saw the mace coming down again, but it was all happening too fast, and on instinct I threw Éowyn's sword up to block the incoming hit. "Shit!" The mace slammed into the weapon, tearing straight through the metal and knocking it from my hand, and I barely jerked back in time to avoid getting crushed.

I stumbled, eyes wide as I looked to the fallen sword, splintered in pieces on the ground, and the Witch-King gave a hissing, rasping laugh as he mocked me. "Foolish woman. You have nothing. Your reckless acts are wasted."

But I shook my head, reaching for the familiar weight I'd been carrying at my side all this time. "I'm not done yet, asshole." Wrapping a hand around its hilt, I pulled Ringil free of its sheath, its blade glittering like ice as I leveled it before me.

As soon as I unveiled it, something happened that I didn't think was possible - the Witch-King recoiled, drawing back in fear, and something shifted in the air around him as his sights fell to the ancient blade. "Trinkets of history will bring you nothing! None in Middle-Earth can contest my power!"

"Is that so?" I asked. "Then how come you're afraid of this?" Not hesitating any longer, I let out an enraged shout as I leapt towards him, Ringil going straight for his neck. The wraith blocked with his own sword, a shudder rippling through my forearms as the weapons clashed hard, but I drew back and struck again, driving him back a step. Now he was the one on defense as I attacked mercilessly, taking every opening I had and staying right on top of him. I sidestepped his sword and threw Ringil out towards his shoulder, but the Witch-King evaded the blow and retreated back another step. He gave another shriek, this time in frustration as he swung wide and low with the chain mace, and I hopped over it like it was a deadly jump rope. Again I dove in close, bringing my blade down towards his head, and he brought his up to block it, but I quickly drew back and stabbed at him a second time, aiming straight for the opening where his face would've been. The Witch-King drew back just enough for me to miss him, my blade skirting the side of his helm, but as my outstretched arms drove forward, he then did something entirely unexpected. The undead king let go of his chain mace, letting it fall aside, and before I could pull back, clamped an armored hand around my wrists where Ringil was still held tightly in my grasp. And then, with incredible strength surpassing that of any human man, he yanked me clean off my feet, sending me sailing overhead before slamming me into the dirt.

As soon as my back hit the ground, I cried out, an incredible pain shooting up my spine and through my entire body. The breath was knocked right out of me, and I felt Ringil fall from my hand as my vision swam, stars reeling overhead. I couldn't focus, couldn't move at all, only gasp in pain as I laid there, writhing in the dirt like I'd just been hit by a truck. A shadow with a crown fell across my face as the Witch-King drew himself up to his full height over me, his sword bursting into flame as I desperately groped for Ringil. His dark form seemed massive, drowning out everything else as he pinned me beneath his iron-clad foot, pressing hard into my chest and lowering his flaming sword to my neck. My heart pounded in my chest as I stretched my fingers further, his hissing voice louder than my own thoughts. "It is over. You have failed... Darkness will come to you and all you know." The tip of his sword sank lower, its searing heat barely pressing against my neck, and it took all I had not to cry out as my fingers curled around a familiar hilt. "Die now."

But with the last of my strength, my grip tightened, and I stared up at him with the fiercest glare I could muster. "In your fucking dreams."

And then, before the Witch-King could even flinch, I lifted Ringil from the ground, a final cry of rage tearing from my throat as I drove it straight through his heel.

Instantly, fire shot up my arm, and I screamed in agony as I ripped my weapon free, dropping it again as the searing pain spread through my whole body within seconds. But the scream that erupted from the leader of the Nazgûl was unparalleled, a screech which nearly shattered my eardrums as the Witch-King's cloaked form fell away from me, crumpling to his knees. Smoke oozed from the hole driven clean through his foot, and again he shrunk back, wounded and beaten.

Darkness began to flicker on the edges of my vision, and I raised my head just as Erin came running towards us, planting herself between the wraith and I. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at me, hair flying wildly about her face. "Kathryn! Oh God, what did you do?!" I tried to say something - anything - but couldn't form words. My arm had gone numb. Erin turned her gaze to the Witch-King, now a burning glare as the crippled wraith slunk back towards his Fell Beast. "Get out!" she shouted. "There's nothing left for you here! Go back to your master and tell him you failed!"

Even as he drew himself up atop his steed, though, there was a foreboding air in the Witch-King's voice. "...You have not defeated me... The foolishness of mortal women... is not my purpose here. My business... is with the heir of Isildur."

As soon as his words reached my ears, my eyes went wide. No... Oh God, no... I tried to sit up, but I couldn't. Everything felt... cold. My head fell back against the grass, and all I saw was a flash of grey as the Fell Beast shakily took to the skies again, turning to the north. "No..." I gasped. "...Erin-"

"Kathryn! Holy shit, what's happening? Are you okay? Kathryn? KATHRYN!" Hazel eyes were flooded with alarm as she knelt over me, hands darting everywhere but having no idea what to do. "I don't - I don't know how to deal with this, oh God! Kathryn, can you hear me? Stay with me! I have to go find Aragorn!"

No, NO! I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. "Erin..." I gasped, darkness closing in again. "No, Erin... stay here, please..."

"Kathryn, I've got to get you help!"

But the numbness had spread too far, and the last thing I remembered before everything went dark was a feeling of utter dread sweeping over me. Please...

-Erin-

"Kathryn!" My grip tightened on her shoulders as her eyes fell shut, fear holding me in a vicegrip as she went unresponsive. "Shit, shit, NO! No, Kathryn, wake up! Don't sleep on me now, stay with me! Kathryn, stay with me!" But I received no answer, and my blood ran cold as I reached for her neck, praying I'd find a pulse. She can't be dead. Please, God, let her live. Panic thundered in my chest as I held my breath, searching for it - and then I felt it. Faint and fluttering, but it was there. She was still clinging to life somehow. "Oh, thank God." But it didn't lessen my fear all that much as I looked to her arm, the flesh already starting to turn an unnatural blue-grey from where she'd stabbed the wraith. I had no clue how to treat the Black Breath. I wasn't a healer, and even then I knew this was only something that could be fixed by one of incredible skill. I needed Aragorn. Still knelt over an unconscious Kathryn, I glanced back to the battlefield behind me. He was out there somewhere, but I had no idea where. And Kathryn was already running out of time.

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream broke through the noise of battle, and my gaze was torn from the north as I caught sight of Éomer running towards the scene, utter horror and grief marring his face as he saw Éowyn's golden-haired form unmoving in the grass. His sword and helmet fell from his hands, sobbing as he dropped to his knees by his sister's side. I felt pained for him as he wept, still shaken myself by the unexpected loss. There was no healing to be done for her. She was gone. I pushed myself to my feet, forcing myself to ignore the pain flaring up in my abdomen as I turned to him where he was still collapsed in the grass, cradling Éowyn in his arms. "Éomer. Éomer!" He was rocking back and forth as I laid a hand on his shoulder, knowing there was nothing I could say to comfort him. "...I'm sorry."

Slowly, he raised his head to look at me, despair and heartbreak and confusion in his eyes. "...How?"

I swallowed. "The Witch-King of Angmar. Kathryn fought him and drove him off."

At that, his eyes widened, a fresh fear sweeping over him. "Kathryn? Is she-"

"No, she's not dead - not yet," I told him, pointing to where she lay just a few yards off. "She's got a pulse, but it's faint, and I can't heal her - I have to find Aragorn or she's going to die out here." Éomer was staring at her now, shellshocked, and I squeezed his shoulder a little tighter. "You've got to help her, Éomer. Get her to the healing houses while I go find Aragorn, please. If she gets out of here now, she might still have a chance." The horselord's dark gaze fell once again to his sister in his lap, and I paused, voice softening. "...We can't lose them both. Please."

It was quiet for a moment as Éomer remained unmoving, tears still falling freely as he trailed a hand through golden hair. But then he closed his eyes, nodding ever so slightly. "I will."

I let out a breath of relief, stepping back and releasing my hold on him. "Thank you," I whispered. "I'll go as fast as I can and send Aragorn up for her as soon as I find him." He nodded again, though his gaze was still distant as he looked to Éowyn again, and I paused. "...Éomer?" Dark eyes lifted to meet mine once more, and I met them with a somber nod of my own. "She fought bravely all the way through." He said nothing, but something shifted in his gaze, knowing it was true, and it was then that I turned to leave him, setting my sights on the northern half of the battlefield. I could see the wraiths flying overhead, and better yet, a familiar green haze swarming the horizon in the distance, and the faintest hope sparked in my chest as I started forward, running as fast as my legs could carry me. The pain in my stomach surged again, and I winced, muttering curses under my breath as I glanced down to see spots of blood starting to seep through the fabric. I could feel my body slowing down, but I refused to stop, forcing myself to push through the pain for Kathryn's sake. I have to find them. I have to get to them in time. Oh, God... come on!

-Legolas-

Arrow after arrow found its mark as I moved through the horde of Orcs surrounding us, keeping score as I went. "Fifteen! Sixteen!" I could hear Gimli's roaring cries from nearby as he did the same, with Kaia and Aragorn not far ahead, cutting through Sauron's forces with deadly precision. The Pelennor had dissolved into absolute madness, soldiers on all sides running rampant across the fields as both Orcs and men continued to fall. It seemed endless as I fired another shot into an Orc's neck, barely hesitating for even a moment before reaching for my next arrow, and another, and another. Despite our late entry into the fray, the enemies still appeared beyond count, and however chaotic it was here, I imagined it was far worse within the city. Not for the first time, I spared a glance toward the smoking Minas Tirith, fearing the worst.

But I could not dwell on such things now. None of us could. Our fight was here on the Pelennor, against the armies of Haradrim and Orcs who stood against us. None had anticipated the arrival of the undead, who had already proven their worth ten times over with how quickly they overwhelmed enemy forces. Their ghostly green forms swept over the Orcs and Haradrim with ease, hardly even slowing them as they swept across the plains and destroyed all in their path. It was almost unsettling, and I considered myself lucky I was not one who dared to oppose them. Even with their assistance, however, there was still plenty that remained for the rest of us. Just as another arrow buried itself in an Orc's chest, I heard Aragorn's shout of warning from behind. "Legolas!"

I turned just as a deafening roar filled the air, looking up to see an enormous Mûmakil charging towards me, its great tusks sweeping the ground. Wonderful. I let out a breath and tightened my grip on my bow, running up to meet the beast just as it threw back its head and let loose another bellow. Sighting my path, I reached out and grabbed a hold of its barbed tusk, swinging up and avoiding its massive trunk as the Mûmak attempted to knock me away. As my momentum carried me back, I leapt down and grabbed onto its ankle, holding fast as it stormed across the field. As its footsteps shook the earth below, I leapt again, launching myself higher back to its hind leg. Fear shot through me for the briefest moment as my right hand slipped, and I clung to the hide of the animal tightly as I swung back and forth, finding a foothold amidst its erratic movements and beginning to climb. Something came flying towards me from the edge of my vision, and I ducked beneath the snap of the Mûmak's tail, attempting to swat me away as if I were no more than an irritating insect. But I continued upward, keeping my focus ahead. I could not afford to misstep now.

Moving quickly, I climbed up the leg and pulled myself up onto the beast's back, drawing an arrow as I found my stance and fitting it to my bow. My sights turned to the large war tower full of Haradrim before me, and I shot them down one by one, counting as I went. "Thirty-three! Thirty-four!" Cries of alarm rang out among them as they began to fall to the battlefield below, and I drew my bow back to shoot another. Thirty-five. One jumped out from the tower with a spear in hand, but I shot him down. Thirty-six. The next landed in front of me, leaning on a spear to keep his balance, so I ripped it from him and tossed him from the Mûmak. Thirty-seven. Another leapt, and again I evaded him, ducking aside to send him rolling off my back. Thirty-eight. As I looked down, I caught sight of a loose rope draped across the animal's back and dove towards it, swinging down the other side.

As I sailed towards the front leg of the Mûmak, I braced myself to make another climb, but just as I made contact, the beast's stomping movements shifted, and I lost my footing. I felt myself slip, clinging tightly to the rope, but the momentum sent me crashing back against its hind leg. I grunted at the impact and pushed away, but soon enough found myself stuck between the two legs, unable to swing myself further as the Mûmak continued to charge about the Pelennor. I tried to push myself forward, but could not, and another step sent me sliding down the rope several feet as I lost hold of the rope with one hand. I hissed at the burn, glancing down at the drop from where I dangled high in the air, gripping the rope and my bow with all my strength. For a moment, I feared I would fall, but kicked out one last time just as its front leg drew back, finally getting the chance I needed to push off the leg and swing myself up, bracing my feet against the animal's side. Reaching back, I drew one of my knives and cut right through the thick ropes in one swing, the tower instantly beginning to slide away.

I held fast to the rope, pulling myself up onto the beast's back as the tower fell away entirely, crashing to the ground and instantly overcome by a swarm of the undead. ...Fifty-eight. I turned back to the Mûmak at hand, still lumbering about even while riderless. Now for you. Drawing three arrows from my quiver, I strode forward to plant my foot at the back of its head, firing them deep into the Mûmak's skull. The beast roared in pain so loudly I could feel a vibration in my boots and stumbled forward, collapsing to the ground as I slid down its trunk and landed lightly on my feet. Fifty-nine. I let out a breath and glanced back toward the fallen beast, golden feathers protruding from its head. I am never doing that again.

A gruff grunt sounded from nearby, and I turned to see Gimli approach with a disgruntled frown. "...That still only counts as one!" I gave the dwarf a wry smile, shaking my head as I moved to retrieve my arrows. The battle was reaching its end now, the last of Sauron's forces being overrun by the Army of the Dead. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kaia and Aragorn also coming towards us and nodded to them, glad to see them both unharmed.

Just as I turned towards the Mûmak, however, an approaching darkness flooded all my senses, and immediately I looked to the skies, eyes widening in fear when I saw the massive grey form coming straight towards us. "DOWN!" I shouted, but it was drowned out by the horrific bloodcurdling screech as the Nazgûl dove, the wings of its Fell Beast spread wide. I reached for an arrow, but suddenly the Fell Beast beat its great wings and I felt my feet leave the ground, thrown through the air and coming down hard on my back. My head hit the ground and the world blurred as my bow fell from my hand, and as I looked up I saw it was none other than the Witch-King of Angmar himself atop the Beast, though he was bent low over his steed as if in great pain, and the Beast itself had only one eye. But then, just as it seemed they meant to pass over us harmlessly, the Beast turned, and everything in that moment seemed to slow.

As soon as the Witch-King turned his head, I knew who he had come for, and my blood ran cold. The Beast circled back, preparing to dive for its target, and I tried to get to my feet, but I was not fast enough. I was too far away from him, as was Gimli, and I scrambled desperately for my bow as the Beast dove again, roaring as it bore down towards its target. My fingers closed around the smooth wood, and I reached for an arrow, but had none - they had all been thrown from my quiver, and as I watched the Beast I knew I was too late. I felt a desperate cry rise in my throat, and it nearly surfaced, but then my eyes caught sight of movement across the grass, and I stopped short as I saw a familiar dark-haired woman rise to her feet, black blades drawn, already running. The Beast's jaw was opened wide, ready to devour Aragorn, but her eyes were wild with desperation as she leapt forward, screaming his name, and as I realized what was happening I felt my heart drop. Kaia skidded to a stop just as the Beast came down, her hair wild in the wind as she faced it, screaming in fury. But she was no match for the creature, and as my hand shot towards the first arrow I could find, I watched in horror as the Fell Beast closed its jaw around her body, her cry dying instantly with her as its teeth sunk into her flesh.

The Witch-King wailed again as the Beast reared back, his piercing scream echoing across the Pelennor, and I felt barely conscious of my own movements as my feet found ground again and I fit an arrow to my bow. I heard a distant roar of fury from Gimli as an axe sailed through the air, and in the same breath I drew back and fired on the Beast, barely missing its heart as the arrow pierced it deep. It roared in pain and reared back again, and another axe from Gimli struck the Witch-King's back as Kaia's body dropped from the Beast's jaws. Wounded beyond whatever strength he possessed, the wraith drew back his steed in defeat, turning and abandoning us to flee into the east. But then my eyes returned to Kaia, her body mangled and broken, her blades fallen from her hands, and a hollowness I had not known in age filled my stomach. Aragorn was crawling towards her in shock, and for a moment, I could not will myself to move any further-

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

The scream ripped through the air from behind, and at the sound of it, the deepest part of my heart cracked and shattered into splinters. I had no need to turn, but I did, and there she was, tears streaming down her face as she barreled forward, still screaming in despair at the sight of her dearest friend dead on the ground. She tried to run past me, but I threw out my arm and caught her by the waist, holding her back. "KAIA!" Erin sobbed, struggling desperately to break free. "KAIA, NOOO!"

"Erin, don't," I said, wrapping my other arm around her. "She... she's gone."

"NO!" she cried, still trying to pry my arms away. "No, she can't be! Wake her up, wake her up! KAIA!"

I watched as Aragorn's shoulders trembled from where he knelt over her, and my chest grew tight. "She will not wake up, Erin."

"She has to!" she screamed. "She has to! KAIA! No, let me go! KAIA! NO! NOOO!" Though it pained me more than anything, I pulled Erin back, away from the scene as she finally turned and collapsed into my chest, her body shaking as she wept. "No, she can't be gone! Not Kaia, not her... not her! No..."

My gaze remained rooted to Kaia's form as I wrapped my arms tightly around Erin and held her still, shaken beyond words. Gimli had gone to stand beside Aragorn now, a hand at his back as they grieved together. Aragorn had not moved. "...I am sorry, Erin," I whispered in disbelief. "...She is not coming back." She shuddered again, but then there came a gasp of pain, and in an instant I tore my gaze away from Kaia, looking down. "Erin?" I lessened my hold on her just enough, and my eyes widened as she drew back. "Erin!"

Her skin had gone deathly pale, face twisted in a grimace as her breaths came in gasps. "Legolas... shit..." She drew trembling hands away from where they'd been clutched at her stomach, both coated in slick crimson, and panic shot through me as I saw the large, bloodstained rags tied over her tunic. "...I can't..."

"Valar, Erin!" There was so much blood. "What happened?" But she did not answer, and when I looked up again her eyes had glazed over. "Erin!" I cried, gripping her shoulders hard. "Erin, no! Stay with me!" Suddenly, all else in the world vanished into nothing, and the only thing I could feel was paralyzing fear as she began to slip away. "ERIN!" She mumbled something I could not understand, and I desperately reached for her hands, closing one in my own. "Erin, don't do this to me! Please, not now!" A deep and fierce pain took hold within me then, and I felt utterly helpless as I watched the light slowly begin to drain from her eyes. "ERIN!"