Reunited with battle
The battle for Helms Deep (HD) part 1
I had been flying to Helms Deep for a day. Currently it was around midday, and I was going to arrive at late dusk at the rate I was flying. I had found the trail the people of Rohan had left, and was following that. The upturned earth and horse manure could be smelt from 300m up in the air. I didn't really need the trail of course- I had been navigating Arda for millennia and hadn't needed a path for hundreds of years- but it was nice not having to think for a change. My blindness made it more difficult to navigate the open fields of Rohan as well, because there weren't many landmarks hanging around. One had to memorize the layout of the hills, a time consuming and perfectly boring task. Necessary though, if you didn't want to give some poor farmer an alarming surprise, and then have them wonder why you were asking directions.
Despite the trail left by the Eorlingas and the layout of the hills, I was still finding it difficult to navigate around. There was not a drop of moisture in the air- no sign of cloud cover. This forced me to fly around 2km vertically, and rely on unreliable air currents. There were only 3 that stayed around all the time, and none of them near my destination. And the counter currents buffeted me, rattling the darts in my quiver. I really had no idea what mystical force kept them there, but I thanked it.
I briefly flapped my wings, loosening up the muscles on the tip and in my shoulders. I was in the ideal flying stance, in a moment of brief respite from counter currents. Wings loosely arched, tips pointing upwards. But the muscles still froze up after a while. The familiar quiet whoosh of an oncoming current made me prepare by flicking my wings topside, then extending the backs out a little. Manoeuvre perfected, I glided onwards. I continued to fly in various such fashions for many more hours.
It was late afternoon, and I was about 10 km from my quarry. Then I heard the noise. A kilometre later I was hit by the smell. The scent of orc, or many orcs. Probably Urak- Hai judging by the constant clanking. I decided to vere a little off track and investigate. Standing behind a convenient tree, I quietened my breath and listened.
The clanking was deafening, I wanted to cower with my hands over my ears. Or better, fly 10km into the air were I couldn't hear them, and knock myself out with lack of oxygen. And the smell was impossible to describe. Sweat, smoke blood and mud, with much fowler things in the mix. It was so pungent that I swear my nostril hairs probably burned off right then. Heavy breathing and racing heartbeats betrayed Uraks. At least 10 000 of them, all marching for the deep. Rohan was doomed. I sank my back into the tree, and breathed deeply to compose myself. These were the worse odds I had ever observed, even when fighting Morgoth. And he had been part of the Ainuir, a major god. The only god we had on our team was a minor one, and he couldn't do much. Yes, I was talking about Gandalf. I had figured out his secret quite recently, only after he came back with the help of Eru Illuvatar himself. Not that it mattered. I doubted Gwaihir of Tom Bombadil were very willing to help, nor could they be reached.
I was shaken from my weak kneed stance by an orc call. "I smell chicken!" He yelled, though it barely classified as a whisper compared to the commotion around it. Several others roared in agreement. Realising I had lingered to long, I took to the air feeling sick in the stomach.
Dusk had fallen by the time I got to the city. I was tired and windswept. In truth, I felt so lazy that I landed in a undeserted area, in front of several women and children. They screamed. After briefly reassuring them I wasn't a fiend, I swept my cloak and hood on and sprinted to were the king should be. After briefly getting directions from a guard I sprinted around to the main hall. The Eorlingas already preparing for war so it seemed. That was lucky, as they were going to need as much preparation as possible. Clanking mail was heard everywhere.
Eventually I made it to the council hall. I could hear voices, my companies included. I hesitated. From what I was hearing, they already had news of the approaching army. They were in the middle of a war council as I stood. But it didn't sound like they knew of the siege weapons and such, and my friends were there. I was at loss without them. So I threw open the doors and strode in.
I wasn't sure if my strategy was the best thing do, but it seemed to work. The hall fell silent as I entered. I heard Gimli mutter a "She's back!" under his breath. The rest of the hall remained silent. "What business do you have here Master Darke?" Theoden stated coldly. "This is a private war council, and I doubt any information you bring is of much importance." I raised an eyebrow.
"That, I sincerely doubt, Theoden." I replied. "And as for not being invited, my company is here, so why can't I be?"
Theoden had no retort to this. "I have no clue whom you are, Master Darke, but your information better be good or you will be punished after the battle for interrupting a council meeting." I nodded.
"It had come to my attention that while you know the numbers you know little other information. I have this information. They are entirely made up of Urak- Hai, and are all armed and shielded. They bring many siege weapons designed to break rock, and possibly blasting powder. I caught a whiff of it as I was flying."
The heat left Theoden's face as he blanched. "I suppose that was important," he admitted. He then faltered. "What do you mean by- flying?" My ear tips went red. "Just make sure your men know that if they see a flying figure, not to shoot. I can't avoid arrows from both sides." I think Theoden nodded his head. "I will."
HE then turned to Gamling. "I want every man and strong lad bearing arms by nightfall." He then began to point at something on a table, probably a map. "We will cover the causeway and gat from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg!" He sounded proud of this, even though he had only been a boy the last time it was defended. Gimli quickly lowered his over- confidence. "This is no mindless rabble of orcs! These are Urak- Hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad."
Hama had the most opportune moment to return. "We have around 1 000 men fit to fight on foot. But most have seen too many winters like myself, or too few, as my son here." A young boy shook next to him. "There is no news from Erkenbrand either." Several people cursed quietly.
We stood atop the fortress, the others surveying the growing specks of light that were approaching. "They will break upon this fortress like water upon rock. Sarumans forces will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes can be rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them."
Aragorn spoke up. "They have not come for Rohans crops and villages. They have come for its people. destroying down to the last child."
Theoden whirled around and grabbed Aragorn by the shirtfront. "What would you have me do? Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then we will make it memorable."
Aragorn nodded slowly. "Send out riders my lord. You must call for aid." Theoden hissed in his face. "And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? Heck, maybe creepy flying men! We are not so lucky. Our old alliances are dead.
"Gondor will answer." Aragorn replied. Theoden sputtered, and I had to agree with him. It was too late to get Gondors help. Denethor was a control freak, he wouldn't just send out men. "Gondor!" Theoden exclaimed. "Where was Gondor when the westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed around us? Where was Gon-" He stopped himself. "No my Lord Aragorn, we are alone." It was true. Only Eomer could make it in time.
We stood in the armory. I had just filled in on what had happened while I was away. "And I told you not to get killed without me." I said shaking my head at Aragorn. "You may be a king, but you can't disobey direct orders." The others laughed. The laughter was then subdued as others streamed in, looking for armor and weapons. Aragorn and Gimli went looking for mail as well, while Legolas donned light leather armor from his pack beside me. I asked Legolas it there was anything hanging around that might let my wings out, but there wasn't. But I had gone through all other battles without armor, and my skin was hard as rock in most vital places. Wings, arms, legs, stomach and back. My sides, neck, hands, feet and face weren't so solid unfortunately. I had multitudes of scars in those places, except the neck. An enemy had never gotten that close to decapitating me.
We loitered near the edge of the armory, armor draped over arms with nothing to do. The last stragglers came and left through the doors. Aragorn and Legolas keenly observed while Gimli ran a whetstone along his axe. A terrible scraping ringing noise. I would have asked him to stop, if it weren't for the necessity. "These are no soldiers." Aragorn murmured under his breath. "Farriers and stable boys." Legolas nodded in agreement. "They're frightened. You can see it in their eyes." I flinched at this. I didn't like the mention of reading peoples emotions through their eyes. Call me selfish. I felt prickling as the men turned to look at us. "Boe a hyn neled herain dan caer menig!" (and they should be. 1000 against 10 000!) I took a step back. His shout rang in my ears.
Aragorn replied, he to in sindrian. "Si, beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras.." (they have more hope of defending themselves here than in Edoras..) Legolas was nervous and angered. His breath and heart rate sped up. These odds were the worst, he or anyone had ever seen. "Nedin dagor hen u-erir ortheri. Natha daged dhaer!" (they cannot win this fight. they are all going to die!). Aragorn was also angered. "Than I shall die as one of them!" he yelled. He turned heel and walked off. Legolas began to walk after him, but Gimli caught his arm. "Let him go lad." I did nothing but listen. Their shouting had been painfully loud, ringing through my ears. A feeling of despair washed over me, and wouldn't leave. Sauron was getting to us. The essence of the ring had followed us.
Aragorn and Gimli stood, dressing in their armor. I stood in the corner, politely looking away. Of course there was no point to this, but having someone stare at them dressing, blind or not, would probably be unnerving. Clink of mail. Slither of helm. Legolas walked in, with the practically silent way of elves. Not to me though. He handed Aragorn his sword. They exchanged words. Forgiven. Gimli toddled in, hem of mail lifted off the ground. He dropped it. Tinkling followed as a foot or two dropped to the ground. I cracked a smile. I needed something to smile at, and Gimli's antics were an opportunity. "If I had time I would get it adjusted. " Aragron stifled a laugh. Legolas let out a 'riiight..". Gimli tried to pick it up off the floor, and failed to do so. "It's a little tight across the chest." I nodded my head slowly.
A horn sounded. A strange sound. At first I thought it was an elf horn. I had hoped lord Elrond would remember the alliance that once existed between elves and men. They had fought and died together. But the not was a d sharp, not a c. Lower. The Urak- Hai were beginning to draw in. No more than one kilometer away. And that was when I realised our resident wizard was missing.
I hope that you like the chapter. Please follow, favourite and most importantly review. The more reviews I get the quicker my drive will be to get these up:)
To Buckbeak3798- Yes, I am letting him live. I am following the lines of the book, and the elves of Lorien never came. Sorry if that's not the solution you wanted.
To every-one else- THANK-YOU! :)
