Disclaimer in Chapter 1 - They may yet be alive.
Nin-dethro hîn, Mellon-nin.
Chapter 9 – Wargs! We are under attack!
After the long night which had fallen over the plains of Rohan, the people of King Théoden were now walking, once more, towards the impenetrable fortress of Helm's Deep. Morning had already passed and it was coming towards noon. The birds were flying high in the sky, the crickets were chirping in the long grass and the wind was gentle to the faces of the people of Rohan.
It seemed like nothing could go wrong this day for the skies were open, a baby blue painted it and white clouds drifted along with the slow moving winds. No dark cloud was in sight and many thought that luck was on their side. It was rare to not see a grey or black cloud at this time of year.
"Who is she?" Éowyn spoke to the ranger on her right. She watched as Aragorn faced her "The woman who gave you that jewel?" The maiden asked.
Aragorn turned his head away and looked at his feet. Old memories began to resurface and he frowned at them, remembering that they weren't pleasant.
"Our time here is ending." The ranger remembered his foster father, the Lord of Imladris, saying to him fifty two years ago before accepting his and Arwen's relationship. "Arwen's time is ending. Let her go."
A young early thirties Aragorn, frowned while glaring at Elrond. How could he not accept their love for one another?
Elrond narrowed his eyes at his foster son "Let her take the ship to the west. Let her bear away her love for you to the Undying lands. There it will be ever green." He said the last sentence quickly as he slowly saw range building up in the future King of Gondor's stormy grey eyes.
"But no more than a memory." Aragorn answered simply, trying to keep his anger in balance.
The Lord breathed in deeply, slightly annoyed that his foster son would not listen to his words. His own eyes grew deadly as he stared at the ranger "I will not leave my daughter here to die."
Aragorn shook his head, completely disgusted with the Lord's words "She stays because she still had hope."
"She stays for you." Elrond spat "She belongs with her people."
"That is not true." The smooth, calming voice of the Evenstar entered the clearing where the Lord and future King were. Both turned and faced the Elleth as she came and stood next to the ranger. "Ada, you know that I no longer have a ship that can bear me hence."
"Arwen." Elrond said softy, sadness now creeping into his eyes. "You don't…
"No, Ada, you don't understand." Arwen interrupted "If I took a ship to the Undying lands, I will regret it forever."
Aragorn lifted a hand towards his chest were the Evenstar laid. "She is helping those who are on their way towards the Undying lands." Aragorn said "Many past through Rivendell to have a night's rest before setting out once more. Their last journey."
"Their last journey to flee." Gimli mumbled, ignoring the daggers that were within the rangers eyes.
"She is an Elf?" Éowyn asked, trying to hide the sadness within her voice.
"She is." Aragorn replied. He could tell this sadden the maiden for he knew she had some feelings for him "Her immortality is dying and she is becoming mortal day by day. It is only a matter of time before she starts to feel the effects of being human."
"You sound…Sad, my Lord." Éowyn heard the sadness although she did not try to hide her own.
Aragorn never answered her and smiled instead. The ranger watched as the guards, Háma and Gambling rode towards them.
"My Lady. My Lord's." Both greeted.
"Gambling. Háma." Éowyn nodded to both guards and Aragorn and Gimli did also.
"The King says that it would be safe if you would be able to tend to Prince Théodred while we went to scout." Háma spoke from on top of his horse.
"I am sure Legolas is doing a good job. Why has the King asked you to do this?" Aragorn asked, quickly turning his eyes towards the King and then back to the two guards.
"The Elf may need our help. Not one of the fair creatures could take down as many of the beasts as he thinks are coming." Gambling replied, Théodred's body resting against his.
"You will be surprised." Gimli smiled from under his beard.
The blonde maiden smiled and at the corner of her eyes she could see the future King about to speak "Very well." Éowyn nodded to the two guards before Aragorn could say any more. The maiden mounted the horse she had and gently took her cousin from the King's lieutenant.
"That reminds me…" Gimli said as he looked around for a particular horse. "Where is that blasted horse?"
"Thank you, my Lady." Gambling gave a small bow, Háma also, before riding off.
"Ah." Gimli exclaimed "What is he doing over there?"
"Seeing his master, Gimli." Aragorn smiled softly to the Dwarf as he looked towards the Elf and white stallion on a small hill, looking across the plains of Rohan.
"I ride that horse just as much as he does." Gimli crossed his arms angrily, almost childlike.
"You forget, Master Dwarf, that you do not speak the soft language of the Elves." Aragorn laughed along with Éowyn as they heard the Dwarf mumbled something about the Elves being too perfect and something about their magic. The ranger's laughter began to die like the others and he looked towards his Elven friend.
Legolas watched as the two riders, Háma and Gambling, rode past him. He narrowed his eyes as he wondered what they were doing and why they where riding ahead. The danger he felt was much greater then a few hours ago.
"Humans are foolish creatures." The dark voice echoed within his head.
"Some are, not all." The Elven Prince replied calmly.
"Let me remind you, dear Princeling, that it was Men that had a chance to destroy my Ring." Sauron smiled at Legolas. A cold and foul smile.
"Like I said..." The Elven Prince ignored the dark Lord and repeated "...Some are, not all."
"Remember that it is the same blood that runs through that rangers veins. He will, in time, betray you all." Sauron snarled and then faded from the Prince's mind.
"Stubborn." Legolas thought as he sighed. The Elf then heard a loud nicker come from one of the horses that had rode past him seconds ago. He saw the horse, belonging to the doorward Háma, step nervously.
"What is it?" Gambling asked, his own horse began to do the same. "Háma?" He asked when he received no answer from his friend.
"I'm not sure." The doorward tried to calm his horse, speaking soothing words but to no avail. The horse grew more anxious of some danger that was not far from them.
Legolas' eyes grew wide as he saw the foul servant of the Wizard Saruman on top of one of the small cliffs in the area. "Get away!" The Prince shouted but he was too late. He watched, paralyzed, as he saw the warg and its rider descend the cliff and jump onto the doorward's horse, knocking Háma directly to the ground with a loud thud. By the time Legolas had drew his bow the warg was already feasting apon Háma's flesh, the head from the doorward now being crushed by the huge jaws of the beast.
Gambling cried with rage and pulled his sword from its sheath, riding towards the warg and its rider, anger within his eyes, hoping to slay the beast quickly before there were no remains of his dear friend.
The noise from the attack and the shout from the Elf drew tiny screams and whispers of worry and fear from the people of Rohan. Aragorn ran toward his Elven friend on top of the hill just after he saw the Elf run down it towards the danger.
The warg rider pulled the leather reins and the foul beast raised its jaws to also take a bite from the King's lieutenant's head but the warg never got its meal for a green arrow sent it flying to the ground, the arrow itself protruding from its neck, as well as the rider who quickly stood from the place he was on the ground and unhooked its black sword.
Legolas ran towards the creature, one of his knives in his hand and swung hard, knocking the creature's own sword out of its black hand, stabbing the foul beast through its black heart. The Elven Prince pulled his sword out and kicked the body away. He looked towards the hill where he was before and saw the ranger stood on top of it. "A scout!" Legolas shouted and he watched as Aragorn ran back to the people of Rohan and there King.
"Let the hunt begin." Sauron's laughter flooded the Prince's mind and Legolas cursed. The Elf notched an arrow to his bow as he saw more of the foul beast riding towards him and the helpless people of Rohan just beyond the hill. "Arod!" Legolas called to his horse that was still apon the hill. "Get Gimli!" He shouted as his arrow flew true, hitting the warg and crushing it's rider beneath it.
Arod neighed loudly and nodded before galloping towards the small Dwarf looking for him.
Aragorn ran with great haste down the hill and towards the King that now rode to meet him, slight fear within his eyes.
"What is it?!" The King shouted "What's happening?!" He saw the white horse ride past him and slowed its pace beside the Dwarf.
"There you are stupid horse!" Gimli cried angrily and then called for two men to help him get on top of the stallion.
"Wargs! We are under attack!" At Aragorn's words, the people began to scream and the women and children began to cry. "Get them outta here!" The ranger screamed at the King as he saw the people begin to panic. He ran towards Brego and quickly mounted him.
"All rider's to the head of the column!" The King shouted as he unsheathed his sword and rose it above his head, watching as his riders mounted there horses and said farewells to loved ones.
"Come on." Gimli encouraged the two men he was with "Get me up." He tried his best to get on Arod's back.
"But, my Lord, can you even ride a horse?" One of the men said as he heaved the Dwarf onto the horse.
"I am a rider." Gimli said as he took the reins "Come on!" He cried and kicked Arod's side, making the horse ride towards the danger and to where its master was already.
"Éowyn, you must lead the people to Helms deep..." Théoden said as his niece rode towards him, his dear son leaning against her chest "…And make haste!"
The blonde maiden nodded "Make for the lower ground!" She cried to the fearful people below her steed "Stay together!" She heard a small moan come from her cousin and she whispered in his ear quickly "Stay asleep, dear cousin, all is well." When Théodred went silent she rode at the side of her people, directing them where to go while keeping an eye on each one in case any of them strayed away from the group.
The King's men rode towards the danger that threatened their people. Spears, swords, axes and shields were raised into the air as they came towards the hill the Elven Prince was standing, firing as many arrows as possible at the targets coming towards them. The riders could hear the Elven bow singing as arrows flew and the shrieks and howls from the wargs and their riders.
Legolas notched another arrow and released it, thanking the Valar above for his deadly precision. The Prince quickly turned as he saw Arod riding towards him. He grabbed the horse's reins and watched as Gimli scooted back on the saddleless horse, making room for him as he leapt into the air, landing in a seating position on the white stallions back.
The King raised his sword into the air higher, signalling all his men to do the same. As the two sides got closer the snarls from the wargs got louder and the cries from the men did also.
It seemed time went in slow motion as the sides clashed together sending three or four down from each side. Spears flew as they hit there foul targets while black swords cut, leaving deadly wounds in the riders bodies.
Legolas notched another arrow to his bow and released, hitting a warg through its think skull, killing it instantly.
Gimli saw the rider fly into the air as it flew of its steed and swung his axe towards the creature, decapitating the foul being. The Dwarf smiled but then it disappeared quickly as the height he had swung at made him loose his balance and he found himself falling from Arod's back, landing on the ground with a thud.
The Elven Prince looked back towards the Dwarf as he fell of Arod's back "Gimli!" He shouted.
"Keep killing, Laddie!" Gimli shouted as he swung his axe at one of the warg riders that ran towards him. The Dwarf blocked the attack and quickly imbedded it within the Orcs side "Two!" He shouted while smiling "Legolas, I'm on two!" He called.
"This isn't…" The Prince released his arrow sending it flying and killing his target "…The time to play games, Master Dwarf!" The Elf shouted.
"Come on!" Gimli shouted and then turned around to face the beast that was growling not a few feet away from him "It will be fun!" He raised his axe and began to tease the warg "Bring your pretty face to my axe!" The warg began to run towards him but a twang sounded on the air and the beast fell dead.
"Eight!" Legolas smiled while shouting as he rode past his little friend.
Gimli's eyes widened in shock and then narrowed them with anger "That one counts as mine, Princeling!" The Dwarf quickly turned around and dodged the bite that could have been in his side. He raised his axe and brought it down on the beast neck, then swung it towards its open jaw, slicing it deadly.
Aragorn rode and decapitated a warg rider as he rode past him; its black sword raised but was now lying on the ground. He looked around for more danger and saw his small friend apon the ground, slicing another Orc that came toward him. Little did the Dwarf know, was a warg was now stalking him and the ranger picked up a spear that was lodged in the ground beside him and flew it towards the warg.
Gimli killed the Orc quickly and turned to face his next target but was too late when a spear flew into its heart "Stop taking my kills!" Gimli shouted at the ranger "I don't want to lose!"
Aragorn smiled at the Dwarf and the laughter that came from the blonde Elf on top of the white stallion. His distraction caused him greatly as he was knocked off of Brego's back by a riderless warg. Brego neighed and ran after the warg that had attacked his new master, leaving the future King of Gondor on the ground. The ranger quickly stood and turned to face the warg but was met by another with a rider. Aragorn grabbed the rider and swung onto the wargs back, head-butting the Orc that went to punch him.
The Orc snarled at the future King and went to punch him again and succeeded.
The punch was hard enough to knock Aragorn off of the wargs back but only to then hang from its side as his hand became stuck in the thick black leather that kept the Orc on top of the foul beast. The Orc stamped on Aragorn's chest several times before screaming loudly as a dagger was lodged into its chest, just below its black heart.
The foul creature reached down towards Aragorn and grabbed the shining Evenstar that hung from his chest. Aragorn's eyes grew wide as the Orc ripped it from his neck, smiling through it's now black blooded teeth. The ranger grabbed the Orcs black hand and pulled him of the warg, watching as it rolled away heavily.
Gimli watched, eyes full with fear as he saw the ranger struggling to get his hand free from the wargs thick leather. "Aragorn!" The Dwarf shouted but it was too late. He watched as his dear friend was dragged of the cliff, the warg with him, plummeting to the raging river beneath. A shout brought the Dwarf out of his shock and saddened state.
"Aragorn!" Legolas shouted as he dismounted Arod and saw no sign of his friend. By now, what was left of the wargs had fled too safety as they knew they had lost this battle and there leader. "Aragorn!" Legolas shouted again when he received no answer from his dear friend.
Gimli ran towards the cliff and looked down towards the river, trying to see if his dear friend was still there. But he saw nothing only the waters below. There was no sign of his dear friend.
"Gimli?" Legolas called as the Dwarf stood looking down at the waters. As he made his way towards his small friend, a harsh laughter came from an Orc that was spewing black blood from his lips. The Prince narrowed his eyes and crouched beside the foul beast.
"He's…" The Orc tried to speak through the pain that assaulted his body "…Dead." The creature smiled painfully as his words wounded the Elf in front of him. "He took a little tumble of the cliff."
By now, Théoden had heard what the foul being had said and made his way over to the Dwarf that stood alone by the cliff's edge.
Legolas grabbed the Orc roughly "You lie!" The Elven Prince growled as the beast died below him. Laughter dying on its now covered black lips. He looked down towards the foul servants hand, the Prince saw the precious Evenstar that Aragorn always had apon his chest. He took the jewel and stared at it before running over to the Dwarf and the King of Rohan. Disbelief within his deep sea blue eyes.
The Elf saw nothing. The waters were raging below and there was no sign of his dear friend. A small pain crept into his heart and his raised his hand towards his tunic just where the organ lay, clutching it tightly.
"All humans will die someday. May it be from old age or from an injury in battle." The dark Lord smiled as he saw a young Legolas huddled against a dead tree, its last leaf falling from the thin decayed branch and landing beside the small Prince. "You must really be hurting my dear Prince. I have not seen this form in a long time." Sauron walked closer to the young Prince and grabbed the Elf's small chin gently, looking into the now wet glazed eyes.
"Why?" No emotion was within Legolas' voice.
Sauron's smile only widened as he saw the pitiful Prince in front of him. "My dear Princeling. Humans must die. None of them can live forever. You know this." He raised the other hand and placed it on top of the Prince's golden locks. "There is no hope for a pathetic race." The dark Lord whispered into the Prince's pointed ear.
Soon Legolas' mind went blank. His vision began to fade and he could no longer hear the shouts from his small friend or the movements of the King's guards running towards him.
"Estel." Was Legolas' last word before he hit the ground.
Dark clouds hung above the swamp where two Hobbits and the twisted creature were now walking. The long trek through the marches was tiring them all and each one had grown tired of the same greasy waters and dead grasses. But as they continued, the land soon changed.
Mist hung even closer and away from the still waters making it hard for all to see through. Fire burned the dead grass but did not die once it had killed the plant. It lingered as if some dark magic plagued the land.
Sam found it hard to find his step and chose his path carefully. Even though Gollum was leading them both, he was still far in front which made it difficult for the blonde Hobbit for he easily forgot which step he was supposed to take. Suddenly, his foot sunk into the greasy waters and the sudden coldness made him take his foot out quickly. His eyes grew wide as he saw dead forms within the waters. "Look! There are dead things!" The Hobbit exclaimed "Dead faces in the water." The Hobbit looked towards his dear friend.
Frodo stopped his walk and looked down at one of the faces within the murky waters. Sam was indeed telling the truth. There were hundreds of faces within the waters and the young Hobbit found it strange that the faces were not in the waters when they had first entered the great swamp.
"All dead." Gollum growled his face full of disgust "All rotten." The creature looked down at the faces while crawling along the sides of the waters "Elves and Men and Orces. A great battle long ago." Gollum stopped and faced the Hobbits. Both noted that the creature's voice was now harsh "The dead marches. Yes. Yes, that is their name."
"What battle?" Sam asked, knowing little about great battle history.
"The last alliance between Elveses and Men." Gollum replied "The dark Lord's death was apon these lands."
"I remember Bilbo telling me something about this war." Frodo said as he walked closer to his friend and guide, eyes still glued on the faces submerged. "Many lost their lives."
"The last alliance? Surely Men and Elves are still friends?" Sam asked, wanting to know more about the battle.
"Elveses hate Men now. Didn't destroy the Precious…" Gollum growled but then it changed to the calm voice he usually had when he was not angry "…And a good thing they didn't." "Shut up! Gollum, Gollum." He chocked, changing back into the voice both Hobbits did not like.
"But Legolas likes Aragorn; surely they do not hate each other?" Sam questioned as he remembered the great friendship both ranger and Elven Prince had.
"Leg…Legolas?" Gollum stopped suddenly and faced both Hobbits.
"He is one of the members of our Fellowship." Frodo frowned "You have met him before?" He asked as he saw anger within the creature's eyes.
"Weak Elf." Gollum spat causing anger to rise in both Halflings "Weak Elves. Wood Elveses are the weakest."
Frodo saw Sam boil with anger and he too had to admit that he felt anger rise within him. The young Hobbit quickly spoke quickly before Sam said anything to him first "Why are they weakest?"
"Foolish Elveses."
"Why, Sméagol?" Frodo asked with the creature's real name when he ignored him.
"Run into battle first." Gollum snarled at the Ring bearer "The faces. Yes. They are Wood Elves. Mostly. Gollum, Gollum. Weak Prince. Afraid of the dark."
Frodo looked down at the Elves in the waters and saw that they were indeed nothing like those in Rivendell for their armour was completely different and it couldn't be the Elf's from Lothlórien because of their armour also. He had seen some that wore the other Elven realms armour but there were more that wore the armour that seemed to be that of the Mirkwood Elves.
When Frodo got to close, Gollum shouted "Don't follow the lights! Come on." Gollum began his walking once again, anxious of some threat that was about to spring down apon them. "Dark magic lingers within the air. Dark Lord's magic. Left over when he died."
"How did he die in the first place? He is still alive to this very day." Sam asked, knowing that it was no ghost that plagued Legolas' mind for he and his dear friend now beside him had seen the dark Lord in his Elven form in the dark and deadly mines of Moria.
"The dark Lord won't die. Never will."
Review? Please and thank you :) Hope you have all enjoyed this chapter as much as I have enjoyed writing it :') I will try and make the updates quicker so that you are all not waiting for 4 days :P I will try and do it every 2-3 days, if I'm not busy with college etc. :)
Things you might want to know?
1. Dead Marches; It is mostly Thranduil's people that lay dead there. Thranduil's father, Oropher, was a bit foolish and led the charge first, killing mostly all his people and thus leading him to his own death. Poor Thranduil :o!
That's it I think? :D
Reviews;
Jasperslittlesister; Thank you and I hope you enjoy this chapter? :) Thank you so much for wishing me a Happy Birthday :') I had a brilliant day, mellon-nin! xx
BrightWatcher; I hope you do look forward to it ;) Thank you ^^ I quite like the last sentence I did. I made myself proud ;D Thanks for telling me! I had no ideas how to spell urge before and I usually get mixed up with "Whole" and "hole" XD Ahahaha! I love that :') I love it when he runs when he said my name x'D
Calemireth; I hope the reaction Legolas had was good :) I will punish Faramir :D It's only a matter of time ;) Hope this was soon enough :P
Sherlockholms; Thank you! And thank you again :D I will try ;)
will zona; Thank you! :D
ArwenElf16; Always have to make their bit cute ;D I am glad you liked that bit XD I have to say, Gimli is the funniest character out of the whole cast, along with Merry and Pippin of course ;) Ahaha you can when he come back ;) I just have to find him first -.- :')
*Night time*
Can we rest…I'm tired D:
Erestor: Sophie is right. We are all very weary from hunting this one ranger.
Elrond: Very well.
*Sets up camp*
When I find that ranger…He will have to answer to my fists -.-
Glofindel: Calm down. I'm sure he is not that far from us now.
Celeborn: He is right. It cannot be this hard to find one man.
If so, then why haven't we found him yet?!
*Everyone goes silent as I throw a tantrum*
Namarië!