Watching 300 is apparently very inspiring...
Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews! I love you all!
A/N: I really hope the greek characters are depicted in the right way... and I also have to admit that I don't know any Greek,I just looked this up on the internet, so I'll apologize for any mistakes I might have made.
Update: Thanks to Dr.Lust for helping with the Greek!
9. The Road To Glory Is Lined In Red…
In the early morning light, the men of the west broke up their camp and the captains assembled their host at the foot of the hills.
King Leonidas accompanied the Lord Aragorn, King Éomer, Lord Imrahil and the wizard Gandalf as they rode up to the menacing black gate.
About 50 metres in front of the huge metal doors, they stopped and Aragorn called out.
"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Justice shall be done upon him! Come forth!"
For some time nothing happened. Then the black gate slowly opened a bit and a single rider came forth, followed by a large group of orcs.
"Who dares to address the Dark Lord as if he were his equal?" the Mouth of Sauron asked arrogantly.
"Have you come to beg for forgiveness?"
Befor Aragorn or Gandalf could say anything, Leonidas spoke.
"I do not negotiate with the likes of you. Go tell your master that he is facing free men and not mindless slaves! And as long as just a single Spartan is still alive, will we continue to fight him!"
"Then you are doomed!", the messenger called out and laughed. "This is your last chance! Surrender and accept the Dark Lord's terms or face annihilation!"
"We will not accept any term Sauron might make!", called Aragorn. "Go back to the hell you came from!"
Then he gave the signal to return to their army.
Now the Black Gate was opening further, to the dark beating of drums, and a vast army started to advance from the plains of Udûn.
"By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you, stand, Men of the West!" Aragorn called out and raised his sword.
"προπαρασκευαστείτε για κλέος!" (1), Leonidas called with raised spear.
"κλέος!" (2), sounded the Spartan answer over the battlefield and as one the threehundred fell into their position.
An orc horn was heard from the hills and suddenly another army approached them from the back. They were surrounded. Fortunately, Aragorn and Leonidas had discussed such a possibility the day before, so the Rohirrim that made up the rear were prepared. They turned around to face the advancing orcs and Easterlings.
The battle had begun.
Spears were shattered, shields splintered and the ground was painted red with blood.
The host of the west fought valliantly, none more valliantly that the Dúnedain and the Spartans.
But they were still losing.
Nazgûl from Mordor had joined the fight not long after the beginning, spreading terror among the fighting men, sweeping down and ripping their prey to pieces.
With a mighty cry, Astinos hurled his spear at the hooded figure of an approaching Nazgûl. The wraith screeched and fell to the ground, while his riderless steed fled. The men cheered, but there were still seven more.
"Trolls! Trolls are coming!", someone screamed.
Suddenly Leonidas found himself in front of a huge creature, a mountain troll with a great hammer. His shield barely survived the impact the crude weapon made. The Spartan king slashed out at the beast and had just enough tme to avoid the next hammer strike.
Again he attacked, this time with a spear he had pulled out of a dead orc.
With a mighty blow, Leonidas, thrust at the troll, impaling him right throuhg the heart.
Just as the creature fell down, the king heard a loud cry over the battlefield.
"The eagles! The eagles are coming!"
He glanced up to see several huge birds of prey attacking the remaining Nazgûl. With a triumphant scream he continued to fight.
The Nazgûl fled and the hosts of Mordor trembled. A new hope filled the captains of the west and Gandalf cried out with a clear voice:
"Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom!"
And the ground shook, and the Towers of the Teeth trembled, and the Black Gate crashed down. A black cloud streaked with fire darkened the skye above Mordor, and the air was filled with a loud rumbling roar.
"The realm of Sauron has ended!" cried Aragorn. "The Ringbearer has fulfilled his quest!"
(1) Prepare for glory!
(2) Glory!