Disclaimer: All characters from Lord of the Rings books and lines from the Lord of the Rings script belong to the Tolkien family and the production companies. Please don't sue me. I only own the characters I created on my own.
Karri could see the faintest hint of light as the sun began rising behind them, a glowing red. On any other day she would have noticed how beautiful it was. She could feel her heart beating in her chest as the horses rode on. An anxious feeling arose over the men beside her as she looked toward the front. Eomer was riding proudly at the head of the army next to his uncle. A few riders away Merry was sitting in front of Eowyn, their eyes staring straight ahead, and Eaodon stayed close to Karri's side. They came to a sudden stop and the sight before them made Karri gasp. The beautiful white city of Minas Tirith was under siege. Thousands of enemies descended on her and it was clear how desperately in need of help the people of Gondor were. The Rohirrim stared wide-eyed until the King's voice startled them.
"Eomer! Take your eored down the left flag! Gamling, follow the King's banner down the center! Grimbold, take your company right, after you pass the wall! Forth! Down fear of darkness! Arise! Arise, Riders of Theoden!" Eaodon looked toward Karri and gave her a nod as they quickly followed Eomer. Karri glanced back at Eowyn and Merry, knowing this could be the last time she saw them. Eowyn smiled warmly at her which Karri returned. As she and Eaodon settled in behind the eored she took a few deep breaths as her heartbeat quickened. They were only minutes from going into battle. The King spoke again. "Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered!" Karri's eyes scanned the massive crowd of men, knowing that this was the last moments for some, maybe all, of them. Her eyes rested on Eomer. He was out front of his men, proud, strong. His eyes focused on his uncle. She had so much she wanted to do and say, but the time for that had passed.
"Stay close to me." Eaodon whispered quickly.
"Don't worry Eaodon, I'll protect you." She turned to see Eaodon with a slight smile on his face. They grabbed hands briefly.
"A sword day... a red day... and the sun rises!" The King shouted. He was riding among the men. Karri turned toward Eomer once more but instead of looking at his uncle his own eyes were scanning the crowd and they found hers. The two just stared at each other for a moment. She could see the fear in his eyes, not for himself, but for her. He didn't want her to be there, but they both knew it was too late to turn back.
"Ride now... Ride now... Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending!" Theoden shouted. The men sat straighter and a sense of pride filled them. The positivity that the King exuded seemed to give everyone hope. Eomer nodded toward Karri, wishing he could say a million different things to her. Karri nodded back. "Death!" The king shouted and the Rohirrim responded.
"Death!"
"Death!" The king shouted again riding among his countrymen.
"Death!" They responded once more.
"Death!" He screamed again louder. Karri could feel the courage building inside of her. This is where she needed to be.
"Death!" The soldiers screamed back.
"Forth, Eorlingas!" The King shouted as they began riding towards the enemy. Karri followed Eomer, Eaodon still at her side. She could see the Orcs ready to fight. She saw the release of seemingly thousands of arrows as they fell upon the soldiers around them. The Rohirrim pushed on. The two lines met in a sickening crunch as horses trampled the first wave of Orcs. The clanging of metal around her was deafening and she lost sight of Eomer. Orcs were coming at her left and right and she quickly dispatched them with well-aimed blows. The battle raged and it became clear that the Rohirrim were gaining the upper hand. The orcs didn't seem to have an idea that Rohan was coming in force. A sense of hope swept through the battlefield as the soldiers fought harder.
"Drive them back to the river!" Eomer's voice cried out. Karri looked around desperately for a glimpse of him, but she couldn't find him.
"Make safe this city!" Theoden called. They began forcing the lines back when a stillness fell over the battle. Giant creatures appeared on the horizon: Oliphaunts. Karri's eyes widened as did the men around her. The creatures were taking giant strides, crushing anything under their feet.
"Re-form the line! Re-form the line!" Theoden called. "Sound the charge!" Gamling blew his horn. "Charge!" The Rohirrim raced toward the enemy. Many men were instantly crushed and the Haradrim, the enemies controlling the Oliphaunts, shot arrows at the riders. Men fell all around Karri, but she pushed on slaying Orcs and enemies still on the ground. The creatures were using their mighty tusks to throw men and horses out of their way and Karri could hear desperate screams as more and more men fell. She tried to block out the sounds, if she let herself concentrate on them, any focus she had would be lost. Any hope of keeping herself grounded would be gone. Finally, she caught site of Eomer as her threw his spear, killing one of Haradrim controlling an Oliphaunt. It caused the creature to crash into another Oliphanut, both of them falling to the ground. Karri turned her horse toward the creatures and pulled out her bow and arrow.
"Aim for the head!" Eomer called to his men. As the soldiers bombarded one particular oliphanut it reared back throwing its riders off.
"Bring it down! Bring it down! Bring it down!" Theoden called. Karri continued to fire arrows until she felt something hit her hard, an Orc had jumped on her horse and thrown her off. She fell painfully to the ground. As she stood up she pulled her sword and began fighting with the Orc that had attacked her. It didn't take long until she delivered a deadly blow to the creatures neck. Several orcs attacked her at once and Karri did her best to fend them off. As she ducked one blow, another orc ripped her sword from her hand. She punched and kicked, using any karate she knew to try to fend off the enemies, but she was slowly being overwhelmed.
"Rally to me! To me!" The King screamed, but his voice was silenced. Karri didn't have time to see why. An orc had punched her causing her to fall to her knees. Her breath was coming in gasps. She saw an orc raise his sword, readying himself for a killing blow. Her heart beat doubled and she took a deep breath. She briefly wondered what her family back home would think happened to her. She waited to feel the pain from the creatures sword but it never came. She looked up to see Legolas slay the Orc. Her Elven Prince had saved her. A bright smile crossed her face as he helped her up.
"I was wondering when you would get here." Karri said quickly.
"Just in time apparently." He handed her back her sword. A green mist began sweeping over the battlefield. Karri picked up speed and began attacking the enemies again. She saw Legolas take down an Oliphaunt on his own and she couldn't help but smile. She noticed the green mist seemed to be.. People... Ghosts? See through green soldiers who were fighting on their side. As the Army of the Dead swept across the battlefield they killed thousands of enemies, saving thousands of Rohirrim. Karri saw both Gimli and Aragorn moving from person to person. She heard her name being called and turned to see Eaodon.
"Are you alright?" He asked, placing his hand on her shoulder. Karri nodded and turned to give him a hug.
"Are you?" She asked eying his arm cautiously, it was bleeding.
"An orc got me but only slightly. I'll be fine." The battle was dying down. The Ocrs and Haradrim retreating steadily. Terrified by the Army of the Dead.
"I'm sorry I didn't protect you like a promised." Karri said shaking her head. Eaodon pulled her into another hug.
"I am sure you saved a lot of lives today." He said kindly. The men that were still alive cheered and Karri took a deep ragged breath. She thought one of her ribs might have been broken, but at least for now the battle was over. Dead littered the field and the once green or brown was now red. Legolas was standing with Aragorn and Gimli. At the edge of the green mist, which were clearly men. They seemed to be talking to the leader. Karri motioned for Eaodon to follow her as she walked to them. Legolas looked at her and a small smile crossed his face. She was soon standing next to him.
"Release us." The man standing in front of Aragorn said. His figure was wearing a crown, he was obviously the king of this army.
"Bad idea. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead." Gimli said quickly. Legolas stood calmly, his emotions hard to read.
"You gave us your word." The king said angrily.
"I hold your oath fulfilled. Go, be at peace." Aragorn said calmly. The King looked as if he was finally able to feel some semblance of peace before the mist faded away. Every trace of the army was gone and Karri was a little disappointed. If another battle were to come they could have used them. Legolas turned to her and Eaodon.
"Are the two of you alright?" He asked, his voice melodic.
"I'm fine." Karri said strongly. "Just a little sore. Eaodon, you should have someone look at your arm though."
"May I?" Legolas asked motioning to Eaodon's arm.
"Yes." Eaodon lifted his sleeves and Legolas examined the wound. It was a clean-cut, but it was a little deep.
"It will need to be stitched and I can make a salve that will ease the pain and protect you from infection."
"I would be indebted to you." Eaodon said kindly.
"Let us go into the city and to the houses of healing." Legolas said motioning toward the city.
"I'll follow you in a little while. I want to find Eomer and Eowyn." Karri said quickly. Both Eaodon and Legolas nodded before leaving her to her search. Bodies littered the ground. It was enough to make anyone sick. Thousands of dreams gone, thousands of lives lost. Karri went from person to person, checking for survivors, looking for friends. It seemed as if she had searched for hours, but it couldn't have been long at all. Her heart beat never slowed, she hadn't found anyone. She heard a scream, it was one of agony. She turned and saw Eomer running towards a form that was laying on the blood soaked battlefield. Eomer screamed again and cradled the fallen soldier in his arms. It was Eowyn. Karri raced towards them, her mind unable to process what she was seeing. Eowyn couldn't be dead, she couldn't. Eomer had tears streaming down his face. He seemed to be completely unaware of anyone around him. Aragorn leaned down next to them. She saw him whisper something to Eomer and they picked Eowyn up. She was still alive. Eomer followed the soldiers to the Houses of Healing, his sister in his arms, and Karri watched him go. She knew he needed to be with his sister and she needed to give him time. She decided to stay on the battlefield because she still hadn't seen Merry. The sun began to set and a chill filled the air still Karri walked on. She came across the figures of two children in the dusk and she ran as fast as she could towards them.
"Merry?!" She called.
"Karri?" He called back weakly.
"Karri!" She knew his voice.
"Pippin." She said dropping to her knees and pulling him into a hug. "Are you two alright?"
"Merry's hurt."
"I'll be fine Pip." Merry said defensively. Karri moved next to him.
"Can you walk?" She asked carefully. Merry was proud, he didn't want to seem weak, but he didn't want to push his limits.
"I don't think so." He said sullenly. Karri nodded. She stood up and carefully picked Merry up in her arms.
"Don't worry Merry. If I drop you, Pippin will be there to break your fall." She said smiling at him. He laughed slightly until it turned into a cough. "Just relax. I am stronger than I look."
"Did you actually fight in the battle Karri?" Pippin asked walking next to her.
"Yes."
"Is everyone alright? How is Lady Eowyn?" Merry asked quickly.
"She was injured." Karri said seriously. "I know she's alive, they took her to the houses of healing." Merry turned paler. "Don't worry Merry. They're going to take good care of her. They're going to take care of everyone."
"What about Eomer?" Pippin asked.
"He seemed fine when I saw him, physically anyway. He was very shaken over Eowyn." Karri said softly. "The important thing is for you to just rest Merry." Merry nodded and closed his eyes as they walked towards the White City, darkness falling around them. Bodies littered the House of Healing. Fallen soldiers slumbering as their wounds were attended to.
"Karri." Legolas's voice was soft, calm.
"We need to find a place for Merry." Was her only reply. Pippin stood at her side. Legolas nodded and carefully took Merry from her arms, Pippin followed him. She took a moment to survey the room. Eaodon was standing off to the side, his arm bandaged, and almost asleep on his feet.
"You should find a place to get some rest." Karri said startling him. "You're going to fall asleep standing up."
"The beds are needed for soldiers who are seriously wounded." He replied stoically.
"Eaodon, what's wrong?" She asked. His face was pale, but seemingly not from his wound.
"King Theoden is dead." His voice seemed monotone and Karri knew why. If he took in the death of his King, he would sob uncontrollably. Karri's eyes were starting to sting with tears, but she tried to hold it in. Her limited interaction with the King had been decidedly mixed, but once Grima's spell had left him she had seen a different side to him. A side who mourned for his son and who loved his niece and nephew. A powerful leader and someone who would be missed more than words could describe.
"Follow me." She grabbed his good arm gently and lead him outside. Despite the onslaught the city had faced, benches still lined the city's magnificent streets. "Lay down my friend." Eaodon didn't need to be asked twice. Karri sat next to the bench. "What do you think will happen now?"
"I am unsure." Eaodon answered honestly. "It's possible we'll charge the gate. That will be left up to Aragorn." He yawned again.
"Get some sleep." Karri said standing. She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead before going back to the Houses of Healing.