Idrial's Quest
By Lady Annalease
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A/N: Thanks to Stormshark and IHeartSam for reviews!!!
A/N 2: Sorry about the length, there's not much you can do with this chapter - it's all fighting and very fast…not much room for musings or romantic interludes. Besides, I feel I used up my word allowances with the Interlude at Helm's Deep. I'll try to make the next chapter more interesting…no promises though!
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Chapter Eight - Minas Tirith:
Mithrandir asked us to take command of the Gondorian forces in the outer courtyard of Minas Tirith, just beyond the great gates. So there we stood, in front of hundreds of Gondorian soldiers, as the wicked ram called 'Grond' - a wolf-shaped creature with fire in its maw - bashed open the gates. When they swung wide, we saw that before the ram ran a line of armoured trolls. The Gondorian soldiers hesitated - I do not blame them, the trolls were a fearsome sight - and so we became the only ones facing them down. The trolls fell easily to us - what challenge is a troll to one who has fought Úlairë? - and then the Orcish foot-soldiers stormed in. These, the Gondorians had fewer compunctions about, and they rushed past us to engage them. Once more we were left with the task of 'putting out brush-fires,' as Faramir had once so elegantly dubbed it.
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The courtyard was soon aflame and the screams and cries of the battling and the dying echoed loud into the night. We aided all we could, and then began our trek further up into the city. However, we found our way blocked by a small armada…headed by trolls. These enemies slowed us down but, ultimately, hindered us little. After we had defeated them, we met up once more with Mithrandir. The Wizard greeted us warmly and said for us to continue up into the city where we should split up and help the defenders, then to find him again, higher up. Before we could even contemplate splitting up, however, we had to clear the way higher into the city. A rampaging Troll had broken through the defences - obviously one we had missed from earlier - and the defenders called to us to stop it before it took the entire level down - a simple enough task. I fear I must sound somewhat conceited, however, you must realise that with what we had faced before, these foes seemed as children's games to us. Now great blocks of stone reigned down on the city, and one had to be wary of standing in one place too long. We knew not what transpired outside the wall, as busy were we with keeping the paths clear and rescuing soldiers from foes beyond them. Warriors told us two more trolls were wreaking havoc in the new area, and begged us to save their comrades. So, once again, we went troll hunting. After slaying the second troll, we found ourselves on an outer wall. We looked over the side, and possibly wished we had not; the land seemed blanketed by soldiers of the Enemy, interspersed with mountains - tall battle-towers which would be the undoing of the forces on the walls. We quickly realised it would be folly to stay on the outer walls, within reach of the trebuchets, and ran on. However, we suddenly heard the thunderous sound of towers hitting the walls and an Úlairë swooped down upon us. We had to split up. Elegost, Berethor and I went after the Nazgûl and to fire a catapult to down the tower, while Hadhod, Eaoden and Morwen held back the oncoming forces. Loathe I was to be fighting an Úlairë once more, but after Berethor and I had triumphed over the Witch-King, it did not seem so very terrifying to me as it had before. Of course, the creature fled before we could slay it. We got off the catapult and collapsed the tower, but then our comrades had to face a wave of enraged Orcs. As soon as they had been defeated, we knew we had to get off the outer wall. We ran. A Nazgûl swooped down behind us, carrying a large piece of debris - I assume it intended to crush us - however we proved the faster, though only slightly, and all it accomplished was to cut off the route behind us.
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We found ourselves in a narrow street, facing a small troll amada at the end. This was an enemy I was happier to face than the Úlairë, surest. However, I fear we were becoming a touch too complacent about the trolls, for this time, one even managed to stun me with a particularly well-aimed blow. In any case, we defeated them easily enough and, after Berethor argued with the gate-guards, we were allowed through the gate and into the upper-city. Even banished swords were needed in this fight, it seemed. It seemed, also, that Mithrandir had spoken highly of Berethor, which I believe was possibly the deciding factor in our being allowed through. The guard spared a comradely punch in the shoulder for Thor as we hurried along to seek Mithrandir higher in the city.
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We found what Berethor named as the Third Gate held strongly against us. The foes, however, were of little match for us. Suddenly, another Úlairë swooped down from the sky above us and smashed the way behind us.
"We cannot go back!" Hadhod cried. The Nazgûl landed upon a high tower and shrieked its battle-cry.
"We must not let that thing feed upon these people!" Morwen growled. We knew it. We also knew that we must hurry, for we needed to find Mithrandir and lend him our aid before the Witch-King found him. That was not a battle I was looking forward to. We saw, beyond the gate, that that Úlairë awaited us. Not the Witch-King however, and so we went forth to take it on. Of course, it fled at the last moment. Higher into the city we climbed, hoping desperately to catch sight of Mithrandir. We approached yet another set of gates and finally came upon the Wizard…just in time.
"Be gone from this place, creature of shadow!" Mithrandir cried. The Witch-King laughed.
"Do you not know death when you face it, Old Man?" he demanded. So the battle begun. With Mithrandir by our sides, the battle was not so desperate as the one Thor and I had fought only days before. The Wizard had hoped to end the Witch-King once and for all, but the beast fled before any of us could strike a killing blow. It was the sound of a mighty bellow of horns from below that drew the Witch-King from our battle.
"The horns of the Rohirrim!" Mithrandir exclaimed. "The tide turns! But Faramir is in grave danger. We must reach the seventh level, I shall meet you there! We must defend the future of Gondor - together!"
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Higher we ran, seeking a clear path to the courtyard of the citadel. As we topped the final set of stairs, a flaming blur ran past us, screaming.
"It is Denethor!" Berethor exclaimed incredulously. The once-proud, now flaming, Steward of Gondor rushed past us and leapt off the cliff-face in front of the citadel. There was little doubt he was dead. Mithrandir came up to us.
"Your banishment has ended, Berethor, the rule of the Steward is done," he said to Thor, "however, his hall is under siege. The Banner of Elendil resides within - you must claim it!" Berethor gave a nod and we ran toward the High Hall of Gondor. The Hall was a beautiful place, but it was marred by cries of pain and the clashing of weapons. We knew we must cleanse the place and claim the banner that resided behind the throne. The High Hall was plagued by Easterlings - heavily armoured warriors from Rhûn and Harad - they were challenging foes. Verily, it 'twas a shame to stain the pristine white-marble tiles of the High Hall with blood, but it was a necessary evil. When all the foes were cleaned from the room, we faced one final challenge - upon the throne stood a single Orc.
"BEAST!" Berethor roared. "You shall not defile the Kings of Gondor! BE GONE!" He threw his sword and impaled the Orc through the chest - a rather stunning feat. Then mounted the throne and retrieved the Banner of Elendil from behind it. "This shall rally Gondor," he spoke, holding it high, "in this great time of need." I had heard a commotion outside the High Hall and ran to find out what we might face next. What I found astonished me, I ran back inside, calling the news breathlessly:
"Corsair ships are upon the horizon! But Aragorn stands at their prow! We shall carry the day yet!"
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Translations:
Mithrandir - Gandalf, lit. Grey Pilgrim
Úlairë - Nazgûl, Ringwraiths, Black Riders