It is a time of unrest across Middle-Earth. Several months have passed since the armies of Mordor laid siege to the city of Minas Tirith. Once the battle had ended, Aragorn led what was left of the combined might of the forces of Gondor and Rohan to the Black Gate of Mordor, in order to give the hobbits, Frodo and Sam, time to destroy the Ring of Power and put an end to the Dark Lord Sauron once and for all.
At the time, it seemed to be an effort in futility as Orcs and Trolls came flooding out of the Black Gate to meet such a puny force. Men were killed off by the score as hope slowly slipped away. Seemingly out of nowhere, screeching could be heard from the eight Ring-Wraiths flying overhead.
Fighting stops as Orcs and Trolls look up in confusion to see the Wraiths fly back into Mordor. Off in the distance, the fiery eye atop the tower has gone out. In their uncertainty, the forces of Mordor retreat behind the wall. The army of men, just as confused by the events that had transpired, merely watch as the Black Gate shuts in front of them.
With an uneasy calm having settled across the land, the nations of men rebuild their forces for what is believed to be an oncoming battle. Progress is slow, as untrained peasants have been conscripted. Three elven armies have made their way down to Minas Tirith to aid in the fight against the forces of darkness.
It is mere moments before dawn. Looking down on the Pelennor Fields, Gandalf stands atop the highest level of the city, out in front of the Tower of Ecthelion and the White Tree. He takes a few puffs from his pipe as he hears footsteps approaching from behind. The White Wizard turns to see the Elven Lord, Elrond of Rivendell, walking towards him. Elrond stops as he comes to stand next to Gandalf.
"Still having trouble sleeping?" Elrond asked. Gandalf took a few more puffs of his pipe-weed.
"It has not been easy," Gandalf said, a little tired. Lack of sleep had become apparent upon his face.
"By my count, old friend, you have been struggling to sleep for the last month," Elrond replied.
"A new dark force has made its presence known in Middle-Earth. The last time I felt it was during the Battle of the Black Gate. It is much stronger now. You have felt it as well." Gandalf took a drag from his pipe. "Why else would you have arrived with three armies at your back?"
"Aragorn can only do so much in the short time since he was crowned King of Gondor. Untrained soldiers will stand no match if this new force of darkness decides to attack the Realms of Men. He has, at the least, rebuilt the outer wall of the city." Elrond replied.
The sun began to rise over the horizon, shedding off the twilight. Off in the distance, an Orc horn is trumpeted. Gandalf and Elrond turn to look out across the fields. On the far side, an army has amassed itself, advancing towards Gondor with every minute.
Aragorn came rushing out of his chambers, still dressed in his nightly garb, while having also thrown on his tunic and short-sword. Gandalf and Elrond move out of his way as he stands atop the precipice. This is the moment he has been preparing for, hopefully, it will be enough. With the precipice designed to carry his voice across Minas Tirith, to reach every citizen, he declares, "All able-bodied men are to assume battle positions immediately." Surely everyone had been awoken by the trumpets.
Aragorn turned and walked off to prepare himself for battle, just as Gandalf had left to join the frontlines at the gate, and as Elrond had gone off to find the other two Elf-Lords, Lord Cirdan and Lady Galadriel.
Ever since Vader imprisoned Sauron within the Ring of Power, and took the place of Emperor Palpatine, after killing him; he has returned to Middle-Earth to formally expand his control across the multiverse. As he re-entered Mordor and stepped out of his TIE fighter, the Nazgul descended from the skies, having sensed their master Sauron had returned. Realizing that he was trapped within the Ring, they drew their swords, the fell-beasts on which they rode became excited. They must find a way to free their master.
Vader could feel a single sensation from these eight opponents; subservience. Through his Ring, he was able to see that they could be made to serve him. The Dark Lord raised his hand and declared, "ENOUGH!". The Nazgul lowered their swords, the fell-beasts quieted down. Now he could control the skies in a world where men could not get off the ground.
It took a month to consolidate control over Mordor. The Nazgul were sent off days ago to ensure the loyalty of the Easterners. Having learned of Saruman's Orc-growing methods, he was able to create a decent-sized army in little to no time. Now all of Mordor's forces are at his back, ready to continue the fight against men. Riding on top of a Warg, Vader leads his new army.
At Minas Tirith, Elven archers line the walls. The Rohirrim ride atop their horses, waiting behind the main gate. Gandalf sits on his pure white steed, Shadowfax, ready to lead the foot-soldiers into battle. Aragorn has arrived at the main gate, ready for battle in case the city be breached. If the gate falls, there will be very little chance that the city will survive.
Soldiers across Minas Tirith are nerve-wracked, this being the first battle for many. Elrond stood with his archers along the wall on the third level of the city, the ever advancing army walking towards them. Once the Orc army was in range, Elrond raised his arm
"READY!" Elrond yelled. Archers, elf and man alike, raised their bows and drew their arrows. Aragorn walks over to Gandalf. Gandalf bends over to listen to him.
"AIM!" Elrond yelled. Bows are drawn as taught as they can be, sweat already dripping from the brows of every archer.
Aragorn speaks to Gandalf, "I don't suppose the dwarves will show up soon?" Aragorn asked rhetorically. Gandalf doesn't say a word and sits back up, his silence suggesting how hopeless this endeavor may be. Gandalf pulls out his pipe and takes a few final puffs to finish off his pipe-weed. Aragorn returns to his post.
"FIRE!" Elrond yelled as he thrusted his arm forward. Arrows are loosed across the city, flying towards the Orc army. So many arrows fill the sky that the sun is blotted out.
As long as Vader keeps moving, his army follows suit. Without ordering them to raise their shields for protection, Vader raises his hand upwards and stops every arrow in mid-air with the Force. Elrond looks on in terror at the sight of the arrows hanging in the air. His superior Elven sight allows him to see the arrows being turned back to Minas Tirith.
"RAISE SHIELDS, NOW!" Every soldier does so as the arrows come flying back at them. Most of the arrows are deflected, although dozens of soldiers are struck in one limb or another.
Gondorian horns are blown, signaling to open the gate and release the Rohirrim. The Riders of Rohan took up formation outside the city wall. Once in place, the Rohirrim commanders take position out front. Their main commander raised his sword, the Riders behind him do the same. The horses began moving forward at a trot.
Both armies are closing the gap between them at the walking pace. The Rohirrim start moving faster, the Orcs continue to walk. Once close enough, the Riders of Rohan break into a full gallop towards their enemy. Nothing changes with the speed at which the Orcs move. The Rohirrim move ever closer.
Vader raises his hand, and with the power of the Ring enhancing his Force abilities, he shifts the tectonic plate underneath the Rohirrim. It becomes too unsteady for the horses to continue upright and they merely fall over. Riders are easily knocked off of their steeds. The Dark Lord stopped the quake and drew his lightsaber, the red glow signaling to his army to attack.
Orcs and Wargs are in full sprint as they fall upon the Rohirrim, slaughtering them and their horses. The cries of man and beast can be heard back at Minas Tirith. If the soldiers weren't afraid before, they assuredly were now. As the Orcs finish their attack, Vader yells out to them, "FORM UP!" The Orcs resume formation. Nearly across the Pelennor Fields, they return to their walking pace.
Lord Vader can now clearly see the main gate to the city. No siege weapons were brought, for they would not be necessary. The Sith Lord raises his arm towards the gate. Grabbing it with the Force, he crumbles wood, metal, and stone into a fine powder. Aragorn does his best to keep his composure as the gate falls in front of him, though his eyes are wide with fear.
"May there be mercy on us all," Gandalf said, to no one in particular. With his sword drawn, Gandalf leads his men forwards into battle, outside the city wall. They march towards what appears to be certain doom. Vader raised one hand, signaling his army to halt. He raised his lightsaber again, his first few front lines run out towards the men.
"FIRE AT WILL!" Elrond yelled. Archers launch as many arrows as fast as their arms will allow. Most of the advancing Orcs are felled on the spot.
Vader turns to his second-in-command. "Signal the next five lines to attack." Vader ordered. The Orc relays the message to another who is carrying a horn. The signal was trumpeted out. Vader raised his lightsaber again and the Orcs charge at the army of men. This time Vader's Warg runs ahead of them.
Gandalf lets loose his own battle cry and urges Shadowfax to charge. The soldiers run right behind him. Both armies clash in the fields. Gandalf slashes and thrust his sword at the oncoming Orcs, while Vader easily cuts down men with his lightsaber. Burnt flesh and melted armor can now be smelt in the middle of battle.
One of the soldiers threw a spear and sent it through the head of Vader's Warg. Vader landed on his side as he hit the ground. He picked himself up and looked in the direction of the warrior that killed his Warg. The soldier had drawn his sword and cut down every Orc that came his way. With the Force, Vader grabbed the helmet of the soldier and crushed it inwards, causing the body to fall to the ground, blood pouring out of the helmet.
Vader turns to face Gandalf as the wizard continues to fight off Orcs. With a single blow, Vader uses the Force to knock Gandalf down from his steed. With the Force, Shadowfax's head is snapped. Seeing his horse having fallen, the wizard picked himself up, sword in one hand, and staff in the other.
Gandalf attacked Vader with his sword, only to have the Dark Lord dodge his thrust and cut through the sword with his lightsaber. Thrusting his staff forward, Gandalf telekinetically strikes Vader and sends him backwards. Staying on his feet though, Vader's feet create two lines in the dirt. He decides to quickly deal with the wizard.
With the Force, Vader knocks the staff out of the wizard's hand, then uses the Force to grab Gandalf around his neck, choking him. Slowly raising him up into the air, everyone looks on as the White Wizard has his life drained from him.
Unable to breathe any longer, Gandalf goes limp, his face having turned purple, and his tongue turned blue. Vader lets him fall back to the ground. Men are now in full retreat to the city walls, hoping to find security in their numbers. Just as Vader is about to walk over Gandalf's body, he can still feel a presence in the Force coming from this individual. He looks down to notice a ring on the wizard's hand.
Grabbing it with the Force, the ring is taken from Gandalf and lands in the Dark Lord's hand. Looking closely at the ring, he can see that the band is adorned with a ruby on top. The power emanating from the ring is different from his own ring. A sensation so strong came from the ring that any ordinary person could feel it. One emotion could be felt from this ring; inspiration. This ring could be used to inspire those around the wearer to rise up against an oppressor. It must be kept locked away and studied, until it can only be used to enhance Vader's own power.
Vader places the ring in a small satchel on his person. He turns to see that the fighting has moved inside the city. Men and Elves are doing a good enough job keeping the Orcs at bay. The Sith Lord walked forwards, through his own lines, over the city threshold, emerging into the middle of battle.
Aragorn was fighting back the Orcs, side by side with his men, keeping hope alive. As he sliced the throat of an Orc, Aragorn came face to face with Vader. The King of Gondor moved towards the Dark Lord, slicing his sword through the air. Vader ducks and uses his lightsaber to cut Aragorn's shield in half. Aragorn throws off his shield, now an unnecessary weight. He thrusts his blade at Vader, only for Vader to dodge and shove his lightsaber through Aragorn's torso.
Vader retracts his lightsaber as the former king falls. With all hope having been lost, the men run in all directions, pursued by Orcs. Several Elven archers atop buildings fire on the Sith at the same time, from all directions. Vader grabs the arrows with the Force and sends them back to their owners, striking them down.
The Dark Lord turns back to face his army outside the city, a clear path between them. He raises his lightsaber one more time, calling on them to charge forth.
With the battle over, most of the soldiers from within Minas Tirith are now dead. The three Elf Lords are lined up, on their knees, heads down, hands bound. Vader stands in front of them, with his second next to him.
"Is this all of them?" Vader asked.
"Yes Emperor, these are the only ones left to command an army." The Orc said.
"Good," Vader said. Elrond looks up at Vader and sees the Ring of Power on his hand.
"You may have the Ring, but the forces of darkness shall never preva-." With his lightsaber, Vader decapitated Elrond before he could finish speaking. He moved onto the next two elves and did likewise. All three lie before him with severed heads.
Even with the life-force drained from their bodies, Vader can still sense energy coming from two of them, just as when he defeated the wizard. Looking down at their bound hands, he noticed a ring on the hand of the dark-haired elf, and one on the female. Picking up the rings with the Force, he can see that one is adorned with a white stone, while the other has a blue stone. Powerful objects in their own right, Vader placed them with the red one, planning to lock them up once he returns to the Death Star. He turned to his second-in-command.
"I shall leave this world. You are to conquer the rest of this nation called Gondor," Vader commanded.
"Of course, Emperor. You shall have control over Gondor when you return," the Orc said as he saluted Vader.
Off in the distance, a lone elf sat atop a horse, having only seen the very end of the battle. Legolas returned from the north to inform his friend Aragorn that his father's forces would not be arriving from the dark forest of Mirkwood. He turned back to whence he came and left in a gallop.
A new mission had arisen, to take the rest of the people from the Elf-lands to Mirkwood and to inform the dwarves to strengthen their mountain strongholds. The people of Rohan must be sent up north to live with the men and hobbits west of the Misty Mountains. Maybe the Ents could be convinced to move to Mirkwood as well. All creatures of Middle-Earth must now consolidate their forces in the north to fight against the oncoming darkness.
