Chapter 13
Miroku, and Gimli ran as far as they could, knowing that they could get away from them completely. They moved as far as they could, though Gimli slowed Miroku down quite a bit.
They soon came to another, one they couldn't swim across.
"Is there a bridge we can cross?" Miroku asked.
"A long distance away there is, but we'd be wiser to travel to Minas Tirith instead," Gimli answered, "In any case I won't do that, to many villages in between. The orks would leave us alone, and massacre every human soul that doesn't find a way to escape. We go to the city of Pelargir, they can defend themselves from a ork attack".
"So we lead them to a city?" Miroku questioned, "That would endanger more lives would it not, considering that cities are great deal larger than villages".
"Most villages do not have many soldiers," Gimli replied, "All Cities of Gondor are surrounded by large walls, and have a decent size contingent. There the orks can be stopped, the existing force should hold off the ork attack. Reinforcement will arrive, and then the orks will be crushed. Though, from what we seen of their army, it will take a toll on the city. It's the only real option open to us".
"So how do we get there," Miroku asked.
"We move across the coast until we can fight a boat," Gimli answered.
"So hope for to find a boat," Miroku replied, "And if we do not find one, what then? Fight to the death?"
"There are going to be risks," Gimli replied.
"What is going to stop the orks from attacking the villages if we cross the river," Miroku questioned, "Seeing as you know more about the orks than I do".
"They're going to view us as the biggest priority," Gimli answered, "And then they'll either choose a new target, or they'll return to their masters. That target will likely be chosen by which side of the river we are on".
"Let's get going then," Miroku stated.
Later that day, well after that conversation they traveled as fast they could. And they managed to reach the river and started to look for a boat. Which they could see the occasional boat, but couldn't manage to attract any of them to their position. They either ignored Gimli and Miroku, or didn't see either one of them. All of them moved in the same direction, closer to the other bank. Which at the moment didn't matter. They knew the orks were getting close, and they their actions soon became more panicked, that was until they seen a couple boats. They moved their way there quickly, and what they saw was a battle. Orks were fighting soldiers in armour.
"Soldiers of Gondor," Gimli stated before they entered the fight, "I guess they already know about the orks".
Lucky for the Miroku, and Gimli there was zero trolls, just orks. Miroku noticed that there neither side had a number advantage, and that it was a rather small battle. Miroku and Gimli started slicing their way into the core of the battling. Through their skill, their addition to the battle won the tide, and either the orks had died, or ran.
"Thanks for your help," the soldier who appeared to be the leader announced, "Can I get your names?"
"Miroku".
"Gimli, son of Gloin".
"Why are you fighting the orks here outside the walls, captain," Gimli asked.
"We were trying to destroy their boats, trying to prevent them from crossing the river," the captain answered.
"That would only endanger numerous villages," Gimli stated, "To many women and children would be lost.
"All the villages on this side of the river Poros have been evacuated," the captain replied, "All the ork boats escaped on us. They're going to attack Pelargir, we must return soon".
The order was given and the soldiers retreated back to their boats, only to see orks bearing down on them. The order was given to hurry up, and get out of there before any fight could occur. Lucky for the human soldiers who had all climbed onto the boats, and started to cross the river. The ork archers fired at the retreating boats, though to low hit ratio. Which cause the couple human archers fired back, into a crowded group, creating a rather high hit ratio. Once the humans moved out of range, the archers went back to rowing the boats.
"All persons outside the castles walls are ordered inside," the captain ordered, "We failed in destroying their boats. They will cross the river, and once their numbers have massed they will begin the attack. Expect a number of trolls, ladders, a battery ram, but no siege towers".
"A bloody battle to the death," Miroku stated, "Nothing I hate more".
"And what do you suggest?" the captain snapped, "What choice do we have? Run? That would lead to many more deaths, especially against an enemy who wants nothing less than to wipe all other races out of existence".
"Because I don't like battles like that does not mean that it is not necessary," Miroku replied, "I wouldn't count on there being many trolls though, the majority have been destroyed".
"And how have they been destroyed?" the captain questioned, "They are not easily killed".
"Through a lot of fighting and determination," Gimli answered, "We managed to escape, but a whole dwarf mine was sacrificed in the process".
"Such power," the captain said, knowing which dwarf mine Gimli mentioned, "Orks have basically destroyed Harad before anyone in Gondor knew they were attacked. We sent in a small army a small time ago... It has not returned".
"Harad? Forgive me, but I've ended up in this world by mistake, and know little about it," Miroku stated.
"It south of Mordor, and southeast of Gondor. There is only a small gap between the sea and Mordor that connects us" the captain answered, "They had sided with Mordor during the last war, though since then the evil humans who controlled them have been removed".
"A messenger must be sent," Gimli suggested.
"Your right," the captain said, "It will be done. While we are at it, we are going to have small three men patrols on horseback watching the river Poros. We will keep an eye of where they land, maybe we can launch a surprise attack and cause them to scatter".
(A/N): Please review!