Reminder:: I do not own this. ASDFJKL:

Happy Memorial Day!

I was on vacation for a few days and although I took my laptop, I couldn't find it in myself to write anything halfway decent. I also recently had my graduation ceremony, so that took a good weekend. This took a little longer than I hoped, but we're so close now, I can practically taste it. Chapter forty-two for you! n_n

Chapter Forty-Two :: The Tower Cracked

The morning of March 25th.

The eagles moved in a fast, steady thrum. Their wings moved up and down in a symphony on the air. Wind whipped by with the puffs of cloud that were close enough to reach out and touch. I clung close to the warm feathers, closing my eyes and hoping for sleep. The effort was futile – the adrenaline was pumping too fast. I was too anxious for sleep.

Landroval's wings pumped faster than the others. He was burdened not only by me but with Alatar in his talons. Still, he steadily followed the pack. Up and down. Up and down.

We must have made excellent time. My consciousness streamed in and out and my stomach rumbled with hunger, but the ground continued to fly by at an alarming rate. If I would fall, I would hit the ground before these great wings could turn to catch me. The speed was simply too great.

I pushed such thoughts from my mind and set my focus forward.

The sun glinted on the horizon, shimmering on the primary and secondary feathers of the wings like a beacon in the distance. Soon, the world was coated in light. The sun was welcome to me – I was freezing. I dared to sit up straighter and even spread out my arms, soaking in the warm rays.

This was so different from riding Alatar, but it was the same, too. It was like spreading my own wings in a way. I was flying. My heart fluttered and I was lost in the exhilaration of real flight. I had felt a similar sensation when Alatar would run, and I had come close to it on our trip to the eyrie – something I was still trying to wrap my mind around (had I really done that?) – but this was so… real. I couldn't describe how my heart leapt into my mouth when we would dip and when my lungs would catch when I forgot to breathe the quick air. But I would never forget – ever – the feeling of being in the air.

I had never felt more alive.

The next time I opened my eyes, I recognized the long fields of Rohan. The mountains were already looming in the too close distance. We were already here.

Rauros passed underneath us in the blink of an eye and the mountains of Ered Lithui were already looming closer. My vision in a dream opened up before me into reality, giving me a terrible sense of déjà vu. An ant-like army scrambled below before a massive gate opened wide, spilling forth all manners of dark creatures that were swarming over my people. That's what they were now… My people.

Strangely, I had never felt more like I belonged here. I could be here. I finally had a purpose and I was serving it.

But my idle thoughts could not linger long. The moth that rode on my shoulder since the eyrie left me and flew out above the battle. The eagles began a wild descent and already Gwaihir was making a sure dive for one of the fell beasts swooping low. Landroval slowed however and moved closer to the plain.

Alatar was dangling dangerously close to the Earth, his hooves moving frantically beneath him to touch ground. The eagle I rode gently let him go, the horse taking off the second he scraped the dirt. He kicked up clouds of dust and grass, rocketing ahead of us. I had to think that the ride north was Alatar's own purpose, but how did he maintain this speed after all these days? He was like an arrow – and there is no other way to stop an arrow than to hit the target.

The army was forming ahead of us in a shining blur as the sun danced across the swords and armor. Shouts and screams and clashes roared, echoing off the walls of stone into the open field. Landroval maneuvered himself and sped up behind Alatar. I suddenly realized what he was trying to do.

Perhaps it was luck. Perhaps it was divine intervention. Or perhaps I was so exhausted that this actually sounded like a plausible idea. Whatever it was, I soon found myself climbing out and away from Landroval's thick neck and actually jumping backwards, catching the air. My robes flew by and my hair blocked my sight as I fell from the sky and landed on Alatar's back a few feet down. It wasn't exactly an impossible shot, but I would have to have been mad to attempt such a thing ever again.

Alatar shot towards the battlefield where the sounds of war grew louder in our ears. The blue fabric in his knotted mane bounced and stood as an inspiration. Remembering my own clothes, I realized we oddly matched.

My hands tightened and the leather of the reins dug into my palms. Alatar's distant cry of protest rang out for a moment but was drowned out by the other sounds.

We came to a halt.

I physically shook, quaking in the saddle. My bow was taught and itching for a projectile. But I… I couldn't do it. I couldn't go into battle.

There was a crossroads before me and I didn't have time to make the choice. Literally yards from death and judgment, I chose now to think this through. At least my brain was cognitive enough to attempt logic, but… now?-!

I could go into battle. And I could die. I thought of all the people I would leave behind – Ioreth, Faramir, Peregrin, Mithrandir, Taurwen, Mordred, Tristed – but why had this never hindered me before? I felt I was brave enough to ride north alone. Was this beyond me? Battle? War? I was a simple messenger for the Valar to find the eagles. I was no soldier.

Still, I could help. Could I not? Or was my femininity going to be the death of me and whoever I happened to stand next to? That wasn't even fair. Would I be a distraction? Would I fail?

But these decisions were not mine to make. At that moment, God chose for me.

A great smoke cloud followed by a resounding boom threw rocks, ash, and debris through the Black Gate. The very Earth shook and the tremor opened up two large cracks, creating an abyss from the Black Land, swallowing the orcs and creatures of Mordor in seconds that took my breath and ability to blink away.

The shock wave reached Alatar and he stepped backwards as I tumbled in the saddle. I gripped the horn, desperate to stay on. My nails dug deep as the ash laden wind rocked by. When I took a breath, I saw a silhouette running towards me. A very large silhouette.

The idea of a cave troll never crossed my mind. In fact, I had no idea what was coming at me. But the way it ran in blind terror away from the horror of loss sparked something inside that reached my finger tips. I was not about to let him get away. Not a single one.

I strung an arrow, placing it firmly above the nok. I pulled back on the string and brought the edge to my eye. I released and the arrow flew by the creature's head. It missed by a few feet.

I let out a huff and quickly drew another arrow. I squinted in the sunlight at the shadowy figure that was growing steadily closer. I released the arrow. It bounced off the thick hide of the shoulder. Not even noticed.

"…this is the proper way to hold it, see?"

Stringing the third arrow, I placed it too hastily and nearly dropped it. I readjusted it and sat straighter in the saddle. I took a deep breath and relaxed my shoulders. I inhaled and let the arrow fly from my fingers. This time, I hit the troll's neck. He wailed but continued to run – maybe faster.

"You put in the arrow like this, see, so that the shaft won't hit the grip or your hand when you let go."

By the time I strung my fourth arrow, I didn't have much time to take aim. The gargantuan creature was almost upon me. My heart in my mouth, I released the arrow too quickly out of giddiness and missed by a mile – the shaft flew up and away towards the mountains. Alatar began to whinny and back away quickly, wondering what the hell I was doing just standing there as a cave troll tackled us.

"Now don't let go of the arrow this time." Linius' voice coached me the last time.

Acting quickly, I snapped Alatar's reins and twirled him about to the right. I took my last arrow and jabbed instinctively upwards as the troll darted by, already bleeding through his foot from a nasty stab wound. My arrow struck him in the jugular, landing parallel to the other in his neck. With a wheeze, the creature ran a few more steps, reached for his wind pipe in confusion, and died standing. He fell over with a clank of his armor in the dirt behind me as I watched.

I turned around, my body shaking again with nerves. The bow slipped from my hand and clattered to the ground. The cry of the eagles announcing their victory rose up and the people cheered. The mountain erupted in fire and lava burst forth, silencing the world.

The eagles flapped their wings as I stared dumbfounded before falling from the saddle, succumbing to the exhaustion at last.