CHAPTER 12
THE BATTLE OF PELENNOR FIELDS
Samantha's POV
I through the stable doors open, running into the dark of it. I stopped in front of Hasufel's stall and took a minute to catch my breath before I saddled him and dressed him in his armor. I patted his back and scratched him in between his ears. "Let's go boy." I mounted him and slowly road toward the gate to get into Pelennor Fields. The noise of battle grew louder as Boromir road up behind me and we headed toward the gate. I looked at him, all dressed up in his armor, sitting on his horse tall…with pride, his head held high, his eyes focused intently ahead, "We'll have to jump over the gate." Boromir said, "Gallop when I tell you."
"Can we make it?"
"If we believe we can." He answered. I nodded, I knew it was not wise to open the gate, the reason being there were enemies out there. As the gate…and the battle noise grew louder, I stared into the distance and began to sing,
This is the end
Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again
For this is the end
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue I owe them
Swept away, I'm stolen
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
At skyfall
That skyfall
Skyfall is where we start
A thousand miles and poles apart
Where worlds collide and days are dark
You may have my number, you can take my name
But you'll never have my heart
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
At skyfall
[x2:]
(Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall)
Where you go I go
What you see I see
I know I'd never be me
Without the security
Of your loving arms
Keeping me from harm
Put your hand in my hand
And we'll stand
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
At skyfall
Let the sky fall
We will stand tall
At skyfall
Oooooooooooooh!
As I ended the sustained note, Boromir signaled me. I nodded and dug my heels into Hasufel's sides and he slowly began to speed up, I flicked the reins and he began to run at full speed toward the gate, "You can do this boy," I said to him as the gate edged closer, "Believe in yourself….this is what you were born to do." He flared his nostrils, like he understood. The gate grew closer and closer, I ducked down, to avoid the force of the wind, closer and closer….until…. "NOW HASUFEL!" He let out a whinny and sprung, I held my breath as we hurled over the gate…and made it, Mikayla and Boromir close behind. We paused for a moment to let the horses calm down and catch their breaths, we did too. I turned to Boromir and gave his hand a squeeze, and we locked our gazes for a minute. I managed a smile, "Dying is the day worth living for." I said.
He nodded. "Yes." We drew our weapons and rode into the battle with loud cries. Within the first few minutes, I had hewed off about fifteen orc-heads. Despite everyone around me…I felt like I was in battle alone…no Aragorn, no Legolas, no Lizzie, no Gimli….alone. But I knew right well I should not be wallowing in grief, so I just pushed the thought away and instead emptied my mind and focuse don one thing….attack, kill, win. Suddenly, an arrow whistled passed me. I peered ahead, massive elephant-like creatures with piercing tusks were marching in a line, and atop them, in war towers….archers in black, the Haradrim! I looked around, the Rohirrim had arisen in panic…but I kept going...because I was….Titanium. I took a deep breath and smiled despite myself. I hewed off more orc heads and galloped at full speed. Then suddenly Hasufel veered and I almost lost my balance. "What is your problem?" I exclaimed, then suddenly, I looked ahead of me, one of the creatures was marching right towards me…and arrows were raining down, I dodged every single one and galloped towards the beast. I darted right through its legs and embedded my axe deep into the hide of its stomach, making the weapon look rather small. The giant trumpeted in terror and veered on its hind legs, smashing against the ground, throwing off the soldiers atop it in pain as I tore the axe from its flesh. I ran out from under it and got away just as it crumpled to the ground, killing the archers on top of it. I rode off again to kill more orcs. Just then, I heard Theoden cry, "Rally to me! To me!" But his cry was cut short as the Witch King of Agmar, leader of the Nazgul swooped down and scooped up Theoden and Snowmane…and threw them. They cartwheeled through the air and landed in a heap, Snowmane's body crushing Theoden beneath. The Fellbeast perched on top of the dead horse. "Feast on his flesh." Ordered the Witch-King.
Then, I saw a Rohirrim soldier stand before the beast. "I will kill you if you touch him!" I recognized the voice….Eowyn!
The Witch King laughed, "Do not come between the Nazgul and his prey." He said menacingly. I narrowed my eyes and galloped toward the back of the Witch-King, I was two feet away. I took a throwing knife out of my belt and hurled it into his back; he froze, shrieked, whipped around and knocked me over the head with the back of his mace. It stunned the fellbeast and Eowyn wasted no time to decapitate it. I was knocked clean off my horse, which reared in terror and galloped away. I landed with my arm and heard a faint snap. My right arm was broken and useless and it hurt tremendously, and my pulse throbbed in my ears. The Witch-King towered over me and grabbed me by my long brown hair, lifting me clean off the ground and drew his sword. "I am going to cut off your head and mount it!" growled the Witch King. I was breathing hard and defenseless, Sam, think fast! My mind exclaimed. I narrowed my eyes. "Oh really? I beg to differ." I drew Elizabeth's dagger in my good arm and with a slash, hacked off my hair, and I fell from the Nazgul's grasp, leaving him with only a handful of hair. He let out a shriek of anger and hit me again with the back of his mace, creating a gash in my forehead. My world was spinning and I was losing consciousness and knew I would soon lose the fight. "I'm done." I fell to the ground, dropping the dagger and lost all consciousness…
Elizabeth's POV
I sat in some cargo, with my knees pulled into my chest, feeling nauseous, with stomach cramps and rocking back and forth, with a pale face.
"Are you okay?" asked Legolas.
"Do I look OKAY!?" I snapped. He gave me a puzzled look.
I sighed, "I'm sorry, I get motion sick okay….oh no…" I jumped up and ran to the railing, holding my mouth as my cheeks filled up with something very unpleasant, and I hurled into the sea. I turned back with a flushed faced, only to hurl again, it went on for a whole minute and a half.
"Are you done yet?" asked Gimli.
"I think," I turned back, panting, "I need a drink." I groaned, "Anyone got anything?"
Gimli took a canteen from the sash and held it out, "This is the last…" I yanked it out of his hands and gulped down the rest of the water and went to hand it back, "Thanks I needed that."
"Keep it." Gimli replied. I took it back and shrugged my shoulders before putting it on, then I turned to Legolas.
"Please forgive me, Legolas, I'm so sorry…I…I'm not very pleasant when I'm in pain or sick."
"It's okay." He answered.
"Promise?"
"Yes."
Thump! I lurched forward and headed toward the ground, but luckily Aragorn caught me and helped me regain my balance, "Careful." He warned.
"No chiz Ari." I muttered.
"Late as usual!" came and angry orc-voice, "Get off your ships you sea rats! There's knife-work here that needs doing."
"I'll give you knife-work when I send my knife up your butt." I muttered. We drew our weapons and jumped from our ship, roaring at the top of our lungs. Behind us came the Army of the Dead, five-thousand spectral warriors, and attacked the thousands of orcs, raging into the battle. The specters climbed over one another, creating a sort of rolling wave of ghouls sweeping over the enemy. The orcs were defenseless, as they had no weapons that could skewer the army. We followed them still crying out. I felt like I was some amazing being, slashing and hewing at the gruesome orcs. I put away my sword and drew my bow, shooting the men atop giant elephant- like creatures. I shot more orcs and smiled as they cried in pain when the arrows pierced them. "I am Titanium!" I screamed.
Character POV (third person): Gimli
Gimli ran on his stout legs across the battlefield, decapitating orcs with a mighty swing of his axe. He looked around anxiously for a small girl in armor, wielding an axe, atop a mighty brown horse. Suddenly, something whizzed past him, the force of the wind nearly knocking him over. He was about to scold whatever it was, and he found it was Hasufel, fleeing in terror, but where was his rider? His question was quickly answered when he saw her, lying in a heap on the ground. "No, no!" he ran over and dropped his weapon, kneeling at her side, she made no response. She was wounded badly and her hair was cut, a dagger was in her hand and a pile of orc-blood-clotted hair lay at her feet. Her right arm was broken. Gimli looked down at her face and moved some hair way, her eyes were closed. "Sam!" he exclaimed, "Sam!" he shook her, "Speak to me!" No response. Gimli's eyes filled with tears. "My warrior." He whispered. He buried his face in her stomach and cried. For a while he lay there when a yell interrupted. Gimli grabbed his axe, stood up and whipped around, decapitating an orc. He wiped his tears and picked her up, slinging her over a shoulder. He picked up his axe, now, he wanted vengeance.
"I will avenge you…my brave warrior." He said. And, carrying Sam's body, he continued to fight.
Elizabeth's POV
As I fought on, I looked around anxiously, where were Sam and Boromir? I knew Gandalf and Pippin were alright but I knew nothing of the other two and I worried for them. I began to call their names, I heard no answer for a while but then a voice came, a weak voice, "Elizabeth!" the word was forced. "Elizabeth!" I looked around someone lay in a heap, defeated, on the ground. I ran to their side, it was Boromir. "Boromir!" I exclaimed, "Boromir!" I threw myself down by his side, "No….no!" There were many wounds on him, a gash and several scratches on his head, bleeding knuckles. There was an arrow in his stomach. "What happened to you?"
"I…I was thrown…off my horse...too many….too many…too many…" I touched his hand and put a finger on his lips, "Shh, shh, shh, be still, you'll be okay."
"Not this time….It is too late….my city is destroyed…I've failed…"
"No, no you haven't…you've helped me through this rough time…and have always been there for me, you can't die now…I love you…. You've never failed me…" I began to cry.
"Don't cry…sing...if I am to leave this world now…I would want to…with your beautiful voice as the last thing I hear."
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled him into my lap. I removed the arrow and took his hand. I lovingly smoothed the hair from his face with my other one, and then layed it upon his forehead. I closed my eyes and began to sing.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)
La La (La La)
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound...
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh oh oh. [x7]
His eyes closed after I finished singing. I put his hands on his chest, one on top of the other, and smoothed his hair again. I kissed his forehead and stood up. I realized that Legolas and Aragorn had joined me, with Gimli close behind, carrying a figure in his arms. I turned away from him, I knew who the figure was and I didn't like it. I buried my face in Legolas's chest and put my arms around him, his around me, and I cried softly. I felt a tear that did not belong to me fall upon my cheek as we all grieved for Sam and Boromir.
Suddenly, I heard a voice, "They're not dead." I turned to him.
"Not dead?"
"They are unconscious, but not dead." He replied, "Hurry, we must get them to the Houses of Healing." Legolas picked up Boromir and Aragorn carried Sam. We all ran back toward the city and made our way through the destroyed gates. Aragorn led us to the houses of Helaing and we bolted inside. Aragorn spoke to Ioreth, and elderly woman, one of the wisest healers and himself, her and Gimli headed off toward one of the rooms. Legolas walked toward the one beside it and went it. I remained alone, undecided. I sat down against the wall and hung my head and prayed that they would both be okay. Gimli and Legolas joined me and Aragorn ran into Boromir's room, as Ioreth had left herself to attend to Sam.
"They'll be alright Lassie." Gimli said softly, though I knew he was just trying to make me feel better, because I could tell in his voice he wasn't certain and neither was I. so, the three of us just sat in a row, our heads down in a grief-filled silence. A while later, Ioreth came out of the room, I looked up at her with tear-stained cheeks. "She is okay," she said, "I washed her wounds and put her arm in a sling and changed her, she woke up angry because she wanted to go back and fight, but I managed to convince her to go to sleep."
I let out a sigh of relief and grinned, despite myself, "That's my Sam." I said. That's when Aragorn came out of Boromir's room, he said nothing and his eyes were clouded, his head downcast.
"What's wrong?" I asked. He did not reply, "Aragorn?"
"He took a hard fall and has a lot of wounds... I cannot guarantee anything, as I was tending to him he made no move nor sound, and still remains unconcious." I could not stand to hear him rabble on about Boromir's condition. I hung my head in grief and hid my face in my hands, beginning to cry all over again. I turned and fled. "Elizabeth!" Aragorn exclaimed. I ignored him. I made my way into the garden and dove into the grass, weeping softly. I cried and cried, thinking of Boromir, images of his face and the sound of his calming voice. Finally, the crying began to cease and I stood up, wiping my tears, deciding that I was going to go back and see him. I turned and walked back toward the house. No one seemed to be around. I slowly and quietly made my way into Boromir's room. It was cool and dark inside. Boromir was lying on the bed; covered in a sheet his eyes were closed. Bandages were wrapped around his stomach and chest, over one shoulder. His eyes were closed and he lay soundless. He looked like he was asleep. I approached him and kneeled at his bedside. He did not reply. I gently set my hand on his and looked into his closed eyes. I grew sad all over again and began to think for the worst. Thinking of how those eyes, those beautiful eyes…how they would never open and look into mine again…how that voice…would never speak again….no! I refused to believe it. I buried my face in his chest, "Please Boromir," I said softly, "Wake up."
No response, "Don't go now…you can't…" Still no response, "you've always been there for me, when no one else was… please…come back to me." I wept, "I love you." Suddenly, I felt a warm hand on top of mine. I looked up and met eye with Boromir! He smiled and chuckled. My tears of sadness became tears of joy and I smiled, threw my arms around him and hugged him. He hugged me back.
"I love you Boromir, I always have." I said, I stopped hugging him and our gazes locked.
"And I love you." He answered. With that, our lips touched and we shared our first kiss…and right at that moment, I knew, I had found my true love.