The Zerg Swarm stopped at Dunharrow when Rohan was assembling an army to aid Gondor against the Mordor army. "Make way for the king," said one of the Rohirrim. "Make way." Sarah Kerrigan watched Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Theoden, and Eomer arrived with a number of Rohirrim.
"The king is here."
"My lord."
"Grimbold, how many?" the king asked.
"I bring 500 men from the Westfold, my lord," the captain called Grimbold replied.
"We have 300 more from Fenmarch, Theoden King."
"Where are the riders from Snowbourn?" Theoden asked.
"None have come, my lord."
Aragorn and Kerrgian approached Theoden in the mountainous area of Dunharrow. "Six thousand spears. Less than half of what I'd hoped for," the king muttered. "How many minions do you have?"
"The Swarm brings four thousand," the Queen of Blades gave an estimated number. She had a thousand minions; Zagara's brought her brood that made up of one thousand minions; Dehaka's pack made of one thousand minions, and Stukov led one thousand infested humans.
"Ten thousand may not be enough to break the lines of Mordor," said Aragorn.
"More will come," said Theoden.
"Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have till dawn, then we must ride," said Aragorn.
"I really hope Jim and the Protoss would hold Gondor's city before we arrive," said Kerrigan.
They noticed horses were frightened not of the Zerg but something in the road of the mountains. Zagara saw the zerglings snarled and the hydralisks made frightening gestures preparing to the fight possible intruders.
"The horses are restless, the men are quiet, and the Zerg … looks as if they're preparing to attack," Legolas commented.
"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain," said Eomer.
"That road there … where does that lead?" Gimli asked.
"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain," Legolas replied.
"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil," Eomer stated the fact.
"What is lurking in these mountains?" Zagara asked but no one answered.
"Do you know something about the mountains, Aragorn?" Kerrigan asked.
The Dunedain only had a look and seemed to see something.
"Aragorn, let's find some food," said the dwarf.
Later at night, Eowyn played a role in making Merry the esquire of Rohan but had an argument with her older brother Eomer. A lone rider had come to Dunharrow and took position in Theoden's tent.
"My queen," Zagara called to Kerrigan. "You're needed in Theoden's tent."
The Queen of Blades went to Theoden's tent and the king was outside. "Inside, Kerrigan," he said.
Kerrigan entered the tent and saw Aragorn talking to a familiar face. "Lord Elrond?" she muttered recognizing the elf lord. "I'm sorry to interrupt."
"There's nothing for you to interrupt," said Elrond. "Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in secret, he sends another force which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the south. They'll be in the city in two days," he informed Kerrigan and Aragorn. "But that's not all; Sauron is even more prepared as he has creatures that are not of this world. These creatures possessed traits of Zerg and Protoss," Elrond gave out information to Kerrigan.
"The hybrids," the Queen of Blades figured out what the elf lord was referring to. "I thought they're all dead. I didn't expect them to come to this planet," she spoke with disbelief as the last time she fought the hybrids was in Ulnar.
"Amon had brought the hybrid to Mordor somehow and some time ago. Sauron kept the hybrid on reserve and will use them when he needed them. You're all outnumbered, Aragorn and Kerrigan. You need more men," Elrond stated the fact.
"There are none," Aragorn spoke with certainty.
"There are those who dwell in the mountain," Elrond countered the statement.
"What do you know about what's lurking in those mountains?" Kerrigan questioned.
"Murderers, traitors," Aragorn seemed to remember what he saw earlier. "You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no one."
"They will answer to the King of Gondor. Anduril, the Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil," Elrond presented the Dunedain a sword.
"Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil," Aragorn drew the sword that was re-forged. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."
"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Amon's forces won't stand a chance against that army," Elrond then made it clear to the Dunedain. "Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road," the elf lord then said something in elvish.
Aragorn then spoke something in elvish and put back Anduril into the sheath.
Kerrigan had a meeting with Zagara, Dehaka, and Stukov. "I'm going with Aragorn on the Dimholt road to find reinforcements," she said.
"Reinforcements? You're going to seek out what's in those mountains?" Zagara asked.
"There can be essence there," said Dehaka.
"Did you find out what is dwelling in those mountains?" Stukov asked.
"Stukov, I don't know what's in those mountains now. I'm going to find out. Dehaka, your pack needs a leader. Zagara, take control of the Swarm when you're fighting Mordor and hybrids in Gondor."
"Hybrids? I thought they're history," Stukov spoke in a surprised tone.
"Sauron even has hybrids in his army. With the reinforcements that we'll bring, the forces of Amon and Sauron will fall. We'll meet up at the battlefield in Gondor," said Kerrigan.
"As you say, my queen. Your friends need you," said Zagara as she was in charge of the Swarm when Kerrigan left to join Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.
The brood mother, the pack leader of the primal zerg, and the infested human watched the morale of the Rohirrim was lowered since the Queen of Blades, the heir to the throne of Gondor, the elf, and dwarf left to take the Dimholt road.
One of the Rohirrim asked, "What's happening? Where is he going?"
The other Rohirrim talked amongst themselves, "Where is he going?"
"I don't understand."
"Lord Aragorn!" Gamling shouted but Aragorn gave no attention.
"Why does he leave on the eve of battle?"
"He leaves because there is no hope," Gamling made a false assumption.
"He leaves because he must," Theoden corrected him.
"Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor."
"No," the king shook his head. "We cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless."
Everyone especially the Zerg Swarm rested for the night. At dawn, Theoden had a talk with his niece Eowyn.
The moment had come for the Zerg Swarm and the Rohirrim to make their move as the men mounted onto horses. "We must ride light and swift. It is a long road ahead. And man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight," Theoden gave orders to his nephew. Zagara noticed Merry preparing his pony and the king said to him, "Little Hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc."
"All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind," Merry argued.
"It is a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith. And none of my riders can bear you as a burden."
"I want to fight."
"I will say no more," Theoden rode off leading the Rohirrim.
Luckily, a rider picked up Merry who was light as a feather. "Ride with me," there was a soft voice of a young woman.
"My lady," Merry recognized the rider as Eowyn in disguise.
"Form up! Move out! Form up! Move out!" Eomer ordered.
"Ride! Ride now to Gondor!" Theoden reinforced the order.
"It's time, minions! Move to Gondor!" Zagara ordered.
The Zerg Swarm all began heading to Gondor along with the Rohirrim.
Author's Note
When I nearly finished writing this chapter, I listened to a small bit of a soundtrack called Stronger from StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm as I thought it would be suitable as a background music when the Zerg Swarm began moving out. Anyway, the next chapter will be on Sarah Kerrigan plus a small scene on the Hyperion.