Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
22/04/2013
Now begins The Return of the King part of this story. Hopefully I'll be able to wrap up all of its plot lines to the general satisfaction of readers by the end of it.
Guest: I wanted to acknowledge that Cap always fights out of a sense of duty rather than personal glory. I think the very human way he responds to loss in war is one of the reasons for his long lasting appeal as a character.
Arekanderu: Even if a fully powered Thor and Hulk fought a One Ring wearing Sauron, I don't know if everyone would have their money on the two Avengers to be the victors.
Beloved Daughter: One of the keys to this story is finding the right balance between the Avengers making a difference but not too such an extent they render the efforts of the Free Peoples irrelevant.
Chapter 26 – Departures and Arrivals
The women and children sheltering in the Glittering Caves were finally allowed out of them once the last Uruk body had been removed from the Hornburg. Eowyn led them out into the courtyard behind the Inner Wall. Eowyn was greatly relieved that her uncle had survived this battle. She was also glad that Eomer was present. One of Theoden's first actions after the battle was to formally rescind the banishment order Grima had placed on Eomer and his men.
After her eyes readjusted to sunlight, Eowyn noticed Aragorn and Rogers standing in the courtyard. She gave the Valar a silent prayer of thanks before hugging the pair in relief. While they were the two members Eowyn secretly cared for the most, she was still fond of the rest of the Fellowship.
"How are your friends?" Eowyn enquired of the Fellowship's Co-Leaders.
"Like Steve and I, milady," Aragorn described their welfare. "Tired but hale."
Rogers was keen to know how those who sheltered in the Glittering Caves had endured the night. However, he suspected Eowyn might still be angry at having been prevented from actively participating in the defence. With this in mind, he carefully phrased his question to the Shield-maiden.
"How did go for all of you ordered into the caves?" Rogers put to her.
Eowyn sighed as she recalled the past few hours. "I don't think even the youngest got any sleep. That loud detonation was particularly frightening."
"Take it from me, Eowyn," Rogers said drawing on past experience. "You never get over the fear caused by explosives. No matter how many times you experience it."
"If your wars are fought with such weapons, Steve," Aragorn inferred, "I can't imagine the devastation."
"Lucky for us, Aragorn," Rogers soberly instructed. "Saruman's explosives weren't as destructive as some get on Earth."
Eowyn noted all this before continuing her account of the experience of those sheltering in the Glittering Caves during the battle.
"We tried guessing how the battle was faring from what we heard," she recalled. "By the sounds of things, there must've been some terrible displays of thunder and lightning."
Aragorn and Rogers gave each other a knowing look before the before replied.
"You're right, milady," Aragorn dryly agreed. "Particularly for the Uruks…"
It was dawn the day after the battle's conclusion. All the survivors from the original exodus to Helm's Deep had gathered around the mass pit where the fallen defenders had been laid to rest. Theoden faced the vast majority of the mourners from directly across the pit. To his right were Gandalf, Eomer and Gamling while Eowyn and Legolas stood left of him.
Eomer's reinforcements were largely outside the fortress given the lack of room to accommodate them within it. Behind these Rohirrim were many smouldering pyres of Uruk bodies. Thor had assisted with their disposal the previous afternoon. As if to demonstrate Gandalf's observations about his returning powers, the Asgardian ignited many pyres with a lightning bolt. Thor did this with a degree of vindictive satisfaction given the number of defenders these orcs had killed.
The memorial service for the fallen was quite simple. At a nod from her uncle, Eowyn began to sing a funeral lament for the second time in a week. Eowyn was well aware that too many hadn't been as fortunate as she in not losing any loved ones as a result of this battle. The sadness that tinged her lament was only slightly less than the lament she sang at Theodred's funeral.
There was a momentary pause after Eowyn had finished singing. All the Fellowship heard the pained sobs and muffled cries of those mourning one or more deaths. The silence was broken after Theoden gave Legolas a look. Legolas then sang a lament in Sindarin for the fallen Galadhrim. Rogers and Thor thought that the Elf's voice was the equal of the Elven choir they heard in Caras Galadhon. For the vast majority of the Rohirrim it was the first time they had heard any Elf sing. Once Legolas had finished, the tears many of them had streaming down their faces weren't just a reflection of the sorrow they felt.
Theoden bowed his head. It was a signal to commence piling the soil back over the mass pit. The surviving Howling Commandos were just standing behind Rogers while the service took place. In a touching gesture, they all copied Captain America's sharp salute towards the pit as an act of final respect. After a minute had passed, Theoden raised his head before walking towards the Hornburg with his court in tow. This officially marked the end of the service. Many mourners began to disperse so they could grieve more freely in private. Rogers turned and faced the Howling Commandos who were all looking at him.
"Alright, Commandos," he addressed them in a measured tone. "I've one thing to say before ordering you to stand down. When someone's commissioned a Howling Commando, it's not just for a single battle. It's for life.
"There were twenty of you at the start of this battle. When the soldiers put me in charge, they told me you were boys. Well, the twenty of you are no longer boys. As far as I'm concerned, you're all men now. And I couldn't be more proud of you." Rogers swallowed a lump before adding, "Even if you were my own sons."
Rogers looked at each of the Howling Commandos who had on their faces an expression that was a mixture of tiredness, sorrow and immense pride. He then gave the Commandos his last order.
"Rohan's Howling Commandos – dismissed!"
Many of the slain Commando's mothers were present at the service. They heard every word Rogers had just spoken. These women now watched each of the survivors of the unit rush up and embrace their Commanding Officer. The immense grief these mothers felt eased a fraction, knowing their sons had been in the care of such a kind and noble man.
The nineteen Rohan Royal Guards that survived the Battle of Helm's Deep would be accompanying Theoden, Eomer and the Fellowship on their journey to the Orthanc. Even if the Royal Guards were at full complement, Theoden would have still had a much larger force escorting his person during a time of war. But given that the White Wizard and two Avengers would be accompanying him, Theoden thought any extra protection was superfluous.
Some of Eomer's men were reformed into eoreds. Their role would be to continue to scout for and harass any White Hand forces that remained at large throughout the Riddermark. The bulk of Eomer's men would be escorting the refugees as they began to make their way back to their homes (or what was left of them).
This time, Eowyn didn't argue with her uncle's column to lead the refugee column returning to Edoras. A major reason was the column would be containing those wounded from the battle that could be moved. Edoras's infirmary was the best in Rohan and it was only proper these Rohirrim receive the best of care. From atop the Gatehouse, Rogers thought Eowyn looked every part the warrior-queen as she led the column down the Causeway. The shield-maiden was on her mount closely followed by an eored of her brother's riders with banners and lances raised.
It was some seventy-five miles travel to the Orthanc from Helm's Deep. Theoden's company planned to get there by midday before returning to Helm's Deep where they would stay overnight. They would then make the journey to Edoras arriving sometime there early tomorrow afternoon. Of course, these assumptions were dependent on the company dealing with Saruman in an expeditious manner. As the company got ready to leave, Rogers walked up to Boromir who was adjusting the saddle of the horse the pair rode from Fangorn to Edoras on.
"Do you mind if I share a ride again?" Rogers asked him.
"Of course you can, Steve," Boromir replied somewhat surprised at the request. "But given your display during the battle, I think your speed and endurance is no longer a secret."
After giving a quick smile in response, Rogers explained, "It's why I'm asking. After all the running around I did in the battle, my feet need a rest!"
Glad that Rogers was regaining his sense of humour, Boromir responded with a display of his own.
"Seeing a Super-Soldier can suffer the same frailties as the rest of us," Boromir wryly observed. "You'd be most welcome to ride with me, my friend!"
The ride to the Orthanc was fairly uneventful. The part of Fangorn Forest at the head of the valley had seemingly removed itself the previous night. There seemed to be no trace of it or the orcs it killed. The company found a clue of the direction about halfway through its journey. The supply depot that Aragorn had spotted had been utterly trashed. Some of its wooden pickets and a few hessian sacks were scattered across the ground. But like their kind at Helm's Deep, Fangorn Forest left no trace of the Uruks that had guarded the depot. The mystery of the moving forest was finally solved when the company reached their intended destination at around midday.
The moving forest was now intermingled with even larger part of Fangorn Forest that Treebeard had ordered to surround the Orthanc. Unlike the forest of Nan Curunir that existed prior to its clearance, this forest was not placid. Even if any orc had survived the Ents' assault on Saruman's seat of power, they were never going to escape from it alive.
Theoden's company nervously followed Gandalf through the forest towards the Orthanc. The underlying groans that echoed within the forest unsettled both riders and their mounts. The troubling rumours about Fangorn were well known by the Rohirrim. Those rumours had been well and truly validated by events at Helm's Deep. After exiting the forest, the company took in the sight of the Orthanc from the south. Even with all the recent damage, Rogers and Thor found the Orthanc an architectural wonder to behold. So did many others in Theoden's company who saw the legendary fortification for their first time.
"And I thought the Twenty-First Hall was special," Rogers mused aloud.
Thor responded with heavy irony after spotting something just ahead. "Perhaps its gatekeepers will allow us to take a closer look."
Banner, Pippin and Merry were sitting on the Gatehouse's remains; now a large pile of rubble rising above the floodwater. Laid before them was a spread of cold meats, bread, and cheese. The trio each held a mug of ale while the two Hobbits happily smoked their pipes also. They had been enjoying a picnic (Banner found out about 'elevens' over the last day) until Theoden's company had arrived.
Upon seeing that the company, Merry sprang up and proudly proclaimed, "Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!"
Gimli shared the gladness of the Fellowship present at being reunited. However, he was somewhat envious of the enjoyment Pippin, Merry and Banner appeared to be having.
"You, young rascals!" he exclaimed. "A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you, feasting and…smoking!"
"Did you tell Merry and Pippin that looting's a serious war crime, Bruce?" Rogers asked Banner in good humour.
Banner raised his mug in salute before replying in the same spirit, "I was planning to after I finish this beer, Cap."
"Do you also need to finish it before telling us how you fare, Banner?" Thor asked him a smirk.
The Fellowship all understood what Banner meant when he enigmatically answered, "Probably the same way you do, Thor."
After giving Banner a small nod in understanding about their returning powers, Thor then continued.
"Then you'd know I currently have a great thirst," Thor knowingly hinted. "I hope there's some ale left in that cask."
It went without saying that Thor wasn't the only one dying for a drink. Many in the company thought a mug of ale was the very least Middle-earth owed them for their struggles in its defence over the last few days. One of Boromir's happiest memories of recent times was sharing ale with Faramir after reclaiming Osgiliath from the Enemy.
"I'm sorry, Thor," Merry sheepishly apologised. "The cask's empty."
The huge disappointment felt by Thor and others in the company was quickly alleviated by Pippin.
"Don't worry, Thor," Pippin quickly reassured the Asgardian. "There's still plenty left in the storerooms. In fact, you're all just in time to join us for lunch." Pippin then looked at Rogers and teased him, "The biggest crime, Steve, would be for all these supplies to go to waste. The salted pork is particularly good."
The vast bulk of Theoden's company was ready to take up Pippin's offer in the spot. It had been hours since the meagre breakfast they ate prior to leaving Helm's Deep.
Referring to Saruman, Gimli half-seriously asked, "Do we have to confront the traitor now, Gandalf?"
"I'm afraid so, Gimli," Gandalf replied with a twinkle in his eye. "But I promise we can partake in our friends' bounty afterwards."
At this Gandalf then wheeled Shadowfax around so he could face all of Theoden's company. The wizard's next words were nothing but deadly serious.
"Saruman may be trapped and surrounded," Gandalf sternly warned. "But don't underestimate the threat he still presents. Beware his voice!"
"My apologies, Gandalf," Eomer intervened. "Saruman's army is defeated and his machine of war destroyed. How can he still be dangerous?"
"It's difficult to explain, Third Marshal," Gandalf answered. "Only after hearing Saruman's voice will you understand."
"I think I already have some idea," Rogers recollected his past. "I fought in a war that largely started as the result of one man's voice."
"And those with such tongues are often those we thought we could trust," Thor added.
When Thor and Loki were boys, Odin told them that only one of them could ascend to the throne of Asgard. As the brothers grew into manhood, they each developed very different leadership styles. Thor's was based on direct action particularly valour, strength and heroic deeds on the battlefield. Loki's though was from oratory and persuasion sometimes with subtle uses of 'magic' to underline a point. Because Asgard emphasised a warrior culture (as well as being Odin's firstborn) it was no surprise that Thor was popular throughout the realm as the All-Father's chosen successor. Loki though was teased as a 'silver tongue' and this reputation eventually spread to Midgard. From this reputation, the Norse Peoples eventually attributed Loki to be the 'God of Lies and Mischief' of their mythology. Loki's rebellion was a bitter lesson for Thor that words can cause much greater harm than even the most powerful of weapons.
"The rest of you would be wise to remember these warnings from two of our Avengers," Gandalf concluded. He then looked back at Pippin before telling him in a far less serious tone, "Master Took, if we're to have lunch sooner rather than later, the three of you will need to join us in dealing with Saruman first!"
After the trio began climbing down the pile of rubble they currently sat on; Gandalf called Thor over for a private word. After Thor moved opposite to Gandalf, the pair began speaking in hushed tones.
"I'll need your help in protecting our company from Saruman's spells, Odinson." Gandalf requested before firmly instructing him, "But should such a spell be used against me alone – stay your hand."
Thor's eyes widened in horror to what Gandalf had just requested of him.
"I admit you were right in restraining me from aiding you against the Balrog," Thor admitted before passionately dissenting as much as a hushed tone would allow. "But with my powers returning, I'll not idly witness your destruction again. Middle-earth couldn't bear to lose you a second time, Gandalf!"
Gandalf was well aware of the way Thor had come to perceive him. By 'Middle-earth' Thor meant 'I'. Ever since arriving in Middle-earth from Valinor thousands of years ago, the Free Peoples had perceived Gandalf as many different things. Among those things were wizard; counsellor; friend; mentor; adventurer; charlatan; entertainer; lore-master; and even manipulator. But until he met Thor, none had ever truly perceived him as a father. Given who he was, Gandalf never had the desire to start a family of his own. But throughout his whole existence Gandalf occasionally wondered what a loving bond between a parent and their child actually felt like. The relationship he had developed with Thor had given him the tinniest inkling. With this in mind, Gandalf leaned over and softly touched Thor's wrist.
"Even if there was the slightest chance that Saruman could harm me, I would not be asking this of you, Thor," Gandalf gently reassured the Avenger. In the same tone he asked Bilbo to trust him about the One Ring, Gandalf then said, "Trust my judgment on this as you would the All-Father's."
As Thor reluctantly nodded his consent, Banner interrupted the pair.
"Mind if I share a ride, Thor?" Banner asked his fellow Avenger.
"Of course, my friend." Thor replied before pulling Banner up behind him.
Merry and Pippin were in a similar positioned on the mounts of Eomer and Aragorn respectively.
"Graegwind's one the finest of steeds I've had the pleasure of riding," Thor advised Banner.
"I'm glad you've told me the name of your horse," Banner said before asking an awkward question. "Perhaps you can introduce your new two-legged friends as well?"
After Theoden's company shared a short embarrassed laugh, introductions were made with its three new members.
"On behalf of my people and myself," Theoden regally thanked the trio. "You have our greatest gratitude for your efforts in defeating Saruman. You must tell me how you secured the aid of Fang-"
Theoden's thanks came to an abrupt halt at the astonishing sight he perceived within the Orthanc.
"I grant that it's been many a year since I last looked upon the Tower of Orthanc," Theoden warily observed. "But the last report I read about it was less than a year ago. I don't recall it saying the Pinnacle was now adorned with one horn instead of four."
Everyone in the company drew their attention to the top of the Tower. Clear for all to see was Hulk's destruction wreaked upon three of the Pinnacle's horns. Two horns were cracked and had large chunks pulled out of them. The other horn had been cleanly broken off the Pinnacle's base.
"Do you know anything about the matter, Master Banner?" Legolas asked firmly tongue in cheek.
A somewhat embarrassed Banner explained, "Well, um, let's just say the Other Guy used them to create a new water feature in Saruman's yard."
"I'm sorry, Master Banner, I don't follow," a confused Eomer replied. "Are you saying you have another companion who is atop the Tower?"
Theoden, Eomer and the other Rohirrim wondered why the Fellowship shared awkward looks at the question. Fortunately, Gandalf came up with the perfect diplomatic reply.
"Perhaps that is an introduction that can be made after we deal with Saruman," Gandalf's words were a hint to Banner as much as an answer to Eomer.
Gandalf had no doubt that Saruman would try and provoke Banner's anger and so release Hulk. It couldn't be assumed that Men in general would be as accepting of Hulk as Aragorn and Boromir had been. Even if Hulk didn't turn on Theoden's company, his appearance would be highly alarming to the Rohirrim to say the least. And Saruman would well know how to play on those fears to drive a wedge of distrust between Rohan and the Fellowship.
Banner got the hint. "You'll have no argument from either of us, Gandalf."
"Surely we can at least introduce everyone to Treebeard!" Merry strongly argued.
In the best imitation he could of Treebeard's voice, Pippin answered his cousin in jest, "Now, now don't be hasty Master Meriadoc. Hroom, hroom!"
Gandalf was the only one in the company who understood why Merry and Banner happily laughed in response to Pippin's strange words and the tone he spoke them in.
"Hobbits," Gandalf muttered in exasperation before nudging Shadowfax towards the interior of the Orthanc.
I admit this chapter is a bit of a filler. I wanted the confrontation with Saruman to be a chapter in its own right.
With ANZAC Day this Thursday and having a Great Grandfather and two Great Grand Uncles fight in WWI, the memorial service at Helm's Deep was a reflection of this. Unlike millions of others, at least my ancestors came back home alive.