Chapter Seven

Parting from Minas Tirith we could see the grim faces of the men, women and children who lived there. As well as the injured who were unable to continue to fight, the spirits were fine but their bodies…were frail and unable to continue. Among them was Eowyn and Faramir, Boromir's younger brother. I was able to meet him in the House of Healing while Eowyn was still unconscious. He asked about her from the moment he laid eyes on her. It was clear he was smitten, perhaps this was what they both needed. They needed to find comfort, they could provide that to one another. Merry and Pippin joined us in our journey to the Black Gates. Our army amassed outside the Black gate, there were shut and not an orc in sight.

My body buzzed in anticipation, not trusting myself I climbed off Arod, Legolas looked me confused, I shook my head.

"Where are they?" Pippin asked.

Aragorn looks at the Halfling and we ride up to the gate with Gandalf, Gimli, and Eomer.

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" Aragorn shouts at the gate.

There was no movement for several moments before the gates crack open a black figure comes riding out. He was a horrific sight to behold. He wore a helmet that covered most of his face save his mouth, the teeth were grey and gums were blood red and bleeding. The bottom lip was split nearly to the chin and haphazardly sewn together grotesquely.

"My master Sauron the Great bids thee welcome." He said diplomatically.

I cringed, him speaking was not much better. From the looks of my friends, they didn't find him all that attractive either.

"Is there any in this rout with the authority to treat with me."

I growled lowly in my throat.

"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this. The armies of Mordor must disband. He is depart these lands, never to return." Gandalf said coldly.

The creature seemed to look at the White Wizard.

"Aha! Old Greybeard! I have a token I was bidden to show thee."

He pulls a white shiny familiar shirt.

"Frodo!" Pippin cries.

The creature tosses the shirt at Gandalf, and I'd recognize that mithril shirt anywhere.

"Frodo!" Pippin cries again.

"Silence!" Gandalf demands.

"No!" Merry cries.

I saw tears in his eyes.

"Silence!" Gandalf repeats.

"The Halfling was dear to thee I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain. And he did Gandalf, he did." The creature jeered.

My whole body shuddered trying to contain my animals, it took every shred of my will to keep my shape. I could see the tears in Gandalf's eyes forming. Aragorn road up to the creature.

"And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a King than a broken Elvish blade."

Before the creature could bite out some other insulting words Aragorn sweeps out his sword and beheads its before it could speak again. My animals stilled slightly, feeling comfort in the creature's demise.

"Well, I guess that concludes negotiations." Gimli said shortly.

"I do not believe it. I will not!" Aragorn hissed.

The gates begin to make a hissing noise and slowly begin to open.

"Pull back! Pull back!" Aragorn orders.

We pull back to the remainder of the army. Now those who were on horses now dismounted, Aragorn rides in front of the men, all looked uncertain at the sight of the Orcs whom were marching towards us.

"Hold your ground! Hold your ground!"

He turns to address our men.

"Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come where the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day! An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight!"

The men around me look encouraged, and the morale improved, the men were feeding off his words and the courage of those around them.

"By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West!:

All around me I heard the sound of drawn swords and shuffling feet into a better position. I see Merry and Pippin unsheathing their swords, reading for battle. Who would have though these two troublemakers would be looking like warriors? When did they grow, when did they find their courage? Eomer was nearby an already hardened warrior he glared at the orc army, menacing and ready. I could feel the orc army had surrounded us.

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with and elf and woman…" Gimli said gruffly.

"What about side by side with friends?" Legolas counters.

I see Legolas smile down at Gimli, he returned it.

"Aye! I could do that."

Aragorn stands at the ready at the front of the army. He seems to be called by some unknown force, he turns to Gandalf and Gandalf holds up Frodo's shirt and he Aragorn smiles.

"For Frodo."

With a battle cry he rushes into the Orc Army. Merry and Pippin shout and run after him, swords raised. I lurched forwards as well, my body twisting and shifting to that of my Warg form. It was one I hadn't used before, the Warg was evident but I had managed to channel some dire portions into it, becoming larger, more formidable and more protected. Hard almost metal like plates covered my important bits, my claws were covered in the same material becoming like scalpels. My teeth and jaw were reinforced, it was one of my strongest forms. Throwing back my head I let out an eerie howl, it vibrated through the men and through the Orcs. They looked concerned while the men seem bolstered by my presence. The rest of our Army rushed the Orcs, it was time to make the decision for the end.

The battle raged on, I don't know how long, I had lost count on the amount of Orcs I had killed, but they certainly hadn't been prepared for something quite like me. My metal-reinforced claws shredded their armor like butter. A screech from the air caught all of our attention. The Ringwraiths, steadying myself for another shift I caught hold of a moth…Radaghast's moth…looking up at the sky a Ringwraith aimed for Gandalf when a huge eagle swooped down and dragged it off. The eagles engaged the wraiths in combat while, we took care of those on the ground.

As I ripped the throat of another Orc I heard a cry and saw Aragorn being attacked by a cave troll. With a mighty roar of my own I dash towards the pair, Aragorn was struggling. I was intercepted by many Orc, and I cut them down as quickly as could, but it wasn't enough. I saw Legolas trying to reach him as well, being out of arrows he was down to his short swords. I felt a shift in the wind, and the ground tremble. I shift back into human form looking at the Eye of Sauron and the mountain. It flares, looking desperately, the troll that had been attacking Aragorn, stops and flees. With a large screech and groaning the Tower of Barad Dur begins to collapse. I could see tears in Gandalf's eyes, he had done it. The Eye of Sauron collapsed to the ground and with a massive implosion from the eye it disappears sending a shockwave throughout nearly knocking many men down.

I could hear Merry cheering, and Gimli was nearly shaking joy.

The black gate begins to collapse and the Orcs we had been fighting were trying to run, but the ground gives way and they all disappear into the pit. A rumble in the ground then gave way to Mt. Doom erupting, I see the Ringwraiths disappear and all of our eyes on the mountain.

That wasn't enough time for them to…

"NO!"

With a burst of energy I shift into my Eagle Hawk form and fly off towards the mountain, ignoring the calls of my comrade. My body ached, with every wingbeat, my muscles ached in protest. But I pushed, and pushed and pushed, ignoring the heat, ignore the pain…they had to be alive.

They had to.