Fair warning there is a bit of violence in this chapter. Some of the most intense parts are coming up, though I'm still not 100% decided on where to take the story. Thank you all so so so much for the reviews, they really do encourage me to keep writing. Let me know if you have any suggestions, thoughts etc!
bluelily-295: Thank you so much, your review was so good! I really like how protective Eredhel is.
MissPixieM: Detailed reviews are the best, thanks! I blushed a little bit, I love hearing that people enjoyed the story so much that they stuck with it!
thebluefeather: Much thanks! I really like how Tolkien describes the elves as being both very happy and yet always very sad.
Amsim: HAHA "magical acid". Yeah I wished they showed more of that part of the book in the movies. I would have liked to see the towns in Gondor and more of the battle in Pelargir. Thank you so much for the review!
Legolas and Eredhel were seated near the prow of the ship, listening to the gentle wind and the creaking of the mast. The night was quiet and stars filled the sky above them. It was hard to believe they were only hours away from battle. They had been sailing for over 24 hours and they were now close to their destination. To their left and right they could see ships identical to theirs, though more heavily burdened.
Legolas looked over at the elleth beside him. The wound in her thigh had healed, though there was still a trace of the vibrant bruise on her neck. She had been quiet since they had set out from Pelargir and she was staring at the dark water thoughtfully. He was about to ask her what she was thinking about when they were joined by Elladan and Elrohir, the twins taking seats across from where Eredhel and Legolas sat side by side. "It is a grim night," acknowledged Elladan, leaning his elbows on his knees.
"Indeed, there is now nothing left between us and the might of Sauron's army. Aragorn has locked himself in one of the cabins. Whether he knows it or not, this is the battle that his entire life has led to. It will determine the fate of both Gondor and Arnor," said Legolas.
"Arwen has faith in him," said Elrohir. "We all do."
"Yes, I believe if anyone is capable of saving the White City it is he," added Legolas. "Your sister must be praying for our victory."
"The dark times have caused her strength to wane. But she has made her decision, she will take a mortal life," said Elladan. Legolas' brow furrowed in thought, he often forgot that the siblings could choose whether to be counted among Elves or Men.
"What about the two of you? I had always assumed you chose long ago but have you ever considered accepting the Gift of Men?" he asked. The twins looked at each other and chuckled.
"No, the majority of our blood is elven and that is where our hearts lie. But I still consider Arwen lucky to have found one she was willing to give up a life of immortality for," explained Elrohir. Legolas nodded then turned to Eredhel.
"And you?" She looked up at the sound of his voice, startled from her thoughts. The elleth tilted her head to the side, tucking one leg beneath her as she thought of how to answer his question.
"No, I have too much appreciation for the endless time given to us," she replied simply. Legolas nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. She could have had any life she wanted. If she had chosen to be counted among men her lineage would have earned her a betrothal to any lord or noble she wished. Even among her own kin she was of high rank, she could have had an easy life in Rivendell, Lothlorien or even Valinor. And yet she had chosen to remain, to roam the wild, fight alongside men and risk her life for a world that so many had given up hope in. The brothers had made many of the same decisions and Legolas felt that much of it had to do with their wish to see Aragorn upon the throne of Gondor, and their younger sister beside him. Legolas was stirred out of his thoughts when Eredhel suddenly rose from beside him, her widened eyes on the horizon.
"Valar..." she said hoarsely. When Legolas turned to see what she was looking at he found himself at a loss for words. They were much closer to Minas Tirith than they had originally thought. Though it was not within range of the men's eyes the elves could see a giant black cloud looming ahead of them. It cloaked the land in darkness, blocking out the light of the stars and moon. Even from hundreds of leagues away they could see the orange glow of Mount Doom, and the jagged outline of the mountain borders of Mordor.
"Sauron grows bold. He has veiled the lights of hope from Gondor, he wishes to strangle their hearts with despair," said Elladan grimly.
"One of you should go find Aragorn, he needs to know that our arrival will be somewhat sooner than expected," added Legolas, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. Elladan nodded and silently went to go find their friend. He returned moments later, with the Ranger in tow. Aragorn's breath caught as he stood beside Eredhel and the elleth laid a hand on his arm. Aragorn ran a hand over his face, his eyes thoughtful. His surroundings felt almost surreal. Ever since the Fellowship had broken he had predicted that this was where his path would lead and yet it had never fully resonated with him. The weight of it now hit him full force and he was thankful for Eredhel's firm grip on his upper arm. This was different than any other battle he had fought in. If they lost, the survivors could not return home to their families, they would have no homes left. There would be nowhere for the race of Men to hide from Sauron's wrath. He took a deep breath and clenched his hands, turning to the other men that had gathered around him.
"Inform the captains that we must be ready to dock within a few hours, shortly after dawn. They must be prepared for battle." They nodded and turned towards the main deck, to send word to the other ships in the fleet. The elves remained, standing silently with their eyes on their destination. Eredhel felt Legolas shift closer to her, standing almost directly behind her so that she could feel his breath on her ear. One of his hands slid to her side, his thumb tracing the curve of her hip. Eredhel turned her head towards him, sensing unease from the always confident elf.
"Legolas?"
"You made me a promise." Eredhel sighed at his words, fighting the urge to lean into his chest. She would've given anything to be in Mirkwood, lying beside him as the moon rose and set. She wrenched herself out of it, closing her eyes for a moment.
"Iston, av-'osto. (I know, don't fear.) I intend to keep it." Legolas' grip tightened at her waist and she could feel the desperation in his touch. If it were not for Elladan and Elrohir he would have pulled her into his arms, savoring their last hours of safety.
It seemed like only moments had passed when they saw the orange glow of the sun on the horizon. As they came within view of the port the men became restless, their hands straying to their sheathed weapons. The air around them seemed to thrum as they crouched to avoid the searching gazes of the orcs on the shore. As the first ships pulled into the pier their enemies began calling for the recruits to disembark from the ships. Immediately Aragorn and his companions rose, leaping down onto the wharf. The men followed after them, battle cries flying from their lips. Many of the orcs fell in the confusion of the first moments of battle but they soon recovered. Soon the battle had spread between the warehouse and buildings, the clashing of metal and the shouts of men ringing through the air. Elladan and Elrohir fought close to each other, effortlessly spinning between opponents. Countless orcs fell to the twins' blades, their faces grim and determined as their armour became splattered with their enemies' blood.
Gimli had fought his way into the thick of the orcs' ranks. He swung his axe from side to side as he counted out each opponent he killed. He moved with surprising speed for a dwarf and resembled a red blur, hacking at the orcs' knees and then finishing them off as they stumbled. Aragorn and the Rangers were leading the party, their incredible strength and skill felling any enemy who crossed their path. They fought with swords, bows and spears, and those on horses rode down the orcs that tried to flee. To the Dunedain's left were Legolas and Eredhel, each guarding the other against any unseen enemies. They moved almost as one, each seeming to know where the other planned to attack next. Eredhel's eyes often roamed to Aragorn and her brothers, occasionally shooting down a particularly menacing orc in their path. Always however, they returned to the blond prince beside her, terrified that a stray enemy would claim him.
The battle was over within an hour, just as the sun began to strengthen. The pier was littered with the bodies of the fallen, the orcs outnumbering the dead men. Aragorn's remaining forces gathered on the open plain outside the harbour. Though the main body of their group remained intact they had lost many good men, and two of the Rangers had fallen. Most of their remaining company were now mounted on horses, having retrieved their steeds from the ships. The standard of Gondor was once again unfurled as they began their march towards the Fields of Pelennor.
Less than an hour later they came within sight of the battle. Aragorn called for a halt as he assessed the gathered forces, planning where to strike. The host from Rohan had arrived, and seemed to be doing the main fighting on the plain. The city had been breached, and orcs could be seen running along the high walls. Aragorn stroked his chin as he contemplated where to attack from. As he was pondering this Eredhel also seemed to be in deep thought. Immediately upon seeing the battlefield she had been filled with dread. It much resembled the setting of the Battle of Fornost, and even from far away she could hear the screams and shouts of dying men. Long ago she had reveled in battle, thirsting for her enemy's blood. But loss and time had burned it out of her. She needed to thirst, she needed to long to feel her blade cut through an orc's throat. That was what it would take to protect all of them, to protect Aragorn, Elladan, Elrohir, to protect Legolas. She closed her eyes, her fingers running along the hilt of her sword. She made herself remember the feeling of besting an enemy, seeing them fall to the ground, defeated. When her eyelids opened her gaze was fiery. Her sudden change in demeanor did not go unnoticed by Legolas beside her but as he was about to ask her about it Aragorn raised his sword and called for the host to ride for the battlefield. A growl erupted from Eredhel's throat as she urged Berenoch onward, riding hard towards the army of orcs, Haradrim and Oliphaunts.
The thundering of hooves rose around her as men drew their swords and fitted arrows to strings. Already Eredhel could see her first target, a particularly vile looking commander, who was directing attacks against the Rohirrim. As soon as she was within range she let an arrow fly and its shaft sank halfway into his throat. Beside her she could hear Gimli and Legolas yelling to each other, each counting off their kills. Eredhel saw an oliphaunt running towards them and nocked another arrow, carefully trying to aim for its eye. Her shot hit its mark and the creature moaned in pain as it stumbled to the ground. Its riders quickly slid down its side, joining the fray. Eredhel dismounted, giving Berenoch a smack on the rump to send him to safety. She swung at an orc to her left, slicing through his stomach. Blood painted her armour but she didn't notice, already grabbing another orc's weapon and slamming it against his head. She swung her sword with a flick of her wrist and spun towards an oncoming orc. They exchanged a few blows but he could not keep up with her superior speed and soon fell dead at her feet. A sweat began to break out on her forehead as Eredhel continued to hew through her enemies, unsure if she had even gained any ground. To her left she suddenly saw Elrohir, the ellon disarming his opponent with a flick of his sword. Eredhel shot two of the Haradrim advancing towards him. He looked around and caught her eye, giving her a wide grin. She returned it, realizing that despite the danger they were in she was quite glad he and Elladan had come with the Rangers.
Her attention was reverted back to the battle when savage battle cries erupted to her right. A particularly viscous squadron of orcs was slowly hacking its way through the men. Eredhel ran towards it, noticing that two rangers were mimicking her movement. With the help of the Gondorians they managed to dismantle the group, one of the rangers beheading the captain. As she turned, Eredhel saw an orc rushing towards her and she blocked his blow, swinging his blade out of his grasp. She stabbed him in the ribs, looking around as she was granted a brief moment of reprieve.
A head of blond hair caught her attention. Legolas was fighting a large group of orcs, a grim look of determination on his face. She raced towards him, seeing a large orc raise his spear. The elf didn't see him, he was too preoccupied with the captain he was currently fighting. Eredhel increased her speed, her heart racing. "LEGOLAS!" she yelled, just before colliding with him and hauling him to the ground. The spear flew over them, landing in the captain's chest instead of the ellon's. Legolas looked up at Eredhel from where he lay, stunned by the impact of the ground. She had just saved him. As he started to thank her he noticed a scratch on her brow and brushed away the blood from her face.
"Eredhel..." he didn't have time to finish, she was already hauling him to his feet. Her eyes scanning from side to side. Legolas quickly made sure they were not in any immediate danger before grabbing her hand and forcing her to look at him. The elleth's eyes calmed when they found his. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," she said, her mind having already returned to the battle. He then noticed an oliphaunt coming towards them and grinned. "I'll race you to the top," he challenged, pointing towards it. The elleth smiled, a mischievious spark entering her eye.
"Try to keep up," she prodded before taking off towards it. Legolas chuckled and ran after her. The beast's sides were covered in arrows, the shafts unable to penetrate the oliphaunt's thick hide. The elves swung from arrow to arrow, making their way towards the top. Above them, the Haradrim atop the animal were oblivious to their ascent, throwing spears at the men below. Legolas reached the top first, having had more shafts to grab onto. Eredhel was close behind him and they quickly began firing arrows at their enemies. The Haradrim began to advance towards them, and Eredhel tripped one before sending him falling into the battle below. Legolas pulled out his knives and swung between the Southrons, easily ducking beneath their blows. Once they had defeated all the men they made their way towards the oliphaunt's head, each nocking an arrow. They simultaneously released their shots, sending them through its skull. The creature groaned and began to stumble, falling to its knees. Eredhel and Legolas quickly dismounted, assessing the battle as their feet hit the ground.
To their amazement it seemed that the forces of Gondor and Rohan were quickly gaining ground. Many of the Nazgul had retreated and the orcs were being surrounded. Eredhel saw Elladan and Elrohir to her left and she and Legolas made their way over to them. The twins were mostly unharmed, Elladan only having suffered a gash to his upper arm. They were relieved to see their sister and aided the other two elves in finished off the enemies around them. They then headed to the northern section of the field, where the twins had last seen Aragorn and Halbarad charging with the Dunedain. They killed any orcs that dared cross their path, working together to take out any remaining groups. Eredhel spotted Aragorn near an outcropping of rocks and her heartbeat quickened when she saw that the man was on his knees. She ran towards him, her three companions close behind her. "Aragorn!" she called. When the man turned towards her she saw he was not alone, another was lying on the ground beside him. Grief was written on Aragorn's face as he gripped Halbarad's arm.
The man's abdomen had been pierced by a sword and an arrow was embedded in his shoulder. He was struggling to breathe when the elves reached him and he looked up at them sadly. "I am a fortunate man to have fought alongside all of you," he said with a great effort. He nodded to the twins and they smiled grimly, having often traveled with him. He laid a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "I cannot imagine one more deserving of the throne of Gondor," his voice grew hoarse and he grimaced in pain. "I would have been proud to call you my King. Perhaps we shall meet again, wherever it is that men go at the end of all things. Until then, farewell, and may the Dark Lord shudder at your coming!" His eyes went still and his hand slipped from Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn closed his eyes and sighed, taking Halbarad's sword from where he had dropped it and placing it beside him.
"Tis a great loss," said Elrohir after several moments of silence.
"Indeed, many of my people have fallen, only a few of the Dunedain remain," agreed Aragorn. "But it seems that the battle has been won, so his sacrifice was not for in vain. I am glad to see you all in one piece, though one of our friends seems to be missing." Their eyes widened as they realized none of them had seen Gimli. Legolas immediately turned and scanned the field around them, as if expecting the dwarf to suddenly appear before them. Eredhel saw fear enter his eyes, and placed her hand on his arm.
"We will find him, I'm sure he's alright." But her tone held a hint of doubt. Legolas sighed, rubbing the dirt from his eyes.
"I hope. But I fear that even if he is, we have lost more in this battle than we now know," he said.
"Aye," agreed Aragorn, rising to his feet. "For when has there ever been victory without sacrifice?"