Note: I watched The Fellowship of the Ring and it has renewed me. ONWARD!
Battle scenes are difficult for me to write, so I'm working extra hard not to make this a hot mess (especially when blending the book and movie timelines)!
Sometimes I wonder, if I were suddenly transported to Middle Earth and asked to sing them a song of my people, which song would I choose? Anyone have any thoughts?
"An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought, and died, together."
The careful voice continued speaking as Legolas stopped short at the top of the steps leading down to the main gate, hardly believing his eyes for the second time that day. An army of elves stood within the walls, swathed in midnight blue cloaks, holding bows at their sides. In front stood Haldir, the marchwarden of Lothlórien. He looked past Théoden as Aragorn stepped through the crowd of men who had gathered to witness the army's approach.
"We come to honor that allegiance."
Aragorn hurried down to greet them, and as Legolas watched, he pulled Haldir into an abrupt hug. Legolas almost laughed aloud at the surprised look that played across the marchwarden's face, if only for a second or two, before returning the embrace. It reminded him of his earlier encounters with Aragorn, who had always been an intriguing blend of reserved and passionate.
He made his way to Aragorn's side and gripped Haldir's arm as the elves finished filing inside and turned at attention to face them. He searched for some way to express his gratitude, whether by words or further action- although he feared another hug might cause the marchwarden to reconsider his involvement- and in the end simply turned to step behind Haldir, joining the ranks of his fellow elves. They were not quite his people, but it felt good to be among them nonetheless.
It was as if a collective understanding had been reached the moment they took up their positions. The wind whistled through the stones, smoke rose from the torches, and all were silent in the sort of reverie that only comes before a battle.
In the distance, faint smudges of light grew brighter and larger as the lines of Uruk-hai advanced; those within the fortress walls only grew quieter and more still in response to the indistinct roars that began trickling into the hush.
Legolas wished he could look away; his eyes were beginning to make out the individual faces of the Uruk-hai. Even though some had helms that only showed their snarling mouths, each new likeness proved to be an unpleasant revelation. However, it was almost impossible to divert his attention as the battle grew nearer- and where else would he look? Even the stars were covered tonight, and the sky sat like a great ink blot above them.
The stillness left far too much room for contemplation, and Legolas found himself fending off thoughts of her. They would do him no good… and yet, he had to wonder- not for the first time, but certainly now more than ever- where was she from? And who was she, that she had died and come back? It was not unheard of, since Gandalf had made his reappearance, but he was a wizard.
"Thinking about the lass," Gimli grunted.
Legolas looked down at him, confused. "What?"
The dwarf rolled his eyes, then balled his hand into a fist and rapped on his own helmet. "No brain in there, I see? You, princeling. You're thinking of the girl."
He nearly flushed. "I- It's not-"
"Would you look at that!" Gimli chuckled. "Any woman who can shake up the likes of you is a treasure, I'd say."
Legolas frowned. "Dwarves and their treasure. There is more to life than riches."
"Aye." He fixed him with a pointed gaze. "There is."
Any further conversation was interrupted as Aragorn stepped up to the wall, drawing level with the two.
"What do you see?" he murmured, eyes trained on the approaching army.
Legolas looked out once more. "The white hand of Saruman is on their banners and armor. Spears, swords, crossbows..." He turned to look at Aragorn as lightning streaked through the sky and a crack of thunder sounded. "As for their faces, to see one Uruk-hai is to see them all."
"True enough."
Gimli grumbled and strained to see over the wall, even giving a small hop. "I suppose I would not know." He glared at Legolas. "You could have picked a better spot."
A faint smile crossed the elf's face as Gimli turned to Aragorn. "Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night."
"Your friends are with you, Aragorn," Legolas added. He did not intend to allow luck to be the only thing standing between victory or their deaths.
Gimli snorted. "Let's hope they last the night."
Legolas turned to look at Aragorn as the next thunderclap shattered the air, but he had already melted back into the ranks of elven soldiers.
The rain finally started with soft plinks against the men's armor, picking up quickly and soaking Aragorn to the bone as he moved along the lines. When Théoden placed him in command of the Lothlórien warriors, he had turned to Haldir, wondering what the marchwarden's stance would be. But there seemed to be some sort of understanding between the king and Haldir as he stepped into line with his army, agreeing that Aragorn should lead them.
And so he would.
"Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!" Aragorn shouted in Elvish as the Uruk-hai drew nearer, their steps thundering across the plains.
300 yards. 200 yards. 100 yards…
They halted. Aragorn could make out a lone Uruk-hai who had climbed atop a large rock in the middle of the field; he presumed this was their commander. It let out a long, throaty bellow, and the rest of its company took their cue, roaring and pounding their spears on the ground.
Aragorn drew his sword swiftly. He saw Théoden's men ready their bows, but he gave no order for the elves to do the same. Not yet.
And rightly so, for in the next moment someone mistakenly released an arrow and caught an Uruk-hai squarely in the neck.
"Hold!" Aragorn shouted, throwing up a hand as the Uruk-hai swayed on its feet and its compatriots fell silent.
Sqeeeeeak CRASH!
It fell face-first onto the ground. Aragorn sensed the mood shift as the Uruk-hai began to roar, clearly itching for blood. Their leader bellowed again, thrusting its sword into the air, and the army started forward. They were not marching now; they were running at full speed, and Aragorn knew the battle had begun.
"Prepare to fire!" he called out, feeling more than seeing the elves raise their bows around him.
The enemy was almost upon them as he gave orders to release arrows, watching as Uruk-hai were picked off, jerking backwards as they were struck and tumbling down. Théoden's men let loose a volley as Aragorn turned to the rest of the elves behind the wall, instructing another wave of arrows to fly.
An elf near Aragorn let out an agonized scream as he was hit by a bolt from one of the Uruk-hai's crossbows, falling forward into their spears below. He followed the path with his eyes and saw ladders beginning to be raised.
"Swords! Swords!"
Clink!
The first ladder fell into place against the stone wall, and the enemy surged over into their midst.
"AARGH!"
Beside Legolas, Gimli was clearly reveling in the newcomers who were vaulting over the wall in droves, screeching and swinging their ugly blades. The dwarf brandished his axe, landing blow after blow as the Uruk-hai kept coming.
Although they were in close proximity, Legolas kept his bow in his hands, shooting so quickly he barely felt as if his arms were moving at all. His mind was clear and still, like a cold winter star. This was… all things. Serenity. Terror. Life. Death.
This was exhilarating.
"Legolas! Two already!" Gimli hollered triumphantly over the din.
Legolas turned to him, bright-eyed. "I'm on seventeen!"
"Huh?" The dwarf pulled an affronted look. "I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!"
The pair dove back into the battle, fighting ferociously. Only a few minutes passed before Legolas heard Aragorn's voice.
"Causeway!" he shouted, directing the elves to the stone ramp in the distance where a force of Uruk-hai were marching steadily toward the gates, protected on all sides by their shields bearing the white hand. Legolas redirected his aim, firing wherever he could find a break in their wall. It did not appear to do much good, for though several fell, more seemed to fill out the spaces they left almost immediately.
"Legolas!"
Aragorn's voice again, but with much more of an urgent tinge. Legolas snapped his head around and saw his friend gesticulating wildly at an Uruk-hai on the ground below, who appeared to be running full-force with something in his hand that smoked and sparked. A torch?
"Bring him down!"
He knocked an arrow and fired what should have been a deadly shot- but the Uruk-hai merely jerked its head and kept racing toward the wall. Legolas may not have understood what the thing was carrying, but if it was this important to get it to the wall, it was nothing good.
Aragorn yelled louder as the Uruk-hai advanced. "Kill him! Kill him!"
He loosed another arrow, catching it in the neck once more- the Uruk-hai faltered only slightly, taking a few more bounding steps before throwing itself into the space where Legolas knew the culvert was at the base of the wall.
BOOM!
The ground was jerked out from under Legolas' feet as the wall exploded; chunks of stone flew through the air and struck down men, elves, and Uruk-hai alike. He clutched a jagged piece of rock for support and gazed dizzily across the newly made rift, feeling a jolt of panic as he caught sight of Aragorn lying quite still, white dust covering his face.
Below, he heard water splashing and Uruk-hai roaring as they made their way through.
The hold was breached.