The battle commences, and an unfortunately familiar character makes an appearance. Enjoy!
Chapter 128I was immediately impressed with the organization and strategy of the Rohirrim. They did not fly into a panic when facing the strength of the Uruk-hai, and held their ground under the onslaught. I was far enough back that we were not yet engaged in the fighting, but I could see the calvary as their impressive warhorses kicked out and trampled the ugly creatures while their riders swung their swords or shot their arrows with strength and deadly accuracy. The pride on Theodred's face warmed my heart, for I knew what it was like to feel such for my own companions.
Eventually the enemy was within my range, and I released my arrows alongside Elladan and Elrohir. As we anticipated, some of the orcs had stepped onto the banks and were trying to make their way south, but we picked them off methodically as they tried to advance into the waiting Rohirrim. The orcs were looking for where the arrows were coming from, but even if they saw us, we were too far away to attack as of yet. I had wrapped some of the arrowheads in oil-soaked linen, and quickly lit them with a nearby torch as I shot. I tried to ignore the smell of burning orc, and was grimly satisfied with the damage the fiery arrows could do.
Radanir and Culang, along with some of the other younger Dunedain, were shifting impatiently as they waited for the fighting to reach them. As well-trained and unfortunately experienced as they were, their youth made them restless occasionally. "You will get your chance soon enough, my brothers," Golodir said gruffly. "We battle only because we must; do not look for glory and praise in such things." They looked suitably chastised, but it was for the best. Being overconfident was something we could not afford.
Sure enough, the orcs and Uruks became interspersed in the Rohirric forces, and I placed my bow on my back and drew my knives. My heart rate had calmed, despite the nerves in the back of my head. "Protect the Prince!" a captain shouted, and we tightened the circle around him. Theodred huffed a sigh, but I knew he understood. He had a shield in his hand, and held it securely in front of him in case a stray arrow made its way through.
The Uruk-hai and orcs did not seem to anticipate the skill and speed of the Dunedain, and were driven back as suddenly as they had arrived. Unfortunately, they had spotted Theodred, and all their eyes were trained on him, even as they were slain. I worried they would do just about anything to kill him.
Theodred shouted, "Move to the Eastern bank!" and his eyes were wide in alarm. I followed his gaze and my heart sunk at what I saw. A ballista had been set up by the orcs, and I could see them loading the cursed black powder into a metal ball. It was aimed directly at Theodred's current location, so we hurriedly moved him as the men around him raised their shields, both to defend Theodred and themselves. The orcs fired, but had not noticed their target was no longer in the same place due to the darkness and chaos of battle, so the artillery landed in a now empty piece of land in the middle of the river. There were shouts of anger from them, but before they could load another ball, they were surrounded by Rohirrim. The ballista was destroyed, and the orcs slain.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and sent a prayer of thanks up to whoever was listening. It was determined that Theodred would need to keep moving, as a moving target was more difficult to find and attack than a stationary one. Unfortunately it was at this moment the rain began to fall in heavy, cold sheets, and I was immediately soaked, with the exception of my waterproof cloak. The banks of the river became muddy and slippery, so we were careful to watch our footing. All I could do was defend the Prince and those I loved to the best of my ability. The rain made my grip on my knives a little less stable, and I had to work hard to keep them from slipping out of my hands.
Despite our luck so far, I knew there would be heavy losses on both sides. The orcs and Uruks could see better in the dark than Men, and I could not tell how many of them were still alive. I kept hoping to hear the sound of horns from the East, which would announce the arrival of Elfhelm and his men, but he had not come yet.
My attention snapped to my left as I heard Morflak's voice shouting, "Get out of my way, scum! I have a job to do!" Eyes wide, I positioned myself as the Uruk-hai spotted me. Elladan and Elrohir were cutting down orcs at an inhuman speed nearby, and Candaith stood by my side as he followed my gaze. Sure enough, Morflak reached us and gave us a terrible grin. "I thought we would not meet again! The old man was not pleased to lose you as his…guest, and he was very cross with me, but it wasn't my fault! He sent me on a mission to gain his trust again, and it was a simple one."
"And what would that be?" I shouted, my knives positioned in front of me.
"To kill the horse Prince, and you of course!" he replied, his eyes full of malice. "I will settle my score with you, she-Elf, and then the horse-man." He spotted Candaith, and added, "You too, stinking ranger."
"You will not win this day!" With that, I swung my knives upwards to meet his giant, two-handed sword that he managed to wield with only one hand. I knew Morflak was a skilled fighter, and had worked his way up the ranks due to his prowess. However, my speed would hopefully work to my advantage. I also had Candaith guarding my back, to keep enemies away while I fought this ugly creature.
Morflak put his full strength into pushing against my knives, so I quickly freed them and threw myself to the side as his sword came down where I had just been standing. I aimed my stroke at his ribs, but he drew up his weapon faster than I had anticipated and pushed me back. I could feel the rocky ground underneath me start to shift, and I rolled clumsily as I slipped, swiping my knives horizontally towards the back of his legs. They made contact, but the cuts were shallower than I had intended as he moved out of the way with a roar.
I rolled again and quickly rose to my feet, nimbly dodging each time he brought down his sword as I looked for an opening. I could tell he was frustrated with my evasive maneuvers, and shouted, "Come here, maggot!" His hand shot out and grabbed my tunic, and I gasped in alarm as he roughly pulled me to him and wrapped a huge, clawed hand around my neck. Candaith shouted and ran towards me, for some distance had been put between us due to my rolls across the ground. Morflak held me firmly while he brought his knee up and into my stomach, which released most of the breath in my lungs, and I felt something crack. My knives slipped from my fingers as I scrabbled to get him to let go of my throat, and I dimly remembered the dagger sheathed at my belt.
However, before I could use it, Morflak jerked as an arrow imbedded itself in the center of his back. My watering eyes could make out Elrohir, and the fury in his expression would make anyone with any sense flee from him. Morflak turned around and placed me in front of him, his sword placed threateningly against my side. "Do that again, and I will use her as a shield," he growled, seemingly unfazed by the arrow shaft sticking out of his back, and the fire in Elrohir's eyes. I clumsily grasped the handle of my dagger, and slowly drew it while trying not to pass out from the lack of air. While Morflak was busy glaring at Elrohir, I brought the dagger just below his ribs on his right, but knew it hadn't gone deep enough to do too much damage. Luckily, it had done what I had intended, and distracted him enough for his grip to loosen on my throat, and he dropped me to bring the hand without the sword to pull out the dagger roughly. I fell hard to the ground, gasping as I tried to catch my breath as a now furious Candaith was standing over me with his sword in hand, bravely positioning himself between me and an enraged Morflak.
"Get out of my way, tark!" Morflak snarled. He raised his sword to attack Candaith, but jerked again as another arrow from Elrohir entered his back. Seemingly not slowed down by this, either due to hidden armor or sheer strength, he abandoned Candaith and I and barreled over and into Elrohir, and they both went crashing to the ground.
Squinting through watering eyes, I watched them grapple in the mud. I then saw a sword shining brightly in the darkness, and the sickening sound of it cutting through flesh and bone. Morflak's head went flying, and he was pushed off of Elrohir, who jumped up and ran to me, Elladan just behind. "Gwin, are you all right?" He said, flying to my side as Elladan joined Candaith with his weapon glittering with light.
"Y-yes," I croaked, feeling the pain Morflak's hand had caused; I knew there would be bruises there tomorrow. Speaking resulted in me coughing, and Elrohir helped me sit up so I could breathe a little easier. "P-put that light out, it will draw a-attention to us." Elladan quickly did what I asked, and I added, "Do not…worry for me, protect T-Theodred."
Elladan frowned, and he scanned the battlefield for the Prince. "He is well-guarded, but there are many enemies still alive. We will protect you as you catch your breath, muinthel." Sure enough, the twins and Candaith surrounded me, and fended off any orcs or Uruks who came close. Achingly slowly, I got up on my knees and reaching shaking hands to grasp my knives. I could not afford to be unarmed in the middle of a battle, even if I was being defended. I realized attempting to actively fight would only distract them, so I stayed in place while trying to ignore the aching of my throat and the pain where Morflak had injured me; I worried he had cracked some of my ribs when I noted it hurt when I breathed.
The battled raged through the night, and the rain never let up. I eventually was able to rise and contribute to fight, but the twins and Candaith let nothing come too close. It was not until dawn was approaching that Elfhelm and his éored arrived, and their aid tipped the scales in our favor. Eventually Saruman's forces began to retreat back to Isengard, and I could see many Rohirrim chasing them down as they fled. Luckily Theodred had survived, although he was covered in black blood so I knew he had needed to fight many enemies, despite our help. Saruman had not succeeded in his goal to kill the Prince, and he would be furious. I feared what he would unleash on the people of Rohan next, for I knew he had many, many more Uruk-hai and orcs behind his walls, waiting for their chance to deal death to their enemies.
As I had expected, while we had won the day, many of the Rohirrim were dead, with even more wounded. The Dunedain had not suffered any deaths, thank Eru, but Golodir was bleeding heavily from a head wound that Calenglad was treating, and Saeradan and Culang had experienced serious sword wounds. Luckily, they were not fatal, and everyone had plenty of bruises and scrapes. Healers hastily set up a ward inside the safety of Grimbold's camp, but it forced most of those staying inside the camp to move their things outside, in order to make room. Several camps popped up with many tents, and each was well-guarded. Theodred insisted on staying outside for the moment, and checked in with all of those who were still alive to make sure they knew how much he valued their help and dedication. Then it was with grim determination that he helped organize the burial of their dead.
Although night had passed, and while the sun had risen behind the clouds, it still rained lightly, and the mood was dampened because of it. I was currently situated in the healing ward, on a palette, as Elrohir checked me over. I had explained I was well-enough to join the uninjured of our group, but the twins and Candaith insisted I get evaluated and treated where supplies were readily available. "The others who are more gravely injured need your aid much more than I do," I argued. "It is just some bruises."
Elrohir frowned, and I yelped as he pressed on my ribs. "I believe your ribs are cracked; do you feel much pain when you breathe?" His eyes narrowed, "And do not even think about lying to me."
I huffed a frustrated sigh, "It is not a sharp pain, but rather a dull ache. I have had broken ribs before, muindor, and I know what it feels like."
Raising his brows in doubt of my words, he moved on to my neck and carefully applied a salve to the bruises I knew were already appearing; the athelas felt cool on my skin, and I felt a little better. Candaith, who I knew was still healing from his own rib injury from their escape from Isengard, was grudgingly allowing Elladan to help him, as he was more worried about me than himself. "Gwin, I am well, do not worry for me." He said, valiantly attempting to cover up a grimace with a smile.
"Why do you always tell me not to worry for you, when you refuse to reciprocate?" I quipped back jokingly, and he shook his head in fond exasperation. "How about we both try not to worry, at least for today?"
"Very well, very well," he muttered with a wink.
It took many hours to make sure every patient was seen to, and I knew Theodred was very busy conversing with his captains, as well as Halbarad. The situation was tenuous, for I knew Saruman would not let this defeat go unanswered. It was decided that tomorrow, the Grey Company would be part of Theodred's escort to Edoras, along with Elfhelm's éored. Theodred was very worried for his father, and after hearing of Candaith's suspicions, he wanted to do whatever he could to help banish a possible spell or curse which hung over the King. How that was to be accomplished, we did not know. Only Elladan and Elrohir had any kind of 'magic' (as Men called it), and neither of them knew how they would really be able to do anything. "You have used your talents to help chase away the darkness," I said. "Somehow you are able to banish it."
"But the fix has only been temporary," Elladan countered. "We still do not know how strong Sauron's curse or spell is on you. When was the last time you saw the black tendrils?"
I shivered, "When I was with Saruman for the second time." I had not given too many details on the specifics of my…conversations with Saruman, both due to the fuzziness of my memories, and because it was painful to recall.
"How did they go away?" Elrohir asked gently.
"The Palantir absorbed them somehow," I muttered darkly. "Saruman also believes it comes from Sauron; he recognized the aura or magic."
"That gives us some answers then," Candaith mused. "Although questions remain."
"There are none who can answer them close at hand, so I would prefer not to dwell on it unless it will help Theoden," I replied, tucking my knees under my chin despite the pain it caused.
"Very well, muinthel," Elladan murmured, tucking a tendril of my unruly hair behind my ear. "We will find a way to fix this, I am sure of it."
I wanted to tell him to stop saying things he couldn't promise, but didn't have the energy to argue with him. The twins said their farewells when I shooed them away, and went to aid the healers in their tasks. Candaith had loosely wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and I leaned against him tiredly. We had been up all-night fighting, and both of us were injured and needed to rest. Luckily, we would not be going anywhere until tomorrow, so we took some time to sleep once we had made our way over to the Dunedain camp. Lothrandir, who I had not spoken to much since getting out of Isengard, had a lovely singing voice, and its lilting tones lulled me into reverie for many hours.
Luckily, all of our favorite characters have survived, although not unscathed. How will Theodred's survival impact the plot going forward? We shall see! Thanks for reading!