An Olympian's Daughter

Masters of the mark

Morning falls on Dunharrow. The Rohirrim prepare to depart.

Théoden: "We must ride light and swift. It's a long road ahead. The men and beast must reach the end with a strength to fight."

[Théoden looks down on Merry and his pony.]

Théoden: "Little hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc."

Merry: "All my friends have gone to battle. I will be ashamed to be left behind!"

Théoden: "It is a three day gallop to Minas Tirith and none of my riders can bear you as a burden."

Merry: "I want to fight!"

Théoden: "I will say no more."

[Théoden rides away, leaving a disappointed Merry to stand and watch riders stream past him.]

[One of the riders snatches Merry up onto his horse. The rider is Éowyn, disguised as a male Rohirrim.]

Éowyn: "Ride with me."

Merry: "My lady!"

Éomer: "Form up! Move out!"

Théoden: "Ride! Ride now for Gondor!"

[A column of riders flows out of the encampment.]

A large army of orcs walks towards Minas Tirith.]

Trolls beat drums as the orcs march, pushing large siege towers.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

[As the orc army nears Minas Tirith, a horse drags a wounded Faramir to its gates.]

Soldier: "Open the gates! Quick!"

[The horse walks through the open gates. Faramir's foot is caught in the stirrup. Arrows protrude from his armor.]

[Gothmog rides a snarling warg though the orc army.]

[Faramir is taken, on a litter, to the citadel's courtyard.]

Irolas: "Quick! Hurry!"

[Gothmog dismounts and stumbles, but shoves off help from another orc.]

[Denethor runs out to Faramir. The soldiers set down the litter near the white tree.]

Denethor: "Faramir? Say not that he has fallen."

Irolas: "They were outnumbered. None survived."

[Orcs approach the city. Gothmog sniffs contemptuously.]

Gothmog: "Fear. The city is rank with it."

Gothmog: "Let us ease their pain. Release the prisoners!"

[An orc lieutenant with a skull impaled on top of his helmet relays the order.]

Skully: "Catapults! Ha!"

[The orc catapults throw debris over the walls.]

Soldier: "Shields up!"