The Sands of Rhun: A Middle Earth Story(Book 2)

Chapter 35: On the Precipice

I sat atop my horse, Sirdal, on a tall plateau overlooking the plains of Redoir. Beside me was Nadow, who was watching the plains below nervously.

   "Do you think this will work?" He asked, turning to look at me. He now wore full battle armor, and all I could see of his face were his eyes through the visor of his helmet.

   "I pray that it does," I replied, casting my gaze upon the rest of my army. They all were there, together. And they were all there because of me. I saw Taryi at the front of the line, wearing newly acquired armor that looked at least two sizes too big for her small frame. She frowned as she fought to adjust her helmet but quickly looked up and smiled when she saw that I was watching. I returned the smile. She was brave, but young. And she had never been in a battle before. I hoped with all my heart that this wouldn't be her last.

   Hadar was at her side, reigning in his feisty steed. Since we began the march here he had been right beside Taryi, never letting her stray far from his sight. He was taking my request to protect her seriously, that much was clear. He gave me a nod of acknowledgement, then went back to calming his horse.

   The two Blues and Caledorn were with General Tariq. The general had lent me several hundred of his men, and they stood in disciplined lines next to my army. They had made little effort to fit in, instead keeping to themselves and barely talking the whole march. They probably thought us odd, since we had quite a variety of individuals in our group. From the beast-riding Bleak Riders to the heavily armored Death Bringers, our group was about as diverse as it got. But at this moment, all of them shared the same feelings: Excitement, anticipation, and fear. Even I felt those same feelings, for the battle that was to come would be the biggest I had ever been in, as well as the most important. This battle would decide the fate of the East.

   Just as that thought ran through my head, a loud horn sounded from down below in the valley. I looked down to see a massive army snaking its way towards us, the voices of officers echoing into the air. I could see that there weren't just Men in that army, but many orcs and even trolls as well. The dull thud of their marching grew louder and louder, until soon the army was just out of arrow range. There it halted, and an ominous silence settled over the battlefield. The only sound to break the silence was the mournful caw of a single nearby crow, and the occasional whinny of a nervous horse.

Three riders broke off from the enemy army and made their way toward us, one of them carrying a white flag. Nadow and I rode ahead, accompanied by our own banner carrier who held the flag of my tribe. As we closed the distance I immediately recognized Lord Khanar, as well as a warg riding orc that I had never seen before. He wore the furs of several different animals, and his jagged armor made him look even bigger. He wore no helmet however, something that was strange for an orc chieftain. Usually their helmets were trophies taken from other chieftains they had killed to climb the ranks.

   "You are an imposter. That flag will be returned to its rightful place when I rip it from your man's lifeless corpse," the massive orc growled.

   "Enough Gothmog! There will be time for that later. And while I agree with you, we have come forth under a white flag. No blood shall be spilt unjustly here," He said. Gothmog rolled his eyes, and it was clear that he thought this whole discussion pointless. "Now, why are you here? And with an army, no less?" Khanar asked.

   "I come to claim what is rightfully mine," I said evenly. Khanar frowned at my words, but immediately forced a false smile.

   "But you have what is yours. You do not have any claim to the throne," Khanar purred.

   "Is that so?" I asked. "Then why did you say that I did? That I would have to 'claim my throne' eventually? Your words, not mine."

   "I'm afraid the throne has been put into my capable hands now. The only heirs to it are my sons, not you. You are no longer anything but a vagrant."