Daughter of the Ainur - Aragorn love story

16

"There's always something to fight for."

The whole ride towards Pelennor fields, my thought are with Aragorn, with Frodo and with my own quest. I do not know when it is coming, when dead is ready to take me or when I have to fight. I know I have to fight Sauron. But I do not know how...

'Henig, trust in yourself. You know when your time shall come to fight. But it is not now. Keep your friends save' Naneth's voice sounds clear in my head. 'Thank you Naneth' I sigh deeply. Knowing that I shall live for another battle to fight.

How closer we come to Minas Tirith, how more the sounds of battle grows. I can hear the thunder of rolling catapults, throwing their rocks against the walls of the king's city. I can hear the yelling of the thousands of Orcs, waiting for us. Before and next to me, some riders take their horns and set them on their mouth. The sound of the horns is like thunder and I am sure the orcs can hear it.

The king holds his hand in the air, a sign to stop. We are standing on a hill, looking out over Pelennor fields. More than fifty-thousand orcs are swarming around the base of the king's city and thick black smoke belches from within it. I can see that Éowyn puts a comforting hand on Merry's shoulder. But when she looks at me, I can see the fear of dead in her eyes. I nod at her trying to comfort her. 'I am with you' I say to hear, only for Éowyn to hear. She smiles, but still the fear is visible. Merry is shaking a little. I turn to my friend. 'Courage Merry, think of Pippin, Frodo, Sam'

'Yes Courage, Merry courage for our friends' Éowyn adds with a sad smile. I look up when I see movement on the battlefield. I listen carefully. 'Form ranks, you maggots! Form ranks! Pikes in front, lances behind' I can't help but smile. The orcs are preparing themselves.

Théoden king gallops in front of us, shouting orders to our captains. 'Éomer, take your Éored down the left flank ... Gamling! Follow the King's banner down the centre. Grimbold,

take your company right, after we pass the wall. Forth, and fear no darkness!' He shouts in an urgent tone. Then he rides to the front and rises in his stirrups. He looks so tall and proud, a king of men. 'Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered ... A sword day, a red day , 'ere the sun rises!' He yells in a clear loud voice. On that very moment a ray of sunlight escapes through the black clouds, bathing all of us in golden light. The men around me hold their spears aloft, except Éowyn and I, who have only our swords. We grin towards each other, but it is more the nervousness.

I am fighting alone.

Without Aragorn, Legolas or Gimli.

No help.

I have to protect Éowyn and Merry alone.

I turn back from the sunlight towards the battlefield and see that the orcs have kneeled down on the ground and have raised their lances. 'Eleniel' I hear Merry whisper. I turn to the hobbit, clutching Éowyn's arm in fear. I open my mouth to say something but Éowyn is faster. 'Whatever happens, stay with me. I'll look after you' She looks at me. 'We look after each other' I reply and she smiles. The sound of metal against metal can be heard and all three of us look to the front. Théoden king rides past the ranks of soldiers and runs his lance along their spears.

'Ride now, ride now, ride, ride for ruin, and the world's ending!' He calls out and turns his horse so he faces the enemy. 'Death!' He screams. And as something awakes in me, in all of us. We scream as one. 'Death!'

Merry whips out his little sword and holds it in the air.

'Death!' Merry screams.

'Death!' The word echoes over Pelennor fields. The king's horse prances. 'Death! Forth, Eorlingas!' And with this final call, the Rohirrim burst forward, down the hill. Déor rushes forward and I rise my sword into the air. I scream when I burst down the hill. We are like a great wall of water coming down on the army of orcs.