Chapter Fourteen, The Battle of Gondor

"Form up! Move out! Form up! Move out!" Theoden shouted repeatedly along with Eomer.
"Ride! Ride now for Gondor!" Theoden called out to his troops as they made their long journey to Gondor. Whilst Aragorn and the others made their mission into the cursed mountains to get the cursed men onside and try to convince them to fight with them against the army from Mordor.

Whilst at Gondor Pippin wished Calén and the others would soon arrive as he came to help Gandalf and the men of Gondor fight against the Orcs that were storming the city. "Peregrin Took!" Gandalf shouted. "Go back to the Citadel!" Jumping in and saving the young Hobbit from an Orc as he stood frozen after mumbling, "They called is out to fight."
"This is no place for a Hobbit!" Gandalf argued. As he turned fighting Orcs left, right and centre only for Pippin to save his life from an orc approaching him from behind. "Guard of the Citadel indeed." Gandalf praised.

"Now back up the hill. Quick! Quick!" He commanded. Pippin for once doing what he said ran back the way he came only to see Denethor carry Faramir into the tomb. Gandalf sighed as he saw the Orcs moving a weapon made of fire and metal towards the front gate to break it down. "You are men of Gondor! No matter what comes through that door you will stand your ground!" Gandalf said firmly to the soldiers around him while others got the women and children out to the upper levels. Just as the door was breached and a troll cane barging in. "Volley!" Gandalf shouted as the men released their arrows.

As the sun was beginning to rise the city was breached she Gandalf pulled the men out up to the second level. Only for Pippin to find him telling him Denethor had lost his mind and was burning Faramir alive. The two quickly rushed to the tomb managing to save Faramir just in time though the young man's father was not so lucky as he started burning alive. Once they were sure Faramir was save they returned to the battle. "Fight! Fight to the last man!" Gandalf shouted to the soldiers as the city was being over run with Orcs, trolls and wargs as they tore into anyone they could get at. The city was burning and falling down around them as screams wrenched the air as the horns of Rohan sounded from the distance.

The army of Rohan appeared over the hill catching the attention of the Orcs that were still outside the city. "I'm glad Eoywen and Calén are safe far from here." Eomer told Theoden who also expressed his relief that his niece and friend was not there as they appeared over the horizon seeing the city burning before them as the soldiers continued to blow their horns. Everyone had come to care a great deal for Calén. Little did they know their sister/niece and their friend were a little further down the line. Merry on the horse in front of Calén and Eoywen besides him.

Merry gasped at the sight of the city burning. Calén hugged him tight to him knowing he was worried about Pippin. "Courage Merry. Have courage for our friends." Eoywen said from behind. "Pippin is tough Merry he will be okay." Calén tried to reassure as Merry clung tight to his arm looking from the city to him, to Eoywen besides them. "How did you continue to fight in the war you told us about?" Merry asked quietly, having heard what he said the previous night.
"By believing in my friends and never giving up or giving up hope." Calén said firmly adjusting his helmet. "We're with you Merry don't worry you'll be okay and we'll find Pippin." Calén assured the young hobbit once more watching as the Orcs got into formation.

King Theoden turned his backs on the Orcs to face his troupes quickly assessing them. "Eomer take your Eored down the left flank!" Theoden commanded his nephew as he rode past. "Flank ready!" Eomer commanded.
"Gamling, follows the Kings banner down the centre." Theoden commanded riding up to his trusted soldiers. "Grimbold, take your company right after you pass the wall. Forth, and fear no darkness!" As he rode past his next soldier. "Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!" Theoden shouted. Calén and Eoywen quickly turned their heads away so they weren't spotted. "Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!" Theoden finished as the men lowered their spears.
"Whatever happens, stay with us. We'll look after you." Eoywen promised the Hobbit.

"Ride Now!" Theoden shouted his sword clanging against the spears. "Ride Now! Ride for ruin and the worlds ending! Death!"
"Death!" All the men shouted back. As they continued their chant Merry and the others joined in raising their swords. "Forth Eorlingas!" Theoden shouted swinging his sword above his head. As the horns sounded again echoing on the hill top. As they charged forward down the hill the men yelling, Calén saw the Orcs were readying their arrows and not for the first time he wished he still had magic and lamented at all the lives that would be lost. "Charge!" Theoden shouted as Merry continued shouting 'Death'. As the Orcs relseased their arrows striking some the men down once more.

The Orcs started backing away terrified at the unrelenting army coming towards them. Their cries of 'Death!' On their manic faces were actually quite scary. The leader of the Orcs backing further away into the middle of his troupes that were being mowed down left, right and centre by the Eorlingas charging at them with their war cries, swords and spears. "Calén!" Eoywen shouted killing an Orc near his horse. Calén smiled in thanks as he joined the Elves and Eorlingas fighting the Orcs. The Orcs seeing they were losing and rapidly started to turn tail and run. "Drive them to the river!" Eomer commanded as he and some men chased after the retreating Orcs. "Make safe the City!" Theoden commanded to those around him as they made to ride into the city only to be stopped at a creatures roar in the distant.

"What is that?" Calén asked looking to the west where the noise had come from. "It's an Oliphaunt." Merry gasped in shock and awe. The men froze at the number of creatures coming their way as a horn sounded from on top of the Oliphaunts. "Re-form the line!" Theoden shouted. "Re-form the line!" He shouted once more at his men. "Sound the charge! Take them head on!" He commended as they got into position as the Oliphaunts came closer. "Charge!"

"Aim for the heads." A soldier shouted having realised its the best way to take down these creatures. Eomer having heard the shout passed on the message to those around him and threw his spear at a man controlling the Oliphaunt in front of him killing him instantly causing him to fall off and attach to the creatures ear which led it to taking out another Oliphaunt. As it fell it just missed Calén as he and Merry rode past.

"Take the reins Merry and pull him left." Calén said as they rode towards another oncoming Oliphaunt using his swords and took out the legs of the creature. "Left." He shouted as ge again did the same as they rode underneath another one. "Aim for their heads!" Eomer shouted again as he and those around him released a volley causing the creature to rear tipping the men off of its back. "Bring it down! Bring it down! Bring it down!" Theoden shouted.
"Calén! Merry!" Eoywen shouted as she saw them fell off their horse as the Oliphaunt fell, Calén rolling out of the way just in time.

"Merry!" Calén shouted looking around him worriedly, thinking quickly he ran forwards and pushed the fallen men off of the small Hobbit who was half under them and the creatures ear. "Are you alright?!" Ge asked worriedly.
"I'm fine Calén thank you. Look out!" He shouted killing an Orc that was creeping up behind him. "Thank you Merry. We're fine." Calén called to Eoywen. As they re-joined the fight once more they heard screaming come from the city as the wraiths attacked once more this time on some winged creatures. "Where are Aragorn and the others? I thought they would have been here by now." Merry asked worriedly.
"I don't know." Calén admitted. "Though I hope they get here soon. Duck." Calén shouted before throwing a spear at an oncoming Orc.

While inside the City Merry was sitting on the third level with Gandalf as the men of Gondor stood in front of the door that a troll was trying to break down. "I didn't think it would end this way." Pippin sighed resigned.
"End?" Gandalf asked. "This is not the end. Death, is just another path. One that we all must take. The grey rain curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it."
"What, Gandalf? See what?" Pippin asked.
"White shores and beyond. A far green country under a swift sunrise."
"Well, that isn't so bad." Pippin remarked smiling slightly.

"No. No it isn't." Gandalf said also smiling softly. Before the moment was ruined by a large thud on the door and the men clamouring to prepare for the inevitable. Gandalf looked back at Pippin abs nodded, as the young Hobbit closed his eyes trying to hold back tears. Hoping he would see the others again one last time. He heard a noise outside and knew their friends had arrived, he shared a look with Gandalf feeling somewhat more hopeful then he did previously. Out on the fields outside of the City, Calén was hacking down all of the Orcs in his immediate vicinity, though before this he had no experience in war his previous life fighting against Voldemort helped with his fighting skills. While the riders of Rohan were still fighting for their lives as well as trying to bring down the remaining Oliphaunts without being trampled to death.

"Rally to me! To me!" King Theoden shouted once more. As the men were gathering to their King their attention was distracted as the Nazgul headed straight for Theoden. Before anyone could do anything the creature the wraith was riding grabbed Theoden and his horse in it's mouth spinning them around before tossing him to the ground with a thud, the now dead horse landing on top of Theoden.

The men fearing their King was already dead continued their fight but as the creature was about to eat him alive Calén appeared in front of him stopping the creature from getting to her friend's uncle . "I will kill you if you touch him." Calén spat his sword in hand. "Do not come between a Nazgul and his prey." The wraith hissed. As the beast went to attack Calén he quickly dodged out of the way. Hacking at the things hear until he sliced its head clean off, causing it and the witch king to fall. Quickly Calén picked up a fallen shield as the witch king stood back up. Turning to face him with a sword in one hand a mace in the other, it screeched as it swung its mace at him which he quickly evaded. The battle continued with the wraith intent on killing him as he evaded its blows.

Unfortunately the wraith got the better of him as it's mace struck the shield breaking it and Calén's arm on impact as he fell back against Theoden's horse, his sword falling from his hand. Unaware that their friend and mate was in trouble Aragorn and the others pulled into the harbour on the pirate ships they had commandeered. As the Orcs called out to who they thought were the pirates, Aragorn, Legolas, Haldir, Boromir and Gimli jumped off the ship their weapons at the ready shocking the Orcs into silence. "There's plenty for the three of us." Gimli said between Legolas and Haldir. "May the best Dwarf win!" He shouted as they charged at the Orcs with a yell the ghosts appearing behind them.

Merry finished with the Orc he was fighting with, looked around worriedly for Calén before he finally spotted him laying against a horse with the wraith's hand around his neck. "You fool. No man can kill me." He heard the wraith day as he picked Calén up by his neck. Just as he reached them he heard it say, "Die. Now." Before Merry stabbed it in the back the wraith screeched as it fell to its knees dropping Calén. Merry too fell to the floor clutching his arm screaming in pain. Calén quickly spared a glance at Merry before lowering pulling his helmet off his sword back in his grasp. "I am no man." He cried his Elf features on full display before stabbing the wraith in the face with a yell. As the wraith died she too fell to the floor in pain. Both he and Merry watching on as it folded in on itself as it died.

"Fifteen. Sixteen!" Legolas and Haldir said as they fired off arrows rapidly.
"Seventeen!" Gimli shouted as they joined in the fight against the Orcs. After a while Gimli shouted, "Twenty-nine!"
"Legolas! Haldir!" Boromir shouted as two Oliphaunts were coming up behind the two Elves. The two elves climbed up the Oliphaunts evading being swatted by its trunk as they each finally got on the back of their Oliphaunt firing off arrows at the men on the back. "Thirty-three, thirty-four!" They made their way around the Oliphaunts killing and evading the men charging at them. They cut the ropes of the saddle letting it and the remaining men fall off the creatures and to their deaths. Finally being the only ones on their respective creatures they grabbed three arrows each and shot them into the base of the creatures skull killing it instantly.

As the creatures fell they slid down the trunks of the creatures they'd just killed smirking at Gimli. "That still only counts as one!" He snapped at the pair of them. "Alright then come on." He said to the Orcs turning away from the Elves and joining Aragorn and Boromir once more.

Meanwhile, not thirty feet away from them Calén was slowly crawling around to Theoden barely staying awake. As Calén reached Theoden he ran his hand through his hair as his eyes opened. "I know your face... Calén. Are you alright?" He rasped. Calén nodded his head softly not able to speak feeling bad he couldn't save him. "Good. My eyes darken." He rasped once more.
"No. No, I'm going to save you. I promise." Calén whispered not able to bare anymore deaths on his conscience.
"You already did." Theoden whispered.

"Calén... my body is broken. You have to let me go." Theoden whispered as his friend who tried and failed to hold back his tears. "I go to my fathers... in whose mighty company... I shall not feel ashamed. Calén." Was his last word as he took his last breath, blood at the corner of his lips. "Theoden." Calén sobbed as he laid his head on his chest and cried for another friend he'd lost before losing consciousness.

Gandalf and Merry came out of the City in time to see the army of ghosts stood before Aragorn and the others. "Release us." The Ghost King hissed.
"Bad idea." Gimli disagreed. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead."
"You gave us your word." The ghost argued.
"I hold your oath fulfilled. Go. Be at peace." Aragorn told them. A wind immediately picked up as the ghosts disappeared leaving a disgruntled Gimli, Gandalf bowing his head to Aragorn.

"Boromir!" Eoywen called catching their attention as she ran into his arms clinging tightly to him as he did her. "Eoywen? What are you doing here are you alright?"
"I'm fine nothing a clean and bandages won't fix. I came here with Calén and Merry." Eoywen told them.
"Calén? He's here?" Haldir asked in confusion and concern as Aragorn looked around them worriedly at all the bodies hoping none of them was Calén or Merry.
"I cannot find him." Eoywen said worriedly as her brother came up and pulled her into a hug checking her over. "I lost him and Merry in the battle. I am sorry. I tried to stick as close to him as I could." Eoywen apologised to Aragorn and Lothlorien Elves as she knew they saw him as a younger brother.

They split off to search for survivors and their missing friends. Pippin gasped seeing Merry's feet sticking out from under a body. He quickly rushed over shoving the body off his friend. "Merry, it's me." Pippin said through his tears as Merry slowly opened his eyes. "It's Pippin." Merry grunted in pain as he tried to lift his head more his friend supporting him. "I knew you'd find me." Merry gasped.
"Yes." Pippin agreed as he ran his hand through his friends hair.
"Are you going to leave me?" Merry asked.
"No Merry." Pippin said. "I'm going to look after you." He reassured as he covered Merry with someone's cloak.

"Where's Calén?" Merry asked as he slowly sat up with the help from Pippin.
"I don't know. We haven't found her yet." Pippin sighed now really worried for his friend though he tired not to show it. 
"What?!" Merry asked worriedly however before anyone count say anything they were interrupted by a shout and turned to see Aragorn was the one shouting tears streaming down his face as he dropped down next to the dead body of Theoden, Calén's unconscious body in his arms.

To Boromir, Legolas and Haldir it felt like they had been frozen to spot as they saw their dear friend in his One's arms as he cried. How they wished they had stayed with the Eorlingas now, it felt like a blade had pierced their hearts. "He's not dead." Rumil said his fingers placed against Calén's pulse point.
"What?" Haldir asked his brother.
"He's weak and has a broken arm and has these." Rumil said showing everyone the black veins on his arm. "It looks like he was attacked my a Morgel Shaft. But he is alive. Once he's healed he'll be okay. We'll need some Athelas and water."

The others quickly started searching for the plant luckily there was a number of Elves with them still as they knew what to look for and found it rather quickly. "He's alive?" Aragorn asked hopefully.
"Yes. If we can get him treated as soon as possible he'll be fine." Rumil assured as everyone let out a sigh if relief.
"We killed the witch king. He was trying to save King Theoden from him." Merry told them holding out his arm to show the black lines on his arm that matched the ones on Calén. "He was about to kill Calén. So I rushed over and stabbed him in the back and got these it felt like I'd been burnt, Calén then got up and stabbed him in the face and fell back to the ground as well. I don't think the King made it. He wouldn't let Calén heal him, said he had already saved him. I'm sorry." Merry said to Eomer and Eoywen who had lost their uncle.

"No. Thank you Merry." Eomer said surprising him. "You didn't have to join us and you did you are a true esquire of Rohan."
"He will be fine Aragorn." Rumil assured.
"His life is still tied to that of the Ring." Aragorn said as he held Calén close to him as he picked him up as they made their way into the City. "We need destroy it and soon. Otherwise he'll die. I can't lose him."

End of chapter!