Ariel
by Tari
Chapter 5
As they drew near Pelennor fields the sounds of battle grew
increasingly louder. The sound of the drums was deafening.
The cries of men and horses were heart breaking. The sight they
beheld upon reaching the top of the hill was beyond description.
Creatures never before seen covered the battlefield. There were
huge beasts with long noses. They had teeth on each side of their
mouths wrapped with something resembling long needles which they used
to cast men and horses aside as if they were leaves being blown about
by the wind. There was some kind of building on their backs
caring men who were shooting arrows at the men below. Cave trolls and
Orcs battered the walls of Minas Tirith. Catapults flung
rocks and fire over the walls. Strange bird like creatures flew through
the sky, picking up men and horses and then casting them down.
This they saw in a matter of seconds before Ariel gave the call to
war. She led her men down the hill into the midst of
battle. It looked hopeless, but she would not give in to
despair. She was a fierce shield maiden, using all her skills to
kill as many of the enemy as possible. Many of her childhood
friends fell. She would have to deal with their loss later.
For now she must continue. Aragorn’s life and future were
at stake. She would do whatever was necessary to help him.
He was still her “brother” and she loved him very much. In the
midst of the battle, she saw one of the beasts of the sky swoop down
and pick, up a rider on a white horse, sending him rolling end over
end. Why? She could not understand such hate and such need
to control everything and everyone.
Just then, she saw one of the cave trolls coming towards her. He
was the size of a small mountain. How could she hope to defeat
him? At that moment, she felt something stirring in the
air. The troll stopped in midstride, a look of horror on its
face. Then she saw it. A green mist was rising from the
water. In the middle of this strange sight came Aragorn, Legolas
and Gimli.
She saw Legolas run towards one of the huge beasts, run up the nose,
climb up its leg onto its side, cut a strap sending all on top to the
ground. He then killed the beast and slid to safety. It was
unbelievable. What an elf. She trembled at the mere sight
of him. Never before has she been attracted to a male. She was
really in trouble now. How she would tell Aragorn she did not
know. He should understand, but would he?
Chapter 6
As the mist covered the fell beasts, they dropped to the ground
dead. What was this and how is it that only evil is destroyed?
The battle was over, but was the war over? That she would have to
find out from Aragorn. She rushed to his side. “Are you
alright,” she asked, looking the three of them over? All appeared
to be in one piece. “We are fine,” said Aragorn. “ I wish I could
say the same for King Theoden of Rohan.” “He’s the one the Nazgul
tossed aside.” “But why?” she asked. “Sauron needs no
reason,” said Aragorn. “It is enough that Theoden would not
become one of his minions.” Let us find all who have survived and
take the most seriously wounded to the Houses of Healing. There
are some things about me that you do not yet know. The time for
explanations will come later. We must take King Theoden to a safe
place until he can receive a proper burial.” As they approached
his body, Ariel saw one of the soldiers she had seen at Helm’s Deep
comforting what appeared to be a female leaning over Theoden’s
body. She wanted to find out more about them, but this wasn’t the
time.
Men were coming up to Aragorn calling him, My Lord and bowing to him as
if he were a king. Why? So many things had happened in such
a short time. Her mind was spinning. Her home was
lost. She had parents and a brother she never knew. Her
mother was half-Elvin. People were treating her brother like a
king. What next?
