I led my horse at a trot beside Thranduil, who sat majestically on his stag. Behind us rode a considerable number of Rohirrim. Eomer rode beside his uncle who was two metres in front of us and kept shouting "We're moving out, form up, move out!"
It was amazing how quickly the men were ready to move out. Fires were quickly extinguished, weapon belts strapped on and put on, more and more riders joined the procession moving east. Fortunately, the Elves also had horses from the Woodland Kingdom, for otherwise, no matter how fast Elves could run, they would not have been able to keep up the pace. I spurred my horse to a gallop as we left the Rohirrim camp. Rider after rider poured out of the forest behind which we had set up camp, like a river the army of riders flowed around the tents that still stood in the meadow. Banners blew in the wind, lances and swords sparkled in the light of the rising sun. Fear was written on the faces of many of the men, but they all fulfilled the oaths they had taken to their king and rode into battle. We had a ride of three days ahead of us. "So Thranduil what's going on?" I was still riding beside him and looked at him questioningly from my horse.
He was wearing the same armour he had worn in the Battle of the Five Armies, but the Elf wearing it was a completely different one. "Nothing."
I rolled my eyes "Stop lying to me, you know I can notice!" I shifted my weight as my horse jumped over a fallen tree trunk.
Thranduil ducked a little to avoid getting a branch in the face "I've been having the same dream over and over for days." a desperation like I'd never seen on him came into his eyes "A green healthy tree swallowed by darkness."
I stared in shock for a second, when I told the men in the camp no one could see the future, I hadn't quite been telling the truth. Really old elves, like Thranduil was, could sometimes catch a glimpse of the future in their dreams. Usually the dreams were so convoluted and full of riddles that you only understood them when the future they showed came to pass. But in this case it was as clear as the stream we were crossing, by the green tree was meant Legolas and by the blackness, the most powerful and dangerous servant of Sauron, the Warlock of Angmar.
"Thranduil, the future is uncertain." i tried to encourage him "it will not come to this!"
Thranduil nodded "I hope so, I have already lost Ithilwen to him." a slight flicker of tears formed in his ice blue eyes "I could not bear to lose Legolas too."
I gripped my reins a little tighter "you won't, I promise!"
We rode on in silence. I would not allow Legolas to die, for if Legolas died I would not only lose him, but Thranduil as well. Losing Legolas would break his heart, and no Elf, even one as strong as Thranduil survives a broken heart twice.
I sat on the ground and ate something, I didn't know exactly what it was, to be honest I didn't want to know. For two days now we had been riding at top speed towards Gondor. By this time tomorrow we would have reached Minas Tirith. The closer we came to the city, the more desperate Thranduil became. Even though outwardly he seemed his usual self, I could see it in his face. I looked up as Thèoden and Thranduil finished talking "We ride on and all night." Thèoden put his helmet back on and had his horse brought to him. I sighed, we had rested for a few hours and now we would ride again. I emptied the rest of my food into the meadow and untied my horse. Quickly I swung into the saddle and led it beside Eomer "We will soon reach Minas Tirith." I looked forward to this event with mixed feelings, on the one hand I saw Kili again and nothing made me happier, but on the other hand the doubt gnawed at me that we were too late and Minas Tirith would have fallen long ago by the time we got there.Eomer seemed to have the same thought as me "Let's just hope we're not too late." he gave his horse a light kick and started to move.
For hours we rode along the mountains that separated Rohan and Gondor. Some men had lit torches to see where they were going. Slowly the sun replaced the stars and something came into view that put a smile on my face. On a plain not a mile away I could make out Fili's force. The forged armour of the dwarves sparkled in the sunlight. Ibexes were harnessed to the war machines, vertebral vertebrae still visible from here. "Take my horse for a moment," I held out the reins to a Rohirrim beside me, who took them in surprise. I grinned slightly as I stood up and pushed myself off the horse's back. In the air I let my wings appear and flew, low over the ground I didn't want to spoil the surprise the orcs had in store for them, towards the dwarves. As I came closer, I could make out Fili standing at the front, encouraging his men "No matter what is waiting for us there, we will not fear it!" he concluded his speech, the dwarves burst into war cries. Kili stood next to his brother as did Thorin, his cousin Dain sitting on a wild sow, Dwalin looking grim with two axes crossed at his back and I could make out Gloin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur a little further back. Next to Kili stood Lillith, I had hoped so much that she would change her mind and move to Rivendell with her sisters. None of the dwarves even batted an eyelid as I flew out from behind the mountain and landed in front of Kili "Do you know how happy I am to see you." I grinned and gave him a quick kiss of welcome.
He grinned "Not as glad as I am."
I looked into his brown eyes for a moment longer, then broke away again "Fili, the Rohirrim and Thranduil should be arriving here in the next few minutes."
Fili wore no forged armour, just chain mail "That's good, our scouts have reported that the orcs are already in the first ring of Minas Tirith."
I ran a hand through my hair, this is not good at all.
"Leona where is Gimli?" Gloin leaned on a battle-axe that was a spitting image of Gimli's.
Yes I would like to know that myself " I am sorry Gloin, I don't really know." the last time I had seen him was when he went to look for the dead.
Gloin screwed up his face and would certainly have squeezed me further if the first riders hadn't come around the bend of the mountain. It was only minutes before they were there Thèoden reined in his horse and jumped off, as did Thranduil.
"You don't know how grateful I am to you Fili King Under the Mountain." greeted Thèoden Fili, nodding to him.
"Not for this, the fate of all Middle Earth is tied to this city." Fili got a thoughtful look on his face "I'll send our rams right behind your horses and the others follow at some distance."
Thèoden nodded "So be it." he walked back to his horse and mounted.
I looked again at Lilith " Be careful, won't you?" I put a hand on her cheek and hugged her.
"I will be, mother, but so will you." she had strapped on her bow and quiver, which was almost bursting so many arrows were in it, and was wearing brown leather armour.
Fili bellowed orders at Khuzdul through the air, the ranks parted and the ram riders made their way forward to join the cavalcade of Elves and Men. I looked at Thranduil, who rode beside Thèoden and Eomer, shouting orders to his men in Sindarin.
I let go of Lillith again and hugged Kili " You better not die or I will come to the hall of our fathers and kill you myself" I threatened him.
He just grinned at me "Wouldn't dream of it." then he pressed his lips to mine "Don't be reckless."
I had to laugh and walked backwards to the horse that the Rohirrim must have left there "When was I ever?" I swung into the saddle and looked at Kili for a moment before spurring my horse and making my way back to the point beside Thranduil.
I had to swallow when we arrived at the plain before Minas Tirith and I saw the army of orcs. I had fought many battles and seen many things, but the sight that met my eyes sent a shiver down my spine. Tens of thousands of orcs stood in front of the human city, trolls and other creatures bred for war alone were everywhere in the army. The city itself looked very battered, everywhere was burning, holes could be seen in the buildings, the city gate was broken open and here and there I could see a few orcs in the city. Ringwraiths were circling on Nazgûlen over the army of orcs. But worst of all, on the highest tower was a Nazgûl and on it sat him. The warlock of Angmar. I took a deep breath and drew my sword. Hesitantly, I looked over at Thranduil, who had gritted his teeth and was looking at the Ringwraith as if in a trance. I steered my horse over to him a little and put my hand on his arm "It will be alright." I don't know if I said that for his sake or for mine.
Thèoden began to ride up and down in front of his men " Ride on Thèoden's riders!" the orcs formed up, spears swapping places with shields " Spear will shatter, shield will shatter!" Thèoden rode past his men " A sword day, a blood day before the sun rises!"
The men stretched out their spears and Thèoden touched them with his sword as he rode past " Ride now!" he roared " Ride to destruction and the end of the world!" he sent his men into a frenzy of blood " Death!" he roared the voices of thousands followed him.
The second time I too thrust my sword into the air and roared "Death!" my voice was only one of thousands of elves, men and dwarves. I focused all my rage, on everything and everyone. On the Ringwraiths, the Orcs on everything and everyone. Again I roared the death cry and prepared to ride off.
"Go Eolingards!" Thèoden drew his sword forward over his head. Horns blared in attack. The horns of men, the bright horn of the Woodland Realm and the deep one of Erebor echoed across the dew-stained plain.