It was now nightfall and Gimli was putting on chain mail. 

"If we had time, I would get this adjusted," he said as he got the shirt on and realized that it was way too long. 

"It's a little tight across the chest," he added and we nodded in agreement, not going to say anything. Suddenly, a horn sounded. I panicked for a moment until I realized that it wasn't an orc horn. 

"That is no orc horn," Legolas proclaimed. It was Haldir and an army of archers. 

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance." I ran to Haldir and embraced him in a hug. 

"You don't know how happy I am to see you," I whispered in Elvish. He patted my arm before we broke apart and Haldir said, 

"We're proud to fight alongside men once more." 

*

I stood beside Gimli and Legolas, awaiting the orc army. 

"You could have picked a better spot," grumbled Gimli who was not tall enough to see over the wall. Suddenly, the sky went bright, revealing a sea of Uruk-hai coming towards us. I looked over at Legolas whose eyes were wide in fright. He looked over and caught me staring at him. 

"Are you scared?" he asked me. 

"To die? No. I'm afraid that I'll go down without a fight." Legolas looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking. 

"Sing something since this might be your last chance." Without any hesitation, I began singing. 

What a shame 

We all became such fragile, broken things  

A memory remains just a tiny spark  

I give it all my oxygen  

So let the flames begin  

So let the flames begin  

Oh glory, oh glory  

This is how we'll dance when  

When they try to take us down  

This is what will be, oh glory  

Somewhere weakness is our strength  

And I'll die searching for it I can't let myself regret, such selfishness  

My pain and all the trouble caused  

No matter how long I believe that there's hope  

Buried beneath it all and  

Hiding beneath it all and  

Growing beneath it all and  

This is how we'll dance when  

When they try to take us down  

This is how we'll sing, oh  

This is how we'll stand when  

When they burn our houses down  

This is what will be, oh glory  

Reaching as I sink down into light  

Reaching as I sink down into light  

This is how we'll dance when  

When they try to take us down  

This is how we'll sing, oh  

This is how we'll stand when  

When they burn our houses down  

This is what will be, oh glory  

Legolas didn't say anything after I was done and I was just hoping that it didn't cause him to go deaf. I didn't dwell on it because Gimli was now jumping up and down, trying to see what was happening out there. 

"What's happening out there?" he asked in a frustrated tone. 

"Shall I describe it to you or would you like me to get you a box?" Legolas asked jokingly. Gimli laughed probably to relieve stress. Then an Uruk-hai yelled, bringing the stress right back. The rest of the orc army began pounding their spears and we readied our bows. One arrow went sailing towards the Uruk-hai army, hitting its mark. The orc fell to the ground, dying a second later. After a moment of stunned silence, the army charged at us in revenge.  

"Their armor is weak at the neck and underneath the arms," Legolas said in elvish. I nodded to let him know that I heard him. 

"Release the arrows!" Aragorn ordered and we released our arrows. For every Uruk-hai that we hit, another Uruk-hai would replace them. We continued firing but the Uruk-hai kept advancing. Soon they were putting up ladders against the walls. I gritted my teeth in annoyance. 

"Burn them Arietta," Aragorn called to me in Elvish. I ran to the nearest one and placed my hands on it. The ladder burst into flames as the Uruk-hai were frantically jumping off of the ladder. I ran to the next one but Uruk-hai were already up and fighting us. Great, I had let Aragorn down.  

"Swords! Swords!" Aragorn yelled and that's when I realized I had forgotten to get a sword yet again. Looks like I'll be using magic. An Uruk-hai charged at me and I waved my hand at him, almost bored-like, sending flames his way. The Uruk-hai couldn't get out of the way in time and in result, he caught on fire. 

"Haha! Take that, ugly orc!" I grinned triumphantly before I heard Gimli's and Legolas's competition. 

"Legolas! Two already!" 

"I'm on seventeen!" 

"Can I join the competition?" I called out to them. 

"Sure," they replied in unison and I giggled as I continued shooting flames. 

"Twenty, you guys!" I yelled. 

"Twenty one!" Legolas called back after stabbing an orc. Suddenly, I spotted an orc running towards the gate. 

"Bring him down, Legolas!" Aragorn yelled in desperation. Legolas fired many arrows but he kept running, eventually reaching the bombs that they had set up. Too late had I realized that I was right over the bombs and so was the rest of the fellowship. We tumbled down before getting back up. I looked around, feeling fearful for the first time. An orc charged at me and I put my hand out, expecting flames to shoot out but they didn't. Nothing happened, actually. I looked frantically around for my bow, only to find it broken by the fall. I closed my eyes and braced myself, expecting this to be the end. When I didn't feel any pain, I opened my eyes to see Haldir fighting off an orc. With renewed hope, I shot my hand out and got flames as a result. 

"I'll be the death of both of us!" I yelled to him in Elvish. 

"As long as I die for you." I gave a startled look before catching another orc on fire. For the next few minutes, we fought together. Only when I looked back at Haldir, I saw him fall in pain. I ran towards him, killing any orc that came too close. When I finally got to Haldir, I dropped to my knees. How could he be fine one second and dying the next? 

"Arietta," Haldir whispered hoarsely, taking my hand. 

"Marry the Mirkwood elf and be happy," he added as tears ran down my cheeks. 

"Haldir, I can heal you. Just let me-" He pushed away my frantic hand as he interrupted. 

"No. Please get to safety so I know that my passing was not in vain." I leaned down and kissed Haldir on the cheek before I heard his breathing stop. A sudden rage filled me as I looked at Haldir's lifeless body. I slowly stood up with my fists clenched. Haldir will be avenged! I turned around with both my hands, letting the rage and hurt take ahold of my power. A ball of fire formed and soon it was almost uncontrollable. The Uruk-hai stood there, waiting to see what I was going to do. Now orcs are dumb creatures but I think they knew what I was going to do. 

They were certainly going to find out what I can do. 

"You like killing?" I bellowed at them, trying to keep the ball of fire under control. The orcs looked at each other uncertainly. 

"I like getting revenge, so if a few orcs die in the process, then so be it!" I pushed the ball of fire at them, catching about fifty on fire. I smiled as I heard their cries of agony. I then heard my name then from behind me. Turning around, I see Legolas lowering a rope. I climbed up it and saw that the remaining fellowship was okay.  

Then I saw all the death.  

Corners of my vision began to grow black, and a heaviness began to drag me down. I kept fighting it but to my dismay, I blacked out.

Chivalry is Never Dead!

copyright 2011 by jon gutmacher

"Chivalry is never dead!

hand on hilt

to varlet said

"Chivalry will never die

but certainly

you will!

"How dare you speak

to Lady Fair

or even think

to touch her hair

this slight will not go

unavenged

of that

I am

too sure

"So draw your blade

and meet your death

you scum of earth

you varlet pest

you have no honor

you have no place

except neath earth

in ground

And with those words

he drew his sword

and smote the varlet

and then his ward

and let their blood

soak all the ground

as warning, yes -

to all around

"For Chivalry

it is my trust

to avenge all maidens

that, I must

and varlets who dwell or

walk these lands

beware

my blade

runs deep

And then the knight

put sword in sheath

and mounted horse

so very neat

and rode away

to castle yon

without a care

or thought

For knights of old

had tempers quick

and always ready

a sword to stick

into most anyone who would offend

their honor, maids, or King

And so this poem ends

as all poems must

but like the knight

it gathers dust

and while the pen is mightier

than the sword

that's cause

there are no knights

about