Lyra
Legolas and I enter the throne room hand in hand, we stand by Eomer. Legolas folds his arms.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight." Gandalf tells us "The darkness is deepening."
"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it," Aragorn says
"It's only a matter of time." Gandalf replies "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."
Gimli sits on the steward's throne, puffing on a pipe.
"Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?" Gimli asks
"Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," Gandalf tells him, Gimli puts his pipe down and looks shocked. "I've sent him to his death."
"No. There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time, and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth." Aragorn says turning to us "We can give him that."
"How?" Gimli asks
"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate." Aragorn says, Gimli coughs on smoke
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms," Éomer tells him
"Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us." Aragorn says "Keep him blind to all else that moves."
"A diversion." Legolas states
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" Gimli asks slightly gleefully
"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait." Gandalf says
"Oh, I think he will," Aragorn says
"Lyra, I want you to stay here, where you're safe," Legolas says to me
"Are you really asking me that again? Women of my race went to battle until they were six months pregnant and none of them died or were harmed! You really think I would sit on the side lines and hope for you to return but worry you wouldn't? No, not when I can do something about it!" I say angrily, the others watching us
"Lyra please, I just want you and our daughter safe, stay here!" He exclaims
"Fine! Have it your way then!" I say and shove past him
"Lyra!" He calls after me but I ignore him.
Third Person
Aragorn enters the Citadel throne room and uncovers the Palantír. He flinches as the Eye blazes. He grasps the Palantír and holds it up, looking into it.
"Long have you hunted me. Long have I eluded you. No more." Aragorn says
He holds up his sword to the Palantír.
"Behold the sword of Elendil," Aragorn says
An image of Sauron in his armor appears, then a depiction of Arwen, dead. As Sauron laughs, Aragorn releases the Palantír. The Evenstar falls to the floor and shatters.
Lyra
I stand on the balcony of my room, looking out over Minas Tirith, I hear the door open and close but do not turn.
"Lyra," Legolas says
I ignore him and continue to look out side "Lyra, please," He says
I let the tears that had gathered in my eyes fall "How could you do this to me?" I ask broken "You are going to battle tomorrow and now I must worry that you won't return"
Legolas turns me and I sob into his shirt "Lyra, Lyra, I'm coming back" He says softly
"You don't know that! You don't know that for sure!" I cry
"I promise I will return to you"
"Don't make promises you can't keep"
"I intend to keep this one," He says and kisses me, he kisses my stomach "I'm not going anywhere"
Third Person
The next morning everyone prepares to leave, Legolas kisses Lyra and holds her tightly.
"Come back to us," Lyra says
"I will," Legolas says and kisses her stomach and her lips and leaves
Aragorn leads an army from Minas Tirith. Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Eomer ride with him. Pippin rides with Gandalf. Merry rides with Eomer. The Host of the West marches forth from Minas Tirith. Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Pippin, and Merry accompany the Men.
Aragorn leads the army of men towards the Black Gate. Aragorn's company comes within sight of the Black Gate. Aragorn's troops reach the Black Gate, unopposed. Aragorn and his men stand at the Black Gate, which appears to be deserted.
"Where are they?" Pippin asks
Aragorn spurs his horse towards the gate. He is followed by Éomer, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli. Frodo remains on the ground, lying still. Aragorn addresses the large gates.
"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" Aragorn yells
The gate creaks open. A single rider appears upon a dark horse. The only part of the rider appearing, besides a full helmet and armor, is a grotesque mouth.
"My master, Sauron the Great, bids you welcome. Is there any in this rout with the authority to treat with me?" the Mouth of Sauron asks
"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this: The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return." Gandalf tells him
"Old Greybeard. I have a token I was bidden to show thee." the Mouth of Sauron replies
He holds up Frodo's Mithril shirt.
"Frodo," Pippin says
The Mouth Of Sauron throws the Mithril shirt to Gandalf, who catches it.
"Frodo!" Pippin cries
"Silence." Gandalf orders
"No!" Merry cries
"Silence!" Gandalf orders again
"The halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did." Mouth of Sauron says
As the mouth laughs wickedly, Aragorn rides casually around to his side.
"And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken Elvish blade." the Mouth of Sauron taunts
With a quick, hard, slice, Aragorn cuts the Mouth of Sauron's head with his sword.
"I guess that concludes negotiations," Gimli says
"I do not believe it. I will not." Aragorn says
The Eye's gaze turns from Frodo. The Black Gate again creaks and sways open, revealing an army of marching orcs. Barad-dûr looms in the background, its Eye now staring at Aragorn.
"Pull back! Pull back!" Aragorn orders
Aragorn's company returns to the awaiting army of men.
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Skin-Walker (#Wattys2017)
FanfictionLyra Lane is the last of her race the Skin-Walkers of Middle-Earth. Lord Elrond takes her in after learning her dark past and that she is alone in the world. He then asks her to join the Fellowship four years later. She accepts though some of them a...
