"Take care of him Pippin", Luin instructed once he made sure that Faramir was alright. The man unconscious but breathing. Outside a high pitched horn echoed through the doors. Luin unsheathed his swords again. "I need to go back outside". Pippin nodded and Luin spared him a brief reassuring smile before running back out of the citadel. As soon as he was in the air, he was soaring up and looking down below.
Three Nazgul and their fell-beasts were still circling the battlefield. Men of the south, riding Oliphants bred for war, had joined the battlefield. Massive creatures with huge tusks and leathery grey skin. Small forts had been strapped to their backs and archers lined the levels. Luin saw the fell beast of the witch king drop down into the battle. "Not on my watch", he scowled as the watched the other two Nazgul drop to join the battle. He dived after them.
The fell beast twisted and snapped a him as he drew near, teeth just catching his tunic as he jumped. Feet hit it's back and the Nazgul soldier swung it's sword. Luin yelped and leaned back as the very tip of the blade caught his shoulder. A nice long cut beginning to bleed red as he hissed. He scowled at the shadow and lifted his swords. His first strike was deflected with a scrape of steel and the second glanced off the metal of a gauntlet. The Nazgûl let out a rasping chuckle as it twisted the pommel of it's blade and wrenched Luin's left sword from his grip. He gasped in pain as the movement twisted his wrist and the jade blade clattered onto the fell-beast's wing. Luin pulled a talisman from his sleeve and used the distraction to thrust the paper under the metal chest pate. Then he was pulling quickly away and sliding off the beast's back, his lost sword flicking back under his feet as he hit open air. A explosion of blue energy echoing behind him.
Luin twisted and glanced for the other Nazgul. Below he could see ships with black sails dotting the river. He sighed at the sight of more opponents then paused. A familiar energy, a pulse and a life. Then something dark. He frowned then gasped as a wave of green ghosts spilled from the ships and overtook the battle field. Almost at the same time there was a burst of dark energy disappearing and he looked down to see the crumpled form of the Witch king fall to the ground. A woman with familiar blonde hair standing over it. Luin smiled in relief. So the witch king could be killed after all.
He turned his gaze back to the ships. Three familiar figures charging into battle. At the sight of silver hair and green clothes, the pulse of energy from the jewel around his neck, Luin let out a breath of relief. Legolas was here, and it seemed like he, Gimli and Aragorn had brought friends. (He wondered where the heck they had managed to pick up an army of ghosts, but that was a story for later).
On the battle field below, Legolas looked up. His sharp eyes picking out the glowing blue sword and the figure standing on it. He grinned as his arrow hit it's mark, relief at seeing Luin again making the adrenaline of battle mix with excitement. "Sixty!" He called out to Gimli. Their competition still going. He glanced up once again just in time to see an arrow ark from one of the Oliphants. The small figure in the sky jerked as the arrow met it's mark. For a second it stood still then it's feet slipped from the blade and it dropped.
"No!" Legolas cried out in horror. He was too far away from where Luin was falling and for a second his heart stilled. He didn't want to see his lover hit the ground. Then the sword in Luin's hand stopped and he was dangling from the hilt high over the battle. The arrow still sticking out of his chest. Legolas was too far away to save him, but the man who had hurt Luin was closer. He set off running.
------
Luin hadn't seen the arrow until it was too late. He gasped with pain as it landed in his chest, just below his right collarbone. The impact left him breathless and the pain hit. He felt his feet slip from the blade. Shock making him loose control of the air and he plummeted. The Thunderclouds high above a rolling curtain of black. He was falling, gravity pulling him down. Air was whistling through his ears and his hair was whipping around his head. The blood soaking the arrow shaft flickering off into drops as the air let him fall.
He felt his energy shift as the shock of the arrow was replaced by the shock of falling. Fingers gripped the hilt of his second blade and the jade glowed. Slowly his fall stopped. The sword slowing him down until he was hanging from it over empty air. Luin took a second to take a few deep breaths, the pain from his wounds making him grit his teeth. His right fingers moved and the sword he had fallen from shot down under his feet. He rested his weight on it and sighed, legs almost buckling. He was so tired. The exhaustion of using so much Spiritual energy was making itself known.
He looked down, eyes reflexively searching for Legolas. The elf was swinging from the side of an Oliphant. Arms gripping the straps that held the fort on it's back. Luin held his breath, watching as the elf cut the straps and the fort fell, it's weight pulling him up onto the Elephant's back. The blonde hopped up onto it's head and launched three arrows into the skull of the creature. The thing collapsed, skidding to a stop as Legolas slid off down it's trunk. The blonde looked up and Luin felt warmth emanate from the jewel. He sent back a reassuring pulse as his sword carried him down.
Legolas met him with open arms as when Luin stumbled off the blade. The elf caught him by the upper arms, eyes darting over him. "Ithil", Luin sighed with a smile. "Its not too deep". Then he let out a cry as Legolas wrenched the arrow from his skin. He had been right, the arrow had sung in but not deep enough that the points ripped the flesh as it was tugged out. Legolas pulled a roll of bandages from his belt and quickly tied it around the bleeding wound, Luin hissing as he pulled it tight to quench the blood flow. "Ow".
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Legolas asked once he had finished his quick first aid. "There doesn't appear to be any poison". Around them, the battle was coming to an end. The ghosts were sweeping across the field in unstoppable waves. The orcs and their allies all falling to their green blades.
"I'm fine", Luin reassured, letting his weight lean against the elf. "Just drained". He took a breath and sighed. "I missed you. Battle is not as fun without you".
"Battle shouldn't be fun", Aragorn commented as he approached. "Only you mad fools turn it into a competition". The last comment was sent with a smirk towards Gimli. The Dwarf rested his axe on his shoulder with a happy chuckle.
"Speaking of which, sixty two". The dwarf grunted. "Face that ya pointy eared princeling".
Legolas huffed at him over Luin's shoulder. "Seventy one", He sniffed, making an effort to pretend to check Luin's bandages again. His hands smoothing gently over the long cut on his shoulder that was now crusted with dry blood.
Gimli scowled. "I told you that the big beast only counted as one!"
Legolas pretended not to hear him. Luin laughed, his own hands resting on the blonde's shoulders. "Are you unharmed?" He asked gently. Legolas smiled softly.
"Not more than bruises".
"Set us free". The words were a haunting whisper that sent chill up their spines. The two of them turned towards the sound to find the army of ghosts facing Aragorn. Luin had not seen them up close before and the sight was not something he wanted to see again. They were vaguely human in shape. Armour and weaponry were more defined than their bodies, which seemed to be a mixture of bone and decayed flesh. Their forms glowed a sickly green and lank hair moved as if underwater. Luin didn't like the dark energy they gave off. It felt as cold as an ice bath.
The leader ghost stepped forwards closer to Aragorn. "Release us". His eyes murky and clouded in death but still sharp.
"Bad ideas", Gimli voiced. "Very handy in a tight spot these lads, despite the fact that they're dead".
"You gave us your word", the croaking hiss was accusing.
Aragorn took a breath. "I hold your oath for filled. Go, be at peace". The ghost a breathed out at once, their forms fading in one last exhale until their bodies were nothing more than dust on the wind.
"You have got to explain to me where you found an army of ghosts", Luin exclaimed, his eyes noticing the sword sheathed at Aragorn's waist. A blade that had once been broken. The group laughed.
"And you have to tell me what you were doing flying so high", Legolas retorted. "You fell!"
"I am fine".
"You fell", Legolas narrowed his eyes, tone firm. "Gave me a dreadful fright".
"I am fine", Luin sighed with a fond smile.
"He was taking down Nazgûl's and their fell beasts", Gandalf's voice echoed over. Luin turned to him with a betrayed gasp. The white wizard winked at him and he scowled.
"You should have saved some for me", Gimli grumbled.
"Eowyn killed the Witch King, so I did not kill all of them".
"You fought them in the sky?" Legolas asked, voice quiet. "I am glad you are not injured worse". He leaned down and Luin sank into the gentle kiss. A soothing, reassuring greeting. The battle was over and they were both alive. One of Legolas' hand brushed dark hair behind his ear as the pulled away. "Melethril, lets go and get your wounds seen to".
"Lets go", Aragorn stated aloud to all of them. "We have wounded to see to". He grinned at Luin and Gandalf. "It is good to see you".
unedited
the edit above made me laugh. I need a hero. 🥺