The Blacksmith

The three of you scrambled quickly into the jail, hurrying along the torchlit pathways to the king and the she-elf. Six feet sprinting on the stone drowned out whatever conversation the two had been having, as Halbrand turned to face the commotion headed his way. "What is it, my love?"
"Orcs have breached the city!" you revealed, trying not to panic.
"They are advancing… towards the city centre, my lord." announced Theo, panting.

"And we will stop them before they get there." declared the king, beginning to storm down the hallway and in to battle. Though he stopped when he noticed you didn't follow. You watched as he swiftly turned back, and you were unable to prevent yourself from admiring the way the light danced off his crown. "We cannot leave Galadriel like this. We have to set her free." you pointed out, much to his chagrin. Clearly things had not transpired in a way Halbrand would have liked. "The elf can fend for herself. She's more than capable."

"Halbrand." Your tone was serious, and laced with frustration. "There is no time to argue. Release her."
"If it's what the queen wishes." he conceded, calling loudly for the guards. The jailers rushed in, acting upon your request to uncage Galadriel. Your eyes connected with the she-elf, the tiniest of smiles creeping into her visage as she stepped out from behind the iron bars. "How do you know I won't kill him?"
"I don't. But I have faith." Your words caused Galadriel's smile to widen a moment, sending a surge of hope through you.

"I shall require the return of my sword." she demanded, glaring at Halbrand again. The king nodded at the guards who ran off ahead of you as you all began to make your way out of the jail. By the time you reached the exit, they were standing there, holding Galadriel's sword aloft for her to claim. She bowed her head at them respectfully as she grasped the hilt, returning it to its rightful sheathed place at her hip. The king and the commander shared knowing glances before you all sprinted out into the night air in the direction of the carnage.

"Mother and Arondir have secured those who cannot fight in the hall where you were married. It's the largest building in the city, and the most fortified." Theo informed you as you inched closer to the fighting, the sounds of orcs growling now clear to your ears.
Halbrand called out your name, "Take Olwenna to the hall! Help keep our people safe!"

"No! I'm not leaving you to go into another battle. Not again." Your mind was made up and he was not going to change it. He smirked at you as he watched you pull out your dagger from between the soft fabrics of your dress. You looked at Olwenna, searching for an understanding of what you were all about to walk in to. "I can fight, if I have to. Besides, it is where Garion will be."

The words barely passed her lips as a small group of orcs rounded the corner, their weapons at the ready. Halbrand and Galadriel lead the attack, and you watched with stunned awe and admiration as the two of them made quick work of the filthy creatures, gutting them with ease, black blood spilling onto the dirt. You could have watched them fight for hours you were so transfixed, Galadriel moving with such effortless agility, her sword striking every blow she intended, and Halbrand's brute force a mixture of slashing and kicking, using his body as an extension of the weapon he wielded. Though an enemy entering your proximity snapped you out of your trance. Olwenna gasped from behind you as she watched you drive your dagger into the orcs chest before pulling it out to slit it's throat.

Moving further into the city, past the hall that had been a place of joy only hours before, you saw now it was barricaded by wood and bodies, men ready to defend their people. Just up ahead you could hear the whistle of Arondir's arrows as he launched them into every orc in his eyeline. His elven vision a remarkable asset in keeping back the enemy, though few orcs were penetrating closer within his gaze. Bronwyn was not too far ahead, standing her ground against all who tried to best her, slicing the creatures limb from limb with her swift motions. Halbrand and Galadriel charged crying out into the fray, with the she-elf defending a hefty blow before it could land on Bronwyn's legs.

You noticed how the lady of the Southlands responded to being saved by the one she had caged. Displeased but grateful all the same, as she accepted the arm Galadriel had offered out to her. The two women nodded silently at each other, coming to terms with their circumstances. Theo joined his mother's side then, an embrace quickly shared, before they began to fight together, Galadriel's sword gleaming impressively in the young boy's hands. Striking down another orc, you spotted Halbrand and Arondir working together to bring a pack of them down. Any orc that still charged upon being struck by an arrow, your love would remove its head. Arondir could not help but eye the king with suspicion, appearing to remain convinced by Galadriel. You wondered then if the outcome of this battle would affect the tensions between those that held onto them.

The crowd of men and women who chose to fight surged through then, rising to meet the orcs who were swarming like locusts ever closer to the hall. Olwenna had picked up a long piece of blunt metal one of the enemy had discarded, and began to use it to defend herself. You and she fought side by side for a time, finding yourself impressed by her novice abilities. Though you yourself were not much better, and a stray blow managed to land on your leg, slicing through your dress and into your skin, a pained cry escaping you as you stumbled to the ground. It wasn't life threatening, but it still stung, and you gazed down as the pearl white silk began to mix lightly with the red liquid from within you.

Halbrand came rushing over upon hearing your suffering, and you looked up from your place in the dirt as he carried out his wrath upon the creature that would dare injure his queen, it's black blood dripping, mixing with your own blood on the fabric. Your king removed his sword from the orc by lifting it upward, splitting it open all the way from gut to skull. He then offered you his blood stained hand, which you took, feeling the warm liquid oozing over your skin. As you rose to your feet once more, your mind flashed with the image from the dream your mother had given you. Your hands, covered in blood. Shaking yourself free of the sight, you launched with your love back into battle, yourself now picking up an orc weapon from the ground, desiring to inflict more damage on your enemies than your dagger was capable of.

Though not all blood that ran upon Middle-earth this day was black. The bodies of the less skilled citizens of Pelargir were beginning to pile up. Even Galadriel herself could not prevent this, you saw as she avenged a man and woman who had just been struck dead by an orcs twisted blade. Casualties on both sides, just like any war ever fought. "Garion!" It was then Olwenna spotted her husband, and you followed her gaze to find him along with Padrig, chasing after some orcs in the distance. Your friend took off without warning, and you exchanged a look with Halbrand, letting him know you were going after her. He nodded and returned to the pack of orcs at his feet, the last thing you saw his sword slaying their rotten flesh.

Running after Olwenna, you kept your sword high in case of any surprise advances. "Garion! Padrig!" she called out to them again, succeeding this time in catching their attention. Though unfortunately, this success could not have been more ill timed. For it was at that moment an orc jumped Padrig, slicing him across the back. You and Olwenna shrieked at the sight, watching then as Garion acted quickly to prevent the creature from killing his nephew. After a few blows, he had him on the ground, with you reaching the scene in time to land the final strike. "Where did the rest of them go?" you asked the man who was shaking with adrenaline.

"Not sure, they were too quick for us. Possibly rounded back to the main group near the hall." supposed Garion, not in control of his composure. "Padrig, are you alright boy?"
"I'll be okay, uncle." declared the young man, returning to his feet.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Then take your aunt and make for the hall." Garion commanded.
"But uncle-"
"Now!"
"I can still fight!" pleaded Padrig.
"Now is not the time to question me, boy! Go!"

Padrig clutched onto Olwenna, who glanced at her husband and then at you, holding your gaze a moment longer. "I'll see you again, remember? Go." you assured her with a comforting smile. She then turned and ran back towards the hall with her nephew. The moment they were out of sight everything changed. Your skull suddenly ached fiercely, your vision blurring. Falling to your knees you acknowledged the blunt hit to your head. "Garion?" you called out in a haze. "Are you alright?" Losing the ability to remain upright, you slumped to the ground fully, body sprawled across the paved road. Your eyelids heavy, concussion setting in, you forced yourself to locate Garion. It wasn't long before he came into view, his tall rugged form standing over you. In his hand he held his sword, though it was hilt not blade that faced you. A hilt that was dripping with blood.

Raising your hand to where the pain emanated, diadem slipping off, a dampness found your fingers. Your brow furrowed in confusion as you moved it to the front of your vision, confirming what you could not believe. Garion had struck you. "What…" The fogginess of your mind was causing you to struggle to form full sentences, your brain felt as if it was pulsating against your skull. Garion let his sword fall to the ground, its loud clang on the stone a second blow, causing you to wince loudly.

"You destroyed my home. Killed my sister. Forced me from my homeland." Garion's accusations made no sense, concussion or not. "You brought the mountain down upon us. You brought my world to ruin! You and that… evil beast!" His loud and booming voice pained your ears greatly, and once that pain began to subside… you heard the truth in his words. "Please… Galadriel does not know all… of which she speaks…" you attempted to reach him and rise from the earth. You failed at both. The blood from your wound was slowly dripping onto the road. Using all the strength you could, you forced yourself upright onto your knees, compromising with your injury.
"Garion… we did not wish... what happened to you… to come to pass. I swear it."

"Silence!" he screamed at you, his anger unable to prevent tears from pooling in his eyes. "We took you in! Shared our food with you… I let that thing near our children… how could you lie to us?"
"Because we were afraid of this! How you are reacting now. We saved your lives, we did not ask for your charity. You gave it freely. And we accepted because… we wanted to prove… that we are capable of more than destroying lives." Garion's fist met your cheek, and you were on the ground again, blood now spurting from your mouth. "That's for the village you and Hal wiped out." He stood over you, panting, his rage truly overcoming him. "How selfish are the two of you… to kill that many people… then risk our lives on the mere chance you wouldn't do it again! Every second that you were around us… could have been our last."

So here it was. The retribution had finally come for you. You should have known your happiness was not to last. No being commits the vile things you and Halbrand did without consequence. Was this to be the end? Is this what the vision your mother had supplied you truly meant? Heading southward meant death, and at the hands of Galadriel. For it was she who told Garion, Olwenna, all of your friends who you and Halbrand truly were. What you had done. Garion would strike the final blow, but it would be the she-elf holding the blade. Just like in your vision.

"And to make matters worse… now you are both crowned king and queen of the Southlands?" Garion laughed, almost maniacally. "Have you seen what is left of your precious Southlands? The air is almost unbreathable. The plants, animals are dying or dead. The smoke is so thick that night is ever eternal. Those lands were once thriving and fruitful, we were beginning to make right the misdeeds of our forefathers… My lands… which you have no claim to… Númenórean." he spat the name of your home, your race as if it were a slur, a curse so foul upon his tongue.

Garion was bringing out your own anger now. "You should return to your filthy island and stay there. The both of you. Leave Middle-earth be!" Filthy. He called Númenor filthy. Insulting your home land as if it were a place filled with scum, putrid and rancid. You could feel the darkness stirring within you, that fire that eternally burned within your spirit, never extinguished, only embers, but embers enough for flames to rage once more. Your breathing sped up, body shaking, and pushing through the throbbing pain in your head, you rose finally from the ground to stand against Garion, face to face. Your sword, still a weapon of orc forging, gripped so tightly in your right hand that your palm sweated and knuckles whitened.

Suddenly you heard your name shouted from behind you. Spinning around, feeling your body burning with intensity, Halbrand entered your sight, a stern expression on his face. He strode swiftly towards where you and Garion stood, a man of battle, his tunic stained in orc blood, specks of which were splattered across his crown. "What is going on?" he inquired, confused. Garion picked up his sword in response, raising it as soon as Halbrand was within range. "Stop right there. Hal."

"He knows." You practically growled the words, not recognising your own voice. "They all know."
"That she-elf is more trouble than she is worth sometimes." Halbrand stated, only half joking.
"She had every right to tell us the truth, which is more than you did! The way you both reacted that night you raced away from the inn… then when the elf introduced herself to us the next day… the two events were not hard to connect."
"Garion… we mean no harm." spoke Halbrand, attempting to calm the man, his right arm raising in the air as if to steady him.
"Then why did you flee?"

"Enough talking!" you screamed. "You insult my home land and mean to take my life! I shall best you and take yours first!" You lunged your weapon to strike Garion, but Halbrand effortlessly stopped your blade before it landed. He did not let go of it, despite the force you were applying, despite the blood that began to emerge from his hand. Your eyes darted to his, and you smiled malevolently. "Come on… what's one more?"
"No." Halbrand's tone was soft but firm. "Come back to the light, my love. Garion is our friend, Olwenna's husband. We will not harm him."
"'Friend'?" the man practically burst out laughing. "You are monsters. You are not my friends."

"See? He is a lost cause, Halbrand. He cannot be allowed to live." Your darkness was winning again, and you didn't care. It needed to be sated, and that required Garion's blood. "Did you not see what he did to me?" Sword still aimed at your new enemy, you turned to reveal your face to Halbrand fully, exposing the bloody wound that covered the left side of your skull. It seems the shadow of the night had concealed it from even his sight. You watched as the black pupils of his eyes instantly shifted from circles to slits, and without even glancing in his direction, he clasped Garion by the throat.

The shadow around the three of you seemed to expand beyond its natural borders, with no rays of nearby fire or torchlight penetrating it. The air fell eerily silent, though the cries of man and orc alike could still be heard in the distance, but now it sounded a distance worlds away. Halbrand's eyes became rimmed with red, and veins that were usually hidden surfaced around them, his fair face giving way to the sinister creature beneath his skin. You couldn't help but smile, relishing the knowledge of the darkness taking hold of you both. It was very freeing.

Halbrand slowly turned his head to finally stare at Garion, who made a shocked sound amongst the noises of his struggling against the grip of your dark lord. "You would harm my queen?" Halbrand bellowed, and suddenly the air was filled with wind cascading past you both, blowing your hair behind you. "If you wanted to kill her, perhaps you should have struck in success the first time. Pathetic." Without warning or hesitation, Halbrand squeezed Garion's neck until you heard the unnerving sound of bones cracking. You saw the light leave his eyes in an instant. Halbrand tossed the man's body on the stone road, his once friendly eyes now gazing up at the stars his spirit was surely now headed for. But you were not satisfied. Stepping over Garion's corpse, you drove the sword into his torso repeatedly, blood splashing. Gutting him like an orc might.

"None of these orcs have your strength, my love. One must take precautions." you explained.
Halbrand smirked at you. "Clever girl." The two of you let your weapons drop, the shadow around you retreating to its normal state, and your bodies collided in a fit of passion, tasting each others tongues. Halbrand moaned into your mouth, his hunger for you clear. Then upon hearing the still screaming battle that was raging nearby, you released yourself from his lips. "We should rejoin the fight. Let the people see their king and queen victorious over these orcs who would dare threaten us." You spotted your diadem on the ground, gleaming in the torch light that had now returned. Picking it up, Halbrand took it gently from you, placing it back where it belonged. "Shall we, your majesty?"

"With pleasure." you grinned as he passed you back your sword. You both ran quickly back to the front of the hall, noticing the number of orcs had declined, yet they were not retreating. Fighting until the bitter end it seemed, lest they disappoint their master. It was curious that Adar was nowhere to be found, given what you knew about his hatred for elves, men, and Sauron himself. Perhaps he had not yet discovered Halbrand's true identity. Or perhaps he was back at the mountain, scheming something greater with which to strike.

Though, as much as it appeared your side was winning, the battle was not over yet. As soon as you both re-entered the skirmish, you noticed Galadriel was seconds away from meeting her end. She had all of her elven attention on two orcs in front of her, swords clashing, dodging blows with ease. But what she had not foreseen, was a lone orc stood about twenty feet away with a crossbow. In that moment, you and Halbrand raced to intervene. He made for the she-elf, and you for the orc, hoping his lightning fast reflexes would block any arrow from penetrating Galadriel's body.

When you reached the orc, his bow had fired just before your sword impaled his side, the momentum from your charge knocking you both to the ground. Looking up quickly, praying for Halbrand's success, you saw him standing face to face with Galadriel, the two endless beings gazing into each others eyes, communicating in silence. He was clutching the arrow in his right hand. You smiled, letting out a deep breath in relief, and rose to your feet, driving your sword back into the orc one more time for good measure.

The blood lust in you was strong, for your darkness was still very much present. Instead of making for Halbrand and Galadriel, you launched yourself across the conflict, slashing any and all orcs in your path, saving the lives of more of your people in the process. People who had been losing their combat against the menacing creatures. People who needed saving. Your adrenaline pumping, you did not stop, savouring the thrill of each kill as you moved from orc to orc. The wicked grin on your face could not be hidden, and you could taste the foul flavour of the black blood as it splashed across your face, but you did not care, you kept going. You wanted Galadriel to see you saving your people.

Looking over at her and Halbrand, you saw the two of them fighting side by side once more, working as a team to defeat the last of the orcs. Arondir's arrows had no more enemies to strike, and you wandered over to assist him, Bronwyn, and Theo with getting the wounded to safety. You draped the arm of an injured man across your shoulders, aiding him as he limped along towards the hall.

Sadly it was at this moment something tragic occurred. The unmistakeable cry of Theo's voice rang out in the night air. Turning around quickly, you saw him fall to his knees in agony, a sword in his back pointed towards the sky as he fell flat on the road, the young girl he was carrying now switching to aid him. Bronwyn let out a mournful cry like you had never heard, as she and Arondir sprinted towards him. Halbrand appeared then, killing Theo's attacker with little effort. This was the final orc, and with that, the battle was over.