The Edge of a Knife

The Enemy Strikes

Aragorn approached Eomer who stood on the wall that faced Mordor. "Any news?" he asked.

"Nothing. And I'm worried." Aragorn nodded. He turned to leave when an all too familiar shriek pierced the air.

Nazgul.

He raced back to Eomer's side and looked up at the sky in horror.

Nine Nazgul on fell beasts were approaching the city. Behind them was a massive army of orcs.

"How did they get here without us knowing?" Eomer asked in disbelief.

"It doesn't matter. We have to get everyone out of here."

Eomer nodded and shouted at a soldier to sound the alarm. Aragorn raced down the wall and searched for his friends.

He found Eowyn almost immediately. "Aragorn what is happening?"
"We're being attacked. Where are the hobbits?"
"They're with Theodred."
"Find them. Get them as well as many people as you can to the tunnel. Hurry!"

Eowyn hurried off while Aragorn ran to gather the men. They had to hold them off for as long as they could.

The Nazgul flew over the city. Their deafening screams filled the air.

The people panicked. Some soldiers were trying to get them to move towards the tunnel.

Aragorn drew his sword. Realising that it was Anduril. The sword Gandalf had given him.

He didn't have time to think about it as he stood with Eomer near the gate. The orcs appeared to be tearimg it down with their bare hands.

What power have they been filled with?

Aragorn gripped his sword and awaited the oncoming horde. There was a deafening crash as the gate fell forward.

The orcs poured through. The men stood to face them, thankfully Boromir only took a small army of men with him.

The majority of Gondor's army was still in the city. Some began leading people away from the fight while others defended them from the orcs.

But the orcs seemed stronger and more powerful than before. Aragorn was quickly losing strength.

They couldn't hold out for long. The Nazgul riding their Fell Beasts dove into the army of men, carrying soldiers into the air before dropping them to their deaths.

"Aragorn!" Eomer shouted. "We have to fall back!"

Aragorn looked around. Most of the people had been led to safety already. Aragorn called out to the soldiers.

"Fall back! But don't let them reach the people!" the soldiers began to draw away. But the orcs and Fell Beasts kept coming.

There was no way they could win this.

------------------------------------------------------

Gimli looked in horror at what he saw. Orcs pouring in through the gate, Nazgul attacking, it was chaos.

He watched the struggling men. They couldn't win this fight. Not on their own. They needed help.

And he knew just where to find some. The place where Gimli was at was currently empty. Everyone else had left already and no orcs had come there yet.

He raced inside the throne room, down one of the long halls and down into the dungeon.

"Legolas!" the elf walked over to the bars of his cell and looked out. "Gimli? What's going on?"

"Orcs and Nazgul are attacking. We need your help." Gimli began searching for the keys.

"Did Aragorn send you?" he asked.
"No. I came myself. Where in Durin's name is that key?"
"So you, a dwarf, need am elf's help?"
"Yes! I mean no! I mean, argh where is it?"
"It's over there hanging on the wall." Legolas pointed to where the key hung in the dark.