Banished

The Gate was shut. Harry stood with the watchmen on the walls and heard the rumour of the enemy that roamed outside, burning field and tree, and killing any man that they found abroad, living or dead. The numbers that had already passed over the River could not be guessed in the darkness, but when morning, or its dim shadow, arose over the plain, it was clear to Harry that even the worst fears of the captains as to the number that laid besieging them, could not come close to the reality of it.

The plain was dark with marching companies of orc, as far as Harry could strain his eyes in the mirk there sprouted, like a foul fungus, all about the beleaguered city great camps of tents, black or red.

Busy as ants hurrying orcs were digging lines of deep trenches in a huge ring, just out of bowshot from the walls; and as the trenches were made each was filled with fire, through how it was kindled or fed none could see.

All day the labour went forward, while the men of Minas Tirith looked on, unable to hinder it. As each trench was completed, Harry could see wains approaching and soon great catapults were built. The trebuchets of the City could not reach that far to stay this work. At first people around him laughed at such devices. For apparently the main walls of the city was of great height and marvellous thickness, built with the power and craft of Numenor waned in exile; and Harry saw that that its outward face was like to the Tower of Orthanc, hard and dark and smooth, unconquerable by steel or fire, unbreakable except by some convulsion that would rend the very earth on which it stood.

At this moment, Luna joined him on the battlements and for the first time she saw the host that was arrayed against the city. There was not much she could say about it. Her eyes stared unblinkingly at the plains and her expression was dark. Harry embraced her and kissed her on the forehead.

"There are so many," she murmured.

"Yes," said Harry, "and they will never conquer this city."

"How can you say that?" she asked.

"Luna, if you are in darkness what do you do?" asked Harry with a smile.

"I turn on the light," she said, remembering the day before they had left to confront Voldemort.

"And no darkness can resist the light, it cannot," said Harry before softly kissing her.

****

As soon as the catapults were set, with many yells and the creaking of rope and winch, the enemy began to throw missiles marvellously high, so that they passed right above the battlement and fell thudding within the first circle of the City; and many of them burst into flame as they came toppling down.

Soon there was great peril of fire behind the wall, and all who could be spared were busy quelling the flames that sprang up in many places. Harry and Luna were bustling around the first level, casting flame freezing charms, and quelling fires where they could.

"This is bloody pointless, we must take out this menace at the source, not just treat the symptom," said Harry when he reunited with Luna upon the battlements.

"Do you know of a spell that would reach the catapults?" asked Luna. Harry descended into thought and his eyes narrowed as an idea reached him.

"I'll just use the same trick I did at Helm's Deep," said Harry.

Then the catapults launched something else, less ruinous but more horrible. All about the streets and lanes behind the Gate it tumbled down, small round shot that did not burn. But when Harry looked down into the first circle of the city to see what it was, he gritted his teeth in anger. But when men ran to learn what it might be, they cried aloud or wept. The enemy was flinging into the City all the heads of those who had fallen fighting at Osgilliath, or on the Rammas, or in the fields. They were grim to look on; for though some were crushed and shapeless, and some had been cruelly hewn, yet many had features that could be told, and it seemed they had died in pain; and all were branded with the foul sign of the Lidless Eye.

Harry saw now that men were shaking their fists at the pitiless foes that swarmed before the Gate. Curses they heeded not, nor understood the tongues of western men, crying with harsh voices like beasts and carrion birds. But soon there were few left in Minas Tirith who had the heart to stand up and defy the hosts of Mordor. For yet another weapon, swifter than hunger, the Lord of the Dark Tower had: dread and despair.

The Nazgul came again, and their Dark Lord now grew and put forth his strength, so their voices, which uttered only his will and his malice, were filled with evil and horror. Ever they circled above the City, like vultures, out of sight and shot they flew, and yet were ever present, and their deadly voices rent the air.

Gandalf now joined their vigil on the walls. Harry noticed the cries of the Nazgul had no particular effect on him or Luna. Gandalf was flinching each time though. The cries of the Nazgul were horrible in sound but it merely irritated their ears. The effect on men around them was even more worrying. At length even the stout hearted would fling themselves to the ground as the hidden menace passed over them, or they would stand, letting their weapons fall from nerveless hands while into their minds a blackness came, and they thought no more of war; but only of hiding and of crawling, and of death.

"You both are not under the dominion of the One Ring," said Gandalf, seeing Harry's curious gaze at what was happening around them. "Its power is not bound to you, or your race," said Gandalf gravely. They walked to the nearest trebuchets and found the Prince of Dol Amroth there.

"Wizards, I have as yet no order from Lord Denethor," said the Prince.

"Forget order, your loyalty is to Gondor," said Harry, "do not let the whims of a doubted ruler cost lives."

"Send these foul beasts back into the abyss," snarled Gandalf. The Prince hesitated for a moment then nodded. And so for the first time, the trebuchets of Gondor answered at last. They flung huge sections of stone back at the hosts of enemy, crushing entire companies and rending some siege towers that were being pressed forward into ruin.

Soon, the Prince returned from the Citadel in hopes of finding some direction from the Lord of Minas Tirith. But his face was graven and full of doubt and he reported that Denethor had locked himself in with Faramir and would give no order in the defence of the City, save that they follow whom they choose, even if it was Gandalf.

*****

So it was that Gandalf took command of the last defence of the City of Gondor. Wherever he came men's hearts would lift again, and the winged shadows pass from memory. Tirelessly he strode Citadel to Gate, from north to south about the wall; and with him went the Prince of Dol Amroth in his shining mail, for him and his knights still held themselves like lords in whom the race of Numenor ran true.

Harry and Luna remained on the battlements of the great walls of the City, giving suggestions and encouragement to the bowmen and soldiers in the defence of the city.

Far behind the battle the River had been swiftly bridged. And more force and gear of war had poured across. Now at last in the middle of the night the assault on the City began in full. Slowly the great siege towers rolled forward through the dark.

To the north and to the south company upon company of the enemy pressed to the walls. But Harry knew it was going to be against the gate that the Black Captain would throw his heaviest weight. Very strong it might be, wrought of steel and iron, and guarded with towers and bastions of indomitable stone, yet it was the key, the weakest point in walls of the City.

The drums of the enemy rolled louder. Fires leaped up. Great engines of war crawled across the field; and in the midst was a huge ram, great as a forest tree a hundred feet in length, swinging on thick chains. Long it must have been in forging in the dark smithies of Mordor, and its hideous head, founded of black steel, was shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf; on it spells of ruin lay.

"Gandalf!" cried Harry. The old wizard rushed to see the huge ram and looked grimly at it for a moment, then sped off to muster as many men to the defence of the gate as he could. Luna came running towards Harry and looked in horror at the huge ram. "Can you think of any spell that would stop that?"

"No," she answered, "a blasting curse would be like a bee sting on a thing that big."

"Then we have to stop it from being brought to bear on the gate," said Harry with steel in his voice. He noticed that the huge ram was being pushed by two cave trolls, about twelve feet in height each.

"Nebula Avada Kedavra," snarled Harry with his staff brandished towards the ram. A huge ocean wave of green light shot forth and enveloped the huge battering ram and everything around it for ten meters. The ram stopped its slow movement instantly. Every single orc and troll was felled lifeless, but already the numerous companies of orcs merely filled the huge gap in their number, and in the distance more trolls were brought forth to replace the dead.

It was then that numerous shots were fired from the enemy catapults, and both wizard and witch knew these only too well. They had not spent so long to make the first level of the city safe from the peril of fire in vain. Harry looked to Luna and she nodded. They raised their staffs in unison and stopped all nine projectiles in mid air, animated them and flung them right back at the engines that cast them. Into flame the engines burst and many were destroyed instantly and collapsed.

"Bowmen!" shouted Harry. "Focus your shots on the trolls, kill the trolls!"

The knights of Dol Amroth and the hardiest garrison in Minas Tirith were chiefly stationed at the gate. They heeded the wizard's advice and peppered the trolls with arrow shot. Soon any troll who dared move into bow range looked like a pin cushion.

The battering ram crawled still on. Harry and Luna's efforts had but bought Gandalf some precious time to organise a defence behind the Gate.

"Harry," said Luna, "what about your meteor spells?"

"It would not stop the immediate assault of the City," replied Harry, "it would devastate the host of orcs, but it would also exhaust me."

The battering ram crawled on. The drums rolled wildly. Over the hills of slain a hideous shape appeared: a horseman, tall, hooded, cloaked in black. Slowly trampling the fallen, he rode forth, heeding no longer any dart. He halted and held up a long pale sword. And as he did so a great fear fell on all the men around Harry and Luna, even the orcs; and the hands of men drooped to their sides, no bow sang. For a moment all was still.

Harry saw this and reacted instantly and he disapparated to stand next to Gandalf. The old wizard's face was as grave and fierce as Harry had ever seen. And like the dawn of hope his voice resounded to all the men and gave strength of heart again.

"You are Soldiers of Gondor!" cried Gandalf. "Whatever comes through that gate, you will stand your ground!"

The drums rolled and rattled. With a vast rush the ram was hurled forward by huge hands. It reached the Gate. Luna appeared next to Harry. The ram swung. A deep boom rumbled through the City like thunder running in the clouds. But the doors of iron and posts of steel withstood the stroke.

"The Witch-king himself is outside the gate," said Harry to Gandalf softly. The Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone. Harry and Luna was unfazed, the words held no meaning for them and they linked hands and raised staff, ready to strike.

Three times the Black Captain cried. Three times the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in fragments to the ground.

In rode the Lord of the Nazgul. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgul, under the archway that no enemy yet had passed, and all fled before his face.

All save the three messengers of light. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dinen. Harry and Luna stood as tall as mountains of stone, their staffs pointed in contempt at the Witch-king.

"You cannot enter here," said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. "Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!"

The Black Rider flung back his hood, and he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.

"Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade. Harry started to laugh. He laughed at the Black Captain. He laughed at his evil, and power, a power that was nothing next to the true power of the light that he possessed.

"You think yourself immortal Witch-king!" said Harry. "You think that your prophecy protects you, 'by no hand of man shall you fall'. And that is true. I have good experience with prophecies, as I am subject to one as well. Do you think that a man stands next to me, linked by my hand?"

The Black Captain perceived at that moment Luna the Eye. Her face dark and terrible with contempt and anger, her staff pointed in readiness. And for the first time in many years, what was left of the heart the Witch-King was filled with doubt and even fear.

And in that very moment of darkness, when things looked to be at their worst, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, showing no sign of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.

But it was no orc-chieftain or brigand that led the assault upon Gondor. The darkness was breaking too soon, before the date that his Master had set for it: fortune had betrayed him for the moment, and the world had turned against him; victory was slipping from his grasp even as he stretched out his hand to seize it. The greatest shield that the Black Captain thought he possessed was ripped from him, his belief that he was immortal.

But his arm was long. He was still in command, wielding great powers. King, Ringwraith, Lord of the Nazgul, he had many weapons. He left the Gate and vanished.

"Bless you Harold the Lost," said Gandalf suddenly, "for you have solved a puzzle the minds of the Wise has toiled on for many a century." The soldiery of Gondor came resurging to the felled Gate, now that the fear of the Black Captain had passed,

for orcs came anew to invade the City, and a terrible battle was now fought under the archway.

The three mages retreated to the rear, where their spells would be unhindered. The men of Gondor accounted themselves well in the battle under the arch, but the number of the enemy was too great and they were slowly being overwhelmed.

"Genio orc Expelliarmus!" cried Luna raising her staff. The entire company of orcs that was immediately assailing the men of Gondor were robbed of their weaponry. Harry wanted to kick himself. He had totally forgotten that he was able to group of his spells to only effect a particular person. He had long forgone the idea of casting the Disarming spell in fear that he would also rob the men of Gondor of their weapons.

If the only orc invasion point would have been the bottleneck of the Gate, then Harry was sure they could keep the City from being sundered by boot of orc. But by now the siege towers had come forth and opened. Allowing the enemy to assail the men on the ramparts of the walls and it was not long before Harry and Luna were hard pressed to stop the orc darts that threatened the men battling in the archway.

"We must retreat Gandalf!" shouted Harry.

"We will be overrun shortly," said Luna. Gandalf nodded and shouted orders for a tactical retreat to the second level of the City. Harry grabbed Luna's hand and disapparated to the gate of the second level.

"Captain," beckoned Harry to the man he saw that was in charge of this level, "the first level is being overrun get your men ready." The Captain nodded and started shouting orders. Harry walked over to the edge of the second level and was able to more fully see the plains of Pellenor. The cavalry charge of the Rohan Army upon the flank of the besieging enemy was a huge success in relative terms. It was a total strategic surprise. If Harry had thought the minor cavalry charges he had been involved in were heart rending, nothing compared to this. A great host of over six thousand Rohan cavalry now swept through the lines of orcs besieging the city.

"An awe inspiring sight if I ever saw one," said Luna. By now, men were streaming through the second gate of the City. It was very fortunate that Luna had the foresight to advise for the full evacuation of the citizenry of Gondor from the first level, or else it would have taken much longer. For over ten minutes men streamed through the gate and finally when Gandalf came riding through on Shadowfax, did he give the order for the gate to be shut.

It was then that Harry heard a desperate and familiar voice shouting and beckoning for Gandalf.

"Gandalf! Gandalf!" cried Pippin, rushing toward them, "you must hurry, Denethor is going to burn Faramir alive, for he believes his son to be dead. And he wants to hasten his own death by his own order!"

Gandalf looked gravely at the hobbit and nodded. The old wizard rode forward and grabbed Pippin to sit in front of him on Shadowfax.

"Harold the Lost," said Gandalf, "take command of the defence."

"I will," replied Harry. Shadowfax sped away and up the levels of the City. Harry ordered for pikemen to be brought forward to the gate, swordsmen behind, and bowmen behind them.

"Look," said Luna. The Rohirrim had upon the plains of Pellenor routed the enemy in their besieging positions, and in great number they were retreating, but Harry saw immediately that it was a tactical retreat. For now over fifteen oliphaunts of the Harad, mounted with towers of war and with bowmen on their backs lumbered forward, upon their low tusks was heavy barb, and it could with one swipe of the huge beast's head fell many a rider.

"There is nothing we can do to help, our task is to stop this City from being invaded any further," said Harry. Luna did not look happy but contented herself with their task.

"Let's seal this gate," she said. Harry linked hands with her and raised their staffs.

"Impervious," they chanted together and a great light shot forth from their staffs and the gate glowed white and bright as the sun.

"That should hold them," said Harry dismissively.

"Unless the Witch-King comes along," said Luna worriedly.

Then both mages perceived a massive rending and release of energy. For it was at this moment that Eowyn, shield maiden of Rohan, with the help of Meriadoc the hobbit, had killed the Witch-king.

"The Black Captain has seen his last, he will worry this world no more," said Luna in an airy voice.

"It was Eowyn, wasn't it?" asked Harry with a smile. Luna nodded.

"And Merry," said Luna.

"A hobbit and a woman," mused Harry, "I suppose that meets the needs of the prophecy."

A massive bang was heard as the beating of the second gate was started by the enemy. The great battering ram that was used to rent the first gate was too large to pass into the City proper and could not be used for any other purpose. Trolls with large hammers now bashed against the second gate. But they might as well have tried to blot out the sun. The power with no name was guarding the integrity of this gate and it stood every blow.

And now the fighting waxed furious on the fields of Pelennor even as the fighting grew to a halt in the City; and the din of arms rose upon high, with the crying of men and the neighing of horses. Horns were blown and trumpets were braying, and the oliphaunts were bellowing as they were goaded to war. Harry watched as under the south walls of the City the footmen of Gondor now drove against the legions of Morgul that were still gathered there in strength. But the horsemen of Gondor rose eastward to the succour of Eomer; the now king of Rohan as Theoden had fallen by the hand of the Black Captain before he was slain by Eowyn.

Not too soon came their aid to the Rohirrim; for fortune had turned against Eomer, and his fury had betrayed him. Their great wrath of this onset had utterly overthrown the front of his enemies. But wherever the oliphaunts came the horses would not go, but blenched and swerved away; and the great monsters were very difficult to sunder due to their great size and height and the Haradrim rallied about them.

It was even as the day thus began to turn against Gondor and their hope wavered that a new cry went up in the City, it being then mid-morning, and a great wind blowing, and the rain flying north, and the sun shining. In that clear air watchmen on the halls and Harry could see far away a new sight of fear, and their last hope left them for the battle on the field.

For the Anduin River, from the bend of the Harlond, so flowed that from the City men could look down it lengthwise for some leagues, and the far-sighted could see any ships that approached. Harry saw that black against the glittering stream he beheld a fleet borne up on the wind: ships of great draught with many oars, and with black sails bellying in the breeze.

"The Corsairs of Umbar!" men shouted. "It is the last stroke of doom!"

Harry looked gravely at the situation. And men were tolling for the retreat, but Harry told them it was not necessary, for the men on the plains could full well see their new plight approaching.

And once again, when all hope seemed lost, and when all lights had faded, a new dawn came. All the men of Gondor on the plains followed the gaze to the black ships and upon the foremost ship a great standard broke, and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count.

"It's Aragorn!" cried Harry in happiness and tears in his eyes. The Rohirrim rejoiced with a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords. Behind Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, into existence sprang huge hosts of green wraiths; in the shape of men, and as one they charged.

But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment, and a great wizardry it seemed to them that their own ships were filled with their foes; and a black dread fell on them, knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand.

East rode the Knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them. South rode Eomer and the enemy fled before his face. North went Aragorn, and all the green sprectres of the Army of the Dead behind him. The enemy was caught between the hammer and the anvil. Harry was relieved to see a great host of the green sprectres heading towards the City, and from their perch on the second level Harry and Luna watched as the Army of the Dead made short work of all the orcs in the city.

Hard fighting and long labour there was still to do; for the Southrons were bold men and grim, and fierce in despair; and the Easterlings were strong and war-hardened and asked for no quarter. And so in this place and that, by burned homestead or barn they, upon hillock or mound, under wall or on field, still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away.

Harry had long released the second gate from spell and allowed what force there was in the upper city to go forth and help in the battle on the plains. Soon Gandalf joined them on foot, as he had stabled Shadowfax. They looked upon the ongoing battle.

"I wish I could help," said Harry, "but Gondor now fights men, not orc, I will not raise my staff against men, no matter what creed or banner they fight under."

"Indeed," said Gandalf, "it is why you see me use magic so little in battle, save against the Nine and Sauron himself. Men must find the strength within themselves if they are to truly rule all of Middle-Earth after the Elves depart."

"Did you perceive the Witch-King's doom?" asked Luna.

"Not when it happened," said Gandalf, "but I can no longer sense the Captain of Despair, he has fallen truly." So Luna explained to Gandalf what happened and a smile broke upon the old wizards face for the first time in a long while.

"For a while I thought you would be the one to smite his ruin on this earth, Luna the Eye, when Harold revealed the mystery of the prophecy," commented Gandalf.

"I would have been glad to do it," said Luna, "but I saw it was not my fate, I merely helped strike fear in the Witch-king so he would be driven to meet his doom at the hands of Eowyn and Merry."

"What were that army of ghosts that assailed from the boats Gandalf?" asked Harry curiously.

"Those were the ghosts of the Men of the Mountains; long ago they swore an oath to come to aid of King Isildur to fight against Mordor. But in shame and fear they fled when Gondor's need was greatest during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. And so Isildur cursed them to never rest until their oath was fulfilled, not even death could claim them. Aragorn, as Isildur's Heir, called on them in his journey to Minas Tirith and they came in answer. Their oaths were fulfilled and they all passed on," explained Gandalf.

"What news of Denethor?" asked Luna now, turning her gaze on the elder wizard.

"Faramir is unharmed by his father's hand, and there is hope that he might pass by death's door, for when I rescued him from his father's madness he was set atop a pyre of wood and oil, and Denethor had a torch in his hand," explained Gandalf, "I was unable to stop Denethor from himself, as he burned himself alive. He had a Palantiri, and like Saruman was snared by the will of Sauron."

"I thought I saw a strange light in the tower," said Harry, "now that is at least explained."

The Sun went at last behind the Midolluin and filled all the sky with a great burning, so that the hills and mountains were dyed as with blood; fire glowed in the Anduin River, and the grass of the Pelennor lay red in the nightfall. And in that hour the great battle of the field of Gondor was over; and not one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas. All were slain save those who fled to die, or to drown in the red foam of the river. Few ever came eastward to Mordor; and to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off: a rumour of the wrath and terror of Gondor.

****

It was then that Gandalf bid them to come to the Houses of Healing where the wounded were being taken, in hopes of recovery.

Harry and Luna came to regard Faramir, Eowyn and Merry as they lay in beds, and they were tended well, as were all the others in the houses of Healing. The art of healing in Gondor was now baffled by a malady that lay on many of the wounded, and fell most heavily on Eowyn and Merry.

Black Breath they called it, for it came from the Nazgul. And those who were infected fell slowly into an even deeper dream, and then passed to silence and a deadly cold, and so died. Faramir burned with a fever that would not abate. Harry and Luna walked next to the afflicted and could see the grievous symptoms.

"Too bad they are in no condition to eat chocolate, for it would surely abate the progress of this malady," said Luna.

"What do you speak of?" said a healer, she was the oldest woman in the house and her name was Ioreth.

"It is a blending of many herbs and milk that has the virtue to revive happiness and hope in a heart empty of it," said Harry.

"If only a true King was here," said Ioreth, "for it is said: 'The hands of the King are the hands of a healer. And so shall the true King be known.'"

"Men will remember your words for many a year Ioreth," said Gandalf who looked as if the light of an idea had sprung into his head. The old wizard left hurrying out of the house.

"Are you telling me that the King will be a natural healer?" asked Harry. Ioreth nodded with a troubled face. Harry and Luna brought forth what knowledge in Healing they had and applied their power to those in need. But they could do nothing substantial for the Black Breath victims; merely buy them time for Gandalf to bring to light his idea.

"Expecto Patronum," cast Harry raising his staff. So he called forth an apparition in the form of his father's animagus; a stag of great stature and power. It glowed white and stood proud. The Stag perceived the blackness that lay about it in the victims and started to radiate shimmering white waves of energy, which rebounded and bathed the Houses of Healing a white light more beautiful than all the stars.

After long minutes the Stag stopped and turned to the one who summoned him and bowed, and disappeared. Harry turned as well to see Gandalf and one he knew to be Aragorn standing in the doorway. Aragorn had a look of intense wonder on his face and Gandalf smiled.

"Well it is to see you again Aragorn," said Harry, "but come you have work ahead of you, I have but bought you time to work, with my conjuring of happiness. These people need the hands of a Healer."

So it was that when the herb athelas (kingsfoil) was brought forth for Aragorn to use, that he recalled Eowyn, Faramir and Merry from the dark valley. He also recalled any other that was infected with Black Breath and left the city to rest and find some sleep.

The toils of the day also lay heavily on Harry and he saw that Luna was no less tired. They had endured many perils and had wrought many conjurings in the defence of the city. They walked hand in hand in the night back to the quarters on the upper level of the city and looked out through the balcony to the plains of Pelennor.

The wreckage of battle was everywhere.

"An evil day it has been," said Luna wrapped in Harry's embrace from behind.

"That it has, Gondor has changed forever, and no land has been unaffected I think," said Harry.

"It is a victory for the light," said Luna, "but our peril is even greater now. The finger of Sauron that stretched here has been defeated and the hand has retreated. There will be need of another stroke of war on our part if the mind behind the hand is to be defeated."

"Sauron is surely regrouping in the black land," said Harry, "and now our concern must turn to the Frodo's errand. For our stroke must support him in some way."

They went to bed and held each other, eternally thankful that they were alive and still in each other's arms.

****

The morning came after the day of battle, and it was fair with light clouds and the wind turning westward. Harry stirred awake and was surprised to see that Luna was awake as well, and staring at him idly with a soft gaze.

"Good morning," he murmured.

"Morning my lion," she said before she assaulted his lips with hers and they rejoiced in each other and joined as one in ecstasy. They celebrated their love and perception of time left their minds as they delighted in the pleasures that they could give each other.

It was difficult to get out of bed and face the day, but they had to. So they cleaned and refreshed themselves and ate what breakfast they could. A messenger arrived to convey that their presence was requested in the tents outside the city; for it was there that council was to take place on what should be the next actions of Gondor and Rohan.

The tents was where Aragorn resided, as he did not wish to come into the City as yet to declare his true identity and claim the throne of Gondor. They were perched not far from where King Theoden fell. As Harry walked out of the City, he was amazed at the difference in the fields of Pelennor, as there had clearly been some effort of labour to clear the bodies and wreckage of war.

Harry and Luna entered the tent to find Aragorn and Gandalf silently conversing with each other.

"Aragorn," greeted Harry with a smile, "I am glad to see you unscathed through all this."

"Greetings Harold the Lost," said Aragorn shaking Harry's hand, and then the Ranger bowed to Luna, "Lady Luna." If Harry knew Luna, and he did, she felt extremely pleased to be addressed in that fashion; she did not show it but affected her usual aloof expression. They took seating next to Gandalf and conversation turned to the impending council. Harry and Luna spoke of their conclusions and Gandalf listened intently and nodded that he agreed. Any final decision would be made later however.

Soon Gimli and Legolas joined them and the pair of mages was greeted exuberantly by the Dwarf, Legolas looked amused at his friend's antics. Eomer, the now King of Rohan entered the tent and greetings were exchanged. Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth also took a seat. All had arrived.

"My lords," said Gandalf, "listen to the words of the Steward of Gondor before he died: You may triumph on the field of Pelennor for a day, but against the Power that has arisen there is no victory. I do not bid you to despair, as he did, but to ponder the truth in these words."

"There is no truth Gandalf," said Harry, "for this 'Power' that Denethor mentioned I know well, and it is next to nothing compared to the true power of the light."

"I am not talking about the power Sauron himself wields Harold the Lost," returned Gandalf.

"Oh, then forgive my interruption," said Harry feeling a little foolish.

"As I was saying, the Seeing Stones do not lie, and not even Sauron could make them do so. He can, maybe, by his will choose what things shall be seen by weaker minds, or cause them to mistake the meaning of what they see. Nonetheless it cannot be doubted that when Denethor saw great forces arrayed against him in Mordor, and more still being gathered, he saw that which truly is," explained Gandalf, "hardly has our strength been sufficient to defeat the first great assault. The next will be greater. This war then is without final hope, as Denethor perceived."

"Victory cannot be achieved by strength of arms," said Luna in an airy tone.

"Luna the Eye speaks truly," nodded Gandalf, "whether you sit here to endure siege after siege, or march out to be overwhelmed beyond the River. You have only a choice of evils; and prudence would counsel you to strengthen such strong places as you have, and there await the onset; for so shall the time before your end be made a little longer."

"Then you would have us retreat to Minas Tirith, or Dol Amroth, or to Dunharrow, and there sit like children on sand-castles when the tide is flowing?" said Imrahil.

"That would be no new counsel," said Gandalf. "Have you not done this and little more in all the days of Denethor? But no! I said this would be prudent. I do not counsel prudence. Luna the Eye said victory could not be achieved by strength of arms. I still hope for victory, but not by arms. For into the midst of all these policies comes the Ring of Power, the foundation of Barad-dur, and hope of Sauron."

"Concerning this thing my lords," said Gandalf, "you now all know enough for the understanding of our plight, and of Sauron's. If he regains it, your valour is vain, and his victory will be swift and complete: so complete that none can foresee the end of it while this world lasts. If it is destroyed, then he will fall, and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again. For he will lose the best part of his strength that was native to him in his beginning, and all that was made or begun with that power will crumble, and he will be maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape. And so a great evil of this world will be removed."

"Other evils there are that may yet come," explained Gandalf, "for Sauron is himself but a servant or emissary. Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule. Now Sauron knows all this, and he knows that this precious thing which he lost has been found again; but he does not know where it is, or so we hope. And therefore he is now in great doubt. For if we have found the Ring of Power, there are some among us with the strength enough to wield it. That too he knows. For do I not guess correctly, Aragorn, that you have shown yourself to him in the Stone of Orthnanc?"

"I did so, on the road from the Hornburg," answered Aragorn. "I deemed that the time was ripe, and that the Stone had come to me for just such a purpose. It was ten days since the Ring-bearer went east from Rauros, and the Eye of Sauron, I thought, should be drawn out from his own land. Too seldom has he been challenged since he returned to his Tower. Though if I had foreseen how swift would be his onset in answer, maybe I should not have dared showed myself. Bare time was given to me to come to your aid."

"But how is this?" asked Eomer. "All is vain, you say, if he has the Ring. Why should he think it is not vain to attack us, if we have it?"

"He is not yet sure," answered Luna, "and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done."

"We could also never learn to wield the full power of the Ring in a single day," said Harry, "it can only be used by one master alone, not many; and he will look for a time of strife, should one of the more powerful amongst us try to become the master of the Ring and puts down the others. In that time the Ring will aid him, if he were sudden."

"He is watching," said Gandalf. "He sees much and hears much. His Nazgul are still abroad. They passed over this field ere the sunrise, though few of the weary and sleeping were aware of them. He studies the signs: the Sword that robbed of him of his Ring remade; a wizard who has the strength to smite him personally; the winds of fortune turning in our favour, and the defeat of his first assault; the fall of the Witch-king, his great Captain."

"His doubt is growing," said Luna, "even as we speak here. His Eye is straining towards us, I can feel it as clearly as the sun glistening down on us, and he is blind to all else that moves. All our hope lies in this."

"This is my counsel," said Gandalf after giving a moment for everyone to contemplate, "we have not the Ring. In wisdom or folly it has been sent away to be destroyed, lest it destroy us. Without it we cannot by force defeat his force. But we must at all costs keep his Eye from his true peril. We cannot achieve victory by arms, but by arms we can give the Ring-bearer his only chance, frail as it may be."

"As Aragorn has begun, so we must go on," said Luna in an absent smile, "we must push Sauron to his last throw. We must call out his hidden strength so that he shall empty his land. We must march out and meet him at once. We must make ourselves the bait, so that his jaws can close on us."

"And he will take that bait," said Gandalf, "in hope and in greed for he will think that in such rashness he sees the pride of the new Ringlord and he will say: 'So! He pushes out his neck too soon and too far. Let him come on, and behold I have him in a trap from which he cannot escape.'"

"We must walk open eyes into that trap, with courage, but small hope for our own survival," said Harry, "for it may be that we shall all perish in a black battle far away from the living lands; so that even if Sauron was destroyed, and his fortress demolished, we shall not live to see another day."

"What Harold the Lost has declared I deem is our duty," said Gandalf, "and it is better to perish nonetheless - as we surely shall, if we sit here - and know as we die that no new age shall be."

****

They were all silent for a while. After a seeming eternity to Harry, Aragorn spoke at last.

"As I have begun, so I will go on. We come now to the very brink, where hope and despair are akin. To waver is to fall. Let none now reject the counsels of Gandalf, Luna and Harold. Their long labours against evil at last come to their test. But for them, all would long ago have been lost. I do not claim to command any man yet. Let others choose as they will."

"As for myself," said Eomer, "I have little knowledge of these deep mattes; but I need it not. This I know, and it is enough, that as my friend Aragorn rescued me and my people, so I will aid him when he calls. I will go."

"As for me," said Imrahil, "the Lord Aragorn I hold to be my liege-lord whether he claim it or no. His wish is to me a command. I will go also. Yet for a while I stand in the place of the Steward of Gondor, and it is mine to think first of its people. To prudence some heed must still be given, for we must prepare against all chances, good as well as evil. Now it may be that we shall triumph, and while there is any hope of this, Gondor must be protected. I would not have us return with victory to a City in ruins and a land ravaged behind us."

"That is true," said Gandalf, "I do not counsel you to leave the City all unmanned. The force we lead east need not be great enough for any assault in earnest upon Mordor, so long as it is great enough to challenge battle. And it must move soon. Therefore I ask the Captains: what force could we muster and lead out in two days' time at the latest? And they must be hardy men that willingly know their peril."

"All are weary, and very many have wounds light or grievous," said Eomer, "and we have suffered much loss of our horses, and that is hard to bear. If we must ride soon, then I cannot hope to lead even two thousands, and yet leave as many for the defence of the City."

"I judge we could lead seven thousand men on horse and foot, and yet leave the City in better defence than it was when the assault began," said Aragorn.

"The Gate is destroyed," said Imrahil, "and where now is the skill to rebuild it and set it up anew?"

"In Erebor in the Kingdom of Dain there is such skill," said Aragorn; "and if all our hopes do not perish, then in time I will send Gimli to ask for the wrights of the Mountain. But men are better than gates, and no gate will endure our Enemy if men desert it."

****

The next day when Harry had reckoned up their strength to a final tally and given thought to the road ahead and perils to be endured, he could not help but feel there was little to be optimistic about. Prince Imrahil shared this view and laughed.

"Surely," he said, "this is the greatest jest in all the history of Gondor: that we should ride with seven thousand, scarce as many as the vanguard of its army in the days of its power, to assail the mountains and the impenetrable gate of the Black Land! So might a mail-clad knight be threatened by a child with a bow of string and green willow! If the dark lord knows as much as you say Mithrandir, he will rather smile than fear, and with his little finger crush us like a fly that tries to sting him?"

"No, he will try to trap the fly and take the sting," said Gandalf, "and there are names among us that are worth more than a thousand mail-clad knights apiece. No, he will not smile."

"Neither shall we," said Harry in determination.

"If this be jest," said Aragorn, "then it is too bitter for laughter. No, it is the last move in a great jeopardy, and for one side or the other it will bring and end to the game."

******

Two days later the army of the West was all assembled on the Pelennor. The three mages were back on Haldad and Shadowfax. Gimli and Legolas were mounted on Harod, their stallion that had served them since their first meeting with Eomer and his riders. Aragorn was next to them looking at the assembled might. Pippin was riding in front of Gandalf, fully resplendent in the gear of the White Tower and ready for battle.

The army of the West was mustered. Trumpets rang and it began to move. Troop by troop, and company by company, they wheeled and went off eastward.