The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

           Butitwasnoorc-chieftainorbrigandthatledtheassaultuponGondor.Thedarknesswasbreakingtoosoon,beforethedatethathisMasterhadsetforit:fortunehadbetrayedhimforthemoment,andtheworldhadturnedagainsthim;victorywasslippingfromhisgraspevenashestretchedouthishandtoseizeit.Buthisarmwaslong.Hewasstillincommand,wieldinggreatpowers.King,Ringwraith,LordoftheNazgûl,hehadmanyweapons.HelefttheGateandvanished.

           ThéodenKingoftheMarkhadreachedtheroadfromtheGatetotheRiver,andheturnedtowardstheCitythatwasnowlessthanamiledistant.Heslackenedhisspeedalittle,seekingnewfoes,andhisknightscameabouthim,andDernhelmwaswiththem.AheadnearerthewallsElfhelm’smenwereamongthesiege-engines,hewing,slaying,drivingtheirfoesintothefire-pits.WellnighallthenorthernhalfofthePelennorwasoverrun,andtherecampswereblazing,orcswereflyingtowardstheRiverlikeherdsbeforethehunters;andtheRohirrimwenthitherandthitherattheirwill.Buttheyhadnotyetoverthrownthesiege,norwontheGate.Manyfoesstoodbeforeit,andonthefurtherhalfoftheplainwereotherhostsstillunfought.SouthwardbeyondtheroadlaythemainforceoftheHaradrim,andtheretheirhorsemenweregatheredaboutthestandardoftheirchieftain.Andhelookedout,andinthegrowinglighthesawthebanneroftheking,andthatitwasfaraheadofthebattlewithfewmenaboutit.