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Chapter 6
THE BATTLE OF THE
PELENNOR FIELDS
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. But his arm was long. He was still in
command, wielding great powers. King, Ringwraith, Lord of
the Nazgûl, he had many weapons. He left the Gate and
vanished.
Théoden King of the Mark had reached the road from the
Gate to the River, and he turned towards the City that was
now less than a mile distant. He slackened his speed a little,
seeking new foes, and his knights came about him, and
Dernhelm was with them. Ahead nearer the walls Elfhelm’s
men were among the siege-engines, hewing, slaying, driving
their foes into the fire-pits. Well nigh all the northern half of
the Pelennor was overrun, and there camps were blazing,
orcs were flying towards the River like herds before the hunters;
and the Rohirrim went hither and thither at their will.
But they had not yet overthrown the siege, nor won the Gate.
Many foes stood before it, and on the further half of the plain
were other hosts still unfought. Southward beyond the road
lay the main force of the Haradrim, and there their horsemen
were gathered about the standard of their chieftain. And he
looked out, and in the growing light he saw the banner of the
king, and that it was far ahead of the battle with few men
about it. Then he was filled with a red wrath and shouted