We were in. The streets on this side of the city were deserted, and frightened townspeople had locked their doors, hiding within in terror. Though I pitied them, part of me was relieved. It would make the mission far easier if there were less watchful eyes about.

We all met Hadar on the wall where he was waiting for us, and from there we planned our next move. Most of the commotion was taking place far from us, a as most of the guards had already been sent to fight on the front lines.

"We have a lot of ground to cover between here and the front gate," I said as I surveyed the city. We were on the exact opposite side, leaving a small army between us and there. "It'll take at least an hour to traverse the whole wall and reach the gate."

"We could try and sneak through the city, cut the distance in half," Brand suggested timidly, adjusting his oversized helmet.

"Too risky." I shook my head. "There'll be patrols in the streets."

"No wait, the Westron has a point," Hadar interjected. I noticed that Fox was remaining silent. "Most of the soldiers are already on the far wall, and the townspeople are too afraid to venture outside. It may be even safer than the wall, since they've no doubt posted at least a few guards along the walls to keep watch."

I pondered his words for a moment. He made a convincing argument. At worst, it would be as dangerous. If not, it'd be significantly safer, and at the same time it would get us there quicker.

"Very well. But we have to be careful. If so much as one person sees us we'll be as good as dead." I didn't relish the thought of failing our mission, let alone being killed before the actual battle was even fought. "Follow me."

I leapt down from the wall and we made our way carefully down the main thoroughfare, turning into the first back alley that we saw. None of us made a sound as we stealthily wound through the dark alleys and back streets.

Suddenly I held a hand up and we all stopped. I could've sworn that I heard footsteps...

We had stopped just in time. Two heavily armed Gondorian soldiers ran past, armor clanking loudly. I put a hand on the hilt of my sword and glanced at Hadar, who shook his head. No point in trying to kill them; it would be too risky.

After they disappeared down another street we continued. The sound of the catapults filled the air, and the stingingly sweet smell of smoke entered my nostrils. I grinned morbidly at the thought of possibly being killed by friendly catapult fire. Wouldn't that be an ironic way to die? I mused.

I pushed the thought away and focused back on the task at hand. We were now nearly halfway to the gate. But what we had already passed through had been the easier half; what was to come would be far more difficult.

Each step we took that brought us closer to the gate also brought us closer to the bulk of the enemy army, and consequentially closer to possibly being seen. Perhaps if we split up we'd have a better chance.

"Hadar, you and Brand should create a distraction so the path to the gate is clear. Fox and I will use that to get there and open it. Don't put yourselves in any more danger than you have to," I whispered, glancing furtively up and down the alley.

Hadar narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure that's wise? Splitting up makes us weaker."

"But it also makes us a smaller profile," I countered. "Besides, that way even if Fox and I fail you two will have a chance."

Brand nodded in agreement. "I'd have to agree with Rukil on this one. We need whatever advantage we can get."

I realized that Fox hadn't given his opinion on the matter. I looked intently at him. "What do you think?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly in thought. A moment later he opened them. "It's risky. But I do not doubt that it may work."

"Very well then, if we're all in agreement..." I trailed off, glancing at Hadar. I didn't want him to go along with the plan just because he was outnumbered; I wanted him to agree. He sighed and shook his head.

"I don't think it's the best choice, but it's all we've got. So I agree, we attempt to split up."

I nodded and tapped lightly on my helmet. "Fox, you're with me then. Hadar and Brand, go start a fire."

===============================
3rd Person

The Haradrim and man of Rohan snuck silently across the street, keeping an eye open for guards. After successfully crossing, they crouched down beside several tall barrels and looked cautiously around. Confident that they were safe for the moment, Hadar spoke up.

"There isn't a house in this whole town made of wood. What does Rukil expect us to burn?"

Brand raised an eyebrow and nodded to something behind Hadar. The burly Haradrim turned around and laughed quietly. Before him was a large water mill. The building itself was stone, but the large wheel that normally turned in the water was most decidedly not.

"'I should look around next time before I speak," Hadar laughed.

"Aye, that seems to be a bad habit of yours," Brand said with a smirk. He tapped lightly on one of the barrels they were hiding behind. "And if that weren't good enough, we have another stroke of luck. There's lamp oil in these barrels, or I'm a troll."

Hadar grinned. "Well hopefully both are true, you're already a troll." At this Brand frowned.

"That's not the point of the phrase," he said in a surly voice.

Hadar rolled his eyes and lifted one of the lids off a barrel, peering down into it. "Definitely oil," he said after a moment, his voice echoing slightly from inside it. He stood straight and smiled roguishly. With a heave he lifted the barrel, his muscular arms rippling with effort as he hoisted it over his shoulder.

"Let's burn this place," he said with confidence. Brand grinned back and lifted a barrel of his own, having a much more difficult time than his Haradrim counterpart. Eventually, however, he was able to carry it over to the mill, where he followed Hadar's example and began dumping the oil onto the mill wheel. The slick liquid cascaded onto it, and some of it dripped down into the water, creating a shiny sheen on its surface.

When they had emptied the barrels, they decided to search inside the mill for a torch. Hadar quietly opened the door, and the two cautiously entered. To their surprise, it was empty except for a few large wooden boxes. Fortunately, however, they found a torch in a wall sconce and quickly lit it. Brand took it from its place and carried it outside.

"Which way should we go when we light this?" Brand asked. Neither of them had really thought about it.

Hadar scratched his turbaned head thoughtfully, taking in their surroundings and seeming to mentally calculate their options. Brand held the torch in silence, waiting for the Haradrim to decide. After a moment Hadar pointed toward the culvert in the river.

"As soon as you light it we jump into the river and make for the culvert. We'll meet in the forest outside. If anything goes wrong, split up."

Brand narrowed his eyes. "I suppose that's the best idea we have at the moment..." A catapult round hit a building just down the road from them, collapsing the roof. "And seeing as we don't have much time to think of a better option, we'll do that." The blond man nodded at Hadar and brandished the torch. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Brand tossed the torch onto the mill wheel, and it burst into flame. He smiled triumphantly at Hadar, but the smile immediately vanished as a voice cried out in alarm. Both arsonists looked in the direction of the yell and saw four Gondorian soldiers running angrily toward them, while two more rushed to put the fire out.

"Run!" Hadar yelled and dove into the water with a splash. Brand ran frantically along the side of the river, listening as the clanking of the soldiers' armor grew louder behind him.

Suddenly he heard a whistle as an arrow narrowly passed by his head. He turned and saw that the soldiers had drawn bows and they were all firing at him. His heart thumped loudly in his ears, drowning out all other sounds. He put on a renewed burst of speed in a desperate attempt to gain distance.

He was close to the culvert now, so close...

But he never made it. A rush of pain suddenly came from his thigh, and his leg gave out under him. He fell to his knees but continued forward, willing himself to make it.

He reached down to touch his thigh and felt the shaft of an arrow protruding from it. Warm blood quickly covered his hand, and he began to feel lightheaded. Just a little further...
He felt himself be pushed forward by an unseen force from behind, and realized he had been hit by another arrow, in the small of the back this time.

He fell forward, unable to go any further. His vision began to darken, and he heard, rather than felt, strong arms lifting him up and voices shouting desperately. The last thing he saw before he went unconscious was Hadar, watching through the culvert in silent horror.

===============================
1rst Person

I followed Fox through the back alleys, careful to stay close to the shadows that hid us from the watchful eyes of the enemy. Strangely enough, Fox seemed to know his way through the city well, his pace sure as he led me ever closer to the gate.

After what seemed like hours, we made it to an alley next to the gate. We could see it clearly from where we were. Most of the soldiers were milling around behind the gate, standing in silent fear. They seemed to know that it was only a matter of time before they were either burned out of the city or a wall would come crashing down from the constant barrage of our catapults.

I didn't want to see the soldier's faces... Killing was so much worse when you could see who you were killing. But despite that my curiosity won out, and my eyes slowly moved to study the faces of each man. Many of them were young, younger than me most likely. And some were old, their grey beards poking through their helmets.

These weren't soldiers... They must've been given armor at the last minute. The thought of these armed townspeople facing the trained soldiery of Rhun filled my heart with pity for them. They'd be cut down quickly, almost without a fight.

I noticed that Fox was watching me intently, and I broke out of my thoughts and narrowed my eyes at him.

"What?" I said, sure he had been reading my facial expression.

His green eyes stared back at me, and I felt like he was judging me. "Nothing at all," he said, not breaking eye contact. "We need to get to the gatehouse without killing anyone."

That was a strange request. "Why?" I asked.

"Because the less bloodshed the better," he replied. His voice sounded strange now, almost... Wiser. "These people will surrender if the gate is breached, I am certain of it." He spoke as though he knew something I didn't.... It confused me.

"What makes you think that?" I looked inquiringly at him.

"They're not fighters. They know that they'll lose." He averted his gaze to the gate. "Let ya be quick about it, shall we?"

Something about his whole demeanor had changed, and it made me suspicious. I felt like he was in charge now, not me. And I wasn't sure why, but he seemed to want the battle to end with as few casualties as possible. Most mercenaries would be eager for the bloodshed, but Fox wasn't.

For the moment, however, I decided not to question him. If he was up to something, I didn't want him to know I was on to him yet. I'd be keeping an eye out for him to make one false move, and then I'd have the element of surprise.

We both stood, and he turned to face me.

"You have a higher purpose than this," he said, and then dashed forward to the gatehouse under the cover of some barrels. I raised an eyebrow. Why did he keep saying that? I shrugged it off for the moment, deciding to wait to consider what he meant by it.

We reached the gatehouse without being seen, and we now stood outside the door. I peered in and saw two soldiers sitting at a table eating. I glanced at Fox.

Like a flash of lightning he moved from his spot next to the doorway to the table, knocking both soldiers out with a fist to the face. I drew my scimitar and moved to one, ready to finish him off. Fox grabbed my arm and shook his head.

"No! No bloodshed," he said reprovingly. I sheathed my weapon and looked around. Next to the table was a wheel with a handle on its side. It most likely opened the gate. Above it was a slit in the wall, through which I could see our army waiting just outside.

I turned to tell Fox to watch the door... But once again he was gone. There was no sign of him in the room. I sighed in annoyance and began to turn the wheel. I could hear the creak of the gate as it opened slowly. I felt a jerk as the gate finished its journey.

I looked through the slit in the window. I could see Lord Khanar atop his steed, raising his sword and shouting as the Lòke-Gamp-Rim joined in a blood-chilling battle cry. The faces of the Gondorians at the gate flashed briefly through my mind. They were all dead men, because of me. Whether I was on the right side or not, I had sentenced each and every one of those men to death. Khanar would not accept surrender. Fox was wrong to think he would.

I had done my part. But the battle had just begun. Hell had been unleashed.