(©Prince Imrahil 2003)</p>

<i>"All about the hills the hosts of Mordor raged. The Captains of the West were foundering in a gathering sea. The sun gleamed red, and under the wings of the Nazgul the shadows of death fell dark upon the earth. Aragorn stood beneath his banner, silent and stern, as one lost in thought of things long past or far away; but his eyes gleamed like stars that shine the brighter as the night deepens. Upon the hill top stood Gandalf, and he was white and cold and no shadow fell on him. The onslaught of Mordor broke like a wave on the beleaguered hills, voices roaring like a tide amid the wreck and crash of arms."</i></p>

Steel meets steel on the field<br>
Cormallen dyed blood red,<br>
Foe beleaguered, benighted<br>
Proud stands the legion!<br>
Wings of hope rising high<br>
Thorondor's sons by our side<br>
Hold the line, draw your swords<br>
Laugh in Death's iron face!</p>

<i>"As if to his eyes some sudden vision had been given, Gandalf stirred; and he turned, looking back north were the skies were pale and clear. And he lifted up his hands and cried in a loud voice ringing above the din: The Eagles are coming! And many voices answered crying: The Eagles are coming! The Eagles are coming!"</i></p>

Thunder strikes in the sky<br>
And noble Eagles arrive,<br>
Over the fire they fly<br>
Kings of the heavens above!<br>
And overhead the full moon<br>
Shines brighter than before<br>
Banners of glory aloft<br>
Flout the host of Sauron!</p>

<i>"There came Gwaiahir the Windlord, and Landroval his brother, greatest of all the Eagles of the North, mightiest of the descendants of old Thorondor, who built his eyries in the inaccessible peaks of the Encircling Mountains when Middle-earth was young. Behind them in long swift lines came all their vassals from the northern mountains, speeding on a gathering wind. Straight down upon the Nazgul they bore, stooping suddenly out of the high airs, and the rush of their wide wings as they passed over was like a gale!"</i></p>

In flowing streams of gold<br>
We shall bathe our swords<br>
The throne of old is now restored<br>
Horns sound the victory song!<br>
Darkness is banished anon<br>
How its reign now doth fall,<br>
Steeped in the blood of our foes<br>
Brandish the scepter of war!</p>

<i>"But the Nazgul turned and fled, and vanished into Mordor's shadows, hearing a sudden terrible call out of the Dark Tower; and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled, doubt clutching their hearts, their laughter failed, their hands shook and their limbs were loosed. The Power that drove them on and filled them with hate and fury was wavering, its will was removed from them; and now looking in the eyes of their enemies they saw a deadly light and they were afraid."</i></p>

Thunder strikes in the sky<br>
Thorondor's sons fly high<br>
They spread their wings - touch the sun,<br>
Armies below hail the strong!<br>
Eagles ride; greet the dawn,<br>
Beyond horizons afar<br>
Mountains enshrouded by frost<br>
Their legend will linger on!</p>

<i>"Then all the Captains of the West cried aloud, for their hearts were filled with a new hope in the midst of darkness. Out from the beleaguered hills knights of Gondor, Riders of Rohan, Dunedain of the North, close-serried companies, drove against their wavering foes, piercing the press with the thrust of bitter spears."</i></p>

<b><u>Comments</u></b></p>