Elendil had thought to only rest his eyes for a moment, but then he was being shaken awake by Gil-galad.
"Elendil," said the Elf. "Elendil, rouse yourself."
Elendil rose from the ground with a groan. "Oh, my friend," he sighed. "My Númenórean blood has given me long life, but it has not padded these old bones for sleeping upon stones. What is it? Is it time to ride again?"
"I believe Sauron too has stopped. The black cloud reached the foot of Orodruin soon after we stopped, but it has not moved since. Come see for yourself."
They climbed over the low wall of black lava rocks and walked to the top of a mound of cinders a few hundred yards north of the road. Three Elvish sentries stood there, looking out to the west and pointing.
"There, Sire," said one. "You see? The cloud is over that low area just beyond the old lava flows at Orodruin's southern skirts. But it has not moved this last half hour."
"What could it mean?" mused Elendil, staring out at the dark pall like a motionless column of smoke.
"Perhaps even his horde needs rest," suggested Gil-galad.
"Or perhaps he lies in wait to ambush us," murmured one of the other Elves.
"He has no need to hide," said Elendil. "All he has to do is to wait for us to catch up."
"Then perhaps he is ready to make his stand."
"But then why lead us this chase halfway across Mordor first?"
"He may feel stronger in the shadow of Orodruin," said Gil-galad. "It is said that the source of his power is within the Mountain."
"If so, we have no choice but to fight him on the ground of his choosing. Rouse the army. Let us mount and ride at once."
Soon they were under way again, the men still groggy from their short sleep, the horses disgruntled at starting again so soon in the heat of the day. Elendil and Gil-galad rode side by side at the head of the column, watching that ominous dark cloud growing nearer every minute.
"It is an evil situation," said Elendil, keeping his voice low so the others wouldn't hear. "He is at the peak of his power, in his own territory, and he can arrange his troops as he pleases. He even chooses the time and place of the battle."
"Aye," said Gil-galad, "while we shall arrive exhausted from a long siege and chase, and we do not even know where our friends might be at this moment."
"Would they were with us now," said Elendil. "I would feel much easier if I had Isildur at my side."
"And his ten thousand warriors," agreed Gil-galad. "But if we must face Sauron as we are, let us do all that we can. Sauron alone must be our object."
"Aye, if he were slain the orcs alone would be no great danger. They can fight fiercely, but only with leadership. If their captains are slain, individually they are cowards."
"Then let us not spread out into a long battle line," suggested Gil-galad. "You and I shall ride straight for Sauron with all our greatest knights. All the rest shall follow at our backs, perhaps no more than ten abreast. We will make no attempt to engage along the entire front. It will be one glorious charge. Are we agreed?"
Elendil considered a moment. "If the charge is stopped, his orcs will be able to close in around us. We would have no defense on our flanks at all. We wouldn't have a chance."
"Yes. It is win or lose, all or nothing. We shall gamble all on one thrust straight at him."
"It is a desperate plan. There could be no retreat, no regrouping, no second attempt."
"For myself," said Gil-galad, "I am sick of this miserable land and all that is in it. I have no desire for other battles, other days. I would meet Sauron face to face and give him a taste of Aeglos in the ribs," he said grimly, holding the great spear upright at his side. "If I die in the attempt, so be it. But we will have done our utmost. Let it be finished today."
"Yes," said Elendil. "I too am ready for the war to be over today. I will ride beside you. And my Narsil too is thirsty for Sauron's blood."
"Then let the orders be passed, for methinks he is only beyond that ridge."
Isildur turned in his saddle and his voice boomed out over the pounding of hooves. "Form up in ten files, no more. When we see the enemy, keep together and draw up tight behind us; let no one straggle or they will left behind. Engage only those immediately before you. Do not turn aside to pursue. Let every warrior ride straight for Sauron, no matter what may come between. And he whose hand brings him down shall live forever in song. His name shall be sung in the halls of kingdoms yet unborn. Ride now, and do not stop until Sauron is dead!"
The pall loomed right above them now, blocking the sun and throwing the land into shadow. Smoke drifted among the pinnacles of broken rock on either hand. They pounded up a last slope, topped a rise, and looked down into a wide flat valley. On the right was a jagged black wall of lava, the toe of a massive flow coming down from Orodruin, now filling the entire northern sky. And there before them lay all the armies of Mordor.
They were spread along the floor of the valley, from the lava on the right until they disappeared in the murk to the south. Rank upon rank of armored orcs, their weapons bristling above and before them. Here and there among them were companies of Men: cruel Haradrim of the South and the savage Men of Rhûn and the Berserkers from the lands to the east.
On the far side of the valley, perhaps three miles away, a group of a few hundred black figures were formed up in a dense square behind the last ranks. There, where the darkness was deepest, flew the banners of ebony with the crimson Lidless Eye. Even at that distance, the Men and Elves could feel the malice and the terror that was Sauron's Shadow.
No orders were necessary. No maneuvering was required. Gil-galad and Elendil simply topped the rise and rode shoulder-to-shoulder, straight for that darkness. Behind them the long, long column continued to pour over the hill, riding at full speed. Deep-throated cries rang out, tearing the air: "Gondor! Gondor!" and "Elbereth. Elbereth for Lindon!"
The orc officers apparently assumed the leaders would pause at the foot of the hill to disperse their troops along the front, for they did nothing but watch silently. Closer and closer came Elendil and Gil-galad, their armor gleaming in the sun, their banners rippling above them. Their chief knights spread out into a tight wedge behind them so the column assumed the form of a giant spear, the point driving straight toward the center of Sauron's army.
The orcs in the center of the front rank watched with growing uneasiness. When the Kings were only a few hundred yards away their intent became clear and panic fell on the orcs in their path. Some few turned to flee, but they were instantly cut down by their officers in the second rank. The others were driven forward with many blows and cruel cuts from the officers' whips.
But none could withstand the onslaught of the Kings and their knights. The greatest fighters of many an age, all gathered together in one cause, driven in desperation to one final charge, were not to be turned aside by mere orcs. They struck with the impact of an avalanche, sweeping the terrified orcs aside, trampling them screaming under their hooves. The wedge of knights drove forward, each sweeping down with his sword as if mowing a field of wheat, and the orcs fell back before them.
Now the flanks of the orc horde understood at last the nature of the attack. They abandoned their formations and rushed toward the center, howling as they came. But the press was so great around the allied column that few could approach close enough to strike a blow. Those unfortunate enough to be near found themselves pushed forward by their fellows, right into the cruel slashing blades of the Men. The Elvish archers could fire at will into the close-packed throng of orcs, sure of a kill with every shaft.