Epilogue: The Codex of CoderThroughout the lands of Middle-Earth Coder has travelled bearing many names, Coder of Minas Tirith, Ramasai in Rohan and many others. His part in the War of the Ring began obscure and he eventually rose to fight side by side with King Elessar as a General of the Glorious Army. Initially Coder was posted at Osgilliath and there he stayed for a time as a sentry. He witnessed the comings and goings of Boromir and when the Stewards Son was sent to Imladris, Coder was sent to seek him out after his two month absence. He journeyed far north, through Rohan and arriving at the Elf haven of Imladris. He was turned away by the Elves, and told to return to the White City; having done all that he could to find news of Boromir, he readied himself for the long journey of finding him unaided. He wandered far, crossing the Misty Mountains and the river beyond it to enter Mirkwood only to find no information of Boromir’s being anywhere. After a brief stay, Coder travelled south to the Emyn Muil. After a tiring venture through the rocky hills and mountains he came to Cair Andros, weary and battered, he crossed here and received aid from his men. Things were looking bleak in Gondor- the monstrous clouds above the ashy mountains billowed with the glow of fire upon their bellies.
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With things looking desperate it was most necessary to find Boromir at once, he was given a horse and rode east to Rohan in search of news and arrived to the abandoned Edoras to learn the Rohirrim had made for Helms Deep in an attempt to stay Saruman’s forces. He rode thither immediately, even crossing the very path of the enemy, who rained black darts upon him but thankfully he crossed unscathed. He was welcomed at Helms Deep and was placed upon the Gateway, he weathered the siege that took place in that stone trap and witnessed the deaths of many fine men. When the Deeping Wall was breached, he lent his aid to the battle but was unable to sustain the efforts; he retreated with many other men into the Glittering Caves and took refuge there. When the battle was won he learned first hand from Aragorn, son of Arathorn, that Boromir had perished on the slopes of Amon-Hen. He grieved then but was left little time lament, he was soon saddled once more to ride to Minas Tirith in a battle, he was told, that would end an Age. |
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Unfurling the Banner of Minas Tirith he rode with the Rohirrim and entered the battle upon the Pelennor Fields, Coder separated from the main host in the charge and made for the Gateway- hoping to help secure the Gate and repel any Orcs upon the ramparts. It was a long and bloody battle and he lead scores of troops out onto the fields to fight alongside the Rohirrim and on the suns setting he remained there, searching among the bodies for a Halfling that Gandalf had expected to see. Again Coder bore the Banner of Minas Tirith as he rode in Aragorn’s company to the Black Gate; he was stationed on the left hill and fought hard and long, sometimes at Gandalf’s side and by King Elessar’s at the front of the battle. Here he slew many Orcs and was fighting along the flanks of the hill when he was unfortunately caught at unawares, wounded by an Orc spearman. Still holding the banner aloft he fought steady for a time, tiring under the strain of the Orc host he ventured to the hills summit, standing there and wearily waving the Banner of Minas Tirith. He ordered several volleys upon the host of Mordor and held the ranks firm until suddenly he himself was shot, pierced by the barbed tip of a black fletched arrow, aimed at him by the Orcs upon the Morannon. Pierced and wounded, he fell back upon the hill, resting against the pole of his banner, until he slipped into slumber. |
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After the battle, Coder’s banner was placed upon the hill as a token and it stood there for an uncounted time, marking the place that the Men of the West made the last stand of the 3rd Age. As for Coder himself? He was found in the midst of battle by Eomer and Legolas and was brought again to the White City where he recovered from his wounds, unable to remain in his home city, yearning to venture again to Rohan and Imladris, Coder was blessed and sent on his way, bearing now a new blade, forged from Aragorn’s ranger sword, upon its blade it bore the White Tree and the Galloping Horse and never did Coder draw the sword for there was never need in these times of peace. He aided the reconstruction of Osgilliath and remained there to gaze upon the setting sun and the dance of the orange waves beneath it. |
