Theoden

 Take a famous scene or moment from a classic story and rewrite it in a completely different era.

The mud at the bottom of the trench squelches under our boots as we wait by the ladders. An officer, on a horse for some God-awful reason, circles behind us, shouting something he hoped would be inspirational. 

"All of you shall advance forth at the enemy! Forth, and fear no darkness! Arise! Arise, Soldiers of Theoden!"

We are to charge out across the field, in hope of breaking through the orcish defensive line.

"Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... ere the sun rises!"

We are to pretend we can make it any distance before being cut down by orcish artillery and machine gun fire.

"Ride now! Ride now!"

We have no horses, and certainly no cavalry support.

"Ride! Ride to ruin and the world's ending! Death!"

A pleasant thought.

"Death!"

The soldiers are silent.

"Death!"

The soldiers step onto their ladders.

"Death!"

And climb over the top.

(written 2021 January 14)