Chapter 3

Battle for Helm's Deep

Aria stood above the gate as the sun fell and darkness to the keep, Ventus walked up behind her, "Why do you meddle with the afaires of men? With these men?"

She turned to him, "Because if we do not help now there may not be a world to live in after this. No water, No wind, No trees, all will be a baren wasteland of fire and ash. You know this brother, if we are to live on they must live on."

He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, "Spoken like a true leader. After this I think I will fallow you. Your always having more fun, and I want in on the action."

Then they heard a horn blow, they looked down to see a leagond of elf soliders, Aria called out to the men, "Open the Gates!"

They ran down to the stairs where the elves stoped at.

To see the king looking stunned, "How is this possible?"

Haldir turned to the king, "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died togather. We come to honer that allegiance."

Then Aragorn came running down the stairs and gave him a hug, he steped back and looked at him, "You are most welcome."

He then stepped back infront of King Theoden, "We are proud to fight along side men once more."

All the men are stationed where they should be, Aria stood next to Lagolas and Gimli, who spoke up in the silence, "You could have picked a better spot." Aria and Lagolas smiled.

Aragorn came walking up behind them, Gimli looked back, "Well, lad, whatever luck you live by let's hope it lasts the night."

Lagolas, "Your friends are with you, Aragorn."

Gimli, "Let's hope they last the night."

Aria laughes at this and looks up as it starts to rain, "Perfect this will help my powers greatly."

Gimli startes jumping to see over the wall but it dosen't work, "What's happening out there?"

Lagolas looks down at him, "Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?"

Gimli looks up at him and laughes, Aria laughs at them to.

Everyone nockes their bows and aims as the stand off continues, till an older man lost his grip and let his arrow fly hiting one.

The rest of the hord roars and attacks the wall, the elves waited for Aragorn signal to fire.

When he gave it Aria stood infront and put her hand out to each side stop the rain infront of the in midair and frezzeing it into ice needles, trowing her arms in front of her the ice rains over the hord like a thousand arrows. Rocks started flying over head like a catipult was throwing them, Terra was pulling bolders off the mountian side and using that to crush the enemy. That got rid of most of them but they still got ladders up. Aria jumped ontop of the wall useing the water from the rain to slice most of the ladders in half making alot of the orcs fall off dead.

Aria could hear Gimli, "Lagolas! Two already!"

Lagolas turned to him, "I'm on 17!"

Gimli scoffs, "I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!"

Aria looked to see the causeway being covered by orcs with shilds so the arrow coulden't reach them, she called out, "Ventus the causeway!"

He nodded pushing a sythe of wind at the causeway knocking half the orcs off.

She truns slicing an orcs stomach, as she dogges another her hair fly up and is long, the orc blades sharp and it cut her hair off to her sholders. She feels her hair and growls, stabing the orc and a few other with a water blade.

Aria heard Aragorn yelling something to Lagolas when she looked over the wall to see an orc running under the drain in the wall blowing the wall up, getting trown her self she is knocked out.

Lagolas saw her laying on the ground and pickes her up throwing her over his shoulder, running up the stairs to the keep and putting her in the hall before running back out to help fight.

She woke as the sun was rising and the men that were left were baricading the door, she looked as Lagolas pasted, "Lagolas?"

He stopped and helped her up, "Are you alright?"

She smiles "Mostly. Why?"

Lagolas took her handpulling her up, "Because, we are riding out for one last stand." he pulled her over to the white horse and helped her up, "Get ready to fight when the door open."

She looked over to see Ventus and Terra on there horses beside her and she smiled.

She looks around see a few soilders and the king, Aragorn and a few elves.

As the doors busted down and orcs swarmed in the hall, Theodens cry resounded through the hall, "Forth Eorlingas!" the all pulled out there swords and charged out the door, down the stairs, out of the keep, and down the causeway.

They swing away at the orcs till they look to see Gandalf on the hill with Eomer and his 2000 riders speeding down it to fight for their lands and their king.

Aria smiles and raises her sword as the call of victory was sounded, she then put away her sword and wrapped both arms around Lagolas from behind, seeing as she was sitting behind him in the horse. He layed his free hand over hers and let out the call of victory holding his bow up.

The returned to the keep and cleared it of the last reamining orcs, and cared for the wounded and letting the women and children out of the cave.

Everyone gathered what they could and headed back to the city, Aria wrapped her arms around Lagolas's waist and laying her head on his back.

He looked back at her, "Tired are we?"

She shoke her head, "Yes, I think it's mostly just because of the head ache I have from my fall."

He patts her arm, "You can rest as long as you need to."

She smiles, "Thank you, Lagolas."

She looks over to see Terra and Ventus fallowing , they smile at her knowing that she liked the elf and wanted to suport her.

They treck throught the woods on horseback to Isengard, Aria with Lagolas, Gimli with Aragorn, and others are led by Gandalf.

Then they see Merry and Pippin sitting on the broken wall that surrounds Isengard, Merry stands, "Welcome My Lords And Lady to Isengard." he says pointing behind him.

Gimli calls out from behind Aragorn, "You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and smoking!"

Pippin smiled, "We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts."

Merry lookes around, "The salted pork is particularly good."

Gimli looks up at them, "Salted pork."

Aria laughs with Lagolas and the other behind them smile.

Gandalf shaks his head, "Hobbits."

Merry points behind him, "We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard."

After there talk the go to see Treebeard so Merry rides with Eomer and Pippin rides with another guard of Rohan.

They look to see a tree walking on it's own throught the water from the water, "Young Master Gandalf and young Lady Aria. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can there is a wizard to manage here locked in his tower."

Gandalf looks up at tower, "And there Saruman must remain under your guard, Treebeard."

Gimli spoke up from behind Aragorn, "Well let's just have his head and be done with it."

Gandalf looks at him, "No. He has no power anymore."

Treebeard smiles, "The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here, young trees, wild trees."

Pippin then jumped off the horse and Aragorn saw he walk past, "Pippin!"

He walk over and picked up a dark crystal ball holding it out of the water to look at.

Gandalf saw and walked over on his horse, "Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad." he looked at it a second, "Quickly now." then held up for Gandalf to take who hid it in his cloke.

He than got back on the horse and they all headed back to Rohan.

Most of the village was gathered in the great hall for a toast to the ones who fell at Helm's Deep.

Theoden, "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!"

Everyone raised their cups, "Hail!" then took a drink.

A party fallowed of feasting and drinking as the men celibrated their victory.

Aria had changed into a silver dress with white and lavender lace triming.

Aria smiled and laughed at Merry and Pippin dancing and singing on the table, as it ended Lasgolas walked up and held out his hand, "Mylady, would you like to join me for some fresh air."

She smiles takeing his hand, "I would be delighted, Mylord."

He leads her out the hall and to the edge of the outcrop of stone that the hall sits on.

The wind was still all but a light breeze, Lagolas turned to her, "Mylady, you look beautiful tonight."

She smiled, "Thank you, you look very hansome yourself."

They both look out over at the moutians, "You had me worried."

She looked back up at him, "Huh? What do you mean? ...When?"

He looked at her, "At Helm's Deep. When you fell. It really scared me to think of you not here."

She looked down, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. Maybe if I had acted quicker I could have stopped the orcs from blowing up the wall. I was right there I could have saved so many."

He put his hand under chin and lifted her head to look at him, "You did all you could. Do not dwell in the past for it will not bring them back or turn back time. Maybe it was meant to be this way."

She looked at him confused, "Why would you say that?"

He smilesd lightly,"When you fell I was worried, it made me realize how much I care for you." he took her hands in his, "I love you Lady Aria."

She gasped and stared at him then looked down and smiled, "I love you to, Lagolas. I have for awhile."

He smiled and leaned down placeing a light kiss on her lips, that she deepend when she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer, he wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up spining her around a second before setting her down.

He took her hands in his again, "I will protect you from with my life, I promise."

He reaches around his neck and pulled a necklace with a silver pendent with emarald crystals imbeded in it, "This nacklace is mine to give to who I will. As is my heart which I now give to you, keep it safe." he said putting the necklace on her.

She smiled admiring the small pendent, "I will keep it here next to my heart, always. I feel bad I have nothing to give you in return."

He smiled, "You need give me nothing but your heart."

She looked up at him, "And it is yours for as long as you will have it."

He smiled and looks out over the mountains.

She looks back to see Aragorn comeing out of the hall, "Aragorn. To much drinking for you?"

He walks over and joins them, "No just needed some fresh air." he looks over to Lagolas, "What do you see, Lagolas?"

Lagolas, "The stars are vailed. Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice. The eye of the enemy is moving."

Aria took in a breath, "Ill tidings sing in the wind, I fear for the whole of the earth."

Lagolas looks to Aragorn with worry in his eyes, "He is here."

He runs toward the mens sleeping chambers Aragorn and Aria fallow closely.

When they get there Pippin is wrigging on the floor holding the crystal ball, Aragorn raced to his side taking the ball from his hands. The ball started hurting him and he fell back into Lagolases arms and dropping the ball which Gandalf raced to cover before turning back to Pippin.

Aria ran to Pippins side as Aragorn took the ball from him, "Gandalf I can't heal this."

Gandalf pushed her and a worried Merry aside, he took his hand and placed another on his head, after a few seconds Pippin started breathing heavly.

Gandalf, "Look at me."

Pippin, "Gandalf, forgive me."

Gandalf, "Tell me, what did you see?"

Pippin hesitated, "A tree. there was a white tree... In a courtyard of stone... It was Dead...The city was burning."

Gandalf, "Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?"

Pippin, "I saw ...I saw him... I could hear his voice in my head."

Gandalf, "And what did you tell him? ...Speak!"

Pippin, "He asked me my name, I didn't hurt me."

Gandalf, "What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?"

Pippin, "Nothing."

They all went and rested after that, the next morning Gandalf called the king in to the hall to tell him of that nights events.

Gandalf turned to the king, "There was no lie in pippin's eyes. A fool but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely saw in the palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron move to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showned our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challange him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he see a king return to thr throne of men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."

Theoden looked at Gandalf, "Tell me...Why should we ride to the aiid of those who did not come to ours?"

Everyone looked at him shocked, Theoden turned away from him, "What do we owe Gondor?"

Aragorn spoke from the silence, "I will go."

Gandalf walked toward Aragorn, "No!"

Aragorn, "They must be warned."

Gandalf, "They will be." He then walked to Aragorn and said something very low so Theoden couldn't hear then he turned back to them, "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith and I won't be going alone." he turned and looked at Pippin.

Gandalf lead Pippin and Merry out of the hall to the stables, Aria watched as they left, Aragorn came up and stood next to her, "What worries you Mylady?"

She looked at him, "I'm worried for Pippin, but I know I shouldn't be for Gandalf is with him. Then again with the enemy going after Pippin who is Safe with Gandalf, they'll turn away from Frodo and Sam."

Aragorn smiled, "Always looking for the briter side of darkness are we?"

She looked at him, "It's better to keep my spirit up than down."

Then they saw Gandalf run out the stable and Merry run toward one of the watch towers, Aragorn and Aria fallowing, "Merry!" he didn't stop till he reached the top and was able to see Gandalf riding away.

Aria put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry Merry you'll see each other again in time."

He looked up at her with tears in his eyes, she looked at Aragorn then back down at Merry, "Now is not the time, Master Merry." she bends down to his hight, "Now is the time when you must be at your bravest even if your scared or worried, Understand?"

He nodded and left and Aragorn came up to her, "Wise words but were it more for him or for you?"

She turned to him, "I know not my self." then she turned and left.