Hi all! Here I am, back again this time typing from ROME, ITALY! Ciao! Hope you enjoy this one, please review when you are done!

"Why are you in here? Your going to have to fight." Legolas tells me, his face grim.

I look up at him from the rock I am sitting on. I had decided last minute to accompany Lady Eowyn in the caves with the women and children. Regardless of what the elf had said earlier, something deep inside was telling me not to fight. And besides, she seemed like she needed more help then the men outside. I had been relieved when she asked me for help, I had seen the armies that Saruman had built and I did not want to be part of the battle.

"You must be out on the forfront within the hour"

"WHAT?" I stand up and shout at the elf. A few of the women and children look up at me, surprised by my outburst.

"You have to be by his side, you have to shout his commands." He rubs his ears "Your voice is certainly loud enough."

"Why? I thought Theodan's men were fast learners, I thought they were going to listen to the horn."

"That has changed. Theodan is commanding his men now, Aragorn is commanding Haldir and his troops."

I am very confused. "Who's Haldir? What are you talking about?" I ask him.

"The elves have come to fight for us."

"They came now?"

"Yes. We have no time to teach them. Battle is upon us."

"Why me?"

"Lord Aragorn requested you, he trusts you."

I sigh, and then nod. "Alright. But if I die, my ghost will haunt your skinny little butt for the rest of eternity. Same goes for Aragorn." I mumble, walking past him and back out into the fort.

Legolas leads me into the armory. I stare at all the men getting ready, and fight a building sense of panic. This is what had faltered me before, their eyes have no hope in them. They are scared. What I had said earlier to Aragorn, "We can fight them, and we will win!" now seems ridiculous. How can we win? Why did I even say that?

Someone hands me a helmet, chain mail, armor, a sword. I stare at the equipment in my arms, how can this even protect me? I don't even know how to put it on. Then I see Aragorn, sharpening his sword. He meets me in the eye and smilies at me. He trusts me? How can he trust me, I am nothing, I have no courage. It left me when I realized that the outlook of this battle is not going to be in our favor. The room tilts slightly and I suddenly cant catch my breath. I hear the clatter of the armor as it falls from my arms, I see Aragorn stand up and then I bolt from the armory.

I want to run as fast as I can until I am far away from here. Far away from the hopeless stares and defeated faces. Unfortunately, I am trapped in Helm's Deep. How is this any different from a prison? We are all trapped. I run up the stairs in the darkening light and try to find a place to sit and calm down. I find a secluded nook and slide down against the wall. I put my head in my hands and try to control my sudden gasps for breathe. My hands shake. I have not had a full on panic attack in years. Tears run down my face, I grasp my knees, trying to stop shaking. My breathing hitches as I sob into my hands. I hope no one can hear me, this is not what people need to see right now. As far as I know, they think I'm still the strong women that rescued Aragorn from Saruman. What will they think if they see me now?

I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. I open my eyes and peer up through my fingers. I see a very concerned Aragorn staring back. He kneels down next to me, even though he says nothing his eyes say clearly "are you okay?". I nod, "I'm alright" I manage between the hitches of breathe, "Pre-battle jitters, you know?" I tell him. He just nods, then he reaches out with a handkerchief and wipes my tears from my face. I am trying desperately to control my breathing, but the more I struggle against it, the more I gasp for air. "I'm sorry" I manage to say, he shakes his head and takes my hand, squeezing it gently as if to say "theres nothing to be sorry about.". He rubs his thumb over the top of my hand, trying to comfort me. It takes me a good five minutes to gain control of my breathing, and to stop crying.

"Im okay now." I finally tell him, and give him a watery smile. He still looks concerned, my eyes betray me as more tears role from them down my face. He smilies slightly and shakes his head again, then wipes my eyes with his handkerchief, again. I lean my face into his shoulder, "Im sorry about this. I guess Im just nervous. First big battle." I try to explain, he pats my shoulder, and then tucks his hand under my chin and brings my eyes up to his. "Everything will be fine." he mouths slowly, so I can understand him. I nod, feeling a little less nervous.

He points with his free hand to a bundle he had brought with him; it is the armor, chain mail, sword and helmet that I had dropped in the armory. "Thanks" I tell him, he nods, then motions for me to stand up. I give him a questioning look, "what?" I ask, he mouths "I'll help" and points again to the bundle. This time I understand; he's going to help me with the armor. He stands up, then offers me a hand I take it, and stand up next to him. He picks up the chain mail first, and holds it up to me, seizing it up. He nods, and hands it to me. "Put it on, like a shirt?" I ask him, he nods. I do "oof, its heavy." I tell him, he gives me a slight smilie. The chain mail falls down, reaching my knees. He patiently helps me with the rest of the armor, which is surprisingly complicated, and heavy. The last thing he hands me is the sword, but it isn't the sword from the armory; its my own sword, the one I grabbed before we left Isengard. I pull the handle up, and see that it has been sharpened for me. I smile at him, "Thank you" I tell him. He nods, then looks me over, straightening my cape and adjusting my helmet. I look down over myself, I can barely recognize me. He grabs my shoulders and squeezes them, "ready?" he mouths. I nod, feeling the panic surge up inside me but then feeling reassured by his strong grip. I smilie "Yes."