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Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, any of J.R.R. Tolkien's recognizable universe, or characters. Speech will be movie verse, which again, I don't own.

Ch 8 Helm's Deep

Tabatha trudged into the Keep. Refugees were overflowing the halls, collapsed as soon as they entered the gates. She began to familiarize herself with the fortress, mentally walking through the future battle, until she heard the guys arrive.

"Make way for Théoden. Make way for the king." a voice rang through the Keep.

Eowyn ran out of the shadows. "So few. So few of you have returned." she exclaimed.

"Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives." Théoden told her.

"My lady." Gimli's tight voice acknowledged her presence.

"Lord Aragorn, where is he?" Eowyn asked, peering behind him.

"He fell." Gimli told her, his voice choked in grief, before trailing Legolas and Théoden into the heart of the keep.

On seeing Tabatha in the entrance, Boromir pinned her roughly to the wall. "You knew. You knew that Aragorn would die, and did nothing to prevent it!" he yelled.

Silence descended around them.

"And what would you have me do? You know my skills. Should I have joined you against the wargs?" she cried out to him.

"We would have protected him!" he yelled back, his eyes thrusting daggers into hers.

She gripped his hands on her shoulders, while hissing back "At what cost? Look around you. How many others fell?"

His grip loosened. His forehead dropped to rest on hers, as he struggled to master his anger.

"There's no reason to despair." she consoled. She leaned forward, whispering emphatically into his ear. "The king shall return. Like Gandalf, he needed to fall. Tell nobody, not even Legolas or Gimli." Her eyes met his with fiery intensity. "Gondor is not lost. We are not lost. Even now, as the hours grow dark, the light is gathering its strength." Her hand came up to caress his cheek.

He sighed, tension draining from his body.

"Will you still help me? Will you prevent unnecessary death this night?" she questioned forcefully.

"I have agreed to this service." he growled at her.

"Good. Then let's take a walk. There's much to discuss." Tabatha told him as she dragged him away.

...

Tabatha pointed out key areas for the coming conflict. They were now looking for a spot for her to shoot from, inside the keep, which would reach the outer wall. Boromir was telling her how to deal with different situations, since she refused to tell him which ones would occur.

Gamling walked up to the pair. "The women and children have been ordered to the caves." he informed her.

"That's nice. I'm not going." she told him dismissively.

"You must. The king has ordered it." he chided her.

She looked him in the eye. "First, he's not my king. I'll not be following those orders. Second, in the caves I would only draw resources needed for your people. I know how to fight, and I have a sworn duty to save lives during this battle. I will not be kept from the fight."

Gamling looked to Boromir for support.

"We are in his lands." Boromir told her.

Tabatha rolled her eyes at him. "So help me convince him to make an exception." she asked.

Agreeing, Gamling marched her before the king.

"My lord, I'll not be in the caves this night." she informed him. "I'm needed on the wall."

"She can see the future my lord. Her visions have proven accurate." Boromir said. "She asked my help during the battle…"

"Boromir! Stop! You cannot say why!" she cried.

Théoden indicated he should continue. He was surprised when she slapped Boromir hard across the face when it looked like he would speak. "Would you prove false to your sworn word to keep my confidences?" she hissed at him. Boromir's jaw snapped shut, his glare stabbing her eyes, as his face bloomed with her handprint.

"He needs to know." he berated her.

"And he will know." she answered. "When it happens. Not before."

"What do you know?" Théoden demanded, grabbing her shoulder, spinning her to face him.

Defiant, she retorted. "That there's reason to hope, my lord." Glaring at Boromir, she spat "We cannot say more."

Boromir reluctantly acknowledged her command.

She disentangled the king's hands, leaving the room.

Boromir turned to the king. "She has little skill yet with a blade, but some with a bow. She saved my life using it. You'd need men to prevent her from joining the battle. She will help."

Théoden sighed. "Her presence will distract the men."

"She has a purpose tonight. She does not lightly do this." Boromir smiled after her. "Her thoughts run deeper than you suspect. Question her after the battle."

Strands of 'I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General' from Gilbert and Sullivan's the Pirates of Penzance trailed back into the hall.

His lips quirked, "Her anger and defense of others is also fearsome to behold."

Legolas hunted her down. "You cannot fight." Legolas told her.

"Really?" she drew out scathingly "'Cause I kinda thought that's what you were teaching me to do."

He shook his head at her, frustrated, before hissing "Tonight, many will fall. You have not seen this kind of violence before. Moria and the fight at Rauros Falls did not make you ready for this."

She pleaded with him. "Legolas, look around. They're arming children." Her eyes filled with tears as they gazed into his. He sank into the depths of her shimmering orbs, drowning in the storm of emotions reflected.

He picked up her right hand, before he brushed her hair behind her ear. His voice still hard, eyes filled with compassion, he explained seriously "And they have seen more death in their short lives, than you have. And you would watch them die."

"I know." she cried despondently. "I'm shaking with fear already. But how can I lay down arms when I may have the skill to save one? I need not fight the entire night. Only when desperation drives."

"Who do you save tonight? Who is worth your efforts, when Aragorn was not? Did Boromir's words cause this?" he asked menacingly.

"Hush Legolas." she squeezed his hand, smiling timorously at him. "Aragorn fell as Gandalf did. He will return. There's no need to despair."

Grief breaking, he drew in a deep shuttering breath. "Amin hiraetha." (Sindarin, I'm sorry)

He gathered her into his arms, squeezing her tight. Her hands caressed his body in soothing comfort. "The Fellowship is fine, your friends are fine." she reassured.

He coaxed her in undertones "I would have you safe, I would shield you from this night, Arwenamin. (Sindarin, My lady) I cannot lose you. I would not bear the grief." he choked out. "Will you not go to the caves?"

"I have no plans to let anything happen." she told him affectionately, trailing her hand from his temple, around his ear to his jaw, bringing his mouth to meet hers.

What started as a gentle press of the lips quickly changed to fiery passion. Her tongue trailed along his bottom lip; gasping, his mouth fell open. Their tongues entangled. Pressed against him, she felt him harden against her. He quickly stepped back, embarrassed, avoiding her eyes. "I apologize Arwenamin." (Sindarin, My lady) once again flushed cherry red.

"Well." she tried to regulate her breathing. "We'll have to repeat that one in the morning."

His eyes darted to hers, giving her a tentative smile. She returned an incandescent one, capturing his heart.

"He's alive!" voices cried out in surprise.

Tabatha smirked. "Come, it's time to meet Aragorn again." she said. "We need to berate him for causing you worry."

Gimli's bellowing voice echoed down the passage. "Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way! I'm going to kill him!" He wrapped Aragorn in a bear hug. "You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew." he ranted. "Bless you laddie."

"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked urgently.

Gimli jerked his head towards the Keep. Aragorn strode forward, only to be halted by a relieved Legolas.

"Le ab-dollen." (Sindarin, You're late.) he chided. His eyes softened as he examined his friend. "You look terrible." he continued, handing him Arwen's necklace.

Aragorn gave him a wry smile. "Hannon le." (Sindarin, Thank you.) Aragorn said with ironic gratitude.

Tabatha smiled at the two of them, before trailing after the pair.

"A great host, you say?" Théoden asked.

"All Isengard is emptied." Aragorn told him.

"How many?" he demanded.

"Ten thousand strong at least." Aragorn informed him.

"Ten thousand?" Théoden faltered. He scowled at Tabatha. "And you knew this." he asked.

She nodded her head at him. "This is why Aragorn fell; to bring this news." She gave him a sad smile. "Glad to see you're back." She wrinkled her nose at him. "Even if you again need a bath."

He shook his head slightly, as his eyes reflected gratitude for the feeble attempt at levity. He focused again intently on the king. "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall."

"Let them come!"

"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall. We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg!" Théoden called out confidently.

"This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad." Gimli admonished.

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." Théoden reprimanded. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them." He words washed over his troops, instilling hope.

Boromir shot Tabatha a look. "And if the wizard has found a way to breach them?" As he watched her, her eyes nodded in his direction. He grew pale.

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people down to the last child." Aragorn implored him to see reason.

Théoden spun to demand in a whisper "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."

"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid." Aragorn pleaded.

"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead." Théoden hissed at him.

Boromir bit his lip, to stop words spilling out. Tabatha gripped his hand, squeezing in comfort.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn's words echoed in the ranks, despair rising in the troops. The tide of rumor was broken when an elvish horn echoed against the walls of the keep. Surprised faces peered over the walls, gaping at the arriving force.

"Send for the king. Open the gate!"

"How is this possible?" Théoden exclaimed, stunned when he saw the bowman before him.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance." Haldir told him with a flourish.

Legolas moved to stand behind Haldir, showing his support of the sentiments expressed.

Aragorn ran down the steps. "Mae g'ovannen! (Sindarin, Well met!) You are most welcome." Aragorn said, before surprising the elf in an embrace.

Released, Haldir proclaimed. "We are proud to fight alongside Men once more."

The bowmen turned as one to face the king, coming to parade rest in time to witness Tabatha streaking down the stairs.

"Haldir!" Tabatha exclaimed loudly, seeing him helmeted. She launched herself at him, wrapping her limbs around him. "You've had a makeover. Did you get pink too?"

Slipping to the ground, she pulled on his armor, trying to see his undershirt. Defeated from seeing it at the neck, she tried to slip her hand under his clothes at the waist. Ticklish, he squirmed slightly under her hand.

Behind him in the ranks, the elves were able to keep straight faces, and swallow their snickers. The men at her back had no such control.

She continued "Boromir protested pink, but he's not angry with me anymore." Haldir tried to fight her off without injuring her. Successful at feeling his undershirt, her hand slipped out.

She grinned broadly at him, before winking and slapping his shoulder "Don't worry. I've asked him to protect your virtue while your here."

The snickers turned to laughs as the formally stoic Marchwarden flushed red. She winked at his troops.

"Tabatha, could you not simply have asked?" Aragorn asked, shaking his head.

"But my way was more fun!" she exclaimed. "And look, he's red again!" she said with glee, pointing. "Red is such a good color for you." She patted Haldir's check affectionately.

Aragorn rolled his eyes at her in exasperation.

She waved welcome to the elven troops, calling out "Êl síla erin lû e-govaned vîn." (Sindarin: A star shines on the hour of our meeting.) before vanishing back into the keep.

Théoden observed her antics in stunned disbelief, eyes resting on the red-faced elf.

"Watch your back." Tabatha said, embracing Boromir.

She repeated the mantra to the others, finally embracing Legolas to add "Don't let Gimli win." She winked at the dwarf over Legolas's shoulder, before mouthing to him. "Kick his ass."

Gimli grunted in agreement. "You take care lass. We'll need you to turn the elf red in the morning."

She grinned at him. "Haven't you been paying attention? This is how you do it." She quickly kissed Legolas on the lips. His ears flushed under the scrutiny of the others.

"I think he likes it when you do it." he emphasized.

"Really? Guess I'll have to be here in the morning." She smirked at him, before giving Legolas another quick kiss, and flouncing off to her battle station.

The battle had been going on for hours. Boromir was hanging out around Haldir, much to the elf's bemusement. The rest of the Fellowship was farther down the wall. Aragorn paced the line, calling out commands in Sindarin, as Théoden issued orders in common.

When it first started, it was far worse than she imagined. Moria provided her with the sight of dead bodies, but this was all encompassing. The smell of blood cut through the rain. Cries of pain cut suddenly short, many of children calling for their mother. The feel of rain mimicking the streams of blood cascading over the walls.

Return arrows pierced combatants on the wall. She looked again at the body of Haleth, one of the first to fall to an arrow. Hours before she had joked with him that as long as he knew the pointy end went into the bad guy, he'd make it through the night. He never got to use the sword he so proudly declared was a good one, confirmed by Aragorn himself.

She didn't see him fall. It was nothing like watching the movies; the impact of spotting his death in the pile of corpses had made her violently ill. A tidal wave of tears was held back by sheer determination. She fought her emotions, beating them down with the mantra 'It's only a movie. It's not real.' She retreated into her mind to erect a wall of disassociation, freeing it mind to work analytically. The world took on an unreal quality as she determinedly put off dealing with massacre below.

"Dago han! Legolas! Dago han, dago han!" (Sindarin, Bring him down, Legolas!)

Part of the wall exploded in an upward eruption of stone, the sound creating a moment of stillness on the battlefield. She saw Gimli jump down to cover the opening, enthusiastically cutting down enemies, surging around him.

Tabatha was now situated on an angle behind Haldir, far from the breech. During the long hours of the night, she discovered truths of war that never made it into song. Like the smells. Like the cries of the dying. Like she needed a bathroom. A voice in the back of her head chided her for the trivial need; she resolutely ignored it, rejoining the fight.

She watched the failing defense of the door at the top of the causeway. Both Gimli and Aragorn were hauled up the wall by Legolas. She checked Boromir. He was pale faced, with a bloody scrap of cloth tied around his arm. Exhausted, he still stood beside Haldir, recognizable only by the differences in armor. Too many friendly bodies lay at their feet; the enemy was overwhelming them.

She heard Théoden give the order to retreat. "Aragorn! Fall back to the Keep! Get your men out of there!"

"Am Marad!" (Sindarin, To the Keep!) she called out loudly "Boromir, get them out now!" Tabatha lay down covering fire, as close as she dared to the pair.

"Am Marad!" (Sindarin, To the Keep!) Haldir called to his men, turning to give the order. He unsuccessfully parried a blow, the sword entering his side. Stunned by the exploding pain, he froze. Boromir dove into the opening behind him, slicing open the uruk-hai with blade poised over Haldir's head. The uruk-hai's blade fell from nerveless fingers, striking a glancing blow on his new helmet. Haldir dropped to his knees.

Tabatha successfully shot two more approaching uruk-hai, but the numbers were overwhelming. Boromir grabbed the injured Haldir, using a ladder to span the river of enemy streaming below. She covered the remaining retreating elves before Tabatha raced inside to meet them. They shambled into the Keep with the last of their energy, collapsing just inside the door.

"The fortress is taken. It is over." Théoden despaired.

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it." Aragorn cried. Desperate, he demanded "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Turning the Gamling, he repeated "Is there no other way?"

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The uruk-hai are too many." Gamling informed him.

"Tell the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!" Aragorn commanded.

"So much death. What can Men do against such reckless hate?" Théoden rambled, fixated on carnage of the battle.

"Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them." Aragorn implored.

Finally roused, Théoden responded. "For death and glory."

"For Rohan. For your people." Aragorn replied.

"The sun is rising." Gimli commented.

Encouraged, spirit rising, Théoden exclaimed "Yes. Yes. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time."

"Yes!" Gimli trumpted.

"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together." Théoden demanded. "Fell deeds, awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red dawn. Forth Eorlingas!" he shouted, leading the charge.

Tabatha ran towards Boromir. "Is he alright?" she called when the horn paused.

"Yes, Haldir is with the healers." he answered.

She hugged him. "Thank you so much for helping to save his life. I couldn't have done it alone. How are you doing?"

He gave her a wry smile. "I'll live."

She ran over to check on Haldir. He was pale from blood loss, panting from the pain. A healer had his tunic pulled up, and was cleaning out the wound.

Tabatha slowed her approach, holding out her hand. "You can squeeze it if you want; it helps to focus somewhere other than where it's injured. Just try not to crush my bones." She determinedly slipped her hand into his, smiling at him.

He growled at her. "What are you doing here? You should be in the caves."

"Goheno nin." (Sindarin, Sorry.) She shrugged. "I made a promise to Galandriel to try and keep you safe. It's kinda hard to do if I can't see you."

He winced, closing his eyes and squeezing her hand as the healer started on the stitches. She squeezed back, stroking it with her other hand. "Hannon le" (Sindarin, Thank you) he said, as the healer finished, moving on to the next patient.

"You set Boromir to watch over me." he berated.

Attempting to keep a straight face, she replied "I did."

"You foresaw my death." he ground out.

"And the death of all your kin here today." she said calmly.

He flinched, closing his eyes to shut out the horror.

She squeezed his hand again in sympathy. "You were the only one I knew by name." her voice resolutely continued. "To my knowledge only Legolas was going to survive last night."

"Why did you do it? Why did you work to save me?" he questioned.

"Because I could. You didn't deserve to die." She grinned and winked at him. "You haven't even had sex yet. You still have to find out what you're missing."

His look of astonishment had her bursting into peals of laughter.

"She told me you saw the future, and were attempting to change it. She had all of us wear the undershirts you had created, and she presented me with a helmet. I have not worn one for thousands of years, and yet by your influence our traditions are changed." he grumbled.

Silently she picked up his helmet, examining the dent at the back, before turning it around to show him. "I'm glad for it. I would rather have you angry at me for changing traditions than have to bury your corpse."

His eyes met hers sadly. "I have only my brothers. My parents are both dead; I raised them. I could not choose to bond and have children. Not as Marchwarden. The risk was too great."

"Would your brothers not raise your children if required?" she asked gently.

He shook his head negatively. "I would not ask it of them. It is a terrible thing to grow up without parents."

She tapped his chest lightly. "You have more children than you know." She smiled at him. "You treat your troops the same as your brothers; you are another parent to them. It's part of what binds them to you. Your loss would be felt more deeply than you realize."

He was startled by her observation. He looked at her, seeing her sincerity. "I thank you for your words." he said quietly.

She teased him. "Despite your solemn and prudish outlook, you do make an impact."

"Most would not call me that to my face." he groused, retreating into silence.

Tabatha smiled gently at him, before coaxing further answers. "You lost a lot with your parents, didn't you? Something's only passed from parent to child." She hesitated before asking. "For instance, you never got 'The Talk', did you? The Sex Talk?"

He flushed to his ear tips, not meeting her gaze.

Compassionately she continued. "It would take a great deal of courage to begin courting someone in your situation." She lightly squeezed his hand.

"I did once. I was mocked for my lack. My brothers have never dared follow my example." he groused.

"Crazy." She winked at him, before smirking. "That someone would deny the world handsome rug-rats, running around with your features? For shame!" She shook her head in disbelief. "Once this war is over, you'll have no more excuses to try again." Her voice still held a note of teasing, her mouth a smile, but her eyes were serious.

He looked at her, eyebrow raised.

"We can find help for the elvish stuff you need to learn. I'll cover sex." she grinned at him. "You'll know more about sex than all the other suitors."

He gave her a horrified look. "And is would help how?" he ground out.

Her eyes sparkled with laughter. "Your mate would be really, really happy."

"How did you acquire this knowledge?" he asked with trepidation.

"In my country, we have classes giving the sex talk."

"After your visit in Lothlorien, I shudder to think what you would teach us." he said with dismay.

She smirked at his appalled look, not answering.

"Victory! We have victory!" Théoden announced, returning to the hall.

Tabatha sang the chorus for 'We Are the Champions' by Queen under her breath.

Eomer looked at the girl standing alone on the wall. "She met my uncle while nude?"

"Aye. In the great hall it was. She stripped off Lord Boromir's tunic, pretty as you please, turned around and met the king without blinking an eye. She travels with the Fellowship, and without chaperone if you get my meaning."

His eyebrow raised. Not content with rumor, he stopped her as she crossed the middle of the hall.

"You exchange money for sex?" he inquired quietly.

She looked him over, eyebrow raised. "Sorry, I'm not interested." she said dismissively.

Insulted by her glance, he asked louder "Why is a harlot travelling with the Fellowship?"

His question attracted all eyes. Gimli's hand tightened on his axe. Legolas's hand reached for his blade, only to be stopped by Aragorn. Contrastingly Boromir smirked, leaning back to wait for her eviscerating response.

Her voice carried clearly to all corners. "When you asked to exchange money for sex, I assumed you were the harlot, since I am not." She gave him a look of disgust before she spun on her heel, exiting the room.

Boromir's laugh rang through the room. "You've incurred her wrath now, my friend. You have no idea what torment awaits." He shook his head, before teasing. "I shall look forward to your punishment. She's most creative in its execution."

Stunned silence reined among the Rohirrim.