Author's Note: thanks to Dark Lady and Leena for reviewing. Lady, yep pretty much. Leena, let me know where you see mistakes! I'd really appreciate the help so I can make this even better!
Chapter 8
Darkness had seeped into the dawn the next morning. Shadowy clouds cut across the horizon, threatening rain. In the isolation of the mountain fortress, the sun rose silently, the birds too far away to sing their songs. The hills were bare, the plains still.
Within the fortress of the Hornburg, there was far more noise. Smithies were ringing with the forging of weapons. Mothers shushed their crying babies as grandmothers called their older grandchildren. Neighing and snorting horses called to each other from makeshift stables. Armor clinked and clanked as the soldiers shifted positions on the walls, hurried up and down the stairs, and patrolled the walkways of the fortress.
Maelith was oblivious to it all. She sat balanced over the gate, her position so precarious that none of the guards around her dared speak or move closer. They weren't even sure which of the Elves it was, whether it was the man or the woman. Both of them were tall and lean with long hair and the same angular, pale faces. Sharp, bright, almost eerie blue eyes saw everything and the pointed ears caught every sound. Especially confusing to the human men was the fact that the female went about armed the same way as the male. Most of the men had not seen the two together, and could not distinguish the differences in weapons or clothing between the two. They had also yet to realize that the woman had long brown hair while the man wore his silvery hair much shorter. Had they known the differences, they would have known it was the female wrapped in a green cloak and hooded against the chill on the wall.
Movement. There, far off, on the crest of the hill where Helm's Deep came into view. She waited until she could make out the shape of a horse and rider before she bolted to her feet on the ledge. Behind her, the guards jumped; she'd startled them all apparently. "Prepare to open the gates," she ordered. Behind a cold façade, she was elated. She knew exactly who that rider was.
"Why should we take orders from you?" one cocky soldier asked, swaggering up to her.
She had a knife to his throat before he'd registered that she was turning. All the guards shifted back and the one she had transfixed swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "You personally will open the gates because that is Lord Aragorn riding towards us. Though I would very much enjoy pitching your arrogant ass over wall, I would rather greet the friend I thought was dead than explain myself to Théoden," she said calmly.
"Yes ma'am," he stuttered.
Disgusted, she shoved him away and turned to run down the nearest stairs. She was waiting for Aragorn when the gates opened and she jogged ahead of the dark brown horse he was riding. "Make way for Lord Aragorn!" she called up the walkways. Muttering and amazed, people backed out of the way until Aragorn drew to a halt in the courtyard. Instantly Maelith was there, holding the horse's halter as the warrior dismounted. Once his feet were firmly on the ground, Aragorn found himself pulled into a gentle hug. "Gimli is going to kill you," Maelith murmured, overjoyed. He huffed good-naturedly and hugged her, pressing a fatherly kiss to her forehead when she stepped back. To his surprise, she offered him his Elven knife. "I took it from the chest of the orc you stabbed," she explained, shrugging.
"Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way. I'm gonna kill him!" Gimli's gruff voice could be heard before the Dwarf shoved his way into view. He took in Aragorn's haggard, wet, torn, and filthy appearance and said, "You are the luckiest, the cunningest, the most reckless man I ever knew." Maelith smiled as Gimli hugged Aragorn around the middle. "Bless you, laddie," the Dwarf sounded like he might actually cry as he spoke.
Aragorn did not let the red haired warrior hug him for long. He placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Gimli, where is the King?" The Dwarf nodded towards the main keep and Maelith started that way. She knew the way to the hall where Théoden held his war council, if only to avoid the king and his captains.
Aragorn followed her, and she saw Legolas waiting before the throne room. Sidestepping the Elf she pivoted to stand at his shoulder as Aragorn nearly walked into him. Blue-gray eyes met Elven blue and Legolas said, "Le abdollen." 'You're late.' Then the Elf actually looked at Aragorn and took in the ripped clothes, bedraggled hair, and dirt streaked face. He added, "You look terrible."
To Maelith's relief, Aragorn cracked a smile and laughed, putting his hand on the Elf's shoulder. Legolas pulled something from his pocket and offered his hand to the man. Aragorn held up a bloody and dirty palm, and the archer placed the silver and white pendant in it. The ranger looked up, his wary, but Legolas only replied with a small smile. "Hannon le," the ranger said, clearly relieved to have it back. 'I thank you.' Nodding, Legolas and Maelith parted, stepping to either side to leave the doors clear for their friend. They watched proudly, and with smug smiles, as Aragorn shoved open the double doors.
"Lord Aragorn, you're alive!" Théoden stood in disbelief, but Aragorn wasted no time on formalities. Legolas and Maelith followed him inside, glancing about the room distastefully as they strode across the stone floor. Behind them, Gimli could appreciate the high arching ceilings and the columns
"A great host of orcs is marching on Helm's Deep as we speak," the heir of Gondor announced.
"Close the doors," Théoden barked to a guard at the doors. He paced twice down the length of the tables then asked, "A great host you say?" He stood with his back turned, leaving Aragorn to speak to the embroidered green cloak he wore.
"All of Isengard is emptied," Aragorn told him.
"How many?" the king asked thoughtfully.
"Ten thousand strong at least," the ranger replied.
"Ten thousand?" Théoden apparently could not believe that such a number of orcs existed.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose; to destroy the world of men," Aragorn's reply made Théoden's eyes widen, but the king clenched his jaw. Maelith glanced at Legolas, but he was unconcerned, as usual. Instead he was watching Théoden calculatingly. "They will be here by nightfall," Aragorn added.
"Let them come," the king snapped, striding out of the throne hall.
Aragorn's shoulders went back angrily until Maelith and Legolas each put a hand on him. "Helm's Deep cannot fall," he told them quietly. They nodded and fell in behind him as he went after Théoden.
"I want every man and strong lad, able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall," the king told one of his captains at the base of the wall. He moved between soldiers who were reinforcing the main gate to walk out onto the causeway. Aragorn and Legolas followed Théoden out the gate, looking up at the wall, leaving Gimli and Maelith in the gateway. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg," the Horse-master declared.
"This is no mindless rabble of orcs. These are uruk-hai. Their armor is thick, their shields broad," Gimli pointed out.
The King moved to stand before the Dwarf, glaring at him as he snapped, "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." Maelith sighed; Théoden was getting on her nerves with the whole, I am King, you are not attitude. Gimli nodded, though he glared out over the causeway as Aragorn clapped him on the shoulder to follow Théoden back inside. Legolas gestured for Maelith to go before him, gazing coldly at the human soldiers. The protective way the Elf watched her made any of the soldiers bold enough to consider making a play for her back off easily. It was pretty clear to them that she was his, and while that might not stop some of them with another soldier's girl, no one wanted to piss off the Elf or Lord Aragorn.
"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock," Théoden said as the group moved along the top of the second wall of the keep.
"Or they will climb it like fire," Maelith protested.
The king ignored her to say, "Sarumon's hordes will pillage and burn, we have seen it before. Crops can be re-sewn, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them."
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child," Aragorn argued.
The King turned and grabbed Aragorn by the front of his tunic, getting in the warrior's face furiously. He growled in a low voice, "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 I have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."
"Send out riders, my lord," Aragorn suggested as Théoden went to walk away. The king turned as the ranger continued, "You must call for aid."
Théoden moved back into Aragorn's face, and beside Maelith, Legolas tensed. "And who will come?" the king asked. The words were soft, but full of a challenge. "Elves?" Théoden said the word with such scorn that Maelith stiffened in anger. "Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer," Aragorn told him with absolute certainty.
"Gondor?" Théoden growled, getting right up in Aragorn's face. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was-" Théoden's fury trailed off and he reined himself in. "No, my lord Aragorn. We are alone," he told Aragorn with a note of finality. As he led the way up a set of stairs, he ordered his captain, "Get the women and children into the caves."
"We need more time to lay provisions," the captain protested.
"There is no time," Théoden snapped. "War is upon us."
Maelith glanced back as she heard the caw of a crow and frowned. Crows and ravens were circling in the air above the plains and over the fortress. "I will go," she spoke up. They all turned to her, even Théoden, and she continued, "Running, alone, I have a chance at reaching Lorien and returning with aid before Rohan falls."
"I cannot allow you to do that, Lady Elf," the king sighed.
"I am the only one who can go," she snapped. "There is no explanation you can give me, Théoden King that will convince me I cannot go. I will leave at once," she added calmly. The king nodded coldly and turned away. Lifting her chin, Maelith strode back to the gate, the three men following silently.
"Good luck, lass," Gimli said gruffly. Clearly the Dwarf did not like goodbyes, and Maelith did not blame him. So she stuck out her hand, and he clasped her forearm. He turned away, heading back to the keep, muttering under his breath.
"Go straight north, through the foothills. You'll have to cross Fangorn, so be on guard," Aragorn said, stepping forward. She nodded and he hugged her gently, then followed after Gimli.
Legolas was watching her when she looked back at him. An idea occurred to Maelith and she pulled her pendant from under her shirt. "Will you wear this?" she asked him softly, holding it out to him. He took it, meeting her eyes, and she took a deep breath. "I will come back, Legolas, and you will be here when I do," she told him firmly. He nodded and she stepped closer, pressing the swiftest of kisses to his cheek before she darted out the gate. Slipping the pendant over his head, Legolas watched from the gate as Maelith ran into the hills. He watched until even he could no longer see her.
Maelith ran all the way across Rohan. She avoided the orcs by sound; an army made quite a bit of noise. It wasn't until she reached Fangorn that she grew uneasy. Something had stirred in the darkness here, something ancient and wise and powerful. Ducking beneath a limb draped in a heavy curtain of moss, a whisper of sound caught her attention. So she turned slowly to follow the noise and movement caught her eye. As she watched, a line of Elves walking single file through the forest came into view. Each wore a helm, though each was different in fashion, and carried a curved longbow. They were the longbows of the Lorien Elves. 'War bows.' She didn't know where the name came from, but it was adept. The shorter longbows they'd confronted the Fellowship with had been everyday bows. This was a war party of Galadhrim, sent by Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond.
Even if Maelith hadn't been able to see their faces, she would have known the line was Elves. Each was draped in a dark blue cloak and moved with little sound. Three of the Elves were carrying banners. Maelith had only caught a glimpse of the banners in Lorien, but she recognized the pennant of Celeborn and Galadriel. And she recognized the one different Elf, the one in gold armor with a red cloak. "Haldir!" she called, stepping out of her hiding place. Instantly the line turned to face her, and she found herself confronted by a line of arrows. "Peace, cousins, I was sent to find you by Prince Legolas of Mirkwood," she told them in Sindarin, letting her hood fall back to reveal her face.
The soldiers relaxed when Haldir stepped forward. "Maelith?" he asked, reaching a hand out to help her up from the gully she stood in.
"You are a welcome find," she murmured, taking his hand.
He lifted her up and asked, "How fares the Fellowship?"
She hesitated, but replied honestly, "Boromir of Gondor fell. Frodo and Samwise are making their way to Mount Doom. Gandalf, who is alive, sent Meriadoc and Peregrin with an Ent to keep them safe here in Fangorn. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli await us at Helm's Deep with what is left of the army of Rohan. The refugees outnumber the soldiers by far, and all the young lads will fight. Your force will double ours."
"When are the uruh-kai expected?" Haldir asked, signaling the line to resume their walk. He took everything in stride, calm and unaffected, and for that Maelith was grateful. The humans had run around like chickens with their heads cut off.
"Nightfall," she sighed, falling in beside him.
"Then let us make haste," he suggested and she nodded. He called out, and the line picked up to a jog, the equivalent of a run for humans. Haldir pulled the helm from his head and handed it to Maelith, seeing how she wore no armor, not even gauntlets and she smiled at him. The design was beautiful and deadly looking; the antlers of an elk had been fashioned of the metal and swept backwards, away from the face, creating a wing-like look on either side. She slid the helm on and pulled her hood up over it. Thanking the commander quietly, Maelith fell in behind him and the warrior behind her nodded to her. She was welcome within the ranks of her Silvan cousins.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys; these are no soldiers," Aragorn sighed once he threw a sword down in disappointment.
Legolas and Gimli turned from a rack of hastily made spears so Gimli could point out, "Most have seen too many winters."
His eyes burning with scorn, Legolas added, "Or too few." Aragorn nodded, looking around at the wrinkle-faced men and the smooth faced boys. "Look at them," the Elf continued, his own worry for Maelith and his friends making his words bitter and sharp. He was not used to such feelings before a battle, and fought to retain the cold façade Elves were known for as he snapped, "They're frightened; you can see it in their eyes." All around him, old men turned to look at him and fell silent. Aragorn, holding a shirt of dark mail, looked up too. Legolas turned his back on them then turned back to Aragorn and in Sindarin said to him, "And they should be…three hundred against ten thousand." But the humans heard it as, "Boe a hyn neled herain dan caer menig."
Aragorn sighed and replied, "Si, beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras." Legolas translated easily to "They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras."
Anger and dread darkened Legolas's tone as he answered, "Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir ortheri. Natha daged dhaer!" Aragorn grew angry as he translated it to, "Aragorn, they cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!"
"Then I shall die as one of them!" the ranger snapped, his eyes boring into Legolas's. He was surprised to have Legolas be the one to doubt him. He had not expected neither the Elf nor the Dwarf to let the coming battle get to them. But then perhaps the Elf was right to doubt the leadership of Aragorn, or so Aragorn thought. He looked away, then strode out of the armory.
He did not see Gimli stop Legolas from coming after him, saying, "Let him go, lad, let him be." Neither did he see Legolas sigh in shame, worry, and anger and retreat into the keep to put on the shoulder pieces he'd found to wear. Nor was he able to watch as the Elf played with a silver pendant hanging from a chain about his neck and finally curl his fingers around the leaf. Legolas was alone as he raised the pendant to his lips and whispered a prayer before he tucked the chain beneath his tunic.
Instead Aragorn paced angrily along the wall at the top of the keep. Eventually, as the sun began to fall, he sat. All around him, soldiers were scrambling to their places as they lit torches. And he was angry until he saw the group of young boys dressed in ill-fitted armor gathered around a brazier. One was holding his sword like he was afraid to touch it. "Give me your sword," he called firmly. The boy walked over slowly, then held out the sword, keeping back from the famed Lord Aragorn. "What is your name?" Aragorn asked.
"Haleth, son of Hama," the boy replied in a voice not yet fully deepened. "The men are saying we won't live out the night. They say that it is hopeless," the boy told him.
At this, Aragorn understood Legolas's anger. The Elf knew that unless Maelith found help, she would return to find her friend's corpses and her own death at the hands of the orcs. So he stood and swung the sword experimentally. "This is a good sword," he told the boy. He handed it back, and said, "Haleth, son of Hama." Placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, he looked into the young brown eyes and said, "There is always hope." The boy nodded and bowed quickly before returning to his friends.
"There is always hope," Aragorn repeated quietly to himself. Setting his shoulders he returned to a small side room in the keep where he'd stashed his mail shirt and bow. Removing his cloak, sword belt, and black tunic, he dropped the mail over his red shirt. Over that he tied his black traveling tunic and his belt. His knife hung from the belt, his sword resting on the table. All he wore for armor was a mail shirt and gauntlets, and a fingerless glove on his sword hand. But that was how he fought. As he reached for his sword, he found it missing.
Movement in the corner of his eye made him turn to see Legolas offering the sword, his eyes calm and determined. The Heir of Gondor could only nod, wondering what his friend was going to say this time. But he was surprised when the Elf's eyes filled with remorse and he said, "We have trusted you this far, you have not led us astray." Aragorn started to shake his head, but Legolas was not done. "Forgive me, I was wrong to despair."
"No," Aragorn shook his head, and said, "Ú-moe edaved, Legolas." Legolas relaxed as he heard his friend and leader say, "There is nothing to forgive," and place a hand on his shoulder. He knew the touch was one of comfort, and clapped his friend on the shoulder only briefly in thanks.
They looked up when Gimli joined them, wearing a held up tunic of mail. He shifted it and said, "If we had time I'd get this adjusted." Then he let the tunic fall. Both Legolas and Aragorn raised an eyebrow at the length. It fell passed the Dwarf's feet. "It's a little tight across the chest," Gimli observed. Legolas was fighting back a smirk and failing; the corners of his mouth kept twitching up. Had Maelith been there to see this, she would have laughed openly, and Gimli would have laughed with her.
Then a horn sounded from outside. They all looked around and Legolas's brow furrowed. "That is no orc horn," he realized. Leaving the others to follow, he ran for the stairs, hope restored as he climbed.
Maelith sighed in relief when Helm's Deep came into view. The walls were lined with torches, though the fortress itself was dark. The Elves fell into ranks of four, leaving her to step aside and follow Haldir on the side. The horn sounded from the front of the column and every time it sang its wild song, Maelith smiled. The rhythm of the march was easy to follow for Maelith as they moved up the causeway though she looked around at the guards they passed once through the gate. She could not suppress her smile as she followed Haldir out of the line and towards Théoden.
The king was shocked, amazed, and awed. "How is this possible?" he asked as Haldir and Maelith bowed their heads.
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell," Haldir replied as the archers came to a stop behind him. Maelith removed his helm from her hair, and Théoden's eyes widened in realization. "An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together," the commander explained. He stopped as the sound of running made him and Maelith look up. A smile touched both Elven faces to see Aragorn and Legolas on the stairs above them. "We come to honor that allegiance," he explained simply as the two ran down the stairs.
"Mae govannen, Haldir," Aragorn said, relief evident in his eyes. He quickly touched his hand to his chest as Haldir dipped his head. To both Maelith and Haldir's surprise, Aragorn threw his arms around the commander in a hug. Haldir hesitated, then hugged his friend back. "You are most welcome," the ranger told him, moving aside to kiss Maelith's forehead as Legolas and Haldir clasped each other's shoulder. As one, the Elves draped in blue snapped their heads towards their commander, pivoted perfectly, and clicked their armored heels together to stand at attention once more.
Legolas shifted to stand behind Haldir and took Maelith's hand as the commander finished, "We are proud to fight alongside men once more."
"I will leave you in Lord Aragorn's hands then," Theoden decided, half bowing to the Elves.
Once the king had led his men away, Aragorn turned to Haldir. He scanned the Elves quickly then requested, "Have half of your troops take positions atop the wall and put the other half behind the wall." Haldir nodded, then moved among his troops to give orders. Maelith, Legolas, and Gimli moved in around the dark haired warrior and he gave simple, quick orders. "Legolas, Gimli, take a spot on the wall. Maelith, with me," he decided.
Behind them, the Elves split apart. One half shed their cloaks, handing them to the other half before they followed Haldir up onto the wall. Legolas and Gimli went with them. The other half followed Aragorn and Maelith into the keep. They deposited all the cloaks in the armory on their way to the doorway and the ramp to the grass courtyard behind the wall. Once Aragorn moved the archers into a good position, he called, "Wait for my command," in Sindarin. They all gave a single nod and Maelith looked around to see that the fortress was still. Everyone else had taken their positions and waited anxiously. Aragorn hurried up a set of stairs on the back of the wall. Maelith hurried along beside him, Haldir's helm still under her arm.
He found Legolas and Gimli easily enough, and both were fixed on the approaching horde. Legolas could see over the wall, and watched the torches grow closer. Gimli could only listen to the marching feet grow louder, but neither option was reassuring. "Well, lad, that luck you live by; let's hope it lasts the night," Gimli said, looking up at Aragorn. The wind began to pick up, catching at long hair and banners, and it smelled of heavy rain and lightning. Maelith rested her hand on Legolas's shoulder; he deceived relaxation by appearing to lean against his bow. But she knew he was as tense as all the rest of them.
Lightning crashed across the sky, turning Legolas to white and making Aragorn's eyes go wide. "Your friends are with you, Aragorn," Legolas assured their leader.
"Let's hope they last the night," Gimli remarked, looking up at the Elf. Aragorn clasped the silver haired archer on the arm and moved down the wall.
Maelith went to follow only for Legolas to grab her wrist and pull her back. She turned towards him, confused, and his lips pressed against hers. The breath she had taken to speak caught in her throat, and she kissed him back. It lasted only a brief moment, though it was fearful and concerned and desperate. When a second lightning bolt broke them apart, Legolas requested softly, "Come back to me?"
"Always," Maelith murmured quietly, tapping his chest where she knew the pendant lay. Then she stepped back and hurried after Aragorn as it began to rain.
She pulled Haldir's helm on as she listened to Aragorn call, "Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!" She knew it was in Sindarin, but she barely heard the words in common. Her mind had switched naturally to Sindarin, as if common were her second language, not her first. Her eyes were fixed on the orc captain standing on a rock behind the front lines. He let out a bellow and the lines halted.
Aragorn stepped in front of the line of archers, and Maelith moved to stand behind him. She could feel his determination seeping into her, banishing her fear. Not even the chilling calls and wails of the orcs could chill the warmth that spread from Legolas's kiss. The orcs began to stomp their spears against the ground, and Aragorn drew his sword. "Maelith, put an arrow in that monster on his perch when I call," he ordered. She drew an arrow, but did not raise her bow. None of the Elves had moved, but she could see the human archers taking aim.
Through the night and the rain, her Elven eyes only caught sight of the first arrow for a tiny moment. "Hold!" Aragorn shouted, and she stilled. Then she watched as the orc fell into the mud and did not rise. Wails and battle cries rose from the uruh-kai behind the fallen and Maelith gritted her teeth against a snarl. The orc captain bellowed them forward and the lines began to advance on Helm's Deep.
