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The last men of the Rohan cavalry had finally arrived to Helm's deep. Éowyn was the first to great them, but Annya wasn't in sight.
Gimli looked at Legolas with a straight face. "Do you want to announce it to Annya or should I do it?" asked Gimli, talking about what had happen to Aragorn. Legolas shook his head. "No…"he answered. "I will do it .It will be easier for her coming from me…I think."
Gimli went to announce it to Lady Éowyn while Legolas looked for Annya.
After walking for a while around the fort, he found her. She was helping gathering food with other women. Annya turned and saw the look in Legolas's face. Annya knew instantly that something had happened.
"He's dead, isn't he?" She said bluntly in elvish
"He felled of the cliff killing one warg and one goblin with him." answered Legolas
They stood there in silence, looking at each other. Legolas swallowed hard has he handed her the necklace…Arwen's necklace. Annya brought her hand to her mouth in shock. Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"I think you should have this," he said to Annya.
She shook her head vividly. "No…You keep it. You have better chance than me to give it back to its former owner." Annya turned away and quickly resumed what she doing. Best thing to do was to keep occupied. It prevented her from crying too much…even though, all she wanted was to crawl in a corner and cry her heart out.
Little they all knew that Aragorn would come back the next day.
XXXX
Word had spread throughout Middle Earth that Isengard had emptied. This knowledge, of course, hadn't escaped neither Lord Elrond nor Lady Galadriel, who had gathered in Imladris to discuss this matter. Lady Galadriel had left Lorien with her best escort, which included Haldir.
"Is this the faith that awaits the people of Rohan?" She asked, referring to the refuge of the people of Rohan at Helm's deep. "Will we stand aside? Will we do nothing?"
There was a moment of silence. Lord Elrond looked at Galadriel. She was right…something must be done. He stood up.
"No we will not. Let us master has many as we can and send them to defend the people of Rohan." Said Lord Elrond "If Mithrandir does has he said he would, they should hold long enough."
"If we hurry they can even be there in time." Added Lindir, Lord Elrond's assistant
Haldir's eyes crossed those of his Lady. It was then that he heard her voice in his head.
She will be there, she said
He looked deeper into his lady's eyes, trying to understand what she meant.
At helm's deep. You know of whom I speak. She smiled lightly.
Haldir stood up. Faith was giving him this unique chance of making things right…and to see her again, a chance of maybe reconquering what once was.
"My Lord Elrond, My Lady Galadriel, I volunteer to take this company to Helm's deep."
" That is an honorable offer, Haldir, March Warden of Lorien." Said Lady Galadriel proudly
"The command his yours." Said Lord Elrond
Only hours later, they left Rivendell in direction of the horse master's keep. Haldir prayed there would get there in time.
XXXXX
The battle of helm's deep
Annya was getting ready for battle.
If what Aragorn said was true, it would be the hardest, the longest battle of her life, maybe even her last. But Annya was ready for that…If it came to it. She would gladly die defending the people of Rohan. Her thoughts went to Gandalf, who said to wait for his return but still no sign of him.
She carefully put on her light armor. It wasn't the best type for a battle like these but it was easier to travel in. It was elven made, made of hard leather. It allowed her to move quickly and swiftly.
Then, she proceeded to braid her hair. She didn't want it to blind her in the middle of the fight. She then strapped carefully her swords to her back, Celeborn's dagger to her right side and took her bow and arrows. At least, she'd be able to help before the orcs reach the walls.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and she then, thought of Haldir and the things she said last time. She probably would never see him again.
But enough of that, she thought to herself. She was helping a greater cause now.
She suddenly heard it. The sound of the horn….Not a orc horn….NO…An elf horn.
She got out of her room, only seeing Aragorn and Legolas flee upstairs. They seemed serious about it.
"What's going Gimli?" She asked
"I don't know….but looks like they are opening the gate." Said Gimli
"What? Who's coming, Théoden didn't even sent the scouts…" said Annya, almost out of breath. She then ran upstairs and looked down the first wall she found. She couldn't believe her own eyes. Elves were getting in and were heading towards the keep. Annya couldn't believe it…She looked closer. It was Imladris banner.
This was exactly what they needed. Help until Gandalf would come back with the Rohhrims. Annya ran back up to keep, two steps at the time and when she got there, she stopped to see Aragorn and Legolas welcoming Haldir.
Annya was speechless.
"We are proud to fight alongside men one more." She heard Haldir say
Their eyes crossed. Annya smiled at him. He smiled back. Annya just stood there, looking at Haldir. "Annya," she heard, but didn't answer
"ANNYA?" She came out of her reverie and followed Aragorn to the battlement.
XXXXX
Haldir was relieved to see Annya at Helm's deep. Since she arrived after everyone else, he had imagined the worst. He walked towards her, gathering his courage to face her again. Her back was to him. She was giving instructions to some of the man from Rohan. She was moving backwards, until she bumped into him.
She turned around to him. And before she could say anything or run away, Haldir spoke.
"Can we talk? Please?" Asked Haldir in elvish
He felt that this was perhaps the only chance they could have to explain themselves before battle. Annya nodded lead him back to her room back in the keep.
"Annya I wanted to apologize for I said to you back in Lorien."
Annya shook her head. "NO! It is I who should apologize. I said terrible things to you…things I didn't even mean."
"Annya, there was nothing to forgive. I wasn't thinking strait when I said those things… And you were still grieving the death of your father. And I think so was I... I miss him."
Of course, she thought. Orin's was Haldir's friend as well.
Annya didn't know what to say. Instead she just walked closer to him "But I should apologize nonetheless. I didn't mean what I said." she added
"Neither did I…But I am not going to lie to you Annya. I did thought you were dead. When we got there, nobody was alive and…" Said Haldir
Annya pressed her lips together…almost admitting her guilt
"I know," she whispered. "Please forgive me," she added softly
"Only if you forgive me first."
Annya put her arms around Haldir. She was taller than usual humans…but wasn't as tall as Haldir. Her head rested perfectly under his chin.
They said nothing for a few moments. Suddenly all seemed all right between them.
"I am really glad you came. You gave hope to the people of Rohan tonight." She said softly against his chest.
Haldir could sense how sincere she was. He wanted to kiss her. There she was, so close, in his arms. He wanted to show her that his feelings hadn't changed after all this time…That he wasn't angry at all at her.
He took her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. So much time had passed since the last time they were this close. Would she reject him or welcome him?
They never really had a chance to talk about their feelings before. And now, time was missing.
Maybe she had someone in her life now? So many questions he had now and yet he lowered his head to hers, his lips barely brushing against hers.
Annya didn't move. Of course, she always felt something for Haldir but it had been so long ago. Never would she have thought that …
She felt his breath on her face. She closed her eyes, waiting.
"They're here," they heard "The Uruk-ais are here!"
Annya quickly pulled away and stormed out the room. She stopped for a second, just outside the room.
What had just happened? She thought to herself
XXXX
The battle was horrible. There were urk-ais everywhere. They would soon be overrun if nothing happened.
There was already a lot of casualties. Annya was fighting not so far from where Haldir was standing. They did a good job at keeping the wall more or less free of Uruk-ais. Until…
There was a loud noise and the ground shaked…like an erupting volcano. The wall blew up into pieces and fell down, allowing the uruk-ais to go inside the fort. The explosion was so big that it blew Annya away from where she was standing. ..Away from Haldir.
She when back to herself, their situation had completely changed. The enemy was gaining on them. Annya fought to get a way through. She looked everywhere trying to find a familiar face. But she only saw Uruk-Ais.
She could hear Aragorn calling her and Haldir to retreat and it was then that she saw it.
The Uruk-Ai running towards Haldir's back. Her eyes widen. She ran has fast had she could. She saw Haldir duck, preventing the beast from hitting him. But the Uruk was ready to strike again. Annya thought she was quicker and acheive cutting the beast's head off before, she thought, his sword could hit Haldir…but she was too late. Haldir had been hit.
He fell to the ground, holding his left arm. The urk and hit him in the shoulder…Near the arm, right between the armor. Annya fell next to him.
"Haldir?" She said panting
Her heart was racing as she tried to see where he was hit. She was relieved to see him alive…although he was losing a lot of blood.
"Go, they are calling you," he mumbled. They could still hear Aragorn shouting.
"No! I'm not leaving without you. Come!" She yelled trying to pull him back up
Haldir wasn't moving…"Come, they're pulling us back to the keep… I am not leaving you here to die!"
Annya put her swords away, passed Haldir's good arm around her shoulders. They walked slowly on the wall. Haldir was losing consciousness slowly.
Hold on, she though
"Stay Awake Haldir…"she said in elvish this time
I have to get him to Aragorn
An Orc crossed their path, Annya picked up a spear that was lying around and was ready to slay him but an arrow pierced him just in time. It was Legolas. He saw Annya holding Haldir. He followed them closely, almost escorting them back to the keep.
They finally made it to the keep.
