Gimli had been wondering where Sioned and Legolas were because they had been gone for quite a long time. He had not seen them for quite some time, since they had departed so that Legolas could have something to eat and some rest. Just then, Gimli looked down and saw a lone rider on a horse. He immediately knew that he person was Aragorn. He then went off in search for Legolas and Sioned to tell them the good news.
Sioned and Legolas had fallen blissfully asleep after spending time together. Just then, Gimli burst into the room rudely waking them up. Sioned then quickly pulled the sheets over her naked body.
"Gimli, what is the meaning of this, barging in on us like that," Legolas, yelled at him.
"Legolas I do apologise I did not know that you were naked. I don't mean to disturb you but its Aragorn, he is alive." Gimli replied as he turned around facing away from them.
"What do you mean Aragorn is alive Gimli?" Legolas asked as he and Sioned get up from the bed and started to pull their clothes on. As soon as they had finished getting dressed, Gimli turned around to face them.
"I saw him riding back on his horse. You have to come and see," Gimli said as he left the room.
"I suppose we had better follow him Legolas," Sioned said as she kissed Legolas quickly on the lips before they followed Gimli outside.
Just then they see Aragorn entered Helms Deep on Brego. Sioned looks to Legolas and she can see how relieved he is that Aragorn is alive and well. They then make their way towards him.
"Where is he? Where is he! Get out of my way! I am going to kill him! You are the luckiest, the canniest, and most reckless man I ever knew! Bless you, laddie!" Gimli cries out as he runs toward Aragorn.
"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked him.
Aragorn then encountered Legolas and Sioned. "You're late. You look terrible," Legolas tells Aragorn.
"It's good to see you my lord. I am glad that you are safe," Sioned says to Aragorn, as Legolas pulls out the Evenstar pendant from his pocket and returns it to him.
"Thank you" Aragorn replies. "Sioned can you please take me to see your father."
"Of course my lord" Sioned replies, "If you would like to follow me."
Sioned then leads Aragorn to where her father was. She had decided to leave them alone inside, so that Aragorn could talk to Théoden about what he has seen.
"A great host, you say?" Théoden asks.
Aragorn replies, "All Isengard is emptied."
Théoden then asks "How many?"
"Ten thousand strong at least" Aragorn says to Théoden.
Théoden exclaims "Ten-thousand?!"
Aragorn then explains "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall."
"Let them come" Théoden says to Aragorn before he walks outside. "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."
Gimli then spoke up, "This is not a rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad."
Théoden says to Gimli "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We have seen it before. Crops can be re-sown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."
Aragorn replies, "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!"
Théoden says to Aragorn "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage is delicate. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!"
Aragorn says to Théoden "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."
Théoden replies, "And who will come. Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
Aragorn replies to Théoden, "Gondor will answer."
"Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon.. No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone," Théoden, says to Aragorn before walking away, and over to Gamling. "Get the women and children into the caves."
Gamling says to Théoden, "We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord."
Théoden replies "There is no time. War is upon us!"
The gate of Helms deep is secured, meanwhile the guards are telling the people to go to the caves. The people are then taken down into the caves below. Husbands and sons are taken away from their wives and mothers and are given weapons. Aragorn Legolas Gimli and Sioned watch on. Suddenly Aragorn speaks up as he eyes they makeshift army. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers."
Gimli speaks up "Most have seen too many winters."
Legolas joins in the conversation "Or too few. Look at them. They are frightened. You can see it in their eyes. And they should be... 300 against 10,000!"
Aragorn says to Legolas "They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras."
Legolas then raises his voice to Aragorn "Aragorn, They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!"
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn exclaims before he departs.
Gimli says to Legolas "Let him go, lad. Let him be."
Aragorn sat alone on the stairs outside, watching the preparations being made for the battle. He then sees a confused looking boy with a sword. "Give me your sword. What is your name?"
Háleth gives his sword to Aragorn before replying "Háleth, son of Háma, my lord. The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless."
Aragorn then stands up and wields the sword. "This is a good sword, Háleth, son of Háma. There is always hope." Before departing inside.
Inside, Aragorn is putting on his armour. Legolas and Sioned are suddenly there with him, and Legolas hands him his sword. "We have trusted you this far, you have not led us astray. Forgive me I was wrong to despair."
Aragorn replies "There is nothing to forgive, Legolas."
Gimli puts on his chainmail, and then looks down hopelessly. The mail drags across the floor. "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted. It's a little tight across the chest." Gimli says as the three of them laugh at this statement. A fair sounding horn sounds outside the gates
"That is no Orc horn!" Legolas exclaimed before they all rushed outside.
The gates of Helms deep are opened up, and an army of elves march in, whom does Haldir of Lorien lead.
Théoden looks surprised and says, "How is this possible?"
Haldir replies, "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 honour that allegiance."
Aragorn walks up to him and embraces him. "Well met, Haldir. You are most welcome!"
Haldir replies, "We are proud to fight alongside men once more."
Sioned turned to Legolas and wraps her harms around him giving him a hug before she says to him, "I shall bid you fare well my lord, and it is time for me to go where I am needed in the caves bellow. Stay safe my love. I love u Legolas."
"Fear not melamin, I shall stay safe you have my word," Legolas replies as he wraps his arms around Sioned giving her a warm and tender kiss before she departs to go with the other women and children.
Saruman's army approaches. Legolas stands ready to fight, but Gimli looks up, frustrated, for his head stands well below the wall, and he cannot see a thing.
"Argh... You could have picked a better spot. Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night" Gimli says.
"Your friends are with you, Aragorn." Legolas says to him.
Gimli says, "Let's hope they last the night."
Thunder clashes and it begins to rain heavily. Meanwhile inside the caves where the women are anxiously awaiting the battle the women inside the caves and are really scared by now.
Aragorn gives a final pep talk to the Elves "Show them no mercy for you shall receive none!"
The Uruk-hai army had stopped a little distance from the Deeping Wall. Silence falls and outside, the Uruk-Hai growl but do not move.
By now, Gimli was getting impatient "What's happening out there?"
Legolas replies with a smile on his face "Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Gimli then gives out a hearty laugh.
The Uruk-hai starts to stamp their spears on the ground. Aragorn draws his sword and the elf-soldiers put their arrows to their bows. Then an old man accidentally shoots an Orc.
Aragorn cries out "Hold!"
The Uruks roar in anger and charge.
Théoden says to himself, "So it begins."
Aragorn yells to the elven army "Prepare to fire! Their armour is weak at the neck and under the arms. Fire the arrows!" The Elves shoot.
Gimli asks, "Anybody hit anything?"
Théoden yells to his army "Give them a volley. Fire!"
Gimli cries out, "Send them to me! Come on!"
Arrows fly, orcs and elves fall. The battle is fierce. Then Aragorn spots something and shouts a warning "Ladders!"
Gimli says to himself with a smile on his face, "Good!" The Uruk-hai start to climb the ladders.
Aragorn cries out "Swords! Swords!"
Now there is fierce elf-to-Uruk and dwarf-to-Uruk fighting on the battlements, with the Uruks hurling themselves up via their ladders
Gimli yells out to Legolas, "Legolas, two already!"
Legolas replies, "I'm on seventeen!"
Gimli says to himself "Argh! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!"
Legolas says to Gimli "Nineteen!"
Gimli continues to count his kills, "Seventeen. Eighteen Nineteen Twenty, Twenty one Twenty two."
Théoden says to himself, "Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman."
Below, an Uruk soldier who is carrying one of Saruman's metal balls runs towards the culvert beneath the wall. Another Uruk follows him with a second ball. A great Uruk soldier with a torch is running towards the hole. Aragorn sees this and calls for Legolas. "Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!" Legolas hits the Uruk with two arrows, but fails to kill it, and the Uruk-hai takes out the wall with the explosives. The women in the caves look up at the sudden noise of the explosion. Saruman's army starts to crowd through the hole in the wall.
Théoden yells to his army "Brace the gates! Hold them! Stand fast!"
Gimli yells out to Aragorn "Aragorn!"
Gimli jumps right in among the Orc warriors. Aragorn calls out to him. "Gimli!" He then calls out to the elven army "Hurl the arrows! Charge!"
A terrific fight ensues. Legolas, who is still on top of the Deeping Wall, sees what is happening, grabs an orc shield and uses it to surf down the stairs, shooting orcs as he sails along.
Théoden calls out to Aragorn "Aragorn, pull back to the keep! Get your men out of there!"
Aragorn calls out to Haldir "To the Keep! To the Keep! Haldir! To the Keep!" Haldir nods at him and calls to the others.
Gimli is being dragged away against his will. Gimli cries out "What are you doing? Stop it!"
Haldir is then mortally wounded Aragorn: "Haldir!" Aragorn runs up the stairs and takes Haldir in his arms as he dies. Aragorn then goes back to the battle with renewed vigour.
Théoden yells, "To the gate! Draw your swords!"
Gamling replies, "We can't hold much longer"
Théoden says to Gamling, "Hold them!"
Aragorn then approaches Théoden and says to him, "How long do you need?"
Théoden replies, "As long as you can give me!"
Aragorn calls out "Gimli!" before the two of them exit through a secret side gate.
Théoden calls out to his men "Brace the gate!"
Gimli then speaks up "Oh, come on. We can take them!"
Aragorn says to Gimli "It's a long way."
Gimli replies, "Toss me."
"What?" Aragorn replies wondering why Gimli wants him to toss him.
Gimli replies, "I cannot jump the distance so you'll have to toss me. Ehh.. Don't tell the elf."
Aragorn says to him, "Not a word." Aragorn then tossed Gimli over the gap before jumping the gap himself. The two of them battle the Orcs at the front gate, slaughtering many.
Théoden cries out "Shore up the door!"
Some men come with long beams and pieces of wood for the door. Meanwhile, the orcs are preparing a huge catapult with anchors to shoot ropes over the battlements. They start pulling up large frames, like giant ladders, which can carry many more orcs at one time. Legolas sees what is happening and shoots one of the ropes, so at least one frame full of orcs fall to the ground. Aragorn and Gimli are still fighting ferociously just outside the Gate, giving the men a chance to repair the door. When that is done, Théoden calls out "Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!"
As Aragorn looks around him for a way out, he and Gimli are suddenly picked up by an Orc.
"Aragorn!" Legolas calls as he threw down a rope, Aragorn then bashes the orc in his ribs so he lets them go and he and Gimli are pulled up to safety.
As the Uruks finally force the gate Théoden says to the men "Pull everybody back. Pull them back! They have broken through! The castle is free! Retreat! Retreat!"
Aragorn yells, "Hurry! Inside! Get them inside!"
An Uruk yells "Into the keep!"
Théoden says woefully, "The fortress is taken. It is over."
Aragorn replies, "You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!"
The orcs have now taken the ram to the inner door. The women hear the resounding booms and one of them screams, "They're breaking in! The door! The door!" Sioned and Éowyn try to calm the women and children down but it is no use they are frightened and hysterical.
Aragorn asks, "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Théoden is dazed and does not respond. In the background, Legolas picks up the laden table, tips off the crockery and the candles and takes it to shore up the door. Gamling hesitates and Aragorn does not get an answer "Is there no other way?"
Gamling replies, "There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. However, they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many" The Uruk-hai ram the door.
Aragorn takes the lead, "Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!"
Théoden looks around and says, "So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?"
Aragorn then says to Théoden, "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them."
Théoden says to Aragorn, "For death and glory."
Aragorn says to Théoden, "For Rohan. For your people."
Gimli says to them, "The sun is rising."
Théoden says with a new passion, "Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time."
"Yes!" Gimli exclaims as he climbs up to blow the Horn.
Théoden says to Aragorn and Gimli "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. In addition, the red dawn!
Gimli then reaches the Horn and blows it. A resounding blast gives hope to the people. In the meantime, the orcs break down the door and are suddenly confronted by a small army on horseback. Aragorn, Legolas, Théoden, ride out and clear a path.
Aragorn stops for a moment and looks up to the east. There he sees Gandalf, who has just arrived just when he had said he would.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn exclaims. The sudden light, which streams down from the eastern slope alarms the orcs, who are confused, turn towards the light. They see the danger coming and assemble at the bottom of the slore, ready to take on the newcomers.
Gandalf says "Théoden-king stands alone."
Éomer replies to Gandalf, "Not alone. Rohirrim!"
Théoden looks up to see his nephew and the Rohirrim "Éomer!"
Éomer cries out "To the king!"
The two thousand strong Rohirrim led by Éomer and Gandalf then charge down the slope finally turning the tide of the battle, and send Saruman's forces into retreat.
As the battle finishes Legolas goes off to find Sioned and tell her that he is alright. When he finds her they share a passionate embrace. Legolas wraps his arm tightly around Sioned before they go in search of Théoden and the others. They end up finding them surveying the carnage of the battle below the walls of Helms Deep.
Gandalf looks around at the carnage and says to those that are gathered around him, "Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness."
