Important
The previous chapter was re-updated due to realizing that it had been updated with a file from the old version of the story. Not only was this version not compatible due to tweaks in story line, but it was quite cringy and I hate that it was read that way. But alas, I apologize and hope you continue to enjoy this story.
Chapter nine: Realizing hearts
The next morning Legolas was the first to awake. As he did, his chest swelled with joy as he looked at Juliet curled against him. It had been so long since his heart felt such bliss. He would give anything now to extend this moment, to stop time and stay here, away from war, away from time. But he would not let bitter thoughts soil this moment, the first truly intimate moment he had spent with her.
It wasn't long before soldiers were sent to rouse everyone from their slumber. Legolas sat up and slowly placed Juliet on the ground. She stirred and mumbled incoherently. Legolas could only understand the words French fries and use the bikini. He would have to ask what that last one meant.
He called her and shook her arm, knowing by now she was a heavy sleeper. After several seconds of continuous attempts, Juliet's eyes fluttered open. When the fog cleared from her eyes, she smiled with a soft blush.
"Hi," she said shyly.
Legolas chuckled. "Good morning. Sleep well?"
"I did. And you?"
"Never better."
Both go to their feet and observed as the encampment came to life. The sun would not be out for a while longer a faint light had begun to clear the dark.
"I'll go help Éowyn with breakfast. Don't want her poisoning someone."
"Poisoning?" Legolas asked with a thoughtful look. "Is that what happened with Aragorn?"
"What happened to him?"
When I followed you yesterday, I saw lady Éowyn hand Aragorn a bowl of stew. He seemed rather horrified by the content and would have tipped it had she not returned and stayed by his side."
"Oh heavens!" Juliet said in mock horror.
"Is her cooking so terrible?"
"I'd say to taste for yourself, but I'd rather not have you hate me for the rest of your life."
"I do not think that is something I could possibly do."
"I won't take any chances. Trust me on this one," she said jokingly, but inside she was squealing.
She gathered her few things and left to find Éowyn. She was gathering ingredients around her, looking at them with determined focus.
"Why don't you let me cook this time?" Juliet called as she approached.
Éowyn looked up and smiled. "Juliet. I did not see you return yesterday."
Juliet smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
She sat beside Éowyn and began to sort out what would be eaten. There was grain to make porridge. She had a few berries in her bag that would make for good sweetening. She made sure to mention how much water to use and how to continuously stir in order to get the best consistency. Then, her mind wandered to the previous night, her talk with Legolas about relationships, how he held her all night, and how he looked at her.
"What makes you smile so?"
Juliet snapped back to reality and looked at Éowyn. "Sorry. You say something?"
Éowyn gave her a knowing smile. She inched forward and leaned in conspiratorially. "Your smile."
"Sorry," she quickly said and looked as if someone else could have seen her. Éowyn laughed.
"Is it someone that you think of?"
Juliet laughed nervously. Éowyn gave her a sweet smile and inched even closer.
"I know that you and I just met. But I see in you a kindred sister," she said, placing her hand over Juliet's. "I have no friends in Edoras, no one to speak to besides my brother, and of course, he is a man and would not listen to much that I wish to say, so I have no one to share my secrets with. I would be happy if you allowed me to know you more, to become sisters of the heart."
Juliet smiled genially. Guilt made her heart ache. Were she to become true friends with Éowyn, she might betray her in the future if she found a way home and just left without telling her anything. And even though they had only just met, she felt fond of the woman.
"I would really like that," she replied.
Éowyn's smile was one of delight. "Will you tell me then," she said excitedly, "who it is that you smile for?"
Juliet's eyes scanned the field. Legolas was a good distance away talking with Gimli.
Éowyn followed her eyes. "Master Legolas?"
Juliet grinned, suddenly excited to be able to share her feelings with someone.
Éowyn's eyes grew wide in wonder. "And do you know if he feels the same?"
"I think he does."
As they ate, Juliet then told her of the events of the previous day, leaving out what the conversation had been about, and also telling her of Eólida and what she'd said about Legolas.
Éowyn was beyond delight as she listened and shared her own thoughts on the matter. Then, she let Juliet go with two bowls of porridge to give the others.
She approached Legolas and Gimli and offered them. Gimli eyed with as much distrust as he would an orc. Juliet laughed.
"Don't worry. It's my berry porridge. Éowyn only observed this time."
"Well in that case please hand it to me. May its sweetness wash away the foulness that still lingers in my tongue from that stew."
Both Juliet and Legolas laughed. Legolas took the bowl, staring at her with a smile that spoke volumes. She thought he'd be more discrete given the circumstances, but he seemed to not care who saw.
Aragorn was speaking with King Theoden when Éowyn approached them with two bowls. They were close enough that even Juliet could see the small twitch on Aragorn's face as he accepted the bowl… from a very eager looking Éowyn.
Juliet shook her thoughts away and looked at Legolas.
"Is there any chance we can tell him not to feed his breakfast at his horse when Éowyn turns away?"
"That would be a cruelty to the horse," Gimli muttered. Juliet raised a brow. "If he thinks Éowyn made it."
Juliet laughed.
"Aragorn," Legolas called before quickly saying something in elvish. A small smile tugged at Aragorn's lips and he bowed his head in gratitude before taking a spoonful of his breakfast.
The day continued at a slow pace as they marched to Helm's Deep. Juliet had remained by Éowyn's side to not call too much attention to herself. It seemed the moment she was with the woman, everyone else seemed to completely forget she was one among warriors.
A scream and a loud growl tore through the sound of footsteps and mumbled conversations. The caravan stopped. The sound of swords clashing, followed by a screech, tore through the caravan like a whip, causing everyone to scream and run.
"Wargs! We are under attack!"
Juliet's heart nearly stopped when in her mind, the image of what a warg was formed. She early screamed in horror as the knowledge of this beast paralyzed her. She wanted to run, to hide amongst the panicked crowd and leave with them. But as she saw Legolas run ahead, she knew she would never forgive herself if something happened to him and she wasn't there to at least try to help.
Juliet jumped on her horse and urged it to follow the rest of the riders. She turned to have one last glance at the crowd and her chance to escape and saw Éowyn staring at her, fear and fire mixed in her gaze. She nodded at her before turning to follow the others.
Her head swam with terror as she made it over the hill and saw the swarm of beasts running her way. She knew she had no chance of firing even a mediocre shot from the horse, especially not with such fast moving targets. She'd drawn her sword, not knowing how she would even manage. But she couldn't stop to consider this, because a warg and his rider had already decided that she was their target.
They lunged for her from her left back. Her only warning was the loud growl, and without thinking, she threw herself off her horse. She rolled and jumped to her feet. The orc turned his warg and gave her a cruel smile before kicking it to lunge for her. She could not outrun him, but she could surprise it.
The beast ran for her. Juliet stood her ground, and as it made its final lunge forward, she jumped, placing her hands on the top of the wag's head and bringing her legs forward to collide into the orc's chest. It fell with a curse. Now, Juliet was on top of the warg, who didn't seem to notice the difference between her and its previous master. She strapped her legs around it and pulled its hair towards the fallen orc. The orc screeched in a tongue she could not understand, though he seemed to be trying to tame the beast as it made for his neck. The warg sunk its fangs between the orc's neck and shoulder, shook him a few times and threw him away.
Now, Juliet was at a lost. The warg was ready and eager to attack. She tried pulling it away, but it only became more violent. With no other choice, she drew her dagger and sunk it on the beast's neck. The creature reared violently and flung her across the field.
Juliet scrambled to her feet. She quickly looked around for her dagger when an orc that had lost his rider ran at her with a battle cry. She drew her sword. His movements were brute and predictable, and she quickly sliced him open. Another warg, this one without a rider, spotted her and made her its prey. She stifled the urge to turn and run. There was no possibility of outrunning the beast. Just as she ground herself as the beast lunged at her, an arrow flew and stuck to its throat.
"Juliet!" Legolas called as he rode towards her. She turned to him as he extended his arm as he reached her. She did the same and was whisked onto the horse.
"Where's Gimli?" she yelled, frantically looking around.
"Safe last I saw him."
She wanted to ask exactly what 'safe' meant surrounded by giant, feral dogs and orcs, but it wasn't the time for useless questions.
From the horse, Juliet could only observe and make sure nothing caught the by surprise. But the battle ended soon after.
Corpses laid torn to shreds. Horses, wargs, orcs and men mingled in a bloody mess of bodies and entrails. Among those bodies was Aragorn's horse.
"Legolas," Juliet breathed in terror as she pointed at the corpse. Legolas tensed in front of her and quickly dismounted. She followed him and frantically began to look among the bodies.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called out, his voice laced with a fear she had not heard before.
Gimli noticed their search. His eyes widened as he scanned the battlefield. "Aragorn!"
Juliet was bent over, inspecting a body, when she noticed Legolas and Gimli both stop by an orc. She ran towards them.
"Tell me what happened and I shall ease your passing," Gimli growled as he placed his axe over the creature's neck.
The orc laughed. Juliet noticed Aragorn's knife impaled on its chest.
"He's… dead," the orc spat. "Took a little tumble off the cliff."
Juliet gasped and took a step back.
Legolas' face was lit with fiery anger as he bent to grab the orc by its clothes. "You lie!" he sneered at the orc as it laughed once more before dying.
Legolas let him go before retrieving something from its hand.
"His necklace?" Juliet choked, desperately hoping he'd say it was something else.
Legolas ran towards the mountain's edge and looked over. Gimli, Theoden, and Juliet joined him. If Aragorn had fallen, the rapids would have dragged him under, and his body would be far by now.
"Get the wounded on horses," Theoden instructed to the soldiers. "The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead."
Legolas's face snapped to the king's. In his eyes there was more than words could say.
Theoden placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Come."
Legolas looked at the necklace in his hand as if it could bring Aragorn back if he willed it enough. With one last look at the river, he turned away.
Juliet remained by the edge. Her body trembled as tears began to pour down her face. She hated how she couldn't control her tears and walk away, how shame and guilt threatened once more to eat her until she was nothing.
"Lass," Gimli said softly as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "We understand your pain. But let it not consume you. We are here for you as you are for us."
Juliet nodded so fast and hard that she dizzied herself. She whipped at her face and turned around just as Legolas came up to her. Without a word, he held her to him, wrapping her in his arms and nearly hiding her from the whole world, and Juliet got the feeling that he wished to do just that. They were silent, but in that silence, she heard a small, choked sob.
The ride to Helms Deep was silent and heavy. Most riders rode with a wounded man. Juliet had found her mare and was thankful for the Rohirim's amazing training of their horses. As they arrived and dismounted, Juliet saw Éowyn moving through the crowd and searching for someone. Gimli came up to her.
"My Lady," he said.
"Lord Aragon, where is he?" she asked, her eyes wide in fear.
"He fell," he choked out.
Éowyn looked back at her uncle, who gave her a mournful stare before moving away. Juliet then knew for sure that Éowyn had felt something for Aragorn. Juliet wanted to go comfort her, but at that moment she couldn't think beyond her own grief. They had lost Aragorn, their friend, their leader. They were now stuck in a world of men, an elf, a dwarf, and a woman. None belonged here and they knew it. Even if King Theoden had welcomed them despite Aragorn's death, it would not last long. Their race, her gender, these things set them apart in a way that felt alien.
Juliet remained where she had dismounted even as her horse was taken away. She remained as soldiers and people ran about preparing and carrying the wounded, and she remained when the hall through which they had rode in emptied. Gimli, who had also remained on a corner as the chaos subdued, turned towards Juliet. He nodded for her to follow and she did.
Soon they found Legolas, who had just been speaking with the King. Of the three, he was the one with the most "status" at the moment, and the most likely to be taken seriously. They walked up to him. He held his grief in check, but anyone who knew him enough knew that his eyes betrayed his pain.
"What's next?" asked Juliet.
"Aragon wanted us to aid Rohan. We shall do so in his memory. In the meantime, shall wait for Gandalf. He should return soon. He will decide what our next move will be. For now, let us help the refugees settle.
Juliet and Gimli nodded. They all moved to an area where most of the refugees were and searched for who could be in need. It was difficult to move without having to wedge or shove between bodies and crates. As Juliet moved with a crate in hands, a man carrying sacks up walked towards her. Juliet's thoughts were on Aragorn, and the man, nearly blind to anything below her, called out for people to move, but she did not hear. And so, his knee slammed into her leg and Juliet hissed and fell with the crate in hand.
"Sorry!" the man exclaimed, trying to look down from the sacks.
"It's nothing. Don't worry."
"Juliet," Legolas called as he made his way towards her. The man saw him and bowed his head as best he could.
"My apologies," he said, though it was hard to tell if he was speaking to Legolas or her.
"It's my fault. I was distracted. I'm sorry," Juliet quickly said, knowing it was true.
Legolas nodded at the man, who left them alone, calling out for people to move.
"What happened?" asked Legolas.
"Nothing. He hit my leg. But it wasn't that hard. I think…" she looked over her leg and gently touched it and winced. "I might have hurt it during the fight."
Legolas led her to the least congested area he could find and sat her on a barrel. She lifted the trouser on her left leg to reveal a dark bruise littered with scratches on the lower, outer side of her knee and down to her calf.
"When did this happen?"
"Probably when I fell off my horse. A warg caught me by surprise. One more second and my head would have been chopped off."
Legolas gave her a serious look that stilled her for a moment.
"Have you supplies from Lothlorien?"
Juliet opened the little bag strapped to her side. She had been given two rolls of bandages and two small containers, one with a thick cream, a small vial with a liquid with herbs floating in it, and another with a more liquid salve. She showed them to him, not remembering what each was for. Legolas took the one with the cream.
"May I?" he asked referring to her leg.
She nodded and Legolas crouched before her. He dressed and them wrapped her wound. He then asked to see the cut on her back. It had closed thanks to the medicine given to them by Galadriel, but it was still not fully healed and sore after the fight. As Legolas finished applying more cream to her back and put the bandage away for cleaning. As he finished, he stared at Juliet's back for a moment. She had been hurt twice now. Each wound meant her body would be weaker for the next battle. Even with Galadriel's medicine, she would be hindered. What would the next battle bring? If Aragorn…
Legolas swallowed hard, pushing away all thoughts of Aragorn and of Juliet possibly following him.
"Legolas?"
"It is done. Your shoulder looks better. I will leave the wound to breathe and clean the bandages."
"Thank you."
She fixed her clothes and swung her legs over the barrel to turn to him. Legolas remained crouched, but looked away and focused on the crowd, yet she could see his eyes were unfocused.
Hesitantly, she reached to take his hand. He looked down at it when she touched him and then at her. His face began to come undone, his grief and fear showing clearly. Juliet swallowed back the sob that threatened to escape. She had to be here for him, had to be strong for him.
She reached for his other hand and held them both together. Legolas squeezed her hands in his and took a deep, shuddering breath. Tears ran down his cheek, but he did not try hide them. No one cared to look at them as they sat hidden in their corner. All were absorbed in their own grief and fear. So Legolas allowed his tears to fall, allowed Juliet to pull him to her, and allowed his forehead to rest on her shoulder as his tears sunk into her clothes and his small sobs were muffled by her skin.
ooOoo
Juliet had not been present when Aragorn arrived at Helm's Deep, so it made her heart swell with hope, and fear that this hope would be crushed, when she heard Aragorn had returned. She could not see how that was possible. She asked every soldier she could where Aragorn was until she saw him up on the wall with Theoden, Legolas and Gimli. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could see that it was not going well. King Theoden had grabbed Aragorn by his clothes and said something to his face. Still, Aragorn continued to talk as the King released him and attempted to walk away. After a while, he left him there as he gave orders to secure the gates.
Juliet then broke into a run towards Aragorn. He saw her and gave her a small smile. She stopped before him, eyes glistening and mouth half open, but no words registered in her mind. Aragorn smiled.
"Come here," he said softly as he opened his arms and held her.
Juliet let out a mix of a laugh and a sob as she hugged him back.
"It's alright," he whispered before stepping back. He then turned to the others. They all awaited his direction. "The King will not be swayed to call for aid. We will fight with him and wait for Gandalf's return."
Aragorn then stared at Juliet and it was clear what he was thinking.
Did she really want to argue with him on whether she should be allowed to fight besides them?
"War is coming, Juliet, unlike anything you have ever seen. These are Uruk-hai, breed for war and death. You do not need to fight with us. You can stay with Éowyn and protect the others should the defences fail."
"If the defences fail, that means you all have perished. If that is how this will end, I will be beside you all," she said as she looked at each of them. Legolas' lips twitched as if to say something.
"I will not order you anything, but think about it well. They should be here by nightfall. If by then you desire to join Éowyn, simply go with her."
Juliet nodded. She then looked at Legolas who in turn looked away. She frowned but before she could speak, he walked away. If the others noticed this, they didn't show it.
"We should see if there is anything to outfit you with," Aragorn said as he looked her up and down with an assessing look. "Children's armor might fit you-"
"Children's armor?" she exclaimed, horrified.
Aragorn nodded, his eyes distant as he too contemplated the horror. But he focused once more on her. "But you are not used to armor, and given your skill sets, it would hinder you more than anything. Some leather armor might be available. Soldiers will go for steel before leather."
Juliet was directed to Éowyn given Juliet would make the men uncomfortable if she entered the armory. When she explained what she needed, Éowyn was both surprised and frustrated.
"You were allowed to fight in the war?" she asked, incredulously.
"Aragorn isn't one to exert his will over us. He gave me the option to stay. He would prefer me to stay away. But I…" she sighed heavily. "I'm honestly terrified. But I can't bear to think of leaving them alone." She snorted bitterly. "As if I was able to protect them more than they can themselves."
Éowyn placed a hand on her shoulder. "As far as I am told," she said with a soft smile, "You have proven to be warrior." She smiled, her tone lightening. "There is even talk of the woman who rode a warg and led it to devour an orc."
"Really?" Juliet asked in surprise.
"Yes!" Éowyn exclaimed before schooling herself to a more serious tone. "Even if most men see you incapable because you who you are, you have shown them that you are just as strong and skilled, if not more. They will come to respect you more and more."
Juliet smiled weakly. "Thanks."
Éowyn found her some arm and leg leather braces, and a leather chest and stomach piece with thin chain mail underneath. Against a direct blow, these would be useless. But it could protect her from arrows and ill-placed blades.
ooOoo
That afternoon, Juliet stayed by the entry-way of the armory as her companions oversaw the soldiers prepare. She saw as men who could be her grandparents, and children who could barely walk under the weight of the armor they have been given, walked in and out. Her heart ached for each one that walked past her.
There had been noise and chatter in the armory, but suddenly she could hear none of that. With a frown, she glanced in and saw everyone was looking at Aragorn and Legolas.
"Boe a hyn. Neled herain… dan caer menig?" Legolas said.
"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras," replied Aragorn, looking uncertain even as he seemed to be trying to sound sure.
"Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú ortheri. Natha daged aen!"
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn yelled as he stepped to face Legolas.
Juliet froze. She had not understood what they had been saying but it was now clear to her. Legolas believed they would all die, and even Aragorn didn't see so certain they wouldn't. She saw Aragon storm out. He passed by her without even a glance at her as she opened her mouth and tried to reach a hand for him. She turned to see Legolas try to go after him but Gimli held him.
"Let him go lad. Let him be."
The realization of how dire the situation was left Juliet paralyzed. Men walked by her, giving her odd looks, but she couldn't move. Not until a man, maybe distracted, maybe indifferent about what he did, bumped into her, his size and weight making her take a few stumbling steps back as she gasped. Her eyes then met Legolas'. Before he could say anything, she turned and hurried away.
"Juliet," Legolas whispered.
"Her you may follow," said Gimli softly.
Legolas made his way through the armory but by the time he got, she had already entered through one of the Keep's hallways and was lost in the mass of men.
Then I shall die as one of them!
The words just kept repeating themselves over and over in her head. Her hands gripped the stone so hard she thought she might make it crumble. She looked up at the sky but it was cloudy so she could see no stars. She would have cried, but there were just so many things bursting inside of her that she could not even think of crying.
She gasped in a breath as her mind threatened to break down. "Okay, okay," she repeated in a breathy whisper. "Okay, this is…" she heaved a sharp breath again. Her hand flew to her chest, but through the leather armor she couldn't grab her necklace. This made her panic momentarily before she dug it out and squeezed it in her hand.
Her eyes shut tight and she took a deep breath and held it. she exhaled slowly and inhaled slowly. The process repeated for a while until her mind and body relaxed.
"Okay," she whispered, this time feeling that she was indeed more okay.
She looked out into the distance. This was what she had chosen. Well, maybe not this life, but she had chosen to stand by her friends. Her thoughts went to that night when she was first brought before Galadriel.
"You think I'm not here by accident?" she asked.
"No. I see in you… something," she said, her eyes bearing into her. "I cannot say exactly why you are here, nor how it happened without your consent. But I can see that you are more connected to this world than you or anyone else can imagine."
Juliet sucked in her bottom lip and bit it. This still didn't feel real enough, and at the same all too real and dangerous. Her mind battled with her, argued that this was not possible, and at the same time her senses and her consciousness argued that this was happening, and that she had to pull herself together and face it for her own sake.
"Could.. could you have seen wrong, about me being in the Fellowship?"
Galadriel gave her a mischievous smile.
"I do not see wrong, ever. You were placed on this Fellowship's path in the most appropriate moment possible, here where you would meet them and be brought to me along with them."
"I could be a coincidence!" she exclaimed, frustration making her rash. She bit her lip again and bowed her head. This woman had held her life minutes ago and this was a terrible way of making sure she didn't rethink her decision
"Raise your head, child. You do not need to fear me. I understand what you are going through.
Juliet nearly snorted, but she then heard the Lady's voice in her head and nearly jumped out of her skin.
"You feel helpless and out of place. But you were meant to be here from the start. That I can see. The same way Bilbo was meant to find the ring, and later Frodo. The same way each member of the Fellowship was meant to be at the Council. The fate of this world has been written and it is now our job follow it through."
"You mean… you mean that this was all predestined or something?"
"Fate is not as simple as that. But some things are meant to be. You will see that you were called to this world for more than one reason. You will find that there is more for you here than what you can see now."
Back then, Lady Galadriel's words had meant nothing to her. But now, she wondered if by this world having more for her than she could see meant that she had seen her and Legolas. And if so, did it also mean she saw her living to see it through?
"Juliet."
Juliet turned to see Legolas hurrying to her. He stopped before her, a pained look in his eyes.
"I'm okay now," she said with a small smile. "I just got a little shaken is all."
"Juliet, I will not lie to you. I do not see us winning this war. Please, go with lady Éowyn."
Juliet offered him a genuine, albeit weak, smile. "You can't ask this of me and you know it. you can't ask me to leave you, to leave you all."
"I know this is selfish of me, but this war," he said, looking around as if they were standing in the middle of a chaotic battlefield. "You have no experience."
"Those children don't have any experience."
"I know," he whispered painfully. His eyes pleaded with her.
Juliet felt the urge to kiss him, to pull him to her and confess. But on the eve of a war they might not survive, or more likely, that she would not survive, would it be fair to do this? Would it make things worse if something happened? She decided to take his hands in her.
"Were I to ask you to leave me, Aragorn and Gimli, would you do it? I know it's not quite the same. You have so much training and experience and so do they. But," she said, taking a step closer and staring at him, her tone becoming fervent, "I could never forgive myself for abandoning any of you in a time like this. And I know that you can understand that."
Legolas wanted to argue, to tell her to think. He wanted to be cruel even, to tell her that she was a liability because the men could not see her as their equal, that she would be in the way. But how could he hurt her like that? Would a sword to the heart hurt less than those words?
He squeezed her hands in his and brought them to his lips. they stayed that way for a while, looking at each other, wanting to say so much, knowing words right now would only make them hesitate more.
Then, Legolas caught Aragorn with the corner of his eyes.
"There is something I must do," he told Juliet.
She turned back in time to see Aragorn pass through a door. She nodded and allowed him to go ahead. She followed and waited by the door.
Inside the armory, Aragorn equips himself with his battle gear. He didn't notice Legolas walk in until he sees the sword being held to him. He looks at him for a moment before nodding and taking it.
"We have trusted you this far," Legolas said. "And you have not let us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."
Aragorn gave him a small smile. "Ú-moe edhored, Legolas," There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.
They smile and clap each other's shoulder. Juliet decided to walk in.
"You look prepared," he says, managing a smile. "Éowyn set me up with some chainmail and leather. It does very little for my figure," she said with a little sway. Her smile wavered as she realized what she had done, and she looked down sheepishly. "Sorry. Um, force of habit from another life."
The soft chuckles signalled her that her joke had been taken in good nature and she smiled back.
Gimli entered the armory, his hands fighting with his clothes. "If we had time I'd get this adjusted," he grumbled as he allowed the extra length of the chainmail fall. "It's a little tight across the chest."
Aragorn and Legolas barely bit back their smiles, but Juliet burst into full laughter.
A horn sounded in the distance and everyone turned to it.
"That is no orc horn," Legolas breathes as he runs out, followed by the rest.
They made it to the gate just as elven soldiers marched in. The men of Rohan stared in awe and with hope in their eyes.
The king appeared and took in the sight with shock. "How is this possible?"
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell," Haldir said as he broke out from the ranks of marching elves. "An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together."
Aragorn and the others arrived and stared at Haldir in shock. The elf smiled. "We come to honor that allegiance.
"Mae govannen Haldir," Aragorn said as he came up to him. Haldir bowed with his hand over his heart but Aragon surprised him with a hug. With surprise and hesitation, Haldir patted his back.
"You are most welcome."
Then the army of elves all turned in unison and lowered their bows.
"We are proud to fight alongside men once more."
After a quick outline description of the Keep, the elves and rest of the soldiers began all began to move to their respective stations. Aragorn was tasked to command a battalion of elves, so the rest of them followed him up to the wall.
Juliet followed, her eyes taking in the sight as hope and sadness mingled in her heart. These elves had come to fight a battle that was not theirs. Many would die. If they could march from their home to fight this war for a people that did not know them, how could she had ever considered hiding and leaving her friends to fight alone?
As she walked, her eyes met his. She did not stop but held his gaze for a moment. To her surprise, he nodded to her with a hand over her chest. She smiled and nodded, and for a moment, a tight ache held her heart. She almost stopped but forced herself to continue.
"May the sun shine on our smiles when this is over," she prayed under her breath.
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