Oh my gosh, a new chapter in less than a month! Yeah, it surprised me, too. I watched the second movie and got inspired. So without further adieu, the next chapter!


The host rode quickly, afraid they might already be too late. That night they made camp without fires. Mounted guards ringed the camp, and scouts rode far ahead. Nothing happened that night, and at dawn the horns sounded. They were riding again in less than an hour. By noon Morgan was thoroughly sick of riding, but she bit her tongue and tried to divert her attention by looking at the landscape, watching the riders nearest to her, or pulling faces at Gimli.

As the sun was setting a horseman was spotted approaching them. They stopped and waited for him. When he was close Morgan could see that he was exhausted, and his helm and shield were battered. Slowly he dismounted and stood before them, gasping.

"Is Éomer here?" he said at last, "You come at last, but too late, and with too little strength. Things have gone evilly since Théoden fell. We were driven back yesterday over the Isen with great loss. Many perished at the crossing. Then at night fresh forces came over the river against our camp. All of Isengard must be emptied; Saruman has armed the wild hillmen and herdfolk of Dunland beyond the rivers, and these also he loosed upon us. We were overmastered. The shield-wall was broken. Erkenbrand of Westfold has drawn off those men he could gather towards his fastness in Helm's Deep. The rest are scattered. Where is Éomer? Tell him there is no hope ahead. He should return to Edoras before the wolves of Isengard come there."

The king rode out from behind his guards. "Come, stand before me, Ceorl!" he said, "I am here. The last host of the Eorlingas has ridden forth. It will not return without battle."

The man's face brightened immediately, and he knelt and offered his notched sword to Théoden. "Command me, lord! And pardon me! I thought..."

"You thought I remained in Meduseld bent like an old tree under winter snow. So it was when you rode to war. But a west wind has shaken the boughs." the king turned to a guard, "Give this man a fresh horse. Let us ride to the help of Erkenbrand!"

While Théoden was speaking Gandalf rode a short way ahead and sat there alone, looking north to Isengard and west towards the setting sun. Now he came back.

"Ride, Théoden!" he said, "Ride to Helm's Deep! Go not to the Fords of Isen, and do not tarry in the plain! I must leave you for a while. Shadowfax must bear me now on a swift errand." He turned to Aragorn and Éomer and cried, "Keep well the Lord of the Mark, till I return. Await me at Helm's Gate! Farewell!"

He spoke a word the Shadowfax, and the magnificent horse sprang away like an arrow from a bow. In a few moments he was gone. The host now turned southward. They rode into the night until they came to a valley that led to a wide gorge or canyon of sorts which opened up between the foothills of the White Mountains. On either side of the gorge sheer cliffs rose up, growing taller and closer together further in. On the northern cliff, near the mouth of the gorge, were walls and a lofty tower. Running from that cliff to the other was a deep ditch or dike, breached by a wide land bridge. Behind that was a high stone wall. A culvert was situated on one side, allowing a stream to wind out and pass into the Westfold Vale. As they approached the valley that led to the mouth of the gorge they heard cries and horn blasts from the scouts. Arrows whistled out of the darkness. A scout rode back and reported that warg-riders were abroad in the valley, as well as a host of orcs and wild men hurrying southward from the Fords of Isen. Scattered companies of men were wandering around leaderless, and no one knew what had happened to Erkenbrand.

"This is going to be fun." Morgan muttered as they started riding.

They went slower as they went on, careful of what might be lurking in the darkness. Here and there they came on roving bands of orcs, but the orcs fled before them. Behind Morgan could make out the sound of harsh singing. As they came close to the dike Morgan looked back. What she saw made her swallow nervously. There were hundreds upon hundreds of fiery points of lights winding up from the lowlands in long flickering lines. Here and there a larger blaze leaped up.

"That's a whole lot of torches down there." she said. Aragorn looked back.

"They are burning as they come, rick, cot, and tree."

As they came to the breach in the dike they were challenged by a sentinel.

"The Lord of the Mark rides to Helm's Gate." Éomer answered, "I, Éomer son of Éomund, speak."

"This is good tidings beyond hope." the sentinel said, "Hasten! The enemy is on your heels."

They crossed the dike and began heading towards the gate. Morgan began chewing her lip. So far this was moving like it had in the book, so hopefully Haldir wouldn't show up and get offed. Of course, battles never seemed to go exactly as they were supposed to. And there hadn't been much of anything from the movies lately. How had the battle gone in the movie? All she could remember was Aragorn tossing Gimli and something about the wall exploding. Speaking of that, she couldn't really remember how the battle went in the book, either. How long had it been since she'd first arrived here? It seemed like forever.

Everyone dismounted as they neared the gate and led their horses through. Those inside welcomed them joyfully. Within a matter of minutes the majority of the force was in place. Morgan found herself up on the wall with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. The torches down below were approaching, but in silence now.

"Hey, Aragorn. How much longer do I have to wear this?" Morgan asked, pointing to the bandage on her ear. The corner of Aragorn's mouth twitched.

"I had almost forgotten about it. Let me check."

He gently unwound the bandage. The wound had healed, leaving a large notch in her ear where no fur grew. After a careful examination he nodded and stepped back.

"It is healed, though it looks as though something took a bite out of your ear."

Morgan felt it. "Great, now all I need is a gold hoop in the other ear and an eye patch and I could be a pirate." she muttered.

"But at least you can hear with both ears now." Legolas pointed out.

"Yeah, but now everything sounds funny."

"You will get used to it." Aragorn said.

Éomer came to make sure everything was fine. "I do not know if it is a good idea for you to be up here." he said when he saw Morgan, "It will be dangerous once the fighting starts."

"Your concern is unneeded." Aragorn said, "Morgan is capable of taking care of herself. She once killed a cave troll unaided."

"Indeed?" Éomer raised an eyebrow. "And how did you accomplish that?"

"You'll see." Morgan replied.

There was a long period of quiet, then the sudden cries of battle came from the dike. After a bit men came galloping from that direction. The rearguard had fallen. A raindrop hit Morgan on the head, and she looked up. The sky was utterly dark. Rain began coming down. A flash of lightning seared across the sky, illuminating for a moment the black mass that was marching towards them. Morgan gulped. Her sensitive ears caught the sound of the marching footsteps over the rain that was now pouring down in torrents. Movies could never really convey the feeling of absolute terror of facing approximately ten thousand large, very ugly Uruk-hai.

The army stopped a short distance from the wall. For a few minutes they faced off in silence. There was the twang of a bowstring, and an orc fell. After a split second the orcs retaliated. Arrows whizzed everywhere, some coming perilously close to Morgan's head. Another flash of lightning revealed ladders being lifted up. They thudded against the wall, and orcs began pouring over the ramparts.

"Hm. Water conducts electricity. Metal really conducts electricity. As long as they're close enough together, it should work."

Morgan hopped onto a ladder that had just hit the wall. The first orc climbing up it was greeted by the sight of a grinning Pachirisu. Blueish-white electricity arced between her and the orc and swiftly traveled down the ladder, jumping one wet armor-clad orc to the next. Morgan's grin widened as they fell off the ladder.

"Wow, I didn't actually think that would work."

Morgan began hopping from ladder to ladder, frying the orcs as they came up. She always tried to stay near Aragorn, though. It would probably be a bad thing to get separated. There was a loud thud. Morgan took a quick look over the edge of the wall and saw a group of orcs and wild men manning a huge battering ram. The ram hit the gate again, and the wood started splintering. She raced back to Aragorn.

"They have a battering ram!"

Aragorn nodded and ran down the stairs. At the foot they encountered Éomer, who looked like he was just coming from the Hornburg.

"They are breaking down the gate!" Aragorn cried, "We must stop them!"

"Follow me. Now is the hour we draw swords together!"

They followed him to a small postern gate near the main gate. With a yell they charged out, drawing swords at the same time. The enemy was taken by surprise, but swiftly recovered and charged in a massive group.

"Hey Éomer," Morgan said, "want to see how I took out that cave troll?" Without waiting for an answer she released a blast of electricity, mowing down the first couple of rows. She looked at Éomer and grinned when she saw his stunned look. "And that's why you don't get me mad."

The enemy regrouped and charged again. As Éomer and Aragorn readied themselves they heard someone cry, "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" Gimli rushed out and began hacking as the enemy came up. Once again they repelled them.

"You're late." Morgan called to him. Gimli growled but made no response.

Meanwhile Éomer and Aragorn had succeeded in rolling the battering ram down the causeway, clearing it of orcs and wild men for a few moments. The group hastily made their exit and returned to the wall. The fighting continued. After a few hours the rain stopped and the clouds parted to reveal the moon, now nearing the horizon. Suddenly Morgan realized that the wall hadn't exploded yet. That meant that either it wasn't going to happen, or it was going to happen soon. Almost as soon as she thought that she thought she smelled something funny.

"Get away from this part of the wall!" she screamed.

The others didn't question her but made their way as fast as they could away from that spot. No sooner had they done so than a deafening explosion ripped through the air. The wall where they had been standing went up in a brilliant explosion. Aragorn and Morgan, along with a good number of other people, were thrown from the wall. Morgan, being quite small and light, was thrown a good distance before landing on the top of some stairs and rolling down them. It took her a moment to recover, and several more to stand up. As she looked around she saw orcs by the dozen pouring in through the gap. Aragorn was nowhere to be found. She heard people yelling for them to retreat to the Hornburg. Still keeping an eye out for Aragorn, Éomer, Legolas, or even Gimli, Morgan made her way towards the tower, frying orcs as she went. "Aragorn, if you're dead I'm going to kill you." she muttered.

Many of the men were unable to reach the Hornburg and were forced to make for the caves at the end of the gorge. Gimli and Éomer had ended up there in the book, hadn't they? Morgan was one of the last to reach the tower, slipping in just before the gates closed. She found Legolas close to the gate, whetting a long knife.

"Have you seen Aragorn?" she asked.

"I have not, nor have I seen Gimli or Éomer. Come, we will search for them."

Morgan hopped onto his shoulder, and they began asking around for the missing people. Several said they had seen at least one of them heading towards the caves, which Morgan and Legolas found encouraging. Still, Morgan was worried. Aragorn was supposed to be here to convince the king to ride out. If he wasn't here, did that mean the king wouldn't ride? What would happen if he didn't? What if Gandalf was late again?

"Gandalf, if you're late I will kill you more than I'll kill Aragorn if he's dead." she muttered to herself.

So occupied was Morgan with her thoughts that she didn't notice where they were until Legolas bowed. Théoden stood before them, clad in armor.

"What news?" he asked.

"The orcs have taken the Deep, and have brought blasting-fire from Orthanc."

"What of Éomer and Aragorn?"

"They are not here, my lord. Several men have said they saw them heading for the caves."

The king sighed and began pacing. Morgan hopped off Legolas' shoulder and went to a window. It was still dark outside, but the eastern horizon was beginning to grow lighter. Peering out into the gloom, Morgan saw something that made her freeze. Two orcs were carrying a large, spiked metal sphere towards the gate. She climbed down the outside wall of the tower and stood above the gate.

"Not this time, morons." she muttered as she shot of a bolt of electricity. The sphere exploded, sending shrapnel and orcs flying everywhere. This happened a couple more times, then ceased. The sky was light when she returned to the king's room. He was now alone, still pacing. Suddenly he stopped and looked out the window.

"Is it even worth continuing the battle?" he said softly.

"Are you crazy?" Morgan cried. The king jumped and looked at her. "Um...your highness." she added quickly.

Théoden shook his head. "So much death. How did it come to this?"

"Yes, my lord, there has been a lot of death. People have died defending this place. They still defend it. And if you give up now, they'll all die anyway."

"What can men do against such reckless hate?"

Morgan almost screamed in frustration. "You do what we've been doing for almost the entire night. You fight!"

This seemed to rouse the king a little. "What would you have me do?"

"Ride out." Morgan answered, a fire burning in her eyes, "Ride out and meet them head-on."

They stared at each other for a few moments. The fire that burned in Morgan's eyes was slowly kindled in Théoden's. A grim smile spread across his face.

"So be it. I will ride out. And you will ride with me, if you will."

"Yes!" Morgan pumped a fist in the air before leaping onto Théoden's shoulder. They left the room and quickly gathered as many men as they had horses. As they rode to the gate, Théoden lifted his sword.

"Fell deeds awake! Now for wrath, now for ruin, and a red dawn! Forth Eorlingas!"

The gates swung open and the horsemen rode out. A horn sounded, echoing and magnifying off the cliffs. As they rode Morgan noticed a thick forest on the other side of the dike that was not there yesterday. The orcs seemed as afraid of it as they were of the horsemen and the men who were streaming from the caves. She looked east and saw a rider on a ridge.

"Gandalf!"

Behind the rider appeared a large host of men on foot, the leader of which she guessed to be Erkenbrand. They charged just as the sun peeked over the horizon, glinting off their swords. The orcs wailed and milled about in confusion. Some ran into the woods. Others stood and fought. With Gandalf's reinforcements, though, it was futile. The battle became a rout, and the orcs were wiped out. The men that had been driven into the caves surged out and helped finish off the remaining foes. When the battle was finally ended Gandalf, Théoden, and Legolas were joined by Éomer, Aragorn, and Gimli. Gimli was missing his helm, and had a bandage around his head.

"Forty two, Master Legolas!" he cried.

"You have passed my score by one." Legolas answered, "But I do not grudge you the game, so glad am I to see you on your legs!"

"Yeah, if you were dead who else would I tease mercilessly?" Morgan said from Théoden's shoulder. Gimli glared at her while everyone else laughed.

"I am glad to see that you are safe, Morgan." Aragorn said, "When we were separated I feared the worst."

"Same here." Morgan replied before turning to Gandalf. "Oh, by the way, Gandalf, where did those trees come from?"

Gandalf smiled. "That is no deed of mine. It is a thing beyond the counsel of the wise. Better than my design, and better even than my hope the event has proved."

"Then whose wizardry?" Théoden asked, "Not Saruman's, that is plain. Is there some mightier sage, of whom we have yet to learn?"

"It is not wizardry, but a power far older.

Ere iron was found or tree was hewn,

When young was mountain under moon;

Ere ring was made, or wrought was woe,

It walked the forests long ago."

"And what is the answer to your riddle?" Théoden asked.

"If you would learn that, you should come with me to Isengard."

"To Isengard?"

"Yes." Gandalf answered, "I shall return to Isengard, and those who will may come with me. There we may see strange things."

"But there are not men enough in the Mark, not if they were all gathered together and healed of wounds and weariness, to assault the stronghold of Saruman."

"Nevertheless it is to Isengard I go. I shall not stay there long; my way now lies eastward. Look for me in Edoras, ere the waning of the moon!"

"Nay!" cried Théoden, "In the dark hour before dawn I doubted, but we will not part now. I will come with you, if that is your counsel."

"Then on to Isengard!" Morgan cried, then let out a huge yawn. "After a short nap." she added before hopping onto Aragorn's shoulder, diving into his hood, and going to sleep amid the laughter of the others.


I have finals and a big project due soon, plus Christmas, so I can't promise another quick(ish) update. I did get one big yes for the sequel, though, and since I really want to write it anyway I might try to work harder on this story so I can get to it faster. Review if you so desire!