Instead of talking, I'm just going to get on with the story (truth is, I can't think of anything to say!). Also, this chapter is in two parts. The journey to Helm's Deep, and the battle of Helm's Deep. This chapter goes up to the fight between Legolas and Aragorn, and the next is basically the battle and a bit afterwards. Enjoy!
Call Brandybuck: Oh, well I'm pretty sure I put in Lizzy rode off with the riders, but it doesn't matter. Enjoy!
The journey to Helm's Deep
Cat's POV
I sat with Legolas in the room we had put him in. We had been in Edoras for three days now, and Legolas hadn't got any better. He had a raging fever somehow (elves don't get colds) and could not lie still. I had been with him the whole time, avoiding sleep as it would bring nightmares about not being able to wake Legolas.
Finally, I had to sleep. I had Legolas' hand in mine, and he seemed to calm down as I drifted off.
I awoke to a soft hand brushing over my face. I opened my eyes to find bright cobalt orbs right in front of me.
"You feeling better then?" I asked him.
"Much, thanks to you."
"What did I do?"
"Stayed with me." I smiled as Legolas backed away, giving me some room.
"So what actually happened in the throne room?" Legolas winced, as though the memory caused him physical pain.
"I could feel his anger... it nearly consumed me. Fainting was the only way I could escape the pain." I nodded and wrapped my arms around him.
"Well if you feel up to it, I've been stuck in this room for three days now, and would really like some fresh air."
"I was out for three days?" Legolas asked in wonder. I nodded. "Then fresh air would really do us some good." I liked how he used 'us' so casually. I lead the way out of the winding corridors, and looked around at the view. Edoras was quite a small village, so there was lots of grassland surrounding it. Very nice.
Legolas and I walked down some stairs to the stable. I introduced Arod and Legolas properly, and they bonded immediately.
"Looks like you've found your Horse." Every elf had a Horse. It was the one horse that they could bond with physically and mentally, and the elf would love them until the end of their days. When the Horse died, the elf could bond with the offspring of their Horse, but the link would gradually get weaker with every generation, but it would never fade completely.
"I think I have... speaking of Horses, where's Vivace?" Vivace was my Horse, and she was actually daughter of Shadowfax. That's how I knew Shadowfax and could talk to him.
"I don't know..." I trailed off as a flash of black and white on the horizon caught my eye. I peered closer, and got a glimpse of the outline of a horse. I touched Legolas' arm, drawing his attention. I pulled him to where I was standing, and pointed to the horizon. "Can you see her?" Legolas looked closely, and nodded.
"Is she coming here?"
"I think so." The figure was running towards Edoras. I released Legolas and walked to the entrance. Some people were staring at me, but I didn't care. I hadn't seen Vivace in over 2000 years.
Vivace was kind of a wild horse, but she was quite good around people. Usually.
She slowed to a trot to enter Edoras. Vivace stopped in front of me, snorting. I stretched out my hand, and Vivace lowered her head, pushing her muzzle into my hand. I grinned and stroked the black star on her forehead. Vivace was pure white, like her father, but she had one black sock on her left front leg, and a black star under her forelock. She had a white mane as well.
"Hey beautiful." I whispered.
"Hello Ivana. Where have you been?"
"Away. But I'm back now!"
"I'm glad." I smiled.
"Legolas is here as well." Vivace loved Legolas.
"Where?"
"Come on, I'll show you." I placed a hand on Vivace's flank and led her to Legolas. I grinned at him. "She wanted to see you."
"Well, Vivace, it's a pleasure to see you again." Vivace nudged him affectionately.
"Tell him it's nice to see him too."
"She says it's nice to see you too." Legolas smiled.
"Come and meet my friend." Legolas led Vivace over to Arod, where the two horses immediately hit it off. Maybe because they were Legolas and my Horses, and Legolas and I were very close.
Legolas lent on the stable wall, panting slightly.
"What's wrong?" I asked, worried.
"I'm not... fully recovered yet. I just... need a minute." I nodded.
I felt a small tug on the bottom of my cloak. I turned around to see a little girl standing shyly before me.
"Hello." I said softly. "What's your name?"
"Rena." Came the quiet reply. "My sisters and I" She looked over at a group of girls huddled around each other. "Well, we were told by Lord Aragorn" She looked up briefly at the throne room. I followed her eyes and saw Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf coming out. "That you were an elf. And we were wondering if it was true." I grinned and crouched down next to her.
"Would you like proof?" She nodded. I waved her sisters over, and brushed my hair back, revealing my pointed ear. The girls oohed and aahed over my ears, pulling them this way and that to make sure they were real. I winced as one girl pulled them especially hard.
"Alright girls, that's enough." The children backed away from me guilty as a tall woman came over. "I'm sorry if they were trouble." She told me. I smiled and stood up.
"No, they were fine. Don't worry about it." She nodded and drew her kids away.
"Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king." Gimli grumbled from behind me.
"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn sighed. I turned.
"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defences HAVE to hold."
"They will hold." Vivace had been talking to Shadowfax. When Gandalf mounted Shadowfax, Vivace trotted over to me.
"The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."
"Go." I jumped out of the way as Gandalf rode off. As he did so, I walked over to Aragorn.
"What's happening?" I asked quietly. He sighed.
"Theoden is fleeing to Helm's Deep instead of fighting here." I nodded.
"So I guess we need to get going." It was Aragorn's turn to nod.
Legolas had already led Arod out the stables, so I mounted Vivace and rode out to him.
"Are you feeling up to this?" I asked softly.
"Yes, I'm fine. As long as we don't go too fast."
"Well, the rest of Edoras might not go fast, but I will." Legolas grinned.
"Then I think I might be forced to come along with you to make sure you don't fall off." I glared at him. We both knew I would never fall off, and Vivace would never let that happen anyway.
Later, we started moving. Gimli was on a horse (shocking, I know!), chatting to Éowyn who was leading the horse by the reins.
"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, haha that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men." Éowyn smiled and looked back at Aragorn.
"It's the beards..." Aragorn whispered, gesturing.
"And this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women. And that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!" Gimli cried.
"Hahahaha!" Éowyn laughed gaily.
"Hehehe! Which is of course ridiculous… Whoa!" The horse reared up suddenly and galloped away as Éowyn lost her hold on the reins. Gimli fell off after a short distance and landed with a loud thump.
"Ooh!" She rushed forward to help him.
"It's alright, it's alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate." I grinned as I rode next to Legolas.
"That was deliberate..." I whispered to him. He laughed.
"You are so mean!"
"I know."
Two of the guards rode to the front. Legolas and I watched them as they passed. I listened in on their conversation.
"What is it? Háma?" Their horses became restless.
"I'm not sure." Something appeared on a slope above and charged at them. I gasped.
"Wargs." The warg attacked Háma and killed him. Legolas jumped off Arod and ran over.
"Wargs!" The other guard yelled. Just as the warg turned on the guard, Legolas managed to kill it with an arrow. He then drew his knife and killed the Orc rider.
"Argh!" Legolas yelled. He shouted to Aragorn. "A scout!"
"What is it? What do you see?" Théoden asked.
"Wargs! We are under attack!" The villagers began to panic. "Get them out of here!"
"All riders to the head of the column!" I let Arod over to Gimli quickly.
"Come on, get me up here, I'm a rider! Argh!" Gimli yelled. He got on Arod with some help. Legolas gazed into the distance. "Forward. I mean, charge forward! March forward!" Arod moved off with Gimli seated rather unsteadily. "That's it! Go on!" I grinned and rode next to him in case he suddenly fell off (again).
"Charge!" We and the warg riders crashed head on and the battle began. Legolas easily swung himself onto Arod, and together we rode down the hill.
"Just like old times, eh?" I asked him. He nodded but was slightly occupied, as was I. Gimli almost immediately fell off Arod, so I kept half an eye on him while we fought.
I only had my arrows to fight with (since I was stupidly bad with any other weapons) but I was used to fighting with arrows.
Before I knew it, the fight was over.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called.
"Aragorn?" Gimli joined in. I trotted over and dismounted Vivace (since I was skilled enough to still be on her), holding on to her reins. "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing." I looked up to see Gimli standing over a dying Orc with his axe raised.
"He's-" The Orc coughed. (dead. Took a little tumble off the cliff." Legolas looked toward the edge of the cliff and grabbed the Orc.
"You lie!" The Orc chortled and died. I saw something shining in the Orc's fist, bent down and found the Evenstar pendant. I knew Arwen had given it to Aragorn, so this was proof that the Orc was telling the truth. Legolas looked down at my hand, and ran to the edge of the cliff. Gimli and I went over to join him.
"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." Theoden said. Legolas turned to look at him. Theoden put a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Come." He left us to stare down at the river. As we were just turning to go back, I felt a stinging pain in my stomach. I gasped, my hand automatically going down and finding a long wooden shaft imbedded there. I glanced down to see an arrow protruding from my belly.
"You know, I think I might join Aragorn..." I said as my knees began to buckle. Legolas caught me as I blacked out.
Lizzy's POV
"So let me get this straight. You ride around, killing orcs. That's all you do." Eomer sighed.
"You could put it like that. We rescue innocent people from-"
"Yeah yeah whatever. Now I wish I had gone with Cat..." Eomer put a hand on my shoulder.
"If it makes you feel better... you could ride with me." I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him.
"You sure 'bout that?" Was I flirting with him? Well, he was quite fit.
"Not really but we could give it a go." I'm pretty sure I was blushing like mad. I nodded and Eomer led me over to his horse. He got on and helped me up behind him. I felt really awkward being so close to him, but I think he probably did as well. Ah well.
Cat's POV
I awoke to a silent room. The first thing I did was reach down to my stomach. It was almost completely healed. How long had I been out?
I sat up, wincing at the pain it caused. I still felt slightly woozy, so I took it easy. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and wacked my ankle on a chair. Trying not to swear, I looked at my sleeping elven friend. He looked more peaceful than he had in days. I gently pulled off his boots, trying not to wake him. I stood up to go out, but couldn't resist mussing up his always-perfect hair.
I walked out the room, and managed to find my way outside. I saw Aragorn and Theoden walking around, and they both seemed very miffed. I tuned into their conversation.
"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid." Aragorn begged.
"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"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." Theoden walked away, calling orders. "Get the women and children into the caves." I walked over to Aragorn.
"You are back? You fell."
"Yes, but I am back. Brego helped me."
"Brego?" I asked.
"A horse I tamed." I smiled.
"Very talented." Aragorn shrugged modestly.
"But I cannot convince Theoden to send for help."
"That is a minor detail. I'm sure we will be fine." But we both knew that was a lie.
"Iva? Iva!" I heard. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm over here 'Las." I was in a corner, making sure my arrows were all still intact.
"Iva, you're ok!"
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked, looking up.
"You were shot in the stomach."
"Oh. Forgot about that." Legolas came and stood next to me.
"Are you sure you're alright?" I smiled for two reasons, one because of his concern, and two because it was only then I realised how our positions had reversed. I was the one hurt, and he was the one doing the comforting.
"I'm fine. Really." I added when he raised an eyebrow.
"Good." I put my arrows back in my quiver, and slung my quiver on my back.
The women and children were being led into the caves as we spoke. Aragorn and Gimli were already out there, talking quietly to each other.
"Move back! Move to the caves!" Soldiers were shouting at the women and children.
"Keep moving!"
"Quickly now!" I watched as old men and young boys were being fitted with armour. The women and children were saying their tearful and reluctant farewells as fathers, husbands and sons were led away by soldiers. I cast my gaze to the armoury. Weapons were being distributed. Aragorn picked up a battered sword, looked at it and tossed it back.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." He commented.
"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli told us.
"Or too few." I added.
"Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." Legolas scorned. The men fell silent as he spoke. "Boe a hûn: neled herain dan caer menig!" (And they should be: three hundred against ten thousand!) After a pause, Aragorn replied.
"Si beriathar hýn. Amar nâ ned Edoras." (They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras.) I wanted to restrain both of them, but resisted. They needed to get this out of their system.
"Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú-... ortheri. Natha daged aen!" (Aragorn, we are warriors. They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!)
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn and Legolas stared at each other. Aragorn looked down slightly, realising his mistake in switching back to Westron. He then walked off. Legolas tried to follow him, but I held him back.
"Let him go lad, let him go." Gimli comforted.
Lizzy's POV
"Gandalf!" I yelled as a white horse came into view.
"You know this person?" Eomer asked in surprise.
"Yes, he was supposed to be dead, but he's not and he's come to ask us to help Theoden. Don't hurt him." Eomer nodded.
"Of course not."
Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR, the elvish Aragorn and Legolas were speaking, Arod or Shadowfax.
The end is kind of weird for this chapter, but I just thought I should add a bit of Lizzy in. I don't think Shadowfax had a kid (actually I'm pretty sure he didn't) but hey! My story here. So please R&R, and have a nice half term!
