Chapter 11
As they stood in the armory they looked around and saw old men and young boys all with fear in their eyes.
"There so young." Rosalie whispered as she looked at a very young boy trembling with fear.
"Farmer, ferriers, stable boys; these are no soldiers," Aragorn said as he put down a worn sword.
"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli said.
"Or too few," Legolas said.
"They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes," Legolas said and the men grew silent, turning and looking at him. Bella frowned at the lost hope in his voice.
"And they should be... Three hundred against ten thousand" he said fiercely to Aragorn. No one but Bella could understand what he said but they knew it wasn't good.
"They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras" Aragorn reasoned but Legolas' eyes narrowed.
"Aragorn, they cannot win this fight. They are all going to die." Legolas told him. Bella sighed.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn exclaimed in anger causing the men to fall silent once more. The elf and the man just stared at each other before Aragorn turned and quickly make his way out of the armory. Legolas made to follow but Gimli stopped him.
"Let him go, lad. Let him be," Gimli said and Legolas sighed and turned to Bella. She knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say.
"Bella. I would rather you go to the caves with the women and children." he told her. The Cullen's as sucked in their breath and took a step back. Bella's nose flared and her eye brow rose.
"You think me too weak to fight." she ask him voice shaking with anger.
"No that is not it. I..I just can't lose you. I'd rather know you were safe." he told her reaching for her but she back away and put her hand up.
"Legolas, I love you but I will not be told to hide like some weak house wife, you don't see me asking you to stay in the caves. I have fought by my friends this whole time and I will continue to do so. I will fight for what is right, not do what might be easy. I thought you knew me by now." she said before sheathing her knives on her back and leaving the armory, just as Aragorn did.
Legolas went after her just as he did with Aragorn but Edward stopped him.
"Give her some time. She's worried to. I'll go talk to her." Edward said and turned to follow Bella. He had to make sure they were ok. He had to make sure Bella stayed happy and Legolas made her happy.
Edward found Bella outside watching Aragorn talk to a very young boy.
"Bella." he said putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him then back towards the boy.
"He's so young." Bella whispered.
"This is a good sword, Haleth, son of Háma, There is always hope." Aragorn told the boy. Aragorn turned around and walked towards Bella.
"What brings you out here." Aragorn ask.
"Same as you. Pissed off." Bella told her and Aragorn looked at Edward.
"Legolas." he ask and Edward nodded.
"Says he wanted me to hide in the caves with the women. Like I can't take care of myself. Psst." Bella said crossing her arms.
"Aragorn." one of the guard called him and he went over towards them.
"Bella. Don't be too mad at him. He's just worried about you. He loves you." Edward told her. Bella looked into his eyes to see there was no jealousy there.
"Your defending him. I'm shocked. A lesser man would use this fight to get me back." Bella joked.
"He makes you happy Bella. I have seen it, the way you look at each other. I will always love you. But Legolas…He's your soul mate. He loves you more than anyone ever could. I defend him only because I know he meant no harm and because I want you happy." Edward told her. Bella sighed.
"I'll talk to him. I'm not mad per say just upset." Bella said. He nodded and went back inside. Bella stayed outside for a few more minutes before going back to the armory. She saw Aragorn and Legolas making up. Bella stood and watched with her arms crossed over her chest. Alice and Rose looked at her and gave her a smile, she smiled back.
"We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair," Legolas said quietly as he looked at Aragorn and he bowed his head before he put his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas" Aragorn said gently and Legolas put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn saw her and nodded to Legolas who looked up at her. He lowered his hand from Aragorn's shoulder and quickly walked over towards Bella.
"My love. I am so sorry. I did not mean to upset you. I was not trying to tell you what to do, just telling you how I felt. Please forgive me. I just. I cannot lose you." Legolas told her. She sighed and uncrossed her arms before placing a hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes briefly and leaned into her touch.
"Legolas. I forgive you. I did not mean to get so mad. Do not worry. I love you. Just please trust in us and in our love to keep me safe. I will never hide when I can stand by your side and fight. Please understand that is just who I am." She told him. He nodded and took her other hand in his.
"I understand. That's one of the things I love about you. Your fight and strong will. But the odds of this fight." He said but Bella cut him off.
"True the odds are not great. But, we have something the enemy doesn't have." she told him.
"What is that my love." He ask her. She smiled at him and placed her hand over his heart.
"We have something worth fighting for. I will fight for my friends, family and for my love for you. And I will not allow evil to take it away." she told him. He stepped forward and rested his forehead on hers uncaring that everyone was watching and that the three women were gushing at the love. They couldn't understand what they were saying but they could tell by the body language that is was sweet.
"You are right as always. We do have something worth fighting for. I will fight to the ends of the earth for you. I love you." he told her and leaned in to kiss her. They could hear "Aww's," from the women as they continued to kiss. Aragorn finally cleared his throat to get their attention. They pulled apart smiling.
"When we survive this you can have an even better kiss." Bella said smirking at the heated look in Legolas' eyes.
"Then I will make sure to fight even harder." he told her and she laughed.
They turned around when they heard a smack and Emmett yelling.
"Ow. Babe what the hell was that for." Emmett ask Rosalie.
"Why aren't you ever that sweet with me." she ask him and everyone chuckled. Legolas entwined his fingers with Bella's and went to stand with the others. Bella gave Edward a smiled and he returned it.
Gimli came out a few minutes later wearing an armor chain that was way to long for him. Everyone looked at him and was trying not to laugh.
"If we had time, I'd get this adjusted. It's a little tight across the chest," Gimli said. Legolas opened his mouth to say something when they heard a horn blowing in the distance.
"That is no ork horn!" Legolas exclaimed has he ran from the room pulling Bella with him. Everyone else quickly followed the Elf prince.
They came to the gates to see the king arriving also. When they looked down the steps they saw Haldir and a large group of Elf army. Haldir looked at them and smiled then looked towards the king.
"How is this possible." the king ask.
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together," Haldir said. He paused and looked up to Aragorn, Legolas, Bella, Gimli and the Cullen's before he continued.
"We come to honor that allegiance." Aragorn smiled and ran down the stairs. Followed by the others.
"Well met Haldir" Aragorn said. Putting a hand on his shoulder before embracing Haldir in a tight hug. Haldir was wide eye for a moment before he hugged Aragorn back. Bella grinned like an idiot and tried not to laugh.
"You are most welcome." After Aragorn stepped away Legolas stepped down and greeted Haldir, he didn't hug him like Aragorn but was very happy to see them. Legolas stepped aside and stood behind Haldir, feeling more comfortable with his own kind, as he grinned. Bella stepped forward and hugged Haldir too.
"It good to see you Haldir." she told him. He pulled back and bowed low to her as did all of the Elf guards that were behind him. Bella looked wide eyed for a moment before returning the bow and standing next to Legolas. The king gave Haldir a questioning look and he answered it.
"Lady Bella is Lord Elrond's daughter and Granddaughter to the Lady of the woods. She is well loved." Haldir told him and Bella blushed while the king nodded. Haldir shook hands with the Cullen's and Gimli before facing the king again. The guard spun in a unit to face the king as well.
"We are proud to fight alongside men, once more," Haldir said and the king was too shocked to say anything but bowed his head in appreciation.
"Your father also send word to you as well My Lady." Haldir said turning towards Bella. She looked at him and waited for him to continue.
"He says he is proud of you and he knows you will fight. He says he may not like it but wanted to remind you of your promise to come back to him alive. He says to make him proud and he's holding you to your word." he told her and she nodded smiling.
They took their places after that. Bella was standing next to Gimli and Legolas. Edward was standing to her other side with the rest of his family alongside him. Bella could see Haldir was just a few spots down near Legolas and Aragorn was walking back and forth behind them.
They looked out and could see the mass of Orcs moving in. Bella heard the Cullen's gasp in shock at the site.
"Your friends are with you Aragorn," Legolas said to Aragorn, his eyes never leaving the Uruks. Gimli looked up at Aragorn.
"Let's hope they last the night," Gimli said. They stood in silence for a while just watching as they approached. Then it started to thunder, lighting and rain.
"You just had to think it, didn't you Emmett." Edward hissed at him as the rain fell harder.
"What's going on." Bella ask him.
"Emmett was just thinking that all we needed to complete the scare effect was a storm." Edward said and Bella laughed as Emmett just shrugged.
"Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!" Aragorn shouted as he walked along the wall and turned to face the Uruks who had stopped and were slamming their long spears and shields together.
"What did he say." Alice ask looking around Edward.
"Show them no mercy. For you shall receive none." Bella told the Cullen's and they nodded.
Gimli was beginning to grow impatient and began to jump up and down to see over the wall.
"What's happening out there?" Gimli exclaimed. Bella just knew Legolas was going to say something by the shit eating grin he was wearing.
"Shall I describe it to you?" Legolas ask then looked at Gimli who was looking at him. "Or would you like me to find you a box?"
Gimli stared at him for a few moment. "Ha, ha-ha, ha" Gimli laughed sarcastically.
The sounds from the Orks grew louder and louder.
"Get ready." Aragorn yelled. Everyone Elf including Bella and Legolas reached back and grabbed an arrow and got it ready. Edward was looking at Bella and she gave him a wink, before turning to aim at an ork and wait for the go ahead.
Before they could be ordered to go a stray arrow was shot by a Rohan man up on the wall. There was absolute silence as it sailed through the air and hit an ork in the neck.
"Shit." Bella whispered as the ork fell to the ground dead. The other Orks screamed in anger and charged forward.
"So it begins." Bella said.
"Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arms" Legolas said as he studied their targets. Bella repeated it for the Cullen's who nodded, swords ready.
"Release the arrows!" Aragorn shouted and the elves all fired there arrows.
"Fire." they heard a man say and the Rohan men fired there's as well killing several Orks.
"Full volley!" Aragorn shouted to elves that stood upon the floor of the keep. Arrows flew over heard and Bella could feel the wind coming off of them as they sailed by hitting their targets.
They released arrow after arrow trying to kill as many as they could. But all too soon they saw the Orks bring in ladders and raising them to the wall.
"LADDERS" Aragorn yelled.
"Yes. Bring them to me." Gimli yelled excited.
"Swords! Swords!" he yelled as he drew his own sword and ran down the wall. Bella keep firing shots along with Legolas until the Orks started coming in, then she switched to knives for hand to hand combat. Soon she was slicing through Uruks on after another as they came over the wall. The others were busy as well. She could hear Emmett yelling and having fun trying to outdo his brothers.
Bella saw Aragorn trying to push down one of the ladders so she conjured a gust of wind and help him out by blowing down 3 ladders with it. He looked at her and smiled in thanks before they both went back to battle. She had to be careful how much power she used if she wanted to last the night on energy.
"Legolas, two already!" Gimli exclaimed as he took down an Uruk with his trusted axe.
Legolas fired another arrow and smiled at the dwarf.
"I'm on seventeen!" Legolas said as he notched another arrow. Gimli growled.
"Arg! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!" Gimli yelled before he sunk his axe into another Uruk that climbed off the ladder.
"I'm on 19 boys." Bella yelled back. They both stopped to look at her before trying to outdo her harder.
Bella continued down the line slashing her enemy. She realized at one point she was separated from Legolas and the Cullen's some but couldn't worry about that now.
"Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him" Aragorn yelled.
Bella looked over the wall just in time to hear Alice and Edward yell NO and see fire before the wall under her shook with the mass of the explosion and throw everyone in the air. Bella landed hard next to Gimli and covered her head to protect it from rocks that were falling.
"You alright lass." Gimli as her she groaned and nodded.
"Yup. I'm just peachy." she said and sat up looking at the now massive hole that was allowing more Uruks in. They saw Aragorn was knocked out and about to be trampled by Uruks.
"ARAGORN" Both Bella and Gimli yelled as they stood up and jumped down on top of several Uruks. Gimli swung his axe and Bella slashed with her knives trying to keep Aragorn safe.
"Bella, Gimli. Duck." they heard Aragorn say. They looked up to see several Elves ready to fire arrow and dropped to the ground just as the arrows soared over head and killed several Uruks.
"Charge." Aragorn yelled as he lead the elves down where Bella and Gimli were still holding their own against a lot of Uruks.
"Aragorn, Gimli, Bella." she heard Legolas say. She looked up to see him sliding down the stairs on a shield firing at the Uruks in his way before he made it to the bottom and started using his knives.
"Aragorn. Get your men out of there." Bella heard the King yell from the wall.
"To the Keep! Pull back to the Keep! Haldir, to the Keep!" echoed Aragorn's voice and Haldir looked down at him and nodded before he sliced through another Uruk and called out to his men. Aragorn and Legolas had to drag Gimli with them as he wanted to stay. Bella started to follow when she heard Alice scream.
"HALDIR." Bella looked up and took off without even thinking towards Haldir. The Cullen's were too far away to help him and when she saw him get cut on the arm and cry out in pain she had to save him.
She got there just in time to push him out of the way and block the blade that was about to come down on his head. She looked at the Uruk with anger. She was so angry that her friend was almost killed that her hands started heating up, like they were on fire. When she looked at them they were as were her knives. Bella had created fire in her hands for the first time and the Uruk was shocked as she was.
She used her other knife and stabbed the Uruk causing him to catch fire and fall off the wall and onto the ground.
Bella looked down at Haldir and helped him up after putting out her hands.
"You ok." she ask and he nodded.
"TO THE GATE." she heard and ran to the wall to look over to see hundreds of Uruks trying to break the gate. She saw Aragorn and Gimli jump over from the rock and battle with the Uruks on the walkway, but they were outnumbered.
Bella leaped over the wall ignoring the call from Haldir and Legolas as well as the Cullen's who had been close by this time and saw her.
She landed on her feet in front of Aragorn and Gimli. Just in time to save Aragorn from an Uruk blade. Bella conjure up wind again and thrusted out her hands forward so that all the Uruks on the walkway were blown off.
"Aragorn, Gimli, Bella. Get out of there. Fall back." the King yelled as they sealed the door.
"Bella come on." Aragorn yelled as she was keeping up with the wind so no Uruks could get up there. Using that much power was tiring her out quickly. She stopped it and turned to see Legolas and Haldir throw two robes over the wall for them. Aragorn grabbed Gimli and took hold of one robe and let Legolas pull him up. Bella ran and jump catching the other robe in midair as Haldir pulled her up. She got to the top of the wall and stood on it looking out to see lots more ladders up and more Uruks coming in.
"Fuck it." Bella said and conjured up more wind and lighting. She thrust her hands out and took out all the ladders with her power. Once it was down she swayed on the wall a little from being light head after using that much power.
"Bella." Legolas said as he grabbed her off the wall and lowered her to the ground.
"Are you ok." he ask her and she nodded.
"Do you have any idea how many times you almost gave me a heart attack tonight." he ask her and she just smiled at him as they ran to the keep after they heard the King say they broke the gates again. Once inside the keep Haldir turned to Bella.
"My lady. You saved me I owe you my life." Haldir told her. Bella just shook her head.
"You owe me nothing my friend." she told him smiling. He nodded his head but still held great respect in his eyes and Bella knew he wouldn't leave it at that. She saw that all the Cullen's and Fellowship were ok.
"The fortress is taken. It is over," the king said with a heavy heart.
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!" Aragorn exclaimed. He paused and looked to Gamling and then the king.
"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn ask but they didn't answer.
"Is there no other way." he ask again.
"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many," Gamling said as he looked at Aragorn. Aragorn walked over to Gamling and grabbed him by his shoulder.
"Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!" Aragorn said as he shoved him gently to get moving.
"So much death." Carlisle said and the Cullen's all looked sad.
"So much death, yes. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Theoden asked a lost look on his face.
"Sunrise." Gimli said and everyone looked towards the window to see the sunrise.
"Gandalf." Alice whispered.
"Ride out with me," Aragorn said "Ride out and meet them." Theoden looked at Aragorn, something sparking in his eyes.
"For death and glory," Theoden said and Aragorn shook his head.
"For Rohan. For your people," Aragorn said with a fire in his voice.
"Yes," Theoden said quietly "Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhead shall sound in the deep one last time!" he shouted as he looked to the men in the room around them.
"Yes!" Gimli shouted before he ran from the room and up a flight of stairs to the horn while the others got their horses and mounted upon their backs. Bella noticed that not only was Legolas and Edward near here but so was Haldir.
"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!" Theoden exclaimed as he pulled on his helmet and drew his sword. The horn sounded as everyone got ready.
"Be careful." Legolas told her. She looked at him and smiled.
"I will if you will." she said and he nodded. She grabbed a sword that Haldir handed her so she could fight on a horse and thanked him.
"Forth Eorlingas!" he shouted. The door was thrown open and they charged forward, slicing through the Uruk-hai as they went fighting their way out of the castle. They fought taken out as many as they could, not caring that they were outnumbered.
A bright light caught there attention and they looked up to see Gandalf.
"Gandalf." Bella said before her horse reared up just as she felt pain in her arm and threw her off onto the ground. She quickly jumped to her feet, grabbing her knives since she lost her sword somewhere on the ground. She looked at her arm and saw she had been cut, but it wasn't bad so she didn't let it bother her.
She heard hundreds of riders coming off the hill and saw the Rohan riders charging forward with Gandalf. The Uruks around her started fighting for their lives as they got scared and Bella held her own on the ground as the others stayed on their horses.
Bella heard Éomer yelling to drive them to the trees and looked over to see the trees had joined the fight. With so much against them the Uruks fled back to safety.
"VICTORY." The king yelled and everyone cheered.
"Bella." she heard several people call her name.
"Over here." she yelled back kicking a dead Uruk out of her way. She looked up and saw Legolas, Haldir and the Cullen's riding over to where she was.
"Your hurt." Legolas said as he jump off his horse and ran over to her.
"It fine, barley a scratch. No worries." she told him. He looked at her before pulling her to him to claim his promised kiss. Bella happily responded. After a few minutes they pull back.
"Told you we would survive." Bella told him and he smiled at her.
She glanced up and smiled at everyone before getting back on her horse so they could ride to the keep.
