A/N: Hi, guys! This chapter is something I've been building up to for a long time, so I'm really excited about finally being able to write it! Also... *SPOILER* it has a character death in it.*END SPOILER* I'm sorry, but this is something I've always known would happen. Hopefully this doesn't ruin my fic for you. Let me know what you think!

Once Boromir was able to get back on his feet, together they went to the king and asked his plans of defense. The plans were thorough and clean cut, though one thing echoed in Anna's mind. What would happen to the women and children if their defenses didn't hold?

"We shall have every able-bodied man that can hold a spear. Saruman cannot overrun us here." The king said with confidence.

Anna wasn't so sure. Boromir apparently shared her skepticism. "The ability to hold a spear does not mean they know how to use it." The Captain remarked.

Theoden gave him a guarded look. "I am glad of your help, Boromir, son of Denethor. I know of your valor in battle." The king approached him, causing apprehension to coil in Anna's stomach. "Do not mistake that for acceptance to question how I lead my own people."

With that, the king backed up, giving Boromir another warning glare and moved toward the captains of his army. They begun discussing battle strategy and how to make sure their defenses were at their tightest. Eventually, they moved their discussion inward, past the huge iron door, and out of sight. It seemed they were going to ignore the surviving Fellowship for the time being.

Anna sighed, knowing that nothing more could be done in that matter. She then walked over to Gimli and Legolas, who were standing off to the side.

"It's best to just leave them be, lass." Gimli told her.

She nodded. "I know, I just want everything to work out."

"War is as unpredictable as the next rainfall, Anna." Legolas began, looking at her calmly. "We cannot judge what will happen, only prepare as best we can."

"I know!" She exclaimed in frustration. "Which is why I had hoped that this wouldn't have happened. Everything is wrong, and I don't understand it! Aragorn is dead, Eomer is gone, and the King would send men who have not seen a day in battle, out to fight Uruk-hai! It's a mess!"

"You cannot predict the future." Gimli stated.

Boromir chose that moment to step beside her, grabbing her arm in warning. She was about to correct the dwarf that she knew this wasn't supposed to happen, but Boromir's hand tightened on her. She looked up at him, grateful for the small reminder, and blushed at her foolishness.

Would she really have given it all away just then?

A great cry from behind caused the four of them to start.

"He's alive!"

She looked from Gimli, to Legolas, to Boromir. That could only mean one person…

Without a word, Gimli was suddenly standing and moved toward the direction of the excited gossips.

Anna would have followed, but figured it best to give Aragorn his space after a miraculous comeback like that.

He then approached them, nodding to Boromir and allowed Anna to give him a small hug before turning to Legolas.

"You're late." Legolas spoke in Elvish first, before switching to English again. "You look terrible."

Aragorn grinned and laughs. His laughter is cut off when Legolas holds out his hand, carrying the Evenstar necklace in his palm.

"Thank you." Unveiled gratitude envelops Aragorn's words.

He then moves toward the doors the king disappeared behind, and opened them both without subtlety. Anna raised her eyebrow at that, but followed him nonetheless.

She had just approached the group when she heard Theoden speaking to Aragorn.

"A great host you say?"

Aragorn nodded. "All Isengard is emptied."

"How many?"

"Ten thousand strong at least."

Anna's eyes grew wide, an almost exact mirror of the king's reaction. "Ten thousand?"

"It's an army bred for one purpose." The Ranger's expression was grim. "To destroy the world of men."

They stayed silent for a moment, letting that information sink in before Aragorn spoke again. "They will be here by nightfall."

Less than a day to prepare! Anna could feel her chest beginning to tighten again. Instead of allowing it to swallow her whole, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly exhaling, she opened them, and set herself standing tall with determination. She would not cower in fear. Not this time.

Theoden's next words were a shock to all.

"Let them come."

He then strode toward one of his captains, the both of the speaking as they walking the outer wall of the keep. Anna and the others followed, herself being anxious to finally hear their plans fully, and without speculation.

"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall."

At the idea that young boys would be forced to see the horror of battle, her blood boiled. Still, she kept her tongue, knowing better than to question the king as others had before. It did them no good then, it would do her no good now.

They continued on as Theoden gestured toward the stone walkway and gate barring the entrance to the main hall. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above." He turned to the rest of them. "No army has breached the Deeping wall, nor set foot in the Hornburg."

At this, Gimli chose to speak up. "This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor thick, and their shields broad."

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."

Anna was beginning to doubt that statement more and more.

They walked further, finally reaching the top.

"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them." Theoden spoke as if victory was sealed for them.

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops and villages." Aragorn spoke thankfully, for Anna was at her wits end with the king. "They come to destroy its people, down to the last child!"

The king seemed to snap just then, grasping Aragorn shirt and pulling him closer, glaring at him menacingly. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this it to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."

At that, Anna's temper cooled a little. He wasn't simply boasting of their stability because he honestly thought they would win. His men looked to their king for strength, and if he was wallowing, then so would they. She saw his point. If victory could not be won, then maybe they could go out with a bang, so to speak.

Aragorn, however, wasn't giving up. "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."

"And who will come?" The king asked disdainfully. "Elves, Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."

"Gondor will answer!" Boromir interjected.

The king rounded on him. "Gondor? Where was Gondor when the westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon-" He took a breath, seeming to calm himself. "No, Lord Boromir, we are alone."

"My father will come to your aid. He will not leave you and your people to slaughter!"

The king didn't answer, just walked away without another word.

Boromir growled low in frustration. Anna laid a hand on his arm gently. "Boromir…" He looked at her, and his expression eased.

"My father would come to his aid, should he ask for it." He looked at her, almost pleading with her to agree with him. "I know it. He would not leave a whole country to death without a just cause."

Anna didn't have the heart to tell him what she truly thought of his father.

She then heard the king call for the women and children to go into the caves.

Boromir gave her a look. "Come, we must get you to safety."

"I will go to the caves. Just not now." She straightened her back and raised her head, as if that would convince him to fold.

It did not. "No. If this is going to be as ugly as the king deems it will be, I want you safe from harm."

"And I will be." She carefully enunciated the words. "Not now. I will help get the…" She looked downward, at the boys that were slowly being shown how to swing a sword properly. "soldiers prepared. I will escape into the caves with the others before the battle. I promise."

He gave her another look, before nodding, and grabbing her hand, leading her back down the wall, and into the courtyard.

She saw Aragorn and Eowyn talking, but she didn't want to hear their conversation so she pulled Boromir in another direction, toward Legolas.

"How are the preparations going?" She asked the elf, who seemed calmer than any of them.

"Slowly." He answered. "Aragorn refuses to take rest while he can."

"I don't blame him." She replied. "I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing a huge army would be descending upon us within hours."

The elf just looked at her and didn't say a word. She took that as an opportunity to observe her surroundings and the army Theoden thought he had.

There were more boys and old men, people who had no business holding a sword, lance, or bow, at this time in their lives. Less than half of the warriors looked capable. Theoden was grasping at straws.

"This is ridiculous." She whispered to herself as she surveyed the crowd.

Aragorn approached them then. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." He said, looking at them as Anna was.

"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli interjected.

"Or too few." The elf of their party replied. "Look at them. They are frightened. You can see it in their eyes."

At that the whole area surrounding them grew silent. The bustling and armor clinking halted as all eyes fell on them.

"And they should be." Legolas continued. "Three hundred against ten thousand?"

Even though she knew the men couldn't understand Elvish, the understanding in their eyes at the Elf's words drew a stab of pity in her stomach. They knew they would die.

Still, Aragorn persisted. "They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras…"

"Aragorn… They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!"

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn exclaimed, forgetting himself for a moment and slipping into English.

Anna gaped at him. Were they all to die without any hope?

Aragorn left them, and Legolas made to follow. Gimli stopped him with his arm. "Let him go, lad. Let him be."

Legolas fell into silence, a silence that made Anna feel as though she were to choke on it. Unable to stand the tense atmosphere, she grabbed Boromir's hand and led him away from chatter and clanking iron.

"Anna, what is it?" he said.

"I just need a moment." She insisted, letting him go in case he wanted to go back to the others. When he didn't move, she was grateful for his company.

They sat in peace, and she took the moment to look up at the sky. Dozens of stars were bright and twinkling above her, when the clouds broke enough for her to see them. The sky was peaceful, although, she knew from the smell that was slowly growing stronger that it would rain soon.

"Promise me you will do whatever you can to beat them, to not let them win." She said, not taking her eyes off the stars and clouds.

She waited for a response, but when she didn't get one, she looked at him.

He was observing her with a seriousness that made her stomach flip and her chest tighten even more.

"You do not want me to promise that I will not die?" He said, stepping closer to her.

"No."

"And why is that?"

"Because I know it will be a lie."

Another silence fell between them, and she found herself leaning toward him. She needed his warmth, his calm. She needed his strength.

A horn blowing above them, caused Anna to step back twice.

"That horn belongs to no Orc." Boromir realized, looking at her in awe.

"What? Whose is it then?" She asked.

He smiled at her. "Maybe there is some hope." He grabbed her hand, and together they almost ran toward the front gate, where hundreds of elves piled through in formation. The lead elf gave them orders and they were suddenly fanning out inside the keep, blending in with the men already in place for the battle.

She saw the king and another elf speaking, along with Aragorn and the others. She walked up to them, finally recognizing Haldir from Lothlorien.

"We are proud to stand beside Men once more." The Lorien elf stated, looking at all of them.

He looked around and noticed Anna, frowning at her, he stated. "The Orcs were not far behind us. I would advise that you secure your women and children behind safe gates."

Anna grew red as every man in the vicinity now locked onto her.

"I did." The king growled, stepping toward her. "My lady, you must go to the caves, now. For your own safety."

She nodded, avoiding eye contact with the rest of them.

Thunder erupted around them, and a heavy rain began to fall.

"Get her to the caves!" Aragorn shouted while he ran to give orders to the archers.

Anna was already rushed toward the cave entrance, barely noticing Boromir behind her. She knew she wouldn't be of much help in this. She had only killed when she had to, and she was not sure she would be able to come out of this war unscathed mentally and physically. She convinced herself she wasn't running because she was scared, but because she would be in their way. They didn't need her as a distraction.

Once she was at the entrance, two of the soldiers stationed there were clearly surprised to see another woman hadn't sought out refuge. "My lady! You should already be inside! The battle is upon us!"

Almost in agreement, the ground above them began to echo the footsteps of the impending army. She looked at Boromir anxiously, ignoring the soldiers behind her.

"Remember your promise." She grabbed his hand, the only she dared to do at this moment, and squeezed.

Boromir squeezed her hand in return and seemed to be fighting with himself over something. At yet another protest from the other men, she made to turn away, but Boromir stopped her. He gave her that serious look again and suddenly his lips were upon hers.

She didn't move, didn't dare to breathe. It was harsh and urgent and uncomfortable. Not at all like she had thought it would be.

He didn't give her a chance to speak when he finally released her. He placed both hands on her cheeks for a moment, and then took off.

Anna had no idea what to think. Or even what to do.

Finally, a hand roughly pulled her toward the cave entrance. "You must get inside, my lady. Quickly!" She allowed him to tug her into the cave and leave her once she was inside.

She stood stock still, unable to fully comprehend what had just happened. She was shocked out of her stupor by the cries of panic erupting from the children as Saruman's army marched above.

They heard the growling and roaring of the Uruks. A baby began to cry at the disturbing noise.

Brynwyn was suddenly in front of her. "Are you alright, my dear?"

Anna blinked, trying to put her sight back in focus. She didn't answer, her head still swimming with questions and panicked thoughts.

The old woman guided her to a spot to sit by Eowyn and herself. Brynwyn spoke to her, not quite letting Anna get a grip on her own thoughts and feelings. Suddenly they heard a loud boom and the cavern shook, small rocks falling from the inside.

"What was that?" asked Brynwyn, looking up at the rock ceiling in shock.

Anna knew. If Saruman was able to get his hands on such a dangerous weapon… the people of Rohan were done for.

She noticed a child to the right of her crying as his mother held him close, trying to quell his fear. Anna knew it was useless, he could sense the tension in the air, let alone the shaking and faint screaming being heard from above. She tried to block out the noise, tried to go someplace far away from here, but her frozen mind would not let her. It kept her locked in the present, hearing and feeling everything, down to the last dust particle.

It went on for a while like that. Her body eerily calm while her mind swam with the knowledge that good men, most likely all of them, were dying just above them. Her friends were probably dead by now, the way they fought. They would be first to tackle any and all Orcs, taking on more than one at a time. She doubted they would be cautious with so much at stake, and so many young people relying on them. Her chest ached at the thought of never seeing them again. A small part of her whispered that it was a dull ache, rather than the sharp pain she should be feeling at the idea of them dying.

It wasn't right, and it wasn't fair. It was survival.

Another boom sounded and a great crash followed.

That must have been the first gate leading to the caves. Which meant the men hadn't been able to hold the keep well enough to keep them outside the Deeping Wall. That also meant it was very likely that they wouldn't be able to protect the Hornburg either. The Orcs were indeed falling across this keep like water on rock - if the water were a hurricane and the rocks were slate.

Would it hurt to die? Anna didn't want to think about it. Would it be fast or slow? She closed her eyes, trying to will herself to stop but she couldn't. Would dying send her back home or oblivion?

Another blast echoed through the cavern, and this time, they could hear the men yelling out orders and in pain clearly.

"They're breaking in!" Cried another woman in front of Anna.

Brynwyn grabbed hold of Eowyn and started crying. Eowyn looked horror struck, but was trying to keep herself composed.

Anna's hands flexed around her axes. Maybe she could do something. If they were going to die anyway, it wouldn't matter when and where. Maybe she could give the women and children some more time to get away in the process.

Anna stood, now armed and ready to march outside. She turned to Eowyn who looked at her shocked as she understood the redhead's intentions.

"Anna, don't. You'll be killed." The woman said anxiously.

Anna gave her a grim smile. "I might be. But I can't just sit here while I can still fight, can I?"

When Eowyn looked about to protest that, Anna cut her off. "I'm not trying to be some hero here. Please believe that. I don't want to do this, but I also can't stay here. Lesser of two evils and all that." In truth, she didn't really know the reason why she was doing this, she just felt it was right, and the guilt gnawed at her stomach while she sat in caves.

She strode toward the door, not surprised to see the two soldiers had abandoned their post. No doubt trying to help the other bar the door ahead of them.

Eventually, she came to the men who were left, only about thirty of them had survived. The thought that 270 men had died tonight caused bile to rise in her throat but she forced it back down. Now wasn't the time.

"Aragorn!" She cried, running toward the Ranger who turned, looking both furious and shocked at the same time.

"Anna, get back in the caves now! You and the rest of the women and children must make for the path through the mountains. We'll hold them off here while we can." Aragorn ordered, turning back toward the group barring the door closed again.

"I can help! I don't know how useful I'll be, but something is better than nothing, right?" She replied urgently.

"So much death." The King was sitting, holding his hand to his shoulder. Anna noticed the blood dripping delicately from between his fingers and blanched at her offer to help. "What can men do against such reckless hate?" He questioned Aragorn, who looked from the men to the king.

"Ride out with me." The brunette said determinedly. "Ride out and meet them."

"For death and glory." Theoden responded resolutely.

Aragorn shook his head. "For Rohan. For your people."

"The sun is rising." Gimli observed, breaking the tension slightly as he looked toward a small window. Anna followed his gaze and found he was right; bright light shone from the opening in the stone wall.

"Yes." The king stood, tall and fierce. "Yes. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time."

Gimli grabbed her sleeve. "Lass, I think you'd better do it."

Anna rose her eyebrows at him. "Why?"

"You shouldn't be in this battle. Go up to the tower, where it's safe. Sound the charge and you will help keep our courage."

She looked at him wide-eyed, not knowing whether to listen to him or refuse and perhaps die in the process. The men around her prepared their mounts, lining up for what could possibly be their last stand.

"But the horses… You can't ride well, Gimli. Come with me." She twisted her wrist so they were grasping forearms.

Gimli shook his head. "I'll ride with the elf. Now go." He gave her a little shove and before she could argue, he had already mounted Legolas' white horse.

Spinning on her heel, she ran toward the spiraling stairs. Sprinting up them she heard Theoden's small morale speech as she reached the horn. Anna heard the doors break open and sucked in as deep a breath as she could.

The king continued below, "Now for wrath, now for ruin, and a red dawn!"

The horn was louder than she expected. It vibrated her hands and face, causing her to jolt, but not break the breath she was giving the instrument. After about ten seconds, she moved away from the horn and hurried toward the wall.

It was chaos.

She could clearly discern where Aragorn and the others were, only by the flags being held by Theoden's bannermen. They broke into the formation of the Uruk-hai quickly and fiercely, causing a panic amongst the Orcs. She was just about to ignore Gimli and rush down there, but then something white caught the corner of her eye.

Gandalf.

She let out a gleeful laugh at the sight of the old wizard, and drew in a breath when she saw a huge group of riders approach from behind him.

Eomer.

The King's nephew raised his sword and let out a warcry before charging down the bank. She watched, transfixed, as they crashed through the first group of Orcs, crushing them beneath the momentum the horses gathered as they ran. Squeals and roars of pain now filled the air. A more welcome sound than the cries of the men as they were torn apart.

Anna couldn't control herself any longer. She sprinted down the stairs, taking two at a time, and ran to join the Rohirrim. The orcs were now fleeing, as it was clear the victory was no longer theirs.

She had gotten close to the army, when she realized that the Orcs were headed into a forest - a forest that wasn't there before.

She halted, looking at the trees in shock as Eomer warned his riders not to enter. Once the last Orc had entered the forest, the trees began to move, and more cries and squeals erupted from its depths.

Anna moved to walk toward Aragorn and Gandalf when she tripped over something. She groaned in pain at the impact on her knees and hands, and looked back at what she had tripped on.

The body of a man. She looked at him in horror, unable to fully stand at the shock of it. His limbs were twisted so that it was clear they were broken, and his insides were spilling out from beneath a hand that was clenched over it. Her gaze drifted up, toward his face without her meaning to. The second she recognized him, she gagged and vomited violently.

It was Boromir.

She tried to crawl away, but her arms gave out and she was stuck on the ground beside the dead Captain. She couldn't keep her stomach from rolling and continued to empty it until she was simply throwing up bile.

It continued until she felt a pair of hands wrap around her waist and attempt to help her stand. Her legs refused and she fell down again, sobbing as her throat burned and she retched over herself.

Eventually, whoever it was seemed to give up on her ability to stand on her own and simply lifted her. She heard someone speaking to her. A man, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. Her ears were buzzing and her vision swirled.

Then she only knew darkness.

"Why was she on the battlefield? She should not have been there. She should not have seen that!"

"I do not know, Lord Eomer, but I can assure you, she will recover herself. Anna is strong."

She heard more murmuring all around her, but her head hurt too much to concentrate on it. She tried moving to the side but the throbbing halted her before she moved an inch.

She felt a light touch to her shoulder. "Easy, lass. You shouldn't move too much."

The familiar accent washed over her. Gimli.

She opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the sudden light. "Gimli?" She croaked out.

She saw several males surrounding her bed, along with Eowyn, who was currently dabbing a wet cloth along her brow.

"You're finally awake." Eowyn gave her a tight smile.

Anna groaned as she moved her head away, determined to ignore the pounding and dizziness as she sat up. Aragorn hurriedly tried to push her back. "You should not get up, my lady. You still need rest."

She gave him a glare and pushed his hand away. "I'm fine."

Aragorn shot Gandalf a weary look, which she ignored as well. Instead, Anna's eyes trained on the only person in the room she didn't recognize. He had hair matching Eowyn's, a small beard and moustache, and brown eyes that seemed to be evaluating her every movement. Confused, and more than a little anxious at being stared at, she avoided his gaze and looked to Gandalf.

"What happened? We won, right? The Orcs ran off, I saw it." She wondered. The memories of the battle were still fuzzy, but bits and pieces were coming back.

"Yes," the wizard replied hesitantly, "The enemy is on the run. For now."

She looked around the room again, and remembered that there was one man who was not here. She scrunched her brows in confusion and bit her lip. She was about to ask where he was when the memory hit her.

Boromir was dead.

She suddenly felt sick again and leaned over a bucket that was placed at the edge of her bed, holding steaming water. She saw their feet shuffle away from her, and no one said a word as she vomited again. It didn't last as long this time, which was a blessing. Her throat was already sore and she thought she tasted copper in her mouth.

She wiped her mouth, trying to wipe away fallen tears in the process, before she glanced at Aragorn.

"Boromir."

He looked at her with pity and understanding, before laid a hand gently on her shoulder. "I am sorry you had to see that."

Anna blinked rapidly, and tried to swallow but the lump in her throat prevented that. "Where is his…" She couldn't finish the sentence. Couldn't say the words, for fear that she might actually accept them.

"He had already been buried with the rest of our dead." Theoden told her, his face showing a gentleness that she had not previously known.

"In a mass grave you mean." She said bitterly.

"There is no time for a proper buriel, Anna." Gandalf cut in. "Not now. Isengard has been ravaged, and we need to speak to Saruman. There is no time to waste."

She straightened herself and stood up, ignoring her wobbly legs and stood as tall as she could, and at 5'7", she was quite tall for her age. "Burying those who have died for us is not a waste of time." She told him coldly.

The wizard regarded her carefully, but didn't argue. Instead, he changed the subject. "Are you ready to ride to Isengard?"
She still felt ill from what she had witnessed, and she wasn't sure if she could stay steady on a horse at the moment. Still, this might be the only time for her to truly know why the wizard brought her here, and how to get home.

She pushed her worries away for the time being, and nodded to him. "I think I can manage."

"Good. It is a long journey from here to Orthanc. At least a days ride. We should leave at once."