CHAPTER 12
THE RETURN OF ARAGORN

Samantha's POV

We fought our way through the crown, trying to figure out what all their commotion was about. "Where is he? get out of the way! I'm gonna kill him!" Gimli proclaimed as we made our way thourgh the crowd, Elizabeth, Gimli, and I. then, we found Aragorn! "Ari!" I exclaimed.

"Ha, ha!" Gimli said, smiling broadly, "You are the lukckiest, canniest, and most reckless man i ever knew!" He could not wipe the smile form his face.

"Aragorn!" Elizabeth ran forward and threw herself onto him in a hug, making him stagger back, but he smiled and hugged her back.

"Where is the king?" asked Aragorn.

I pointed to the Helm's Deep hall. He headed off through the crowd.

We followed him into the hall. We soon ran into Legolas and Boromir. Legolas looked at him, amused. "Le ab-dollen. " (You're late) We all smiled, Legolas gave Aragorn a look over, "You look terrible." We laughed. Legolas handed Aragorn a necklace and he opened his hand to reveal the Evenstar pendent. Aragorn looked at him with happiness.

"Hannon le. " (Thank you) Liz and I followed Aragorn into the throne-room. Theoden was there with Gamling at his side.

Theoden slowly nodded as we listened to Aragorn's story.

"A great host you say?" asked Theoden.

"All Isengard is emptied." Aragorn explained.

"How many?"

"Ten thousand strong at least." answered Ari.

"Ten thousand?" Theoden said in disbelief.

"It is an army bred for one thing...to destroy the world of men." Aragorn said and sighed deeply, "They will be here by nightfall."

"Let them come." said Theoden.

"Are we gonna fight them?" asked Elizabeth.

"We've no other choice." replied Theoden.

"And...will the two of us be taking part in this battle?" I asked, "Meaning Lizzie and I?"

"You've got the potential, I suppose," answered the king, "More is better, but I want oyu to understand that you may not survive to see the sunrise."

"I understand, my king." The two of us curtsied.

Theoden nodded and got up off the throne. With that, all of us headed down the stairs, quickly joined by Gimli, Legolas, and Boromir.

"I want every man and lad strong enough to bear arms ready for battle by nightfall." Theoden said to Gamling, dismissing him. Now the rets of us stood outside the gate on the stone pathway leading into Helm's Deep.
"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." Theoden adressed his plan, then he turned to Liz and I, "Now, are you sure that you want to fight?"

"Yes." I replied.

"Yes, if I can't die in peace, I will die fighting for my friends." said Elizabeth.

"I am glad you're part of my army." said Theoden, smiling.

"We are glad to be part of it as well." I said.

"This is no drabble of mindless orcs," said Gimli who was busy being bored to Theoden, "These are Urk-Hai, their armer is thick and their shields broad."

Theoden stood tall before him, "I have fought many wars Master Dwarf, ik now how to defend my own Keep." Theoden walked passed us back into the Keep. We followe him, wlaking past Gimli who stood with his arms off like he'd been put off. I patted his head, "Suck it up Gimli." I said with a slight grin, wlaking back into the keep.

"That girl really amuses me." Gimli sighed, "Reminds me so much of myself."

Theoden led us across the battlement of Helm's Deep, on looking the vast plain-lands.

"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 said.

Aragorn leaned closely in on Theoden, "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people ... down to the last child." said Aragorn.

Theoden drew quickly to Aragorn and drew him close, "What would you have do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread."

Aragorn looked away ashamed, "If this is to be our end, it will be that to remeber." said Theoden.

Theoden walk away but Aragorn quickly joined him, "Send out riders my lord, you must call for aid."

"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? Those alliances are dead, long lost."

"Gondor will answer."

"Gondor!? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when the enemies close din around us? Where was Gon..." he trailed off, recollecting himself, "No, we are alone."

"Just stop Aragorn," said Elizabeth, "Just listen to the king."

Aragorn nodded as Theoden turned away and headed up the stairs followed by Gamling.

"So, we're really going to war." Elizabeth said, "That's the last thing I expected." She seemed downcast. I set a hand on her shoulder, "C'mon, Liz, lets go." We followed Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir. We walked along, examining the miserable army. "Farmers, farriers, stable-boys, these are no soliders." said Aragorn.

"They've seen to many winters." Gimli said.

"Or too few." Legolas added.

Aragorn nodded sadly.

"Look at them," said Legolas, "They're frightened, I can see it in their eyes." Everyone turned to look at the elf, who turned away angrily.

"And they should be...three hundred...against ten-thousand." Legolas said in a quiet voice.

"They have more confidence in defending the Keep than they would Edoras." said Aragorn, with fake confidence turning to him.

"Aragorn, we are warriors, they cannot win this fight, they are all going to die." Legolas replied.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn snapped, their gazes locked for a moment and he turned briskly and walked away.

"Well someone's PMSing." muttered Elizabeth.

"He's stressed, give him a break." I said.

She looked back at Legolas, who's face was still burning with a mix of anger and hurt.