Chapter 12: Helms Deep
When they came to Helms Deep, Legolas got off Arod and helped Gimli down before walking over to Losse. "Losse," he whispered. Losse just looked at him and Legolas helped her down. Legolas watched as Gimli told Éowyn that Aragorn fell. He just picked Losse up into his arms and carried her over to the hall.
Once Legolas placed her on the ground, Losse walked pass him and sat down on the stairs. Tears were now falling from her eyes. Legolas sat next to her. "I had his hand; I had him in my grasp. He told me to let him go and I did. I didn't realize that he was going over a cliff until it was too late," she said quietly. Losse then broke down. "I had him, Legolas; I had him. He had died in front of me. I now lost Boromir, Mother, Father, and Grandfather. I'm losing everyone that comes close to me," she whispered. Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You still have me, Losse, if you need me for anything, I'll be there for you," he whispered.
Losse looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Hold me," she begged. Legolas held her in his arms and allowed her to cry on his shoulder. Legolas sighed as he ran circles on her back.
"It's all right," he whispered.
Losse continued to cry on his shoulder and then she had cried herself to sleep. Legolas picked her up into his arms once again and then he placed her onto a cot. He wrapped a blanket around her and looked over at Éowyn. "Losse is suffering greatly," Éowyn mumbled. Legolas nodded with a sigh.
"She'll be all right, she just needs rest," Legolas said.
Éowyn nodded and watched as Legolas stroked Losse's short brown hair as she slept. She turned and walked away. After a few moments, Legolas placed a kiss on the side of Losse's head before leaving.
The next morning, Losse woke up and stretched. She found her sword next to the cot she slept on and strapped the sword around her waist.
She began to walk around the fortress when Legolas walked over to her. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm still a little grieved, but I'm all right," she replied.
Legolas nodded and kissed her forehead. "His death wasn't in vain," he whispered.
"I know," she whispered back.
The grief was still so near, but she knew that she couldn't dwell on her father's death. She had to help the wounded and had to get things prepared just in case a war came to Helms Deep.
Later that morning, Éowyn walked over to Losse. "I brought you something to eat," she said. Losse thanked her and slowly ate the bread that was on the plate. "I'm sorry about your father," Éowyn said. Losse nodded and then she felt tears press against her eyes. Éowyn kneeled in front of Losse. "He was a brave man, if he didn't tell you to let go of his hand, you would be lost too. We need you here, Losse," she said. Losse knew that the woman's words were true and looked into her eyes to see the sadness in them.
"Thank you for your words, Lady Éowyn," Losse said.
Éowyn nodded and walked away. Losse didn't feel like finishing her food and saw a young child and his mother sitting together. She walked over and handed the plate to the mother. "Here you are," she said.
"Thank you," the mother said.
Losse nodded and continued on walking. She walked along the wall and she saw a figure on a horse sitting on a hill. She looked closer and gasped when she saw that it was Aragorn. Her father was alive. She ran down to get Sùlio so she could greet her father.
Legolas saw Losse ride out of Helms Deep and was confused. He looked on the wall and saw that Aragorn was alive as well.
Losse rode as fast as her horse could take her over to Aragorn. Aragorn got Brego to stop and Losse had Sùlio to stop next to Brego. Losse smiled and jumped at her father. Aragorn fell off his horse and landed on the ground with Losse on him. Aragorn smiled and hugged her tight. He was so glad that she was all right. "I thought you were dead, father, I really thought you had died," she whispered. Aragorn sighed as he held her.
"I'm a little wounded, but I'm all right," he said.
Losse got up and saw the wounds on his shoulders. "Amin hiraetha," she said. (I'm sorry.) Losse helped him up from the ground, but Aragorn placed a hand on her chin and lifted her face up so she would face him.
"At least I am able to see that beautiful smile on my beloved child's face," he whispered.
Losse smiled and hugged him again. Aragorn hugged her back and kissed the side of her head. "We should get to the fortress. I have some urgent news to give to the king," he said. Losse nodded and they got back onto their horses. They rode as fast as they could towards the keep.
When they entered the keep, Losse got off Sùlio and hurried over to Brego to help Aragorn down. Aragorn thanked Losse once he got off his horse and then Gimli hurried over to greet him. "You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew. Bless you laddie," Gimli said.
"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked.
Gimli gestured towards the throne room and Aragorn walked over to the throne room. They walked up the stairs and Losse smiled when her father almost collided with Legolas. Legolas grinned at his friend. "Lle abdollen," Legolas said. (You're late.) Aragorn looked at him with a quizzical look while Legolas examined him. "You look terrible," he said. Aragorn chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder. Losse watched as Legolas placed the Evenstar Pendant into Aragorn's hand. Aragorn looked into his hand then back at Legolas.
"Hannon le," he said. (Thank you.)
Legolas nodded before he followed them into the throne room.
Losse stood next to Legolas and behind Aragorn while Aragorn spoke to the king. "A great host you say?" Thèoden asked.
"All Isengard is emptied," Aragorn replied.
"How many?" Thèoden asked.
"Ten thousand strong at least," Aragorn replied.
Thèoden turned to look at Aragorn. "Ten thousand!" He gasped.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose, to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall," Aragorn said.
Losse waited for Thèoden's answer and watched as the king walked away. "Let them come," Thèoden said. Then the king walked out of the throne room and ordered for every man and boy that was able to bear arms should get ready for battle. Then he began to talk about something that the orcs aren't even after. "Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt, within these walls, we will outlast them," Thèoden said.
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops and villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child," Aragorn said.
Thèoden turned and grabbed Aragorn's shoulder. "What would you have me do? Look at my men, their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end then I will have them make such an end to be worthy of remembrance," Thèoden snapped.
Losse looked at Legolas in fear, she feared for the life of all these people. Then she watched as Thèoden went to walk away. "Send out riders my lord, you must call for aid," Aragorn said. Losse hurried down the stairs and stood next to Aragorn.
"My lord, you cannot win this on your own. You need to call for help. Without help, Rohan will surely be destroyed," she said.
Thèoden glared at them. "Who will come, elves, dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead," Thèoden said.
"Gondor will answer," Aragorn said.
"Gondor! Where was Gondor when the westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gondor...," Thèoden trailed off.
"No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone," he said.
Losse watched as the king walked away and looked at Aragorn. "What do we do?" She asked. Aragorn then turned and looked at his daughter.
"There's nothing we can do," he replied.
Losse looked at Legolas in fear. Legolas walked over to her and held onto her hands. "Just pray to the Valar that some help will arrive," he whispered. Losse nodded and then she hoped that some help would arrive.
AN: I hope that this has interested you to read some more, so I'll keep updating as long as you'll keep reading.