Back on Arda, at Helm's Deep...
Every soldier of Rohan and Lothlorien elves were ready and waiting for the upcoming onslaught. Théoden stood with Gamling at the top of a tower, overseeing everything. At the parapets of the main wall, the members of the Fellowship stood and watched as the Uruk-Hai army approached closer and closer. In the fall of night, the torches of the enemy shone bright. It was fairly quiet, except for the roars and thunderous footsteps of the enemy closing in. Only the tip of Gimli's helmet could be seen from the edge of the parapet. He stood alongside Legolas at his left, with an open space for Aragorn at his right, followed by Ahsoka and Lux.
"You could have picked a better spot !" Gimli grumbled as he couldn't see anything besides the wall of the parapet in front of him.
As Aragorn made yet another round between the Rohirrim and the Elves, he came back to stand between Gimli and Ahsoka.
"Well, lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night." Gimli said while hoping some of Aragorn's incredible luck would rub off on everyone.
Thunder was heard as lightning crashed further into the mountains, a storm was coming.
"Your friends are with you, Aragorn." Legolas stated while motioning to the rest of the current Fellowship and all other Elves and Rohirrim.
"Let's hope they last the night." Gimli added.
Aragorn went to see the Elven archers again. As the Uruk-Hai army was approaching more and more, thunder rumbled again and rain began to fall. It was going to make the conflict even more difficult.
"This will complicate things." Ahsoka muttered as she was no fan of pouring rain.
"It will be slippery for all. At least I've still got time for one last quick checkup on my weaponry..." Lux replied as he began to make a quick inspection on his rifle.
"Hey, where did that brave and reckless Senator I knew back during the Onderon Rebellion go ? C'mon, this is your chance to shine, don't pass it up." Ahsoka said while smiling and giving a friendly punch to his shoulder.
"Brave ? Hardly. Reckless ? No, that's more your style. I think that "foolish" suits me more than anything else. My chance to shine ? Ha ha ha, you have got to be kidding me !" Lux retorted while trying to keep his nerves in check.
"Will you stop doubting yourself ? You're better than you think you are. I know it... you know it as well. You just don't want to admit it. Now, get ready because things are going to get ugly fast." Ahsoka added while onto holding him and trying to get him to gather his courage.
"You'll be at my side at all times, right ?" Lux asked with a bit of trembling in his voice.
"Every step of the way. You can count on me. Relax. Breathe. Focus on what you're going to do." Ahsoka added while briefly rubbing his shoulders to get him to calm down a bit.
Down in the caves, the footsteps of the Uruk-Hai army echoed, causing infants to cry as their mothers did their best to comfort them. Even the young children were fearing the worst for what was about to occur at the wall. The leader of the Uruk-Hai army climbed a large rock, raised his fist in the air and growled as he watched his countless troops pass him by.
"Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none !" Aragorn shouted to the Elven archers.
The leader of the army raised his sword in the air and roared, signaling his troops to halt. Everyone was staring at each other now. Most of the Uruk-Hai were more than willing to attack immediately, baring their teeth and becoming restless.
"What's happening out there ?!" Gimli wondered while hopping, trying to get a look above the parapets.
"Shall I describe it to you ? Or would like me to find you a box ?" Legolas teased, gaining a laugh from the dwarf.
The Uruk-Hai leader raised his sword again, this time signaling the Isengard horn to be sounded. Every single Uruk-Hai began to pound their spears into the ground while chanting, trying to intimidate the Rohirrim. Aragorn unsheathed his sword, Ahsoka ignited her lightsabers while Legolas and Lux readied their bow and rifle respectively. Everybody else readied their bows for a mass strike against the enemy.
All of a sudden, an old man lost his grip on his bow, causing the arrow to fly and strike an Uruk-Hai straight in the neck, killing it.
"Hold !" Aragorn cried out to the other archers to wait a little longer before attacking.
The Uruk-Hai fell flat on the ground, enraging the rest. The Uruk-Hai leader finally gave the order to attack. They began to charge towards the wall. The archers were waiting for this.
"So it begins." Théoden said as he looked at the upcoming masses.
"Prepare to fire !" Aragorn shouted to the elves as they prepared to unleash hundreds of arrows at the enemy.
"Their armor is weak at the neck, and beneath the arm." Legolas told his fellow archers before releasing their grip.
"Release arrows !" Aragorn shouted as a rain of arrows passed above the wall and killed many Uruk-Hai in the process.
"Wow ! That attack took a number of them, but there is still so many more to deal with." Ahsoka stated while she stood amazed at the Elves' precision with their initial strike.
"It's only a matter of time before they reach the wall, but how will they reach us up here ?" Lux wondered as he managed to shoot several Uruk-Hai with his rifle.
"Did they hit anything ?!" Gimli asked as he couldn't see anything.
It was time for the Rohirrim archers to make their move.
"Give them a volley !" Théoden ordered to Gamling.
"Fire !" Gamling shouted to the archers.
While the Rohirrim archers managed to kill a number of Uruk-Hai, their kill count wasn't as high as with the Elves. So far, things were still under control.
"Send them to me, come on !" Gimli shouted as he was becoming restless and wanted nothing more than to cleave some Uruk-Hai with his axe.
A couple of Uruk-Hai approached with crossbows, managing to kill a few elves and sending them to their doom below. Ladders were beginning to be raised against the wall.
"Ladders !" Aragorn shouted to the archers.
"Good !" Gimli shot back as he knew he was going to have his chance to do some hacking and cleaving soon enough.
"Swords ! Swords !" Aragorn shouted, prompting the elves to switch their bow and arrows to their elven blades.
An Uruk-Hai appeared from the top of a ladder, but was quickly intercepted by Gimli with a strong blow of his axe. Another appeared close by and attempted to slash at Aragorn, but was stopped short when a green light appeared and pierced through its body. Not too surprisingly, Ahsoka stood behind Aragorn, smirking back at him.
"My thanks, Milady. Your sword of light is indeed powerful, going through the Uruk's thick armor as there was nothing." Aragorn said as he turned to face another Uruk-Hai and killed it with a swing of his sword.
"My pleasure, Aragorn. We look after each other, you've helped me with some hurdles of my own, now I get to repay the favor. Lux, how are you holding out ?" Ahsoka stated while turning to Aragorn and quickly facing towards Lux.
"I'm actually doing a bit better than I expected, 'Soka. Stick by me still, please. The last thing I need right now... is to be overwhelmed by these brutes !" Lux answered as he managed to pierce an Uruk-Hai in the neck with his new broadsword and quickly turned to slash at the legs of another, incapacitating it for good.
An Uruk-Hai appeared from a ladder and began to wreak havoc through the Elf ranks. Gimli saw this and quickly slided underneath it and hit the Uruk in the stomach, killing it.
"Legolas, 2 already !" Gimli shouted to his Elf friend.
"I'm on 17 !" Legolas shot back.
"Arg ! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me !" Gimli grumbled as he cleaved yet another Uruk-Hai down.
"19 !" Legolas shouted as he managed to shoot down a couple more as they were coming up on ladders.
In a daring move, Aragorn jumped on one of the ladders coming towards him and kicked it down before hopping back onto the parapets, sending the group crashing back down. Ahsoka had an easier time replicating this stunt, she merely waited for the ladder to almost touch the parapets, then she unleashed a strong Force Push, much to the shock of the Uruks on that ladder.
Meanwhile, at Fangorn Forest...
Merry and Pippin were half-asleep as they waited for the Ents to finish their meeting. Treebeard approached the Hobbits, waking up Pippin.
"Merry." Pippin called out as he shook his friend to wake him.
"We have just agreed." Treebeard stated to the Hobbits before slowly nodding off to sleep.
"Yes ?" Merry asked waiting for more.
"I have told your names to the Entmoot , and we have agreed, you are not Orcs." Treebeard explained as he woke up from his sleep.
"Well, that's good news." Pippin said in a slight mock.
"And what about Saruman ? Have you come to a decision about him ?" Merry demanded.
"Now don't be hasty, Master Meriadoc." Treebeard replied, asking for more patience.
"Hasty ?! Our friends are out there ! They need our help ! They cannot fight this war on their own !" Merry cried out in frustration.
"War ? Yes. It affects us all. Tree, root and twig. But you must understand, young Hobbit, it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish and we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say." Treebeard added as he tried to pacify Merry a bit more.
Back at Helm's Deep...
Gimli was kept busy as the Uruk-Hai kept attempting to get off the ladders.
"17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 !" Gimli shouted as he kept count of his kills.
A large group of Uruk-Hai were making their way towards the gate on the causeway, using their shields to deflect most projectiles.
"Causeway ! Causeway !" Aragorn shouted, prompting the elven archers to refocus their strikes temporarily from those attacking on ladders to those approaching the gate, as they were completely vulnerable from the side.
"Is this it ? Is this all you could conjure, Saruman ?" Théoden questioned rhetorically.
A group of Uruk-Hai were placing the bombs at the culvert, while another came running towards it with a torch in his hand. The others were cheering for him as he began his suicide mission.
"Legolas, bring him down !" Aragorn shouted while pointing towards the torch-wielding Uruk.
Legolas managed to hit him with several arrows, it still wasn't enough to prevent the deed to be done, one way or another. The suicidal Uruk ended up falling right onto the bombs, igniting them all, blowing up a major portion of the Deeping Wall.
A good number of Elves and Rohirrim were killed on the spot as stone crumbled, broke off into large chunks, some crushing a good number of Uruk-Hai on the opposite side of the battlefield. Thankfully, Aragorn, Legolas, Ahsoka, Lux, Gimli and Haldir had all survived the explosion. Aragorn was knocked out on the ground for a short moment, with a slew of Uruk-Hai pouring in through the gap created by the explosion. Before a lone Uruk could reach Aragorn, Gimli leapt on it from atop a facade, quickly planting his axe into its head. Ahsoka and Lux were cornered by a good dozen of Uruks.
"'Soka ? Why aren't you doing anything ?! They're closing in on us !" Lux shouted as he began to panic for the first time in a good while.
"Behind me ! Stay behind me !" She shouted back as she backed up further into the corner.
As the Uruk-Hai were within inches of them, Ahsoka unleashed a powerful Force Push to send them right within range of the Elven archers.
"Now ! Shoot them ! Shoot them !" Ahsoka shouted as the archers unleashed a barrage of arrows, killing the entire dozen that threatened them earlier and even more that were making their way through the gap.
Aragorn has returned to his senses and ordered the Elves to charge against the oncoming Uruks. In a smooth move, Legolas hopped on a shield and used it to slide down a stairway, killing a few Uruks with his arrows and got off the shield as it pierced an Uruk right in the chest, killing it. On the causeway, the Uruks tried to break down the gate using a battering ram while Rohirrim men were throwing spears and the younger boys were throwing rocks from above. It was taking a great deal of men to hold the gate to prevent it from being busted open.
Meanwhile, in Fangorn Forest...
The Ents had finally come to a decision. Treebeard went to talk with the Hobbits.
"The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done." Treebeard explained his decision.
"How can that be your decision ?!" Merry shot back in anger.
"This is not our war." Treebeard added.
"But you're part of this world ! Aren't you ?! You must help ! Please ! You must do something !" Merry pleaded to the Ents.
"You are young and brave, Master Merry. But your part in this tale is over. Go back to your home." Treebeard suggested.
Merry sighed in disappointment. He waited along with Pippin for Treebeard to carry them back near the Shire. Pippin attempted to comfort him.
"Maybe Treebeard's right. We don't belong here, Merry. It's too big for us. What can we do in the end ? We've got the Shire. Maybe we should go home." Pippin said as he waited for Treebeard.
"The fires of Isengard will spread and the woods of Tuckborough and Buckland will burn. And... all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. There won't be a Shire, Pippin." Merry stated as he felt that things would only worsen if they don't get involved.
Back at Helm's Deep...
The battle was starting to go ill. Too many soldiers and elves were being killed and there were too many Uruk-Hai to deal with. They were slowly becoming overwhelmed. Théoden was still overlooking from his tower and knew that they were losing.
"Aragorn ! Fall back to the Keep ! Get your men out of there !" Théoden ordered as he began to make his way towards the gate.
"To the Keep ! Lady Ahsoka ! Sir Lux ! Legolas ! Gimli ! Haldir ! Pull back to the Keep !" Aragorn shouted to his best allies as he slowly began to retreat himself.
"I didn't realize things were going so badly, I was so caught up in the heat of battle. Come on, Lux. Let's rejoin Aragorn and the rest." Ahsoka said as she pulled Lux and quickly made her way back.
"Likewise, 'Soka. Perhaps it is for the best that we retreat for now. Maybe we'll be fortunate and Gandalf will arrive with Éomer and the rest of the Rohirrim." Lux said as he agreed and thought about a hopeful scenario.
"The sun isn't going to rise for another hour or so, Lux. Gandalf said he's appear on the first light, which means sunrise. Gimli, come on ! We have to go back !" Ahsoka replied as she grabbed Gimli on the way.
"What are you doing, lass ?! We're losing ?!" Gimli grumbled as he reluctantly joined the others and made his way back to the Keep.
As Haldir tried to round up the remaining elves to retreat, he was caught off guard by an Uruk-Hai which plunged an axe into his back, disabling him and slowly killing him. Aragorn ran back to him, holding him in his arms for a short while. All of the Lothlorien Elves were now slaughtered. What little hope there was for Rohan at the beginning of the battle was now gone. Aragorn quickly made his way back to the others.
Théoden and his men were doing their best to hold the gate. The Uruks were slowly breaking the gate to bits and pieces. One of them managed to plunge a spear through a small opening, wounding Théoden. Aragorn and Gimli arrived, ready to do whatever was possible to help.
"Hold them !" Théoden shouted to his soldiers, pressing to keep the gate closed as much as possible.
"How long do you need ?" Aragorn questioned.
"As long as you can give me !" Théoden replied as he pointed towards a back door.
As they sneaked out the back door, Aragorn and Gimli saw the troops of Uruk-Hai still struggling to break the gate.
"Come on, we can take them !" Gimli whispered.
"It's a long way." Aragorn whispered back as he noticed a large gap between their current position and the causeway.
"Toss me." Gimli suggested.
"What ?" Aragorn asked in surprise.
"I cannot jump the distance ! You'll have to toss me !" Gimli whispered back.
"Don't tell the Elf." Gimli stuttered as he remembered his moment back at Moria.
"Not a word." Aragorn promised.
Gimli was tossed onto the causeway and immediately began to hack away at the Uruks, causing many to fall to their doom. Aragorn jumped the gap and assisted his Dwarf friend in battle. Uruks were preparing to fire a giant crossbow, which would allow them to pass over the wall. The tip hooked onto the wall where Legolas stood nearby. Ladders were still coming. Legolas managed to cut down a rope with an arrow, causing a group of Uruks to crash to the ground. But the battle wasn't getting any better. Aragorn and Gimli were soon overwhelmed.
"Gimli ! Aragorn ! Get out of there !" Théoden ordered the two while beginning to back away to the Keep, where the entrance to the caves stood.
Legolas offered a rope so that the two could climb out of harm's way. They quickly rejoined Théoden and the others.
"Pull everybody back ! Pull them back !" Théoden ordered to Gamling since there were still some soldiers trying to hold the gate.
"Fall back ! Fall back !" Gamling shouted to the remaining soldiers, and just in time, as the gate was finally breached.
The people fought their way towards the entrance of the Keep, to protect the women and children and prepare for a last stand against the enemy.
Meanwhile, in Fangorn Forest...
Treebeard was walking with Merry and Pippin in his branches, taking them West.
"I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can make your way North to your homeland from there." Treebeard said as he hinted how they could return to the Shire.
"Wait ! Stop ! Turn around ! Take us South !" Pippin suggested as he suddenly had an idea.
"South ? But that would lead you past Isengard." Treebeard retorted as he felt unsure about Pippin's suggestion.
"Yes, exactly. If we go South, we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect." Pippin added as he explained a rather foolish plan.
"That doesn't make sense to me. But then, you are very small. Perhaps you're right. Hold on, little Shirelings. I always like going South. Somehow it feels like going downhill." Treebeard answered as he agreed to the idea.
"Are you mad ? We'll be caught !" Merry shouted as he doubted Pippin's idea would actually work.
"No, we won't ! Not this time." Pippin shot back as he felt quite sure of himself.
After about half an hour of walking, they finally reached the edge of Fangorn looking towards Isengard.
"And that little family of field mice that climbed up sometimes and they tickled me awfully. They're always trying to get somewhere where they... Ohh..." Treebeard counted to the Hobbits before coming to a stop to a very grim scene.
Loads of trees were cut off, the results of Saruman's plans to furnish wood so the furnaces could create liquefied metal to make weapons and armor from for the Uruk-Hai army. Treebeard looked on in shock and sadness.
"Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut and acorn." Treebeard added as he reminiscence about those fallen trees.
"I'm sorry, Treebeard." Pippin stated as he tried to comfort the Ent.
"They had voices of their own... Saruman ! A wizard should know better !" Treebeard growled as he looked onto Isengard in the distance.
Treebeard then took a deep breath and let out a loud roar as it echoed through the forest.
"There is no curse in Elvish, Entish or the tongues of Men for this treachery !" Treebeard grumbled as he waited for his fellow Ents.
"Look ! The trees ! They're moving !" Pippin shouted as he noticed a whole bunch of wild trees, known as Huorns, slowly making the trek towards Helm's Deep.
"Where are they going ?" Merry wondered.
"They have business with the Orcs. My business, is with Isengard tonight, with a rock and stone." Treebeard stated as other Ents began to show up.
"Yes !" Merry shouted in contentment.
"Come, my friends. the Ents are going to war. It is likely, that we go to our doom. Last march of the Ents." Treebeard said as he began to lead the Ents in an attack against Isengard.
Back at Helm's Deep...
Victory was almost sure for the Uruk-Hai. They began to place flags bearing the White Hand of Saruman. There was only one last gate to breach. It was where Théoden, the last surviving Rohirrim and the Fellowship held their ground, desperate to protect the women and children in the caves below.
"The fortress is taken. It is over." Théoden stated glumly as the men were using all kinds of items to barricade this final gate.
"You said that this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They STILL defend it ! They have DIED defending it !" Aragorn shouted in anger.
"You can't give up ! There are WOMEN and CHILDREN down there, completely DEFENCELESS ! We have to make a stand, no matter what !" Ahsoka added as she was equally appalled at Théoden's quickness to despair.
"I volunteer to lay down my own life, if it means that these people will survive this onslaught !" Lux stated while noticing Ahsoka's shocked expression at him.
"So you've also become selfless, like me ? I'm sorry I never told you before, Lux... but I'm so very proud of you. You've definitely come a long way since we first met. If we survive this, I... I don't know how I'll be able to show my undying gratitude." Ahsoka said as she grabbed Lux and gave a warm, tight hug.
"You've taught me courage and selflessness, 'Soka ! All I can say is, I'll do my absolute best to give you a wonderful time with what we have left with ourselves. You are truly wonderful !" Lux replied as he returned the hug as gently as he could.
"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves ? Is there no other way ?!" Aragorn asked as he feared that the Uruk-Hai would soon break the gate.
"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far, the Uruk-Hai are too many." Gamling explained.
"Tell the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance !" Aragorn instructed to Gamling.
"So much death. What can Men do against such reckless hate ?" Théoden wondered as the Uruk-Hai were pressing further to break the last gate.
"Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them." Aragorn suggested.
"For death and glory." Théoden stated as he agreed that a final charge is worth trying.
"For Rohan." Aragorn added while reminding Théoden that his people depend on him, their King.
"The sun is rising." Gimli said as he noticed the first light shining through a window. Everyone remembered Gandalf's last words before he left to find Éomer and the rest of the Rohirrim.
"Yes. Yes ! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep... one last time !" Théoden said as he pointed Gimli towards a passage that lead to this magnificent instrument.
Everyone had gone to get their horses. Théoden had Snowmane, Aragorn rode Brego, Legolas was on Arod once more, last but not least, Ahsoka and Lux shared Felamodig once again. The remaining, current Rohirrim had their respective horses as well.
"Wanna do the honors like you did back with the Wargs, Lux ?" Ahsoka asked as she offered her lightsaber again to him.
"Absolutely ! I'll be more than happy to cut those Uruk-Hai down to size while you ride gracefully, 'Soka !" Lux replied while smiling back at her.
"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together !" Théoden shouted to everyone as they prepared to charge at the enemy.
"Fell deeds, awake ! Now for wrath ! Now for ruin ! And a red dawn !" Théoden shouted as he unsheathed his sword.
The horn was sounded just as the Uruk-Hai finally broke the gate, it was a loud, reverberating sound that signaled hope above all else.
"FORTH EORLINGAS !" Théoden shouted as everyone began to charge at the Uruk-Hai.
None were spared, whether by plain sword or lightsaber, none of the Uruk-Hai managed to avoid getting caught in the charge. As the group went down the causeway, killing every single Uruk-Hai in their path towards a large, open battlefield, they were soon greeted with a very pleasant sight. On the top of the hill overlooking Helm's Deep, a majestic white horse neighed, gaining the attention of everyone present, good or evil.
"Gandalf !" Aragorn shouted in excitement.
"He made it ! He made it ! We're definitely going to win, Lux !" Ahsoka shouted while quickly turning around for a quick kiss.
"Ok, ok, settle down, 'Soka ! Yes, this battle is now decided." Lux replied as he laughed a bit at her excitement.
"Théoden King stands alone." Gandalf said as Éomer appeared next to him.
"Not alone... ROHIRRIM !" Éomer shouted as he raised his sword and called on to his loyal soldiers, all 2000 of them.
"Éomer !" Théoden cried out in contentment.
"TO THE KING !" Éomer shouted as the Rohirrim began to charge down the slope towards the Uruk-Hai.
As they got closer to the Uruk-Hai, Gandalf used his staff to blind the Uruk-Hai, allowing them to completely wither down their numbers. Everyone fought as they truncated a great number of Uruk-Hai. Their reign of terror was over, the odds had suddenly taken the worst for them.
Meanwhile, at Isengard...
The Ents began their attack by throwing large boulders, crushing any Orc or Uruk-Hai still present. For the most part, the Ents dominated the enemy. A group of orcs managed to pull an Ent down and tried to cleave it alive, but Treebeard threw a large boulder at them, crushing them all and saving the Ent in trouble. Saruman ran out to his balcony to see what was happening, he was utterly powerless against the Ents. They've managed to break the dam and the river began to flood into the caverns of Isengard, drowning any orc still down there. In a matter of moments, all enemy forces protecting Saruman were wiped out.
Back at Helm's Deep...
The Uruk-Hai began to make their escape, they had lost the battle.
"We have victory ! We have victory !" Théoden shouted triumphantly as he raised his sword in the air.
As the Uruk-Hai ran further from Helm's Deep and towards the mountains, they had one major hurdle to get through : Huorns. A large forest of them were waiting for all Uruks to recklessly enter their ground.
As the Rohirrim tried to pursue them, Éomer quickly ran in front of everyone and stopped them.
"Stay out of the forest ! Keep away from the trees !" Éomer warned everyone as they stopped and looked on in suspense.
"There weren't any trees when we first came by here, were there, Lux ? Or is my memory failing me ?" Ahsoka wondered while taking notice at the unfamiliar sight.
"They definitely weren't here before, 'Soka. I don't know exactly why, but I have a feeling those remaining Uruks will soon regret going in there." Lux replied as he waited for the unexpected.
As the last Uruks entered the group of Huorns, cries of pain were heard. Whatever the Huorns were doing to the Uruk-Hai, it must have been excruciatingly painful.
"I almost feel sorry for them, Lux. Almost." Ahsoka said while being a bit freaked by those cries of pain.
"I certainly won't look at a tree the same way again." Lux joked.
Everyone re-entered the Deep. Éowyn was overjoyed to see Aragorn alive, she could only hug him. As the Uruk bodies were piled in a certain area, Gimli, Legolas, Ahsoka and Lux were arguing between themselves.
"Final count... 42." Legolas stated as he remembered his overall kill count.
"42 ? Ohhh, that's not bad for a pointy-eared, Elvish princeling. I, myself, am sitting pretty on 43." Gimli responded as he acted impressed.
Legolas decided to shoot the Uruk-Hai Gimli was sitting on.
"43, then." Legolas stated.
"He was already dead." Gimli shot back.
"He was twitching." Legolas quipped.
"He was twitching... because he has my axe embedded in his nervous system !" Gimli shouted as he moved his axe to show the involuntary spasms.
"What about you two ? How many did you kill ?" Legolas wondered as he turned to Lux and Ahsoka.
"Hmm... I'm not quite sure, Legolas. Possibly over 150... I lost count." Lux answered as he grinned triumphantly.
"And you, lass ?" Gimli wondered as he turned to Ahsoka.
"I don't know either, Gimli. I lost count after... 250 or so." Ahsoka answered while sticking out her tongue.
"Bah, show-offs, both of ye !" Gimli grumbled as he wasn't happy he got bested by two outsiders.
Meanwhile, at Isengard...
With Saruman powerless, Merry and Pippin couldn't help but be amused. They stood in the flood, only reaching to their tighs.
"He doesn't look too happy, does he ?" Merry asked as he looked at Saruman looking around in frustration.
"Not too happy at all, Merry." Pippin quipped.
"Still, I suppose the view must be quite nice from up there." Merry added as he admired the balcony.
"Oh, yes. It's a quality establishment. I hear the staff are very good." Pippin shot back in mockery.
Merry began to look at Pippin and was using his hand to measure himself. He was once again taller than Pippin. When Pippin turned to him, he acted as if he was trying to get something out of his hair.
"What are you doing ?" Pippin wondered as he caught Merry doing some odd moves.
"Nothing. The world's back to normal. That's all." Merry answered with a grin on his face.
"No, it's not. I'm starving." Pippin stated as he felt hungry, yet again.
"Good luck finding something decent around here. Probably only dead rats or moldy bread." Merry said as he doubted they'd be something good around.
All of a sudden, Pippin found an apple floating by, he looked around and found another, he began to follow a trail, bumping on a wet roast chicken and... found something unexpected.
"Saruman's storeroom !" Merry cried out.
They noticed a barrel of Longbottom Leaf from the South Farthing, eyes wide with glee.
"I don't believe it !" Pippin said in disbelief.
"It can't be." Merry added.
They opened one of the barrels to have a look.
"It is !" Pippin shouted in excitement.
"Longbottom Leaf. The finest pipe-weed in the South Farthing." Merry stated as he smelled the leaves to confirm its identity.
"It's perfect. One barrel each. Wait... Do you think we should share it with Treebeard ?" Pippin wondered as he handed over a barrel to his friend.
"Share it ? No. No. Dead plant and all that. Don't think he's understand. Could be a distant relative." Merry said as he got in a bit of wisdom.
"Oh, I get it. Don't be hasty." Pippin said as he caught on to Merry's words.
"Exactly." Merry whispered as he smiled.
They laughed as they began to prepare to smoke. It caught the attention of Treebeard, getting him to see what was going on. As expected, he didn't understand.
Outside of Helm's Deep...
Gandalf, Théoden, Éomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Ahsoka and Lux were looking towards the horizon at Mordor, with its sky shining red with gray clouds surrounding it.
"Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The Battle of Helm's Deep is over. The Battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little Hobbits... somewhere in the wilderness." Gandalf stated as he foresaw a great war coming and felt worry over Frodo and Sam.
Meanwhile, on Mustafar...
Anakin Skywalker, or Darth Vader as he preferred to be called now, was struggling to climb away from a lava bank. He had dueled with Obi-Wan Kenobi and lost both his legs and his remaining natural arm as a result of his overconfidence with his new powers linked to the Dark Side. Only using his mechanical arm, he managed to pull himself away just enough to keep himself from burning further. A ship passed over him and landed not too far away. Palpatine had come to rescue him... what was left of him anyway.
"Your Majesty, this way !" A clone trooper shouted to his new Emperor as he caught sight of Anakin's charred body.
"There he is ! He is still alive... Get a medical capsule, immediately !" Palpatine ordered to the clone as he knelt before Vader, surprised that his hatred kept him alive through this nightmarish ordeal.
As they began to leave Mustafar and set their course towards Coruscant, the holo-transmitter beeped.
"Your Majesty, we have an incoming transmission from Admiral Tarkin !" A clone trooper shouted, waiting for further orders.
"Patch it through !" Palpatine commanded.
A holographic image of Tarkin became visible.
"Your Grace, I have good news. Onderon is now under control of the Galactic Empire. Unfortunately, King Dendup was unwilling to cooperate, so I had him thrown into a cell, to which I'll let him slowly die of starvation or dehydration." Tarkin stated as he explained Dendup's fate.
"Let him rot then, Admiral. Begin your search for someone who isn't afraid to use drastic measures to keep the people under our control. Do you have anything else to report ?" Palpatine questioned as he felt there was more Tarkin wanted to mention.
"Yes, your Grace. I've taken the liberty of making three moves, concerning... former Senator Bonteri. First off, I've transferred his life-savings to your private account, a respectful amount going to slightly over 250 million credits, for the good of the Empire. Second, I've auctioned his private estate. The Belugan ruler, Otua Blank, was more than happy to purchase the estate for an astounding 5 billion credits. Such an amount will only increase your power. Third, in order to avoid riots from the Onderonians, I've had my secretaries prepare a false report explaining how Senator Bonteri along with his Togrutan fiancée were killed in a pirate attack in the Abregado system. Most of the common folk will believe the report without a second thought." Tarkin stated as he explained the heinous acts against Lux and Ahsoka.
"Good, very good, Admiral. I am pleased by your imagination and cunning. I grant upon you now the title of... Grand Moff." Palpatine said as he cackled in glee.
"Your Grace is too kind, I'll make sure to rule this galaxy with fear. Our future battle station will ascertain our control over the many systems." Tarkin replied before shutting off the transmission.
Phew ! The Two Towers arc is finally complete ! Writing the Helm's Deep sequence was especially grueling. So much happening. Tarkin rears his ugly head again, but we won't see him for the remainder of the story. His role is over. There won't be any more Star Wars in-between segments until the very end of the last arc, which is of course Return of The King. Next chapter, we'll go over Saruman's demise and the famous drinking contest at Edoras between Legolas and Gimli. Here's a tiny spoiler for that upcoming scene : Ahsoka WILL join in the fun. Expect her to be very OOC. As always, reviews are appreciated. See you all next time !