Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
20/03/2013
A lot of reviewers have asked about more Avengers joining the Battle for Middle-earth. At the risk of a major spoiler, my opinion on this issue has not changed from Chapter 1 nor have the reasons behind it.
Like Chapter 13, I have chopped the canonical order of scenes around a little bit to help the story flow better.
Dan man: I wondered if anyone would pick up the hidden humour in Rogers asking his question to Boromir.
Rossaldinho 7: I admit there's a lot of readers/reviewers of this story more knowledgable about Tolkein than I am. But I think you'll find in the book that Legolas was the only Elf present at Helm's Deep. Also, I believe Elladan and Elrohir were part of the Grey Company that came after the Battle of the Hornburg was over.
melissamcginnis3: After that start, I hope the rest of that day went well for you.
Chapter 21 – Special Forces
With the exception of Boromir, the Fellowship at Helm's Deep stood close to each other within the armoury. They observed a handful of Rohirrim regulars distributing weapons and armour among the old men and young boys conscripted as defenders. The conscripted were a study of contrasts. Nearly all the boys found it impossible to comfortably wear their armour given it had been crafted for grown men. Many old men struggled to grasp the weapons they'd been issued due to the arthritis in their fingers.
Earlier, Theoden had ordered all women and young children to the Glittering Caves. They were told to remain there until the battle was over – one way or the other. Eowyn was among their number. When she told Rogers about this, Eowyn was even more enraged than when her uncle ordered to lead the column to Helm's Deep. Rogers promised he would have a quiet word with Theoden on her behalf. The King flatly rejected Roger's arguments in favour of the Shield-maiden taking part in the upcoming battle.
"I do not doubt Eowyn's skill as a shield-maiden," Theoden told him. "But women have no place facing the horrors of battle. That includes my own niece."
Rogers realised that Theoden was only reflecting the values of his society. They were no different to the values that had been (and still were) common to many Earth cultures. Rogers wondered what response Theoden would have received if he'd directed his remark to Peggy. Specifically, how long Theoden would have been knocked out from the king hit Peggy would have delivered in response? Before Eowyn went into the caves, she gave Rogers one of her brooches to put in one of his belt pouches. The brooch was a symbol that she would be with him in spirit during the battle.
Boromir now joined the Fellowship in the armoury. He was wearing a suit of Royal Guard armour. Its normal wearer was Cynric, the guard Thor handed Mjolnir to outside the Golden Hall. Cynric was badly wounded during the clash with the warg-riders. Boromir had aided Cynric after the battle and visited him as he lay dying in the infirmary. Seeing they were of the same size, Cynric gave Boromir his armour to wear for the upcoming battle. The armour was not just for the purposes of protection. Like Eowyn, Cynric wanted to join the battle metaphorically if he could not literally. Having just been told Cynric passed away moments ago; Boromir made a private vow. Whatever the attitudes Denethor and Theoden, he would try restoring the close bond that Gondor and Rohan once had as friends as well as allies. Boromir signalled to the rest of the Fellowship to have a group huddle. They began speaking in hushed tones.
"I've just spoken with Gamling," Boromir started. "Our total number of defenders is one score and three hundred. Thirty of the Royal Guard, eighty regulars and twenty yeomen archers. The rest, you see behind me."
"Jaevla helvete!" Thor quietly exclaimed in disbelief.
As none of the Fellowship members understood Norse, they took Thor's remark in their stride. Aragorn began to describe the Rohirrim who made up the majority of the defending force.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys," he sadly observed with a shake of the head. "These are no soldiers".
Rogers took the opportunity to underscore his displeasure of Rohan's use of child soldiers.
"Like you, Aragorn," he agreed. "I'm unhappy Theoden's resorted to conscription and who's been caught up in the draft." Captain America then tried injected a note of optimism. "By the same token, you shouldn't underestimate what patriotism can do. The army that I fought in was compromised of ordinary men from all walks of life."
With a polite sigh, Boromir countered, "With respect, Steve. From what you told me, your army had months of training before deployment. These levies have to go into battle in a matter of hours against a force that greatly outnumbers them. And it also goes without saying, you and your friends were young men in their prime."
"Many here have seen too many winters," Gimli continued Boromir's theme.
"Or too few," Legolas curtly added. The Prince of Mirkwood raised his voice slightly as he observed, "They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes."
All activity and nervous chatter within the armoury came to a sudden halt. Thor thought the Legolas' words had obviously touched a nerve among the Rohirrim. More so because what Legolas had said about them was true. Aragorn and Legolas then began to argue in Sindarin. The only words that Thor and Rogers discerned were 'Steve' and 'Edoras'. The argument reached its crescendo when Aragorn shouted in the Common Tongue.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" he angrily told the Elf.
After Legolas seemed to flinch at these words, Aragorn stormed out of the armoury. Legolas made to follow to make peace but was restrained by Gimli.
"Let him go lad, let him be," Gimli softly counselled.
The Rohirrim resumed their preparations even more tense than they were before. The rest of the Fellowship could guess the gist of what Aragorn and Legolas had argued about. Helm's Deep was a much stronger defensive structure than Edoras. However, it did not change the fact that the bulk of the defenders were going to be killed in the upcoming battle. The argument between Aragorn and Legolas reminded Rogers and Thor of the Avengers' dispute prior to Loki's escape from the Heli-Carrier. Unlike then, at least Aragorn and Legolas' argument didn't result in Helm's Deep being torn apart by an enraged Hulk. The Uruk-hai on their way to tear it up was bad enough.
"We all know how bad the situation is," Rogers quietly told the Fellowship still in the armoury. "But Gandalf's counting on us to help lead the defence tonight." Rogers jerked his head in the direction of the Rohirrim. "That includes giving these guys a good example."
The First Avenger's message received nods of understanding and agreement. The last thing the Fellowship needed on the eve of battle was division.
"Good," Rogers said pleased. "Get ready to take your posts. I'll see how Aragorn's doing."
Rogers exited the armoury and quickly found Aragorn. The Ranger sat brooding on the stairs that led up from the Inner Wall's courtyard to the archways carved into the rock. Night had fallen and the first Rohirrim defenders were taking up their positions. Rogers contemplated that, apart from being outnumbered thirty to one, the defenders would be spread dangerously thin along the ramparts. Aragorn started speaking after Rogers quietly sat next to him.
"Legolas shouldn't have said what he did," Aragorn glumly reflected. "But neither was his assessment false."
"What I said in our huddle was overly optimistic." Rogers admitted before self-deprecatingly adding, "Even by my standards."
Aragorn flashed a tiny smile at the attempt to cheer him. Seeing this, a more serious Captain America then came to the point.
"But we can't have Theoden's attitude either," Rogers pointed out. "Gandalf said the people of Rohan will need us before the end. Right now, they need us believing we can win this."
Aragorn reflected a moment before giving a concurring nod.
"You're right, Steve," he humbly agreed. "And I forget who's aiding us in this battle. It's been many an age since the Free Peoples have had warriors the likes of the Avengers."
"I hate to disappoint you, Aragorn," Rogers wryly informed him. "But what you've seen of me is as good as it gets!" After the pair shared a smile, Rogers then said, "And we're not the only ones from Fellowship here tonight."
While flattered, Aragorn felt Rogers's comparison overly kind to those the original Fellowship taking part in the defence.
"With respect, Steve," Aragorn replied. "The four us are skilled at arms. But we're not in the same class as Thor and yourself."
"Even if that was true, that's not what I meant," Rogers explained.
"What do you mean then?" Aragorn asked with a puzzled frown.
"Frodo told me a bit of what happened before the three of us showed up," Rogers revealed. "He told me how he and the others escaped the Shire. He also told me how you single-handedly fought off the Black Riders at Weathertop. Boromir's told me about the battles he's fought in. And I understand it's no small miracle for an Elf and a Dwarf to become friends."
"I'm sorry, Steve," Aragorn intervened. "I'm following you less than when you described that athletic pursuit of your people named 'Baseball'."
Rogers gave a good-natured smile. "What I'm saying is, if there's anyone who knows about facing and surviving impossible odds, it's the original Fellowship."
Aragorn paused for a moment before telling Rogers the flaw he perceived in his argument.
"You forget Gandalf fell in Moria," Aragorn pointed out with raised eyebrows.
"True," Rogers conceded. "But if surviving a fall down an abyss, killing a Balrog and coming back from the dead more powerful than ever doesn't count as beating the odds – then nothing does!"
After a mutual soft laugh, Aragorn and Rogers noticed to their left a teenage Rohirrim with long blond hair. Wearing an oversized suit of armour, the teenager had a pensive look on his face as he nervously gripped the sword he held between his hands.
"Give me your sword," Aragorn gently called the teenager over.
The teenager walked up to Aragorn and Rogers without hesitation before passing his sword over to the former.
"What is your name?" Aragorn asked him.
"Haleth, son of Hama, milord," the teenager replied.
Poor kid, Rogers thought. He hasn't even had time to grieve for his Dad. Now he's got to deal with facing his own death.
Rogers was not surprised Haleth repeated the bleak assessment the vast majority of defenders had about the upcoming battle.
"The men are saying we will not live out the night," Haleth forlornly told the Fellowship's Co-leaders. "They say that it is hopeless."
Aragorn gave Haleth's sword a few practice swings before commenting, "This is a fine sword, Haleth, son of Hama."
"It was my father's," Haleth said as he remembered Thor giving it to him. The Asgardian told him to always use it in a way that would honour his dead father.
After returning Haleth's sword to him, Aragorn placed a firm and comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
"There's always hope," Aragorn rallied his first defender of the night. "Among us stand those who defy the meaning of the word 'impossible'!"
As the defenders of Helm's Deep continued their preparations, far away in Fangorn the Ent Moot was still in deliberation. Merry, Pippin and Banner sat cross-legged on the ground several yards away. The two hobbits sat across from Banner. To pass the time, Merry and Pippin told Banner of Bilbo's adventures some sixty years ago as part of the Quest for Erebor. This included how Bilbo secured the One Ring from Gollum. Banner remembered Gandalf alluding to it when the Fellowship first told the Avengers about the Ring's history.
"There's a lot of stories on Earth about people becoming invisible," Banner reflected in comparison. "Including its moral effects. Unlike Middle-earth though, it's never been a real life problem for us."
Banner did not count stealth technology, even that used by the SHIELD Heli-Carrier, as giving the same type of invisibility that the One Ring bestowed on its wearer. Banner's reflections caused Pippin to think harder about Bilbo's adventures in Goblin-town. Far less savoury characters could've claimed the Ring after it had left Gollum.
"It's a good thing that Bilbo found the Ring," Pippin articulated his thoughts. "If one of those goblins found it, Sauron could've got back it well before now."
Merry frowned after pondering the issue. "Still, my father always said Bilbo was never the same again after coming back. I used to think he meant Bilbo was, well, more eccentric. Given what the Ring can do, it's amazing Bilbo even kept his sanity."
"Take it from me, Merry," Banner wryly advised him. "Getting great power when you didn't plan to is a life changer."
Pippin questioned Banner in a simple but serious tone, "How did you get the Other Guy?"
"Pippin!" Merry scolded while giving Pippin's arm a light backhanded slap, indicating his cousin had asked a rude question.
"It's ok, Merry," Banner assured he hadn't been offended. "You've a right to know after all we've been through." Banner gave a deep sigh before starting, "Well, the Other Guy's a long story."
Giving the Ent Moot a dirty look, Merry replied, "Somehow I don't think you'll need to rush it, Bruce."
Banner smiled at this before starting. He told Merry and Pippin everything. Betty. The work he and Betty did at Culver University. The disastrous experiment that both created Hulk and his first destructive rampage. Being a fugitive from the vindictive and obsessed General Ross who also happened to be Betty's father. Banner's betrayal at the hands of both Samson and Sternes that led to his capture by Ross. Ross having to free him again so Hulk to do battle with Abomination in Harlem. That despite Hulk being victorious, Banner still had to go on the run again. His moving from country-to-country helping people as a doctor under assumed identities. When Black Widow found him India and 'persuaded' him to be part of the Avengers Initiative. How Hulk had almost destroyed the SHIELD Heli-Carrier before joining the other Avengers in defeating the Chitauri invasion. How Banner currently worked with Tony Stark, no longer having to live like an outlaw. At the end of his story, Banner slightly shrugged his shoulders.
"So now you know," he simply concluded.
Banner could tell from the look on their faces that Merry and Pippin were reeling from all he had told them. When Banner was speaking, the two interrupted him only to get an explanation about things they had never heard of like 'gamma radiation', 'commandos' and 'helicopters'. But now that Banner had told his tale, he was surprised by the pair's response.
"You and the Other Guy have saved our lives three times, Bruce," Merry commented. "By the sounds of things, all you both do is help people. There must be a lot of sad people on Earth if that's why you had to become an outlaw."
"I don't believe I'm actually saying this." Banner mused aloud before replying, "In fairness to Ross and others, the Other Guy's pretty frightening! Believe me, I was just scared as Frodo when he yelled at him. I thought I'd finally had him under control. But since coming to Middle-earth, it's almost been like when I first got him."
"The nine of us didn't know about him at the time," Pippin stated before venturing an insight. "But I think we forgave you, Bruce, was that Hulk to you is a bit like the Ring to Frodo. Neither of you wanted the burden you carry, but you still carry for the good of everyone. And unlike other Ring-bearers in Frodo's case or that 'Blonsky' in yours, it hasn't made you evil." Pippin paused before concluding, "Only the best of people could stop that from happening."
A tear almost ran down Banner's cheek. Unlike so many people on Earth, the pair's reaction to Banner's story was not one of fear, disgust, intrigue or even pity. Their reaction was from what they judged to be the intent of his and Hulk's actions. More importantly, Banner and the Other Guy were still allowed to make mistakes and shouldn't be ostracised for it. Banner wished he'd been able to talk with people like Merry and Pippin well before now.
"Thanks," Banner softly told the pair.
It was then that the three of them noticed that Treebeard had excused himself from the Ent Moot and was heading towards them. The three stood up before Treebeard stopped in front of them. Banner, Merry, and Pippin's anticipation had been building about what the Ent Moot had discussed.
"We have just agreed," Treebeard solemnly reported.
The seconds dragged by as the three Fellowship members waited on the details. Treebeard seemed to have fallen asleep where he stood.
"Yes?" Merry prodded.
Merry's question seemed to wake Treebeard. Because of the Ent Moot, Treebeard had simply forgotten that non-Ents spoke at a more rapid pace than his kind.
Treebeard proudly announced, "I have told your names to the Ent Moot and we have agreed – you are not Orcs."
He gave a wide Entish smile indicating how pleased he was with the decision.
"Is that all you've been talking about for the last few hours?!" a dismayed Banner asked.
"Oh no, Master Bruce," Treebeard moved to reassure him. "We only discussed your names after telling each other 'Good Morning'."
As an exasperated Banner rolled his eyes, Merry asked Treebeard about what the Fellowship was most interested in.
"And what about Saruman?" Merry specified. "Have you come to a decision about him yet?"
Treebeard waved one of his hands as he casually dismissed the trio's concerns. "Now don't be hasty, Master Meriadoc."
"Hasty?" Banner sarcastically repeated. "Your Ent Moot makes Congress look like NASCAR!"
The insult was lost on the conversation's other participants. Merry continued to press home the urgency of the situation at hand.
"Our friends are out there," he emphasised to Treebeard by pointing southwards. "They need our help. They cannot fight this war on their own!"
If Thor was at full power, Banner wistfully thought, I'd bet against that, Merry.
"War?" Treebeard repeated in agreement. "Yes it affects us all. Tree, root and twig". He then crouched down so he could speak more quietly to the Fellowship. "But you must understand young masters…it takes a long time…to say anything in Old Entish…And we never saying anything…unless it is worth taking…a long time to say." At this, Treebeard stood up and rejoined the Ent Moot.
Although fully aware that Merry and Pippin would not understand, Banner couldn't help but fulminate to them; "If Middle-earth ever gets 911, I hope for everyone's sake it's not operated by Ents."
Back at Helm's Deep, the armoury was deserted except for the Fellowship members who began their preparations for battle. Boromir and Rogers were not among them as they were helping Theoden's officers with the deployment of the fortress' defenders. Boromir was of course already wearing his armour. No one argued with Captain America when he said that his shield was the only piece of armour that he needed.
Thor faced Aragorn across a table. Aragorn was fitting on himself a chainmail vest across his tunic. There was only one other piece of armour that Thor decided to wear in addition to his Asgardian set. Thor placed the Galadhrim helm in his possession over his head. The inside of the helm was lined with silver padding made of spider silk. The helm felt as comfortable and secure to Thor as when he first tried it. Thor vowed to himself that, in the upcoming battle, he would show Galadriel he was worthy of her gift.
As Aragorn moved to pick up from the table the scabbard in which his sword was sheathed, he noticed an armoured Legolas proffering it to him.
"Steve and yourself have led us this far and have not led us astray," Legolas apologised. "Forgive me. I was wrong to despair".
Aragorn said something magnanimous sounding in Sindarin before taking his sword from Legolas's hand. Thor gave a subtle smile of relief as the pair confirmed their reconciliation by tightly gripping each other's shoulder. Gimli joined the trio, struggling to fit the suit of chain mail he'd been issued.
"If we had time, I'd get this adjusted," Gimli grumbled before releasing the mail in his grasp, its lengths spilt to the floor around his ankles. "It's a little tight across the chest."
A horn's high pitched but melodious note from outside echoed within the armoury.
"That's not Boromir's," Thor commented as he tried figuring out the source.
"Nor is it from any Orc horn," Legolas discounted.
Gimli quickly discarded his ill-fitting armour as he, Aragorn, Legolas and Thor departed the armoury to investigate. Boromir and Rogers were waiting in the courtyard to welcome the source of the horn.
A company of two hundred blue-cloaked Galadhrim had been allowed to enter Helm's Deep. They marched in precision up the winding ramp carrying two banners with Mallorn tree motifs that identified their place of origin. Unlike the sentries the Fellowship had encountered in Lothlorien, these Galadhrim warriors wore finely crafted plate armour coloured red, brown and dark gold. Apart from their superb longbows, the Galadhrim carried long handled two-handed sabres that reminded Rogers of a Samurai katana. By modern Earth standards, the Galadhrim were anachronistically dressed and armed. But Captain America knew an elite military force when he saw one. So did the Rohirrim defenders who, despite Rohan's historic suspicions of Lothlorien, felt their spirits rising these legendary warriors had come to their aid.
Like the sentries who intercepted the Fellowship, these Galadhrim were led by no other than Haldir himself. The Marchwarden wore similar armour to his brethren but wore a red cloak (that Rogers thought was equal to Thor's) to designate his status as company commander. The Galadhrim came to a sharp halt by the flight of stairs that led up from the courtyard. Being at the head of his company, Haldir immediately recognised Boromir and Rogers who were standing a few yards in front of him. He gave both a knowing smile and a bow of respect and recognition. Out of habit, Rogers gave Haldir a firm and quick salute in return.
"Haldir, we're honoured you've come to help us," Rogers gratefully told him.
The Marchwarden was equally gracious. "After what Lady Galadriel has told me about you, Captain America, it's our honour to be fighting alongside the Avengers."
Theoden then appeared at the top of the stairs dressed in a suit of armour that matched his station as King. He slowly began to walk down the stairs both surprised and confused by the Galadhrim in front of him.
"How is this possible?" a bewildered Theoden asked Haldir.
Haldir gave Theoden a deep bow of respect before stating; "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell and the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together." It was then Aragorn, Legolas, Thor and Gimli had reached the courtyard from the armoury. Haldir could not help give a wide smile of recognition as he finished telling Theoden; "We come to honour that allegiance."
Aragorn greeted Haldir in Sindarin before giving him a firm hug. After being somewhat taken aback at Aragorn's gesture, Haldir responded with a hug of his own.
Aragorn spoke for the whole of Helm's Deep as he warmly told Haldir, "You are most welcome!"
Haldir then firmly gripped forearms with Legolas before giving a signal to the Galadhrim under his command. The Galadhrim faced left before pivoting to face that direction followed by a single loud clatter as they stood at ease. Haldir was interrupted from saying Elves were proud to fight alongside Men once more.
"All who defend this place tonight should do so proudly," Thor resolutely proclaimed. "We are from many realms. But the ages will remember we fought as one!"
The arrival of Haldir and the Galadhrim meant the defence could be redeployed along much surer lines. Seeing the Deeping Wall was likely to be the Uruk-hai's first line of attack, the Galadhrim were placed along it in three ranks of fifty. The remaining Galadhrim were placed in reserve on the dead ground between the Deeping Wall and the cliff face, with the area having earlier been cleared of the refugees' tents and effects. Haldir gave Aragorn joint command of the Galadhrim so as to better coordinate with the non-Elven defenders. The Fellowship members joining Aragorn along the Deeping Wall were Legolas, Gimli and Thor.
As much as they would have like to be with their friends, Boromir and Rogers stood with the Rohirrim defenders. The Rohirrim were tightly packed along the Outer and Inner Walls. With the Galadhrim taking post on the Deeping Wall, Theoden decided to concentrate his forces in defending the Gatehouse and the Hornburg. Given the lack of experienced officers he could presently call on, Theoden gave command of the Gatehouse defence to Boromir and Rogers. The Gatehouse defenders included a few regulars, the yeomen archers and a large number of conscripts. Theoden had decided to place the bulk of his regulars inside the Gatehouse to brace the Main Gate from assault. The Royal Guard was being held in reserve.
The storm clouds that had gathered during the day now almost blocked out any moonlight or starlight. It was as dark as things could get by the time the Uruk-hai began arriving at Helm's Deep. The sound of the Uruks' relentless march grew louder as they closed in on the fortress. Now wearing his mask, Rogers remembered Theoden comparing the imminent battle like water breaking on rock. In that case, Rogers grimly likened Isengard's army to a surging river of Uruk-flesh, steel, torchlight and death.
Rogers looked to see how the defenders close around him were doing. Close to him was a group of some twenty young boys who had no relatives to stand beside. Haleth and the young Eothain were among them. Rogers could see their nerves on their faces, a number with chattering teeth. Others had frightened tears streaming down their cheeks. Rogers wasn't surprised that Theoden's pre-battle speech about honour and the history of Rohan meant nothing to these boys. Even in the current situation, Rogers would not lie by telling these boys they were all going to be fine. By the same token, he was not going to let any of them go to their deaths thinking no one cared about them.
Rogers got their attention with a gentle, "Hey boys." With twenty pairs of scared eyes focused on him, Rogers then asked them, "You remember me telling you about the group of men I commanded. The ones called the 'Howling Commandos'?" After receiving a number of nervous nods, Rogers told them, "Well, as of this moment, I'm making you all Howling Commandos."
The boys' eyes widened in amazement. Rogers noted that fear was no longer the only emotion on their faces before looking at Haleth.
"Haleth," Rogers told him. "As you're eldest, I'm making you second-in-command. You think you can handle it?"
Remembering what Thor had told him earlier, Haleth replied with shaky confidence, "I shall make my father proud in doing so, milord."
Rogers gave him a nod of appreciation before saying to the Commandos as a group, "Howling Commandos have only one rule. We fight for each other and we don't give up. As long as we do this, we can face whatever comes our way."
The twenty boys had their full attention on Captain America, almost forgetting the Uruk-hai drawing ever closer to Helm's Deep. The First Avenger finished instructing his latest charges.
"Rohan's Howling Commandos," Rogers proclaimed to them, "let's show these orcs what we can do."
All defenders within proximity had heard Rogers' every word to his new 'Commandos'. They all smiled as the boys imperfectly copied the crisp salute that Rogers gave to them. As Rogers returned his attention to the oncoming enemy, he noticed Boromir standing next to him. During the journey from Edoras, Rogers finally told Boromir about the operation that led to the capture of Zola. After what Gandalf told him in Fangorn, it wasn't as painful to Rogers to tell the tale.
"And yet," Boromir quietly commended his fellow Captain, "you still struggle to accept why Bucky was willing to die for you."
The Uruk Commander of the Isengard Army climbed to the top of a large boulder that stood alone in the valley. From this vantage point, the Commander ordered his fellow Uruk-hai to halt with an animalistic howl. The front row of Uruk-hai stopped less than a hundred yards from the Deeping Wall. By the torches the Isengard Army carried, the defenders of Helm's Deep got their first good look at the foe confronting them.
Nearly all of the Uruks wore steel plate armour and helms similar to their kindthat confronted the Fellowship at Amon Hen. A significant number also carried the same spiked pentagonal shield. Each had a white hand print on either their armour or shield symbolising their allegiance to Saruman. While the majority of Uruks were armed with falchions, others carried eighteen-foot pikes while others carried crossbows. Throughout the ranks of the Isengardian army there were also orc sappers along with warg-riders acting as messengers and couriers. Many of those defending Helm's Deep now feared the Uruk-hai because of their weapons in addition to their numbers.
Gimli stood between Legolas and Thor who were to his right and left respectively. The three of them stood among the first rank of Galadhrim lined along the Deeping Wall. 'Stood' was a comparative term in this instance. Those who had designed and built the wall never conceived it would ever be defended by Dwarves. While its parapets gave the other defenders solid protection up to chests, Gimli's helm barely came over the top.
"Both of you could've picked a better spot!" he huffed to Legolas and Thor in frustration.
While Legolas simply smirked in response, Thor offered straight-faced, "You're welcome to ride on my shoulders, Gimli."
If there was any indication of the friendship the trio had developed, it was Gimli's good-natured laugh to Thor's friendly teasing. Normally, no Dwarf would let a Non-Dwarf's insult about their height (even in jest) go without at least a withering rejoinder. It was then that Aragorn walked up behind the trio.
His laughter having subsided, Gimli told Aragorn, "Well, lad. Whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night."
Looking at the mass ranks of Uruk-hai, Legolas soberly stated, "Your friends are with you, Aragorn."
"Let's hope they last night," Gimli laconically added.
Lightning then flashed in the night sky followed by low rumble of thunder. The storm that had been building throughout the day finally broke. A steady downpour began falling on the heads of both attackers and defenders.
This battle's been building like a storm as well, Thor grimly contemplated the rainfall. Though when it breaks, it'll be blood saturating the ground.
Thor then felt something stirring within Mjolnir. Thor did not just consider Mjolnir his favourite weapon. He had a mystic link to the legendary hammer that made it a part of him, an extension of his will. Thor caught his breath when he realised what the stirrings were. The powers of Mjolnir that he'd been unable to use since coming to Middle-earth were returning! Thor's inner joy was tempered by him sensing those powers still had a way to go reach full strength and for him to use them at will. But the fact remained he would be able to soon use them in this battle.
Your theory was right, Banner, Thor thought as he remembered their discussion in Caras Galadhon about the vortex's effects. If your powers are also returning to normal, the forces of evil in this realm are in for a nasty shock!
Given that one of Mjolnir's missing powers was to summon lightning, Thor smiled at the unintentional pun he had just made. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli looked at the Asgardian who was laughing with restrained mirth. It went without saying that Thor loved a good battle. But nor did he treat it as a sadistic joke.
"Thor?" a concerned Legolas probed him.
Thor curbed his laughter but still replied with a smile in his voice. "Forgive me, my friends, if I appear to have gone mad."
Thor then returned the gazes of his three friends. The lightning in the skies above illuminated the eerily confident gleam and smile he expressed towards them. Thor then spoke to them in a tone that matched the look on his face.
"But I assure you," Thor resolutely promised. "In this battle tonight, the God of Thunder is with us!"
As if to underscore Thor's observation, a loud clap of thunder echoed over the battlefield.
Obviously many reviewers from early on second-guessed my intention for Thor to begin regaining his powers at Helm's Deep. The canonical thunderstorm was a very appropriate plot device to do this. Of course we will have to see how much of his power returns in the next chapter.
And of course there's the matter of Hulk's powers to be settled as well…
I don't know Norse, so my apologies if Thor's reaction in the armoury was stronger than 'bloody hell'.