Chapter 20: So It Begins

*NEW* A/N: So...a LOT of editing done on this one and a severly jacked up fight scene. I LOVE it! Enjoys...XD

XxKicking Your AxX: Yes, very scary indeed XD

Valaina strapped on the last of her weapons, and turned to the empty room she had been given to prepare herself in if she needed to change. The soldiers asked her if she needed any armor or chainmail, and naturally she refused knowing that she could hold her own as well as not wanting be as burdened down in the hefty armor. Aragorn, being Aragorn, protested and Valaina protested back rather loudly much to Legolas and Gimli's amusement. It turned into something of a yelling match until Valaina, in a bout of anger and annoyance at the persistent ranger, had grabbed the thing nearest her in the general vicinity to threaten the ranger. However, it happened to be a bucket of ice cold water which, instead of threatening Aragorn with it, she dumped right on his head causing the ranger to halt his protesting. Legolas and Gimli were thoroughly amused by the whole scene that had unfolded and laughed rather loudly as the ranger stomped past the three of them dripping wet and possibly quite cold. Of course, Valaina shrugged it off as a victory on her part, and continued her roaming about Helm's Deep, taking in every square inch of the massive, well-fortified keep just to be sure that she didn't lose her way to certain spots during the battle.

Valaina's hair as currently down at the present moment as she made her way back to where her companions were. She was in a good mood, ready to face the Uruks, and the soldiers knew it by the way she walked around proudly and without a care. It unnerved them as much as it gave them hope that the lycan was on their side. She stopped outside the armory where the men were getting their weapons and whatnot for the battle that was about to ensue, and finding nothing better to do the lycan went ahead and pulled her hair into a simple plaited braid that pulled all her hair out of her face, making her appearance all the more fierce as she stood looking out at the keep, her irises glowed and swirled as the flames inside the lycan came to life within her eyes. A sulking Aragorn walked by the lycan to go finish preparing for the battle without so much as a remark about the way Valaina stood around like nothing was about to happen. "Aragorn?" she asked in concern as he marched away.

"Not now!" he snapped at her before disappearing down a hall.

Valaina shrugged it off thinking it was pre-battle nerves, or someone had said something to him to cause the ranger to become upset. Not knowing what to do with herself again, she began to walk around the keep once more as the men began to fill their spots. As she did so, however, she found that many of the able bodied men were either too young, too old, or were too inexperienced with anything but farm tools. They stared at her knowing all too well just what she was, and even then that did not help the growing doubt that was on their minds. Valaina gave a nod to a soldier every now and then when they acknowledged her.

As she continued to walk, Valaina's anger inside of her began to boil as she was itching for a fight, a real fight, one with the blood of the Uruk-hai on her blades. After sometime she came to where Aragorn had finished dressing for the battle, and she saw him and Legolas clasp arms in the fashion of companionship making Valaina wonder what she missed out on.

"If we had time I'd get this adjusted!" Gimli grumbled as he came into the room in chainmail suited for a grown man. He dropped it and the chainmail pooled a bit on the ground around his feet causing Valaina to chock on a laugh at the funny sight. "It's a little tight across the chest," he said at Aragorn's amused expression while Legolas looked like Valaina as they both chocked back their laughs.

"You look rather dashing in it. I think the Uruks will be quite frightened by you in the chainmail. They may even trip up on the loose ends," Valaina said from the doorway.

Gimli grumbled as Aragorn and Legolas used their all their strength to remove the chainmail armor from the dwarf, both nearly falling when it finally did come off. "You are not ready, lass," Gimli grunted.

"Armor hinders me," Valaina said and ended the conversation right there.

"You look ready to take on the entire army," Legolas commented.

"I feel like I can."

"Valaina," Aragorn started as he looked at the lycan that indeed looked ready to take on the army of Uruk-hai, and smiled at her, "promise me you will not do anything stupid out there."

"That's not exactly possible," Valaina said with a smirk. "I always do something stupid. You should know that by now."

"That's why I asked you to promise me you wouldn't."

A horn sounded at that moment cutting off Valaina's reply. It wasn't the harsh sound of an orc horn, but the horn of certain people Valaina did not want to see at that moment yet at the same time thanked the Valar for the extra help. "That is no orc horn," Legolas said with joy as he and Aragorn took off toward the sound.

"No," Valaina growled as she followed Aragorn and Legolas, "that would be Haldir."

"Open the gate!" someone shouted to which the gate was opened.

Théoden followed Aragorn, Legolas, and Valaina to greet the host of elves that had come to their aid, all dressed in armor underneath their royal blue cloaks. They held bows out in front of them as they walked into Helm's Deep in a graceful, battle ready stance. They stopped once within the gate, and Haldir, in full gold elven armor, greeted the king with a smile and a bow of his head. "How is this possible?" Théoden asked in great relief.

"An alliance was once formed between elves in men," Haldir said as Aragorn, Legolas, and Valaina descended the steps, though Valaina was much slower to do so. "We have come to honor that allegiance."

"Haldir!" Aragorn said before embracing the surprised elf in relief. "You are most welcome," he said as he pulled away, hope in his eyes that the battle was about to take a turn of the better.

Legolas clasped hands with the captain at the same time the elves turned as one and rested the ends of the bows on the ground, still holding them with one hand as they looked toward the men and their captain. "Valaina," Haldir said, "The Lady of the Woods sends her blessing."

The lycan's companions looked at Valaina, wondering just how she would respond thinking that she may just tear Haldir's throat out before the Uruks get to the Deeping Wall. "I highly doubt she did," Valaina said in a dry voice as her companions let out a sigh of relief when she didn't attack Haldir for mentioning Galadriel.

"I hope we can settle the wrongs on the battle field tonight, Valaina. We are all at a neutral standpoint tonight. All but myself," Haldir placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head to Valaina and surprising the lycan beyond surprise. "I know you will find it difficult to accept," he said as he raised his head and lowered his arm. "But I apologize for the wrongs that have been done on my account."

Valaina was taken aback by the sincere apology that the captain offered, and gave him a neutral look. "I accept your apology as long as you forgive me."

"Then I, too, accept your apology, and accept you as a comrade."

Valaina's mask fell away into a smile as she stepped forward, right hand out to Haldir, to which he took and they clasped forearms in a sign of companionship. "Then our differences are settled," Valaina said.

"I hope I see you fighting the Uruks just as I have seen you fight in the past against your own kin."

Valaina gave the captain a smile. "Oh, you will see much more fight than that, Haldir. Trust me; I will not let you down."

Legolas placed his hand on the lycan's shoulder as she and Haldir stepped away from each other, his own eyes showing with relief and gratitude toward Haldir. "You, Gimli, Aragorn, and I will be on the wall," he said as the crowds dispersed to their stations.

Haldir and half of his elves followed the lycan and princeling as they set out for the wall. "There'll be plenty for all of us," Gimli was saying.

"Unfortunately for you two, I'm going to have the highest count," Valaina growled out in joy.

"Really now?" Legolas asked with a sly look in his eyes that Valaina somehow completely missed. "Tell me, how are you going to do that if you are at the bottom of the stairs?"

"What are you—Legolas!" Valaina's question died on her lips as Legolas pushed the lycan just enough to make her off balance and send her tumbling down the stairs without an ounce of grace right into Aragorn who promptly sidestepped out of the way instead of helping her.

Valaina sat up with a glare at the elf prince who was now at the top of the stairs looking at the lycan sitting on the bottom. Several of the elves around her looked at the lycan with apprehension at what she would do for they had only ever known the lycan to attack when insulted. Valaina picked herself up from the ground with what was left of her pride, and walked up the stairs back to her companions. "And you say I'm rude," Valaina grumbled as she walked past the elf and followed Haldir along the wall.

"You didn't snap," he commented.

"No, but I will be stealing several of his kills for that," Valaina said with a sly smile.

Legolas looked confused as he turned to Aragorn. "She didn't do anything…" he said in confusion.

"Yet," Aragorn added as they followed the two elves along the wall before stopping. "She did not do anything yet. You will see."

Valaina turned and strode back down the wall as the elves lined up to face the coming enemy. She stopped beside Legolas, and he caught sight of the lycan's eyes flashing dangerously as she picked up something along the wind. "I can hear them coming," she said with a slight growl as she shifted uneasily as she waited for the actual action to begin.

Gimli's head couldn't see over the wall, and, as Gimli always does, he complained about it. "You could've picked a better spot," he grumbled.

"Is the wall too high, Gimli?" Valaina asked.

"Why don't you tell me, Valaina?"

"I can see perfectly fine. I do not see why you are complaining."

"Because I cannot see over!"

"Oh…"

"Oh…" Gimli mocked the lycan.

"Perhaps you should stand up then," Valaina said, keeping her face straight. "Oh wait, you are."

Gimli's anger faded as he saw Valaina smile, and he gave a small chuckle. The Uruks drew closer and closer going at their own pace as if they would kill the readied men with the time as thunder rolled in from the distance followed by the soft flashes of lighting. "Holy shit, they move about as fast as Gimli does in the morning," Valaina grumbled. "Why can't they fucking hurry up, damn it!"

Several heads turned to the lycan with shocked expressions on their faces at such colorful words to describe the slow paced Uruk-hai. But Gimli and Legolas just chuckled at the impatient lycan who wanted nothing more than to start the fight already. "I thought the dwarf was the impatient one," Legolas said.

"No, he is not. I am just itching to fight."

The thunder boomed overhead as the Uruks neared the wall while Aragorn walked up to them, a determined look upon his face. "Well, laddie, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night," Gimli said in his oh-so-cheerful voice.

"Your friends are with you, Aragorn," Legolas commented with a determination in his own eyes as thunder boomed again.

"Let's hope they last the night…" Gimli mumbled.

"The defenses will hold. I will make sure of it. Point me in any direction and I will go," Valaina growled quietly.

The rain began to fall slowly at first, but then it began to pour down upon the men as Uruks slowed to a stop far enough away from Helm's Deep so that a man could still shoot them with an arrow, but not close enough to initiate an attack. Not yet, anyway. Aragorn shouted to the elves in their language, yet Valaina could not hear as her blood boiled and rushed madly throughout her body. It mixed with the pounding rain effectually drowning out any sound that she did not wish to hear at the moment.

"What is happening?" Gimli asked as he tried desperately to see over the wall.

"Shall I describe it to you," Legolas started as he held his bow to his person as if it were a life line, "or would you like me to find you a box?"

Gimli chuckled in amusement at the elf's words, and looked to Valaina who also had a smile on her face as she looked at her companions. "He beat me to it," she said in mock defeat. "I honestly don't have a retort at the moment."

"Well, that's a first, lass. I wonder why," Gimli said with a smug look on his face as he looked between the lycan and the elf prince who were completely oblivious to the obvious intent behind the words.

The Uruks began to stamp their spears slowly at first, and then they all stamped their spears as loud battle cries emitted from their throats as they took up their own song; their own chant of death. They sang in their harsh tongue through growls and roars, causing Valaina to becoming increasingly uneasy and angry, soft growls emitting from her own throat as the Uruks chanted one of the black songs, sinister and evil in all it was. The din of the Uruks did not drown out idle the conversation on the wall that many of the men had been having, but it did halt any talk that had been going on between comrades as the battle drew near bringing with it the beginning of the end for some of the warriors that stood upon the walls of the keep.

The din of the Uruks grew louder and rattle Valaina's core threatening to spill the Rage out of the glass jar it was in on the shelf of her emotions. She kept a firm hold of the Rage, not wanting to let go for she herself wanted the blood of the Uruks to be painted on her blades by her own doing, not the Rage. A hand placed itself on her shoulder, and Valaina turned hate filled eyes away from the Uruks to Legolas. Valaina found herself calming down as she looked at the blue eyes of her companion and friend. "Take a deep breath," he said. "You can control it."

And Valaina took a deep breath. The attempt to calm herself and reign in her temper worked if only a little bit, but that was all she needed for the time being. "Do not let it consume you," Aragorn said from Valaina's other side as she turned to look at her friend that had become her brother over the years as he, too, placed a hand on Valaina's free shoulder. "At least, not yet. There will be a time for you to let it loose but you must hold onto yourself tightly. Try to not become feral."

"Now why would I do that when I have my own revenge to take out on these bastards?" Valaina asked in a snippy tone to which Aragorn smiled.

"Good."

The ranger walked away as he examined the stopped Uruks as they chanted on. The archers notched their bows and took aim at the necks and any other weak points in the Uruk-hais' armor, holding their arrows as they waited for the cue to fire. The Uruk's cries grew louder and louder until it became a din of noting but a roar of noise when suddenly someone let go of their arrow. It found the perfect weak spot between the Uruk's helmet and chest armor killing it. The Uruk fell to the ground with a slight moan as the din the other Uruks had been making was silenced, not even the wind blew as the Uruks looked at their dead comrade. The Uruks gave outraged cries, and then their leader stepped up onto a large rock, held his sword aloft, and gave a battle cry. The Uruks rushed forward roaring and growling ready to taste the blood of men and elves, and ready to hack the heads of their enemies off.

Volley after volley of arrows was set loose upon the charging enemy killing hundreds of Uruks as they rushed Helm's Deep. "Did they hit anything?" Gimli asked.

"They hit plenty, but they will still come," Valaina told the dwarf in a snarl laced voice as she drew her dual blades. "There are plenty for the three of us, yet only one of us will win."

"I will be the best dwarf of us!" Gimli muttered.

"You're the only dwarf here, Gimli," Valaina said in a voice that was asking for a laugh.

"What is going on now? Talk to me, lass!"

"Shall I go get you that box we were talking about earlier? Or would you like a lift up to see over?"

Gimli laughed at the lycan as she watched the Uruks come closer and closer to the wall when they were suddenly upon it. "Ladders!" Aragorn yelled as the Uruks began to raise up ladders toward the wall, a suicidal Uruk at the top of each ladder.

"Good!" Gimli cried out at the same time Valaina yelled, "Finally!"

The ladders came up one after the other, and the elves drew their swords at Aragorn's command. Valaina growled once before beheading the Uruk that had tried to step foot upon the wall, yet more came up the ladders. She stabbed several as they tried to come up on the wall, but soon she had to draw her attention away from the ladder and to the enemy that had managed to get up on the wall. She snarled as she twirled her blades at an Uruk who lumbered toward her. Valaina stealthily, and rather menacingly, maneuvered around the Uruk as she cut its chest with her sword and then sliced is neck open in a follow up swipe. She turned to the next Uruk, using her left blade like a sort of deadly shield and her right blade as the death dealer. She blocked the blade with relative ease, following its motion and guiding it out of the way of her person before stabbing the Uruk in the stomach and kicking it away in disgust.

She moved in a deadly, menacing fashion cutting, slicing, and killing her enemies with her unique, wolf-like movements as she did so rather than the fluid elves around her. Each Uruk that went down by her blade two more seemed to replace it, and Valaina enjoyed it possibly a little too much as something inside of her, the jar that held the Rage within, seemed to crack under her hard fought control. After killing another Uruk, she heard Gimli's voice above the fighting. "Legolas, two already!" the dwarf stated proudly as he held up his fingers to show his count.

"I'm on seventeen!" Legolas replied with a large smile.

"Screw both of you," Valaina snarled after slicing the neck on another Uruk before kicking it backward and sending it over the wall down below with several other Uruks on the ladder next to it, "I'm on twenty-seven now!"

"What?!" they both cried out and for the briefest of moments they watched the lycan slink around an Uruk to stab it in the back and kick it over the wall, the malicious glint in her eyes as she did so as they darkened just a bit.

"I'll not let a pointy ear outscore me!" Gimli charged again.

"I'm not going to lose to either of you!" cried out Legolas as he shot two Uruks. "Nineteen."

"Thirty!" Valaina yelled out in pride.

"Four!" Gimli called out just to make his count known.

The blunt end of a sword hit Valaina square in the back of the head, and sent her to the floor in a daze. The blade seemed to sweep up in front of her face as she stopped rolling out of the way, her eyes out of focus for a moment. This will not be it, she growled as her eyes glowed red in anger. I will kill each and every one of these vile things.

She stood up on shaky legs and stabbed the unsuspecting Uruk in the gut before punching it in the face for a good measure. "For Boromir, my brother in arms," Valaina growled before letting the Rage take her as she was unable to hold it back anymore.

The warm feeling she usually got from succumbing to the Rage didn't come, though, and instead a cold, hard feeling of hatred and anger lined with sorrow coursed throughout her. It was the uncontrollable side of the Rage that she had not felt in a long time. "For Boromir! And for all the pain and sorrow these bastards have caused!" Valaina snarled aloud causing several heads to turn to the lycan. "I will kill each and every one of them!"

She swung her sword around to slice the neck of an Uruk and then stabbed it twice in the gut before it fell off the side of the wall as Valaina kicked it over. The fierce look within her eyes said a different story than normal for they weren't the eyes of Valaina when she got excited for a battle, but rather the eyes were bloodthirsty and hungry for the kill, murderous and sinister in every which way. The look the dark, blood red eyes gave the Uruks was something different altogether; something that they had only ever seen a few times and even then they were induced with fear. What met the Uruks as Valaina descended upon them was death's embrace as she brought havoc upon each Uruk that challenged her, and they soon began to scattered before the lycan as they were rather afraid of what they saw within the eyes of what should have been a simple elf that they could kill. Instead they saw a darkness within the eyes that sent every being hiding, and it was the none other than the same darkness of a certain lord they served.