Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Tolkien or profit from this (except for my reader reviews). Only the plot twists and OC's are mine. :)
author's notes: Does anyone know how to put links in my profile or chapters? That would be great! . . . . . . . . . . . . Enjoy!
let me know if the chapters should be longer
Recap While traveling to Helms Deep, Elmarta realizes that they are now following the movie version (because they were attacked by Wargs and Aragorn fell over the cliff). This means that the elves will be coming, and Haldir will die . . .
Chapter 25: Helms Deep
Elmarta made her way to the causeway. The shock and fresh round of hope was evident amongst the soldiers.
"We have come to honor that alliance," she heard Haldir say. She watched as Aragorn hugged a startled Haldir and then Legolas greeted him (in a more elf-like manner).
Boromir also extended his greetings and, to some surprise, Gimli and Haldir nodded to each other. They all turned, expecting to see an excited and happy Elmarta greeting her old friend. Instead, they saw her standing behind the king glaring at Haldir. To their surprise, Haldir was glaring back at her.
"Why is it they always seem angry when they meet?" Boromir asked.
"We are proud to fight alongside men once more," Haldir said, more to Elmarta than to Theoden.
Haldir bowed to Elmarta as did the other elves.
"You should not have come," Elmarta reprimanded Haldir in Quenyan so only a handful of elves would understand her.
"It was my choice, like you, I made my choice knowing the consequences," he said.
They just stared angrily at each other.
Elmarta looked out amongst the other elves. . . . her kin. "Rumil, Orophin," she said in acknowledgment.
"What about us, dear aunt?" Elrohir asked.
"Ah, nephews, you are where you are meant to be," Elmarta said sadly.
"We will talk later," Haldir said.
"Do not try to get out of it, Haldir. I will speak to you later, when you are very much alive and can handle my displeasure," she warned.
"Gifts, from your mother and father," Rumil said stepping forward. He had brought both Elmarta and Legolas elvish armory since they did not have any with them upon leaving Lorien. (A/N: John Howe did an awesome drawing of Legolas and Gimli at Helm's Deep; I'll try to put a link up in my profile).
Aragorn stepped forward and started directing the elvish troops. Soon, they were all in places and the waiting game began.
"By the way, Haldir, you might want to count how many you kill," Elmarta said.
Haldir raised an eyebrow. "Why would that be of any consequence?" he asked. "Especially, considering . . ."
"Fine then. Elrohir, Elladan, please count how many Uruk-hai you kill."
They nodded. "If you wish Aunt," they said.
They watched as the Uruk-hai army approached them. It was clear that the fighting would begin soon. "It is an honor to fight alongside you," she told her army.
"It is an honor to fight alongside you my lady. Min lîn tortho," they said. (A/N: elvish "we are yours to command").
"You do not have to be here with us, lady Elmarta," Haldir said. "You may fight alongside the other fellowship, or with Legolas, if you wish."
"I trust you Haldir with my life, but I want to fight, and die, alongside my kin," she said. More like my kin will be dying tonight, so how can I be anywhere else? she thought. He didn't challenge her. How could he when he made the same decision when he came here?
"Peace between us?" he asked.
"I didn't say that," she said. "Garo chûr an ndagor," she called out to the troops. ("Be prepared for battle").
Aragorn was with the army in the center of the keep while Boromir was with a unit over the causeway on the left side of the keep and Elmarta was with some of the Elvish archers to the right side of the keep.
Elmarta watched as Aragorn gave the signal. "Hado I philinn!" she called and she and the other archers shot into the awaiting army. She could see that the elvish archers had hit their marks but it wasa barely making a dent in the oncoming mass of orcs. They kept a rapid release of arrows flowing from the top of the keep into the army below.
Soon, though, the Uruk-hai progressed onto using ladders. "Iuitho vegyl gîn!" Elmarta shouted giving the order for the elves to switch to longswords.
The fighting continued and Elmarta got so focused she was not paying attention to anything– or anyone– else. In the zone Elmarta realized with a chuckle.
Soon, it was evident they were trying to come in through the causeway and Boromir had his hands full.
The night seemed endless. If we can only keep this up till dawn! Without them trying to blow up the sewer, Elmarta thought.
It was over halfway through the night when Elmarta caught a glimpse of the one thing she dreaded. She saw out of the corner of her eye the olympic torch orc rushing to the sewer. (A/N: that's what it always looked like to me and my sisters watching that scene). She was to far to shoot him, and she watched helplessly as the wall exploded. Even their extra precautions did not help.
Elmarta started to panic. Haldir died soon after this. She rushed around looking for Haldir and saw him at the top of the keep.
"Rumil, Orophin, gather up the others and head to the keep," she said. Louder she hollered out the order "Nan Barad!" and saw the others making a retreat. She, meanwhile, was heading back to the top to find Haldir.
Elmarta could hear Aragorn yelling the retreat as she scurried towards Haldir. She saw Legolas and Boromir dragging Gimli and was relieved they were safe. She could see Haldir fighting an orc when one cut him in the arm. He swung around and slew that orc, and Elmarta watched as an orc slipped up behind Haldir completely undetected.
Without thinking, she grabbed the dagger that the girls had given her and threw it at the orc, slicing into his throat cutting his jugular vain. The orc fell down dead before Haldir even realized what was happening.
"What have you done?" He cried out enraged.
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Oooh, so tempted to cut if off here . . . .my beta wants me too . . .
An excellent cliffie!
But I'll be nice ;-)
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They made it to the keep as the men were beginning to barricade it. Haldir joined Legolas and the other men as they barricaded the door.
"You should not have done that," Haldir told her as they worked.
"You were not meant to be here at all," she told him. She kept walking back and forth to yell at him as he was helping the others barricade the door.
"You mother showed me her mirror. She showed me what was suppose to happen, and what would happen if you changed it," he said.
"My mother meddles to much," Elmarta said, and accidently slipped into the common tongue causing everyone to gasp.
"I made my choice, Elmarta. You should have let it be," Haldir said, continuing the conversation in Sindarin again.
"And let Khanwen become a widow before her honeymoon is over? You were never meant to come here! Any of you! If you didn't want me to save you, you shouldn't have come. By chosing to come here you forced my hand! What was I suppose to do?" She asked desperately.
"I wanted to die!" Haldir shouted out causing, once again, heads to turn. "It would have saved you."
"No, Gwador, I have already chosen my fate. You just upped the anty," she said, and then realized he didn't understand the poker analogy. "By choosing to come here, you chose to make my fate worse. Can you honestly say that you thought I would let you die?" (Gwador means "Sworn Brother," I'm using it like blood brother).
Haldir sighed. The barricade was finished and they were waiting for Theoden to make a decision.
Haldir and Elmarta just stood glaring at each other. "Lets just let this settle in the past then," Elmarta said finally.
"You expect me to forget what I know will happen?"
Elmarta nodded. "And not speak to anyone about it," she added. "It's a request, Haldir, as my friend."
Haldir looked ready to argue again, but accepted her order. "Khanwen will be overjoyed at my return at least."
"She probably thinks she is a widow right now," Elmarta said.
"Aunt!" Elladan called out and she and Haldir turned to see that the others were mounting horses.
She and Haldir did the same and rode out to the swarm of orcs. Above them, they could see Eomer's army riding down led by Gandalf.
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After the battle, Elmarta joined the rest of the Elves looking for their fallen kin. They had gathered the bodies and made them ready to travel back to Rivendell.
"I will make sure they receive a proper burial," Rumil, who Elmarta put in charge, assured her. She nodded her appreciation. She said a final prayer and goodbye to her fallen kin and when she turned to leave she saw Legolas at her side. He led her away from the carnage. Boromir and Gimli joined them.
"You mean to travel with us?" They asked Haldir
"I will travel with you to Edoras," Haldir said. Legolas raised an eyebrow. "I know Khanwen would have traveled with her friends there thinking I am not returning home."
Elmarta nodded. She heard Gimli and Legolas compare how many they killed. (A/N: lets say Legolas killed 46, Gimli 47, and Boromir 44). "Honestly, Legolas, I'm ashamed to say you're an elf," Elrohir said coming up and making Elmarta laugh.
"Lost to a dwarf," Elladan said shaking his head.
"And how many did you and your pointy-ear brother kill them?" Gimli demanded.
"49," they said at the same time. Gimli looked aghast making Legolas laugh.
"Not bad for rookies," Elmarta said. "Er, beginners or less-trained," she explained seeing all of their confused faces. "Did you count?"
"No. It was at least 47, like the dwarf," Haldir said inclining his head towards Gimli. "You?"
"I think I'll decline to say," Elmarta said with a vague smile.
"And why would that be?" Boromir asked. Elmarta just gave him her famous all-knowing-yet-secretive-smile to annoy him.
She walked over and mounted her horse; as she was riding up to join the others Boromir rode up to her. "How many did you kill?" he asked curiously.
Elmarta laughed. "Is it bothering you that much?" Boromir nodded. "53," she said, making Boromir break into laughter.
"I heard that!" Legolas and Haldir shouted making Elmarta laugh as well. She could hear Gimli muttering about loosing to a pointy-eared woman and never going to hear the end of it. They reached the crest at the top of the knoll and looked over the plains.
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Author's Notes: Well, here is the end of Two Towers. The Return of the King portion of the story is much longer, don't worry!
ElvisLivesAgain-- I think this one is a bit longer. . . it's not any shorter at least :-)
Childofthekng-- I like Haldir too . . . I just couldn't kill him off. (especially since the elves weren't there in the book)
MarinaWings-- Thanks! I love your constant encouragement! It is fun to write for Boromir since he didn't get to be in any of this. I think I give him more screen time than Legolas sometimes, but I don't think Elmarta minds sharing the spotlight with him either :-)
Amrawo-- thanks!
Geminitwinz-- thanks!