Chapter 26: Preparation
The fortress of Helm's Deep was busy with preparing for battle as the sun set beyond the western horizon. All the women and children left for the caverns while any men willing to take up arms prepared with the soldiers to fight. They had a little less than three thousand men, at least half of them mere farmers or tradesmen. Many of Rohan's soldiers were currently with Éomer in the Westfold; hopefully Gandalf would reach them in time.
As the inevitable battle drew closer, Anamaria quickly found herself arguing with the remaining companions of the Fellowship.
"I am not going into the caves to be treated like an invalid!" she snapped once more. "I can fight!"
"You cannot," Will insisted. "You are wounded and limping; you would surely be killed."
"I would not-"
"Yes, you would, love," Jack broke in. "We're fighting ten thousand of those Uruk-hai monsters we saw at Amon Hen, and it will be dark, and it looks like a storm will be upon us."
Anamaria was about to retort once more when Éowyn walked over to them, overhearing her loud protests. "Lady Anamaria," she said, avoiding the glances of the males gathered. "You can assist me with organizing any defenses, lest the men lose and we are last to defend the refugees."
Anamaria looked her in the eye and Éowyn held her gaze. Finally, she turned away and relented. "Fine," she muttered. The young woman spared one last foul glance at the men before limping away.
"My lords," Éowyn stiffly nodded her head in greeting and turned away, aiding Anamaria as they headed into the caves.
Anamaria muttered curses under her breath as the lady of Rohan assisted her into the caverns. Neither of them acknowledged anyone as they made their way through the hall and down a flight of stairs into the heart of the mountain. Anamaria stopped her low grumblings when they reached the bottom stair and gazed in wonder at the scene before her.
The torches held aloft by older lads were the only thing that lit up the darkness in the caves, but they were still a sight to behold. Glittering stalactites hung from the ceiling and great stalagmites sparkled on the ground; these masses of rock formed over centuries by water were truly a remarkable sight, the stones gleaming like bright stars in the night sky. Thousands of refugees were gathered tightly in the large space, waiting anxiously for the night to pass, hoping desperately that Rohan would be victorious this night with their loved ones still alive.
Éowyn led Anamaria to a more secluded part of the caverns where no one would disturb them. In the small area was already laid a few blankets and a pillow so she could rest and recover. The Rohir firmly insisted that the wounded woman lay down on the makeshift bed, and Anamaria reluctantly complied, though deep in her heart she was touched by the thoughtful gesture.
As Éowyn had led her to the caverns, the other woman had quickly noticed that she was clearly agitated about something. Now that Anamaria thought back on it, Éowyn was unusually stiff, cold, and formal in her manner of speech, even when she spoke with her. She waited as patiently as she was able to for the shieldmaiden to reveal what was bothering her. When five minutes of an uncomfortable silence passed by with no sign of any conversation developing, Anamaria could take no more.
"Éowyn, what's bothering you?" she asked outright. The lady turned to her and shot her a quizzical look. "You're obviously angry about something; tell me what's wrong. We can share our miseries with one another."
Éowyn was silent for a long time, so long that Anamaria did not think she would answer. Just as she was about to press her again, the Rohir finally whispered, "I have the same wishes as you, Anamaria. I also wish to fight and defend my people. But I have been sent here to tend to the children and prepare lodgings for the men after the battle," she ended bitterly.
Anamaria frowned. "I suppose I can see their reasoning as to why I can't fight, this blasted leg," she frowned down upon her wound, "but you? You are a good fighter, I'd bet my old boat on it. I have heard you are called a shieldmaiden of Rohan, and that is not a title easily earned, I'd guess."
Éowyn gave her a wry smile. "Not many are called that, yes," she agreed, "but nevertheless, I have been sent here."
"By who?"
"The king," she said simply, "and the lord Aragorn did not help. I would stand by his side and fight, but he told me- he told me it was not in his power to command it." A flicker of a deep emotion passed across her face, an emotion that was soon replaced by the emotionless mask Anamaria saw her too often wear.
"Éowyn," started Anamaria, "there is something that you should know- I am sure Aragorn would not mind me for saying this, and I do believe you have the right to know. You know that pendant he always wears?" She nodded slowly. "That… it was given to him by his betrothed."
Éowyn paled and closed her eyes. There was a long silence between the two. "I suspected as much," she finally whispered. "But… I hoped it was not true."
"I'm sorry, Éowyn," Anamaria said with unusual gentleness.
Éowyn just nodded and a long, bitter silence fell between the two women.
O0O0O0O
"Aragorn."
The Ranger turned his head and saw Legolas and Gimli staring at him. "Yes?" he asked, turning back around and pulling some chain mail over his head.
"Have you looked to your wounds yet?"
"Yes, Legolas, I have," he replied without bothering to look at him. "But you should not worry. They are mere scratches."
"Do we need to remind you that you fell off a cliff with a warg?" Gimli stressed.
"No, master dwarf, you need not to," Aragorn retorted, adjusting the chain mail and putting his leather tunic over it. He strapped on his belt, made sure his sword and knife were both easy to reach in their current positions, and turned to his friends, a small smile on his face. "Do not worry, I am well. After this battle I shall rest so long that even you will be content, master elf," he ended with a grin.
"I shall hold you to that, adan," retorted Legolas with a large smile.
"And I shall, too," added Gimli.
Aragorn was about to respond when a sudden, loud noise interrupted him: the sound of a horn. However, he was confused; he knew the sound of orc horns well and this was certainly no orc horn. Indeed, if he knew any better, he would swear that that was the sound of-
"Rivendell's horn?" Legolas asked, glancing at Aragorn quizzically. "Is that not the sound of Rivendell's call?"
"If I knew any better, I would say you were correct," the man replied with a frown. "But whoever it is, it is certainly no orc. Come." The three rushed out of the room and onto the walls.
On the way up, they met with Jack and Will, who were rushing to retrieve them.
"Elves!" Will exclaimed. "Elves are here!"
"What are their colors?" demanded Aragorn.
"Grey, or silver, or something like that," answered Jack with a light shrug. "They shall be here in the Keep in a few moments."
It was at that moment when a loud voice shouted, "Open the gate! Open the gate!"
They looked at each other before beginning a mad sprint towards the entrance of the Keep. When they arrived, they fell into an astounded silence.
Through the gates came streaming rows of armor-clad elves and a few darkly clad men. Keen eyes shone under their deep hoods, which only added to their already grim looks. They carried a large assortment of weaponry and they all rode upon great steeds that even the Rohirrim looked upon with approving glances. Leading this great company were two elves with dark hair and identical features and a man that bore some resemblance to Aragorn. The Rohirrim gathered looked upon the great company with both fascination and suspicion.
Aragorn soon reached the leaders of the group, great joy evident on his face. "Elladan! Elrohir! And Halbarad!"
Théoden appeared by Aragorn's side. "You know these folk?"
Aragorn nodded. "Aye, my lord. Elladan and Elrohir are the sons of Elrond and my brothers in all but blood, and Halbarad is a kinsman of mine. I have fought alongside all of them many a time and they are capable warriors." With that, he turned back to his foster brothers and kinsman. "What fortune has brought you here in our time of need?"
"The word of my lady Grandmother," said Elladan. "She saw that you would be in need, but as Lórien is handling its own battles, a few of us from Rivendell came to be of some aid. Halbarad here also heard the summons, and gathered as many men as could be found in a short amount of time."
"One or one thousand, any extra help is gladly received!" said Théoden. "How many do you bring?"
"Two hundred elves," said Elrohir this time, "and thirty of Aragorn's kinsmen, the Dúnedain."
The king nodded. "That is well. We shall place your men, my lords, across the Deeping Wall alongside our own archers, and your kinsmen, my lord Aragorn, shall be on the other side of the wall lest they break through."
"Very well," said Halbarad. "Do you have housing for our steeds? They have ridden long and hard with little rest. It was necessary in order to make it here in time."
"Of course," Théoden answered, and then called to a few of his men nearby to lead this newly arrived battalion to the large area that was kept specifically for the horses inside the refuge, and then to lead them to the wall. Théoden left to see to the final arrangements of the defenses.
As the army was led away, Elladan, Elrohir, and Halbarad lingered for a moment with Aragorn.
"We have brought you your steed, Roheryn," said Elrohir. "He follows after the others. And also we bring word from our father."
"But it shall be given to you at a more appropriate time," said Elladan. "The message is for when you are unsure of your path and fear to listen to your heart, but I look upon you now and see that such a time has not yet come, though I deem it will soon."
"Comforting words, brother," said Aragorn with a grim smile. "I can hardly await the day."
With a glance at one another, both of Elrond's sons gave Aragorn a mock bow and departed with the rest of the company, leaving Halbarad behind. "I have a gift for you from the Lady of Rivendell, my friend," said the Ranger. "She wrought it in secret, and long was the making. But she also sends words to you: The days now are short. Either our hope cometh, or all hopes end. Therefore I send thee what I have made for thee. Fare well, Elfstone!" And once he said this message, he indicated to his horse, where was connected to the saddle a tightly wrapped staff.
"I know what you bear," Aragorn replied. "But I beg of you to bear it for a while longer! When the time comes, it shall be unfolded." Halbarad merely nodded and turned to follow the others. The Heir of Isildur stared after his kinsman for a long moment before turning to face his companions.
Legolas, Gimli, Jack, and Will, who had watched this whole event unfold silently, were looking at Aragorn with open curiosity. Legolas, however, just smiled.
"What was that all about?" asked Jack.
Aragorn gave the man a small smile. "Nothing of importance, at least not at this moment. Now we should be preparing for battle, for they shall arrive soon."
Jack frowned and would have probably demanded a more straightforward answer if Will had not interrupted. "Since you have your own horse here, what will happen with Brego? I believe Théoden was quite willing to give it to you."
Aragorn frowned slightly and thought on the question. "Did not Anamaria lose her own steed in the warg battle? She can have Brego, if he will accept her."
"If there is any woman that can tame Brego, that would be Anamaria," said Gimli with a chuckle.
"If she doesn't scare him away first," muttered Jack under his breath.
O0O0O0O
Helm's Deep was silent as all light remaining in the sky finally departed and night took full cover. Sounds of distant thunder broke through the atmosphere and even a mortal could see the distant flashes of lightning; a storm would soon be upon them. About five hundred men and elves stood upon the Deeping Wall, bows strung and quivers full. Down below them were gathered about fifteen hundred men, including the few Dúnedain who had accompanied the elves, swords unsheathed and faces grim. Near two thousand other men were gathered all around the walls of the Hornburg, and with them stood their king. Up on the Deeping Wall stood Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Elladan, Elrohir, Jack, and Will. The sons of Elrond commanded the elves whilst Aragorn commanded the men. Down below was Halbarad, alongside a Rohir Marshall named Elfhelm. Théoden and Gamling commanded those of the Hornburg; alongside them would have stood Háma, if he were not brought down by a warg in the battle, and Éomer and Erkenbrand, if they were not away.
They stood silent as the sounds of orc drums, horns, and the pounding of feet reached even the ears of the mortal soldiers. Soon they could feel the pounding of thousands of iron-shod feet and even see the lights of their torches. In but a few moments the black mass approaching them took shape.
If one thought these Uruks were terrible in broad daylight, in the dark and fully armed they were terrifying. These creatures struck fear into the hearts of all gathered in Helm's Deep that night, and yet the men kept still and unbowed as the army of darkness approached.
Jack eyed the opposing army with ill-concealed disgust, and, though he would never admit it, a touch of fear. He was not afraid of death, but he really had no desire to die. And, of course, if all the men gathered here failed, then it would be neither just his death, nor even the death of the whole army, but the death of many innocent women and children, and for that he could not stand. It was interesting, he idly contemplated, how he added the deaths of others- of complete strangers- into his calculations. He did not do such a thing back in the Caribbean.
The man refused to continue down that complicated train of thought and concentrated rather on the scene before him. He focused on the creatures below him and, even as he attempted to retain his good humor, ended up scowling instead. Ten thousand bloodthirsty Uruk-hai- it simply could not get any worse for them than this.
When the first drop of rain fell, he utterly refused to believe that it was his fault.
The Uruk-hai stopped just beyond the distance a man's arrow could fly. Of course, they were not expecting a battalion of elves. So as they taunted and jeered all of the men gathered in the fortress, they were rather surprised by a volley of arrows sent off by an elvish command that fell upon them. After this first unexpected attack, the Uruk commander let out a howl of rage, blew a horn, and the army charged.
And thus the battle of Helm's Deep began.
adan: man.
A/N: There are some direct quotes here from Return of the King, 'Passing of the Grey Company'. Naturally Tolkien owns that text and I claim no ownership over it.