Siege Preparations

"We'll place the reserves along the wall," Aragorn said, speaking more to himself than to Legolas or Falenor who were following close behind him. "They can support the archers from above the gate."

"Aragorn, you must rest," Legolas insisted. "You're no use to us half-alive." Eowyn pushed her way through the press of bodies as the women and children moved into the caves.

"Aragorn!" she called when she saw him. "I'm to be sent with the women into the caves."

"That is an honorable charge," the ranger told her quietly.

"To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return. What renown is there in that?" Eowyn argued, her brown eyes flashing.

"My lady, a time may come for valor without renown," Aragorn said. "Who then will your people look to in the last defense?"

"Let me stand at your side."

"It is not in my power to command it."

"You do not command the others to stay!" Eowyn argued. "They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. Because they love you." He eyes flicked to Falenor, who blushed slightly and looked away.

"I'm sorry," Aragorn said.

"And you?" Eowyn demanded, placing her hands on her hips and looking to Falenor for support. "Will you send me away?"

"No." Eowyn's eyes lit up with hope. "But I would ask you to obey Lord Aragorn and King Theoden. A stallion may drive the herd, but a mare leads it."

"But you would not force me into the caves!"

"I have no power to force you, nor to allow you to stay," Falenor said, turning slightly away. Eowyn blinked back sudden tears and allowed herself to be swept away by the flow of the crowd.

The men being shepherded into the armory were either bent with age or thin with youth.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys," Aragorn said, surveying them. "These are no soldiers."

"Most have seen too many winters!" Gimli told them in a grating whisper.

"Or too few," Legolas said, watching a tiny boy try to lift a spear. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." Suddenly the room fell silent as all turned and looked at the Elf.

"Boe a hyn neled herain... dan caer menig!" (And they should be. Three hundred... against ten thousand!) He continued in Sindarin, looking at Aragorn.

"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras," (They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras) Aragorn argued.

"What are they saying?" Gimli asked, tugging on Falenor's sleeve. The drover just shook his head, his eyes darting between Aragorn and Legolas.

"Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hyn u otheri. Natha daged aen!" (Aragorn, they cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!) Legolas shouted.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn shouted, forgetting to speak in Elvish. He glared at the Elf for a moment, then turned and vanished into the crowd. Legolas started after him, but Gimli placed a restraining hand on him.

"Let him go, lad," he advised. "Let him be."

Falenor turned and watched for a while as the soldiers handed out armor and weapons.

"Eothain?" he asked, grabbing the boy by the arm. "What are you doing here?"

"They sent me to fight," Eothain replied, his voice trembling.

"Come with me," Falenor sighed. "I'll get you set up." He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and guided him towards where a soldier was passing out helmets. The man gave Eothain a large helmet.

"Do you have anything smaller?" the drover asked. One glance at the helmet and he knew it would dwarf Eothain's head.

"No, my lord," the soldier replied.

"Master," Falenor corrected absent-mindedly. The drover saw a mail coif lying among the armor. He picked up the chain mail hood and listened to its links rattle. Falenor gave it to Eothain and the boy slipped it over his blond hair. It was too big, slipping slightly and revealing a large gap of the boy's neck, but it was still better than the over-large helmet.

Falenor took Eothain to one of the Rohirrim who was giving weapons to boys no older than Eothain. The Man smiled at Falenor and gave Eothain a battle axe.

"Can you even lift that?" the peredhel asked the boy. Eothain tried, but he trembled with the effort of even holding it. Falenor took the axe and gave it back to the rider.

"Here, take this," he said, unbuckling the sheath of the dagger he wore at his hip.

"But it's yours!" the boy argued. Falenor reached around Eothain and buckled the dagger to him. The boy pulled it out and looked with awe along the silver length of the blade. He tried to read the runes inscribed about the hilt, then looked up at the drover in amazement.

"Thank you!" he whispered.

"Stay close to me," Falenor told him, bending down and looking Eothain in the eye. "Whatever happens, I will protect you."

"I'll never be as good a fighter as you," the boy said dejectedly. Falenor took the dagger from him and re-sheathed it.

"When we get out of this," he told Eothain. "I will tell you the story of Almelui the outlaw."

"Really?"

"As long as you stay by me and stay alive," Falenor smiled.

Aragorn strapped on the last of his armor, the vambraces, and he reached out for his sword. To his surprise the hilt appeared in front of him, and he looked up to see Legolas offering it to him.

"We have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray," the Elf said as Aragorn strapped on his sword. "Forgive me. I was wrong to despair." Aragorn smiled slightly at the Elf.

"U-mor edamed, Legolas," (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas) he assured him.

"If I had time, I'd get this adjusted," Gimli muttered to himself as he entered the room, Falenor close behind. The dwarf released the chain mail he had been struggling with and it fell to the floor, clearly to long for the short dwarf. "It's a little tight across the chest."

"What about you, Falenor?" Aragorn asked. The drover wore no extra armor, just his leather jerkin and cloth coat.

"Me?" Falenor asked. The ranger picked out a haubergeon for him, a shirt of chain mail designed to fall to the mid-thigh, and a long broadsword.

"Aragorn, I have never worn mail!" Falenor argued as the ranger thrust the armor into his hands. "Nor wielded a broadsword! These will only hinder me." He was interrupted by the sound a horn that echoed outside the walls.

"That is no orc horn!" Legolas said, his grey eyes lighting up in delight. The four of them rushed outside as a man shouted.

"Send for the king. Open the gate!" The large wooden gates were pulled open and an army of Elves, armed with bows and swords, marched through them. Theoden ran down the steps from the keep and stared in awe as the Elf captain came to meet him.

"How is this possible?" The king asked, watching the Elves march past.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell," Haldir replied. "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together." He paused to watch as Aragorn, Falenor, Legolas, and Gimli rushed down the stairs past Theoden. "We come to honor that allegiance."

"Mae govannen, Haldir!" (Welcome, Haldir) Aragorn said, stepping forward. He placed his hand over his heart and bowed slightly. Then the ranger rushed forward and hugged the Elf captain. Haldir seemed startled, but he returned the gesture after a moment.

"You are most welcome," Aragorn said, stepping back. Legolas came down the stairs and also embraced Haldir. As Falenor stepped forward the army of Elves turned and lowered their bows and shields in unison: a salute for their prince. Falenor paused, surprised, but then came forward and stood behind Haldir.

"We are proud to fight alongside Men, once more," Haldir smiled.