When Kail reached the main hall she was both surprised and relieved at the amount of soldiers that had managed to make it to safety, but unfortunately the large wooden doors that separated them from their enemies was failing. A gaping hole was in the middle, splintered wood and fallen weapons lay scattered in front of it and the Uruk-hai fought relentlessly to breach the barrier that the Men of Rohan defended with their lives. It was a mess; a blur of armour and weapons as the fight continued in the short narrow corridor that ultimately led to their doom.
Pushing down the feelings of despair and defeat Kail swiveled her head around to find her friends amongst the wave of Men and Elves but it was hopeless even with her superior sight, there were just too many people running around and it gave her a headache. In frustration she let out a curse, but when she spotted the King huddled against a wall not far from the battle clutching his right arm to his chest she rushed to him almost desperately, hoping that he may have spotted one of her three companions.
But just as she approached the King, Aragorn sprang seemingly out of nowhere from around a stone wall, sword in hand and looking unharmed for the most part and the sight of him had Kail releasing a sigh of relief. That crazy bastard is alright, she mentally breathed. She watched as the Ranger sped past him, resting a swift hand on his shoulder almost as if to say 'we can do this' and joined the struggle without hesitation just as he had done on other countless occasions. Kail mused briefly once again on how Aragorn would someday make a great King, but mentally slapped herself for allowing her mind to wonder from the current dire situation.
Shaking her head as she watched Aragorn begin his slicing and dicing she spotted Gimli not too far off from the would-be King of Gondor, the Dwarf's wild red mane of hair now easier to spot now that she was actually concentrating and not practically hyperventalating with worry. She breathed another relieved sigh though her chest still constricted almost painfully. Where was Legolas? Was he alright? Was he hurt? Was he… dead?
Shaking her head again as well as mentally punching herself for good measure Kail threw those thoughts away. Legolas was an excellent warrior, there's no way the Elf could be dead, he just couldn't. She had to tell him she loved him. She needed him to know, goddamnit!
"Hold them!" the King shouted over the commotion as Gamling came to his side, handing the royal his sword.
"How long do you need?" yelled back Aragorn, stepping back from the fight, Gimli following close behind. Kail stepped forward intending to join the fight, drawing Ithilwen from its sheath and finally getting her mind to fully focus. If she kept worrying over Legolas' well being she'd be dead in two seconds from the distraction. There were more important things at stake than her love life.
"As long as you can give me," Théoden replied, clutching at his sword with his left hand, his right still pressed to his chest obviously injured.
The female Elf stopped in her tracks towards the battle when she saw Aragorn nod and grab the Dwarf, leaping with him into a side corridor. She gasped in surprise and turned, intending to follow her comrades, but she stopped herself before reaching the edge of the battle. Gimli and Aragorn were better warriors than she could ever hope to be, they'd be fine. Her being there would more than likely be a hindrance more than a help and as they were no doubt heading about on a detour to the narrow bridge the Uruk-hai were currently overriding she knew it was just that; narrow. Three of them on such a narrow pathway would be more trouble than it would be worth.
"Timbers! Brace the gate!" the King yelled a few feet away and Kail felt torn. She knew Aragorn and Gimli could hold their own, but she wasn't sure just how many Uruk-hai waited on the other side of that door, they were most definitely outnumbered. Go after them to help defend the bridge so they can bar the gate and most likely getting in the way in the process? Or help the Rohanians find whatever they could to seel the large hole?
With a groan and a heart of regret, Kail sheathed Ithilwen and joined the few men at the back of the crowd in hauling hunks of wood from wherever they could find them to bring them to the door, dodging the Uruks' attacks as best as they could. Purposely the Elf ignored the Men that fell around her to defend their strong hold and did her best to stay focussed on the task and as she passed the King who had also returned to the fight to help crudely rebuild the door he gave her a nod which she returned, no words needing to be spoken.
Aragorn and Gimli on the opposite side of the gate did a marvelous job of driving back the Uruk-hai enough to get a few boards in place and though she worried for her friends she knew it had to be done for the good of the rest of them and they were strong enough to hold their own. She somehow convinced herself that they would make it out alive even as she stood next to the King who barked orders to his Men who looked relieved for the moment of rest they had from the battle.
It didn't last long however as every Man was soon using every ounce of strength and will to barricade the entrance and finally when they had enough wood in place, Théoden was able to look through the last gap to get her friends on the other side's attention. Staring out the hole with him, Kail watched them hack and slice at the Uruk-hai that never seemed to stop coming, once again regretting her decision not to join them.
"Gimli! Aragorn!" the Rohanian King shouted and she watched as the Ranger turned his head in their direction. "Get out of there!" The order was followed with a nod that Kail also admonished to her friends, a worried frown creasing her brow, but any further contact was cut off when the last board was set into place and as the King and Elf stepped back from the door, the soldiers secured it.
Moving to the back of the hoard of Men, Kail stood with the King to the side as more reinforcements were placed at the gate, the wood holding for now. But shock filled her when the King turned to Gamling who had appeared beside them and gave another order that had the Elf's eyes widening. "Pull them back," he said and when his second in command didn't reply he repeated the words with more force. "Pull them back." As soon as the words left his lips he walked past the soldier to go stand by a wall, a frown marring his features.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," she mumbled to herself, her eyes drifting from the given up King and to his right hand Man.
Gamling hesitated and Kail shook her head, hoping the Man would see reason not to carry out the order, but he was loyal to his King and the next thing she knew he was shouting. "Fall back! Fall back!" he cried and Kail shook her head again, lowering her eyes to the stone beneath her feet. This was it. They were done for.
Distantly she could hear the soldiers from the higher levels shouting to each other and it filled her chest with dread.
"They have broken through!"
"The castle has been breached! Retreat!"
Suppressing the tears that sprung to her eyes, she frowned deeply at the King as they and the remaining soldiers retreated to the throne room, the last room that had strong enough doors to hold back the Uruks for just a little while longer and as more troops entered from other doors at the back of the room, Kail found herself seeking out her friends once again. Rushing past soldiers as more wood was brought to defend the door, her eyes searched frantically for a certain Man, Dwarf and Elf.
She sighed in relief for what seemed to be the millionth time that night when she spotted the three of them race to the door to help the soldiers and she wanted nothing more than to tackle each one of them into a hug until they could no longer breathe. They were alive! Thank the Valar! Her pounding heart could finally rest if only for a moment. Not hesitating for a second longer she ditched the King with Gamling who had returned to his sire's side to look after his wounded shoulder and Kail couldn't help but grin at Legolas when he spotted her. It was obvious he was relieved to see her well and unharmed for the most part and though smiling was the last thing she should be doing at a time like this she couldn't help it from appearing.
"The fortress is taken," said the King loudly, looking upon the soldiers that defended the door with defeated eyes, but the Men held strong even as the door was pounded on from the other side. "It is over." The Man's voice fell to a lower tone and it was definitely clear he had given up. It made Kail's blood boil. She hadn't even been in Middle-Earth that long and yet she seemed to be using more of her will to defend a country than its own King. If he didn't have faith in himself to defend his country then the least he could do was put it in his Men, for fuck's sake! It was their home! Their legacy! Their very existance! And he was just giving up!
Glaring at the Man she followed Aragorn and Legolas as they moved away from the door to grab another bench from the side of the room. It wasn't much, but any reinforcements were good reinforcements; anything to hold that door closed for just a few minutes more. Aragorn seemed to have the same thoughts as her when as they bent to lift the bench, he released the end leaving the two Elves to carry it back to the door and approached the King with a wave of his hand gesturing to the soldiers defending the doorway.
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it," the Ranger spat angrily causing a small shiver to shoot down Kail's spine. For someone as calm and collected as Aragorn, it was just plain scary seeing him angry. Handing off the bench to the soldiers at the door, the Elves stepped to the back and pushed with the Men to secure it against the door, the Uruk-hai already pounding at it on the other side. "They still defend it! They have died defending it!"
Another bang at the door caused Kail to jump and beside her Legolas grasped her hand and pulled her away though it did little to calm her nerves, she gripped his back, throwing him a thankful yet sad smile. The Elf Prince returned the gesture before releasing her hand to go back over to the table that the bench they had previously grabbed used to rest in front of, Kail following suit.
"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn questioned, his eyes drifting to the corridor that would lead them down to that very spot. When no one answered he turned back around to stare at the King and Gamling hard, his voice rising. "Is there no other way?"
Another hesitation filled with silence that was broken when the two Elves toppled the table over, spilling its contents on the stone floor with loud clangs. As they hauled the table back over to the door, she heard Gamling finally reply. "There is one passage. It leads into the mountains," he said as his King stayed silent next to them. Aragorn turned to the Man, all attention placed on his next hasty words. "But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many."
Another bang echoed in the room as Aragorn placed a hand on the Man's shoulder. "Tell the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!" ordered the Ranger as he gripped Gamling's elbow to push him in the direction of the caves, but his leaving was stopped by his King's voice.
"So much death," said Théoden slowly and the two men turned to look at the Rohanian King with surprise. "What can Men do against such reckless hate?"
Aragorn threw another meaningful nod to Gamling who quickly scurried off just as another bang sounded. The door wasn't going to hold for long, Kail noticed despairingly as she watched some wood splinter at the center of the gate and a few soldiers getting pushed back from the shock. Glancing at Legolas again she noticed the same look cross his features that she no doubt shared. Barely veiled fear.
"Ride out with me," Aragorn suddenly said and though as quiet as he was, the words caught Kail's attention and she turned to watch as King Théoden turned to the black clad Man with a look of surprise. The Ranger's voice rose again, determination lacing his every word and his expression portraying the emotion even more thoroughly. "Ride out and meet them."
"For death and glory," said the King with a shallow nod as he adopted a growing expression of conviction, but Aragorn shook his head as he stepped closer to the Rohanian.
"For Rohan," he corrected as the Elves and Dwarf approached the pair, hope once again rising in their own hearts. Feeling another smile lift the corners of her lips, Kail turned to look at Legolas who bore a grin of his own. "For your People."
"The sun is rising," Gimli suddenly cut in and all eyes were drawn to the window set high on the stone wall next to them, light shining through to cast a yellow glow on the opposite wall. It was a pleasant sight after a long cold wet dark night of nothing but blood and death. A warm tingle spread through Kail as the hope in her chest pushed back the despair she felt. Didn't Gandalf say he'd be here soon?
Aragorn obviously had the same thought as she did because his eyes turned back to Théoden who nodded. "Yes," he said softly then after a few steady though heavy breaths his tone grew stronger. "Yes." Moving around the Ranger, his eyes seemed to glaze over as he spoke. "The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep…" Spinning back around, his jaw set firmly he stared at the four travelers with his own new found determination. "One last time."
"Yes!" Gimli growled and without another word he shot off somewhere Kail did not know, but she didn't really care either. There was a chance, a very small chance, that they could win and come hell or high water they were going to give it their all.
If they went down, at least they went down fighting.
Théoden placed a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together," he declared and the Ranger nodded, his jaw setting with a will only the strong possessed.
As the King ordered some soldiers to fetch their horses Kail threw all caution and fear out the window. This was it. this was time; and boy what a time it was to do the one thing she'd promised herself she'd do before she died. She didn't care if she died today, tomorrow or whenever the fates decided to end her life, all she cared about was she died knowing she had atoned for the biggest regret she ever had.
Turning swiftly without a second thought, she came face to face with the Elf beside her. Not giving him any time to speak or even think she lifted her blood covered hands to grasp the sides of his face and watched as he had just enough time for his eyes to widen before her hands pulled his face down to her level and she pressed her lips to his, heat spreading from where they made contact and all the way down to the tips of her fingers and toes. The Elf she held froze in shock and surprise at the sudden action, but a moment was all she needed to convey everything she felt for him; all the love and pent up frustration for not being able to show him due to her lack of courage. Something about the battle that night changed her. She didn't know if it was something to do with her bravery building during the hours of the night or if it was just the fear that had finally broken down her walls of stubbornness, but god damn if it wasn't worth it.
Pulling apart she looked up into Legolas' wide shocked eyes with a maniacal grin that she had shown countless times. It was the smile she had whenever she didn't give a damn, that nothing in that moment could bring down her high of happiness and through the cloudy haze her kiss had sent him into Legolas was aware that it was him that had caused it and warmth spread through him. In that moment where he couldn't speak he could not have been more happy regardless of death knocking on the wooden gate only yards away.
The horses had arrived in th short time the Elves were distracted, but they ignored the curious stares and the banging from the door and just stared. For those few precious seconds there was no war, no impending doom, no staring eyes… Just them. And for all the madness around them, it was perfect. It could have only been less than a second, but Kail felt like it was a lifetime before she felt her ability to speak returning to her.
"I thought-" she choked out softly, her hands still not leaving his cheeks and smearing Orc blood onto his beautifully pale glowing skin and in his damp golden hair of which he did not care. "I thought since I'm going to die in a few minutes I might as well make a fool out of myself one last time." Her voice was no higher than a whisper as she smiled at him, her fingers gently stroking his wet hair. He didn't care that blood was clinging to him from the action, he didn't care about anything right about then. Nothing except for her.
"I am glad you did," he replied just as softly, finally getting his own hands to move as he placed them on her waist. He felt like his body was filled with so much bliss from her lips being upon his that he swore he could have been nothing more than a stone statue only seconds ago. "I've been wanting that to happen for quite some time."
Her smile widened as a blush rose on her cheeks and they dropped their hands from each other with reluctance as another bang sounded and the shouting of soldiers was heard, finally breaking their tender moment. Dropping their stares to look at the door they found a gap was forming in the middle and it was obvious only a few more hits would breach the gate and the Uruks would once again be upon them. Dashing to their horses, the Elves mounted swiftly with the remaining men of Rohan and as they settled down they chanced one more glance at each other.
Reaching across the small gap between their steeds, Legolas grasped her hand gently. "I love you, Kail."
She swore her heart shattered from being filled with so much happiness the moment those words left his lips and her chest constricted painfully. But it was a good pain. A pain that she would gladly feel for the rest of her life as long as she heard him say those three words to her. Grasping his hand back she forced herself to breathe. "I love you too, Legolas."
She saw his joyful smile before they released each other and turned their attention back to the breaking doors, a newfound burst of energy filling her body. In all her dreams and imagination she would have never thought any of anything that had happened in the past few months to be true, let alone possible, but his declaration was the icing on the cake that boosted her adrenaline to kick into overdrive and fill her soul once more. The last thing she expected was for him to return her feelings and now that she knew he did she felt like nothing could stop her. She could walk on water, fly, do anything. She was invincible.
Another bang. One more and those doors would burst.
"Now for wrath," cried the King and Kail along with Aragorn drew their swords, grasping the reins of their horses tightly. "Now for ruin and the red dawn!"
A deep echoing sound of a horn being blown spread throughout the castle and the surrounding area; a cry of battle as the doors finally gave in and the Uruk-hai broke through, pouring into the throne room immediately. Raising his sword high above his head, his soldiers drew their own swords as Théoden shouted one final command. "Forth Eorlingas!"
The command was followed by the war cries of the soldiers and the pounding of hooves as the horses were kicked into action. Kail screamed until she felt her voice would go raw, but she didn't care. She didn't care even as they made contact with the Uruk-hai, plowing over the creatures with their steeds, hacking at their limbs and heads with their swords and making way through the castle and to the bridge. Nothing could bring down her high; not the smell of death and smoke around her, not the pain of her injuries, not even the sea of doom that still awaited them on the other side of the stone wall of their fallen haven. She would die happy whether it was tonight or another, defending her home and her life.
Like the Vikings of Earth she would gladly die fighting for what she believed in, a sword in her hand and love in her heart.