XXIII - Journey to the Deep

On the morn of their leaving, Legolas sought her out in the chamber that Eowyn had pointed out to him the evening before. They had all been tired then and Mirren had retired early, no doubt eager to have a real bath and some time away from the men she'd been stuck with for too many days. Still, Legolas missed her presence and only felt a little guilty about disturbing her so early in the morning.

Hearing her soft call to enter from the other side of the wooden barrier between them, the woodland prince hesitantly opened her chamber door.

The she elf stood at the foot of her bed, her long dark hair not yet braided behind her pointed ears, clutching something in her hands. Legolas noted that she had changed once more into a clean sea-coloured tunic dress and her leather breast-plate. The only thing missing from her travelling gear were her weapons.

Not looking up at her guest, Mirren bent her head to look, deep in thought, at the white wood of the horn Galadriel had given to her on behalf of her father.

Taking it in her hands now, it felt lighter than it had in Lorien. She wondered, somehow, if this mirrored her feelings towards the aging elf who had raised her.

"You should talk to him… when you can."

Legolas leant against her door, looking as agile as he had for an age. His expression was one that carved right through her.

For a moment her glance met his stare and he smiled,

"You always know what I'm thinking." She mused, carefully placing the horn on her bed and reaching for the dresses that Eowyn had given to her, rolling them up and stuffing each one in her pack.

"We're always thinking the same thing." He replied quickly. Moving towards her, he carefully plucked the horn up from the bed and grazed a hand along its neck.

"It truly is a fine gift." He hummed.

Looking up, he found her gaze transfixed on his face and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you have a reason for disturbing me... or did you just want to slow my packing?" She asked with a smile and the elf grinned in return, stepping back.

"No…I believe these are yours?" He asked, placing her bow and almost-empty quiver down and unsheathing her twin blades from his quiver. Mirren's face lit up at the weapons and she quickly grabbed the blades from his hands.

Swirling one with her wrist, she checked their weight and balance; feeling the smooth wood of the Mithlond-crafted hilts pulse underneath her fingers.

"The Rohirrim were scared to touch them." Legolas told her, watching happily as she sheathed them and replaced them at her shoulder. Her figure visibly relaxed with their presence, "…They are weary of elves and wizards."

"Thank you, Legolas." Without thinking she reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek, hands lingering on his crossed arms afterwards as he watched her.

"-Ah! Here you are!" Gimli's voice sounded from the doorway.

The two elves parted quickly to see their friend waiting for them, an axe fisted in one of his hands.

"Gandalf is leaving." The dwarf huffed, gesturing for them to follow.

"-What?" Mirren asked, taking her horn from Legolas' hands and following the dwarf out of her door.

Stepping outside, she heard the loud calls of Gamling and Hama, Théoden's best captains before she saw them.

"By order of the king...the city must empty! We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep!"

Around them, people packed with haste, spearing no time for idle chat. Wagons, crates and horses were piled high around them with essentials for the journey to the Deep.

"Do not burden yourself with treasures. Take only what provisions you need!"

"Helms Deep!" Gandalf huffed from ahead of them all, Mirren was thankful to see that the Wizard had not yet abandoned them.

"They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight." Gimli grumbled, stepping two steps for every one the elves took to catch up. "Who will defend them if not their king?"

"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn reasoned, turning after Gandalf into the busy stables of the Rohirrim.

As she looked around them Mirren could see the futileness of Théoden's thinking. He was preparing his people for a massacre, not safety.

"There is no way out of that ravine." She remembered, slowly.

"Yes." Gandalf turned back at her words, "Théoden is walking into a trap although he thinks he's leading them to safety… " The wizard shook his head with exasperation. "The King has a strong will, but I fear for him… I fear for the survival of Rohan."

Legolas wrapped a hand around Mirren's arm above her elbow, pulling the elleth out of the path of a kicking horse, distracting her for a moment.

"The Grey Pilgrim." Gandalf continued, now ready to mount Shadowfax, "That's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of Men I've walked this earth, and now I have no time… With luck, my search will not be in vain." Lowering his voice, he quickly turned to Aragorn and muttered something in his ear.

Aragorn nodded: "Go."

And suddenly, the White Wizard was off, racing through Edoras and onto the plains of Rohan with a speed that could not be challenged by any of them.

"How will he find Eomer?" Mirren asked softly, looking to Aragorn past Legolas who had effectively stopped her from being trampled by the quick-footed Mearas.

"…He rides faster than any of us." The ranger explained as if that answered her question, turning back to the hall of Théoden.

"Get ready to ride." He advised them, "We'll be leaving soon."

A short while later they had started the long journey to Helm's deep. All of Edoras was emptied and Mirren found herself walking silently with Breaca and the children, Eothain and Freda, instead of her companions. Since Mithrandir's departure she had found that her skills were most useful to the young brown-haired healer who had to pack up all of the pastes and elixirs she had for those who would need care along the journey. The elleth found she liked the company of the hard-working girl. They shared an affinity for healing and could discuss happily the many uses of herbs and flowers that Breaca had collected over the years.

Still, as they walked farther away from Edoras Mirren retreated into her own thoughts and rode Arod mostly alone.

Lately, the image of her father standing on the shores of her homeland had occupied her mind. She had not dreamed since Lorien and felt unsure about the future of their quest and the potential fate of the old elf she had left behind. When she was not thinking of the Havens she thought of the Hobbit's, who she had sworn to protect but had somehow lost sight of since the Falls of Rauros.

As she rode, the horn of Cirdan hung heavily at her side as she worried for her father. She wondered if he thought of her now as she did him. It felt strange to care for him after so many long years of indifference. She knew she was right to tell Gandalf that it would take a lot of time to heal the wounds between them all those months ago in Rivendell and yet, she wished she could talk to him now.

Slowly, Arod trotted alongside the convoy of men until she was in line with Gimli and Eowyn. Aragorn and the King rode behind them, listening gently as Gimli filled the silence with dwarvish tales.

Looking around for Legolas, Mirren dismounted swiftly. She wondered when it became strange not to find him in Gimli's presence and was thankful when she found him standing on the crest of the hill in front of them, scouting ahead diligently. Like her, he was weary of the vulnerability of their convoy and studied the hills that flanked them with a watchful eye.

"You make a very beautiful couple." Eowyn observed following Mirren's gaze to the Prince who looked towards them briefly before running on. She looked more cheerful than Mirren had seen her before, chatting with her companions freely. Even so, the she-elf bowed her head at the Lady of Rohan's statement.

"Legolas and I are not... We're not-"

"Oh! I apologise, I did not realise I was mistaken."

"-Oh, you are not mistaken, fair lady." Gimli intervened, loudly, looking down at his elleth friend with a jesting eye, "Why don't you just admit your feelings for one another, lass… and be done with it?"

"Gimli-"

"-No need to pretend with me lassie- We dwarves are skilled in the art of love making... I can see when two souls are working together as one."

Eowyn laughed freely, her eyebrows raising at the boldness of the dwarf's language. In contrast, Mirren rolled her eyes at her friend, keeping her gaze firmly in front of them.

"Do you have a wife Gimli?... I have not heard much of dwarf women." The lady asked, sensing the elleth's growing discomfort. Gimli looked down from the horse he had borrowed from her and grinned.

Thankful for Eowyn's distraction. Mirren dragged a hand down Arod's side as they walked. She hadn't thought her feelings for the elf were that obvious. At least, she hoped they weren't.

"It is true you don't see many dwarf women!" Gimli proclaimed loudly, "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance...that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men!"

Eowyn smiled brightly, catching the small but growing grin on Mirren's face before turning to look at Aragorn and her Uncle who were riding their horses slowly behind them.

"It's the beards." Aragorn mouthed, gesturing to an imaginary beard at his chin. Eowyn stifled her laughter, turning once more to the Dwarf.

"This, in turn, has given rise to the belief...that there are no Dwarf women..." Gimli continued," ...and that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!"

Eowyn and Gimli erupted into laughter so loudly that Mirren couldn't help but smile too.

"Which is, of course, ridiculous." He huffed.

Suddenly Eowyn's horse bolted from underneath the uncoordinated dwarf. As it galloped away, Gimli was thrown to the ground, dropping both of his axes unceremoniously around him.

At the site the women continued laughing, unable to control their smiles at the sight of the fallen Dwarf.

"I'm alright! I'm alright!" Gimli repeated, struggling to stand.

Carefully, Mirren left Arod and ran forward and set him back on his feet.

"It's all right. Nobody panic…. That was deliberate!" He grumbled, "…Thank Mahal the elf didn't see."

Mirren laughed wiping some grass from his shoulders, "Don't worry, I'll tell him later."

For a moment Gimli stared at her grumpily before bursting out in a heartily laughter and tapping her arm in friendship.

Feeling better than she had before, Mirren was glad that she'd joined her friends, only a little sad that Legolas hadn't been there to watch the stubbornness of Gimli once more.

"It is strange to see a woman so armed." Eowyn wondered, staring at the she-elf as she stood next to Aragorn a while later. They had paused at the top of a hillock for a rest and Mirren's elf-eyes could see for miles around them without hinderance.

Turning, the Daughter of Cirdan met the Lady's eyes and saw that they were filling with excitement.

"It is not rare for the women of my people to fight alongside their fathers and brothers." Mirren explained, shrugging non-committedly. " Although, many women choose not to… as the time of elves forging war in Middle Earth has come to an end."

"It is said that elves are immortal, that they will out-live all the ages of men." Eowyn asked, confused. "Why should your people leave if they could so easily outlive us, is it not their duty to fight for Middle Earth as we do?"

Mirren raised an eyebrow at the Lady's interest but continued nevertheless, "Many elves are called back to the Undying Lands by the Sea… The Valar never meant for us to settle in Middle Earth forever."

"…Do you feel that call, my lady?"

Aragorn shuffled beside them, holding on loosely to the bowl of stew the Lady had given him before Mirren's arrival. The elleth's expression darkened a little.

"Yes…and no."

"It seems strange that they should leave when there is a growing darkness in all lands. Why not stay and help us fight against it?" Eowyn lamented sadly. Mirren studied her for a moment as saw the weights of a lifetime in the blinking of her eyes.

Sensing Aragorn and Mirren's judgement, Eowyn stopped her questions, "I'm sorry…Please eat, I made enough stew for all."

The Lady offered a large bowl of a foul-smelling liquid and the elleth raised her hand to immediately decline.

"I couldn't." Apologizing gently, Mirren shook her head.

Eowyn smiled a little awkwardly and retreated into the camp, bestowing her creation on other unfortunate souls.

"At least she tried." Mirren mused, looking down as Aragorn stared at the lumpy concoction, she had given him.

"Yes... tried to find a new way to kill an orc." The ranger coughed, tipping the remains of Eowyn's broth into a small patch of heath next to him.

Mirren scoffed, avoiding the smell of the broth by taking a step away from it entirely.

"She likes you Aragorn..." She smiled a little confused when the ranger ducked his head. "Can you not see it?"

The heir of men sighed, meeting her gaze sadly, "Mirren…You know I cannot give her what she wants."

Mirren's eyebrows furrowed at his tone, "Yet you encourage her by not giving her closure… She does not understand that you belong to another."

The fact that Aragorn had not seen this had truthfully annoyed the elleth over the last few days. Whilst Eowyn was naïve; she was kind. The Lady of Rohan deserved to find hope and love, not cling to the dream of the man she thought Aragorn was.

Stiffly, the elleth moved away, keen to let the ranger think on Eowyn's emotions without her staring over him.

As they continued to walk after their rest-break Mirren held fast to Arod's reigns. Her old arrow wound throbbed beneath the leather. She sensed the threat of something growing nearer and listened carefully to the changes of wind around them. Legolas continued to scout ahead, and she felt the gap of his presence intimately. The pathway was forked in front of them, one led to a rocky rise and the other towards a downward curve into a valley. The woodland Prince stood on top of the rocks staring North-West, hesitantly.

Ignoring the chattering of Eowyn and Gimli, Mirren studied the state of the people of Rohan around her, watching their slow progress wearily. There were so many women and children; so many who would be unable to fight if a battle was forced upon them by their enemies.

Tilting her head, she would have sworn to the Valar that she could hear the sound of animals running. Listening more carefully, intentionally blocking out the murmur of people talking near her, Mirren's pulse quickened at the sound of snarling too.

Arod pricked his ears up and snorted nervously, confirming her thoughts as Hama and Gamling followed Legolas over the looming hill in front of them.

Seconds later Mirren heard Legolas' angry shout from the crest of the hill.

Then everything around her fell into chaos.

Mirren's blue-eyes darted around for Aragorn. Luckily, he wasn't far away, just a little ahead of her in the train of people, already running to mount Hausfel in a hurry.

"What is it? What do you see?" Théoden asked briskly as the heir of Gondor sprinted past him.

"Wargs! We're under attack!" The ranger shouted loudly, instantly creating a panic around them. "Get your people out of here!"

"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden instantly called, his voice carrying over the panic of his people.

"Get me up! I'm a rider! Mirren?!" Gimli demanded next to the she-elf; he was trying to jump onto Eowyn's horse with little success.

The elleth shouted his name, quickly running to push the heavy dwarf onto the grey horse. Catching her arm, the Lady of Rohan's stopped her as she released her friend.

"I can fight with you!" Eowyn glared at the elf with a determination.

Weakly, Mirren looked towards Théoden before lightly shaking her head and her arm from Eowyn's grip.

"I'm not your king, Lady Eowyn. Think carefully, who would lead your people in your absence?... Valour can be found in other ways than outright battle." She replied hurriedly.

"Get the women and children out of here!" Théoden's shout raised above the chaotic screams of his people once more. Seeing him head towards Eowyn, the elleth left the woman behind in the dust of Arod's hoof-steps.

"I can ride." Eowyn insisted but her words were more a plea than an offer.

Her uncle protested instantly shaking his head, "No, Eowyn… You must do this.. for me."

Begrudgingly, the Lady of Rohan nodded, letting Gimli take control of her horse's reigns. Quickly, she swept her hands up and directed her people to the lower path, "Head for the lower ground!" She called, " Stay together!"

Mirren had trained Benin for many years so that she could mount her own horse while he was at a run; putting faith in Arod now, she pressed the colt on, hopping onto his back almost effortlessly when he reached a gallop. A surge of pride for Legolas' borrowed horse soared in her heart and she was infinitely thankful for the beasts understanding of her intentions as he strode up the hill.

By the time Mirren had reached Aragorn he was also mounted and glancing back at Eowyn with worried eyes. Behind them, Gimli was struggling to control the Lady's beast, shaking the reins with uncontrolled vigor.

"Forward. I mean, charge forward!" Gimli was yelling and Mirren whistled sharply. The dwarf's beast looked towards her and followed Arod's lead, galloping up the hill and into battle.

At the top of the hill, Legolas was firing arrows at the warg riders; each one finding it's mark, felling orc and beast alike.

"Legolas!"

At her call, the elf looked back at the wall of riders coming towards him. Quickly he turned, grabbing the strapping around Arod to swing himself onto the saddle.

Unprepared for his jump, Mirren pushed herself swiftly onto the horse's rear, gripping onto the ellon's waist tightly less she fall and get kicked by a stray horse shoe.

She swore expressively in the tongues of her forefather's, trying not to be impressed at the ellon's grace.

Resting her forehead on Legolas' shoulder blades for a moment, she grumbled: "A little warning next time would be nice." as she unsheathed her twin blades.

If they weren't riding into a bloody battle Legolas would have laughed. However, the Prince didn't even have time to apologize as the riders and Warg's clashed together brutally. All around them destruction erupted, accompanied by the sounds of screaming orcs and men.

Without thought, Mirren and Legolas moved together as one being. Arod responded to their movements as if he was their own, turning and vaulting, running and halting, magnificently.

Around them, the carnage of the ambush was fierce; Saruman's warg-riders were vicious, and the beasts could take out horse and rider with a single pounce. Without Legolas, Mirren feared she would have been overwhelmed. Likewise, the ellon thought the same of her, thankful for the way she could read his movements and react accordingly with the expert handling of her blades.

Mere minutes into the skirmish, Mirren winced as she saw Gimli topple from Eowyn's grey mare, leaving their friend vulnerable to attacks from the disadvantage of the ground. Mirren pulled Arod's reigns from Legolas' lap, steering the horse towards the dwarf.

On the ground Gimli shook himself off from the fall, plucking his axe from the grasses. Seeing a lone wolf feasting lazily on the flesh of a fallen Rohirrim next to him, the dwarf growled with growing intensity, "Bring your pretty face to my axe!"

Spotting the danger, Mirren nudged Legolas and the ellon bought the creature down with a single arrow, shooting the beast before Gimli could bury his axe in its head.

The foul creature collapsed in front of their companion and the Dwarf huffed loud enough for them to hear: "That one counts as mine!"

The elleth's smiled, albeit occupied by the snarling of another beast. Legolas and Gimli had started a challenge and she was beginning to think they had begun to take it too seriously. Flashing silver, the arch of her knife soared toward the warg as it pounced, efficiently burying into its skull to the hilt before it crumpled, dead, to the floor. Arod turned away on cue to face its rider which Legolas swiftly dispatched.

Mirren saw the sky flash above her as Arod reared up to deliver the death blow to another unseated orc. Spotting the creature's retched warg approaching Gimli, she let go of Legolas and landed uncomfortably on the ground with a thud.

With a swipe of her blades the beast collapsed before the dwarf could turn and deposit his axe in his head.

"I had him!" The dwarf growled ungraciously, "I'm counting that one as mine as well."

"My apologies." Mirren huffed, bowing her head dramatically, "He was in my way."

The dwarf grumbled something about pointy eared elflings indignantly and Mirren breathed a laugh, pushing her back to his as the fight raged on around them.

Together the pair fought side by side, enjoying each others company despite the growing damage across the valley.

Mirren hadn't meant to be distracted. But feeling someone's gaze on her she looked up, immediately locking eyes with the elf she had been riding with. Suddenly, she forgot to breathe. Faultering slightly as the world around her seemed to slow. As such, she missed Gimli's grunt as he delivered the killing blow to a warg that promptly pushed him to the floor.

"Gimli!" She gasped loudly, snapping out of her daze. The sound of Legolas' arrows flying through the air behind them promised his safety.

"I'm alright lass, just get this stinking beast off of me!"

Grunting, Mirren sheathed one of her blades and knelt to leaver the beast off of the dwarf; still doing her best to protect them both from the ongoing battle. Aragorn rushed past them with a raised spear and before the elleth knew it another beast collapsed onto the dwarf and he groaned loudly.

"You've got to be joking!"

Mirren would have laughed if she had the ability but shifting two fully grown wargs by herself took the remaining breath out of her. By the time the carcasses had moved, the battle around them had slowed almost to a stop. Gimli took her hand up and they split up to offer what help they could to the injured.

All around them was death. Mirren made her way to a wounded Rohirrim and knelt by his side. A warg had bitten into his thigh and it bled dramatically. Sitting him up, Mirren quickly wrapped his torn cloak around the wound, reassuring him it would be alright before other riders took over from her hands.

The Rohirrim offered his thanks and she nodded graciously, standing to look for her friends. Nearby, Legolas dismounted Arod and met her half-way.

"Are you wounded?" She asked softly, gripping his arm. She could see no outward signs of injury, but studied his face carefully for any traces of pain.

"No," He ensured, squeezing her arm in return warmly, "You?"

Mirren shook her head, pulling her eyes away from him to look for the others.

"Where's Aragorn?"

Legolas' eyebrows furrowed. He'd been so busy watching Mirren in the battle that he had only noticed Aragorn once, when he'd been unseated by a rouge warg.

"Aragorn!" He called, running effortlessly to the crest of the next hill.

"Aragorn!?" Their calls became more worried when the ranger didn't reveal himself and Gimli rushed to their side.

"Aragorn!" The dark-haired warrior made no reply and an uneasy silence returned their frantic calls. Hearing them, Théoden began to search fruitlessly amongst the dead for their companion.

Legolas ran from the hill towards the clifftop and Mirren blindly hurried after him, halting only when they came upon the body of a fallen orc. The beast drew a ragged breath and laughed raspily. Mirren's eyes darkened as Legolas turned to the creature.

Gimli pressed his axe down on its foul neck as it began to choke on it's own blood. "Tell me what happened to him and I will ease your passing." He growled.

The orc merely smiled and Mirren felt sick.

"He's...dead." It coughed, "He.. took a little tumble off the cliff."

The orcs triumphant smile levelled Mirren's raging thoughts as Legolas tensed beside her.

"You lie!" The ellon snarled, grabbing the orc's disgusting armour and shaking the dying creature with agitation.

Brutally the orc laughed one more time and died swiftly. Mirren refused to believe it, her heart beginning to tumble once more into despair.

Kneeling, Legolas' hand plucked something bright from the clasp of the creature, the shining gem misplaced in the hands of the wretched and dark being.

"The Evenstar." Mirren breathed sadly as Legolas held it out. Gimli sighed loudly next to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

His own shoulders sagged with little to no hope and almost complete despair, Legolas ran to the cliff edge, peering into the fast-flowing river below. Mirren tried to move her legs but couldn't. Gimli slowly joined Legolas, leaning heavily on his axe.

"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return." Théoden ordered from beside the trio. He looked at them with pity. "Leave the dead."

Legolas' gaze snapped to the King. His expression one of shock and heartbreak. Disbelieving Théoden's order, Mirren shook her head minutely.

"Come." The king ordered once more, softly. He patted Legolas' shoulder and turned from the ravine, slowly making his way back up the hill towards the gathered wounded.

Gimli and Legolas turned from the cliff, stopping once more when they reached Mirren.

"We have to go on." The elleth murmured, focussing her gaze on the Evenstar gripped firmly in Legolas' hand. Pulling her eyes up to meet his she ran out of words.

Hausfel snorted from beside them and Mirren reluctantly took his reigns.

"I'll ride with Gimli." Legolas offered, nodding to Arod who stood innocently, nibbling at the grass nearby. Wiping a tear from her cheek, Mirren mounted Aragorn's horse, rubbing his flank softly as Hausfel snorted at his loss.

No one spoke as they set off from the sight of the ambush. The death of so many riders was a hard reality to face. The signs of defeat clung to all who rode beside the King, although none of them spoke of it.

In fact, all of Théoden's riders were silent, even as they approached Helm's deep with the setting of the sun.

A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews! Truly, they inspire me to keep writing, i have a couple more chapters written already so look out for those soon! Love always, J x