Aragorn, however, caught sight of Haldir on the top of the battlement. "Haldir!" he called out as he finished killing an Uruk-hai. "To the Keep!" Aragorn instructed. Haldir nodded to the ranger in understanding, then instructing his men to fall back. At the same time Amdiriel made her way to Legolas and told him to grab the fighting dwarf by the arm while another elf jumped into tug the feisty dwarf back. "What are you doing? Argh! What are you stopping for!" Growled Gimli. "It's for the best!" Amdiriel yelled to him as they carried him away up the stairs back onto the Keep while she made her own way up the stairs to aid Haldir to get the rest of their men to safety.
She could hear Haldir calling out for the others to move back to the Keep as she got to the top of the stairs. Amdiriel was the met with more enemies almost lining up to battle her to see if the would win. She cut down the two in front of her before grabbing her dagger and using it to block another blow coming for her side, using her sword and dagger she slashed the throat of the Uruk-ahi and his stomach open. She then heard Aragorn cry out "Haldir!" Amdiriel immediately turned around and saw that an Uruk-hai had stabbed Haldir in the back. "No!" she screamed as she watched Haldir fall to his knees. Amdiriel threw the dagger in her hand into the skull of the Uruk-hai that held the blade. She quickly slashed at the Uruk-hai that stood in front of her and ran to Haldir. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder as she got on her knees. "You're going to be okay." She told him as she breathed deeply but they both knew it was too late. Haldir shook his head "It's okay." he told her. "Go. Go!" he said to her seeing the Uruk-hai advancing towards them but she shook her, telling him she would not leave him as a tear fell from her eye. Aragorn then joined her on the other side of Haldir's side on his knee as Haldir breathed his last breath, his head falling back and his eyes empty. Aragorn said nothing but placed his hand over his heart and then pressed it to Haldir's now still one.
Amdiriel and Aragorn looked at each other, seeing the fire in the eyes of the other. They laid Haldir's body on the ground and then ran for the ladder that had been used by the Uruk-hai. Aragorn punched the Uruk-hai in the face that was trying to climb up the ladder as Amdiriel removed the head of the one that stood next to her before she sliced through the rope that held the ladder in place. Her and Aragorn held onto the ladder and kicked off the wall, launching themselves into the sea of Uruk-hai below them with a war cry. The two had found a second wind of energy as the cut-down anything in their way.
Amdiriel pinned an Uruk-hai hand to her side and stabbed it in the stomach before turning seeing the last of the elves start to run up the stairs to the Keep. Amdiriel turned back and blocked low and then high before she slashed the Uruk-hai across the stomach then kicking him off his feet, causing him to fall down the stairs into Uruk-hai behind him. Amdiriel then felt hands wrap around her waist almost causing her to scream till she released they belonged to Aragorn. He picked her up and turned before placing her on the stairs "Go!" he told her. Amdiriel did as he said and ran up the stairs Aragorn following quickly behind her, kicking one of the Uruk-hai in the process causing him to tumble back into the others.
When they reached the top the elves there shut the gate while the others shot arrows into the enemy below them. Aragorn turned to Amdiriel "I am going to go aid the men at the main gate." he told her. Amdiriel nodded and replied. "I'll go to the outer battlement above the gate with the others and do what we can from there, Legolas should be there." "Be careful." he told her. "You too." she told him and the gave him a quick peck on his lips. "I love you." she whispered to him. "I love you too." he told her and with one last look they both ran in the opposite direction. "Barack the gate and then go to the top of the battlement!" she told the elves that were there who then replied with a yes ma'am as she ran past them.
When Amdiriel got to the top of the battlement she could see that the Uruk-hai army below them had broken throw the gate but the men were holding them back the best they could. Legolas soon joined her side, looking down. "How long do you think they can hold it?" he asked. "I don't know but the best we can do help." she replied and pulled her bow and an arrow from her back. She loaded and let it fly into the skull of an Uruk-hai. She let three more arrows fly until she saw large iron arrows attached themselves to the edge of the battlement quickly followed by large ladders, Uruk-hai already on them and jumping onto the battlement.
"Hold your ground! Keep them from coming in! Bring those ladders down!" Amdireil yelled to the men around her. Legolas motioned to the newest ladder trying to come up, the two grabbed arrows from their backs and took their aim, each at a different line of rope that held the ladder in the air. "Now!" Legolas yelled, both releasing the arrows and hitting their targets. The ladder that held at least 30 Uruk-hai fell backwards onto the Uruk-hai army. Amdiriel shot at a few more ropes while Legolas made sure nothing got to her but her gaze soon fell onto the man and dwarf fighting alone in the middle of the causeway. "Legolas!" she called out and pointed to the two. The worry seemed to grow in Legolas eyes as he then looked around soon finding a rope in the corner. He runs to it as Amdiriel provides him cover. He then stands on top of the battlement and calls out for the ranger
"Aragorn!" he called out and threw the rope to them just as an Uruk-hai had grabbed both Gimli and Aragorn from behind, wrapping its hand around each of their throats. Amdiriel took her shot as when the Uruk-hai turned around, letting the arrow lodge itself into its back. Once freed, Aragorn grabbed Gimli and then grabbed the rope. Amdiriel shot two more arrows into the Uruk-hai behind Gimli and Aragorn. Amdiriel then dodged a blow, the blade of the Uruk-hai behind her collided with the wall as she spun out of the way. She grabbed the dagger at her side, she moved behind the Uruk-hai, placing the dagger under his neck, slitting his throat. She then sheathed her dagger and shot at anything that even stepped foot in the direction of her, Legolas and the other two men helping pull the man and dwarf to safety. Once they were up, Amdiriel was half tempted to smack Aragorn for doing something so dangerous but she opted to do it later as the Uruk-hais kept coming.
Amdiriel looked around, she knew they would be overrun soon and no battle strategies she had used before could get them out of this as of right now. She then heard orders ring out through the air from what must have been Gambling. "Fall back! Fall back! Retreat!" he yelled. Amdiriel slashed open two more Uruk-hai before Aragorn grabbed Amdiriel's hand, pulling her with him as he yelled for everyone to follow. "Hurry! Inside! Get them inside!" he said. Amdireil and Legolas firing arrows as they ran into the Keep. The Uruk-hai easily overran the Keep, the remaining men ran into the Keep, slamming the door behind them as the last man ran in.
"Fortify the door!" Aragorn told them, making the men grab everything and anything to help barracked the door while Gambling tended to the King's shoulder wound. Amdiriel was helping grab one end of a table while Aragorn grabbed the other, they walked it over to the door and handed it off to the men there so they could lay it against the door.
Amdiriel then jogged over to Aragorn and hit him on the shoulder. "What was that for?" he asked confused. "That was for the stunt you pulled in the causeway. You said to be careful and I catch you alone with Gimli facing the whole freaking Uruk-hai army with no way of an escape. Are you crazy?" she asked him, she wasn't even sure if she was upset or not especially with what was going on around them.
"I love you." he whispered to her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before going back to grabbing things.
"The fortress is taken! It is over!" Théoden said as the Uruk-hai began to bang on the door. "You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it!" he said as he carried the table with Legolas only for him to drop his side of the table to walk towards Théoden, making Legolas feel unbalanced as he held the table. "Aragorn." Amdiriel grumbled at the action and went over to help Legolas as Aragorn continues. "They still defend it! They have died defending it!" Aragorn reminds Théoden. When the King said nothing Aragorn continued "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn asked as Amdiriel joined his side.
"Is there no other way?" Amdiriel repeated the question when they were met with silence as the banging on the door got louder.
"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many." Gambling informed them. "Send word for the woman and children to make for the mountain pass and to barracked the entrance." Aragorn instructed but Amdiriel told him to wait. She then grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down swift instructions and then called over to the reminding elves, which was about 30 soldiers. "Tell the woman and children to make for the mountain pass and barracked the entrance. Get them to go and do not stop unless one of us find you. Defend the people as best as you can. Give this to Lady Eowyn." she instructed them. "Yes, your highness." said the elf. "Good luck, your highness." he said lastly as the soldier ran off, following Gambling.
"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Théoden asked them almost helplessly. "Ride out with me." Aragorn replied causing Théoden and Amdireil took look to the ranger "Ride out and meet them." Aragorn says determination in his voice.
A light of determination shines in Théoden's eyes "For death and glory." Aragorn stepped forward "For Rohan. For your people." Aragorn clarified.
"The sun is rising." Gimli noticed. Aragorn and Amdiriel looked to the window and saw the sunrise shining through. "Gandalf's promise." Amdireil reminded Aragorn as they remembered what he had said. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.
"Yes. Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!" said Théoden a new sense of determination in his voice.
"Yes!" Gimli said and ran out to find the horn while Amdiriel smirked she raised her hand to her lips and let out a loud piercing whistle. The sound of horses then approached them.
Théoden placed a hand on Aragorn and Amdiriel's shoulder. "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together." he told them. Just then the horses came running in each to its owner. Rohal ran up to Amdiriel causing her to smile and pet his nose before walking around ready to climb up on to her horse but she was quickly spun around not having the chance to ask what it was because her lips were covered with familiar pair of warm lips. Amdiriel's hands went to Aragorn's jaw as one of his wrapped around her waist to pull her close to him. "I love you." he whispered as he leaned his forehead against Amdiriel's Amdiriel kissed him again. "I love you, too." she replied as the banging on the door grew louder. They then got up on their horses.
"Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath. Now for ruin and the red dawn!" Théoden said to his men as they unsheathed their swords. The door finally broke down but before anything could really come through Théoden shouted "Forth Eorlingas!" as the horn sounded in the Deep. They rode forward slashing at the Uruks below them and then rode out to the causeway, the horses either pushing the Uruks over the side or trampling over them killing them. With Théoden and Aragorn leading the way, they made it to the end of the causeway where they cut down everything around them.
Suddenly the white dawn arrived and a white rider standing at the top of the mountain caught their attention. "Gandalf." Amdiriel whispered as the Uruk-hai army all turned to see what was coming.
Gandalf looked down at the fortress surrounded by Uruks "Théoden King stands alone." he said.
Éomer then rode up beside him. "Not alone." he stated and the unsheathed his sword. "Rohhirm!" he called out. The riders of Rohan rode up behind him.
"Éomer." Théoden says as he looks up at his nephew proudly.
"To the King!" Éomer shouts and leads his men charging down the mountain. The Uruk-hai set up their line, spears in the front ready to meet the riders. The sun rose with them, blinding the Uruks causing them to drop their weapons as the Rohhirm hit them head-on, cutting them down easily.
It must have been the mixture of the courage of men and the light of the sun that had stricken fear into the Uruk-hai who then started to run off as the riders drove them into Fangorn forest. "Stay out of the forest! Keep away from the trees!" Éomer warned them. The men stand in line at the edge of the hill waiting and watching as the Uruks retreat into Fangorn. There was a brief moment of silence before you hear loud groans from the trees and screeches from the Uruks followed by the movement seen by men on the tree line.
"Victory! We have Victory!" Yelled Théoden causing all the men to let out cries of joy.
The battle was over, the people of Rohan were safe but it came at a large price as did every war. The number of men and elves that died was more than Amdiriel cared for especially when her friends laid among them.
Amdiriel had slipped away from the others when Legolas went to find Gimli to find out what their final counts were and Eowyn had emerged from the caves and called over Aragorn. Amdiriel's feet lead her to the top of battlement, Uruk-hai, elves, and men littered the ground.
Amdiriel let out a breath of grief, her feet continuing to take her past the bodies until she came across one, the tears already streaming down her face as she fell to her knees. Amdiriel let her hands grace over Haldir's face, closing his eyes, for them to never open again. Amdiriel wiped the tears away as she heard someone approach, she looked up to see Aragorn crouch down next to her. "Don't." he said, causing her to look up at him in confusion. "You do not have to be so strong around me, maybe others but not me." he told her. Amdiriel nodded to him and looked down at her friend, a new wave of tears coming over her.
"This is my fault. I should have seen the attack coming and warned him." she said. "Amdi, no. How were you have known? You had no idea what was to happen." he told her but Amdiriel shook her head and looked up at the ranger. "They came to avenge me. Uncle sent them because they thought I was dead." she reminded him. Aragorn placed his hand on the side of Amdiriel's face.
"Look at me, my love. This is not your fault. Lord Elrond, Lord Celeborn, and Lady Galadriel knew what they were doing, even Haldir knew what he was doing. We all surely would have died had they not come to us. Death is a part of war and we all knew that risk, it was the risk we all chose to take. There was nothing any of us could have done. None of this is your fault. No one's death is your fault, not your mother's, not Boromir's, not Théodred's and not Haldir's. As much as it hurts, we have to keep going on, We carry their memory into each battle and let that fuel us to end this war. Okay?" he told her. Amdirel nodded her head, Aragorn then brought her head to rest against his chest as she cried, his own tears falling down his face. "Don't ever leave me, Aragorn." she whispered to him. "Never." he told her.
They stayed there until some elves came and collected Haldir's body, Amdiriel, and Aragorn following behind as they did. Everyone watched them as the elves carried the body of the Marchwarden, followed by the Lady Amdiriel and Lord Aragorn, nothing was said but grief was written on their faces. Though the women did not know who he was the men did, They had seen when he led the elves of Lorien to Helms Deep, they had seen the interaction between the Lady and Lord that followed behind them. Not only had the common solder and people had lost but so had they, they suffered to death and grief of those they loved.
Grief and pain was the dwelling place of Helms Deep that day despite the victory but for the warriors among them that pain was going to turn to anger and then into determination to see the end of the evil that laid in the East.
But there was no time to lose, for they knew that Isengard and therefore Saruman was weak so, Gandalf, Théoden, Eomer, Amdiriel, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas mounted their horses and made their way up the mountain that overlooked the plains of Rohan and in the distance the red glow of Mordor.
"Sauron's wraith will be great and his attack swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin." Gandalf told them. He then looked to Aragorn and then to Amdiriel, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together. "All of our hopes lie with two small hobbits, somewhere in the wilderness." Gandalf said, making everyone wonder of the whereabouts of Frodo and Sam.