Chapter 38: Trent's Return

After surviving a near death fall… Trent proceeded further to ride towards Helm's Deep, upon the horse, Brego, which once belonged to Théodred. It was in the early hours of the fourth dawn. The Dunedain ranger of the North swayed drunkenly, half-alive and nearly worn out to the point of exhaustion… as Brego trotted slowly along, their path seemingly aimless. Trent reined Brego in at the top of a large hill, looked down in the valley below…

And saw a huge dark mass moved through the valley…

…At the distance that Trent could make out…

…It was an army of Uruk-Hai, thousands strong… ten thousand strong! All marked with the White hand of Saruman upon their armor, helmets, shields, and banners that they all carried. Immediately, Trent backed Brego away from the edge of the hill, and turned him, heeling the horse into a canter.

Trent quickened the pace of his horse, riding over the hills of the White Mountains.

"Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn," Trent said to Brego, patting him fondly on the neck.

The horseback duo made his way to the entrance of Helm's Deep. As he entered through the causeway, the refugees were both confused and amazed at the site of Trent's return

He's alive!" the refugees cry out.

Max, hearing about Trent's miraculous return, pushed his way through the crowd. "Where is he?" he asked loudly, "where is he! Get out of the way! I'm going to kill him!"

Trent dismounted off his horse and Max made his way through the last few people in his way, to stand in front of Aragorn.

"You are, the luckiest, the canniest… and the most reckless man I ever knew," said Max in amazement, as he embraced Trent fondly, "bless you, laddie!"

"Max, where is the king?" asked Trent

Max gestured with his head, in the direction of the hall within the lofty tower, where Trent went off to afterwards.

Trent and Max were about to enter the tower, but had a last minute reunion with Dustin. Dustin had put on a serious face, seeing the unexpected arrival of Trent…

"Le ab-dollen (you're late)," he said. Trent and Dustin smiled at each other sarcastically.

Dustin took another quick look at his body. "You look terrible," he observed.

To the side… Tori tended to more of the refugees, and heard a great amount of laughing. She turned around… to see Trent alive before her eyes, with Dustin beside him… and smiled joyously with relief, as she got up to run to him.

But Tori hesitated when she noticed Dustin handing something to Trent with a smile. Trent opened his hand and held the Evenstar. that Trent had missed the sight of it.

"…Hannon le (thank you)," said Trent as he closed his hand around the jewel.

Tori looked on and smiled deeply even as tears filled her eyes. After seeing what Dustin had given Trent, she remained where she was. For Tori knew that the jewel had reminded Trent of his first love, Kira… and began to fear… that her feelings for Trent weren't going to be returned.

Anton sat in the main hall, with his advisors… when they all heard a creak at the door. The company looked up from where from where they were…

And gasped in surprise to see Trent push his way through the great doors of the hall, alive and well.

As much as Anton and the other soldiers within the hall were glad to see Trent there at the fortress… their relief was short-lived… as Trent conferred with the king as well as the others about the incoming… and impending danger that lay ahead. Anton paced restlessly away from Trent, after hearing this grave revelation.

"A great host, you say?" asked Anton, his back to Aragorn.

"All Isengard is emptied," answered Trent.

"How many?"

"Ten thousand strong at least," Trent reported plainly.

Théoden turned to face Aragorn, and asked with perplexity, "…10,000?!"

"It is an army bred for a single purpose," Aragorn told the king gravely, "…to destroy the world of Men."

The fighters wore a face of determination at the looming threat of the great force of Saruman that he had sent to destroy them.

"…They will be here by nightfall," finished Aragorn fatefully.

Théoden with bleak eyes, and gritting teeth… turned and walked away resolutely, as he firmly said, "…let them come!"

Théoden gathered his guards behind the Deeping Wall, informing them of the coming battle. The refugees, in turn, also learn of the threat that will come upon them by dusk.

Théoden, striding along with Gamling, ordered, "I want every man and strong lad, able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall."

Danny nodded and went off to carry out his instructions. Théoden then led Trent, Dustin and Max to the gate of Helm's Deep, overlooking the surrounding landscape.

this is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are Uruk-Hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad." said Max.

The king then went over to look down at Max, adding, "…and I have fought many wars, Master Cooper Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."

After his last remark, Anton went back into the fortress with the others following him. Max seems miffed. Dustin clapped a hand on Max's shoulder as he follows the others back into Helm's Deep.

"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock," Anton said, continuing to stride through the fortress, with the others behind him, "Zeltrax's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown… homes, rebuilt. Within these walls… we will outlast them."

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages!" Trent exclaimed in exasperation, "they come to destroy its people… down to the last child!"

Insulted, Anton rounded on Trent's angrily.

"What would you two have me do?" he asked intensely, gesturing towards the surrounding troops, "look at my men, their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end… as to be worthy of remembrance."

Finishing his statement, Anton started to turn away from Trent and the others. Running out of options, Trent spoke to the king one last time.

"Send out riders, my lord," Trent advised Théoden, earnestly, "you must call for aid."

The king walked up to them and asked contemptuously, "…and who will come? Elves…? Dwarves…?"

We are not so lucky in our friends as you… the old alliances are dead," ended Anton to Trent in frustration.

"Gondor will answer," Trent assured Théoden.

"Gondor?!" Anton asked, growling in fury, "where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon-"

Anton relaxed his nerves for a moment, while everyone watched him in great sympathy with his actions and behavior after all that had happened to him ever since he was controlled by Zeltrax's spells.

Anton climbed up the steps to the main hall towards Danny and ordered, "get the women and children into the caves."

"We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord," Danny reported.

"There is no time," returned Anton, quickly striding away, "war is upon us!"

"Secure the gate," said Danny, turning to the solders that were manning the gates.

But for all their haste in preparation, they were unaware… that the crebain, Zeltrax's personal spy crows, were now flying above them and the fortress… watching their every move…