The column of refugees were still walking, away from the danger the Rohirrim Soldiers were fighting (A.K.A Warg Riders) , as they suddenly saw something in the distance that raised their hopes "At last !" "Helm's Deep !" "There it is, Helm's Deep !" "We're safe !" were the exclamation of joy coming from the waves of people whose pace quickened to reach their fortress which would provide them safety.

Eowyn was walking alonside Freda, Eothain and Ioreth and the quatuor stopped in their tracks as they looked off in the distance at Helm's Deep . With a smile of hope and happiness, they followed the group of refugees who entered the fortress after two Rohirrim soldiers opened the gate. Inside Helm's Deep, more refugees were there and it was easy to understand that those people were there before the people of Edoras.

As Eowyn and the children walked in, in all direction we could see refugees and soldiers packing up together , standing or sitting on the walls of the fortress. Speaking of the fortress : there was the outer wall that stood high above the gate, stairs to the left past it that led up to the inner courtyard , and then some steps leading to the insides of the place. On each sides of those steps were statues: one mostly destroyed on the left while the other was intact. As for the wall that was running along the side of the fortress, it was for defending a massive open area behind it where many more refugees could be seen as a small stream of water was going through it .

As the refugees were installing, some Rohirrim Soldiers were looking around with watchful eyes for more people or for potential danger. Freda was walking beside her brother but then gasped when she saw someone she missed "Mama !" she cried out as she rushed toward her with her brother "Eothain ! Freda !" the woman said in pure joy as she fell on her knees as the two kids hugged her tightly.

Ioreth watched the reunion with a smile but ,deep down, she was a bit jealous. She didn't have a parentel figure because one her mother died giving birth to her and two because her father was 'mean' to her. But she quickly shook her head to get rid of those thoughts to help Eowyn as the King's niece was organizing the food supplies that they possessed " Where is the rest ?" she asked loudly and an old man responded calmly "This is all we could save, my lady..."

Ioreth was looking at the supplies and internally groaned : they were bread and water in abundance but otherwise it was all. She snapped out of her trance when she heard Eowyn's voice ordering to someone "Take it to the caves !" But then another voice caught their attention along with everyone present "Make way for the King ! Make way for Théoden ! Make way for the King !"

During the last part, some Rohirrim Soldiers (some of the ones who fought the Warg Riders) entered the place. At hearing those words, Eowyn ran ahead with little Ioreth behind her as a crowd was gathering around the newcomers who were dismounting their horses. Theoden was among the Riders. "So few...So few of you have returned..." The King's niece commented as she quickly looked at her liege and his soldiers. Theoden looked at her saying nothing about this while looking away but then he looked back at her "Our people are safe...We have paid for it with many lives..." The King of Rohan responded softy but gravely as he walked back to help Gamling to dismount his horse.

While Eowyn was distracted, Ioreth saw Legolas and Gimli and she was a bit worried to not see Kopa and Vitani with them. A few seconds later however, a big smile grew on her face when the two Lions appeared. At their sigh, some refugees (the ones who weren't from Edoras) gasped in fright but the little girl ignored them as she ran toward the two felines shouting in joy "Auntie Tani ! Uncle Kopa !"

"Ioreth !" The Beige Lioness said in equal tone the little brown haired girl wrapped her arms around her right front-leg into a hug. Using her other paw, Zira's daughter gently rubbed Ioreth's back while nuzzling the top of her head, purring. Kopa , for his part, smiled at the scene before remembering what the little one said a bit earlier "Uncle Kopa huh ? I think I can live with that..." he said to himself with an amused shrug. Ioreth then rushed out to hug him and he gladly returned the gesture.

At the same time, Gimli was approaching Eowyn with a long face "My Lady..." those words caused the Blond Woman to turn around to face him. She became worried when she saw the sad look on his face and take a quick look at the group before asking still worriedly " Lord Aragorn, where is he ?" The Dwarf's answer was the last thing she wanted to hear "He fell..."

With a look of pure shock and disbelief, Eowyn turned her head to look at her Uncle who seemed to sense this because he turned to look at her. The two looked at each other for a few seconds as sadness was writing on his face before he lowered his head down as he turned away to walk up the stairs. Eowyn ,herself, was now in complete shock as she turned away before sitting down on a closed hamper.

"Mr Aragorn is dead ?" Ioreth asked Vitani who looked back at her with sadness "We don't know for sure..." The little girl looked at Kopa with wide eyes of confusion and the Brown Maned Lion said in a soft tone "He fell from a cliff but we didn't have the chance to check if he was still alive… " "Why ?" was her question as she titled her head to the side. "King Theoden said that the Wargs would return so we had to leave..." Kopa responded with a soft growl.

"Is that true Auntie ?" Ioreth asked the Beige Lioness who nodded in response. Vitani then looked around before asking "Where are Eothain and Freda ?" "Oh yes they found their Mom !" Ioreth responded with happiness but it was clear it was forced. "Really ? That's great ! Aren't you happy for them ?" Kopa asked her with a frown as he had caught up her forced joy.

"Of course I am ! But…" Ioreth paused unsure of what to say next. Vitani listened and soon realized what the problem was : Ioreth was jealous of Freda and Eothain. After all, they had something she didn't : a mother. Gnelty, Zira's daughter used her left front-leg to pull the little girl against her chest into a comforting hug "Its okay little one… You don't have to say more I understand~"

Ioreth buried her head into the Lioness's furry chest whispering softy "Thank you Auntie~". Smiling warmly, Vitani nuzzled the top of the child's head, whispering comforting words. Kopa stood there watching the scene with a warm smile on his face but then his thought went to Aragorn as he gazed up at the sky before praying silently "Oh Great Kings of the Past… Make sure Aragorn is alive..."

Sometimes later, from the Deepening Wall, Theoden's voice echoed in the air " Draw all our forces behind the wall ! Bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround !" Beside the King of Rohan was Gamling who asked in a worried tone "What of those who cannot fight my lord ? The women and children ?" "Get them into the caves !" Theoden responded firmly as he and his men climbed up the stairs who led to a black area called 'the Deep'. Then Theoden added still in a calm but determined tone " Saruman's arm would have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here !"

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"Helm's Deep has but one weakness... It's outer wall is solid rock for except for a small culvert in space, which is little more than a drain ! "

In Orthanc, Saruman waspouring a bottle full of small black rocks into a big, circular container . Beside him was none other than Grima Wormtongue who asked him with confusion clear on his ugly face "How ? How can fire undo stone ? What kind of device could bring down the wall ?" As he questioned Saruman, the dark haired man was holding a candle holder as he approached the strange container.

However, before he could get too close with the fire, the Wizard quickly grabbed his hand before pushing it away from the container. " If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall !" Saruman explained as he walked away with Grima behind him who said back "Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning...thousands...to storm the keep !"

"Tens of thousands !" The dark haired man wasn't prepared by the Wizard's answer and stood there with disbelief before saying in the same tone " But my lord there is no such force..." However he stopped in his sentence at the sight before him : as he and Saruman were on the balcony, Grima was looking with wide eyes at an endless sea of heavily armored and armed Uruk-hai gathering around the toward .

Thousands of pikes and Flags with White Hands reached up in the air as all of the Uruk-hai repeatedly slam their pikes down on the ground ,chanting out. The dark haired man was speechless at the colossal army before his eyes. Then Saruman raised his hand slightly which caused all the gathering Uruk-hai to stop what they were doing to look up at him.

Then with a booming voice, the Wizard started to spoke "A new power is rising…. Its victory is at hand..." The crowd cheered , slamming their pikes up and down against the ground like earlier before being stopped by a raised hand from Saruman who added in the same booming voice that earlier "This night…the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan ! March to Helm's Deep ! Leave none alive !" then he yelled out while his hands two simple words "TO WAR !"

The gathered army of Uruk-hair roared in response before walking away toward Helm's Deep , eager to kill their enemies and to cause destruction. A single tear rolled down Grima's cheek as it looked like he was actually feeling bad now for the people of Rohan. Saruman ,however, was standing there with a cold and stern face and it was evident he had to regret for what he was doing as he said in a cold tone "There will be no dawn, for Men !"

At the same time, in the Forest of Fangorn, Treebeard was walking over a tall rocky hill with Pippin and Merry on his 'shoulders'. "Look ! There's smoke to the south !" Pippin shouted as he noticed the rising pillar of smoke going into the air. "There is always smoke rising...from Isengard these days... " The Ent responded back which caught Merry's attention.

"Isengard ?" The Hobbit mumbled to himself as he suddenly began to climb higher , trying to get a view of the place. Pippin followed him while Treebeard was still talking "There was a time...when Saruman would walk in my woods. But now, he has a mind of metal...and wheels. He no longer cares for growing things ..."

Reaching Treebeard's top, the two Shire-Folks were able to see over the top of the trees when something caught their attention :t a black mass of movement heading out away from Isengard as horns could be heard from their position "What is it?" Pippin asked loudly and his comrade responded worriedly "...It's Saruman's army. The war has started !" The two of them stood there in shock , unable to look away.

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Back to Helm's Deep, Vitani and Kopa were resting against one another with Ioreth sitting with her back pressed against the Lioness's back. The little girl had a content smile on her face and Vitani couldn't help but feeling the same as she gazed down at the human child with warmth in her eyes.

Kopa , for his part, was also feeling attached to the little girl and was a bit angry when he heard about what her father did to her but thankfully the man was dead so he wouldn't hurt Ioreth anymore. He was smiling at the two girls when a commotion caught his attention. Some of the refugees seemed in shock about something and were whispering to each other but what caught his attention was a particular sentence coming from a woman " He is alive !"

Hearing this, the Brown Maned Lion looked at his mate who seemed to have heard the comment as well because she looked back at him with hope clear in her eyes. Then his attention turned away from his mate when the sound of a coming horse was heard. The two Felines gasped in surprise and joy when a familiar man appeared : despise his bruises and that he looked battered… they recognized him instantly.

But before they could welcome their friend, Gimli was making his way through the crowd shouting loudly "Where is he! Where is he! Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him!" Then the Dwarf appeared and looked up at Aragorn before saying with relief " You are the luckiest, the cunningest, and most reckless man I ever knew !" then he embraced the Man who hugged him back as the Dwarf added "Bless you laddie..."

But then Aragorn pulled away from the embrace looking down at his friend before asking hurriedly " Gimli, where is the king ?" Vitani , who was smiling at the reunion, was now frowning : while she was happy that Strider was alive and well , she couldn't help but having a bad feeling in her guts because of the look on his face. One that means trouble ahead.

Gimli looked towards his right directing Aragorn to where Theoden probably was at the moment. The Ranger patted his friend's shoulder before turning around so he could climb up the stairs… only to end up face to face with Kopa who arbored a smile on his face "You're not easy to kill you know that ?" the Brown Maned Lion asked with a grin before pulling the man into a hug which he returned.

Vitani then came over before punching the Ranger on the shoulder "Don't even scare us like that again , Aragorn son of Arathorn !" she said with a glare which could possibly melt ice but then she softened as she added "Its good to see you again !" Strider smiled at the two , rubbing the shoulder where the Lioness punched as he said "Its good to see you again… But I need to see the King Its important !" "What's going on ?" Kopa asked him with concern but the man didn't respond as he climbed the stairs.

"Why do I have the feeling something bad will happen ?" Vitani muttered to herself but it was loud enough for Kopa to hear. The Male Lion sighed deeply in annoyance before inquiring softy "Come on… We should follow him..." The Beige Lioness nodded but before she could follow Isildur's heir, Ioreth stepped in "Can I come too ?"

Vitani nodded as she carefully picked up the little girl with her jaws before settling her on her back. When she was sure Ioreth was not about to fall, the Lioness climbed up the stairs quickly followed by Kopa who was wondering what Aragorn was about to say. Soon the two found their friend standing before Legolas who just gave him back the collar Arwen gave him.

The Ranger muttered something in Elvish (probably a 'thank you') to the Blond Elf before walking toward large doors. He pushed them open revealing the King of Rohan who looked at the newcomer with wide eyes of surprise along with those who were with him.

Some times later…

" A great host, you say ?" Theoden asked with his back turned away from the others. Gimli, Legolas ,Kopa ,Vitani , Ioreth and some Rohirrim Soldiers (Gamling among them) were on the room and all had heard about Aragorn's report. Kopa was rubbing his head with his paw , groaning in pure annoyance : from what his human friend said, Saruman's army was on its way toward Helm's Deep. Beside him, Vitani had pressed her right paw around Ioreth pulling her closer to her chest in a protective manner. The child in question seemed scared of the news.

The short silence was broken by Aragorn who added in a neutral tone "All Isengard is emptied..." "How many ?" Theoden asked him without turning around. "Ten thousand strong at least..." was the Ranger's answer. Everyone in the room became shocked by the news and Kopa and Vitani grunted/gasped in absolute surprise by those words.

Even Theoden seemed shocked because he turned around to face the Ranger with a look of pure shock on his face " Ten thousand ?!" Aragorn, still calm despise the news he just gave, added still with a neutral expression " It is an army bred for a single purpose..." Strider began to say which caused the King to look at him pointedly as he added "...to destroy the world of Men..."

Theoden looked more shocked by those words and became more worried as Aragorn finished talking " They will be here by nightfall !" The King of Rohan moved his eyes from side to side still harboring a worried look on his face before suddenly turning around and walking away "Let them come!" he declared in a in-averred tone without stopping.

Kopa and Vitani watched their friends following the King and both of them sighed deeply as they slowly made their way out . Outside the Hall, Theoden , followed by Legolas , Gimli and Aragorn was walking toward the Main Gate before ordering to Gamling " I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall !" The Rohirrim Commander nodded in head before walking away. Walking towards the gate , some Rohirrim soldiers was seen prepping some wooden beams to reinforce the main gate as Theoden and the trio walked out in front of the gate.

"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg !" Theoden remarked to the group before Gimli said those words "This is no rabble of mindless orcs…. These are Uruk-hai... Their armor is thick and their shields broad…" The King turned around to look at him before saying back calmly " I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf... I know how to defend my own keep..."

Then they resumed their walks to the inner wall of the fortress " They will break upon this fortress like water on rock... Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before... Crops can be resown... Homes rebuilt... Within these walls, we will outlast them !" was the King's words. However, Aragorn was not having the same thoughts "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages... They come to destroy its people... Down to the last child !"

Theoden turned around to look at the Ranger with anger in his eyes as he grabbed the man by his shirt , pulling him forward " What would you have me do ? 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 !" as he finished talking, the King of Rohan released his grip on Aragorn's shirt before walking away.

But then he stopped when Strider added "Send out riders, my lord... You must call for aid !" Theoden walked back toward him before saying calmly "And who will come... Elves? Dwarves? Lions ? We are not so lucky in our friends as you... The old alliances are dead..."

Aragorn responded by saying "Gondor will answer..." it seemed like the worst thing to say because Theoden became angry "Gondor?! Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us !? Where was Gon-" But then King calmed down before saying in a much calmer way "No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone..."

He was about to leave when a new voice echoed behind him "Your Majesty… If I had know of this threat sooner…. I would have send a message to my father and asking him to help..." Theoden turned around and found himself face-to-face with Kopa. "Its too late for that young Lion… We don't have the time… For now… we must prepare for battle !" The King said before walking away leaving Kopa and his comrades behind.

Kopa sighed as he looked at his friends " The worst is that he is right !" The group nodded in response as Theoden was talking with Gamling as another Rohirrim rushed up the stairs "Get the women and children into the caves !" The King ordered sternly but the Rohirrim Commander mumbled back in surprise " We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord-" "There is no time. War is upon us !" Theoden interrupted him as they walked off to the Keep.

Aragorn and the rest of his comrade were sharpening their weapons or preparing themselves for the coming battle with Saruman's army. Vitani was with Eowyn with didn't looked really happy to be ordered to stay in the caves with women and children. Eothain's and Freda's mother, Morwen, thanked the Beige Lioness for taking care of her children for her and Zira's daughter nodded back in respect. Vitani and Eowyn then chatted with each other about the coming brawl.

(To be continued…)

This story is from Vitani and Kopa's point of view (in majority) so I cut some scene such as Faramir or the Entmoot. Pleasure don't be angry with me for this and I hope you enjoy 'Lions Of Middle-Earth' so far. Oh and comment if you want to see Ioreth as Vitani and Kopa's daughter !