(Author : Jennzah)
the elves, the dwarf, and the two men made their way ever closer to Helms Deep. They stopped for the night, and Aragorn thought they would reach their destination by the next afternoon. They all sat round the fire, quietly. It had been too quiet since Jairah had told them that they must go to Helms Deep. She was the only one, outside of Legolas, who was light of heart.
Aragorn looked at the girl-elf in amazement. Just a day before she'd been on her deathbed, and now she was so full of life, it seemed that her skin glowed. But then again, he reminded himself, elves are made of different stuff than men are. He knew this well, for his own beloved was an Elf. He thought of Arwen, so far away in Rivendell, and fingered the necklace around his throat. He said a silent prayer in the hopes of evil dying out soon, that he might return to Rivendell and live happily.
Boromir sat next to him, his mind toiling over Leila. He could not quell the thoughts he'd had before, he worried for her safety. Was she on her way to Mordor? He hoped that something had turned her back, anything.
Gimli was sleeping. The elves had laughed at him, as he fell right asleep. His poor short legs had carried him far, and though he was stout and sturdy, he was still tired.
As for the elves, they sat whispering to eachother in their language, their gazes locked on eachother. Legolas wanted to know about Gandalf, about what he had done to heal Jairah. He felt in his debt.
"How did he know, Jairah? We all thought he'd fallen in Moria." He looked at her intently.
"There is more to Gandalf, it seems, than we knew." She replied, smiling. "He did indeed fall at Moria. But the Balrog did not get him. He is stronger. He is immortal. How happy Frodo will be when he finds this out."
Legolas reached out and played with a strand of Jairah's fair hair. "How did he know you were dying?"
"I do not know." She said, the smile fading from her face. "Gandalf is a very powerful wizard. When i heard his voice calling to me, i was half dead, i believe. The poison had begun to take my mind. It was not me who lifted myself up off the ground, nor was it me who walked to the blinding light that i saw. It was Gandalf, guiding me. I believe that he had been following us, magically, ever since we left Lothlorien."
"And how did he heal you? What did he do?" Legolas asked.
"That I could not tell you, my love. When i came to myself, Gandalf was standing over me, smiling. And i was as shocked as anything to see him. And he told me not to ask questions. He told me that Merry and Pippin were alright, and were on their way to Helm's Deep, guided by an Ent. I do not know how they escaped the grasp of Saruman's army. He said for me to take the horse, and ride as fast as i could back to where the Fellowship was. And hence, lead you to Helms Deep. He is waiting for us there, i suppose. From there, i could not tell you the plan. Gandalf will advise us."
She smiled at him again, and then they both were quiet. They could sense the fear and toil in the others.
Meanwhile, over on the other side of Helms Deep, Merry and Pippin had just finished telling Leila about the Orcs. She shuddered. But all was well, they were fine and they were on their way to see Gandalf.
She told them of Jairah, and how she was poisoned and dying when last she saw her, when she departed to go with Frodo and Sam over to Mordor.
"But the Elf Siendar, he said she would live, because she is strong. But i do not know what to think. If they could not find a cure for the poison, she must surely be dead by now." Leila dropped her head in defeat. Her feelings of missing Boromir were also coming into the light as well.
They were all silent for a moment, thinking of the warrior elf who'd fought so bravely, when Treebeard cut in.
"No use crying over the fallen unless you know if they've fallen or not! Keep heart, she may well be alive!"
So the hobbits, and Leila and Treebeard all took rest, waiting for the next day when they would reach Helm's Deep.