Thank you for your reviews. I really enjoy writing the jealousy between Legolas and Éomer; it has a lot of potential for my creativity. I appreciate that people enjoy the jealousy, because usually Legolas is perfect, not that that's a bad thing, but I want to show that he has some bad qualities too. This chapter is a little intense and graphic, so be warned now.
Chapter 10. Helm's Deep
Éomer watched Aníron as the company rode north. He could not help but be enamored of this beautiful elf lady. She was graceful, and she seemed an angel clad in silver amongst the greys and browns of the other riders. Even as she rode, a light seemed to shine from her, her star-bright hair flowing behind her in the wind. He would do anything to win this lady's heart, but there was one large obstacle.
Legolas was aware of the horse lord's eyes on Aníron. His blood boiled whenever he thought of Éomer, and he could not bear the thought of his beloved with that mortal man. Then a voice spoke in the back of his head, 'Remember your days in Lórien, you and she spent many blissful days together. Your love is deep and strong, one man cannot take it from you.' Legolas relaxed and softly began to sing of Lothlórien, for his memories of the days he had spent there had returned and he was remembering the bliss he had felt, wishing it could have never ended.
Aníron heard Legolas' song and sighed, remembering the bliss they had in Lórien. She smiled and began to sing the ballad of Nimrodel once more in memory of that day. Éomer was confused, he did not understand anything that the two elves were saying, but he dearly wished to know. Aragorn, who was riding beside him, smiled at the two elves, but then, noticed Éomer's confusion. 'What troubles you, Éomer?' he asked the horse lord. Éomer turned to him replying, 'I do not know what they are saying, but I would like to know.' Aragorn laughed, telling him that they were simply singing a ballad and there was nothing to be worried about.
The company made camp just after dark. They had been riding for several hours and many were exhausted by the endless ride. Gimli had made a small fire for the company to sit around and Aragorn, Éomer, and Gimli were sitting around it talking and eating. Gimli looked up to see that Legolas and Aníron were nowhere to be seen and he alerted Aragorn to the matter. Aragorn was not worried, however, and he continued with his meal. Éomer stood, and walked to find the elves.
Not far away, Legolas and Aníron stood together on a hill, looking up at the stars. Legolas turned to Aníron, gazing at her and drinking in her beauty. 'Renech i lu i erui govannem?' He murmured in her ear, 'Nauthannem i ned ol reniannen.' Aníron looked up into Legolas' eyes and whispered, 'Melamin.' He bent down and kissed her gently, both of them shining in the moonlight. Aníron pulled back slowly, 'We should go back,' she said, not wanting to leave, but knowing she must. 'You go on,' Legolas said, 'I will follow soon.' He kissed her brow and she walked towards camp only to meet...
'Éomer!' She cried in surprise, 'What are you doing here?' A look of relief played on Éomer's face as he found her, 'We were wondering where you were, lady.' His hand reached out and touched her face, and his finger traced the contours of her face. Aníron moved her head away; he was making her feel uncomfortable. This action jerked Éomer out of a daze, 'Come, I will lead you back to camp,' he said offering his arm to her. She took his arm and he led her back to the light of the fire, mentally kicking himself for what he had done.
The next morning, the riders were packed and set to ride by dawn. Aníron had told Legolas about Éomer's actions the night before, and the entire company was sullen. As they rode, there were no songs or laughter, and barely anyone spoke. The air seemed to grow more and more heavy as they rode closer to Isengard. A weary man came and spoke to Théoden, urging them to go on to Helm's Gate. Gandalf left soon after these words were spoken, calling to the company to expect him at Helm's Gate. 'What does he mean by that?' Aníron asked Aragorn, her voice troubled by this news. 'I know not,' he replied, 'but I will await him nonetheless.' The company turned from the road to Isengard, heading southward to Helm's Deep. They rode on, night falling around them, not stopping until they reached Helm's Gate.
Soon after, the company stood posted at certain points on the Deeping Wall, helping to guard it against the inevitable attack. The skies were dark, and Aníron could sense a storm coming, she fingered her bow restlessly. Gimli noticed her restlessness, 'Nervous my lady?' He asked with an evil grin, 'Do not worry, the first battle is always the worst. But you have nothing to fear when I am around.' Aníron turned to him with a slight smirk, 'I will remember to remind you of that, sir dwarf.' Gimli looked shocked and insulted at this statement, and Legolas was finding it hard not to laugh.
Time passed by slowly, and Aníron was growing more and more tense by the minute. She did not like the feeling that was growing inside her mind, and she did not wish to linger in this place any longer. Suddenly, a great cry erupted from the dike ahead of them, and flames could be seen in the darkness, along with screams of pain. 'It is not long before that force comes to us, I fear,' Legolas said to Aníron and she nodded, watching the destruction taking place.
A little after midnight, the sky was utterly black, and the foreboding in Aníron's heart grew to its peak. Suddenly lightning flashed, and it was clear to all that the battle had begun. Creeping figures rushed towards the wall and arrows rained upon the wall. The sound of horns being blown echoed through the night, and then the rain started to fall. Then, the enemy halted, no answering arrow came from the wall above them, any challenge of battle echoed from its heights. Then, the answer came, arrows flew from the heights and stones fell from slings. The enemy retreated, but then returned with incredible force, and trumpets sounded once more from the height of the wall.
Aníron and Legolas were firing arrows faster than the eye could see. The other archers on the wall were amazed by the skill of the two elves. Their movements were fluid and they were completely calm amid the chaos around them. Gimli had gone temporarily missing, but they could not worry about him, for they had larger problems to deal with. The supply of arrows was low and they could not continue to stay upon the wall forever. Gimli returned axe in hand patting the blade, 'Two orcs I have felled,' he announced happily. The elves looked at him, eyebrows raised, 'I must make my count at least twenty,' Legolas said, 'but that is only a few leaves in the forest.' Aníron spoke with a laugh, 'A few indeed! My count must be at least thirty or more, but my supply of arrows is running low.' She sped off down the wall, pausing every now and then to pick up discarded arrows, placing them in her empty quiver.
Legolas and Gimli stared after her, somewhat shocked and impressed. They then turned back to the business at hand. Legolas ran in the direction that Aníron had gone, and came upon a large group of orc fighting to gain entrance behind the gate, he drew his long silver knife, and leapt into the battle.
Éomer was fighting alongside Aragorn, his sword flashing as he beheaded an orc that had come up behind Aragorn. He turned and saw a large orc coming straight for him, sword raised, when it stopped and fell face forward with an arrow sticking out of it's skull. Aníron lowered her bow, a disgusted look on her face as she examined the orc. 'What a waste of an arrow,' she said shaking her head and drawing her sword. Éomer looked at her in shock, 'Thank...you.' He managed to stutter. She looked at him with a smile, but then turned and ran an orc through with her silver blade. He continued to watch her as she went sword on sword with an orc in front of her. He had never seen anyone fight like that, such fluid movements and carefree style. A cry from Aragorn alerted him that there was still a battle going on and he quickly slew an orc that had been slinking towards them, mace in hand.
Legolas made his way towards Aragorn during a lull in the battle. He and Éomer were cleaning the blackened blood off of their swords, and sitting on a large rock. 'Have you seen Aníron?' Legolas called to them in concern. A hooded figure who had also been sitting on the rock turned their head towards his voice, 'Legolas? Is anything wrong?' Aníron drew down her hood, her face had a long cut on one cheek, and her hair was wet and muddy, but it was still her. He smiled and ran over to Aníron, embracing her in relief.
Aragorn cleared his throat loudly, startling Legolas who let go of Aníron quickly, blood rising in his cheeks from embarrassment. Aragorn could not help smirking at him, 'We are in the middle of a battle, and though this is a touching moment, we must not tarry.' At this time, Gimli appeared and the company separated, once more going to battle.
Some time later, Aragorn stole his way back up to the stair, where Legolas was sitting with a bent bow and a single arrow. As the two ran up the stairs Legolas called to Aragorn, 'Have you seen Gimli or Aníron?' The elf's voice was strained with worry. 'Alas, we were swept apart in battle,' Aragorn replied, 'but fear not, Éomer was with them and he will not let them fall.' Legolas was not relieved at this news, he did not trust Éomer with Aníron, and he feared for her safety.
Aníron stood next to Éomer, wielding her sword against the orcs that faced her. They were slightly outnumbered and had been cornered with only a few other men and Gimli. Suddenly, a large host of men came to their aid and Éomer leapt forward, followed closely by Gimli and Aníron. Gimli swung his axe, beheading several orcs in one blow. Aníron had stocked up on arrows that she had taken from dead orcs, and was now firing them rapidly, felling orcs that dared to come within firing range.
Gimli had taken a blow to the head, and was now bleeding badly, and yet he still continued to fight. Aníron fired her last arrow into a large orc that was about to decapitate Éomer. She put away her damaged bow, and drew her sword, once again going sword on sword with an orc. Yellow eyes met golden-green as she glared into the eyes of the orc she was fighting. Their swords were locked and she was beginning to falter. She shoved the creature backward with her last ounce of strength and drove her sword through its chest. Suddenly, she felt excruciating pain in her left shoulder and turned to see a small dagger sticking out of it. She pulled it out, examining the tip. Good, it was not poisoned.
Blood was seeping through Aníron's left shoulder, and she was beginning to feel faint from blood loss. She did not see the orc coming, sword raised and then it hit her, pain over pain, it was excruciating. She sucked in air with a hiss and looked down. There was a large slash on the right side of hr body, blood was pouring from it and she could almost see her ribs. Right there she almost fainted, but Éomer caught her and held her up.
Éomer looked at the elf maiden in his arms and almost began to cry. Her eyes were beginning to cloud over in pain, and her clothes were covered in ruby blood. She looked up at him, her eyes still holding a little strength. 'Éomer,' Aníron gasped, tears pouring down her face 'You have been like a brother to me, but please do something for me.' Éomer was crying now as well, 'I would do anything for you,' he replied quietly. She smiled at him, tears in her half-closed eyes, 'Please tell Legolas that I love him.' Her eyes closed and she went limp in his arms. Éomer was heartbroken; he did not know what to do. 'We must get to the caverns!' He called to the remaining men and the dwarf that stood around him. The remaining company fled into the caverns, Gimli ran beside Éomer, in tears, for he had seen Aníron's body in Éomer's arms.
The sound of a horn echoed throughout the Helm and Théoden rode from Helm's Gate with his riders. In dawn's first light they rode, bathed in the light, and no orc could withstand them. Then they sat silent on their horses gazing at the Deeping Comb, instead of green grasses; there now stood a mighty forest. Saruman's forces were trapped between the forest and the riders, both of which they feared. Then over the ridge, a rider in white came followed by one thousand men on foot. 'Behold the White Rider!' Aragorn cried, 'Gandalf is come again!' Saruman's forces were panicked and ran into the forest from the army that had just come over the mountain, but they did not return from the forest, and were never seen again.
Legolas and Aragorn rode forward to meet Gandalf along with Théoden, when a great shout was heard coming from the Dike. Éomer walked ahead of all of those coming from the Dike, with Gimli beside him, a linen bandage stained with blood upon his brow. Éomer saw Gandalf, Théoden, and Aragorn, but his eyes rested on Legolas as he walked towards them. Legolas dismounted, and ran to meet them. 'Gimli! You are alive!' He called running to meet his friend. He then looked to Éomer sensing something was amiss. 'Éomer,' he said quietly, 'Where is Aníron?' The horse lord bowed his head, and the sudden realization hit Legolas like an arrow to his heart.
Silent tears streamed down Legolas' face, and Aragorn and Gimli comforted him in the dawn's light at Helm's Deep.