Chapter Thirteen Beginning of The End
The company reached Helms Deep earlier than they had predicted which was a good thing for Aragorn. It meant he could try to get away from the prying eyes of Legolas whom he knew suspected something had happened between Elen and him. Legolas would not understand why she had left. Aragorn met with Eomer. And even Faramir was there with his brother, both were glad to be side by side fighting, to watch each others backs.
Gimli stood leaning against the breastwork upon the wall. Legolas sat above on the parapet, fingering his bow, his mind on other things, and he was peering out into the gloom. "this is more to my liking,' Gimli said, stamping on the stones. 'Ever my heart rises as we draw near the mountains. There is good rock here. This country has tough bones. I felt them in my feet as we came up from the dike. Give me a year and a hundred of my kin and I would make this a place that armies would break upon like water'. "I do not doubt it, but you are a dwarf, and dwarves are strange folk. I do not like this place, and I shall like it no more by the light of day. But you give us comfort Gimli, and I am glad to have you standing nigh with your stout legs and your hard axe. I wish there were more of you among us. But even more I would give for a hundred good archers of Mirkwood. We shall need them. The Rohirrim have good bowmen after their fashion, but there are too few here, too few". Legolas told the dwarf. "it is dark for archery Legolas, indeed it is time for sleep. I feel the need of it, as never I thought any dwarf could, riding is tiring work. Yet my axe is restless in my hand. Give me a row of orc necks and room to swing and all weariness will fall from me!". Gimli boasted.
Time passed slow. Far down in the valley scattered fires still burned. The hosts of Isengard were advancing in silence now. Their torches could be seen winding up the comb in many lines. Suddenly from the dike yells and screams, and the fierce battle cries of men broke out. Flaming brands appeared over the bink and clustered thickly at the breach. Then they scattered and vanished. Men came galloping back over the field and up the ramp to the gate of Hornburg. The rearguard of the Westfolders had been driven in.
Arrows thick as the rain came whistling over the battlements, and fell clinking and glancing on the stones. Some found their mark. The assault on helm's deep had begun.
Then dawn came, as the night had been fierce with fighting. As Aragorn stood on the battlement watching the bright dawn, Legolas beside him. The elf was silent and did not question Aragorn at all on a matter close to his heart, he knew as the mortal did, that this was not the time for questions. "what is that?" Aragorn asked, narrowing his eyes to the distance. Legolas also strained his eyesight keen as it was.
There suddenly appeared a rider, clad in white, shining on the rising sun. over the low hills the horns were sounding. Behind him, hastening down the long slopes, were a thousand men on foot, their swords were in their hands. Amid them strong a man tall and strong. His shield was red. As he came to the valley's brink, he set to his lips a great black horn and blew a ringing blast. But Aragorn and Legolas found that another rider had taken their attention. This one was dressed in forest green and they recognized her almost immediately. Elen. She was guardian to Gandalf the White, who had returned to them from the death.
It was decided after a surprised greeting and a council that Gandalf would ride to Isengard, to dethrone Saruman if you will. Some were to ride with him. Legolas and Gimli included. Elen stayed silent, Gandalf knew of her plight. And they had taken council together. It had not surprised him what she had done. Or what Aragorn had done to save her. Gandalf felt proud of the king of Gondor. Elen looked at the crowd around her, and noticed anya standing inside the door. She motioned to her to join her on a walk to which she did. "you know'. Elen told her. "I know, I saw your brand on him, but I have not spoken to any one of it, except Aragorn". Anya told her calmly. "and how do you fair with Legolas?" "well enough, I have not seen much of him, with this war, I had never thought of Gondor as my home but now I do, and I miss it elen". "Legolas would take you back to Mirkwood". "perhaps, it is in his heart to travel, he wants to see the seas". "and you anya?, what do you yearn for?" "trueness, something I have not given to you my friend, elen my sister, I love you and would ask that you forgive me for any misdeeds I have done". "It is not your fault you love him anya, it is the way of life, do not worry so". "you are giving life". "I have, he is far from here safe within the realm of the mists, you ask how can this be?, when only 3 days has passed since I was with him?" "elves are not like mortals". Anya said. "the ithil'quessir are not like elves, we are energy, taking human form for a reason, when we give birth it is energy giving life to energy, he is safe". "what is his name?" "he has no name as yet, when the time comes for him to go to Gondor to Aragorn, his father will name him". Elen told her. Anya nodded. "where is Boromir?" elen asked her, changing the subject. "with faramir, on the fields scouting I would imagine, he loves me you know'. "faramir? Yes I know, but he will know trueness when he sees Eowyn". Elen fortold her. Elen saw Legolas come out. "greetings Elen, it was a surprise when we all woke to find that you had left us'. "I had planned to meet Gandalf". She told him. "you knew he was not gone?" Legolas asked. "I knew, he left a piece of himself behind". She answered. "the crystal fragment in your hand, I wondered what that was". Anya said. Elen nodded and saw Aragorn come out. He came to her and greeted her warmly. "elen, I am glad you are here, we need another archer as good as Legolas to fight". Aragorn said, elen was relieved that he did not mention anything personal in front of the others. "I have a quiver full of arrows to use Aragorn, I look forward to slaughtering orcs and uruk hai". He nodded smiling then saw Eomer. "eomer, please come and meet someone dear to my heart, Elen Lokte this is Eomer of Rohan". She smiled at the handsome warrior. He took her hand and kissed it gently. "my lady, a pleasure to meet you, Aragorn mentioned he had traveled with the best archers of the elven realms". Eomer told her.
Shouts drew all their attentions to the far battlement, a few orcs had made it across the walls and were now firing arrows at them, and once they spotted the king of Gondor, they aimed for him. Legolas and elen drew their bows and started to fire back, anya also joined in, Aragorn reached for his bow and also did the same. An orc came out of nowhere and aimed an arrow at Aragorn. They all saw it to late. The arrow being shot, aimed at aragorn's heart, when Elen out of sheer reflex and above all love, put herself in front of the arrow and took it into her own heart. Her body slammed back into Aragorn as he caught her in his arms and lowered her to the ground. Legolas killed the orc - slashing its throat with his knife, then he saw elen and knelt by her as did Anya. "you took it for me Elen" Aragorn told her, his voice taunt with guilt and unhidden love for this maiden who was giving her life for him. "you gave me life for this purpose estel, I give it to you in return". She looked at Legolas. And touched his face. "Legolas, do not feel guilt, I hold nothing against you, you cannot rule your heart, know this and always remember me with love". "I shall always remember you as the maiden of light who has touched me for my whole lifetime". He told her, his face etched with grief. Elen looked at anya. "sister, love and do not be afraid of those around you, you made my life complete". "as did you sister, I shall treasure your gift in my heart always". The maiden of light looked at Aragorn. "my gift to you Aragorn, your son, in the realm of the Mists, they hold him in care until he is old enough to travel to Gondor, he has no name, you will name him, you will know him when you see him for none other carry my mark". She touched the star on his chest. He grasped her hand and clenched it tight against his heart. "maiden, I love you and will always remember you, I hold you dear to my heart, and our son will know his father, and be welcomed in my home always, I will teach him the mortal way and also the elven ways, you will live forever in him". Aragorn swore to her. She smiled and saw Gandalf behind Aragorn looking down at her. In his eyes she saw tears. The wizard knelt down and placed his hand on her chest. "you are the last of your kind elen, rest easy in the halls, you will rejoin us some day, you have given your light to many and have gone beyond all expectations of your people, against all laws of the Ithil', we in return will always remember you, great warrior, guard, protector and above all maiden of light". Gandalf placed a kiss on her forehead. "thank you father". She whispered before looked back into aragorn's eyes when her light diminished and she closed her eyes for the last time. Her grip slackened in aragorn's. "she is gone to us". He told them. "the maiden of light is dead". Gandalf told the people around them. Some were stunned for none had known that the maiden of light was among them. For she was beautiful both in spirit and in body. And the two who had known her intimately were stunned, they would grieve for a long time. Perhaps for the rest of their lives. One immortal for all eternity, and the other mortal for the rest of the years that were left to him.
The company reached Helms Deep earlier than they had predicted which was a good thing for Aragorn. It meant he could try to get away from the prying eyes of Legolas whom he knew suspected something had happened between Elen and him. Legolas would not understand why she had left. Aragorn met with Eomer. And even Faramir was there with his brother, both were glad to be side by side fighting, to watch each others backs.
Gimli stood leaning against the breastwork upon the wall. Legolas sat above on the parapet, fingering his bow, his mind on other things, and he was peering out into the gloom. "this is more to my liking,' Gimli said, stamping on the stones. 'Ever my heart rises as we draw near the mountains. There is good rock here. This country has tough bones. I felt them in my feet as we came up from the dike. Give me a year and a hundred of my kin and I would make this a place that armies would break upon like water'. "I do not doubt it, but you are a dwarf, and dwarves are strange folk. I do not like this place, and I shall like it no more by the light of day. But you give us comfort Gimli, and I am glad to have you standing nigh with your stout legs and your hard axe. I wish there were more of you among us. But even more I would give for a hundred good archers of Mirkwood. We shall need them. The Rohirrim have good bowmen after their fashion, but there are too few here, too few". Legolas told the dwarf. "it is dark for archery Legolas, indeed it is time for sleep. I feel the need of it, as never I thought any dwarf could, riding is tiring work. Yet my axe is restless in my hand. Give me a row of orc necks and room to swing and all weariness will fall from me!". Gimli boasted.
Time passed slow. Far down in the valley scattered fires still burned. The hosts of Isengard were advancing in silence now. Their torches could be seen winding up the comb in many lines. Suddenly from the dike yells and screams, and the fierce battle cries of men broke out. Flaming brands appeared over the bink and clustered thickly at the breach. Then they scattered and vanished. Men came galloping back over the field and up the ramp to the gate of Hornburg. The rearguard of the Westfolders had been driven in.
Arrows thick as the rain came whistling over the battlements, and fell clinking and glancing on the stones. Some found their mark. The assault on helm's deep had begun.
Then dawn came, as the night had been fierce with fighting. As Aragorn stood on the battlement watching the bright dawn, Legolas beside him. The elf was silent and did not question Aragorn at all on a matter close to his heart, he knew as the mortal did, that this was not the time for questions. "what is that?" Aragorn asked, narrowing his eyes to the distance. Legolas also strained his eyesight keen as it was.
There suddenly appeared a rider, clad in white, shining on the rising sun. over the low hills the horns were sounding. Behind him, hastening down the long slopes, were a thousand men on foot, their swords were in their hands. Amid them strong a man tall and strong. His shield was red. As he came to the valley's brink, he set to his lips a great black horn and blew a ringing blast. But Aragorn and Legolas found that another rider had taken their attention. This one was dressed in forest green and they recognized her almost immediately. Elen. She was guardian to Gandalf the White, who had returned to them from the death.
It was decided after a surprised greeting and a council that Gandalf would ride to Isengard, to dethrone Saruman if you will. Some were to ride with him. Legolas and Gimli included. Elen stayed silent, Gandalf knew of her plight. And they had taken council together. It had not surprised him what she had done. Or what Aragorn had done to save her. Gandalf felt proud of the king of Gondor. Elen looked at the crowd around her, and noticed anya standing inside the door. She motioned to her to join her on a walk to which she did. "you know'. Elen told her. "I know, I saw your brand on him, but I have not spoken to any one of it, except Aragorn". Anya told her calmly. "and how do you fair with Legolas?" "well enough, I have not seen much of him, with this war, I had never thought of Gondor as my home but now I do, and I miss it elen". "Legolas would take you back to Mirkwood". "perhaps, it is in his heart to travel, he wants to see the seas". "and you anya?, what do you yearn for?" "trueness, something I have not given to you my friend, elen my sister, I love you and would ask that you forgive me for any misdeeds I have done". "It is not your fault you love him anya, it is the way of life, do not worry so". "you are giving life". "I have, he is far from here safe within the realm of the mists, you ask how can this be?, when only 3 days has passed since I was with him?" "elves are not like mortals". Anya said. "the ithil'quessir are not like elves, we are energy, taking human form for a reason, when we give birth it is energy giving life to energy, he is safe". "what is his name?" "he has no name as yet, when the time comes for him to go to Gondor to Aragorn, his father will name him". Elen told her. Anya nodded. "where is Boromir?" elen asked her, changing the subject. "with faramir, on the fields scouting I would imagine, he loves me you know'. "faramir? Yes I know, but he will know trueness when he sees Eowyn". Elen fortold her. Elen saw Legolas come out. "greetings Elen, it was a surprise when we all woke to find that you had left us'. "I had planned to meet Gandalf". She told him. "you knew he was not gone?" Legolas asked. "I knew, he left a piece of himself behind". She answered. "the crystal fragment in your hand, I wondered what that was". Anya said. Elen nodded and saw Aragorn come out. He came to her and greeted her warmly. "elen, I am glad you are here, we need another archer as good as Legolas to fight". Aragorn said, elen was relieved that he did not mention anything personal in front of the others. "I have a quiver full of arrows to use Aragorn, I look forward to slaughtering orcs and uruk hai". He nodded smiling then saw Eomer. "eomer, please come and meet someone dear to my heart, Elen Lokte this is Eomer of Rohan". She smiled at the handsome warrior. He took her hand and kissed it gently. "my lady, a pleasure to meet you, Aragorn mentioned he had traveled with the best archers of the elven realms". Eomer told her.
Shouts drew all their attentions to the far battlement, a few orcs had made it across the walls and were now firing arrows at them, and once they spotted the king of Gondor, they aimed for him. Legolas and elen drew their bows and started to fire back, anya also joined in, Aragorn reached for his bow and also did the same. An orc came out of nowhere and aimed an arrow at Aragorn. They all saw it to late. The arrow being shot, aimed at aragorn's heart, when Elen out of sheer reflex and above all love, put herself in front of the arrow and took it into her own heart. Her body slammed back into Aragorn as he caught her in his arms and lowered her to the ground. Legolas killed the orc - slashing its throat with his knife, then he saw elen and knelt by her as did Anya. "you took it for me Elen" Aragorn told her, his voice taunt with guilt and unhidden love for this maiden who was giving her life for him. "you gave me life for this purpose estel, I give it to you in return". She looked at Legolas. And touched his face. "Legolas, do not feel guilt, I hold nothing against you, you cannot rule your heart, know this and always remember me with love". "I shall always remember you as the maiden of light who has touched me for my whole lifetime". He told her, his face etched with grief. Elen looked at anya. "sister, love and do not be afraid of those around you, you made my life complete". "as did you sister, I shall treasure your gift in my heart always". The maiden of light looked at Aragorn. "my gift to you Aragorn, your son, in the realm of the Mists, they hold him in care until he is old enough to travel to Gondor, he has no name, you will name him, you will know him when you see him for none other carry my mark". She touched the star on his chest. He grasped her hand and clenched it tight against his heart. "maiden, I love you and will always remember you, I hold you dear to my heart, and our son will know his father, and be welcomed in my home always, I will teach him the mortal way and also the elven ways, you will live forever in him". Aragorn swore to her. She smiled and saw Gandalf behind Aragorn looking down at her. In his eyes she saw tears. The wizard knelt down and placed his hand on her chest. "you are the last of your kind elen, rest easy in the halls, you will rejoin us some day, you have given your light to many and have gone beyond all expectations of your people, against all laws of the Ithil', we in return will always remember you, great warrior, guard, protector and above all maiden of light". Gandalf placed a kiss on her forehead. "thank you father". She whispered before looked back into aragorn's eyes when her light diminished and she closed her eyes for the last time. Her grip slackened in aragorn's. "she is gone to us". He told them. "the maiden of light is dead". Gandalf told the people around them. Some were stunned for none had known that the maiden of light was among them. For she was beautiful both in spirit and in body. And the two who had known her intimately were stunned, they would grieve for a long time. Perhaps for the rest of their lives. One immortal for all eternity, and the other mortal for the rest of the years that were left to him.