DISCLAIMER: OTHER THAN LORIEN, I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY, THEY ALL BELONG TO THE FANTASTICALLY TALENTED J.R.R. TOLKIEN AND I HAVE MERELY BORROWED THEM FOR THE SAKE OF A STORY. I, MYSELF, COULD NOT COME UP WITH A STORY SUCH AS LORD OF THE RINGS OR CREATE ANY OF THE CHARACTERS WITHIN THESE STORIES, SO I DO NOT PRETEND TO OWN ANY OF THEM. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE STORY AND AGAIN, ONLY LORIEN IS MY CHARACTER.

They reached Helms Deep and entered into its walls. Lorien dropped down from Shadow and took him to the stables. As she walked back down to Legolas, Eowyn ran up to her and saw that she carried Aragorn's sword.

'Where is Aragorn? Why do you carry his sword?'

'The Lord Aragorn, he, he fell whilst we fought the Worgs. I, he, I found his sword. It means a lot to my people. It meant a lot to Aragorn. I am sorry, I have no right to be so upset.' Lorien felt the tears run down her face and wiped them away quickly.

'You are allowed to be upset, did you know Aragorn well?'

'Forgive me Eowyn, but I do not wish to talk.' Lorien ran down the hall way and up to the outer walls of Helms Deep. There she looked out over the land, looking for a sign of some hope.

Legolas saw Eowyn and approached her.

'Have you seen the Lady Lorien?'

'She went off up the hallway. She is very much grieved at your loss.'

'She had known Aragorn for a long time and we have lost too many of our friends on this journey. No, if you'll excuse me, I must go and comfort my lady.' Legolas to left Eowyn and made his way to the outer wall. There he found Lorien sitting quietly, staring out over the plains.

'You always find me my dear elf.'

'That is because I love you.'

'Love is a funny word. I wonder how Arwen will take it when I tell her that her love, the man she is prepared to become mortal for, is no longer riding with us, for we lost him in a fight with Worgs!'

'You cannot blame yourself for everything that happens to the fellowship, you cannot foresee everything.'

'I know, but if I hadn't have been caught under that stupid great beast, maybe you could have helped Aragorn.'

'And then we would have lost you instead and that would break my heart a thousand times more than the loss of Aragorn would.' Legolas approached Lorien and she hugged him tightly. He kissed her soft black hair before cupping her chin and turning her face towards his.

'You are still as beautiful as the day I met you. I am still amazed by your beauty, I can never get used to it. You carry so many burdens and worries for others, yet it does not show on your face. Sometimes I feel it is like the first day that I set eyes on you and I lose my breath when I look upon you, like I did when I visited you in Gondor. I cannot believe that you are so young either.'

'You are still young Legolas! You have more experience than I do and speak more wisely.'

'Nay, I speak with what I have been taught. You are a mere two hundred years old, yet you speak with more wisdom and age than I have.'

'Well, let us not talk any more!' Lorien kissed Legolas softly on the lips and he responded immediately. The kiss started to deepen as their passion grew. As Lorien kissed Legolas a vision flashed in front of her eyes. She pulled away from Legolas and stood rigid.

'Lorien?' The vision flashed in her mind again and the vision was longer this time.

'Lorien, what is it?' Legolas again cupped Lorien's face and turned it towards his. Their eyes met and Legolas could see pain and fear in her eyes.

'Saruman is emptying all of Isenguard. They head here, to Helms Deep.' Lorien pulled away and ran down the stairs, Legolas following her. She ran into the King's chamber and all in there looked up at her in surprise.

'Lorien? What is the rush?'

'Forgive me Lord, but I have just seen something terrible.'

'What Lorien?'

'Saruman is sending out his army from Isenguard, and they are marching here. He is bringing war to Helms Deep. We must get ready immediately!'

'We do not have enough people to fight the army of Isenguard.'

'Even so, you must try! Do you want Saruman to get hold of your women and children? You must send any man that can fight to the armoury, for the sake of Rohan! You know if Helm Deep falls there will be no hope for your people.' Lorien watched Theoden's eyes as he thought about what she had said. He looked at her for a long time and Lorien could see him aging before her.

'Guards, tell every man who can fight to go and get himself kitted for war. Then take every woman and child down to the mines where they are safe! Rohan shall not be beaten yet Lorien, don't you worry about that!'

Lorien and Legolas ran to find Gimli and told him of the situation before they looked about them. All of the men of Rohan had been kitted in mail and with bows, arrows and a sword each. Lorien looked around in dismay before running back up to the outer wall and looking out.

'Who do you search for Lorien?'

'A sign of Isenguard or a sign of hope, although there is little. The men that have descended here are either too young or too old. We need someone…Aragorn!'

'What?'

'Look!' Lorien pointed to a horse approaching the gates and his keen eyes indeed told him it was Aragorn. Lorien flew down the stairs to the gates and waited for the door to open. Aragorn came crashing through and Lorien had to stop her throwing herself at him. He stood up tall when he saw his friends. Legolas approached and handed him the evenstar they had found before Gimli gave him a telling off. Aragorn turned to Lorien and she bent down on one knee and presented him with his sword. As she stood, their eyes caught and a tear fell down Lorien's face. She walked forward and hugged him tightly.

'Just when I thought all hope had gone.'

'There is always hope Lorien, but I must speak with King Theoden.'

'Is it about the army that rides from Isenguard? I have already seen them and have given my counsel to King Theoden and he in turn has instructed the men to prepare themselves for war.'

'Now you know why Gandalf trusted you.'

'You are hurt, you need that wound tending to.'

'It will be done as soon as I talk to Theoden.' Lorien watched Aragorn leave and felt Legolas put his arms around her side. She turned and looked into his eyes.

'Do you think the rest of our people will join us Legolas? Are we to fight alone through all of this?'

'We are not alone!'

'Yes we are! There used to be a strong alliance between men and elves and our people would never have let all these innocent people be put at risk!'

'Do not trouble yourself Lorien! We will fight for the elves, for our elves, me, you and any children we have. That is who we must fight for if our kind are willing to let us go into such a hopeless war alone.' Legolas kissed Lorien softly before he let her go.

'I must go and talk to Aragorn.'

'I will be outside.'

'Ever the watcher my fair Lorien! I love you!' Lorien watched Legolas go and turned to head to the walls once again.

Legolas found Aragorn in the King's chamber, eating silently. Aragorn saw Legolas approach and smiled.

'Is fair Lorien not by your side?'

'Nay, she has gone to keep an eye out on the outer walls. She has looked out from there since we got here.'

'She cares about the innocents that walk within these walls. When this war is over, I shall sing a song about Lorien, the faithful watcher. What troubles you Legolas?'

'I want Lorien to go into the mines with the women and children of Rohan. I do not want her where the battle is.'

'Not only would you be going against her will to fight, but against her will as an elf. You want to shut her in the mines? It will be like torture for her!'

'Yes, but she will be safe.'

'She wants to fight by your side Legolas!'

'And I want her to be safe. Any other battle I do not care, but this one gives me a bad feeling. There are five hundred of us against an army twice the size of that. What hope do we have?'

'What are you saying?'

'I want you to order Lorien to stay with the women and children. Tell her they need someone with her power to protect them. Please?'

'If you should die out there, she will not forgive me and she will look for death anyway!'

'I know. But I have to try and save her Aragorn, I love her dearly! Just like you would try and save Arwen.'

'Yes, I understand. But you must come with me when I tell her. Let us go find her.'