Part 9

Aragorn is wounded and barely conscious as he floats down the river where he finally comes to rest on a flat beach. As he lies there he sees Arwen floating above him. She leans down to brush her lips against his, "May the grace of Valar protect you."

As Arwen's lips brush his she changes into Willow. He takes this as a sign that Arwen approves of his growing feelings for Willow. She has moved on to the Dying Lands with her people. He will soon be a memory to her.

He feels a slight tickling at his ear and lips that has nothing to do with the vision of Willow/Arwen. Blinking his eyes open he sees his horse nuzzling him. With shaking hands he barely grasps the mane and pulls himself onto the horse. The horse rises with the barely conscious Aragorn on its back and it begins to head toward Helm's Deep.

~~~~

Willow hoped her mouth wasn't hanging open at her first look at Helm's Deep. No wonder Theoden didn't think Saruman would be able to take Helm's Deep. It was a fortress built into the side of a cliff with stonewalls protecting it.

The great gates opened to allow the king and the Rohirrm to enter.

"Make way for Theoden, Make way for the king!"

Eowyn looks to see the weary travelers entering the keep and quickly approaches them. She sees her uncle leading far less than what they started with.

Theoden greets his niece, "You have done well, Eowyn. You have brought our people to safety. I fear I was not so lucky. We paid with many lives."

Eowyn looks around and finally notices Willow standing with Gimli and she rushes over.

"You are well?"

Willow offers her a sad smile, "I made it through the battle."

She glances around and sees Legolas but not Aragorn. Turning to survey the area she still doesn't see him. She turns anxious eyes back to Willow and Gimli, "Lord Aragorn, where is he?"

Gimli lays a hand on Willow's shoulder for comfort before answering Eowyn, "He fell . . ."

Willow interrupts him, "He fell off a cliff and we have been unable to find him." She lifts her chin and looks at Legolas who had come to stand behind Eowyn when he heard the question. "But he WILL meet us here, of that I am sure."

Eowyn didn't know how to respond to that. She knew the cliffs of her home and the Wolf Riders. She didn't think even Lord Aragorn could survive a fall after fighting them.

Legolas just gave Willow a sad smile. Maybe she and Aragorn had a connection and she felt him through her magick. If Willow was stubborn enough to believe that Aragorn was still alive he would believe it too.

Eowyn looks at her uncle and he sadly shakes his head and lowers his gaze. He wearily climbs the stairs to the battlements and orders everyone behind the walls and the gates to be closed.

~~~~

Aragorn's horse suddenly becomes skittish. Lifting his head he glances around to see what could have alarmed his mount. To his horror he sees in the near distance thousands upon thousands of Uruk-hai and Orcs. They are marching toward Helm's Deep.

Kneeing his horse into a gallop he leans into its ear and whispers, "Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn." Well done, Brego, my friend.

The horse quickly travels the few remaining miles to Helm's Deep and Aragorn enters the gates.

Willow barely heard the guards at the gate yelling something. She glanced around and saw a few people excited but not enough to warrant going to investigate.  It wasn't until she saw Gimli quickly making his way through a crowd and going toward the gate that she rose to follow.

"Where is he? Get out of my way! I'm going to kill him myself."

Willow stopped and gasped when she saw Gimli clasp Aragorn on the arms.

"You are the luckiest and most reckless man I know."

Aragorn just smiled and clasped Gimli's shoulder. Aragorn looked through the crowd looking for a red head. He smiled when he spotted her and before he could reach her Legolas stepped in his path.

The two friends just looked at each other, glad that both survived the battle. With a quirk of his lips Legolas said, "Le ab-dollen" You're late.

Aragorn just smiled.

"It seems Willow was correct, you did make it out alive."

At the mention of Willow's name Aragorn's eyes sought hers. He needed to warn the king but he needed to see Willow more.

Willow gave him a trembling smile and ran into his open arms. He clasped Willow tight to him and deeply inhaled her scent.

Eowyn watched as Aragorn greeted Willow. She sadly wondered what would have happened if Willow hadn't joined the quest. She didn't begrudge Willow her happiness with Aragorn, she just wished she would find someone to care for her as much as Aragorn obviously cared for Willow.  Turning her back against the reunited friends she helped her people settle in.

Willow gently moved back far enough to reach into a pocket. She pulls out the Evenstar and hands it back to Aragorn. He shakes his head no and places his hands over hers. Willow wrinkles her brow in confusion. He gently smiles and with both their hands on the necklace Aragorn places it around his neck.

"Thank you."

Aragorn slowly lowers his head and places a soft kiss on her lips. The soft kiss turns deeper and it isn't until Gimli clears his throat that they break apart.

Willow smiles brightly as she turns to Gimli, "See, like I said . . . until you see a body don't believe they're gone."

"And is kissing them a part of the ritual for when they return?"

Willow blushed but before Aragorn could defend her she grabbed both Gimli and Legolas in a hug, "Nope, but a group hug is."

Aragorn indulged himself in the feel of Willow before gently disengaging himself from the group hug.

"Where is the king? I have news of an approaching army."

Gimli points in the direction of where he last saw the king. Following his direction Aragorn makes his way to the king's chambers.

Theoden looks up when a bedraggled Aragorn enters his chambers. He quickly stands and rushes to his side.

"I have news, King Theoden."

"Sit, you must rest. What have you seen?"

"There is a vast army approaching. They should be here by nightfall."

"How many?"

"Ten thousand at least."

"Ten thousand?!?"

"It is an army bred for a single purpose. All of Isengard is empty."

Turning his back on Aragorn he said, "Let them come."

Willow just shakes her head and mumbles, "That's as stupid as let them eat cake. Let's just hope this has a better ending than Marie Antoinette had."

Gimli heard Willow's mumbling and asked, "Who is Marie Antoinette?"

"Another foolish ruler that didn't listen to the signs of impending disaster."

"What happened to her?"

"She was beheaded."

Gimli hoped the upcoming battle had a better ending as well.