The rising sun cascaded over the land as it shined it's brilliant colors of blues, purples, reds, and oranges. The heavy fog that was rising up to the heavens was spread out over the vast fields like a velvet rug that never ended. Paddamill listened to the King and others give their orders as people began to make their way out of the city. Surprisingly everyone was very calm. The line of Rohirrim people seemed to stretch miles and miles on end. The sounds of crickets chirping early in the morning, the birds singing their morning songs, and the cool air whistling made the morning complete. The smell of 6 am was cool and that of burnt wood. Crunching of rocks and frozen dirt beneath their feet seemed to explain the feeling in Paddamill's stomach. King Théoden rode on his horse leading the pack of people towards Helm's Deep. The only stronghold of Rohan that was soon to be under siege by the armies of orcs and men obedient to Saruman. Éowyn walked beside the horse that Gimli rode, listening to him speak in his strong voice that projected a few feet back where Paddamill walked with Legolas ignoring the flirting going on between Éowyn and Aragorn. Paddamill rolled her eyes feeling stupid to even think such things. Love was not one of her tasks on this journey. Besides, she had bigger things to think about.

"Are you feeling play Paddamill? You haven't spoken since we left Rohan." Legolas looked to her, continuously sensing how uncomfortable she really was with Aragorn. He had done it that last day she saw them months before. As always Paddamill faked a smile and looked at Legolas.

"Yes. I am just a little worried about making it to Helm's Deep without an attack." Legolas nodded as he squinted, looking around at the endless green hills and mountains.

"You read my thoughts exactly. This seems too easy." Paddamill swallowed. She just made it up. She didn't really want that to be true.

"It's true you don't see many dwarf women. In fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are mistaken for dwarf men." Paddamill looked up to see Gimli speaking loudly. Aragorn looked at Éowyn who smiled at his story.

"It's the beards." He replied humorously to her. Gimli looked down at him with an evil, but playful, look. When Gimli's horse got out of control the poor dwarf was tossed a few inches away. He growled as he rolled. Paddamill was about to go help him but she stopped herself when Éowyn did it. She laughed along with Aragorn. She looked up to him with a look of admiration and a hint of infatuation. Paddamill felt sick to her stomach. It wasn't possible for a man to fall in love with someone in less than two days. Was it? Surely not. He had even said it himself, he loved Paddamill. He did say it didn't he? Or was she too tired from the fight they had with the Uruk-Hai she imagined it all?

The screams of a few people caught the attention of everyone within reach. Paddamill was stopped by Legolas who had grabbed her arm. "ORCS!" A man screamed seeing them riding in on beasts of dog-like nature.

"Orcs of Isengard!" King Théoden called out to Aragorn and the other men. Everything quickly began to fall apart. Men, women, and children were in panic. They dropped almost everything they were carrying including children. The cries of children and the sounds of the Orc's screaming in war tones mixed throughout the morning, breaking the relaxation.

"Quickly! We must get to Helm's Deep!" Éowyn proclaimed to many people who were in sheer panic running around as if they were chicken's with their heads cut off. The wind began to pick up and the sun quickly vanished by the dark clouds forming quickly overhead. Paddamill watched Legolas get on a horse and ride over towards Aragorn to see the situation.

"Paddamill!" Éowyn called out in a frantic attempt to find her through the group of people running around. It was hard to hear yourself talk even when yelling. The screams were loud and terrifying along with the sounds of neighing from the horses rang loudly throughout their ears. Thankfully Paddamill heard her cry. First instinct was that she was in trouble but when she saw her looking up to her father a weight was lifted. But only for a moment

"Éowyn," Théoden called out to his niece. "You must lead the people to Helm's Deep!" He barely kept control of his horse that was beginning to panic from all the noise and constant movement. Éowyn didn't care what he said, she had to object to his orders.

"I can stay and fight!"

"Éowyn, you are a noble fighter but please you and Paddamill must help save these people. It's a long journey. " Éowyn frowned turning in a half circle. The sound of her uncle's horse running off faded. She saw Paddamill picking up a crying little boy, lost from all the panic. The loud growl's and screams of men made some people cry in terror as to what was going on over the hill.

Paddamill held the boys head with her right hand as she held his bottom with her other. She turned looking for Éowyn. Her eyes quickly grew wide when she saw an orc riding towards her with his sword drawn. "Éowyn!" She screamed out. Éowyn gasped when she felt something hit her. She turned slowly to see Aragorn holding a bloody sword. A headless orc laid on the ground beside it's dead creature. Paddamill frowned as she watched the glance they two exchanged.

Éowyn frowned heavily as she allowed him to see her concern for his safety on her face as he began to turn his frantic horse and ride back up to the hill. Aragorn met with Legolas and Théoden then rushed up and over the hill out of her sight and Paddamill's. Quickly, Éowyn turned and saw Paddamill helping people drop their belongings and make way towards Helm's Deep.

"Come on! Everyone follow us!" Éowyn called out as she stood by her friend and began to run for the only safe place they knew of.

All the riders from the long group went in the peoples defense, not caring if they die or live. Legolas took aim at a distant target. With out blinking he shot it off, taking the warg rider down. He quickly drew another arrow and killed another coming vastly for him. As he reached for his third arrow, he saw King Théoden and the rest of the riders coming towards him. He quickly ran and mounted Arod with a smooth leap and joined in the fray with Gimli behind him on horseback. The warg riders screamed as they came closer to them with their weapons drawn, ready to kill anything in their way.

"CHARGE!!" King Théoden commanded as they all began to shoot arrows and attack what they could. The Rohirrim and warg riders crashed head on starting a long battle. King Théoden, along with Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli all fought the warg riders. In the midst of fighting, Gimli had managed to fall off Arod. Quickly he scrambled to his feet and looked up to see a beast coming straight towards him. Without a slight bit of fright he laughed holding up his axe.

"Bring your pretty face to my axe!" He mumbled lowly watching it leap towards him but was disappointed when Legolas killed it with one of his arrows. Gimli had jumped back slightly watching it fall to the ground lifeless. He frowned and looked up at him.

"Argh! That one counts as mine" As Gimli swung his axe as another warg ran after him, it quickly died and fell on top of him. "Argh! Stinking creature. Argh!" He tried to lift the warg off him, but he realized another orc was leaning over them both. As quickly as he could, Gimli killed him by twisting his neck only causing it to land on him. Gimli sniffed at the orc and made a face. He could only think they were disgusting and smelly. He tried to lift both the warg and orc off him. With such great luck another warg came upon him and bares its teeth, showing him he was ready to strike. Gimli's eyes grew wide "Ooh..!" He said slightly surprised. Aragorn plucked a spear as he passed on his horse and threw it at the warg. With a loud gasp it paused then fell on Gimli only adding to the pile on top of him

King Théoden stabbed at a warg rider as he passed. Aragorn was then knocked off Hasufel and quickly attacked by Sharku. Aragorn turned seeing it charging towards him. He grabbed his sword and tried to kill an oncoming warg, but the Sharku was too strong and blocked his attempt. Sharku reached up and grabbed Aragorn by the neck, while the latter is half-dragged by the warg. In the struggle, Sharku was thrown off. In surprise he curled his hands, accidentally grabbing the Evenstar pendant from Aragorn's neck as he falls. Aragorn turned to see what he was doing and in an attempt to free himself he realizes his wrist was tangled with the saddle straps. He bit his lower lip trying to disentangle himself but is unsuccessful and was quickly dragged closer and closer to the edge of a cliff at great speed. Aragorn's eyes widened as he saw where the warg was going, straight for the cliff. Aragorn grunted as he continued with all he could trying to get free but quickly disappeared over the edge along with the warg. The battle is winding wound down nearly twenty minutes later. The Rohirrim had finally finished off the last few wargs and orcs.

Legolas and Gimli panted as they both walked and looked around the vast hills calling in search of any survivors, but most of all Aragorn. "Aragorn!" Legolas called out sighing after a few tries while Gimli attempted to scream out for him also.

"Aragorn?" Legolas stopped near a cliff as he looked around just in case. Gimli walked around continuing to call out for his friend. Legolas could only hear the wheezing and the bitter laughs coming from a living Orc. Gimli quickly noticed it too and walked over to the dying beast and held up his axe.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing." He threatened as he watched the thing barely breathe.

"He's..." the creature let out a cough. "dead." With its energy he laughed evilly. "Took a little tumble off the cliff." It tilted its head teasingly. Legolas looked over the cliff but didn't see anything. He walked over to the Orc and grabbed it.

"You lie!" As a reply, Sharku chortled and then finally died. Legolas looked down with a slight frown on his face. He saw something in his closed fist. Legolas' eyes widened slightly as he saw it was the pendant of Evenstar. He took it in his hand and ran over to the cliff to make sure he didn't see him. All he did see was rushing white waters and no sign of his friend, Aragorn. Gimli waddled over to him and looked below seeing it for himself.

Théoden rode up to the cliffs where the two stood gazing down at the waters. He swallowed and looked at his men. "Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." Legolas heard him speaking in a hard voice. He slowly turned to face King Théoden, on his face he held a frown of perplexed anger. With all of the kindness he could give he placed a heavy hand on his shoulder and looked down at the elf.

"Come" He turned and trotted his horse down to where his men were. Legolas and Gimli were left to stare down at the waters with confusion and with sadness for the life of Aragorn.

"How will we tell Frodo and the other little ones?" Gimli questioned as they blankly stared down. Legolas shook his head slowly scanning the grounds and the waters just to be completely sure.

"I don't know. Better yet how will we tell Paddamill?"

Paddamill stood by a blazing fire that quickly warmed up her cold hands. She stood watching the little boy she had picked up during the ambush by Orcs. His chocolate colored hair fell into his blue eyes as he leaned forward to sip up his chicken broth soup. Paddamill combed her fingers through his hair allowing him to see his bowl. With a quick slurp he lifted his head and sighed.

"Yummm..." The little boy named Brallion hummed feeling the heat soothe his throat and warm his chilly body up.

"Is it good?" Paddamill questioned leaning on her palm as she watched his head. He looked up at her and smiled showing his missing two front teeth. He quickly slurped up more with his large wooden spoon. She smiled lowly as she looked away at the wooden table's rugged surface. As she stared blankly at the rough surface she heard someone speak of Aragorn. How could she have forgotten? He went out twice and she didn't even thank him nor Legolas for saving her and many others lives, yet again. She didn't even now what her own name was anymore. Everyone was so confused almost all the time now. She didn't know how they all stayed so calm. Speaking of Legolas, where was he? Paddamill frowned taking her eyes off the table and tilting her head up to see him wandering into the large dining area where many Rohirrim people ate their supper. Paddamill felt her heart jump, she looked down to Brallion and bent over to him and whispered in his right ear.

"You stay and eat, I need to speak to someone right now. Will you be okay?" She put her left hand on his back as he listened.

"Yes ma'am. I will be just fine, Paddamill." He said lowly with a nod. Paddamill smiled and bent and gave him a kiss on the head.

"Be back." She stood up and walked over towards him with eagerness in her long strides. "Legolas." She called out low enough to not disturb the peace yet loud enough for his ears to hear. He looked away from a family eating and over to Paddamill.

"How are you? Are you alright? Did anything harm you?" Legolas walked over to her with his hands held out as if reaching for her. Once they met he cradled her elbows with his palms.

"Yes I am just fine, thank you, but better yet how are you? Are you hurt?" She frowned as she placed her palms on his chest as if searching for a wound. But all she felt was his heart beating wildly under his wool clothes. He breathed out as if he had ran miles and gave her a quick nod.

"You shouldn't worry about me, Paddamill."

"Don't worry about you? Legolas you are my friend!" He frowned nodding his head.

"Yes I know you are but you should worry about yourself not me or anyone else." Paddamill could understand he was scared for her. She couldn't tell where his fear was coming from and the theories that began to pop into her head were endless. She just spoke what she thought, not knowing what she asked until after they were already out.

"Where is Aragorn?" The facial expression that fell across his face was heartbreaking. His skin turned pale his heart began to pick up pace and his eyes drooped showing pure signs of trouble and sadness. Paddamill stepped back looking at him with pure terror. "No." She whispered. Legolas grabbed her wrists as she let her hands slide off her chest and her elbows out of his palms.

"It's okay Paddamill-"

"Oh my god!" Her whispers were harsh and full of disbelief. Legolas tried to calm her down quickly before scaring any of the eating families.

"He'll be fine! We just couldn't-"

"No!"

"Paddamill listen to me!" Legolas frowned shaking her so she wouldn't scream, which he knew she was about to do if he didn't stop her. The strength in his grasp and shake could only make Paddamill be overcome with silence. She looked up at him with misty eyes. "We couldn't find him. An orc said he fell over a hill. We couldn't see him anywhere so it might not be true!" She glanced up at him and then back to his chest. She frowned when she saw the Evenstar pendant held between his belt and tired to his leather strap. Her eyes quickly grew misty and her mouth inflamed. Paddamill jerked her wrists out of his hold and walked out of the dinning room. Legolas frowned watching her walked out then looked up at a couple of staring people. He let out a sigh and rubbed his face.

Paddamill jogged down the hall holding the heel of her left hand over her mouth so the vomit that was crawling up her throat wouldn't come out. She couldn't breathe. It was like someone was holding her so tight that the air wasn't entering her lungs and her stomach was being crushed. Small beads of sweat were forming on her forehead and the itching sensation all over her body from the clothes. She gasped for air as she ran down the hall so she could go to her room and splash cold water on her face. She gasped loudly when she bumped into Éowyn.

"Ah!" Paddamill gasped leaning on the wall. Éowyn frowned holding folded clothes.

"We have GOT to stop doing this!" Éowyn said laughing as she looked up at Paddamill turn her head away. But she saw the tears. She could sense something was wrong anyhow. "Paddamill? This makes the second time I've bumped into you with tears in your eyes. What is the matter?" She pressed the clothes to her chest with her left arm as she touched Paddamill with her right hand. Paddamill stepped back holding out her left hand.

"Nothing! Just a bit of bad food." Éowyn smiled weakly and grabbed a hold of her hand. To her surprise a loud crash and flash of light caused the two women to be in a different place. Éowyn stood over a man who bled badly from a wound and Paddamill holding out a leather pack of some sort. Quickly the two were brought back into a normal atmosphere. Paddamill watched the expression on Éowyn's face. She was frightened at what had just happened.

"What was that!" She screamed with fear.

"It's my gift. That is going to happen sometime in the near future. For both of us." Éowyn frowned looking at her with slight confusion. Paddamill knew the long story would break her concentration of the horrible news. She walked down the hall with her, telling her of her families deaths, the quest, how she knew the men, everything. Only she left the kiss she had shared with Aragorn the night before she was taken away from him. She had to keep that to herself now that she learned of his passing. Or more likely his murder! Éowyn frowned looking up at the keep of the castle. Her uncle stood speaking to many people. She saw Gimli walking towards a wall. She smiled and jogged over to her uncle.

"So few. So few of you have returned." She proclaimed with sadness as she looked around the room where some people reunited with their family. Théoden dismounted his horse and looked at her.

"Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives." Paddamill bit back the tears as she watched Gimli stride over to Éowyn.

"My lady..."

"Lord Aragorn, where is he?" Éowyn asked with eagerness. Gimli put his head down and sighed obviously uncomfortable with having to tell her the bad news.

"He fell..."