A/N: Thank you all for such kind reviews! I never thanked you before...but you are my reason for keeping up with the stories. Sorry it took me a while to update. Now when I wrote this I thought Galming was a name for a soldier but my brother told me that it was a name for soldiers! So sorry if it is wrong or right. Well thanks!

*Meg*

P.S~ Hobbits rule!
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Many women wanted to know what was going on outside, and some even attempted to look out of a barricaded window, but the two girls forced them back. The hysteria these women were in couldn't have been described. The screams they made when they heard explosions, screams of pain, and banging on the doors. It only made things worse. They didn't know what was going on and they didn't know what the monsters looked like so their imaginations were able to get the best of them. Some women feared 12 feet creatures with black eyes and scales on their skin others thought of indescribable men who had two heads. It was all fuel for their fire. No matter what they tried to do, Paddamill and Éowyn couldn't keep the people calm.

"We have heard loud noises coming from the basement. We think some Uruk-Hai may have found a way in." Paddamill frowned heavily as she listened to a soldier speak of such events. Éowyn had shot a glance at Paddamill in hopes of knowing what to do.

"Did you check?"

"No ma'am."

"Why not?" Paddamill asked enraged. "If something wrong happens and they get inside then we will all die!" A woman gasped at Paddamill's words.

"Creatures are in the building!" She screamed out. Women screamed loudly and began to run around the keep grabbing their children and trying to make a way out. Before Paddamill, Éowyn or any of the gamling's could calm them down their fears were right. Uruk-Hai had found a way in. At least ten big creatures stormed into the hall's of the keep, weapons raised high, and killing anything that got in their ways. Paddamill screamed when she saw an orc about to attack a small crying child. Éowyn moved quickly and had grabbed a bow and arrow. With one quick shot the orc fell to the ground.

"Over here! Over here!" A soldier cried out trying to get the women to move away from the creatures, but it was too late. Blood was quickly shed. An orc had decapitated a female who was pushing children out of the way. Then another, and then another!

Éowyn and Paddamill quickly moved to the entrance and stood far apart. With a quick glance they looked at each other saying they would be fine and that no matter what happened they were to kill these creatures before they did anymore damage. So far they had killed two children and six wives. Paddamill knew she would not allow another family to be massacred.

The girls held their swords high and charged after Orcs, killing as if they were men. Éowyn screamed as she stabbed one and then spun around holding her sword stable while it sliced through its lower half. With a loud cry of pain it fell to the ground in silence and in death. Paddamill's sword clinked and clanked with another as she fought to the death. When she got a free shot she jammed the point of her sword into its side. With anger it roared out and swung its sword. Paddamill jumped high as it swung underneath her. She jammed the rest of her sword into its heart and quickly ran off.

For twenty minutes they fought bravely, while Soldiers helped the women and children and even at times helping the two girls out with firing arrows and daggers. Paddamill was on her last Orc when she knocked its sword out of its hand. Paddamill raised her sword high ready to strike it dead, but when the Orc pulled out a dagger of its own the only thing she could do was gasp. She felt the cold blade run into her left side and then pull out with a sting. Paddamill punched the Orc and with luck, it tripped over a dead woman. Paddamill used her pain and quickly turned it into anger. She held her sword tight in her hands and cut off its arm.

Éowyn looked over at her as she fought the last injured orc. When a man's scream caught her off guard she turned to see the creature had done the same thing to him. He collapsed to the ground holding his side and screaming with agony. Éowyn's eyes widened and she quickly slid the blade of her sword into the belly of the Uruk-Hai. As it fell to the ground in defeat, Éowyn fell to her knees by the man.

Paddamill's heart raced heavily underneath her clothes as she stood above an injured Uruk-Hai. Aside from her aching wound she did not care of anything else but the creature in front of her. Blood and sweat was on her face, determination and sadness in her eyes, and above all else hate. She hated what was happening, hated the frailty of the people fighting, hated the way she hurt. But she knew she could never be satisfied until the death of this Orc was laid upon him. She held her left foot on his chest that raised up into the air and fell quickly. His own black heart beat quickly. The screams of the innocent were echoing in her ears along with her blood pounding a hard unstable rhythm.

"I hate you." Paddamill spoke as she clenched her jaw. The point of her bloody sword was at the Orc's neck and ready to pierce it. "Do you hear me?" She asked putting her pressure on the Orcs chest.

"Ah." It hissed as the gash in its side poured out black blood and from the opening from where his arm had been cut off. For one solid minute Paddamill was alone. Everything fell silent except the sound of the Orcs heavy breathing and hoarse voice. It was just her and it and she knew who was going to come out alive.

"My family didn't have to die. None of these people had to die!" She spat out at him. As if she were waiting for a reply she leaned forward slightly, allowing the cool tip of the blade to touch it's hard skin. "Boromir didn't have to die. Not even Aragorn," Her words became low and her eyes began to sting. The Orc was in desperate need of air as it panted and wheezed. It was dying.

"So what! Whatever happened to those people deserved it! Sauron is the only master I live for! And so should everyone else you stupid human!" Paddamill leaned back up slowly and held out her sword still keeping it firmly planted on the Orcs neck.

"You too will die for you are the faltering beast of humanity!" Paddamill knew he was trying to keep her attention as an Orc snuck up behind her, but her senses were raised. She could hear his steps against the screams of clashing swords and dying people and the way its sword was raised.

Paddamill didn't feel like playing around, she hated sneak attacks. Quickly, Paddamill turned her head along with a quick jerk of her right arm. With a few gurgling sounds the Orc fell to the ground and Paddamill turned her attention back to the hostage. Its eyes showed fear and the heart beating beneath her boot was hard and rapid with anxiousness. Its head hit the floor as she placed the sword back under its chin.

"M-Mercy." It lowly stammered. Paddamill raised her eyebrows with humor. He didn't just say 'Mercy'.

"What?" She asked feeling rage take over her again.

"Have mercy on my damned soul. Strain your mercy, spare me!" Paddamill's heart jumped at his request. It was unbelievably ignorant for a beast of such a nature to ask for mercy.

"The quality of mercy is not strained." Paddamill lowly said raising her sword and jamming it into the thick skull of the Uruk-Hai. Within seconds it stopped breathing and died. Paddamill pulled out her sword with a hard tug and then stepped her foot beside the relaxed arm of the beast. With a sigh Paddamill put her sword against her thigh. The sounds were now back but only this time they were sobs. It must've been over. For the moment anyway. "Never strained." Paddamill whispered as she stepped her left foot over the dead Orc that was behind her. Not once did she take her eyes off of the dead Orc. Justice was served.

Paddamill turned around to see many dead Orcs and many dead men. The last defense they had to help preserve the lives of wives and children had failed. She could only imagine what it looked like outside. Quickly she stopped her imagination. She couldn't and didn't want to think of such a sight. Paddamill frowned putting her left hand over her side where she felt the cold blood pouring out from a deep wound from fighting. But she didn't care. She needed to find her friends.

"Éowyn!" Paddamill projected her name so the room of people could hear. Her eyes scanned over the bloody mess on the floor taking it all in at once. "Éowyn!" Paddamill attempted to call out once again as she gasped for breath.

"Paddamill!" The voice of Éowyn filled Paddamill's ears. She turned around to see her kneeling over a wounded man. Paddamill rushed over to her aid and saw the gasping man. "He's hurt! We need to help him!" She frantically said. Paddamill frowned setting her sword down.

"Here." Paddamill grabbed the small leather canteen she had tied to her belt. She handed it to Éowyn and looked around. "Pour it over the wound. He will live and the pain will subside for now." Paddamill grabbed her sword and stood up never making eye contact with the man or the confused Éowyn. When she saw a wet dwarf her heart hurt so hard as it beat heavily inside of her. She ran over to him and touched his shoulder. He growled loudly as he grabbed his ax and held it in an attacking motion. He quickly withdrew when he saw it was her.

"My lady." He swallowed feeling embarrassed for just pulling a weapon on his friend. Paddamill bent down to him and quickly gave him a hug.

"Thank god you are all right!" The loud calls of Théoden order men to barricade the doors were echoing throughout the room. Paddamill frowned then realizing for the first time what was going on.

"Pull everybody back! Pull them back!" Paddamill frowned hearing his orders continue as she looked down to her friend who sighed.

"They are too many. We are now under attack."

"Pull back! Pull back!" A gamling called out in a rare attempt to keep the stronghold of the castle safe. But all it seemed was a bitter attempt for nothing.

"They've broken through! Come, to the keep!"

"Retreat! Retreat!" Paddamill frowned watching all of this commotion. It was terrifying yet exhilarating at the same time. She always was at her best in situations that were as horrible as this. She knew what she had to do. Banners of the White Hand were flying from the battlements of Helm's Deep. The Hornburg was being overrun with Uruk-hai while everyone stood in the hall of the keep figuring out what to do and how to handle such a situation.

"The fortress is taken. It is over." King Théoden proclaimed saddened by what he was witnessing. Paddamill watched a man walk with a table over to shore up the door in hopes of keeping the monsters out. Paddamill could only watch in amazement that he was alive!

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it! They still defend it! They have died defending it!" Legolas helped him as they dropped it. Women and children were all huddled together crying in fear as the sounds of the battering noises coming from outside echoed loudly on the door. They didn't know what happened outside they hadn't even seen these beasts up close like Paddamill and Aragorn had until moments ago. They could only think the worst coming from those banging on the opposite side of the door. Paddamill could only agree.

"They are breaking in!" A women called out in terror as she caused more panic to spread amongst the remaining people. Another attack like the one they had just faced would be horrendous.

"What's wrong? What was the noise?" Éowyn questioned Paddamill as she stood beside her watching people get to work.

"Something isn't right."

"Barricade them! Get these people away from the doors!"

"Bar the door!" A soldier's ordered as people grabbed objects to help keep the doors locked. The hysteria couldn't be described. People screamed and ran around as they had before on their travel to Helm's Deep.

"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn questioned waiting for a reply by a soldier. "Is there no other way?"

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-Hai are too many." He finally replied after a long pause.

"Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And keep barricading the entrance." Aragorn requested as he looked over to King Théoden who seemed to be in a trance from all the horror he just witnessed and was probably about to see again.

"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Paddamill and Éowyn helped the people put things over the doors. She grabbed a handful of nails and held them in her hand as she began to hammer boards over the doors along with noble men.

"Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them." Aragorn's words caused Paddamill to stop hammering completely. Her heart hurt as she turned her head to the left to see him and King Théoden talk.

"For death and glory." Aragorn could see the glow of determination shine brightly in his eyes as he suggested. Paddamill began to sweat and feel dizzy. For it to be so loud she was amazed she could still hear the two speak.

"For Rohan. For your people."

"The sun is rising." Gimli called out as he peered out a boarded up window. Aragorn turned and looked up at the same window to see the faint light streaming through. As if it were a light of hope, a light of life. The words of Gandalf repeated in his mind.

"Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east."

"Yes. Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!" King Théoden said as he nodded with much enthusiasm.

"Yes!" Gimli called out as he ran up the steps to the horn of Helm Hammerhand.

"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deed awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!" He said loudly as he mounted his horse and put on his helmet. The loud sound of the horn rumbled throughout Helm's Deep as Gimli blew with everything he had. Paddamill dropped her things and ran over to her horse and mounted.

"Paddamill!" Éowyn screamed with disbelief as she watched her and her horse ride over to the group. Aragorn looked to his right to see the new rider.

"What are you doing!" He asked harshly thinking she was crazy.

"You were right Aragorn this is war. If we win this damn thing and you die in the process, then the final battle I would have was knowing you died with your pride and without me... trying to fight for your life." Aragorn looked into her eyes. Paddamill frowned softly giving him a pleading look. "This is my payback for all those times you saved me! Don't make me have to fight eternally because I let you die. I have done it too long with Boromir and my family, allow me to dodge this battle." Aragorn stared at her momentarily and then looked over at King Théoden. "Your damn pride almost made me hate you yet I know I cannot get enough of it."

"You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met yet I could never live without it. Promise me you'll live?" Aragorn replied leaning on towards her.

"Only if you promise this will be our victory." Aragorn blinked a few times understanding she couldn't promise something like that, just as he couldn't promise her they would win this battle against Saruman. He looked over to the King and nodded.

"FORTH EORLINGAS!!" He screamed Theoden lead the charge out of the keep into the Hornburg, slashing away at the Uruk-hai as they passed quickly. Without a pause, they stormed out of the gate and down the Causeway, right into the column of waiting Uruk-hai. Paddamill screamed out in anger as she killed any orc charging for her. Blood was splashing everywhere as they all fought with pride, anger, sadness, and any emotion they had left in their tired bodies. The cool mist of rain hit their hot faces as the sun began to rise higher by the minute. In the midst of the battle, Aragorn looked east to see a white rider against the rising sun. Paddamill couldn't ignore the bright light he was projecting. She killed an orc and turned to look up.

"Gandalf." Aragorn said as they glanced up at him. He spoke lowly to where his lips barely moved. Paddamill squinted seeing someone come into view. He raised his hand and let out a large and bass war cry causing the people to look to the East.

"Rohirrim!!" More riders came into view as he kept his hand raised high.

"Éomer!" King Théoden called out as he looked up to the rising sun where his nephew stood high on his horse.

"To the king!" He screamed as the Rohirrim and the White Rider charged down the slope. Half the Uruk-hai army turned to face the new challenge, bearing their spears down towards the riders. Paddamill and everyone slued the ones facing them as the riders drew closer, the sun raised high behind them, momentarily blinding the Uruk-hai who raised their hands and spears to shield their eyes. Paddamill briefly looked up to squint immediately knowing why he was coming from the East.

The war continued on. Paddamill could only fight with all her remaining energy. She could only imagine that tall trees that moved and talked would be attacking Isengard. Alongside of them Merry and Pippin. They had broken the dam causing a massive flood wiping out all of his work and all of the Orcs. Merry and Pippin had held on with their lives as they watched the war.

All Merry and Pippin could think of was Sam and Frodo. They hadn't known of their whereabouts or what they were doing. They could only imagine the peril Frodo and Sam were being put in with Gollum and then Faramir then Frodo's close call with the ring. It was all so confusing they wondered if they would ever see their friends again. Long ago they might've said yes, but now they weren't so sure. It was too frightening to think of. Only stories of what was going to happen could keep them with their task.

"VICTORY!" King Théoden called out as he held up his sword high. "VICTORY! We have victory" Paddamill gasped for air as she frowned feeling tears form in her eyes. The battle was over. So many lives were lost and so many brave people were alive. The tough image she had put on was finally torn down. She wasn't a strong soldier. She wasn't a man, but a woman. The joy of the moment was too much. She had finally passed her test of strength and on how wise she was. She could only weep in surprise of the outcome and of how different she felt.

"HA! HA!" Gimli screamed out as he looked over at the joyful people. Smiles, tears, and laughter were the only emotions on the villagers faces as their husbands and fellow soldiers came inside the destroyed keep. Aragorn watched Éowyn cry with joy as she ran over to him and placed her hands on his face and hugged him tightly showing her 'thanks' for saving the remaining family's. Gimli jumped around feeling great for doing such a noble thing and him leveling up to the men. Paddamill held her side in pain as she looked to the right to see the man who was wounded pretty bad hug his wife and kids. The wound was gone and he was better. The elixir really was a miracle. Paddamill thought as she looked around the room. Legolas smiled as he got hugs from people. She sighed out as she walked over to him.

"Paddamill!" He said in a relieved voice. "You have proven yourself worthy to fight along side men. I knew you would be a loyal fighter." She smiled and looked around.

"We did good, Legolas. We did good."

"That we did." The two stood watching the scene of weeping women hugging their husbands that returned from war. Paddamill's heart ached as she watch families hold one another feeling safe from such a horrible event. She knew she would never be fully satisfied by killing Orcs just to avenge her families death. Aragorn had even told her so. A smile crept across her face as she watched him hold Éowyn close. King Théoden held onto his nephew. It was beautiful. Paddamill looked up to Legolas and lifted her arms, avoiding the sharp pain in her side, and held Legolas. It was the feeling of the moment. You needed to be held after such events.

"I'm scared, Legolas." Paddamill whispered to him as she felt his arms close tighter to hug her back.

"I am too. We need to be strong. The fight from here on out will be worse than this. We have to get strong." Paddamill frowned feeling his wet hair with her dirty hand. Paddamill pulled back and looked into his blue eyes.

"We will be." She touched his face and the flash of light and rumble of sound made the two look around. Legolas frowned looking down at Paddamill. Her eyes were wide and she glanced at his chest. As her eyes trailed slowly up to meet his she gasped and fell out of his arms to the ground. Before they could see anything else the image was gone. Legolas' grip on Paddamill tightened.

"No!" He gasped. Paddamill's eyes were wide. Before Legolas could hold her close to him again she pushed off of his chest with her hands and walked away.

"We must ride out with the others." Paddamill said to him as she continued to walk away from him. Legolas could only think of what he just saw. His forehead wrinkled with fright as he watched her jog over to her horse. He didn't just see what he did? It couldn't be true! Gandalf, Théoden and the rest of the company rode out to the top of the large slope, looking towards the Mountain of Fire in the distance, otherwise known as Mordor.

"Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness." Paddamill swallowed down the metallic taste she had just licked off her lips. Gandalf looked over at her and she slowly looked away towards the mountain. This would be her last battle. Her last effort to destroy as much of evil as she could. And she would do it all knowing the fate it held for her. Death.