Disclaimer ~ Tolkien is dead, and I don't own a multi-million dollar movie-making corporation. Figure it out. I don't own Lord of the Rings or any related characters, plots or locations. Thank you.
Like Water on the Rocks…
The world had suddenly become dark. To some, it seemed as though the sun had not even bothered to set, merely wrapped itself in a blanket of night, perhaps never to be seen again by those that now prepared for a battle they could not possibly win.
King Theoden was speaking, trying to give moral to his men, as well as to the elves that had so recently joined them in the stone sanctuary. 'They will break upon this fortress like water on rocks. Here, we will be safe, for no enemy has ever breached the Deeping wall.'
Even in the darkness, the soldiers could see the black ribbon of the enemy as it wound its way towards Helm's Deep. Only the foolish did not fear what was to come. Only the arrogant pretend that they would all live through it. Legolas surveyed their own army. Most were but children, hardly more capable of defending themselves than Merry and Pippin had been.
A pang of regret ran through his heart as he thought of the two hobbits. Were they all right now? Gandalf had said they were, but could they be sure? Forcing such thoughts from his mind, he turned to the task at hand.
In later years, there were few who could recall how the battle began. Things moved too quickly, too suddenly, and fear has a way of making details slip past one's notice. None the less, there were none who could deny that it did start.
Legolas hardly felt the twang of his bowstring as he released the arrows. He didn't watch them as they flew, strait and true to their target. He was operating on instinct. There was no other way to survive.
'Hello my friend.' Came the voice of Haldir. The battle had brought them together and they fought back to back, the perfect team. 'I see your aim has improved.'
Legolas let a brief laugh escape his lips; when last they'd seen each other, a couple thousand years ago, Haldir had taken the Prince of Mirkwood under his wing- so to speak- teaching him the finer points of war-craft.
'Yes, and you haven't changed one bit!' He replied, unsheathing his long knives for the close-combat situation the Orcken ladders had created.
'Not entirely true,' Orophin commented, passing by. 'His tongue has grown sharper and his wisdom blurred!' As the elf's brother, Orophin was allowed to make such remarks concerning the commander.
'Try saying that about me outside of a battle!' Haldir shouted after him as he disappeared once more into the melee of the fight.
Legolas' attention was diverted from his task as he caught sight of one of the children, lying crumpled below the wall. His glassy eyes stared up at the elf as if asking for aid, but then they went dark and lifeless. Had Haldir not been there, Legolas would have found himself in a similar situation.
'I know it's horrible, but we have a duty to perform. If we work hard enough, we might yet save some of them.'
He nodded but didn't take his eyes off the dead child. Like water on rocks. He thought, but in his mind, it was the other way around.
Haldir was shaking him again. 'Legolas, don't think. It'll only get you killed.'
Slowly, he nodded and did his best to block out all thoughts. They would not help him here. Nothing could. Nothing but pure skill and luck.
He heard his name echoed over the wind. It was Aragorn. He wanted him to kill something, but that was what he was doing! Then, he saw it. A larger orc, with a torch in it's hand. It was moving swiftly through the sea of its comrades. Taking aim, he fired. Barely a stumble. Again, he sent an arrow flying into the beast's shoulder. No more than a slight trip, and by then it was too late. It dove into the drain that was the only weakness of Helm's Deep.
For a moment, there seemed to be absolute silence, then a shattering crash boomed out over the world. Rock, water, orc, man and elf all went flying into the air.
The Deeping wall had been breached.
Gimli saw Aragorn himself soar into the air, landing with a splash even the elves couldn't hear over the battle, in the mud. Without hesitating, he launched himself into war with the charging Uruks, hoping to single handedly hold them off long enough for his friend to re-join the fight.
He couldn't help but wonder if, a few months ago, he would have bothered to care.
'Aragorn!' He shouted to the unconscious man. The ranger stirred then climbed laboriously to his feet. Gimli could almost see the sudden determination in his friend's eyes as the full impact of their new situation hit him.
He took charge pretty quickly, directing the ground-based soldiers to charge the enemy army that was now seeping through the hole.
The battle raged on, through the rain and flooding water, through the mud and the fallen bodies of orc, elf and man.
And child. Aragorn reminded himself, with only a hint of bitterness. But there had been nothing for it. They needed all the able hands they could get. Once the battle was over, then they could grieve the passing of children, should there be anyone left to grieve for them.
Dimly, he could hear Theoden ordering him to pull back. Somehow, despite the darkness, he managed to indicate to the king that he understood. He then turned to find Haldir so he could pass the message on.
The elf was fighting valiantly, Legolas at his side. Even as Aragorn watched, an orc came up behind the captain of the Lorien host, only to have Legolas send a long shinning blade into it's gut. 'Haldir!' Aragorn called. 'Pull back to the Keep!'
Nodding, he began to direct his people towards the inner keep of Helm's Deep. A passing orc managed to slip past his defense and dig its sword into Haldir's rib cage.
So this is how it ends. He thought, doubling over in pain. He didn't see the second orc come up behind him, axe raised high, ready to dig it into Haldir's skull. He only barely saw it fall to the earth beside him before his vision went black.
Even as he slipped into unconsciousness, he heard Legolas mutter something in their own tongue. Though he could no longer understand the words, he could sense the comforting tone behind his friend's voice.
As the elf dragged his comrade away from the battle, he felt an arrow pierce his shoulder. It had been badly aimed, and had missed his heart by at least six centimeters, but it hurt none-the-less. Staggering, he nearly dropped Haldir into the mud, but he managed to keep going. It burned like fire all the way down his arm and across his upper back, but he was able to keep putting one foot in front of the other. One step at a time.
At last he reached the inner keep, where Aragorn was waiting impatiently. The sight of Haldir momentarily blinded him to Legolas' injury, but it wasn't long before he began to fuss. 'You're both going to the hospital ward.' He said instantly.
With great effort, Legolas pulled the arrow from his shoulder, winced with the pain but did not cry out. Aragorn secretly admired him for this, but didn't say anything. There would be time enough for that later, at the moment he had an argument to win. The elf was shaking his head. 'No, I'm fine. I can still fight.' He said.
'Don't be so stubborn!' Aragorn practically shouted.
'I could say the same thing to you.' Legolas replied calmly, then called over to a passing boy. 'Make sure he's taken care of, alright?' He asked the child. It would keep him away from the battle, if only for a few moments. It might just save his life.
'Yes milord.' The boy said and took Haldir's weight onto his small shoulders. Legolas felt an embarrassed shiver run through him at the title but didn't correct him. There were more important things to do at the moment, like bar up the door, or head up to the wall of the keep and provide a bit of cover fire for those that still retreated.
'Milord?' Aragorn asked his friend, one eyebrow raised.
Legolas shrugged, then wished he hadn't. Pain shot through his body, starting from where only moments ago and arrow had protruded from his flesh. His face contorted itself in a silent scream, but he didn't make a sound.
'Are you sure you're alright?' Aragorn asked, clearly concerned.
'Yes, I told you. I can still fight. If we sent every injured person away, there'd be no one to fight but you, Gimli and Theoden, King.' Aragorn's face darkened at this. 'What?' Legolas asked.
'Nothing.' The ranger said, but the elf had known him long enough to detect when he was lying.
'Aragorn, what aren't you telling me?'
'Nothing.' He said again, and walked away. As he moved, Legolas detected a slight limp to his steps as he favored his left leg.
'I think he broke something when he fell.' Gimli muttered, coming quietly up behind his companion.
Legolas nodded. 'And you?' He asked.
'I have been lucky thus far.' The dwarf replied solemnly, eyeing the blood-covered men as they fought to board up the door.
'Let us hope you stay that way.' Legolas whispered, his voice so low that Gimli only just caught the words. 'Come.' He said, staring after Aragorn. 'There is much left to do.'