The last shred of hope that we would survive this war was killed the moment the battle with the wolves ended. A good many of the men fighting the wolves had been killed and most importantly I thought I had lost another of my friends. Aragorn had been thrown over the side of the cliff and most probably on to the sharp rocks below. The only thing I had was the thought of reaching Helms Deep to see Idril, to know that she was safe and make amends for the harsh words I had spoken.

However it turned out that there was no chance. As soon as we entered Helms Deep there were a million tasks to do in preparation for the battle and it seemed they never stopped coming. My mind was put at rest though as I saw her running frantically back and forth doing errands. This went on for a full day, no one resting for more than a few minutes and everyone tiring under the charade of false hope that they were still carrying.

The morning of the battle we were given, what I feel now was a sign that we might not fail our quest completely, Aragorn returned.

I somehow managed to keep my emotions in check, engaging in banter with him about his appearance and giving him Arwen's necklace but inside I was sobbing with joy that my friend had been spared. But my happiness was again to be put on hold for a little while.

Idril appeared at the top of the stairs with Theoden at the sounds of excitement that were echoing around all of the people. "Aragorn!" she shouted. She raced down the stairs and flung herself on him. "We thought you were dead! Thank God you're not dead!" she released him and smiled. "Now there is some real hope!" she said softly. Theoden guided Aragorn away to inform him of the past days events and Idril and I were left on our own.

We stayed silent for a few moments, not meeting each others eyes. Eventually she looked up at me. "Are you alright? You weren't injured were you?" she asked.

"No. I am fine."

I went to step forward and embrace her but she put her hand on her chest to stop me.

"Don't think I'm not glad you are alright. I really am but if you EVER speak to me like that again then I swear I will-"

I placed my hand over her mouth cutting her off mid-sentence.

"I know I shouldn't of said that to you but you have to understand that I had to make you leave. Do you think I want you to die? I need you safe and alive."

I lowered my hand from her mouth and took her hand in mine. "Come with me a moment." I said nodding my head in the direction of the armory. She raised her eyebrow and stared at me.

"Please?" I said softly. She smiled and followed me through to the armory.

We went to the back of the room and sat on the floor, our backs to the wall. I wrapped my arms around her and told her about the battle with the wolves and she told me about the various plans that had been made to try and defend Helms deep in the battle that was due to commence.

"We don't have long now. A few hours if that." she whispered.

"I know."

I stared at her, studying every inch of her face, drinking in all I could in case this was one of the few precious last moments I would spend with her. I couldn't take it anymore, I had to kiss her. It wasn't tender and sweet like our first kisses though, it was much more passionate and desperate. My tongue pushed it's way in to her mouth meeting hers with an earnest frenzy. I slid my hand behind her head and lowered her to the floor, not able to separate. The more contact I got with her the more I needed. I slid my hand under her shirt and slid it slowly up the smooth soft flesh to her breast. She moaned and pushed her body up to meet mine, her hands clinging to me as if she were drowning.

"We must distribute the weapons now and have the soldiers prepared! Is this the armory?" we heard Aragorn say from outside the door. Instantly we broke away from each other, standing up and picking up weapons trying to look inconspicuous as possible. Aragorn entered and led a group of men in to the armory seeing us he walked over and involved us in handing out the weapons.

"Idril what is in your hair?" he asked. He leaned over and plucked an arrow feather out of her hair and looked to the floor where a box that we had upturned had spilled over. She blushed and threw it back at the box. Aragorn raised his eyebrows and went back to giving out the weaponry but I could see the smile playing on his lips.

As soon as the weapons were distributed Aragorn, Gimli and I waited for them to do something to rally together, to practice using the weapons, anything but they just stood there either looking at the weapons in bewilderment or looking at each other with fear in their eyes. Idril sat staring at her sword.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." Aragorn whispered to us.

"They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes. And they should be. 300 against 10 000!"

Aragorn sighed and whispered back to me "They have a better chance defending

themselves here than in Edoras."

I felt the familiar annoyance at everyone's false hope again. I could stand it from the other people but not from Aragorn that was far too much.

"They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!" I snapped viciously back at him.

Gimli and Idril stared at Aragorn and I, their eyes and mouths wide open with shock and disbelief.

Aragorn scowled at me, his hands balling in to fists.

"Then I shall die as one them!!!" he hissed at me before storming out if the room.

I instantly felt a wave of guilt pass over me. I went to run after him but Gimli stopped me. Idril had remained silent and still throughout the whole exchange, she stared off in to space for a few seconds before leaving the armory and going the opposite way to Aragorn. This time Gimli let me go.

I followed her in silence up on to the battlements where we stood silently side by side staring off in to the distance. Finally she turned to me and spoke. "I know that you think that we have no hope. I understand your frustrations with everyone and I know the odds of us winning are completely against us. You cannot continue telling everyone that though. Everyone already knows it but what are they expected to do? Stand around and wait for death and not even bother defending themselves? Yes most of them will die but at least they could say that they tried."

I let my head drop in to my hands and let out a sigh. "I know but I have had to have 'hope' now for months, watching my friends die and knowing that more will follow!"

She put her hand under my chin and raised my head. "Then shouldn't you at least fight to try and prevent that?"

I groaned, kissed her forehead and pulled her in to a tight hug. "You win. At least I know you'll be safer in the caves with the other women!"

I felt her body stiffen. "Legolas there's something I need to tell you about that. I'm not going down to the caves with the others. I'm staying up here to fight." she said nervously. I stepped back from her.

"Idril we have already had this argument and I won't have it with you again."

"Then we won't. You can not change my mind. This is the only way. I can't send help to my people so if I fight in this battle it is still helping them but in another way!"

"I don't want you to die. I've only just found you and--" I stopped speaking. I was afraid if I continued I would cry or say something I would regret.

"I don't want to die either but this is something that I just have to do."

I could hear the men making their way up the stairs and on to the battlement. The women would be down in the caves by now and there was no time for her to go down. The sounds of the men coming to join us was met by the sound of an army marching to meet us. The men poured out on to the battlements, many staring at the sight of Idril. Gimli and Aragorn came to stand with us.

"Be careful." I whispered to her and kissed her softly on the cheek.

"You too." she whispered back.

We could see the lines of Urak-hai and Orc soldiers getting closer.

The battle was about to begin.