Deep breathe… warning - here come the excuses.
Sorry everyone for my tardiness. I had real issues writing this chapter. I knew how much all of you where looking forward to it so I wanted to make it good, but I am rather bad at writing action so that made this doubly hard. Second I am working a lot of overtime since I am going into my last week and a half before quitting my job for the rest of the summer before school. Third, my little cousins are here and are sucking up what little free time I have. So I have been busy. Please forgive me! *grin*
Okay – progress report on how the re-editing is going. 'evil spapple pie' has been great with helping me with this and now the first, I think it is fourteen chapters, are done… or something like that. So thanks to her once again! Also thanks to eLLe for editing this chapter for me!
Welcome to my new reviewers: 'Shaan Lien', 'Noriel' and 'Kate Barancik'.
I hit 300 reviews! *dances around*
Okay – probably forgetting to say something but oh well. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter #28 ~ The Battle for Rohan
Legolas stood stonily, his eyes growing in size and his fear mounting as he watched the massive number of orcs approaching them. How could they survive against such odds? Legolas was not usually one to despair, but seeing the staggering odds which opposed them he did not know how he was supposed to keep faith; a faith which had been pressed and tested too much as of late.
If he was truly honest it was more then the sheer size of the army which brought on his fear - it was the lingering dark memories of the wizard. He had fought Saruman once, and had almost lost himself to the darkness, the remembrance of which still haunted him, and yet here he was once again challenging that tide. He was not sure that he could find the courage within himself to do it again, and a part of him wanted to run; to simply turn from this war and return to his people. Yet his pride prevented such a cowardly action and his loyalty to his friends hardened his resolve to remain, no matter what the consequences might be.
The rain began to fall, dripping into his eyes and dampening his clothing. He pulled an arrow from his quiver, allowing his fingers to caress the familiar wood and give him a sense of power. He had to keep reminding himself that he could overcome this - that these odds were not the same as those he had faced before. He was not bound to that fate, nor was he alone this time.
"Your friends are with you."
He knew not how he could spread such false hope when he felt so alone. Though he was surrounded and sided with hundreds of others, he felt separated from them. The Rohirrim had been nothing but hostile with him since his arrival and now he was expected to trust them to guard his back. His doubt grew.
He let his eyes turn to Pippin beside him. The hobbit stood unsteadily upon a small box he had had the foresight to bring out with him, watching the approaching army with undisguised fear tainting his features. Legolas shifted the arrow he held to the same hand that held his bow, reaching out momentarily to grip the hobbits shoulder in comfort. This creature of innocence should not have had to face such evil. The elf was saddened to see that the darkness truly would leave none untouched.
He could hear Éowyn's sharp breathing beside him, even above the din of the orc army and the pelting of the rain. Her pale face watched intently as the army in front of them came closer, and she seemed completely unaware of anything but their steady approach. Legolas' heart wept for the horrors all these youthful eyes would witness before the night was out.
The orcish hordes stopped suddenly, an unnatural silence falling between the fractions before they started to scream, pounding their weapons against the muddied earth; psyching themselves up for the approaching bloodshed. It was an awe inspiring sight through the occasional flickers of lightning, one that inspired fear and allowed it to fester.
An arrow suddenly flared into the din below, halting all with the suddenness of it. "Hold your fire," Aragorn's voice called out, but the challenge had already been made, and the orcs accepted it enthusiastically, converging upon the fortress walls of Helm's Deep without further delay.
The next hour passed in a surreal blur, a swarm of orc faces leering towards him up the sides of the keep, to fall into death with an arrow piercing their eyes, necks or hearts. He took no pleasure in ending their existence, merely satisfaction that there was now one less opponent standing who was capable of taking the life of one of his friends, or one of the children who defended the doomed wall.
Beside him Pippin was collecting arrows from the fallen to pass them up to the elf. The hobbit had realized early on that there was little he could do as long as they kept the enemy at bay, and so he had busied himself with supplying the archers with fresh arrows, yet the stores available to them were dwindling. Soon the majority of the enemy would be able to breach the wall.
Shoving back damp hair, though it clung to his skin despite the sharp twist of his head, he aimed again, making another enemy fall from the ladders to fall into the swarming mass below. A voice, Aragorn's, suddenly reared to life above the commotion,
"Dago han! Dago han, Legolas!" (Him, him! Bring him down, Legolas!)
The elf's head snapped around, quickly trying to pinpoint what threat Aragorn asked him to destroy. He drew an arrow quickly, feeling the imperfections of its shaft even as he strung it upon his bow. Trying to ignore the water that stung at his eyes, he fired. The arrow went wide. He could tell it would even before it struck its target. He quickly pulled another from his quiver, praying slightly to Elbereth for the light of her stars to guide him, yet a hideous black whisper made his heart quiver. You are mine, it promised.
The second arrow struck the orc in its shoulder, a mark that would have disabled most opponents, yet this orc seemed possessed and it flung itself forward despite the two arrows which pierced it. He heard Éowyn beside him gasp, and then they were all flung into the air, powerless against the force of the blast that shook the Deeping wall.
He landed awkwardly, feeling torn and already knowing that bruising welts would result due to the impact. Several large pieces of stone landed brutally upon him, as he tried to shelter his head as best he could.
As the dust cleared the elf scrambled to his hands and knees, a sense of overwhelming guilt hitting him as he beheld the full scope of the damage his stray shots had caused. Breathing deeply, he surveyed the area around him, searching almost frantically for Pippin and Éowyn among those near him.
The lady was easy enough to find, her blonde head contrasting with the blacked debris. He crawled to her on his hands and knees, pushing a particularly large block of stone from her back.
"Éowyn!? Lady?" he called gently, though there was a degree of panic echoing in his tone as well. He simply could not stomach the thought of her dying due to his incompetence.
She stirred then lightly, coughing up and spitting out a mouthful of blood, which oozed its way down her chin. "I'm all right," she said, though her voice was slurred and one of her eyes was already blackening, as she struggled to sit up. Brushing aside his hands which reached to assist her, she drew a dagger sharply, hurling it over Legolas's left shoulder, so close to his own ear that he felt the force of the wind as it past, to embed itself into an orc who had been looming over the oblivious elf.
Legolas blinked in surprise, feeling confused and disconnected. He stared in horror at the fallen enemy, suddenly realizing how close his immortality had come to being ended. It was warm hands upon his chilled face that drew him back to himself and his surroundings. He suddenly found himself face to face with Éowyn, her eyes filled with such compassion.
"I am all right, Legolas, and so are you," she said forcefully. "Now pull yourself from this, and get up!" She rose unsteadily to her feet and Legolas mimicked her movements, rising awkwardly to be supported by his two legs once again.
"Thank-you," he said, despite the inadequacy of the statement.
The human woman smiled at him, though it was a somewhat lopsided grin, as half of her face had swollen and remained unresponsive. "You believed in me," was all she said. "Now find the hobbit."
"No need!" Pippin's voice flared to life suddenly. "For I have found you."
Legolas sighed in relief at seeing the hobbit standing and yet breathing. At seeing their determined faces Legolas pushed back his own doubts and fears, letting his resolve solidify from the fragments it had been in but moments before. Drawing his knives, he fought now for revenge.
Yet the orcs numbers swelled as they gained access to the keep, snarling with enthusiastic glee as they sensed their approaching victory. The savage nature of their attack seemed to intensify, forcing the allies back.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
The order was echoed by various people, and soon all the Rohirrim were chaotically trying to return to the tower, seeking what limited shelter it could provide. People fell on the slippery stone surfaces, knocking each other over in their collective attempts of escape. Order and comradery were forgotten, as the realization that life and death hung in the balance hit them. It was a disgusting display at self-preservation, as adults pushed aside the shorter strides of children, to reach the sanctuary.
Legolas soon found himself engulfed in the tide, losing track of Pippin in the rush. As the realization hit him that the hobbit could be being trampled beneath him, a fresh wave of panic hit him.
"Legolas," Éowyn called, seeing him slowing.
"Go on! I have lost Pippin. I will join you shortly," he ordered, hoping that she would obey him in this, for it would be one less person he would feel responsible for. She seemed on the verge of not complying, but a fresh swarm of people came charging by, sweeping her up in their path and forcing her to go with them or be run over.
Legolas, satisfied that the Lady would reach safety, turned his attentions back to seeking out the hobbit. His eyes pierced the smoke and dim lighting, finally landing upon Pippin. The hobbit was clinging weakly from the side of one of the pathways, both of his legs dangling over the side of the causeway. Legolas felt a sudden flare of deja vu hit him; an image of Gandalf hanging in a similar fashion so many days earlier. This time, the elf vowed as he moved forward, the outcome would be different.
Weaving through the final staggering people who were retreating he dove for the hobbit, catching hold of an arm, and pulling the smaller body forcibly up. Pippin seemed dazed, his head bleeding from several wounds and his eyes half-closed.
"I am hurt," he stated dumbly, looking confusedly at the elf. Legolas felt overwhelmed by the pain clouding the halfling's eyes, the soft, erratic flutter of his voice. "I just fell. Then the boots... I tried to roll away from them... I am hurt."
The hobbits head lulled backwards then, his eyes drifting closed. He looked so white. Legolas lifted the hobbit with him, as he stood, ducking low as an orc arrow flew by him. Then he was running, trying to dodge low as the various crude weapons attempted to slow him. He clutched the hobbit's limp form to him, hugging him tightly to his chest in an attempt to shelter his charge.
"Stay with me, Pippin. Just stay with me," he said, talking more to himself then the unconscious hobbit.
He was one of the final people to slip through the closing doors of the tower, and he stood for a moment once safely inside watching others bar the entrance and barricade it shut. He was breathing hard, his body throbbing painfully with a dull sort of constant protest against what he was putting it through.
Yet, that did not matter. What mattered was the halfling he clung too. He needed to get Pippin to a healer, to Aragorn. Pushing his way through the frightened crowd he headed up the hall, finding Aragorn and a battered looking Éomer in deep discussion. Éowyn, too, stood nearby, though she noticed his own approach more quickly then the others.
"Estel," Legolas said, the urgency of his tone grabbing Aragorn's attention quickly. The elf held Pippin out in his arms, and Aragorn quickly moved and took the halfling, lowering him to the floor.
"E brassen," (He is so white.) Legolas stammered, still feeling horribly effected by Pippin's injury.
"He is," Aragorn agreed, his fingers flying over the various wounds that were visible on the hobbit and searching out other unseen ones.
"I haru, um-faeg?" (The wounds, are they bad?) Legolas questioned, kneeling next to the pair, his hands twitching to help in some fashion, yet also not wishing to hinder Aragorn's work.
"Bad enough, but I think it is safe to say they are not fatal," Aragorn announced with a definite sigh of relief. The ranger raised his head, looking at Legolas closely, his eyes narrowing in concern. He reached out with a hand and brushed it against the elf's forehead, who in response hissed with pain and jerked back. Crimson blood was left on the ranger's fingertips.
Legolas blinked, reaching up with his own hand to press it to his head, and sure enough it came away coated in blood. Touching down his face he was surprised to learn that much of it was covered with his own life force. He vaguely shifted through his memories to try and remember when he had taken the wound, yet he could not place his injury.
"Your eyes are dilated, Legolas," Aragorn said, concern coated the words.
"I am well enough. I do not even feel this. What are your plans for the fight? Those doors will not hold them long," Legolas said, deftly changing the subject.
Aragorn paused here. Blinking as he frowned in despair. "I know not," his eyes looked up, searching out Éomer's own. "I am sorry, my lord," he said softly.
Éomer nodded solemnly. "Then if we can do no more in this then let us leave with such an ending. We will ride out and face them. I shall not slaughtered in these halls, hiding," he said simply. "Will you all ride with me?"
Éowyn was the first to move, and she strode forward confidently, closing the distance between her brother and herself swiftly. She embraced him lightly. "I follow you in all things, my lord, my king and my brother," she said, her voice clear and strong so that all gathered in the hall might hear her.
Grim nods of determination where given by the rest. There was a sort of hallow knowledge that came with the ultimate acceptance of death. It was if the situation was not real, yet simultaneously too vivid all the same. Legolas threw his bow and quiver to the side, blankly, having long since run out of arrows. Stooping he collected a sword that lay discarded by some soldier, gripping the hilt in an iron grip and drawing out one of his knives in his left hand.
Standing next to Aragorn, he watched as the man carefully hid Pippin's unconscious body underneath a table, the long tablecloth of it touching the floor and preventing any eyes from seeing the halfling.
"It is a small hope to wish that the orcs will not find him, and that once he has regained his senses he will be able to leave this place," Aragorn explained softly.
Legolas nodded, thinking the whole notion somewhat unrealistic but not about to crush what hope the ranger could muster. "I will stand with you, nin mellon," the elf said softly.
"As you ever have," Aragorn replied fondly.
Then the pair followed Éomer and Éowyn down the hall, holding their weapon to the ready. As the barricade was slowly stripped away, and the doors thrown open, Éomer's voice raised up in declaration, "For Rohan, and for freedom!"
Then the final charge began.
In the face of the darkness it was Legolas who first saw the green beyond. Blinking his eyes in confusion the elf looked out, not understanding what it was that he witnessed or hallucinated. Disposing of another enemy, he called out in warning, "Something draws near, Aragorn."
"Friend or foe?" Aragorn questioned, still locked closely in combat.
Legolas blinked. "Neither. It is... a forest."
Aragorn was suddenly by Legolas' side, fear in his expression as he looked at the elf closely. Legolas sighed in irritation. "I do not talk such nonsense yet, nor am I delirious! Look beyond, there, for even your eyes should be able to see it," he snapped impatiently.
Aragorn looked out, his eyes suddenly widening in understanding. "Aid! Aid has come! The ents of Fangorn come in our time of need! Do not fear or harm them, soldiers of Rohan," he shouted, his voice carrying strong.
Then suddenly a wave of rich greenness enveloped them, as the dark foe was overwhelmed, and the light of the morning dawn broke over the hill crest. Such light, Legolas mused, as he stood transfixed, while the screeching of orcs faded into nothingness...
Reviewer Responses:
MoroTheWolfGod ~ LOL. Well I hope this Helm's Deep chapter had enough angst and injury for you. Pain is always a good thing in the right doses.
Iverson ~ Well, Tolkien never really showed what the ring was offering the rest of the Fellowship, and you have to believe that it was offering them something. I had fun trying to make what it was 'whispering' to the dramatic and believable. Yeah, once I start incorporating a new character, like Faramir, I am always a little unsure writing them until I have done it for a bit, just until I become familiar with how I can portray them. If that makes sense, anyway, so I am glad I am getting Faramir right in this transitional period. I am so glad you are enjoying it. It just makes me so happy to know people are getting pleasure from my writing.
Niori ~ Me, make Legolas take a guilt trip or kill another character? *give innocent look* Gosh you have me pegged. You might squirm at good character angst, but me… I thrive on it, lol. LOL. Don't like Frodo, huh? He always struck me as a deer in headlights… like he is never sure what he is doing and the whole ring thing just railroaded him. Poor little tyke. Anyway, hope this chapter lived up to expectations.
Shaan Lien ~ LOL. I guess chapter 27 was not appearing for you when you tried to read it, lol. Well here is the conclusion for Helm's Deep for you – so I hope that makes up for having made you wait, lol. LOL. No promises about getting Legolas out of this safely. Anything can go with this story. Hope you continue to enjoy.
sirithiel ~ Well it was the least I could do for you drawing me fanart, a fact that still makes me giddy. I hope you do get more attention, because you deserve it. Hope you had your Legolas fix with this one.
Elfling ~ Sometimes, for whatever reason, ff.net is slow to let things show-up. I have tried to read things before and gotten that message, so I know how frustrating it can be. LOL. That is funny – everyone said they found the last chapter short but it was as long as the majority of my chapters, most of them being five to six pages. I have only had three or four chapter that have hit the eight to thirteen pages mark. Go figure, lol. LOL. The telemarketing prank thing is funny. Besides I won't be telemarketing in three weeks time. I am quitting because I hate it so much. Who would have thought that a job would be so stressful. Anyway, I just need the money for school. I have not seen Pirates of the Carribean, because I don't live anywhere near a theatre, *cries*. I really want to see it, but I do not know if I shall until it comes out on DVD. Was OB any good in it (acting wise I mean), because I really hope he was. I would so love for him to be a good actor as well as a pretty face – because his Legolas role was relatively small – so I am interested in seeing how he will be in a bigger part.
Gwyn ~ Lots of elf, as promised. I did almost this entire chapter from Legolas' POV so I hope that helped settle your craving for him.
randomramblings ~ Short, lol. Maybe it was a bit. This chapter was at least a page longer so hopefully that will be more acceptable, *grin* I have just been having trouble writing this story recently – but I will keep at it so worry not.
White Wolf ~ Glad I did it well. I have to get comfortable writing the characters before I feel confident about what I am saying – so Faramir still has me slightly worry about how to write him. Glad I did it okay. I liked the Gimli/Merry conversation too. It just came out really easily when I was writing it, so that made me happy. ^_^
saki ~ Sorry it was so short… it was still five pages but I guess I have been making the recent ones much longer. Ah well. This one is almost seven pages long so hope that was better! ^_^
Lady Lenna ~ LOL. Still so much time and so much action in which to kill off people. Don't much care for Eomer and Faramir, huh? Well you will have to wait and see. Personally I am rather fond of Eomer – and as I write more of Faramir I will probably grow to like him more too… anyway – thanks for your support.
SpaceVixenX ~ *Gulp* I am kind of late with this chapter, aren't I? Well in my defense ff.net was down on the weekend and that is normally when I post. Glad you liked that last chapter and I really hope that this chapter lived up to your expectations. I had real troubled writing the action sequence – so I hope it is all okay.
merrylyn ~ LOL. Hope all your limbs are functioning once again. ^_~ My head is still tingling from my own encounter, *giggle*. LOL. You are not the only one who is getting worked up by thoughts of snarling plot bunnies and the snapping teeth of muse ferrets. They have been supplying me some interesting dreams to say the least. I am glad I am doing Faramir justice. I want to portray him as noble – so glad I am succeeding. Glad you liked how everything was wrapped up in the end of the last one. The more I am writing Merry the more and more I like the little hobbit. Pippin is still my favorite but… Anyway, thanks for your continued support and hope this chapter pleases you. ^_^
Lisette ~ I sort of had to have Gimli cave. I just realized I could not keep up with all the different group to my satisfaction if I made this any more complex. I am glad I pulled Gimli's acknowledgment believable. I sort of struggled with how to make it believable but once I got on a roll it came easily enough. LOL. I looked at the note I left you in the last chapter and the html formatting messed up some of the french symbols, lol. Ah well, I guess you figure out what I was trying to say anyway.
Artemisa ~ Glad you find this is improving. I find it is too as I get better as a writer and get into the story more as well. Sorry I was a little slow in posting. I like dramatic too, and cliffhangers are so much fun to write! Hope you enjoyed this installment.
Noriel ~ I am sorry if at any point you felt I was 'dissing' Boromir. It was never my intent and I always tried to write him with as much dignity as I could. I will admit that in some of my author notes to people I owned that he was not one of my favorite characters – but that is just my personal opinion. Anyway, again I am sorry if I offended you, it was not my intention. Thanks so much for your review and I am glad you like how I am sort of meshing both book and movie together (with a few of my own added flares) to create this story! Thanks for pointing out that editing error, lol. I have fixed it! ^_^ Hope you continue to enjoy.
Rosie ~ Yeah – it was a tough choice but in the end I am glad that I let Frodo and Sam follow cannon now. If I had not I would have had to write too much more. I want to try and wrap up this story so I can focus on the other one I am writing. Glad I still have the ability to shock you with the twists and turns of this plot. Loved your newest chapter – even though I left a really short crummy review (sorry about that) – I promise my next review will be better, lol.
Angel of Death ~ Yeah, school is getting closer – but personally I am looking forward to it. I hate work and once I am back at school I will not have to work anymore *cheers*. I am glad you had a good vacation. I take mine in two and half weeks and I am looking forward to it more now then ever. Glad you liked Eowyn taking on the guys and getting her brother's leave to fight. She is a great character – and strong. No, I have not seen PofC. I would love to see it but I don't live anywhere near a place it is showing. I am envious that you have and I am pleased to hear it was good. I look forward to seeing it when it comes out on DVD. Harry Potter V shocked me – but I loved it. Still crying over who died and I only wish book six was here now.
wellduh… ~ Yeah, I like my tense endings… they keep you coming back for more, *grin*. Hope Helm's Deep proved to be as exciting as I was building it up to be.
Kate Barancik ~ Thanks for your kind review of chapter 11. I am glad you are enjoying it and if you ever make it this far I hope you have continued to enjoy. Glad I got a few tears from you having killed Gandalf. It was a hard thing for me to do. ^_^