Disclaimer: The characters, settings, places and languages used in this work are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate and Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Notes: Spoilers for Return of the King – but if you haven't seen that film by now, why are you reading this?! Get down to the cinema now!!

Mostly based on canon: the Elves didn't go to Helm's Deep in the books, here's what they were doing instead.

Originally written for the www.haldir-lives.org Fan Fic Challenge. Huge thanks to Kissaki and everyone else at www.haldir-lives.org (now www.galadhrim.net).

Thanks to the people who have reviewed this story, more reviews are always appreciated!

Chapter VII

In Caras Galadhon, preparations for the defence of the fortress were almost complete. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn had positioned most of the Elves who had experience in handling weapons in high flets just behind the green wall that surrounded the city. Others lined the main paths of the city, ready to ambush any orcs that might get inside the wall. Many young Elves were summoning all their courage to face their first battle. Like those on the borders, all of the Galadhrim in the city wore strong armour, and shining helms. Even Lady Galadriel wore a breastplate made of mithril.

Celeborn, awaiting reinforcements from the eastern border, thought of the tactics that the orc army might try in order to break into his home. First they must run through the clearing that surrounds the city without being shot by one of many archers. Then they must either attempt to get through the deep water-filled fosse1 that encircles the wall, and then come up against the thick wall itself, or endeavour to cross the white bridge to get to the solid white gate that marks the only entrance into the stronghold. This was stoutly defended by some of the most experienced warriors among the Galadhrim.

In the highest of the mallorns in the centre of the city, the female Elves and those too young to fight gathered, and sat in silence. They did not have the heart to sing, and spent their time fingering the blades they had been given for their protection. There too were the Elves who had been wounded in the previous two assaults. Lady Galadriel seemed to be everywhere, now giving uplifting words to the warriors, now reassuring the Elves sheltering in the heart of the city. Lord Celeborn stood near the gate, bow in hand, ready to do his part in the forth-coming battle.

A horn sounded, blown by one of the Elves guarding the gate. Celeborn looked out over the wall to see a small host of Elves running across the clearing, led by Rúmil and Orophin.

Where is Haldir? Celeborn frowned; the loss of one of the Captains of the Galadhrim would be a grave blow, especially coming even before the battle was begun in earnest.

The gate swung open, allowing the march wardens to enter. Celeborn sought out Rúmil and Orophin. They saw their lord approach, and Rúmil told him of the situation on the eastern border.

"Captain Haldir, with fifty other Elves, has stayed on the edge of the forest, in an attempt to prevent the wargs and trolls from entering Lórien. But the majority of the orcs did not stay at the border, and are almost upon us."

Any reply Celeborn might have given was cut off as again a horn sounded, but it was an altogether harsher noise, not the fluty tones of an Elven horn. Quickly Celeborn directed the march wardens to take up positions in the flets near the gate, under the command of Rúmil and Orophin. As he climbed into his flet Celeborn was joined by his wife.

"They entered the clearing on the eastern side, as we expected," she said, "and have already begun to assail the wall there. Many are working their way round to the southwest, to the Gate here. They will be here in a few minutes."

Celeborn nodded. Even as he did so, the first orcs appeared round to the side, running across the clearing, trying to find a way across the fosse. Arrows were fired from the tall mallorn trees, killing orcs in the clearing, those caught in the moat, and those trapped between the moat and the wall, where there was only enough room to admit two rows of orcs. Several orcs fired back with small, crudely made bows. Though their armour gave them some protection, a few of the Elves closest to the wall were wounded, and fell from their flets. Their cries egged the orcs on, and soon they were almost baying in anticipation.

From his position near the entrance, Orophin cried out a warning: orcs had started battering against the white gate. Elves stationed nearby fired at a furious rate, killing most that tried to cross the bridge, but still too many made it across, and they started using their own bodies as a ram in an attempt to fell the gate. But it was well made, and not easily brought down.

Frustrated that they could not gain entrance into the sanctuary, some of the orcs started fires in the clearing, and tried to set the wall alight. Others shot fire-arrows over the wall into the fortress. Soon several Elven-archers were occupied in putting out numerous small fires, and more and more orcs used their distraction to negotiate the moat.

Other orcs, including many smaller, less disciplined goblins, started ravaging the forest around the clearing instead of trying to get into Caras Galadhon. They soon regretted this, however, as they were swiftly dealt with by Elves returning from the northern watch. A minimal watch had been maintained in the north of the Wood, but having heard of the battle, these Elves felt that they would be more useful in the Naith of Lórien. But they were few in number, only twenty archers, and soon they found themselves surrounded by maddened orcs. They couldn't get past all the orcs in the clearing in order to get to Caras Galadhon, and were forced to retreat away from the city.

Lord Celeborn watched the savage orcs pound on the wall and gate. Despite all the arrows that the Galadhrim had fired, their numbers seemed to grow, rather than diminish. Messengers came from the eastern side of Caras Galadhon to report that though the wall was weakened in several places, it still held, which greatly relieved Celeborn, for in gathering most of his forces around the gate he had left that side vulnerable.

Suddenly the orcs surged against the gate, and smashed into it with unprecedented strength. Celeborn yelled orders for the Galadhrim to concentrate their fire on those orc-soldiers, but it was not enough, and in the next minute all his efforts to prevent them from entering Caras Galadhon were undone: the white gate was cracked apart, and orcs streamed through the opening into the fortress.

The orcs hunting the march wardens from the north heard the sound of splintering wood, and baying in delight, ran back from the forest to rejoin the attack on the city, giving their quarry an unlooked for respite. The march wardens immediately headed for a secret store of weapons in the wood about two miles from the city, hoping to replenish their arrows. But arriving at the site, they found to their dismay that it had been raided. Rustling in the undergrowth indicated that the thieves were near at hand, and accordingly the march wardens drew their swords and dropped from the trees to surprise the burglars.

Author's note

1: A fosse is a type of moat.