AN: At last, after far too much delay: Helm's Deep.
Had to spilt it into two chapters, unfortunately. I wanted to get it up today, but when I got halfway through (what is now) the second part, I realized that I couldn't end the chap until Helm's Deep was completely over, even though so much had happened. So, unfortunately, ch.17 is going to be the "emotional breakdown" chapter, not this one. MWHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I really do love the short thing between Ertirhiril (Setsuna) and Eowyn near the end of this chap... I had been planning that since the beginning of this fic. ;D And here's a list of the names, since it's been so long:
Eldasil Celebithil- 'Silver light of the Stars' 'Silvermoon' (Usagi/Moon)
Nenloth- 'Water flower' (Ami/Mercury)
Hinienmel- 'Child of Love' (Minako/Venus)
Naurfea- 'Fiery Spirit' (Rei/Mars)
Taurenreil- 'Garlanded maiden of the forest' (Makoto/Jupiter)
Kemenuial- 'Twilight of the Earth' (Hotaru/Saturn)
Menelsul- 'Heavenly Wind' (Haruka/Uranus)
Mirengaer- 'Jewel of the Sea' (Michiru/Neptune)
Ertirhiril- 'Lonely (female) guardian' (Setsuna/Pluto)
"..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Review Responses at the bottom. Enjoy!!
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The day was bleak, and the fading light, discouraging. Legolas stared at the red sunset from the battlements of the Hornburg with little hope for what the night would bring.
Anger still bubbled within him from Aragorn's insistence not to face the truth and lie about their doom to the men. The warriors here were so few! Though many tried to be brave, they lacked both skill and weaponry. How could these men and children survive against a deadly army of ten-thousand monsters? There was no chance, and all would be lost to darkness.
Suddenly the fading sun sparkled on something in the distance, something that reflected the light like... metal? Legolas strained his eyes to the horizon, but in the fading light he could not be sure.
'Yet there is always hope while there is still breath in your body,' thought Legolas, recalling one of the sayings of men. [AN: not really a saying, but the idea of it] And Gandalf had said the tide had turned. 'Let us hope, then, that he may return in time, bringing with him our only hope and chance for survival.'
He moved down to apologize to Aragorn for his earlier rashness, and their dark future seemed less dense with the weak, but existent flame of hope.
~*~*~*~*~
Theoden moved among his troops. Every now and again he'd murmur encouragements to reassure them, but silently he despaired. This was surely the end of Rohan, the end of freedom, and even more likely, the end of their lives. Ten Thousand!!! Ten thousand killing machines. And here were only a few hundred, a ragtag band of young and old, few with experience, many carrying rusty swords or pitchforks.
Yes, they had the advantage of defense, but against 10,000 what can one do?!
'It seems I will see Theodred again soon,' thought Theoden, silently accepting his doom.
And then he heard the horns. The clear crisp call of friendly horns. And a sliver of hope leapt within him again as he hurried to the gates.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The gates had been thrown open and row after row of elite elvish warriors marched through the night into the mortal stronghold. "How is this possible?" said Theoden, voicing his wonder.
The leader of the elves stepped forward. "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago, we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance."
"Mae govannen, Haldir!" [Welcome Haldir] cried Aragorn with joy and relief as he leapt forward and hugged the elf. "You are most welcome."
"We are proud to fight alongside men once more," he said.
Suddenly someone cried out from the middle of the elven host where nine (later suspicions were confirmed that these were female) elves, now demounted, had ridden in on horseback, surrounded by the warriors. [AN: Had to add that note, lol. Remember, no one's looking pretty or wearing dresses now. They're all in traveling clothes with the only clue from a distance being their long hair, which was likely tied back.]
"Estel!" cried a voice as a silvery head cut through the pack.
Aragorn looked up with shock before he was glomped by the she-elf. "Ithil?!" he gasped, unable to hide his amazement. She looked up with a smile.
"Ithil, what are you doing here?!" Now he was angry, frantic, and worried. "Ithil, why are you so far from Lorien? The battlefield is no place for women!"
She frowned and moved away. "I can defend myself, thank-you-very-much."
"Seree, Ithil," said Haldir stepping between them before it could go any further and waste precious time. [Seree = Peace] He addressed Aragorn. "The tale shall be told, but now is not the time." He glanced meaningfully at Theoden and the many other mortals who did not know the secrets of Lothlorien.
Aragorn nodded grudgingly and moved on to prepare for the coming battle.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Aikuu, please!"
She stood in the Keep, her arms crossed stubbornly as she faced Haldir. "N'ume, stop trying to get rid of me. You need all the help you can get!"
"Ithil, you have never seen the horrors of war!" cried Aragorn.
She spun around to face him, her face red and angry. "You forget," she said, spitting out each word, "that I cared for you as a *babe*!" [AN: Not sure, but I think this comment was inspired by a similar one from Li Raeth's "Always with You". GO READ IT!!!]
"You forget that your father and brothers and even Arwen would kill me if I let anything happen to you," he said softly.
Celebithil continued to glare at him, but something inside her softened. She doubted her family would kill him, but they would hate him and never welcome or speak to him again. That kind of isolation, especially from Arwen, *would* practically kill Estel.
"Just this once, Ithil," he pleaded, "please do as I say."
She was silent, but she no longer glared. She could hear in his voice that he was genuinely concerned not about his life, but about her safety. She looked down, and Theoden realized that she had submitted.
"Please, my Lady," said Theoden, stepping forward. "Go with my sister-daughter Eowyn. She will lead you to the caves where you shall be safe."
Celebithil looked beside him and saw the blond girl that had stood there silently through the whole ordeal. Her head was down and her face was blank, but Celebithil saw her as a smoldering flame. 'Perhaps I am not the only one who sees it this way,' thought Celebithil.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"I can't believe we aren't fighting," grumbled Menelsul, fingering the blade she always carried [i.e. Uranus Space Sword], as they walked past the armory towards the caves.
"Yeah," said Taurenreil, practicing her punch into her palm for emphasis. "And I was so ready to take those orcs down!"
"Orcs are very different from elven boys," said the kindly Mirengaer, slightly scolding. "You may be able to beat up any of the boys of Caras Galadhon, but full-grown orcs are an entirely different matter."
Mirengaer turned to Menelsul, who still fumed beside her, and laid a hand on her arm. "Now is not the time to avenge the loss of our village," she said soothingly. "Our first and primary focus must be to protect Celebithil."
What they didn't say was that it probably would not be long until they *were* fighting, fighting to defend the caves as a last futile attempt in this hopeless battle. It was not said, but it was on every one of their worried minds.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Celebithil silently observed the girl that led the way through the stone corridor. Tall and proud, she seemed, but cold as ice. Ice that served to shield her pain.
"I know your pain," said Celebithil softly as she followed the girl Eowyn.
Startled, Eowyn turned her head, a look of shock, surprise, confusion, astonishment, and even fear flitting across her face before being replaced again by a stony facade and turning back toward the corridor before her.
"I know your pain because I have felt it myself," continued Celebithil after a moment.
Eowyn stopped in shock and turned to stare at her. "Here are the caves," she said, absentmindly gesturing behind her as the other women filed past them. Celebithil smiled sadly and moved to bring up the rear as Eowyn stopped her.
"You know the pain of having to sit aside while the ones you love fight and die, again and again?!" she asked incredulously, almost angrily. "You know the pain of burying your father, burying your mother, burying the cousin who was like a brother to you!?!"
Celebithil lowered her head. "The pain of loneliness," she whispered softly, her voice shaking. "I too suffer." She raised her head. "You are not alone Eowyn, daughter of Rohan."
"But Lady, I am alone."
Celebithil smiled sadly. "We are birds of a feather, you and I. One in the same. And please, call me Celebithil."
A great clap of thunder sounded outside and echoed strangely in the cavern as rain began to fall. Hundreds of women and children, young and old, sat huddled in the cave, anxious fear etched on every face. They fell silent as the inhuman pounding of uruk feet reached their ears, tension and fear multiplying within them. Suddenly screams and howls echoed through the walls, signaling the beginning of the battle. Endless clangs of metal upon metal, angry voices, fearful voices, the thud of enemy feet continued to build in a clamor as the listeners fearfully anticipated how long it would be before all was lost.
Celebithil, with Eowyn beside her, continued to clench her fists at the inability to do anything. Menelsul refused to sit and continued to pace, fingering the magnificent sword she always carried. Taurenreil angrily practiced her punched on a stalagmite. Mirengaer clenched Nenloth's hand beside her as the two tried to gain the calm of the waters. Naurfea's eyes blazed with an inner fire as she stared at the cave mouth with little Kemenuial. Ertirhiril's face was grim, but she remained silent.
A sudden tremendous bang echoed through the cavern as the elvish women jumped up in shock. Several stones fell from the ceiling and children cried aloud.
"The outer wall has fallen," said Kemenuial softly, with a voice like death.
A woman wailed from within the cave. "My Herubrand! My only Herubrand!"
"I cannot take anymore of this," said Celebithil fiercely. "I have not trained for hundreds of years to sit and wait while the old and young, the weary and inexperienced, fall. I may have never seen war, but I know how to wield a sword that is given to me!"
"We are with you, Ithil," said Hinenmel, speaking for them all.
"They need us!" cried Celebithil. "We should not waste our abilities and talents when they need all the help they can get! Let us delay no longer and go to their aid!"
A strange fire was kindled within each girl's eyes as they sprang from the cave. "To the armory!" cried Menelsul. [Remember that most of the senshi don't have real weapons with them... Naurfea (Rei) probably has a quiver and arrows, but that's about it.]
Eowyn moved to follow them, excitement and eagerness ignited within her. She sprang toward the door. Ertirhiril, who would bring up the rear, turned to her as the other women hurried ahead.
"Nay, Lady of Rohan," she said as Eowyn stopped and her face fell. "Now is not your time. The people here need you, and you will be called upon to lead them to life." She turned away angrily. Ertirhiril finished softly, but it was whispered to the heart of Eowyn. "Your time will come, Eowyn Dernhelm." She looked up slowly, but as she turned in astonishment, Ertirhiril was already gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The elves grabbed some of the little remaining weaponry and fled down a side corridor. As they reached the small door, they could hear the sounds of a battering ram echoing through the keep.
Outside, Celebithil had to pause in shock. In the night, it was hard to tell friend from foe in the endless fray. The clamor of war was deafening, and she quavered at the sight of so many bodies--elves, men, and orcs alike--strewn across the land.
She felt the comforting pressure of Menelsul's hand on her shoulder. She swallowed and hardened her resolve. "We fight for freedom and Light!" she proclaimed, raising her sword. "Elbereth Gilthoniel!" they cried, plunging into the fray.
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AN: I'm not so sure that anyone would invoke Elbereth as a battle cry... but it seemed fitting. So oh well. :-P Now, Review Responses.
Thank you to:
Selena and Miana- LOL!!! Thanks for the very amusing review. ;D
Branwen-of-Emrys- ::glomps the gang of elves:: Huzzah!!! If you're interested, I think the whole gang of them will be playing big roles in my other LotR/SM fic "The Gathering Starlight". Especially Glorfindel, if all goes as planned. And others too... ;D
JaminJellyBean- Ack!!! ::feels v guilty about following the movie now:: Yeah, I wish I had time to develop that romance more. Cause really, it's been there for ages between Haldir and Celebithil, but neither has called it to attention (Haldir was shy and Ithil was oblivious lol ^_^') And now it's too late... Ack!
JeRee - Yah, I've delayed too much gomen. And Haldir you say? ::grins evilly:: Mwhahaha!!!! Gomen there wasn't more time to develop that romance. :(
koldy- Thank you!
Sunshine Fia- Yeah, you've caught onto my malicious plotline. And it gets worse before it gets better. :( But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. :D I have a final pairing in mind, but in a way it reflects the actual BSSM series itself... well, no that didn't make any sense. But I would say the main pairing of this fic would be U/Boromir, because though that couldn't last, that's what affected her the most and will continue to affect her...
Loopy Lu- lol!!! MWHAHAHA!!!! Yes I am evil. I am actually the evil archnemisis-person of my friend's alternate universe. (I forget my full title lol). But no suicide here. There is a light at the end of the tunnel... eventually. MWHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next time will be the storm. I'll give you a teaser, since I have some of it done.
PREVIEW for Niirer en Ithil'Quessir CHAPTER 17:
..."It was poisoned."
Celebithil fell to her knees while the others let out a cry. "No," she murmured, "not you too. Please, Elbereth Gilthoniel, not you too!!!" ...
Lol, that's probably the worst teaser I could give you, mwhahah! Rather shorter than what I'd prefer, but it tells you something happens while saying nothing. ^_^" Lol, this is fun.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!! And don't forget to come back for ch17. I hope to have it up soon. Ja!
~Calli-chan
btw, I'm on a LotR kick, which is good news for you. Studying Beowulf (one of the major inspirations for Tolkien) and British Lit and possibly travelling to the UK this summer. Huzzah! And went to Ren Faire, where there was also much LotR-age. Fun times! 32 days till RotK (i.e. the motion picture of the best book of all time) is my count is correct. And if you haven't listened to the soundtrack, check it out on theonering.net. It's absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! Namarie!