A/N: Yay! Finally back!!
Jupiter's Light: Well I'm glad you like it.
Marlene: wOoOoO long review... Nope. I don't want to be anything like them because you usually end up going downhill when you start acting like that. If that makes any sense.... Yep. I get you.... They'll grow up soon enough – when I split them up.... No. not sweet. Compliment. You're also veeeery good at answering back.... O ok. Not a flame, a 'constructive criticism', and yeah, it was helpful.... Dude, that sounds so cheesy.... point taken.... Yes, yes, and yes again... critics can only help. Though I didn't know that meant completely pissing them off.... Thank you again for your review, very long, very helpful.
Anime no Megami: dude, you like? Ta, tha's just cheered me up.
Crecy: mmm... well, here's your battle....
kumarasgal23: Yeah, I know what you mean – I read about 12 stories at a time.... Add the Easter holidays to that and you get a veeeery confused Kess. Lol!
Allasea2: very warped, very crazy, and DEFINATELY insane.... Lol
Elvenstorm: Yay! I love freaking out Gandalf!! Eh? I'm going to have to go back and read me own stories... I've probably made some weird mistake.... No, your being hopeful. I have a policy NOT to split up those to – I no she stole Glorfindel's part in the films, but splitting them up is TOO cruel.
Peeps, I'm getting LOADSA reviewers, which I love, but I don't always have time to answer them all, so I'm sorry if I don't answer to your review....
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Chapter 17 - The War Begins
I hate waiting. Unfortunately, that was exactly what I was doing. Men and Elves, in their positions on the battlements of Helm's Deep. The sounds of a marching army moving closer and closer. I could imagine the frightened women and children in the caves. Mothers drawing their children close. Scenes from the films that never really meant anything. Until now. We look out into the darkness, lit by the thousands of torches carried by the huge advancing Uruk-hai army and the light bouncing off their armour. I was positioned next to Ilréthiel, near to where Aragorn was, though not to far from Legolas and Gimli. Only the top of his helmet was visible.
I could hear him grumbling. Gimli: You could have picked a better spot.
Legolas smirked. I grinned. Aragorn approached and stood beside them.
Gimli: Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night.
Thunder sounded and lightning flashed, revealing the sea of approaching Uruk-hai. I finally saw what we were up against. Keikæ: 10000 is quite a lot.
::Yuh. Highly useful comment, Keeks.::
Ilréthiel: Definitely. Legolas: Your friends are with you, Aragorn.
Gimli: Let's hope they last the night.
The marching and thumping grew louder and louder. Lightning flashed and it began to rain. The sounds of water falling on metal echoed. I was soaked to the skin within two minutes, so I had no IDEA how the Uruks must be feeling after travelling however many miles to get here. Ilréthiel: Where's the leader? One stepped up onto a rock.
Keikæ: That one. Juuuuuuust there.
::Bit obvious.::
Aragorn began to command the Elf warriors.
Aragorn: A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas! [Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!]
Gimli: A translation would go appreciated.
Keikæ: That meant show them no mercy, For you shall receive none. And no, I don't speak Elvish.
Ilréthiel: remind me to ask you about that later. The Uruk-hai leader raised his swords and commanded his army to stop. Well, I say commanded. It was more like a terrifying animalic cry. The Uruks stopped and growled in anticipation of the upcoming battle and slaughter.
Keikæ: Wonderful. Absolutely bloody wonderful.
Gimli: What's happening out there?
I grinned, knowing what Legolas would say next.
Legolas: Shall I describe it to you? Looks at Gimli with a grin Or would you like me to find you a box?
Gimli: Laughs good-naturedly Hehehehe!!
Keikæ: To myself Dude, I love that line!
The Uruk Leader cried out once, encouraging the Uruk-hai to start roaring and thumping their spears furiously.
Keikæ: There goes the first shot.
Aldor, the old man next to Haleth, lost his grip and released his arrow prematurely, shooting an Uruk-hai in the neck.
Aragorn: Dartho! [Hold!]
The Uruk-hai army stopped their roaring and thumping. With a hollow groan, the Uruk that was shot collapsed to the ground, falling flat on it's face. The other Uruk-hai bared their teeth and roared with anger. ::Good shot!:: With a cry, the Uruk-hai leader thrust his weapon in the air and the Uruk- hai army started to charge.
Keikæ: So it begins.
Aragorn: Tangado halad! [Prepare to fire!]
The Elves aimed.
Keikæ: Faeg i-varv dîn na lanc a nu ranc. [Their armour is weak at the neck and beneath the arms.]
Legolas turned to look at me. I grinned. Again.
Aragorn: Leithio i philinn! [Release the arrows!]
Arrows rained down on the Uruk-hai below, killing many.
Gimli: Did they hit anything?
A voice shouted behind us.
Gamling: to the men Fire!
Man-with-missing-eye: Fire!
More arrows from behind us were released. I was getting a bit nervous about that – I was hoping the arrows would be shot high enough to avoid killing anyone on the battlements. Many fell, but the Uruk-hai army kept advancing, with more replacing those fallen from behind.
Aragorn: Fire!
Gimli: Impatiently Send them to me! C'mon!
The Uruk-hai started to load ladders onto the walls, pushing them up with their long spears.
Aragorn: Pendraid! [Ladders!]
The Elves drew their blades in preparation for combat.
Aragorn: Swords! Swords!
I too, drew my sword. I was not looking forward to this bit.
Gimli: Good!
Close combat began as the Uruk-hai clambered over the wall.
Gimli: Legolas, two already! Holding up two fingers
Despite I knew what entertaining lines were coming, I tried to concentrate on killing those climbing over the wall. Not exactly easy when you wait through practically the whole film quoting every single line. Legolas: I'm on seventeen!
Gimli: Outraged Argh! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me! He turned to a Uruk just climbing over the wall, whacking hard with his axe and killing it as it fell.
Legolas: Fires two arrows Nineteen! Gimli stood on the wall between two ladders, hacking away at Uruk-hai as they came up.
Gimli: Seventeen! Eighteen! Nineteen! Twenty! Twenty-one! Twenty-two!
I turned to look at the Causeway. A group of Uruk-hai advanced on the Causeway towards the gate in tortoise formation, using their broad shields to block off attacks.
Keikæ: Aragorn! The causeway!
Aragorn: Na fennas! [Causeway!]
::These elves are very obedient, aren't they?::
The Elves aimed at the Uruk-hai column and fired. The Uruk-hai at the sides were shot and fell down the Causeway. But the column kept advancing.
::This is the bit where they blow the wall.::
Keikæ: Aragorn! They're going to blow the wall!
I couldn't be bothered to wait for an answer. I began to make my way along, towards where the wall would be breached. Théoden: Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman?
::Oh no. I remember that line. That is a BAD line.::
At the bottom of the Deeping Wall, two spiky bombs were lodged in the sluice gate. I ran faster. The rest opened a path and an Uruk-hai carrying a torch started to run towards the sluice gate. Aragorn spotted the Uruk- hai.
Aragorn: Togo hon dad, Legolas! [Bring him down, Legolas!] Legolas shot the Uruk-hai in the shoulder but the latter kept going Dago hon! Dago hon! [Kill him! Kill him!]
Legolas shot the Uruk again. It stumbled. I threw myself off the battlements to land right in front of him. Yes, a very stupid thing to do, I'm sure. Not bothering to even draw my sword, I punched my in the face. Really hard. Unfortunately for me and my poor hand, he had a helmet on. Still, it had a big dent in the middle and he was currently lying on the floor.
::I think I killed him.::
At that point, I drew my sword, grabbed the torch that was at my feet, and swung it, wildly. I made my way to a ladder, and climbed it very rapidly, to be help over the wall by Ilréthiel, who seemed to have been waiting.
Ilréthiel: Don't you EVER do that-
At that moment, an enormous explosion set off, blowing away a large part of the wall, cutting off Ilréthiel. Rock, debris and bodies were thrown up. I was knocked back by the force of the explosion, as was Aragorn. I must have been stupid. I'd killed the Uruk and not bothered to extinguish the sparkler-thing.
::Nice one, Keeks.::
Théoden looked on in shock as the Uruk-hai streamed in past the Deeping Walls. I jumped to my feet, knowing that staying where I was, was a very stupid place to be, that the ground is not always comfortable, and that one does not simply take a kip in the middle of a war, as tempted as I was to do so.
Keikæ: Stop blowing 'oles in the wall!
::Brilliant. ABsoLUTEly BLOODY FANTASTIC. WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE IT YOU STUPID GITS!! All that. I've just crushed half my hand for bloody NOTHING.::
Yes, I was very angry. I had a feeling that if I said this, most people would probably be veeeery frightened of me by the end of the day.
Théoden: Brace the Gate! Hold them! Stand firm!
Gimli caught sight of the Uruk-hai charging in with Aragorn in their path. With a cry, he jumped down from the wall and landed on the Uruk-hai army, taking them out as he stood.
Gimli: Aragorn!! Argh!
He was soon overpowered. Aragorn got up and saw Gimli falling.
Aragorn: Gimli! He yelled to the Elves behind him Hado i philinn! [Hurl the arrows!]
The arrows took out the first group of Uruk-hai coming through the hole in the wall.
Aragorn: Herio! [Charge!]
Aragorn led the Elves in a charge towards the Uruk-hai streaming in. We were fighting a losing battle. He rushed to Gimli's side and picked him up. At the top of the battlements, Legolas grabbed a shield and sent it sliding across the ground. He then hopped onto it and surfs down the steps, releasing three arrows as he went, and kicking the shield to stab an Uruk- hai as he landed at the bottom.
::Cool trick.::
Gamling: Aragorn! Fall back to the Keep! Get your men out of there!
Aragorn: Na Barad! Na Baraad! Haldir, na Barad! [To the Keep! Pull back to the Keep! Haldir, to the Keep!]
Haldir nodded and turned back. Gimli's being carried away, kicking and struggling as he went.
Gimli: Protesting What are you doing? Argh! What are you stopping for!
::I have to get to Haldir.::
He hacked at a few Uruk as he turned towards the gate, before he was stabbed in the arm.
::Still time. There's still time.::
I could see an Uruk coming up behind him, weapon raised.
::Shit! Run Keeks run you stupid idiot!::
With a grimace, he killed the Uruk-hai and looked down as his wound in seeming disbelief. I pushed him out of the way, and turned to block the Uruk. However, after putting your fist through solid metal a few minutes beforehand, my hand was still throbbing, so I couldn't exactly control what my it did. The Uruk's sword missed my face and slid off my sword, instead cut quite a gash at the base of my neck. He swung the sword again, this time only cutting my cheek, before I stabbed him. No, not particularly nice.
::Ow! Bugger – That's going to leave one heck of a scar.::
I half-dragged Haldir up the stairs. Not exactly easy in the middle of a war.
Ilréthiel: HALDIR!! He ran up the steps. He then jumped onto a ladder and swung down to the ground, killing as he went.
Gamling: Brace the gate!
Soldier: Hold them!
Théoden: Drawing his sword To the gate! Draw your swords!
Théoden and his commanders came to the gate, which was under heavy attack. I fell back, with Haldir who still seemed to be shocked, instead of joining them.
Keikæ: Haldir. Haldir! Are you ok?
::What d'ye think, Keeks? He's just been stabbed and would be dead by now, if you hadn't changed the course of the film!::
He nodded, before looking at me. Probably noticing why I was holding my sword in my left hand, he returned the question, though I think the real answer was completely obvious. Keikæ: Never better. I then ran to the gates. The Uruk-hai were knocking down the gate and hacking through the broken wood. Théoden stabbed at an Uruk-hai and received a lance in his shoulder, blocked by his armour. Grimacing in pain, Théoden continues to stab at the Uruk until led away by Gamling.
Gamling: Make way! We cannot hold much longer.
Théoden: Hold them!
Aragorn ran up and stabbed away at the Uruk-hai through the broken gate.
Aragorn: How long do you need?
Gamling: Brace the gate!
Théoden: As long as you can give me!
Aragorn: Gimli! Keikæ!
Théoden: Timbers! Brace the Gate!
We slipped out a side exit and stood on a ledge just to the side of the main gate. Aragorn peered over, seeing the large band of Uruk-hai storming the gate.
Gimli: Come on! We can take 'em!
Keikæ: It's a long way.
Gimli took a peek and then stepped back.
Gimli: Mumbles Toss me.
Aragorn: What?
::Dude – you should see the look on your face.::
Gimli: I cannot jump the distance! You'll have to toss me!
Aragorn nodded slowly and then turned to grab the Dwarf.
Gimli: Oh! Gimli stays Aragorn's hand Don't tell the Elf. And you, Keikæ.
We replied in unison: "Not a word."
He tossed Gimli to the head of the Causeway and then leaps over himself, closely followed by me. I was, once again, holding my sword in my left hand.
Gimli: ARGH!!
(A/N Yeah, I know that's not in the script. Couldn't resist, mate.) I could hear Théoden shouting orders on the other side of the gate.
Théoden: Shore up the door!
Soldier 1: Make way!
Soldier 2: Follow me to the barricade.
Soldier 3: Watch our backs!
Soldier 4: Throw another one over here!
Théoden: Higher!
They were bracing the gate with wood and nails. We continued to fight off the Uruk-hai just outside, scything left and right. Soldier: Hold fast the gate!
Théoden: Through a crack in the gate Gimli! Aragorn! Keikæ! Get out of there!
Legolas called to us from the top of the battlements.
Legolas: Aragorn! He threw us a rope.
I didn't need it, and scrambled up the side of the wall (very difficult, one handed) as Aragorn grabbed Gimli in one hand and the rope with the other, allowing himself to be pulled up the wall. I paused for a moment to see more Uruk-hai loading and firing enormous hooks over the battlements. Hundreds of Uruk-hai climbed onto ladders as they are pulled up towards the walls, the ladders locking onto the edge of the battlements with their steel grips. Legolas took aim as one ladder was being pulled up and shot away one of the ropes. The ladder fell back onto the Uruk-hai army.
::Cool.::
Théoden: Pull everybody back! Pull them back!
Gamling: Fall back! Fall back!
Théoden: They've broken through! The castle is breached. Retreat!
Gamling: Fall back!
Théoden: Retreat!
Aragorn: Hurry! Inside! Get them inside!
Gamling: Into the Keep!
::Too confusing.::
They all ran towards the keep, Legolas firing two arrows into the Uruk-hai army as he went. I looked around in confusion, trying to figure out where everyone was running to, despite it was obvious. I felt a hand grab me by the collar, setting me in the right direction. Noticing it was Ilréthiel, I followed his unsaid advice.
Banners of the White Hand were seen flying from the battlements of Helm's Deep. The Hornburg was overrun with Uruk-hai. I know what was going to happen but this wasn't the film. I couldn't help worrying that this was to be the end. Théoden and company were in the hall of the keep. I felt a pain shoot through my shoulder again.
God, when will it stop hurting.
Ilréthiel: Keikæ? Are you all right?
He wiped blood off my cheek.
Keikæ: Yuh. Just fine. Never better.
Ilréthiel: I know you too well to accept that as an answer.
He took a quick look at my very-bruised knuckles. He then pulled my leather jacket that I was still wearing, off my shoulder, to see my once- white polo neck slashed, and the not-too-nice hole the Uruk had made. I couldn't see it, but by the expression on his face, I could tell that it looked pretty bad.
Ilréthiel: You are staying here. Théoden: The fortress is taken. It is over.
Aragorn: Carrying a table with Legolas to shore up the door of the hall You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it! They still defend it! They have died defending it! Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves? There is no answer. Is there no other way?
Keikæ: There is one passage. It leads into the mountains.
Gamling: But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many.
Aragorn: Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance.
Théoden: So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?
Aragorn: Pause Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.
Théoden put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder, who looked ready to murder everyone this side of Mordor.
Théoden: A light of determination shone in his eyes For death and glory.
Aragorn: For Rohan. For your people.
Keikæ: Look to the coming at first light of the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east. Gimli: The sun is rising.
Aragorn looked up at a window to see faint light streaming through and remembered who had first said the words I had repeated.
Théoden: Yes. Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!
Gimli: Yes!
::He's definitely happy about that.::
Gimli ran up the steps to the horn of Helm Hammerhand.
::Dude – I've never seen a dwarf move so fast.::
Théoden: Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!
He mounted his horse and put on his helmet. The sound of the horn rumbled through Helm's Deep as Gimli blew with gusto.
Théoden: FORTH EORLINGAS!!
::Froth... what?::
Théoden led the charge out of the keep into the Hornburg, slashing away at the Uruk-hai. I too, stabbed at them, Ilréthiel at my side and Haldir in front of me. Without pause, we stormed out of the gate and down the Causeway, right into the column of waiting Uruk-hai. In the midst of battle, I looked east and saw a white rider against the rising sun.
Aragorn: Gandalf.
Gandalf: Théoden king stands alone.
Two more riders came up behind him, silhouetted by the near-rising sun. The first one, I recognised as Éomer. The second I knew instantly from the moment I saw her.
Ilréthiel: Laila!
Éomer: Not alone. He raised a hand Rohirrim!!
Riders moved up behind Éomer.
Théoden: Looking to the east Éomer!
Éomer: To the king!
The Rohirrim, Laila and the White Rider charged down the slope. Half the depleted Uruk-hai army turned to face the challenge, bearing their spears down towards the riders. As the attackers drew closer, the sun rose behind them, momentarily blinding the Uruk-hai who raised their hands (and spears) to shield their eyes. The riders crashed right into the Uruk-hai and engaged them in battle. We met somewhere in the middle, and joined as one column to attack Saruman's shrinking army. We then rode to the top of the slope, looking towards the Mountain of Fire in the distance.
Théoden: Victory! We have victory!
He raised his sword with a victorious cry.
::I think he enjoys his job a little too much.::
I met Laila's gaze, and we both grinned, knowing that the real thing, despite being 100 times scarier than the film, was an infinitive number better.
Gandalf: Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over.
::This is the one line Laila knows.::
Laila&Keikæ: The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin.
We grinned in a Jack-Sparrowesque manner. Gandalf smiled and continued.
Gandalf: All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness.
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A/N: Yeah, very long. They seem to be getting longer each time... Soz, but the nxt chappie won't be out for a while – I had major writer's block on it, and now my computer automatically deleted it. 14 pages of work, deleted. Anywho. Tell me what you think by clicking on that li'l button there, okeydokes?
ASSBB!!
Kess ;P