Disclaimers: Same as usual... I own no LOTR characters, places, etc.

Soccer-bitch and Barbara-Marie: Big thanks for the reviews!!! [does a happy dance]

Everyone who is reading and not reviewing - you'll get smiles and hugs if you do! Well, alright, maybe that's not that enticing, but it'll make me happy, and I'll be more inclined to write faster!

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Chapter 7

"Make way!" Legolas shouted as he entered the hall of Helmhammer with Alina in his arms. He carried her to a cot that was being set up, gently placing her still form on it. People gathered around, murmuring to each other.

"Back away! Give us room!" Aragorn said. His command was instantly obeyed, the circle around them widening.

"How bad is it, Legolas?" he asked the elf who was still examining Alina's wounds. Eowyn, Eomer, and Theoden made their way through the crowd.

"No!" Eomer whispered, coming forward and taking her hand. His mind went back to the day he found her stumbling in the hills. This time was much worse.

"The least of her injuries are bruises, minor cuts." Legolas said, his voice betraying his attempt to hide his concern, "Her left arm is broken – it will have to be reset, but she may lose the use of it. The wound on her leg, though deep, worries me less than this one here..." He moved to the side, exposing the deep gash along her right side, which was bleeding again.

Eowyn gasped, held back from rushing to her friend's side by her uncle. "Will she live?" she asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"We can close the wounds, keep them clean, and just watch for infection. The rest will be up to Alina." Legolas said quietly. "Let us hope the great strength she showed during the battle holds out."

Eomer looked up at Aragorn, then Legolas, and finally Theoden, pain and accusations in his eyes. "Why did you allow her to fight?"

"Eomer, you know as well as any of us, Alina is more stubborn than your sister. No one could have prevented her from joining the battle." Theoden said, trying to calm his nephew. Eomer looked back to Alina. In his heart, he knew this to be true, but he still couldn't help thinking that maybe....

"Take her to my quarters. You may clean and dress her wounds there." Theoden said, pointing to the hallway that led to his rooms.

"Fetch some water!" Legolas said to no one in particular as he once more lifted Alina up, being careful to not disturb any of her wounds. Eowyn went to get the water, Aragorn and Eomer following Legolas to offer any assistance they could.

In the king's chambers, Legolas laid Alina on the bed, gently removing the remnants of her chain mail. "We will need clean linens. I doubt they have any healing herbs here which we could use." Eomer went to the chest in the corner, pulling out a sheet and beginning to tear pieces to use. Aragorn helped Legolas to lift her tunic to just above the gaping wound on her side. Eomer paused, looking again at the vicious hole.

Eowyn came then, bearing a rather large bucket of water.

"Here." Aragorn said, taking the container from her. She stepped back, observing.

Aragorn was holding Alina's shoulder down as Legolas reset the broken bone in her arm. They knew that she wouldn't wake, but her nerves might react to the jolt. In her incapacitated state, Alina moaned slightly when the bone was rebroken and set right. Eowyn flinched at the sound. Eomer looked to Alina's eyes, searching for any sign of her awakening as the arm was placed in a splint and bound.

"What else may I do to aid you?" she questioned as Eomer went to the bedside and soaked a large square of the torn fabric in the water.

"You have done more than enough, sister." Eomer said to her. "Thank you." He began dabbing gently at the blood on Alina's torso.

"I warned her not to fight." Aragorn said softly, pulling Alina's boots off of her and raising the legging to start cleaning the cut on her leg. Eomer looked to Aragorn, then back to the wound he was cleaning. Legolas was working on the cuts on her cheek and shoulder, reciting a healing spell in his native tongue.

They made quick work of cleaning and dressing the wounds, then placed a light blanket over her and let her rest. Eowyn assured them that she would stay with Alina for the first while, and would call them if there was any change. Aragorn and Legolas left to inform the king as to Alina's status, knowing there was nothing more that could be done now. Eomer hesitated, reluctant to leave Alina's side.

"Go, Eomer, there is ought you can do. I will watch over her. Go take some rest." Eowyn said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder and embracing him.

"I will come later to relieve you of your watch." He said, leaving the room.

Eowyn turned back to Alina, and seated herself in a chair near the bed. "Come, my friend, you must win this battle as well." She said to the deathly still room.

A couple hours later, Eomer returned as promised. Eowyn left him there with Alina, feeling pity for her brother's sorrow and her friend's pain. Before closing the door, she looked back to the bed where Alina lay. It was just as it had been all those years ago. She hoped the outcome would be the same.

......................

Eomer sat by Alina's bedside through most of the night, worrying. Tomorrow would be another trial for his beloved Alina, as she was to travel with the villagers back to Edoras. He was going to ride with his uncle and Gandalf to Isengard, leaving Alina in Eowyn's care again for the journey. His eyes went to Alina's face, still bruised, the cut on her cheek not looking so angry as it had earlier in the day. He brushed a stray hair from her face, willing her to wake and be well. She made no move, save for her now shallow, even breathing.

He stood, pacing back and forth, trying to stop the new surge of rage that coursed through him. 'Curse those vile creatures!' he thought, 'Woe unto any that should cross my path! Her suffering will be but a mild sting compared to the agony I will bring to them!' He let out a gutteral cry, pounding his fist into the stone wall.

Alina whimpered, immediately drawing his attention, all thoughts of revenge fleeing his mind as he strode back to her side, grasping for her hand. It was warmer now than before, but not in fever. Hope filled his heart as he looked down at her. She was fighting within, and seemed to be winning!

"Come back to me, Alina!" he said softly, hoping she would hear him. This time, her eyes fluttered open for a second, glazed and unfocused. Then she was gone again, lost in the darkness that held her captive.

........................

Pain seared through her entire being. She tried to cry out, but barely made a sound. 'Help!' she cried again. She heard a voice, soft and melodic, 'Come back to me....' Struggling to make contact, she wrested with herself, trying to wake up. She saw a small light, and pushed her way towards it. It began to fill the void around her, and she saw a blurred image of someone – a man? – standing over her, his brow furrowed with concern, blonde hair resting on his shoulders. Then the light faded, and she was left with nothing but blackness surrounding her.

.........................

"Has she awakened?" a voice said from behind Eomer minutes later. He started, for he had not heard the doors open.

"Only for a moment, then she fell back to her dream state again." Eomer responded, looking to Legolas, who still stood in the doorway. He released Alina's hand, placing back on the bed next to her.

Legolas came forward, inspecting the dressings on her injuries once more. He placed a hand on her head, checking for signs of a fever. "Her body seems to be handling this very well." He stated simply. "I will take the next watch so that you may eat and take some rest." Eomer looked at him as if to reject the idea of leaving Alina.

"You will need your strength, Eomer, son of Eomen, for tomorrow, we ride to Isengard, and then return to Edoras." Eomer realized that Legolas wasn't simply concerned for his well being, but that he also wanted to be alone with Alina. Apparently, elves were only good at hiding their thoughts and feelings in matters that did not directly concern their hearts. He wondered what had happened in the time that he was away. Eomer looked back to Alina, and nodded.

"You are right, Master Elf, I am in need of some food. I will leave her to your keeping, then." He left, new worries in his mind. It was clear to him that the elf was very fond of Alina, not much of a surprise since most people who knew her were. There was something else, though. He shook the thought from his mind as he came to his sister and uncle.

"There has been no change in her condition, though she did awaken for a very short time, only to fall unconscious again." He reported, looking around, and noticing that light was beginning to creep over the mountains.

Eowyn's face fell slightly at that. "Who is with her now?"

"Legolas has taken watch over her until we are to leave. She will be in your hands for the return to the city."

Eowyn nodded. She knew that her brother had always harbored a love for her friend, and now saw the fear that he may have lost her to another in his absence as it washed over his features, then vanished as he brushed it aside in his mind.

"Come, eat something and get a few hours sleep. We wish to leave before noon." Theoden said, leading him to a table with some rations on it.

..................................

"Lasto beth nin, tolo dan na ngalad."18 Legolas commanded gently.

Legolas waited a minute, hoping for a sign that Alina had heard him. He walked to the chair and sat, watching.

.....................

White light glowed again, softly at first, then brighter as the words echoed around her. Alina fought to get to the source, her legs feeling as though stuck to the knees in mud. Slowly, she made her way forward, the light growing brighter. Pain swelled in her as the light became more intense.

....................

Alina's eyes fluttered open, and she groaned in agony. Legolas sprang up from his seat, taking hold of her hand. She turned her head towards him with great effort.

"Where am I?" she asked, her voice hoarse. Legolas helped her to raise herself so that she could drink some water.

"You are still in Helm's Deep, in the king's quarters. You were unconscious for most of the night." He answered, taking the cup from her when she had drank her fill.

The door opened, and Eowyn peered into the room. "You're awake!" she said, hurrying to the bed to hug Alina. "We were very worried." Alina smiled slightly, though her friend seemed to momentarily forget about the injuries as she hugged her tightly.

The room suddenly seemed crowded as Alina realized that Aragorn, Gimli, Theoden and Gandalf had all joined them.

"You took quite a beating," Aragorn said, "You are very lucky to have survived."

"I had the best doctors." Alina said, offering a smile as she looked at both Aragorn and Legolas.

Eomer paused just inside the doorway, amazed to see that Alina was awake and speaking. She laughed as the dwarf spoke.

"We left a couple of 'em for you," he said, speaking of the Uruk-hai, "We thought you'd like to have another go at it." A smile tugged at his mouth.

"It is good to have you back." Theoden said, leaning down and kissing her forehead.

"Eomer!" Alina said upon catching sight of him, "You've returned!"

Eomer nodded, stepping forward and taking her hand as he followed his uncle's example, kissing her forehead lightly. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was trampled by a couple dozen trolls, but otherwise...." She offered a weak smile, weariness beginning to overtake her again.

"Come, let us leave her to rest before the journey back to Edoras." Aragorn said, "We leave for Isengard within the hour."

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Translation: 18 "Hear my voice. Come back to the light."