Chapter 4

Night fell swiftly upon Helm's Deep. A cool breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, and all seemed to fade into the darkness. As Éowyn opened the doors of the fortress, she smiled blissfully as she gazed upon the heavens, the dark blue skies sprinkled with silvery stars. For the first time in ages, she felt truly at peace. Everything seemed to melt into a haze, and she realized that the beauty of Helm's Deep was reflected in the twilight. Serenity and tranquility reigned supreme in the glorious mist that surrounded the fortress, and she managed to escape from the world that seemed to hold her in.

Haldir tossed and turned in the bed. Yes, he was decidedly worried, and believed in the threat. He knew his adversary well enough to realize that he would stoop to nothing. He could, and would easily kill Haldir in cold blood. There was nothing left for him to fear, and he longed for revenge. Haldir shuddered at the memory of the lost duel so many years ago, yet it still haunted him for so long. In the beautiful woods of Lothlorien he had healed and tried to forget, tried so hard. Yet, every misfortune that came his way merely exacerbated the pain, the wounds that never really healed. A foreboding and ominous sensation washed over him.

The enemy would walk again tonight. A life may be lost.

As Éowyn walked the grounds silently, trying to be inconspicuous, she felt as if she was being watched. She tried her best to shake off the feeling, after all, who would be there in a clear night like that? She laughed to herself nervously, but she felt a sudden wave of terror as a cold hand closed around her.

"Keep silent," the soft, fluid voice said. A dark undertone hung in his voice, and Éowyn shivered. It was one thing to attack her straight to her face, yet a different matter to attempt to kill her by sneaking up on her late in the night. A sharp blade appeared out of nowhere, and the cold tip brushed against her neck. Éowyn shivered, and attempted to hold her dignity in place.

The mysterious attacker spoke once again. "You are close to his heart, and if you may die, there will be naught but a cold, empty abyss left in his heart. That, of course, is an obvious – and easy way to wound this elf whom I have tracked for so long," he said silkily. Éowyn tried not to let fear creep into her voice as she struggled to keep her voice hard and cold.

Haldir felt his breath quickening. An innate sense of prophecy told him something was wrong – so, so wrong. A peaceful night that hid terrible secrets. When the veil was removed and the secrets were revealed, then only would they be safe. Yet, nobody knew when the enemy would strike. Nobody knew at all, and least of all himself. He felt his breath catch in his throat as he felt his heartbeat quickening. The world began to spin. As he sat down quickly to regain his breath, he sighed. Something was wreaking havoc in his mind, and he didn't like it one bit. He decided to wait...and wished that all would be safe.

"What is in it for you if you kill him? Why do you torment him so, crush his heart cruelly beneath your feet?" Éowyn asked, her eyes flashing with anger now. She feared for his safety. He's going to use me to get to Haldir! she thought. Summoning up all her courage and strength, she let out aloud, earsplitting shriek, as loud as she could muster. Hopefully Haldir would be asleep – he wouldn't come looking for her – he would stay indoors....

Haldir knew that scream at once, and as he rushed downstairs, he could only hope that Aragorn wasn't about to come rushing out – and that he could settle it once and for all tonight – on his own. There was no time to lose, and his premonition rang in his kind.

A life will be lost tonight.

Not if I can help it, he thought grimly.

In a flash of darkness, Éowyn saw a swift movement behind the trees, blond hair behind him flying, a bow and arrow in his hand.

Stay there. Don't move a muscle. Do not come any closer, Éowyn tried to tell Haldir, hoping that by some strange twist of fate, he could read her mind. She feared for his safety much more than she had ever felt the worry pulsing through her.

"I can feel the fear. It is rushing through you steadily, rushing, pumping through your blood," the soft voice said, snakelike.

Haldir was livid with anger as he watched Éowyn squirm in disgust and fear. He decided that there was no point in stooping to his level, sneaking up upon him – he would meet him face to face, and end the saga that had gone on for too long. As he strode towards the elf, he smiled.

"Ah, yes. I had expected that I would be seeing you soon, but I had no idea it was this soon, and under the stars too," Haldir said confidently.

"Haldir. Always insolent, and thinking that he knows all, yet not knowing how wrong he is, and has always been," the elf replied.

"I'm warning you, Úquétimamasta. Do not harm her."

"And? You have a bow and arrow. But I here hold a sword," he replied.

"The people have heard her scream. They will be here soon to investigate. I warn you once now. Either leave and forget it all happened, or I shall have to kill you by myself," Haldir replied.

He jerked his blade away from Éowyn's throat, and said coldly, "I have decided that tonight, Haldir, your blood will be shed. Here on these plains...right in front of her."

"The men will be coming. Flee while you can, or it is you, who shall perish, not him," Éowyn said grimly, her face set.

Úquétimamasta glared at them. "One day, I shall finish what I set out to do. And then...it will be you who shall suffer," he said, swishing away, sheathing his sword. His threat hung like a dark cloud, yet, there was still beauty in the day, still hope and a chance to remain safe while they could.

In the darkness, Éowyn and Haldir stood still, staring at his retreating figure. And as they walked back to Helm's Deep, somehow instinctively, they linked hands and under the stars, they leaned close together, and as their lips met in a brief, sweet kiss, all was forgotten – for now.

A/n: Okay, for one, I obviously did not come up with the name Úquétimamasta by myself. But anyway, it means "unspeakable, impossible to say, unpronounceable" AND its other meaning is "bread''. Funny. Interesting. And I thought it might be, well, fascinating to just pop it in, seeing I'm at a loss of names for the nameless elf. Grins.

Lots of thanks to my nice reviewers – Haldir's Heart and Soul, Coolio02 and Zammy...

Will update soon (: