Review Responses:

Swift Tales: I think I've already met your true insane self ; ) Anyway, was the update soon enough for you?

AnimeSiren: That's good. Glad you like it!

BregoBeauty: I'm glad you enjoyed it! You will find out a bit about how Arwen does in the battle in this chapter, but you'll have to wait longer to see if Aragorn finds out!

Daughter Of Rivendell: Here is some more for you.

Aragorn waits for Arwen: You wonder when Aragorn will realise, hmmm? Well, you'll just have to wait to find out.

Eve West: Thanks! Aragorn won't find out in this chapter, but he maybe will in chapter 10! I'm not giving anything away.

Hope you all enjoy this chappie! Remember to review at the end.

Aragorn could see the vast army of Orcs approaching on the horizon. The drum of their feet on the plain was merciless, as though the sound was counting down the seconds until the death of all that were there. Needless to say, it was very intimidating. Aragorn, however, was more afraid of commanding half the company of Elves in battle, as well as the Rangers. It was a huge task for one man.

"Halbarad?" Aragorn called.

His kinsman ran down the wall towards him. "Yes my lord?"

"Halbarad! You do not need to call me 'lord'!"

"All right. Aragorn, then. What can I do?"

"Can you take command of that half of the Rangers? I'm not sure if I can manage half the Elves and all the Dunedain."

"Certainly, Estel." Halbarad ran back down to his end of the wall.

"Hey! Why can't I do it?"

"You are too young, little one."

"Why can't Miriel?"

"Miriel could, but I happened to choose Halbarad this time."

"Why?"

"You ask far too many questions, little one."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Sometimes you need to take orders without questioning them. Even though you may not understand the reason, there may be no time to explain it."

"You don't take orders."

"I do. I just did, from the King Théoden."

"Will I ever be able to give orders, Estel?"

"Yes, when you are older. That is why I answer your questions, so you will be a great leader when you grow up. And I know you learn from asking questions. But I have to ask you to take any orders I give you in the battle to come without any questions. I will tell you why I gave you those orders later."

"Yes, my lord."

"And don't call me 'my lord'. You know I hate it. I'd rather be called anything other than that. Even ugly one."

"Yes, ugly one," said Rochwen with a grin.

Aragorn sighed and turned back towards the wall. The Orcs were getting closer. Their leader walked up onto a tall rock jutting out from the ground.

"Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none," Aragorn ordered the Elves and Men under his command.

"Yes, ugly one," Rochwen muttered, causing Miriel to suppress a laugh, and then to nudge her.

"Please, Rochwen, do try to be serious now."

The leader of the Orcs roared, causing the army of ten thousand to come to a halt. There was silence, aside from the rain and the odd grunt of the Orcs.

"I'm scared," Rochwen whimpered.

Aragorn turned round to her. "Shh, little one. Nothing is going to happen to you, not while I still live. Be brave, now."

Rochwen nodded and wiped away the tears that had started to fall, swallowing hard.

The leader of the Orcs roared again, and the Orcs began to stamp their spears on the ground.

The sound was terrifying, and Arwen began to feel as frightened as Rochwen.

Miriel felt the elf tremble, and put a gentle hand on her back. "You'll be fine. We'll all protect you. I would never bring you here if I thought you were definitely going to die."

"I have never been in such a big battle as this. I thought I could manage it, but I haven't a clue."

"Just try to be brave. Deal with it the best way you know how."

Suddenly, an arrow flew from the bow of an old man, killing a single Orc while enraging the others.

"HOLD!" Yelled Aragorn.

The Orcs started to run forwards.

"Prepare to fire!" Yelled Aragorn to his troops.

"Release arrows!"

Arrows flew from bows, perfectly aimed, and hit home. Arwen's, however, narrowly missed Aragorn's ear and totally missed the Orc she had been aiming at. Aragorn swiftly turned round, but saw nothing of Arwen's face as she busied herself struggling to attach a new arrow to the string of her bow. She had always hated taking archery lessons with Glorfindel when she was an elfling. Now, she wished she had paid a little more attention.

'Who is this new elf who seems so unskilled at archery?' Wondered Aragorn. Luckily, at that time he got no further than simply wondering about it.

Volleys of arrows continued to fly from the walls, but now the Orcs raised their crossbows. With deadly accurate aim they picked off several Elven soldiers from the walls. Miriel pulled Arwen's head down as an arrow narrowly missed her.

The Orcs raised wooden ladders to the wall.

"Ladders!" Cried Aragorn.

"Good!" Gimli replied, causing Rochwen to laugh softly.

"Draw swords!" Ordered Aragorn.

Arwen drew hers and plunged it into an Orc. Nearby, she could see both Elves and Men fighting the foul creatures with equal ferocity. Luckily, Arwen was more skilled at sword fighting than she was at archery.

"Legolas! Two already!" Called Gimli.

"I'm on seventeen!"

Gimli muttered something back which Arwen did not quite catch. She saw an Orc raise an axe above Aragorn, and she nearly screamed. Then Rochwen plunged her sword through the Orc with as much force as she could muster.

Aragorn raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, little one," he said with a new respect in his voice. "Well done."

Rochwen did not reply, but smiled slightly and blushed before turning around to continue fighting.

Arwen struggled on with the battle. She did not have the energy to fight, having not eaten since before dawn. Of course, neither had the other Elves or the Dunedain, but they were used to it. Arwen felt faint and dizzy. Suddenly, she collapsed.

Miriel caught her. "Here," she whispered. "Have this bit of lembas."

Arwen quickly swallowed the waybread and stood up to continue fighting. Aragorn turned and fought his way towards her.

"Are you all right?" He asked, puzzled and slightly concerned.

"I'm fine," whispered Arwen. Luckily her dry throat disguised her voice.

" Are you sure? You collapsed; are you hurt?" His voice was a mixture of concern and curiosity. He could not understand why this elf was so weak.

"No, I just haven't eaten for a while, that is all."

Aragorn nodded, though he looked troubled, before moving away from Arwen.

PLEASE REVIEW! I'd love to hear ways I could improve this. Also, I'm looking for a beta- reader, so if anyone can beta for me then please drop me a review and tell me. I'm looking for someone who can tell me if I'm being inconsistent, OOC, or accidentally using modern expressions, as well as for any spelling or grammar mistakes I might have overlooked.