A/N: (sigh) Such a tiring weekend...

My b-day was on Saturday and I went to the Warped Tour for almost the entire day. It was AWESOME, though, cuz I met my fave band EVER and my fave member said happy birthday to me! I was elated for HOURS.

And then I went to the fair yesterday and now I'm dead tired.

But I will force myself to update!

Cuz I love you guys oh so much.

Disclaimer: I own Frodo. NOT.

Chapter 8:

Whyn wandered down into the fort to the sound of loud murmurs and an occasional cry. They weren't ones of fright, but ones of surprise. She thought it was best to go and investigate.

It was several days now since she had set foot inside of Helm's Deep. During this time, she had hardly seen Daron at all. It must have been because she was so anxious ever since she had heard from the Lady Eowyn that the Ranger had fallen from a cliff. Whyn did not believe this at first, but then when she had found that he had not returned with the others, her heart sank and a despondent air swarmed over her.

But now, as she skidded to a halt in one of the semi-open, stone corridors, she saw him. A bloody and battered Aragorn standing in front of the Elf, who had just given him what looked like a necklace. Whyn was so overcome by happiness to see him alive that hope for her people intensified ten-fold. Aragorn was turning away now, towards the King's chambers. Whyn followed.

"I'm glad to see you arrived here safely," he told her when she was only a few feet away from him. She tripped over herself slightly in surprise. When did he see her coming…?

"Thank you," she stuttered. "I'm so relieved to see you alive. The Lady told me that you…that you fell."

"I did."

Whyn gaped. "Then how…?"

Aragorn gave a small chuckle and turned to her. "There are some things in this world that cannot be explained, Whyn. I think you're one of them."

She could not stop a laugh from escaping her. She swung her braid out over her shoulder and toyed with it. "I take that as a compliment."

"That's good." He paused and rubbed his bloodied shoulder. "Now I have to go see the King. If you'll excuse me?"

Whyn nodded hastily and turned to go find Daron.

She found him out on top of the structure, leaning on the stone railing and gazing down at the milling soldiers. They were preparing for the attack that would be coming soon. His wounds were doing better, though they were still causing him some hurt if he moved around too much. He did not show it.

"Aragorn's back," she told him cheerfully. "I'm so glad he's alive."

"So am I." He did not turn to look at her, and she sighed slightly.

"How long, do you think?" she asked as she joined him at the railing.

"Until what?"

"Until we have to fight."

She saw him turn to her, then, out of the corner of her eye. She forced herself to keep looking out into the distance.

"Until 'we' fight?" There was a pause. "You should have said 'until you fight.'"

"You're not fighting, are you? You're wounds will open up again."

He took her roughly by the shoulders and turned her so that she was looking up into his stern, brown eyes.

"I have to fight. You do not. You have to help guard the little ones and the other women in the glittering caves. Whyn, you will not fight. You won't."

She felt her ire rise slightly. "You can't tell me what I can or cannot do, Daron."

"I will not lose you." The tone in his voice was firm, but there was an underlying, gentle one behind it. It surprised Whyn and her defenses dropped entirely. She found herself bringing her hand up slowly to touch his cheek softly.

"You won't," she whispered. "Just how I'm not going to lose you. I'm going to protect you, and Papa, and Theohir. I'll protect everyone."

Daron shook his head slightly. "You can't protect everyone."

"I will find a way." She moved her hand to brush through his hair and felt herself leaning towards him in a tantalizingly slow way. He bent down and made the contact of his lips against hers, and her knees quivered slightly. The hold he had on her shoulders was the only thing keeping her up at the moment.

Before she knew what she was doing, she was deepening the kiss, not caring if they were in an open spot for almost anyone to see. Daron seemed to feel the same way, because he moved his arms to wrap around her almost protectively.

She broke away in a dream-like state and gazed up into his soft brown eyes. They were filled with a new glow and a simple, unasked question.

"I'll protect you," she repeated as she slipped away. "You'll see."

She did not turn back to see the dejected look on Daron's face.

Whyn did not like the news that was spreading through the fortress the very next day.

Though she tried to quell the apprehension she felt with every breath she took, her senses were jumbled and her mind confused. She had to go about this smartly, and nothing could distract her now. She knew what she had to do, but she did not really know if she would ever succeed.

For the orc army was on its way.

A/N: Bwahahahahahhahaha. (I don't know). So anyway, there's the answer for all y'all who were pesterin me bout the romance thing. NO ARAGORN/WHYN. (growl)

Oh yeah, and sorry that this is a short chapter. Like I said, I'm tired…