"Is this how it's going to end?" Shay asked as she put on her arm guard. She was dressed in all black, even her boots were black.

Elix who was also dressed in black turned around and made a face, "I sincerely hope not, well at least not for Rohan. I know you loved this country."

Shay nodded, "I do, they're a free people, with free spirit."

Than before Elix could say anything else, a horn sounded.

"That's...oh Valar!" Shay gasped in surprise than with one last click she fastened her other arm band and grabbing her sword she flew down the stairs with Elix close behind her.

At last she emerged on to the front ramp, and there he was, her friend, Haldir of Lothlorien standing with Lothlorien's army in all their glory. Their armors glittered gold in the moonlight while their bows shone with a fierce will of its own.

"Haldir!" Shay cried again and flew down the remanining steps, right into the elf.

He was at first startled than he smiled, Shay pulled back and said, By Valar, Haldir, I owe you big for this one.

Haldir laughed, but his gaze sombered when he noted how thin and pale she had become, shadows had gathered under her eyes, making her gaze looked haunting and tired. But before he could say anything Aragorn and Legolas had came down, and Shay moved away for them to greet their friend.

Aragorn too gave him a hug while Legolas just smiled and bowed in elvish fashion. At last Theoden came, the only look that could ever describe his face was, amazement. He had thought Rohan had been abandoned, but apparently not.

"How is this possible?" Theoden said in wonder.

"Long ago an alliance once existed between us, we come now to honor that allegiance." Haldir said as he bowed, Theoden gaped for a moment before bowing in return.

Are you all right? You look pale, my love. Legolas asked as they reached the top of the wall overlooking the plains before them.

Shay nodded, I'm well, don't worry about me.

Legolas took her hand and kissed it, Be safe, my love, I know I can't stop you from fighting, but be safe and well.

Shay smiled and gave him a hug before placing a kiss on his cheek, I'll be perfectly well, Master Elf.

Gimli coughed beside them and Shay turned to him winking, "Shall I give you a kiss too, Master Dwarf?"

Gimli blushed than said gruffly, "I don't think the elf lad would like that."

Shay smirked and bend down to kiss Gimli on his helmet, "Well I've done it," she turned to Legolas, "What have you to say to that."

Legolas bend down to whisper in her ears, If your brother's not staring at me I would kiss you for a very long time, until you run out of air.

Shay blushed and turned to look at her brother who was standing behind her, he was smirking like there was no tomorrow.

But soon they turned serious as the night wore on, and as if the tension in the air was bad enough, it started to rain.

"Oh just fXX great. Just great!" Elix grumbled as he wiped his mop of wet hair off from his face.

"Stop whining, we have a war to fight." Shay said, her eyes regaining their old blood lust as she stared into the darkness.

As if the rain herald their coming, they begin to hear the approaching feet of their enemies and perceive torches burning fitfully in the distance, but it was not until lightning flashed, illuminating the whole valley, that the scale of the threat become apparent. A sea of Uruk-hai, stretching from one side of the valley to the other, marched toward them, and kept on coming until they stood just a hundred paces from the wall. After they stopped, the Uruk-hai beat their pikes upon the ground and chant their battle cries. All along the wall of Helm's Deep arrows were nocked. Than the tension stretched…

Which ever side breaks it first, the other will comply.

Than out of their rank, a lone arrow flew into the black forray.

With a roar, the Uruk-hai charged forward and the battle begin.

The elves let out a stream of arrows on Aragorn's command and than another row and another row, but the Uruk-hai's continued to come, they were relentless, their eyes were filled with hate, and they will not abate until they eliminate all of mankind.

They soon began to scale the walls, Gimli who wasn't of much use at firstdue to his height begin to growled, "Yes, let them come, let them come!"

Shay shook her head, but she held her sword readily in her hand.

"Ready to fight for your life, sis?" Elix asked as he came up beside her.

Shay smirked, "You bet."

And so it begins...

They've been fighting for hours when suddenly Shay heard Aragorn shouting, "Shoot him down, Legolas!" Shay looked downthe wall at where Aragorn's pointing and saw an orcholding a torch running with full speed at the wall.

Legolas shot, one, two, three, arrows into the orc, buthe did not stop it.

Soon they felt a jolt, and they saw a whole section of the wall caved in taking men and elves alike with it down to the ground.

And through the hole the Uruk-hai poured into the Deep, roaring and yelling as they massacre all they see.

Shay saw Aragorn jumping down through the large gap, fighting his way through the Uruk-hai. He was trying to stop them from pouring into the city, but their number was simply too massive.

She had long lost where Elix, Gimli and Legolas went, even now she could only see black Uruk-hai bodies in front of her .

Before long she heard Aragorn shouting from below, "Haldir! Shay, Elix! Retreat into the Keep! Retreat!"

Shay nodded, so they had lost, men will see no morning.

She started to head towards to Haldir, Elix was right by the blond elf, that was when everything went wrong right before her eyes.

Two Uruk-hai ganged up on Haldir, the poor elf fought bravely but he was tired, and one of them finally got past his defense and slashed his left arm, Haldir went down.

On of the Uruk-hai raised his sword to cut the elf down but a black blur pushed Haldir out of the way and when the sword came down, it slashed right through Elix.

Elix had used his sword's flat side to push the elf out of the way. He was only half visible now (if he had tried to push Haldir with his bare hands he would have went right through Haldir. His swords and Shay's were specially made so that they could still wield it when their spirit is dispersing).

"No!" Shay screamed as she fought her way to her brother's side.

The Uruk-hai looked confusedly, he was sure his sword was sharp, yet there was no blood.

Shay lift her sword and with one heavy swing the Uruk-hair's head was severed.

Shay bend down to her brother, but he was already fading fast, "It's okay, I knew I wouldn't outlast today when I woke up this morning." His body was already half gone, only a hazy image remained.

"Don't be sad, death is not the end for me..." Elix's voiced said in the wind, and than it was gone.

"Come, Shay, we must leave now." she heard Haldir said, and she lift her head. Haldir had stood up again.

Shay nodded and she stood up, "Don't tell anyone what you saw, please."

Haldir asked no question, he just nodded, after all Elix had just saved his life.

So with Shay watching the back, and Haldir in the front, they fought their way back down into the keep, there they met up with the rest of the Company.

Haldir was wisked away deep into the caves for healing while Shay just stood there looking at the floor blankly.

"Where's the lad?" Gimli asked.

Shay shook her head, and no one asked anymore. Legolas put his arms around Shay and she leaned into his embrace.

He was her anchor, she had no doubt if Legolas isn't here right now, she would have gone right after her brother. But as long as he's here, she might still have hope.

Maybe...

"This is the last stand?" Shay asked as she disentangle herself from Legolas.

Aragorn shook his head, "NO, this is the last fight!"

Shay nodded, "We ride for Rohan."

Theoden took up the cry, and roared, "We ride for Rohan!"

The rest of the men roared back, "We ride for Rohan!"

And with that they opened the Keep's door and rushed out, the Uruk-hai were overwhelmed by the men's ferocity.The spilled out of the way andmoved back.

Even as Theoden and the Company fought out onto the causeway, the sunlight was filtering through the night, dawn was coming.

Than as if hailing the dawn, Gandalf's white robe and staff appeared on the top of the hill. The old wizard had left to find the exiled Eomer and his Rohirrims when they left for Helm's Deep.

And it seems he had found them.

The fresh Rohirrims rushed down the slope with Gandalf in front, and behind them they brough dawn. It was a glorious sight, and it was at that moment Shay vowed to never give up hope, because it seemed to her that life had proven her words, "Even in the darkest hour, there's always hope."

The rest is past history, the Uruk-hai were scatter and chased into the Old Forest, Gandalf yelled for the men to steer clear of the trees. Luckily they did, for soon, when all the Uruk-hai were in the forest, screams begin to echoed, and loud grunt could be hear as the trees took their revenge on their murderers.

The Men will live another day.