- - - Aragorn - - -
It had started to rain long ago. And as the rain poured down on us in the dark, the Uruk-hai arrived. All the elves and some men lined up with bows and arrows. Legolas and Gimli were teasing each other good naturedly and I heard Legolas ask Gimli if he would want a box to see the Uruks. Shaking my head and smiling slightly, I said to the men, "Show them no mercy for you shall receive none!" I repeated it in elvish for the elves who didn't understand common tongue.
I saw Haldir come back to the front line and draw his bow and arrows. A slight smile was on his face despite the situation. The men had their bows armed and drawn, I only had to signal and they would fire. We had to wait for the right time. An arrow suddenly flew through the air without command and hit an Uruk-hai in the chest. Everyone was silent as the Uruk crumpled. Then there was a roar from the enemy and war was upon us.
Ladders with hooks were thrown over the Deeping Wall. Some we were able to push back several of the ladders but the Uruk-hai started climbing over the top. The elves were now letting their arrows go without command but as the Uruks started pouring over the wall, they took out knives instead. Legolas was already slashing orcs right and left with his. It reminded me yet again of Grace and all the women inside the caves.
There was a roar as Gimli brought his axe back and slashed through several Uruks at once. "That's seven, Legolas!" he called over his shoulder.
"Seven?" the elf replied, "I'm on twelve!"
Another roar was heard from Gimli as whacked at the orcs with renewed strength. Laughing at them again, I concentrated on my task at hand until I heard someone call my name.
"ARAGORN! Behind you!!!!"
I prayed to the Valar that it wasn't who it sounded like.
- - - Grace - - -
With a flick of his wrist and turn, Aragorn turned and made a lethal cut on Gorilla Man behind him.
"Boom, bitch goes down!" I yelled to no one in particular.
I saw Aragorn turn to face me and that's when I knew I was in trouble. Big trouble. Huge trouble. No longer was I scared of the Uruk-hai. I was scared of Aragorn. Pretending I didn't see the dangerous look on his face, I continued to slash at a gross Uruk-hai that just wouldn't die. It was putting up too big of a fight and had actually managed to hit me once. Stupid monkey with hair.
"Grace!" Aragorn's tone told that if I didn't have an excuse, I'd be very dead soon. "What are you doing here?!"
"What - " I stopped to slash at an Uruk-hai that came up behind Aragorn. Smiling at my victory, I said, "There, I've saved you twice. You could show a little gratitude instead of looking at me like I've eaten your baby or something."
"You haven't answered my question" he said, turning his back to me to ward off more Uruk-hai. I did the same and we stood there back to back for a while.
"You left me behind again," I said to him. "Stop trying to protect me and let me protect myself." Suddenly I was incredibly angry although I didn't know why. I walked off, leaving him to defend his own back. I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do. Especially since that could easily be the last time I saw him. But it was too late to go back. Instead I found myself closer to Gimli.
"Grace! Lass, what are you doing here?"
"I'm saving everyone's back, Gimli," I said as sweetly as I could manage while being spattered with orc blood. I wiped it off my face and wrinkled my nose. Yuck, these things were so disgusting.
"Twenty-one!" said Gimli.
"Good!" said Legolas. "But my count is now two dozen. It has been knife work up here." ¹
Suddenly a yell came from where I had last seem Aragorn. "Bring him down, Legolas!"
I looked to see an Uruk-hai running with a torch to a small gap in the wall. The one weakness of Helm's Deep. Legolas shot once. The arrow hit, but the Uruk-hai did not fall. Another arrow was fired by Legolas. Another hit. Still the Uruk-hai did not fall. He ran into the gap. There was a pause, then a great explosion ripped through the night.
People, Uruk-hai, pieces of wood and rock went flying. I landed somewhere in a pool of water. My head hurt so badly. I felt a hand on my arm pulling me up. At first I thought it was Legolas, but then I realized it was Haldir. As soon as I was on my feet, I stumbled forward into him, trying to regain my balance. Elves and Uruk-hai alike had rushed forward when the wall had fallen. They were now locked in a battle far more vicious than I had ever seen.
I wipe my forehead and wasn't surprised when blood came away on my hand. I had a cut above my left eyebrow. I brushed a dirty hand across Haldir's cheek in a quick thanks before I departed. I saw Gimli and Aragorn about to go out a door. I followed them.
"I hear you, Grace. Why are you following?" Aragorn asked me. I smiled. I really loved this guy. He didn't even sound mad with me anymore. Just tired.
"I'm coming with you."
We slipped out a small door. I saw the stairs coming up to the Deeping Wall were covered in Uruk-hai.
"Jump Gimli," Aragorn urged him.
"It's too far. You're going to have to toss me."
"Toss you?" he questioned.
Nodding, Gimli said, "Don't tell the elf."
I shared a quick laughing glance with Aragorn before Gimli was airborne. He landed and knocked off several Uruk-hai. He had his axe out slashing almost before he had landed. Without warning, Aragorn had picked me up too. I shrieked and grasped him.
"Let go Grace. Do you think you could jump it?" I shook my head at him. "Then I'm throwing you too."
I had a moment to look right into his eyes before I too was airborne. Aragorn jumped right after me. We would fight together. This is the way it should be. I smiled at both Gimli and Aragorn before I started hacking at the Uruk-hai.
(A/N: Yeh! Go Grace, GO! Well I updated before. On about the 26th of July but since I replaced my Notice, it said I hadn't updated. Weird isn't it? Sorry if this chapter wasn't up to your expectations. It wasn't up to mine either. I'm not so good at writing battle scenes. Soon it'll be Haldir's end, them riding on horses, and Gandy coming to save them all. Anywho, I'll be home until the 15th and then back on the 24th for about six more days. Very busy I am. You should also be busy with Reviewing. See you soon.)
¹ The Two Towers, page 524