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Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.

Chapter 16

Aria stood next to Haldir and she could make out the Uruk-Hai in the distance marching towards them. "Haldir," she whispered. Haldir didn't look at her but waited for her to continue. "Please be careful." She looked over at him and he looked at her.

"I will muinthel nîn (my sister)," he said before he once again turned his attention ahead. Aria smiled and took a deep breath as she turned back to look at the Uruk-Hai that now stopped and were screaming and pounding their flag staffs and weapons. Soon the rain began to pour down on them all and as the lightning lit up the sky, it showed just what they were up against. It was like a sea of black flesh and Aria suppressed a shiver. The elves drew their bows and Aria heard Aragorn walking behind them as he drew his sword. An old man let go of his arrow and strikes an Uruk-Hai and it fell to the ground dead.

"Dartho! (hold)" Aragorn yelled as he walked and stopped behind Haldir and Aria. The Uruk-Hai's looked at their fallen comrade. They cried out and began to charge at the wall. "Tangado a chadad! (prepare to fire)" Aria stood there and looked over the Urks and took another deep breath. "Leithio i philinn! (fire the arrows)" And as the order was given, waive upon waive of arrows were launched on the Uruk-Hai. The Uruks fired their own weapons onto them and she saw a few elves and men fall. She looked turned her attention back to the battle field and saw ladders being pulled up. "Pendraith! (ladders)" Aragorn yelled and Aria readied herself. A ladder was propped up in front of her and she held out her hands to let a strong surge of wind push the ladder and the Uruks away

The ladder crashed down and on top of several other Uruks. She saw a faint smile grace Haldir's lips as he continued to fight and she turned away to battle an Uruk-Hai she heard approaching. When she turned she saw the elves fighting with several enemies and two were headed right at her with their weapons raised. Aria's eyes flashed with fire and she held out her hands. Fire burst from her hands and the flames were not affected by the rain as they found their targets, the Uruk-Hai. They screeched in pain. Aria continued the flames with one hand and used the other to call upon wind and lifted them from the ground to toss them over the edge. She sent them crashing down to their comrades, taking a few of them with them. The three Uruks that were hand combating three Elvin soldiers looked at Aria and growled. Aria just smiled at them.

"Legolas, two already!" Gimli exclaimed as he took down an Uruk with his trusted axe. Legolas fired another arrow and smiled at the dwarf.

"I'm on seventeen!" Legolas said as he notched another arrow. Gimli growled.

"Arg! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!" Gimli yelled before he sunk his axe into another Uruk that climbed off the ladder.

The battle raged on and Aria's ears perked when she heard Aragorn call to Legolas. "Togo han dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon! (Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him)" Aragorn yelled. Aria turned and looked to where she knew Legolas was standing and then looked over the edge to see a Uruk carrying a torch and running towards the wall. Aria furrowed her brow but her attention was pulled away from the scene by an Uruk. Aria pulled the dagger from her belt and stabbed the Uruk before she pulled her blade free and continued on. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the wall and Aria nearly stumbled. She stood with a confused expression on her face.

"When did we get explosives?" she thought to herself but her thoughts soon left her when she realized Legolas was on that part of the wall. "No!" she screamed in her mind when she could no longer see him. Haldir was now fighting with his sword and Aria was at this side when they heard Aragorn call out to them.

"Nan Barad! Nan Barad! Haldir! Nan Barad! (to the keep, to the keep, Haldir, to the keep)" Aragorn yelled. Haldir nodded and stood straighter. Aria gasped when she saw an Uruk raise his sword to strike Haldir but she raised her hand and shot him with a fierce blast of water knocking it back. She grabbed Haldir's hand and followed the mass of soldiers filing into the keep. However, as she pulled him along the only thing her mind could focus on was where Legolas was and if he was alright. After they reached inside they soon saw King Theoden and others file in but Aria wasn't paying that much attention as worry consumed her.

"The fortress is taken. It is over," Theoden said. Aria looked up and scanned the faces. She saw Legolas pick up a bench with the help of another solider he propped it against the wall. She let out the breath she had been holding and closed her eyes as she put her hand over her heart. Haldir put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"You saved me Aria," he said as he met her eyes. Aria shook her head.

"I could not let my brother die," she said with a smile. Haldir smiled at her before their attention was once again drawn to the conversation of Aragorn and Theoden.

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!" Aragorn exclaimed. Gimli and Legolas stood behind Aragorn and looked at the king. Legolas scanned the hall and his eyes landed on Aria who stood watching Aragorn and Theoden. Haldir was next to her and her auburn hair was free from its binding and her face was smeared with dirt, but he never thought her more beautiful for being alive and well after a fight like that. "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn asked but did not receive an answer. "Is there no other way?" he asked again, more firmly that time.

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many," a man said. The Uruks pound on the door and Aria's eyes briefly leave the pair and look to the door before they once again return to Aragorn to see him stand straighter and look at the man that had just spoke.

"Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass, and barricade the entrance!" he exclaimed.

"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Theoden asked. Aragorn looked at the king.

"Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them," Aragorn said. Theoden looked at him like he was crazy.

"For death and glory?" he asked. Aragorn shook his head.

"No. For Rohan. For your people." Gimli looked out the small window up in the corner and pointed.

"The sun is rising," Gimli said. Aria looked at the light that slowly began to seep through the window. She turned to Haldir.

"I will return to you," she said before she separated from him and went to Legolas. "Legolas," she said quickly. Legolas looked at her. "I know now isn't the time, but I-" she couldn't finish because the king's voice filled the hall.

"Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time!" Theoden exclaimed. Legolas looked at Aria and sighed.

"We must ready. There is no time," he said quickly before he went to get ready for the ride out.

"I just wanted to tell you I loved you one last time," she whispered to herself, however Haldir heard her and looked at her with a sadden expression that she didn't catch because she had to ready for the ride out because she would be charging behind the riders.

Once they were ready King Theoden looked over his shoulders and then towards the door. "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn!" he exclaimed as the horn sounded. "Forth Eorlingas!" the door was opened and they charged. Aria and Haldir followed behind with a bunch of other soldiers fighting their way through the trampled Uruks.

As she fought, she paused when she saw a great light at the top of the hill. "Gandalf," she thought but suddenly a pain shot through her shoulder and a hard object came in contact with her head. Black spots appeared before her eyes and she began to fall. The last thing she heard before darkness overcame her was Haldir calling her name.