A/N: Thanks to whoever it was that gave me the tip about Estellia's name. I saw it used like this before, and I didn't do any deep research so... Anyway, thanks whoever you are.

Chapter 10: Helm's Deep

Estellia stood alone upon the walls of the castle. She caught sight of a figure riding not far from Helm's Deep and gave a cry. Without a word, she rushed away.

"Aragorn has returned!" she called out as she ran. "Aragorn lives!" She stopped before Legolas and Gimli. "Aragorn has made his way to Helm's Deep!"

They both rushed away without so much as a "thank you," and she watched from afar as they greeted their friend.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys," Aragorn murmured. "These are no soldiers."

"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli muttered.

"Or too few," Legolas said. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe a hyn. Neled herain dan caer menig." /And they should be. 300 against 10,000/

"Sí berialhar hýn ammaeg nâ ned Edoras," Estellia remarked. /They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras/

"Nedin dagor hen ú-'erir otheri. Natha daged dhaer!" Legolas said. /They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die/

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn shouted before leaving the room.

Legolas moved to follow him, but Gimli stopped him. "Let him go, lad. Let him be."

"How can you have such little faith in these people?" Estellia asked before running from the room.

"Estellia!" Legolas went after her then stopped and sighed.

Estellia looked up as a fair horn sounded from beyond the gates. "That is no Orc horn," she whispered.

To her astonishment, an army of elves marched in when the gates were opened. She moved forward then stopped when she saw him.

"Dayel…" she whispered then turned and fled the room. The ellon that had broken her heart was barely feet away.

She sat alone in the forgotten room, her knees pulled up to her chest as she cried. Why did he come? He should not have come!

"Estellia?" she looked up as Legolas slowly walked toward her before she quickly turned away.

"Should you not be with the elven warriors, my lord?" she whispered.

"Estellia, what is it?" He knelt to her side and brushed away her tears. "What happened?"

"Betrayal," she murmured, traching shapes upon the cold, hard ground, "of a love that should never have been." She looked up at him, her eyes dark and emotionless. "Leave me be," she said tonelessly.

He took her face in his hands, caressing her cheek with his thumb. "Tell me," he whispered.

She took a long shuddering breath. "Dayel loved me, but I did not love him. He begged me to be with him, and I consented to an engagement. After a few months, I grew to love him. I found him with another one day and confronted him." She looked away. "He broke off our engagement so he could be with his whore." She wiped away her tears. "I am not meant to know love."

He gripped her hands in his. "This is why you would not let me help you or comfort you."

She nodded simply then looked up at him. She was silent, merely watching him before she stood and walked quickly from the room.

Estellia stood with the elven column, her fair hair flowing freely in the night breeze. Legolas and Gimli stood nearby; Gimli's head didn't even pass the wall.

"A Eurchin, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le," Aragorn said to the elves as he walked through the column. /Show them no mercy for you shall receive none/ As he passed Estellia, he rested his hand on her shoulder for a moment before moving on.

"What's happening out there?" Gimli muttered as the Orcs began a strange sort of chant.

"Shall I describe it to you?" Legolas looked down at his short friend. "Or would you like me to find you a box?"

Gimli laughed, and Estellia smiled softly before returning her gaze to the battlefield. The Orcs stopped chanting, and an old man accidentally let loose an arrow killing an Orc.

"Dartho!" Aragorn called out as everyone stirred in surprise. /Hold/

The Uruks looked down at their fallen companion then ran forward, roaring in anger.

"Faeg i-varv dîn na lanc a nu ranc," Legolas reminded the elves. /Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arms/

"Hado i philinn!" Aragorn shouted. /Fire/

Estellia released arrow after arrow with smoothness because of Legolas's teachings.

"Dago han!" Estellia heard Aragorn call. /Kill him/ "Dago han, Legolas! Dago han!"

She couldn't understand why he sounded so urgent until she was blown off her feet by the blast. She rolled and regained her feet quickly and charged with the elven column.

"Aragorn, pull back to the gate!" Theoden's voice called out.

"Na Barad!" Aragorn ordered. /To the Keep/ "Na Barad!"

Estellia obeyed, helping to rebuild the doors before being ordered to retreat into the keep. She ran into the keep then slowly turned around.

"Legolas!" she breathed, moving to the doors, but she was pulled away. "No, release me! Let me go!"

She pulled out of the hands that held her just as Legolas entered the Keep. Without another thought, she walked up to him, grabbed him by the front of his tunic, and kissed him. Gimli stood, slack-jawed as Legolas returnedthe kiss full-force. They were broken apart when Aragorn entered and pushed them farther into the Keep. She helped the others bar the doors.

"The fortress is taken," Theoden called out. "It is over."

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it," Aragorn argued. "They still defend it. They have died defending it!" He paused. "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Theoden didn't answer so Aragorn turned to a soldier. "Is there no other way?"

"There is one passage," the soldier replied. "It leads into the mountains, but they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many."

"Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass," Aragorn ordered, "and barricade the entrance."

"So much death," Theoden murmured. "What can men do against such reckless hate?"

Aragorn turned to him. "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them."

"For death and glory!" Theoden said.

"For Rohan, for your people," Aragorn added.

"The sun is rising," Gimli muttered.

"Yes." Theoden's resolve seemed strengthened by the sun. "Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!"

"Yes!" Gimli rushed away to blow the horn.

Estellia mounted her horse, and Legolas rode up beside her. He reached over and gently squeezed her hand, and she smiled shyly at him.

"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together," Theoden said to Aragorn. "Fell deed await. Now for wrath. Now for ruin, and the red dawn!" He withdrew his sword. "Forth Eorlingas!"

The horn sounded as the surviving group charged through the Orcs and cleared a path. As the stopped in the middle of the army, they looked to where the sun was rising. A white horse stood on the easter ridge with a white rider upon it.

"Gandalf!" Aragorn murmured.

Emboldened by Gandalf's return and the addition of Eomer's men the few survivors fought long and hard, succeeding in driving the Orcs away. Estellia dismounted and Legolas ran up to her and caught her in his arms. She laughed as he spun her around then they kissed.