Many hours of silence had passed between her and the Woodland Prince until finally she spoke. "How is Mirkwood, My Prince?"
"It is well enough." Legolas replied softly, picking up on her nervous mood. "The spiders and Orcs still wander, but we are making progress in exterminating them. It will not be much longer. What worries you?"
"I do not like caves, My Lord. I fear being trapped down inside that lifeless darkness." She said quietly.
He sighed then quickly jumped off the horse. He jumped back up again a second later with a rock in his hand. He put it in her palm. "Feel it. No life seems to whisper from it, correct?"
She nodded, looking with disdain upon the rock in her hand. It was a smooth round stone that fit nicely in the palm of her hand, but no life whispered from it. She could feel nothing but the coldness of stone.
"Hold it to your breast and listen carefully." He said softly, leading her hand to her chest.
She waited patiently, closing her eyes to make her hearing more acute. She could hear the sound of horse hooves clop against the dry ground and the murmured whispers of the people of Rohan who were fleeing their home. The birds sang their songs high above in the sky. But then she heard it, all other noise faded away and a soft voice told her stories of times long before even the oldest trees were upon the lands.
A small smile came to her lips as she opened her eyes. "It has a voice as well!" She said happily. Legolas nodded. "How did you know that stone a voice?"
"At first when I as a child in Mirkwood, I've told you that my fathers palace is under a large hill. But I soon forgot about it, thinking it only some of the louder trees. I discovered it again in Moria. Had it not been for their voices, I surely would have gone mad.
"The darkness of Moria is far worse than the caves of Helm's Deep will be, but let the stone comfort you now. Do not fear it. We will not let them enter the caves, you will be safe." Legolas soothed.
She held the stone up to her chest again and listened for the voice. She found it quickly and smiled as she listened to stories and riddles of ages upon ages long past.
"Behold! Helm's Deep!" Someone cried from the front of the procession. Naltariel opened her eyes quickly and looked upon the huge frowning fortress. It seemed a sad place to her, backed up onto the mountains behind it like an animal cornered and waiting for the killing blow, she thought grimly.
When they entered the Deep they were fortunately allowed to still walk up in the open. Though Naltariel was quickly finding comfort with rock and stone, she still loved the fresh air and the golden sky of dawn.
She walked slowly through the halls of the inner fortress, looking in wonder upon the heroic murals she saw lining the walls. Their colors were dull now, faded after many years of hanging in this dark place but she could still see the pride and valor the Men saw in them. There were portraits of brave men, valiant and strong, lining the halls.
"Lady Naltariel." A strong voice called from behind her. She turned to see King Theoden watching her.
"Yes, My Lord?" She asked in surprise, she had not yet spoken with the King since his liberation from Saruman. She hoped he wasn't about to send her home.
"I wish to thank you." The King said hesitantly.
"Thank me? For what, My Lord?" Naltariel asked, bewildered.
"I heard your voice within my head. You too fought a battle against Saruman, but for a Man you did not know in the least." Theoden replied.
She stared at him for a moment. "It was no battle, My Lord. My will is naught compared to the white wizard's."
"It is stronger than you know, child. Much stronger." The King said kindly then turned and walked down the halls.
Naltariel stared after him, wondering at the meaning of his words. An amused smile came to her face. Child, she thought, I have walked these lands so much longer than he! A child perhaps I look in his eyes, yet I can see things he cannot and know tales of things that happened in the time of his forefathers. She chucked in amusement.
Eomer stopped, he could hear a horse's hoof beats galloping towards him. He turned and saw a single white shape speeding across the lands behind him and his company. He called to his men and they quickly turned their horses around to face the rider. As he approached, Eomer could see a long white beard and white robes fluttering in the winds behind him. Mithrandir.
"Eomer son of Eomund!" The old man cried. Eomer nudged his horse forward slightly. "War has befallen your people! The armies of Isengard will descend upon them at Helm's Deep like a pack of hungry dogs scrapping over meat. You and your Men are greatly needed."
"The Grey Pilgrim is Grey no more, so it seems." Eomer said hesitantly. "We have scoured these lands over and over again. No force worthy of such alarm could possibly exist."
"I have been sent by Theoden King. He is no longer under the control of Saruman." Galdalf said sternly.
"And whose control would he be under now? Yours, Gandalf Stormcrow?" Eomer demanded. "You are a bringer of ill news, even when we do not reside in Edoras. We are exiles, you are to bring your troubles to people of greater importance."
"And who is of greater importance than the heir of Rohan?" Gandalf demanded.
"Theodred! What has happened?" Eomer cried.
"He has passed. The wounds were too great for him to bear and he is now finding his way into the halls of your fathers." Gandalf said sadly.
"Your presence truly is an evil omen." Eomer muttered, bowing his head in sorrow. "He was hardly a man, no more than seventeen."
"We have not time for this now, Eomer. Your people are in need. We must make haste to Helm's Deep lest we arrive too late." Gandalf said slowly, putting a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. Eomer shrugged it off.
"Men! We ride to Helm's Deep. We must move fast, leave all that can be left behind here. We ride to the aid of our King!" Eomer called to the men behind him.
Haldir smiled in relief, they had finally made it to Helm's Deep. Now the giant stone fortress loomed up above him and his men. He blew the horn of Lorien when they finally reached the big wooden gate.
To him the fortress of Helm's Deep seemed unbreakable, it's stone walls were nearly two feet thick and they continued to the mountain on either side. Unless an enemy wished to climb the deadly mountains beyond from the other side to reach the fortress, it would have to be a frontal attack.
After a few minutes the gates were swung open for him and his company. They silently marched through the arch and came before the king. "How can this be?" The King asked in awe of the battalion behind him.
"Long ago Men and Elves formed an alliance to defeat the Dark Lord. We come to you now to honor that alliance. We are proud to fight at your side in these uncertain times." Haldir said eloquently.
Just then Aragorn arrived from the halls beyond."Mae govannen, Haldir!" (Welcome, Haldir) He cried and embraced him in a hug. After the moment of shock had worn off Haldir embraced the Man back, realizing that he had begun to lose hope.
Aragorn released him and stepped away, behind him he could see a figure wrapped in a grey-silver cloak hiding beyond the wall, looking on to the meeting. A wisp of silver-gold hair fell from the hood. He smiled.
"Naltariel!" He cried, she threw off her hood and ran down into his arms. She pressed a sweet kiss to his lips, heedless of all that watched. The Elves behind Haldir began to murmur their surprise.
"I missed you, Haldir." She said softly, her hand gently caressed the Estelara around his neck.
"Not nearly as much as I've missed you, melda." (Beloved) He whispered pressing his lips to her brow. "We have your mothers blessing."
She looked up to him in shock. "This is not jest?" She asked warily. He shook his head. Tears came to her eyes and she hugged him tight to her. "This is better news than I ever would have hoped for . . . wait . . . my father still does not approve?"
Haldir sighed. "He sees as I once saw. I am beneath your stature, Naltariel. He would not have his daughter, his princess, the Morning Hope wed to a simple border guard."
"A simple border guard? A simple border guard! You are a March Warden! One of only three." She exclaimed.
"Come, we will go speak of this alone." Haldir said, realizing the Elves behind him were listening with curiosity to their conversation. The Men could not hear, but the Elves keen hearing could pick up their whispers. She nodded silently and took his hand, leading him away down one of the halls to a place of more privacy.
Naltariel sighed and pulled the sheets above her head. Haldir lay sleeping beside her peacefully; she smiled and pressed a kiss to his lips. His eyes opened and he smiled.
"Hey." He murmured sleepily, drawing her close to him.
She kissed him again. "When do you have to leave?" She asked sadly, playing with a tress of his long blond hair.
"Not quite yet." He whispered, pressing his lips to her shoulder. "You're so beautiful."
She smiled slightly and looked down in embarrassment. He laughed and held her tight pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. A loud knock sounded at the door. Naltariel froze and stayed absolutely silent, Haldir did the same.
"Naltariel? Are you in there?" It was Rumil. She looked to Haldir in shock, what were they going to do? Haldir nodded to her, silently sitting up.
"Um . . . yes, Rumil." She called nervously.
"Have you seen Haldir?" He called. Naltariel went red, looking to her lover for the correct answer.
"I'm here too, Rumil." Haldir called, brushing a finger gently across Naltariel's cheek.
"What are you doing in . . . oh." Rumil said abashed. "Um . . . well . . . uh . . . can we speak with you? Alone?"
Haldir sighed and quickly put on some trousers then went to answer the door. He slipped out quickly so no one would see her then closed the door firmly behind him. She could hear the sound of muffled voices behind the door; she picked out Aragorn's voice along with them. She blushed again; she would never hear the end of this.
"Already? How many?" Haldir asked in surprise. He, Rumil, and Aragorn were standing in the hall speaking in quiet whispers.
"Ten thousand at least." Aragorn replied.
Haldir sighed. "How close?"
"Less than half an hour." Rumil answered. "Get Naltariel down into the caves then join us on the battlements."
Haldir looked longingly back at the door and nodded. He would take her down to the caves and he would defend this keep until there was no breath left in his body. The Orcs would not come near her, they would not harm her.
Rumil and Aragorn quickly walked away and Haldir turned and entered the room. She was sitting on the bed, the sheets tangled around her body in an attempt at modesty. He smiled and it eventually turned into a laugh.
"So modest. I have already seen all of you." He whispered and kissed her brow.
"Yes, but Rumil and Aragorn have not. I hope to keep it that way too." She said and turned to kiss him and draw him back onto the bed. He resisted.
"You need to get dressed." He sighed, scooping up her gown from the floor.
She looked at him in concern. "What's wrong? Did I not please you?" She asked in worry.
He looked at her in shock. "Why would you say that? You are the only thing I have ever wanted. Do not say such things." He said quickly, drawing her into a tight embrace.
"Then what's happened? What did Aragorn and Rumil say?" She asked quietly. He realized she could feel his worry.
"I have to get you down into the caves." He said quietly. "They come." She looked at him with fear in her eyes but he quickly kissed her forehead. "I will not allow them to harm you. I promise."