Chapter 20

A clash of lightning sounded and the footsteps of the Uruk-hai could be heard. Suddenly Elizabeth heard someone in her mind.

'Galadriel?'

'No, child. Do you not recognize my voice?'

'Elrond!'

'Yes, child. Now escape the caves. You must save your mentor.'

'What do you mean, Elrond?'

No answer. Elizabeth knew who Elrond was talking about though. Something was going to hurt Haldir. A memory of something that Galadriel had said during a lesson flashed.

'It is better to save the life of many and sacrifice only one, than save the life of one and sacrifice many. It is better to save the life of a loved one and sacrifice your own, than save your own life and sacrifice a loved one. Always remember: the lives of the many outweighs the lives of the few.'

Elizabeth knew at once what she must do. Looking around, she saw that Eowyn was busy and Hama had left. The women wouldn't care if she left and neither would the children. They were too worried about their fathers and husbands. Elizabeth quietly opened the door and slipped out, closing it just as quietly.

Sitting herself on the top steps leading to the room where Aragorn had spoken to the king, Elizabeth watched everything. They wouldn't notice her there unless they had reason to turn around. The only thing Elizabeth had to worry about was the mean, nasty ugly people. Then she spotted Haldir. Elizabeth crept into the army of elves and carefully came right to the place where Haldir stood. She tugged on his sleeve.

Haldir looked down at her and frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"I got bored. Besides, you said I could fight."

Haldir sighed and handed her her sword and her bow and quiver. "Stay close."

Suddenly the huge army of ugly people started chanting. Elizabeth frowned as she sheathed her sword and put the quiver on her back. If she had ever thought that Uruk-hai and orcs were weird, she thought they were even weirder now. Banging sticks and shouting was not an ideal way to get someone to make the first move. In fact, they were the only ones moving by banging their swords and wooden staffs.

"They look funny. What are they doing?"

"Daring us to make the first move." Haldir said.

Suddenly an arrow was loosed and the ugly people fell silent. Then they began roaring and screeching or whatever you call it. And than it began. The ugly people charged. Elizabethwasn't sure if she should scream and run away or load an arrow and fight.

"Tangado a chadad!" Aragorn shouted.

"What's that mean?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Load your bow." Haldir whispered back. Elizabeth loaded her bow. "The next time Aragorn says anything, I want you to fire."

Elizabeth nodded. Although it was a bit hard for her to hold the bow steady, she used the trick that Haldir had taught her. When the enemy is running towards you, aim a few feet in front of your enemy and shoot. Hopefully Haldir's trick would work, otherwise Elizabeth would have to resort to her sword which meant she would be even more nervous.

"Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arms." Haldir said softly. Aim carefully."

"Leithio i philinn! (Release the arrows!!)" Aragorn shouted.

Elizabeth released her arrow, following Haldir's orders and reloaded her bow. They didn't have time to say anything to each other. The Uruk continued charging. There were so many of them that it seemed impossible to destroy them all.

"FIRE AT WILL!!" Aragorn shouted.

Elizabeth aimed as best as she could, remembering Haldir's instruction in Lothlorien. She missed many times, but once the arrow went through a narrow hole in the helmet and she killed the beast. She made the "cha-ching" sign with her arm and reloaded.

Suddenly, the elf next to Elizabeth (NOT Haldir) was hit with an arrow and let out a cry of pain as he was killed immediately. Elizabeth stalled long enough to watch him and then turned to see an arrow heading straight for her. She stood stone still watching it as it came closer. It was just about to hit her when a sword lashed out and knocked the arrow away before it was resheathed.

"Concentrate." Haldir's harsh whisper said. "Pretend we're in Lothlorien."

And so Elizabeth did. She hit a few more targets than she had been. But now ladders were coming. She put her bow away and drew her sword. The first ladder came right next to her.

Haldir's sword went through the ugly beast's abdomen and he spun and killed another. He had protected her as much as he could, but now it would be harder. Elizabeth would have to fight on her own if Haldir could not come to her rescue.

"Leave some for me, will ya?" Elizabeth begged. She noticed one coming up behind Haldir. She stuck her sword in its belly just as it was raising its sword. Haldir spun around, wide eyed at the beast and smiled down at Elizabeth.

"Stay close to me, Elizabeth." He said.

The next thing she knew, she was blasted away from Haldir as the wall blew up. Her arms and legs flailed wildly as she flew backwards. The wind was slightly knocked out of her as she landed, but her eyes snapped open immediately.

"ELIZABETH!" he shouted as he watched her. She landed, conveniently next to Aragorn who had also been blown off the wall.

"Stay behind me," Aragorn instructed, pulling her up. "When I say, run up the stairs to Haldir. He will need you before the end."

Elizabeth nodded.

"GO!" Aragorn shouted. "CHARGE!"

He and the elven warriors charged at the oncoming foes. Elizabeth raced up the stairs to Haldir and killed and ugly person that was about to hurt him.

"YOU MEANIE, STUPID, EVIL, UGLY, STINKY, SMELLY, POOPY THINGS!!!! GO AWAY!!!" Elizabeth screamed as loud as she could.

Haldir arched an eyebrow just as Aragorn yelled out an order. At least Elizabeth's screaming was doing some good. The orcs had never heard those words screamed in battle before, so they just stared at Elizabeth like she was an alien from Mars. But that was good, because in a matter of moments, many of them had been killed.

"Pull back! Pull back to the keep! Haldir! To the keep!"

Haldir nodded and signaled Elizabeth to follow him. He took a few steps forward and killed an ugly thing but was stabbed in the side by another. Time seemed to slow down as Elizabeth made her way to the evil Uruk-hai that had hurt her mentor. She screamed bloody murder and killed everything in her path as she approached Haldir.

"HALDIR!!!" Elizabeth screamed. With all her might she stabbed the Uruk-Hai five times screaming at him. She stood to go to her mentor and saw another beast coming from behind him.

"BEHIND YOU!!!" she screamed. But it was too late. Haldir took an ax in his back just as Elizabeth stabbed the beast that had done it.

"I HATE YOU, UGLY PEOPLES!!! I HATE YOU!!!" Elizabeth screamed as she hacked the one that had hurt Haldir into three different pieces.

She went to Haldir just as he was falling backwards and Aragorn caught him. He was dead. Elizabeth stared in horror at her mentor. It couldn't be. He was just pretending, just playing a game. His eyes weren't really that blank, he was just playing. But Elizabeth soon realized that it wasn't a game. Haldir wasn't breathing either.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" she screamed. "I HATE YOU SAURON!!!!"

Suddenly she stopped and remembered something. She yanked a cord around her neck and opened the bottle that Galadriel had given her. It was the most powerful healing potion ever, or so Galadriel had said. Yanking off the top, Elizabeth shoved Aragorn aside and opened Haldir's mouth. She gently poured the healing potion down his throat and closed his mouth.

"Please…" she whispered. She laid her head on Haldir's chest. "Please don't die…please don't die…don't die…you can't die…I wuv you Haldir…you…can't…"

She looked at Haldir. Nothing had happened. Darn it! It worked in all the Disney movies! She began crying and laid her head back down on Haldir's chest. Her mentor, the elf that had taught her everything she knew about fighting was dead. The elf that loved her as brother loved a sister. He was gone, Galadriel's potion had failed miserably.

"You can't die…you can't…" she sobbed.

"I can't what?" a hoarse voice asked. Elizabeth stiffened. She turned around. Aragorn and Gimli were busy fighting off Uruk-hai so that she and Haldir would be safe. Elizabeth looked at Haldir. He was smiling up at her.

"You can't die." Elizabeth whispered. Haldir smiled and stroked Elizabeth's cheek.

"There is no time to die, we must keep fighting." He whispered. "But we shall discuss this after the battle is over, all right?"

Elizabeth nodded and pulled out her sword. Screaming like a crazy, disturbed child, she killed an Uruk-Hai with Gimli's help. Haldir chuckled and picked up his own sword. Time for revenge.

Elizabeth was cornered by a very, very ugly and strange person. It laughed at her. Elizabeth fought the urge to vomit all over the person's feet. He smelled icky too.

"Hello, girly." It said.

Elizabeth wondered something. Smiling a toothy grin, she darted between the ugly person's legs and ended up behind him, but unfortunately, right next to the edge of the wall where the wall met the stairs. The ugly thing turned around and smiled evilly at her. As it approached her, Elizabeth slowly backed away until she stood on the edge of the ledge. She swung her arms frantically trying to regain her balance. The ugly thing was even more menacing now as it approached her and stuck out its little finger.

Elizabeth shook her head, pleading the ugly beast not to do it, but being as evil as it was, the beast gave Elizabeth a little nudge with the tip of its finger. Elizabeth screamed and flailed her arms about trying to do something, anything except fall. This was going to hurt, wasn't it?

Suddenly, Elizabeth's scream was cut short as her small form landed at the bottom of the stairs below. A sickening crack was heard as her shoulder snapped out of place. But just as she suspected her back and head to feel the same pain, something stopped her. That something laid her gently on the ground and disappeared. Elizabeth didn't know who had helped her, she only knew that she was in incredible pain. She closed her eyes and lay still on the ground.

"Fall back! The castle is breached! Fall back!!!"

"Inside! Get them inside!!!" Aragorn yelled. Legolas loosed an arrow at an orc.

"Gimli!" Aragorn shouted. "Where is Elizabeth?!"

Gimli looked shocked. "I thought she was with you!"

Aragorn's eyes widened and he made to go back the way he came to retrieve Elizabeth. But Legolas stopped him. Aragorn gave the elf a glare mixed in with a questionable look.

"Haldir is with her." The elf prince said softly. Aragorn relaxed and nodded. Hopefully the two could make it.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli hurried into the keep with the rest of the army. Legolas felt a tap on his shoulder just as the doors were closed and barred shut. Legolas turned around to see Haldir standing behind him. Without Elizabeth.

"Where is Elizabeth?" Legolas asked, frowning.

Haldir frowned. "I was under the impression that she was with you."

Both their eyes widened at the same time and they turned their gazes on the barred door. Haldir and Legolas made to head for the door, but Théoden and Gimli stopped them this time.

"Just where do you think you're going, lads?" Gimli asked sternly.

"Elizabeth is out there." Legolas said. He made to push past his dwarf friend.

"Lad," Gimli started slowly. "If she's still out there, than it's a miracle if she's still alive."

"But—"

"No buts. Would you risk the lives of the women and children?" Théoden asked. Legolas looked away sadly. Théoden and Gimli's words were true. Even if Elizabeth was still out there, it would be a miracle if she survived. He prayed to the Valar that they would protect her.

"Sir, I found you a young snack. It's alive, but barely. Shall I finish it off for you?" an Uruk-Hai asked its master, holding up a small unconscious girl.

The Leader's eyes widened. "Of course not, you fool! Remember what Lord Saruman said?! He wanted the human children alive! There is one among them that holds great power! Leave it here with me and do not touch it!"

Another loud bang on the door caused it to slightly enlarge the hole in it. Théoden looked put out, shocked, stunned that the fortress had been taken. Helm's Deep had never been taken before, so how could Saruman break the wall so quickly? Ah, it didn't matter now. The end was near, Théoden could feel it.

"What can men do against such reckless hate?" Théoden asked. He seemed dazed, tired because of the enemy. Aragorn just stared at him for a moment.

Then it came to him. A way of hope for both the people of Rohan and perhaps Elizabeth's safety. They would ride out and make a last stand against their enemy. Hopefully, Gandalf's usual promptness would be the same and he would arrive on time.

"Ride out with me." Aragorn said softly. Théoden turned and looked at him as if he were crazy. "Ride out and meet them."

"For death and glory?" Théoden asked in his depressed manner.

"For Rohan. For your people." Aragorn said.

"The sun is rising." Gimli spoke up, reminding Legolas and Aragorn of Gandalf's words.

'Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.'

"Think of it," Aragorn continued. "There is a way to give hope to your remaining men and to Elizabeth."

He resisted the urge to add on 'if she still lives' and cringed at his own thoughts.

"Yes." Théoden said. "The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time."

Knowing this was his cue, Gimli ran up the steps to blow the great horn while Legolas, Aragorn and Théoden mounted horses and prepared for their "last" battle. Hopefully, Gandalf would arrive just in time as he usually did.

"Forth Eorlingas!!" Théoden shouted as the horn was blown and the door was broken down. They charged forward with great force and prepared themselves to kill or be killed.

Meanwhile on the steps of the keep, Elizabeth moaned as she pulled herself to her feet. A bright light was shining at the top of the hill and she could see other figures behind it. But she couldn't concentrate on the white figure and his friends. There was so much pain Elizabeth could barely move. It was a miracle she could move at all. And the pain was increasing.

Whispering the name of the one who'd always been there for her, Elizabeth collapsed to the ground, facedown on a ledge next to the steps. But would he come in time?

The Uruk-hai were retreating into Fangorn Forest. Little did they know that the local trees had some pest fumigation to extinguish. Mainly the Uruk-Hai themselves. Within a few minutes, all the Uruk-Hai were being destroyed by the angry trees. Gandalf watched the trees silently and smiled lightly. It was finally over…but then again, it was only beginning.

Suddenly, a feeling of dread sparked in Gandalf's heart. He looked around at the remaining soldiers and searched, but did not find what he looked for. Silently, Gandalf hoped that what he was looking for lay in Lady Eowyn's protection, but his heart told him otherwise. Some great doom had come to something Gandalf held close to his heart.

Turning Shadowfax around and urging him ahead as fast as possible, Gandalf sincerely hoped he wasn't too late. Gandalf rode as fast as could and as far as his horse could carry him. He dismounted Shadowfax and hurried up the stairs to the keep. Gandalf sensed its presence nearby. He turned around and noticed a small brown boot sticking from behind a dead soldier's body. The wizard approached the boot and felt his heart sink as he saw the bloody and unconscious form of his dear Elizabeth.

Gandalf picked Elizabeth up and walked into the keep. He laid her on an untouched table and passed a single hand over her body. Gandalf held his breath and closed his eyes. Luckily her back was not broken; at the moment, it was only causing her severe pain. Her left shoulder was dislocated and aside from that, the rest of Elizabeth's injuries were cuts and scrapes. And it seemed that something had protected her head from hitting the ground too hard. Had that something not protected her head, Elizabeth would have been killed from the impact of the hard concrete.

Reaching into his pocket, Gandalf pulled out a small bottle that Lady Galadriel had given him. She was always dependable. Gently, Gandalf opened Elizabeth's mouth and poured half of the contents in the bottle down her throat. Elizabeth would be somewhat healed, but her shoulder still had to be snapped back into place. Gandalf looked sadly down at Elizabeth. He put a piece of leather in her mouth so she wouldn't bite down too hard and prepared to slip the bone back in.

Elizabeth let out a short, shrill scream in her unconscious state and Gandalf knew that the worse was over. He had successfully slipped her shoulder back into place. Now all he had to do was get her to Rohan.

Inside, all Elizabeth knew was that she burned. Deep inside her, she burned. But at least the burning was blocking her pain. She felt only the stinging sensation of the burn of her bones, of her fingers and of her skin.

Elizabeth screamed inwardly and moaned out loud. Why couldn't she open her eyes? Why had Gandalf left her earlier without saying goodbye? Where was he now? Who had helped her earlier when she was falling? Why had they helped her?

Gandalf looked down at Elizabeth as she moaned and furrowed her brow. Turning his gaze back to the road ahead, he saw the Golden Hall in the distance. Looking back at the Rohannian people behind him, he saw their faces light up with happiness. They were home.

Aragorn urged his horse forward and gazed at Elizabeth as his horse trotted evenly with Shadowfax.

"How is she?" he asked softly.

Gandalf sighed. "She moans in pain, and burns on the inside. Her healing is very painful."

Aragorn laid a reassuring hand on Gandalf's shoulder. "Do not worry, Gandalf. Rohan is in sight, she will be fine."

Gandalf gave a small smile and waited until Aragorn had fallen back to speak with Legolas to let it fade. He wasn't exactly sure if Elizabeth would be all right. If her injuries were this bad, than what would they be like at the end of the final battle?

"I hope you are right, my friend, I hope you are right."

((WHOOO!!! THE 20th CHAPTER!!!! WHEEEE!!!! Ok, settle down. Ok, sorry it took so long to update, but I as I wrote in my other fic which I updated, I've been restricted to only computers on the weekends unless I have homework. The only reason you are reading this is because I'm being a very bad little girl. ;) ok. gotta go! Please Review))