Hey all! Next chapter up quickly this time! And good news, I've got it the Two Towers all written up now so the next few updates will come out quicker! Woohoo! Just as a side note, I'm going to be changing my username from Sophia Kaiba to Faron Oakenshield. Since my wife has changed her name to Sophia, I don't feel right using that name anymore, and since I'm loving Faron's character at the moment, I'll be changing it to hers, so if you search for me in the future, it's Faron Oakenshield, not Sophia Kaiba.

Review Responses;

Tibblets – I'm glad you're enjoying this series, and I'm glad you would like to see a prequel. Although, I think it would have to wait until this story is finished, or close to finishing as I have the others to do also. I've got so many ideas, but just need to work my brain around it all and get it into writing, which could take a while. So, I hope you'll be patient with me xx

Missing all my regular readers. . .where are you? :'(

Preparing

For the next few days, I help out wherever I can, whether it's helping to heal any of the injured soldiers, or cleaning anything that needs cleaning, doing anything I can to keep myself distracted from whether Aragorn would be returning or not.

The day after our arrival, as I am just finishing wrapping a bandage around a man's arm, Gimli comes running in, a huge grin on his face.

"Faron! Aragorn's back!"

I smile wide. "He is?"

He nods. "He's in the Grand Hall with Théoden."

Smiling, I run out with him to the Grand Hall, opening the doors once I arrive, my smile widens as I see Aragorn standing with Legolas, Theoden, Gamling and a few more men. He looks bloodied and bruised from the fall, not to mention exhausted, but he's alive nonetheless. Aragorn grins as he sees me, and that sets me into motion, running towards him. He catches me in his arms, holding me just as close as I am holding him.

"I knew you were alive! I just knew it!" I say, tears of happiness and relief falling.

"Oh, you did, did you?" he chuckles before pulling away and drying my tears. "I can always rely on you to have faith."

I just smile and kiss his cheek before he turns back to Théoden and tells him about the host of Uruk-hai heading this way.

"A great host, you say?" Théoden asks.

"All Isengard is emptied."

"How many?"

"Ten thousand strong at least."

Théoden turns to face Aragorn in shock and horror. I'm also staring at Aragorn.

"Ten thousand?!"

"It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. "They will be here by nightfall."

"Let them come."

Théoden walks outside, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli following him.

"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall." Theoden says to Gamling, who nods and walks off.

We follow Theoden out of the gates as the men are hammering planks of wood onto the doors to strengthen them.

"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg."

"This is no rabble of mindless orcs." we turn to Gimli as he speaks. "These are Uruk-hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad."

Théoden stands over him, and I have to stop myself from pulling him back at his threatening stance. "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."

Théoden walks back inside, Aragorn, Legolas and I follow, each of us patting Gimli on the shoulder before he follows me. We walk with Théoden as he walks along the battlements.

"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!" Aragorn says to Tthéoden.

Théoden stops and turns back to him. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!"

"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."

"And who will come. Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."

I don't know whether to feel insulted or not by this since Théoden and I are supposed to be friends.

"Gondor will answer."

"Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us!?

"Where was Gon — No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone."

Théoden walks from Aragorn. I walk up to him and take the Rangers hand.

"What do we do now?"

He turns to Legolas, Gimli and I.

"We fight and try to keep them as safe as we can."

Not even an hour later, Théoden has the men, women and children relocated into the caves of Helm's Deep for safety. The four of us are walking through the mass of people scurrying around.

"Come on people! Quickly, now!" the Rohan soldiers order, trying to get everyone inside.

"We'll place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate." Aragorn informs us.

I walk up to him. "Aragorn, you must rest."

Legolas nods in agreement. "She's right. You're no use to us half-alive."

I look up as I hear Èowyn call out to Aragorn and see her walk to him. Legolas, Gimli and I keep back a moment, helping the others inside.

"I'm to be sent with the women into the caves." I hear her say to him, sounding annoyed and frustrated.

"That is an honourable charge."

"To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return. What renown is there in that?"

"My lady, a time may come for valor without renown. Who then will your people look to in the last defense?"

"Let me stand at your side."

"It is not in my power to command it."

Aragorn begins to walk back to us.

"You do not command the others to stay! They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. Because they love you."

I look to the pair at this. For a while now, I had an inkling that Èowyn had harboured some feelings for Aragorn for a long time. As I watch the two, I can really feel the tensions between them as they just look at one another.

"I'm sorry."

Èowyn walks away, pushing past Legolas, Gimli and I to get into the caves. I look to Aragorn but he doesn't say anything.

That night, while in the armoury, we watch as the soldiers are handing out weapons to the villagers, Aragorn looking over the blades before he walks over.

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

"Most have seen too many winters!" Gimli tries to reassure.

"Or too few." I point out, looking at the children in dismay.

Aragorn nods in agreement as we look at them all.

"Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes."

At Legolas's words, the whole room turns silent and everyone looks to him. He turns away for a moment before looking between Aragorn and I.

"Boe a hyn neled herain. . .dan caer menig!"

Sharing a glance with Aragorn, he answers him. "Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras."

"Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú ortheri. Natha daged aen!"

Aragorn storms up to Legolas. "Then I shall die as one them!"

I watch, uncomfortably, as Aragorn and Legolas stare at each other for a while before Aragorn walks away from the ellon.

Legolas tries to run after him, but is stopped by Gimli.

"Let him go, lad. Let him be."

After a few moments, the chatter soon picks up as everyone continues to collect weapons. I leave the room and manage to find a vacant room to think. It's bad enough for men, who do not know how to fight, to wield a weapon for the first time and sent into war, but for children, who only should be worried about what game they're going to play with their friends or if they're going to get into trouble from stealing from the cookie jar, not whether they're going to survive a battle.

I sigh as I go to the window and look up into the cloudy sky.

"Adad, Fee, Kee. . .if you can hear me, give me strength. . .give me the strength to help defend the men. . .the children. . .I cannot do this alone. . ."

"You are not alone." Legolas's voice sounds from behind me.

Looking around, I see him leaning against the door frame before walking to me.

"How much did you hear?"

"All of it. I know Thorin and I didn't see eye to eye because of the feud, but I know he and the rest of your family are proud of you. Proud of the person you have become."

I smile as I look back at the sky. "I'd like to think they are."

We fall into a comfortable silence for a moment before he speaks again.

"What you said, you are not alone in this. You have Gimli, Aragorn and I here to help you. And together, we're going to do all we can to save these people."

I smile and nod. "That we are. Speaking of Aragorn-"

"I'm about to apologise to him. He has lead us all this way. I should not have doubted him."

"The worst thing we can do now is doubt each other. We need to stay together."

He nods. "And that is what we will do."

I smile at him and then do something either very brave – or incredibly stupid – and lean up to kiss his cheek before leaving the room. I feel a blush upon my cheeks. Why I just did that I had no idea. . .but it felt right.

Arriving into another room, we see Aragorn preparing for the battle. Legolas walks over and hands him his sword. Aragorn looks to him in surprise for a moment before he nods his thanks as he takes his sword.

"We have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."

Aragorn smiles and shakes his head. Both males place a hand against their hearts before clapping the others arms.

"Ú-moe edamed, Legolas."

I smile as I walk over to them, wrapping an arm around Aragorn's waist as he wraps an arm around my shoulders, placing a brotherly kiss on my head. The three of us look up as Gimli walks in, trying to sort out his armour.

"If we had time, I'd get this adjusted."

He lets go of the armour and it falls to the ground, thanks to it being too long. I bite my lip to try from laughing aloud as Aragorn and Legolas grin at each other.

"It's a little tight across the chest."

That's all it takes for me to begin laughing, having to bury my head in Aragorn's shoulder to quieten the giggling as they smile away. I stop laughing and look up as the sound of a horn is heard from outside.

"That is no Orc horn!" Legolas exclaims after a few moments of us listening to it.

The four of us rush out and run towards the gate. As we get near the courtyard, I hear a familiar voice.

"Long ago we fought and died together."

Reaching the top of the stairs, looking down, I smile as I see Haldir, an army of elves behind him. Haldir smiles as he sees us.

"We come to honor that allegiance."

Aragorn rushes to him, walking past Théoden, who looks to us in surprise. "Mae govannen, Haldir!"

Standing before the elf, Aragorn and he give the usual greeting of placing a hand to his heart before Aragorn suddenly hug him. Haldir, a little surprised, returns the gesture, a smile appearing on his face.

"You are most welcome."

Legolas steps up and embraces Haldir, before standing aside for me. Smiling, I instantly throw my arms around my brother, allowing him to sweep me into his arms. The army of elves turn to face us, lowering their bows and shields in unison as they do so. Smiling at each other as we pull away, I stand by his side as we wrap our arms around the other's waist as we turn to Théoden. Legolas standing on Haldir's other side.

"We are proud to fight alongside men, once more."

Once introductions are made and Théoden gives his thanks to Haldir for his help, we allow Aragorn to organise the elven army so Haldir and I can have a few moments together before the battle. As soon as we get to an empty room for privacy, I embrace Haldir once more, smiling as he holds me close.

"I have missed you so much, Haldir."

"And I you, muinthel."

I kiss his cheek as I pull away smiling wide at him. "But, how did you know to come?"

"Elrond had managed to get a message to Lady Galadriel, who told me gather our best troops and come to aid King Théoden."

"Orophin and Rumi are not here?"

He shakes his head. "No. I needed them to stay behind with who we could spare to protect our home."

I nod. "I am so glad you are here. I was beginning to lose all hope of us surviving this night."

He smiles as he places a hand on my cheek. "Did you not tell the three of us not to lose hope? That there is always hope? There is no need to worry now, we will get through this and both of us will survive. We have too much time to catch up on."

I smile as he kisses my forehead and pulls me close again. He's right. And so is Legolas. We can do this. . .as long as we all have each other, stay together and keep hope alive. . .we can get through this.

Oooh. Little bit of tension there between Aragorn and Legolas. . .but thankfully, as we all know, they push it aside and love each other again.

Gotta love Gimli here, made me laugh out loud when I first saw it!

Haldir and Faron together again! But for how long. . .

Please keep your lovely reviews coming, and please remember about the name change, which will take place once this is updated.

Translations:

"Boe a hyn neled herain. . .dan caer menig!" - And they should be. Three hundred. . .against ten thousand!

"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras." - They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras.

"Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú ortheri. Natha daged aen!" - They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!

Adad - father

"Ú-moe edamed, Legolas." - There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.

"Mae govannen, Haldir!" - Welcome, Haldir!

Muinthel - Sister