Reforging the Fellowship

By Michael Weyer

Chapter eight: Helm's Deep, Afternoon/Nightfall

The news of the oncoming army had spread quickly throughout the fortress and tension was thick through the air. On Theoden's orders, the women and children were being taken to the caves underneath the fortress for safety while the men, whatever their age, were being pressed into service. It was a decision unpopular with some.

"We want to fight," Arwen stated as she and Morwen came up to Aragon. The man sighed and shook his head as he tried to walk away.

"I have already been through this with Eowyn," Aragon said. "The king has ordered all women to the caves."

"All human women, yes," Arwen said. "He is not my King."

"No," Aragon said. "But I want you to be there. This is not some scuffle with Wildmen. This is an army of darkness coming to wipe us out to the last man. And woman." He leaned in and touched her arm. "I need to know you are safe," he said in Elvish.

She pulled the arm away. "I can protect myself," she replied in Elvish, her eyes narrowed. "I am not leaving you. If you fight, I fight as well."

"Arwen…please…be where I know you are safe."

"How can I be safe when I know you can die?"

Morwen did not understand Elvish but she knew a private conversation when she saw it. She also knew that her arguments would not have too much weight with the Ranger. Spotting a group of men heading off toward the armory, she decided to take matters into her own hands and stole away.

Aragon turned away from Arwen to head towards the battlements. "I will not argue this," he said. "Go to safety."

"You are not my lord or husband," Arwen stated. "Not yet. I do not have to follow any command from you."

Aragon was about to reply when Boromir came up to them. "Aragon, they are readying in the armory," he stated. The Ranger nodded and headed off. Boromir watched him go, then turned to face Arwen. He saw the look on her face and understood what was happening. "You cannot fight."

Arwen glared at him. "If I will not listen to Aragon, what makes you think I would listen to you?"

Boromir moved and kept his voice low. "If you care for him…if you love him…you will not fight."

"He needs-------"

"We need him," Boromir interrupted. "We need his leadership and his skills if we have any hope for survival. But he will not be able to concentrate on doing what must be done if you are there. You know him. You know he would forget the battle in an instant if he believed you to be in danger. If he knows you are safe…then he can do what is needed."

Arwen bit her lip. "But…I want…"

Boromir looked about and then leaned in, his voice lower. "Our chances are not good," he almost whispered. "Frankly, I do not know if we can attain victory. If that happens, if we fall…those under the caves would need someone like you to get them to safety. You are needed there more than here."

Arwen's face whitened slightly. "I want to be there for him."

"You want him to know you will survive, no matter what," Boromir replied. "So…for him and for us…do as he says."

She bowed her head and slowly nodded. "Very well." She looked up to him with a mist in her eyes. "If you can…try to help him."

Boromir smiled broadly. "Of that, you can be certain, my lady."

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Boromir entered the armory and took in the men inside. They ranged in age from barely able to walk from youth to barely being able to walk from age. Many of them had trouble even lifting the swords and spears that were laid out. Aragon, Gimli and Legolas walked among them, each with the same concern as Boromir.

"I've done a quick count," he said as he came up to them. "In total, our numbers are barely over three hundred."

Aragon nodded as he looked about. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys…" He shook his head. "These are no soldiers."

"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli pointed out.

"Or too few," Legolas grimly added. He looked around and sniffed. "They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." He turned and began to talk in Elvish, the sudden rise of volume in his voice getting the attention of everyone in the room. Aragon began to reply in Elvish but Legolas interrupted, barking at him, everyone exchanging confused glances.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragon suddenly erupted in the common tongue. His words hung in the air as he whirled about and marched out of the armory. Legolas made a motion to go after him but Gimli caught him. "Let him go, laddie. Let him go."

Aragon brushed past Boromir who decided to ignore the dwarf's advice and head after him. "Aragon," he called out. "Do not lose hope."

Aragon stopped and turned toward him. "We are outnumbered over a thousand to one. Saruman will not stop until this fortress is rubble. Our only forces have not the strength or experience to mount any proper defense. Perhaps Legolas is right. Perhaps we are going to die."

"Perhaps," Boromir said, realizing what Legolas had been saying. "But at the least, we can give those in the caves the chance to escape and survive. We can at least ensure that their victory will come at a high price. If this is our last stand…then we can make it one to be proud of." He brought himself up. "And I am proud to be able to stand by you."

He turned and walked off, leaving Aragon to reflect on his words.

Boromir found his way to the heart of the Deep, where Théoden was readying himself. He saw the King standing in the hall, staring off as Gamling, with great ceremony, attached his armor to him. The man became aware of someone behind him and craned his head to see Boromir in the doorway. "I apologize," Boromir said. "I did not know you were…"

"No, enter," Théoden stated as Gamling tightened the straps on his armor. The King was silent for a moment before speaking. "I…wish to apologize for losing my temper before," he said with hesitation. "I should not have laid my anger upon you."

"It is understandable," Boromir carefully replied. "My father…has not been as attentive to the problems of our neighbors as he should have been. He tries his best," he quickly said. "But…I fear he is losing a great fight within himself."

Théoden nodded. "I would hope he would send aid. We need all we can get." He turned to face Boromir. "But again, you did not deserve this treatment. You are fighting for us. For a land not your own and I must honor that."

Boromir glanced away. "I fight more for Aragon and what he stands for," he admitted. He looked back at Théoden. "But as I said to him earlier…I am proud to stand here, whatever the end."

"Whatever the end," Théoden said as he looked into space. "Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blown?"

Realizing the King's thoughts were elsewhere, Boromir bowed and backed out of the room. As he did, he took note that the sun was setting and could not suppress a chill at the idea of darkness falling across the valley.

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He returned to the armory in time to see Aragon donning a chain mail shirt and attaching a long belt to himself. Boromir raised an eyebrow as he came down the stairs. "It would appear you've found some new confidence," he dryly said.

"Let us say," Aragon replied. "I found a reason to fight on." He reached for his sword only to find it offered to him. Looking up, he saw Legolas holding the blade, a contrite look on his face. "You have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray." He moved the sword further out. "Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."

Aragon took the sword and then clapped a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "There is nothing to forgive, my friend."

Boromir smiled as well and bowed his head. "We stand with you, no matter what horde comes."

A grunt got their attention and the trio turned to see Gimli shuffle from a side room. He was holding a chain mail shirt before him that was easily three times his size. He let it drop, the chain covering his feet. Hearing their chuckles, Gimli glared up at them. "It's a little tight around the chest," he bit out.

The sound of a horn echoed through the Deep. All four men were instantly alert, hands on weapons. "They're here," Boromir said, tension gripping his heart.

"No," Legolas stated, his eyes narrowing as his ears perked up. "That is no orc horn." He raced up the stairs, Boromir and Aragon behind him. Gimli paused long enough to peel the chain mail off him before following.

The four came to the stairs to see an amazing sight: A full force of Elven warriors, cloaks over their armor, were marching into the center of the fortress. They were in perfect file, all holding bows and swords, some holding up banners with a familiar insignia on them. Théoden, a look of amazement on his face, stood before the leader who they recognized as Haldir, the Elven captain from Lothlorien.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell," Haldir was telling the King. "Long ago, an alliance existed between men and elves." He gave the Fellowship a nice smile. "We come to honor that allegiance."

Aragon bounded down the stairs and embraced Haldir. Gimli and Boromir couldn't help but smile at the look of surprise on the elf's face. Breaking the embrace, Aragon moved back and heartedly said, "You are most welcome!"

Haldir bowed as behind him, the elves moved in perfect formation to face the surprised troops. Haldir's eyes fixed upon Aragon. "Now…if I may inquire as to the whereabouts of Lady Arwen?"

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The arrival of the Elven soldiers not only bolstered the force of the Deep but also the morale of those defending it. It was helped by Theoden's proclamation that the younger boys could be kept in the caves with the rest.

Arwen was overseeing the move of the refugees deep inside along with the preparations to seal the tunnels when she saw a familiar face. She stiffened a bit as she saw Haldir come toward her. "My lady," he said, bowing his head. "Your father has been most concerned about you."

"I would imagine," Arwen said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Have you been sent to bring me back?"

Haldir shook his head. "No. No, we are here to help with the upcoming battle. However, I do have a message from your father."

Arwen took a deep breath. "And that is?"

Haldir's eyes fixed on her own and when he spoke, Arwen could hear her father's voice. "I want to keep you safe. I have always wanted to spare you the pain this love could bring. But I realize I could not. I realize love can have pain but also joy. Most of all, I have realized that making you lose that which would make you most happy…is a greater crime than any mortal man can do. You have my love. You have my blessing and I hope you shall have my strength. You shall ever be in my heart, you shall be my daughter and never doubt that."

Tears rolled down Arwen's cheeks as Haldir finished. "Thank you," she whispered, bowing her head.

Haldir leaned forward and patted her shoulder. "Be strong, my Lady. We shall prevail." He bowed again before leaving. Arwen wiped at her eyes before she headed back into the caves.

Eowyn was there, seeing to some of the elderly. She saw Arwen's face and frowned. "Are you all right?"

Arwen nodded. "Yes. I…merely had a message from my father."

Eowyn didn't know how to reply to that but was cut off when the doors leading to the caves were shut. She heard the noise as the men on the other side barricaded the door as well as they could. She sighed deeply. "All we can do now is hope."

"That is often the best method," Arwen said. She paused and looked around, frowning. "Where is Morwen?"

Eowyn's brow furrowed as she looked about as well. "I thought I saw her earlier…" She stopped and she and Arwen exchanged a horrified look. "You do not think…"

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Boromir walked along the courtyard, checking on the soldiers there. The majority of the elves were on the battlements although some were in the courtyard as well. Théoden stood on a platform so he could look out at the field and gauge the coming battle. Boromir shuffled the cloak over his battle armor as a pack of soldiers marched by him. He stood to the side as they did and he almost missed it. However, when one soldier suddenly turned his head away, Boromir's attention was grabbed. One look at the way the armor moved on the body and his face turned into a deep scowl.

Marching forward, he reached and yanked the helmet off the soldier's head. A pair of long red braids fell forward as Morwen froze in place, discovered. "What are you doing here!" Boromir yelled.

Morwen whirled, her face tight. "I am fighting for my king and my people!" she yelled back. "I have risked my life already and it is my choice to do so again!"

"You should be below."

"You cannot order me! You are not my King!"

"No," a deep voice came from behind her. "But I am." Morwen's face paled as she slowly turned to see an angry Théoden standing before her. She licked her lips. "My Lord…"

"My orders were clear," the King stated. "All the women are to be kept safe."

"Many of those women would rather fight with their husbands and families," Morwen said, trying to keep her anger in check. "Why can they not have that opportunity?"

"This is not a time to argue the merits of women!" Théoden broke in. "You are to go below at once!"

"My Lord," Boromir said, not wanting to have to point this out. "We cannot. The entranceway to the cavern is sealed. We cannot have it opened to let one more enter."

Theoden's jaw set as he looked to the defiant Morwen. "You will stay by me then," he said. "And that is a command from your King. Disobey and I will treat you like a man who would show insubordination, is that clear?"

Morwen opened her mouth but then, to Boromir's relief, closed it and bowed her head. Boromir was shaking his head when a loud blast of a horn came over the valley. Everyone turned to gaze outward, knowing this was no elf horn.

"They are here."