I don't own Blue Exorcist or LotR.

Rin stood silently as the coffin slowly travelled up the path towards the hill. He could see the King with his head bowed in grief, Gandalf just behind him. The woman from earlier, Éowyn, he had found out, sang softly, voice breaking from her grief even as the wind blew her veil around her face. Rin stared at the coffin and felt generally horrible. He was still shaken from the exorcism of Théoden, and by his reaction to it. He felt a hand brush his and knew it was Legolas standing just to his right.

Kuro cuddled into his shoulder as they walked back to the halls, a somber haze only enunciated by the silence hovering over everyone. He slumped against the table, all the energy that he usually had abandoning him. He looked at the soup Boromir handed him.

Oh look, chunks. And oh, what is that? More chunks. Yum.

He fished out some of the meat for Kuro, who sniffed at it once for digging in. Rin didn't feel hungry, but he could tell that he was getting some concerned looks and picked up a piece of bread to nibble on.

They all looked up as Gandalf and Théoden waked inside, Gandalf carrying a young boy while a girl clung to the king's side.

The half-demon saw Éowyn rush over to help with the children, talking softly to them even as she settled them at a table and retrieved food. "They had no warning, they were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through the westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot, and tree."

Rin knew it probably wasn't the best idea, but he tuned out the conversation. Nope, nope nope nope.

Kuro purred and jumped onto his lap. "Don't worry, I'll take notes."

Gandalf left. Again.

Is it a thing?

Kuro nodded. "Definitely."

Rin smiled as he walked with the Rohirrim refugees, overhearing Gimli speak with Éowyn.

"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."

He heard Aragorn whisper from behind them. "It's the beards." Rin bit his lip, holding in a laugh.

The dwarf continued, "And this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!"

Rin snickered.

I would believe it.

"Of course you would."

Rin pouted at his cat.

What's that supposed to mean?

Kuro gave him a Look. "Rin. Start with acknowledging some other feelings." The cat's demeanor shifted to an evil smirk, and pointedly looked ahead to a different member of the company.

Rin was fairly sure his entire face had turned red within a second.

The half-demon had somehow migrated his way to Legolas, who was closer to the front of the group.

Two riders passed them. An instant later, a shiver ran down Rin's spine, straight to his tail which flew out of his shirt.

"Rin! I smell wargs!" Kuro instantly enlarged and Rin took out the Koma sword, unsheathing it without its flames, because plains and grass and fire aren't the greatest mix, even when he had a somewhat good hold on controlling what got burned. At the very same time, one of the beasts pounced over a hill top and tackled a rider that had just passed them.

There was a yell of "Wargs!" and Rin pounced on the nearest one, driving his sword straight through its skull.

He heard Legolas behind him shout back to Aragorn. "It's a scout!"

Several yells and some mass panic followed this. Rin ran to the top of the hill, elf on his heels, and when they did so they found a small army of wargs.

Théoden shouted, "Follow me! Yah!" and the half-demon was quickly surrounded by horses which he kept pace with.

"Charge!"

There was complete chaos as the riders met the wargs. Rin growled and pounced one, stabbing it before stabbing at the rider.

He distantly heard a shout that was obviously from Gimli. "Bring your pretty face to my axe!"

He sliced at the throat of an oversized wolf as the orc riding it was shot. He spun around for another to practically run into his sword, but he had left his back open to-

He cried out in pain as something pulled him by his tail, sending painful jolts up his spine. The culprit was a dismounted orc. It grinned maliciously, and that expression was still on it's face when it died from an arrow through the temple from Legolas.

The battle had calmed down, and an uninjured Kuro was hunting down the last few warg. He cradled his tail, which looked slightly crimped.

Legolas ran up to him, looking around. "Aragorn! Rin, can you see him?" The half-demon blinked and looked up, heart sinking into his stomach.

Gimli called out as well. "Aragorn!" Boromir, who had a scrape on his side but was otherwise fine, glanced at them before coming over.

They ran over to the edge of a cliff, where a single orc was wheezing and laughing. The dwarf of their group hefted his axe and stood over the dying creature. "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing."

"He's, " the thing coughed, "dead." It laughed maliciously. "Took a little tumble of the cliff."

Legolas moved to the edge of the cliff and grabbed the orc even as Rin was still registering the words. "You lie!" It laughed once more before dying. Rin numbly followed Gimli and Boromir as they went to stand by the elf prince, who had dropped the dead orc.

"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." Rin turned to the King, numbness quickly replaced by anger, a growl ready in his throat.

Kuro came over to him and head butted him softly. I'm sorry, Rin.

Rin made no move to mount the cat, so he was gently picked up in its teeth by his coat and gently plopped onto the demon's back.

Legolas gave the half-demon a hand as he dismounted Kuro, which Rin gladly accepted, the adrenaline rush he had gotten from the battle long gone. They walked on the cold stone of Helm's Deep, and he saw Éowyn rush towards her King.

Gimli started towards her, "My lady..."

She looked to the dwarf. "Lord Aragorn, where is he?"

Rin winced slightly, and the elven prince accompanying him squeezed his hand gently.

"... He fell..." Gimli trailed off, and Rin turned away.

Rin looked up as he heard exuberant cries from outside the hall he and Legolas had situated themselves in. A familiar silhouette came into view.

No way.

Rin gaped at the ranger as he was pulled to his feet by the elf, and they went to greet (immortal?) Aragorn.

Legolas spoke as Rin practically bounced with happiness at his side. "-You're late." Rin had to hold himself back from giving the bedraggled and injured looking ranger a hug.

"-you look terrible."

The elf took the Ranger's hand and placed a … necklace? in it, which Rin supposed must have been lost in the battle.

The man smiled. "-Thank you."

Rin accompanied Legolas, Boromir, Gimli, and Aragorn as they entered the King's keep, although he paid more attention to his conversation with Kuro than with Théoden.

Ya know Kuro, I think I'm just gonna- He made a little swiping motion with his hand.

"One, that's a terrible idea, and two, what do you mean."

Rin looked slightly uncomfortable. You know, just … burn them all.

Kuro paused, and he continued. I mean, think about it. Helm's deep is built up against a cliff. There isn't a chance that I could burn any of our soldiers, and it means that all of the orcs are gonna be crowded in one general direction. I could just- he made the swiping motion with his hand again.

Kuro looked at him, completely serious. "You could die. In fact, it's likely, if you really are suggesting what I think you are."

Rin thought back to all the kids in the hall, dirty and scared, and the weary faces of the adults that knew they could not promise safety. I think it would be worth it.

Legolas looked around Helm's Deep, saddened as he saw young children and old men both being recruited by soldiers, but also needing to check the defences which were impressive. But every place had its weaknesses, even if no one knew about them. Saruman had access to the King's mind plus that traitor for how long? No, if anyone knew of a weakness it would be the White Wizard.

Boromir and Aragorn were with Theoden in the hall, working on troop distribution along the walls and he wasn't sure where Gimli or Rin were at the moment. He could practically feel the fear coming from the people around him and he didn't like it, he didn't like war. He had been born after the Last Alliance and the battle against Sauron, something he was thankful for, the only real war he had seen had been at the foot of the Lonely Mountain. Even now he wished he could have done more for Thorin there than toss him a sword before searching for Tauriel.

Tauriel…he had once imagined he would marry her but that dream had ended long ago when he had seen her cradling the dead Dwarven Prince in her arms as she cried. That had been the last time he had seen her, she had never returned to Mirkwood. He didn't even know if she lived or not. And now…. now there was Rin. His Father definitely would not approve of his growing feelings for him, after all there would be no heirs. Then again his Father would like the prestige and power of having a magic-wielder within the Royal Family. And there was really no need to tell Lord Thranduil that Rin was not an elf.

Legolas shook his head, clearing his mind as he continued to patrol, he could not afford to think of such things with battle so close. He finally concluded his search but was empty handed, he could find no weakness within the fortress other than the wooden gates and the top of the walls. He headed for the armoury to replenish his arrows and found Aragorn, Rin, and Gimli already there.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." The Ranger looked around at the others in the armoury.

"Most have seen too many winters."

"Or too few." Legolas agreed softly as he began gathering arrows. They looked around at the men and boys, all looking pale and scared. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." Everyone stopped and turned to look at him, Aragorn included. "-And they should be... Three hundred against ten thousand!"

He saw Rin startle slightly at the number. "-Ten thousand!?"

"-They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras." Aragorn stood and confronted him.

"-Aragorn, they cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!" Legolas fought the urge to yell at his friend.

"Then I will die as one of them!"

Rin looked at the ranger and deadpanned, "Yo, there was a reason we were speaking in elvish" but the man had already turned away.

Internally, however, he was screaming. Ten Thousand! Kuro, that's a lot!

"Remember our agreement?"

The half-demon scowled at the cat. Yeah, yeah, ya little cupid demon.

Rin was in the meager kitchens, helping a woman make a huge cauldron of soup when he heard the call of a horn. He rushed outside and onto the battlements, looking down in wonder at what he saw.

An army of Lothlorien Elves marched up the paths past the gates. They were led by the elf that Rin had sassed what felt like ages ago. The Rohirrim soldiers looked at them in wonderment and delight as they passed. Rin grinned and jumped to where he saw Théoden greeting them.

Haldir spoke. "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together." The elven captain looked up at Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli running down the steps, and smiled, startling Rin because wow, he did not seem like the type to do a smile, " We come to honor that allegiance."

Aragorn bowed, "-Welcome, Haldir" and hugged the elf in a huge embrace.

Rin almost cackled. The expression on his face!

Kuro did cackle.

The First half? Disgusting. The Second half? Disgusting, but slightly less so. Gag. Also, I was told to have Rin curbstomp the Balrog. But then I didn't ! :) So now, Helm's deep, boys, girls, theys and whatnots.