Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess
Author's Note:
This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)
~ LV: The Hours Before ~
Helm's Deep, 3019 TA, March 3
The vast fortress of Rohan, today sheltered Rohan's horsemen and its inhabitants. Each man, regardless of age, was assembled to prepare for the impending fight. Women and children were taken to the Glittering Caves, a cave network lying behind Helm's Deep's Deeping Wall. The ranger, the elf, and Xena mixed in with the crowd.
"We'll place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate." Aragorn said.
"Aragorn, you must rest. You're no use to us half-alive." Legolas demanded of his friend.
"Aragorn! I'm to be sent with the women into the caves." Èowyn suddenly appeared close to Aragorn complaining.
Xena saw as the Shieldmaiden of Rohan requested Aragorn's approval for her to participate in the battle. Aragorn had fallen from a cliff during the earlier orc and wag ambush. On his route back to Helm's Deep, he saw ten thousand powerful Uruk-hai commanded by Saruman. However, Aragorn's response fell short of her expectations. He appointed her to the last defence, and Èowyn ultimately expressed her profound affection for him.
The second time today that Xena was dumbfoundedly staring at the elf. Legolas had overheard the conversation, and his demeanour had darkened as a result. Then she remembered when the ranger bumped into Legolas following his return. The time Legolas spent considering his friend's absence was detrimental. Despite the fact that Legolas believed the ranger would return, Xena sensed the anguish in his eyes as his expression remained unreadable.
"Le abdollen." [You're late.] The elf said, "You look terrible."
Aragorn smiled as he placed his hand on Legolas's shoulder. She had no doubt that both were dependable friends; she already knew that. However, she had observed it when Legolas took Aragorn's jewellery from the orc. And he ultimately returned the Evenstar of Arwen to him. The ranger respectfully bowed to his companion. And Legolas offered him a distinctive grin that concealed all the beauties that the skies and stars had bestowed upon him; with them all, he was endowed and adorned.
"Hannon le." [Thank you.] Aragorn said.
But that occurred hours ago, and now they were all in the armoury, conversing as weapons were distributed to the villagers. They have examined Helm's Deep's defences. They saw how many horsemen and peasants would engage in combat. They determined the probable result.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys." said Aragorn "These are no soldiers."
"They have never seen a fight!" Xena added.
"Most have seen too many winters!" Gimli told them as he gazed at the people around him.
"Or too few. Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." Legolas spoke, while his gaze rest against Aragorn. There was a sudden silence filling the room. "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.] The ranger explained.
"Aragorn, men I ndagor. Hýn ú ortheri. Natha daged aen!"[They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!] Legolas cried out with an angry voice.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn responded irritated by the Elf's words. He and Legolas stared at each other, and Aragorn walked away.
Legolas tried to catch up with him, though Gimli stopped him "Let him go, lad. Let him be."
"Are you done? Or do you want to irritate more people today?" Xena stated while abruptly blocking his path. She realised that losing the ranger left the elf in a state of sorrow.
"What are you doing?" he said as he took a step back and fixed his grey eyes on hers.
"Observing a mad elf? While everyone prepares for combat, he initiates fresh conflicts," Xena scoffed.
When he questioned her, "Are you going to fight?" Legolas disregarded her taunts and waited to seek her eyes for a response. " You must seek refuge in the caverns. This is combat! It is perilous!"
"Elf! Make sure you apologise to Aragorn. You are being very harsh right now!" Xena responded and then departed. She did not bother to respond to his question about whether she would be participating in this conflict since it was obvious she would.
"Morier!" [Dark One!] Legolas beckoned to her as he threw her a menacing glance, dissatisfied with her response.
Only two favourable events occurred prior to the war. The first was that the elf realised his error and ultimately apologised to Aragorn. The second and most significant factor was Elrond's decision to honour the once-existent partnership between elves and humans. Haldir of Lothlórien was commanding the elf forces. While the ranger, elf, and dwarf arranged the standing positions for the elves and themselves, Xena was left alone with an Elleth who had accompanied Haldir.
Xena was escorting Aeariel towards the Glittering Caverns while muttering under her breath, "You will be safer in the caves." She ended up loathing her as a result of a recent incident. And she had the arrogance to carry on a conversation as if nothing had happened. Such audacious assurance was even too much for Xena.
Aeariel commented while following the human and wondering what she should do, "It does make me look quite fearful if I hide in the caves!"
"Are you a fighter?" Xena questioned her as she abruptly stopped and faced her. After Aeariel responded that she was unable to handle a weapon, she added, "Then why did you join the troops into battle?"
Aeariel said without shame, "Because of Prince Legolas. Only once were you able to get him away from me?"
Self-discipline was a limited resource that took years to perfect. Thankfully, the human was able to control herself, and she did not strike the woman. "I protected him from being raped," Xena answered blankly.
"Raped?" Aerial repeated in disbelief "These are brazen allegations that you dare to make. No one needs to be raped by me!"
"You had him drunk in your bedroom; who knows what you would have done to him!" Xena scoffed, placing her right hand on her hip and her left hand pushed Aeariel back to face her.
"It would be worthy," smiled Aeariel. "The prince acted on his own will. But have no worry, I shall get another chance."
Xena prodded her against the shoulder and demanded an answer "You will enter the caverns while attempting to maintain safety. And if you win this fight, you will return to your golden forest and cease taking my belongings. Because I will not hold back the next time and break your wrists."
The elleth was perplexed by the human's statements, and it took her a while to respond "You have before accused me of being a thief, me a High Elf," she rose up, displaying her animosity, "Me? How could I attack the Prince when he was never yours, to begin with?"
Xena had enough and forced her way into the caves as the soldiers prepared to seal the entrance. "Try me," growled Xena. "And never touch my property."
"Why is this not surprising? When did I become your property? "She heard the elf's question as he emerged behind her as they walked outside and scaled the walls.
"Since you risk getting raped and losing your virginity, elf," she snorted in an impolite tone. Xena was already enraged when she saw Aeariel; for some reason, that elf woman managed to irritate her.
Legolas raised an eyebrow in bewilderment as he listened to her. He ended up chuckling at her rudeness "Rape me? I am now certain that you are aware of elves and their actions. Especially, Aeariel. She is more playful than the average Elleth and often bored. I am aware that both of your interactions with her were deceptive, but she would never cross the line."
"Then you were never in actual danger?" Xena was overwhelmed as she ended herself fretting needlessly over the dumb elf.
"There you are mistaken, I was intoxicated and may have ended up..." Legolas stopped and smiled at her before saying, "Your assistance was required."
Xena raised her hands in the air because she did not feel she was taking the matter seriously. Legolas followed her as she went to get the bow and arrows he had given her, and he appeared next to Gimli in the wall, continuing to follow her. No further comment was made. The army of Saruman advanced slowly, yelling and thundering. Everyone assumed their respective stations. The forces of Saruman were upon them, and the Hornburg Battle was about to commence.
((Upcoming Chapter Fifty-Six))
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