Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).

Chapter 26: It has begun

Haldir raised his chin defiantly as he observed the carved patterns in front of him. The intricate weavings briefly taking his mind off what he was about to face. His stomach back flipped at thoughts of what could happen to him any minute now. Scolding himself for being so silly he raised a hand to the intricately patterned door in front of him. His hand hovered for a while a few inches away from the carved wood.

'This is silly,' he said to himself. 'The worst they can do is take me off the guard. Why am I acting like a young elfling who has just been caught taking an apple?'

After ten minutes his hand started to ache, as he still hadn't knocked on the door.

"This is stupid. I'm never going to get anywhere like this!" He said out loud to himself.

"You have a fair point Haldir. If you do not move soon I will never be able to get into my talon, unless you wish to discuss things out here?"

Haldir spur round so fast that all grace left him as he nearly toppled over. His once porcelain cheeks turning an attractive pink.

Celeborn stepped lightly over a fallen log and stood in front of Haldir. A small smile played on his lips as his graceful voice filled the clearing. "If you would kindly move I believe that you have a meeting as such with my wife and I."

Haldir hastily moved to let the older elf through. Cursing silently to himself about acting like a fool.

As soon as he started following the golden haired elf his stomach knotted and started churning everything he had eaten within the last day or two. He breathed a sigh of relief when the steps ended; the constant movement was making his stomach turn even more.

"So Haldir you have finally decided to join me. I feared that you and Celeborn would be at the bottom of the Talon for an age." Galadriel said in her soft voice.

"So sorry, my lady." Haldir said suppressing a grimace and ducking his head in a bow.

"Do not worry. Now onto more pressing matters about your guard duties." Celeborn said.

Haldir only just managed to stop himself retching. He felt so ill. Yet he could not for the life of him understand why.

Galadriel picked up on his expression and smiled warmly. Reaching her hand out she touched his face with the back of her hand. "Do not fear we are not taking away your guard duties. Amy forbade it."

Haldir let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Relief flooded through him in waves. He was still on the guard and they weren't going to snap his bow.

"Though we are asking you to take leave of your duties for a time." Celeborn said standing next to his wife.

"Amy is in need of your help. Helm's Deep will need you and your guard. King Théoden has taken his people to Helm's Deep against Amy's wishes. There are not enough people to fight. She will need you Haldir." Galadriel said.

A vague memory floated across Haldir's mind 'When the time comes you will fight, you will fight for me and with me.' He looked up into the eyes of Galadriel.

"She knew this was going to happen. She knew I would have to fight for her."

"And will you fight for her? Under her command. Will you fight to protect her?" Celeborn said.

Raising his chin and placing his hand over his heart Haldir looked straight at the two elves before him.

"I will fight with her, I will fight for her, and most of all I will fight to protect her from herself. I will keep my feelings at bay. Under your leave I will gather what can be spared of my guard and march within the hour."

Galadriel looked at the elf before her. What anger she had originally felt subsided. He loved another enough to go to his death in order to fight for her. Her heart yearned at the thought of him not returning, yet she prayed in her heart that Amy could find it in herself to forgive him. She had a terrible feeling that if she did not forgive him; he was marching to his death.

"You have my leave. Take your guard. May you travel in the light of Arda." Galadriel said.

Haldir bowed then looked toward Celeborn.

"You will not falter. Fight for what's right. The hope for elves travels with you." Celeborn said.

Haldir dropped to his knee in front of the elves before raising and hurrying down the stairs to gather up his guard. His mind was set.

Twenty minutes later he stood at the south entrance of Lothlorien. Five hundred of his guard flanking him all clad in their guard uniform. Burnished steel amour clinked with movement against silver mail. Grey breaches, grey shirt, silver tunic and the secretive Lothlorien cloaks was matched by the light armour. Each elf had a longbow and quiver strung to their back, with a long sword at a hip. Many, like himself also wore a series of smaller hidden daggers for back up.

Looking back at the forest he smiled and bowed to Galadriel and Celeborn who came to see them off. Turning round he started walking south. Long steady strides taking him ever closer to the war that they would win. Smiling he started humming; with five hundred of the best elven fighters in Middle Earth behind him the Uruk's didn't stand a chance.

BREAK

Amy's eyes widened in shock, before she closed them again, Aragorn was kissing her. The fact that she did not see to mind, and was kissing him back was disturbing her. She could feel his slightly rough unshaven face against her skin, his warm lips encompassing hers, one of his large hands placed lightly on her stomach, her heart beating faster and faster. She was lost in the kiss, lost in the moment. Unashamedly she let herself be carried away.

Suddenly she felt like a brick had slammed into her stomach, realization dawned on her. Sitting bolt upright she pushed the man out the way biting his lip in the process.

She sat stock still staring wide-eyed in front of her. Gradually her breathing slowed down to its normal rate. Slowly and reluctantly she turned around to look at him, his eyes were wide in shock, his lip was bleeding slightly and he was shaking all over.

BREAK

Aragorn gasped in shock as he felt her sit bolt upright, her teeth biting his lip as she went. Groaning lightly at the realization of what he had just done, he carefully wiped the metallic tasting blood away from his lower lip.

They sat in silence, staring at one another, not with hate, loathing, or lust, but with their own disappointment and horror at one another. The silence was deadly, Amy could hear Aragorn's soft breathing; she could also here her own heart pounding in her chest.

'For the love of Arda, what have I just done?' Amy thought. Her head dropped and hung in shame. Not shame at Aragorn - for like Haldir, he had let his feelings take over - but herself, she had been the one to let him kiss her, she was the one who had kissed him back. Silently she cursed herself.

'Amy we must go. In order to get Aragorn back to the battle, we must leave now.' Chinky said.

Amy didn't respond the shame welling up inside her was beyond belief.

'Do not feel shame towards yourself, it was neither your fault nor his. Either you both get up and learn to live with it, or I'll physically make you stand up!' Chinky said raising a hoof.

Amy shook her head and stood up.

'No need.'

"Aragorn," Amy said standing next to him, "we must make haste; otherwise I'll not get you to the battle on time."

Aragorn looked up with pleading in his eyes. Begging her to forgive him, because if she couldn't forgive him, he couldn't forgive himself.

"Amy."

"I will speak no more of it, if you don't." Amy said with more than a hint of pleading in her voice.

Aragorn smiled and took the hand that Amy held out for him. "My mouth is sealed for ever more."

"I wish!" Amy said laughing lightly and putting out the fire.

BREAK

Legolas walked calmly out of the great hall, he had heard nothing of Amy in two days, he feared that she had been lost with Aragorn. He shook himself; this was no way for an elf to think! Aragorn and Amy would be back, yet he hoped that it would be before another night fell. Scouts had been sent out the evening past, only one of the six had returned. He was injured and talking gibberish, but between the strangled cries they had made out the words 'death,' 'Uruks' and 'no hope'. He died as soon as the last word left his mouth. Legolas sighed; the boy was now in peace.

The elf stopped and stared straight ahead of him; surely his eyes were deceiving him? A smile spilt his face as the stone-carved face of the ranger strolled through the streets of the Hornberg like nothing had happened.

"You're late!" Legolas said.

Aragorn smiled.

"You look terrible!" The elf said in a mocking voice.

Aragorn laughed and embraced the elf before him.

"It is good to see you again Legolas. I feared I may have missed all the excitement, but I was put out of my misery when Jolin said the battle hadn't begun." Aragorn said pulling away from the elf.

"I feared also you may not have made it. I also regret to say I had no faith in out Little Warrior when she said you were alive, I believe I may have lost hope. Yet hope is your name and hope is what you bring."

Aragorn grinned at the elf before gasping at the pendant in his hand. Legolas was holding Arwen's pendant, the one he thought he lost. His eyes glistened with tears at the memory of her touch and even more at the memory of himself kissing another girl. Slowly he took it and tied it back to his neck. He looked up at the elf, who appeared to be frowning. "Legolas my friend, what is it that wearies you?"

"There are less than four hundred fighters in the keep, against ten thousand Uruks. I do not think we will live through this one. Where is Amy? Without her I do not think we can win."

"Do not fear, Amy left me a mile or so back, she refused to come in, even to see you. I think she has a major part to play in this battle, she has something up those loose sleeves of hers!" Aragorn said clasping Legolas' arm.

"I hope you are right, come we must prepare, they will be on us by nightfall, all we can dream for is a miracle."

BREAK

Night had fallen along with the rain. Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli and the king walked down the stairs, ready to take their places.

"That is no orc horn!" Legolas cried. As the sound of a horn filled the sky.

With screams of 'open the gate' they ran down into the main courtyard. With the gate open five hundred tall blonde elves walked through the gate, and stopped in front of them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Théoden cried.

"Long ago, there was an alliance between men and elves; in a time of need the child of the dragon has called upon us to honour that allegiance." The blond elf at the front said.

Aragorn jumped down the remainder of the steps he was standing on. "Haldir! You do not know how much hope your face brings."

Haldir smiled and clasped the man on the back. Once they had separated he looked at the other elf present. Slowly he bent to one knee.

"Prince Legolas Thranduilen of Mirkwood I have been sent to fight at the side of the person both you and I love. I have overcome my longing for her, as I realize now she will never be mine as her heart is devoted to you. I come to fight for her and you; I come to protect her from any harm that may betray her. Though most of all I come to protect her from herself. Will you let me guide her?" Haldir said with his eyes downcast.

Legolas looked at the elf on one knee and smiled gently. "Lord Haldir of the Golden Wood, she was never mine to label, you may be her guide, I will trust you like a brother, but the day you betray that trust is the day you find your self hanging from a rope about your neck. Do you understand?"

Haldir stood and smiled. "I will honour your friendship again; I hope tonight we can battle as one again."

Legolas grinned and leaped down the last two steps and embraced Haldir like the friend he had once been.

BREAK

Legolas, Haldir, Gimli and Aragorn stood in the rain staring grimly at the advancing Uruks.

The first arrow fired killed the first Uruk.

"It has begun." Haldir said to himself.