Hi guys,
Here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it!
I do not own Lord of the Rings or it's character or places.
Enjoy!
The following morning Mÿne woke up with a sharp pain in her head. Well, she assumed that's what she'd get for drinking four large mugs of ale by herself. She grunted as she opened her eyes. Eowyn was still sleeping, laying crawled up, hugging a pillow. Her long hair flowed over the sheets and her breath was steady. Mÿne silently slipped out of the sheets and looked at the window. The sun was just shining and beneath the window Mÿne could hear the people of Rohan mutter to each other. Mÿne grabbed a cloth on the desk next to her and walked to the bowl of water in the corner of the room. She splashed the cold water over her face and smiled at the mirror. Her smile fell immediately. She looked horrible. Her skin had a colour of something between grey and white and her hair was messed. Mÿne grabbed her uppershirt and her cloak and opened the door silently. She closed it behind her and went downstairs. She pulled up her hood to cover her hair and watched as guards were eating their breakfast. Mÿne broke off a piece of bread and grabbed some goat cheese and looked at the tables to see a familiar face. She walked over to it and sat down next to Gimli.
"The King is holding a meeting again." he said as he shoved down a big hump of bread. "All those meetings..."
Mÿne swallowed as she looked at her bread and cheese. She wasn't that hungry actually. The ale from the day before was stirring in her stomach.
"You don't look so well lassie." Gimli said as he eyed her. "How long have you stayed by that fire, drinking ales like one of my own kin?"
"Long enough." said Mÿne, whose voice sounded hoarse. She decided she needed to eat something at least. So with reluctance she nibbled on her bread.
"When will the meeting begin?" she asked Gimli as she saw a familiar blonde coming down one of the hallways.
"Around noon." Gimli said as he sighed. "How long are you going to evade him, lassie? He's your friend."
"That's none of your business I'm afraid." Mÿne said as she stood up. She quickly walked outside before Legolas could spot her. A breeze greeted her and she quickly ran into the streets of Helm's Deep.
"Great, first evading, now running from him?" she muttered. Her feet led her to the stables where she embraced Hasufel and gave her some more hay. She petted her softly and smiled. She heard steps behind her, but it didn't disturb her. Stable boys were around to tend the horses, so they were normal around here. Though, these steps were lighter and they'd stopped.
"Mÿne."
She looked up and stared into the blue piercing eyes of Legolas. Nowhere to run, no chance to evade.
"What do you want?" she asked as she turned her sight back to Hasufel.
"I want to speak with you. You keep running from me." he said and he took some steps towards her .
"I do not want to speak. I'm afraid I might say things I will regret." Mÿne muttered as she kept petting Hasufel.
"What happened to Aragorn was unfortunate. I understand the grief you feel. For I do too. Aragorn was my best friend." Legolas said as he put his hand on her shoulder. Mÿne was forced to look at his face. Into his blue eyes sadness was shown.
"Let us not fight because he is no more. Aragorn wouldn't mean for that to happen. We should support each other instead."
Mÿne nodded at that, "I'm sorry. You are right. I could use a good friend in the upcoming battle." she said and she stuck out her hand.
"You will." Legolas said as he took her hand and gave her a quick embrace. He relased her and Mÿne looked at his face again. He gave a quick smile and walked away. She shook her head and petted Hasufel who licked her nose.
"Ew, Hasufel!" she said as she wiped her nose with her hand. She realized she felt hot. Quickly she gazed into the cistern of her horse and saw her face was all red. She felt her forehead and breathed slowly in and out. She wasn't going to be sick was she?
On midday she decided to help out the people move to the caves, who were sent there by the King. It was a safety measure, but Mÿne could see that once they were inside, they could not get out but for the entrance. If the enemy were to succeed to take over Helm's Deep, the people would be trapped in here. She picked up a basket with bread from an old lady and helped followed her down the path to the caves.
"Really nice to help me, young lady." the old woman said as she made her way trough the people in front of her. "The guards won't help us with this nowadays, that I can tell you. It feels great that there are still young soldiers who respect the elderly of the people."
"I'm no soldier." Mÿne replied softly as she stepped down the slippery stairs of the caves. They were beautiful and shimmered softly in the light of the torches that hung on the walls. Mÿne followed the carved pathway to a place beside the wall.
"This place would do, young lady. Thank you for your help." the old woman said as she smiled.
"It was my pleasure." Mÿne said as she placed the basket on the floor. She turned around and watched as more people entered the caves. The place was so big, it could fit all of them and they would still have space to move. Mÿne walked up the stairs again and started to help out a man who had trouble carrying several baskets and pots. She took them over as he led the way to his place in the caves. He thanked her and Mÿne left. She started to help at the Wall, where she organized the people to go in lines, so it would be easier to move around.
Suddenly she heard some noise in the square behind her. She quickly walked down the path to see what was wrong when children passed her, excited.
"What's going on?" she shouted at them. They skidded to a stop and looked at her in a funny way.
"Didn't you see? Didn't you hear? He has returned from the dead some say! Come!" and they took off again. Mÿne frowned and made haste. She heard cheers coming from the square and excited shouts. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her, passing several people whispering to each other. She ran past a corner and stopped. Her eyes became huge and her breath started to speed up. Her feet were glued to the ground and she thought she would never move again. It could not be... He was supposed to be dead! But still...In front of her, standing next to a strange horse was Aragorn! Alive! Her heart tightened as she shouted his name, sounding more fragile than she meant.
He looked up at her voice, trying to find her in the crowd. Her feet started to move by itself, first slowly, then faster. She threw herself at him and locked her arms behind his back. She dug her face inside his coat and tightened her grip.
"I cannot believe it. I thought you were gone!" she said loudly. He caressed her head and she could hear him chuckle lightly.
"Nobody kills a ranger that easily. Haven't I thought you that?" he said.
Mÿne released him and smiled while she wiped the tears from her face. Then she noticed his wounds. "You need to be tend to." she said, sounding serious again.
"Later. Mÿne, where is the King?" he asked as he looked into his eyes. It was urgent, she could tell. When they tried to break through the crowd someone clasped at Aragorn's middle again.
"You are the luckiest, the cunningest, and most reckless man I ever knew!"Gimli said as he embraced Aragorn. "Bless you laddie!"
Aragorn could only smile at that.
They made for the stairs that led up to the Hall of the King. On top of the stairs Legolas awaited them.
"Lo abdollen." he said. You're late. And his piercing blue eyes gazed at Aragorn.
"You look terrible." he added.
Aragorn laughed and placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"I trust you have looked after each other well?" he asked.
Mÿne felt ashamed and averted her eyes to the ground. She shoved her feet and took a glance at Legolas who was looking at her.
"Everything is fine." he answered to Aragorn. Mÿne smiled softly at him and remembered something suddenly. She grabbed something from her pockets and held it out to Aragorn.
"I kept it safe for you." she said as Aragorn took the Eveningstar from her hands.
"Thank you, Mÿne. I was afraid I had lost it." Aragorn said and he moved passed them to open the doors.
"You knew?" Mÿne mouthed to Legolas as she watched Aragorn.
"Somethings not even the Elves can know or see." Legolas said, "But I had faith in him." and he smiled at her. Mÿne smiled back and entered the Hall after Aragorn.
"A great host you say?" the King said as he paced around. He frowned and looked at the fireplace that roared in the middle of the Hall. Mÿne was tending to Aragorn's wounds as Aragorn told them he had seen the Uruk-Hai army of Saruman.
"All Isengard is emptied." Aragorn said, shaking his head.
"With how many?" the King asked as he looked at Aragorn, frightened for the answer.
"Ten thousand strong at least." Aragorn sighed and he winced when Mÿne fastened the bandage around his arm.
"Sorry." she whispered but it was drowned by the reaction of the King.
"Ten thousand?!" he said, and his eyes became huge.
"It's an army bred for only one purpose." Aragorn said as he stood up. "To destroy the world of Men."
Mÿne swallowed. There were so few of them. How would they be able to withstand ten thousand Uruk-Hai with a killer instinct none had experienced before? And if it wasn't worse...
"They will be here by nightfall." Aragorn said as he looked at them all.
The King fell silent for a while. His expression turned from frightened to determined.
"Let them come." he said. "We will face them here. Even if it's the last thing we do."
"What about the women and children milord? Are they save in the caves?" Mÿne asked as she thought about it.
"It's the only way for them to be safe. They will get in the way when they panic and roam around within these Walls. No, they will be safe there." the King said, looking sternly at her. Mÿne thought otherwise, but this was the King and she would not go against him.
"Nightfall will be soon. We have to make haste." the King said as he ordered his guards.
"Aragorn, walk with me. I need your opinion on the defences." and so the King, Aragorn, Mÿne, Legolas and Gimli took one more trip along the Walls of Helms Deep.
The stronghold was emptying, more and more people were evacuating to the caves, making room for soldiers and guards.
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready at nightfall." the King ordered to his men, sending them away. They walked across the square, to the open gate. They gazed upon the plains before them for a moment when the King spoke again.
"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deepening Wall or set foot in the Hornburg."
Gimli snorted at that. "This is no bunch of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-Hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad." he said as he gazed at King Théoden over his axe.
"I have fought many wars, master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." King Théoden spat at him. They resumed following him when they walked on top of the walls.
"They will break upon this fortress like water on rocks. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we'll outlast them." the King said as he pointed at the walls and appointed guards.
Behind her, Mÿne could hear Aragorn sigh.
"They do not come to Rohan's crops of villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!" he said as he walked passed Mÿne to catch up with the King. He turned on Aragorn and grabbed his collar.
"What will you have me do then?" he spat as he looked at Aragorn. "Look at my men." he said in a low voice, "Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, I want it so that it is worthy to be remembered." he said as he released Aragorn. Mÿne took a glance at the guards, who hung on their spears and whispered to each other. The look on their faces said everything. Fear.
"Send out riders, milord." Aragorn said bravely. "You must call for aid."
Mÿne sighed as the King raged again.
"Who'd come? Elves?" he said as he nodded at Legolas. "Dwarves?" and by the thought of it, the King seemed to snicker. "No, my lord Aragorn. We are not as lucky with our friends as you are. The old alliances are dead." he concluded. He turned away, pained by the truth he spoke out.
Mÿne held her breath when Aragorn answered.
"Gondor will answer." he said determined. The King turned around again and bored his eyes into Aragorns.
"Gondor?!" he said, grinding his teeth in grudge. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon-" the king stopped his rage. "No, my lord Aragorn. We're on our own." he said and he turned around and walked away as fast as he could.
"The King is too proud to ask for help." Mÿne said as she looked at her friends. "We must try our hardest to make him see that not everyone has turned their back on him."
"We will." Aragorn said as he turned to them. "Mÿne, gather your belongings, I want you to join the people in the caves."
Mÿne felt as if all the air she had was pushed out of her lungs.
"What?!" she managed to choke out. "Aragorn, no!"
"I will not have you in battle. You're too inexperienced and..."
"Too young? Is that what you mean?" Mÿne said, angered. "Aragorn-"
"Mÿne. Please. It's too dangerous. I don't want to risk it."
"But I do!" Mÿne said loud enough to overrule his voice. "You did not train me to sit and wait for my death in a cave! You trained me to fight! You trained me to survive!" she said, heated. "Besides, the King himself already gave me permission to fight." and she crossed her arms and pulled up her brows, waiting for Aragorns storm of arguments. But there weren't any.
"Fine." he said. "I cannot compete with the King's decision." but Mÿne could tell he wasn't happy about it. She didn't care. She made a promise to herself. And to Eowyn. She would protect their people!
They had a quick lunch in the Hall. Mÿne stuffed some bread down her throat, not noticed how hungry she'd actually had been.
"You've lost weight." Aragorn said, observing her.
"Could've been." Mÿne said while she drank some milk.
"I've heard from Gimli you've drowned yourself with ale last night." Aragorn said, his look was stern at first. Then he started to laugh a bit. "Didn't I tell you that little girls shouldn't drink that much?" and he messed with her hair.
"I'm not a little girl any more, Aragorn." Mÿne said grunting while she smacked away his hand. "I'm going to fight in this war, weather you like it or not. I made a promise." she said. She pulled a plate of meat towards her and started to eat from it. Next to her she could hear Aragorn sigh.
"I know." he said. "Sometime I wish you'd still be little." he said. "Look at you. Making promises, keeping honour. You even asked the King for permission to fight. Maybe I have been unfair to you." he said. "Maybe it's time for you to proof yourself."
Mÿne stopped eating and stared at her plate. Aragorn's words sunk in and she nodded. "Just so." she said and she looked at Aragorn who nibbled from his bread. "Tonight, we will not be fighting as master and pupil. We will fight as fellow Rangers." Aragorn said as he smiled. He looked at her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm proud." To Mÿne, those words were enough to make her chest rise and blush a bit.
"I won't fail you." she said and she shoved away her plate. At that moment Eowyn made her way over to their table. She stopped and looked at Aragorn for a second, blushing a bit.
"I see you have returned." she said and she held her high up again. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me." Aragorn said. "It was Brego, the horse of your kin that had saved me, to be honest." and he smiled at her.
"Mÿne, can you come with me? You cannot fight a battle with you hair getting in your sight like that." Eowyn said laughing as she gestured to stairs that led to their room.
Mÿne sat on the floor while Eowyn sat on the bed, brushing her hair.
"It's really long." she said as she let the tips of Mÿne's golden hair flow through her fingers.
"I know. It's really too long actually." Mÿne said as she blew a long string of her own hair from her face.
"I will do it so you won't have any bother from it." Eowyn said. And she started to brush it again.
"Can I ask you something?" Eowyn said as she started to braid it. "If I'm rude you can say so."
"No, please. What is it?" Mÿne said as she looked at the stony wall in front of her.
"I was wondering what business you have with that Elf? Everytime I speak to you, you seem to glow." Eowyn said.
Mÿne felt her heart raise in an instant. Her face turned red and her hands were sweaty.
"Really?" she said and she winced when Eowyn twisted her hair around her head.
"Yes. You go along so well. And I caught him staring at you sometimes." Eowyn said softly.
"He does? Well... I don't know." Mÿne said. She felt trapped. "Every time I look at him I feel faint. My face gets all red and my palms sweaty... I think I get a fever when I talk to him." Mÿne said. "It wasn't like that before at all! I could just talk to him and sometimes he irritated me a lot. But when we didn't talk for a while, when we were here, I started to miss him a bit. And now, I feel so...strange when I see him. I'm not sick am I, Eowyn?" she asked, suddenly frightened. Eowyn started to chuckle.
"Oh my... No, you're not sick. As from what I hear from you, you're in love!"
Mÿne felt like she was smacked across the chest and her breath was knocked out. She tried to turn her head to Eowyn to see if she was serious, but Eowyn gave her a yank on her hair to make her sit still.
"I-In love? But... That cannot be! I don't even know how that feels! What should I do?!" Mÿne said, slightly panicking.
"Calm down. Being in love is something great. You should cherish it. It feels like...like hope!" Eowyn said. "Like your heart is ten times bigger when you're around im, but it shrinks when he's away. It sometimes can be so painful, and yet you can be so happy." Eowyn said.
"Have you...been in love?" Mÿne asked as she felt Eowyn fastening the braid on her head.
"Oh yes, I am. Even now. That man is special to me. He can give me hope, happiness and makes me feel safe. He can make me happy, but sad at the same time." Eowyn said as she released Mÿne's head. "Come, take a look." she said as she pointed to the mirror on the other side of the room. Mÿne got up and walked over. Somehow, Eowyn had managed to make a braid from her messy hair, and turned it around on the back of her head. It was tightened with a green ribbon.
"It looks pretty..." Mÿne said as she turned her head in different angles. "And it isn't a bother at all like this. Thank you." and she looked at Eowyn whose face was all red.
"So...who is the man that you love?" Mÿne asked as she picked up her sheathed sword.
"By now, you should already know..." Eowyn said vaguely and she ushered Mÿne out of the room. "You should get proper armour." Eowyn muttered abruptly before closing the door. Mÿne stared at the door for a couple of seconds before descending the stairs. Love, it was... the thought of it crept Mÿne out. Happy, but sad at the same time... Well, it was true she guessed. She hadn't been exactly sad, but she had been mad at him. For a reason she could not name. Mÿne sighed as she walked into the Hall. But Love? She didn't even know what it was...she didn't even know what to do! For now she had to focus on the upcoming battle. Feelings would come after it...Or maybe not, if she didn't survive.
She decided to help Aragorn with the last defences. They were walking outside pointing at supposed weak spots of the keep and the walls.
"I want reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate." he said as he talked to her.
"Aragorn, you must rest!" Legolas said as he tried to keep up, moving to the crowd of the last people being evacuated to the caves. "You're no use to us half-alive." but Aragorn ignored him.
They looked up when his name was shouted by Eowyn who came running to them.
"Eowyn!" Mÿne said, as she saw Eowyn's pale face. "Is something wrong?"
"No... But I'm to be send with the women and children inside the caves." she said and her face turned sad. She looked up at Aragorn, awaiting a response. Aragorn, who clearly had no idea what to say, looked at her.
"That...is an honourable task." he managed to say.
"To mind the children, find food and bedding when the men return? What renown is there in that?" Eowyn said, feeling offended.
"My lady." Aragorn said, sighing. "A time may come for valor without renown. Who then will your people look to in the last defence?"
But Eowyn would have none of it.
"Let me stand at your side." she said, boring her blue eyes into Aragorns. Mÿne looked at them with fear. For all she knew Eowyn had no skill in battle. Being with them was too dangerous.
"It is not in my power to command it." Aragorn said as he turned away.
Mÿne saw Eowyn stare at his back before she shouted.
"Mÿn can stay too! And you do not command her and the others to stay! They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you!"
Mÿne swallowed as she saw the agony in Eowyn's eyes. "Because they love you..." she added. Aragorn looked at her before she fled away into the caves.
"Oh dear..." Mÿne said as she watched her go. But in her head the pieces started to fit. Eowyn had been in love with Aragorn! She remembered what Eowyn had said about him when they thought he was dead. He brought her hope, happiness and safety. Mÿne assumed that Eowyn was scared it would be taken all away again if she did not stay with him. Mÿne felt sorry for her. She knew it was unfair. But Mÿne was able to defend herself in battle. Eowyn wasn't. Mÿne made a mental note to talk to her if they'd survived.
"Come. We must go to the armoury. You cannot fight a war in ranger get-up." Aragorn said as he led Mÿne away from the crowd.
But it was crowded in the armoury too. Not by wailing women or crying babies, but by old men and boys who look they'd just turned 14 years old. Or young, as you might say. They watched the people that were supposed to be the army of Rohan. From the corner of her eyes Mÿne could see Legolas getting more and more irritated. She turned to the stand to where the ring mails were given out. The guard behind it took a look at her and gave her one that seemed a bit too big for her.
"I'm sorry lassie, but you'll have to do with that." the guard said to her. She took the ring mail and walked over to Aragorn who was looking at the weapons. Pitchforks, spears, bows, small swords, stones, rods. Not all of them real weapons and there were not even enough. Aragorn picked up a small dull blade and placed it back. He watched the crowd once more.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys..." he sighed as he turned his eyes on a boy, not even 12 Mÿne guessed. "These are no soldiers..."
"Most have seen too many winters!"Gimli said gruffly as he leaned on his axe. Beneath his thick eyebrows his eyes peered at the old men at the corner of the room.
"Or too few." Legolas sneered. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes."
Mÿne sighed and looked at him. "Most of them haven't seen war. It's no surprise Legolas." she said, trying to calm him down. "It's no wonder they're afraid." It only seemed to upset Legolas more. He continued in Elvish, noticing that the people were watching them.
"They should be!" he said, pacing the room, "Three hundred...against ten thousand!"
"Legolas..." Mÿne said, wincing as the people in the room grew ore frightened.
"They have a better chance fighting here then in Edoras..." Aragorn said, pointing out a logic point.
"Aragorn, they cannot win this fight! They will all die!" Legolas said spatting.
"And I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn shouted angry, finally having enough. He turned around after looking Legolas in the eye and walked away. Legolas started to follow him but Gimli and Mÿne stopped him.
"What good had come from that?" she said as she looked at him. And before Legolas answered her she cut him off. "I made a promise." she said, looking at the old and young men in the room. "That I would protect this people. My people. Even if that means it will be the death of me! I asked for a good friend in battle. At this rate, you're no use to me. One that does not believe in ones peoples' strength cannot be victorious." Mÿne said as she too walked away. She found it unbelievable. How could he despair so much? He had seen battles too, hadn't he? Then why was he being so fearful?
Mÿne paced to the room beneath the armoury. She found Aragorn there, dressing up for battle. She placed her ring mail on the table and looked at it.
"It will be my first time in ring mail." she said as she stroke the hard metal. Aragorn looked at her.
"Shall I help you?" he asked as he picked it up. "It's a good ring mail. It has some damage, but it doesn't have holes like mine." he said as he showed a gap in the ring mail part on his shoulder.
"I'll be fine." Mÿne said laughing and she removed her leather uppershirt. Aragorn nodded and turned away, giving her space and time to dress. With bandage from her pockets she bound her chest. She didn't want her breasts to become a nuisance while in battle. She tightened it so that she could breath easily, but her chest did not wiggle. Above that she pulled on a shirt with half long sleeves. The ring mail was next. She was afraid to get stuck in it with her hair, but it went smoothly, but its weight was enormous. She felt dragged to the ground, but after a while of adjusting she found it was not that troublesome. She pulled her sleeveless leather uppershirt on on top of that and together with Aragorn she placed iron plates from an old armour on her arms, to protect her. They did the same with her legs. Aragorn stepped back and looked at her.
"You look like a soldier now. Even the ring mail fits..." he said as he grinned.
"Well, I didn't think it would be this heavy. But I'll have to get use to it." she said. She bound the leather straps of her sword on her middle and grabbed her bow and her filled pouch with arrows. Aragorn was done dressing up as well. He grabbed for his sword but someone had beaten him to it. It was Legolas and in his eyes was a sorrowful look.
"So far we have followed you. And you have not let us astray. Forgive me, I was wrong to despair." he said as he looked at Aragorn.
"There is nothing to forgive Legolas." Aragorn said smiling. He took the sword and Legolas turned to Mÿne. "I must apologize to you too. You are right, and it will be my honour to fight alongside you."
Mÿne felt a redness creep up to her cheeks. "Oh well... A-As long as you're not in my way!" she managed to choke out. Ashamed of her answer she stormed out of the room and ran up the stairs.
Stupid, she thought. What a stupid answer. As long as you don't get in my way? She feared she would be getting more in his way! The ring mail jingled around her as she walked. It was not comfortable, but it was an armour...or a make-shift armour. She crossed her path with a boy with long hair, who stood by the fire. His face was sad and he looked at his sword. Mÿne warmed her hands by the fire and the boy noticed her.
"I don't even know how to wield a sword..." he said as he held it in front of him. Mÿne watched as he did a few swings and shook her head.
"The sword is part of your arm. Use it like that." she advised. Se unsheathed her own sword and gestured for him to watch her. She swung it around and did a few strikes with it.
"Hold it in front of your face for defence. The face is the weakest part of your body, that is covered with armour." she said. "Block me." and she stroke with her sword. In a reflection she could see herself in the boy when she was taught the skill of the sword. He quickly held up his sword and they made contact. It was a weak defence, but it was something.
"Good. Try to remember that." she said as she sheathed her sword again. "What is your name?" she asked the boy, probably still surprised that he managed to block the attack.
"Haleth... Son of Háma of the Kingsguard, my lady." he said. "They say we won't live out the night..." and his expression turned sad again.
"Haleth, if you don't believe in yourself, or your people...failure is unevitable. Keep up hope. And find strength in that." she said as she smiled. She walked away and heard Haleth swing his sword some more. Suddenly a horn was blown. It was no orc-horn, for they had a different tune. Mÿne jumped and ran to the wall to see who was coming. Beneath her she could see a line of people in cloaks. She turned away from the wall and followed Aragorn who made for the square. The people in cloaks sang softly and Mÿne noticed the banners they wore.
"Lothlórien..." she said amazed. She looked up to Aragorn who had a wicked smile on his face.
When the elves entered Helms Deep their voices rang against the walls, filling the place with mysterious words. They ran down the steps to see Haldir.
"We've come to honour our allegiance." he said as he looked at Aragorn and Legolas. Aragorn ran down the steps and embraced Haldir.
"Well met, Haldir. You're most welcome."
Legolas and Haldir grabbed each others arms in some sort of embrace and stared in each others eyes, the elves turned and rested their bows at the ground. Mÿne gazed at the small army the elves had sent them. It was a total surprise, but she was happy. These were skilled bow- and swordsmen. Their chance of victory had increased slightly.
A few moments later the King ordered everybody to take their places. Mÿne watched as everybody started to adjust their clothing, grabbing his weapons and marching to their place. She walked up with some of the elves, who were placed along side and on top of the Deepening Wall, or, the Outer wall as Mÿne called it.
"I see you have found your courage..." one of the elves spoke to her. Mÿne had to blink before she realized it was Haldir himself who walked beside her.
"Yes, Lady Galadriel has spoken some inspirational words to me." she said as she placed her hand on her neck, where her necklace was.
"Good for you, Gwethilcylleth." Haldir said, "Lady Galadriel will be pleased to hear that."
She nodded and took her place between Legolas and Gimli. She felt her heart beating in her throat. Silence fell around her, as everyone waited for the enemy.
"You don't have to be nervous lassie. It's like fighting at Moria or...Amon Hen...Only much bigger." Gimli said in a attempt to cheer her up.
"Great." she muttered. Just what she wanted, to be remembered at the death of Boromir right before battle.
"Then, how about we make a little game out of it?" Legolas suggested as he looked at them while he leaned on his bow. "The one with the most kills wins."
"An excellent idea, young elvish prince." Gimli said grinning. "I'm sorry to have you known that you will lose at that."
"Mind you, we have bows, so we can start earlier..." Mÿne said as she glanced at Gimli and his axe.
"Well, I'll catch up to you at some point. Trust me on that." he answered.
Mÿne crooked a small smile. Her heart was bouncing and her fists were clenched. She felt uneasy and nervous. All too soon she heard pounding in the distant. Like a march. On the horizon appeared dark silhouettes, carrying spears or banners. They marched in an even and organised pace. Vicious cries joined the pounding and sounds of iron and metal. Mÿne swallowed as in the distant thunder sounded. A flash lightened the soon-to-be battlefield and she caught a glimpse of the enemy. It was indeed a large host. Bit by bit Mÿne's courage fell apart. It was too late now, she thought, you made a promise, now you will have to keep it. And as the enemy drew near she cursed herself for not thinking her strategy through. But it was too late now. They were coming.
It wasn't easy to write this one. The end was fun to write, but the chapter started really slow. I hope you liked it, so please let me know. I will update the following chapter soon, so you don't have to wait that long.
Stay tuned and see you later!
- Hopjesvla
