Our Elven host glided up the causeway and entered into the great keep where the amazed and wonderstruck people of Rohan stared in limitless awe, seeing our long silver bows and the shining helms of armour. Boromir was at my side as the two of us dismounted and allowed our horses to be held by starry eyed stable boys, my movements coiled with unbound grace with my cloak rustling, drawing back as I moved to where Haldir greeted the king, Theoden. "How is this possible?"
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell." Haldir spoke as he bowed respectfully, our archers continuing to march until all were entered through the gate and stood to attention without another movement, not so much as a rise or fall of their chests from drawing breath. "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together." Our attentions lifted upon the arrival of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, who beheld the host of Elves and their hearts gladdened with hope as Boromir and I continued to move unseen forwards. "We come to honour that allegiance." With beaming smile, Aragorn greeted Haldir warmly.
"Mae govannen." They both bowed, but then Aragorn clasped his arms around Haldir to embrace him like a brother. "You are most welcome."
"Indeed, we will not allow you to face this peril alone." I finally spoke and when Legolas saw me standing there, clad in silver armour with a hand rested upon my sword, his eyes lit with a bluish fire of both relief and despair to see me in a place such as this. "Westu hal, Théoden-King." The King of Rohan stared at me with mouth slightly agape as I rose to greet my loved ones, Boromir at my shoulder. He and Aragorn clasped arms in sombre silence, an unspoken bond solidifying between them as they both then clasped the other by their necks and brought each other closer. "Fear not the ending of this night."
Now dropping my knees and dipping my head to greet the king, he welcomed me and my kin openly as Haldir proclaimed that we were proud to stand and fight alongside Men once more and as I observed a certain ray of hopefulness began to rise within the previously void faces of those who looked on, a tremor of excitement rippling through the small army of Rohan men. "Eleniel." Legolas clasped my face within his hands as he perceived me in my armour, breastplate shining as the first droplets of rain began to fall. "You have returned hope to us."
"I return to those whom I love, to share in their fate no matter what it may be." I responded, stroking his face as we remained locked in one another's embrace, drawing several curious and bewildered glances from strangers, including the king himself. "Legolas, there is not any other place in this world I would rather be than by your side."
"And I would not wish for you to vacate it." Pressing a firm kiss to my lips, Legolas then took me by the hand as our archers lined themselves upon the outer wall, ready to meet the host of Uruk-Hai who were swiftly approaching. In that time, Legolas told me of the attack on the road of the warg riders and Aragorn's near death in the river Anduin, bringing to mind the vision of drowning I had experienced. "By the Valar, I should have known!" Gasping with terror, my hands jumped to clasp onto Aragorn's as he faced me, consoling me of my horror and assuring me that he was alright. "Never mind or not if you are alright. You were almost killed!" Now filled with a rage unlike any other, I vowed to seek my vengeance upon the enemy who were conveniently marching towards me at this very moment.
"Don't hold your breath lassie, we may yet taste death at the hand of iron." Gimli muttered sarcastically, alleviating a little of my anger through amusement. "Then it'll make no difference as to how the lad might have died."
"Gimli, you are not losing courage I hope?"
"Me? Losing courage? A dwarf does not lose courage lass, we are by far the bravest and stoutest of hearts ever to walk above or below ground!" He declared passionately, earning a rich chuckle as I stood with my bow in hand, moving behind him and Legolas in order to take command of my own unit. As the rain continued to lash down like shards of shattered glass against us, my hands slid around Legolas's chest and I leaned into his back, whispering into his ear sweet nothings before leaving a smile to linger behind me.
"If this is to be our end, then there is no greater honour than to fight by your side, brother." Boromir said to Aragorn as he approached, shield ready in hand with his sword resting with the tip upon the ground. "I will follow you, my king, into whatever hell they unleash upon us."
"And I shall stand by your side until the end." Aragorn answered in kind, hand resting upon his shoulder. "We are glad that you are returned." Nodding his head gratefully, Aragorn and I shared one final look of silent understanding between us before I moved away. With Aragorn commanding the centre unit, I took the left flank whilst Haldir oversaw the right, the three of us leading the archers in preparation to rain hellfire down upon the frontlines of the Uruk-Hai. I could hear them in the distance, guttural snarls amidst the murmur of rain.
"A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas." Listening to Aragorn's voice from the centre, my head lifted with unmerciful gaze as the rain continued to weep from the heavens, as if knowing what blood would be spilled upon this night.
"Aim for their chiefs and commanders. Without leadership, these foul demons will scatter." I advised my people, bow in hand ready to take aim. The army came ever closer, thundering like an amassed storm ready to break upon these walls which were Rohan's last line of defence for its people. Their snarls and growls pierced the night whilst their striking of weapons against the ground caused it to tremble. Braying for blood, the Uruk-Hai continued their display of aggression in order to unsettle us, but we Elves remained unaffected, though I could not say the same for the hearts of Men. The Rohirric archers all took aim, ready to release their arrows upon our enemy but one arrow shot too soon and, quite by chance, struck one of the Uruk-Hai in the neck just above the armour plating.
The sudden blow caused all Uruk-Hai to stop and stare, watching as their fellow fell to the ground utterly slain before unleashing their fury in a cacophonous sound too terrible to describe. "Tangado a chadad!" Following Aragorn's order I drew an arrow from my quiver and knocked it against the string of my bow which was woven from Galadriel's and Celeborn's own hair, instilling me with calmness and steadiness which I needed in this moment now more than ever. "Leithio i philinn!" Upon the order I released my first arrow and immediately reached for another, my arrow of starlight silver soon disappearing into the flurry of arrows which rained down upon the enemy.
After a volley from Theoden's archers we fired continuously, holding up the frontlines as the Uruk-Hai began to crash towards us like a tidal wave of disgusting vermin. Catching sight of movement which parted ways for the arrival of their own archers and crossbowmen, I lifted my voice upon the air. "Crossbows! Crossbows! Aim for the archers!" Immediately my unit began to focus their aim upon the archers, several of us shooting their arrows out of the air with flawless precision but even this was not enough to keep them at bay. The ladders soon rose and with them, the first wave of our enemies came face to face with us.
"Swords! Swords!" Putting away my bow I drew Gilestal, the sweeping blade edge sharpened ready to slice through Uruk-Hai armour and taste flesh, bone and blood. When the ladders crashed against the stone walls I met my first foe, bearing his yellowed teeth and painted with a white hand upon his face which was heavily armoured with a thick, iron helmet. The Uruk-Hai leaped at me, intending to throw me off my feet but I sidestepped and swept my blade upwards with a neat flick, finding the weakness in his armour at the neck before turning to the next Uruk-Hai who had already climbed over the wall.
"Destroy the ladders! Push them down! Push them down!" I ordered, bellowing over the sudden explosion of battle noise which pounded in my ears. "Shoot them as they climb!" It was all I could do to keep as many Uruk-Hai as possible from clearing the wall and releasing themselves upon my kin, their powerful blows shattering the fine artistry of our fighting style so I favoured nimbleness of movement in order to move past their defences and keep from being caught by a wild swing of a blade. The long hours dragged on with continuous fighting, my arms growing heavier and heavier the longer I fought alongside my kin. A number of us had already been slain, their bodies lying lifelessly upon the ground as the massacre still escalated. Releasing a grunt of sound as I swung my sword with effort I stood up and allowed it to drop to my side, using the momentary relief to ease the strain upon my shoulders. Around me I could hear nothing but the clashing of metal, the snarls of Uruk-Hai and the dying screams of Men and Elves around me, painting my nightmares with a visual scar which imprinted itself upon my mind.
My hollow breath came in light gasps as I staggered, turning to see the devastation which had been inflicted upon my people as they lay underneath my feet, left to be trampled by the foul forces of Isengard. The weightlessness of exhaustion began to creep upon my mind, drawing it away from all around me and my eyes grew paler than the winter frost, staring sightlessly into a void as my mind became filled with images of a future I did not want to see. A familiar scene unfurled before me, the sensation of being struck from behind by an arrow which would render itself through my chest, leaving me to cry out into the darkness whilst standing utterly alone. The vision then shifted, showing me the more immediate future of the battle where fire conquered stone, and someone that I loved was cut down before my very eyes. The sudden pain of seeing a loved one's death almost wrenched my heart in two for the feeling of grief, crying out in a mournful howl as the vision faded.
Around me a circle had gathered of the finest archers and warriors of my kin, holding back the Uruk-Hai who appeared to be making me their target as I had ceased fighting. Sucking in a deep breath I fearfully scanned my surroundings, fighting my way out into the open and looked over the wall to see the figure of doom racing towards us with a bright flaming torch in hand. Legolas released several arrows into the creature's chest but it continued to run, throwing itself into its task. "Clear the wall! Hurry! Evacuate this section!" Screaming with all the strength I possessed my kin rallied to obey my order, pushing back to clear the wall as quickly as possible whilst I followed just as the Uruk-Hai lunged for the sluice underneath our feet.
Immediately the wall exploded with a force unlike anything ever seen before, the infernal device of Saruman having broken apart a wall which had held firm against all other foes. I was thrown off my feet being one of the last to leave, pulling along with me one of my injured brethren as not to leave him to a miserable fate. I fell to the ground with a crash and debris struck all around me, stones and rocks of all sizes splitting apart upon connecting with the wall as the sheer multitude of force knocked all sense and breath from my body. Thankfully most of us had been saved, though the archer I had pulled away was now being crushed by my own body as I had landed upon him. "Forgive me…" Still unable to comprehend my surroundings and struggling to focus on anything other than the incessant ringing in my ears, several hands grasped hold of us both and pulled us to safety. I staggered to my feet, seeing a flash of movement and swiftly pulled my helper out of the way of a blade before delivering my sword into the Uruk's chest with a yell.
"My lady, you should retreat and take rest. There is blood upon your brow." Indicating injury, I waved it off as I finally began to return to my senses, dragging the air into my body and quickly looked about me.
"Slay the enemy! Leave none alive!" Lifting my sword up high I bellowed at the sky, rallying my unit and sliced my sword downwards, ordering the archers to take position upon the precipice of the broken wall and shoot down into the fray of Uruk-Hai below. "Recover the wounded, bring them to safety. Aragorn!" Calling down to him as he struggled to rise. "Reform the line!" Pointing my sword to the Elves who stood behind Aragorn, they quickly jumped to obey my order as Gimli yelled Aragorn's name and leaped into the impending wave of Uruks who rushed through the opening in the wall, Boromir calling the dwarf's name and swiftly following.
"Gimli! Boromir!" Without hesitation I raced forwards to draw my bow, shooting with rapid fire as Gimli knocked down several of the Uruks but was then pushed underwater and trampled, Boromir being pressed backwards through the sheer overwhelming numbers no matter how valiantly he fought. As Aragorn ordered a counter attack, I commanded the remainder of my unit to join forces with those down below. The volley of arrows levelled the first onslaught before all charged with swords drawn, Aragorn at the head of the formation. My archers continued to shoot from above on both sides of the break in the wall, however my attention now turned elsewhere. "Haldir? Haldir!" I could not see him so I ordered for my kin to make way, waiting until they had stepped back before I took a running jump to cross the desecrated wall's opening.
Twisting in the air I managed to shoot no less than five arrows as my body arced over the pikes of the Uruk-Hai, arrowheads piercing the weakest points of their helmets and the backs of their necks before my body began to level itself and I stretched out my hand to where a friend grasped it. I was pulled quickly up onto the other side and brought into the folds of my people. It was then that I heard the order from King Théoden to pull back to the keep, quickening my heart and I began to push forwards with greater fervour and urgency. "Nan barad! Nan barad!" As Aragorn shouted I relayed the order, urgency my people to hurry to safety and as they began to flee back towards the keep, the path opened a little further and allowed me greater room to manoeuvre as I desperately fought to reach Haldir. An Uruk-Hai jumped at me but I swung my fist and punched it in the face with all the strength I possessed, whirling around with a flare of silver mantle to cut off its weapon bearing arm then sweep the leg from underneath it, piercing it through the shrivelled black heart before blocking another blade. "Haldir! Nan barad!"
"Haldir!" My voice was lost underneath a multitude of sounds so I continued to press forwards, killing several more Uruk-Hai in my path with a ferocious brutality that I usually did not employ, wanting them out of my way so that I could reach my dear friend before it was too late. "Haldir my dearest!" Haldir would not leave until the last of his company were retreating, securing their safety before his own. It was when two Uruk-Hai attacked him at once that my scream penetrated the air, hand already reaching for my bow as he killed the first swiftly but was too late to stop the second. The weapon slammed against his gut and tore through his armour into flesh, causing his body to arch into the sensation of pain and stumble with an outcry from the blow.
Torn with fear I released a howl which caused all Uruk-Hai around me to fall back, terrified by the mere sound I made as I fired my arrow and killed the Uruk as Haldir thrust his sword into its chest. My terrible wail reached his ears and he turned, searching for me among the confusion whilst grasping hold of his stomach, fearing the sound had come from personal agony of injury rather than a heart wrenching pain. The vision unfolded before my very eyes, struggling to push my way forwards as the last Uruk-Hai approached Haldir's unprotected back and raised the rudimentary weapon high to cleave through his back. "NO!" Refusing to allow Haldir's death to become a reality, I released another arrow just as I was shoved aside by the tackle of an Uruk, meaning that my arrow was shifted off target. It missed the Uruk's eye socket but instead struck through its hands, causing it to drop its weapon and bray with animalistic howling as it writhed. Haldir quickly finished the creature and called out my name, seeking a bright flash of my silver armour. I was trapped on the ground, Uruks towering above me as they snarled and cackled with delight at their pray.
Bearing my teeth threateningly I lashed out with my foot, kicking one in the stomach to double them over before swinging my sword in a circular motion. The peerless blade effortlessly cut through all of their legs which burst with blackened blood and stained the shining armour I wore, drenching me in the foul ichor and became trapped under their weight as some fell upon me. I kicked and struggled, grunting and gasping from the effort as I pulled an arrow from my quiver and stabbed one of the Uruk-Hai in the head to kill him before he could think to kill me first. "Eleni!"
"Haldir!"
"Eleni!" Still searching for one another, Haldir eventually caught sight of my hand twitching underneath a pile of orcs and staggered as quickly as he were able to my side. Thrusting the dead orc off me, Haldir disposed of the rest with efficient movements of his blade before grasping me by the arm. "Eleniel…you should have retreated to the keep!"
"I swore as a child that I would one day repay your kindness, and today I held true to my oath. I will not ever leave you behind Haldir, you are as close to me as a brother, undying in my heart." Fiercely defending myself I struck with my sword to dismember another Uruk that rushed us before pulling Haldir's arm across my shoulders in order to help him walk, his sword knocking against my arm as his free hand clutched his wound. "Cover us, my kin! Kill all in our path!" Hearing my call the Elven archers who had lingered to continue firing upon the enemy in a last effort to thin their ranks now turned to our direction. Soon a veil of arrows began to rain down around us, the white feathers whistling past our ears as I used my sword to fight off any who came too close. I slashed upwards, cleaving through the torso of on Uruk and stepped quickly in a turn, Haldir effortlessly following my movements as I blocked an axe then spun it out of the creature's grasp and kicked him off the wall, hearing the snap of his neck upon connecting with the rubble below. Together we were able to reach the keep where the doors were swiftly closed behind us, the last to enter.
Murmuring gentle words of reassurance I brought Haldir to the side of the hall in order to rest, calling for assistance to remove his armour and begin treating his wound as he coughed and spluttered. Already his face was ashen grey, all warmth fading away as I begged him not to leave me, holding his hand as the more adept healers began their treatment of his injury. "Please, do not leave me in this manner." Feeling tears rising to my eyes, Haldir frowned a little when he perceived them, for the tears of an Elf were a rare and often unseen commodity among us. He touched them, feeling their dampness against his skin as I continued to hold onto his other hand. "We were to sail to the Undying Lands together, to walk the wonders of eternity side by side and feel no pain or grief again." I said to him, bringing my brow to rest against his cheek as I continued to weep in fearful desperation. "What joy will such a place have if I cannot share such wonders with you? Dearest brother, you must hold on, do you not see? I am hopeless without you to watch over me. In my heart I am still that small child you first perceived entering the Golden Wood for the first time, marvelling at its wondrous beauty." Drawing in all the air I could in an effort to calm myself, I gave Haldir's hand a final squeeze. "You are my home, dear brother."
"Eleniel…I would not leave you for all the world…" Haldir murmured in promise, touching my cheek and face tenderly. "Fairest sister, you are the jewel of my life." His loving words created a reactive smile and laugh, touched to the warmest centre of my core. "You have saved me, mîr el, rest assured, I am not vanquished yet." Looking to the healers for confirmation, they both nodded their heads though one leaned into my ear to whisper, warning me that Haldir will need time to recover, which meant he could not join the battle any further.
"Thank you for saving him. I owe you a debt of gratitude." Bowing my head to them both I then had all the wounded brought together so that they may all be treated, holding onto Haldir for a little while longer even as I heard the ferocious sounds of war hammering at our gates. "I must go now, Haldir."
"You must take care, Eleniel. You cannot allow yourself to be killed by such filth, they do not deserve such precious blood as yours to wet their blades." Haldir warned me so I promised him with a kiss that I would return before letting go, taking with me all who were still strong enough to fight up to the battlements where Legolas had already situated himself, continuing to release his arrows down upon the Uruk-Hai below.
"Legolas!" Reaching his side I quickly began to order my kin to strategic positions, focusing on the causeway below where Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli were fighting. "They have no way to escape."
"We will have to pull them up. Wait here and I shall fetch rope." Nodding my head Legolas squeezed my shoulder and butted his head against mine quickly in a swift expression of love before racing away with fleeting steps as light as a springing deer. I continued to shoot, pulling back my shoulder as an arrow flew past my face to then return the gesture with an arrow to my attacker's face. I was in no mood for games. The direness of our situation continued to become grimmer by the moment as Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli gradually became overwhelmed by the foes they faced, and were it not for Legolas's swift return with rope, they would have perished.
Grasping hold I pulled them up with my husband, the two of us taking their combined weight and pulling with all our might before Legolas clasped arms with Aragorn and I took hold of Boromir, both of them securing Gimli. Helping him to settle his feet upon solid ground once more just as Theoden called for all to pull back into the final layer of the keep in order to barricade ourselves inside, Boromir clasped my shoulder and spoke a quick word of thanks before pushing me under his arm to power his shield against an Uruk, stunning him completely. Legolas seized me by the hand in order to pull me forwards, ushering me into Aragorn's care who quickly wound his arm about my back and brought me into the safety of the keep as I called out in my native tongue to my kin, having them follow us inside also.
Compared to the five hundred we had begun with, barely a fifth of us remained. It was a devastating blow and in my heart I carried the burden of their passing acutely, feeling it ache within my chest as I slumped to the ground and allowed Gilestel to clatter to the floor. I could barely summon the will to move, my eyes and head aching as they shifted between the soulless eyes of a seer and those of pained mahogany who knew too much of war and bloodshed. Around me everything was overturned in order to reinforce the barricade, the last door which stood between us and the remainder of Saruman's army which still outnumbered us immeasurably. "Eleni?" Hearing Legolas call to me, he had paused in his assistance to barricade the door in order to see to me, taking hold of my arms. "What ails you?"
"Shadows." I answered weakly, barely able to focus my mind. "They swarm around me, clouding my sight. I can hardly withstand the pressure it is so much." Understanding I felt Legolas shift me into a more upright position before sliding behind me, encircling his arms about my shoulders and waist so that I could lay against him to rest a while. "I cannot see beyond the breaking of this dawn, Legolas. Does this mean we are at an end to our journey?"
"If it be so, then I carry no regrets." Legolas murmured softly, kissing my hair. "To have my wife by my side is all that I desire, in life and in death."
"Hm…" Smiling dreamily, I listened to the slowness of Legolas's heartbeat as it thumped against my ear. "Legolas. I wish to bear your child." Jumping in surprise, he looked down at me quickly and gaped a little foolishly, unable to think of what to say. "If we survive this and the war against Sauron ends, and the world falls into peace and everything is set to rights, then I would like to have a child with you. A son."
"Have you…have you ever foreseen such a future for us?"
"In dreams, yes, and flickering hopes as I search beyond the shadows. No future is certain with so much uncertainty surrounding us, but it is my desire to create a good world in which to bring a child that I fight for." Tilting my head so that I could gaze upon his face, I read each thought and feeling which flickered through his cool crystalline gaze. "What say you?" An immaculate smile adorned his lips, breaking through the gloom of impending death to radiate with a light and love unlike any other.
"Yes. I should like to father your child, my love." Satisfied that we now had a common goal to fight for, I pushed past the boundaries of my tiredness as the dawn began to awaken, breathing freshness into the air as Théoden and Aragorn clasped one another by the arms, the bond of kingship and brotherhood burning like a wildfire which would set the entire world ablaze were it to take material form, deciding to give their all to one final charge against the enemy, for death, for glory, and for Rohan. As the horses were brought forth, saddled and mounted, I walked with peerless grace as my eyes dimmed into whiteness and the air began to writhe around me as I disturbed the natural peace with echoing voice, drawing the eye of all in closeness.
"Shadow and light embroiled, the endless hunger unsated…life and beauty despoiled, the final battle awaited…" Feeling the words roll off my tongue I saw battles between all races in all parts of Middle Earth, the final battles to end all sovereignty of evil, though undetermined in their victory. "May the stars watch over you all."