Mounting my horse alongside the others, I gave firm nods to Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir whom I sat beside. "I pray we die only after sending a hundred of these wretched creatures apiece back to the hellish place from whence they came." He proclaimed boldly, sword clasped tightly in hand as I held my own in a reversed grip, ready to slaughter all in my path as my powerful mount pranced underneath me, anticipating what was to come.
"Only a hundred? I am certain you can do better than that, son of Gondor. A challenge to you. A mark of two hundred slain by battle's end, and once the last of Saruman's army is vanquished, we shall share in a victorious toast together." Smiling freely as I felt the thrill of the unknown fill my soul, I turned my head to focus forwards as Boromir laughed at my camaraderie, accepting my challenge with mirth alight in his eyes. Amused in equal measure, I tightened my grip upon the reins, feeling the leather meld to my fist as Théoden gave a final call to rally the hearts of his men before the Horn of Helm Hammerhand, the sound reverberating through every stone of the fortress as our final charge powered through the gates as they were smashed open and crushed underfoot the Uruk-Hai who had expected to find nothing but snivelling men weeping for the coming of their doom. With a sweeping slash which descended like the strike of lightning, the Uruk whom I beheaded saw nothing but the flash of silver before all went dark.
Our horses crushed most of the Uruk-Hai in our path, those smart enough to move aside fallen at the hand of a blade until we clattered down the causeway and emerged into the folds of the Uruk-Hai who were overcome with surprise to find such a fierce and noble spirit still risen amongst the Rohan people. I slashed and hacked with everything I had, intending to die with pride and valour with no fear of what lay beyond the veil of demise. It was exhilarating for me to be so uncertain about my own future, having been able to always know what lay before me before this moment and the excitement of ambiguity was something I was not accustomed to, therefore it was all the more potent. Hearing the call of a lordly horse, I swung myself around to see Gandalf himself upon the steep eastern rise overlooking the battlefield, the first rays of light beginning to gleam behind him. He looked utterly magnificent, cloaked in white in the ascended role he had been gifted after having tasted mortality's bitterest fruit, death. I could have cried out for joy to see him, and when he was joined by another rider, and then the entirety of the Rohirrim, I knew that this battle was won and our future had been secured for at least a little while longer.
They came like an avalanche of fury upon the ranks of the Uruk-Hai, unwavering and glorious as dawn's waking eye opened and filled the entire valley with a brightness undimmed by shade or shadow, intensified by the rain which had fallen in the night and cast itself upon the mountain to shine like a beacon over all. I lay down my sword and thanked all who watched over us for this miracle, feeling the trembling of the earth rise through me as the cavalry overturned the tide of events and drove the Uruk-Hai into a forest which had seemingly sprung from nothing. I could feel the distant murmuring of the trees, their anger and dissent flowing from their very roots to the highest leaf upon the tallest branch, remaining in utter stillness until the fleeing Uruk-Hai were completely encompassed by their surroundings. It was then that they came alive and devoured the last of our enemy, consuming them in a rage which I could discern only as an act of revenge from the wrathful whispers and murmurs I could hear. It was over. Victory was won, and Saruman was defeated.
In those blissful moments of triumph, one could almost recall the feeling of living without the shadow of war lingering over one's shoulder, without the knowledge of a festering darkness plaguing at our lands. My heart was relieved, and as I turned to find my loved ones, I reached out to hold them in my arms and relish in their safety. We returned to Helms Deep exhausted but gratified with our success, and after dismounting from my horse I immediately set to mind organising my people. Those who were too injured to walk were placed carefully on handmade litters to be carried, including Haldir. I think if he were not too weak, he would have protested greatly at having to return to Lothlorien in such a manner, so I smilingly took his hand as our people prepared to leave after King Théoden had offered his profoundest thanks for coming to the aid of his people. "Go now and rest, my brother, you must recover your strength for what is to come next. Even the strongest of us needs to accept weakness every once in a while, and you are still severely injured."
"You will stay?"
"Many here require healing and treatment which are unmatched for mortal healers. I will stay and help them recover, and once I have taken council with Mithrandir, I shall return to your side. You have my word." Nodding his head in acceptance, Haldir murmured a blessing as he smoothed his thumb against my brow. His eyes were dimmer than before, but steadily regaining their brilliance as with each passing hour the treatment of our healers continued to restore his health. I walked alongside my people until the ending of the causeway, bidding farewell in a lamenting song as we all mourned for our fallen kin.
Within the keep, all lifted their ears to listen, and even though the words were not understood by those unlearned in our tongue, the raw emotion could be felt with utter clarity that soon enough tears began to fall in their hundreds, perfect droplets of heartache falling to the blood stained ground. The moment I became separated from my kin I found myself missing them, even whilst they were still in sight so I cast my voice out further and spoke of my longing to join their side again soon, conveyed on the wings of the wind which they heard and answered, voice still ringing with crystal melody and harmony. They beckoned me home, reminding me of the Golden Wood and all its splendour, telling me not to tarry too long before coming home to their side where they promised to welcome me with open arms. Feeling the fullness of their love and offering my own in return, I made my way back into the keep where Boromir and Gimli were waiting for me at the gate. "It's not too late if you wanted to go with them, lassie." Gimli said to me pointedly as I floated forwards, allowing a serenity to flow through me.
"Your voice carried such sadness that my heart wished to weep for you until it broke." Boromir noted a little more gently, offering me his hand to kindly assist me through the gate as an escort. "There is no requirement that you stay if you wish to be with your kin, except our gladness for your company."
"Do not worry for me, it is always a grief filled parting whenever I leave those I call my kin." I assured them as together we went forwards further into the keep. "We were mourning our losses. A great many of us were slain during this battle, and it is my duty that I must see them lain to rest. I have spent too long protected in the forests of Lothlorien, it is high time I began to involve myself in the world's affairs once more. I cannot allow myself to be weak willed now." Drawing in a breath I steeled my resolve in order to continue forwards with determined resolution, refusing to bow to my grief and proceeded as I said I would.
My kin who were taken from their life immortal I washed by hand before setting them to rest and covering their bodies with stones as I spoke the farewells, blessings and prayers. I was not alone in this venture, for Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Boromir all assisted me in the burial of my Elven kin, as well as a great number of soldiers and women and who returned from the caves in order to tend to their men. Gimli even selected the rocks with a particular care and profession as he placed them in a mound over each fallen brother of mine, in his own way showing how deeply he had come to care for our kind. The sadness was deep, but I knew that they would rest well in this place until their bodies could be brought back to Lothlorien at a time more suitable, their bodies never to decay or succumb to the ravenous appetite of time. It was then that I saw to the wounded, healing injuries with a skill which overshadowed any ordinary healer and brought back from the brink of death many a man who would have otherwise succumbed. Children in particular were a focus of mine, those who had been brought to fight in defence of their lives.
After the funeral pyres of the dead were finished burning, the return to Edoras began and I rode alongside my husband, Aragorn and my newest friends who I came to cherish deeply. I laughed at Gimli's raucous antics, conversed long hours with Boromir on many manners of things and exchanged a comfortable silence with Mithrandir who would look at me with that same twinkle in his eye, undimmed and unchanged.