Thankyou to the following reviewers:
Aralinn - Thanks! I think you are very right in everything turning to mayhem. Danger and survival is at the forefront of their minds right now but when Aerlaer finds a moment to overthink, you can bet she will!
Woman of Letters - I love that hair braiding bit, I was trying to angle in thoughts of Elfling Aerlaer, but it wouldnt work in neatly so I left it out. I will worm it in there somewhere though! I feel like I did not give enough gratification for Aerlaer's deluded idea of love, so I hope this time round it is solid reasoning.
KyloRen'sgirl213 - Thanks for joining the story! Great to know you are enjoying it. Cheers.
Aerlaer charged toward the frightened city folk and halted beside Aragorn and Éowyn, who was climbing into Windfola's saddle. Rodwen slid shakily to the ground, and Aerlaer momentarily hoped the woman was alright, she had not checked her speed once.
"I'm to take the people to Helms Deep." Éowyn called out over the panicking city folk.
"Be safe. All of you." Aerlaer said and Nellwyn ran up to her.
"Good luck Aerlaer, kill lots of wargs!" The young girl said, brandishing her little spear.
"Make for the lower ground! Stick together!" Cried out Éowyn as Aerlaer nodded to Nellwyn. "I sure will." She reassured the young girl before wheeling away towards the oncoming fray.
She passed Gimli trying to get Arod to charge forward. "Arod, you must run swiftly to Legolas." Together, now with the King's riders about them, they raced towards the Elf, who stood on a rise. Legolas loosed arrow after arrow, taking down both wargs and Orcs as they charged menacingly before him.
"Legolas!" She called out and as Arod bore down on him, he turned and grasped the galloping horse's breastplate, swinging up into the saddle just as horses and Wargs met with cries and clashes of blade and spear.
Aerlaer leapt between two Wargs, narrowly missing an orcs blade and, shifting mid-air into Elf form, grabbed her sword upon landing and swung it up in time to block an Orc blade. She parried with the Orc and then disarmed and slashed his exposed throat before turning as a Warg ran at her.
As it pounced she threw herself under its front legs and stabbed up into its heart and quickly rolled sideways, pulling her blade out as the creature crashed to the ground. The Orc riding it, leapt off and advanced, blade raised, and struck down. Aerlaer rolled and dodged the crude sword but the Orc was too quick and swung again. She only just blocked its parry, lying on the ground.
She rolled away as it advanced again, thinking quickly. When it was close enough, she threw her sword high into the air, simultaneously using one hand planted firmly upon the ground to push her weight forward, slamming her feet into the Orc, causing it to stumble and fall.
Nimbly she leapt up, snatching up her sword as it fell back to earth. With a twist, she drove it down, into the Orc's chest. She had no time to think about her brilliant manoeuvre for another Warg and its vile rider advanced. Before it reached her, the beast cried out and fell before her with her own knife blade imbedded in its brain.
"I'm returning your knife!" Legolas called from nearby and she grinned in relief, leaping to the side of the warg to bring her sword blade down upon its rider. Snatching up her returned knife, she spun again, throwing the weight of it back into the face of another Orc which ran at her from behind.
"Escal anim!" She called to Legolas and as the other Elf kept her covered, releasing arrows into any of the enemy who ventured too close. Aerlaer quickly sheathed her sword and knife and grabbed her bow and knocked it in time to let her first arrow loose on a Warg advancing from behind Legolas and Arod. The beast wailed out as it fell to the ground, it's rider tumbling off. The Orc had Aerlaer's second arrow imbedded into its skull before it had hit the ground.
"Hannon le." Legolas called out and then seeing Gimli nearby, facing off a large Warg, spun Arod and charged toward the Dwarf.
As Aerlaer dodged Wargs and horses as she picked off the enemy, she heard Gimli grumble to Legolas "That one counts as mine!" She grinned. She was up to three wargs and eight Orcs. Make that ten. She thought as the Orc she just shot, fell and tripped another Orc who hit its bare head on a sharp rock.
…
Spears and the fallen bodies of Orcs, men, horses and Wargs were already strewn over the plain as Aragorn directed Hasufel through the bloody maze towards the King.
He leaned over and slashed at an Orc as he rode past and glimpsed Gimli trapped under a dead Warg, another approaching him. Dwarves, how do they get themselves in such strife? He wheeled Hasufel back around and grabbing a spear which was sticking up in the earth.
Sending the horse charging toward the warg, he thrust the spear through its neck just as the beast went to leap at Gimli. He again went to head back towards the King when Hasufel screamed out, his body shuddering sickeningly. Aragorn was suddenly knocked flying from the horse as he fell, only just managing to roll away from sudden sharp teeth, putrid breath and slashing claws.
A hand, the hand of the Warg's rider, seized him and gripping onto his sword, he grabbed at the Wargs harness for perchance as he slashed up at the Orc holding him. He felt its grip loosen and then it tumbled from the Warg, but not before its own blade cut through his shoulder.
With a hiss, he let go of the Warg as it charged forward, but instead, his arm snapped tight, his wrist held tightly within the leathers upon the vile beast. He was caught up. Franticly he swung his other arm up and tried to loosen the leather but his dragging weight had pulled it tighter over his hand.
He caught a glimpse of what lay ahead. Nothing. Desperately he tried to free himself as he felt the ground turn to rock under his dragging legs. This was it, he was going to die in battle not from a sword or an arrow but from getting stuck to a Warg. How ridiculous, he almost laughed.
His mind flashed to Arwen. Was she still in Rivendell or was she travelling west? Maybe she was already on her way to the undying lands. Strangely, as he heard the strangled cry of the Warg as it tried to stop and instead slid over the cliffs edge, taking him over with it, he felt at peace.
The rushing sound of water met and filled his ears and nose and then enveloped him in its swift and unforgiving torrents.
…
The fighting had lessened and Legolas looked around at first to locate Aerlaer and found her looking unscathed as she came running towards Gimli who was trapped under two dead Wargs. He cantered Arod over to them while casting about for Aragorn. Unease began to stir in the pit of his stomach as again, he could not see his friend.
Leaping down, he grabbed hold of the second warg, gritting his teeth as Aerlaer, nose rankled in revulsion, hauled the first one, which had fallen on Gimli, out of the way. The Dwarf staggered to his feet cursing in his own tongue.
"Have you seen Aragorn?" Legolas asked and Aerlaer opened her mouth to answer him but instead gasped.
"Hasufel!" The elleth uttered. Legolas held his breath as she ran past him and then he slowly turned around. The chestnut horse like many others lay dead, torn and bloody from the claws of a Warg. Aerlaer looked up, her eyes filled with worry, slightly misty, as she cast them wildly around. "Where is he?"
Hastily they began looking for their friend through the fallen bodies. Legolas looked at each man down the slope who still stood and most had the fair hair of the Rohirrim. None were Aragorn. He ran about checking nearby bodies and noticed scuff marks which had upturned tufts of grass.
He bent down to examine them closer and heard an Orc laughing hysterically just ahead of him. Gimli heard it too and stalked towards it and shoved the blade of his axe before its neck.
"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing!" Gimli growled menacingly and the Orc laughed, spluttering up dark blood. Legolas strode over to the foul creature to hear what it had to say, Aerlaer running up behind him.
The vile creature laughed malevolently as they gazed down at it, yellow eyes knowing. "He took a little tumble off the cliff." The it hissed and then laughed again. Legolas immediately lost his composure and enraged, swooped down, grabbing the Orc by the collar of its rusting chainmail.
"You lie!" He accused but his instincts told him the Orc was telling the truth. Before he could ask any more of the filthy creature, it gave a strangled gasp and he heard the wet gurgling sound of blood before it dribbled from its mouth and the creature went limp in his grasp. Disgusted, Legolas threw the orc down and it's hand fell open.
"Legolas, the Evenstar." Aerlaer gasped with dread and Legolas took it from the Orc's grasp and stood, holding it out to them in shock.
Without waiting for the others, he rushed towards the cliff edge, realising in horror, the drag marks he had seen earlier led to the cliff's edge. Unsure what he would see, he looked over the edge. Below the river flowed in swift, wild rapids. There was no sign of Aragorn.
Gimli and Aerlaer came to halt beside him and they too looked over the cliff edge. Not Aragorn. Not my dear friend. Legolas thought mournfully. He could not believe it. What had gone so terribly wrong? All three stood silently, looking down into the dark water.
"Get the wounded on horses." King Théoden commanded from nearby and his footsteps approached. Legolas felt his heart twist, the pain not letting up, only increasing. Not Aragorn. "The Wolves of Isengard will be back." The King stopped beside him before calling back down to his men. "Leave the dead."
Shocked, Legolas turned to the King. They could not leave, not with Aragorn…
"Come." The King beckoned softly and turned to leave.
Leave the dead? Legolas turned back to the rapids below. Elves did not leave their dead. Aragorn was dead. Where did the Dúnedain go when they died? He did not know. He would never see his friend again.
He began to understand yet another reason why his father had kept him sheltered away in Mirkwood. For all of his years he was new to mortal death. He felt his eyes begin to prick with tears. No, he must stay strong. He knew in his heart they could not linger. One lost friend was more than enough for his heart to bear. To also loose Gimli or, Manwë forbid, Aerlaer, was unthinkable.
A rock fell and he turned his head to the noise. Aerlaer was crouched down a few feet away, clearly trying to figure out a way down the cliff. He rushed over to her.
"Don't you stop me Legolas." She warned, trying to sound threatening but all Legolas heard was the broken note of her trembling voice. He grabbed her by the arms and hauled her to her feet and she rounded on him. "I said don't!" She tried to growl out but her voice shook as her grief-stricken eyes, which he imagined reflected his own, looked up at him, holding no threat.
"He can't be gone." She whispered, her voice fully breaking as tears finally splashed down her cheeks. He pulled her against his chest, holding her tightly with one arm. The other he placed comfortingly on Gimli's shoulder as the Dwarf wept quietly beside him.
Legolas was unsure how long they remained like that. He, resting his head upon Aerlaer's, trying to hold back the sorrow which threatened to overflow. He took a shaky, barely composed breath. "We need to go."
Gimli mumbled something in Dwarvish and turned to head towards the remaining riders. Legolas wrapped his free arm around Aerlaer, holding her even tighter, and after a moment, felt her arms wrap around him, just as tightly.
Finally, he let his tears fall, the loss of his friend finally overwhelming him. His arms fell dejectedly to his sides but Aerlaer kept holding onto him, keeping him standing when he wished to simply crumple to the ground.
Slowly he began to calm in her embrace, finding strength. "We better go now." He murmured into her hair and felt her nod as she slowly let go of him.
"There is one thing I can do." Aerlaer said quietly and stepping back, shifted into horse form. She turned towards the direction the river flowed and her whole body shook with the forced effort as she gave one long, sorrowful neigh. It echoed along the cliffs of the river and over the vast plains. She then turned back to Legolas. He realised what she had done and gave her a small smile.
"There is still hope." He said softly.
"There is always hope." Aerlaer replied and together they walked toward where Gimli waited, astride Arod.
…
The sun was falling low in the sky as the weary company of remaining riders clattered along the long, high and heavily fortified stone bridge entrance which lead into the keep. Aerlaer plodded sadly towards the back of the group, Arod by her side. He too was miserable for the death of his companions, and Hasufel.
None of them had spoken since leaving the place they had lost Aragorn. Aerlaer had listened, across every mile they had travelled, for any sign he had been found. She had hope, yet still her heart was filled with fear for him.
"Make way for the King! A voice commanded from somewhere ahead and Aerlaer looked up, taking in the keep properly. With its thick expanse of stone infrastructure, she could see why it was favored as a solid line of defense. Unfortunately, the keep itself was backed against towering, natural rock walls. It left no escape.
There were plenty of places for archers and likely spear-men. A long wall stretched away to the rocky mountain side to the left, and the keep itself was high walled and set far enough back from the main wall surrounding it.
They entered a courtyard of sorts as they passed under a heavily guarded entrance. Aerlaer looked up, noting the sharp points of a thick, iron gate, held above by a pully system. She had read of the fortresses of men, but never seen one.
People milled around as the rider's dismounted. Some faces she recognized, others she did not. Vaguely, she recalled Hama explaining that villagers had been seeking refuge at Helms Deep for many weeks while the King had been under Saruman's power.
"I want all the wounded brought into this hall and laid in line on the left. All life-threatening injuries, place those men closest to the door." The King commanded as Legolas dismounted from Arod, helping Gimli down.
I can help them at least. Aerlaer decided, moving forward, following men carrying or helping the wounded into the keep.
In there, she saw Rodwen and immediately walked towards her, pushing her worry and grief, whichever it may turn out to be, aside.
"Aerlaer, dear, I am gladdened to see you!" The woman exclaimed, placing a hand upon her shoulder. "Your companions?" She asked cautiously.
"I can help heal the wounded." She blurted out quickly, not wishing to explain what had happened. Rodwen's eyes widened but Aerlaer looked away, towards the injured men being laid down in a line.
"Your skills would be appreciated, what do you need?" The woman asked, beckoning to two other women.
"Clean water, hot if possible, and clean clothes and bandages. And anything to kill or lesson infection." She added as an afterthought. The two women hurried away and Aerlaer walked towards her first patient, not liking just how much fresh blood stained his once light green tunic.
…
Legolas had helped untack the horses as the King had sent his men and others already at the keep, to check supplies, the armory and set a rotating guard on all walls.
He did not know where Gimli was, but knew Aerlaer to be inside the keep, with the injured. He made his way into the great entrance hall, seeking her out.
She knelt beside the King's head guard, Hama. Aerlaer had healed the first two
What have you done to yourself?" He heard Aerlaer ask the man and he smiled weakly up at her.
"Warg got me." He said breathlessly, clearly in pain. "I got him back though." The wounded man added and Aerlaer chuckled.
"Let me have a look at you." She murmured and using a knife, carefully cut the material from around the wound at his side. There was a lot of blood and Legolas wondered at the severity of the injury. He inched slowly closer.
"It's, it's been getting more difficult to breathe." Hama spoke again breathlessly. "Especially now I am lying down." Legolas glanced at Aerlaer, she looked worried, deep in thought. Quietly he walked up to her.
"Do you need anything, Aerlaer? I've nothing to do." She looked up at him. He hoped she would allow him to help, he did not want to be idle, he did not want a moment to begin thinking about…
"You have impeccable timing." She smiled although it did not reach far enough to dimple her cheeks. She too was masking pain and worry, just as he was. "Could you help Hama sit up, I think he has a punctured lung."
Nodding, glad to be of use, Legolas knelt by the man's shoulders and slowly eased him up. He hissed in pain, taking short breaths. "Yes, breathing feels a little easier again now." He spoke quickly as Aerlaer shifted to kneel beside Legolas, placing an ear to the man's back.
"It's definitely punctured, but as you haven't coughed up any blood, it's not too bad nor is it bleeding out. You've just got some air escaping to where it shouldn't be." She consoled Hama, lifting her ear away. Legolas was amazed at how she had determined so much so quickly.
"How do you tell?" He asked curiously and she moved closer to him.
"Here, place your ear to my back and listen to my breathing." She instructed. Surprised by such a request, he gazed at her uncertainly. "Go on." He did as she bade, focusing on the steady sound of air entering and leaving her lungs.
"Now place your ear on the left side of Hama's back and listen." Legolas did so, listening intently, slowly frowning. "It's quieter than yours, almost silent." He said, confused. "Why?"
"Because the lung is slightly collapsed because of the puncture, which I suspect is from a broken rib. It cannot hold itself up and so you cannot hear air through the airways because basically, his lung has shrunk." Aerlaer explained. "I have to heal the hole so the lung can re-inflate but first I have to fix his rib so it does not re-puncture the lung." Legolas nodded in understanding and she smiled, looking pleased.
He watched on as Aerlaer placed her hands over the bloodied mess of Hama's side. "This will hurt, hold Legolas's hand." She instructed and the man nodded as Legolas offered him a hand to grip onto. Legolas did not know much of how Elves healed. He was usually the one being healed.
He knew it involved an Elf's lifeforce. Perhaps Lord Elrond had taught Aerlaer, for he was a great healer among Elf kind, and he was her uncle. His hand was suddenly crushed as Hama groaned in pain. Legolas flickered his gaze to Aerlaer but she was intensely focused. Dropping his gaze to her hand, he saw a faint glow beneath her palm.
"What's happening?" Hama gasped out, his breathing worsening.
"I'm re-knitting the bone, but when I removed it from your lung wall, it caused the hole to open more." She explained quietly, her focus not breaking. "I can mend the lung wall now." Legolas watched as Hama's breathing slowly began to calm, although it was still fast.
"Is it better?" The man asked uncertainly.
"It is healed, although it will take a couple hours until it is fully re-inflated with air and you are fighting fit once more." Legolas watched as she applied a warm cloth, cleansing the wounded area, causing Hama to hiss quietly. "There is some inflammation and bruising, but it will go away in a day or so." She added, now running her hand over the small outer injury, healing muscle and skin.
"Finally done." Aerlaer announced, looking up and Hama gave a shaky breath of relief. "Legolas, you can lower him down again now." Hama let go of his hand to allow Legolas to ease him back to the floor.
"Thank you, both of you." Hama said sincerely and Aerlaer nodded to him. "I'd be dead if it were not for you. Thank you, truly." He pressed sincerely and Legolas realized he was right, if it were not for Aerlaer's Elven healing skill, he would not have survived the night.
"You are most welcome, Hama." She said softly and gave him a smile before looking up to the next man in line. "I think I have a broken arm to fix next." She stood and Legolas followed her towards a young man, looking very pale.
"This is going to hurt, isn't it?" He gritted out and Legolas glanced at where a bone protruded from the man's forearm and grimaced.
"A lot." Aerlaer spoke apologetically and he gave a dry, weak chuckle.
"Ah it will be worth it to be tended by one as lovely as you." He gave her a pained smile and she laughed quietly. Legolas held back a frown. He knew the guards thought Aerlaer beautiful. He had heard them speak of her when they thought they could not be heard. Most where simply in awe, others deeply wished a level of attention from the elleth which both angered and disturbed him.
A young woman interrupted his uncertainty for the young man, offering Aerlaer a bowl of hot, soapy water to cleanse her hands, following with a dry towel.
"I'm going to need that strong drink for this one." She murmured to the young woman who placed the bowl and towel down and hurried across the hall. Within moments, she had returned with a bottle of a deep golden liquid.
"Three mouthfuls of this should help take the edge off." Aerlaer said as she knelt beside the man, holding the bottle to his lips.
"I never thought I'd see the day a pretty lady would try to get me drunk." He chuckled and drank down some of the liquid, coughing as it burned on the way down.
"It tastes strong." He gasped.
That will teach him for flirting so painfully with her. Legolas smirked quietly to himself.
"It better be; it's from the King's private cellar." Aerlaer simply grinned.
…
Aerlaer had just finished healing a lacerated leg muscle on her eleventh and last patient and Legolas was attentively listening to her describe how muscle tissue grew when she stopped mid-sentence, listening intently. Did her ears deceive her? No, she heard the call again. He'd done it! She broke into an immediate grin causing Legolas to gaze at her strangely.
"My last patient will be arriving shortly." She explained excitedly. He frowned for but a short moment before his dark eyes sparked to life, a wide smile dawning like a new day upon his face. He grabbed her swiftly by the arms, pulling her into a surprising hug in his excitement.
"You are an enigma! You know that!" He laughed joyfully and, letting go as swiftly as he had embraced her, practically bounced towards the entrance of the keep.
Highly amused by his sudden display of emotional joy, she followed quietly after him, wondering just how to her an injured she would find their companion.
Aerlaer stopped in the entrance, watching as Legolas nearly bowled Aragorn over, barely keeping his composure in his excitement to see his friend. It warmed her heart. The possibility that the Ranger would not return to them had weighed heavily on her heart and mind. Looking down into the courtyard she saw a tired but content figure and called silently down to him.
"Thank you, my friend. You have returned a dear human to us." Brego looked up, a dark eye seeking her out.
"It was an honor to return the care he has shown me."
"Will you remain or run the plains once more?"
"Nay, the plains are no longer safe, danger draws near. I will fight beside my kin."
"As you wish, your freedom is yours."
"A freedom I am allowed to keep, with this man." Brego replied in her thoughts, his head tilting toward Aragorn who still spoke with Legolas.
"No kinder man will you find." She answered him. "Go now and seek rest." He nodded as a youth took his reins and led him away.
"You look utterly terrible." She heard Legolas state seriously before breaking into a grin. Aragorn shook his head but then stilled as the Elf took something from his pocket and opened his hand out to Aragorn. The Evenstar rested, sparking starlight in his palm.
"Hannon le." Aragorn smiled gratefully, taking the treasured necklace. Aerlaer made to walk towards the pair when a rumbling voice cried out.
"Where is he! Where is he!" Gimli rushed from the hall, pushing past guards and city folk and flying past her on swift, short legs. "Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him! You are the luckiest, the cunningest, and most reckless man I ever knew!" He cried out in a joyful rush and threw his arms about Aragorn, hugging him tightly.
Aragorn chuckled tiredly, returning his overjoyed embrace and looked searchingly around. "Where is Aerlaer?"
"Didn't my uncle ever teach you not to keep the healers waiting?" She grinned at him. Turning, his eyes softened in relief and he walked towards her as she stepped away from the pillar. He walked up to her and embraced her.
"Hannon le, mellon nin." He murmured, pulling her into an embrace.
"No, thank you." Aerlaer said playfully, pulling out of the embrace. "Arwen would have killed me if something had happened to you." She smirked and placed a hand over the Evenstar still in his hand. "She keeps you safe not with this, but with this." She placed the hand over his heart and he smiled in understanding.
Greetings over, she stood back and scrutinized his condition. "Well, you don't look too bad for a man who fell from a cliff. Nonetheless, your arm needs healing."
"It will have to wait. Where is the King?" Aragorn asked seriously, deflecting her comment. His eyes flickered back way he had just came and Aerlaer, glanced forebodingly towards the high summit which lead down to the fortress and back to Aragorn's wary eyes. Brego's warning rang in her mind; danger draws near.
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