~The Light of Dawn~

"Hold the gate!"

Arrows rained down in a steady flow from the wall above the gates, finding their marks in the Orcs before he and Aragorn on the bridge but still more came on. Gimli swung his axe into another one and sent it tumbling over the edge. Another rushed forward and he locked his axe-head into its skull and it dropped down.

"Aragorn how much longer?" He panted to the Ranger who was as tired as he. If it weren't for the archers above, they would be overwhelmed by now. He was sure it was the Elves above them on the wall. I hope it is so, for then the lass is alright.

"I don't know." The Ranger replied to him, breathing hard. "I am not sure how we are even getting out of here." He lunged at an Urak and Gimli sliced his axe into another one which came too close. How long does it take to secure a gate? He wondered. He looked up and saw more Orcs rushing towards them along the bridge.

"Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!" Théoden called out and Gimli looked around for an escape. There was none. He looked to Aragorn who looked just as worried as he.

"Aragorn here!" He and Aragorn looked up to see Legolas's face peering down at him. He had been right; the Elves were up there! A heavy rope came tumbling down and Aragorn wrapped it around his waist and then grabbed onto it with one hand. Before he could prepare himself, Gimli felt himself being dragged off the ground as Aragorn grabbed hold of him and Legolas began hauling them up the wall.

More ladders fell against the walls, held by ropes to steady them and orcs began to clamber up. Gimli saw an arrow fly near him and slice through one of the ropes causing the ladder to fall. Legolas was not shooting and there was only one other with aim that impossibly perfect. The lass can see again! He thought, happily. As Legolas helped pull them over the wall's edge to safety, Aerlaer was suddenly there too, helping them.

"It is good to see you back in action, lass." Gimli beamed, placing a hand on her arm. To his surprise she pulled him into an embrace.

"Thank you. You saved both of us." She murmured.

"Ahh it was nothing." He replied feeling a little bit embarrassed. "I just took care of the one that had the lad and then he took care of the rest and between you and me," He lowered his voice. "I would not want to ever anger that Elf." He chuckled, trying to deflect the attention.

"Nonetheless." She pulled back from the hug and bent down a little and quickly placed a light kiss on his cheek and then looked into his eyes. "Thank you, my friend."

Thorin's breath she's kissed me, Legolas will have my head, ha! He was dumbfounded by her display of friendship and remembered when she had once said there was a time when Elves and Dwarves were not enemies. She's a good lass. He thought, his heart warmed to know she truly thought him as her friend and not just a companion of the fellowship.

Aerlaer stepped back and Gimli noticed Legolas watching them bemused. "They always go for the Dwarves." He turned and muttered to Aragorn beside him while he continued to shoot down orcs. Aragorn turned to the Elf trying to stifle laughter. Legolas shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes before aiming down at another Urak.

"What might I ask is so terribly amusing?" Gimli demanded and when the Elf and Ranger gave no indication of explaining he then turned to Aerlaer. "Do you know?

"I have not the faintest idea." She replied with a laugh which was cut short by the loud sound of splintering wood and groaning metal.

"Pull everybody back! Pull back!" The King commanded franticly and Gimli turned to see him running towards them. "You all need to get back to the keep. The gate is nearly breached!"

…

"We can continue shooting until the last moment." Aerlaer said to the King as she resumed shooting down the orc's below.

"Are you sure?" He asked astonished by her offer to stay out and continue fighting despite the danger.

"Of course, we are safe up here and, when they do break through the gate we will run back to the keep before you close the doors. We will be well ahead of them, we are much fleeter." She turned to Legolas. "That is if you want to stay too? I should have asked first." She said, appearing embarrassed she has just presumed he would remain on the wall.

"No, I will stay also. Two archers are better than one. We will take down as many as we can before they breach the gate." He replied to the King.

"You two better get back inside when we call you." Gimli gruffly warned them. "I won't be able to save your pointy ears this time, so behave.

"We'll be fine, promise." Aerlaer said solemnly. "Be ready to shut the doors behind us when we slip through them."

"Thank you, both of you. I am gladdened Rohan has allies in two Elves." Théoden said sincerely.

Legolas nodded and the King, Ranger and Dwarf, ran hastily towards the hall.

"I think I embarrassed Gimli." Aerlaer laughed lightly as she grabbed another arrow from her quiver and deftly knocked it to her bowstring.

"Yes, it appears so." Legolas answered and then, unable to help himself, trying to sound casual, added, "I do not recall being thanked quite as sincerely as Gimli." He waited for her answer.

She didn't reply, instead knocking and firing another three arrows. "Your different." She finally answered. " Aiming and taking out two more Orcs, one being hit and knocking into another, causing both to tumble.

Legolas pondered whether different was a good or bad thing but was too afraid he wouldn't like the answer if he asked. decided to drop it completely. He watched from the corner of his eye as Aerlaer took out another two orcs as he aimed and shot at a rope, causing another ladder to fall.

"Four more." She mused, a grin on her lips as she pulled her bowstring back to her mouth.

"Aerlaer that only counted as one." He chastised playfully, thoroughly enjoying having the other Elf back to her witty, mischievous self, and trying to push what could have been, if it had not been for Gimli, far into the back of his mind.

"Oh, but was it not my arrow in the first Orc's head, which caused its central nervous system to push its comrade from the wall? I think that should count." She replied innocently.

"See that ladder falling, there must be at least eight Orcs hanging from it. Shall I lay claim to all eight?" He couldn't help smirking.

"If I can lay claim to the ten on the ladder I felled earlier." She smirked back and shot another orc on the bridge.

"Agreed." He replied smugly. "So where do you stand?" He asked.

"Fifty two."

"What! You must have miscounted." Legolas was sure she was incorrect.

"Fifty-three now, you better keep shooting if you-"

"Fall back! Fall back!" Gamling cried out to the soldiers who had been holding the gate.

"I think that's our cue to leave." Aerlaer said before adding. "Fifty four." Legolas growled in frustration beside her and sent another arrow down towards another Urak.

"Fifty One." He muttered sullenly and was met with a gleeful chortle.

"They have broken through. The castle is breached! Retreat!" Called out the King from the entrance of the keep. "Fall back! Retreat! Retreat"

"Legolas! Aerlaer! Get in here!" Gimli bellowed out to them from the keep.

"Quick we've only got seconds before we are Orc fodder." Aerlaer called out and Legolas managed to shoot down one more Urak before she grabbed his arm and hauled him back to the keep. They dashed through the entrance, the thick, heavy, oak doors slamming shut behind them.

The soldiers quickly boarded up the doors of the keep, securing everyone inside. Soon enough though there came the cries of the enemy, and the pounding of their heavy feet. Suddenly the hall seemed to shake as the enemy slammed into the bared doors, trying to break in, and Legolas tried pushing down his initial fear, that they would not survive to see the new day.

…

Aragorn watched as Legolas listened intently to the cries of the orcs on the other side of the doors. "What do they cry out?" He asked from where he stood beside the Elf.

"They demand we bring out the King or they will fetch him out of the hole in the mountain themselves." Legolas replied before casting an eye back down the hall, searching for the other Elf, Aragorn suspected. The moment the oak doors had slammed behind them, she had run straight to the injured soldiers and began to work on healing as many as she could.

Aragorn noticed the Legolas visibly relax once he had located Aerlaer. He was not sure exactly what happened out there below the wall and now was not the time to ask, but since Legolas had returned with a terrified Aerlaer in tow, he had sensed a change in him.

"Where is the King?" Asked Gamling as he strode up to them.

"I do not know." He replied. "How long will this door hold?" he asked quietly.

"I cannot say." Gamling replied and ran a hand through his hair as he glanced at the soldiers around them.

"The fortress is taken. It is over." Aragorn turned to where the King strode up to them looking defeated. He felt angered the man had chosen to give up.

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defended it." He challenged the other man. "They still defend it! He thought of Hama, who had been taken by the ruthless blade of an Urak even as he had called up to him to pull back to the keep. "They have died defending it!"

"It is said that the Hornburg has never fallen to assault." The King murmured as he turned away from them. "The world changes and all that once was strong, now proves unsure. How shall any tower withstand such numbers and such reckless hate?" Aragorn heard him sigh and saw the proud man's shoulders stoop.

In that moment, Aragorn pitied the King. He had done all in his power to ensure the safety of his people and yet it seemed it was not enough. He turned to Gamling. "Is there another way out? A way we can get the children and women out of the caves?" He was met with silence. "Is there no other way?"

"There is one passage." Gamling spoke quietly. "It leads into the mountains but they will not get far. The enemy is too many." He said desolately but Aragorn saw they had a chance. A slim chance, but a chance nonetheless. He took Gamling's arm and pulled him aside.

"Send word for the women and children to make for this mountain pass. Have the entrance barricaded behind them." Gamling nodded and he released the man and watched him race off towards the caves.

He turned towards the King who was looking towards the injured men lying on the floor where Aerlaer tended to them. "So much death." He muttered. "If I had known the strength of Isengard had grown so great, perhaps I would not have so rashly ridden forth to meet it."

"It is nearly dawn." Legolas murmured beside him and Aragorn's heart jolted. Dawn, Gandalf, they had to put their faith in the Wizard.

"Gandalf." He murmured under his breath, so only Legolas would hear. The Elf's gaze snapped to his, a new-found hope burning there as he too recalled the Wizard's parting words.

"The women and children will have a chance if we defend the keep to the very last." Aragorn said to the King and let the man ponder his words, not wanting to take charge unless the King truly had given up. A moment passed and then King Théoden stood up straight and turned back to him.

"The end will not be long, but I will not end here, taken like an old badger in a trap." He looked at Aragorn and Legolas earnestly. "Will you ride forth with me, son of Arathorn and, son of Thranduil?

"Yes I will ride out with you." Aragorn replied and saw that Legolas nodded beside him.

"Yes. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time." The King called out passionately and Aragorn saw his men turn to him, a small spark of hope rekindling in their eyes. "Send for the horses." He called to a group of soldiers who tilted their heads and raced off toward the stables.

…

Aerlaer was vaguely aware of Legolas's presence as she attended to the last of the men in need of urgent healing. This last man was unconscious and deathly pale, he had lost much blood, but she could heal him, and provided infection did not set into his three wounds, he would survive. A few moments past before finally she withdrew her hands from the man's deeply slashed stomach and plunged them into a bucket of water by her side, cleansing away the blood. As she dried her hands, she looked up to the blonde Elf.

"We are to ride out with the King." He said to her and she nodded. "Manenna?" He asked after a moment of watching her with a slight frown.

"Well enough." She sighed and stood up. "These soldiers haven't been easy to heal but I am glad I have been able to aid them, most would have succumbed to their injuries." She replied and gave him a small smile. "So when do we ride out? I think it's time those plague-some Urak-hai get what's coming to them.

The horses were led into the hall and the riders swung up into the saddles of their steeds. The great oak doors were nearly at breaking point as the enemy continued its barrage against them.

"Gimli son of Glóin, will you do me the honor of sounding the horn?" Théoden turned to the Dwarf as he stood by his own horse.

"Ai, I can do that." Gimli replied, bowing his head and hurrying off towards the stair, leading to the horn.

Satisfied the King swung up into Snowmane's saddle. "Let this be the hour where we draw swords together!" He cried out and his men cheered. "Fell deeds awake! Now for wrath! Now for Ruin! And the red dawn!"

The great, deep blast of the Horn of Hammerhand sounded and resonated through the deep, drowning out the cries of the enemy.

Aerlaer shifted into horse form, clad in gleaming plated armor, and reared up. "The sun rises!" She announced as Legolas moved Arod to stand beside her, where he stomped impatiently, as restless as the other horses. A restless as she felt.

The oak doors splintered and crashed down but before the enemy could enter the keep, the King cried out. "Forward, Eorlingas!" Their horses leapt into a gallop and streamed out the entrance, knocking the milling enemy from the bridge as they ran.

Aerlaer barreled her way through the Orcs, knocking them aside in her wake. The dawn light was pale and it shone on the armor of the King's riders as they cut through the enemy, clearing the bridge in their wake before entering the fray.

"Aerlaer!" She heard Legolas call from close by and she shifted back to Elf form as an arm snaked about her own, swinging her up onto the grey horses back. Without missing a beat, Aerlaer drew her sword, cutting down an Urak which rushed at Arod's side as Legolas took down the enemy before them.

Directly ahead, but to their left, Aragorn rode beside the king, their swords a whir of silver as they fought through the Urak-hai, who had not expected this sudden retaliation. A neigh sounded and rang down into the deep as the sun had nearly risen over the Hornburg, a neigh Aerlaer recognized.

"Gandalf." She heard Aragorn cry out, and looked up to see a white figure on a white horse rearing atop the peak of the rise. Other riders joined the lone rider.

"Éomer!" Called out Théoden in recognition, Aerlaer remembering that name and grinning, realizing now where Gandalf had been. Help and arrived, and with that, hope. "For Rohan!" The King cried out, and his men took up the call as they battled their enemy; who upon seeing the mass of armed riders swiftly descending the rise, faltered in their attack as they watched the riders descent.

Astride Arod, Aerlaer watched as the sun finally peaked over the rise, blinding all who looked upon it with its bright light. She saw the masses of Orcs and Uraks stumble back as the light hit them and many tried to run from it and the thunderous sound of the descending horseman.

Apprehending they were now defeated, the enemy flung down weapons, screaming as they turned and fled from the deep. The King's riders now met with Éomer's, and wheeling, they chased the remaining irk of Saruman from the deep, slaying any who could not outrun the riders.

"Victory! We have victory!" Cried out the King as he sent Snowmane forth to chase after the fleeing Urak-hai. Aerlaer took up her bow again, picking off the enemy, as did Legolas and Aragorn too, from his place astride Brego. Soon, there were none left to chase, the last of the enemy disappearing into the nearby beginnings of the dark, Southern end of Fangorn forest.

The King called the riders to a halt and the Rohirrim commander, Éomer, halted beside him, his strawberry roan horse breathing hard.

"Well met Éomer and Riders of the Mark!" The King called out, addressing the newcomers as Gandalf slid to a halt at his other side, Shadowfax gleaming in the light of the new day. Movement in the dense forest suddenly caught her attention as Gamling cried out in bewilderment.

"The trees are moving!" Someone else nearby called out and there came the terrible cries and wails of the enemy and a great creaking and rustling to accompany the shifting canopies they could see.

"The Orcs have angered them." Legolas said as Aerlaer watched on, along with the others, feeling both wonder and fear that trees could be driven to such a destructive nature. The riders watched the trees for a few more moments until the sounds of cries faded and then the forest once again grew still.

"I think we can safely say that is the last we will see of Saruman's army." Gandalf said and Théoden and Éomer nodded as men about them murmured in relief. It was over, they had survived.

"We'll make haste back to the Deep and then a small group will accompany me to Isengard, where we will seek out the gutless Saruman where he hides away in his tower." The King commanded and cheering, the riders turned as one and galloped back towards the Deep.

…

Gimli sat victoriously upon the dead body of an urak. While the others had ridden out, and once he had sounded the horn, he had gone after any of the enemy which had lingered too near the fortress. He was now tired but content for he had slain a total of sixty-three retched orcs. Hopefully he had succeeded in besting the Elves. Those damn Elves. He shook his head. Thank Thorin, they still drew breath!

He furrowed his bushy brows as he recalled the desperation and brokenness of the wood-Elf and then once free, how he became a whirlwind of pure fury upon the Uraks. He detected movement and looked around to see the very Elf he had been musing about, walking towards him, a blade in hand. It was the one Aerlaer had lost. Gimli watched as the Elf turned the blade in his hands as he examined it, he looked to be miles away.

"Legolas." Gimli called out and the Elf jumped, startled. Well that is a first, a Dwarf startling an Elf! Hastily he put the blade with his own and walked purposely towards Gimli, something clearly on his mind.

"Gimli!" He said with relief. "I had wondered where you had got to." Gimli noticed the Elf now fiddling with his empty hands.

"What's on yeh mind, lad?" He asked, slightly worried. Had something happened to one of their companions? He was sure the two Elves and Ranger had returned scathe free. Legolas suddenly looked around him as if to check there was no one else nearby and took a deep breath words tumbling out.

"I do not know how to say how much... what I mean is... what you did..."

He watched, bemused as Legolas, usually so concise with his words, struggled to find the right ones in his rush. "It's alright laddy, I was hardly going to let an Urak slay you now."

"No! That's not what I mean, I mean thank you for that, but she's alive because of you. I..." Gimli watched a little stunned as Legolas half lost his composure before him and then swiftly found it again. "...thank you Gimli." He said curtly but his eyes betrayed just how grateful he was and Gimli studied him for a moment.

"You should tell her, lad." He said simply, unsure why he had not already.

"Tell her what?" Legolas replied and he detected the cautiousness in his words. He knows exactly what I am suggesting. Gimli thought.

"That you care for her." He said quietly, looking up at the male Elf and catching the smallest glint of emotion before his eyes became a cool brown and his face neutral, concealing any thought.

"And why would I do that?" He asked dismissively and turned away.

"Why not?" Gimli pressed, unsure the problem but the Elf did not reply and instead changed the conversation.

"Final count, sixty-two." He said casually as if the previous discussion had never happened, picking at invisible dirt under his nails and watching Gimli from the corner if his eyes. What's he afraid of? He wondered. He decided not to push the other subject further. Elves make no sense sometimes. Oh well it looks as if I've beaten him, that ought to give him something else to think about!

"Sixty two? That's not bad for a pointy eared, Elvish princeling." He replied and to his delight, Legolas turned to eye him with a look of unease. "I myself am sitting on sixty-three." He said nonchalantly and noted with amusement, the Elf's eyes flashed with annoyance at being bested. Before he could draw in another breath of air, an arrow flew at him and imbedded itself just between his legs into the large Orc he sat upon.

"Sixty-three." Legolas stated, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes and a smirk upon his face.

"He was already dead!" Gimli countered, a little shaken by just how close the Elf's arrow had come to piercing his family jewels.

"He was twitching." Legolas answered regally.

"He was not!" The audacity of him!

"He was, do you question my sight?" The Elf challenged superiorly.

"He was twitching because he's got my axe embedded in his nervous system!" He growled and moved the axe, causing the Orc's legs to jolt.

"Nevertheless..."

"Gimli!" He turned, hearing his name to see Aerlaer approaching them. "How many did you slay?" She asked impishly.

"Sixty-three." He replied and then looked at her waiting for her count.

"Then we have drawn equally for my count is sixty-three also." She turned to Legolas grinning. "We've beaten you! For you told me you had only slain sixty-two!" She laughed musically turning to face Legolas.

Never, decided Gimli, would he forget the look of absolute irritation on the woodland Elf's face as he glared at them both, muttering something in his own tongue which ended in Aragorn before stalking agitatedly away.

"He'll most certainly go out of his way to beat our count now in any other skirmish we might find ourselves in." Aerlaer laughed quietly as she watched the other Elf head back toward the keep. "Gimli, why is there an arrow between your legs?" She asked curiously as she turned back to face him.

"Not all of us can graciously accept losing to a Dwarf." He snickered and she grinned.

"Ah, he is in a mood then. Shall I speak with him?" She asked but her grin didn't hide the concern in her eyes as she turned back towards the keep again.

"Nay leave him be to settle down." Gimli replied, thinking it unwise to perhaps push the wood-Elf further, given he had lost his composure once already. She turned her head back to him, undecided. "He'll come looking for you soon enough, he found your lost blade." He assured the worried she-Elf.

"Hmm... I guess so." She replied. "He just seems... I do not know? Discontented?" She sighed. "Not himself."

Gimli looked at her earnestly. "I can't imagine it was easy to look on, unable to do anything, while an Urak tried to take your life." He watched as she looked towards the broken section of the wall and shuddered before turning back to him. Her eye's still hold onto the wild look of the eve before. He realised.

"You are probably right. I would not wish to be in a position where I was unable to help the three of you." She offered him a hand. "Come, we must head towards the other wall, the men have dug graves to bury the fallen, and still there is more healing to be done. Then we must tarry to Isengard." He took her hand and let her pull him up.

…

There were many graves dug and Aerlaer looked on sadly as the riders laid the fallen soldiers to rest in the earth. She thought of the women and children. These men had been, sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. All victory in battle comes at the highest price.

She sensed Aragorn beside her was feeling just as morose at so much lost life. glancing sideways at him, she noticed how his face depicted just how weary he was. He needs rest. We all do. Aerlaer glanced past him to Legolas, standing tall and regal, but his face too looked tired, no trace of mirth as he looked on as Hama was now laid to rest.

The King had been speaking during the sad ceremony but he spoke the tongue of the Rohirrim and Aerlaer did not know what he said. Be at peace. She thought as Éomer shoveled earth over Hama's body, saddened that in the end, she could not save him.

When his body had been covered, for it was the last one of many, the King addressed those around him. "We must now part as two companies. Those of you who make way back to Edoras, I bid you a swift and safe return and that you find our women and children safe at the other side of the tunnel. To those of you who will ride with me, we leave immediately for Isengard, meet me saddled and ready before the hole in the wall and we will ride out from there." The men murmured and slowly dispersed towards the keep.

…

Aerlaer caught up to where Gandalf strode ahead and fell into step beside him. "It is good to see you, Mithrandir." She said warmly to her old friend.

"As it is good to see you, young Aerlaer." The Wizard answered and turned to look upon her face as they walked. His brows furrowed with concern. For all her soft-spoken words, there was a wildness to her eyes. "Aerlaer are you well?"

"I am now." She said truthfully. "I was caught in the explosion on the wall but all is well now thanks to Gimli, and Legolas." She sounded content enough although, he had known the young Elf long enough to read between the lines. She did not wish to discuss it further. Whatever had happened, that wild look in her eyes told him it had caused her great fear and distress.

They reached the square where the horses stood waiting and Shadowfax came trotting up to them. "My friend, we must now travel to the fords of Isen." He said softly to the Meara, who nuzzled first his hands and then Aerlaer's. He turned and mounted his steed as Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, Éomer, Gamling and the King found their horses and checked over their tack before swinging up into their own saddles.

Now to find Saruman. Gandalf thought, wondering in just what fine state they would find Isengard.

…

Aerlaer was about to shift when she felt a light hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Legolas, astride Arod. "I found your knife before." He said quietly and removing his hand from her shoulder, handed the blade down to her.

"Thank you." She said softly, giving him a warm smile before shifting. He still does not seem himself. She thought worriedly as she shifted, following Shadowfax and Brego down towards the broken wall. As she passed through the gap, the stench of blood and mud mixed together from the remaining puddles and the stench of the Urak's which was slightly different to that of Orcs assailed her senses.

She snorted, trying to quell the fear from those smells and from what memories they stirred and broke into a nervous trot to catch up to the riders just behind the King. She ended up falling into stride with Éomer's strawberry-roan, Firefoot.

"Greetings my Lady." Éomer said politely to her.

"Greetings Éomer. Please only call me Aerlaer, I am not one who particularly enjoys status formalities. I find they bore conversation." She was glad to see him grin and give a light chuckle.

"Indeed I share your sentiment." He replied. "I had a feeling our paths would cross again." He said and she nodded. "Have you met my sister?" He asked.

"Yes, I think we get along well although she was most displeased to miss out on the battle."

"I bet she was." Éomer chuckled. "She is good with a sword but I am glad she was not part of the fray here. She is not experienced in fighting and she is all the family I have, apart from the King of course. The men have spoken of how terrible the battle was."

"You are not so hard worded as the first day we met you." Aerlaer noted and he smiled.

"Nay, the world was a darker place on that day, my King poisoned and our enemies of Isengard lurking. Now we travel together as allies to destroy the weasel hiding in his tower."

"He has much to account for but naught will make up for the lives lost by his hand." She hissed between her teeth.

"The King briefed me on yours and your companion's pasts. I am sorry to hear of what befell your people, Aerlaer."

"Thank you." She nodded, feeling that now familiar pang of loss at the memory of her herd, and then the King called out to them.

"I know we are all weary but we ride swiftly!" He urged Snowmane into a gallop. Aerlaer and the other horses leapt forward and their hoofs pounded upon the earth as they ran fleetly towards the Fangorn to begin the long trek through the forest to Isengard.