The next day they rode for Minas Tirith. Eomer came back and said that already the first two rings were taken, covered in orcs and flame. Eowyn, Merry, and Leila waited and finished their food before they mounted their horses.
"Take heart, Merry," said an already exhausted Eowyn. "It will soon be over."
Merry swallowed his bread before answering. "My lady, you are fair, and brave, and have much to live for. Many who love you. I know it isn't too late to turn aside. I know there isn't much point now in hoping. If I were a knight of Rohan, capable of great deeds, but I'm not. I'm a Hobbit, and I know I can't save Middle Earth. I just want to help my friends," he smiled at the thought of them. "Frodo… Sam… Pippin. More than anything I wish I could see them again," he finished, looking the two women in their eyes.
"Oh Merry, you shall see them again," said Leila, feeling emotion welling up in her for his sweet words.
Eowyn knelt beside him. "And you already are a Knight of Rohan. Hobbit or no, you have already accomplished great deeds. This is just the next one."
Before he could respond, the booming voice of Eomer called, "Prepare to move out!" And they rode farther.
The scene at Minas Tirith was grave. There was a sea of orcs at their door, and a chill went through the Riders of Rohan. Leila looked at Eowyn and Merry on the horse next to her and suddenly had a hard time swallowing. Eowyn looked back at her and nodded her head in solidarity as the horn rang out. When it sounded, Leila felt herself fill up and adrenaline coursed through her. Théoden called out instructions for Eomer and the other captains. Then he turned to the men.
"Arise!" he called. "Arise, riders of Théoden. Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered! A sword day! A red day! Ere the sun rises!"
The men of Rohan stuck out their spears and Théoden knocked each one with his sword, he even tapped Leila's. She was afraid, but she thought of Legolas and found her courage again.
"Ride now!" the king continued. "Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin! And the world's ending!" he yelled. "DEATH!" he screamed.
"DEATH!" replied the men, including Leila, Eowyn, and Merry.
"DEATH!" repeated the king.
Leila couldn't hear herself scream it back among the noise, but she felt it leave her lips once more, and the riders began their charge as the Théoden yelled it once more. The pounding of the hooves made the ground beneath her shake as she rode down the hill towards the thousands of orcs waiting for them. She could feel the vibrations throughout her whole body. As they grew closer and closer to the enemy, and the ringing in her ears continued, she thought only of her friends and what she was dying to protect.
It was not long before she felt the wisp of arrows go by her ears, and metal clanged against metal, as horses and riders began to fall. Leila swung her swords to her left and right, her horse leaping over the orcs' heads and spears. She could feel their bones break beneath the stride of her horse and their flesh rip open from the sharpness of her weapon. Once the enemy realized that the Rohirrim were not going to retreat, they began to, but not before many of them were slain. There was a short celebration as the enemy retreated, but then they all heard drums and horns unheard of before. What they saw, shook them. It was several elephants, carrying men none of them recognized. Their drums and horns were loud, but Leila was most intimidated by their chanting. She did not recognize the language, and they wore frightening face paint.
"Reform the line!" commanded Théoden, and they did so. They charged shortly after.
Leila rode through the legs of the giant creatures. It was nearly impossible to strike them and avoid being stepped on by them at the same time. All the while, arrows rained down upon them from the men atop the elephants. One of these arrows struck Leila's horse, and it crumbled to the ground, throwing her forward. She landed awkwardly, letting out an "oof!" as she hit the grass. She recovered quite quickly, reclaimed her swords and developed a plan. She ran straight for the elephant, and sliced its leg, it cried out in pain, but did not fall. This did make it pause long enough for her to grip one of the arrows lodged in its flesh. She used this arrow to hoist herself upwards, climbing the animal like a mountain. She crept quietly behind the men sitting at the top, grabbed the first one around the mouth, yanking his head backwards, exposing his neck, and promptly slit his throat. At the sound of this, the others turned around to face her. She ducked to avoid the first one that ran at her, using the weight of her own body to throw him off the elephant. The next one swung his axe, which Leila blocked with her swords, and lifted her leg forwards to kick him backwards. This knocked him into his companions, causing them all to fall over and off of the back of the elephant. The next man lifted his sword with both hands, leaving his belly open for Leila to run him all the way through. She pulled her swords out and watched his body fall as well. Leila went to the side of the animal, and cut at the ropes that held the saddle in place, it fell quickly, ridding her of the rest of that party of men. She went to the head of the animal, and jumped off the side, sticking her sword through its ear on her way down. This was effective, as the elephant fell to that side, and just as it was about to run into another elephant, Leila swung herself away and watched as they collided.
Leila took this moment to look around. All around her were the bodies or orcs and men. So few men from Rohan still stood, and there were still so many elephants, despite the ones she and Eomer had taken down. Leila was filled with dread as she saw no sign of Merry or Eowyn, and heard the horrible cry of the Nazgul. Leila turned around and saw how it terrorized the few soldiers around it, and one soldier cut the head off, which took Leila aback, but she saw no more when an orc came from behind her and sliced her arm. It was a sloppy cut, and only a flesh wound, but Leila cried out nonetheless. She turned around and used her good arm to slice its head off. She then met with many more and thought no more of the soldier fighting the Nazgul.
Unexpectedly, Leila saw thousands of green ghostly creatures flood the fields. She could not believe her eyes when she saw Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli leading them. They took down the armies of Mordor with ease, even clearing out the city. After the smoke cleared, Leila ran as fast as her legs could carry her to Legolas. He was not facing her, but she didn't care. She leapt, and threw her arms around him, knocking him to ground. He let out a cry of surprise, and as he turned himself around to face her she showered him with kisses.
"I missed you so much!" she cried, finally giving him some air.
He laughed. "I love you," he said.
This made her pause, and she sat up. "What?" she asked, and then he sat up, then helped her to her feet.
"I love you," he repeated, taking her in his arms and kissing her right there in front of everyone. Legolas had never said the words before, and Leila could have sworn she was dreaming. No one in her life had ever made her so incredibly happy. She was so happy, in fact, she began to laugh. Legolas broke from her.
"That bad, is he?" asked Gimli, a big grin on his face.
"Oh shut it," Legolas said.
Leila wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing his attention back to her. "I love you too," she told him. "Don't ever leave me again." She gave him a stern look.
"Not in a thousand lifetimes," he promised, and he lifter her off her feet to kiss her again. It was after this blissful moment, that Legolas noticed her injury. "You're hurt," he said, inspecting it.
She shook her head. "I feel no pain yet," she said, in order to comfort him.
"We must get you to the Houses of Healing," Legolas instructed, and attempted to guide her away, but she resisted.
"Not until I find Eowyn and Merry," she insisted, and he nodded. They did not have to search long when they heard the woeful cry of Eomer. They rushed over to him, to see him holding the limp body of Eowyn.
"No!" cried Leila, and started towards her friend, but Aragorn halted her.
"She may yet be alive," he said, and he went to her. He took her body from Eomer and together they headed to the Houses of Healing.
Leila looked around now for any sign of Merry, but saw Pippin. "Pip!" she called to him and he trotted over to her.
"Leila!" he replied. "It's great to see you. Have you seen Merry?"
Leila shook her head. "No, I haven't, Legolas and I were looking for him now," she explained.
"But, Leila, you're hurt," protested Pippin, seeing her holding her bloodied arm. "You must go to the Houses of Healing. I will stay and look for Merry, I promise."
Leila hesitated. Quite honestly, she did not want to go into the city at all, but she looked at Legolas, and he gave her an assuring glance. "You will bring him to me as soon as you can?" she asked.
Pippin nodded enthusiastically.
Leila took a deep breath. "Okay," she agreed, and she and Legolas went towards the gates of Minas Tirith.
Now that Leila was recovering from battle, she realized just how much pain she was in. Her arm stung with every touch or move she made, but with every step towards Minas Tirith she felt her heart rate increase. There was a time past, when Leila swore to never to even return to Gondor, and here she was about to enter its heart. She never told Legolas the tale she told Soriel of the last time she was in this country. When they reached the broken gate of the first ring, Leila turned herself completely around from it. Her heart felt as if it were to beat out of her chest any moment, and the tears were soon to spill over.
"What's wrong?" asked Legolas, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, my love, I cannot go in there," Leila answered, through shortened breath.
"Why not?" he asked gently.
Leila paused, then turned to look Legolas in the face. "The last time I left Gondor, I left with a child I did not desire, and a pride that was so deeply damaged, for some time I thought I may not ever get it back," she began.
Legolas looked at her, but said nothing, so she continued. "When I left Mirkwood for the first time, one of the places I traveled to was around here. I was captured by a group of men that looked just like Boromir. They…" she trailed off, finding herself lost for words. She let out a sob, and nearly fell on her knees, but Legolas swept her up, and held her tight. He kissed the top of her head comfortingly.
"They took advantage of me," she cried through her tears. "They hit me, and I barely escaped with my life." She cried some more and Legolas stroked her hair.
"I am so sorry," he whispered to her. "Forgive me, I knew not."
She shook her head. "There is nothing to forgive," she said, still snuggled into his chest.
"Leila, I love you so much, but what awaits you beyond those walls now is not what awaited you then," he told her, and she looked up at him. "The last time you were here, you were alone. This time, you enter with me, and I will never let anything bad happen to you ever again." This made her smile. "Not only that, but what waits inside for you is not reckless soldiers of Gondor, but your friends. Soriel and Aragorn are there, waiting to care for you, but you must let them."
Leila thought this over. "I know you are right," she said. "But there is still fear in my heart."
"That is natural," he assured her. "I do not expect you to be unafraid. Just know that I will be beside you every step you take within these walls. I will be beside you every step of this lifetime, from this moment on."
"By the next lifetime, I should be quite tired of you then," she replied, joking, despite the fear that remained in her voice.
Legolas laughed. "Unfortunately, you are stuck with me," he said. "Come, my love, we take the first steps into Minas Tirith together."
She eyed him skeptically, and as promised, he matched her first step through the gates, as they headed towards the Houses of Healing. Leila shook like a leaf all the way through the rings of the city, and she flinched at nearly every man that passed her. However, Legolas was very patient, and held her closely the entire time. Even though she felt very safe with him, she couldn't have been more thankful to reach the Houses of Healing.