Author's Note: Please let me know what you think! Thank you. Lots of Love, breaiden0413

Chapter Seven

Waking up, I was confused to say the least, especially when coming face to face with an elf that was NOT the elven prince. It didn't help that it wasn't an elf I had seen before. His face was graceful and darn near perfect, something elves had in common, the pale yellow hair and dark blue eyes were a giveaway of the elves of Lothlorien. The armor he was wearing was recognizable as well. I sat up and nearly emptied the non-existent contents of my stomach on the floor. I steadied myself both stomach and mind and the room stopped spinning. Again my animals were silent, and it unnerved me, it was like being a lone…and I didn't like that feeling to begin with.

"Where am I?" I asked hoarsely.

He held out a small goblet of water urging me to drink before he decided to answer me.

"We are still in the human fortress of Helms Deep. You were brought here by the Dunedain," he informed me.

I looked at him sharply.

"Aragorn?" I asked.

The elf nodded.

"He lives?"

"Slightly worse for wear but in better shape than you," The elf said shortly.

I cracked a smile at him, this elf actually had a sense of humor. That was shorthanded in the elven realm.

"My name is Nestarion if it pleases you to know," He said slapping his hand on my forehead.

Although his attitude was much different from the elves, it didn't change the fact that he was a healer, and generally I see too much of them.

"Braelyn," I said shortly.

He nodded.

"Haldir spoke much of you," He said dropping his hand to my wrist to check my pulse.

I blinked in surprise, it had been a while since I heard the elven captain's name. We hadn't seen nor heard from them since we left Lothlorien.

"Hopefully nice things,"

He smiled.

"For the most part, he did mention you made rash decisions." Nestarion said simply.

I shrugged.

"It's the human in me,"

The healer shook his head.

"Too true, some of my most stubborn patients are humans, the Dunedain included."

I smiled at that.

"Maybe it's a trait we share," I murmured.

He studied my face for a few moment.

"You are the Lady Dunedain," he said simply and slowly.

I nodded.

"I did not know they were recruiting," Nestarion stated.

I smiled at him.

"I've been recruited, almost forty years now," I murmured.

He was still, then silent for a moment.

"Old lady," he murmured.

I cracked a smile.

"Still younger than you," I retorted.

He smiled and bowed his head at that.

"That is correct, you are but a sapling compared to me, respect your elders." He quipped.

I scowled at that.

"Har-har, how bad am I?" I asked.

"Enough to cause the Dunedain to lose his cool, and I do not think I have ever see the Mirkwood prince so upset."

I winced, both were hard to anger, so I must have been in bad shape.

"Still, you are healing quite nicely and fairly quickly. You'll need to speak to Mithrandir about your lack of ability to shift into animal form. Something is amiss there," He said seriously.

I quieted, so it wasn't just me…something inside me had caused them to quiet.

"It's too quiet," I murmured.

"As such it will help you focus in your human form. Do not dwell on it. I imagine we will be seeing Mithrandir before the end of this battle."

"Other than the lack of shifting?" I pressed.

He took a long look at me.

"You are able to battle if you are careful, do not overdo it. Try and stay with someone if you can. I cannot guarantee you won't collapse." He said finally.

I nodded.

"I would recommend getting something to eat before the battle starts, you will feel better with something in your stomach and less prone to fainting on the battle field and getting killed."

"You say the sweetest things," I said grinning.

"What can I say? The ladies love my quick humor and wit," He said shrugging.

He then waved me off and went to attend the other wounded. Although the animals were quiet and I could not hear them, their senses…or rather our sense stayed heightened. I hoped that Nestarion would survive this battle, though we had only just met, I was fond of the elf. He had a sense of wit that seemed lost or forgotten amongst the elves. I tried to avoid as many guards as I could following the scent of those I knew. I found Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn amongst the front wall looking over the valley leading to Helms Deep. Nothing could be seen but the tension in the air was thick. I could feel their eyes over me worried.

"Mostly clean bill of health, I need a buddy though, doctor's orders," I said grinning over at them.

Aragorn shared my mischievous grin, but the worry in his eyes were evident.

"What no scolding?" Gimli demanded.

"She wouldn't listen to it anyhow, leave that for Mithrandir when he returns," Legolas added.

"See he knows me so well!" I said hugging him close.

Mostly to calm my nerves, his warmth comforted me. He handed me my bow and arrow as well as my numerous of weapons I was stripped of upon my incarceration. Once I was fully armed I felt better, more secure. The sun went down, and the weather dropped but luckily I had my cloak with my pack and it sheltered me from a majority of the cold. Then of course, it began raining.

"Perfect weather conditions for something bad to happen," I murmured.

I heard Gimli mutter and agreement. It wasn't until the thunder and lightning started that I realized the severity of Saruman's army.

"Good god," I murmured.

There had to be thousands of them. I took a look at Aragorn whose eyes met mine. They were grim, determined and fierce. That of a leader.

"Whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night."

I swallowed hard and took some deep breaths, steadying my heart rate. My heart was pumping wildly in anticipation, I was excited. Frightened but excited. The animal part of me was still active. The footsteps echo in the valley, the Uruk captain stands and raises his hand causing the army to stop beside him. The valley was silent and eerie as men and elf stared at the evil that had amassed in front of us.

"What's happening out there?" Gimli demanded trying to see over the wall.

"Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?"

Gimli starts to laugh, I heard Aragorn shout from the line of elves.

"A Eruchin, u-dano I faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas…" (Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none.)

It was straight forwards and to the point, and he wasn't lying, I seriously doubted those Uruk had an idea of what mercy meant. Men and elves load their bow ready to fire. Suddenly a man from the upper terrace loses his grip and the arrow plummets into the Orc's neck. It fallow to the ground, the arrow shoved grotesquely though its throat. The captain of the Uruk forces raises his scimitar and shouts! The army of Uruk's break off towards Helm's Deep at a run.

"Tangado a chadad!" (Prepare to Fire) Aragorn shouts.

The elves load their bows as well, including Legolas and myself.

"Faeg i-varv din na lanc a nu ranc," (Their armor is weak at the neck and beneath the arm.) Legolas murmurs.

I adjusted my aim slightly.

"Leithio I pilinn!" (Release the arrows) Aragorn shouts.

With a deafening twang almost simultaneously our arrows are released, none of us worried about hitting one another. They plummeted into the orcs level the first and second wave nearly in its entirety. I was proud to be placed over on the elven side, I felt more at ease with them watching my back than the humans. I had nothing against Théoden's men, but I did not trust Théoden any longer. I heard more shouting and I was quickly releasing my arrows upon any Uruk in my sights.

"Pendraith!" (Ladders!) Aragorn shouted.

"Good!" Gimli shouted.

I dodged a bolt from a crossbow before switching to my two handed weapons, placing my hand gently on Legolas's back, he made no move or action to acknowledge I was there, but there was no need. As the ladders landed on the Deeping wall, it was time for swordplay. Not my best forte but I wasn't shabby at it. You never get used to the putrid smell of gutting an Uruk, no matter how many times they attempted to recreate these creatures they were still disgusting. I heard Aragorn shout at me after a few moments, I knew what he wanted. There was a ladder being raised, I pushed my way through the fighting where they Uruk's had fired an arrow to secure the line. I quickly slashed the line on it and with only one unstable to hold the other side the line snapped and the ladder tumbled back to the ground killed all the Uruk who were on the ladder and those below that were unable to escape the fall. I had little time to celebrate as I took out the next couple of Uruk next to me. It was going to be a long night.

I was tired, I was filthy and I was getting angry at the sheer amount of these damn creatures.

"Don't they ever just die?!" I cried as I plunged my swords into the chest of another Uruk.

"Causeway!"

There was a group of Uruk climbing up the causeway and the elves quickly turned the attention to the causeway. It was a distraction…

"Aragorn!" I shouted.

I noticed it before he did, a spiked ball was placed at the wall near the gates where the water was run, another was set beside it, and the bezerker was running through with a sparkling lit torch. I heard Aragorn shout at Legolas to bring him down, two arrows piercing the Uruk deep does nothing to stop it. Just as another pierced it shoulder the Uruk dives under the grate, not two seconds later the entire wall explodes. Aragorn turns and covers me as best we can we go flying. A sharp pain to my head and my world goes black.