Disclaimer: I do not own anything created by J.R.R Tolkien or anything associated with his estate.

Chapter 29- All Along the Watchtower

As we rode away from Edoras, the sun was already beginning to set turning the rolling hills into a sea of golden light. We traveled along a beaten path among the foot-hills of the White Mountains. Our horses were pushed to their limit as we splashed through small streams, galloping hard across the green country. Night closed about us, and not too long after we finally halted. We had traveled for about five hours and covered a good distance, but we still had more than half our journey ahead of us. I decided I would try and ignore that fact. Almira dismounted with a curse and continued grumbling about the poor quality of travel with a pointed glance at Braith every now and then. Dismounting and stretching stiffly, I ran a soothing hand down Braith's neck as she snorted in response to one of Almira's dark glances. I winced and Legolas who had been watching me like a hawk came up behind me. I leaned into him wearily and he placed a hand on the small of my back. "How is your shoulder?" he queried quietly.

"Sore. Such hard riding is very draining, more than I expected," I muttered. "Though really, I should not have been surprised." Reaching into my saddlebag, Legolas retrieved a piece of Lembas and handed it to me. I broke off a piece before handing it back to him, and he repeated the action before placing it back in the bag. We ate silently and I noticed Almira had wandered off to speak with Gimli. I smiled slightly at the thought that they were no doubt commiserating about the long ride.

The riders had created a loose circle surrounded by mounted guards and scouts had been sent out far ahead. "Shall we set up?" I asked looking forward to resting.

"I will do it," Legolas stated and stared me into silence when I started to protest. "It's hardly a trying task."

"Fine, fine," I said, throwing my hands up in mock surrender. Legolas pulled out our bedrolls, laying them out close to the horses.

"See?" he stated smugly and I rolled my eyes as I lowered myself gingerly onto my mat.

Aragorn wandered over at this point with Almira. "How are you?" he asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I shrugged. "Surviving." He sighed and nodded.

Almira was looking at me speculatively. "You know, that is a really lovely braid and it looks like it is holding up really well. Do you think you could braid my hair like that Legolas?"

I was surprised when Legolas blushed and that wriggling suspicion I had came back as Aragorn started chuckling and Legolas stuttered, "Actually, I could not, well should not, because… we are not, that is-"

Taking pity on him, Aragorn stopped chuckling long enough to say, "Unfortunately, traditionally if an ellon is braiding your hair you are lovers and therefore technically married."

My eyes widened perceptibly as Legolas looked at me sheepishly. "So that's why Aragorn…" I trailed off, and began blushing. "I am sorry, Legolas," I stated in a rush, "I never meant to offend you when I asked, I had no idea…"

He took my hand comfortingly. "Obviously these are special circumstances. One, you are injured and two, you have no attendants. You did not offend me." I nodded, still rather uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Aragorn turned the conversation in a new direction. "We are to rest until dawn and no fires are to be lit."

Almira sighed, looking wistfully at the piece of Lembas she was holding. "So much for hot food," she stated forlornly. She went to fetch her bedroll and Aragorn moved to speak with Gandalf who was not far away.

I was running a hand over my hair still frowning. "Do not worry over it." Legolas soft command interrupted my thoughts. My gaze met his almost guiltily before I laughed lightly and self-consciously. "I feel like have sprouted horns," I whispered moving on, deciding to leave the status of my relationship with Legolas for another time. At Legolas' raised eyebrow expanded, "It's weird to be stared at." I tilted my head slightly to indicate the men around us who out of the corner of my eye I could tell were casting surreptitious glances our way. "It does not help that we are so luminescent. I've never felt so much like a glowworm in my life."

"Tell me about it," Almira muttered as she laid her bedroll out near us. "I feel like some sort of fantastic creature, like if a dragon were suddenly to show up in Central Park. I am definitely not used to receiving this much attention."

"To them, we are fantastic creatures," Legolas supplied. "Our people have not ventured into the lands of Men often in the recent past. Elves have faded into legend in much of the world." He could not quite keep the melancholy from his voice, and I squeezed his hand sympathetically.

We passed into silence shortly thereafter, and I soon fell asleep. I had not been asleep for as long as I would have liked when the horns sounded. Rising, we packed hurriedly and our host departed within the hour.

The air was heavy and the rising sun hazy. There was a stillness in the air as well, and in the East darkness was growing. In the late afternoon, Gandalf dropped back to ride beside us, well specifically Legolas. "You have the keen eyes of your fair kindred, Legolas," he said; "and they can tell a sparrow from a finch a league off. Tell me, can you see anything away yonder towards Isenguard?" (1)

"Many miles lie between," said Legolas. "I can see a darkness. There are shapes moving in it, great shapes far away upon the bank of the river; but what they are I cannot tell. It is not mist or cloud that defeats my eyes: there is a veiling shadow that some power lays upon the land, and it marches slowly down stream. It is as if the twilight under endless trees were flowing downwards from the hills." (1) I could feel Éomer's astonishment and smiled in bemusement. 'Humans,' Legolas mouthed to me, a smile tugging at the side of his lips.

"And behind us comes a very storm of Mordor," said Gandalf. "It will be a black night." (1) And with those dark words he spurred his horse on and returned to the head of the company.

"I hate when he goes all prophetic," I grumbled.

"Wizards," Legolas stated with a shrug.

"I am surrounded by strange folk. At first I thought I might grow used to it, but now I am thinking I never will," Éomer stated.

"Wise of you, really," Gimli said. "I still cannot believe I befriended an elf."

Legolas smiled at the subtle jab but remained silent. The heaviness in the air had increased during our ride, and the dark clouds were now beginning to overtake us. The sun sank below the horizon, a glowing blood red orb descending through the haze casting an eerie light over our Company. We halted suddenly and I could just make out a lone figure riding towards us. He had obviously seen battle since his shield was dented as was his helm. After he had gotten his breath back he related grim tidings of defeated and scattered forces ahead of us. The man was overjoyed when Théoden revealed himself and that he desired to ride to the aid of Erkenbrand. I noticed Gandalf ride a short way away and gaze away towards Isengard. When he returned, his words shocked us all.

"Ride, Théoden!" he said. "Ride to Helm's Deep! Go not to the Fords of Isen, and do not tarry in the plain! I must leave you for a while. Shadowfax must bear me now on a swift errand." Turning to the rest of us, he cried: "Keep well the Lord of the Mark, till I return. Await me at Helm's Gate! Farewell!" (1) And then he was gone, Shadowfax bearing him away at an unbelievable speed.

After a stunned moment, Legolas stated dryly, "I have said it before and I will say it again: Wizards."

"Indeed," Éomer said, rather exasperated.

We turned now, heading in the direction of Helm's Deep. Night fell and we continued to ride. I could just make out the fortress ahead of us and would have been more excited if I did not know a giant battle was coming. Suddenly, cries and hornblasts from our scouts rent the night. It was reported that wolf-riders were abroad and that we were most likely being tracked by a host of Orcs and wild men.

"Fan-fucking-tastic," I murmured, tired beyond belief. And I still had a battle to survive, which given my sad state survival was looking pretty grim.

As the Rohirric lords questioned the scout, Legolas looked over at me. He was obviously concerned, but I waved it away and he looked ahead of us tight-lipped. I was not trying to be dismissive, but there really was not a whole lot he could do. We pushed forward, slowing as the darkness deepened and we climbed southward into the dim folds about the mountains' feet. Luckily, the few roving bands of Orcs we encountered fled from us. However, it was cold comfort as the sound of harsh singing could soon be heard. I stayed silent, listening to the others speak about the host following us. We reached the breach of the Dike in the dead of night. We paused as a sentinel challenged us and waited while he and Éomer exchanged words. Soon, our Company was allowed to pass and we dismounted to lead our horses up the ramp. Éomer positioned most of his forces along the Deeping wall, a huge structure that was masterfully crafted to allow no foothold on its' outer surface. Gimli and Legolas took up residence along this wall; he was leaning upon it and Legolas was seated upon the parapet. Almira and I were situated a little further down the wall, listening quietly to their conversation, trying to calm our nerves.

"This is more to my liking," said the dwarf, stamping on the stones. "Ever my heart rises as we draw near the mountains. There is good rock here. This country has tough bones. I felt them in my feet as we came up from the dike. Give me a year and a hundred of my kin and I would make this a place that armies would break upon like water." (1)

"I do not doubt it," Legolas said. "But you are a dwarf, and dwarves are strange folk. I do not like this place, and I shall like it no more by the light of day. But you comfort me, Gimli, and I am glad to have you standing nigh with your stout legs and your hard axe. I wish there were more of your kin among us. But even more would I give for a hundred good archers of Mirkwood. We shall need them. The Rohirrim have good bowmen after there fashion, but there are too few here, too few." (1)

"It is dark for archery," said Gimli. "Indeed it is time for sleep. Sleep! I feel the need of it, as never I thought any dwarf could. Riding is tiring work. Yet my axe is restless in my hand. Give me a row of orc-necks and room to swing and all weariness will fall from me!" (1)

"I am forever going to treasure the look on King Théoden's face when he realized we were still a part of his host and actually planning on fighting," I stated once Gimli and Legolas had lapsed into silence.

Almira snorted. "I cannot exactly fault him for thinking we're crazy. How are we going to pull this off wearing these?" She tugged at her dress exasperatedly.

"It could be worse," I said, and at her dubious glance continued, "We could be in heels."

Almira smiled and was about to reply when a loud horn rent the night, we both started as did Legolas and Gimli. "That is no orc horn," I heard Legolas say and he raced off towards the gate, Gimli close on his heels (2). I turned to stare out into the night, brow furrowed. Up unto this point, every event had lined up with the book…so what the hell was a contingent of elves doing at Helm's Deep?

It was at this point that my brain registered what Almira was saying. "…Which thank goodness they are finally here. I was getting worried they might not make it in time." With her words I had the sinking feeling that this wasn't just a freak occurrence.

"Did you happen to mention to anyone that the elves traveled to Helm's Deep?" I asked, a tad sharply.

I saw her eyes begin to fill with suspicion and guilt. "I told Rúmil…" I closed my eyes in frustration and new fear. "He asked when we would meet again, and I said possibly here, I assumed they came because of the movie," she explained in a rush. "I did not think any harm would come of it," she finished a tad defensively, sounding hurt.

"Obviously you forgot that Haldir-beloved brother to your lover and husband to one of our closest friends-dies here." She winced and her eyes widened fearfully.

"Oh God, what have I done…" she breathed.

I rubbed a hand over my face and sighed. "It is not entirely your fault, I should have told you more about what was ahead."

"We cannot let him die," Almira asserted, voice panicked.

"No, we cannot," I affirmed, voice grim.

Suddenly, Aragorn crested the stairs to the battlement, Haldir at his side and a number of Elven archers at his back. They had come to take their position along the walls. The Orcs could be seen at a distance. Rúmil broke away and rushed to Almira, stopping short just in front of her.

"I have missed you," he said, tucking a rebellious curl of her hair behind her ear.

"And I you," she stated. Almira could not quite keep her anxiety from her voice and Rúmil was staring at her questioningly but she simply shrugged and gestured expansively, pointing out where we were and what was about to happen. He sighed and took her hands.

Legolas came to my side. "Come," he said. "It is time." I followed him to where Gimli was standing, just a few paces away from Almira and Rúmil. I drew an arrow and fitted it loosely to my bow.

It was past midnight and the air was thick signaling a storm was approaching. The sky was suddenly rent by lightning causing me to jump. In the brief flash the land before us was illuminated and revealed to be crawling with our enemies. All manner of Orc had gathered joined by wild men of Dunland. Thunder rolled then the rain came.

"Just what this needed," I muttered darkly. "When it rains it pours."

Arrows came whistling over the battlement, some glancing off the stones others finding a mark. The assault on Helm's Deep had begun, but still we waited. This seemed to confuse our enemy and they faltered. However with every flash of lightning they renewed their cries and sent more arrows speeding our way. Their trumpets sounded and they stormed towards the gates, others reaching the summit of the rock. Aragorn signaled us silently; at last we were to answer. I tightened my grip on my bow, drawing back the arrow and let fly a moment later upon Aragorn's cue. Arrows whistled through the air. We felled a goodly number, but there were still so many. Despite knowing the outcome, I could not quite suppress my doubt that we would not make it out of here alive. The evil host broke then charged again. This happened several times and every time our enemy gained a little more ground. An arrow whizzed by me, so close I felt the fletching brush my ear. Legolas glanced at me fearfully, and I turned slightly so he could see I was unharmed. He released a pent-up breath, and kept firing however he kept glancing at me every couple of seconds.

"If you do not stop looking at me every ten seconds like you're afraid I might disappear I am going to panic," I stated coolly. Legolas seemed taken aback then grinned ruefully.

"My apologies, I will ignore you forthwith." I rolled my eyes, amazed at his ability to jest. However, battle held a certain zest for Legolas that I could not quite comprehend. Perhaps it was more thrilling if you did not have to worry so much about dying, a luxury a novice warrior like myself did not have.

Aragorn and Éomer sprinted off a moment later as the gates were in great danger of being busted open. They appeared soon after on the path leading up to the gates and Aragorn was a fearsome sight to behold. A shout went up from the wall and tower: "Anduril! Anduril goes to war. The Blade that was Broken shines again!" (1) Those attacking the gate paused to fight off the attack, but to no avail. They were hewn down mercilessly. The orc-archers fired a few wild shots before abandoning the cause. Éomer and Aragorn turned to return inside, when Éomer was attacked. Suddenly Gimli appeared, beheading two of the Orcs that had tripped Éomer which caused the rest to flee in terror.

"Did you see him disappear?" Legolas asked me.

"Nope," I replied. We shared a smile and leaned against the wall. We had a brief respite as the enemy had pulled back when Aragorn and Éomer defeated them at the gate. Yet already they could be seen regrouping.

"Two!" said Gimli, patting his axe, returning to his place on the wall. (1)

"Two?" said Legolas. "I have done better, though now I must grope for spent arrows; all mine are gone. Yet I make my tale twenty at the least. But that is only a few leaves in a forest." (1)

Thankfully the sky had cleared but we gained only a brief respite, and I had just finished re-filling my quiver when the assault against the wall was redoubled. Now the orcs and hillmen hoisted their ladders and hurled their grappling hooks over the wall. They came faster than we could repel them. We slew many but not enough. Like a plague of locusts they continued to swarm.

Legolas and I were separated once the Orcs successfully raised their ladders and climbed over the wall. My quiver had long run empty and I had unsheathed my knives. I could hear Legolas and Gimli calling out numbers to each other and wondered at their ability to multi-task. I was too worried about not getting brained to care about trying to keep count of the creatures I killed. I managed to find a rhythm and lost track of the sounds around me. My focus was solely on maintaining my concentration. Swing, parry, block, slash, I repeated my movements over and over in my head. My arms were burning when I finally killed the last creature threatening me. I looked about me in bewilderment. Glancing down below the wall I saw Gimli directing men on how best to shore up the opening in the wall and realized the lull resulted from the enemy's failed attempt to break in through that culvert. I sagged wearily and was soon joined by Almira, Rúmil and Haldir.

"How is your shoulder?" Almira queried softly, leaning against her sword wearily.

"Throbbing. Are you alright?" I asked. She had a cut on her cheek that looked fairly deep and was still bleeding.

Almira shrugged then winced. Her sudden smile caught me off guard. "I was body-checked by an orc."

"And this amuses you?" I asked rather stunned, while Rúmil gave an exasperated snort.

"In the sense that it is not something I ever expected to be able to say." I had to give her that one.

"Dawn is not far off," Haldir murmured.

"I will be glad when this night ends," Rúmil stated softly, and we all nodded our agreement then fell quiet. The silence was broken by the blaring of trumpets, then an explosion. Stumbling, I turned and exchanged panicked glances with Almira.

"Do not take your eyes off him," I commanded fiercely in English. She nodded and fingered a lone arrow in her quiver. I smiled at her forethought. Together we turned to face the enemy that was swarming over the walls once again. They had raised a hundred new ladders to the wall as more poured in through the gaping hole in the wall. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Aragorn dash down the stairs towards the culvert. We were being pushed back. I saw the orc sneaking up behind Haldir and my breath clogged in my throat. But just as the monster had raised his sword an arrow pierced its throat. I looked to see Almira nod at Haldir before once again drawing her sword. I released my breath and turned back to the monsters flooding the wall.

I felt like I had been fighting for days when I finally heard the command to retreat. I killed the orc I was fighting and began to run for the keep. I had almost reached the door when I heard a cry behind me and whirled to see a boy barely fending off an orc. I sprinted to his side, shoving aside those in my way. I was close when the boy's sword was knocked from his hand and managed to push him out of the way just in time to block the orc's downward swing. The orc sneered and swung his sword and thus began our deadly dance. I eventually sliced his belly and he fell to his knees with an inhuman cry of rage and anguish. Turning to check on the boy, I screamed in pain as I felt a blade pierce my thigh. I fell to one leg and barely managed to block the blow that would have split my head. I pulled the blade from my leg with a cry and stabbed it in between the creature's ribs, sliding the blade around to the front, tearing through his internal organs. The boy rushed to my side as the creature fell dead and helped me to my feet. I hobbled away, leaning on the boy heavily and we made for the keep. Once inside, Legolas spotted me and I watched the anxiety fill his face. The boy was having trouble supporting me and I was having trouble remaining on my feet. The room was starting to spin and all I could focus on was the throbbing pain in my leg. Through the haze I saw Legolas rushing towards me but I did not find out if he managed to catch me as I slid into darkness.

I felt a strange pressure on my leg and groaned. A minute later it sank in that someone was touching me and I panicked. Something was trying to restrain me and I struggled. Someone, I amended when I heard soft words in Elvish.

"Be still, my love, I am here," Legolas whispered. I calmed at hearing his voice. Then the pain kicked in.

"Oh god," I breathed, my body contorting in pain. A crash against the door startled us both, and Legolas quickly lifted me into his arms and I let out a gasp of pain. Movement was not okay in my book at the moment. He placed me gently on the floor against the back wall.

"Lay back," Legolas ordered, gently exerting pressure on my shoulders to force me backwards, "and relax as much as possible."

"I can't, I can't," I moaned piteously, back arching in pain. That was easy for him to say. I could feel tears coursing down my cheeks but had no idea when I had started crying.

"You must, my love. You do not want to worsen your injury." That appealed to me because I could not handle more pain at the moment. I managed to stop writhing, breathing harshly at the effort it took. Legolas took my hand and I focused on that contact as much as possible. I could feel myself heading towards unconsciousness but I did not want to go there yet. I heard him shout, "She is alive, but desperately needs a healer." Brilliant, I thought, and I could see him frowning. We both knew there was a great chance it could be hours before this was over, one way or another.

"Legolas," I rasped as another thought occurred to me. His gaze returned to my face and I ignored the fear in his eyes which I knew was solely for me. He stroked wisps of my hair back from my forehead absentmindedly. "Legolas…how is the boy?"

"He is alive and well because of you," Legolas stated motioning to him. I turned my head in that direction and saw him hunched up watching me. I sighed in relief and closed my eyes. I could not fight the urge anymore. I drifted in and out of consciousness, the pain keeping me from sleeping.

Aragorn approached a moment later. "When Dawn comes we are to ride out. I go now to lend aid wherever the assault is worst." I could feel Legolas' hesitation. Then a small voice chimed in.

"I will stay with her," the boy said quickly. "Please, let me do this for her." I felt a kiss on my forehead then heard footsteps moving away. More footsteps a moment later and a soft hand took mine. The sound of the great horn of Helm rang out. (1) Dawn had come.

Definitions:

ellon/ellyn-male elf/male elves

Citation:

Passage quoted from LOTR: The Two Towers, Book Three: Chapter 7-Helm's Deep

"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (film transcript)