Chapter 5
Ariana and Legolas walked swiftly down the hallway and into the great hall, where it seemed as though everyone was rushing to ready themselves for a long journey. Those in the hall immediately stopped when they saw Ariana. Aragorn just stared at her as if she had grown 50 feet over night. Legolas looked at Ariana and shook his head in protest but Ariana gave him a comforting touch on his arm before walking towards Aragorn and Gimli.
"We must make haste, for all of Edoras is to make for Helms Deep," said Aragorn in a sort of disdainful way. Gimli was still looking at her, a
disbelieving expression etched over his worn features.
"What happened to your cloths….and what's with your eyes missy?" he asked. Ariana rolled her eyes at Gimli. She knew that this was not the last time she would be asked questions like that, but in truth she had no idea how a person could return to reality in a dress from their dreams, nor had she looked at her eyes, but something told her that they were very different, that she was now very different.
"I really don't know Gimli… Aragorn, has Gandalf left to find Eomer yet?" She asked.
"He rides to them as we speak," he replied.
"Then we have only four days until the battle of Helms Deep…let none speak of it…Aragorn, only you can tell Theoden of the battle," she said.
"When should I tell him?" asked Aragorn, in a tone reminiscent of a person who knew that the king would not believe them.
"Tell him only after you have seen the army with your own eyes, for soon all of our strengths shall be tested," she said. She knew she was being cryptic, but thought it unwise to tell Aragorn that he was about to go head first over a very large cliff. Also, "Wait until we are attacked by warg riders and you have what should be a fatal plunge off of a cliff" seemed like too much sensory overload.
"I understand…now ready yourselves…for we leave within the hour,"
The refugees of Edoras slowly made their way across the wide open country to Helm's Deep. Legolas sat atop Arod, while Ariana walked briskly beside him. They both watched Gimli, who rode another horse, while talking to Eowyn who was also walking not far up ahead. Legolas was the first to break the silence between them.
"Why have you not spoken to me?" he asked Ariana. She looked up at him to give an answer, but even she did not truly understand why she had not spoken to him since they had left her room in Edoras.
"I don't know Legolas," she said with partial honesty. Legolas dismounted Arod to walk behind Ariana. He gently leaned down to her ear and began to speak.
"Is it because of your dream with Aden?" he asked. Ariana' heart almost stopped at his words. How had he known, and more importantly, why had he said 'with Aden' rather than 'of Aden'. It seemed to her as though her nightly meetings with Aden were no longer dreams, nor were they private.
"How do you know about Aden?" she asked softly. Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke again.
"Last night, we became apart of each other. I saw your dreams through your eyes…Ariana…you were not alone," he said. Ariana smiled to herself. She knew in her heart that Legolas meant every word, and that Aden would have no power over her now that she was bonded to Legolas.
"I love you Legolas," she said softly.
"And I love you Ariana," Legolas replied. They walked together until it was time to break camp, unaware that even now, they were being watched by covetous eyes.
The fellowship sat with Eowyn in a circle around their fire. The day was fast turning into night, and some of the older refugees had already turned in. Ariana lay close to Legolas, her head in his lap, watching as Eowyn tried to engage Aragorn, but with little response. Ariana felt so sorry for Eowyn, for she knew that Aragorn would never return her feelings, but Ariana also knew that Eowyn would find solace in Faramir, Borimir's younger brother, and the only remaining heir to the steward of Gondor.
Legolas looked down at Ariana and smiled thoughtfully. Though she was human, Ariana shared more elven qualities than human. She had incredible power, and yet was still so vulnerable and innocent. He didn't know why, but Legolas felt as if they had been destined to make this journey together. He cared more about her than he had ever cared for anyone to his recollection, and his heart told him that she felt the same. After their night in Edoras, they had grown closer, and to some extent could sense each others' thoughts and emotions. Legolas learned so much about her that he had not known, most importantly her unconscious meetings with Aden. Legolas knew of Aden's nightly visits to Ariana, as well as the constant battles within herself as she attempted to thwart the temptation Aden presented to her in those dreams. This would have bothered Legolas immensely, had he not known that Ariana overcame these temptations by thinking of the love she felt for him.
Ariana pulled herself out of her reverie and stood up before looking at Legolas.
"I'm going out into the fields to practice with my powers," she said softly. Legolas looked at her gravely.
"Do you really think you should be out there alone at night?" he asked. It was more of a statement than a question but Ariana just smiled at him.
"Legolas…if anything, I should be worrying about you're safety…I'll light a fire so you can see where I am, and you will know if something is wrong…besides…I can look after myself," she said confidently before giving him a quick kiss and walking away into the night.
Ariana walked a fair distance out into the field before sitting by a large rock. Ariana conjured up dried leaves and twigs into a small pile before setting the pile aflame. She sat silently with her legs crossed, trying to meditate. After a few minutes she had reached her center and began to try her powers out. First came the power of wind. She closed her eyes and concentrated on calling the winds. It started as a soft breeze and began to grow until it was almost hurricane force. She opened her eyes and the winds immediately subsided. Next came the power of water.
One by one she tested her powers until she called fire. She found that though she was efficient with earth, and more than efficient with wind, and water, fire was proving to be much more difficult. Ariana tried for an hour to master the fourth element but she could only conjure a puny fire ball, no bigger than a golf ball. Ariana sighed and temporarily admitted defeat before putting out the fire which she had conjured and standing up. She had stopped to look out over the plains when she sensed someone behind her. She turned around and gasped in surprise. A man, who looked no more than twenty-five, stood before her, his arm still out stretched as if to tap her on her shoulder.
"What do you want?" she asked shortly. It took him a moment just to register the fact that he had startled her before he spoke.
"I'm sorry my lady, but I saw you walk away from camp and when you didn't come back I thought something had happened to you," he replied. Ariana looked at him suspiciously for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
"Well, as you can clearly see, I am fine, so I think you would do well to go back to camp. The man nodded, looking a little dejected as he turned to leave. Ariana let him take only a few steps before she sighed and walked up behind him.
"Sorry I was so rude to you…I'm not exactly in the mood to be around people right now," she said apologetically.
"That is understandable my lady, but this is a very dangerous time for you to be wandering off into the wilderness by yourself in the middle of the night," he said gravely. All Ariana could do was laugh at that statement.
"What is your name?" she asked him, a small smile still evident on her face.
"My name is Ceridian, son of Earendil…," he said, still a little indignant about how unimportant his words to her had been.
"Well…Ceridian, I appreciate your concern for my safety, but you are talking to the wrong person…I can take care of myself," she said, before walking back to the camp, unaware that she was being watched with unrestrained obsession.
Ariana returned to camp to find everyone asleep, save Legolas, who seemed to have been waiting for her to return. Legolas sat quietly against a bolder, stroking the feathered tip of one of his arrows lazily. Upon her arrival he returned the arrow to his quiver and reached out his hand for hers. Ariana placed her hand in his and lowered herself into a sitting position in his lap. The firelight cast a dim glow over their features as they gazed at one another. Legolas lifted Ariana' chin and lowered his head into a gentle kiss. Ariana lay her head on his chest and soon fell into a peaceful sleep. Ariana' dreams were filled with unrest. Blurred images of men dying, Haldir, lying dead in Aragorn's arms, the wall of Helm's Deep being blown apart…and….Legolas, leaning on Aragorn for support, a large gash in his leg.
It was just before dawn when she awoke. She looked around quickly for Legolas, to find him packing for the others, who still lay sleeping. Ariana lay back down on the ground, forcing herself not to think about her dreams. Was what she saw really the future, or was it simply planted in her mind by Aden. Ariana did not know the answer, but she did know that she would do everything in her power to keep it from happening.
The warmth of the noon day sun gave some small reprieve from the icy chill of the bitter cold morning, which threatened to congeal the very souls of the people of Rohan as they made their way ever closer to Helms Deep. Ariana readied herself, as well as the others, for the fast approaching on slot of warg riders. At Ariana' request, Legolas had moved towards the front of the group, just in front of Hama and Gamling as they rode, scouting ahead of the refugees. The two soldiers had passed Legolas, who was standing near the crest of a hill, when suddenly Hama's horse began to balk and rear.
"What is it? Hama?" Asked Gamling gravely
"I'm not sure." Hama replied.
Unbeknownst to them, a warg riding scout had appeared upon a hill above them. The warg leapt on Hama and his horse, knocking down the horse and throwing Hama. He barely had time to scream before he was killed by the Warg.
"Wargs!" Cried Gamling.
Legolas, who had been standing at the crest of a hill, ran up and shot the Warg with an arrow, then cut the throat of the rider. Aragorn ran to the crest of the hill to join him.
"Ha! A scout!" Legolas Exclaimed.
Gamling rode quickly back toward the refugees as Aragorn ran to his horse.
"What is it? What do you see?" asked Theoden, looking between Gamling and Aragorn.
"Wargs! We're under attack! Get them out of here!" Yelled Aragorn fiercely.
Legolas remained on the crest of the hill, watching the approaching warg riders.
Fear and confusion spread amongst the refugees like wildfire as Theoden called all of the riders to the head of the column. Gimli, who had been walking with Ariana, now mounted Arod with the help of some men. Ariana unsheathed her blades and rushed forward to join the others. Eowyn also started to mount the horse she was leading.
"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and make haste." Said Theoden to her.
"I can fight!" she said angrily.
"No!" Theoden replied. "You must do this... for me". Theoden then called for his riders to follow him as he led the charge against the warg riders.
"Make for the lower ground! Stay together!" Eowyn yelled to the refugees as she led them away from the approaching battle.
Legolas began shooting at the warg riders. As the Rohirrim crested the hill, he swung himself onto Arod with Gimli while the horse was at a dead gallop. Ariana pushed herself forward on the wind, throwing her twin axe blades at the warg riders, slicing flesh and fur, before returning to her hands. The Rohirrim and wargs crashed into each other with the force of two colliding trains and begin fighting.
Gimli fell from Arod almost immediately and when he stood a nearby warg prepared to charge him, but Legolas rode up behind the warg and killed it with an arrow, much to Gimli's displeasure.
It seemed as though the warg riders had established Ariana, Aragorn, and Legolas as the key resistance, and attacked accordingly. Much to their dismay, Ariana was not an easy target. Any warg or rider who got within five meters of her, were immediately beheaded, or otherwise dismembered by her twin ax blades. Legolas was also proving to be a difficult target, shooting anything even remotely close to him. Aragorn was knocked off his horse and when another warg passed him, Aragorn jumped up behind its rider, bestowing a Glasgow kiss. The rider knocked him off, but he griped the wargs harness and, while being dragged he used his knife to stab the rider, who pushed him away, grabbing the Evenstar pendant, and falling wounded off the warg. Aragorn, caught in the harness, could not free himself from the warg, which ran headlong off of a cliff, taking Aragorn with him.
As the battle was winding down, Legolas looked around for Aragorn, but found no trace of him. He examined the ground around the cliff, only to find the rider Aragorn had wounded, lying were he had fallen, laughing wickedly.
"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing," said Gimli, raising his ax.
"He's….dead! He took a little tumble off the cliff," said the rider, coughing and sputtering as he choked on his own blood.
"You lie!" yelled Legolas, but the glimmer of the Evenstar pendant clutched in the riders' hand, told Legolas that it was true. Taking it he joined Theoden at the cliff's edge, looking for signs of Aragorn. Gimli followed looking at the river below.
"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead," said Theoden to Gamiling. Legolas looked up in shock. Theoden placed a hand on his shoulder before walking away. Ariana ran to Legolas and Gimli, a self satisfied grin on her face, but as she looked at the two, her face fell.
"Did you know this would happen?" asked Legolas, looking up from the Evenstar pendant. Ariana bowed her head and nodded slowly. Legolas closed his eyes and gripped the pendant tightly before turning from her and walking away. Gimli looked from Legolas to Ariana, shock and confusion etched on his face, before shaking his head and following Legolas.
Aden looked out into the ominous darkness that blanketed Mordor. It seemed as though all had been lost when Ariana and Legolas had joined souls, but this knew element of distrust Legolas was showing her would give Aden just the leverage he needed to bring his plans into gruesome reality, but he needed help. Aden closed his eyes and searched with his minds' eye for someone close to Ariana, who would be willing to aid him in her capture. Suddenly, the Smokey figure of a man appeared before him in the darkened hall. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, his dark brown hair hung in his face, slightly covering his handsome features and almost amber colored eyes, which were darkened with lust and obsession. Aden called to the figure, who looked him dead in the eyes before nodding.
"Ariana belongs to us, body and soul. Use the powers I give you now and take her tonight...kill all who stand in your way," said Aden to the figure in front of him, who smirked wickedly before vanishing. Aden smiled with an innate sense of self satisfaction, but knew that his task was only half finished. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and vanished from the tower and from Mordor all together. Aden reappeared moments later beside the leader of Sarumans' vast army. The Uruk looked thoroughly taken aback by Aden's appearance. Aden pulled a small black box from under his cloak, placing it in the Uruk-Hai leaders' hand.
"I have a very important job for you…," he said menacingly to the orc, who nodded in silent acquiescence.
On the last leg of the journey to Helms Deep, Ariana walked alone. It had never occurred to her that she would need to tell Legolas and Gimli of Aragorn's fate, knowing that he would soon return…and even if she had, it might have affected the outcome of the oncoming battle. All of these things ran through her head as she tried to reassure herself that she was not a traitor, but this was proving to be most difficult, considering the fact that neither Legolas nor Gimli had spoken to her since the battle. She knew now that Legolas' faith in her was waning with every test of trust, but could he be blamed? At this very moment he was under the impression that the one person, of whom he had loved with all of his heart, had intentionally killed his best friend and ally, and that she in turn, felt no remorse for her actions.
"Make way for Theoden. Make way for the King!" a man yelled as Theoden and the remaining members of the Rohirrim made their way up the causeway and through the gates of Helms Deep.
Eowyn ran to greet the coming warriors "So few. So few of you have returned," she said in shock.
"Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives," said Theoden as he dismounted his horse and reached up to help down an injured rider.
"My lady," said Gimli as he approached Eowyn.
"Lord Aragorn. Where is he?" Eowyn asked expectantly.
"He fell," said Gimli sadly, looking to Legolas, who in turn looked to Ariana, though briefly, before turning back to Eowyn. Eowyn looked toward the King. Tears welled in her eyes.
"Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround," ordered Theoden.
"What of those who cannot fight, my lord? The women and children?" asked Gamling.
"Get them into the caves. Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here," Theoden replied.
Ariana followed quickly after Legolas as he walked briskly through the corridors that led to their sleeping quarters. He rounded a corner and as she did the same, she was greeted by his face, a hardened and cold expression evident as he looked at her.
"What do you want?" he asked sternly, eyeing her.
"Aragorn isn't dead Legolas…he will be here in a few hours with news of the approaching army….you have to trust me," she said desperately.
"Why do I have to trust you….you say you walk in light but all you do is keep secrets from me…why should I trust you if you cannot even trust me enough to tell me my friend would be lost to me…even for such a short time?" he asked harshly.
"Because...I thought you loved me. I thought you understood…I thought you trusted me," she said, tears welling in her eyes.
"How can I love or trust someone who keeps so many secrets?" asked Legolas before turning from her.
"…I…I guess you never could…" was all she managed to say before running off in the opposite direction.
A deepening chill descended on the great fortress as evening approached. At the top of the highest tower, Ariana sat, huddled in a corner, her tears relentless as she fought the urge to jump out of the tower to her death. Her heart was breaking and she felt as if she would soon be enveloped by the sorrow that now threatened to ravage her soul. She was so lost in her pain that she didn't hear as a person came into the room and sat beside her.
"What is wrong my lady?" asked a voice from beside her. Ariana jerked her head up and was more than surprised when her starry eyes met amber colored eyes beneath a thick veil of dark brown hair.
"I've lost the only man I've ever loved…," was all she could manage to say before breaking down into another fit of sobs. Ceridian put a comforting arm around Ariana shoulders. After a few moments, Ariana again found composure and her tears subsided.
"Any man who makes you cry is not worthy of your love…I would never make you cry," said Ceridian, leaning in closer to her, attempting to kiss her, but Ariana pulled away from him at the last moment.
"I'm sorry Ceridian…but I love Legolas…and no matter what evils threaten to tear us apart, I will not forsake him," she said. She quickly stood and had just reached the door to the room when it slammed shut and locked. Ariana tugged at the door but it wouldn't budge. She turned around to look back at Ceridian and sucked in a breath. He was surrounded by a dark mist, which Ariana instinctively knew to be dark energy. Ceridian had dark powers. Ariana unfurled her massive wings and stood ready to attack. Ceridian eyed her curiously for a moment before letting out a menacing laugh that was not his own.
"Silly girl, always so eager to trust. Look where it has gotten you. Your friends…your great love has forsaken you, and now there is no one to come to your rescue. You belong to me now Ariana…," he said curtly. Ariana' eyes narrowed on him as it dawned on her what was going on.
"Aden…how?" she said with a mixture of anger and confusion. Ceridian smirked and began walking towards her.
"You are not the only one with powers little girl," he said. Ariana growled at Ceridian before knocking him back into the wall with a blast of wind. He staggered for only a moment before disappearing in front of her eyes. Ariana looked around franticly. How could she fight what she couldn't see? What sort of powers had Aden given him? A noise behind her made her turn, but she wasn't fast enough. Ceridian had reappeared, grabbing her from behind. The dark mist that surrounded him, now descended upon Ariana who struggled in vain to free herself from his grip. She felt as if her soul were being drained by the darkness that radiated from him and soon she could no longer fight him. It was as if invisible ropes held her in place, and they were tightening. Ceridian's hands were now free to molest her at his leisure. His hands roamed freely over her restrained body, groping and fondling every inch of her. His mouth ruthlessly assaulted her neck and chest, licking and biting her wherever he pleased. Her unrestrained cries for help slowly became pleas for him to stop, but this only intensified his need for her. Tears streamed down her cheeks once more as he threw her up against the wall, lifting her legs off of ground and standing between them. Ariana' eyes shut as she felt him penetrate her, her mind raced with fear and a seemingly white hot hatred she had never felt in her entire life; yet she could not fight. She could do nothing to prevent his assault, and so for the second time since she had awakened in this land, she began to cry. "Legolas," she whispered softly, and then she was gone, lost to black oblivion, and the man who had taken what was not his to take.
"He's alive!" yelled one of the villagers from the gate as Aragorn made his way up the causeway into Helm's Deep. Gimli shoved his way through the crowd of refugees whom had descended upon Aragorn.
"You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew. Bless you, laddie," said Gimli, embracing Aragorn.
"Where is the King?" asked Aragorn
Gimli nodded his head in the direction of the keep. Aragorn quickly made his way towards the keep but came to a halt in one of the corridors. Legolas stood, as if he had been waiting for Aragorn's return.
"Le ab-dollen (you're late)…You look terrible, said Legolas with a small smile, before handing Aragorn the Evenstar pendant. Aragorn smiled at the pendant, looked and looked up, scanning the corridor.
"Where is Ariana?" he asked. Legolas opened his mouth to but as he began to speak a loud scream filled every corner of his mind. Images of Ariana began flashing through his mind at the speed of light…she was being raped. Legolas shook his head, looking around franticly. "What is wrong my friend?" Aragorn asked.
"Ariana is in pain….so much pain….he's hurting her….I kill him!" was all Legolas could manage to say before unsheathing his weapons and racing towards the tower of which Ariana was now captive, Aragorn close behind.
Ariana lay on the floor in the middle of the room, her clothes torn, and bruises becoming evident on her arms, legs, and thighs. Ceridian sat strattled over her, ravishing her neck and breasts hungrily. Ariana had revived to find Ceridian atop her and she began to scream out in vain. She felt as if she was fading away into darkness, and no one was there to help her. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the door to the tower burst open. Legolas' eyes fell on Ceridian, who began laughing manically at Legolas.
"The elf prince is too late to save his princess! She belongs to the darkness now!" Said Ceridian.
"We shall see about that!" said Legolas heavily. He strung his bow and fired an arrow straight into Ceridian's heart. As the arrow pierced his body, the dark energy that had once surrounded him faded away. He, Ceridian looked down at the arrow in surprise, and then looked at Legolas before falling to the floor, dead. Legolas let his bow fall to the floor and hurried over to Ariana, cradling her in his arms. Her eyes were open, yet they seemed empty somehow…dead. Legolas held her close to himself.
"I…n…never should have left you…Ariana, I love you with all my heart…don't leave me," he said, a tear running down his face. The tear he had shed fell from his chin and landed on Ariana' lips. At that moment Ariana began to emit a radiant golden glow. The light grew brighter than daylight, enveloping her entire form. Legolas felt waves of white hot energy rippling from her. Even the room itself seemed to be emitting a strange vibration. Moments later the light Surrounding Ariana faded away. Legolas inhaled a breath. Ariana lay in his arms. Her clothing had repaired itself, yet the bruises from her assault remained. Her boots had vanished, revealing her bare feet. The Sillmaril encrusted circlet that adorned her head remained unchanged, unless it had become more brilliant. Her eyes had closed and she looked as if she were in a peaceful sleep. Legolas scooped her up in his arms and carried her from the tower to the sleeping quarters.
Aragorn entered Theoden's chamber, throwing the doors wide.
"A great host you say?"
"All Isengard is emptied,"
"How many?"
"Ten thousand strong at least,"
"Ten thousand?"
"It is an army bred for a single purpose. To destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall,"
"Let them come!"
Theoden stood on the Deeping Wall with Aragorn, Gimli, and his Guard. Men were spread thinly along the wall and the walls of the fortress.
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall. We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall, or set foot inside the Hornburg," he said sternly.
"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-Hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad," said Gimli.
"I have fought in many wars, master dwarf. I know how to defend my own Keep," said Theoden, stepping up to Gimli. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hoards will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be re-sown... homes, rebuilt. Within these walls, we will out last them…,"
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child," said Aragorn.
"What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance," said Theoden, turning angrily to meet Aragorn's gaze.
"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid," said Aragorn.
"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? One of the Valar perhaps? We are not so lucky in our friends as you…," said Theoden. Aragorn looked at Theoden wide eyed. "You thought I didn't know what that girl was? I knew it from the moment I saw her fight. She is not human, nor is she elf kind…no…she is not of this world…why can she not save us?" asked Theoden. Aragorn opened his mouth to answer, but Legolas, who had finally joined them, spoke in his stead.
"Because The Dark One, Sauron's servant, possessed of one of the villagers and had her beaten and rapped…we are lucky she still lives…if I had not gotten there when I did, Aden would have stolen her soul…then she would have become like him, cold and heartless…then nothing would have stopped him from ruling this world…,". Everyone looked at him in shock at his words. Theoden hung his head and sighed deeply.
"Then there truly is no hope."
Yes? No? Maybe so? I didn't do much with this chapter…I liked it as it was, but I re-worded some stuff and took out one of her outfit changes. It was starting to feel like playing final fantasy 10 II, lol. There will be a couple more though…I try to change the outfit to mimic the different stages Arianna goes through…so I think, maybe three more. REVIEW! Comments are welcome; just don't be nasty about it if there is something you want me to change. I got a page long rant from two people because I didn't use correct elvish! WTF PEOPLE? To the rest of you…LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU! Thank you for reading. Gracias! Merci! Shea Shea! Domo! And to every other person reading that is from a different country! THANK YOU!