This took me all freaking day to write, hahaha. I just finished this at 9:30 pm.
Disclaimer: I own only Alice.
Alice and Aragorn sit quietly on the steps of the Hall, simply enjoying each other's company in the few hours they have left before sundown. Aragorn glances over at some boys standing around a fire, timidly holding their weapons and shields. Alice, noticing, glances over as well, and pities them. If she's too young to be here, than they are way too young. The boy closest to them glances over in their direction before quickly averting his gaze.
"Give me your sword." Aragorn says, and the boy whips around. She can tell that the ranger's presence has made the boy nervous, and that walking closer to him is not giving him any comfort. She does her best to smile at him as he hands over the sword. "What is your name?"
"Haleth, son of Háma, my lord." They both react to the name, but neither comment. Alice notices he has a wide forehead. "The Men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless."
Aragorn doesn't respond right away. Instead, he stands and eyeballs the sword. Taking it firmly in his hands, he gives a few practice swings, testing it out. Alice stands, and he passes it over to her as well. Feeling her instincts take over, she takes a deep breath as she gets into a steady swinging rhythm that has the boy staring, open-mouthed (along with some of the ones behind him) at her. She finishes and hands it back to the boy.
"This is a good sword." Aragorn says as Haleth reaches up to take it back, "Haleth, son of Háma." The ranger leans down, grabs the boy by his shoulder and looks him in the eye, "… there is always hope."
Later…
In the armory of Helm's Deep that evening, Alice stands by, watching Aragorn quickly don his chainmail, leather vest, and Elven dagger. He suddenly looks up when someone reaches to hand him his sword. It's Legolas, with Andúril in hand. Aragorn takes it and nods in thanks.
"We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair." Aragorn shakes his head.
"Ú-moe edhored, Legolas." Alice smiles at the two of them, putting an arm around their shoulders. (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.)
"I'm proud of you two." They all smile at each other, the friendship renewed. Gimli, however, is too busy wrestling with a shirt of chainmail to notice.
"If we had time, I'd get this adjusted." He gets the shirt on, and it drops the bundle to the floor. It lands in a heap. The three smile, trying hard to not laugh. Gimli is unphased. "It's a little tight across the chest." The two men nod in feigned agreement.
A loud horn interrupts the moment, and Legolas turns in curiosity.
"That is no Orc horn." He grabs Alice's hand, and the two run out of the armory with Aragorn quickly following.
"Open the gate!" Someone yells distantly.
"… Long ago we fought and died together." Alice hears as her and her three friends appear at the top of the stiars. Haldir, standing with a huge regiment of Elf archers, smiles at them. "We come to honor that allegiance." The four are quick to descend the stairs to greet the Elf.
"Mae govannen, Haldir." Aragorn says with a quick bow. Haldir extends his hand in a traditional Elvish welcome, and Aragorn begins to also extend his hand when he stops and gives him a huge hug. Haldir is momentarily stunned, but then hugs back lightly. "You are most welcome." (Welcome, Haldir)
Legolas and Haldir clasp each other on the shoulder in greeting, and Legolas steps aside. Alice and Haldir spend a moment, simply observing each other with hesitation to greet each other. Mostly because the last time they saw each other they were red in the face, screaming at the top of their lungs, spewing venom at each other the likes of which has not been heard in Lothlórien in a very, very long time. Finally, Alice breaks the tense moment.
"I still don't like you." Haldir nods once.
"I don't like you, either." Another long pause.
"But that doesn't mean I won't be expecting you to do the right thing when the time comes for it." His head turns slightly, curious.
"And what might that be?" She later congratulates herself on being able to say this without laughing.
"Saving my ass." A beat. Haldir grins, which Alice quickly returns before rushing forward and hugging him. "You have no idea how much your arrival here is appreciated." He laughs, and Alice backs off. The Elf warrior glances around.
"I think I could guess."
The army of Elves performs a left face and stands before Théoden for his review. Haldir bows before him.
"We are proud to fight alongside Men once more."
Later…
Alice, Legolas, and Gimli stand side-by-side. The Men and Elves stand ready and watchful on the battlements of Helm's Deep. Every inch of space overlooking the sides of the wall is covered. Across the plains, before Helm's Deep, an enormous army, lit by torches, approaches the heavily manned and fortified battlements.
After the greeting with Haldir, Aragorn took Alice aside and helped her find some proper chainmail and get suited up, ready for battle. All the while, instead of staying quiet like she expected, he gave her instructions as to what to do when the battle begins. Gimli and Legolas had been assigned to the top of the battlements, but she was to stick by Aragorn's side, no matter what.
"You could have picked a better spot," Gimli says to Legolas, breaking Alice's revere. The Elf price smirks at the Dwarf. Aragorn approaches from behind, and claps Alice on the shoulder. "Well, lad," Gimli says, glancing up at the ranger once, "whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night." Lightning flashes, and thunder rolls, both startling Alice. Aragorn gives her a forced smile. Legolas' eyes widen at the sight of the huge Uruk-Hai army before them.
"Your friends are with you, Aragorn." The prince says without turning around.
"Let's hope they last the night." Alice face-palms. "What is it, lassie?" Gimli asks.
"Thunder. Lightning." She suddenly growls, surprising the three men. "On top of everything else, it's going to RAIN." The men laugh at her, and she quickly moves to follow Aragorn as he silently moves away.
Everyone is unmoved when it suddenly starts to rain. The sea of spears grows ever closer. An Orc commander stands atop a rock, urging the sea of Uruk-Hai onward, as they move closer and closer to the wall of Helm's Deep. Aragorn moves through the ranks of the Elven archers.
"A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn ... an uben tanatha le faelas!" He shouts. Alice marvels at how fast his hair has already become wet. (Show them no mercy ... for you shall receive none!)
The Uruk-Hai commander roars at his troops, and they stop their march. The two armies stand still opposite each other, each waiting for the other. Aragorn moves to the edge of the battlement, Alice standing quietly behind and to his left. The Uruk-Hai army stands impatiently, waiting for their orders. Even though Legolas and Gimli stand in the direct center of the Elvish archers, and her and Aragorn stand on one far side, she can still hear their conversation over the din of the rain.
"What's happening out there?" Gimli asks, and she glances over to see him straining to look over the edge of the wall.
"Shall I describe it to you?" The velvety voice of her love asks, and he looks at the Dwarf with a grin. "Or would you like me to find you a box?" Alice laughs quietly to herself, and glances over again to see Gimli also laughing. She smiles at the two of them, but neither sees.
The Uruk-Hai commander roars, and the entire army begins pounding their spears on the ground. The Men and Elves draw their swords and ready their arrows. She can already hear Ringil singing, as it quivers in eager anticipation in her hand… either that, or she's shaking from the fear and not realizing it. She tries to steady herself.
Suddenly, an arrow from their side is loosed!
The arrow sails to the front line of Uruk-Hai and hits its mark.
"Dartho!" Aragorn shouts. (Hold!)
The struck soldier groans and collapses to the ground, dead. The commander roars and thrusts his sword forward, and the army roars in response, and begins running towards the battlements. The front line of Uruk-Hai rush toward the wall, and Aragorn shouts orders to the archers.
"Tangado halad!" (Prepare to fire!)
As one, the archer's ready their bows, nocking their arrows, standing at the ready. Alice envisions Legolas doing the same, not having to look over to see him do it. She squirms a bit inside her armor, and Aragorn hears the shuffling. He turns and looks at her.
"Amin gorgamin sen." She says quietly. He keeps his arm raised. (I fear them.)
"Uuma dela. Amin sinta thaliolle e dagor." He smiles at her. "It'll be okay, Alice." She holds his gaze for just one second longer, and then looks out at the army before them, nodding once. He watches her for just another minute, before turning back. Aragorn brings his arm down, "Leithio i philinn!" (Don't worry. I know your strength in battle… Release arrows!)
The archers release their arrows and they find their marks. With every Uruk-Hai that falls, two more replace him. Alice is horrified to be reminded, now of all times, of the Hydra from Greek legend.
"Fire!" Gamling shouts from somewhere nearby. The order is passed to the Men, and the arrows fly.
Many more Uruk-Hai are felled but the advance continues. The army continues advancing on Helm's Deep. Volley after volley of arrows are launched into the fray killing the front line over and over, but the advance cannot be halted. Uruk-Hai launch arrows from crossbows into the Alliance. Elves and Men fall to their doom among the approaching throng. The Uruk-Hai produces ladders and mounts them against the wall. Aragorn and Alice look down at this new peril.
"Pendraid!" He shouts. "Swords, swords!" He quickly tells the archers, and the Elves swiftly draw their swords to prepare for close combat. Aragorn turns to Alice. "Now it begins." He's a bit surprised to see her steely gaze. (Ladders!)
"Gurth 'ni yrch!" She screams at the top of her lungs, and the Elves cheer behind her. Aragorn grins broadly. (Death to the Orcs!)
The Uruk-Hai begins pouring over the wall. The Men and Elves begin the battle against them. Alice begins keeping mental count. She kills the Uruk's as they come, but finds it hard, as she has become dependent on finding a rhythm, and cannot find one here. She turns to Aragorn.
"Hey, Aragorn!" He looks over to her, "Eight!" He rolls his eyes and laughs before quickly taking out an Orc, before turning back to her.
"Eleven!"
"Damnit!"
The battle rages on. More and more siege ladders are raised against Helm's Deep as more and more Uruk-Hai flood in.
A large team of Uruk-Hai shield themselves like a turtle and makes their way up the causeway to the main gate. Arrows bounce off the shields like flicked rubber bands. Aragorn notices the peril on the causeway, and he runs through the archers, shouting orders.
"Na fennas!" (Causeway!)
The Elvish archers turn and fire at the Uruk-Hai on the causeway. The soldiers on the sides of the turtle formation fall but the turtle itself keeps advancing. Alice swears this is all taken straight out of Greek and Roman history at this point.
Two Uruk-Hai carry a spiked ball towards the sluice gate of Helm's Deep. They place it within, and two more quickly follow to place a second spiked ball within. The Uruk's make a clear path for another, armed with a sparkling torch, to make a clear run for the sluice gate. Aragorn sees the approaching Uruk-Hai. He turns and yells to Legolas.
"Togo hon dad, Legolas!" (Bring him down, Legolas!)
The Elf prince fires several arrows at the Uruk-Hai, but he continues to run. Aragorn and Alice desperately point to the berserker.
"Dago hon! Dago hon!" They both scream out. (Kill him! Kill him!)
The Uruk, even having been shot twice in the shoulders, collapses, letting the torch hit the fuse. Alice holds her breath, bracing herself.
A MASSIVE EXPLOSION DESTROYS AN ENTIRE SECTION OF THE WALL THROWING MEN AND URUKS IN ITS WAKE! (I saw this in the script I use for the movie, and I was like, "... yeah, okay, I'll just leave that in there as it is, lol" - JL1843)
Aragorn, Alice, Legolas, and Gimli are all thrown to the ground from the explosion. Aragorn and Alice land on the dirt behind where the wall once was, and Legolas and Gimli manage to stay atop. Massive chunks of stone come down and flatten portions of the Uruk-Hai army. Water flows out of the breach, and Uruk's flow in.
Alice awakens only a few seconds later, having just blacked out. She's quickly on her feet, and sees a hoard of Uruk's flooding in through the whole in the wall. Her eyes widen.
"ARAGORN!" Gimli shouts from atop the wall, "ALICE!" He jumps from the top of the wall into the hoard.
"Gimli!" They both shout in response as he begins hacking away at the Uruk's. He's quickly overpowered and knocked underwater. "Hado i philinn!" Aragorn commands the Elves standing behind them, raising his arm and lowering it in one swift movement. Alice holds perfectly still as a huge volley of arrows rushes past her and into the Uruk's before her. The Orcs are felled, but many more follow in their wake. "Herio!" Aragorn shouts. (Hurl the arrows!... Charge!)
The Elves charge the approaching Uruk-Hai. When contact is made, ground is neither lost nor gained. Aragorn, Alice, and the Elves valiantly battle their enemy with much success. Aragorn reaches below the surface of the water and pulls Gimli to the surface, who coughs and sputters with fresh air. Aragorn drags him to temporary safety, Alice slowly retreating to follow them and make sure they don't get hurt. The Elves and Uruk-Hai continue their battle at the gap in the Deeping Wall.
The endless sea of Uruk-Hai swarm into Helm's Deep. Aragorn, Alice, Legolas, and Gimli fight tirelessly against the onslaught, killing all that stand in their way. Alice has finally managed to find her rhythm, and it turns her into a deadly force to not be reckoned with. Aragorn looks up as a voice cuts across the battle.
"Aragorn! Fall back to the Keep! Get your Men out of there!" Aragorn signals the fighters.
"Na Barad! Na Barad!" Alice hears him repeat the order to Haldir as she and Legolas drag Gimli off the field, struggling with the protesting Dwarf. (To the Keep! Pull back to the Keep!)
"What are you doing? What are you stopping for?"
The battle rages on.
Alice is quick to seek out and find Aragorn, not surprised that he's making his way to the newly breeched main gate. The two both stop and very, very quickly greet Théoden King, Aragorn by putting a hand on his shoulder and Alice by giving him a fast nod. They join the fray, Gimli right behind them. Théoden yells from behind them.
"Hold them!"
"How long do you need?" Aragorn responds, and the King takes his sword in his hand.
"As long as you can give me." The ranger nods, and glances around.
"Gimli! Alice!" The trio slips out a side exit, largely unnoticed, as the Men rush to hold the gate.
A few minutes later…
An ignored door on the side of a tower near the gate opens slight. Aragorn peeps out. Seeing no immediate danger, he, Gimli, and Alice creep out and sidle along the outside of the wall. They stop at the bend, and Aragorn peeps very carefully around the corner for only a second before sidling the wall again.
"Come on," Gimli says desperately, "We can take 'em!" Aragorn looks at Gimli sidelong with a smirk.
"It's a long way." Alice's eyes widen, wondering how far it must be for him to make such a comment. Both she and Gimli take a peek, before stepping back and looking into the distance. She takes a fast, deep breath, mentally prepping herself. She glances at Gimli out of the corner of her eye, and sees his embarrassed look.
"Toss me." He mumbles quietly.
"What?" Aragorn asks, slow and cautious. Alice turns her head, eyes widened with shock at the Dwarf's words, in a way that would make Stewie Griffin proud. Aragorn glances up at her, and she can tell he is fighting back the bark of laughter she can already see dancing on his lips.
"I cannot jump the distance. You'll have to toss me!" Gimli says quickly. The ranger nods slowly, and turns to lift the Dwarf. "Oh..." He turns and gives a meaningful glance at Alice. "… don't tell the Elf." Alice fakes a coughing fit to loosen some of the laughter playing behind her teeth.
"Not a word." Aragorn says, still using the slow and cautious tone.
With one swift move, Aragorn tosses Gimli across the span and into the throng of Uruk-Hai, taking them by complete surprise. The ranger turns back and quirks an eyebrow at Alice, holding out a hand to offer her a toss, but she motions with her head for him to go. He nods once, and then turns and leaps, joining the fray. Alice takes another deep breath, takes a step back, and then charges around the corner, Ringil drawn. She leaps across the distance…
And lands into the body of a now-deceased Uruk!
The combined power of the three mighty warriors quickly begins clearing the causeway, allowing the soldiers behind them to begin repairing and re-barricading the door. Alice silently prays to whatever gods are listening to keep Legolas safe as she sees more ladders with more Uruk's being raised against the upper battlements of Helm's Deep.
Aragorn and Gimli stay out of Alice's way as Ringil, spinning with a fury no one has ever seen, slices and dices the Uruk-Hai with little effort. She doesn't hear Théoden as the gate is finished.
"Gimli! Aragorn! Alice! Get out of there!" He shouts just before the last board is put into place. Legolas calls to them from the top of the battlements.
"ARAGORN!" He begins lowering a rope down, and Aragorn turns to see Alice still hacking away at her foes.
"ALICE!" She stabs an Uruk through, and then turns. "UP THE ROPE!" She nods once, kills off another Uruk, and then turns to run.
As soon as the rope is low enough, she starts clambering up it to make room for Aragorn and Gimli beneath her. Her two friends defend her as she begins ascending. The ranger grabs the rope with one hand, the Dwarf with the other, and Elves above hoist them up. It's a slow process, and only once does the acrophobic make the mistake of looking down to see how her friends are doing. Aragorn, seeing how fast she looks away from them and clamps a hand to her mouth, recalls her fear.
"DON'T LOOK DOWN, ALICE!" He shouts, fearing she may let go if she does. She nods vigorously, trying to keep her lunch down.
A moment later, she feels a familiar hand grasp hers, and in a heartbeat she's over the wall and in the arms of Legolas. He hugs her tight, kissing her in what she would almost describe as jubilation at having her back. When he finally pulls away, she gives him a grave stare.
"Don't ever let me do something that stupid again." He nods once, and the two kiss again.
"If yer quite done, laddie, we've got bigger problems!" Gimli says as he and Aragorn wait for them to finish their moment. Aragorn looks over the edge, and watches the Orc's break through the gate.
"They have broken through! The castle is breached! Retreat!" He screeches out as they all run inside the castle.
The next morning…
Alice furiously scrubs the sweat from her eyes, feeling them burn. She can feel the thousands of tiny cuts, scrapes, and bruises that litter her body now that her adrenaline has allowed to her relax. Every breath is a labor, every heartbeat a burden. She hasn't known exhaustion – or pain – like this since she was sixteen, after she started working for Harry Zigler at the Moulin Rouge. Legolas hugs her tight to himself, and she can feel him tensing with each bang of the battering ram against the hall door, where they are now trapped. The soldiers work to barricade the door, and Théoden watches with despair.
"The fortress is taken. It is over." Aragorn runs to the King, and Alice and Legolas start picking up nearby furniture.
"You said this fortress would never fall while your Men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it."
Another loud crunch.
"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn asks, and Théoden doesn't answer, standing silently while staring at the floor. "Is there no other way?" Gamling speaks up.
"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-Hai are too many." Alice places another chair against the door.
Another deafening crunch.
"Tell the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance." Aragorn commands Gamling, pleading with him. Théoden looks over to them.
"So much death." The two men turn to look at him. "What can Men do against such reckless hate?"
Another sickening crack at the door.
Aragorn stops to think for a moment, and then turns, speaking quietly to Théoden.
"Ride out with me." The king turns, confused. "Ride out and meet them." Théoden walks to the ranger, a light glimmering in his eyes.
"For death and glory." He responds.
"For Rohan. For your people." Gimli looks up at the window to the hall.
"The sun is rising." He says, and Alice can't tell if it's pointed or off-handedly. Her and Aragorn turn to the window, the first light of day streams through it. She remembers Gandalf's words.
"Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn ... look to the east." She looks at Aragorn, who returns her stare. She smirks, giving him an, "I-so-told-you-so" look. He rolls his eyes half-heartedly, and then looks back to Théoden with grim determination.
"Yes. Yes. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!" Gimli looks over to them with excitement.
"Yes!"
CRUNCH! The force of the battering ram throws men to the ground, who scramble back up to hold it. Théoden places his hand on Aragorn's shoulder.
"Let this be the hour," Alice walks over from where she stood next to Legolas and the door, to the King, and he places his other hand on her shoulder as well. "…when we draw swords together." Aragorn nods, understanding fully.
A few minutes later…
The ram crunches against the door again.
"Fell deeds awake...now for wrath...now for ruin and a red dawn!" THÉODEN places his helmet on his head. They hear Gimli blow on the horn. It sounds a deep blast across the depths of Helm's Deep. The Uruk-Hai break the door and begin swarming in. Théoden raises his sword. "Forth Eorlingas!" The decimated army, now on horseback, charges out of the hall. Alice rides with Legolas, both having swords drawn. She clings to his middle as they race out the door.
As they run down the causeway, Ringil sings with the blood of the Uruks, cleaving its way through them. It does not pause for anyone or anything, slicing through the armor of the Uruk-Hai like butter. Until it hears the call of Shadowfax.
Alice looks up, to see Gandalf sitting upon the chief of the Maeras, the sun shining behind him. Suddenly, Éomer appears at his side, and with him, all of his soldiers. She vaguely hears the men shout their cries of 'For the King!' from this distance. She grins broadly as they come racing down the hill. She cannot help herself.
"BOO-YAH!"
The Rohirrim quickly decimate the five hundred or so remaining Uruk-Hai. Alice hops off her horse, runs into the fray, and finds Éomer, his horse laying next to him, dead. She sees an Uruk about to cleave his head off his shoulders, and quickly brings up Ringil to stop the Uruk's blade. Éomer spins around, hearing the clang, and sees her standing there, defending him. He stares, open-mouthed, as she makes very quick work of the Uruk, killing him with little effort. When she turns and smiles at him, he nods once in appreciation. After that, it doesn't take them much longer to work their way back over to the survivors of Helm's Deep.
"Victory!" She hears Théoden yell, "We have victory!" Aragorn looks up with relief, the battle is over.
The fleeing Uruk-Hai run from Helm's Deep, over a ridge, and into the plains. Standing on the other side of the ridge is a large forest, which the Uruk's quickly run for. Théoden, Aragorn (and Alice, who has switched over to ride with him), Éomer, and the rest of the Rohirrim ride to the top of the ridge and stop.
"Stay out of the forest! Keep away from the trees!" Éomer orders, and he looks with fear at the forest that has sprung up. Alice taps Aragorn's shoulder, and he turns his head to listen. She points at the forest.
"Was that there a few days ago?" She whispers, and he shakes his head. Her eyes widen. He grins at her reaction.
Screams emit from the forest. The trees have killed the Uruk-Hai.
Later…
Soldiers pile the bodies of the dead Uruk-Hai. Legolas and Alice walk through the carnage and spot Gimli, smoking his pipe. Legolas stops, stroking his bow.
"Final count...42." Alice's jaw drops.
"Forty-two?" Gimli says in mock adoration. "That's not bad for a pointy-eared Elvish princeling. I myself am sitting pretty on 43." The expression of triumph on Legolas' face drops off very quickly. Suddenly, he fires an arrow at the Uruk that Gimli sits upon.
"Forty-three." He says, smirking.
"He was already dead." The Dwarf corrects.
"He was twitching."
"He was twitching because he's got my axe," Gimli's voice raises in irritation, "buried in his nervous system!" The Dwarf demonstrates by working the axe in the Uruk's head. The hands and feet twitch as he does. Alice gets a momentary grossed out look.
"Well, boys, that's not bad." They both turn to her with some slight surprise. "I'm proud of your work." She grins broadly. "But I'm standing on a lovely 47." Both the men's shoulders immediately sag. She giggles, and they glare at her. She waves cheerfully, and walks off to go find Gandalf.
Sometime later…
Alice walks through the dense forest listlessly. She's not totally certain where she is, but it seems familiar. She comes upon a beach, and sits down by the water. She waits.
"Good day, Lady Alice." Calls a strong voice, and she immediately stands. From around a tree comes an Elf dressed all in white. "My name is Oromë." A gasp escapes her, and he smiles. "You know of me from your studies with Elrond." It's not a question. She nods in response. "Good."
"Where are we?" She asks after a pause. He smiles again, but this one is grim.
"Surely you recognize this place." There's another pause, and she slowly shakes her head. He holds out a hand to gesture across the water. When she looks past him, she sees a boat sitting across the lake, and two people, Hobbits most likely, entering the dense forest on the other side. She remembers.
"This is the last place I saw Frodo." He nods once. She looks up at him. "Why have you come to speak to me about Frodo?" He quirks an eyebrow.
"How do you know this is about Frodo?" She rolls her eyes.
"Because everything is about Frodo. And this place is significant to me regarding him, as it's the last place as I ever saw him." He chuckles.
"You do catch on quick. Good." His face grows grim. "Your part in the quest to destroy the Ring is not yet over. You only have two or so more days left in the company of Isildur's heir. When the nephew of the Horse King brings you to safety, you must search for a black horse who responds to the name of Nahar within the stables. Tell him the words 'noro lim' before you mount him, and he will not harm you when you attempt to ride him. From there, you must ride out to Osgiliath in Gondor, and save Frodo from the hands of the Nazgûl. After that, you will be visited again, and receive further instruction." She shakes her head.
"Wait, what? Why? Why can't I ride out to Isengard with the others?" Oromë sighs.
"You will be riding to Isengard tomorrow. But… Galadriel never told you what would happen if you had not arrived in this world at all, did she?" She quirks an eyebrow. "I thought not." He sighs again. "In Moria, Gimli son of Glóin would have been lost at the hands of the cave troll, and then Gandalf at the hands of the Balrog." She gasps, her eyes wide. "At Amon Hen, both Aragorn and Boromir would have died because of the Uruk-Hai. Legolas would have left to follow Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, leaving Meriadoc and Peregrin to die at the hands of Saruman, having been beaten into submission and told the corrupted wizard about Frodo carrying the One Ring. Legolas would have been taken by the Nazgûl that attacks them at Osgiliath. Rohan would have fallen that first night during the battle for Helm's Deep. Samwise would have killed Gollum just after the battle, and then died at the hands of Shelob, an evil thing in spider form. Frodo would have been taken by the temptations of the Ring, and then killed at the hands of Sauron." By the end, sobs wrack Alice's body, tears stream down her face. Oromë sits down by her in the sand, and brushes away her hair. She looks up at him from underneath her eyelashes. "You are the key, Alice. This is not the story you know." She holds his gaze for a moment.
"Nephew of Théoden, Nahar, black horse, noro lim, Osgiliath, kill the Nazgûl, save Frodo." She closes her eyes, committing it to memory, and then hangs her head. "If it is the will of Valar, then I will see it done." It's a cold, heartless statement. He cups her chin, and makes her look up into his eyes.
"Be brave, Alice. You have many miles to go." The words sound hollow in her ears, a cheap replica of what Aragorn once told her. "You have your greatest trial ahead of you. Your past is about to meet your present and your future. Your mother's name, once a gift, will now be your curse." She takes a shaky breath.
"Okay. Anything else?" He smiles sadly.
"I am sorry that we have to put you through this. If you don't leave now and stop the Nazgûl, Faramir, son of Denethor will take the Ring and everything will be undone. He will do what Boromir failed to do." Another sob escapes unexpectedly at the sound of Boromir's name, and his visage begins to fade. "Be strong. It's not quite over yet, Alice… Alice…"
"Alice?"
She sits up straight, a thick sheen of sweat covering her face, and she gasps for air. She can taste the salt water of her tears. Legolas holds her to him, quieting her as the sobs return, wracking her body once more. The tears are of shock and of slight joy, now that she realizes it was just a dream. He shushes her, rocking her gently until the tears subside.
It's the night Gandalf arrived, and they're leaving first thing in the morning for Isengard. They spent the afternoon pouring over maps and preparing their things for departure. It's a half day's ride out there. They leave at dawn. Legolas insisted that they share a room, fearful she would have night terrors, seeing as it was the first time she'd slept since the beginning of her first major battle she'd fought without the help of Fingolfin. Théoden was reluctant to agree, but Aragorn supported him, saying that no one would be able to help her like Legolas. Eventually, they managed to convince him to allow it. Alice had been getting ready for bed, so wasn't there to argue or be involved. She was pleasantly surprised to find the Elf prince climbing into bed with her, but too exhausted to do much about it but tell him goodnight.
"Are you alright?" He asks her after the tears subsided. She nods.
"I was visited." He freezes, and then looks at her. She looks up at him, and he wipes away her tears. "One of the Valar." His eyes widen. "Oromë was his name." His mouth falls open. "He told me I have to go. I have to go to Osgiliath in Gondor. I have to save Frodo from Faramir, son of Denethor."
"Denethor?" He finally asks, the shock wearing off a bit. "Boromir's father?" She nods, and he hugs her again, rubbing her arms. "What's in Osgiliath?" He asks himself quietly.
"A Nazgûl." She answers, just as quiet, and she feels him freeze again.
"No." He says after a tense moment. She looks up at him. "No, I'm not letting you run off to fight a Nazgûl on your own." She shakes her head.
"I have no choice, Legolas. I have my orders. It's me or Frodo." She smiles sadly. "I'm as much a soldier in this as Gamling. I have to follow my orders." She shrugs, still sad. "I just get them from the Valar." He sighs, running a hand through his hair.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow. When the others can hear this." She nods, accepting this for an answer. "We should sleep."
Within seconds of laying back down, the young couple is fast asleep.
Found a way, thanks to Blade, my brother, to extend this story out and make it last a bit longer. w00t. Fyi, I didn't talk about it here, but this is the part where Haldir dies. Oh, and first person to remember the history of Nahar gets cookies! =D
Luna - Haha, yup! That's very much Alice, hahahaha. I felt so terrible for Gamling when writing that scene. "Don't shoot the messenger" totally fits there, too, lol. XD
Lady Minuialwen - Of course! Haha.
Next time, on Alice in Middle Earth: The Two Towers
Alice's greatest foe, Saruman the White, awaits her arrival at Isengard, along with her two friends, Merry and Pippin. Frodo is in peril, the Nazgul attack Osgiliath, and Faramir can feel the temptations of the Ring. What to Omore mean by her past will meet with her present? Why, or better yet, how is Eomer going to save Alice? Find out next time!