The next day, all the people of edoras, as well as the refugees from the small villages gathered outside the city walls, carrying each their personal belongings. "Take only what you need" was the king's command, and the people obeyed since they knew the trip to helm's deep would be a harsh one. At Findulias and Luthien's request they both received rohirrim swords, despite Aragorn's protest "But my ladies" he said "In the case of need I'll assure you that I will look after you.. There is no need for you to fight" but Luthien just smiled at him and said "You worry too much Aragorn, Rest your mind and let us help you with the task coming ahead. I can assure you that we are more than capable to defend ourselves" Findulias stared at all the people around them and added "These are the people who are in need of your protection, not us, and we will help you doing it".
As
the trip started, both elves travelled at Legolas side, asking him
about his father's kingdom in Mirkwood. Then as the trip progressed
and nothing interesting happened, the three elves, as well as Aragorn
and Théoden were amused by a conversation Eowyn was having
with Gimli "It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact,
they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often
mistaken for dwarf men." Eowyn smiled and turned around to look at
Aragorn, who whispered to her "It's the beards" both elves
giggled as Gimli continued "And this in turn has given rise to the
belief that there are no dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring
out of holes in the ground!"
Eowyn laughed and Gimli said "Which
is, of course, ridiculous." At that moment the horse started a run
and Gimli, to everyone amusement, fell of the horse. Eowyn ran after
him as he said ""It's all right! It's
all right. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was
deliberate" As Eowyn helped him up, she glanced back at Aragorn
and smiled, who smiled back. Theoden then told him and the three
elves at his side "I have not seen my niece smile in a long time,
she was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by
Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief. And she was left alone
to tend her king in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who
should have loved her as a father" Both elves looked at her with
compassion and noticed how she and Aragorn stared at each other in
silence. Luthien whispered to Findulias "She is falling in love
with him" Findulias answered sadly "Yes, she reminds me of myself
when I first laid my eyes upon Turin" then she added "And I fear
her love for him is not corresponded as well. There is a great
sadness in Aragorn's soul" Luthien added "I feel it to, but I
have not yet uncovered the reason. For a mortal man, he hides well
what's on his mind".
The next day, as they walked alongside Eowyn and Aragorn, their interest was picked when Eowyn asked "Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel?" They both stared at Aragorn, and noticed his sad eyes, and then his mind opened to them as they saw images of him talking with what appeared to be an elf lord "Our time here is ending. Arwen's time is ending. Let her go. Let her take the ship into the West. Let her bear away her love for you to the undying lands, there to be ever green" he told Aragorn and he answered ""But never more than a memory.". The Elf lord continued "I will not leave my daughter here to die" Aragorn replied "She stays because she still has hope" but he was cut short by the elf "She stays for you, she belongs with her people"
The scene changed and both Luthien and Findulias saw Aragorn talking to an elf maiden that had some resemblance to Luthien. "Nach gwannatha sin? Ma nathach hi gwannathach or minuial archened?" Is this how you would take your leave? Did you think you could slip away at first light — unnoticed?), Aragorn replied "Ú-ethelithon." (I will not be coming back.) The maiden then said "Estelio guru lîn ne dagor. Ethelithach." (You underestimate your skill in battle. You will come back.) But Aragorn replied "Ú-bedin o gurth ne dagor." (It is not of death in battle that I speak.) The maiden asked "O man pedich?" (What do you speak of?) at which Aragorn replied now with sadness: "Edra le men, men na guil edwen, haer o auth a nîr a naeth." (You have a chance for another life, away from war, grief, despair.)
The elf maiden looked at him with incredulity and asked with a hurt voice "Why are you saying this?" Aragorn then added "I'm a mortal, you are elf-kind" he sighed and continued "It was a dream arwen nothing more" Arwen replied "I don't believe you" but Aragorn took her hand and gave her the necklace "This belongs to you" the elf maiden made a sad smile and replied "It was a gift, keep it" as she gave the necklace back"
The vision in Aragorn's mind was over and both Luthien and Findulias stared in silence at Aragorn and then a gasp escaped Findulias mouth as she saw the ring he was wearing in his right hand. "Luthien look" she whispered to her companion and Luthien's eyes widened with surprise as she also saw the ring "Eru… that is the ring my uncle Finrod gave to barahir after the Dagor Bragollach "Battle of the sudden flame", the ring his son Beren inherited" Findulias said. Luthien said nothing but her mind remembered the time when she took her beloved Beren before the throne of Thingol in the halls of Menegroth and he showed the ring to her angry father. Her mind came to the present time as she heard Eowyn asking Aragorn "My lord?" Aragorn simply answered "She is sailing to the undying lands with all that is left of her kin"
Eowyn stared at him but said nothing as her mind realized the reason of Aragorn's sadness.
At that moment Both Luthien and Findulias felt something, they didn't know what it was, but they could feel the change in the air. Apparently Legolas felt it to, as he turned around and looked at both of them with a serious expression on his face. They both approached the other elf but said nothing, the three of them just watched as two royal guards passed them and decided to fallow them. For a moment the two guard went out of their view, but then they all heard a scream and the sound of swords clashing. They ran towards the small cliff and saw one of the guards fighting against a warg rider. Just as Legolas Jumped over the small cliff and used his bow faster than any human could to kill the warg and then the rider, Luthien turned around and screamed to the approaching Aragorn "A scout". Then, as Aragorn went back to warn the others, both elves came to Legolas side and watched as a pack of about 50 warg riders came running in their direction. Both Luthien and Findulias were carrying small rohan bows that could not be compared to the magnificent bow Legolas received in Lorien, but soon they showed the prince of Mirkwood that their skill was no inferior to his own. After a while they felt the riders of Rohan coming from behind them, and each of them got on a horse in a way that no human rider, not even the horse masters, could.
The battle was terrible, but after a while it was obvious who had won. Just as Gimli killed the last warg with his axe, Luthien looked around and saw Legolas and Findulias were ok, but she could not see Aragorn "Aragorn?" she called out but heard nothing. Just as Gimli approached her, calling Aragorn's name, they heard a sinister laugh coming from a dying orc. Gimli approached him and put his axe in the orc's neck "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing" gimli demanded with anger. The orc made an evil smile and answered "He's… (cough)… dead. He took a little tumble off the cliff" Anger took over Legolas as he reached down and grabbed the orc "You lie" but then as the orc died, he saw Arwen's necklace in the orc's ugly hand. A look of worry came to Legolas as he took the necklace and then approached the border of the cliff, fallowed by Findulias, Luthien, Gimli and Theoden.
They all stared down at the river below, but none of them saw a sign of Aragorn. One of the Guards approached the king to wait for orders and the king said "Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return, leave the dead" at the mention of this the three elves stared at him with disbelief and sadness. Theoden looked back at them and then put his hand on Findulias shoulder "Come" he told her and left. The three elves and the dwarf looked back at the river in silence.
The rest of the trip was made in silence, and after they arrived Findulias noticed Eowyn talking to her uncle, worry was clearly seen on her face. She saw as gimli approached Eowyn and told her the news of Aragorn. When she saw the young woman's reaction, she went to her and hugged her.
The next few hours, they helped Eowyn trying to organize the people. It was not until they were taking a little rest with Legolas, when Luthien suddenly stood up, hope in her eyes "He is alive, I can feel it" Legolas and Findulias were about to ask her what she meant, when they all heard one of the guards shouting "Open the gates, a rider is coming" They all stood up and looked at the people gathering at the entrance "He is alive, he is alive" the people said. Just then they saw Aragorn entering through the portal and Gimli making his way to him and shouting "Where is he! Where is he! Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him", But when he was in front of him he said "You are the luckiest, the cunningest, and most reckless man I ever knew" he hughed Aragorn and said "Bless you, laddie". After Aragorn asked Gimli where the king was, he continued on his way but was stopped by the three elves "Le abdollen." (You're late.)" said a smiling Legolas, then Findulias added with a fake serious tone "You look terrible" Aragorn's laughed at the joke. Then Luthien took his hand into hers and with a smile gave him Arwen's necklace that Legolas had previously given to her. Aragorn stared at it with disbelief and then at the three of them who were looking back at him with sympathy. "Hannon le." (Thank you.) was all he said, and then as if remembering something, he continued now with a more serious tone "I must speak with the king urgently"
Moments later, when Aragorn have told the king that an army of ten thousand uruk-hai was coming this way, they all fallowed the king to inspect the defenses "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall" he told one of the royal guards, then addressing Aragorn he said "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg" Theoden told them but Gimli answered "This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad" Theoden stared at him and answered "I have fought many wars master dwarf; I know how to defend my own keep". They went above the gate and Theoden continued "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them." Aragorn intervened "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child" Theoden turned around to face him and asked with anger "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" Theoden turned to leave, but Aragorn interrupted him "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid" Theoden approached him with a bitter smile on his face and asked "And who will come. Elves? Dwarves?" he stared at the three elves and dwarf and continued "We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead" Aragorn added "Gondor will answer" but Theoden responded with anger "Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was gond." He stopped for a moment and then continued in a more calm manner "No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone"
Aragorn stared at the king as he left with a look of resignation on his face, then he turned to look at his friends and said "We better get ready for what is coming" As they walked, Aragorn told them "We'll place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate" Findulias interrupted him, concern over her face, "Aragorn, you must rest. You're no use to us half-alive" at that moment Eowyn came to them and said to Aragorn "Aragorn! I'm to be sent with the women into the caves" Aragorn replied: "That is an honorable charge." But Eowyn interrupted him "To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return. What renown is there in that?" Aragorn told her "My lady, a time may come for valor without renown. Who then will your people look to in the last defense?" Eowyn begged "Let me stand at your side" but Aragorn replied "It is not in my power to command it" Aragorn began to walk away but he stopped as Eoywn told him almost on the verge of tears "You do not command the others to stay! They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. Because they love you" Eowyn and Aragorn stared at each other for a moment and the she departed saying "I'm sorry" Findulias was about to call her, but was stopped by Luthien "Let her go, she needs to be alone.
They all went to the armory and to their surprise; they found that most of the "Army" consisted of old man and even small children no older than 11 or 12. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys.. these are not soldiers" Aragorn said to himself as he inspected a sword" Gimli then said "Most have seen to many winters" and Legolas added "or too few" he took a breath and continued "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes" he was interrupted by Luthien who told him "Legolas. They are not deaf" He stared at her and then at Aragorn and continued in sindarin "Boe a hyn neled herain… dan caer menig!" (And they should be. Three hundred… against ten thousand!)" Aragorn answered also in sindar "Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras." (They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras.)" But he was cut short by Legolas "Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú ortheri. Natha daged aen!" (Aragorn, They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die) but Aragorn answered with anger and this time in the tongue of man "Then I shall die as one of them" then he looked at legolas with a little sadness and left. Legolas was about to fallow him but was stopped by Gimli "Let him go lad, let him be". Findulias said "We have no hope if we start fighting among ourselves" then Luthien approached Legolas and smiled at him "You care deeply about him. I can see that" then she put her hand on his shoulder and said "Do not despair son of Thranduil, even in the darkest times there is still hope". Legolas smiled at her and Findulias then added "These are Aragorn's people but we will all stand by his side in their hour of need, even if we must die". Legolas bowed to them and said "My ladies. It will be an honor to fight by your side" then he said "I must find Aragorn and tell him that I'm sorry. In the mean time you should look for an armor that suits you" then he left fallowed by Gimli.
Luthien and Findulias were looking at the now empty armory, looking for any piece of armor that they could use for the coming battle when they heard a familiar voice behind them "I don't think you will find a proper armor for the queens of the Noldor and the Sindar here" the voice spoke in the manner of the valar. "I know that voice" Findulias said with a smile as she turned around and saw the Maia Eonwe, herald of the valar. Before any of the girls could say anything, Eonwe continued "I got a message from both your families; they said that they are proud of what you are doing." Luthien asked with hope "Will the valar help?" Eonwe answered "Unfortunately we can't help directly in the war. If we did, the destruction would be too great for the land" then he took two bags and handed one to each girl. As they took out the contents, their eyes opened wide. "This is my father's armor and his sword Aranruth" Luthien said as she stared at the glowing armour and sword "the sword and the armor were made by telchar himself" she explained to Findulias "They are made of a combination of mithril and ithildin" Findulias said "They look as if they were made of moonlight" Luthien then asked "If my father's armour seems to be made of moonlight, then yours seems to be made of the same substance of sunlight" she said with admiration. Unlike the silvery armor Luthien had, findulias's armor was golden "If I'm not mistaken" she said "This is the same armor Fingolfin wore when he fought against Morgoth, and this is the sword that hurt the valar seven times. They were both made by feanor himself" Findulias said and Eonwe added "You are not mistaken child. Both the sword and the armor were damaged during that combat, but they were repaired by Aule". After both girl put their armors on, Eonwe said "I must go now and remember that even if we can't fight directly on the war, we are still watching" then he disappeared.
At that moment they saw Aragorn coming inside the armory with a resolved face, gone was the despair in his eyes as he dressed. Ten they saw as Legolas approached him from behind and handed him his sword. Aragorn smiled at him and legolas said "We have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair" Aragorn answered as he put his hand on Legolas shoulder "Ú-moe edamed, Legolas." (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.) Legolas smiled back. At that moment they heard findulias approaching them and saying "We will stand by your side no matter what" then Luthien added "Don't worry Aragorn and have faith" both Aragorn and Legolas stared wide eyed at them. With their bright armor put on, and their natural beauty, they were now a glorious vision from the old days. Findulias smiled when she saw their reaction and asked "What?" the moment was broken as Gimli came inside the armory, not paying any attention to the two ladies, wearing armor that was far too long for him "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted." He said as the armor fell to the ground,both Aragorn and Legolas stared at each other with a smile, while Findulias and Luthien giggled "It's a little tight across the chest" Gimli said. As Legolas was about to say something, they all hear the sound of a horn. Legolas said with an incredulous look "That is no orc horn" and then he ran upstairs fallowed by the rest