This is a pretty slow chapter, I know, but it had to happen. Can't just suddenly start the battle lol :) Please review and let me know what you think! I know plenty of people read this, and if you're gonna read even a little bit of it, please take the 20 seconds to say two or three words - you've no idea how much it helps me keep writing! Thanks...love you all :)
Disclaimer: I own none of LOTR - it is entirely Tolkien's genius. And any dialogue and such from the movies are credit to P. Jackson and Co.
He paused for a moment, as if surprised to see her, even though he had been calling for her. He seemed older than she'd last seen him, over a year ago, with more grey in his dark hair and lines in his firm face. But still he stood tall, grey-eyed and strong, and a wide smile lit his features.
"Alandria!" He cried, and rushed forward. "I heard word of a dark-haired Lady-Rider having come, leading the people from Edoras, but I did not believe it! Now I see you!" And he embraced her strongly, holding her tight and close to his warmth, and she felt the pain of the Ranger's loss subside.
"Father!" She pulled back while still clasping his elbows, and meet his eyes. "I had feared I would not see you again."
"Nay, my child. I told you I would return."
"Aye, you did. Little do I heed to promises however, in these times. For the strength of the Enemy does not heed them either." The line of her mouth grew firm and grim, and the older man's features sobered as well.
"Well said, my girl, and true. But you must think little of me, to believe I would not return to you! You are all I have left, Alandria." He smiled softly, cradling her cheek in his rough palm. "I had to return."
She simply nodded, taking hold of his hand from her face. "And you are all I have, Father."
He said nothing, but his smile disappeared, growing serious and concerned, and his grey eyes studied hers carefully. "Have you not even a smile to spare for your father? Tears are still on your face - what grief has reached you?"
Alandria sighed, her eyes dropping his and roaming restlessly about them. "Much, Father. More than there is time to tell here. But for now I will say this - most recently I have learned that a companion I loved dearly, for he is both strong and wise and has travelled alongside me for many miles, fell today. In a battle against Warg-Riders, he fell." Tears pricked her eyes again as she spoke, but she fought to hold them at bay.
The strong features of her father gentled, and he held tighter to her hands. "My daughter," He murmured. "I am sorry for your loss, and can see in your eyes you do indeed have much to tell me of the long months we have been apart. Come, let us find some place to rest, and you will tell your tale." She simply nodded in reply, weariness and sadness overwhelming, and followed where he led her.
Deep in conversation were Alandria and Elrendyn when shouts were heard, alarms of an arrival. Alandria stopped her story when she heard them, catching a familiar name, and stood quickly. "Father, please pardon me. There is a matter I must see to."
"Of course, Alandria. I shall come with you." He stood as well, and she did not argue.
She strode from the table where they had been seated, and made her way quickly towards the gate. Once there however, she saw nothing, and asked nearby people where the arrival had gone. They pointed her in the direction, and she hurried off again, heart beating quickly. And then, just as she neared the Keep, she saw him: his clothing was soaked and torn, blood stained what skin was visible, and his weary feet stumbled the slightest. But he was alive. The sturdy Ranger from the North was alive.
"Aragorn!" She cried, and the tattered figure turned. She saw his face then, and her heart felt as if it would nearly burst with joy, despite the weariness he bore. She rushed the final meters to him, and skid to a halt as her hands fluttered, unsure, about his shoulders and face. She wanted to touch, as if to be sure he was real, but felt such action would be out of line, and might even harm him. But he merely smiled warmly, and took her restless hands in his, bloodied as they were. "You're alive." She breathed, gazing at him in wonder.
He nodded, watching her intently. "I have yet to fulfill my duty here. And a mere Warg and a cliff cannot defeat me." He smiled gently again, and her lips trembled uneasily in reply.
"We were so afraid...so afraid we'd lost you...and the Lady Éowyn!" Alandria's green eyes widened, as she remembered the affections her lady held for the man. "She must be told."
"In time," The Ranger nodded. "but first I must speak with the king."
"Yes, of course." She nodded, and then Aragorn looked over her head, behind her. She turned, and saw her father still standing. "Father! Lord Aragorn, this is my father, Elrendyn. He arrived here a few days ago. Father, this is the Lord Aragorn, whom I told you of."
Her father stepped forward, and only then did she see the striking resemblance between him and the rugged Ranger. Both were tall, dark-haired, grey-eyed and stern faced. Aragorn had an air of nobility and relentless strength about him however, and it separated them clearly. But they equally bowed their heads, and her father smiled slightly. "She has spoken quite highly of you, Lord Aragorn, and I am honored for you to have taken such care of her. It seems it has been needed."
"Nay, lord, she has taken care of herself and even at times I, as well as any. She is strong." The Ranger's gaze turned to Alandria and he smiled faintly for a moment, but turning back to her father. "It is good to know you are here, though, and hopefully other good fighters came with you. I fear they will be needed soon."
Alandria paled, and stepped forward once more. "My lord, what do you mean? What have you seen?"
Aragorn sighed softly, looking down at her faintly worried eyes. "I have seen an army approaching. More of the matter I will not say, until I have spoken to your King Théoden of it. Speaking of, I must go to him, I have lingered too long. Farewell my lady, and lord, until later." And the dark man bowed his head, before backing away and leaving to tell of the army they were now threatened by.
"Perhaps we should find someplace to sit, and wait there. It does no good pacing on the doorstep." Elrendyn sighed, trying to convince his daughter to leave the men in the Keep alone, and stop pacing so relentlessly outside the door. "We will know of their plans when they come out."
"I know father, and I know my impatience bothers you, but I cannot help it. We've been expecting some sort of attack, and I felt the Wargs would not be the only one..."
"Then we should wait elsewhere, and we will learn of the new enemy soon enough."
"No, I must wait here. I should be part of their conversations! I should be hearing what Aragorn saw...how long have they been in there?" She stopped and faced the doors, biting her lip impatiently. "It feels like ages."
"Nigh but minutes, Alandria. You must be patient. Were you so eager while on your previous journey?"
Alandria turned to face her father, and saw the faint smile on his aged features. The corner of her mouth raised, and then she shook her head, sighing. "No. At least, I do not think so. Everything seems to be moving so quickly now though, and I do not know what it is. It makes me uncomfortable. I-" She was cut short, as the large wooden doors finally opened. King Théoden, proud and strong as ever, stepped forward, flanked by Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gamling. "My lords?" Alandria approached, bowing her head quickly. "What news has the Lord Aragorn brought?" She looked expectantly at each of the men's faces, and was troubled by what she found: unease, worry, and fear.
After a moment of silence, Théoden sighed heavily. "Aragorn has seen a large company of Uruk-hai approaching from Isengard. Thousands, possibly ten. They will be here by nightfall." Alandria stared for a long moment, shocked into silence. While she remained in awe, the King looked towards her father. "Elrendyn, I am glad to see you here. It's been far too long since I've had your grand service. Now I ask you - gather all the men that arrived with you, and prepare for battle. Quickly." The dark-haired soldier nodded, and quickly strode away.
Alandria finally found her voice, and verbalized her worries as the men continued through the fortress. "And we are to fight them? Tonight?"
"Yes."
"That is not possible! We will never make it!"
"Your optimism is appreciated."
She ignored the King's dry sarcasam, and continued, "My lord, please, you cannot mean for us to fight."
"What else would we do?" He snapped, glancing at her sharply. "We will not be cut down like animals! Now let me prepare our people, Alandria, and remember your place here." His dark blue eyes were hard, and she instantly backed away, realizing she'd been out of line.
Seeing Legolas and Gimli also in their small group, and she held back to walk beside them. Legolas glanced at her sympathetically, and Gimli sighed. "There's no use arguin', lass. He's right. We've got to fight."
"Yes, but despite what he wants to think, we will still be cut down like animals." She growled in reply, and the Dwarf said no more.
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms ready by nightfall." Théoden instructed Gamling, who nodded. The king then walked to the Gate, which was being boarded up and stengthened, and then stepped out to the front of Helm's Deep. "We will cover the causeway, and the Gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall, or set foot inside the Hornburg."
"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs!" Gimli protested. "These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad."
Théoden approached the Dwarf timidly, glaring down at him. "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own Keep." His voice was low, but warning, and he brushed past the stout, bearded man, the rest following. The King then climbed the steps up to the wall, walking along and watching as his people readied. "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 resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them.
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops of villages," Aragorn finally argued. "They come to destroy it's people - down to the last child!"
Théoden whirled on the Ranger, and grasped his shirt, pulling him closer. Alandria stumbled forward a step in defense to her companion, but stopped herself, reminded of where her place lay. Still, although her ears were less sharp than those of the Elf, she could hear pieces of the words exchanged.
"What would you..me do?...my men...courage hangs by a.....be their end, I would...such an end....worthy of remembrance." He held stares with the Ranger for a moment, before letting the man go, and stepping away.
"Send out Riders, my lord!" Aragorn insisted, unswayed. "You must call for aid."
"And who will come?" Théoden challenged, stepping closer. "Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Call for Gondor!" Alandria finally interrupted, and then was unsure why she'd even spoken.
Théoden turned his hard gaze on her, before glancing at Aragorn. "Gondor?" He growled. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon-...no, my Lord Aragorn," He paused, turning his stare to Alandria as well. "We are alone." And he turned again, striding away from the quartet, before a word more could be said.
"He cannot think we will win this fight with what soldiers are here." Alandria murmured quietly, and Aragorn turned to face her, blue-green eyes soft.
"He must, for if he does not have hope, no one will."
"But he will not even try for help!"
"He's right though." Legolas intervened, warm voice gentle. "There are near no options for help left, and any are too far away to arrive in time. There is no help to come."
Alandria stared out at the empty lands before the stone fortress uneasily, green gaze worried. "Then we are all going to die."
"Alandria." The Ranger's smooth voice cut sharply, firmly, and her grasped her shoulder to make her face him. "Do not think like that. There is a chance. We may yet defeat this." She remained looking doubtful and he sighed, features gentling even more. "Go the lower levels, and help the women and children to the caves. Rid your mind of these fears for the time being." She looked ready to protest, and he gently nudged her towards the stairs. "Go."