So we're nearing the end of the Two Towers, with just this chapter and either one long one or two short chapters left. I'm undecided how to do it. And I hope once that is done, this story will pick up for you readers, even though I'm suffering with periods of Writer's Block... I also apologize now that the Battle of Helm's Deep isn't very long - I only recently discovered how difficult it can be to drag out battles when I'm not all that familiar with them myself, lol. But I hope you enjoy it all nonetheless :)
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.
"Elves? Which ones?"
"Why would the King call Elves for help?"
"How many are there?"
"Surely now we will win this battle, won't we? Elves are excellent fighters!"
"I don't know!" Alandria snapped, answering all the babbling questions. "I cannot tell how many, for I am not skilled enough and their steps are too light. I don't know if Théoden called for them. After hearing his words earlier, I doubt it. I do not know where they are from - Rivendell or Lothlórien, most likely, but I do not know which. And most certainly, I do not know if we will win. Do not count on it, but perhaps now there is a better chance."
Her words were not entirely reassuring, but few paid heed to them as they were too excited at the thought of Elves coming to aid. The many women chattered excitedly, and the children looked confused, but understood their mothers were happier and many even smiled. Alandria merely sighed, locking gazes with the Lady Éowyn.
"They do not listen."
Éowyn smiled slightly, resting a reassuring hand on her friend's arm. "They just want to believe we will make it out of here alive."
"But if we don't? Then what?"
"Then we don't." Éowyn shrugged. "There is nothing now we can do about it. Can you not have some hope that the arrival of the Elves will aid us?"
"I have given up on hoping for much of anything lately, my lady. It never seems to serve any good."
"But it can, Alandria. It keeps one's spirits up, and saves us all from total despair. Do you mean you have no hope for anything?"
Alandria shrugged, sighing again and sitting back down. "I don't know. I try not to think about it."
"And why not? Do you not hope that the hobytla that bears the Ring still lives? And that every day he is getting nearer to his destination?"
"His destination is likely also his doom, my lady. And I do not know if I hope for that. But yes," Alandria paused a moment, nodding. "I suppose I do hope that he lives, and the journey continues. And I hope Merry and Pippin are alright, the fools." She smiled faintly. "Gandalf told me they were in excellent care, but I still worry..And, for you my lady, I hope the Lord Éomer still lives, and he and his éored find some way to hold Rohan together if we here at Helm's Deep fall." She fell silent then, and the White Lady Éowyn watched her carefully.
"Do you not hope we have victory here?"
Alandria didn't answer for a long moment, her eyes on the stone floor, thinking. Finally, she nodded slightly, as if still deciding. "Yes, I think I do hope we have victory here. For a death down here, hiding in the caves, is no proper death. Not for fighters, my lady." Another slight smile tugged the edge of her mouth, and Éowyn returned it faintly.
"Then you wish for a proper death, not for victory?"
"There cannot always be victory, my lady."
Éowyn, Shield Maiden of Rohan, nodded and turned away, her mind churning with all that her friend had just spoken.
Still more time passed in the dim caves. A crack of sudden thunder caused all in the caves to jump, glancing around nervously. The sound of a storm was then heard, the rush of falling rain and random booms of thunder. A tension filled the air. All knew that with the coming of the storm, would surely be the coming of the enemy. Their thoughts were soon answered, as the faint patter of rain was filled with the stamps of many marching feet. The women stopped their whispers, and even the few whimpering children silenced. They watched the walls of the caves with wide eyes, as if expecting at any moment a horde of Uruk-hai to come bursting in.
The marching got louder, and louder, and the people surrounding Alandria became more frightened with every stamp. Then they stopped. The footsteps silenced. Thunder still rolled and rumbled, but there was no more marching. Alandria left her post beside Éowyn to press her ear against the rock near the entrance of the cave again, listening intently, hoping to hear some sign of what was happening. Still there was silence, a dreadful lack of sound that made all wonder and fear just how many monsters stood before their fortress, and whether or not there was any chance of surviving. And then began a horrible pounding. It was so sudden and angry that Alandria tore away from the cool wall in surprise, and looked around to see hundreds of terrified faces and wide eyes. Reluctantly, she pressed her ear to rock once again. With the steady, nightmarish war-pounding came roars, and snarls of foul creatures. The effect was chilling, and yet adrenaline flowed freely through her veins. Then silence again.
The second silence was worse than before, and shorter. It lasted only a few seconds, and then was disrupted by such snarling and roars and clamour that Alandria stepped away from the cave wall. There were the roars of rage and battle-fury amidst the noise, and all in the caves could clearly tell that the battle was beginning. The noise did not die down, nor was there another silence, and the marching from before came again, but was turned into a rapid hum. Saruman's army was moving, moving quickly, and beginning their seige on Helm's Deep.
A few children began to whimper again, and cry, the ugly sounds worse than a nightmare. Their mothers tried to comfort them, but could do little as they themselves were afraid. Alandria started as her hand was clasped, but looked to her side and saw the dirtied, frightened face of a woman younger than herself. She tried to smile reassuringly, but it was a failed attempt. Instead she held tight to the frightened woman's hand, glancing around to find her Lady. Éowyn herself stood a few feet away, also comforting a worried commoner. The two women's gazes met, and they understood without speaking, that this is what they had been forced into the caves for. Not to hide, not because they were less than the men, not because they could not fight. But because the people, the women and their terrified children, needed them. And although it was not what either of them would have wished, it was too late to do otherwise, and it was all they could do. So they would do it.
The clash and roars and pounding of the battle echoed continually around them all, and each imagined the snarls were getting nearer, and the running steps getting closer. All wondered if those they loved still lived, and how many lay dead. Who was winning? Saruman, or Rohan? Was it even possible for Rohan to win, even with the help of the Elves? More animal-like snarls answered their unspoken questions. And then came a sound like the loudest crack of thunder any had heard, and it seemed as though it had landed inside the cave itself. Alandria felt the walls vibrate briefly, and then the deafening boom faded, only to be followed by even louder roars.
"What was that?" Some whispered.
"Perhaps it is the signal we have already lost." One replied.
"It was the wall." Alandria murmured, silencing the scarce whispers in realization. "The Deeping Wall. They've broken through."
"But..how?" Asked the woman who still clung to Alandria. "It has never been done before."
"Saruman is cunning, and his craft evil. He must have found some way."
"Then surely Helm's Deep will fall!" cried a voice. "If they've broken through the Wall, they'll be in the Deep! And have entrance to all of the fortress! They will come!"
"Do not say such things!" The Lady Éowyn snapped, and all turned to her. Her golden hair shimmered in the torch light, and her strong, fair face was warmly hued. Her dark blue eyes were hard however, and they glinted proudly. "True, none have broken through the Wall before. That does not mean we will be defeated! Remember those whom you know and love that went to battle - remember how strong they are, and how much they love their country and King. They will not easily fall. There is a chance. You must hope." Her dark gaze met Alandria's, whom nodded, and she smiled slightly.
Silence fell in the caves again, but it was disrupted continually but the unceasing noise of battle from above and around. It continued far longer than any dared count, or wanted to know. To many it seemed that the roars and snarls were getting louder with the passing time, but they all prayed it was only their mind's tricks. The sounds continued, and Alandria felt what little hope she'd had, begin to steadily fade. The battle was continuing only because there were a few enough soldiers to left to continue fighting, not because they were winning. Merely holding off the inevitable, as she'd told Aragorn. Aragorn. Was he dead yet? Or was he one of the small number she was sure was left, still fighting? What about Legolas, and sturdy little Gimli? She could not imagine them having fallen. But she had not been able to imagine the Captain-General of Gondor falling either. Yet all can fall, all can die. Perhaps, here, all would. And the King Théoden? She did not want to think of what had become of him.
Footsteps sounded then, and all fell even more silent than they had been, barely breathing. Was it the first of the vast army of Uruk-hai approaching? Would they be found already, and killed? But there came solid knocks at the large wooden door that sealed off the caves. Still, no one said a word.
"I am Gamling, Guard of the King! Open the doors!" Alandria leapt to her feet at the voice, and detatched herself from the woman, then hurried to the large door. She lifted the large bolt with the help of Éowyn, who had hurried forward as well, and they opened it barely more than a foot. Gamling indeed stood there, sweaty and dishevled, but alive. "The women and children need to take the pass into the mountains, now."
Alandria paled. "The Uruks have progressed?"
"Aye. We're holding in the Keep right now, but we do not know how long it will last. My orders are to have you all move to the pass into the mountains. Hurry!" He turned to rush back to his King and the few remaining soldiers, but Alandria caught his arm.
"And what will you and the others do? Just stand and fight and die?"
"We fight, that is all I know for sure. As I left to come here, I heard the Lord Aragorn say something of riding out together. But it is a foolish idea, and I heard no reply from the King." He paused, only then realizing what he'd said and whom he'd said it to. "You are to go into the mountains, my lady, and protect the people. The men ride out. You and the others flee, and maybe survive. Go, now." He pulled away from her and disappeared back down the long hall.
"Come, Alandria. Let us do as he says, and get the people out." Éowyn tugged on her friend's hand, urging her back towards the women and children.
Alandria's green gaze lingered down the dark hall that Gamling had disappeared into, but slowly she nodded, turning back to the Lady. "You lead them on again, and I will follow."
Éowyn nodded, not questioning for she suspected nothing, and shouted to the people crowded in the caves, "We must head into the mountains! There is a small passage at the back of the caves, and it will lead us out. The men will follow when...when they can. Follow me!" The women picked up their children, or urged them forward, and eagerly followed their strong Lady.
Alandria held back like she had told Éowyn she would do, and gently pushed forward any that trailed behind. She made as if to go with them, telling the final stragglers that she was only running back to make sure the caves were completely empty. There was no one left, all had fled, and only then did she stand still. She waited a moment in the suddenly abandoned, glittering caves, and listened to the sounds of the people's retreat for a moment. She did not want to leave her Lady Éowyn like this, did not want to abandon her with the women and children. Perhaps the Lady would understand. Alandria had told her - there could not always be victory, so she wanted a proper death. And only in this way could she achieve that. Not by fleeing into the mountains, leaving the rest to slaughter. She owed her soldier that - he had died to protect something, save something, to do some good. She would die the same.