Chapter: 6 Before the Battle of Helms deep
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC Ana
Ana Pov
I was in the changing rooms looking over my Mithril mail and my elven armor, that had some sort of design engraved into it but I couldn't bring myself to care. I checked my swords, bow and arrows, after that I set them aside making room on the bench. Thoughts of my brother invaded my mind even when I try to banish them. I didn't need these thoughts distracting me before going into battle. Suddenly the door slammed open and a boy ran in, the same one that had come with the warning. "He's alive!" he yells grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the room towards the entrance. The boy lets me go and I saw him, my brother seemingly back from the dead.
I made my way over to him after a second's hesitation. Legolas beats me to him but I didn't mind, it gave me more time to soak in his appearance, he looked dreadful and tired, he had blood on him from his untreated wound. "You're late." Legolas said then looking him over added "you look terrible." Aragorn chuckled, then Legolas handed him the necklace that was once Arwen's. I walked up to them making myself known in the most sisterly way I could think of. "You horrible brother! You made me believe that you were gone! Do you know what I've gone through? I mourned for you! I cried over your death! And you didn't think to let me know you were alive with a smoke signal?!" I yelled as tears fell down my cheeks and my chin. "Why are you crying now?" Aragorn asked pulling me into a hug. "Because I'm glad you're alive, you jerk!" I exclaimed as we pulled apart.
We walked into the meeting hall to see Théoden. "A great host you say?" he asks. "All of Isengard is emptied." Aragorn confirmed. "How many?" Théoden asked. "Ten thousand strong at least." Aragorn answered. "Ten thousand?" he asked shocked, Aragorn nodded "It is an Army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of man." Aragorn said. I gasped and Legolas pulled me to him and kissed my head. "They will be here by night fall." He informs us. "Let them come!" Théoden yells. We walked with him outside. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms…to be ready for battle by night fall." He told one of his men. Then we fallowed him out the gate.
"We'll cover the causeway and gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall…or set foot in the Horn burg!" Théoden said. "This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor thick and their shields broad." Gimli said. "I have fought many wars, master dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." He told Gimli. I saw the murderous look in Gimli's eyes and I pulled him with me to fallow behind Théoden. "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." Théoden said quite sure of what he says.
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They have come to destroy its people…down to the last child." Aragorn said. Théoden turned around and got into my brother's face, I stepped forward. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread, if this is to our end then I would have them make such an end…as to be worthy of remembrance." He told Aragorn while moving away just noticing my closeness. "Send out riders my lord. You must call out for aid." Aragorn said. Théoden looked back at him. "And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? Other Halflings like your sister? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead." He said. "Gondor will answer." Aragorn replied.
"Gondor?! Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?! Where was Gondor when our enemies closed around us?! Where was Gon-?! No my lord Aragorn… we are alone." He said then he turned away, I watched as the king of Rohan walk away. "Aragorn, what do we do?" I asked. Aragorn turned to me "we fight sister. I know you'll be there with me." I nodded and pulled my shirt away from my shoulder showing him the Mithril mail under it. I was suddenly be pulled towards the caves and Aragorn pulled me back to him to keep me from being swept away with the other women and young children.
"We'll place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate." Aragorn said. I checked the injury nervously and gave Legolas a pleading look for help. "Aragorn, you must rest your no good to us half alive." Legolas said. "Aragorn!" Eowyn yelled. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes and grown out of frustration at her obvious flirting with my brother. She forced her way through the waves of people heading away from us. Once she made it to us she started to complain. "I'm to be sent with the women into the caves." She told him. "That is an honorable charge." Aragorn told her. "To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return, what renown is there in that?" she demands of him. "My lady, a time may come for valor without renown. Who then will your people look to in the last defence?" Aragorn asked her. "Let me stand at your side." She pleaded. I knew she was going for this as her final play to sway Aragorn. "It's not in my power to command it." Aragorn said.
"You do not command your friends or your sister to stay! They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. Because they love you." She said. There was a minute of pause then she looked down to the ground then looked back up at us again looking at each of us. "I'm sorry." She said. She walked away I turned to her retreating back. "Eowyn!" I call to her, she looks back at me. "It is true that I do not wish to be parted from my brother, Gimli, or Legolas, but I fight because I am honoring my blood line, a blood line of Elvin fighters and my mother's will to live. It's not my pride but my duty." I told her. She nodded and went into the caves.
We went into the Armory. I went into my private changing room and quickly changed into my armor missing some stuff but I went out to join them. "Farmers, stable boys. These are no shoulders." Aragorn said when I joined them. "Most have seen too many winters." Gimli said "Or too few." Legolas added. I shifted as I felt the shift in Legolas's tone. I stayed by Aragorn's side. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes." Legolas said. Silence fell. "Legolas stop this." I said but he ignored me. "And they should be. Three hundred…against ten thousand?" he said. "Legolas! Enough for all that is holy in Valor!" I said horrified.
"They have more hope of defending themselves here then at Edoras…" "Aragorn, they cannot win this fight. They are going to die!" Legolas said. I slammed my hand down "Then we shall die as one of them!" Aragorn and I said together. Aragorn left, I rubbed my hand glaring at Legolas. Legolas went to go after Aragorn but Gimli stopped him. "Let him go lad, let him be." He told him. "How could you!" I demanded. "Ana." He started turning to look at me. "What?!" I asked "I'm sorry." He said. "Screw you." I told him, and walk away looking for my brother. I found him on the stairs outside looking out to the view. I sat next to him and he looked over fixing me breast plate and my left arm gauntlet. "Legolas is being an ass." I said, more to myself then to Aragorn.
We fell into a comfortable silence. I could hear men ordering others into places. Aragorn looked over to a boy by the fire looking at his sword. "Give me your sword." He called to the boy. The boy walk over to us and handed Aragorn his sword. "What's your name?" I asked walking over to his side. "Haleth, son of Hama, my lord and lady." Haleth said. "The men are saying we will not live out the night. They say it is hopeless." Haleth said. I placed around the scared boy. Aragorn stood up, Haleth and I watched as he swung it around with position. Turned to us and I released Haleth. "This is a good sword. Haleth, son of Hama…" he bent down and put his hand on the boy's shoulder "there is always hope." He continued.
We walked back into the army, I went to stand by the door. "Come in with me, I'll need your help getting into my armor." Aragorn said. I nodded and walked into the room with him. After I helped him into his light leather under armor and his chain mail he put on his daggers and went to grab his sword but couldn't find it Legolas's handed it over. "We've trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me the both of you, I was wrong to despair." He told us. Looking from Aragorn to me. "There is nothing to forgive Legolas." Aragorn looked over before turning back to Legolas.
Legolas Pov (temp)
"You may have to plan something to make it up to Ana though, she pretty pissed at you." Aragorn whispered to me, I sighed and nodded.
Ana Pov
A small smile crept onto my face, Gimli came into the room. "If we had the time, I'd get this adjusted." He said dropping what he held in his hands, the chain mail fell to the floor and he continued. "It's a little tight across the chest." I rolled my eyes as Aragorn and Legolas chuckled at him. A familiar horn blew and all four of us turned left. "That's no Orc horn." Legolas said.
I ran out of the room before any of the others had a chance to take a step towards the changing room door. I made it to the front to see my kin walk through the door. I walked till I was beside the King. "How is this possible?" Théoden asked. "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. 'An alliance once existed between men and elves. Long ago we fought and died together.'" he stopped when Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli came into view. "You three are so slow." I said lightly not looking back at them. "'We've come to honour that alliance.'" Hardier said. "You are most welcome." Aragorn said. I walked to Hardier and hugged him in welcome after Legolas greeted him. The elves turned and faced us. "We are proud to fight alongside man once more." He said. Soon they were all placed for battle along the walls as we waited for our enemy.
I was place on the right side of Gimli and Legolas was on the left. Gimli was hopping in his spot trying to get a look at the marching enemy army coming our way. "You could've picked a better spot." Gimli said. I smiled as did Legolas. Aragorn walked to us. "Well, lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night." Gimli said. Lighting flashed across the sky and the rain starts to fall. Your friends and family are with you Aragorn." Legolas told him. I looked at my brother noting that he looked stressed. "Let's hope they last the night." Gimli said. "I have faith that we will." I said.
Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas's and then Gimli's shoulders and removed my helmet and kissed me on my forehead and put the helmet back on before walking back to his place by the king of Rohan. And we waited.