"So the Ranger comes back from the dead."
Aragorn turned away from Legolas and saw Titus without his helm. His arms were crossed and a smirk was present on his scarred and rugged features.
A white cloth, a Toga, was draped over the left side of his armor.
The Centurion grinned before walking to the Ranger and enveloped him in a brotherly hug, laughing heartily.
Aragorn smiled and returned it.
When Titus let go, he placed his hand on Aragorn's shoulder.
"Welcome back, my friend." He said and patted him on the shoulder.
Aragorn nodded and asked Titus to accompany him to the King.
~Line Break~
"Ten Thousand!?" Théoden asked in disbelief at the alarming number of Uruks that is heading to Helms Deep.
Titus glared at the ground. Leaning on a pillar with his arms crossed.
'Ten thousand Uruks against a fortress held by the King's Royal Guard and what's left of his army. Even if they arm the civilians, it wouldn't be enough. It'll be a massacre and a waste of life.' The Centurion thought darkly.
"Let them come!" Théoden stated.
That snapped the Centurion's eyes to the King.
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall."
"No, no, no. You can't be serious, you crazy old fool." Titus muttered as he followed the King outside.
"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." The King continued.
"This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad." Gimli warned as he smoked from his pipe.
Théoden glared down at the dwarf "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."
"Are you sure about that?" The Centurion challenged.
The King turned his gaze at Titus "And what is your take in this, Centurion?"
"Look around you. These men against the unrelenting viciousness of the Uruks. Without your Cavalry and fighting in enclosed spaces, these men wouldn't last the night. These beasts will slaughter everyone... down to the last child. They are bred for one sole purpose. The destruction of the Race of Men... and it starts with the death of Rohan's people."
By now, Titus and Théoden were face-to-face. Their gazes never wavering.
Théoden was the first to break off "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!"
"I won't stop you from getting a Glorious End but then what happens next? You and your soldiers get your end but what about your people? You think their end will be worthy of remembrance!? Dying in a cave, defenseless. There's no glory their! Only pain and suffering!"
"Then what would you have me do!?"
"Send out your riders, my Lord." Aragorn answered "You must call for aid."
"And who will come?" Théoden retorted "Elves? Dwarves? Centurions? Highlanders? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer. Rohan is our friends. I will see to it that you will have our aid." Boromir declared.
Théoden looked at him with disbelief and anger "Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us!? Where was Gon-"
The King cut himself off and sighed in defeat "No, my Lords, we are alone."
He turned to Gamling and ordered "Get the women and children into the caves."
"We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord —" Gamling stated before he was cut off.
"There is no time. War is upon us!"
At this, Gamling nodded and turned to the guards.
"Secure the gate!" He ordered.
~Line Break~
"These are no soldiers."
Titus nodded at the Ranger's statement.
"In my world, we may have been taught to fight the moment we can handle a sword. But these people. They weren't taught, we just gave them swords and told them to fight monsters. They have no training. Théoden's sending them to their deaths."
"Most have seen too many winters!" Gimli cut in as he looked at the wizened faces of the farmers.
"Or too few." Legolas stated "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes."
The Elf turned to look at Aragorn and spoke to him in Elvish.
The conversation seemed to heat up before Aragorn burst in the Common Tongue.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" He yelled.
The two stared at each other before the Ranger walked away.
Legolas was about to go after him but was stopped by the Dwarf.
"Let him go, lad. Let him be."
Legolas looked unsure before relenting.
~Line Break~
Titus saw the Ranger sitting on the stairs and conversing with a young man in armor.
"The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless." The young man said.
"It's only hopeless if you think it is."
The two looked at the Centurion as he walked down to them.
"There's always hope, boy. Even if everything seems bleak, there is always hope. Never forget that."
He brought a hand to the boy's shoulder and said "Tell me, boy. What is your name?"
"Háleth, Son of Háma." Háleth answered.
"Remember Háleth, Son of Háma. Never abandon Hope and Hope will not abandon you. Now, remember what I said and you'll get through this." He ruffled the boy's head before sending him away.
"Are you confident at what you said to the boy?" The Ranger asked.
"There was an old saying within the Centurions. Within the Old Empire. Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man."
The two remained in silent before heading back to the armory to get ready.
~Line Break~
"If we had time, I'd get this adjusted."
As soon as the Dwarf said that. The chain mail he desperately tried to fit fell to the ground. He looked at them and said "It's a little tight across the chest."
Aragorn, Legolas and Titus smiled at that.
Suddenly, they heard an unfamiliar horn. But Legolas smiled when he heard that.
"That is no orc horn." He stated.
The group rushed outside and was joined by Rin, Aéd, Théoden and his Royal Guards.
The rushed to the gate and was met by an army of cloaked Elves.
"How is this possible?" Théoden asked.
A familiar Marchwarden of Lórien greeted them.
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell." Haldir calmly said. "An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together."
The group walked downstairs to meet the Marchwarden.
Haldir looked at them and said "We come to honor that allegiance."
Aragorn said something in Elvish before hugging the man.
The Elf looked shocked before returning the hug.
The Ranger let him go and Legolas was the second to greet him. Haldir turned to address the King and said.
"We are proud to fight alongside men, once more."