Why, oh why, is my only recourse for the extended edition of The Two Towers on xfinity on demand? Why do I only possess the theatrical releases of all three for myself?

Don't answer that.

- xHx

Hermione rolled off of the thin mat at the sound of the horn. She'd fallen asleep. It was no more than a catnap, but it was obviously something she had needed.

"Do people have no respect for sleep in this world?" she muttered, strapping on her weaponry and tucking the beaded bag behind her mirror. She then took a moment to look over her reflection.

Bright blue eyes stared back at her, framed by thick, dark lashes. Her unassuming facial features from before were enhanced and defined. Ivory skin now gleamed like pearl, unruly, light brown curls now framed her face calmly, their color now closer to Cúron's mane. Her faint hourglass shape was flattered by the cut of her clothes. Now all she had to do was wait until people were readying themselves to fight, taking their places upon the wall.

Can they take any longer? Hermione thought, rubbing her eyes as she leaned against the wall beside the door. It had been roughly an hour and a half since she'd heard the Elvish horn.

Finally, she heard the Men and Elves who would fight rushing through the halls toward the wall. She raised her wand, muttered the five-word spell to lift the enchanted lock she had placed upon the door, and walked out, trying very hard to blend in.

"Hísiven?"

She spun around.

"Hítharn!"

The two shared a hug. Harry – Hítharn, as he was known by the Elves – wore full armor, a sword at one hip, his wand at the other, and a bow in his left hand.

"Lord Elrond sent me to help you and everyone else here," Harry said.

"So you have mended?"

"That I have," he replied. "Lord Elrond had no solution for why I could not cross the boundary."

"It's got something to do with that scar of yours."

The two wand-bearers set off then, talking quietly, each walking and knowing their destination without really knowing it until they reached it.

There was a gap at the wall, enough for three to fit in…or so they thought until they came up to the place. Legolas and Gimli stood there, side by side.

"You could have picked a better spot," Gimli was saying, trying to jump and see the field below them.

"He probably could have, but I don't think he would have, Gimli," Hermione said in place of a greeting.

"Hísiven, what are you doing here? Éowyn said you were to be sent into the caves," Legolas said.

"I said I would fight, and as such I will fight. No one tells me what I can and cannot do." A smirk lit her face. "Not even a king."

"You are more reckless than Aragorn," Gimli said.

"I know that."

The army marched toward them with a sort of disturbing pageantry. Among them, Hermione could easily see the wild, untamable locks that told her Bellatrix Lestrange was among their number. She took a deep breath to steady herself and glanced at Legolas.

"Do you fear them?" she whispered, placing a hand upon his wrist lightly.

"I fear for you," he replied.

Aragorn came up behind them then.

"Well, lad," Gimli said, looking up, "whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night."

"Your friends are with you, Aragorn," Legolas said as lightning lit up his face.

"Let's hope they last the night."

Such a pessimistic Dwarf! Hermione thought.

The army drew ever closer. The girl took another deep breath.

"Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!" Aragorn shouted.

The Uruks began roaring.

"What's happening out there?" Gimli shouted.

"Shall I describe it to you?" Legolas joked. "Or would you like me to find you a box?"

Hermione, Gimli, and Harry all laughed, but hers was more from shock. She'd had no idea that Legolas could even be humorous, let alone in the face of such an unlikely feat.

Bellatrix's laugh rang out over the roaring of the Uruks. She held her crooked wand high.

An arrow flew.

Hermione looked around for whoever had released before the commands had came.

A large Uruk, beside Bellatrix and the four men upon the rock that parted the opposing army, roared, his blade aimed halfway skyward but toward Helm's Deep.

"Charge!" Bellatrix shouted, laughing and leaping.

"Prepare to fire!" Aragorn shouted. Hermione lifted her bow and drew an arrow from her quiver. She had personalized them with a small red ribbon, just below the feathers.

"Their armor is weak at the neck, and beneath the arm," Legolas said.

"Release arrows!"

She released the string watching as her arrow connected. But she did not see where it landed. She simply kept firing.

"Ladders!"

"Good!"

A ladder landed near them. Hermione and Harry acted far faster than anyone else. He kicked the ladder down as she screamed, "Incendio!" The ladder burst into flames along with the five Uruk-hai already climbing it. She spared a moment for a self-congratulatory smirk before pulling free Gred and Forge.

This was going to be a long night.

I tried to keep everything the same. I just had to have Hermione and Harry destroy one of the ladders. I planned that from the beginning.

Now you have part of the reason I included Harry. He is the only one who will really know that there's anything between Hermione and Legolas.

Any suggestions or ideas for who is included in the group of four male Death Eaters? I've got a lot of ideas. Yaxley, Dolohov, Greyback, Rodolphus, Nott, Adult-Crabbe, Adult-Goyle, maybe Draco Malfoy. Your thoughts?

- xHx