Author's Notes: Please tell me what you think. Ohh and it's gonna get all mushy in the next chapter. Sorry it's a bit short.

Helm's Deep

We both walked quickly from where we were to the top of the steps in front of the hall's doors. Aragorn slowly ascended the steps with Gimli following his trail.

Aragorn looked weathered by misfortune. He was bedraggled and tired. His hands were red from both the cold and the grazers on them. Bags were under his eyes.

"Le abdollen" (You're late.) Legolas pauced and looked up and down at his friend, inspecting him, half expecting to find him to be wounded in some way. "And you look terrible." Legolas slipped the Evenstar Necklace into Aragorn's hand.

"I seconded what he just said. Next time shout before you are dragged off a cliff, we wasted time shouting for you" I gave him a awkward hug, I never liked them much, I always shyed away from the situations where you'd have to give one. Then I punched him hard in the arm. "That was for making me think I would have to explain to Arwen of your supposed death"

Aragorn laughed. "Thanks, I think." He rubbed his arm. "That's going to bruise" He put the necklace on and walked into the halls.

Thèoden looked up in surprise to see Aragorn stride into the hall. As Aragorn explained his dismaying sights, I leaned against a pillar next to Legolas and Horus. Who had flew in from a open window and had changed into his humanoid form.

"A great host, you say?" Asked a now very anxious King.

"All lsengard has been emptied. Ten thousand strong at least." Aragorn explained into further detail. "It is an army bred for a single purpose: To destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall."

I gulped, that was one of the biggest armies I had ever heard of. Not one Kingdom could withstand the strike of that amount of foes, even if those foes were armed teenagers

The King of Rohan sat in his throne with his hands shaking with fear. His shaking stopped. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall. 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. These are Uruk-hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad." Gimli tried to explain only to be left unheard by the anxious King.

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. (they walk around the inner ramparts) 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."

"Thèoden, you must remember you have never faught a war of this size. Orcs may be dim without leadership but with Saruman they are more dangerous than any horde of Men. They will have the essence of Evil at their side and other Dark craftsmanships." I also tried to explain only to be ignored.

"This is my Keep and they will not tread in it." He said confidently, but that was only him trying to comfort himself and no other. His nerves were showing through like blood on white cloth.

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child." Aragorn pleaded, trying to explain to the true meaning off the attack.

The King leaned out from his throne in anger. A frown had formed on his head and sweat dripped from his brow. "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."

"Thèoden, it would be unnatural for your men not to be scared or fearful. If you loose their will be no one to remember you, the world's free people will be destroyed by Sauron's and Saruman's smight. Your men will die for nothing if you loose. Listen to Lord Aragorn he may look young in your eyes but he is a Dundain. He has faught more wars than you" It was Legolas who spoke those wise words that had shown he true age.

The King looked to Aragorn for him to give advice he saw fit. "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."

But these were not the words the King wanted. He still thought the old alliances were dead where in actual fact they were dormant or the ally was protecting their own land. "And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? Dar-Nymphs? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."

"Maybe if you asked they could be reincarnated into stronger alliances." I mused quietly to myself being careful so only those of us with sharp ears could hear.

"Gondor will answer." Aragorn said quickly. He knew it would not do well to say such a thing. As Boromir had explained so many months ago, Gondor was the only thing stopping the snare of Evil from catching the rest of the Kingdoms.

"Gondor?! Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?! Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon-? No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone." Announced the angry King. But his anger was only hiding his true fear for his people. He turned to Gamling. "Get the women and children into the caves."

Gamling looked at his scroll then showed it to the King. "We need more time to lay provisions, there isn't enough"

"There is no time. War is upon us. Secure the gate."

I bowed my head in dismay. So this was what it had come too for Rohan. The women and children were sent to the caves beneath the old fortress of Helm's Deep. I sat on the battlements listening to Aragorn tell Legolas the plan for the defences. But it was easy to see Aragorn was still weary. "We'll place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate." He said nearly tripping over his own feet only to be caught by both Horus and Legolas.

"Aragorn, you must rest. You're no use to us half alive." Legolas said when Aragorn caught his balance again.

"Correction he's no use half asleep." I answered looking down at the battlements. It was a big sheer drop. I knew that boys would have to fight this battle and it made me sick to the stomach. For I knew I couldn't take the thought of seeing a glassy eyed boy laying, bloody in mud dressed as a solider. What had this world come too? Were we to fall on our knees? The Dark Days had once passed before but I wondered if these Days had a Light at the end of tunnel or even a end.

At the armoury doors a guard stood in my way but had let every other person before me pass. "It is no place for a woman like yourself, my lady." He said looking down at ms rather expecting my eyes to be there only to find them level with his.

"Really? And I suppose I should just trot along and go to the caves shall I?" I asked only to be answered with a sharp nod of the head. "But what do the weapons on my back tell you?"

"You are still not coming past here, the King ordered that all civilians should stay in the caves" He answered sternly.

I laughed then smiled peacefully. "Civilian? Do civilians carry weapons around? No. Do civilians come from other kingdoms? No. Do civilians help control another kingdom in the North? No. Here is my question is for you. Do you really think that I am a civilian therefore unable to fight just because I look younger than you and am a woman?"

The guard accidentally blurted out his answer unaware that it came out verbal. "Yes" he paused.

The door of the armoury fell open and Legolas stuck his head out. "Whats taking you so long?" He asked me looking at the guard questionably. The guard suddenly stepped aside and let me pass.

When I got in I saw a sight I wished not to see. Boys and old men suited up in armour carrying weapons they could not handle and were not trained for.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." Aragorn mused to himself as he picked up a sword to check if it was even sharp.

"Most have seen too many winters. There we go laddie, now it won't fall over your eyes" Gimli said as he passed a now fixed helmet to a boy that was 16 years of age. The boy put it on and walked to his friends.

'Or too few' Horus murmered in my mind. He too was now armed with something other than his sword, a pair of throwing knives were strapped to the sides his calves. His wings were out but folded down.

"Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe a hyn: neled herain dan caer menig!" (And they should be... Three hundred against ten thousand!) Legolas shouted falling into his own language. I knew what he had said and the people in the armoury had stopped to listen.

I grabbed onto Legolas's arm. "Merin, Legolas. Merin." (Calm, Legolas. Calm.) I whispered to him in Elvish. He looked at me and settled if only for a while.

"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras" (They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras.) Aragorn remarked.

"Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir... ortheri. Natha daged dhaer"(Aragorn, they cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!) Legolas answered.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn glared at Legolas for a moment then stormed out.

I sighed closing my eyes for a moment. Oh how War made the minds of good people go astray and away from common sense of mind.

Legolas went to go after Aragorn but he was stopped by Gimli's words. "Let him go, lad. Let him be"

Horus turned to his bird form and flew threw the closing door. 'Just gonna stretch my wings. It is cramped in this fortresses.' He told me.