The rest of the battle went quickly, lasting only about thirty seconds longer before Gimli pulled his ax from the last one.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called, running through the battlefield. I looked back, tears gathering in my eyes.
"Aragorn?" Gimli's voice now. I knelt by the cliff, my head in my hands.
"Rhasslairiel..." Legolas said and put his hand on my back as I knelt. Something else drew Legolas's attention though, a gurgling laugh came from feet away from me of an orc, the same orc which had been on the warg that had attacked Aragorn. I stood and watched as Legolas knelt by the orc.
"Tell me what happened so that I can ease your passing." Gimli growled at him, his ax poised.
"He's... dead..." the orc said in a mocking voice, laughing still, "He took a little tumble off the cliff." Legolas's face curled into a scowl and he grabbed the front of the orc's armor.
"You lie!" he growled and I shook my head.
"He does not, Legolas." I said, walking up to him and taking his shoulder as the orc died, an insane smile on his twisted demented face.
"I saw it..." Legolas turned to me, pain on his face, "I tried to stop it, his glove was caught on the saddle... and he... he " Tears fell down my face as Legolas looked down, pulling me close. For a moment I felt comfort in his arms letting the pain of Aragorn's accident try to leave my body. Legolas's hand ran up my back as he bowed his head. Legolas and I walked to the side of the cliff, his eyes reflecting the sadness that stained my face.
No one could have survived that... Theoden turned.
"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead. Legolas looked at Theoden with eyes that gleamed as the King walked away, leaving the three of us to stand at the cliff.
"Let us go." Legolas said shakily, taking my arm. I pulled away.
"I'm going to find him." I said forcefully, stepping away from them. Pulling out my flute, I played a few tones on it, waiting for Niethen to come through the dead bodies to my side.
"Rhasslairiel, no one could have "
"Legolas," I said fiercely but gently, "Let me go." Legolas began to try to protest but I put my hand on his chest, "Aragorn is strong. I cannot bring myself to believe that he is dead. Please just let me go." Legolas sighed, looking down and nodding to me and letting my arm go.
Niethen rode through the dead bodies of the orcs, wargs, and men alike, riding up to me.
"We need to find Aragorn, friend." I said, smiling at the horse with sad eyes. Patting his neck I made to jump onto his saddle.
"Wait, Rhasslairiel..." It was Legolas, "Wait." I turned to see Legolas standing there, Gimli beside him.
"Yes?" I asked, letting my foot rest on the ground. Not a single word was out before Legolas grabbed my arm and pressed his lips to mine, briefly but passionately. I pulled away quickly, my breath coming out in gasps, a smile on my face.
"I've been waiting for that." I breathed and smiled, pulling him into another kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck and giving into his kiss.
We pulled away from each other, both of us smiling as Legolas ran his hand over my cheek, frowning with amusement at the blood running down my face and on his hand.
With a smile and no other words I leapt onto my horse and galloped off, Gimli smiling at me and Theoden frowning. Turning one last time to look at Legolas, I rode off into the fields, looking desperately for a way to get down to the bottom of the cliff.
One day passed until I found a way down the cliff, a treacherous path full of tumbling rocks and loose soil before me, the death of me and my horse, I feared.
"Come Niethen." I whispered, "Do not fail me now." Niethen looked back at me reproachfully and I smiled.
"Alright then." I said, these were the first words I had spoken all that day, "I'll get off." And off I went, testing each step down the path with my feet, slipping a couple times only to regain my balance as I walked down.
The path twisted and turned as it led me down a canyon like passageway and I sighed.
At the end of the path was a ledge, sticking out from the edge of the canyon. Peeking down, I saw that it was only about Twenty feet down into the river... the side of the cliff slippery and impossible to climb down.
"Oh, Valar help me..." I whispered out loud and stepped back with Niethen, who looked at me like I was crazy.
"Do you have a better plan?" I asked him and watched as he looked down and pawed the loose soil shaking his head. I shook my own. "I didnt think so." Then with a last prayer to the Valar, I stepped back, breathing quickly and ran forward, launching myself off the side.
A scream escaped my lips as I crashed into the water, the cold running over my body as my head went under the water.
It took me a little while to fight to the bank of the river, my breath coming out in gasps as I crawled onto the dry land. A hoof of a horse made me look up and I smiled at my black horse Niethen, who stood there looking at me, his head tilted to the side. I scowled at him.
"Thank you for the help, old friend." I said and stood wearily, swinging my leg over the side of his saddle, smiling slightly.
Another hour went by and I came upon a brown horse knelt by a figure, fast asleep. I smiled and knelt by Aragorn son of Arathorn, putting my hand on his cheek.
"Aragorn?" I whispered, putting a few pieces of hair out of his face. "Aragorn? Strider, old friend?" I put my ear to his heart listening... to the faint thump, thump as his heart beat... he was alive!
"Alright Aragorn. Time to awaken." I said again and straightened his collar of his shirt, smiling as he looked up at me.
"Rhasslairiel?" he asked, letting me help him sit up.
"Yes, my friend," I said quietly.
"Why are you here and not with Legolas and the others? Why did you come for me when the quest was hopeless?" I smiled.
"Obviously it was not, Aragorn, for here you are. Come. Rohan needs you as Gandalf once said. Come, friend."
Aragorn, his breath coming in short gasps, made to stand up. I helped him as much as he would let me, pulling him up onto his horse, where he fell onto the horse's neck like a bed, his eyes nearly closed.
"Rest, Aragorn." I said gently and grabbed the reins of his horse, leading him through the canyon with the river in the center and out through a better path.
Over the plains we rode, Aragorn gaining more strength all the way until he could control his own horse.
Footsteps reached our ears as we rode, the storm clouds beginning to gather overhead.
"I fear it might rain." I said, looking at Aragorn... but he was not looking at me but over my shoulder, his eyes wide. Coming over the hills and into Rohan walked ten thousand orcs at least, their footsteps ringing out as one, banners and spears being held above them. With shocked eyes I looked at Aragorn.
"Are you well enough to ride faster?" I asked shakily. He nodded.
"For the time being." And with that he took off on his horse, leaning over every now and again, his eyes drooping only every so often.
We rode with as much haste as we could muster until we came to the top of a tall hill.
"Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nin" (Well done Brego my friend) Aragorn whispered to his horse and I smiled, giving him a pat on the arm.
"Hannon le." (Thank you) He whispered and I smiled.
"You are most welcome, dear friend." I said and together we rode down to the bottom of the hill and to the refuge of Helms Deep.