I stood back inside the halls of the keep, pulling on the last of my armor, and braiding the last of the hair needed to braid. The cloak from Lorien hung around my shoulders and I pulled my leather arm guards on, clenching my fists a few times and flexing my arm. They were too loose. Sighing, I flipped my arm over and began tightening them with slight difficulty, for things such as these I rarely wore, even for battle.
Gentle hands took my arms, stopping my rough assault on my own arms and I looked up, my green eyes shining into Legolas's blue ones.
"Forgive me." I said, "I did not hear you come in."
"I would hear nothing as well if I were mumbling so loudly an fiercely to myself." He said and took my arm, beginning to gently pull the strings on my arm, tying them to their proper tightness. I smiled when they were done, looking down.
"I dont know what's wrong with me." I said, pushing my sword into my sheath further, "I've never felt like this before battle. Even when they were hopeless I was at ease." Legolas put my hands down. "It's your fault." I said suddenly and turned to Legolas. "It's you. I love you so I'm worried about you an what will happen. This is your faul-" Legolas's lips were on mine for the countless number of times since his first.
"Do not think that you are the only one that worries." Legolas whispered, smiling amusedly at me. I didnt smile back. "I have something for you." Legolas said, reaching into a pocket in his shirt and taking out something. I caught a hint of a small silver chain but whatever was at the bottom of this chain was unseen.
"It was given to me by my mother before she died." Legolas said, holding it to his heart. "And now I pass it on to you. Not long have I known you, but long enough to know that I love you." He held out the gift and I gasped.
At the bottom of the chain, meant to hang around a neck was a leaf jewel, made of green stone and decorated with tiny green jewels, emeralds no doubt. I looked down upon it, tears gathering in my eyes as he placed it around my neck, refusing all things that came from my mouth involving the words "cannot", "accept", and "no".
"Meleth nin," (my love) I whispered and put my arms around his neck. "If we die this night... remember that I share your love for me back to you. Remember that." Legolas's reply was lost, drown in the sound of yet another horn, this time familiar.
The orcs had arrived.
It was moments before all the warriors were in place, I standing with my fellow Elves and Gimli, who stood between Legolas and I, the top of his helm barely visible over the edge of the wall. Halidir stepped beside me, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"You wear the helm I gave yout." He said quietly. I smiled warmly at him.
"I wear many gifts this night." I replied and watched as Halidir returned to his station at the end of the line.
"Could have picked a better spot." Gimli said, trying to jump to see as the army of Uruk-hai came through the night. Legolas laughed and I looked out into the face of the enemy, my cocky feeling already bestowing itself upon me. I was ready for them, no longer afraid. I would never be the typical Elven woman, staying away from battle and keeping far from the authority of men. I controlled myself... and I controlled my fate. I thought of the women in the caves... I will never be them.
Aragorn came to stand behind us.
"Lad," Gimli said, "By the luck you live by, let us hope it lasts the night." Legolas looked down at him, his eyes swooping over me before back out at the enemy. Lightning reflected the faces of my companions.
"Your friends are with you Aragorn." Legolas said.
"Let us hope they last the night." I looked at Gimli with another amused smile on my face. Aragorn, giving Legolas a pat on the shoulder and a brief hug to me began to walk away again... just as it began to rain, the water making soft pitter patter noises on the armor worn by so many warriors.
"Not improving the mood." I whispered to myself.
The orcs were only feet from the wall of Helms Deep, stopping at a line, ready to charge at us. From far away I could hear Aragorn, prepping the Elves for the night that might end their lives... that might end all of our lives.
"A Eruchin, u-dano I faelas a hyn, an uben tanatha le faelas!" (Show them no mercy for you shall receive none). An orc's roar rang out through the air and I smiled. Let them do their worst. I thought. I have not had a challenge like this in many years.
Gimli, meanwhile, was trying to jump to look over the edge. "What's happening out there?" he cried.
"Shall I describe it to you?" Legolas asked, "Or would you like me to find you a box?" a laugh escaped my lips unwillingly and, to my surprise, Gimli joined in.
The orcs banged their spears on the ground and roared, no doubt trying to scare the warriors. The faces of the Elves around me remained either sinister or emotionless, though I could tell the men were frightened. An arrow shot from the bow of a shaking old man and hit one of the orc in the neck, making him fall forward.
"Dartho!" (HOLD!) Aragorn cried, holding up his hand, "Tangado a chadad!" (Prepare to fire!) I readied my bow.
"Faeg i-varv... din na lanc a nu ranc." (Their armor is weak at the neck... and beneath the arm.) Legolas said, no doubt to me but I did not look over to see who he was talking to, focusing on my aim.
"Leithio I philinn" (RELEASE THE ARROWS!) Was the cry from Aragorn and I smiled, letting go of my arrow and watching as the many arrows from the Elves flew past me and down to the orcs.
"Did you hit anything?" Gimli cried, looking at me. I smiled.
"That's two." I said and Legolas looked over, along with Gimli.
"You're playing too?" he asked and I nodded, shooting another.
"Three..." I mumbled under my breath.
"Send them to me, come on!" Gimli shouted.
"Ten..."
I could feel the arrows whizzing past me from the orcs and hitting the Elves around me, making them fall to the ground, their screams to remain in my memory forever.
"Fourteen..."
"Pendraith!" (Ladders!) Aragorn warned and I kept my arrow poised, shooting the one closest to the ladder that was being put up.
"Good!" Gimli shouted out. I laughed.
"Seventeen..."
I pulled out my sword as they boarded the wall, attacking the nearest one and sending my sword through its gut.
"Legolas, two already!" Gimli shouted.
"I'm on seventeen!" was the reply. Both of the males looked at me as I pulled my sword out of the orcs belly.
"Twenty one!" I shouted. Gimli stomped his foot.
"I'll have no pointy ears outscoring me!" Gimli yelled and turned, killing another orc.
I slashed my sword around, hitting any orc that dare come near. Any of the Uruk-hai far enough away to shoot, I did so.
"Nineteen!" Legolas shouted. I smiled.
"Twenty four..." Killing as many of the orcs coming up the ladder as I could, I pushed it down, carefully counting the ones that were lost. Shrugging I guessed around five, though it had to be more, and added that...
"Thirty..."
Gimli's shouting counts could be heard all the way to the ends of the earth with needed as he shouted out his count of the orcs that he killed.
Down below the wall I looked, shooting my arrows to kill any orcs trying to get to the ladders, but saw something not to my liking.
One orc ran through a path made by others, holding a fire, sparking like a firework, the smoke making a trail as he ran.
"Togo han dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon!" (Bring him down, Legolas! Rhasslairiel, kill him! Kill him!) Legolas and I shot arrows together, each one lodging itself into its skin. I never missed... but it was not enough. He threw himself into the hole at the bottom of the wall, used for a drain as far as I knew. He was... my eyes widened in shock... right below me.
The moment he threw himself in the wall exploded and for a moment I felt weightless before I looked down. Bits of rock were falling with me, and all too soon I hit the ground, my head hitting small pebbles on the ground and stars blinking before my eyes. I stood slowly, trying to get my bearing and looked up in time to see Gimli jump from the ledge above us, yelling out Aragorn's name onto the orcs that were trying to attack Aragorn and me.
"Gimli!" I cried and pulled out my bow.
The elves behind us shot their bows as well, aiming for whatever orc they could... but could we hold them for long?
"Hado I philinn! Herio!" (Hurl the arrows! Charge!)
"Forty one..." I counted as orcs and Elves alike charged at each other, meeting head on with their spears and their swords. I nearly dodged an oncoming spear, swearing when it cut the sleeve of my shirt. I began to feel blood run down it.
"Forty five..."
Countless hours went by... days even for all I knew and we pushed on, killing as we went. More than once I saw the young men that I was supposed to protect, and three times I saved each of their lives. But I could feel the strength of Rohan failing, the men weakening. All faces around me were covered in dirt and blood. Everywhere I looked there was a dead body. I could not save these young men from whatever fate the Valar bestowed upon them. It was a terrible feeling.
"Aragorn!" Theoden's voice rang out, "Fall back to the keep! Get your men out of there!" Aragorn nodded and began screaming orders.
"Rhasslairiel!" he cried. I turned from the Uruk-hai that I had just pulled my sword out of his neck, "To the keep!" I nodded and watched as Legolas and another warrior dragged Gimli, kicking and screaming, out of battle and into the keep.
"Halidir!" a horror struck voice rang out next to me and I turned looking up to see Halidir fall to the ground, an ax in his back. Aragorn and I rushed up to him, killing any in our way.
"No!" I shouted and ran up the stairs, grabbing Halidir by the shoulders and holding him... his head fell back onto my arm... he was dead. A tear ran down my face as I laid my lips to his forehead, closing his eyes with my finger. In a fit of rage, I drew my sword, Aragorn next to me and began killing all within my sight. Aragorn son of Arathorn and I leapt onto a ladder and let it fall, rushing into the keep.
Things were not better in there. The orcs had broken through the door and were now making their way inside, nearly every warrior that had been on the field now inside, keeping the Uruk-hai from entering the door. The King Theoden leaned against the wall, his arm on his wounded shoulder.
"Keep them out!" he shouted. Aragorn, Gimli, and I turned.
"How long do you need?" Aragorn asked...
"As long as you can give me." Aragorn and Gimli turned to go out the side door, me with them before turning around.
"Where's Legolas?" I asked. Aragorn looked at me.
"He's fine I'm sure." He said, "Just not here." Closing my eyes and praying a quick prayer to the Valar for his safety, I followed them.
It was nearly quiet outside of the side door and on the side of the keep, where we walked alongside the wall on a narrow pathway, peeking around the corner at the rows of orcs trying to breach the doors.
"Oh, come on we can take 'em!" Gimli said forcefully, looking up at Aragorn and I after the rows of orcs. We looked at each other.
"It's a long way." Aragorn said quietly and Gimli looked again, this time sighing and looking at me. He looked down.
"Toss me..." he mumbled, just loud enough to hear. Aragorn looked down at him.
"What?" he asked. I struggled with all that I had not to laugh.
"I cannot jump the distance so you'll have to toss me." A laugh was arising in my throat and Gimli looked at me. "Shut up, Elf!" he said and I breathed deeply, trying to contain myself. Aragorn put one arm around his friend as I crouched out of the way.
"Wait, uh, wait!" Gimli said, "Dont tell the Elf..." I looked down, pulling an arrow from my bow.
"Not a word." Aragorn gave Gimli no time to say anything before throwing him across the crevice and into the roadway of orcs. I pulled my arrow onto my bow and released three times before jumping.
"Sixty seven..."
Each minute seemed like an hour as we stood there, battling and throwing orcs off the side of the platform from which we stood, keeping them away from the gate that the men inside tried to fix with wider boards.
"Gimli, Alandia, Aragorn!" the voice of the King finally called. I turned around. "Get out of there!" Nodding, I turned back around at the sound of an approaching enemy, sending an arrow through his throat.
"Aragorn, Rhasslairiel!" I turned my gaze up to see Legolas throw down a rope.
"You two go ahead!" I called, killing another orc. "I'll get the next flight." Aragorn, with a pat to my shoulder grabbed the rope and Gimli and let Legolas pull them up.
I still stood on the platform, fighting with all I had, orc and my own blood mixing on my clothes, and my strength just beginning to weaken. I fought with joyous skill though, every one of an enemy slain sending energy through me.
"Seventy two..."
Something collided with my face painfully, earning a grunt from me and I stumbled back, only inches away from the ledge as I was unaware of then. Striking the orc that hit me I pulled my sword from his heart... but one too many movements sent me off balance... and once again that battle I felt myself falling.
"No!" Legolas's voice called and Aragorn yelled "Rhasslairiel!"
The world seemed to go by slower than it should as I fell, looking down at the dead bodies of my fellow Elves. Suddenly, out of nowhere it seemed, a stake, a ledge appeared, no doubt what had used to be a stairwell of some sort. Reaching out, I grabbed it, the weight of my fall and myself causing the hand that I had grabbed it with to strain, and my shoulder to twist in an unnatural way.
"Now what?" I asked myself and shook my head. I looked down onto the army of orcs trying to get into another doorway and closed my eyes, trying with all my might to pull myself onto the tiny ledge that I held onto.
I cursed. Arrows flew from below me, ricocheting off the walls next to me and I looked down to see orcs with crossbows, shooting their arrows.
"Ah!" I cried out in pain as an arrow lodged itself into my arm. I fell...
A sickening crack reached my ears as I hit the ground, and with horror I realized that my shoulder had been broken from its socket. I sighed and let my head fall back... and I knew no more.
Seconds later, not only as it seemed to me, did I open my eyes, having only hit my head a slight bit when I fell to see an orc standing over me. He wore not helmet, letting me see the mess underneath of blackened brown skin and sharp teeth... a truly terrifying sight...
Yet he just stood there... why was he not killing me? My breath came in frightened gasps... but he did not kill me. Giving me a growl, the orcs passed me by, rushing to the keep.
"The castle is breached!" I could hear yells from above. "Retreat, retreat!" Standing up I stood to face the orcs around me, thousands it seemed. I pulled my bow up from the ground and pulled an arrow into it, killing orc after orc quicker than sight as I made my way for a flight of stairs, any flight of stairs... I could not take them alone... I needed to get inside.
I fought my way up the steps, earning cuts and bruises as I went, orcs closing in from every angle...
But I made it...
"Eighty seven!" I shouted as I threw open the doors, ripped the arrow still in my arm from my arm causing heavy amounts of blood to run down my shirt and onto the floor, and ran in, the rest of the guards and warriors following right behind me.
"Rhasslairiel!" Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli rushed forward. Legolas took me into his arms as Aragorn put his hand on my face and Gimli wrapped his arms around my middle. I laughed and backed away from all of them.
"I'm fine." I said, smiling as Legolas engulfed me into his arms again. "We have to help them."
Rods of wood held the doors shut as best they could, and people pushed others into the doors, trying to keep the Uruk-hai out.
"The fortress is taken!" Theoden said, a tired, resigned look on his face, "It is over."
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it." I shouted and grabbed the bench that Aragorn and Legolas brought over.
"They still defend it! They have died defending it!" Aragorn added and stepped up in front of Theoden, his voice ringing out with frustration.
I switched mine to a calmer note. "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" I asked. Theoden said nothing, "Is there no other way? "
"There is one passage," the "head guard" it looked like said, "It leads into the mountains... but they will not get far the Uruk-hai are too many."
"Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass and barricade the entrance!" Aragorn shouted, pushing him. I struggled to push back the door, my shoulder screaming in protest.
"So much death..." Theoden said, "What can men do against such reckless hate?" Aragorn looked at the King.
"Ride out with me." He said bravely. "Ride out and meet them."
"For death and glory." Theoden said.
"For Rohan." I said, backing away from the mass of men holding back the door. "For your people."
"The sun is rising." Gimli said.
"Gandalf's words!" I exclaimed and with Aragorn rushed to the window...
"Yes..." Theoden said, "Yes... the horn of Helm Hammerhund shall sound in the deep... one last time! "
"Yes!" Gimli shouted. I smiled and pulled out my bow, pointing it at the door with Legolas at my side.
The door was breaking...
"Now for wrath!" Aragorn drew his sword, "Now for ruin! And the red dawn!" The horn rang out through the air just as the door broke in, and the company of those defending Rohan, who rode on horses charged, swords drawn at the enemy, riding out into the day. I clutched Niethen with one hand, the other wielding my sword and striking down any orc in my path.
"Eighty nine... ninety... ninety one..."
A white rider appeared on the hill as I looked up to it, recognizing the rider not only clad in white as Gandalf the White smiled at me, but the one beside him... it was Eomer, son of Eomund and nephew to the King... come to help his uncle at last. One thousand men at least came running down the hill, yelling out loud and wielding their swords, killing all in their path as a blinding white light came from behind them.
An hour went by and the few orcs out of the tens of thousands that had once came began to flee into the hills, flee or be killed.
"Victory!" Theoden yelled, holding up his spear, "Victory!" I leapt from my horse, laughing along with Gandalf and smiling with Legolas, who had his arms around me again, as if he would never let me go. I was grateful.
I pulled away from him and looked at the two standing before me, so different in race and appearance... yet so alike though they did not know it.
"Well out with it." I said, "How many?" Gimli raised his head proudly.
"Seventy eight." He said. Legolas sighed and turned to me.
"Sorry, Gimli." He said though, "I got ninety." I smiled the widest. "How about you Rhasslairiel?"
"Ninety seven." Gimli roared.
"Ninety seven?!" he cried, "An she-elf beat me?!" He turned away, walking over to stand with Aragorn. Legolas looked at me in awe.
"Only seven ahead of you." I said, "Stop looking at me like that." I took the wet cloths that women were passing out and began to pat Legolas's face with it, wiping off all the grime. Legolas closed his eyes, an amused smile on his face.
When it was clean I smiled. "Now I can see you." I said. Legolas smiled and took it from me, this time wiping my face of all the blood as I had done with him. I hissed as he drew it across a cut on my forehead.
"How did you get that?" he asked. I reached up to touch it... it had stopped bleeding, not too bad just a scratch.
"I dont... know actually." Legolas laughed and finished. I smiled and turned away from Legolas, walking away to the back of the castle, where young lads met with their mothers and old ones with their families.