The Wild Westfold

By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard

Chapter Sixteen: The Sun is Rising

When Legolas had told me to forget about my notion of having history on our side here at Helm's Deep I shrugged it off. There was no other fortress in Middle Earth as great or as strong. Théoden had said that no enemy had ever breeched the Deeping wall or entered the Hornburg. He had said it with pride and with confidence. The next few minutes of my life took everything I had ever known about the world and its workings and completely shattered it and flipped it on its side.

My ears rang and felt as if they would burst open, but that lasted for less than a second. I felt all the air around me get sucked away as my feet lifted from the ground. A great invisible force grabbed at my flesh and my body twisted up and around in ways no one's body ever should and with such a great speed that everything around me turned into a blur. I felt my very blood spin around inside my veins. My face burned and stung as the tiniest bits of rock cut and embedded themselves in my skin. Then came the heat. I felt as if I were tied to a spit being turned over a thousand fires. I felt this would ever stop. The seconds passed far too slowly, but eventually the heat faded and the spinning stopped…right before my eyes focuses on the hard stone of the top of what was left the Deeping Wall.

All the air was forced from my lungs on impact. I gasped and started to hack and cough. I rolled over on my back and panted desperate for air. My whole body shook feverishly. My stomach churned and I had to lean over to expel its contents. My ears were ringing and everything else around seemed in slow motion. My eyes darted around like an untamed beast.

There were dead bodies everywhere. Some Men, some Elves, some Uruk. My mind was clouded and struggled to piece together any kind of thought. I felt as if I was in some strange nightmare and I hoped to wake up any second. I slowly rediscovered my arms and moved them underneath me. I pushed them up and rose to my knees almost falling backward again. My head pounded and I rubbed my cheek. I could feel the roughness of the shrapnel of the stones. The ringing in my ears slowly faded and were replaced by the screeches of the Uruks.

"Brace the gate!" I heard Théoden yell from the watch tower. I turned and looked to the causeway. The slow moving party of shielded Uruks had been concealing a battering ram.

I looked back down the other side of the wall. Water from the drain was now flowing out of the huge gap that was blown from the Deeping wall. The Uruks were charging inward. Gimli was a few feet from me near the gap and he stirred sitting up on his side. I looked around for any other survivors. Haldir had been fighting on the wall closest to the watch tower and seemed mostly unaffected by the blow. Legolas was at his side. I looked below the wall where some of the Elvish reserves were placed. They looked shaken but ready to engage the enemy. Then I saw the still form of Aragorn just beyond the pool of water that used to be the drain.

I mouth opened in shocked. No! He had been completely blown off the wall. I felt my eyes grow glossy with tears. Please, please don't be dead!

"Hold them! Stand firm!"

I glanced back up at the watch tower as Théoden's voice echoed off the stone walls. I looked back down to Aragorn and was relieved to see him stir. He lifted himself up and shook his head. He was still dazed. He rolled over onto his back and stared in wonder and confusion of the advancing Uruk-Hai.

"Aragorn!" Gimli cried out and he quickly jumped to his feet. He ran down the wall and then leaped into the group of Uruk-Hai in the gap. Aragorn had finally made it back on his feet.

"Gimli!" he cried out. Gimli was swinging his axe around bashing and cleaving anything in his path. I too finally rose to my feet. I found my sword a few feet away by the stairs of the wall. Gimli was shoved and he fell backward into the pool of water. Aragorn yelled out another command in Elvish and the reserves launched a cloud of arrows into the advance of the Uruks. The arrows found their targets and Aragorn yelled out again raising his sword up by his face to charge the advancement. The reserves ran down the hill like a wave of gold and silver. I heard Aragorn cry out as he swung his sword and thwarted one of the pikes away from him engaging the Uruk-Hai flooding through the gap.

I heard a commotion behind me and turned around. Uruks were still coming up the ladders! I inhaled deeply and gripped the hilt of my sword. This was far from over! I felt that same fiery rage engulf me. This was the demon I saw come out of Eomer's eyes eleven years ago. This was the blood and battle lust of the warrior. This was what I was lacking with the wargs. Legolas was right, I was a fool. I willingly thrust myself into this madness but I did it for the folly of a dream. I loved Eomer…I stopped dead in my tracks as that thought came into my mind. Loved? Yes….I did love him. I loved Eomer…but I had also come to a much bigger realization. There was a lot more worth fighting for than just the promise of a title. I wanted to protect my King. I wanted to protect my friends who had shown me nothing but kindness and sport. I wanted to protect this country, but I did not do it for Eomer. Not any longer….The true spark of the warrior comes out when you do everything for yourself.

I heard an odd noise of metal being scraped against rock and I looked up. Legolas came flying passed me riding on what looked like an Uruk-Hai shield. He rode the shield all the way down the stairs, but jumped off at the bottom. The shield flew into the chest of an Uruk. Legolas was still using arrows and when he engaged the enemy at the bottom of the stairs he even used an arrow by thrusting it into one of the Uruks eyes. Aragorn lifted Gimli out of the pool and helped him to his feet. I nodded to myself. All was well at the gap in the wall. I turned around and rushed down the wall toward the watch tower where Haldir was still fighting off Uruks from the ladders.

"Haldir!" I cried out as I fought my way across the wall over to him. He made a quick check of his surroundings before he turned to me.

"What's going on at the gap?" he asked keeping a sharp eye out for anything that dared enter the radius around us.

"Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the elvish reserves are fighting back the flood of Uruks that pour though the gap. They…" I had to stop "Urgh!" I said as I swing my sword swiftly and slashed an Uruk across the face. Haldir had not even noticed its approached and gave me a look of amazement.

"You should go back to the gap. My men and I have this area covered." He said. I nodded at him and started to head back down the wall but stopped about halfway when I heard Théoden speak again.

"Aragorn! Fall back to the keep! Get your men out of there!" he yelled across the stretch of the Hornburg. I could see Aragorn moving away from the gap shouting to his men and pointing to the gate of the keep. I turned back around and had to duck down immediately as another massive Uruk-Hai appeared and swung his sword at me. I chopped through his legs and then stabbed the blade into his chest as he fell. The congestion on the wall was getting thicker. I let my rage flicker and rushed in blade first. I killed another three Uruks and one more of the massive ones. Haldir was in a frenzy slicing and swinging his sword around. I hurried to his side to aid him.

"Haldir!" Aragorn shouted from below. Haldir stopped for a moment to look at him. Aragorn yelled something in Elvish and Haldir nodded and repeated it to the rest of his men on the wall.

"Get to the keep, Deya!" he yelled out. I nodded at him and hurried past him following his men. I smiled at Lisawe when I saw her a few steps ahead and was glad she had survived so far.

"What are you doing? What are you stopping for! Argh!" Gimli said as Legolas and some other elf dragged him away from the gap. I heard Haldir yelling to his men again and I stopped by the door and looked back. He was still in the same spot as before. He was waiting for all of his men to pass. Was he going to fight off the advancing Uruks himself! I started to take a few steps back toward him but Lisawe stopped me.

"Haldir will be fine! Come!" she said grabbing my arm.

I heard the shrilling roar of an Uruk and then a not so shrilling sound of pain. I turned my head back around and everything seemed to slow down again. Haldir looked dazed and stared down at his arm that was now flowing a steady stream of blood. He was panting and then looked back up confused he started to take a step toward the keep but an Uruk came up from behind him. He was too shocked to realize the presence of the Uruk and I screamed out loud as I watched its blade fall onto the back of Haldir's head.

"HALDIR!" Aragorn cried out as he started to head up the broken stairs to the top of the wall. Lisawe had wrap her arms around and under my shoulders to keep me from dashing back into the midst of the Uruks while I still screamed out and tears fell down my cheeks stinging my cuts and scrapes. Haldir fell slowly to his knees staring around dazed and confused. Aragorn had finally reached his side and fell to his own knees grabbing Haldir's shoulders…but Haldir's head fell back limp and lifeless. Lisawe kept dragging me back toward the door to the keep. I watched as Aragorn patted his chest and then slammed it onto Haldir's. I barely caught a glimpse of Aragorn laying Haldir's body down and then jumping onto a ladder pushing off and leaping into a group of Uruks, enraged.

"We must get to the gate!" Lisawe said. I felt my own rage twist and entangle deep down inside of me. My tears turned into daggers. I felt my nose snarl up. Lisawe let go of me giving me a weary look. I looked at her and then I patted my own chest and rested my hand on her shoulder.

"To the gate." I said smiling.

We rushed through the door to the watch tower. I lingered just beyond the entryway and waited for the last archer to hurry in. I slammed the door shut and dropped down all three of the thick lock boards into place. I pulled my brother's old dagger from my belt and I jabbed it into the bottom lock board. Nothing else was going to come through that door tonight!

Lisawe hurried to the top of the watch tower to refill her quiver and shoot from above. I hurried to the gate itself. As I downed the stairs and rounded the corner quickly I heard the screams of the soldiers. The battering ram had just broken through and its sharp spikes found their way into the chest of Friktuff who smacked against the hole of the gate and fell dead as the Uruks withdrew the ram.

"Brace the gate!"

Arrows from the Uruk's crossbows flew from the hole and claimed a few more lives.

"Hold them!"

I pushed my way through toward the gate. A couple of Rohhiric bowmen shot their own arrows and subdued the Uruks for a few moments. Théoden, Gamling, and Grimwold arrived at the gate. I stood at Gamling's side and everyone let out a fierce cry as the Uruks advanced again and those closest to the gate thrusted their swords into the hole hoping to claim a life or two. A few Uruks actually made their way through the hole, but were quickly struck down by the group of soldiers waiting beyond the gate.

"RROOARR!" an Uruk reached through the hole.

"Ahhh!" Gamling cried out as the Uruk's fingers wrapped around his throat and squeezed. Théoden quickly lifted his sword with both hands and chopped off the Uruk's arm. I caught Gamling as he fell back catching his breath. Théoden now stood directly in front of the hole. A pike was thrusted in from the Uruks and it found its way into Théoden's shoulder. I quickly helped Gamling back to his feet. A soldier behind Théoden handed him a spear. He grabbed it and thrusted it back through the hole killing the Uruk holding the pike. Théoden pulled out the pike from his shoulder and winced. Gamling came up behind the king and braced him.

"Make way!" Gamling yelled out pulling Théoden away from the gate. I followed close behind in case Théoden needed immediate attention. Gamling let the king lean against the wall behind the soldiers at the gate.

"We can't hold much longer!" he said to Théoden. I looked at the king and Gamling and Théoden looked up at me and he sighed. The Uruks rushed the gate again and this time the gate opened slightly but was pushed back by the soldiers. Gamling returned to the gate. I stayed near Théoden who was clutching his shoulder.

Aragorn appeared and as he passed the king he patted his shoulder. Soon Gimli appeared as well. Aragorn quickly moved through the soldiers and impaled an Uruk that had broken through.

"Hold them!" Théoden yelled out.

"How long do you need?" Aragorn called back. Gamling found Théoden's sword and handed it to him.

"As long as you can give me." Théoden said taking his sword and gripping it. Aragorn nodded.

"Gimli!" he said turning to the dwarf. Aragorn urged Gimli into a side passage to the left of the gate and then followed him. Several soldiers rushed the gate with spears to drive back the Uruks.

"Timbers!" Théoden commanded.

"Brace the gate!" Grimwold yelled out. I started to move back toward the gate to fight but Théoden reached out and stopped me.

"Stay here Deya. Please…..stay here." He said.

I looked up my king. No…this man was not my king. This was scared and this man's expression read defeat and helplessness. This man was not my king. He was a shadowed memory of my king. No better than when Saruman had a grip on his soul. I realized that Théoden was no longer the top of the chain in command….but I could not admit this to him. I mustered up the best smile I could under the circumstances and nodded my head to him. He nodded back and then winced again.

I heard a great commotion just beyond the gate. I turned to look and saw Gimli feverishly start bashing and cleaving the Uruks. Aragorn flew from some hidden ledge outside the gate. Several soldiers started to bring wood planks and other large timbers. I saw one man trip and I hurried over to help him before he let the large beam fall.

"Shore up the door!" Théoden said moving toward the gate.

"Make way!" a man yelled as he brought a huge beam of wood through.

"Follow me to the barricade!" another solider yelled as he appeared with an armful of planks.

"Watch our backs!" another soldier yelled as he hurried away to fetch more wood.

"Throw another one over here!" a guard said standing by the gate.

"Higher!" Théoden commanded.

I helped Grimwold hold up a board to the gate. I heard screams come from above us and several of the soldiers all looked up. Something new was stirring.

"Hold fast the gate!" a guard yelled out as they were just finishing patching up the hole. Théoden walked up to the only remaining opening of the hole.

"Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!" he yelled out as the last hole was covered. "Gamling!" Théoden cried out. Gamling appeared in seconds.

"Yes, my lord?" he asked.

"Help me to the hall." He said and he leaned on Gamling's shoulder. I looked at them both for a moment and Gamling nodded at me. I nodded back and then I hurried up the stairs to the watch tower.

I stopped dead in my tracks. The Uruks were launching huge grappling hooks to the top of the wall of the keep and then raised massive ladders. Several Uruk-Hai were already storming the keep and many more ladders had yet to be lifted. I saw Legolas leaning over the side of the keep wall and then he leaned back. My eyes widened when I realized he was rescuing Aragorn and Gimli. I rushed over and took hold of the rope and pulled with me. A few other soldiers joined us. Legolas grabbed Aragorn's arm and pulled him and Gimli safely back over the side.

Aragorn stood up and caught his breath looking at Legolas. He said something in elvish to him and they once again patted their chests and did the whole shoulder thing. Elves were very strange.

"FALL BACK! FALL BACK!"

That was Gamling's voice. Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and I all turned to look. The fresh timbers on the gate broke and the doors flew open as hundreds of Uruk-Hai charged in.

"They have broken through! The castle is breeched! Retreat! Retreat!" Théoden yelled out.

We took off toward the hall. I clutched my sword tight in my fingers but tried to avoid any further confrontation.

"Fall back!" yelled the soldiers as everyone rushed toward the hall. Aragorn stopped on the walkway. He put his hand on my back and urged me to hurry on.

"Hurry! Inside! Get them inside!" he yelled out.

Théoden and Gamling were standing at the doors of the hall waving for everyone to hurry inside. So few….so few soldiers made it before they had to close the door. The Uruks flooded into the keep wave upon wave. Once inside the wounded that had been saved were rushed into the caves. Those still strong rushed around frantically grabbing any wood that was left to barricade the door. They used chairs and benches when the wood was depleted. The heavy rhythmic pounding of the Uruk battering ram echoed off the walls of the hall like a heartbeat. Gamling was attending to Théoden in the middle of the hall. Théoden turned to his men.

"The fortress is taken. It is over." He said in a solemn tone. Aragorn ran from the door toward Théoden looking for anything else to add to the barricade.

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it!" he said as he lifted up another bench and handed it to Legolas who rushed it to the door. He looked up at Théoden. "They still defend it! They have died defending it!"

I helped the men who were leaning against the barricade. Another thrust of the battering ram stuck and we were forced back for a moment before we pushed against it again. I could hear the faint cries and screams of the woman and children coming from the caves. I pushed against the door with every ounce of strength I could muster. I felt my face twist up and I felt my eyes water up with tears. It will not end like this!

"Fetch those tables!" Grimwold yelled out. Legolas and I hurried over. Aragorn was still standing by Gamling and Théoden.

"Is there no other way for the woman and children to get out of the caves?" he asked looking toward the archway and then back at Gamling and Théoden. Théoden did not answer. "Is there no other way?" he asked again. Legolas quickly turned over a table knocking its contents to the floor in a clatter. I took one end of the table and helped him carry it to the door. When it was securely pressed against the rest of the mish mash of furniture and wood I turned back toward Théoden. Gamling stared at Théoden and his lip quivered for a moment. He turned to look at Aragorn.

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-Hai are too many." He said and looked back at Théoden who remained silent. Aragorn placed his shoulder on Gamling's shoulder.

"Send word for the woman and children to make for the mountain pass and barricade the entrance!" he said and gave Gamling a little push on the back. Théoden's gaze slowly moved up to Aragorn.

"So much death…." He said. Aragorn and Gamling looked up at him. "What can Men do against such reckless hate?" he asked. Gamling looked back at Aragorn and then hurried into the caverns. I walked over slowly toward Théoden and Aragorn. Aragorn looked in deep thought. His eyes traveled to the floor pondering an idea….any idea! I felt as if my heart would burst any moment. Finally, Aragorn slowly looked up at Théoden.

"Ride out with me." He said. Théoden looked at him shocked and stared at him. "Ride out and meet them!" Aragorn said sternly.

"For death and glory?" Théoden asked taking a few steps towards him.

"For Rohan." Aragorn said and closed the gap between he and the king. "For your people."

"The sun is rising." Gimli said as he leaned on his axe nearby. Aragorn looked up to one of the windows. Sure enough a steady stream of light began to pour into the hall. I gulped and looked to Théoden. Please…..I prayed silently…please…..

"Yes…." Théoden said weakly and then his face turned fierce. "Yes!" he said confidently. I felt a smile spread across my face. I felt goosebumps of excitement and battle lust creepy across my skin. Théoden turned to look at me and then at his men by the door.

"The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep…." He turned to look at Aragorn, "One last time!"

"Yes!" Gimli yelled out and he hurried through the hall to a door in the back. He was going to blow the horn! Théoden crossed back over to Aragorn and rested his hand on his shoulder.

"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together." He said and Aragorn looked as if a new strength had come over him. I too felt all the soreness and fatigue melt away from my muscles. I smiled and found a helmet laying nearby. I twisted my hair up quickly and put it on.

"Horses! Horses!" I yelled running toward the archway of the caverns. "Horses at once!" I commanded. Several guards came rushing up the stairs leading the horses. A few soldiers remained at the door pushing against it. The rest all rushed over and mounted a horse. Théoden mounted his and a guard handed him his helmet.

"Fell deeds, awake! Now for wrath! Now for ruin and the red dawn!" he said and put his helmet on. The sound of the mighty horn rang through the halls. The last thrust of the battering ram smashed through the doors and the Uruks rushed inside.

"FORTH EORLINGAS!" Théoden yelled out pointing his sword at the doors. Everyone cried out and drew their swords. I kicked my horse and we galloped through the hall ramming into the flood of Uruks. We exited the hall sword swinging and rushed down the stairs and through the walkways. We charged down the causeway knocking over every Uruk-Hai that was in our path. The horn blew again. Once down the causeway we charged into the mass of Uruks in the ravine.

"URGH!" I cried out as I swung and slashed as hard and fast as I could. Even Legolas was using his sword.

"FOR ROHAN!" Grimwold cried out and he sliced through the neck of an Uruk. I looked up for a moment and saw Aragorn staring up at the mountains whispering something. I looked around. Several of the other soldiers were looking up as well and also the Uruk-Hai around us. Even Théoden stopped and looked. I then too averted my eyes to the mountains.

On the top of a steep mountain pass stood a rider in white. A smile spread across my face. It was Gandalf! Another Rohhiric rider appeared next to Gandalf. He raised his sword into the air and then hundreds more riders appeared at the top of the pass. I felt my heart flutter into a frenzy. My eyes widened and my body went numb as is frozen in time. Théoden spoke the words I could not.

"Eomer." He said smiling. Eomer swung his sword and the Rohhirum charged down the hill in triumphant battle cries with axe and swords swinging. The Uruks too cried out and those closest to the pass knelt down with pikes pointed outward. Just as the riders reached the Uruk-Hai the first blazing light of the sun spilt over the mountains. The Uruks cried out and held their hands up to their eyes. I felt a tear roll down my cheek at the sheer beauty and awe of the scene before my eyes.

The riders and Uruks clashed. Uruks screamed and shrieked out as they were slain one after another. Gandalf swing his staff around wildly and Eomer fought with a great passion and hacked and slashed through the Uruk armour. It didn't take long before what was left of the Uruk-Hai began to flee and retreat through the ravine.

Théoden led the riders after them, but Eomer rode ahead and stopped them.

"Stay out of the forest! Keep away from the trees!" he yelled out. He turned around and came to Théoden's side. I did find it strange that the forest seemed so close, but then I quickly realized why. When the last Uruk fled into the thick canopy of the trees of Fangorn, the trees began to sway back and forth. A strange noise carried on the air of bark twisting and the cries of the Uruks demise. When as was silent, I raised my sword into the air.

"VICTORY!" I cried out. Every single one of the riders joined me. I was a few horses down from Théoden and Eomer. I stared at Eomer and smiled as tears of joy came to my eyes. He too looked down toward me for a moment and then back at the forest. Suddenly he looked back at me as his eyes focused in on my breastplate in confusion. His eyes traveled up to my face and then he nudged his horse to walk over toward me. The rest of the riders began to head back to the fortress. Eomer stopped his horse right in front of me and his eyes stared with confusion and a hint of hope. I sheathed my sword and I reached up and lifted the helmet off of my head. My hair fell long down my back and I fixed my gaze into Eomer's eyes.

A great smile spread across his face from ear to ear. I found myself smiling too. His eyes danced with that spark and fire I had missed in these long days and nights as they darted from one of my eyes to the other.

"Deya…." He whispered and his eyes became glossy. He dismounted his horse and walked over to me slowly reaching out his hand as if were but a phantom. I reached out my hand quickly to his. Our fingertips touched and then he started to laugh and cry at the same time. He took my hand and came to my side quickly. He held up my hand to his cheek closing his eyes. He laid his head against the outside of my thigh as a few tears rolled down his cheeks. Then when his eyes opened again they stared up at me. It was new stare. A good stare. It was as if I was the only thing before his eyes. I could read all the words welling up inside him in his eyes and possibly…a few actions as well. He placed a gentle kiss on my palm before he released my hand and lifted his head back up.

"We should head back to the castle with the rest of the riders." I said trying to get a hold of my raging emotions. He blinked a few times as my words soaked in and then he nodded.

"Yes…..Yes, there is much to do." He said and he turned back to his horse and mounted it. He looked back at me. "I will have a lot of duties." He said. "I may not see you again until nightfall." He said. I smiled at him and nudged my horse to trot on toward the fortress. He started to trot next to me.

"My dear Marshall of the Mark, I will have duties as well. I am the second in command of the Edoras Defense." I said proudly. Eomer stopped his horse dead in its tracks.

"WHAT?"