Aragorn, Nira, Legolas, and Gimli stood in the armory as the men and boys of Rohan were armed.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys," Aragorn said quietly, "These are no soldiers."
"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli commented.
"Or too few," Legolas continued. "Nira, tell him they are too young to fight!"
"I would," Nira whispered, "but then I would be called a hypocrite. I said at the council meeting that anyone who could fight, no matter the age, should be able to do so."
"Look at them. They are frightened. You can see it in their eyes."
Everyone in the armory stopped talking and looked at the elf. He stepped away before turning to Aragorn and saying, "And they should be. Three hundred against ten thousand!"
"They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras," Aragorn replied.
"They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!"
"Then, I shall die as one of them," Aragorn snapped, before turning and leaving.
Nira stepped toward Legolas. She smacked him across the face and said, "That's for giving into fear."
She turned and walked away, drawing the eye of every man and boy in the armory. Legolas stepped forward to follow, but Gimli stopped him.
"Let her go, lad. Let her be."
He pulled away from Gimli and ran after her. He finally found her, sitting atop the tower she had been on after their arrival. He took a deep breath before stepping toward her and touching her shoulder. She shrugged off his touch, looking away.
"Nira," Legolas whispered, hurt, "I'm sorry. I should not have acted the way I did."
"You're right," she snapped, standing and turning toward him. "You have been so positive, so not… this. And then you change. You tell us not to give into fear, then you do. Legolas, you may have lived many life ages, but you will never outgrow fear. You act like it's a foreign emotion, when you feel it all the time. I'm the only one who has ever seen you give into that desperation, until today."
He turned away not wanting to meet her eye.
"I fear that we will all die." he told her, "because no one in Middle Earth can stand together to fight Sauran. I fear that Sauron will take power again and destroy every Man, dwarf, and elf. I fear that I will lose you again."
Nira took his hands. She looked at him in sympathy. He kissed her fingers, still not meeting her eye.
"Someday," she whispered, "I will explain what my childhood was like. Memories do not show everything. Not the emotion, or what was going through my mind. Then, you will understand why I can say I know what you mean when you admit what you just did."
She leaned into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head against his neck, breathing in his scent. They stood in that position as the sun moved across the sky. As the sun began to set, they decided that Legolas needed to find Aragorn.
"Do me a favor?" Legolas asked. "Don't tell Gimli that I said I was afraid."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Nira replied, "but it'll cost you."
Legolas smiled and pulled her in to kiss him, deeply. When they pulled apart, Nira sighed and leaned into his chest. They left the tower to find Aragorn.
Aragorn was in the armory, getting ready for battle, when Nira and Legolas found him. Legolas stepped forward and picked up Aragorn's sword. When Aragorn reached down for it, Legolas held it out to him. Aragorn took it from Legolas with a small smile.
"We have trusted you this far," Legolas said. "You have not led us astray. Forgive me, I was wrong to despair."
"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas." Aragorn said. "At least not from me."
"Don't worry," Nira smiled, walking out of the shadows. "He's already apologized to me."
Gimli walked in with chainmail on, saying, "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted." He let it drop to the floor, and it pooled there. "It's a little tight across the chest."
Nira laughed lightly, "Who said we don't have time? I am a sorceress."
She took some length of the bottom and broadened the chest easily in seconds.
"That's better," Gimli said.
A horn echoed from outside the gate.
"That is no orc horn," Legolas observed.
The four of them ran to the front gate as a battalion of elves entered, led by Haldir.
"How is this possible?" Théoden asked.
"I bring word," Haldir replied, "From Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago, we fought and died together. We came to honor that allegiance."
"Well met, Haldir," Aragorn said stepping forward and surprising the elf but hugging him. "You are most welcome."
Haldir greeted Legolas and Gimli before turning to Nira.
"Lady Hermione," he said with a bow.
She walked over to him and put a hand on her chest before moving it to his shoulder in greeting.
"I am no longer Hermione," she said. "I'm surprised Galadriel didn't tell you. I go by Nira, now."
"Well met, Nira," Haldir said, correcting his earlier statement, before turning to Théoden. "We are proud to fight alongside men once more."
Nira began to follow the elves to their place on the outer wall. Théoden grabbed her arm.
"That is not the way to the caves," he snapped.
"Who said anything about the cave?" she replied. "You have no control over me. Nor does Haldir," she added seeing his eyes dart to the elf leader.
She pulled away and joined Legolas and Gimli at the front of the group.
A/N So, tell me what you thought. The next chapter will get into the battle. Review, please.