Hey guys, this chapter is better than the last one in my opinion. I tried to throw in a little more Legolas since he is now a favorite. I tried really hard on this one cause I got my first negative review (those are good though, I need to know when im doing it wrong) so tell me what ya think and please be honest! Review responses are at the end of the chapter.
Aragorn stared out at the vast army of orcs, his heart heavier than it had ever been before. They could not win, even with the help of the Lorien elves. They had few soldiers among the men and most had no idea how to fight. He had to lead them though, and at least if he died beside them he would die with their respect. Legolas and Gimli were a little ways down the wall, also ready to give their lives. The rain began, pinging against armor and bringing an ominous feel to the battlefield. The Uruk-hai began banging their spears against the ground and he knew it was time. His blade made a scraping sound as he pulled it from its sheath, the archers taking aim the second his sword was raised.
"What is going on out there?" Gimli cried as he tried leaping up to see over the wall.
"Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Legolas asked and smiled down at the dwarf who simply laughed. It might be their last witty exchanging and for that no anger could pass between them, and for their new found friendship they wouldn't wish it. An arrow suddenly flew out at the orcs, the poor old farmer had not been able to keep his hold on it.
"Hold!" Aragorn yelled, but it was too late. The Uruks charged towards the wall, their battle cries tearing at the hearts of a few of the men. Aragorn screamed out for the elves to fire and moments later Théoden called for his men to volley their arrows. Wave after wave went down but it was no enough to stop the ladders from being pushed up onto the wall. The only one excited by this was Gimli for he now had something to do.
"Swords!" Aragorn screamed as their enemy came leaping over the wall to fight. They fought hard, twisting, blocking, stabbing, hacking, and defending. Rain and blood were mixed together as the sound of clashing metal and screams filled the air. Legolas was killing with a grace none of the men around him could come close to; his motions were fluid and precise.
"Legolas, two already!" Gimli called triumphantly to his friend.
"I'm on seventeen." Legolas threw back at him casually with a smirk. He enjoyed their game, if only because he kept him focused. He was a skilled warrior but he never truly enjoyed taking a life. Gimli began killing with vigor, counting loudly as he did, and then Aragorn noticed a group of Uruks marching towards the heavy doors of Helms Deep. He cried out for the archers to shoot at them, but that was when he saw something he knew had to be bad. One of the Uruk-Hai was running with a torch, running with purpose. He called out for Legolas to take him down and the elf put two arrows in this shoulder but the monster would not cease. He dove into the drain and an explosion rocked the very foundation of Helms Deep. Aragorn landed hard on the ground and it took him a moment before he was able to lift his head and what he saw scared him. Missy was standing there, amongst the rumble, in her eyes the same vacant expression he had seen when she was upon the Warg.
"Aragorn!" Gimli cried out to him and he turned to see the enemy flooding through the hole in the wall. The dwarf leapt off the wall and right into the middle of things.
"Gimli!" Aragorn yelled as the elven archers moved into place. Missy was suddenly walking past him into the midst of Uruk-Hai, and he yelled for the archers to fire and then pulled out his sword. He paused only for a moment when he noticed they were not attacking the girl, but the moment ended and he called for them to charge. He could not worry about her right then, he had to fight. Legolas grabbed the nearest shield and threw it ahead of him, sliding down the stairs on its back as he fried arrow after arrow. When he hit the bottom he used his weight to send the shield flying into an Urk and grabbed Missy around her waist while stabbing another Urk with one of his arrows and then he spun around gracefully and pressed her against a wall behind him. Aragorn pulled Gimli off the ground and they kept fighting. Legolas was alternating between fighting and pulling Missy back as she kept trying to walk into the sea of Uruks.
"Aragorn! Fall back to the keep!" Théoden yelled and he glanced up briefly before relaying the order.
"To the keep!" He sliced through his enemy, glancing up to see Haldir battling fiercely on the wall.
"Haldir! To the keep!" The elf only nodded before his fight continued, falling back would take sometime. Two elves grabbed Gimli and began dragging him back while Legolas threw Missy over his shoulder and began running after them. Gimli soon began running with them, heading for the gate which had been breached by the battering ram. They needed help to secure it, and Aragorn and Gimli were there within seconds. Legolas needed to find a safe place to put Missy, but at that moment there was not a lot of safe places. How did she get out of the caves? Why was she again running straight into danger? He put her back on her feet and grabbed her face, her eyes were vacant and black. The vibrant green that usually looked on him with contempt was gone.
"Artemis! Look at me Artemis." He said harshly but she kept staring straight ahead.
"Artemis? No… what are you?" He asked and her head tilted up to look into his eyes. This was not the girl he had been traveling with, this was something else. He was looking into the eyes of evil, of this Aerona woman.
"Aerona?" He let her name fall from his lips but he didn't want to believe it was true. Artemis had no skills of value to a dark queen, what could she want with her? Missy smiled suddenly, her black eyes holding amusement as she leaned in towards Legolas.
"Soon." She said and the black started to dissolve back into green. It was as if she had simply awoken from a dream, she began blinking rapidly and looking around confused.
"What happened?" She asked and then noticed men in armor rushing past them. She realized quickly that they were in the middle of a battle.
"Legolas, where are Aragorn and Gimli? How did I get out of the caves?" She asked and surprised him by rushing towards the wall to look out. There were still mass amounts of Uruks out there and the sight was ten times worse than seeing it on horse back. She glanced down to see Aragorn and Gimli fighting on the stone pathway that led to the gates. Legolas had a rope in his hands and shouted down to them as he tossed it over the side. The man and dwarf grabbed it and jumped off the pathway, away from the fight. Legolas began pulling them up and felt something stir in his chest when two delicate hands joined his and began pulling as well.
"The castle is breached! Into the keep!" Theoden yelled as Aragorn and Gimli came tumbling over the wall. Missy kept a hand on Gimli's shoulder as she began running with them towards the keep. She was shaking, and she knew it was mostly from not knowing how she had been sitting with the women one moment and staring at Legolas in the middle of a war the next. The men began barricading the door and she found herself grabbing one end of a long wooden pole and helping them brace it against the door. She could feel Aragorn's gaze on her as she helped the men block the door but she didn't dare meet it. She was terrified, just as she had been before. She was wrong, somehow something inside her was wrong.
"It is over, the fortress is taken." Théoden said as she, Legolas, and Aragorn ran for another large wooden pillar.
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it." Missy gently nudged him away from the pillar, and that was enough to have him approach Théoden while she and Legolas brought the wood to the door.
"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn asked. Missy glanced over at the men by the door before she took in a deep breath. Those of them in that room would all die, but hopefully the women and children would make it out. She looked to Gimli who was standing beside her.
"I'm sorry lass." He said and she gave him her best smile.
"Look on the bright side, that witch lady can't mojo me if I'm dead… and at least I'm with you guys." She reached out and took the dwarfs large hand in her own.
"I've never had friends like you, friends that stick by you. Thanks Gimli." He patted her hand and then looked back towards Aragorn and Théoden.
"Ride out with me." Aragorn's voice seemed to warm the room. They would not die cowering behind their last wall, they would die gloriously.
"Ride out and meet them."
"For death and glory." Théoden said and Aragorn moved towards him, a sense of honor in his walk.
"For Rohan. For your people." Gimli glanced to the window to see light streaming through.
"The sun is rising." He said and Aragorn looked up, remembering the words of the Wizard. Look to his coming at first light on the fifth day. It was time, and they all knew it. Théoden agreed, feeling the pride of his people fill him.
"Yes. The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep… one last time." Gimli was racing off from her side then, to sound the horn. She took a deep breath and readied herself for what was to come. She wished she had a weapon so she could at least try and fight.
"Hey Legolas?" She asked and he glanced at her.
"Can I have one of your short swords? I may as well try and take some of them with me." His eyes held a gleam of respect as he pulled a blade from his back sheath and held it out to her.
"Artemis…" She shook her head and threw her shoulders back.
"Don't get mushy on me elf boy, I gotta stay strong." She turned her back on him and took another deep breath. She could do it, she could be like them. She could rush out into danger for a cause greater than herself, because that what is was like there. People fought for important things, things she still couldn't understand. When they mounted their horses she was surprised that there was a black mare there for her. She mounted it and gripped the sword tightly in her right hand. The door broke.
"Forth Eorlingas!" Théoden cried and the riders all sprang forward. Missy was in the middle of the pack as they rode through the keep and towards the stone pathway. She swung wildly as she rode, and felt her blade connect twice. She was thankful she didn't drop it as the vibrations began to sting her hand. She heard a magnificent sound and looked up to see Gandalf on top of Shadowfax. It was that moment she knew she would not die that day. The Uruk-Hai all turned to stare at the white wizard as well, and a sense of hope reverberated through the men still standing. It was then that the two thousand riders that had been banished from Rohan mounted the hillside, ready to charge.
"To the King!' Eomer called and then the warriors began rushing down the hill towards them. They Uruks did not stand a chance and soon were fleeing towards a forest Missy could not remember being so close.
"Keep away from the forest! Stay out of the trees!" Eomer cried to his men. They watched and the moment the last Uruk had stepped into the forest the trees began shaking and screams began to fill the air. Missy winced as she looked away from them sight. They had won. Rohan was safe for the moment, her friends were all alive, and Eomer was no long banished. She dismounted and found herself face to face with Aragorn.
"Artemis…how did you get out of the caves?" He asked as he checked her over with his eyes for any type of wounds.
"I don't know… But I noticed I only get like that when the bad guys are around." He opened his mouth to speak but Legolas was beside them suddenly.
"You did not lose my blade, I am impressed." He said and she handed it over to him with a smile.
"I think I even hit something with it. Go figure." She refused to met eyes with the elf and, in an attempt to look away, saw Eomer and Théoden both placing a hand on one another's shoulders.
"Eomer!" She cried and ran towards him. The man smiled immediately and caught her as she threw her arms around him.
"Missy, what are you doing on the battle field?" He asked as he too began checking her for wounds.
"Question of the hour, but the important thing is you are home. You can ask Théoden, I was adamant about getting you unbanished." Eomer looked over at his uncle who was eyeing the two suspiciously.
"Yes, Lady Artemis was very vocal in discussing the matter." He gave a slight smile and the crowd of them began moving back towards the fortress. Word had gotten to the caves that all was well and now families were being reunited. She noticed Eowyn rush to Aragorn and hug him tightly, thankful he was alive. She sighed deeply, he didn't seem to push the blonde away from him the way he had pushed her. Maybe friendship was all they would ever have. She moved towards Gandalf as the emotional reunions continued around her.
"Artemis, I hear you had quite the adventure these last few days." She gave a nod and then looked up at him very seriously.
"Gandalf, if she gets me it will be bad, like ten times worse then this battle, bad right?" The wizard stopped smiling at her and glanced around before nodding.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but after last night and seeing all of the terror first hand, I don't want to be the reason these people die." He knew where she was taking her little speech and for a moment even he couldn't believe this was the same girl they had found on the mountain side, crying about her shoes.
"I think you should take me out. If I die she can't come back and it's one less threat." Gandalf placed a hand on her shoulder and sighed deeply.
"You have found your inner strength child; I do think that you can defeat her should you fall into her hands. You have grown much since you came here." She felt tears start to build up and she shook her head.
"She is too strong. If I can't win I'll hurt people, Pippin and Aragorn. I've seen it Gandalf, please don't let it come to that." He smiled a genuine smile,
"That is exactly why I know you will win, because you would give your life to save theirs. Aerona never meant for you to end up with us, and for our sakes, I'm glad you did." He pulled her to him and gave her a hug, it almost made her feel better too.
"Now, I think it is time we paid Saruman a visit."
Lintered: Thanks so much. I'm getting a little blocked on details, that's my biggest problem is I don't give enough details and things happen too fast.
Astiza: It makes me laugh because at the beginning everyone wanted Aragorn, now I don't think a single person wants her to end up with him. Both she and me are still torn so who knows.
Her-O-Sheep: Well I was going to kill him but because you asked I kinda left him a mystery.
Lillybear88: I'm glad you like it! Legolas is now the front runner so he has a good chance.
Sara: Well thank you for your honesty, I do appreciate it. I understand why Missy being unmotivated would bother you but it serves a purpose to the plot so I can't change that. I didn't realize she didn't have depth as I thought her evolution into a stronger person was evident but I'm glad you pointed it out because that means im messing up the details. As for the guys being out of character, I'm going based on the movies and Legolas never came off as wise in the films, he seemed like a young elf and that's where my idea actually came from. I was really worried about making Aragorn ooc so I'll try to keep a better heading on what I have him do or say. I in no way intend for him to brush off his romance with Arwen like its nothing though, and if you do continue to read my story that will defiantly show. I'll work on giving Missy a bit more depth and keeping Aragorn in character. Lastly, the comment about not knowing what they see in her, if you didn't warm to her character then no you wont understand and im not doing my job right. That part is suppose to be obvious through their different interactions. I'll try and give the guys a little more POV time. Thank you for reading my story though and for your advice! Sorry this was super long!