Sorry it's taken so long for me to update. I've been incredibly busy.

Oh, and if you are reading my other story, The Elenmîr, I am sorry that I haven't updated it either. I've kind of reached a block, so I will be working on this until I find a way past the block.

Anyway, I don't own anything other than my OC's. Oh, and their horses.

Chapter 20: Breath of Life

"MAKE WAY FOR THE KING! MAKE WAY FOR THĖODEN! MAKE WAY FOR THE KING!"

What was left of the soldiers rode into the massive fortress known as Helm's Deep. The stronghold was built up against a towering mountainside, its gray stone walls many feet thick. It was packed with a vast number of citizens, most of who were crowding around the returning riders.

Ėowyn ran up to their small company, her eyes searching. "So few. So few of you have returned."

"Our people are safe," Theoden stated. "We have paid for it with many lives."

"My lady," Gimli greeted somberly, walking up to Ėowyn.

The White Lady of Rohan stared at the dwarf with wide, worrisome eyes. "Lord Aragorn…Where is he?"

Gimli tipped his head in the direction of the Ranger. Aragorn stood beside Brego, his dark-haired steed, absentmindedly stroking the horse's neck.

Ėowyn rushed over to him. "Lord Aragorn!" she exclaimed. "How do you fare?" It was then that she noticed Peyton sitting frozen atop Greystorm. The young woman's face was streaked with tears, the cheerful mood she had during the beginning of the journey now gone.

Ėowyn surveyed the company once more. "Where is Lady Kayden?" she asked, unable to locate the elleth in the crowd.

Aragorn sighed, a grim expression on his face. "She fell."

Meanwhile, Legolas silently dismounted Arod, clutching the bronze eagle pendant tightly. He stared forlornly at the horizon, a part of him still clinging to the vain hope that one day Kayden would come riding over those hills towards Helm's Deep.

~o*o*o*o~

Snuffle.

Snuffle, snuffle.

Kayden groaned. Every single part of her body ached like she had been trampled by a herd of cattle. And now something was tickling her face! She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by the sight of a large buckskin nose and two soft brown eyes. "Déor," she breathed, cracking a relieved smile. The stallion whinnied in reply and knelt down beside her.

Kayden gently rested her arm on Déor's back, examining her surroundings. She lay on a stony riverbank in what seemed to be a canyon. A rushing green river flowed past her. For miles around, there was nothing. She lay all alone on this beach with just her horse to keep her company.

With a sigh, Kayden closed her eyes again and relaxed. It'd be so nice to just stay here…to let go…

The people of Rohan need you. The defenses have to hold!

Kayden's eyes snapped open. Gandalf's words rushed back to her, cutting through her thoughts like a knife. Rohan needs me, she told herself determinedly. My friends need me. Marshalling all the strength she had left in her battered body, Kayden hauled herself onto Déor's back.

"To Helm's Deep," she whispered. Déor neighed softly in reply, slowly standing up. Kayden winced as the stallion began trotting, jostling some of her many bruises. She had a long journey ahead of her and little time to make it in.

~o*o*o*o~

Kayden rode through the day and night, never stopping. Most of the journey was spent trying to stay conscious, the pain and the exhaustion almost too much to bear.

Déor stopped abruptly on a hill. The thunder of marching feet resonated across the plains. Kayden gazed around for the source of the stamping and was horrified by what she saw.

A massive black river was slowly inching its way over the grassy hills of Rohan. It was made of thousands of men – no, beasts – dressed in black armor. Kayden could just make out the symbol of a white hand emblazoned upon their shields and flags.

It was Saruman's army of fighting Uruk-Hai, steadily advancing towards Helm's Deep.

Kayden spurred Déor into a gallop. "Hurry Déor!" she urged. "As fast as you can go!" The stallion eagerly obeyed, and soon enough, the immense stone fortress appeared in the mountains before her.

Kayden paused for a moment, gazing at the stronghold. "Helm's Deep," she announced. "Let's hope those who are in there last the night."

~o*o*o*o~

Déor's hooves clattered noisily against the stone as the stallion rode through the great wooden gates of the fortress. Immediately, murmurs broke out among the townspeople Kayden passed. Apparently, news of her "death" had spread rather quickly.

"She's here!"

"Lady Kayden has returned!"

"She's alive!"

Over the din of the citizens, Kayden could distinctly hear a familiar gruff voice shout, "WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE? GET OUT OF THE WAY! I'M GOING TO KILL HER!"

Another familiar voice rang out. "NOT BEFORE I KILL HER FIRST!"

Gimli pushed his way through the crowd, closely followed by Peyton. The dwarf came up to Kayden, a smile on his face. "You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless woman I ever knew!" Gimli seized her around the waist in a tight hug. "Bless you, lassie!"

"OI!" Kayden looked up to see Peyton still standing there with a cross look on her face. "HOW DARE YOU DIE ON ME LIKE THAT!" she yelled, storming up to Kayden. "IF YOU EVER TO SOMETHING THAT IDIOTIC AGAIN, I SWEAR I'LL…I'LL…" Peyton made wild hand motions, unable to find words. Kayden cracked a small smile at her friend's speechlessness. Peyton shot her an annoyed glare before breaking into a grin herself. "I'm glad you're back," she stated, pulling her best friend into an embrace.

After a few moments, both Gimli and Peyton released Kayden. The elleth stepped back, a solemn look on her face. "Gimli, Peyton, where is the king?" she asked.

"In the hall," Peyton replied, pointing off towards Kayden's left. Gimli nodded in agreement.

"Thanks," Kayden stated, heading off in the direction Peyton had indicated.

As she approached the hall, Kayden saw a familiar golden-haired elf talking quietly to Ėowyn. "Legolas!" she called, causing the elf to whirl around in shock.

A look of utter amazement dawned on the elf's face. There, standing a few yards away, was the one whom he had believed to be dead. "Kayden?"

Kayden smiled. "Yep."

Legolas broke into a joyous grin and rushed over to her, gathering the elleth in his arms and pressing his smiling lips to hers. Kayden gasped in surprise before blissfully returning the kiss. Neither cared that a dozen Rohirric people were watching their reunion with wide eyes. Both were completely content, together again with the one they loved.

After a few moments, the two broke apart. Legolas lightly brushed Kayden's hair from her face. "You are alive."

Kayden nodded her head. "I'm alive."

"You are here," he whispered

"I am here," Kayden replied. "And I don't plan on leaving anytime soon."

Legolas beamed, gently pressing something into Kayden's hand. "My necklace!" she gasped, staring at the bronze eagle pendant resting in her palm. "Hannon le, Legolas."

The elf chuckled. "Glassen."

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Kayden remarked, "I must speak with the king."

~o*o*o*o~

Aragorn and Théoden sat together in the hall, discussing the defense strategies of the fortress. Suddenly, the doors were thrown open. The two men looked up in surprise as they saw Kayden standing, bloody and disheveled, in the doorway, a grave expression on her face.

"All of Isengard has been emptied," she stated, striding up to them.

"How many?" Aragorn asked worriedly.

"Ten thousand strong at the least," Kayden replied.

Théoden's eyes grew wide with disbelief. "Ten thousand?"

Kayden nodded solemnly. "It's an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men." After a pause she added grimly, "They will be here by nightfall."

A determined, stubborn look came upon Théoden's face. "Let them come!" he declared, walking out of the hall.

Aragorn remained seated, examining Kayden. She sported a rather large gash on her shoulder, a smaller wound on her knee, and various other abrasions and bruises on her body. "You look terrible," he stated bluntly.

Kayden raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms in annoyance. Aragorn smirked at her before pulling the elleth into a quick embrace. Once he had let go, Aragorn turned to face Peyton, Legolas, and Gimli, who had entered the hall earlier.

"Come," the Ranger instructed, gesturing to the doors of the hall. "We should find Théoden."

~o*o*o*o~

The five found the king of Rohan conversing with his captain of the guard, Gamling. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall," Théoden ordered. Gamling nodded and walked away.

Aragorn, Legolas, Kayden, Peyton, and Gimli followed Théoden as the king made his way to the great wooden gates of Helm's Deep. "We will cover the causeway and the gates from above," he informed them. "No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg!"

"But this isn't a band of stupid orcs!" Peyton retorted. "These are Uruk-Hai!"

Gimli nodded. "Aye. Their armor is thick and their shields broad."

Théoden whirled around to face them. "I have fought many wars," he stated icily. "I know how to defend my own keep." He strode past the two of them. Peyton glared after him, and Gimli huffed angrily. Aragorn laid a reassuring hand on their shoulders before following Théoden.

The king of Rohan continued walking about the fortress. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock," he boasted. "Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."

"They don't come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages," Kayden protested. "They come to destroy its people, down to the very last child."

"What would you have me do?" Théoden inquired heatedly, turning to face the elleth. "Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."

"Send out riders, milord," Aragorn pleaded. "You must call for aid!"

"And who will come?" Théoden asked softly. "Elves? Dwarves?" The king shook his head. "We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."

"Gondor will answer," Aragorn insisted.

Peyton could see that Aragorn's words had hit a nerve. Théoden's face contorted with rage. "Gondor?" he hissed angrily. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon-" Théoden abruptly stopped his tirade, regaining his composure. "No, my Lord Aragorn," he continued in a much calmer voice, "we are alone." The king then turned towards his men. "Get the women and children into the caves," he commanded.

"We need more time to lay provisions," Gamling stated.

"There is no time," Theoden retorted. "War is upon us. Secure the gate."

~o*o*o*o~

Treebeard slowly crested a hill in Fangorn. Pippin suddenly straightened up. "Look!" he exclaimed. "There's smoke to the south!"

Treebeard sighed. "There is always smoke rising from Isengard these days."

Merry stared at Treebeard in disbelief. "Isengard?"

"There was a time when Saruman would walk in my woods," Treebeard stated ruefully. "But now he has a mind of metal and wheels. He no longer cares for growing things."

As he spoke, the hobbits scrambled up to Treebeard's highest branches to get a better view. Robin gasped as she saw a huge black swarm marching away from a spindly black tower in the distance. "What is it?" she asked.

"Saruman's army," Merry answered grimly. "The war has started."

Elvish Translations

Hannon le, Legolas = Thank you, Legolas.

Glassen = My pleasure

Anyway, check out my profile page. I have character profiles up now. There's also my poll, which helps me decide future events.

And as always, please review! I would like the number of reviews to at least match the number of chapters. That would make me really happy! :D