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Chapter 21: Entmoot and Elvish

Robin sat beside Merry in Treebeard's branches as the Ent walked through the forest again. "We Ents have not troubled about the wars of Men and wizards for a very long time," he informed them. As he spoke, Treebeard stepped into a wide grassy clearing with a large pointed rock jutting out of the earth in the center. "But now something is about to happen that has not happened for an age." Treebeard stopped beside the stone in the middle of the clearing, gesturing to the trees surrounding them. "The Entmoot."

"What's that?" Robin asked curiously.

"'Tis a gathering," Treebeard stated.

Merry stared around cautiously. "A gathering of what?"

Suddenly, low rumbling noises echoed through the forest, and several Ents emerged from the trees. Each tree-herder had unique features. Some had smooth, pale skin, while others had rough bark covered in moss. There were Ents shorter than Treebeard, and Ents just as tall.

"Beech, Oak, Chestnut, Ash," Treebeard called. "Good, good, good. Many have come. Now we must decide…if the Ents will go to war."

Robin and Merry glanced at each other, smiling broadly. This was what they had been hoping for.

~o*o*o*o~

Kayden, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and Peyton waded through the crowds of men heading for the armory. "We'll place the reserves along the wall," Aragorn explained. "They can support the archers from above the gate."

"Kayden, you must rest," Legolas insisted. "You're no use to us half alive."

"Yes, but I'm no use to you lying in bed either," Kayden replied.

"Aragorn!"

The five whipped around to see Ėowyn storming towards them, a bitter look upon her face. "I'm to be sent with the women into the caves," she informed them crossly.

"That is an honorable charge," Aragorn replied.

"To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return?" Ėowyn retorted. "What renown is there in that?"

"My lady, a time may come for valor without renown," Aragorn chided gently. "Who then will your people look to in the last defense?"

"Let me stand at your side," Ėowyn pleaded.

Aragorn shook his head. "It is not in my power to command it." The Ranger then turned back towards Legolas, Kayden, Peyton, and Gimli, who were watching the conversation with interest.

"You do not command the others to stay!" Ėowyn burst out angrily, causing Aragorn to whirl around to face the lady of Rohan again. "They fight because they would not be parted from you," she continued. "Because they love you."

Awkward silence consumed the group. Aragorn's response was clearly written across his face. "I'm sorry," Ėowyn murmured, looking away. She hurriedly walked past Kayden and Peyton, following the crowd of women towards the caves.

The five continued pacing through Helm's Deep, eventually coming to the armory. The small room was crowded with men receiving weapons and chain mail. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys," Aragorn observed, shaking his head. "These are no soldiers."

"What is Théoden thinking?" Peyton asked quietly. "Some of these soldiers could be eighth graders!"

"And some could be older than our parents," Kayden added grimly.

Gimli sighed in agreement. "Most have seen too many winters."

"Or too few," Legolas stated, watching as a twelve year old boy donned a helmet much too big for him and a elderly man stare at the sword he had just received in fear. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes."

All in the armory fell silent as they turned to stare at the elf. Ignoring the gazes of the men, Legolas continued to speak, but in Elvish. "Boe a hyn…neled herain dan caer menig!"

"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras," Aragorn replied.

"Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir ortheri!" Legolas snapped, eyes flaring. "Natha daged dhaer!"

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn retorted, raising his voice, before whirling around and storming out of the armory. Legolas made to follow him, but Gimli grabbed his arm.

"Let him go, lad," the Dwarf instructed. "Let him be."

The Rohirric men returned to their business, obtaining swords and armor for the upcoming battle. Kayden ran a hand through her hair worriedly. "Sen tîr?" she asked.

Legolas turned away, a bitter expression upon his face. Shaking her head disbelievingly, Kayden strode out of the armory, leaving a very confused Peyton behind with an elf and a dwarf.

"Will someone please explain to me what just happened?" she asked exasperatedly.

Gimli just shrugged. "Do I look like an elf to you?"

~o*o*o*o~

Kayden paced through the fortress, searching for Aragorn. She eventually found the Ranger on the steps before the great hall. "Hey," she greeted, coming to stand beside him. Aragorn nodded his head, acknowledging her presence. Together, they wordlessly observed the soldiers preparing for battle.

After a few moments, Kayden broke the silence. "Do you think what Legolas said is true?" she asked quietly.

"Many lives will be lost tonight, that is true," Aragorn replied, "but we may yet win this battle."

Kayden did not respond, staring down at the pebble she was nudging with her toe. Aragorn saw the unspoken question written across her face. "Do not have fear, Kayden," he stated, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Both you and Peyton are skilled fighters. You will survive the night." Kayden lifted her head, making eye contact with Aragorn. The Ranger gently shook her shoulder. "There is always hope."

Kayden nodded her head in understanding, determination flaring in her eyes. The two of them walked to the armory, which was now empty. Both slipped a shirt of chain mail over their tunics before donning their leather jerkins. Man, I never thought I would be doing this, Kayden mused, belting Veryan around her waist. When she looked up, she saw that Legolas and Peyton had joined them. Peyton also sported a mail shirt, her dagger strapped to her belt and the quiver of arrows given to her by Galadriel slung across her back. Legolas stepped towards Aragorn, holding out the Ranger's sword.

"We have trusted you this far," the elf stated. "You have not led us astray. Forgive me, I was wrong to despair."

Aragorn took the sword before grasping Legolas's shoulder. "Ú-moe edaved, Legolas," Aragorn replied. Peyton just shook her head.

"Why do you keep speaking in Elvish?" she asked, clearly frustrated. "I can't understand a word you say!"

Kayden chuckled at her friend's irritation, and even Aragorn and Legolas cracked smiles.

At that moment, Gimli shuffled into the armory, struggling with a mail shirt. "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted," he grunted. The dwarf let the shirt drop, and a good foot or so of the mail fell to the ground. "It's a little tight across the chest," he added. Aragorn, Kayden, Legolas, and Peyton all nodded, humoring the dwarf.

Suddenly, a horn call was heard in the distance. Peyton tensed up, and Kayden looked around, surprised. The sound was much lighter and friendlier than the horn she had heard when they first stepped into Middle-Earth. "That isn't an orc horn," she remarked, "but I don't know exactly what it is."

"An elf horn," Legolas answered, sprinting out of the armory with Aragorn close behind. Kayden seized Brethil and hurried after them. The three raced to the main courtyard, where a multitude of figures stood, cloaked in purple, with longbows at their sides. Leading them was a familiar golden-haired figure, a red cape flowing behind him.

"Haldir!" Kayden gasped quietly, for it was indeed the same elf that had greeted them when they first entered the Golden Wood.

Théoden stared at the many Elven warriors in amazement. "How is this possible?" he whispered.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell," Haldir informed him. "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance."

Aragorn grinned widely. "Mae govannen!" He ran towards Haldir, engulfing the elf in a huge embrace. "You are most welcome." Haldir awkwardly return the hug before turning to face Kayden and Legolas.

"Im gelir ceni ad lín," Kayden greeted.

Haldir nodded his head. "I as well." He then turned to face Théoden. "We are proud to fight alongside Men once more."

~o*o*o*o~

Night had fallen. Kayden stood on the outer wall, staring anxiously across the dark plains. Behind her, Elves and Men were bustling about, preparing for the battle soon to come.

"Hey." Kayden whirled around to see Peyton striding towards her, bow in hand. "Are you ready for tonight?" she asked the elleth.

Kayden shrugged. "I guess. I just never thought I would actually be doing this."

"What, standing on the wall of a fortress with soldiers preparing for battle behind you, or wearing chain mail and weapons used in the Middle-Ages?"

"Both actually," Kayden chuckled.

Meanwhile, deep in Fangorn Forest, Robin sat beneath a tree, watching as the Ents rumbled and conversed together.

Merry paced back and forth impatiently. "It's been going for hours!"
"They must have decided something by now," Robin replied, scrambling to her feet.

"Decided?" Treebeard remarked, having overheard Robin's statement. "No. We only just finished saying…good morning."

Robin's eyes widened in disbelief. "But it's nighttime already!"

"You can't take forever!" Merry exclaimed.

"Don't be hasty," Treebeard chided, turning back towards the Ents.

"We're running out of time!" Robin insisted. And her words were true, for as she said them, the Uruk-Hai were slowly advancing on Helm's Deep.

Elvish Translations

Boe a hyn…neled herain dan caer menig! = And they should be...three hundred against ten thousand!

Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras = They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras

Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir ortheri! = Aragorn, they cannot win this fight.

Natha daged dhaer! = They are all going to die!

Sen tîr? = Is this true?

Ú-moe edaved, Legolas = There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.

Mae govannen! = Well met! (A type of Elvish greeting)

Im gelir ceni ad lín = I am happy to see you again.

Yeah, so there was a lot of Elvish in this chapter. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Please Review!