Chapter Eighteen
"There Is Always Hope"
"You wanted to see me?" Jesse asked as she walked up to Aragorn outside of the armory, where he was helping an old man into a chainmail vest. "Yes, I do need to ask you something," the ranger replied carefully. "Aragorn, you better not even think about asking me to go into the caves," Jesse added cutting the ranger off before he could speak again, "My place is with the rest of the Fellowship and you know that. Now what else is on your mind?" "Very well," he answered not looking very surprised by her answer, "My next question is can you see what we are facing in the coming battle?" heasked in Sindarin to maintain some sense of privacy for their conversation in the bustling corridor. "Yes I can, and it is going to be brutal. Many will not survive this night I am afraid, but know this Aragorn there is hope," Jesse said carefully, "We are not alone in this fight," she added cryptically before turning and entering the armory leaving a very confused but hopeful ranger behind her.
The armory was buzzing with activity when Jesse entered and at first she did not see the person she was searching for, but as she made her way across the crowded room she saw the scared boy near a long table where bows had been laid out. "Eothain," she said as she walked up to the boy who had tentatively picked up a bow that was much to big for him, "You should use this bow here. It is a more suitable size for you and it still holds enough power behind it to serve you well tonight," she advised picking up a bow better suited for the boy. "Thank you my Lady," he said with a shaky voice as he took the weapon from the elleth's hands. "You will do fine Eothain, and I would like for you to stand by me on the battlements tonight," Jesse said as she put a comforting hand on the boys shoulder, "You have used a bow before haven't you?" "Yes my Lady, I have. I have used my father's bow to hunt with," he answered honestly, feeling pride that he actually knew how to use the weapon he was holding. "Then I believe we will make a very good team," the elleth replied with a kind smile, "Now let us see about getting you properly attired for tonight," she added leading him over to the armor and chainmail that were lying near by.
Once she had Eothain in what at least would offer him a little protection and still not weight him down to much, Jesse took the boy and went in search of Boromir. It did not take the unlikely pair long to find the son of Denethor II, he was talking quietly with Háma near the king's chambers. "Boromir, I hate to interrupt but I could use a bit of your help," Jesse said as she walked up to the men. "Of course Jesse. What is it you require?" the Gondorian asked turning his attention to the elleth and boy at her side. "I need to give Eothain here a bit of a crash course in the use of a blade and I thought you would be able to help," she explained with a knowing smile. "I would be happy to help," he replied smiling down at the shy and scared young boy, "I believe we should step outside into the open where we will have a bit more room." "Thank you," she replied thankfully, "I promised his mother I would help him as much as I could. She is caring for Brigid for me." "Then let us make certain he is well prepared," Boromir said with a gentle smile.
Eothain proved to be a very quick study in the use of a sword and for that Jesse was immensely grateful. She could still feel the boy's fear but with Boromir's help she was sure the boy would see the end of this battle. Now all that was left to do is wait. 'It won't be long now,' she thought to herself grimly as she left Boromir talking with the boy to go in search of the rest of her friends.
She soon found them in the armory, where it seems Aragorn and Legolas had earlier had an argument and were in the process of mending the broken fences their fight had caused. "I swear I can't leave you guys unattended for a moment and you fall apart," Jesse said with a frustrated smile. "Well said Lass, well said. Now where be Boromir?" Gimli said with a smile as he wrestled to get a Rohirrim made chainmail shirt over his chest, "If there was time I'd get this adjusted," as the heavy metal shirt was finally pulled over him it fell to the floor with a clang, "It's a little tight across the chest." "It is a bit snug isn't it Gimli my friend," Jesse said with a giggle.
The sound of a horn interrupted any further conversation and grabbed everyone's attention, especially Jesse's. "That is no orc horn," Legolas said in astonishment as he looked at his companions. "No, Legolas that is the sound of hope," Jesse answered giving Aragorn a wink. The ranger silently gave the smiling elleth a nod before they all headed toward the door.
As she stepped out into the cool night air Jesse could hear Théoden ask in astonishment, "How is this possible?" It was then that Jesse laid eyes on that of her husband as he replied, "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together." Jesse had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at the look on Glorfindel's face when Haldir spoke for the both of them before he had a chance. "Mae govannen, Haldir, Glorfindel," Aragorn said before he embraced a very surprised march warden, causing Glorfindel to laugh at the shock on Haldir's face, "You are most welcome." Legolas was a bit more reserved as he greeted his fellow warriors. "We are proud to fight alongside men once more," Haldir finished as he and Glorfindel locked gazes with the king of Rohan once more. "And your aid is graciously excepted," Théoden said humbly as he looked in amazement at the two elven warriors.
It was then that Jesse finally stepped forward and much to her husband's disappointment embraced the Balrog Slayer first and said, "I have missed you Glorfindel. It is good to see you again." "And I you young one," he said with a smile as he kissed her gently on the crown of her head, "But I fear Uruks will be the last of my worries if you delay any longer in welcoming your husband. For I believe he just growled at me," he added causing the elleth in his arms to laugh. "Oh don't worry about him. He's harmless," Jesse said with a laugh,as she thenturned and glanced at her husband who was now fingering the hilt of his sword, and she added, "Most of the time." "Harmless am I," Haldir said taking his wife in his arms and holding her close, "I have missed youmy sweet wife." "And I have missed you as well my love," Jesse said in a strangled whisper as she held tight to him as though if she let go he would disappear and as though it were only the two of them standing there, their lips met in a heated kiss, that spoke of everything they felt.
It was not until Gimli saw fit to clear his throat that the two parted both blushing at the loss of their control at that moment. Turning Jesse looked to the king of Rohan and said proudly, "King Théoden, I would like to introduce you to my great-uncle Glorfindel of Rivendell and my husband Haldir of Lothlórien." "It is an honor meet one of such renowned Lord Glorfindel. Your legend is known well among my people," Théoden said with respect to the golden elf lord before him, "And you Lord Haldir, I have greatly wished to meet one that could steal the heart of such a noble lady. Welcome my good friends. Let us go to my chambers where we may speak more of the matter that is bearingdown upon us."
"Jessica was correct when she spoke of the magic in which Saruman wields," Glorfindel said as he looked at a map of the Hornburg that had been laid out across a table in the king's chamber. "I would agree as well," Haldir said with a nod to the Balrog Slayer. "It is similar to the magic that Gandalf uses in his fireworks only with much more destructive power. It is called gunpowder and enough of it used near that culvert would bring down the wall there," Jesse described carefully. Théoden for his part looked stricken at the thought of the Keep being breached.
Seeing the look of despair take over the king's face Jesse felt she had to speak more, "King Théoden, earlier you spoke of your people's ability to rebuild, walls can be rebuilt as well. If we work together and work wisely we will be able to get through this." "Jesse is right my Lord," Aragorn said as he stepped forward, "There is always hope and we must hold to that." "You speak wisely and I thank you for your council," his face regaining some of the light it had lost at the description of gunpowder, "Both of you."
"We have brought with us a supply of healing herbs from both Imladris and the Golden Wood," Haldir said as he, Jesse and the king were left alone for a moment, "As well as two of our healers." "I have briefly been able to teach the healers of Rohan to use some of our herbs but I fear we will need all of the skilled healers we have before the end of this night," Jesse said seriously as she looked up at her husband. "Larien and Amras will do all that they can to assist your healers," Haldir said with certainty as he looked to his wife's knowing face. "My people owe a great debt for the aid of your kin this night," Théoden replied sincerely as he locked his gaze with that of the proud elvin warrior. Jesse could not withhold her smile as her husband and the king of Rohan shook hands. 'Well at least we are on the right track,' she thought as she watched the pair.
Once all of the archers had been given their orders and were assisting in the final preparations for the coming battle, Jesse and Haldir took a few moments to sneak away from busy battlements to be alone. "The Lady came to me in a dream and said that Larien would be coming with you," Jesse said as she sat held tightly in her husbands arms, "And that when the battle was over she would look after Brigid for us while we are away helping Aragorn." "She spoke to me of this as well," he said as he ran his fingers through her long raven hair, "It brings me comfort that the young one will be safe while we are continuing the fight." "It does me too, I was so worried about Brigid. She has been through way too much already as it is," she said as her hand began to caress his cheek, "She called me Momma, in the caves earlier," she added as she looked into the eyes of her husband.
A brush of his lips against her own was all of the encouragement she needed as the fire of their bond kindled anew in their small secluded hideaway. As his hands found their way to her waist, a sound from just outside of the door caught both of their attention causing them to pull away from one another abruptly. "I am certain I saw them head this way Lad," Gimli's gruff voice found its way to their ears. "Perhaps my good dwarf they have gone to the caves to see to preparations there," Jesse could make out the amusement in her beloved uncle's voice as he answered the distracted dwarf. Jesse had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at her friend as she heard Gimli making his way toward the caves muttering about putting bells around her neck. 'I believe my love that we have been discovered,' Jesse's voice laughed its way into her husband's mind. 'Alas I believe you are correct my beautiful wife. Our safe haven is no longer as peaceful as it once was,' Haldir answered in a long suffering tone, 'and that impertinent uncle of yours is awaiting us.' A casual tapping sound on the door was their answer as Glorfindel's cheery voice came through the thick oak door, "You may come out now. The dwarf has left."
As the blushing pair of younger elves stepped out into the main corridor the Balrog Slayer found it difficult to maintain his straight face and a merry laugh slipped from his lips as he took in the somewhat rumpled form of Lothlórien's march warden and his great-niece's blushing cheeks. "Oh behave," Jesse said laughing at the smiling face of her mother's uncle, "Now why were you and Gimli looking for us?" Gaining control of his mirth quickly, Glorfindel replied solemnly, "The enemy has been spotted nearing the mouth of valley." "I am so going to turn that damned wizard into something neutered when I see him," Jesse swore under her breath as the three of them began to make their way out of the fortress, "His timing totally sucks," taking a calming breath she spoke again to her husband and uncle, "Alright let's go to work."
Taking their places along the wall Jesse found Boromir and Eothain quickly and introduced the scared boy to her husband and uncle. "Just remember what Boromir and I told you and you will do just fine," Jesse instructed as looked out over the advancing Uruks, "And try to aim for the neck it is the best way to take one of these things down. Their armor is very thick just about everywhere else." "The Lady speaks wisely," Glorfindel said turning and smiling reassuringly down at the scared boy, "Heed her words and you will do well young one."
Rain began to pour down on them as Aragorn voice rang out giving orders to the elven archers lined upon the Deeping Wall in their native Sindarin, "Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none." Somewhere from the other end of the wall an arrow was released early and as if in slow motion Jesse watched its trajectory as it embedded itself in the neck of one of the Uruks and the creature fell to the ground dead. "At least it was not a wasted arrow," she said out loud over the outraged screams of the creatures below them.
When the order finally came for them to begin to fire Jesse glanced to her side at how well Eothain was doing. He had quickly grown accustomed to the bow in his hands and was doing very well for one so young. "Get ready Eothain here come the ladders. Shoulder your bow and get your sword ready," she instructed as the first of the siege ladders landed against the wall. She took a moment to fire off a few more shots with her bow before following her own advise and pulling her twin knives from their sheaths.
As the Uruks began to pour over the side of the wall she found it difficult to keep track of where her friends were. She took comfort that she could at least feel them in her mind and they were all still well. Eothain and Glorfindel were just to her left working well as a team. Ducking under a Uruk's sword she swiveled on her feet quickly and brought one of her knives up slicing through its throat. Not stopping her momentum she freed her knives and engaged another of the foul creatures.
Over the den of the noise she could hear Aragorn shouting but she was unable to make out what he was saying until suddenly the fortress was rocked by a massive explosion. Finishing off another Uruk she turned and saw the gapping hole in the Deeping Wall right where she had said it would be. Swearing under her breath as she watched Uruks pour through the breach, she made her way toward her husband as he fought four opponents. Working side by side they easily dispatched with their enemies just as Glorfindel and Eothain came up to them.
As more and more Uruks advanced toward the quartet, Jesse heard Aragorn shouting to her husband, "Haldir, to the Keep!" "To the Keep!" Haldir ordered to the elves that were within hearing range, "To the Keep!" Jesse's world seemed to slow to almost a stand still as the events began to play out. Seeing an Uruk come up the steps behind Haldir she screamed an order to her uncle who was closer, "Glorfindel! On the left!" Seeing the Balrog Slayer take down the advancing Uruk that would have stabbed her husband's unguarded left side she turned just in time to catch the downward strike of another Uruk's weapon, that would have surely killed her love, with the edges of her crossed twin knives. She used the momentum in reverse and pushed the creature back right into the waiting sword of Boromir. With a quick nod of thanks she yelled to Haldir and Glorfindel, "It's time to get the hell out of here!"
As the group of five began to move toward the entrance to the Keep they were inundated with more and more Uruks forcing them to have to fight their way through the massing hordes. It was beginning to become monotonous for every step they made forward they were forced to take two back, until finally Jesse had had enough and decided to use magic to help them. "Guys gather around me close and hang on. I don't want us to get separated when I do this," she ordered as they tightened up their formation around the elleth. Conjuring as much power as she could afford to use Jesse sent out a large spherical charge from her opened palms, temporarily clearing a path before them. "Alright run!" she shouted as the charged died away in her hands. They ran as quickly as their legs could carry them, toward the door of the inner fortress. A small group of elves on the walls above them provided much needed cover fire as the Uruks began to recover from Jesse's magic all too quickly.
As the door was slammed closed behind the tired group the reality of what had almost occurred on the battlements caught up with Jesse and she fell sobbing into Haldir's strong embrace. All he could do was hold her and whisper comforting words to her in Sindarin. "Promise me that from now on no matter where one of us goes we go together," she said in a choked whisper through her tears, not even taking notice of the hard metal of his armor against her skin as she buried her face against his chest. "I promise my love. I will always be at your side from now on," he replied stroking her hair gently. Silently Glorfindel ushered a very confused Boromir and Eothain away from the pair to allow them the privacy they so needed at that moment.
"Allow them a moment," the golden elf lord said when they had gotten a ways away from the now silent pair of younger elves. "What has caused Jesse this distress?" Boromir asked looking back at his still crying friend. "The knowledge of what events would have occurred this night had you and I not been here weigh heavily upon her mind," Glorfindel explained to the concerned Gondorian that had become like family to his great-niece, "Had I not journeyed with my kin from Rivendell and had you not survived your battle at Amon Hen, then Haldir would have been killed and our dear Jessica would have faded from the grief of that loss." Shock colored Boromir's face as the Lord of the House of the Golden Flower explained what would have taken place without the elleth's intervention to him. "Will she be alright my Lord?" Eothain asked still somewhat confused and worried for the elleth that had been sokind to he and his little sister. "She will be fine in a few moments my young friend," Glorfindel said confidently as he looked over at his niece and her husband, as the young married couple now talked quietly still maintaining their fierce hold on one another, 'Thank Elbereth, they have survived this together,' he thought to himself alone with a contented smile.
It was not long before the Balrog Slayer was proven right and Jesse and Haldir made their way over to where he stood with Boromir and Eothain. "How are you feeling my dear?" he asked as she walked over and wordlessly hugged him. "I am better thanks," she said with a still somewhat teary smile, "Now let's get back to work. Eothain I have a very special job I want you to do for me with those boys over there," Jesse added motioning over several young boys that had made it back into the Keep to join them.
As Jesse and her companions entered the main hall of the Keep the sound of a massive battering ram hitting the large oak doors echoed through the hall. "It is over the fortress is taken," Théoden declared dejectedly hanging his head in despair. "You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!" Aragorn argued approaching the despairing monarch, "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" silence answered his question and he asked again, "Is there no other way?" "There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-Hai are too many," Gamling said in frustration. "Háma take these boys with you and tell them to make for the mountain pass. Barricade the entrance and guard it to buy them sometime," Jesse instructed locking her gaze with Aragorn briefly. Wordlessly Háma nodded his head to the elleth and led the small group of boys toward the entrance of the caves.
"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" the despair in Théoden's voice broke Jesse's heart. "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them," Aragorn said looking to Théoden once again. "For death and glory," the king said a light of determination glowing in his eyes. "For Rohan. For your people," Jesse said adding her own voice to the matter. "The sun is rising," Gimli said looking to a small window near the ceiling. "Yes. Yes!" Théoden's inspired voice rang through the air, "The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep, one last time!" "Yes!" Gimli cheered as several horses were brought into the hall saddled and ready to ride. "Gimli get your ass up there and blow that horn," Jesse yelled as she jumped gracefully onto Swiftwind's back and was quickly joined by Haldir and Glorfindel on borrowed horses of their own, "This fight is about to take one hell of a turn." "Let this be the hour that we draw swords together," Théoden said as Aragorn rode up along side him, then turning he placed his helm back upon his head drew his sword holding it aloft and cried, "Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin, and the red dawn!" Glancing over at her husband Jesse said with a gleam of fire in her eyes, "What do you say we go and kick some serious Uruk-Hai ass?" "With you my love always," he responded matching her intense gaze with one of his own.