She sat there and waited for hours, dozing off some and staring at the door anxiously. Finally Legolas went to talk to her, "May I speak with you?"
"Speak away," she answered, not moving her eyes from the door. She was focused on proving that she was right no matter what.
"How do you know that Aragorn is alive, is it just a feeling?"
"I just know. You should trust my instincts. I was right about the orcs, Merry and Pippin, Gandalf, and the people that were still alive. Do you not trust me?" She tore her eyes away from the wooden doors and looked into his eyes. He saw no lie there, only determination. He sighed and stood,
"Let me check your wound." She stood with him and allowed herself to be led away from her spot on the steps. He took her over to a large rock near the water; no one was around this area of the fortress at the moment. Legolas had her sit with her back to him; she felt shivers run down her spine, he hesitated slightly before taking the edge of the tunic's neckline and moving it down so he could see the extent of her cut. It was mostly healed and about the length of his hand, but no wider than his smallest finger. He gently touched it again, this time she didn't flinch; her skin was so soft he had a hard time not stroking it. When everything appeared to be fine Legolas reluctantly put the collar back in back and stepped back, "It looks fine,"
They walked back to the stairs in silence until Legolas heard something, "Aragorn!" he exclaimed and walked fast, by the time they had gotten to the steps Aragorn came into view with Gimli. "You're late." Legolas said in elvish. Then he feigned concern, "You look terrible,"
Aragorn knew that the elf was teasing him, he grinned and clapped his hand on Legolas' shoulder, then he saw Kali standing behind Legolas. He smiled and hugged her, Legolas tapped his shoulder and handed him a necklace. He spoke softly in elvish to the man and smiled, glancing at Kali. Aragorn turned to her once more, "Thank you for not despairing," Then he continued on to the council room.
When Aragorn pushed open the council room doors all conversation stopped; "How is this possible?" King Théoden wondered.
Aragorn got right down to business, "There is an army heading here, they will be here by nightfall."
"How many?"
"Ten Thousand strong at least."
"Ten Thousand?"
"Isengaurd has emptied."
Théoden seemed to be thinking while at the same time stressing out, and Kali knew that that wasn't a good strategy for thinking. Thinking under pressure is never a good idea; you come up with stupid plans like- "Tell the women and children to make for the cave and to barricade the entrance. Get every man and strong lad able to bear arms ready for battle by nightfall!" yeah, like that. Wait; did he actually just say that? Kali speculated. Dang it…
She helped get the women and children into the caves throughout the rest of the day, and when the sun was nearing the ground a guard came up to her and Eowen. "You need to get in as soon as possible my ladies." Kali and Eowen tried to duck past the man but her held firm, "I have orders to make sure all the women and children are sent into the caves." Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli came around the corner; the girls ran to them and pleaded.
"They are sending me into the caves with the women and children!" exclaimed Eowen looking at Aragorn, "You know I can fight just as well as any man!"
Aragorn sighed and said, "It is for the best that you go and stay safe Lady Eowen."
"They fight alongside you, and they don't have to. They fight with you because they love you!"
Kali was struck by the pain in her friend's voice in that last statement. She put her hand on her friend's shoulder in understanding.
"Perhaps it is for the best that you go into the caves with Lady Eowen, Kali." Legolas stated. This just made Kali angry.
"I can't die, you have more chance of living if I am around. Besides I'd rather die a thousand more times than sit by idly as my friends get killed and some babe be ripped from its mother's cold, dead hands! I am fighting alongside you, Legolas, whether you want me to or not!"
"I don't think there is anything we can do to stop her from finding a way to fight, just let it go." Aragorn advised Legolas. The Guard came over to get Kali and Eowen, but the older girl just stormed right past him and into the caves.
"Farmers, stable boys; these are no soldiers." Aragorn commented as he inspected the crowd of men in the armory.
"Most have seen too many winters!" Gimli observed gruffly.
"Or too few," Legolas said, looking out at the four smaller boys. "The men are frightened; I can see it in their eyes." All motion stopped in the room, the men turned their gaze to the elf. "And they should be!" Legolas continued in elvish, "Two hundred… against Ten thousand?"
Aragorn turned to him, "It may not be as impossible as it seems,"
"Aragorn, I don't think you are seeing this clearly; they are going to die!" Legolas cried, raising his voice. Kali felt shocked, he never raised his voice, especially to Aragorn.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn exclaimed so the men could understand him, then he stormed out of the room. Legolas tried to follow him but Gimli held him back,
"Let him go lad."
Legolas saw a blur of motion as Kali too, ran from the room. He went after her instead, finding her outside. She was crying and hiccupping, Legolas instantly felt ashamed of how he had acted in the armory. "Kali," he said softly, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. She didn't turn around,
"Go away,"
He was shocked by her words, but wanted to apologize, "I'm sorry for what I said in there, how much did you understand?" A sad 'hic' came from the distressed girl,
"None of it, but you raised your voice… that scared me… what were you arguing about anyway?"
"I don't think any of us except you will live, Kali. The odds are too great. If you-"
He was cut off by her hand slapping him across the face without warning; he touched his stinging cheek and looked at her in hurt. Her eyes were red from crying and she looked miserable; he felt like he actually deserved that.
"Don't say that we are going to die, don't say it's hopeless, don't say that chances are I might die. You can't lose hope over something as silly as numbers! Look at me," he looked her in the eyes and saw that same steady determination, "We are going to live, we are going to save as many people as possible, and you are not going to lose hope, yes?" She glared at him, "I will slap you again," Then she sniffed and wiped a tear off her cheek. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her he was worried about her, but he decided that wasn't the wisest thing to do right then.
"You are right, there is still hope." He didn't say that he feared it was going to be their last time together but he did lean down and kiss her forehead lovingly. Then he walked off in search of Aragorn.
The elf found him donning his chainmail and leather in a room adjacent to the armory and handed him his knife, "Forgive me, I was wrong to despair."
Aragorn smiled and took his knife, "There is nothing to forgive Legolas."
Kali walked into the room with Gimli, trying to put on some chainmail; "I'm just trying to get this adjusted!" he grunted. Kali was giggling behind her hand, trying to muffle her laughter. The chainmail fell down and clumped on the floor, way past the dwarf's feet, making it look like he was wearing a dress. He frowned at them, "It's a little tight across the chest!" They all grinned at him in amusement.
Suddenly a sound blasted through the room from outside. It sounds like a llama passing gas and howling at the same time… Kali thought with a giggle. Legolas' eyes widened, "That is no orc horn!" then the company followed the excited elf out into the night air and down to the gate. Gimli tripped on the long chainmail and Kali stopped to get him out of it. Once that was done they all rushed to the gate, and an army of elves marched through in single file. Haldir stepped forward, "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell; once men and elves fought and died together, we have come to honor that allegiance."
Aragorn rushed forward and hugged the elf; the elf seemed confused but gradually accepted the embrace, 'You are most welcome!" Aragorn said.
Later at her position on the wall next to Legolas and Gimli, Kali shuddered and looked at the storm clouds above. I hope it doesn't start raining… she thought. She looked around her, men and elves alike stood at the wall, wearing armor and grim expressions. Kali realized she was smiling and wearing no armor; well, what need have I for frowns and armor anyway? She felt something grasp her hand, she looked over at Legolas, who was smiling to himself and holding her hand. She felt hope swell within her; he knows it's going to be alright, I am so glad… Aragorn came over to them also,
"Let's hope that luck of yours that keeps you alive lasts the night!" Gimli said to Aragorn.
"Your friends are with you Aragorn," Legolas said.
"Let's hope they last the night…" Gimli muttered, Kali giggled at his remark. Thunder crashed and boomed and the opposing force finally showed its ugly face. And man was it ugly! A wall of black marched towards them unfalteringly. Then it started raining. Damn it… Kali groaned inwardly.
Gimli kept hopping up and down, trying to see over the wall. "What's happening out there?"
"Shall describe it to you?" Legolas asked, and then looked down at his friend, "Or would you like me to find you a box?" Kali laughed and entwined his fingers with hers, Gimli fake-laughed along with her.
Finally the approaching army halted a little ways from the wall and fell silent. Both sides waited for the first strike.
"Archers!" Aragorn shouted,
Legolas let go of her hand and nocked an arrow in his bow and drew back. "Their armor is weak under the arm, and at the neck." He murmured to himself in elvish as he aimed.
Kali drew her bowstring back and aimed for an orc, but did not fire. Silence. Then an old man accidentally fired his bow,
"Hold!" Aragorn called,
An orc on the front line fell over dead with an arrow in it. Slowly realizing that one of their kin was dead, they started to scream and howl in fury, charging at the wall.
"Fire!" Aragorn yelled, and all the elves fired their arrows into the crowd of orcs.
Legolas and Kali fired their arrows and kept doing so until ladders started to rise from the crowd of orcs and move towards the wall. Orcs started to pour into the keep and Kali switched to using her knives, but Legolas stubbornly kept using his bow even in close-ranged combat.
Gimli cut down two orcs, one right after the other and turned to Legolas, "That's two already!"
"I'm on seventeen!" The elf called back, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Well, boys will be boys… Kali thought as she stabbed an orc next to Gimli and dodged a charge of another. The orcs just kept coming and coming, and the hooks that held the ladders to the wall were made of iron, but the ropes could be cut. "Legolas!" she called, he rushed over to her side. "The ropes, can you shoot them?" He did so and a ladder fell off the wall and crashed down on the army of orcs. Legolas gave Kali a dazzling smile and he leapt away to sever the rest of them. Kali cut down as many orcs as she could as she kept near Gimli during the battle.
An explosion rocked the building and rubble went flying into the air, causing Kali and Gimli to be thrown apart and tossed around with the falling rock. What? They have gunpowder? Kali picked herself up and found that she was still on the wall, but Gimli was nowhere to be found. "Gimli! Gimli!" she cried, trying to hear any response over the hoots and screams. She stumbled over something and found that it was a young boy, only nine years of age, holding the body of another child. Kali was shocked to the core at this, she had known that they were expected to fight, but not on the front line! "Come here!" she called to the boy; he staggered out of their shelter and came to her, "I'll get you somewhere safe, don't worry." She carefully led him away and through the inner gates to the place where the women and children were kept. She left him outside the door, "Stay here, we may need you to help," then she left and prayed that his assistance wouldn't be needed. She saw two other boys amidst the men and helped them out as well, and directed them to where the other boy was. Once she was done, she realized that almost everyone but Legolas was off of the outer wall due to orcs swarming the first level. She ran through a group of orcs and received a cut on her shoulder, she didn't care, and she was going to help him. Once she got up onto the first wall she stabbed as many orcs as were in her path. Then she saw him, standing alone, helping Gimli and Aragorn up over the wall, with his back unguarded, Orcs surrounding him. There was no way in Middle Earth she was going to let him get stabbed in the back. She jumped behind him just as an orc's blade was plunged forward, intending to gut the elf. Instead it stabbed into Kali's chest and she cried out in agony.
Legolas whipped around and sliced the orcs around him with his knives and knelt down next to Kali. "Kali!" He picked her up in his arms and ran, with Aragon and Gimli close behind, to the second gate. Orcs were now filling the entire first level of the Keep and more were streaming in from the hole and the broken gate. They hurried to the last room, where the door to the caves and the boys Kali had rescued; they knew that the men were all rushing there to make a last stand. As they ran through, the survivors boarded up and closed the door, shutting it as a last defense from the orcs that raged outside. Seven men, five elves, and one dwarf still stood against the orcs and their goal. Kali lie limp in Legolas' arms, the bleeding had stopped and her body had grown cold.
While all the men rushed about desperately trying to board up the door, the elves quietly resigning themselves to their fate, and the King of Rohan despairing; Legolas stroked Kali's hair softly, "My love, please don't die for good. I want to take you to Mirkwood, and to all the wonders of Middle Earth. There is so much that I haven't told you, so much that I have to tell you. But the most important thing I have to say is; I love you," Legolas breathed gently in elvish, voice breaking with emotion. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he held her close, it fell on her heart and soaked into the wound.