Chapter 21
The Blood of Numenor
I found many bodies of wargs and orcs, but also of the men of Rohan. I found another orc with the same knife wound and then looked towards a cliff. A warg had been running and something or someone was dragged with it. I looked over and found the body of the warg had been pierced by the sharp rocks below. Fear struck at my heart. I mounted the horse once more and followed the river.
The cliff sloped down and I came to the riverbed. That was where I found him. Faeron was beside him.
"ADA!" I cried.
His eyes were closed and his arm was badly wounded. I dropped down beside him and held him up.
"Ada lasto beth nin!" I said.
He was yet alive, but badly wounded and tired.
"Arwen….." He breathed.
I smiled when he said my mother's name.
"Ada it is me! Your daughter! It is Gilraen."
He slowly opened his eyes and blinked several times.
"Gilraen? How did….."
"Shhh! Try not to speak just yet. You took a nasty fall. I know now where my strength comes from. Anyone else would surely have met their end." I said.
He smiled a little. Another horse came up. He had a saddle and it looked as though he did not belong anywhere.
"Brego." Father said.
"You know this horse?"
He nodded. I helped him up and then looked to Faeron.
"~Well done my friend. I know not what I would have done without you. Now you must return to Helm's Deep to assure Legolas of our safety. I shall be there before nightfall.~"
He flew to my shoulder and nuzzled my cheek. I smiled and then he flew off. I had grown to truly love the eagle. I helped my father onto Brego and then mounted my own horse.
As we rode to Helm's Deep I heard something strange. It sounded like the marching of thousands of soldiers. I peered around a boulder and my eyes widened with fear.
"No….."
A massive army of Uruk-hai, bearing the white hand of Saruman were marching in direction of Helm's Deep. My father saw it as well.
"We must make haste!"
I nodded and we galloped towards Helm's Deep. The gate opened at once and we rode inside.
"He is alive." said a village woman.
"Where are they!? Where are they!? Get out of the way! I am going to kill them!"
Gimli pushed his way through the crowd and looked at us. First to my father.
"You are the luckiest the canniest…..and the most reckless man I ever knew!"
He hugged father and I smiled.
"Bless you laddie!"
I laughed and father pulled back and looked at him.
"Gimli where is the king?"
He nodded in the direction of the hall. Gimli looked at me and smiled.
"You have the blood of Numenor in your veins lassie! NO doubt about that!"
I smiled and pat his shoulder before taking off towards the hall. He came with me and as I walked up the steps I was confronted by an angry Legolas.
I would have had to face this sooner or later.
He did not speak, nor did I. He looked at me with anger and fear. I sighed and looked down.
"Go ahead. Tell me I was stupid and selfish! That I was reckless and that I should have considered your feelings." I said.
I heard him sigh, but I did not look at him. He gently turned my face to his.
"~I thought I lost you this day. I truly did. I have never been so afraid in all my life. Please Gilraen…..please do not do that again.~"
I smiled and tears of joy came down my face. I threw my arms around him and held him tightly.
"~I can make no promises love. Save this…..I will never die by your side.~"
He did not reply. He pulled back and took me in a long and loving kiss. He pulled away and smiled.
"Le melon Gilraen."
"I love you too Legolas."
My father, Gimli and Théoden then came out of the hall. I then remembered the army. I explained all this to Legolas and we followed the others outside the gates.
"We will cover the course-way and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping wall! Or set foot inside the Hornburg!" he said proudly.
"This is no rabble of mindless orcs!" said Gimli from the gate. "These are Uruk-hai! Their armor is thick and their shields broad!"
Théoden walked to him.
"I have fought many wars Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."
Gimli nodded and we followed him to the outer wall.
"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock! Saruman's hoards will pillage and burn! We have seen it before. Crops can be re-sewn, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them." said Theoden.
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages they come to destroy its people! Down to the last child!" Father said.
Théoden turned on him and grabbed him. I went forward but Legolas held me fast.
"What would you have me do? 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!"
He began to walk away but I stepped forward.
"Send out riders my lord! You must call for aid!" I said.
He looked at me.
"And who will come. Elves…..dwarves…we are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer!"
He stepped closer in anger.
"Gondor! Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell!? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon….."
He looked down in frustration.
"No my Lady Gilraen….we are alone."
He walked away and I shook my head. I went to one of the watch posts and looked over the horizon. Even now I could see the Uruk-hai fast approaching. They would be here by nightfall there was no doubt about that. Faeron landed on the wall beside me. I looked at him and stroked his feathers.
"~Faeron you must flee when the army arrives.~"
He gave me a sort of look that said no.
"~Not forever my friend.~"
He nuzzled me and then suddenly flew off. I was confused and I hoped he would return soon.
"Meleth?"
I smiled as I heard Legolas' voice. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.
"Are you alright?"
"~We could all die tonight…..~"
He turned me around to face him. He held my face in his hands.
"~Do not speak of such things. We will all survive. I promise you this.~"
"~How can you promise me this? How can you promise anyone such a thing?~"
He smiled and kissed me. When he pulled back his face was still close to mine.
"~I can make this promise because I love you. And I shall never let any harm come to you.~" He whispered.
I kissed him again, this kiss was far more passionate. He took my hand and led me away from the wall.
