Author's note: Okay, for this chapter, I will explain the time; it is kind of confusing.
Review Reply:
ZM- lol *sniffle sniffle* me too lol
Time: The Fellowship has left, and no news of them has traveled to Rivendell. A few months after their departure, Elrond sends elves to help defend Helm's Deep (Hope this cleared it up). I will start the chapter based on this info
Chapter 21
Eradrin grabbed a belt and tied it around her waist. Then she carefully picked up two swords lying on a table and attached it to her belt. She walked out the door, elvish armor lightly chiming, and grabbed her quiver of arrows and bow on the way. Slinging them over her shoulder, the elf stalked over to the entrance gate of Rivendell. Clouds hung low in the sky, and the scent of rain floating in the breeze. A voice called her from behind, "Eradrin!" Eradrin stopped to wait.
Alluean and Aralin were jogging up to meet her, hands clutching their own weapons. Aralin raced up first, and stopped breathless beside Eradrin. She started walking just as Alluean pulled up. "We're coming too!" Aralin announced between breaths. Eradrin smiled. "Well, c'mon then! We're about to leave!" They ran up to the front gate, feet clapping on the ground. A huge group of elves were standing quietly, shivering in the cold wind. Elrond was talking to a blond haired elf Eradein had never seen before. As she approached them, he turned around and smiled. "Ah, you must be Eradrin." Eradrin nodded, and he continued, "I am Haldir of Lothlorien." Eradrin bobbed a slight curtesy. "Nice to meet you." She said. Elrond stepped up next to him. "Haldir will be leading everyone to Helm's Deep." He announced. Eradrin arched one eyebrow. "Elrond, you're not going with us?" She asked. He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I have to stay here." He replied. Eradrin slowly nodded her head. "Okay," she said, "But I wish you were coming." Elrond turned to face the waiting crowd, announcing to them what he had just told Eradrin. Haldir waved to the them, then moved towards the front. Raising his voice above the wind, he yelled, "We leave for Helm's Deep now. Follow me!" And marched out the gate. The elves silently stalked out after him.
~~~~~~Near Helm's Deep~~~~~~
Eradrin walked, head bowed, against the wind. It whipped along the group of elves, carrying the stench of unbathed orcs and rotten food. The army was unnaturally silent. They wearily but determinedly marched forward, eyes turned away from the barren land the walked in. Suddenly an elf jumped up and shouted, "Look! There it is! We are almost there!" Eradrin looked up, astonished to see a huge stone fortress looming in front of the group, about 100 yards ahead. Haldir reached into a bag on his side and took out a great horn with elvish writing encircling the edges. The elves quickened their pace, eager to get out of the soon-to-be rain. Nearing the gates of the great building, Haldir raised the horn to his mouth and blew through it, announcing their arrival. Eradrin spotted a few humans standing on the walls, and a boy was pointing in surprise at them. A great creak was heard, and the giant gates to the stronghold opened.
People crowded the streets, hope gleaming in their tired faces. Whispers floated in the air. "Help has come!" "We are saved!" "But what about the orcs?" Eradrin took in her surroundings. Women and children were filing through a hidden door in the side of the mountain Helm's Deep was carved into, disappearing into some caves inside. Men were lined up on the walls, grimly facing the horizon. Alluean paced up to Eradrin, shivering. Aralin jumped up next to them. "So, what do we have here?" Eradrin said. "A giant army of orcs," Aralin started. "And an army a quarter of that size." Alluean added on. Eradrin shook her head, Aralin saying, "Well, we're doomed." Eradrin sharply looked upwards, as if looking for a sign. "Not yet, we're not."
Eradrin spotted Haldir waltzing up to a golden haired man, who she guessed to be King Theoden, announcing the elves' arrival. Then out if the corner, a familiar dark haired man ran up to Haldir, hugging him. Haldir surprisedly turned around, eyes slightly annoyed. Aragorn shook hands with the elf, then turned around and walked through the crowd. The Fellowship is here?
Eradrin soundlessly moved through the people, eyes seeking out one figure. Alluean and Aralin close behind her, she rounded a bend and came upon a great stone room. Random groups of people were scattered about, talking amongst each other. At the far end, Aragorn was standing with an orange haired dwarf and a blond haired elf. Eradrin motioned to her friends to stay put with her fingers, then snuck around the edge of the room. Pressing against the wall, she saw Gimli turn around and inspect the room, then turn back to the group to continue talking. Legolas, intent on the conversation, had no idea she was there. Tiptoeing up behind him, she saw Aragorn and Gimli both glance at her, then take a breath as if to warn Legolas. Eradrin put her fingers to her lips, making a soft shh sound. Aragorn gave a slight nod and nudged Gimli, who quickly flicked his gaze back to Legolas. Eradrin, mischief shining in her eyes, snuck up directly behind him and let out a loud, "HA!" Legolas leaped up in the air, startled, and yelped. Eradrin, Aragorn and Gimli doubled over in laughter. Legolas realized the joke too and started laughing, saying, "I didn't see you there." And turned around. The look of shock on his face when he saw Eradrin made her laugh even harder. He stared, eyes wide, and said nothing. Eradrin said in between laughs, "Hey... How... Are... You!?" Taking a deep breath, she rightened her self up, and steadily looked at Legolas. But when she saw barely contained laughter about to bubble over on his face, she started cracking up again and fell on the floor. Legolas started to laugh too, pointing at Eradrin, who was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Finally stopping, she stood up and put her hand on Legolas's shoulder. "Sorry for startling you there." She said, still slightly giggling. He smiled and said, "That's alright." Then, raising one eyebrow, he asked, "So, how did you get here?" "Elrond sent us to help. How about you?" Legolas paused for a moment, a look of deep thinking on his face, then replied, "That is a long, long story. When we get a moment's peace, I will tell you." Eradrin nodded her head. "Alright. Is the rest of the Fellowship here?" Legolas bowed his head. "No." He quietly said. Eradrin took his hand and led him to a bench on the wall. "What's wrong?" She asked. Legolas hesitantly replied, "The... the Fellowship is broken. Frodo and Sam are on their own to Mordor, I have no idea where Gandalf is, but I bet he's finding help, and Merry and Pippin are in Fangorn Forest." "What about Boromir?" Eradrin quietly asked. A look of grief crossed Legolas's face. "He's dead." Eradrin bowed her head. "What happened?" "Orcs are what happened." Legolas growled. "They attacked us, and killed Boromir." Eradrin sniffled. Not knowing what to say, she put her arm around Legolas in a gesture of comfort. She leaned her head on his shoulder, whispering, "I missed you." He closed his eyes and rested his head on the wall. "Me too." He whispered back. They sat in quietness for a while, until footsteps clonked towards them. Aralin and Alluean quickly ran up, fear shadowing their eyes. "The orcs have come!" Aralin quickly said, "We are needed for battle!"
They stood in a line on the wall, thousands of orcs stomping 50 yards in front of them. The dark sky seemed to predict disaster ahead, while the pouring rain weeped for what was to come. Eradrin grimly stared at the fearful sight. Beside her, Legolas, as still as stone, determinedly viewed the battle scene. Aragorn was walking along the wall, encouraging everyone. Suddenly somebody shot their bow at the orcs. It hit one, who fell down, dead. The orcs howled in rage, and raced towards the fortress, ready to tear it apart. Eradrin took her bow off her back and grabbed an arrow out of her quiver. She heard Legolas mutter, "Here we go!" And saw him shoot an arrow at the approaching orcs. Picking up the arrow, she flicked her hand and set it on a fire that the rain could not quench. Loading it into her own bow, she shot it at three orcs that were standing in a line. It hit all of them at once, and she shot another at one who was jumping at the wall. Then she saw the ladders. Huge, metal, spiked ladders were being drawn up. They started swinging upwards to the grey stone walls, orcs riding on them. Legolas and Eradrin exchanged fearful glances, moving out of the way to avoid being bashed in the head by the ladders. She pulled out her sword, and prepared to spring at whatever Orc first came out. Legolas did the same.
It soon came tumbling over the top, pushed along by other orcs who were also trying to get over. Legolas sprang forwards and stabbed it. A few others leaped off the top, and landed on the elves' upward pointed blades. The same pattern continued for a few minutes, the orcs coming and the elves trying to hold them off. Breathless, Eradrin panted, "We cannot hold them off for much longer." Legolas nodded, then turned his bow and shot the hinges that supported the ladder. It swayed, then toppled over as more orcs climbed up it. "Good one!" Eradrin exclaimed, then continued fighting. Making her way along the side of the wall, she spotted Aragorn frantically signalling Legolas with a hand. "Shoot him, Legolas!" He called, and pointed to the ground below. An Orc was running along a ditch, a bomb in his hand. Legolas shot the orc's shoulder, but it kept on running. It's trying to destroy the wall! Eradrin frantically sprinted up and down that section of the wall, warning people to get away. Alluean was fighting an Orc near the edge. "Alluean! Get out of there!" Eradrin yelled to her. Alluean pushed the Orc off the edge, then turned to Eradrin. Frantically, Eradrin pointed at the bomb-holding Orc. Alluean turned to look over the edge, and then... The Orc threw it. Eradrin stared in shock as the wall exploded, sending bricks and stone flying everywhere. Dust clouded the air. Then it settled. Alluean was gone.
"No!" Eradrin shrieked, and raced down some steps. The darkness was stifling, and the elf turned her head from side to side, trying to get a glimpse of her friend. She leaped onto the pebbly ground, and raced over it. "Alluean! Alluean, where are you?!" Eradrin yelled. Minuted passed, and the darkness cleared a little. Eradrin could see orcs racing over the ground, people and elves attacking them. Then she saw two huddled figures near the edge of the battlefield. Eradrin sprinted over to them, heart pounding. One of the figures was Aragorn, that was for sure, but the other was hidden in the shadow of the great wall. Eradrin tossed her helmet to the side and ran over to the other figure's side. It was Alluean. Her eyes were wide open, traces of pain misting them. She coughed. "Alluean!" Eradrin cried, then sprinted to her side and crouched down beside her friend. Alluean laid on her side, an arrow embedded in her back. "No..." Eradrin whispered. Blood was pooling around her friend, faster and faster. Aragorn grabbed Alluean's hand. "Come with me. I'll take you to the healer!" He said, and tried to help her to her feet. Alluean weakly batted away his hand. She softly whispered, "No... It's too late for that." Eradrin felt tears spring to her eyes. "C'mon Al! Don't talk like that!" She whimpered. Alluean shifted her gaze to Eradrin. "Oh my friend." She sadly whispered, "I'm so sorry to leave you." Eradrin choked on the lump in her throat. "No! You're not gonna die!" She cried, tears spilling over. Alluean shook her head, wincing when the arrow moved. Alluean coughed, blood spitting out of her mouth. She whispered, "I am called away to a different path. Goodbye..." Heaving in one final breath, Alluean's head fell back, eyes staring sightlessly up into the sky. Eradrin closed her eyes, tears flowing freely, grief wrenched her heart. "No..." She whispered. Aralin came running up. "Eradrin what're you doing-" Aralin abruptly stopped. Tears poured from her eyes when she saw Alluean's body. "No! No!" She cried, and sprung forward to her friend. Eradrin wanted to wail like a baby. I just lost one of my best friends... Why?! Why did this happen?! It's not fair! She rocked her head on the stone wall, weeping. Suddenly someone called her name. She looked up, eyes red. Aragorn was standing in front of her, worry shadowing his gaze. "We have to go. More orcs are coming." He softly said. Eradrin dully looked at the battlefield. "I am not leaving without my friend." She said, and picked up Alluean's body. Aralin helped her drag their friend inside the protection of the fortress's main room, where the survivors of the battle were waiting. They lightly set her down in a hidden side room, and closed the door to it. "We will be back." Eradrin whispered, and closed the door. They walked out, blankly staring at the barricaded entrance door that orcs were trying to break through. King Theoden stood near the doors, hopelessly watching as the orcs began to break through. Aragorn paced up and met him, speaking quietly. After a few minutes, the king's eyes sparked and he called all his men together. Eradrin stood and watched from a distance. Suddenly she felt a fire within her. Anger spread through her body, making her head hot. Those orcs will pay for killing my friend! The group broke up and picked up weapons. They all mounted horses, waiting for the orcs to come attack. Eradrin and Aralin did the same.
The door broke open. Orcs surged forward, only to stop, surprised, as the group of survivors galloped towards them. Running them over, Eradrin slashed with her sword and shot with her bow. A trial of dead orcs were left behind the riders. They moved onward, the last hope of winning growing frailer by the second. Then a huge group of people on horses rose above the valley. In the center, a bright light shone, and they raced forward, destroying every Orc in their path. Gandalf, Eradrin thought.
Soon the battle was over. But the victory was only half celebrated. The dead were countless, freedom cost by many lives. Eradrin sat beneath a cherry tree, staring blankly at the horizon. Legolas came up to sit beside her. Eradrin closed her eyes. "So many lives lost." She whispered, thinking of her friend. Legolas sadly sighed. "And this is not the end." He forebodingly murmured. Eradrin reopened them. "No." She agreed, "Tis' only the beginning."