I apologize for the late post. I have been trying to help a friend of mine with her home and personal issues. Hopefully you all can respect that I will stop working on these chapters so that I can help her.
So, here it is folks. The epic battle at Helm's Deep/The Hornburg. I hope it meets your expectations. Have your tissues ready for some characters will not survive the battle.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or The LOTR.
In the armory of Helm's Deep, Aragorn is wandering among the mass of men who are being outfitted with weapons. Looking at them, he knows that many of these men, and lads, have no skills with weapons.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys." Aragorn says in disbelief. "These are no soldiers."
"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli says from his place by the stone wall.
"Or too few." Legolas says with contempt. "Look at them. They are frightened. I can see it in their eyes."
This causes everyone in the armory to come to a standstill and look at Legolas. Even Inara, Tauriel, Kili, and Kelda are taken aback by what Legolas has said. The four of them standing near each other while watching the others prepare themselves for battle.
Legolas then begins to speak in Sindarin so that the men don't understand what he is saying to Aragorn. However, Tauriel and Kelda understand what is being said as they watch Legolas and Aragorn closely. However, at a certain point of their confrontation, Tauriel decides to try and step in.
"Legolas. Mellon." Tauriel tries to say before being interrupted by a now angry Aragorn.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn shouts at Legolas before stalking out of the armory. He doesn't wish to see boys so young fight in a hopeless battle.
Inara steps into the vacant spot that Aragorn has now left. She looks about the room before addressing the crowd.
"It is true, that many of you have never fought before. Whether it is how old or how young you are, you have never had to protect nor defend yourself and others." Inara keeps looking at the men while speaking to them. "But wielding a weapon is no different than wielding your shovels, your rakes, or any other item that you have used before. The only difference is that the weapon in your hand can kill, you or your enemy. For you older men, fall back on your knowledge of your craft to lead your movements in battle. For the younger men and lads, fall back on your courage and your instincts to aid you in battle."
"And why should we listen to a woman?" a man from the army asks.
Inara turns to face the man who asked the question. But before she can speak, Kili steps in.
"Because she is Inara, Queen of Erebor. And she is a war-hero from the Battle of the Five Armies. She has fought against the pale orc, Azog, who ravaged lands many decades ago. Standing beside Thorin Oakenshield, her husband, they fought against many orcs. When Azog tried to kill the few remaining heirs of Durin, Inara fought Azog and won." Kili says, and this causes quite the murmur among the older generation who were but children at the time of the great battle.
"She has also defeated many of Sauron's dark minions over the years." Kelda says, making sure to take over where Kili left off.
"And she has fought alongside not only with dwarves, but with elves and men." Tauriel states as she too steps forwards to stand near Kili and Inara.
"Many of you may die in battle, but never let the enemy take away the hope that you will be alive once the battle is over with." Inara says before exiting the armory.
She makes her way towards the room that she is sharing with Tauriel, Kelda, and Kili. Entering the room, she sees that battle armor and leathers have been placed on their beds. She walks over to her bed and eyes the dark blues and silver under outfit. Slowly, Inara begins to undress and is careful to remove any clothing items that might inhibit any freedom of movement. As she binds her breasts, the door to the room opens to allow Tauriel, Kelda, and Kili to enter the room.
"Riveting speech, Inara." Kili says while keeping his eyes averted from Inara's almost bare body. "Why didn't you give one like that before we charged out of Erebor?"
With his back towards Inara, Kili begins stripping down to dress in his battle clothes. Which are actually his traveling clothes and traveling armor. Nearly all of it is a dark blue, almost black color, save for the armor. That is made out of a blend of mithril and bronze looking gold. If it wasn't for the thicker looking scruff on his face, one might think that he time-traveled from the Battle of the Five Armies.
"It was not my place, nor were we facing so many of our enemies. Legolas was right though." Inara says as she finishes her chest bindings. "The men are scared, and needed some kind of comfort."
Everyone is silent for the remainder of their time dressing for battle. When each one is finished, they wait silently for the others.
Tauriel is wearing a dark blue outfit, in a similar design as to what her old green, woodland guard outfit. Instead of brown leather armor, hers is black and has Kili's sigil runs along the top and bottom edges. Her pants are blue as well and soft black leather boots on her feet. Her red hair is partially braided back and out of her face while the rest is left loose.
Kelda is wearing a near exact replica of Tauriel's woodland guard outfit. The only difference is that she too is wearing soft, black leather boots instead of brown. Even the colors of the outfit are of the same green with brown leather armor. Her auburn hair is pulled back into a single, thick braid.
Pulling on the last part of her battle outfit, Inara looks down at herself. Her dark blue undershirt has a silver shirt over it. Then a long, dark blue and silver trimmed vest rests over that. Her pants are dark blue and a bit lose in the legs to allow space for movement. Her black leather boots have hard pieces of mithril over the top of the feet part of her boots. Hidden away, underneath the silver shirt, is chainmail made of silver and mithril. Unknown many outside of the royal family, Thorin had made the under armor for Inara with the last shipment of mithril from Moria.
Inara pulls half of her hair back, all braids included, into a half ponytail. Then she ties it with a leather string that has multiple feathers at the ends.
"Everyone ready?" Kili asks with his back still turned to the females.
"We are ready. You can turn around now, Kili." Inara tells the male dwarf.
"Well then." Kili says once he is turned to see the others in the room. "I suggest we find our post assignments then. Are you sure your arm is ready?"
"It was fully healed before Aragorn and I made it here." Kelda reassures as she sheaths her two short swords and hides away her many daggers.
"Let's go." Inara says as she places the last of her four tomahawks into the belt that sits just below her waist but above her hips. The belt itself has Thorin's sigil all over it and its buckle.
Sheathing her own sword, Inara watches as Tauriel sheaths her long daggers and takes up her bow; Kili holding the hilt of his own sheathed sword with his bow upon his back and a full quiver of arrows as well; and Kelda placing one last dagger into her upper boot.
Then they head out of their shared room and head out to join the ranks. Night has fallen while they were dressing for war, and there are still many who have yet to receive their armor or weapons. The four of them keep walking through the armory hallways till Inara looks over her left shoulder to see Aragorn dressing for battle. She comes to a halt, which has the other three stopping as well to see what has caught her eye. They look inside to see Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli preparing for war.
"We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray." Legolas says to Aragorn whilst handing the man his sword. "Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."
The two speak in Sindarin, and Tauriel lets a smile appear on her face.
However, the rattling of chainmail and the sound of heavy footsteps breaks the spell around the reconciled friends.
"We had the time, I'd get this adjusted." Gimli says as he finally appears. He lets the length of the chainmail fall to the floor. "It's a little tight across the chest."
The sound of a horn outside keeps Aragorn and Legolas from making any quick teases to themselves.
"That is no Uruk-hai or orc horn." Inara says, causing the three inside of the room to look over at her.
As Inara runs up the crude steps, the others make to follow after her. They step foot outside and look over the wall, they can see an army dressed in blue cloaks with bows in hand coming towards the gate.
"Well I'll be god damned." Inara in disbelief before getting a smirk on her face. Looking back to the others, Inara gives them a grin. "Let's go see our new recruits."
Hurrying through the pathways and small roads, Inara the others reach the gates just as the blue army begins to enter. Staying out of their way, the group heads to where Théoden is standing as the leader of the elves comes towards the Rohan King.
"How is this possible?" Théoden asks astonishingly to the leader of the elven army.
"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell." The elf says to Théoden. "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance."
The leader of the Elven army looks past Théoden as Aragorn, Legolas, and Inara come into view upon the stairs behind Théoden. Aragorn hurries forward and gives the leader a welcoming hug. However, the elf notices the other three that have now arrived.
"You are most welcomed." Aragorn says to the elven leader, but can see that he is distracted by something.
"Rossloth." The leader says as he looks at Kelda.
"Haldir." Kelda says with no emotion in her voice.
Both Tauriel and Kili look back and forth between Kelda and Haldir before Kili decides to step in. They aren't sure what to make of the indifference Kelda just gave to Haldir, but neither one wants to ask as to why.
"What brings you here?" Kili asks, knowing that it will help break the tension between his daughter and the elf.
Haldir breaks eye contact with Kelda and looks at Kili, who is now standing in front of the young female. Even the red-haired elleth moves so that she too is in front of Kelda. This causes Haldir to looks towards Théoden, and the Queen of Erebor who has come to stand next to the king before answering.
"We are proud to fight alongside Men once more." Haldir replies.
It isn't long before all of the elven troops and Rohan troops are stationed at the tops of the several layers of walls and anywhere else that they can fit.
Haldir, with most of the Elven archers, are standing on top of the front wall watching, and waiting for the enemy to approach. Tauriel is among the archers, but is in with the groups that are on the ground with her bow ready. Kili is with Inara, who is standing only a few feet away from Aragorn at another part of the walls ramparts. That leaves Legolas and Gimli placed at the other end.
Kelda, however, is on the ramparts near where the waterway's entrance is. She isn't sure why she was placed so near Haldir, but she did not question Théoden's decision to have her stationed there. Yet what has her so on edge isn't the approaching enemy, but of why Haldir would even come.
The sound of pounding upon the ground and of incoherent growls, grunts, and low roars echoes across the darkened lands. For many, this sound is unnerving when you can't see your enemy approaching. It isn't till they see the lights from the torches approaching that makes a few sigh in relief of being able to see their enemy.
"Have you thought about what I asked you?" Haldir asks Kelda as he moves to stand next to her.
"Not since you asked me." Kelda glances to her left to see that Haldir is watching the enemy come. "Why me? You could have anyone else, but yet you ask me."
"Do I need to give you a reason?"
"Yes. I am the oldest daughter to the fourth in line for the throne of Erebor. I am a dwarven princess, however low on the inheritance line. I am also a daughter of a Silvan Elf. What reason would you have to ask that of me?"
"Perhaps, once this battle is over, I will tell you." Haldir says to Kelda with a small smirk appearing on his face.
"Or you could just tell me now and get it over with. Valar knows if either of us will survive this battle."
Hearing Kelda say something like that, touches one of Haldir's nerves. So he takes hold of her arm and brings so close to him that their bodies are slightly touching.
"We will survive this. And when the battle is won, you shall give me an answer." Haldir says to Kelda with his clear blue eyes locked onto her brown ones. "You should not give up hope Rossloth. Meleth Nin."
Down the wall, Legolas is watching the interaction between Kelda and Haldir with cold eyes. He had sucked in a breath as he saw Haldir pull Kelda closer to him. However a huff coming from beside him breaks Legolas from his study of the pair.
"You could have picked a better spot." Gimli growls out to Legolas.
Coming over to where Gimli and Legolas stand, Aragorn stands behind them to join in their watch of the oncoming enemy army.
"Well lad," Gimli says as he looks back to see Aragorn standing behind them. "Whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night."
Lightening cracks across the night sky, which lights up the ground below and the massive numbers that the enemy army has.
"Your friends are with you, Aragorn." Legolas says to his friend.
"Let's hope they last the night." Gimli says before watching Aragorn retreat along to another section of the wall. The dwarf looks up at Legolas to catch the elf looking towards somewhere else on the wall ramparts. "She'll be alright, lad. I have known my cousins' yâsith for many years now and not once have I seen her close to death while in battle."
Legolas looks down at Gimli and gives him a small smile. 'It is not her that I worry for.' He thinks to himself before looking back to where Haldir and Kelda are. His eyebrows furrow when lightening streaks across the sky, revealing that Haldir has his arm around Kelda with a hand resting on her hip.
Rain begins to fall as Inara makes her way up to where Théoden is standing on a higher rampart near the Keep. 'Great. Just great. The gods have decided to humble Théoden and his damn pride.' She thinks to herself as she comes to a stop next to Théoden.
"This rain will make it hard for the soldiers to see their enemy." Inara says with worry.
"They will make do." Théoden replies while keeping his eyes focused towards where the enemy was seen coming.
"Would you like me to stay here or should I just go back down to the main wall?" Inara asks. She was never one for waiting patiently for something to start.
"Head down and join your family, Inara. For this might be the last time you see each other till the battle ends."
"As you wish." Inara steps away from Théoden's side and begins her trek back down to where she came from. 'Mighty Valar I ask that you stand with us tonight in battle.' Inara prays silently to herself with the hope that the creators that be will hear her prayer.
Back to where Gimli and Legolas are standing upon the wall, one of them is getting a bit antsy about what is happening.
"What is happening out there?" Gimli asks as he tries to jump up and down to see over the top of the ramparts.
"Shall I describe it to you?" Legolas says before looking down at the dwarf. "Or would you like me to find you a box?"
Gimli starts to laugh at the Legolas's wit, but soon the two of them are joined by another. Kili has made his way towards them after Inara left him to go check on Théoden. Not wanting to be left out, Kili has come to fight beside his cousin.
"Even if you found him a box, he would still be too short to see past the wall." Kili quips as he smacks a hand against Gimli's back.
"I thought you were with Inara?" Legolas asks Kili as he looks around to find Inara.
"She went to go check on the Rohan King. If there is one thing that I know is true about Inara, it is that she can't sit still before a battle begins." Kili chuckles out. "So I have come to bide my time with you both till she comes back."
Gimli lets out a snort of laughter at Kili's talk of Inara's restlessness before battle. However it is cut short as the Uruk-hai begin to pound their staffs into the ground. There enemy has finally arrived and stopped before the very walls of Helm's Deep.
As quick as it started, the pounding stops. Then shrieks and roars start to drown out the sound of the rainfall against the stone. Those who were not close enough to see an Uruk fall from a single arrow have no idea what has caused this sudden change in their enemy.
At Aragorn's command the elves, including Kelda, draw back their bows with arrows ready to fly. Again Aragorn shouts out a command, and the elves let their arrows fly towards their enemy. The Men archers send out their volley, and once their arrows hit their marks Aragorn gives the elven archers on the ground the command to fire. Joining the arrows shot from the ground level, the elven archers on the wall also send out a volley of arrows.
Many enemies fall from the arrows hitting their marks, but it isn't enough to drive them back. To counter the attacks, several of the Uruks use heavy-duty cross bows to send large, hook like headed arrows at the ramparts. Then crudely made ladders are brought forth to be raised up the side of the tall wall. Several of these ladder start to come up and at the tops of them there is an Uruk or two waiting for a chance to attack.
Aragorn, seeing the new threat calls out for everyone to use their swords.
Kelda draws her two short swords and mentally prepares herself for a close quarters combat. Next to her Haldir also draws his sword and gives her a quick smile before the Uruks come over the wall. Being quick, Haldir cuts down the first one, while Kelda cuts down one that would have caught Haldir from behind.
At another part of the wall, Aragorn is battling against an Uruk and finds himself knocked down. But before the Uruk can swing at him a loud whistle is heard.
"Hey ugly! Over here!" Inara shouts as she comes charging in from out of nowhere.
The Uruk is turns away from Aragorn, which allows him to strike the Uruk in the back with his sword. Then two thuds are heard and the Uruk slides off of Aragorn's sword. Rushing to the fallen Uruk, Inara pulls out the two tomahawks that she had thrown at its chest.
"What took you so long?" Aragorn asks as he stabs at another Uruk who has made it over the wall.
"Oh you know. Had to go check on the king. Stopped to go pee on the way back. Even got something to eat as well. Can't fight with an empty stomach." Inara jokes as she takes on an Uruk using the two bloodied tomahawks.
"Enough with the joking, Inara." Aragorn says as he uses a foot to dislodge his sword from an Uruk.
"You're no fun." Inara says as slices off the Uruk's hands before kicking him down to the ground below. Several of the elven archers shoot the Uruk to ensure that it really is dead.
As more Uruks make it over the wall, Inara and Aragorn keep fighting together. Each one watching the others back to make sure that the enemy doesn't catch them unawares. Meanwhile, Legolas and the two dwarfs are fighting as well. Each one keeping track of how many they have killed so far.
"Two so far, cousin. How about you elf?" Gimli shouts as he swings the axe Gloin had given him several years before.
"Seventeen." Legolas shouts out before shooting two more Uruks from a close ladder. "Nineteen."
"You're going to have to do better than that." Kili shouts before gutting an Uruk as it comes over the wall. "Thirty-two! Whoever gets the least buys the drinks!"
Both Legolas and Gimli give Kili looks of disbelief before attacking more viciously at the Uruks. They keep fighting even after the rain has let up and by this time, both elf and dwarf are getting higher body counts.
"Seventeen. Eighteen." Gimli shouts out with each Uruk killed by him. "Nineteen. Twenty."
"I'm at fifty-two!" Legolas shouts as he keeps up with the fighting.
"Ha ha. I am at seventy-one!" Kili shouts to the other two who are fighting with him. "Looks like you will be the one buying those drinks, Gimli!"
Back over to where Inara and Aragorn are fighting, Inara has just knocked an Uruk back over the wall when movement from the causeway catches her eye.
"Oh shit! Aragorn!" Inara shouts before starting to make her way towards the causeway gate's ramparts.
Aragorn, who heard Inara call to him, looks over his left shoulder to see the Queen of Erebor running past many who are fighting. It isn't till he sees the causeway as well that he understands why Inara had called to him.
"Causeway!" Aragorn shouts before speaking in Sindarin to have the elves shoot at the mass of shielded Uruk-hai that are heading for the gate. He keeps fighting but a bright flame from below causes Aragorn to turn around. A sudden feeling of dread wash over him.
This flame, being carried by a single Uruk-hai is heading right for the wall, exactly where the water drainage canal is. Aragorn, calls out for Legolas to shoot the Uruk before it reaches its destination. Legolas, who had heard Aragorn call out to him, sees the approaching Uruk and begins to fire arrow after arrow at it. However, even with three arrows in its body, the Uruk doesn't stop. Then a loud explosion is heard as the stone wall is ripped apart. Many of those who were near the blast zone are sent flying into the air along with the debris. Aragorn is among those who were sent flying.
Above the Causeway gate, Inara watches helplessly as the Uruk-hai break through the opening of the wall. However, a ripple among the shielded Uruks on the Causeway forces Inara to ignore the other part of the battle.
"Brace the fucking gate!" Inara screams as she rushes towards the wooden flaps above the gate. "Don't just stand there like bloody fools, shoot them! Throw rocks down upon them!"
The sound of a battering ram is not only heard, but felt by all on the top of the Causeway Gate. Inara grabs several fist size rocks and chucks them down at the Uruks below. Several of the teenage boys follow Inara's lead and begin pelting rocks down at the Uruks as their older counterparts throw javelins, spears, and some shoot arrows down at the Uruks and their battering ram.
Over at the breach in the stone wall, Aragorn is slow to rise up from the ground. Tauriel, who was among the elven archers, rushes forwards to help him up.
"Aragorn!" Gimli shouts from up on the ramparts.
Kili, who had continued to fight after the explosion, watches as his cousin jumps down from the broken rampart. Then he looks to see Tauriel and Aragorn standing below with the elven archers.
"Tauriel." Kili says with worry, but is forced to pay attention to battle as several Uruks block his sight. He is forced to fight them if he has any hope of getting down to Tauriel.
Gimli, however, is fighting the never ending stream of Uruks that are trying to get past him from the breach. Even though he is but a single dwarf, he manages to take down several Uruks with ease.
Seeing Kili's kin fighting alone, Tauriel raises her bow with an arrow and begins shooting any Uruk that comes close to Gimli. Aragorn takes his que from Tauriel and shouts to the other elven archer to shoot at the Uruks. Then, Aragorn calls for a charge and leads the elves, now with swords, towards the Uruks. Tauriel, however, places her bow on her back and pulls out her daggers before joining in the charge.
Staying close to Aragorn, Tauriel fights by his side in an attempt to reach Gimli. The elleth and man fight with a strange synchronicity in their movements. Almost as if they know where the other is moving and when.
Watching from the rampart, Legolas notices Tauriel fighting with Aragorn against the flowing numbers of Uruks entering through the wall. So being as quick as he can, Legolas uses a shield to ski down the stairs from the ramparts to try and join his two friends in the frenzy.
Aragorn pulls Gimli out of the water once he and Tauriel reach the knee deep waters of the water canal. The dwarf, though happy to have the help, sputters out the water before heading back into battle. The elves, along with Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Tauriel, keep fighting the Uruks, but their numbers keep coming. All of them are fighting, trying to hold back the oncoming storm of the enemy. However, even they cannot stop a storm.
"Aragorn! Retreat to the Keep! Get your men out of there!" Gamling's voice echoes down from somewhere above, at the top of the fortress.
Aragorn, following the orders, shouts to the elves to retreat to the Keep as he keeps fighting.
Kili, who is now coming down from the ramparts of the wall, rushes into the battle frenzy. While the elves try to flee to the keep, he is keeping an eye out for Tauriel. But the sheer numbers of fleeing elves and men, along with the Uruks, makes it hard to find her.
"Tauriel!" Kili shouts as he takes down Uruk after Uruk in his desperate search for her.
"Kili!" Tauriel's voice rings out not far from where he is.
Unknown to Kili, Tauriel has left Aragorns' side to help her elven kin flee safely to the Keep. She is on the stairs that leads to safety. With her bow, she is shooting the Uruks that are following after those who are fleeing.
"Kili!" Tauriel shouts as she has to move back even farther up the stairs as the coming tide of Uruks charge towards her. Knowing that there is nothing she can do, Tauriel withdraws before the Uruks can overwhelm her spot on the stairs.
Aragorn, who is still on the ground near the breach in the wall, notices two familiar bodies still fighting up on the rampart. "Haldir! Kelda!"
The two are fighting in tandem with each other, making sure that none of the enemy gets close enough to harm either of them. However, Haldir hears Aragorn call for them and looks down at Aragorn. He hears the orders that Aragorn is giving and gives the man a nod of acknowledgement.
"Kelda. We must fall back to the Keep." Haldir says as he begins to clear a path for Kelda and his kin.
Kelda hears what Haldir has said and turns to follow, that is where she makes her mistake. She didn't notice the Uruk finishing his climb up the ladder. The Uruk knocks her down to the floor of the rampart with a hard blow to the base of her neck. The pain from both the blow and hitting the stone floor causes her to let out a pain filled yell. Then the Uruk grabs a fist full of her auburn hair and yanks her up.
The yell had captured the attention of Haldir, Legolas, Aragorn, and Kili. However Haldir is the closest to Kelda to do anything to help her.
Haldir body slams into the Uruk while bringing his sword down upon the Uruk's forearm to free Kelda from the beast. A wave of pain skyrockets through Haldir, however, from his left side. Haldir, in his attempt to rescue Kelda, forgot that the Uruk had a sword in the other hand.
Kelda had scrabbled on hands and knees past Haldir to escape the Uruk, but hearing Haldir's gasp of pain, causes her to try and stand up. She watches as a dwarven arrow embeds itself into the Uruk's neck, causing its death.
"Haldir." Kelda says softly as the elven warrior turns to look at her. Her senses are impaired somewhat from the blow, so she doesn't notice the Uruk approaching her from behind.
Haldir looks past Kelda to see an Uruk approaching her from behind. He realizes that her senses are muted from the previous blow. As the Uruk raises its blade, Haldir grabs hold of Kelda and places his body between hers and the Uruk's blade. The blade slices into his back with such force that Haldir gurgles slightly.
Kelda feels Haldir's body give a shudder, and can do hold on tight to Haldir's arms that are around her.
"Haldir!" Aragorn yells from down below.
"Kelda!" Both Legolas and Kili shout in shock, for both can see that the young female is starting to go into shock.
As Haldir's grip lessens, Kelda pulls herself free from his arms. Turning carefully so that she is facing him, Kelda helps Haldir to the ground, not paying attention to the Uruk that was behind Haldir. The whizzing of two different arrows sound through the air and the Uruk falls from the rampart.
"Haldir. Why?" Kelda asks as her eyes fill with unshed tears.
"Do you not know? Le melin, Rossloth." Haldir gasps out to her as he reaches a hand up to her face, but Kelda takes his hand in hers and holds it tightly.
Before Kelda can say anything in reply, Aragorn and Legolas arrive. Aragorn kneels down next to Haldir as the warrior takes his last breath.
"No. No. No. No. No. NO!" Kelda screams as she starts to become a bit hysterical. She has never truly seen death up close and personal before, and it is too much for her to handle. Strong arms wrap around her and pull her hand free from the dead ellons'. This causes Kelda to struggle, but Legolas refuses to let her go.
"Take her and get out of here." Aragorn shouts to Legolas before rising up to take on two Uruk's that are approaching.
Legolas pulls the struggling Kelda with him as he goes back down the stairs. At the bottom, Kili and Gimli are fighting off the Uruks as best as they can. Kili can hear his daughters' screaming, but tries hard not to lose focus on the battle. Knowing that Legolas has her, Kili knows that Legolas will attend to Kelda till he or Tauriel is able to.
Inara, who is still at the top of the Causeway Gate, hears the breaking of the wooden gate below.
"Damn it!" Inara growls out before rushing towards the stairs that leads down to the inside of the gate's entry hall.
As she enters, she sees Théoden with his commanders trying to hold back the Uruks from entering. However, she watches as an Uruk buries a spear into the opening in the kings' armor, under the arm. Yet, the king surprises her when he stabs a spear of his own into an Uruk.
"Make way!" Gamling shouts as he drags Théoden back from the busted gate.
The soldiers push forward towards the opening in the gate in retaliation of the Uruk hitting their king. But most don't last very long against the enemy.
"Hold them back!" Inara yells as she draws her sword out and begins striking at any Uruk that tries enters through the hole.
"We cannot hold them off for long." Gamling tells a slightly wounded Théoden.
However, Aragorn arrives just in time to help Inara and what is left of the gate soldiers. He joins her in slicing and hacking away at the Uruks who are unlucky enough to try and enter.
"How long do you need?" Aragorn yells at Théoden and Gamling.
"As long as you can give me." Théoden shouts back at Aragorn as he takes his sword from Gamling.
Just entering the gate's entry hall, Gimli and Kili both rush in to try and help.
"Gimli!" Aragorn calls out. "Follow me!"
"Go with him. I got this." Kili says to Gimli before charging in to help Inara keep the Uruks at bay.
Kili and Inara fight well together with Inara going high while Kili goes low. Théoden watches them with a slightly impressed expression on his face. He has yet to see the queen and the prince fight up close, but he has to admit that he wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of their joint attacks.
All of a sudden Gimli and Aragorn appear on the other side of the gate, fighting off the Uruks. This the chance that Théoden and the others have been waiting for.
"Shore up the damn door!" Inara yells as she is able to catch her breath.
"Do as she says. Shore up the door!" Théoden calls out to the soldiers who have brought materials needed to close the hole.
Inara and Kili move out of the way as the soldiers bring forth the materials and supplies needed. Leaning against the wall, across from where Théoden is standing, Kili starts to let out a few chuckles.
"I can't wait to tell Thorin about your inappropriate language." Kili chuckles to Inara. "And I thought Dwalin was a bad influence. You are much worse."
"Oh shut the fuck up, Kili. You know I don't give a damn about proper etiquette or language when in battle. Besides, those little fuckers don't care." Inara says with laughter ringing in her voice.
"Yeah. It's not like if they can actually understand what you are saying to them half the time." Kili replies light-heartedly.
Outside at the top of the Causeway Gate, Tauriel arrives to see large anchor hooks land. As it grips the top parts of the half-wall, she approaches it cautiously to see that the anchors have ropes or chains to them. These ropes or chains are helping with raising very tall ladders towards the top of the Gate. Pulling out a few arrows, Tauriel shoots at a few of these ropes, causing them to snap free from the anchors. This causes the ladders to fall back onto the Uruks below.
"And stay down." Tauriel says out loud to herself.
Looking below to the Causeway, she sees Gimli and Aragorn fighting on the bridge. She watches as a large Uruk takes hold of them both. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Legolas arrive with a long rope in hand.
"Aragorn! Gimli!" Legolas shouts as he tosses the rope over the side. Then he looks at Tauriel. "Tie off the end, quickly."
Tauriel takes hold of the other end of the rope and begins to tie it around one of the anchors that she had previously cut the rope off of. One her task is done, she rushes over to help Legolas with pulling the rope up with Aragorn and Gimli on it.
Once the two are up and out of harms way, the four of them begin to fight the growing numbers of Uruks that are now coming up from the ladders.
Down in the entry way, Théoden makes a decision as he hears the battle coming from above on the roof.
"Pull everybody back. Pull them back!" Théoden tells Gamling before heading out of the Causeway entrance hall.
"Come on Kili. We must fall back." Inara says to her nephew-by-marriage.
"Agreed." Kili growls out. He doesn't like the idea, but knowing that there is even more of the enemy outside he can understand.
The two hurry out of the entry way and make their way into the pathways outside. Only getting so far down the pathway, they hear the gate doors buckle and give way.
"Shit! We gotta move. Now!" Inara shouts to others who are going slowly along the paths.
"The gate has been breached. Fall back. Retreat!" Aragorns' voice calls out from the top of the entry way.
Aragorn, along with Tauriel, Gimli, and Legolas come down and hurry down the pathway where they meet up with Kili and Inara.
"Where is Kelda?" Tauriel asks Kili as she is now reunited with her husband.
"She is safe, Tauriel." Kili growls out as they hurry along to keep ahead of the coming Uruks.
"But where?"
"She took a blow to the base of the neck and witnessed Haldir's death." Legolas tells her as they all pick up the pace of their jogging. "I escorted her myself to the deepest part of the fortress where the door to the caves are heavily protected."
Tauriel is a bit taken aback by the idea that her oldest was possibly wounded, but there is nothing she can do to change it.
They all retreat into the Keep and once everyone is inside, they bar the doors and shore them up to try and keep out the Uruks. Eventually, the door soon comes under attack from a battering ram.
Théoden looks at the last of the men who have escaped the carnage outside.
"The fortress is taken. It is over." Théoden tells them as he tries to come to terms with the inevitable defeat.
"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it." Aragorn shouts at Théoden as he and Kili lift up another piece of wooden furniture to help barricade the door. "They still defend it. They have died defending it."
"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Inara asks as she looks towards where Kelda is sitting on the floor next to the door that leads to the passage way for the caves. She can't help but feel sorry for the lass, knowing now that there may not be hope that Thorin and the army would arrive in time to help them.
"Is there no other way?" Aragorn asks, repeating what Inara had just asked.
"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains." Gamling answers looking between Aragorn and Inara for reassurance. "But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many."
"What if they were to meet up with a host of dwarves in the mountains?" Inara asks. "Kelda, Tauriel, Kili, and Gimli would be able to lead them to where Thorin may be before too many are slaughtered. It would be their best chance."
"I am not leaving you here, Inara." Kili growls out in annoyance from where he and Legolas at grabbing a wooden table for the barricade. "Thorin would kill me after he kills the Uruk-hai."
Inara gives Kili a scowl before growling out her answer. "Your brother still needs you, Kili. Your children still need you as well. I have lived my life, and my children are grown up enough to understand my choice. So would Thorin."
"I forbid it!" Kili yells, dropping his end of the table. He stalks over to Inara and stands before her. "I will not allow you to commit suicide, for that is what your plan is."
"Kili enough!" Tauriel shouts from her spot by the barricaded door.
Hearing another hit from the battering ram, Aragorn decides to take over. He takes hold of Gamling's shoulder and commands him. "Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance."
"So much death." Théoden says to out loud. "What can Men do against such reckless hate?"
"Ride out with me." Aragorn says as if he realizes something for the first time. "Ride out and meet them."
"For death and for glory." Théoden says, seeing an unusual spark in Aragorn's eyes.
"For Rohan." Aragorn says before approaching Théoden. "For your people."
"The sun is rising." Kili says to them both.
"Yes." Théoden says as he watches Aragorn's resolve to fight strengthen. "Yes."
Facing the last of his men, Théoden begins to address them. "The horn of Helm Hammerhead shall sound in the Deep one last time."
"Yes." Gimli growls out in agreement.
Inara nods her head at Théoden, while Kili growls lowly at the idea of Inara fighting while he flees with his family. However, the hand of his wife on his shoulder has Kili looking up into her green eyes. He can see the resolve to finish this battle to the end, and he knows that he will not let her do this on her own.
"Let this be the hour when we draw swords together." Théoden says not only to Aragorn, but to Inara as well.
"Gimli, head to the top of the Keep and give that horn one hell of a mighty blow." Inara shouts to the red-haired dwarf.
"Yes." Gimli shouts in glee at the idea of finishing this battle before heading up the stairs that lead to the horn.
Horses are brought forth for the remainder of the men who plan to fight with their king. Only five of them will remain behind to keep the Uruk-hai out of the caves for as long as they can.
Kelda, however, is taken into the caves by Legolas. She is still in shock, and Legolas doesn't want her to be caught unawares by the Uruk-hai. He leaves her in Éowyn's capable hands after he tells her what Théoden is planning on doing. Looking at Kelda one last time, Legolas places a gently kiss to her forehead before heading back out of the caves.
Once back with the others, Legolas climbs up onto a horse that is next to one that has Tauriel and Kili on it. He gives them a nod of his head to let them know that he has seen Kelda safely to the caves.
"Fell deeds awake." Théoden says to the others. "Now for wrath, now for ruin, and a red dawn."
Aragorn draws his sword, preparing to meet what lies on the other side of the Keeps' door.
Inara, however, closes her eyes to calm her mind and calls out to the spirits to keep watch over them. And in response to her plea, she feels several different energies enter her body, just like at the Battle of the Five Armies.
"Hello you lovelies." Inara whispers out loud, her voice taking on a multi-gender sound to it. Her eyes open and the color of her irises are multi-colored as well.
This causes Aragorn, Legolas, Kili, and Tauriel to look at the Queen of Erebor in awe. The energy surrounding Inara has changed to a one of great power and strength.
"About damn time it showed up." Kili growls out. He remembers this from the Battle of the Five Armies, and knows that with Inara's new power, she will be a formidable force against the Uruk-hai.
The door gives way and three Uruks enter into the Keep.
"Forth Eorlingas!" Théoden shouts out before charging into the ranks of the enemy.
Right behind him are the others, giving their own battle cries as they hack away at the enemy as they go. As they exit the Keep, the group break through and carve a path down the stairs. Some of the Uruk-hai step out of the way, but some fall as they are slaughtered by the small group on horseback.
It doesn't take the group long to make it out of the Causeway Gates and down the ramp that leads to the rest of the Uruk-hai army. At the bottom of the ramp, the group comes to a stop since they can no longer push the Uruk-hai number back any father. However, one of the riders in the front takes it upon themselves to hold the line.
"You were never meant to be created." The multi-gendered voice says from Inara's mouth. Her movements are fluid with such strength that it causes the heads and bodies of those she slays, with her sword, to fly through the air.
Théoden and Aragorn, who are fighting next to each other on horseback, catch a few glimpses of Inara's battle prowess and are in amazement of her strength.
"Perhaps there is still hope left." Théoden says to Aragorn as he watches a very large, decapitated body of an Uruk go flying through the air after meeting Inara's blade.
However the spectacle of Inara's power is cut short as a whiny from a horse causes Aragorn and some of the others to look east. Upon the top of a high ridge, they see Gandalf upon Shadowfax.
"Gandalf." Aragorn says with relief to see that the wizard has arrived.
Gandalf stay upon the ridge till two riders come forth. One on horseback, the other on the back of a battle ram. The rider on horseback moves to the right side of Gandalf, with many other horseback riders behind him. On the left side, the battle ram with its rider are joined by others who are also on the backs of rams. Its rider is none-other-than Thorin Oakenshield, dressed in nearly the same style of clothing that he wore to battle sixty years ago.
Inara, who has stopped fighting at the front lines since the Uruk-hai have stopped attacking, looks towards the east. A large smile appears on her face before she yells out to the newcomers.
"Thorin!" The multi-voice echoing across the battlefield from Inara.
Hearing his yâsith's voice echo up to him from the fray of the battle, Thorin raises Orcrist above his head to signal his dwarven army into combat ready. "Du Bekâr!" Thorin shouts as he spurs his battle ram down the steep incline of the ridge.
The other dwarves, with their own battle rams, follow their king down towards the enemy. Flanking Thorin on either side is Frerin and Durin with their own weapons raised for battle.
Frerin is to Thorin's right, and his battle garb is similar in design to Thorin's. Dark blues and blacks with mithril chainmail over tunic, but under the main dwarven armor. His thick, wavy dark hair has multiple braids throughout it, with several new beads placed in them. A near replica of Thorin's old sword, Deathless, in his right hand.
Durin is to Thorin's left, and his battle garb is different from his adad and nadad's. It is a dark gray in color with gold chainmail over top of the body. This leaves his legs and arms unprotected. However, at Durin's waist is a thick leather belt with an array of shorter knives and small throwing axes attached. Unlike his nadads' hair, Durin has half of his hair pulled back and braided, while the rest of it flows free. In Durins' hands, he holds a scimitar shaped sword made out of the strongest Dwarven iron.
The battle rams, with their riders, start to create a V shape towards their enemies. In the void of the V shape, Éomer and the Rohirrim charge into place behind the rams.
The tip of the V formation cuts into the lines of the enemy with the rams knocking away the Uruk-hai. Any that try to attack the rams are met with the force of the rams' riders. Once they are in deep enough, the V splits into two lines, which allow the Rohirrim and Gandalf to attack without having to fear the Uruk-hai spears.
Durin leads the left line with Brea and Dori following him; while Thorin and Frerin take the right with Bifur and Grâm staying close by.
"Thorin!" Inara calls out with her true voice. She spurs her horse to ride out to reach him.
With most of the Uruk-hai fighting against the others, Inara cuts her way easily towards where her husband is with their oldest son. Right behind Inara's horse, on their shared horse is Kili and Tauriel. Kili is shooting arrows at any Uruk-hai that get near the back of their horse; while Tauriel is using Kili's sword to dispatch any Uruks that get in the horse's way.
"Inara!" Thorin shouts as he cuts down several Uruk-hai that have come near his battle ram. Once the Uruks near him are dead, Thorin turns his ram towards where Inara's horse is. However, is surprised to find that her horse isn't too far away.
Coming up alongside Thorin's battle ram, Inara swings her left leg up and over to the right side before leaping from her horse. The sheer force of her jump sends Thorin crashing to the blood soaked ground on his back with Inara laying on top of him. Their weapons were held out to side so that they don't injure each other.
"You came for me." Inara says softly as she gently moves off of Thorin, and proceeds to help her yâsún up off of the ground.
Once on his feet again, Thorin uses his free hand to cup Inara's cheek. "Always." Thorin, not having seen Inara for almost four months, gives Inara a breath-taking kiss.
"Ewwww. Can't you do that somewhere more private? I hardly think a battlefield is a fitting place for that kind of thing." Frerin says from atop his battle ram. Not a moment later, an Uruk-hai's sword lodges itself into the side of Frerin's ram, causing the animal to throw the dwarf prince to the ground. This causes the prince to become dazed.
"Frerin!" Inara shouts after breaking her kiss with Thorin. Unknown to Inara, there are six Uruk-hai closing in on them.
Thorin, after feeling Inara break their kiss, turns his head slightly to see a Uruk only a few feet from where Frerin is lying dazed on the ground.
"No!" Thorin shouts as he charges to block the attacking Uruks' blade with Orcrist. Using his body, Thorin pushing the Uruk backwards, away from his son.
Inara takes a few steps towards her son before something grabs her hair. It yanks so hard on her hair that Inara lets out a shriek from the sharp pain. Another quick, sharp pull from the Uruk causes Inara to lose her balance. The Uruk realizes that it has the upper hand, and it begins to drag Inara away via her hair.
"Thorin!" Inara screams as she is forced to drop the weapons in her hands to grab at her hair to ease the strain it is causing to her scalp.
Hearing Inara calling out to him, Thorin quickly disposes of an Uruk with a quick, heavy thrust of Orcrist into its belly. Pulling Orcrist from the Uruks' belly, Thorin turns to see that Inara is being dragged away. His face pales slightly as he sees just how rough the Uruk is dragging Inara. A soft groan from a slowly rising Frerin, has Thorin moving quickly to help his son up.
"Adad? Where's Amad?" Frerin asks as he stands up and takes in his surroundings slowly.
"Come. One of those beasts are dragging her away." Thorin growls out before charging towards the gathering Uruks with Orcrist in hand.
Frerin seeing Thorin charging towards the Uruks, picks up his sword before following after Thorin. The duo fight together as if they are one person. As one blocks an attack, the other takes advantage of the opportunity to kill the enemy. Their battle movements are so fluid and in-tune with each other that the Uruks aren't sure how to separate the father, son team.
Inara, meanwhile, is trying to get at one of the last two remaining tomahawks that are tucked into her belt. Her right hand is holding onto her hair, while her left is trying to reach for her weapon. Her sword that she fought with earlier was left on the ground when she had tackled Thorin. So getting a hold of a tomahawk is her only change of getting free. Just as she is able to take hold of a tomahawk, the Uruk that is dragging her tosses Inara at the rock face of the small valley canyon.
As her back hits the rock, Inara lets out a quick cry of pain while dropping to the ground. Trying to pull herself up from the ground, the Uruk steps up to take hold of Inara. One of its hands grabs her by the throat, and starts to squeeze as it lifts her up off of the ground.
Gasping for breath against the pressure on her throat, Inara's left hand grabs hold of the Uruks' wrist. Her right hand goes for one of her tomahawks, only to be grabbed by the Uruks' other hand. She lets out a gasping cry as the Uruk squeezes her wrist. With her adrenaline kicking in, Inara tries to kick out at the Uruk, only to have the Uruk slam her back into the rocks wall behind her.
Thorin and Frerin, who are still a good distance away from where Inara and the Uruk are, finish killing the last of the small group of Uruks that had held them at bay. Looking towards where they last saw Inara and the Uruk were heading, both of them witness the Uruk strangling Inara while slamming her against the rock wall.
"Amad!" Frerin roars out as he charges forwards. However, more Uruks slow him down by engaging him in battle.
"No." Thorin gasps out. He follows after Frerin and swings Orcrist at yet another enemy's body
On the other side of the battlefield, Durin and Brea are defending a fallen comrade from the last of the Uruk-hai that is left from their fighting. Since both have trained with each other for a while, they know each other's battle moves. It doesn't take them long to kill off the last of the Uruk-hai that were surrounding them. Yet before the two can take a quick breath, Durin hears his nadad cry out for their amad.
Turning to his right, Durins' eyes search the battlefield. He finds Frerin and Thorin battling several Uruks, but when Durin follows the direction that they are taking, his blood sings with rage. There by rock wall of the valley canyon, he sees an Uruk strangling his amad. When she tries to fight back, the Uruk slams her against the rock multiple times.
Durin lets out a very low-toned growl before charging across the battlefield. His blood is burning with rage, even though his body is tired from battle. As he makes his way across the field, several Uruks try to slow him down, but he is quick to send them to their deaths. However, his body is tiring out and Durin is wondering if he will make it in time to save Inara from certain death.
'Sigin'dashat.' A voice whispers in Durins' mind. 'It is time for you to awaken.'
Hearing the whisper in his mind, Durin becomes distracted from the fight between him and an Uruk. In this lapse of attention, the Uruk swings its large mace at Durin. It connects with his chainmail at his chest, and wrenches it; as the blow itself sends Durin flying into the air several feet.
Brea, who had followed Durin till an Uruk engaged her in battle, screams as she watches her battle buddy take the hit. Her scream is so loud, that it captures the attention of Gandalf, Kili, Tauriel, Aragorn, Legolas, Frerin, Thorin, and an unknown dwarf soldier.
They all watch, as if in slow motion, Durin hit the ground. Seeing Durin come to a stop and not get up, cause each of them to fight harder, and try to come to the fallen dwarf's aid.
Durin, however, fights hard to get his body to move at his command, but it refuses to. He is able to open his eyes barely, and that in itself is a struggle since his body wants to rest. He is lying on his back with his face looking out at the number of dead laying on the battlefield.
'You need to awaken before it is too late. Embrace your legacy and let your memories come to the surface.' The voice whispers in haste inside of Durin's mind.
Durin closes his eyes in defeat as the footsteps of the Uruk approaches him with the mace ready to give the death blow.
'Do not give up, Sigin'dashat. You are a Longbeard and we do not give up so easily. Now. Fight!'
Durin takes a deep breath and opens himself up. Just like he did that one time as a child, Durin lets himself embrace the low ember of fire deep inside of himself. That fire grows quick in intensity and soon his body no longer feels tired.
The Uruk swings his mace down at Durin in a final death blow at the dwarfs' chest. Before the mace can even hit its mark, the prone lying dwarf suddenly rolls out of the way. The Uruk lets out a snarled roar at not killing the dwarf.
Moving with speed that Durin has never before shown, he rises up out of the roll and charges at his attacker. Pulling a thick dagger out of his belt, Durin uses his free hand to push away the hand that holds the mace, while driving the dagger deep into the Uruks' lower abdomen. With the Uruk now gravely injured, Durin shoves the beast to the ground and charges past laying body.
As he charges forwards, Durin picks up an enemy's battle axe and begins to take down any Uruk that stands in his way. His movements are unlike any that the Uruks, or even his comrades, have ever seen before. Once Durin finishes killing the last Uruk to stand between him and the one holding Inara, he slowly moves towards the Uruk.
"Let the Tharkâl go." Durin's angrily growls out at the Uruk.
The Uruk, still holding a gasping Inara by the throat, snarls out at Durin in black speech. It isn't ready to let go of its prize, nor is it willing to let Inara live if it can't escape.
Durin lets a smirk appear on his face while listening to the Uruk speak. Yet his normally blue eyes are now multi-colored and are zeroed in on Inara. He can see that Inara's face is starting to turn a light clue color, but she has yet to pass out from being strangled.
"Perhaps you did not hear me filth. Let my Tharkâl go." Seeing that the Uruk refuses to release Inara, Durin charges at the Uruk.
The Uruk tosses Inara away and begins to battle with Durin. Both the Uruk and Durin battle it out with their weapons. The Uruk pulls out two blades while Durin uses the battle axe and one of his daggers from his belt. The air between them is alight with electrical tension as they battle.
Inara is trying to catch her breath and move her body, which is fighting to stay awake. From where she landed on the ground a few feet away from the battle, Inara can see the blurred images of the two combatants. As she rolls slowly from her stomach to her left side, a familiar face appears.
"Inara?" Kelda whispers gently as she kneels down next to her queen. Moving with the swiftness of a healer, Kelda begins checking Inara's injuries while still keeping an eye out for any enemies that may attack.
"Kel.." Inara gasps out hoarsely. Knowing that she will have a bruise on her neck, over her windpipe, Inara still tries to speak.
"You'll be alright, but try not to speak. It will only make the damage worse." Kelda says as she checks Inara's wrist. "If you are wondering, I snuck out of the tunnels after you all charged out. Now hold still."
"Dur.."
"Durin is battling the Uruk who harmed you. To tell you the truth, I have never seen Durin fight like this before." Kelda says seeing an Uruk approaching them. Letting go of Inara's injured wrist, Kelda unsheathes the sword that once belonged to Haldir. She had removed the weapon from him as she approached the battlefield after escaping the hidden caverns.
Being cautious, Kelda eyes the Uruk and tightens her hold on the sword in her hands. The Uruk swings out at her, and Kelda is able to deflect the blow. Moving with swift moves that are part of her elven heritage, Kelda twists herself out of the reach of the Uruk blade. Kelda swings the elven blade and it connects with the top of the Uruks' thigh.
By this time, Thorin and Frerin charge forwards towards Kelda and Inara. Frerin, seeing his cousin fighting the large opponent, rushes in swinging his own sword at the Uruk. Kelda and Frerin battle the Uruk together making sure that neither of them are caught off guard.
Thorin watches as Frerin and Kelda make short work of the Uruk and it falls dead to the ground. Even though the creature is dead, Kelda swings her blade down and slices the head from its neck. Before Kelda can swing again at the dead Uruk, Thorin takes hold of Kelda's arm to stop her.
"How is she?" Thorin asks Kelda, trying to pull the young female's attention away from the dead body of the enemy.
Kelda, noticing that someone has stopped her before she can mutilate the dead Uruk, looks to see who is staying her arm. Realizing that it is Thorin, Kelda lowers the sword before speaking. "Her wrist is sprained, and her windpipes are damaged slightly."
A loud thud stops Kelda's conversation as both her and Thorin look to where Durin was battling the Uruk. Their eyes go wide as they see Durin standing victorious over the now dead Uruk. However what startles them even more is to see that Durins' eyes are now multi-colored and that his bearing has changed as well.
Moving slowly, Durin makes his way over to where Inara is lying on the ground. Being as gentle as he can be, Durin slowly gathers Inara up into his arms. Holding Inara bridal style, Durin starts walking back towards the fortress of Helm's Deep.
"You will be safe now, Tharkâl. Uzbad Narag will no longer bring you harm. He will deal with me if he should try." Durin rumbles out softly so that only Inara can hear him.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, the rest of the Uruk-hai begin to flee as the Rohirrim chase them out of the valley and towards a forest. However, the Rohirrim do not follow their quarry at the suggestion of Gandalf. They sit and watch as the Uruk-hai have completely entered the forest. Then the trees of the forest begin to shudder and groan for a time till all goes quiet again.
Heading back to the fortress victorious, the Rohirrim and the Volunteer Army of Dwarves walk through the carnage from the long battle. As word had reached the women and children in the caves of the victory, many have come out to see for themselves what the battle has done and who has or hasn't survived.
Théoden approaches where Thorin, Frerin, and Kelda are standing on the field. Kelda and Frerin are searching among the dead bodies for any dwarf or man who may still be alive.
"King Thorin." Théoden says before giving a small bow to Thorin.
"I am no longer King Under the Mountain. That title belongs to my nephew, Fili." Thorin replies before giving a small bow to Théoden in return.
"Still, the people of Rohan thank you for coming to our aid. Whatever losses you may have, your kin are welcome to bury your dead in the mountains near Edoras." Théoden offers out to Thorin.
"That is kind of you to offer, but I would prefer to send our dead back to Erebor if possible. If not, we will burn their bodies and send their ashes back instead. As for arriving to your aid, we were already on our way south to find Inara, who I had been told was kidnapped. We happened by chance to run into your Riders and Éomer. He had told me that he sent Inara to Edoras. While we broke bread together for an evening meal, the wizard came upon us with news of the impending battle. So one might say that it was Gandalf who persuaded us Dwarves to come."
"Adad!" Frerin shouts as he comes running towards where Thorin and Théoden are standing.
"Frerin?" Thorin asks, wondering why his oldest
"It's Bifur and Dori. They aren't going to make it." Frerin says solemnly, watching as Thorin excuses himself from Théoden.
Thorin follows Frerin as they head out onto the battlefield. They hurry over towards where a small crowd of dwarves stands. The only one that isn't a dwarf is Tauriel, and next to her is someone that Thorin is not expecting.
"Toril!" Thorin growls out at the young female. He can see that Toril's armor is wrenched and has many dents upon it. This tells Thorin just how close the lass had come to possibly ending up dead. "Didn't I tell you that you were to stay in Erebor?"
The young lass doesn't answer as she sniffles and allows tears to roll down her cheek. She is holding one of Bifur's hands in one of hers, while her other hand is still pressing hard against a large wound in Bifur's side.
Kili moves to where his daughter is kneeling next to Bifur. Seeing that Toril is very upset, Kili decides not to scold her, but to kneel down next to her. He then wraps his arms around her and pulls her into a hug.
"Shhh. There is nothing you can do, Toril." Kili whispers against the top of Toril's head.
"It's my fault." Toril says softly through her tears. "He helped me sneak into the army before we left. He kept watch over me as we traveled. Then during the fight he protected me from three of those monsters. It's my fault he is dead, Adad. My fault."
"Shhhh." Kili says to her before pressing another kiss into her helmet matted hair. He looks over at Tauriel as the elleth closes Bifur's eyes shut with great care.
At this point, a water filled cough echoes catches Thorin's attention. Looking only a few feet away from Bifur's dead body, he sees another former member of the old company. He moves towards his fallen comrade, and notices that Kelda is trying her hardest to help the gray-haired dwarf.
"Dori." Thorin says as he kneels near his friends' head.
"Thorin. Tell. Nori." Dori begins to speak, but it pushed into another coughing fit from the blood.
"He will know that you died with honor on the battlefield." Thorin says to his friend. "And don't worry about Yuri. I will make sure that she inherits your things and the tea shop. She will want for nothing."
Dori nods his head at hearing Thorin's promise and begins to groan in pain from the wound. The initial shock and adrenaline is beginning to wear off. The pool of blood underneath Dori grows slowly from the large wound that has severed his spine and tore into his body cavity.
"Dori look at me." Kelda says as she gently touches his the side of his face. "I want you to focus on the things that make you happy. Like your tea shop and your customers. Holding Yuri when she was a small babe. Helping on the quest to reclaim Erebor. Can you do that for me?"
"I. See. Them." Dori gasps out as his eyes begin to dilate and become unfocused. Then his body gives a shudder of breath before going silent.
"May Mahal welcome you home, my friend." Thorin says out loud with the other dwarves saying something similar in Khuzdul.
Théoden, who was watching the whole thing from a distance with Éomer, bow their heads in a show of respect to the dwarves who lost their lives fighting with them. Both men know that having the dwarves fight with them was a great privilege and honor.
On another part of the battlefield, later in the day, Legolas approaches Gimli with a smirk upon his face. He found the dwarf sitting by the stone walkway, sitting on what appears to be a dead Uruk. What is even more surprising to the elf is that the dwarf is smoking his pipe.
"Final count, ninety-two." Legolas boasts to the red-haired dwarf.
"Ninety-two? Oh." Gimli says as he pulls his smoking pipe out of his mouth. "That's not bad for a pointy-eared Elvish princeling. I myself am sitting pretty at Ninety-three."
Legolas pulls out an arrow, notches it to his bow, and then lets it flies to the Uruk that Gimli is currently sitting on. "Ninety-three."
"He was already dead." Gimli shouts at Legolas, wondering if the elf still hot-blooded from the fight.
"He was twitching." Legolas replies, wondering why the dwarf hadn't noticed the Uruk moved beneath him.
"He was twitching because he's got my ax embedded in his nervous system." Gimli shouts at the blonde elf. Then to make his point, Gimli grabs the handle to his axe and begins to wiggle it. Sure enough the Uruks' body moves slightly.
Kili, with Toril tucked into his side, walks past the two arguing over their body count. He gets a grin on his face before speaking to them.
"Drinks are on you two, because my final score was one hundred and twenty-four." Kili says to them with a smirk on his face.
There it is folks the end of the Two Towers. Next up will be the Battle of Erebor. I know, I am messing with the timeline of events for that, but with Inara's presence on Middle Earth, who is to say that it didn't possibly change the timeline of events.
Reviews are welcomed and well-loved.
Selene