Summary: This is a songfic to In My Veins by Andrew Belle watch?v=q0KZuZF01FA . The Battle of the Hornburg has finally come. Rated T by Caitie (Arwen & Legolas)
March 3-4, 3019
(Words written in bold type are spoken in Elvish)
Dark storm clouds blotted out the moonlight as Arwen and Legolas walked out of the keep. A crowd had gathered up on the battlements down the steep stone steps awaited the host she had brought with her from Rivendell and Lothlorien. The Torchlight reflected off of their silver helmets casting shadows on their emotionless faces. They stood unmoving as Arwen and Legolas descended the staircase as if they were carved of stone, only their cloaks waved in the cool night breeze. As Arwen stepped off of the last step the soldiers turned and stepped in unison to make a path for her between them. They faced her, still void of emotion and she looked back at them, her eyes blank.
The breeze picked up and Arwen's hair flew behind her as she walked amongst her soldiers. She stopped in the middle of the path and turned back to look at Legolas who watched from the steps. Men whispered above her as they watched the Elves. "We could have stayed back home, in the safety of our forests and our mountains. How long would they have been safe for though? If Rohan fell, how long would it be before Saruman turned to us?" Arwen looked at the faces of the men and women who would fight with her. "Look around you!" she gestured above her, to the men of Rohan who stood on the battlements. "These are our brothers! Not just in arms, but in blood. When they cry, we cry; when they bleed, we bleed; and when they die, we'll die too!" TheElves raised their bows then dropped the butts against the stone, a resounding thud rang ominously through the air. "The Uruk-hai's are coming, and they aren't going to take prisoners, they will kill you, they will kill our brothers, our sisters, our wives and husbands, our children! They will show you no mercy, so won't show them any!" The Elves dropped their bows against the stone again. Arwen turned to back to the battlements, King Theoden now stood at the top of the staircase. "King Theoden, we are yours." Arwen dropped to one knee, her entire host turning to face the king then dropping to follow their captain.
..::..
The rain made tinkling noises as it pattered against the bronze armor of the Elven archers. Not one person made noise as they waited anxiously for the Uruk-hai army. Though the world around them was black and their keen eyes could not penetrate the darkness they knew it would be soon. The quiet world would soon turn and they would wish for the anxious peace they felt now.
As befitting her station Arwen wore a cloak of vibrant red fabric and as the rain came down the cloak became heavier and heavier. She looked unseeing at the plains before her. Haldir stood to her right, he had thought this mission folly from the start. Not only that of the Elves bringing aid to Rohan but also of the Ring being given to Hobbit for protection. He couldn't help but think that if the Ring had been given to Aragorn or Legolas that all this could have been prevented.
The sound of armor rattling and many feet stomping brought Haldir and Arwen's attention to the battlefield. "It is time," Arwen whispered. Her hand tightened on the grip of her bow. In the distance she could hear Aragorn, his voice passionate as he spoke to the archers. She turned her face to the right and saw Legolas, he was watching her, a solemn expression on his face.
Thunder cracked and lightning showed that the army of Uruk-hai were finally within sight, they stopped in front of the keep. They were an ominous sight to behold. All in black, their armor was thick and their weapons looked blunt but deadly. Arwen could just make out the white handprints on armor and helmets.
Arwen looked at the men of Rohan, so many of them were just children and even more of them were elderly. The fear she saw in their eyes was impossible to miss. A few yards to her left was a young boy, he couldn't have been more then thirteen years old. His hands were shaking as he tried to hold onto his bow. "Boy," she said. The boy turned to look at her through his damp sand colored hair. "Come here." Hesitantly the boy pushed through the few soldiers in between him and her. "What is your name?" she asked.
"Harmen," he answered.
"Harmen," Arwen said. "That's a brave name. I am Arwen." She looked the child from head to foot, looking at his rusted armor. "How old are you, Harmen?"
"I will be twelve in a month."
Arwen's heart broke. This boy wasn't even twelve years old yet and hear he was, about to fight for his country and maybe even give his life for it. She took her helmet off and held it out to Harmen. "Here, it's too heavy for me, but I think you're strong enough to wear it." Harmen took it and placed it on his head, his sandy hair pushed into his eyes. Gently, she brushed it out his face. "Now you look a proper warrior."
"Are we going to die?" he asked.
"One day everyone must die," Arwen answered. His head dropped. "But not tonight." She saw a spark of hope appear in his eyes. "Do you know how to use that weapon?" she asked.
Harmen nodded furiously. "My father taught me to hunt when I was little," he answered.
"That's good, I could use a strong man like you beside me tonight," she told him. "How would you like to stay here with me?" His eyes lit up at the prospect of fighting with the Elves and he nodded, a smile appearing on his face for the first time tonight. Arwen smiled down at him.
"My lady," Haldir said, holding his own helmet out to her. "Please take it."
Arwen shook her head. "I don't need it."
"If you say so."
Aragorn walked past her. "Are you ready?" he asked, looking into her eyes. Arwen nodded, her hand tightening even more around her bow. "Alright." He drew his sword.
Arwen watched a single arrow fly from somewhere to her left. "Hold!" The arrow went straight through the neck of an Uruk-hai on the front lines, he made a strangled noise and he fell lifelessly to the ground. It was a good shot if only the feeble old man had actually been aiming for it. The Uruk-hai army shouted and grunted, making all manner of strange noises, furious at the death of their comrade but not caring for his life in any way. They started toward the keep.
Arwen's dark hair clung to her forehead and face as the rain beat down harder. "Prepare to fire!" Aragorn shouted.
"Archers!" Arwen called as she raised her bow and readied an arrow. The rest of her men followed suit in unison, all poised and ready to shoot when commanded. Harmen watched, fascinated by the Elves as he too readied his bow.
"Release arrows!"
The sky was filled with as many arrows as there were stars, but still the Uruk-hai pressed on. They trampled over the bodies of the fallen unfazed by the death. Arwen watched every arrow as it soared and found her targets, watching enemy and enemy fall victim to her arrows.
..::..
Uruk-hai poured over the top of the battlements from their ladders. The bows had to be put away and the swords and knives were pulled out. Even through the close distance of the fighting Legolas was still able to shoot down his opponents. He could hear Gimli laughing, his deep belly laugh distinct as he killed the Uruk-hai. From the corner of his eye Legolas could still see Arwen, her long dark hair clung to her shoulders as she pulled Hadafang out.
"Legolas!" Aragorn shouted from Arwen's direction. Legolas' keen eyes found him quickly. Aragorn's usual calm demeanor was shattered and replaced with a look of fear. He gestured down below where the Uruk-hai were forming. Suddenly he saw a torch light up and a figure ran towards the wall. "Bring him down, Legolas!" All at once he knew what they were doing. He pulled an arrow out and fast as lightning it struck the torch bearer. He kept running. "Kill him! Kill him!" Another arrow burrowed in his shoulder.
Time slowed, almost to a stop in the mere seconds as the torchbearer disappeared beneath the wall. Legolas looked up and found Arwen once more, she stood just above portion of wall the Uruk-hai have dove under. She was oblivious, too busy fighting off the Uruk-hai that surrounded her and her men, she had no idea of the danger she was in.
Legolas started to run to her then but he hadn't even taken one step before the battlements before him exploded. The force knocked him onto his back, falling against other archers and Uruk-hai. For a split second it was almost like it was day again, the world in front of him was bright white and dark rock fell like falling stars. Among the rocks and brick were soldiers, and with those soldiers was Arwen. His heart felt as if it had stopped. He tried to find her but it was all happening so fast, one second they were in front of him, the next they were hurtling away from the keep, lost from sight.
..::..
Arwen's head was pounding and her ears were ringing as she attempted to stand. She blinked against the fog in her eyes. What had happened? Where was she? She looked down at her hands, brown with mud. Her head was swimming with question all unanswerable. She knelt in the mud, people rushed past her making her dizzy. Her hands pressed against her temples. What was happening? She squeezed her eyes shut, the pounding in her head getting stronger.
Suddenly, hands were on her shoulders and through the pounding in her head she heard her name being called. She opened her eyes just a crack and saw two vibrant blue eyes staring at her. Opening her eyes the rest of the way she found worry mixed with relief in Legolas' eyes. "Arwen?" He pulled her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her small shoulders. He sighed in relief. "You're alive," he said.
The ringing in Arwen's ears finally lessened to a bearable decibel. "Legolas," was all she said.
"I'm here," he said, looking her over. "You need to stand." He hooked an arm under one of hers and started to slowly pull her to feet. She wavered slightly, holding onto Legolas for support.
"To the keep!" It was Aragorn's voice, shouting commands to the soldiers on the ground and the outer battlements.
Men started rushing past them and in the chaos Arwen fell. Legolas was pushed further by the crowd as they retreated to the keep. "Arwen!" He shouted, struggling to get back to her.
Arwen struggled getting to her feet, every time she was close she was pushed by another rushing soldier. "Arwen!" she heard her name and expected it to be Legolas but it was not, it was Haldir. He pulled her to her feet, not saying another word before he started pushing her to the keep. She heard a gasp and Haldir's body jerked forward. He pushed her forwards and she caught herself on a spear that had landed upright.
Turning around Arwen saw the blade embedded in Haldir's stomach. She wrenched the spear she had caught herself on from the ground but before she could attack Haldir suffered another blow. His body jerked upright, his face a mask and pain and shock as the Uruk-hai ran past him to her. She ran at him aiming her spear point for his throat and not stopping when she found her target. She forced its body to the ground and pinned him in the cold mud, his life sputtering out of him with his black blood.
"Haldir!" she shouted, relinquishing the spear and running him. She watched Haldir drop to his knees and before he could fall the rest of the way she caught him, holding his back against her chest. He was already dead though, his eyes wide as he had been undoubtedly surveying their dead comrades.
"Arwen!" This time it was Legolas, he pushed through the crowd, and pulled her to his feet. "He's dead, Arwen," he said. "There's nothing you can do." Arwen hesitated, she couldn't leave him like this she thought as Legolas tried to pull her away. She hesitated a moment too long. "Arwen," Legolas started to say her name but it caught in his throat.
"Legolas," she whispered, her eyes wide with fear, behind him she saw an Uruk-hai, his hands free of any weapons.
Legolas reached around to his lower back, he grunted as he ripped a small crude blade from his body. He tossed the bloody weapon to the wet ground. They stood frozen in time, even the Uruk-hai who had assaulted them stood unmoving, he watched them. Legolas reached back for the twin blade holstered on his back, a feint metallic ring sounded before Legolas turned and charged towards the Uruk-hai.
Arwen looked around for anyone but everyone, even most of the Uruk-hai had passed them and had gone toward the keep. Four yet remained, one behind her with Legolas, two in front of her, and one farther off to Arwen's left. She instantly dropped down to one knee, pulling her bow and one arrow from her back. It flew in the blink of an eye and as she reached for a second arrow it plunged through the gap in the Uruk-hai's helmet. The second flew and she heard the thud of it making contact with her target as she reached for a third arrow. She pivoted to her left, the Uruk-hai was too close. The tossed her bow to her right, still holding the arrow tightly in her left hand. She waited a second longer before he was on her and forced the arrow under his breast plate. With two hands she forced arrow into his body, almost to the fletching. He fell, not quite dead yet but he would be in a matter of minutes.
Arwen rose to her feet, adrenaline rushing through her veins as she turned back to Legolas. He stood still, watching her, a blank and empty look on his face. There was blood on his hands, red blood that seeped from his lower abdomen. "Arwen," he said. As he fell Arwen felt her heart drop with him. She ran to him, not sure when she told herself to move, and fell to her knees beside him. She said nothing, she couldn't. "Arwen," he said her name again. She tried to find the source of the bleeding through his shirt. "Arwen."
Her eyes found his, the bright blue eyes she had fallen in love with. "No," was all she could say. She was frantic and calm all at once as she pushed her hands to cover the blood flow.
Legolas coughed and when his hand came back it had more blood on it. "Arwen, stop, it's not going to help me now."
It wasn't until he said that that realization sank in but she wouldn't stop, she couldn't give up. It was nearly dawn, if he could just make it sunrise it would be alright. After five years of being with her Legolas knew what was going through her head. "No," he whispered. And he smiled weakly up at her. He took in every detail, from the way her dark wet hair clung to her face, to her soft blue eyes, the way the rain and pre-dawn light made her bronze breast blade glimmer. He raised a hand to rest behind her neck, and pulled her down to him, his wet lips finding hers and tasting salty tears. When the kiss was over she burrowed her face in his chest and the let the tears flow freely.
It was a slow dying, so slow that one could have convinced themselves that it wasn't really happening but just quick enough to remind that it was. That is exactly what Arwen was convincing herself of. The fighting had moved on to inside the keep where the Uruk-hai had broken through the gate, Arwen and Legolas were left alone with the dead and dying.
"Arwen." His voice was weaker than she had ever heard it before. "Arwen," he said it again, this time just barely above a whisper.
Her eyes found his, the vibrancy in his eyes was gone. Tears leapt into her own eyes and she started to shake her head. "No," she said, knowing what he was thinking. "No, you're not going to die. You can't die." Her voice shook.
Legolas chuckled. "If only I could stay," he said. He started to cough violently.
Arwen continued to shake her head. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this. This was the plan." The tears she had been trying to hold back poured down her face. "You can't leave me," she said.
"I wish I didn't have to," he said in a small voice. The sun was just starting to rise, the battlements were painted in a soft yellow light. Morning had come. "Arwen." She closed her eyes, wishing that when she would open them again that all of this would just be a bad dream. "Arwen," he said again. "I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. I would rather have lived this short life with you, than a hundred without you."
"Don't say it," she whispered, pleading with him. There was still time. "Please don't say it."
"Goodbye."
"No," she repeated that word over and over again. She watched his eyes close and his chest stopped rising and falling with his breaths. She couldn't see through the waterfall of tears that spilled down her face as she clung to him and held him to her chest. She rocked back and forth on her heels. She pressed her lips to his forehead, already feeling the warmth leaving his body.
That was how they found her when the battle was over and morning had finally come. Arwen heard their footsteps approaching her but she ignored them. A hand gently rested on her shoulder and when she looked up it was Aragorn. Eomer and Gandalf were there too, standing a few feet away from her. "Arwen," he said her name so quietly she almost missed it. Arwen looked into Aragorn's soft grey eyes, they were glassy with unshed tears.
"Go," she head Gandalf say.
Eomer came closer and as he crouched her eyes found his, the sky blue of his eyes was identical to his sister's eyes. Arwen shook her head. "This wasn't supposed happen," she said as Eomer took the body from her arms. "Everything's changed."