For anyone who is still reading this story (if you are then thank you thank you so much!) here's the next chapter! For anyone who has read the books/seen the movies (probably everyone) then you know that there's a lot going on in the next few chapters! Anyways here it is, review and favorite, hope you like it!
People rushed between buildings, gathering supplies and bundling food. Edoras had been ordered to empty and now the villagers were preparing for the journey to the stone fortress that they hoped would save them from Saruman's army. Horses were being saddled while soldiers brought out spears and swords. The steeds of Rohan stood proudly, snorting in the cool air.
Within an hour the people had begun to file out of the front gate, casting forlorn glances at their home behind them. Legolas and Gimli rode Arod while Aragorn and Eredhel shared Hasufel. The going was slow on the open plains and the men were watchful. Théoden had said little since their departure, speaking only when consulting his men. Éowyn led Aragorn's horse as he walked beside her, exchanging stories. From behind them, Eredhel looked on skeptically. She had seen the way the woman looked at her foster brother, it was more than the respect given to a lord. A wry smile found the elf's lips, at the moment the man was completely oblivious to her affections. Aragorn had never been one to put himself as the center of attention, he was quiet and humble yet he could demand loyalty and attention when he commanded warriors.
Eredhel's interest was caught when Éowyn inquired who had given him the jewel at his neck. The smile vanished from her friends face instantly and his eyes found the ground. For several moments he was silent as they walked until Éowyn touched him gently on the shoulder, her expression confused. "My Lord?" Aragorn returned his gaze to the woman beside him, looking more worn than ever.
"She leaves for the Undying Lands, with the rest of her kin," he said solemnly.
"She is an elf then?" asked Éowyn.
"Yes. Though the lives of the Dúnedain are long, they cannot match the immortality of the Eldar."
"What of Lady Eredhel and Prince Legolas?"
"The Woodland Elves do not yet leave these shores, they love their forests and many of them did not heed the original call to Valinor. As for Eredhel, she has chosen to remain here alone, to fight," Aragorn answered tersely. Eredhel's hands clenched at his words. Though she did not spend a great amount of time among her people it still grieved her to see them leave Middle Earth. A minute later Legolas fell into step beside her, seeming to have heard their friend's conversation with the Lady.
"Do you miss them?" he asked quietly, his eyes on the ground.
"They have not yet even departed for the Grey Havens, with the exception of Arwen. She will be safe there, that is all that matters." Her words were careful, the lack of emotion concerning the ellon beside her.
"You realize you won't be alone once they are gone? You could always come to Mirkwood, there are far less politics than your father seems to think." He raised an eyebrow and Eredhel laughed.
"That is because you are so busy shooting arrows and climbing trees that you miss out on all of them." She smirked and it was Legolas' turn to chuckle.
"Aye, I do spend a fair amount of time training but who is to guard our lands if not me. The most fearsome of the elves' protectors is too busy fighting the wars of men," he prodded. Eredhel elbowed him in the ribs but stopped suddenly, turning her head against the wind.
"Something is wrong," she said gravely. Pulling her bow from her back, she jogged towards the ridge ahead of them just as two riders cantered over the hill. Legolas followed her, a feeling of unease growing in his stomach. They halted at the top and noticed that one of the horses was snorting and nervous. "There!" Eredhel pointed to the rocks above them just as a warg leapt on top of one of the men. Two arrows sang as they flew through the air, one hitting the beast and the other its rider.
"A scout!" exclaimed Legolas. They turned and ran back over the hill to warn the King.
"Warg riders, we are under attack!" yelled Eredhel. Women screamed and men spurred their horses towards the front of the group as Théoden shouted orders.
"Riders to the head of the column and warriors behind them!" He turned to Éowyn, "You must lead the women to safety, get them away from here."
"I can fight!" she argued. She looked to Aragorn for support but he gave her a small shake of his head. Éowyn glowered at him but he noticed that she lacked the fire that could be found in Eredhel's eyes when she gave him such a look. Eredhel's glares could kill if she wanted them to but Éowyn could not hide the gentleness from her eyes.
"Go Éowyn," he said softly. She said no more and turned to lead the women down the hill. As Théoden rode to the front of his riders Aragorn pulled Eredhel up onto Hasufel behind him. As soon as they were all assembled the King raised his sword and pointed to the hilltop.
"Charge!" he ordered and the horses surged forward. Once they reached the top they collided with the wargs in a flurry of teeth and hooves. Théoden hacked left and right at any enemy who crossed his path, his golden sword flashing in the sun. He held the strength of old kings and his movements were strong. To his left, Eredhel shot orcs that were out of range of the men's swords while Aragorn killed any that got too close. Over the clammer of battle they could hear Legolas and Gimli keeping count of their kills, as competitive as usual. Eredhel had just stabbed a warg in the neck with her knife when she saw a beast topple onto Gimli, pinning the dwarf beneath its weight. Aragorn did not question her as she slipped from the horse and ran towards him. Legolas however got there first and killed the second wolf that had been advancing on their friend. Gimli growled as they approached.
"That one still counts as mine! I won't have a pointy ear stealing my kills!" he growled, nursing his wounded pride. Eredhel chuckled as she shot an orc that had been advancing on a wounded soldier.
"We wouldn't dream of it Master Dwarf however I do suggest you move quickly for the number of beasts available for killings is quickly diminishing." She was right, most of the orcs and wargs had been killed by now and the last remnants were being chased over the hillside by the King's men. The battle had been quick but they had suffered many losses, the ground was littered with the broken bodies of men. The war had started even before they reached the stone keep. King Théoden rode towards them as Legolas frowned, surveying the hillside.
"Where is Aragorn?" His words sent a chill down Eredhel's spine and Gimli must have noticed she paled.
"I'm sure the lad is just helping an injured soldier or something," he attempted to reassure her. They all searched among the men but did not see their friend. A cackle rang out from behind them and they turned to see an orc on the ground. Black blood poured from a wound on his chest and Gimli ran over to lay his axe at its throat. "Tell me what you saw and I will give you a quick death," he snarled venomously. The orc hissed something in his own language and spat on the ground, a satisfied grin on his face. A second later he was hauled from the ground by Eredhel, and she pressed her knife to the wound in his chest. Her friends were startled by her fury but did not move to stop her, each wanting to know Aragorn's fate.
"Tell me where he is," she said, her voice a dangerous growl. The orc swore and grit his teeth in pain.
"He's dead. Took a ride on one of the wargs and tumbled off the cliff." The monster laughed.
"You lie," seethed Legolas. The orc shook with laughter and Eredhel lost it. Her fist connected with his head and he fell to the ground, dead. Legolas laid a hand on her shoulder but paused for a moment, something catching his eye. He bent and uncurled the orcs grimy fingers to find the Evenstar pendant glimmering in the sun. His eyes widened and they ran to look out over the steep ledge. Legolas and Theoden stood in silence, hoping to catch some glimpse of their fallen companion in the water.
"Aragorn!" Eredhel's scream split the air. She fell to her knees and her eyes frantically searched the rushing river below them. Her call was filled with pain and it wrenched at Legolas' heart. He had never heard her voice so full of fear and he prayed he never would again. She stabbed her knife into the ground and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to stay in control. Her knuckles were already bruised from where she had struck the orc. Legolas slipped the Evenstar into his pocket as King Theoden turned away from the cliff.
"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will try to hunt us down, we must leave the dead." he declared. Legolas stared at him in shock. "There is nothing more we can do, we must ride to Helm's Deep" he said sadly. The elf watched him round up the remaining soldiers and then turned to see Eredhel rise and stiffly mount Hasufel. She urged the horse forward to fall into step with Gimli. Legolas cast one last glance at the river then ran to catch up with them, swinging onto Arod with the dwarf.
The rest of the ride was silent, the men's hearts heavy with the loss of their comrades. Every so often Gimli would glance over at Eredhel but the elf never noticed. Her eyes were set straight ahead and her hands were slack on the reins, allowing the horse to simply follow along with the others. Gimli worried what they would do without their leader. First Gandalf then Boromir and now Aragorn, the only heir to the throne of Gondor. Dwarves were a hardy people, not as emotional as the elves yet he felt a deep sadness. He hoped that once they reached Helm's Deep he could get the others to at least speak with him, he did not know how much more of the silence he could take.
Not a word had been spoken when they came within sight of the great stone fortress. As they approached the heavy, iron doors were pulled open and the horses trotted inside. The main courtyard was packed with people, a mix of women and soldiers. The women carried baskets and supplies while captains and guards hurried back and forth between the look outs. The riders dismounted and were met with a large crowd, many villagers asking about the fate of their family members. Eredhel managed to remove herself from the crowd and was about to head up the stone steps when her path was blocked by Éowyn. The woman's eyes were frantically searching the group of returning warriors. "Where is Sir Aragorn?" she asked. The elleth turned her dark eyes towards her but did not reply and stepped around the woman to stride up the steps towards the top of Helms Deep, the crowd shrinking away from her.
"He did not make it," Gimli answered and Éowyn's face fell. She leaned against a pillar and covered her mouth with her hand. Legolas gave the dwarf a quick nod before following Eredhel. He knew she would want to get away from all the noise and commotion of the fortress. He did not, however, expect her to scale the outer wall and continue up the rocky hill into which the stone keep was built. She climbed the cliff until she found a grassy ledge that overlooked the great plains. Legolas watched her as she gazed off into the distance, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. When Gandalf had been lost in Moria she had remained alert, getting the hobbits on their feet and running for Lórien. Even after her torture at Isengard and learning of Boromir's death she had not faltered, setting her sights on Rohan. The elf had always been collected, one for others to lean on when in despair. This time however was different. She hadn't uttered a word on the ride back and even Gimli had been afraid to speak to her. As he watched, she began to pace in a circle and run her hands through her hair. Eredhel's slender fingers clenched into tight fists. She was trying to stay in control, to hold back the tidal wave of loss that threatened to consume her.
"Eredhel..." He took several steps towards her and she turned. Her eyes were dark and stormy and her hands were trembling. She ran towards Legolas and he pulled her into his arms, her body quaking with sobs. Even for him the grief was difficult to bare but for her the weight of it must have been crippling. He hated the fact that he could not relieve the pain she felt and he could already feel her tears soaking into his tunic. Aragorn was her closest friend, one of the few people she completely trusted and relied on. She gasped suddenly at the pain in her chest, as if her heart was bound so tightly she could not breathe. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," said Legolas into her hair.
"Why Legolas, why? First Boromir and now Estel, I cannot take anymore." Her mention of the Captain surprised him as she had not spoke of his death since they had met the Rohirrim. He realized that she had been withholding her grief and sighed.
"I do not know Eredhel, I do not know why we must face such loss."
"Aragorn, I cannot, he is gone." He heard her voice catch and pulled her closer, his fingers gently brushing away the tears from her face. "Everyone is ripped away, no matter how hard I try, I can't save them, I-I can't, I..." A new wave of sobs racked her body and Legolas' arms tightened around her. He pressed his forehead against hers and stroked her cheek with his thumb, trying to calm her down. The elleth was on the brink of collapse and her shoulders shook. Though he held her in his arms he knew she was far away, fighting the same battle she'd been fighting for a millennium.
"Melethin please," he spoke into her mind, hoping to draw her attention from the pain she was feeling. "You are not alone, not all things end in sorrow." Her head turned towards his neck at his words, the elleth seeking shelter in his embrace. Legolas continued to hold her until she inhaled sharply and removed herself from his arms with red eyes.
"You should go find Gimli," she said numbly. "He will be wondering where you are."
"Aren't you coming with me?"
"No, I'll find you later, it is far quieter up here than down below." Legolas looked at her, not wanting to leave her side. "I'm fine Legolas, go on, I'll see you in a few hours." Legolas sighed and after a few moments of hesitation turned to make his way down the hill to return to the keep.
Once there, he found Gimli drinking ale in a corner. The dwarf's head was bowed and he lacked his usual drinking vigor. He looked up when Legolas approached him. "How's the lass?"
"Not well," answered Legolas wearily as he sat down next to his friend.
"I never thought we'd lose him, the lad was the best damn swordsman I'd ever seen," said Gimli gruffly but his voice betrayed his inner emotions.
"I know, whether he realizes it or not the King will miss his battle knowledge. Gandalf was expecting him to maintain the defenses until his arrival. I do not know what hope there is left for Rohan, or for Middle Earth. The last heir of Isildur is gone."
"I'll fight till my very last breath for the laddie, Saruman will pay for this," growled Gimli.
"Yes, indeed he will," agreed Legolas, patting the dwarf on the shoulder. After a few minutes they wandered into the supper hall and found an empty table. They sat quietly, neither of them in the mood for food or wine. The pair remained silent, both of them simply comforted by the other's presence. Even when evening came, they did not get up or speak. There was little room for beds or sleeping with all the villagers and soldiers so they decided to stay in the hall rather than try to find a place to rest. Gimli soon slumped against the wall, his soft snores echoing to the ceiling. Legolas remained awake, thoughts swirling around his head. He had not known Aragorn for as long as Eredhel or Gandalf but he still counted him as a good friend. The man was honorable and humble as well as wise beyond his mortal years. He had the nobility of a king but not the ego of one. Now that they had lost him their path was uncertain, a shadow making it impossible to see what lay ahead. Legolas wished Gandalf had not gone off in search of Éomer and his riders, the White Wizard would have had welcome counsel and words of comfort.
Even after the apparent death of Gandalf and the permanent death of Boromir Legolas still found it difficult to grasp the finality of the loss of life. It was foreign to the Eldar, for even when they died they were sent to the Halls of Mandos where they would wait to be sent back into the world. But mortals' fate was different, once men died they would not be seen again in the land of the living. Legolas continued to reflect on this until he heard the soft creak of a door and looked up, realizing that several hours had passed and it was now near midnight. A dark silhouette was framed in the moonlight shining in through the door and the figure made its way over to the pair at the table. The door shut with a snap as Eredhel sat down next to him. The sound jarred Gimli awake and he sat up with a jolt, blinking in the dim light. "What time is it? What's going on?" he demanded.
"Hush Gimli, the Hornburg sleeps," said Legolas quietly. Gimli looked around in confusion until his eyes found Eredhel and his expression softened. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak but after a moment shut it again, unsure of what to say. While Eredhel was oblivious to this, Legolas looked on in amusement as the dwarf continued the process several times before finally finding something to say.
"Yeh could've been a wee bit quieter coming in," he said. Legolas' lips twitched as they waited on Eredhel's reaction.
"My apologies," she said flatly. Legolas and Gimli shared raised eyebrows and the dwarf once again coughed. "Ahem, um no it's fine. Ah, are you alright?" he asked gently. The elf looked at him, her eyes empty.
"Yes master dwarf, quite alright." Eredhel stood and reached for the cup of wine next to Legolas. She drained the contents and slid the mug to Gimli. "I am going to the east corridor, unless it's one of the Valar themselves, I don't want to speak to anyone." They nodded and watched her walk towards a side chamber, grabbing a bottle of wine from a vacant table along the way. She opened the door and it thudded shut behind her, silence falling on the hall once more.
"I see you weren't exaggerating," said Gimli after a moment.
"No, not at all," agreed Legolas.