~*~ Last Time on So Far Away ~*~
Theoden gave his guests a sympathized look and turned to look at his men."Get the wounded on horses, the wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." Theoden commanded. Legolas looked at Theoden in shock while Ainawen glared at the old king. Theoden gave a grim look and placed his hands on the shoulders of the elves."Come." Theoden bowed his head and walked off leaving Legolas, Gimli, and Ainawen at the cliff. Legolas helped Ainawen up and took the necklace from her and ushered her to her horse and nodded towards Gimli to follow.
The villagers of Rohan drew closer and closer to Helm's Deep, cries of relief swept through the crowd of people as they caught sight of their refuge."Helm's Deep! At last there it is!" some of the people shouted wearily."We're safe My Lady! Thank you!" a woman thanked Eowyn and hugged the young woman. The gates of the fortress open letting the new refugees to enter, inside there were many more and among them was Freda's and Eothain's mother."Mother!" Freda cried out happily as the little girl darted off towards her mother who hugged her daughter and then her son, crying after her long separation from her children."Oh, Freda! Eothain, my little darlings!" the mother sobbed and held her children to her, never letting go.
Tears welded up in her eyes and she looked around at the men and soon shrunk back into the crowd."Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set watch on the surround." Theoden commanded Gamling."What of those who cannot fight, my lord? The women and children?" the soldier asked."Get them into the caves, Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here." Theoden said and walked down the stone steps and passed the sewer gate.
Legolas held Ainawen as she sobbed uncontrollably."It's all right my love, everything will be fine.." Legolas whispered and kissed her forehead and rubbed her back gently.
It had been four hours later when the men on the surround opened the gates to let someone in."He's alive!" some of the refugees stated in amazement, but they were soon pushed out of the way by Gimli."Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way! I'm gonna kill him!" Gimli growled and as soon as he seen Aragorn he stomped up and glared."You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew! Bless you laddie!" Gimli stated and pulled Aragorn into a bear hug. Aragorn laughed and patted Gimli on the back."Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn question and Gimli pointed to the stairs and Aragorn nodded his thanks and he began to make his way through the crowd.
He was soon stopped by Legolas who looked relieved."Le abdollen." (You're late) Legolas smiled and soon Aragorn followed the suit."You look terrible," Legolas smirked and then took Aragorn's hand and opens his palm and took from his pocket Arwen's Evenstar pendant and placed it into Aragorn's opened hand. Aragorn looked at it with a smile on his face and then placed a hand onto Legolas's arm."Hannon le..." (Thank you) Aragorn thanked and walked passed the elf and up the stairs and pushed the large wooden doors open. Theoden turned around quickly as shock filled his zircon blue eyes.
"A great host, you say?" Theoden asked."All Isengard is emptied." Aragorn relayed his information to the king."How many?" Theoden asked fearing the answer."Ten thousand strong at least," Aragorn answered."Ten thousand!" Theoden cried out in utter shock."It is an army bred for a single purpose, to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall." Aragorn finished and watched Theoden walk out of the hall."Let them come." Theoden said proudly and then turned to Gamling."I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall." Gamling nods and goes off to fetch the extra soldiers. Theoden stands at the gate of Helm's Deep, and looks at Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas."We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." Theoden told the three."This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai, their armor thick and their shields broad!" Gimli growled at the clueless king."I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep!"
Gimli growled and Legolas laid a comforting hand onto Gimli's shoulder and gestured to follow Theoden back inside the Helm.
(A/N: I am too lazy to continue with Theoden's retarded and way too proud talk so I will skip him and go to the part where they go into the armory.)
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." Aragorn whispered in disappointment."Most have seen too many winters." Gimli defended them."Or too few." Ainawen added and nodded at the young boys. She had found out Aragorn was alive and was excited to see he was alive and now all her thoughts were about the up coming war." Their frightened, I can see it in their eyes." Legolas stated slightly annoyed. Everyone around them stopped their mumbling and kept their eyes on the elves, dwarf, and Aragorn."Boe a hyn neled herain dan caer menig!" (And they should be... three hundred against ten thousand!) Legolas spoke in elvish. Aragorn sighed and held out his arms to defend the men."Si beriaathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras." (They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras.)
"Aragorn, nedin dagor hen u-erir... ortheri. Natha daged dhaer!" (Aragorn, the cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!) Legolas tried to tell Aragorn, but the ranger wouldn't listen."Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn shouted heatedly and runs out. Legolas tries to go after his friend, but was stopped by Gimli and Ainawen."Let his go lad, let him be."
Aragorn sat down on the steps and he looks around and sees a young boy in armor holding a sword. Looking around nervously the young boy tried to hold his ground and try to make his fallen father proud."Give me your sword," Aragorn said loudly startling the lad. The red haired boy nodded and shakingly handed Aragorn his sword."What is your name?" the Ranger asked as he looked at the sword."Haleth, son of Hama. my lord. The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless." Haleth said with fear.
Aragorn gave the old sword a few swings and handed it back to Haleth."This is a good sword, Haleth son of Hama," Aragorn whispered and put a hand on his shoulder."There is always hope."
Aragorn goes back into the armory and begins to put on his armor and he begins to reach for his sword, but he was stopped when it was handed to him by Legolas."We have trusted you this far, you have not led us astray. Forgive me, I was wrong to despair." Legolas whispered as he looked down in shame."U-moe edaved, Legolas." (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.)
They smiled and clapped one another on the shoulders. They looked at Gimli as he walks up to them holding up his chain mail as he struggled to get it on."I wish we had time to get this adjusted!" Gimli mumbled and he drops the bundle and the chain mail lands with its length right to the floor. Ainawen, who had came in just as he said that, chuckled and Legolas and Aragorn gave him a look and tried not to laugh."It's a little tight across the chest." Gimli said and looked around at his three companions. Legolas and Aragorn nodded and tried to hide their smiles while Ainawen burst out laughing.
Then a horn sounds through the walls and Legolas and Ainawen look towards the door with a confused look on their faces."That is no Orc horn." Legolas stated and ran out followed by Ainawen, Aragorn and Gimli.
The guards look down in surprise and wonder."Send for the king. Open the gate!" a soldier commanded."Open the gate!" another soldier echoed.
Soon an army of elves wearing the colors and armor of the Golden Wood, Lothlorien marched up the causeway and into the Hornburg. The Rohirrum soldiers looked upon them in surprise and delight as the graceful beings passed by them. Theoden walked out and stared in wonder."How is this possible?" Theoden asked, looking upon the elven soldiers in front of him."I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together." the commander of the elves stated and smiled when he saw Aragorn, Legolas, Ainawen and Gimli running down the steps.
"We've come to honor that allegiance." he finished and Aragorn ran forward and stopped in front of the elf and bows."Mae govannen, Haldir." (Welcome, Haldir.) Aragorn said and grabs Haldir into a huge embrace. Initially stunned, Haldir hesitantly hugs him back lightly."You are most welcome!" Aragorn smiled.
Legolas walked forward and clasped Haldir's shoulder as Haldir did the same. Ainawen smiled and hugged Haldir and whispered her thanks to him in elvish."We are proud to fight alongside men, once more." Haldir grinned as he turned to Theoden and bowed his head in respect.