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★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ BALLAD OF BROKEN SWORDS ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ DARKNESS COMES KNOCKING ❫ ❞
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ACT THREE ── face et spera 🏹 ⁺⑅

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CHILDREN OF ARDA DUOLOGY ⋆ ☄.
♯ ❝ THERE SEEMS NO END TO THEM ❞
CHAPTER FORTY TWO ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ the third age ─── year 3019
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━━ ˚ ₊ ♡ 🏹
❝ 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘰𝘧 𝙬𝙖𝙧
𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘰𝘧 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 ❞

THE NIGHT HUNG HEAVY OVER THE ANCIENT FORTRESS OF HELM'S DEEP, A TANGIBLE shroud that clung to the stone walls like a veil of impending doom. A cold wind whispers through the narrow mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of fear and the distant echoes of approaching war. The inhabitants of the keep, a motley alliance of Men, Elves, and Dwarves, stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes focusing on the dark horizon where the enemy lurks.

King Théoden, his face etched with the lines of both age and the burdens of leadership, surveying his people with a solemn gaze. The weight of responsibility bore down on him as he sees in their eyes a mixture of determination and trepidation. His hand clenches the hilt of his sword, a silent vow resonating through his very being that brings hope to the people around him.

Arrows were drawn, swords unsheathed, and armor clanked like a distant thunderstorm as the defenders of Helm's Deep took their positions. The narrow causeway leading to the fortress was the only way in, and the enemy knew it. Torches flickered, casting long shadows that danced across the cold stone walls.

As the first drums of war sounded in the distance, the tension in the air became palpable and Gyda felt it deep within her bones.

"It won't be long now." Legolas says softly, and Gyda can feel the air shift as if the world is moved by his words.

A white flash lights up the valley, followed by a loud crack of thunder that rattles through the night in a terrifying manner. But the soldiers by her side do not flinch, faces hardened and full of determination.

Her heart stutters a startled beat with anticipation in her chest, and her hand tightens around the hilt of her sword. The clouds above open and a thick curtain of rain is sent falling down upon them.

The noise carries a weary atmosphere with it, dreadful cold crawls over her skin and goosebumps raise the hairs on her arms. The Mithril armbraces that had been gifted to her by Galadriel shine with each flash of lightning that shocks through the night.

A sea of Uruk-hai emerges from the blackness, a relentless tide of malevolence that threatens to engulf everything in its path. Their eyes glow like fiery embers, and their armor shines with an otherworldly sheen. The sound of their war cries echo off the stone walls, a haunting symphony of impending doom.

Gyda breaths in deeply.

The raindrops falling upon the armor of the waiting soldiers form an eerie sort of melody. The song of battle was one of thunder, wind and rain and the marching steps of the Uruk-Hai.

Then, a new melody is added when a strong and firm voice shouts out in Sindarin: "Dail ú chyn. Ú-danno i failad a thi; an úben tannatha le failad."

Gyda's eyes remain upon their enemy, but Aragorn's words ring loudly above the thunder, his words filling the people's heart with courage. Like a small flicker of light, breaking through the shadows of darkness that threaten their lives.

For a moment, her mind worriedly wonders to Elgarain who stands among the healers, ready to face whatever may come their way if it means they might save a single soul. A silent elven prayer forms on her lips and she closes her eyes for a single moment.

The abrupt halt of marching footsteps sent a shiver down her spine. The silence was heavy as the two armies look upon each other, staring the doom of one of them in the face. The warmth of the flaming torches touches her skin, painting her face with shadows.

A commanding snarl echoes through the valley, breaking the silence. The orcs start pounding their weapons upon the ground, shaking the earth and rattling tup through the stone walls and ramparts.

The rhythm was overpowering to her sensitive ears and Gyda straightens her spine in defiance.

The people gathered in Helm's Deep stand resolute, a diverse fellowship united by a common purpose. The fate of Middle-earth hung in the balance, and in that dark moment, the hearts of those who stand against the encroaching darkness burn with a fierce, unyielding light.

"Dartho!" Aragorn commands rings through the air and Gyda's gaze snaps sideways as the familiar sound of a whizzing arrow reaches her ears.

Someone had accidently released their arrow too soon.

The first drop of blood has been drawn.

Gyda sucks in a deep breath, a moment passes, one that feel eternal before chaos breaks loose.

The desperate cries of battle resound through the night as Battle of Helm's Deep began in earnest. A wave of roars and howls roll through the sky. As if possessed by madness their enemy charges forward, releasing their fury upon the army of men and elves.

"Tangado a chadad!" Aragorn shouts, his voice ringing clear above the charging battle fury.

As one, like the branches of a tree all working as a whole, the Elves of Lothlórien take an arrow from their quiver and place it on the string of their bows. They take aim, arms perfectly steady as they wait and seek out their targets.

"Hado i philinn!"

Upon Aragorn's command, the Elves release their arrows. Even above the wind and rain, the sound of the steel tips piercing the heavy armor and the wounded cries of the Uruk-Hai as they fell was heard.

Gyda can feel the air shift as the arrows fly through the sky and rain down upon the enemy.

"Did they hit anything?" Gimli's honest question startles Gyda for a moment as see looks at the dwarf beside her standing between herself and Legolas. His stature to small to gaze beyond the wall they stand all perched upon.

The archers of Rohan follow with another volley from up the walls of the fortress.

Soon enough the archers fired without command, bringing down as much of their enemies as possible before they could reach the walls. Still, there were some who managed to get close enough to release arrows of their own. With a pained cry, several Elves were thrown down the wall, their armor pierced by black arrows.

"Send them to me!" Gimli ferociously demands, and Gyda places a hand on his shoulder.

"Quiet!" She hisses. "Let's us not invite the enemy closer to us than necessary with your thirst for blood!"

Her heart starts hammering in her chest as they slowly come closer and closer upon the walls of Helm's Deep.

Gyda can only wait and watch as Legolas notches another arrow and lets it free.

"Pendraith!" Aragorn shouts in warning, just as Gyda notices the first ladder.

"It seems your wish has come true Master Dwarf." Gyda curses beneath her breath, drawing her own sword. The steel glints in the light.

"Good."

The first ladder slams against the stone, and Uruk-Hai warrior begin to swarm, their grotesque faces contort with a savage hunger for blood. Battle cries emerge from the people surrounding them, the clash of metal filling the air.

The first swing of her sword decapitates the Uruk-Hai in front of her, and with a strong kick, her foot pushes the ladder backwards. Gyda grunts, eyes narrowing a more ladder press against the wall, and Uruk-Hai pour over the parapets like a deadly flood.

"Legolas!" Gyda's head snaps toward the sound, fear consuming her like fire before irritation floods her system. "Two, already!" Gimli boasts proudly.

"I'm on seventeen!" Legolas grins and Gyda rolls her eyes, swinging her sword and ducking sideways to avoid a deadly swing from a two-sided axe.

"Stop behaving like children!" Gyda exclaims flutily.

"Huh?" Gimli exclaims, "I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!" A newfound ferocity burns brightly within the dwarf as he turns around and marches where the battle is thickest.

"Nineteen!"

Gyda grumbles, before her eyes dart up as three relentless Uruk-Hair approach her with menacing grins. Her keen eyes survey them, calculating their movement with otherworldly grace.

The first Uruk-Hai lungs forward with a crude but powerful swing, a massive jagged blade that gleamed with every flash of thunder that lit up the sky. Gyda, like a gust of wind, gracefully sidesteps the attack, her movements fluid and elusive. In one swift moment, she twirls around her juts her sword forward for a precise strike. The blade found its mark, felling the Uruk-hair with an eerie precision.

The remaining Uruk-Hai close in, undeterred by the fate of their fallen comrade. Gyda, her agile form a dance of lethal grace, enages them with a flurry of kicks and swift strikes with her sword. The clash of steel echoes around the stone walls.

The second Uruk-Hai, a more cunning opponent, circles her with a predatory gaze, unfeeling to the arrow sticking from his side. The cruel beast swings his weapon with a vicious intent. Gyda twists and contorts her body, narrowly evading a deadly blows as she rolls over the cold and harden ground.

The third Uruk-Hai whoms brute strength was only matched by its restless determination swings its axe with surprising speed , attempting to catch the Elleth off guard. Gyda, however anticipates the move and seamlessly parries the attack, her elven bad flashing in the dim light.

Before she can swing a final, deadly blow, an arrow breaks through, passing her by mere inches before cutting through the skin of the Uruk-Hai's neck. The Uruk-Hai drops and Gyda is quick to strike the last one down before sending a look over her shoulder where Legolas stands perched on top of a stone stairwell.

She nods at him and Legolas waste no times skirting down the stairs, letting loose arrows quicker than most Uruk-Hai can move.

She heaves in a deep breath as Legolas appears next to her.

"There seems no end to them." She grunts, sidestepping the deadly swing of a jagged sword before moving and stabbing her sword straight to the monster's abdomen. The creature stumbles before crashing back into one of its comrades. Before the Uruk-Hai can come closer, Legolas has already released an arrow into its skull.

"There will be." Legolas assures steadfast twirling around so his back is against her own. Together in a continuous circle, they move, fighting and protecting each other and the people closest to them.

"Twenty two! Twenty three!" Gimli's voice echoes close by and despite the annoyance that fill her at the childish competition she is relieved to know the dwarf is still unharmed.

"Look." Legolas breathes out from beside her and Gyda's eyes follow his gaze to see a large group of Uruk-Hai approaching the keep door in a strong and uniformed formation, their shields used to hide them from the array of arrows raining down on them.

"They're going to breach the keep." She mutters with wide eyes.

"Causeway!" Aragorn, seemingly noticing the same thing instructs worriedly, pushing himself through the thickness of battle.

Gyda moves to follow him, but an eerie and foreboding chill runs through her body that makes her pause. Her muscles tense and the hairs on her neck raise in warning. Gyda sees it all a moment too late as she shouts: "Watch out!"

Legolas notches his arrow, letting it fly without much hesitation.

Gyda holds her breath as his aim lands true.

The Uruk-Hai stumbles, the torch in his hand falling...falling, falling.

Her breath hitches. "Brace yourself!" She shouts as loudly as she can.

The explosion erupts in a cataclysmic blast, and Helm's Deep shakes to its very foundation. The once mighty wall crumbles, sending debris into the fortress wall like a waterfall of destruction. The people closest were thrown back, their bodies battered by the shockwave and a cloud of dust and smoke engulfs the once sturdy ramparts.

Gyda feels Legolas' arms wrap around her as they both get thrown back.

The impact send a shockwave of pain through her body and knocks the breath from her lungs. Her ears ring and she heaves in a desperate breath of air. The dust clogs her lungs and she coughs as she tries to push the broken stones away from her body. The sharp and jagged edges dig in her skin, drawing blood. From behind her Legolas coughs, grunting as he frees himself.

"Are you alright?" She blinks as the elf hovers above her, brow furrowing with concern.

"I am." She assures as Legolas manages to push away the debris on her legs before offering her his hand. She places her hand in his outstretched on and he hauls her back to her feet.

Her heart skips a beat despite the dire situation as he reaches out to gentle caress her cheek with his thumb. "You're bleeding."

"There is no need to worry about it Legolas." She clasps her own hand against the one on her cheek, guiding it back to his side.

Gyda turns to look at the damage the explosion has caused and her heart aches. "no..." She whispers solemnly.

A sudden burning sensation spread through her body and it is as if her head is on fire, her hand that is still holding Legolas' squeezes tightly. Her breath hitches and she clutches the side of her head with her other hand, hunching over.

"Gyda?!" She blinks, looking up at Legolas as he stands directly in front of her, but his voice sounds faraway. She can see the concern on his face.

Another jolt of pain shoots through her head and she squeezes her eyes shut.

"Gyda what is it?" Legolas' voice fades away.

When she opens her eyes again, Legolas can only see a faraway look in her eyes, seeing right through him.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE;
AHHHH WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE END OF THE TWO TOWERS! and also the more reveals about the strange things happening to Elgarain and Gyda!  (Also ignore the lil spelling error in the gif I'll fix it soon 🫣🤭)

Elvish translations

Dail ú chyn. Ú-danno i failad a
thi; an úben tannatha le failad.
Don't show the mercy to them,
for nobody will-show you mercy.

Dartho
Hold

Tangado a chadad
Prepare to fire

Hado i philinn
Release the arrows

Pendraith
ladders.