The next day after we spend the rest of that evening in mourning and depressing sadness... only spending my time comforting Éowyn until she wanted to be left alone, and not seeing the king anywhere that day... I wake up, the sorrow of the previous day finally running low in my blood and besides feeling sorry for my friend and her uncle, I feel better... I am sure they will need days to recover but... since I didn't know Théodred personally I cannot share in the same kind of grief.

This sadness was indeed unexpected... and it crushed me to see Éowyn in such a state.

But if I stay in a good mood I think it would make her feel better and as a friend, making her feel better and helping her move on from her heartbreaking tragedies is my job.

I wake up staring at the ceiling that morning... thinking it's a normal day here in Edoras... But I forget who all is here now.

I suddenly sit up, rubbing my eyes and then run my fingers through my hair to untangle it a bit, and hop out of bed. After the funeral I had come straight here and slept in my clothes. Even so, I stretch and hear voices outside in the halls. I walk out from the room of the east wing and the first person I see is the little dwarf, sitting at a table and drinking their mead.

I see a few others, but Éowyn, Théoden, and Gandalf are no where to be found.

Strider leans against a pillar smoking his pipe. I walk down the steps and over to where he stands, grabbing a breakfast roll before standing next to him. "Well, I didn't expect to see you again," I say to him and pinch off a bite of bread to stick in my mouth.

"I was just about to say the same, my lady," he responds, looking at me with a kind grin. "How are you?"

"I've been well. I'm a bit trapped but other than that..."

"How so?" he makes a playful smile.

"I can't get back to Mirkwood from here. I've lost my ride."

"So you took up residence in the Woodland Realm?"

"Yes they have been very hospitable."

He nods. "I am glad."

I glance over my shoulder at the dwarf at the table behind me who burps. Geez.

But my eyes flash around the room... I see guards and other men...

I sigh. But before I draw attention to how hard I look I stop. But I turn and walk up to the barracks casually. Empty. I look over my shoulder. No one is looking. I run into the room and open the door out onto the cement overlook. I step out into the sunlight and look left... I see someone in a cloak, straight, blonde long hair with part of it tied into a braid, a bow in the person's hand... an elven bow. I can't help but smile as my insides leap.

I run forward without thought and hug him from behind. I feel him raise his arms in surprise and I squeeze him like a brother away from home.

I giggle and let go so he can turn around. He looks confused at first but then makes an amused smile and looks down but then back up.

I try to hold back my smile but I can't. "...Hi," is all I can manage to say excitedly.

He twitches his head but laughs. "Hello, Miss Stormborn."

"What are you doing here?" I still have not wiped this embarrassing smile form my face.

But he hasn't either. "I... It's a long story, my lady."

"Well I like long stories."

"Do you?" he laughs.

"Yup. Tell me."

Somehow I go from listening to him talk about all that has happened there, to us sitting against the building with our backs against the wood, looking off at the mountains as he tells about the quest at hand. It was a lot to take in. But I think I understand.

He and eight others set out from Rivendell after the council; Gandalf the Grey, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Boromir a captain of Gondor—a south kingdom of men—, Gimli the dwarf whom I saw earlier who is from Erebor, and Strider. The Fellowship of the Ring they were called. And their quest was to travel to Mordor to destroy the One Ring that Frodo was carrying. I had asked why they couldn't melt it down or throw it in the ocean but he says it can only be destroyed where it was created. And throwing it in the ocean wouldn't guarantee Sauron wouldn't be able to find it still.

They left Rivendell and traveled down the MistyMountains until they had to pass through Moria (an ancient kingdom of dwarven caverns that's now overrun by goblins). He said there is where they lost Gandalf—thinking that he was dead. But he came back to them later. They left through Lothlórien and headed down the GreatRiver until ambushed by "Uruk-hai" from Isengard, mutated orcs and goblins created by Saruman like some kind of super-human creatures to chase after the Fellowship. There they lost Boromir and the Uruks took Merry and Pippin.

They then split up because the ring started to tempt the rest of their group into taking it, like some evil spirit wanting to corrupt and make people turn on each other. He, Strider, and Gimli went after the Uruk-hai to retrieve Merry and Pippin while Frodo took the ring and left with Sam for Mordor alone.

They chased the monsters for days and then followed Merry and Pip's trail into Fangorn after the Uruks were slaughtered by Éomer and his men riding through. I am glad to hear that he is still fighting for Rohan. There in the woods Gandalf was reunited with them as Gandalf the White. The trees of that forest he says can speak like us... and even move... when woken of course... but they sleep most of their days. He speaks of it all so poetically. I suppose that is what makes Fangorn Forest so remarkable.

Gandalf, Strider, Gimli, and he came to Edoras when they heard of the king's illness. They suspect Saruman will strike here first since it is the closest kingdom to Isengard. And because Sauron fears the race of men is Legolas's theory. He wants to strike them dead before another king takes the throne and unites them all again him.

"What will you do?" I ask.

"Protect Rohan. I think Saruman might be preparing for war..."

"Where are Merry and Pippin now?"

"They are in Fangorn with the trees."

"Wow. I haven't been gone long either... Though I was out for a couple days too."

He looks at me, confused as to what I mean.

"Um I blacked out. Was floating down the river here half-dead before Éomer found me and that's why I am here."

His innocent eyes widen. "Are you alright?"

"Oh yeah I healed just fine."

He cocks his head just a bit and lifts his hand towards my head, gently touching the top of my cheek bone to move my head to the side in order to observe the scar I got from the fall. The touch sends a gentle shiver down my spine.

"Won't your father be worried about you being gone this long?" I ask.

He takes his hand back and frowns, looking down and thinking. "This is where I need to be," is all he says while looking out over Rohan.

"...I understand that."

"...What are you doing all the way out here?"

"I was on my way to Isengard but was blown off course and my... pet sort of was shot down and... here I am." I make a nervous smile, anxious because when I speak he looks into my eyes, politely of course, listening like a gentleman.

"Why is it you were going to Isengard, my lady?"

"Well it was before I discovered Saruman was sorta evil... I was just looking for a book on..."

"Your new powers?"

"Yeah and hey stop calling me 'lady', remember you're supposed to call me Vil," I say angrily but joking, poking his arm.

He chuckles. "Alright miss Vil—"

"Just Vil. You're way too polite."

"I am not—"

"Are too!" I laugh.

He opens his mouth and looks at me, his expression a bit offended but I laugh and place a casual kiss on his soft cheek to let him know I was joking.

But I recoil when I realize I probably crossed a line and I look away from him, folding my arms over each other and making a regretful expression.

His silence makes me nervous... But I glance back at him to see him hiding a smile and looking the other way as well until he looks down in front of him, something in his eyes telling me he hasn't had a gesture like that for a long time... maybe not ever. These elves seem to be very proper, like the opposite sex wouldn't even touch each other before marriage... well maybe not that extreme but close to it.

His hidden bashfulness makes me a little less self conscious.

I change the subject after I clear my throat, feeling his cheek against my lips like it is still there. "So you know about my rune?"

"I do," is all he says, not bringing up Ry or his mother and how I received this gift.

"And now I can unlock its power with Gandalf's help." I look out at the mountains.

"...So that means you can go home?" he asks a little... sadly?

"I can..." I look at him to see him gazing down at the ground, any trace of his smile gone. "But not until I can figure out how to save my world or this one first..." I look ahead again and then slowly a smirk comes upon my lips. "...And I don't think I'll stay there."

I catch him look the other direction from the corner of my eye, trying hard to keep a glad smile from forming on his face.

I bite my lip and try not to acknowledge that I noticed. "So what about you, are you gonna be king of Mirkwood?"

"Only if my ada passes in battle." (ada: father)

"Oh... I'm sorry."

He looks at me with a weird smile. "He enjoys his branch crown and antler throne too much." When he smiles, he uses his eyes more than his mouth.

I giggle and look down...

He and I gaze off towards the clouds that have gathered in the far distance.

We talk for a little longer then I stand up. "I need to speak to Gandalf. You wouldn't happen to know where he is would you?"

"I cannot say," he says standing to his feet, only a foot from me. "You may search in the halls."

"Right," I open the door, leaving it for him to enter and he does so, closing it behind him. I look for the white wizard in the main hall and see him talking to Strider quietly. I wait for them to stop talking then I clear my throat.

They both turn around with eyebrows raised.

"I need to talk to you," I say to Gandalf.

"Ah, Lady Vilora is it?" he says. "Yes..." he mutters. "I heard of your coming... Come with me."

He turns and begins walking to the lower west wing, using his staff as a walking stick. I follow and when we enter I see that it is a multipurpose room with a kitchen at the back and empty in the front, except for some crates and tables.

But there is no one else in here.

"How do you know my name?" I ask.

"The elven prince wasn't the only one who spoke of meeting you in Rivendell," he responds with a grandfather-like way of speaking. "It seems you have become acquainted with six members of our fellowship."

"Yes I owe each of them my life not just once..." I look down.

"And you will pay them in full by the end of this all."

"Are you saying I am going to die?" I frown.

"No it is not death that I speak up. Quite the opposite. By the end I mean that all of us will owe you a great deal I believe."

"I thought you were a wizard. Not a fortune teller."

He chuckles a little but places both hands on the top of his staff that has a beautifully carved head. "Sometimes I am both."

I smirk. "...Well before I can change the world..." my smile fades, "I need to figure out how to use my powers."

"That is not something I can teach you. These gifts most be unlocked by you and you alone."

"But King Thranduil said you could help... Can you not?"

He thinks. "I can, but in the end, you will have to be the one to discover what you can do. This is not a gift that anyone who does not have it could know much about it... I have only met two others who possessed it..."

"He said it could win this war, and the one on my planet," I say quietly so no one else can hear.

"He is right... This is the turning of the tide. And with your coming, the timing was just right. We must figure out what to do from here. I do believe we can change the fate of our worlds, young one. But we must focus on the task at hand."

"What do I do?"

"Help us defend Edoras. We must protect the world of men before it is too late. And in time your powers will be revealed I will make sure of it..."

"Are we all to stay here and let the two little hobbits wonder into Mordor blindly?" I ask with respect, worried for them.

"I have faith in Frodo and Sam. They will finish what we started. And we must do all in our power to make sure his task is accomplished. Sauron's eye is blind to them and it is fixed upon the southern kingdoms. They are safe and this was the only way it could be done."

I look down... He is wiser than I and probably has lived hundreds of lifetimes longer than myself. I believe him. He has lived here longer than I have after all... I will hope that the two hobbits get there and back again without harm coming to them. They are so small... like tiny children and so full of innocence...

I nod slowly and then remember something I had a question about. "...I was wondering about a strange dream I had a little while ago... I do not know of who else to ask but a wizard."

I look up at the old man's wise face as he listens, both hands folded over each other.

I explain to Gandalf the dream I had just nights before about all of the strange unfamiliar sights; the dress the odd figure... I don't look him in the eyes as I talk. But once I finish I ask him what it means? Should I be afraid?

"...All dreams have meaning. Some can be explained." He looks down into my eyes and places a hand on my shoulder, speaking quietly. "Vilora, there is evil at work in this world that sometimes cannot be identified. A great power rises to the east. Some of dreamt of it, including me. But that does not mean we should lose hope..."

I nod and look down.

"That power has come to light now and you have been gifted to see that... But there are other things at work here other than that of evil, dear child."

I gaze up at the wizard in thought—

I hear a door closing loudly behind me and I look over my shoulder.

Voices that sound worried echo in the hall. I look back at the wizard who looks concerned. The both of us walk back into the main room to see them bringing two small children into the building that look ill.

Théoden is on his throne now and the maids get food for the children as Éowyn gently sets them down at the table.

Strider is walking in with them. I approach him. "What happened?"

"They say the villages south were attacked and burned to the ground," he explains quietly.

I look back at the children.

"They had no warning," Éowyn tells the king. "They were unarmed. Now the wild men are moving through the Westfold burning as they go."

I did not notice that Gandalf sits beside the king now.

My eyes flash to the left when I see something move. It's Legolas who has entered the hall and stands by the pillar.

"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," Gandalf tells Théoden. "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron..."

The king looks stressed and worried for his people.

"Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."

"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return to fight for their king," Strider says.

"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now," the king says, standing from his chair and walking around in anxiety. "...Éomer cannot help us." He turns to Gandalf as the wizard stands up. "I know what it is you want from me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."

"...Open war is upon you, whether you risk it or not," Strider says.

The room is quiet as the king turns around to face the ranger. "When last I heard, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."

Strider is offended but he doesn't speak.

I hear metal hit wood and look over at the dwarf who now has his helmet off, drinking mead that gets all over his red beard after he had set the metal mug down, burping and wiping his mouth.

I sigh quietly and look back at the wizard who is walking towards Théoden. "And what is the king's decision?"

He looks down and thinks. "We will make for Helm's Deep."

I frown.

He commands his servant to go out to the village and announce their plan.

Gandalf doesn't look too happy but he respects the king. He walks out from the hall followed by Strider, the dwarf Gimli, and Legolas.

I chase after them as they walk down the steps and to the city. I run past people struggling about and packing various things, readying ponies and horses for travel.

We arrive at a large stable and follow Gandalf to the end of it where a beautiful white horse is kept with long, flowing cream hair.

"Helm's Deep," Gimli grumbles. "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?"

"He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people," Strider answers. "Helm's Deep has saved them in the past."

"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading his people to safety," Gandalf says. We reach the end and he turns to look at Strider. "What he will get is a massacre," he says quietly. "Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold."

He nods, a bit anxious. "They will hold."

The wizard turns to face his horse. "The Grey Pilgrim. That's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth, and now I have no time. With luck my search will not be in vain." He mounts the beast. "Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn look to the east." He walks it from the gate and stops when he reaches me. "Vilora," he says quietly but with haste. "Once you reach Helm's Deep, I want you to go to the forest north. Find the trees. You'll know what to do." He looks up to someone else then back at me. "I have instructed the young elf to help you. Good luck."

"You're leaving us?"

"I must find Éomer and the rest of the Rohirrim before it is too late. We cannot win this battle without them."

I nod and he merely speaks to the horse and it lunges forward, racing out the stables and out the city with tremendous speed.

Others enter and exit the stables, gathering horses and getting ready to leave. I make my way from the small settlement with Legolas and Gimli, taking one look behind me to see Éowyn talking to Strider quietly. They stand rather close as well as he pets a brown steed.

I leave and head back up to the king's palace to gather my things for the road.

I run to where I have been staying and stuff a piece of bread into my mouth as I put things quickly into my satchel. I do not know how far Helm's Deep is but it doesn't matter. I only own very little so I pack everything that is mine. Though they say that we will return after we have won the battle that threatens the people of Rohan.

I put on my corset chest guard and strap my weapons to my back and to my belt. I pull my bag over my shoulders and look back at my place before leaving the room.

I walk out into the hall after a while of doing things and thinking to myself.

I spot Legolas helping the people of the halls gather things for travel. He has his weapons on his back again over his wool cloak.

"Do you need any help?" I ask as I pick up the other end of the tent cloth he is folding.

"I have it..." he says gently but I insist and help him gather the tarp, then collect a few other things and walk with him out of the open doors to place them in a cart for a horse.

We walk inside but I stop when I see Éowyn and Strider talking to each other again in the southwest room as she places something in a chest. After he excuses himself he walks into the northwest wing as her eyes watch after him with softness in them. I follow him in there as he grabs his coat and pulls it on.

"So, you and Éowyn, huh? You guys like a thing?"

He chuckles and looks down, hiding a smile.

That is when I notice a beautiful white jeweled and silver pendant around his neck. When did he get that? And who from? It looks almost like a woman's.

"Am I right? You totally are. Please tell me you are." I run excitedly over to him.

He thinks... "I don't think I could ever give my heart to another..."

"Another? Whoa wait I knew you had a lady! Is this from her?" I touch the necklace at his collar.

"It was..." he looks down in thought, something painful in his eyes.

"Where is she now?"

"...She is sailing to the Undying Lands with all that's left of her kin, never to return."

I look sadly at him... "Well that's depressing. I'm sorry."

He doesn't respond.

But then I remember something and get angry in a teasing way. "By the way, you did not tell me your real name, you piece of... ...pie," I say stiffly to him.

He smiles amusingly.

I approach him. "And you didn't tell me you were also heir to the throne of Gondor." I step onto my toes to where I am almost eye level with him and place a threatening finger on his chest. "And you didn't tell me that you were summoned to that council along with... my friend."

His blue eyes sparkle. "I do not reveal my name to most," he still hasn't removed his amused smile. "I was trying to disappear from the eyes of men."

"Why?"

He looks down in thought and shakes his head. "I have thought about my future... There was no need for me to be on the throne. I was not fit to be king."

"I think you are fit to be king."

He lets a slight smile spread on his lips, still not looking at me though.

"I mean it, I can see it in your eyes you have courage, wisdom, and a good heart. You can most certainly be king I believe in you."

He smiles and looks up at me. "Thank you," he mutters and nods his head politely. "You are kind, Vilora."

I smile and shrug.

He smiles back, the corners of his cheeks wrinkling from it.

I hear outside, people that begin to leave as I look over my shoulder.

I look back at Aragorn and adjust my satchel strap. "Let's go."

He grabs his quiver of arrows and his short bow inside it and follows me out the door. The halls are empty and we make it out to see rows of people walking out the city gates in a cluttered line.

I catch up to Legolas and Gimli who wait for us. I see Éowyn at the back who looks back at Aragorn.

Out into the plains of the Westfold we roam.

.

.

.

.

.

Legolas and Gimli ride on a white horse (I'm guessing because Gimli cannot ride by himself being so short) and Aragorn and Théoden ride alongside each other.

We've been out for a few hours now. I look down at my feet that trudge along on the golden grass, walking over a stone planted in the ground every now and then. My white locks blow in front of my face from the strong winds. It does this often so I decide to pull it back into a braid behind my head.

I look ahead of me, at the citizens that walk through, of all ages, the women's dirty dress blowing in the wind, some of which hold tiny infants in their arms. But almost everyone is carrying something, even the children.

I see an older, grey-haired woman to the right of me struggle with a basket of potatoes. I take it from her, smiling kindly, and place it on my head. Her worn face shows gratitude and we continue walking.

Ahead, I see a soldier, one that I have seen before and I think I recall speaking with him, as he picks up a tiny boy with a smile on his face, and holds him in his arms as the child laughs.

I smile. It's been a while since I have seen children, especially this many. There weren't even any children in the Woodland Realm. Doesn't surprise me really. The elves are immortal. So there's no need to reproduce when you don't plan on dying. Nin told me that most elven families only have one child. I would want to have at least two so that they have each other to grow up with.

We walk for a few hours, I see Éowyn ahead helping a child carry a sack of bread and other things.

And after a bit of travelling Legolas gets off his horse and Éowyn walks beside Gimli who still rides, talking to him.

The elf looks into the distance and runs forward to the front of the group. I look after him as he scouts the area ahead.

I walk past the civilians, placing my basket on a wagon that a pony carries, and run after him.

I stop at the top of the hill where he is. "What do you see?" I ask in serious tone.

He looks over the lands with a frown. "Something draws near..." he whispers. "Far ahead, an evil seeks blood."

I look to where he does and see only the vast lands of Rohan that lead to the faint blue shadowed mountains where we are headed.

I hear something to my left and Legolas and I look down at the small, fair haired boy who was tugging on the elf's trouser leg.

"Why do you have pointy ears?" the tiny child asks.

I hold back a smile. Legolas glances at me with a look and then bends down to eye level with him, a grin in his eyes. "Because, young one, I am an elf," he says in a way that excites the boy.

"What's that?"

I smile.

"Well we're a lot like you," he looks both ways, "but can I tell you a secret?"

He nods.

Legolas leans in closer. "I'm three thousand years old."

"Really?" the child's eyes widen.

"And they're just more pretty than anything else," I joke.

He looks up at my innocently. "But you're pretty and you don't have pointy ears."

I smile, breathing a laugh.

"She is," Legolas agrees.

Just then a woman calls a name out towards us and the boy looks over his shoulder.

"Now why don't you go back to your mother, little one," Legolas says gently.

"Otay," he says and runs back to his mum, Legolas leaving a hand softly at the child's back before he runs out of range. He then stands up.

"Cute kid," I say.

He doesn't respond but looks after the kid.

"If you got married, would you have kids?" I ask casually once we are walking again.

"...Perhaps one..."

"And if we didn't live in a world at ruin and everything was happy and peaceful?"

"...Then I would have many." He looks at me with a smile in his eyes and almost in his lips.

I nod and hide a smile, looking down at my feet. "Me too..." I don't know why, but I blush at him liking children like that. I see a sensitive side under that hard shell of armor, one that he hasn't hinted to another human being besides almost me, one that would make a great father to his children someday.

We walk ahead of the rest of the group, making sure the way is clear and safe. The plains are quiet. We cannot even hear birds as there are no trees around.

That night we make camp and eat a little, well the others do. I sleep on my own, leaning against a rock with my head on a pillow. The next morning I wake up just before dawn and get ready to keep moving. I am not the only one up. Legolas looks over the hills, in constant protection mode. Had he not slept? No he must have because I did not see him up before I fell asleep.

I get up and eat a piece of bread from my bag. Then soon everyone else is up as well and we continue our walk.

.

Four hours we travel with nothing to report. I don't see any of the others that I recognize until I see Éowyn. I walk up to her from the side. "So what do you think of that Aragorn fellow?"

She seems to almost stumble. "Um, what about him?"

"I don't know I think he's kinda cute," I smirk.

She flashes her head over to look at me, almost a worried expression.

"Not my type though," I say in a reassurance that she can have him, holding back a smile and trying to get her to confess.

"Has he spoken of me or something?" she seems nervous.

"He doesn't really speak often period. So can't say." I look at her as she smiles sheepishly.

"...He is a noble man," she says. "My Uncle said he fought alongside my father."

"I can believe it. Yeah apparently he's eighty-seven." I make a pained expression and look at her. "A little old for you don't you think?"

She laughs and presses her eyebrows together.

I giggle and look down once more.

I walk over a stone and travel up towards a hill. I stop and look over my shoulder at all of the citizens on our long journey... the crowds of people; young children, babies, elderly, teenagers, middle aged... and all in between. They live in poverty—or what seems like poverty. I am still used to the places of luxurious living; the kingdoms of elves.

It has still yet been a long time since I saw people gathered together in a community... I actually have never seen it until I came to Middle Earth. This way people live all socializing and living together, sharing stories, sharing almost everything, passing the gold around living in peace. This world has only started to be turned upside down. I feel as my grandparents did... watching the world just before it plunges into an abyss of death and destruction.

I don't wish that for this world. My eyes look at the child who rides in a cart pulled by a fuzzy pony. I want to see him grow old and happy. I don't want anyone here to die, nor in any other part of this world. I cannot bear to see such a thing.

'It is not my duty to save everyone' is what my head says. 'There is no way you can do such a thing'. But I look at the mark on my hand... a symbol of power that I possess; that I have been gifted. And I remember something my parents once said... words that they lived by: 'Those who have the power to take action and do what's right, have the responsibility to do so.'

I ball my hand into a fist as if hugging my gift.

My eyes look ahead over the small hills and plains of gold to where we roam... I don't see any signs of a fort from here... and I can only now see the mountains clearly.

We are heading through dangerous territory being so far out in the open. But I have faith we'll make it.

I continue walking when I notice I have stopped for too long.

A girl that looks about fifteen eyes me with a dirty face before she travels on.

I pick up a jug that an older woman drops and I hand it back to her as I follow a cart of supplies, the wooden wheels rattling over the bumps of grass and small stones.

I look up to the subtle hill that we climb.

I see Aragorn walk up ahead of us and I also notice Théoden and his assistant riding in front of the group.

I walk forward, gently moving past some walking people and catch up to the ranger, standing by him. "Are we nearing Helm's Deep?" I ask.

"We are getting close, but something is wrong..."

"What?"

He bends down and touches the ground. "Unknown footsteps approach..."

A man's cry of pain can be heard ahead of us.

Aragorn widens his eyes and runs forward.

I pull out my bow and string it.

Aragorn stops when he can see behind a large mound of stone. Then he turns back and runs to us.

"What is it?!" I call.

"Wargs, we're under attack!" he says and then passes me.

I hear citizens behind me start to panic and disperse, but luckily not far.

The king has his white horse up front and calls back to us, "All riders to the head of the column!"

The warriors leap onto their horses and bear their weapons, leaving their wives and children behind to follow Théoden.

I run back to the group when a child stumbles over and pick him up to his feet, the terror touching everyone in our company and creating chaos.

Gimli struggles to get on Legolas's horse alone and almost falls off. Where is the elf?

I see Éowyn get a horse's bridal, ready to mount, to the left of me but the king gallops to her. "You must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and make haste—"

"I can fight—"

"No... You must do this... for me."

She hesitates but obeys her uncle and leaves the horse standing by me, urging the people to move along to the mountains.

I look at the creature and then slip onto the saddle.

Aragorn gets on his brown horse to the left of me, nodding to me and I do the same back.

I put my bow to my back and grip the steed with my fingers and hug the saddle with my legs.

I speak to my horse for it to charge in elven tongue and it neighs, lunging forward as I hold on tightly to the reins and the saddle. It follows Théoden and the other warriors ahead, the hides shimmering from the sun and their tails whooshing in the wind as the soldiers gallop ahead. I look over my shoulder at Aragorn who looks towards Éowyn just before his horse turns around and runs after us.

We all ride up the hill, the hooves of my beast hitting the ground, me feeling every bit of it. And that's where I see Legolas standing, firing arrows at the upcoming warg riders from the top of the hill, not missing a single one. As we near him he doesn't move from shooting, until Gimli on his horse rides to him and he grabs the armor of the steed that's still going full speed and flings himself onto the back, in front of the dwarf.

I pull out my sword as we charge to the monsters that come straight at us, with nasty orcish battle cries.

Our army lifts their swords into the air and mimics them with our own shouts.

Our beasts thunder down the hill towards the demons on the back of their vicious wolves, the hands of Saruman marking their armor.

I ready myself as we clash and horses are knocked over, along with wargs, one colliding with the horse next to me which makes mine almost get knocked off balance, I steer her to the left and we charge forward.

A spear is thrown into an orc rider ahead of me but I fling my sword to the right when I come up to it, killing the wolf he rode on with a cut down its back.

I see one meet its end by an arrow that pierces the rider's torso and knock the wolf into a front flip to the ground.

A man of Rohan gets knocked off his horse and I pick up the spear pierced into the body of an orc after I hold my sword in my other hand. I aim it, thrusting it into the body of the rider who approaches him, the spear piercing his stomach and pulling him down, giving the soldier a chance to grab his sword and slice open the warg lunging for him with the blade stabbing the creature's mouth.

I turn to my left to see one heading straight for me.

I make my horse charge towards him and I spin my sword. The thing roars and tries to swipe as he passes me but I swing my blade with both hands like the elves taught me and immediately his head rolls back behind the creature. I keep a hard grip on the horse with my lower half so that I would not be thrown off. I look back at the warg that stops. I see Gimli ahead of it with his ax. The thing growls and runs for him but just before the dwarf ends its life an arrow stabs into its hide from the only elven rider present.

"But that one counts as mine!" Gimli complains.

Blood slings through the hills as horses and wargs run this way and that. The bodies of both good and evil are scattered and I watch an orc crawl for mercy before being stabbed on its back and trampled by a horse.

Chaos echoes with sounds of choking, slicing, falling, running, and anything else over the rocky and grassy land we battle on.

I turn around and see our men getting slaughtered and I race towards the remaining wolves and use my blade to cut down a lone orc. But I duck just as a warg flies over me, my sword thrusting upward to stab it but getting torn from my hands as it buries into the monsters underside. I glance up and get thrown off my horse as an arrow hits her breast. I am thrown against the ground and tumble onto the grass in front of me until stop myself with my hands.

I taste blood on my lip and try to pull myself up with my eyes locked on the dead hand stained with red on the grass beside me.

I look up quickly to see an orc running at me furiously. My eyes widen and I fumble for my knife.

But once I get to my feet an elven arrow pierces the chest of the demon and he falls dead. I look to see the mighty Woodland archer tougher than I have ever seen him, his usually soft subtle face now hard.

He pulls out duel long daggers and slices left and right without having to hold onto the horse as it dances across the battle field with intricate steps.

I take out my sword from the dead warg ahead and look at my lifeless horse on the ground. But I don't stop fighting.

I charge forward as an orc finishes off a soldier. Gripping the handle of my blade hard I swing it across his arm and almost lop it completely off, seeing the creature's bone as the black blood coats my sword. It cries out and falls over. I let myself stab the monster in his stomach to make him stop squirming.

I whirl around to see the battle field becoming stained with more and more fresh corpses, the horror of this place starting to look like my world, red and grey with death all around us. Both armies dwindle before me.

I stand straight and look as an orc before me roars and charges with his sword ready. I clench my jaw and at just the right time I swing upwards blocking the blow as the pressure of two blades colliding makes my arm lock. I use my foot to kick the beast hard in the thigh, pulling my sword free to knock it against the side of the leathery skin covered skull of this demon, the spit stained with blood escaping his rotten teeth as he stumbles over. I finish him with thrust of my sword up into his torso, the blade cutting through flesh and cutting the spine as it pokes out the backside of the thing with a river of onyx blood.

I yank the weapon out of the body as I kick him over.

I see Gimli ahead of me block the sword of an orc and swing his ax around to chop at his leg. I run forward as another leaps at the dwarf from behind and jump onto the creature's back, dropping my sword when I do. But the impact takes the thing to the ground and I pull out my knife, jamming it into the throat of the beast and hold it until the orc stops moving.

The black stains my hands when I leap back to my feet.

I stand there trying to catch my breath, the long knife still firmly in my hand.

My eyes look around me, ready to attack anything else... but no more can be found.

Red patterns and pools fill the grass all around us... I see dead man after dead man, along with horses, wargs, and orcs.

I can hear a frantic voice of a fellow rider as he talks to a dying man.

King Théoden stands doing the same thing I am. He looks around him with relief that they are gone... but devastated that our dead are so many.

I see people search the battle field for survivors. I look about the area flooded with bodies...

This death is just what I didn't want to happen to these people. We were caught off guard and we could not even hardly fight to begin with. Our soldiers are scarce and we are not even sure if the other citizens made it to Helm's Deep alive...

Saruman will pay for this.

Then I hear someone calling, "Aragorn!"

I look to see Legolas walking on the battle field in search of him.

"Aragorn?!" Gimli calls.

There is no answer of course. That makes me worried. My eyes search the living... and then the dead.

But then I see Legolas and Gimli walk up to an orc who I thought was dead. He is snickering. I run up to them as the dwarf places the blade of his ax in front of the monster's face threateningly. "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing," he growls.

"He's... dead," the creature chokes out with a grin. "Took a little tumble off the cliff." He spits black blood off his yellow teeth, dripping on his burned russet skin.

Legolas bends down and grips the creature's collar angrily. "You lie," he says through his teeth.

He chokes out laughter and then grows stiff and stares at the clouds.

Legolas lets go of him... but his eyes fall to his hand and he reaches for something in it. He pulls out Aragorn's white jeweled necklace carefully...

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