Luin was on number forty four. The floor around him was strewn with dead orcs and yet more kept coming. He ducked under a long blade and sliced the orc between the gaps in it's armour. It shrieked as it's gut spilled out and blood sprayed, falling to join the pile. "Luin!" He heard a call. He had moved closer to the wall during fighting. Legolas was still on the battlements above. He watched as the elf threw a shield towards the stairs and jumped. His feet landing on the metal and keeping balance as it slid down the stone stairs. Arrows continuing to hit their mark as he slid.

The orcs approaching Luin fell with arrows through the throats. When Legolas reached the bottom of the stairs, he flicked the shield up with his toes and it lodged through the breastplate of another orc. The creature falling. "And you call me show off", Luin muttered as he threw his sword. The blade spun round, killing five orcs in a circle around him before returning to his palm. Legolas must of heard him because he smirked and strode over.

"You are a show off", he grinned as he shot a orc coming up behind Luin. The elf leaned over and pressed a kiss to his lover's cheek before running onwards, his bow up and ready.

Luin smiled and flicked the blood from his blades. He could see Aragorn and Gimli distantly a few hundred feet away. The elves all fighting with them. "Fall back to the keep!" He heard the shout come up from the walls above him. "Fall back!" He kicked the nearest orc off it's feet and cut it's head off. Legolas had moved onwards and Aragorn and Gimli were too far away. The closest of his allies was Haldir. The Lorien elf still fighting on the battlements above.

Luin began fighting his way over. The elf down up and saw him coming. He grinned as Luin slew the last of the orcs closest to him and jumped on his sword. The blade carried him up on to the stone battlement where he leapt, cloak flapping and blade arching down, into the fray. "Need a hand?" He called out. Down below the remaining elves were retreating. Gimli being pulled back with them. The dwarf kicking and screaming as he was dragged back. Legolas wasn't in sight and Aragorn was still fighting down below.

Luin slew the orc nearest him and turned, searching for his friend. "Luin! Look out!" There was a shout and he turned just in time to gasp as Haldir pushed him out of the way. The orc blade meant for his back stabbed in to Haldir's stomach. Luin reached out to grab him but the orcs descend on him and blocked him from view. He slew the orcs. The beasts falling to the ground just in time for him to watch as another orc sliced Haldir across the back. Luin yelled wordlessly and threw his blade. The sword went straight through the orc's neck but not quick enough. There was a cry down below and Aragorn was racing up the stairs.

Luin caught Haldir as he fell. The elf dead before he landed. Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared down at the empty eyes of his childhood friend. "You have fought bravely", he whispered as he placed a hand over Haldir's heart. Aragorn stopped for a moment next to him. Luin looked up as the man placed his own hand over Haldir's heart.

"Come on. We need to keep moving", he reminded. Luin sniffed and set down the body before taking the hand Aragorn offered. The man pulled him up and Luin gripped his blades. He nodded and he and Aragorn turned to the keep. Slicing orcs back and jumping over the bodies littering the floor as they went. Luin let go of one of his blades and Aragorn took the hilt.

"Prepare to jump!" Luin called as they neared the taller wall of the keep. "Now!" They jumped and the swords shot up, pulling them both through the air and to the keep battlements. Aragorn landed in a run, barely nodding at Luin before running down to help barricade the gates below. Up on the battlements, the orcs were firing huge harpoons, a tall as a man. They lodged in the stone, the ropes thick and heavy as they pulled up more ladders. These ladders were twice as big as the last ones and held twice as many orcs. Luin threw his swords and they spun through the air. Three ropes snapping and three ladders falling back to the ground below.

Below him, Aragorn and Gimli had managed to get onto the narrow walkway up to the keep gates. It was narrow enough thaf the two of them were able to keep the approaching orcs back. The size of the path only allowing a certain amount of orcs at a time. They were buying the soldiers time to reinforce the gates. "Aragorn!" Theoden called. "Get out of there!" Aragorn turned but here was no where for them to go. They were trapped.

"Aragorn!" Legolas called, the elf on the battlements above. He threw down a rope and Aragorn caught it in one hand, grabbing Gimli with the other and swinging them off the walkway. Luin ran over to the elf's side. The two of them pulling their companions up to safety as his swords kept cutting down the ladders. As they appeared over the edge of the wall, more soldier reached over to help pull them up.

"They have broken through! Retreat! Retreat!"

"Fall back!!

"Luin!" Aragorn shouted as they began hurrying for the Castle. Down below the orcs had broken the gate and were storming through. "You need to activate the shield". Luin nodded with wide eyes. He turned and shared a glance with legolas. The elf nodded. Luin took a breath and muttered the spell under his lips. On the door to the caves, the paper talismans on the wood began to glow blue and a shimmering blue energy spilled out over the doors. It would hold for now.

They stumbled through the doors and into the castle. The remaining soldier, there were so few left, barricading the door behind them. Luin was panting, clothes still wet form rain and splattered with orc blood and the red blood of men and elves. His skin was covered in ash and soot and there were bruises blooming on his cheeks and hands. He stood up to face Theoden. "The shield has been activated", he huffed. He could feel it sucking on his spiritual energy. Not much, but he had been fighting for hours and it was low. "The women and children shall be safe for at lest the next seven hours if I die".

The doors thudded as the orcs tried to ram them. "The fortress is taken", Theoden stated. "It is over".

"You said that this fortress would never fall as long as your men defend it", Aragorn shouted back. "They still defend it. They have died defending it". The gates thudded again. "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves. Luin's shield will not last forever". Theoden didn't answer.

"Is there no other way!" Aragorn snapped.

"There is another passage", one of the men answered. "It leads to the mountains. But they will not get far. The orcs are too many".

"Send word for the women and children to make for the mouthing path and barricade the entrance".

"So much death!" Theoden muttered, "what can men do against such reckless hate?"

Luin snapped. He stormed up and slapped the king sharply across the face. The soldier staring in astonishment as the impact rang through the hall. "Stop being pathetic", he snapped. "What can men do? They can fight! They can fight and go out with honour on their chests and swords in their hands. Your men have died for you. More will die for you. Elves, creatures not of your kin but who still came and fought for you because they believed it was the right thing to do. They have died to save you! The people make the king, Theoden. You owe it to them. So you will stand and face the hate out there for them". Luin's words rang through the hall, his chest heaving and his eyes blazing as he stared the king down.

Theoden gaped at him for a second, too shocked to do anything but stare. His cheek red with the blooming imprint of a hand. "How dare you strike the king!" Soldier cried.

"Your king is being a idiot", Luin growled. He was angry. He was done. He had just watched a childhood friend die. He was sick of this. "If you want to strike a wizard, the wizard who is currently keeping your women and children safe then go ahead". No one moved towards him. Luin snorted and glared back at Theoden.

"Ride out with me", Aragorn suggested. "Ride out and meet them".

"Theoden blinked, hope in his eyes. "For death and glory".

"For Rohan. For your people".

The king nodded. He turned to Luin. "Forgive my momentary lapse in judgment. That blow was well deserved and had returned my mind to me". Luin nodded.

"The sun is rising", Gimli stated. He turned to the small window to see the golden light of dawn begin to seep through. Dawn of the third day. Gandalf should be arriving.

"Yes!" Theoden nodded. "The horn of helm hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!"A cheer rose up and the men ran for their horses. Luin turned and grinned widely at Legolas. The elf running over to clasp their hands together for a second before he ran for their white mare. He lead her back and Luin swung up into the saddle. He took the reigns. Legolas swinging up behind him with his bow out and ready.

As the orcs broke through the doors, the deep bellow of a horn vibrated through the stone. They charged. Swords swinging and the horses hooves trampling orcs under foot as they galloped through the doors and out down the stone walkway. The orcs falling around them. The bright light of sunlight sparking over the horizon. Luin turned to look up at the dawn and spotted a white stallion up on the hill top. It reared back with a whiny. It's white rider raising his staff.

"Gandalf!" Luin breathed as everyone turned to look. Hundreds of riders appeared behind him. Eothain and his men. Shadowfac turned and began galloping down the cliff face. The army and the dawn light following behind him like a cloak. Below, the orcs began to flee. The awe inspiring sight driving the creatures of the dark away.

Luin breathe out a sigh of relief. He felt Legolas rest a hand on his shoulder behind him. Both of them smiling. They had won. The battle was over.

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