I didn't really know how much time had passed, but eventually the impregnable stone walls of Helm's Deep came into view. It was just as well, for it was getting to be afternoon and being out in the open while it was dark would be a sure death sentence with all the servants of Saruman prowling around Rohan.
"Open the gates!" shouted one of the guards posted on the rampart as soon as they saw it was us and not enemy attackers.
As soon as the gate was open, I led the horses through, almost being overrun by the crowd waiting behind.
The crowd immediately backed away, however, when Thèoden came riding through the gate on a steed and shouted over the crowd "Make way, we need room for the wounded!"
I held the horses still until two soldiers had pulled their wounded comrades from them and were pulling them in the direction of the healing chamber. Only then did I look around a little. Helm's Deep was an impressive fortress, but it would not be able to withstand the orcs from Isengard forever.
I could make out the familiar face of Èowyn in the crowd, she was making her way through the crowd towards her uncle "So few of you have returned?" she let her eyes wander in horror and I knew full well she was looking for Aragorn.
Thèoden pulled a wounded man from his horse "Our people are safe, that is all that matters." he disappeared into the interior of the fortress, supporting the wounded man. He apparently could not bring himself to tell Èowyn the news of Aragorn's death. I made my way through the crowd towards her, it was better she found out now than later through the crowd's chatter.
" Èowyn."
"Lord Aragorn where is he?" I saw in her eyes the hope she still clung to.
It stung my heart to have to disappoint her "He has fallen."
Tears welled up in Èowyn's eyes, which she held in them convulsively. She slapped her hands over her mouth and ran away. I wanted to run after her, but Thranduil's hand on my shoulder held me back "Let her, a broken heart needs, time to heal." his gaze wandered worriedly to Legolas who was on his way to the great hall together with Gimli "some more than others."
An incredible anger rose in me, anger at myself I could not save anyone, neither Gandalf nor Aragorn had I been able to save "This is my fault." full of frustration I hit the massive stone walls beside me.
"Leona!" I whirled around to Thranduil "Aragorn's end is no one's fault. All we can do now is stand by the people of Men, that's what he would have wanted."
I ran my hand through my hair in exasperation "you're right." I looked at the last injured man being taken to the healing chamber "I'll go to the healing chamber, see if I can help."
It didn't take long to find the healing chamber and it was good that I was there. Because the few people tending to the wounded on their beds didn't really have a clue what they were doing. I unbuckled my sword belt and put the two swords on a small table next to the entrance. Swords had no place in a healing chamber and they hindered my healing. With a quick glance I had filtered out the worst injured and decided to treat those first. The first of them had a broken arm and a deep flesh wound on his thigh.
"Forgive me but do you need help?" I didn't want to make the people feel that I was interfering with their work.
For a brief moment they just stared at me, especially at my ears, which were probably not covered by my hair at the moment. Then a young woman broke the silence "I thank you my lady." she bowed her head slightly.
I smirked slightly "Please call me Leona." I ignored the whispers and whispers my name caused and crouched down to the man clutching his aching arm. Carefully I disengaged my hand from the injured arm and began to palpate the broken limb. The good news it was not an open fracture, the bad news the bone was wrong, I would have to set it.
"What is your name?" I asked the man to distract him a little.
"Harla" the man gritted his teeth to keep from shrieking.
I took his upper arm with one hand and his forearm with the other "Do you have family Harla?"
"Yes a wife and my son..." with a jerk I brought the bone back in the right direction, which elicited a cry from Harla. While he was still breathing against the pain, I reached for a cloth and wrapped it so that it would hold his arm in a scramble.
" ..... Harlem. My son's name is Harlem."
I reached for some healing herbs, mixed them into an ointment and spread it on the leg wound before bandaging it tightly "Soon you will see him again. Rest now." I tied another knot in the bandage and then went to the next bed in the tiny chamber.
On it, the same young woman who had answered me earlier was trying to stop the bleeding from an abdominal wound.
"You must press your hands harder on the wound." I took her hands and pressed them harder on the wound, some blood oozing out and turning my hands red "as soon as the bleeding has stopped or gets worse again call me."
She nodded and continued to press her hands on the wound with a piece of cloth. My next patient had a Morgul arrow stuck in his side, how I hated that poison." at least they were smart enough not to pull the arrow out. "I thought with relief. With practised hands I mixed atelas, I thanked Mahal and Eru that the humans had some, with hot water. Only when the paste was ready did I draw the arrow from the fainter with one back, spread the paste on the wound and murmured "Menno o nin na hon i eliad annen annin, hon leitho o ngurth."
After that I bound the wound and turned to the next injured person.

I was just exhausted, I had spent the last few hours dressing wounds, setting bones and encouraging my patients that they would soon be fighting orcs again. I slid down a wall and buried my bloody hands in my hair. Some of them I had not been able to save despite all my efforts, they had received too severe or too many wounds from the fight at the ridge. I went once more to the young woman, whose name I now knew was Freda "If you need me again, send someone I'll be in the Great Hall."
She smiled gratefully at me "Thank you Leona, you have saved many lives."
I nodded to her but didn't return her smile, Aragorn's death still too fresh on my shoulders. For now that I was no longer busy tending to wounds, the grief came back like a blow. I tied my sword belt around me again and, after cleaning my bloody hands in a bowl of water, went out of the small chamber into the narrow stone corridor. Miraculously, I found my way out of the twisted corner of the fortress the first time and found myself in the main square outside. There was a lot of excitement, I couldn't explain why, and some people had a permanent grin on their faces. Which was unusual, as most here realised that an attack by orcs was imminent. "Excuse me." I held a passing man by the shoulder "can you tell me why everyone here is in such a good mood?"
The man shouldered the swords he carried towards the armoury "The Dùnedain, he is still alive."
His answer hit me like a slap in the face, it couldn't be true "Where is he!" I asked a little louder than I intended.
"On his way to the great hall." the man's hand shook a little as he pointed in the direction I had been heading anyway.
It had not been my intention to frighten the man "Thank you." I bowed my head to him briefly and then ran as fast as my legs could carry me to the great hall.
I ran up the few stairs that led to the great hall. Aragorn was standing a few metres from the door, Legolas blocking his way, the two of them spoke a few words in Sindarin before Aragorn made something disappear in his cloak pocket. "Aragorn!" I shouted as I climbed the last few stairs that led me to my friend who I thought was dead.
He didn't get a chance to say anything before I started ranting "If any of you ever die again, only to come back a few hours later, I'll kill him myself!" I looked at the Dùnedain reproachfully for a few more seconds.
He began to grin "I missed you too Leona."
Under his grin, my stern expression collapsed and I began to laugh before hugging him. But I also had the feeling that his return came with some Fearful news "Aragorn what happened?" I let go of him again and looked at him questioningly, for that he had seen something that was not good at all was certain. I could see the slight glimmer of fear in his eyes.
He shook his head "I need to talk to the king!" he pushed me aside a little and dramatically slammed open the double-winged entrance door of the great hall.
Hastily I followed him, together with Legolas . When I entered the great hall, it was almost completely empty. Only Thèoden sat on a small throne at the end of the hall, a few guards were scattered around the room, Gimli sat at a table chewing on a pipe with a tankard of ale in his hand and Thranduil sat at a table with his legs crossed staring pensively out of the window. An activity he immediately interrupted when Aragorn came rushing towards the king, who widened his eyes in surprise as a dead man marched into his hall.
"My lord!" Aragorn overcame the last few steps to the end of the hall "I come with bad news." he paused briefly to catch his breath, for even if Aragorn was still breathing, a quick glance at him told me he was more dead than alive "An army of orcs is on its way here."
I bit my lip and clenched my hands into fists, Saruman had sent his orc hordes.
Thèoden still looked incredulously at Aragorn "How many?!"
"Ten thousand strong, at least."
I gasped, Gimli growled, Legolas pursed his mouth, even Thranduil's usually controlled features slipped for a moment. This exceeded my worst fears, even if all the men capable of fighting within these walls were trained soldiers, we would still be hopelessly outnumbered.
But it got worse.
When Thèoden had recovered from the shock he asked his next question to Aragorn "When will they be here?"
Aragorn, without wanting to exaggerate, looked distressed "By nightfall."
After a few seconds a determined expression came over Thèoden's face "Let them come, we will fight!"
I exchanged a silent glance with Thranduil, we were both thinking the same thing. If the men faced this battle alone, they would all be slaughtered. But it would be a miracle if the Woodland Elves arrived in time. Our only chance was to survive long enough for support to arrive.