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After Theodred's funeral, Maristela took the time to bathe and change into the supplied dress that was left out for her by Èowyn. She left the chambers she had been given and headed down the throne room where she spotted Èowyn placing bowls of food down in front of two tired children, she moved to sit near Aragorn; unaware of Legolas' lingering gaze. "They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wildmen are moving through westfold, burning as they go, every rick, cot and tree," Èowyn explained to her uncle after having heard their tale. "Where's Mama?" Freda asked but they had no answer.

"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron," Gandalf informed Théoden before adding, "Ride out and meet him head-on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight." Aragorn looked up at King Théoden, "You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Èomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Maristela took notice of Théoden's hesitancy, she frowned knowing that he would be stubborn in his next actions.

"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now! Èomer cannot help us. I know what is that you want of me. But I would not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war," Théoden responded to their ideas. "Open war is upon you, whether would risk it or not," Aragorn reminded Théoden who approached him before speaking, "When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan." Maristela glared at Théoden for his words, his pride would be the death of his people. "Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked Théoden knowing that Maristela was itching to defend her adopted son.

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People gather outside the Golden Hall with the Company listening in as Háma spoke, "By order of the King, the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourself with treasures. Take only what provisions you need." Maristela shook her head as she adjusted the belt across her newly washed Ranger clothes. "Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?" Gimli exclaimed in question as they enter the stables. "He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past," Aragorn replied to the Dwarf.

"There is no way out than that of ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading them to safety, but what he'll get is a massacre," Gandalf says before turning to Aragorn, "Théoden has a strong hold 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 defences have to hold." Aragorn's eyes held determination, "They will hold." Maristela held uncertainty in his words only due to the enhanced presence of Uruk-hai. Gandalf turns to Shadowfax, "The Grey Pilgrim. That is what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now, I have no time."

Maristela laughed lightly at her father's words as he mounted Shadowfax looking towards his daughter and Aragorn, "Good luck. My search will not be in vain. Look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East." Shadowfax sprints out of the stable. Maristela exits the stable and makes her way to one of the lookout points in Edoras, her eyes watching her father disappear into the distance. "What do you think of this?" Legolas asked her in Elvish. "I do not know what lies in wait but I do know we have the power to do something... and that has to be enough... it has to be," Maristela replied to him.

"If all goes well, what is your plan?" Legolas asked the Elleth. "If the evil falls in the world, I wish to head to Erebor to inform King Dain of Moria and then... well, I do not know," Maristela told him with furrowed brows. "You have no desire to head to the undying lands?" Legolas questioned her. "No, I do not. At least not until long after my friends pass on," Maristela answered him fondly, she did not wish to leave Middle Earth until after Aragorn's time ends. "Maybe someone else will be a focus in my life," Maristela added as she looked up into Legolas' blue eyes, the familiar warmth appearing again but no fear came with it.

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The people of Rohan are heading towards Helm's Deep, Théoden turns and takes one last look at Edoras. "It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, they are often mistaken for dwarf men," Gimli expresses to Èowyn as he sits upon the horse she is controlling by its bridle. Èowyn glances back at Aragorn who mouths, "It's the beards." She laughs while Maristela watches the interaction, she was worried about the idea that Èowyn might get; she would speak to her son later. "And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women. And the dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!" Gimli continued.

"Which is of course ridiculous. Whoa!" Gimli exclaims before falling from his horse, "It's all right! It's all right. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate." Maristela shook her head before moving towards Legolas leaving Attica with the children that had shown up in Edoras. The two walked together until Théoden announced that they would rest for the night, Maristela had kindly refused Èowyn's stew before moving away from the others onto a higher cliff side to give her the perfect view of the vast lands surrounding them. "You are on edge," Legolas spoke as he stepped up next to her.

"I do not like being so out in the open with limited skilled fighters and so many civilians," Maristela expressed to him, she turned towards the setting sun with a smile. "I love moments like these though. Where you can admire something as simple as a sunset without the fear of spilling blood... even if it's just a fleeting moment," Maristela rambled fondly to Legolas whose eyes never left her as she said her next words, "It's beautiful." Legolas smiled lovingly, "Very beautiful." Maristela turned to her head to Legolas and flushed pink at the realisation that he had been referring to her and not the sunset.

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Háma and Gamling ride to the front of the column. Legolas stands a small distance away, scanning the surroundings. "What is it? Háma?" Gamling questions his companion, their horses are restless. "I'm not sure," Háma replies. A Warg scout appears above them and charges towards them. The Warg attacks Háma, killing him. Gamling fights with the scout. Legolas shoots the Warg with his bow. Legolas kills the scout, but not before he yells out, "A scout!" Théoden moves towards him, "What is it? What do you see?" Aragorn looks in concern, "Wargs! We are under attack!"

"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden ordered his people as Maristela move to stand next to Legolas, the two spotted the Warg pack running towards them. Legolas shoots at the Wargs as Maristela pulls free a small collection of plain daggers, she was quick and efficient in pitting the daggers into the heads of the Wargs. The column of riders appears behind them and when Gimli's horse is near, Legolas swings himself up on the horse's back as Maristela leaps down onto Attica's back. Wargs and Rohirrim run towards each other, swords drawn. The Warg riders and the Rohirrim crash at full speed and they fight.

Many Wargs and their riders are killed. Gimli falls of the horse and a riderless Warg heads towards him, "Bring your pretty face to my axe!" Legolas shoots the Warg as it attacks, before Gimli has the chance to kill it himself. "Argh! That one counts as mine!" Gimli exclaimed to Legolas making Maristela laugh as she and Attica took out two more Wargs and their riders. "You two, I'm in front already!" Maristela teased making the two look at her as she killed three more Orcs and two Wargs causing Gimli and Legolas to share a look before rushing back into the fight to get more kills. A dead Warg lands on Gimli, "Argh! Stinking creature. Argh!" A rider appears over the dead Warg.

Gimli snaps the Orc's neck. Gimli tries to lift the creatures, but another Warg crawls into view, growling. Aragorn throws a spear at the Warg, killing it and the dead Warg lands on Gimli. Théoden and Aragorn kill Wargs and riders. Maristela is tackled off of Attica by a riderless Warg while Attica fights against two others, she drives her dagger into its leg while holding its jaw away from her head. Legolas turns his head from the Orc he had killed and spotted Maristela predicament, she lifts an Orcs fallen weapon and rushes towards the Warg and Maristela, leaping off of the ground before driving the pike into the side of the Wargs neck shoving it to the side.

Legolas turns to Maristela and offers his hand to her, she takes it and lets him pull her up from the dirt. "Thanks, but it counts as one for me," Maristela told Legolas who smirked. "I can work with that," Legolas replied with a grin. Maristela kissed his cheek before she rushed off to help some of the Riders of Rohirrim leaving Legolas feeling more alive than before as he worked to kill of as many Orcs and Wargs as he could. Maristela makes a mental note to potentially look into getting her skills with a bow improved as it would be helpful in the future battles they are bound to face; Her mind immediately trailing back to a blonde Elf who was very skilled in archery.

A Warg jumps on Aragorn, who falls of his horse. He jumps on to a Warg and fights with its rider. Aragorn is hit by the orc and falls to the side. His hand is caught in the harness of the Warg, and he gets dragged along. He fights with the orc, throwing him off. The Warg runs off a cliff, Aragorn falling with it. As the fighting dissipates, Legolas and Gimli look for Aragorn before spotting Maristela walking towards a dying Orc on the ground. "Where is he?" Maristela demanded as she wrapped her hand around his neck as he laughed, "WHERE IS MY SON?!" Théoden, Gimli and Legolas looked at her in sympathy despite the rage burning in her eyes.

"He's... dead," The Orc coughed, "He took a little tumble off the cliff." Maristela's hand tightened around the Orcs throat as her eyes shone silver, her healing power prolonging his life so he suffered longer. "You lie!" Maristela sneered at him as Legolas moved closer. The orc laughs, blood bubbling in his mouth as he mockingly spoke, "Bye, bye dear son." Maristela's hand shone as the Orc's body seemed to disintegrate into mere dust in the wind. Legolas spots the Evenstar laying on the ground by the Orc, he and Gimli approach the cliff and look down into the river below while Maristela stares blankly at the spot the Orc once was.

Théoden approaches behind Gimli and Legolas before turning to Gamling, "Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." Legolas turned his head to Théoden who sent him a stern look, "Come." Théoden turned towards Maristela but watched as she ran towards Attica, the wolfhound lowered slightly for her to jump on. "MARISTELA!" Théoden called knowing her power is needed for his wounded but she ignored him and rushed off in search for her son. She made a promise to Arathorn and Gilraen and she wouldn't betray it because Théoden held no faith in Aragorn's strength; she wouldn't stop until a body was shown.

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Rosemary Speaks

A little budding romance between Maristela and Legolas!
And protective, powerful mama bear!

Spoiling the four who has been commenting, you four know who you are!!

Thoughts?

See you in the next chapter!