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"Estel, where are you?" Maristela called softly through the halls of Rivendell. She peeked into different rooms in search of the six-year-old boy. "Come out, Estel," Maristela called out again but had no response as she opened a door to a study where Elrond's sons were reading. "Have either of you seen my son?" Maristela asked them hoping they would give her an actual answer rather than join in the young boys' fun. Elladan and Elrohir both denied seeing the boy before offering to help search for him, she denied their offer so they could focus on their studies; wishing them well, she left them to find her son.

An idea came to her mind and she smiled softly as she walked through the halls greeting other Elves until she reached the door to the garden, she walked out and spotted Estel working on his early swordsmanship skills -- more like, lifting the sword only to drop it from its weight. "Estel," Maristela spoke startling him, he turned to her with wide doe eyes. "I was just practising Mama," Estel told her before huffing in annoyance over not being able to lift the blade. "That blade is far advanced for a young warrior like you," Maristela informed him softly as she took it from him and laid it on a stone bench. "Why do you desire the need to use a sword so early?" Maristela asked as she knelt to her son.

"To protect you, Mama. I don't want you to face the same fate as my parents," Estel expressed before sending her a look of determination, "I need to protect you from the foul beasts in the world." Maristela smiled fondly at her son, she rested her hands on his shoulders. "Estel, I am beyond proud that you wish to protect me the way I always wish to protect you. But remember that taking life is not something to take lightly even if they are poisoned by evil," Maristela brushed Estel's hair out of his face, "You are destined for something great, Estel... And I hold the faith that you will get there." Estel frowned slightly, "Will you be there?"

Maristela rested her forehead against his, "I will be with you every step of the way, Estel. Your mama will never give up on you and no matter where you are or where I am in this big world, I will always have faith in you." Estel smiled wide at his Mama before wrapping his arms around her, she picked him up and held him close. "My little warrior... my King," Maristela whispered to her son and though he didn't know the truth at that time, something in him knew that the title held more importance than he knew. "Now, let's find you a better blade," Maristela teased before picking up the other to return it to Elladan, its rightful owner.

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Maristela was determined to find her son, Attica sniffed the air before the two spotted a familiar horse that once belonged to Théodred. "Follow Brego," Maristela commanded her companion, Attica moved towards the horse that had been set free by Aragorn until they reached a river bank where Aragorn lay. Brego arrives and nudges Aragorn until he awakes, he brushes his hand against Brego's snout when someone dropped next to him. "Wake, my son," Maristela whispered before brushing her fingers across his forehead, his wounds slowly healing as he opened his eyes fully. "Mama?" Aragorn breathed out before sitting up.

Maristela pulled Aragorn into her arms, cradling him the way she did when he was younger with her eyes closed. "Do not scare me like that again, Estel," Maristela scolded him as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Mama," Aragorn whispered to her, he hadn't heard the name Elrond gave him in a long time. The horse kneels down and Aragorn slowly gets on its back with Maristela's help, despite being healed, he was still exhausted. The mother and son duo upon their steeds ride through the fields where they find the army of Saruman. "They'll never survive on their own," Maristela breathed out before she turned to Aragorn in determination.

"We ride to Helm's Deep," Aragorn told her, Maristela nods before the two steer Attica and Brego towards Helm's Deep. "Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn. (Well done, Brego, my friend)," Aragorn told Brego before they made their way up to the fortress and into the courtyard, many of the people were watching the two as they paced through the streets until a familiar Dwarf pushed through the crowd hearing the whispers. "Where is he! Where is he! Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him! You are the luckiest, the cunningest, and most reckless man I ever knew!" Gimli exclaimed as Aragorn dismounted Brego and embraced the Erebor Dwarf.

"Your ma didn't give up on you," Gimli whispered to Aragorn who turned to her and smiled, Maristela bowing her head as she climbed off of Attica allowing the Wolfhound to lead Brego to the stables to be fed. "Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked, Gimli nodded before leading the two towards the throne room of Helm's Deep. "Le abdollen. (You're late)," Legolas spoke as he stepped up in front of Aragorn, "You look terrible." Aragorn laughs and puts his hand on Legolas shoulder and Èowyn sees them as Legolas gives Aragorn Arwen's Evenstar. "Hannon le. (Thank you)," Aragorn tells him before walking away.

"Don't run off like that again," Legolas told Maristela as she stepped up in front of him. "I make no promises, Legolas," Maristela told him as she rested her hand on the side of his face, "But I had to make sure he was fine." Legolas leaned into her hand before placing his own hand over hers, the two were silent for a moment before they followed after Aragorn. Théoden is sitting inside, and Aragorn pushes the doors open and enters. Maristela, Legolas and Gimli followed behind Aragorn before listening as he told Théoden about Saruman's army. "A great host, you say?" Théoden asked him. "All Isengard is emptied," Aragorn replied to him.

"How many?" Théoden asked Aragorn and Maristela though she stayed silent allowing Aragorn to handle the situation like the King she knows he is. "Ten thousand strong at least," Aragorn answered the King of Rohan. "Ten thousand?!" Théoden turns to face Aragorn. "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men," Aragorn expressed while Maristela's fingers fiddled with her cloak, Legolas noticed and lightly placed his hand on her lower back knowing she was anxious about the army. "They will be here by nightfall," Aragorn warned Théoden who replied gravely, "Let them come."

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Théoden walks outside, Aragorn, Maristela, Legolas and Gimli following him. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall," Théoden ordered Gamling, "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." Gimli leans on his battle axe as he speaks, "This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad." Maristela agreed with the Erebor Dwarf, she had her fair encounters with Uruk-hai and knowing that Saruman had created them meant they were more advanced then they realised.

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep," Théoden expressed to Gimli reminding Maristela of the stubbornness of Men. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resewn. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them," Théoden continued as they all kept walking along the wall. "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!" Aragorn told Théoden, Maristela nodded in agreement with Legolas standing tall by her.

"What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!" Théoden snapped back at Aragorn before turning away from him. "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid," Aragorn said with certainty. "And who will come. Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead," Théoden said as he turned back to Aragorn. "You do not know that," Maristela spoke, "Because you will not chance it. The Elves may listen when you least expect it. They may be leaving to Valinor but many still care for Middle Earth, they may heed your call."

 "I do not have the luxury to try, Lady of Starlight. I have limited time and my people to worry for," Théoden replied to her, "I will not waste time calling for aid knowing none will answer." Maristela scoffed as a small blue bird landed on her shoulder, the others looked in confusion while she smiled wide. "Your pride and stubborn nature blinds you, Théoden. It does not blind me," Maristela told him before whispering to the bird, watching it flutter away. "Gondor will answer," Aragorn added despite knowing what the bird meant. "Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us!?" Théoden asked harshly, "Where was Gon — No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone."

Théoden walks from Aragorn, "Get the women and children into the caves." Gamling frowned as he spoke, "We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord —" Théoden shook his head, "There is no time. War is upon us!" Maristela sighed before turning to Aragorn, "Do not worry, my son. Help is on the way." Aragorn laughed lightly, "When did you send for him?" Legolas raised a brow at that. "The moment we had left Edoras. I spent word to Elrond and Galadriel too," Maristela said before kissing Aragorn's forehead, "Help comes to those who ask for it." Aragorn grinned as Maristela left to help the people get to safety.

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Inside Helm's Deep, people wander in to the caves and husbands and sons are taken away from their wives and mothers. Maristela watches in sadness at the state of the men but she knew the number counted, she spotted a lone man standing by a wall admiring the blade in his hand. "You look like you've seen battles," Maristela spoke as she approached him. "Nothing official, Lady of Starlight. Just defended camps against raiders and small troops of Orcs," The man replied with a sheepish look. "It does not matter on skill nor experience," Maristela assured him as she picked up the blade and tested the weight in her own hand.

"What matters is the cause behind the fight. Remember that you are defending the lives of your people and the future of your kin," Maristela expressed as she adjusted the sword in his hand, "Or perhaps a motivator is needed?" The man chuckled, "I have no one, Lady of Starlight. No kin, no family nor friends. I have done so to myself." Maristela held out her hand, "My name is Maristela Grayhame, it's a pleasure to be your friend." The man grinned and shook his head before taking her hand in his own, "My name is Alec Iverson. And the honour is mine." Aragorn looked over to see his Ma helping Alec with his swordsmanship.

It wasn't long until Maristela had introduced Alec to a few other men, she worked with them in teaching the basics as she did when Aragorn was growing up. Aragorn remembered every lesson he had with Maristela, she was blunt and direct so he had faith that they would all stand their ground against the Uruk-hai longer than most. In the armoury, weapons are handed out to the villagers. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers," Aragorn expressed to Gimli and Legolas. "Most have seen too many winters!" Gimli added. "Or too few. Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes," Legolas says silencing the room.

"Boe a hyn neled herain... dan caer menig! (And they should be. Three hundred... against ten thousand!)" Legolas continued so the Men could not understand him. "Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras. (They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras.)" Aragorn argued back. "Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú ortheri. Natha daged aen! (They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!)" Legolas snapped back at Aragorn. "Then I shall die as one them!" Aragorn shouted at Legolas while Maristela frowned, she felt the morale of the people fall from his words. Aragorn and Legolas stare at each other, and Aragorn walks away from the elf. Legolas tries to run after him, but is stopped by Gimli, "Let him go, lad. Let him be."

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Rosemary Speaks

Things are getting hectic!
Not sure what to say but I'd love to know what y'all readers think so far!

See you in the next chapter!