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Maristela found Legolas standing in the makeshift Archery space alone, he was firing shots into the set up of targets but had yet to hit the bullseye. "This really spooks you, huh?" Maristela asked as she stepped further into the room, she began collecting his arrows. "Does it not worry you that they will all die?" Legolas asked her. "Some may die, there is no denying that fate but others may surprise you in their will to survive," Maristela replied as she approached him, placing the arrows back into his quiver. "I know that it seems hopeless, Legolas, but it is not. This battle will be in history and all who die with be honoured in the halls of the Valar," Maristela expressed as she looked up at Legolas.

"We can only prepare them as best as we can but this will work. I can feel it," Maristela whispered before she began braiding a small braid in Legolas' hair, "You just need to allow yourself the possibility of faith even when he seems useless. They carry that faith and so does Aragorn. As long as our King holds faith, I shall too." Legolas' eyes never strayed from Maristela's, even as she finished the braid. "You may need to carry faith for both of us," Legolas whispered to her with a frown. "Then I shall do that," Maristela promised before she kissed his cheek, "We will make it through this, Legolas Greenleaf. Believe in that, believe in us." Maristela walked out leaving Legolas to his thoughts.

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Maristela stepped out and spotted Aragorn sitting alone on the stairs, she leaned against the pillar as he turns to a confused child with a sword. "Give me your sword," Aragorn instructed him kindly, the boy handed the blade over. "What is your name?" Aragorn asked him. "Háleth, son of Háma, my lord," Háleth answered him making Maristela frown, she had met Háma and witnessed his death by a Warg on their way to Helm's Deep, she felt sympathy for the young boy. "The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless," Háleth expressed to Aragorn who stood up and swung the blade around.

"This is a good sword, Háleth, son of Háma," He lays his hand on the boys shoulder, "There is always hope." The boy smiled at his words before moving to have his blade sharpened per Aragorn's orders. "I remember telling you that once," Maristela spoke as she stepped down to her son. "I held onto that through my travels," Aragorn replied to her. "Legolas is scared, Estel. And that scares him for he has never carried fear before," Maristela expressed in Sindirin. "We are all scared, Ma," Aragorn replied. "And fear can be your greatest strength, Estel. For fear is the best motivator," Maristela recited to him the words she once heard from Arathorn himself.

"Come, son, it is time to get ready," Maristela told him before the two headed inside to their own space to change into their armour. Inside, Aragorn puts on his armour, Legolas hands him his sword. "We have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair," Legolas expressed to Aragorn who smiled at his friend. "Ú-moe edamed, Legolas. (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.)," Aragorn replied to him, they shared a smile as Gimli walked into the room wearing armour that is far too long for him. "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted," The armour falls to the ground, "It's a little tight across the chest."

Maristela chuckles as Aragorn moves to assist the Dwarf, Legolas walks over to Maristela and helps her adjusted the armour she wore. "Thank you for your words, Marisol," Legolas whispered to her but she grinned at him. "I think it was the kiss that changed your fear," Maristela teased causing Legolas' cheeks to tinge pink. "You call that a kiss?" Legolas responded without thinking over his words. "Find me after this battle and we can discuss it," Maristela whispered to him as the sound of a horn is heard from outside. "That is no Orc horn!" Legolas commented with Maristela's eyes lit up.

They rush out with Maristela leading the other three while Men peer over the wall, "Send for the king. Open the gate!" The gates are opened, and an army of elves march in. Men stare in awe. Théoden walks down the stairs and meets the Elf Captain, "How is this possible?" Haldir steps forward as Maristela appears at the top of the stairs, "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell at the request of Maristela Greyhame. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together." Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli rush down the stairs as Haldir continued, "We come to honour that allegiance."

"Mae govannen, Haldir! (Welcome, Haldir!)" Maristela spoke as she moved down the stairs to Haldir, she embraced him with a wide smile; Haldir was quick to embrace her back with a smile of his own. Gimli teasingly nudged Legolas having noticed the budding romance between the two Elves in their travels. Aragorn stands before the elf and then hugs him. Haldir, a little surprised, returns the gesture. "You are most welcome," Aragorn told Haldir while Maristela smiled. Legolas comes down the stairs and embraces Haldir. The army of elves turn and lower their bows and shields in unison. "We are proud to fight alongside men, once more," Haldir expressed to Théoden who glanced to Maristela with a grateful smile.

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Men and elves stand at Helm's Deep as Saruman's army slowly approaches, shouting and rumbling. Legolas and Gimli stand at the wall with Maristela stood by them. Gimli has some trouble seeing over the wall, "Argh. You could have picked a better spot." Aragorn comes to them prompting Gimli to speak, "Well lad, the luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night." Maristela nodded in agreement as she took in steady breaths, a bow in her hand. There is lightning and a rumble of thunder as Legolas speaks, "Your friends are with you, Aragorn." Gimli huffed at that, "Let's hope they last the night."

Théoden and his men watch on as it starts to rain. The troops of Saruman walk forward, carrying torches and long spears. The women and children sit silently in the caves, listening. Aragorn walks back and forth on the wall, "A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas! (Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!)" The Uruk-hai stop. Aragorn walks forward and looks down at the huge army. "What's happening out there?" Gimli questioned Legolas and Maristela. "Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Legolas asked Gimli making him laugh, the melodic sound of Maristela's laugh made Legolas grin.

The Uruks pound their spears and roar. The men and elves in the fortress ready their weapons. And an old man accidentally shoots an arrow, hitting an orc. Everything goes silent, as the orc falls down, dead. "Dartho! (Hold!)" Aragorn commands but Maristela smiles with pride. "At least we know their aim is good," Maristela told Legolas who nodded in agreement. The Uruks roar in anger and charge. "So it begins," Théoden says ominously. As the army below runs forward, the elves prepare to shoot their arrows. "Faeg i-varv dîn na lanc a nu ranc. (Their armour is weak at the neck and under the arms.)" Legolas instructs the Elves.

The bows are released and the Uruks showered with arrows upon Aragorn's command, Maristela mark hit as she fired three arrows at once; each arrow tipped with her Maiar magic to explode the Orcs damaging the ones nearby. "I was going to ask if anybody hit anything but I'd assume our dear Lady did," Gimli expressed to Legolas and Maristela, the Elleth grinned with her glowing silver eyes before she notched another set of arrows. Many Uruks fall dead. The Uruks shoot arrows back. A dead elf falls from the wall. The Uruks put up ladders. "Good!" Gimli exclaimed happy he now can join the fight.

The Uruk-hai climb the ladders, heavy fighting follows. "Legolas, two already!" Gimli shouted to the Woodland Elf as they fought against the Orcs climbing upon the wall. "I'm on seventeen!" Legolas shouted back to the Erebor Dwarf. "Argh! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!" Gimli screamed out. "Thirty-Eight, boys!" Maristela called out her number before killing another three with her arrows assisting the Men on the wall. More ladders rise against the walls. Gimli hacks away with his axe, "Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-one. Twenty-two." A group of Uruks, covered in shields, approach the main gate.

"Northway! Nauthannen!" Aragorn commanded the Men and Elves. The elves shoot, and many of the Uruks fall down. "Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman?" Théoden mocks with a smirk on his face. Below, the troops carry Saruman's explosives to the drain. An Uruk soldier carrying a bright torch runs towards the hole. "Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dago hon! (Legolas, stop him! Kill him!)" Aragorn instructed Legolas. Maristela stood above the Uruk-hai in battle, she glances down and moves quick to take out the Uruk-hai's surrounding her. Legolas hits the Uruk with two arrows, but fails to kill it, letting the Uruk-hai light the explosives. A large part of the wall explodes taking Maristela down with hit, Legolas watches with wide fearful eyes as she fades into the rubble.

Théoden looks upon in shock as huge boulders fly through the air. Aragorn lies on the ground, unconscious. Saruman's army starts to crowd through the hole in the wall. At the gates, the Uruks try to break through. "Brace the gates!" Théoden orders the Men. The men run to the gate and try to hold it, as the Uruks pound from the other side. "Hold them! Stand fast!" Théoden commanded as Men -- including one that looks a great deal like the belching oaf from Bree -- throw rocks and spears down on the orcs below. Aragorn regains consciousness as the Uruks run towards him, his eyes land on an unconscious Maristela.

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Rosemary Speaks

Oh no... Maristela's badly hurt, huh?
What's going to happen to her?

Thoughts?

See you in the next chapter!