▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 ━︎━︎ 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐦'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐈𝐓 to Helm's Deep where the townspeople were already waiting. Eowyn scurried to meet them, her face falling upon noticing how many of them had arrived. Theoden got down from his horse and Eowyn turned to her uncle. "So few. So few of you have returned."

     Theoden glanced at her, letting one of the guards take his horse. "Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives."

     Ellaria climbed off her horse, grabbing Gimli's shoulder to steady him as he jumped down from his own. She turned her head to Eowyn, pity filling her face. The girl had gained a crush on Aragorn, it was only fair of her to know. Ellaria softly sighed, making her way towards Eowen. "My Lady."

     Eowyn met her eyes. "Lord Aragorn. . . where is he?"

     "He fell," Ellaria whispered, her voice cracking. Ellaria placed a hand on her shoulder before walking away. She made her way to one of the castle walls, the only spot that wasn't being covered with guards. She looked ahead of her, closing her eyes as she let the grief consume her. She truly couldn't take anymore of her friends dying. Her heart could not handle it. But this was the life she chose. She chose to be a warrior, to go out and fight, instead of being a Princess that hid behind her castle walls. She knew the consequences of leaving again. She had hoped that maybe this time would be different, but it all felt the same.

     "One should not be alone in grief." Eowyn's gentle voice filled her ears, but she dared not turn to face her. She carefully made her way towards Ellaria, coming to a stand beside her. Ellaria met her eyes. "We don't have to talk, but at least let me stand with you so that you may not be alone."

     Ellaria wiped her teary eyes, letting out a watery chuckle. "You dare use my own words against me?"

     "Only repeating the words a friend said to me." Eowyn replied, placing a hand over Ellaria's. "Forgive me, I did not know how close you two were."

     Ellaria looked at her. "He is—was—my sister's love, Eowyn. He grew up in my home. We've known each other for many years."

     "You are from Rivendell?" Eowyn asked.

     Ellaria nodded. "My father is Lord Elrond." She took a breath, closing her eyes and letting the wind cool her face. "We should focus on helping the wounded. Not standing up here and waste our time mourning." She shook her head. "There is no time to mourn. There is no time at all." She turned and walked down the stairs and Eowyn paused for a moment before following after her.

     Ellaria helped pass out blankets and food, pausing to wrap the leg of one of the wounded. It was when Eowyn quickly grabbed her arm that pulled her from her own thoughts. Ellaria stood, looking at the woman with furrowed brows. Eowyn only smiled and nodded her head to something behind her. Ellaria turned and her eyes widened before her eyes narrowed. She stormed towards Aragorn and when Legolas saw her coming he quickly took a step back.

     "You bastard!" She spoke in her native tongue, anger in her words. She lightly shoved him and he winced. "How dare you scare me like that! You are a complete idiot, Aragorn! I thought you were dead!" When he saw the scared tears in her eyes he gently pulled her into a hug. Ellaria was quick to hug him back, closing her eyes tightly and releasing a shaky breath. "You do that to me again, I'll kill you myself."

     She pulled away from him and he only offered her a smile, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Forgive me, my friend."

     Ellaria let out a grunt. "If you weren't wounded right now, I would throttle you."

     "We have bigger things to worry about than my wounds," Aragorn claimed. "Come." He walked forwards and Ellaria shared a look with Legolas who merely shrugged before she followed after him. Legolas was quick to grab Gimli and bring him into the meeting hall where the king was waiting, listening to Aragorn explain what was coming.

     "A great host, you say?" Theoden asked, worry clear in his eyes though he tried his best to keep it hidden.

     "All Isengard is emptied." Aragorn informed.

     "How many?"

     "Ten thousand strong at least."

     Theoden turned to him. "Ten thousand?"

     "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall."

     Theoden stared at Aragorn for a long moment before turning and walking away. As he left he said, "Let them come."

     Ellaria sighed, glancing at Aragorn. "This won't end well at all." She muttered incoherent words under her breath before following after the king with Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli following.

     As Theoden walked down the stairs, through his people, he looked to the guard hovering over his left shoulder. "I want any man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall." The guard nodded before leaving. They walked through the front gates of Helm's Deep, staring at the land before them. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg."

     "This is no rabble of mindless Orcs," said Gimli. "These are Uruk-Hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad."

     Theoden walked up to him. "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."

     "Not against this," Ellaria argued. Theoden spun to face her. "You have not faced this before, you need to plan accordingly to keep your men from being slaughtered."

     "I will take no orders from a Princess," Theoden snarled. "You should not even be here, you should be sitting behind your castle and hiding behind your walls."

     Ellaria's gaze narrowed as she stepped closer to him, her face mere inches from his. "I am exhausted of your doubts. They bore me, truly. You'll have care of how you speak to me, Theoden. King or not, you will not talk to me so lowly. I apologize for not being what you expected, but I am all you've got. We," she motioned to the other three, "are all you've got. Do not damn us for trying to keep you and your people alive. You should thank us for continuing to fight by your side, despite your idiotic decisions!" She glared at him one more time before shoving past him and walking back through the doors.

     Theoden glanced at them and Legolas slightly lifted his chin. "I would not doubt her, my lord. She knows of what she speaks." He gave a slight bow of his head before quickly following after Ellaria.

     When Legolas found her, she was in a room by herself, pacing back and forth. Her hands were clenched in frustration, her eyes closed as she tried to contain her anger. "Ellaria," he called her name but she didn't spare him a glance.

     "A fool, that king is." Ellaria grumbled. "Why is it that only when I speak I am shut down? Men like that make me wish I had never become a fighter. I do not reach their expectations, and they flaw me for it. What other sacrifices must an Elf make to prove herself? Have I not given enough to this cursed world already? Was not seeing my friends die before my own eyes not enough of a scar imprinted on my heart? Must I have scars all over to prove I am worthy? Why is it fair that everyone around me is allowed to fight, but when I do they tell me to go home?"

     Legolas quickly grabbed her arms, stopping her pacing and her ranting. He took hold of her hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You are Ellaria of Rivendell. You do not allow anyone to tell you who you should and should not be. You never have. So, why should you start now?" He placed both of her hands into one of his, allowing him to reach up and lightly brush a thumb over her cheek. "Do not change who you are because someone has decided you are not what they thought you to be."

     She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing herself to lean into his touch. "You're right. I know." She opened her eyes to look at him once more. "But even the Dwarves did not question me as much as Men."

     "Well," Legolas started, "they are Men."

     Ellaria chuckled and nodded. "That is true." She took another breath, squeezing his hands. "I'm alright. I just needed a moment." He nodded his head, letting her lead the way and following after her. They found Aragorn and Gimli easily, still following after the king. Aragorn placed a hand on her shoulder and she nodded, assuring she was fine.

     "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock," Theoden said. "Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them." Ellaria rolled her eyes at his foolishness.

     Aragorn stared after the king in disbelief. "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child."

     Theoden quickly turned to him, grabbing his arm. Aragorn glanced down to his hand. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this it to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."

     Theoden turned to walk away, but Aragorn's voice forced him to turn back. "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."

     Theoden narrowed his eyes. "And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so luckily in our friends as you." Ellaria forced herself to bite her tongue, restraining the sarcastic remark that attempted to fly from her lips. "The old alliances are dead."

     "Gondor will answer," Aragorn claimed.

     "Gondor?!" Theoden growled. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?! Where was gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon―︎?" He cut himself off, restraining his anger. "No, my Lord Aragorn. . . we are alone." Finally, he walked away.

     "Did you not say the same thing I did?" Ellaria asked, pointing to herself. "Does no one hear me speak anymore?" She scoffed. "The ignorance of Men will get us all killed. This is why I like Dwarves. They may be stubborn, but for the most part they aren't complete imbecile's."

     "I see why my kin liked you," Gimli smiled.

     "Gimli, not now." Ellaria sighed, though she shot him an appreciative smile. "Whose bright idea was it to leave this world to Men to fix?" She paused. "Oh right, my father." The three men cracked a smile. She rolled her eyes. "I am surrounded by a bunch of idiots." She shook her head and pushed forwards.

     "She's so colorful when she's angry," Gimli noted.

     Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. "You have no idea, my friend."