Chapter Eighteen, Planning for Battle

"It's true you don't see many dwarf women," Gimli told Evelina, Neville, Luna, and Eowyn. The four of them were walking on both sides of his horse. Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, Theoden, Sirius, and Theodred were riding on horses a little behind them. "In fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance to dwarf men that they are often mistaken for dwarf men." Evelina giggled and looked back at Aragorn. 'It's the beards,' he mouthed, stroking his chin. Evelina, Luna and Eoywen  broke out in giggles.

"And this in turn has given rise to the belief that their are no dwarf women," Gimli continued. "And that dwarves just spring out of a hole in the ground." Eowyn, Evelina, Luna, and Neville were laughing hysterically. "Which is of course preposterous. Woah!" Gimli's horse surged forwards, knocking him off. Eowyn rushed forward and helped him up, trying to stifle her laughter. "Nobody panic!" Gimli shouted. "That was deliberate! That was deliberate!"

"Sure it was, Gimli," Neville laughed.

The next day, Evelina rode on the front of Legolas' horse with him curled up against him. Legolas followed Hama and Gamling up to scout ahead. "What is it?" Gamling asked. "Hama?"

"I'm not sure," Hama murmured.

"Look out!" Evelina shrieked. With wide eyes, Hama ducked under the incoming warg. "Stupefy!" Evelina yelled. The warg dropped down, stunned. Legolas fired an arrow, killing it. "Go with the other women," he pleaded. "Aragorn take her to the others." Legolas instructed as he handed their mate to him. Not wasting time Aragorn ran back with Evelina in his arms.

"We're under attack he called!" He set Evelina down gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "My love please go with the others. We cannot lose you."

"All riders to the front of the column!" Theoden ordered. "Come on get me up here I'm a rider!" Gimli shouted as he truer to climb on to the horse he was sharing with Boromir only to nearly fall off the other side. "Forward! Charge forward!" Gimli ordered the horse only for it to go backwards. Boromir taking potty on the dwarf climbed up behind him and rode into the fray.  "Eowyn," Theoden called. "Lead the people to Helm's Deep."

"I can fight!" she yelled back.

"No! You must lead the others to safety including Eve, make sure you keep an eye on her you know what she's like." Eowyn turned her head to look at her niece who was arguing with her parents and Lord Aragorn she could see the young girl was frightened not for herself, but losing her family, not that she could blame her. "Luna go with her to make sure she stays." Sirius ordered the young elf. "No! Dad, I'm not leaving you! I can't lose you again dad!" Evelina protested scared for her father tears running down her face as her fear for her family and her hormones got the better of her. "I'll go with Sirius Eve, Boromir, Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas will be there we'll be safe.

You trained me Eve you know I'll be fine I was trained by the best and so was Luna. The others need you and Luna to protect them Eoywn may know how to fight but she's never been in a war we have. They need you, you can do this." Neville assured his sister. Sucking up her courage and bottling up her emotions- that her family didn't like- she nodded her head and began ushering the people who couldn't fight down the path as the riders charged into the wargs and orcs.

Neville slashed and hacked at the orcs with his Elvish sword. Neville ducked under the blade of an orc before moving to stand back to back with Boromir who was also hacking at the orcs and wargs. Theodred and Sirius quickly joined them. Neville saw Gimli was under a pile of Orcs and Wargs and was just about to kill the new Warg on top of him when Aragorn got there first throwing a spear into the Warg's back only it it to fall on top of Gimli who groaned in pain. "Here, Gimli." Neville said as he waved his hand levitating the bodies off of him. "Thank you Laddie." Gimli said gruffly as he got to his feet. Looking around them they saw that the battle was over, but there was no sign of Aragorn not even among the dead.

"Aragorn!" Legolas shouted.

"Aragorn?" Gimli asked, looking for his friend.

"Tell me what happened to him," Neville snapped at the wheezing orc at his feet. "And I shall ease your passing." Boromir, Legolas and Gimli ran up to stand beside the ebony haired male. "He's dead," the orc wheezed. "Took a little tumble off the cliff."

"No," Legolas gasped what was he going to tell Evelina. He ran to the edge of the cliff as the orc breathed his last breath. There was no sign of his friend.

Boromir bent down and picked up the magical pendent out of the Orcs hands, it was what Evelina had gifted to Aragorn, Legolas and Haldir before leaving Lothlórien, it glowed red if her or the babies were in danger and blue when they were safe. It was glowing blue at the moment with slight red tinged throughout. The others joined Legolas and Neville at the cliffs edge. "Get the wounded on horses. The Wargs of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." Theoden instructed his men heavily. "You can not do that!" Boromir argued. "Evelina deserves to bury the man she loved, the father of her child. She's your granddaughter do you not care for her!"

"Do not speak to me bout whether I care for my own granddaughter or not Lord Boromir. This is for her we must do this. What good would it do. Would it bring him back? No it would not it would only cause her more grieve and pain that I do not wish to burden her with further!" Theoden snapped.

"He's not dead." Neville said softly drawing all attention to him.

"What was that Neville?" Sirius asked confused.

"Aragorn. He's not dead, seriously injured yes, but not dead. Eve is the Mistress of Death, if he was dead she'd be here right now arguing with death to bring him back or healing him herself. She would have felt it and Apparated here straight away." Neville told them. "There's still hope he lives and I will not let anyone tell my sister otherwise." He said firmly glaring at the King as he climbed onto his horse.

During the last few hours in the journey to Helm's Deep, everyone was somber. Many had died in the battle. When we got to Helm's Deep, Theoden immediately sent the women into the caves. Evelina was distraught when Gimli told her the news of her beloved Aragorn and collapsed to the floor sobbing her father's immediately rushing over to try to help Gimli soothe the distraught young mother. "Shhh. Eve it's alright he may not be dead and he will be making his way back to you as we speak." Sirius hushed as he rocked her in his arms. "Neville said you would have felt him die and you haven't so that's a good thing my daughter.

There's still hope do not give it up so easily. I do not wish to see the love, life and spirit drain from your eyes it is what gives your father and I strength." Theodred soothed wiping away her tears. Theoden tried to convince Evelina and Luna to go too, but they wouldn't listen to him. Instead, the two girls headed to the armoury with Neville, Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas to help put the younger boys in armour.

Luna and Boromir were curled up in the main square just enjoying a quiet moment when they heard shouting. "He's alive!" The couple looked up to see Aragorn riding in on a horse. As soon as Aragorn jumped down, Boromir pulled the taller man into a fierce hug. When he pulled back, Boromir punched Aragorn's shoulder and handed him his pendant.

Chuckling, Aragorn rubbed his shoulder. "Hannon le. It means thank you." He said as he fastened it around his neck seeing Boromir's confused look. "It's good to see you too, Boromir. Hello, Luna."

"I'm glad my sister hasn't lost anyone else." Luna said smiling at him. "Otherwise, we'd bring you back just to kill you again." Gimli came running into the room. "Where is he? I'm gonna kill him!" He smiled when he saw Aragorn and pulled him into another hug. "Bless you, laddie." Aragorn laughed harder.

"Gimli, where is Eve? where is the King?" he asked. Gimli gestured to a hall. Before Aragorn could enter though, he ran into Neville and Legolas. "You're late," Legolas said simply.

"You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago," Neville added before taking him in.

"You look awful. Here drink this." Neville said handing him a pain releasing potion, blood replenishing potion and a skelegro potion which Aragorn quickly downed with a grimace but a thankful nod of his head before pushing the doors of the hall open. As he entered the hall he noticed that Eve had lost some weight in the three days he'd been gone and immediately felt guilty, her head was resting on her father's shoulder while both Sirius and Theodred were sat on either side of her their arms wrapped around her as they discuss battle plans with Theoden and Glamding while Hama was moving the women and children into the caves.

As the doors bounced off of the stone walls everyone turned to look at him. "Aragorn!" Evelina cried happily as she ran into his arms. "I'm sorry Eve." Aragorn said mournfully as he felt how thin she was she couldn't bare to lose what little weight she had while carrying three babies. "I'm just glad your safe." Evelina said happily snuggling into his chest. "If Eve wasn't in your arms right now I'd hit you." Sirius growled as he, Theodred and Theoden joined them. "Sirius!" Theodred chaticised but by the look on his face he agreed whole heartedly with his husband. "My love please join the other women in the caves?" Aragorn asked desperately trying to convey the urgency to her. "No! My family is fighting so am I!" Evelina argued.

"Eve please. There are ten thousand Urukais on their way here right now they'll be here at night fall. It's an army bred for a single purpose; to wipe out the world of men." Aragorn begged her.

"Ten thousand." Theoden breathed in shock. "Glamding, send everyone who can fight to the armoury we need all the help we can get. We are very much alone." Theoden ordered ignoring Aragorn's pointed look as he turned to his granddaughter. "Eve, please join Eowyn in the caves. Luna, Neville can you join her and make sure she stays there.

Eve, please do this for an old man at least give your grandfather some piece of mind." Theoden asked. Eve was quiet for a moment before she hugged her grandfather nodding her head as she made her way out of the hall with Neville and Luna no one noticing the mischievous look in her eyes. "Let's get started." Evelina ordered once they were away from prying ears and eyes as they changed out of their clothes and into their battle clothes and armour, making their way out of the fortress.

"These are not warriors," Legolas whispered to Boromir and Gimli. "They will not last the night."
"If young Eve was here she'd hit you then tell you to have faith." Gimli chuckled causing the other two to chuckle. "She wouldn't she and I don't doubt Luna would also." Boromir chucked before the three grew somber again as they looked around them. "These men have seen too many winters," Gimli shad gruffly.

"Or too few," Boromir added.

"They are frightened," Legolas said. "I can see it in their eyes. Three hundred against ten thousand they're all going to die!" He ranted in elvish.

"Then I shall die as one of them!!" Aragorn shouted at Legolas before he stormed out of the armoury. Legolas tried to follow him but Gimli and Boromir stopped him. "Let him go lad, let him be." Gimli said putting his arm out to stop the elf following after his friend. "He just needs time to calm down, he'll be fine." Boromir assured as they three friends stood their thinking of the impending battle as a frantic Sirius ran in followed by Théodred.

"Has anyone seen Eve?" Sirius asked frantically stopping in front of the three. "I though King Théoden sent her into the caves with Luna and Neville?" Boromir asked confused and worried.

"You don't know her as well as you think you do then." Sirius said dryly, a frown appeared on Legolas's face surely he knew his Eve well enough by now. "She will not stay put hiding when her loved ones are fighting." Sirius said pulling Legolas from his thoughts. "She'll sneak out during the battle, if she hasn't already, and I for one would rather have her with us where we can protect her and watch her then finding out when it's too late."

As they searched for the elusive three they came across a young boy only five years younger than Eve and Neville that Sirius and Thèodred identified as Hama's son, Halith talking to Aragorn outside the Citadel. "Aragorn." Thèodred called gathering both Aragorn's and the young boy's attention, who bowed to his Prince before scurrying off. "Sirius? Thèodred? Shard the matter?" Aragorn asked worriedly as he looked at the two frantic men, but before they could say anything Legolas interrupted. "I'm sorry I was wrong to despair." Legolas apologised. Smiling at his friend Aragorn clasped Legolas's shoulder as Legolas did the same to him. "It's forgotten."

"What's going on?" A voice asked from behind them. The group turned around and saw King Theoden walking up go them followed by Glamdring. "We're looking for Eve, Luna and Neville, father." Thèodred informed him. "We fear she's sneaked out or will sneak out during the battle and we want her with us to make sure she's safe." A frown appeared on the King's face as he wondered where his granddaughter was. "I haven't seen her. Glamdring send some men to search for her." Theoden ordered, but just as he sent to leave to do his King's orders Grimbold walked past leading find men to their spots.

"If you're looking for Lady Evelina, Sire. She's out front with Lady Luna and Lord Neville." Grimbold informed them as he walked past. The group shared a startled look before running to the causeway. Once there they say the three casting spells creating traps here and there as well as some rather deadly looking plants, that Sirius identified as Devils Snare and Venomous Tentacula. "Evelina! What're you doing out here?!" Thèodred called worriedly. The three paused in what they were doing after setting a finale and last trap and made their way over to the group on the causeway. "Setting traps for the Urukais." Evelina said with a shrug. "Considering you've had half a day to plan grandfather you haven't done much." Evelina admonished.

"Eve, you are young and do not understand the proceedings of war." Theoden said benignly completely forgetting what she'd told him a couple of days previously.

"That is where you are wrong grandfather." Evelina said quietly her voice full of sadness. "Last year Neville, Luna and I were I'm a Wizarding eat right at the front of it. The final battle came to a head at our school where there was young children. We were outnumbered far greater than this. The Dark Lord's side far exceeded ours as he Vampires, Werewolves, Trolls, Ogres, Giants, Giant Spiders and Dementors, that are soul sucking creatures on his side. We spent thirty minutes getting the younger years safely out of the school to a safe place; though most snuck back to help and we only had thirty minutes, thirty minutes to prepare for the battle." Evelina informed them to their shock and horror.

"We lost much in that battle and before it, most had perished in the months, years beforehand." Luna said sadly not sounding like her usual self. "Though Neville did destroy a good portion of the Dark Side by blowing up the bridge." She said proudly causing her friend to blush. "Sire, I think we know more about war than you think. There's a reason why that war is called The Bloody War." Neville added. Theoden looked really looked at his granddaughter and her friends and he was saddened by what he saw; he did not see three young adults, one who should be preparing for her little ones, but three hardened warriors who'd seen and done too much. "I am sorry I should not have stopped you from fighting. Forgive me this old man just wants to protect his only granddaughter and his great-grandchildren. Come let us head back inside." Theoden saucing leading the way back in the gate closing and locking behind him.

Gimli growled and took off his outer costs as he tried to sort out the too big chainmail. "If we had time I'd get this adjusted." He grumbled dripping the chainmail to the floor so it look like it was a long dress as it dragged on the floor. He glared as Sirius, Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir tried and failed to smother their laughter. "It's a little tight across the chest!" He snapped at them. Evelina taking pity on the dwarf waved her hand resizing the chainmail to fit him properly. "There you go Gimli." She said kindly.

"Thank you Lassie." Gimli said gruffly though he smiles gratefully at her as he put his coats back on just as a horn wrenched through the air.

"That is no Orc horn." Legolas said as the gates were opened once more as a soldier came running up to Theoden telling him a battalion of Elves had come to their aid. "Haldir." Evelina cried happily as she ran and jumped into her mates arms wrapping her slender arms and legs around him. "Pen bain." Haldir greeted as he held her close one hand running through her hair the other on her extended stomach. "Are you alright?" Evelina nodded snuggling into her mates arms finally feeling complete now all three were with her her she just needed her little Teddy and the war to be over and everything would be perfect.

"It's good to see you well Haldir." Luna greeted smiling at her friend.

"Thank you, Luna," Haldir replied. He put his tiny mate down. "Men and Elves once fought and died together. We are proud to fight beside men once more."

"Hello Orophin, Rumil." Evelina greeted as she hugged her soon -to -be -brother- in-laws. "How are you Eve?" They asked concerned.

"I'm okay I guess." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. "We must get in position," Luna said. She grabbed Boromir's arm, yanking him along behind her. Boromir used to his mates spontaneity by now just simply follow after her to the bemusement of the others who followed after them. The other elves quickly followed their leader. All the men were already in position. The elves and the Fellowship quickly joined them.

Translation:

*Elvish: pen bain. *English: beautiful one.

What should the triplets be?

Girl, girl and girl:

Boy, girl and boy:

Boy, girl and girl:

Boy, boy and boy: