Eruwen (Part 1 & 2)

Helm's Deep

Immediately upon arrival, preparations for the coming battle began.

"What can your spells do?" the king asked.

"It is much, my lord," I replied, "but everything has its price."

There was a hideout in the caves where women and children and the old and wounded had hidden. I tried to heal the wounds if I could - I didn't use Athelas, I made do with magic. I preferred the elven way, but the plant didn't grow in Rohan, so I didn't want to waste it in one day.

Calad found a place to lie down and rest, his noble antlers not built for moving within human walls. So he chose a spacious and quiet place so that he didn't get in the way.

"How many enemies do you think will come, Eruwen?" Théoden wondered, his son, now fully recovered, standing beside him.

"There will come as many as Saruman deems worthy of victory," I replied, "a number which he is sure will destroy Helm's Deep and all who are in it."

The days passed, and all awaited the arrival of the army. The first to arrive was Aragorn, who had survived the fall from the cliff and had a chance to catch a glimpse of Saruman's army, which numbered ten thousand orcs. And our number? Less than three hundred were able to fight - a number increased by every man and boy who could hold a weapon.

The coming night was to decide who would be the winner and who would be the loser. It was a glorious evening when the horn sounded through the neighborhood. The rhythmic sound wasn't Orcish, it was Elvish.

"Lórien," I remarked, running out to see.

Several hundred elven warriors had arrived, along with Haldir, whom I ran to hug. Aragorn hugged him after me, and Legolas gave him a friendly bow. 

It was deep into the night when I saw the fires caused by the orcs, and the rain started as the two armies faced each other, each waiting for the other's first move. 

The Urut-hai tried to provoke us with their stomping, roaring, and beating their weapons into the ground, each elf waiting for Aragorn's order, but one old human man let loose a shot from his bow. Uruk fell dead to the ground - the battle could thus begin.

The first thing I shot at was one of the leaders standing on a raised rock. My arrows never missed their target, each shot a hit before I concentrated on deflecting the enemy shots so that no elven blood was spilled. I didn't have time to use my protection spells as time was short and duties were many.

But protection didn't apply against the ladders they had set up to get over the walls, fire was useful for that, burning the wood to dust.

"You never cease to amaze me, Eruwen," Haldir remarked.

"That," I killed one of the Uruks, "is," another fell with my sword, "mine," and a third, "intention," I killed two at once.

The fight seemed even, though my father found a way to surprise us. He had discovered how fire could destroy stone - part of the wall literally blew up - it was breached and the tables were turned.

We had to move, which was difficult given the number of enemies. 

 "To the tower!" Aragorn yelled, and I killed four enemies at once before I noticed Haldir. One orc stabbed him with his sword and another was about to hit him in the back, which I prevented with my arrow.

"Haldir!" I shouted, running towards him. I helped him to his feet and saw Calad running towards us, using his antlers to keep his enemies out of the way. I mounted him and Haldir and rode to safety. I put Athelas on his wound before giving him a brief kiss and heading back to fight. 

Who I got out of trouble for the umpteenth time was Théodred. We retreated to the tower where we had fortified ourselves, but it was only a matter of time before the Uruk-hai broke through the entrance.

The King had almost lost hope, which I decided to ignore. Calad charged forward as soon as he had the chance, and the others followed on horseback. The sun was rising, and Gandalf appeared in the east as he had promised, followed by Éomer and his loyal men.

The enemies had to fight on two fronts at once. Hope was kindled as quickly as the sun shone on Helm's Deep.