𝐈𝐋𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄̈ || A.

𝟎𝟏𝟗 ⸺ the battle of helm's deep

Night had fallen over Helm's Deep and at this hour of the night, all its people had fallen asleep. Apart from the guards and Aragorn. The Ranger stared at the ceiling, sleep failing to catch him. His heart feels heavy and broken into pieces. His head spins with countless thoughts and it would spin off his head if he doesn't do anything about it.
Aragorn puts on his boots and clasps his cloak around his shoulders before heading outside. It didn't matter how stealthy he was, Legolas heard him leave.
A breath of fresh air kisses his cheeks. The air blows the clouds in his mind away. He closes his eyes and breathes the cold air. Once he opens his eyes, he notices the cloudy night. The stars are veiled, no light illuminating the earth. He climbs on the crenel, sitting down with his legs over the edge.
"While you are gone to a place I cannot follow, I wait here alone and hollow. A day broken with pain and darkness, my love went unspoken to you who I missed," Aragorn whispers into the night, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I miss you in ways that not even words can describe," he whispers. His head rests against the merlon, unable to stop his flow of tears. Whilst his eyes were closed, he couldn't help but notice something bright. He doesn't know whether he is imagining this or not.
Aragorn opens his eyes and lifts his head to the sky. He almost started to believe he imagined the light, but then some of the clouds moved away. It is only a little gap in the sky, but the light of the moon and stars find their way to him.
His starlight.
Could he take it as a sign that Iladya is still alive? His heart flutters at the thought of it. A small burst of hope emerges through his body.
His ilmarë could be still alive.
His eyes are fixated on the moon and stars. "Find your way back to me," Aragorn whispers at the moon. "I think it will break the moon's heart when she looks down to see me without you."

Iladya barely keeps herself on Brego as they reach the top of a hill. Her head spins and aches. Her body complains and commands her to rest, but she can't. Not until he held her in his arms again.
Her ears move back and forth, causing her to look around. Iladya hears stomping and at the horizon, she sees a massive army dressed in black advancing towards Helm's Deep.
"Make haste, my friend," she whispers in Brego's ear. The horse neighs before galloping his way to Helm's Deep. Once Helm's Deep is within sight, she smiles and pats Brego's neck.
"Mae carnen, Brego mellon nîn." With the strength she has left, she rides through the gates of Helm's Deep. She draws attention because the people there heard of the fallen Elf. The word must have spread fast because it is Gimli who pushes away the people to get through.
"Let me through!" Gimli grunts. "Where is she? Where is she? I'm going to kill her!" He reaches her and embraces her.
''You are the luckiest, the canniest — Iladya smiles — and the most reckless Elf I ever knew. Bless you, laddie.'' Gimli hugs her.
''Gimli, where are Aragorn and the King?'' Iladya questions, gripping his shoulders. He nods in the direction of the hall. Iladya follows his gaze and nods. She heads to the hall and halts once she hears a familiar voice.
"Le abdollen." Iladya runs up to her brother, although it appears she is stumbling towards her brother. She falls into his arms and embraces him.
"You look terrible." Iladya manages to grin and pushes his shoulder.
"I feel great though," she answers with a hint of sarcasm.
Eowyn overhears them talking and turns to Iladya. She is about to run up to her but changes her mind. Her heart accelerates but contains herself.

Théoden, Aragorn, and Gamling are talking in the Hall but their attention is drawn to the doors. Aragorn furrows his eyebrows, watching the figure push the doors open.
Do my eyes deceive me?
His heart accelerates and he steps away from the table. A sob ripples from his throat once he sees her face.
His starlight.
Has found her way back to him.
He ran up to her and engulfed her in an embrace. He lifted her off her feet and twirled around.
''I thought you had gone where I couldn't follow,'' he sobs. Iladya snuggles her face into his neck, unaware of the tears flowing over her cheeks.
''My mother protected me,'' she whispers. Aragorn puts her back onto her feet, but swiftly catches her when her legs give out.
''Easy,'' Aragorn comments. ''You need to rest, my lady.'' Iladya nods and finds her balance to stay upright.
''First, I bring an urgent message,'' says Iladya and turns to Théoden. ''Isengard is emptied.'' Théoden places his hands on the table, looking at the map.
''How many?''
''Ten thousand,'' she replies. ''It is an army bred for a single purpose which is to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall.'' Théoden takes one more glance at the map before looking at Aragorn.
''Let them come.''
''I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall,'' Théoden orders. Aragorn, Iladya, Legolas, and Gimli follow Théoden to the gate.
''Legolas, take Iladya somewhere to eat and rest,'' Aragorn asks of Legolas. Legolas nods and takes Iladya, who goes without protest, somewhere to rest.
''We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall,'' Théoden comments. ''Or set foot inside the Hornburg!''
''This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armour is thick and their shields broad,'' Gimli warns.
''I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep.'' Gimli looks disgruntled and as they walk past him, Aragorn puts a hand on his shoulder to calm down.
''They will break upon this fortress like water on rock — they walk around the inner ramparts — Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn,'' Théoden says. ''We've seen it before. Crops can be resown ... Homes rebuilt. Within these walls ... We will outlast them.''
''They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people ... down to the last child,'' Aragorn argues. He understands Théoden's point of view, however, they have come for Men.
Theoden walks back towards Aragorn and takes his arm. ''What would you have me do? Look at my men,'' he hisses. ''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 of remembrance.''
''Send out riders, my lord,'' Aragorn suggests. ''You must call for aid.''
''And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead.''
''Gondor will answer,'' Aragorn replies.
''Gondor?!'' Theoden explodes. ''Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?! Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon ... No, my lord Aragorn ... We are alone,'' he paused to speak calmer. ''Get the women and children into the caves,'' he says, walking off back to the hall.