Hope ↠ LOTR

IX. Retreat

The air left her lungs when she collided harshly with the ground beneath her, the side of her face hitting against the muddied floor and no doubt causing some level of injury to it. Dust covered her face and she coughed to rid herself from the harmful plumes of debris, each cough causing more pain to reach her ribs. Disorientated, she willed herself to sit up on her knees with a pathetic wheeze leaving her, brushing her hands over her face to push back her hair that had come undone from the commotion. It stung specifically when her fingertips swept over her cheek.

Her chest heaved up and down, filling her lungs again with the oxygen she needed as her eyes scoured the scene in front of her. Many large rocks lay littered along the ground as did a few bodies from those that were unlucky in both the fight and the explosion. Her gaze landed on a familiar figure a few feet away from her who was only just regaining his consciousness, the sound of stamping feet forcing her attention to the band of Uruk-hais that were making their way through the substantial gap in the wall they had created.

Athena stumbled over to her brother and grabbed onto his arm with both of her hands, aiding him in standing up so that he wouldn't become trampled by them. Gimli called out their names and they looked up to see him launch himself from the top of the wall, landing on the head of an unsuspecting Uruk and sending them both toppling to the ground.

"Gimli!" The two of them simultaneously cried out in concern, but he was holding himself well against the onslaught of Uruks.

Thankfully, the battalion of Elves that had stayed inside the wall were mainly unaffected by what had happened and remained strong, standing in preparation for Aragorn's orders with their bows drawn and arrows poised.

"Hado i philinn! [Release arrows!]" At his order they immediately released their arrows and killed a handful of Uruks. "Herio! [Charge!]"

His final order sent them all rushing forwards, blades in hand to meet the Uruks head on in close combat. Athena held her sword tightly in her hands, darting forwards with them, using her sword to push back the spears that they held and cutting down those that she could reach. When she swung her blade to take down one of the foul creatures her eyes widened at the sight that presented itself not far from where she was. Legolas stood atop a shield, surfing down the stairs while shooting the Uruks effortlessly in the process.

"You have got to be kidding me!" She exclaimed to herself out of admiration, envy, and frustration all in one before returning her full attention to the fight.

They continued to fight back relentlessly against the Uruks but it was obvious that they could not continue for much longer. Their limbs were becoming weary and weak and the numbers of the enemies barely dimmed. They were outnumbered more than they had ever been before and hope was waning within them, if they stayed out in the open for much longer there would be nobody left to defend Helm's Deep—they'd all be dead.

Her sword met with the axe of an Uruk-hai and her arms almost buckled underneath the force of the blow. Raising her leg she kicked him in the stomach and when he stumbled backwards she swung her sword and sliced his chest, turning to deliver another fatal blow to another unlucky Uruk that stood too closely to her.

Théoden was watching the entire scene unfold from where he stood on a wall by the keep and he had noticed their dwindling numbers and the decreasing strength of the soldiers, which is why he decided it was in their best interests to not allow them to remain there any longer.

"Aragorn! Fall back to the keep! Get your men out of there!"

"Nan barad! [To the keep!]" Aragorn yelled out to his men over and over again, urging them to retreat. "Haldir! Nan barad! [To the keep!]"