Hope ↠ LOTR

X. Light

They made their way into the castle, the only building that had not yet been taken over by the Orcs. The few people that had managed to make their way into the safety of the castle were barricading the door with whatever they could find, the Uruks pushing hard against it with a battering ram.

"The fortress is taken. It is over," Théoden hopelessly remarked from where he stood within the castle walls, watching the others reinforce the door.

Aragorn immediately turned on the man while him and Legolas collected a bench to take with them to the barricade. "You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it." He handed the bench to Legolas, Athena hurrying over to help him haul it to the door while Aragorn continued to address the king. "They still defend it. They have died defending it!" Théoden did not respond so Aragorn asked him a question instead. "Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Again, there was no answer. "Is there no other way?"

"Answer him!" Athena yelled out from her position by the door, furious that their king had given up on them so soon.

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far, the Uruk-hai are too many," Gamling answered seeing as the King of Rohan wasn't going to anytime soon.

"Tell the women and children to make for the mountain pass and barricade the entrance!" Aragorn ordered Gamling.

"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Théoden finally spoke.

The Uruks did not stop their assault on the door, the reinforcements becoming weaker with each hit that they threw at it.

"Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them."

"For death and glory."

"For Rohan. For your people."

"The sun is rising," Gimli observed quietly.

Athena looked up to the window and saw the first rays of sunlight filtering through it, lighting up the stone walls and floor. It was a remarkable and wondrous sight, but not because of the beautiful amber shades that entered the room. It was because it was a symbol of hope. It was the fifth day since Gandalf left, and he was due to return. She turned around and made her way to Théoden, looking at him with desperation.

"The battle is not over until the last person defending this keep has fallen. Your people continue to fight out there, risking everything to keep their families safe from harm. They know that they are not winning this battle, they are losing hope and they are deeply afraid. They need their king to guide them and to show them the way, to give them hope and keep them fighting for everything they hold dear. They need you, now more than ever," she told him.

He stared between the two heirs of Gondor for a moment before a look of determination crossed his features. "Yes. Yes. The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time."

"Yes!" Gimli roared happily, immediately jogging off to reach the horn himself.

Théoden reached out and clasped his hands on their shoulders (thankfully he had his hand on Athena's uninjured shoulder). "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together."

A handful of his guardsmen left the castle through another doorway, returning moments later with a handful of horses. Aragorn and Brego had taken to one another so Athena was no longer forced to share a horse. Hasufel loyally trotted up to her when he saw her standing among the men, she reached her hand out to lightly stroke the side of his head in a loving manner.

"Go-vaethathanc ne ndagor, mellon nin? [WIll you join me in battle, my friend?]" She whispered to him.

As if he understood her he snorted lightly and nudged his head gently against her hand and she smiled before sliding her foot in the stirrup and swinging herself onto the saddle that lay strapped on his back, one hand holding the reins while her other pulled out her sword. It was lucky that her injured arm had not been her dominant one.