The Edge of Night

Helm's Deep

"You will go into the caves with the women and children." Her father orders her as they get their armor on together.

"I will not. I have a duty to my people to protect them, just as you and Theodred have done."

"I will not watch my daughter die! You will go into the caves with the women and children."

"You may be my king, and my father. But I am of age and I will go where I please." She turns on her heel and briskly walks from the room.

"So you are fighting? Why am I the only one who is to mind the children, grant strength to the women?" Eowyn asks as Elfwyn leaves to find the others.

"Their prince is dead Eowyn. As princess it is my duty to protect them. Should things go south we need you to be ready to take over, to rule Rohan in our place. That is your duty as part of this family."

"I know of my duty, Elfwyn. Do you remember yours?"

"Of course I do. But there is much that I must do, both for Rohan and myself."

"Elfwyn you are not making any sense."

She sighs and pulls her cousin into a corner, away from the men who are making preparations, and the women who are filing into the caves below. "Someone I love very dearly is at risk of dying this night. I must see to it that those events do not come to pass."

"Uncle?" She asks brokenly.

"No. Father will live... It is my husband, who is destined to die."

"Husband? But you are not wed..."

"I am, to an elf... from Lothlorien."

"There is much you did not tell me of your time away."

"I know, and I am sorry that this is all coming out now. If we survive this night, I will tell you everything, and you will meet him. But please, I beg of you. Go to the caves. Keep yourself alive. I cannot lose anyone else."

She sighs. "I will, for you and only you." Elfwyn places a kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you." She sends her on her way. The night was fast approaching and she needed to find her companions. She was almost to the armory when a horn sounds.

She runs off, towards the entrance, coming across Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli on the way. They look out and see an army of elves, draped in blue cloaks. And at the head of the column... is Haldir. They come to a skidding halt. "We come to honor that allegiance."

"Mae govannen, Haldir." (Well met, Haldir) Aragorn says, greeting Haldir as the Elves do before pulling him into a hug, which Haldir reciprocates after a few moments. "You are most welcome."

Without caring who was around them, who was witnessing this moment, Elfwyn flies down the stairs and launches herself at him. "I have missed you. Dreams are not enough." She whispers to him as she holds him close. She misses the look that crosses her father's face as he takes in the sight before him.

"As I have missed you." He breathes in her scent, relief he had never known before flooding him. She reluctantly lets go of him and steps back, allowing Legolas to come forward and greet him in kind. The army he was leading turns to face them at that point. "We are proud to fight alongside Men once more."

Her father leads Haldir and the others away, but not before sparing a glance at her, his expression unreadable. This was going to be a conversation later that she was sure she was not going to enjoy.

...

She is found later by Aragorn, Legolas and Haldir as they prepare to set up the Elves along the Deeping Wall. "You are to stay by my side the whole night." Haldir says to her as Legolas and Aragorn find Gimli and lead him to another section of the wall.

"That is how I have foreseen it. If you think for one second that I would have you tell me any different, you are mistaken."

"Promise me that you will at least try to stay alive."

"Dying has not been my goal, just a means to an end, should the need arise. Do not do anything foolish, and I will not have the need to sacrifice myself."

The night is cold and quiet, their breathing filling the air with steam as the temperature drops even more. For a while all they see is nothing. But soon the night air fills with shrieks, howls, and maniacal laughter, the marching growing louder and louder as the advancing army swiftly approaches. Thunder claps and lightning strikes and the heavens open up, as if to cry for the oncoming tragedy.

Soon enough, standing in the quarry before them, a legion of Orcs as far as the eye can see comes to a stop, their spears sharp, their torches glowing in the dark of the night. Aragorn walks through the Elvish ranks, calling out to each warrior. "A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas." (Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none)

The Orcs below start growling, their spears hitting the ground as they seek to intimidate the forces behind the wall. They all turn their heads in horror as one of Rohan's soldiers lets an arrow fly, sinking into the neck of one of the Uruks, killing him instantly as he falls to the ground with a groan and a resounding thud. "Dartho!" (Hold!) Aragorn shouts, holding up his hand.

The growls and the howls intensify as those around the fallen Uruk begin to advance at the sound of the battle cry from the commander standing upon a rock, and they run towards the fortress. "So it begins." Theoden says softly.