Prequel to my version of The Lord of The Rings trilogy

Aragorn's Return

As Aragorn rode over the hill on Brego, a sense of foreboding filled the air. The thundering of hooves echoed beneath him, but it was the distant sound of stamping that made him halt at the brow of the hill. His heart sank as he gazed down at the approaching army, a sea of black clad in armor that glinted ominously in the fading light. "By the Valar," he whispered, dread creeping into his heart.

"They are coming," he muttered, urging Brego forward. The stallion galloped through the night, carrying Aragorn towards the fortress of Helm's Deep, a sense of urgency propelling him forward. The hours turned into a blur as day broke and he finally crested another hill, the great stone walls of Helm's Deep sprawling below him.

"Well done, Brego, my friend," Aragorn said, patting the horse's neck as they descended into the valley. The gates of Helm's Deep swung open, and he rode into the fortress amidst a throng of anxious faces.

A woman gasped, "He's alive!" as murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Gimli! Where is he? Where is he?" Gimli's voice cut through the noise as he squeezed his way through the throng, his face a mask of determination. "Get out of the way! I'm going to kill him!"

"You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew. Bless you, laddie!" Gimli exclaimed, pulling Aragorn into a fierce embrace, nearly toppling him from his horse.

"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked, his expression turning serious.

Gimli nodded toward the hall. "In the great hall, discussing our doom. Might want to hurry, though; it seems it's all anyone can talk about these days."

As Aragorn dismounted and made his way through the bustling crowd, he felt a familiar presence before he even turned. Legolas and Liv stood waiting, the tension palpable between them.

"You're late," Legolas remarked, his brow furrowing as he surveyed Aragorn's disheveled appearance. "You look terrible."

Liv nudged her brother in the ribs. "Maybe if you had helped him instead of sulking, he wouldn't look like that!"

Legolas feigned a hurt expression, raising his hands. "First, you step on my foot, then you punch me in the arm, now you elbow me in the ribs? I'm the older sibling! You should be the one getting abused, not me!"

Aragorn chuckled softly despite the gravity of the situation. "Nice to see you guys too. I didn't mean to worry you."

"You really gave us a scare," Liv said, her voice dropping slightly as she recalled how they had feared for his safety. "I almost jumped off the cliff to look for you."

"Like I would let her do that," Legolas added with a playful glare.

Eowyn, who had been watching from a distance, felt her heart swell with hope and fear, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She turned away, wanting to compose herself, yet unable to tear her gaze from Aragorn.

Legolas pulled out the Evenstar and handed it to Aragorn. The light of the gem shimmered as Aragorn held it up, a symbol of hope amidst despair. "Thank you," he said, his voice laden with gratitude. Eowyn's heart clenched as she witnessed the bond between them.

In the great hall, Theoden, Gamling, and Hama were deep in conversation when the heavy doors swung open. Aragorn stepped in, his presence commanding immediate attention.

"A great host, you say?" Theoden asked, his voice grave.

"All Isengard is emptied," Aragorn replied, feeling the weight of his words settle over the hall.

"How many?" Theoden inquired, his eyes narrowing.

"Ten thousand strong, at least," Aragorn responded.

Theoden's face contorted in disbelief. "Ten thousand?"

"It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall," Aragorn warned, his voice steady despite the dread that clung to the air.

Theoden turned away, his expression resolute. "Let them come," he said, steeling himself for the battle ahead.

Outside, Theoden walked alongside Gamling and Hama, Aragorn trailing closely behind. Legolas, Gimli, Liv, David, Saya, and Lily flanked them as they approached the fortress gates.

"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall," Theoden ordered, his voice ringing with authority. Gamling and Hama nodded and rushed off, the urgency of their mission clear.

As they reached the ramparts overlooking the valley, Theoden spoke firmly. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg."

Gimli scoffed, his brow furrowing in frustration. "This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick, and their shields broad."

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep," Theoden replied, his tone sharp as he glared at Gimli.

Aragorn placed a reassuring hand on Gimli's shoulder. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."

But Aragorn's confidence was tinged with worry. "They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child."

Liv glanced at David, holding Lily tightly against her. "He's right, my lord," she said, her voice trembling as she adjusted her grip on the child.

Theoden turned back to Aragorn, his face pale. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end to be worthy of remembrance."

"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid," Aragorn urged, his voice a mix of desperation and determination.

"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead," Theoden said bitterly.

"Gondor will answer," Aragorn declared, his eyes blazing with hope.

"Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone. Get the women and children into the caves, except for Liv and Saya," Theoden ordered, his voice heavy with resignation.

"We need more time to lay provisions!" Gamling protested, desperation creeping into his tone.

"There is no time. War is upon us. Secure the gate!" Theoden commanded.

Liv pulled David aside, her expression fierce. "Babe, what is it?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"I'm calling the team," she replied, determination in her voice.

"Are you insane? Do you really want to put Mark and the others in danger?" David shot back, his eyes wide with alarm.

"We have no choice. They'll give us the numbers, and besides, they can handle themselves. The enemy won't stand a chance against Axel's fireball screw," Liv insisted, her resolve unwavering.

"True, I'll call Jude," David conceded, nodding as he reached for his communicator.

Above them, flocks of crows soared through the sky, their cries echoing ominously—a harbinger of the battle to come.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the fortress, hope flickered in the hearts of the brave souls within Helm's Deep, united in the face of impending doom.