The Silver Flame (LOTR)

The Battle at Helm's Deep (3)

The night was a storm of clashing steel, roaring winds, and the deafening cries of war. From the battlements of Helm's Deep, Visenya could see the sea of Uruk-hai, relentless in their assault on the gates. Every swing of their crude weapons splintered the wood further, and she knew it would not hold much longer.

"Theoden, fall back!" Aragorn's voice cut through the chaos like a beacon, pulling her attention toward him as he ordered the retreat. Theoden, his voice hoarse from commanding his men, echoed Aragorn's call. "Fall back! Fall back to the Keep!"

Visenya's blood thrummed in her veins, each heartbeat a reminder of how close they were to losing everything. She had been in battles before, but none as desperate as this one. The orcs and goblins of Middle-earth were one thing; the sheer ferocity of the Uruk-hai was something else entirely. Their brute strength, their numbers—it was as if Sauron himself had spat them from the depths of Mount Doom.

With her sword in hand, Visenya fought her way to the gate. Her muscles burned from the exertion, but there was no room for exhaustion. She parried an Uruk-hai's strike, the sheer force of its blade sending a shockwave up her arm. The beast bared its yellowed teeth at her, snarling as it pressed its advantage. With a swift turn, Visenya sliced upward, catching the Uruk beneath its jaw, its blood spraying across her armor.

"To the Keep! Pull back to the Keep!" Aragorn's command rang out again as he sprinted through the carnage, his eyes scanning for Haldir. But Visenya already knew what was about to unfold. She had seen Haldir, bleeding, struggling to fend off the onslaught, and then...he fell. It was a grievous wound, the kind no elf would survive. She watched in silent agony as Aragorn reached him, catching his friend before he collapsed to the ground.

The grief on Aragorn's face was a mirror of the despair within her own heart. There was no time to mourn—only to fight.

"Visenya!" Aragorn's voice pulled her back from the brink of sorrow. "Fall back to the Keep!"

She gave a swift nod, glancing once more at Haldir's fallen form before turning her back on the battlefield. She fought her way toward the Keep, each step weighted with the knowledge that they were losing ground. The battle was tipping further in favor of the enemy, and all they could do now was hold the Keep as long as possible.

Visenya reached the gates just as Theoden and his men were retreating. The King was shouting orders, his voice strained with effort. "To the gate! Draw your swords!"

The gates were buckling, the Uruk-hai on the other side hacking through the broken wood with monstrous strength. Visenya rushed forward to help shore up the defenses, slashing at the creatures through the gaps in the splintered wood. She felt the solid thud of her blade hitting flesh and bone, but for every Uruk she felled, it seemed like two more took their place.

Beside her, Theoden grunted as an Uruk-hai thrust a lance toward him, the tip skidding off his armor with a screech. The King grimaced, pushing forward to stab his attacker in return. His face was a mask of pain and determination, but the sight of the Uruk army at the gates seemed to sap his strength. Visenya watched as Gamling hurried to his side, pulling him back before the King could be struck again.

"Hold them!" Theoden roared. "Hold the gate!"

The gates would not hold, Visenya knew. They could not. Not with this many Uruks, not with the ferocity of their attack. The wood was breaking, splintering under the weight of their assault, and it was only a matter of time before the creatures broke through entirely.

Visenya's eyes flicked to Aragorn, who was still fighting tooth and nail alongside Gimli. The two of them were a whirlwind of deadly strikes, but even they were being pushed back.