Love Lead Me On - A Legolas x Priestess!Reader Fanfiction

Chapter 10: All is never fair- not in love, not in war

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About half a day after that encounter with Legolas, the swordsmaster's attention had been diverted to more pressing matters after she had received information that Aragorn had successfully relayed the news of the impending attack on Helm's Deep to the king. Such a dreadful fact they had been lucky enough to come across as they rode towards Rohan's fortress.

At least this provided them with an edge -no matter how small it may be. It bought them much needed time to prepare and establish an army as both Dunedain and swordsmaster had thankfully been conscious enough to make a rough estimation of the assailants.

It was not unexpected that even the King had been overwhelmed by the number they had spoken of, at least not to Celine.

Fear reeked from every fiber of Theoden King's being in spite of the strong front he desperately tried to put up- it was this very same fright that had led him to a hasty decision of requiring every able bodied man to participate in the incoming battle regardless of age or skill.

"Farmers, ferriers, stable boys, this isn't an army." Aragorn was the first to speak, what was left of The Fellowship dutifully helping the men prepare for battle in whatever way they could.

Gimli was quick to come to the defensive as he looked around, entirely not at odds with the obvious fact and yet at the very least giving everyone the benefit of a doubt, "Aye, some of them might've seen many winters." He comments as his gaze falls to an elderly man.

"Or too few." Legolas supplies with an edge that was against his usual calm. Apprehension had been building up inside him since the notion of putting all these men into war had been placed on the table and it was now that his previous hesitation to voice his concern had expired.

"Look at them, you could see the fear in their eyes," he went on, drawing the attention of all the men in the room towards him. The clanging of metal swords, shields, armors and bustling bodies momentarily paused, a few taking offense at the ellon's comment.

Noticing this, Legolas quickly switched to his native language, "And what will it be? Three hundred, against what - ten thousand?" He paced, frowning at the ground then at Aragorn.

"You doubt too much," Aragorn followed after the elf out of respect for his kin's bravery- no matter how unwilling or futile the effort may be.

"I must agree with Legolas. These are not warriors," the swordsmaster counters firmly, gesturing at the people around the. Scanning the sea of anxious faces, her eyes locked on soft browns that belonged to one particular little boy who looked more afraid than anyone else in the room and yet it didn't tamper the courage she had seen set not only in his eyes but deep in his heart as well.

Sending the boy a small comforting smile, she turned back to her comrades with a grim expression on her face, "I am certain that even a stout heart would not be of much use in actual battle without the skills and experience to match..."

"They will be slaughtered." The ellon concluded, all hope seeming to fade from his eyes, "There is no way they would be able to win this war and you know it." He gritted his teeth, piercing blues searching the Dunedain's. Wordlessly questioning as to why he even approved of the king's decision in the first place.

Upon hearing this, Celine quickly went to Aragorn's defence, "None of us had a choice. The king had never listened to anyone, not even Gandalf. Had he been then he would have never made such a foolish decision as to leading his people to Helm's Deep in the first place." She glared up at him all trace of that broken girl he saw earlier gone in the wind as if this was an entirely different person.