Love Can Fight Any Battle (Legolas/Hermione Love Story

Chapter 23: He's Alive

They galloped quickly into the fortress as Gambling announced their arrival. Ewoyn met them there and searched the group. "So few. So few of you have returned." she noted.

Théoden got off his horse and looked at her "Our people are safe. We paid for it with many lives." he told her. Autheil and Legolas got up still in silence neither one had spoken a word since they restarted their journy. Legolas held Autheil's hand in comfort.

Gimli went up to Éwoyn "My Lady..." he said. "Lord Aragorn, where is he?" she asked the dwarf almost afraid of the answer. "He fell..." was all Gimli could say. Autheil let a tear fall at his words as she looked at Éwoyn who looked at her waiting for her to deny it. When Autheil didn't it, Éwoyn turned to her uncle who was climbing the stairs. He looked over at her with regret in his eyes. Legolas lead Autheil into the castle and Gimli followed behind leaving Éwoyn to grieve alone.

The next afternoon passed and Autheil sat in her shared room with Legolas looking out the window. "Are you alright?" Legolas asked as he sat across from her taking her hand in his. "Why do I feel like he's not gone? Why do I feel like he's still alive? Is it the denial of my heart or is it true?" she asked him, still looking out the window.

"I don't know because I feel the same way." he said.

"I tried to look for him but I can't see him. All I see is a horse near the river but I don't feel like he dead." she explained. She looked over at him. Legolas gave her a small smile as he raised his hand to her cheek, his thumb rubbing against it gently. Autheil closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, relaxing under his touch. He then moved closer and kissed her passionately and a for a moment they made each other forget everything going on around them.

A sudden knock came at the door breaking the two elves away from each other. In walked Théoden who looked a bit uneasy. Both elves stood up "My Lord?" Autheil asked. Théoden stood in front of the two.

"I never did get to thank you for saving my life, My Lady." he said. Autheil smiled "No thanks is needed My Lord." she replied.

Théoden looked down at the ground "I am sorry about Lord Aragorn." he said. "You never know My Lord, he may yet surprise us." Autheil clued at. Théoden looked up at them "You believe him to be alive?" he asked. The couple nodded

"We don't know yet, it's just a feeling. But if he is, he will find us. I just hope that he does before it's too late." Autheil replied. The King nodded. "I will need all of your help. We know there is a war coming we just don't know when, we will need you." Théoden said. "You have it, My Lord just because Lord Aragorn is not currently before us that does not change." Legolas told him. "I will see soon then to make preparations." the King said and left them.

Autheil and Legolas turned back to the window, a vision then came to Autheil.

An empty Isengard

Thousand of marching Uraka-hai bearing the white hand of Saruman.

The army standing in front of Helm's Deep in the dark as the rain fell.

Autheil then came back to reality. "What did you see?" Legolas said. "We have to get to Théoden. We are faced with a large army and we don't have a lot of time." Autheil replied. Another vision then appeared

Aragorn was galloping along the paved steps of Helm's Deep.

"He's here. He's alive." was all Autheil said but Legolas knew what she meant. The two left the room quickly and looked over to the ledge where the entrance was and sure enough; there was Aragorn riding into Helm's Deep.

Autheil and Legolas stood in front of the King's throne room, knowing that would be the first place Aragorn would go to. Aragorn barely noticed them standing in his way until he nearly walked into Legolas. "Your late." Legolas told him. Both elves then looked over at his wounds "You look terrible." Autheil told him.

"Why thank you, My Lady." Aragorn said with sarcasm and then a smile.

Legolas then pulled out something form his pocket and pressed it into Aragorn's hand. Aragorn opened his hand and saw his Evenstar pendant. He sighed in contentment and then looked back up at Legolas "Thank you." he said. The two clasped their hands on each other's shoulders for a moment.

Aragorn turned to Autheil who smiled but then punched him in the arm. "Ow." Aragorn exclaimed and rubbed his arm. "Don't do that ever again. I was about ready to jump off that bloody cliff to go find you." Autheil scolded him. Aragorn smiled and held his arms out which Autheil quickly jumped into and held him tightly in relief.

"I'm sorry for scaring you." he said. "Good because if you weren't I'd hit you again." she joked, making her two men laugh. They pulled apart and entered the King's room. The king looked up in amazement at the living Aragorn.

Aragorn told them of the great army he saw confirming Autheil's vision while she healed his wounds.

"Great host you say?" Théoden questioned.

"All Isengard is empty." Aragorn confirmed.

"How many?" he questioned.

"Ten thousand strong at least." Aragorn told him.

"Ten thousand?" the king asked in disbelief.

"It is an army breed for a single purpose; to destroy the world of men. They will be here by night fall." Aragorn informed them.

"Let them come." Théoden said as he walked off the others following behind.

They followed Théoden onto the battlements as he gave orders to his soldiers to prepare the army.

Autheil looked out to where the archers would be stationed and then an idea popped into her head. "A protection spell." she said gaining attention form the others. She turned to them "I can put a one way protection spell over the wall, so maybe the archers cam even thing us a bit." Autheil explained. "Anything would be of help." the kin said and walked away not even letting Autheil finish.

The civilians were being lead into the glittering caves to hid while the battle was to take place. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Autheil walked in the opposite direction of the crowd as they continued to make battle plans. "We'll place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above." Aragorn told them.

"Aragron you must rest. You are now good to us half alive." Legolas told his friend who continued walking.

Aragorn turned to Éwoyn who was hasty making his way through the crowd "My Lord! Aragorn!" she called out until she stood in front of him. "I am to be sent with the women into the caves." she said displeased.

"That is a honorable charge." Aragorn replied.

"To mind the children, to find food and bedding for when the men return. What renown is there in that?" she asked and looked behind him at Autheil with jealousy knowing she was allowed to fight. Legolas saw this and took her hand while he looked at Éwoyn.

"My lady there may come a time for valor without renown. Who then will the people look to in the last defense?" Aragorn tried to reason.

"Let me stand at your side." she insisted.

Aragorn shook his head "It is not in my power to do so." he explained and turned to move along with his companions.

"You do not command the others to stay!" Éwoyn shouted making Aragorn turn back to her. "They stay because they would not be parted from you...because they love you." Éwoyn shouted. Aragorn looked taken back at her words as they both stared at each other for a moment. Éwoyn then seemed to realize what she said and apologized before walking off quickly into the caves with the others. Autheil felt bad for the women not only did she want to fight for her people but she was falling in love with Aragorn, a love that she knew Aragorn could not return.