Another Life

Chapter 22 - The preperation for battle

A horn echoed, suddenly, all around the keep.

“That is no Orc horn.” Legolas jumped, moving past me in a hurry, his attention somewhere else. Okay, okay, he and I both knew that this was an Elf horn and that was awesome, but it kind of irked me that Legolas didn't seem to get how much deep shit he was in right now with me.

“Find the King!” A shout, excitement rippling throughout the keep, feet pounding on the stone outside.

“Come on.” Aragorn grasped my arm and we ran out too, heading for the front gate, his energy lifting.

We rushed down, I grabbed the skirt so I didn't trip, following close after Aragorn. Over a hundred Elves. Elves?

I froze at the top of the stairs, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli rushing down ahead of me, staring at them. Elves. Elves at Helm's Deep. Somehow, I knew this wasn't meant to happen, and yet here it was.

Or was it?

It was these two conflicting things in my head. Somehow, I knew Elves weren't supposed to be here, that this was 'humans only'. A victory of men alone. But I could SEE Elves in Helm's deep. I knew of two separate possibilities at this moment. And here they were. Choosing one.

Haldir stepped forward and I felt dizzy suddenly, as he stood there, once again seeing what I had seen in Lothlorien. His death. He wasn't meant to come here, no Elf was besides Legolas, and yet they had come. And now they would all die. Every single last one of them.

I suddenly wanted to vomit.

They spoke further down, the group of them there, as I leaned against the edge of the wall, legs weak. The Elves turned, suddenly, to King Theoden and Aragorn. I couldn't look at it. At these Elves who would die. It made me feel sick.

I turned, heading back up the stairs, thoughts of … I didn't know, sneaking into this fight dressed as a man or something. Would that change it? Who knew.

Something barrelled into me from behind, grabbing me, lifting me up. Panic flooded through me as arms lifted me up, hugging me hard.

“Wenduin!” Boromir's voice, sending a thrill of anxiety and relief, a funny mix, echoing as he spun me around. “I thought you were dead!”

I stared at him as he stood, his face in a wide smile. Alive. He really was alive then. I'd changed one thing, saved one life. I tried to smile, as he released me, tried to relax. He must have noticed how tense I'd gotten because I saw that flash of regret and hesitation on his face. Guilt. It was still tearing him up. Somehow, now that I knew he was alive, I... was glad to see it. Glad to see he was still ...guilty. Was that wrong of me? I didn't know.

Legolas caught my attention, glancing back up at both of us, his stare only for a few seconds but it felt like a very long time. I tried to re-focus on Boromir as he stood back, staring at me head to toe, hand still on my arm.

Boromir was under an elven hood, half hidden, but obvious to me. He looked terrible. Clean, yes, but exhausted, pale, and stiff, the edge of a white bandage still viable underneath the dark red shirt. No armour. It was the first time I'd really seen Boromir without it. And when he breathed, he tensed, as if the movement of his lungs caused him pain. And he had shaved off his beard. What a bizarre sight... he looked as clean faced as the elves did.

“Are you not preparing for battle, Wenduin? Where is your armour?” He asked, as he met my eyes, glancing back over his shoulder at the other.

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” I responded. “I-”

I didn't get a chance to explain though. Theodan was coming back up, Aragorn beside him, and Aragorn said softly to us, “Let us speak of this in a quieter space.”