"You should rest," Legolas suggested as I sat myself down on the table in the hall.

"There is much work to be done, supplies to move and weapons to be sharpened," I yawned as he sat next to me.

"The Uruks will be here by nightfall, the last thing you need is to be fatigued before the battle even starts." He spoke softly, "Even an hour to regain your strength would benefit you greatly."

I looked over to the corner of the Keep where Nasha was curled up sleeping. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea. It had been a long day what with the warg riders and the preparations for war.

"There is nowhere to sleep," I pointed out, rubbing my eyes and drawing my black cloak closer.

I tensed up as Legolas wrapped his arm around my shoulder and drew me close. I wasn't used to such an intimate closeness but as I rest my head on his shoulder, I felt my eyes droop.

"I will wake you when we are needed." He cooed softly.

It was a good thing the keep was relatively empty now that the refugees had been moved. I hated public shows of weakness. We are in the corner and away from prying eyes so I allowed myself this one time to relax.

It wasn't a deep slumber, more of a power nap, slipping between awake and asleep. I would never admit it aloud but Legolas was actually quite a comfy warm pillow.

When he did wake me, I felt very refreshed. It had only been less than an hour but he was right, I felt all the better for it.

"Thanks," I mumbled, stretching my limbs again.

I leant over and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. It wasn't much of a kiss, more like a timid peck on the cheek.

He raised an eyebrow at me but I could see the blush forming on his cheeks. I glared at him playfully but I didn't threaten him (I think by now it would just go without saying).

"We should get down to the armoury," he suggested, "We should help the soldiers prepare for the fight ahead."

***

The sun was dangerously low in the sky now and it would soon be dusk. I wondered if this would be my last time seeing the sun but I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind.

As we entered the armoury, I tried to keep my spirits up as I saw the villagers King Théoden had declared soldiers.

Most were old men, past their prime and deserving of a restful end, not the one they about to endure.

Then there were the young boys. I don't mean young men like teenagers, I mean young boys. Some of them looked as young as eight years of age which was far too young. Their young minds should be occupied with friends and family, not war and death.

As me and Legolas made our way to Aragorn and Gimli, I saw the villagers kit themselves out. Some of the old men took their weapons and shakes under the weight. The armour did not even fit the children, they looked as though they had just found their fathers clothes and were playing around in them but they weren't, this was real.

"Farmers, farriers, stable boys," Aragorn sighed, "These are no soldiers."

"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli grumbled.

"Or too few," Legolas added sadly.

"I have to agree. We cannot ask them to fight," I sighed, looking over at a young boy who's helmet kept falling off.

"Look at them. They're frightened." Legolas observed, "I can see it in their eyes."

With that, all the chattering from the villagers ceased as they regarded Legolas. I felt for them. They were being thrown into a war, unprepared and ill advised and now, one of the only four in the room who could actually fight, was doubting them.

"And they should be," Legolas spoke in Elvish, knowing that most of not all the villagers couldn't not understand him, "Three hundred against ten thousand!"

Aragorn sighed and decided to use Elvish as well, "They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras."

"Aragorn, they cannot win this fight! They are all going to die!" He said solemnly in Elvish.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn yelled in the common tongue.

It wasn't subtle anymore and I saw some of the villager's eyes fill with fear. To have the only experienced fighters in the room argue over their dwindling chances wasn't a good sign for them.

Aragorn turned and stormed out of the room. Legolas made to follow him but Gimli grabbed his arm.

"Let him go, lad. Let him be." He sighed.

I made my way into a side chamber, newt to the armoury. I would find myself something after all the other 'soldiers' were gone. I sat there, sharpening all my blades with a whetstone when Legolas entered.

He handed me a full quiver of arrows which I took greatfully. He took out his own short swords and began sharpening them.

We all knew what the night would being and I had no doubt, all my weapons would come in handy.

Legolas was right though, we didn't stand a chance against the Uruks. We might be able to hold the keep for a time but eventually they would breech the gates and flood the fortress.

Helm's Deep wasn't just a safe haven of Rohan, it would also be a trap.

If Rohan was victorious and the Uruks didn't storm the keep then it would continue to be a safe haven. But should the Uruks flood the keep, all the refugees in the Glittering Caves would be trapped inside with no escape, leading them to be helpless lambs to the slaughter.

Deciding not to dwell on such a horrid subject, I tried to busy my mind with other things.

One of which brought me back to Legolas. I hated how easily he had invaded my mind.

He was handsome of course, I had just be given much thought to it before. He was a little baby-faced and it would be easy to mistake him from a woman at the wrong angle, but he was quite handsome.

He was very skilled in combat, though I had still yet to challenge him to a sparring match.

He wasn't like most men as well. He was kind (when he wanted to be) and caring. Unlike Boromir who taunted me because I was a woman, Legolas had never done so. In fact, I was the one who insulted his masculinity on a daily basis by nicknaming him 'Princess' and calling him delicate. Turns out I am a hypocrite.

I turned to Legolas slowly, putting the whetstone down and putting away the last of my daggers.

"I've been thinking about what you said," I sighed quietly, "About what we would do after the Ring is destroyed."

"Forgive me, it wasn't my place to say anything," He said, making to leave but I grabbed his hand and forced him to stay.

"No, forgive me. All I've done on this trip is insult you. I just never thought anyone would see anything in someone like that," I sighed, my teeth gritted from admitting the truth.

He chuckled at this and squeezed my hand, making me look up at him as he smirked.

"It's true, you're stubborn, rude, reckless and hot-headed," He nodded, "But I wouldn't have you any other way. You're also smart, cunning, talented and funny."

"So you don't mind me being stubborn, rude, reckless and hot-headed?" I smirked, making him roll his eyes.

"Like I said, I wouldn't have you any other way," He said, drawing a little bit closer.

"Good," I said, jabbing him in the arm playfully but still roughly before I walked towards the door, "Now we should probably go get some armour..."

The armoury was now completely empty except for me, Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli.

Aragorn was kitting himself out with chainmail and leather while Gimli walked into a side room, presumably to do the same.

Me and Legolas managed to find some leather armour which would be perfect for us elves. He put on a simple pair of shoulder pads and I did the same. I also put on a new pair of leather braces around my arms and legs.

Legolas came forward and handed Aragorn his sword, "We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray." He sighed, "Forgive me, I was wrong to despair."

"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas," Aragorn said in elvish as he grabbed Legolas' shoulder.

It was then, Gimli came into our midst. He was holding up some chainmail around his stomach.

"We had time, I'd get this adjusted," he grumbled, letting go of the chainmail and letting it fall to the floor around his feet making us all chuckle, "It's a little tight across the chest."

Suddenly he heard something, a horn of some sorts coming from outside. It didn't sound like the one we were suspecting that night.

"That is no Orc horn," Legolas pointed out, prompting all of us to leave the armoury and find the source of the sound.

***

We made our way to the entrance hall and hurried down the steps. There we saw a large company of Lothlórien elves, all cloaked and kitted with bows and arrows.

Haldir stood in front of them, talking to King Théoden, "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together." He noticed us then, turning to us, "We come to honour that allegiance."

Aragorn decended the steps first, greeting him before pulling him into a hug which Haldir accepted awkwardly. I scoffed and as Aragorn let go, I hugged him as well, a little less awkwardly as he knew me better.

"You are most welcome," Aragorn beamed, hope rising in his eyes.

Me and Legolas stood by Haldir as the elven archers turned to Théoden. Their movements were all in sink, the better part of centuries of practice all shown off to the Rohan soldiers who all gawked at the masjesty of the elves.

"We are proud to fight alongside Men once more." Haldir explained.

***

We all stood in the entrance hall. Théoden was making last minute changes to accommodate for the elven reinforcements. Haldir was ordering his archers into position.

One by one, they all left, leaving just the Fellowship left.

We were about to find our positions on the keep when I decided to do something rather rash.

Before he could protest, I quickly moved towards Legolas and grabbed him by his cloak, lowering him a little so I could press my lips to his.

I would never do this normally, especially with an audience but very soon, we would be in battle against ten thousand Uruk-hai and even with the Elves help, our chances were still against us.

The kiss wasn't long. I knew that both Aragorn and Gimli were watching awkwardly so it only lasted long enough for Legolas to start to relax and raise his hands to my waist.

I let go then, leaving him rather flustered. I turned to look at Aragorn and Gimli who were smirking but trying to avoid my gaze.

I coughed a little awkwardly, clapping my hands together and taking out my bow.

"See you in Hell, boys," I declared before I walked out with a smile on my face, knowing I had just felt Legolas in an awkward position, standing there with a blush.

I quickly found my way up to the ramparts of the keep where the archers were. As I waited for the others to join me, I let myself indulge in a joyful smile, probably the last one before the Uruk-hai army attacked.

When Legolas and Gimli did join me, Gimli couldn't stop bursting into fits of laughter. I bit my lip so as not to join him while Legolas just stood between us, his cheeks still a little flushed.

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