Fire and death, ruin and sorrow...maurading orcs...the White Hand.
Rohan was falling.
Opening her eyes, she raised her hand, and spoke to the Elves in her clear, commanding voice. �Galadhrim, warriors of the Golden Wood! I have called you here to ask for your aid in a country�s hour of need. War is on the horizon; it has already begun. You know this. The Dark One is stretching out his black hand, bent on swallowing up all of Middle-earth. His power is growing; already he is attacking the lands of Middle-earth.
�The time of the Elves is over; even now we are beginning to leave these shores. We no longer have a part in the shaping of this world. The time of Men is at hand, and whether now or later, each of us will leave for Valinor. The wars of these times involve Men, not us.
�But the country of Rohan is in great need. The accursed creatures of Saruman are ravaging the land, burning, killing, and plundering as they go. Most of the people have fled to Edoras, where Th�oden King of Rohan dwells. Long had he lain in darkness, his mind poisoned by Saruman�s venom. But now Mithrandir, no longer Grey, has awoken him, and he has seen his people�s need. Th�oden is not going to stay in Edoras, for the city would fall under a concentrated attack. He will empty Edoras, and take his people to Helm�s Deep.�
Galadriel sighed. Aldamir, gazing up at her, saw images of what she described forming before his eyes, and he shuddered slightly at the ruin and death the orcs were wreaking in Rohan. So much sorrow and ruin...and it will spread over Middle-earth, starting from Rohan...
She spoke once again, and he listened.
�Helm�s Deep is a mighty fortress, but the defenders have no way out of it. It is a trap, though a formidable one. It has been said that while Helm�s Deep is defended, it cannot fall. But I fear for Th�oden and his people. Saruman has a vast army, one which he has hidden until now. If his army falls upon Helm�s Deep, which I believe it will, he stands no chance.
�That war is Rohan�s, not ours. Yet Middle-earth is threatened. Shall we leave them to their battles against Sauron, to conquer or to fall on their own ground? Do we remain here in L�rien as they fight and die, and merely look on? Long ago we stood by Men, in an alliance of friendship between the two kinds. Is that alliance dead?�
She looked into the eyes of the Elves gathered before her.
Aldamir had listened to every word, his thoughts first following what she said, and then swirling about. Do we leave them to their wars, to die or to conquer? Should I stay here to protect L�rien, my own country? Or... The Elf lifted his head. No, the alliance is not dead. If you ask it of me, my Lady, I will fight for Rohan. Calm and resolved, he waited.
Galadriel spoke once again. �I have seen in your eyes that the alliance is not dead. Then, Galadhrim, I ask you to march to Helm�s Deep, to fight alongside Men once more. We will not stand aside while Men struggle against the Evil One. The alliance of old will be renewed, one last time.�
She lifted both of her hands, and a star flashed out between her fingers. �To Helm�s Deep!�
The Galadhrim raised their bows, and many voices rose up in answer to hers. �To Helm�s Deep!�