Aldamir let the golden light stream onto his face and sighed in pleasure. After the long hours of traveling through the stiflingly close depths of Fangorn, it was a delight to feel the sun�s light again. Now and then they had come upon a splinter of moonlight piercing the heavy foliage, but pure light in there was rare. Ents or no Ents, he was glad to be out again.
Haldir had been incredulous when he heard of Aldamir�s experience with one of the tree-shepherds. He almost hadn�t believed him, but when Aldamir described the meeting to him, he gave in. �One of the Enyd, you say! So they still wander the earth, herders of trees. The tales tell of days when there were thousands of them. What a magnificent sight that must have been. Alas that they are oppressed by the wicked Saruman! I would dearly love to meet such a creature.�
Aldamir had smiled. �Nothing is impossible, Haldir my friend. You may yet meet an onod! Their ways are strange, and I would not be too surprised if one day we saw one, wandering about.�
Haldir chuckled. �Let us hope so,� he said. �I hope they do not ever die out, for they are powerful beings, and incredibly old.�
�Indeed they are! I felt very young for all my many years in the presence of Bregalad. He has lived for hundreds more years than you and I, and yet there are older Ents than him.�
The Elf-company traveled steadily throughout the rest of that day. The sun shone upon them through the morning, but as noon passed clouds began to creep across the sky and by late afternoon the Elves walked under a grey roof of clouds. Lindir sniffed the air and studied the clouds intently.
�There looks to be the beginnings of a storm in those clouds,� he said to Aldamir as they walked near the edge of the company. �Whether it will break upon us, or just fly away, I cannot say.�
Aldamir looked up. �The beginnings of a storm? Do you mean a rainstorm, or something a little stronger?�
�As of yet I don�t know. It could be either, or nothing.�
�I would welcome a bit of rain,� said Aldamir. �I used to sit near a quiet stream in L�rien when it rained, and listen to the raindrops patter on the water. I didn�t mind getting wet; I still don�t.�
�I love the rain,� said Lindir softly. �I love all of it, but when it comes from the West I love it most. It bears an indescribable sweetness then, and sometimes I can hear, very faintly, the songs of the Eldar in the Blessed Realm.�
Aldamir was silent, deep in thought. He no longer thought of rain, or songs of Eressea, but Uruviel. Her fear and unease when she had spoken to him in thought puzzled him greatly. What could have created such fear in her? She was safe in L�rien; nothing could harm her there. It could only have been something she had seen or heard of. Yet she would not tell him. Was it something pertaining to his journey to Helm�s Deep? How could that be?
Yet what else could cause her fear?
Aldamir offered up a silent prayer to Elbereth, asking for her protection of Uruviel and himself. Grant that I may sometime return to her, that I may once again look upon her fair face...
It was twilight when they came in sight of Helm�s Deep. The sky was a deep, soft, purple-blue, blanketed with grey clouds. Great mountains of stern grey stone rose up from the wide, grassy land, pale golden-green in the gloaming. As they halted on a hill which rose above the rest of the landscape, the fortress of Helm�s Deep was laid out before them.
It was built where a deep, steep-sided valley clove the mountains. The fortress was built on the right side of the valley; a rounded, strongly built keep from which a four-sided tower rose, thick at the bottom and becoming slenderer toward the top. From the keep�s left side, a wall ran all the way across the valley, closing it off. A wide, sweeping causeway led up to the heavy wooden gate.
�It is well-built,� observed Aldamir.
�That it is,� answered Lindir. �It has been said that while Helm�s Deep is defended, it can never fall. Let us hope it will not be different this time...�
�Galadhrim!� called Haldir. �We have reached the fortress in time, though I do not think it will be long before an attack is made. Let us go to them now and bring them the Lady Galadriel�s greeting, and give them our aid. To war we march once more, to fight by the side of men as our fathers did long ago!�
The Galadhrim raised their bows and cried, �Na ohta!�
The Elf-company fell into formation and the banners of Elbereth were lifted high. Led by Haldir, they descended the hill and marched toward the fortress. The Elves no longer spoke among themselves, but walked silently with determined hearts. War was upon them.
As they drew nearer, and the grey stone keep and tower rose up before them, Haldir turned to Lindir. �Sound a call upon the horn of the Elves,� he commanded. �Let them know that the Elves are once again going to war.�
Lindir lifted the horn Galadriel had given him at their departure, a fine, slender horn inlaid with gold and small precious stones, and put it to his lips. A clear silver note rang out through the twilight, echoing through the narrow valley. Almost immediately Aldamir saw signs of activity on the fortress walls; men of Rohan peering out in wonder.
Haldir lifted his hand, and led the Galadhrim up the wide stone causeway. As Aldamir set foot on it, he had a sudden feeling of doom, as if something, fate perhaps, was drawing itself tight around him. A shadow of fear darkened his heart, but he thrust it away and lifted his head high. Stern determination filled his heart, and he stepped forward. Whatever his fate was, he was going to meet it fearlessly.
Even if it was death.