Title: Through The Fire And Flames [25/?]
Genre: Romance/Adventure/Fantasy/Angst
Rating/Warnings: PG-13 - For mild language, violence, abuse, slight crude humor, and uh...more violence.
Story So Far: The Fellowship has been broken, losing two of the members in its trek to Mordor. Merry and Pippin are taken hostage by a troop of Uruk-hai, Frodo and Sam continue on to the awaited destination in Mordor, and Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Aspen, and Damocles track the Uruk-hai for their two Hobbit comrades. Tári, Idril, and Linwë have their own plans. As the rigorous journey continues in pieces, Frodo and Sam stumble upon a familiar woman who should be in Rohan at the moment. While Aspen struggles with her feelings with a certain Elf, what would be his own thoughts on the girl? He hadn’t really experienced much emotions like these before, though it appears that she may have opened up his eyes to many things that he hadn’t seen before.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters except for those who are unfamiliar to the LOTR books and/or movie. The rest belong to J.R.R. Tolkein. Tenthwalker fic.
Chapter Warnings: Violence like woah 8D.


Enjoy it or die :D Cookies to anyone who can find the Chronicles Of Riddick quote 89







Book Two - Scroll Twelve: Battle In Helm’s Deep Part III - Garden Of Bleeding Hearts



The battle continued for hours on end, seeming endless, the violence was getting worse, the Uruk-hai kept coming in vast numbers that were infinite, the walls were soon littered with bodies of all men, elves, and Orcs and Uruks. It had long since passed raining, leaving everyone in a sickened state of humidity. It was chaos, almost like a miniature ant-hill, except the ants were trying to take something that wasn’t theirs.

Tári, Linwë, and Idril were breathless. They were mostly disappointed in themselves: they went against Arwen’s wishes, in a way. She wanted for them to be safe, and here they were, fighting for not just their lives, but hundreds of others that were beneath them inside the caves just awaiting for this madness to end. Haldir was doing well to protect Tári, and the two knew that this would be their very first time in combat together, both sweating, hearts and heads pounding, running out of breath, and clashing swords with their enemies.

This could not hold up forever.

Aspen was having major difficulty keeping her powers dormant while she attacked to prevent any accidental injury to her allies. She tried to keep her anger down, her fear silent, and her paranoia void. She tried replacing them with revenge, excitement, and sadistic fun as she hacked away body parts from Uruks and Orcs left and right. She earned a cut on the cheek, but was doing fine aside from that.

There were times when she would be struck with fear for about five seconds, and then it would be replaced with humor and excitement. She kept count in her head of how many she was killing, and needless to say, she was quite proud of herself for how many kills she was making. Such a shame she couldn’t keep what she killed.

“Seventeen! Eighteen!” Gimli bellowed, counting his kills just as she was. “Nineteen! Twenty! Twenty-one! Twenty-two! Hagh!”

Aspen swung Daeron around with utmost agility and speed as well as grace along with it. Everytime Aragorn glanced back to see how she was doing, it was almost hard to find her because she moved exactly like the rest of the Elven soldiers around them. She only got hit once, and that was across the cheek, leaving a cut and a bloody mouth as the only mark, though aside from that, she was virtually untouchable. The sight before him made him proud, to see how well she’d developed, from a vulnerable girl to a well fought warrior.

Amrod noticed this as well. He had to admit, he was beyond proud to have his daughter beside him in battle at a time like this, and especially to see how well she was doing. He reminded himself to thank the others later for teaching her everything they knew. She reminded him of her mother. She was graceful and fierce in her attacks at the same time, and what made it better was that she wasn’t trying to be a showoff about it. She was just fighting. And that’s how it should have been.

What was irritating the girl, however, was that Théoden wasn’t fighting at all. She grit her teeth at that. Just like a person of high power to have others fight their battles for them.

“Northway! Nauthannen!” Aragorn called out, spotting a group of Uruks covered in shields heading for the main gate.

Aspen flipped around and spotted the line, wondering what she should do. She was occupied with the ass-hatted monsters around her, what should she do? Turning, a line of Elven troops hoisted up their bows and fired upon the Uruk-hai along the pathway, many falling down in yowling wails.

Aspen left Agaryulnaer alone for now. The Elves were doing fine. Right now she needed to stay focused and not get herself killed.

“Is this it?” Théoden asked no one in particular, looking at the sight before him. “Is this all you can conjure, Saruman?”

Speaking too soon, Aspen got another one of her feelings again. That one feeling that made her so worried that she got sick to her stomach. The one feeling that was never wrong. She heard more thumping in the earth, this one seeming to alert her more than the rest around. Now, she wasn’t an animal with excellent senses, but she damn well knew she smelled gun-powder. How it existed in a world like this and why it was here, she only guessed it was to be for one purpose: to destroy the wall and everyone on it.

Aragorn seemed to notice this as well, as he and Aspen both flipped around to see an Uruk running towards the drainage hole, bearing a large, lit torch.

That was not a good sign.

“Togo hon dad, Legolas!” Aragorn shouted at the top of his lungs, his heart racing even worse than Aspen’s. No! She’s going to die! He thought. “Dago hon!”

Legolas turned and shot the Uruk with an arrow, hitting it in the shoulder, but it just kept going. The carnage between the Man and Elf caused Amrod to flip around alertly, Idril, Linwë, and Tári doing the same, all spotting the creature headed for the explosives. Aspen, having her heart-beat reach to its peak, whipped out her bow and began raining arrows down onto the Uruk along with Legolas.

Though even though they put as many arrows in the Uruk as they could, the brute just kept going. Going. Aspen had been separated from Legolas, which put both him and Aragorn in extreme panic even though neither could reach her. She placed her bow back onto her back and began to fight with her sword again, as Legolas attempted one more shot on the Uruk.

“DAGO HON, LEGOLAS!!!” Aragorn was fully screaming now, seeing Aspen by herself.

Legolas fired the shot, striking the Uruk-hai directly in the eye.

The shot was perfect. They thought it would have killed it.

They were wrong.

The explosives lit, and a massive amount of the wall exploded with utmost fury. Boulders large and small flew through the air as smoke erupted from where the explosion came, Men, Elves, and Uruk-hai alike were hurled into the air. It was like watching the event unfold in slow motion. They didn’t think it would happen. Théoden thought the wall would never be breached. Théoden spoke too soon. The keep was now bare, leaving the Uruks to swarm Helm’s Deep.

Théoden looked upon in shock, unaware and unprepared for such an act. He failed. The wall had been breached.

The Uruks charged forth through where the wall used to be, killing left and right. The trail of soldiers brought up a large trunk and began pounding at the front gates, trying to break through. This couldn’t hold up forever, they were already hanging by a thread with the wall being destroyed.

“Brace the gates!” Théoden called out.

Men from the inside slammed themselves against the gates and held it shut, as a powerful punch was delivered to the doors, the men were thrown back, but regained themselves quickly, trying with all their might to keep the gates closed.

“Hold them! Stand fast!”

Men and a few boys began throwing spears, rocks, firing arrows, and any other projectiles they could find, down at the Orcs and Uruk-hai, knocking many down from the pathway.

Unbeknownst to what was going on, Aragorn found himself rising from the ground after lying unconscious for a few seconds. He was getting damn well tired of being thrown around like a rag doll. He seriously felt like killing the Uruk that destroyed the wall, though momentarily forgot it was already in bloody bits somewhere. This suddenly sparked an alert question.

Where was Aspen?

Legolas seemed to be alright, though he, too, was knocked to the floor when the explosion took place, he was not on the ground yet. Rising from his position, his hair an utter mess and sprawled over his face as he shook his head to try and see. Aspen was nowhere to be found. Hearing one of the other females cry out, he flipped around and found Idril and Tári pulling Linwë back onto the wall, having slipped and nearly falling to her death.

But that wasn’t what alerted him. Once Linwë was on her feet again, the three were directing their attention towards something behind the wall...something lying on the ground and unconscious with a three foot small pole sticking through the very edge of their waist. The three she-elves were screaming...crying...even though they had to turn and continue to fight to prevent themselves from getting killed.

Legolas turned to see what they were looking at, and he found a sight that he dreaded most. Something that he blamed himself for, and one that he would more than likely never forgive himself of.

It was Aspen.

Aragorn seemed fine, as he shook his head to regain consciousness. Hastily getting to his feet, Aragorn looked around for the young girl, desperately trying to find her. She was nowhere to be found on the remaining walls. That struck his heart like a spear in the chest.

Abruptly catching him off guard, Aragorn turned to find Legolas roaring out angrily, his voice wracked with sorrow and grief as he fiercly fought his way through the horde of Uruk-hai on the wall and down to the stairs. He quickly decapitated an Uruk an knocked it aside, stealing the shield for his own purpose. He kicked up the shield and rode it noisily down the stairs, firing arrows left and right as fast as he could, killing many Orcs and Uruk-hai in his wake.

At the end of the stairs, Legolas kicked the ends of the shield and thrust it into the chest of an oncoming Uruk, killing it on the spot. No matter how filthy the Elf looked, there was nothing in this world that could describe the anger and sorrow mixed into his expression. In all his days that he’d known the Elven prince, he’d never seen him act like this.

Legolas was pissed.

Aragorn, ignoring the Elf for now, spun in all directions trying to find the girl and soon spotted her lying not too far from him...with a broken pole stuck through her side. Aragorn’s heart immediately broke in two, and he knew well enough that it was exactly how Legolas was feeling right now.

“Aspen! Aspen!” Aragorn called, rushing to her side and dropping to his knees. He moved his hands about as if he didn’t know what to do, terrified to touch her and afraid that she might shatter like glass if he tried to move her. “Oh, please, no...”

Hearing Aragorn’s voice, the girl’s eyes dazily fluttered open, seeing the ragged man hovering over her with utmost panic across his features. Her gray eyes were finally open, though halfway as if she was sleepy, her eyes almost seeming white. Her skin was a purplish-pale, and she was growing bruises in various places. Aragorn didn’t know if she was dying or losing energy fast.

“...Aragorn...” She uttered out.

A piece of relief washed over the Man and he felt on the brink of collapsing, stroking her hair to comfort her and whispering small elvish words as he always did.

“...It...hurts...” She rasped, gasping when she flinched.

Hearing thumping of footsteps, Aragorn looked up to find Legolas dropping to his knees and looking over the girl just as he did, his eyebrows twisted into a melancholy expression. Both seemed unsure of what to do except to get that damn pole out of her side, and how they would do that without hurting her further, they didn’t know.

“It hurts so much...I c-can’t move...Aragorn, it hurts.” The girl whimpered, soon letting out sobs at the pain striking her stomach.

Unable to bear the sight of her like this anymore, Aragorn got into a kneeling position and took hold of her shoulders, looking up at Legolas. “Help me, here.” He demanded, as the Elf complied without even needing to be told.

Aspen seemed to become frightened at what they were doing, shaking her head. “No..no, what’re you doing?” She asked them, her sobs getting louder.

“Aspen, hold still,” Legolas tried to soothe her, “the pole needs to be removed, it’s alright.”

“N-no! It’ll hurt!”

“We’ll do it fast so it’ll be done quicker. It’ll be alright.” Aragorn said.

Not wanting to stall any further, Aragorn and Legolas tried their best to ignore the girl’s wailing protests and they pulled her forward with haste, a thoroughly unwanted sound of ripping and tearing as she was removed from the pole, screaming out in utter pain as it struck her stomach. The two dragged her away from the breached wall and back against a corner away from the carnage, Aragorn trying to do two things at once an Legolas trying to prevent himself from raining fire down upon the Uruk-hai.

Aspen lay crying her eyes out, clutching her side as the blood slowly flowed from it, staining Legolas’ tunic and Aragorn’s sleeve. Whipping out a knife, Legolas took the edge of his cape and cut off a large piece of cloth and began wrapping it around the girl’s stomach, putting pressure on it so she wouldn’t bleed any further.

Aragorn’s head whipped around when he saw more Uruks invading the keep, and he knew he had a duty to do. He had to believe. As he said, there was always hope, and he had to have some for Aspen right now. He knew she would make it. She had come this far, she proved her worth, she was one of the strongest young females he’d seen in his time. She would make it.

He nodded, trying to console himself. Aspen would make it. He just had to have faith.

Looking up at Legolas, he gripped the Elf’s shoulder and pulled him close to his face, his expression no more or less demanding than Legolas’ was. “Keep her safe. If she dies then there is no hope.” He said sternly.

Legolas placed his hand back on the pendant that hung around his neck and then slapped a hand on Aragorn’s shoulder, shaking it fiercly. “Nîn quenat he tinechor.” He replied with equal ardor.

And with that, Aragorn nodded and left them alone, rushing for the entrance. He spotted Gimli up ahead, diving into the horde of Orcs rushing in and beginning to battle them on his own, though was knocked down into the pool of water.

“Hado i philinn!” Aragorn shouted, a line of soldiers directly behind him showering the Uruks with arrows as Aragorn held up his sword and gave a battle stance. “Herio!!” Then, he and the Elven warriors charged at full speed and collided with the swarming Uruk-hai, unbeknownst that the she-elves were among him.

Seeing they were doing fine for the moment, Legolas turned back to Aspen and tried to keep her wound from bleeding and tried to calm her down at the same time. She was beginning to hyperventilate, which was never a good sign. He took the cloth and tied it into a knot tight enough to keep the wound from opening further and to stop the bleeding for now.

Once finished with the wound, Legolas focused on the other important part: trying to calm her down. But as soon as his fingers met her skin, he wished he hadn’t done so in the first place. He could feel the life leaving her for a brief moment. Aspen was dying. And this time, if he didn’t think of something soon to help her, then they would lose the girl for good.

“Legolas,” Hearing her cracky voice, he looked up at her and placed his hands on her cheek to offer what little comfort he could. “in all the time I’ve been here...I’m...so scared...” She whimpered, releasing hiccuping sobs.

“Hush, you’ll be fine.” He said. “I’m not going to let you die.”

“Legolas,” She interrupted, gasping for breath. “my vision is turning black. I’m scared of the darkness!” She yelped, clutching onto his shoulders and digging her nails in through the leather on his shoulder-plates.

He shook his head at her. “Stop talking like that, you will be fine. We’ll leave here alive to see the next dawn, you said so yourself, and you have to hold onto it!”

“No, all I see is black! I’m going to die...and let you all down!”

“That is enough!” Legolas shouted, bringing his forehead to hers, though she only closed her eyes, sobbing loudly. “Look at me.”

She shook her head faintly. “I c-can’t...”

“Yes you can. Open your eyes.” Legolas was growing weary. He wanted to see her eyes. Just once more, even if they didn’t survive the night. “Look at me...just this once...”

Accepting defeat, Aspen opened her eyes very smally, meeting his icy blues just a few inches from her face.

“I’m not going to let you die...because if anything happened to you then I would follow suit.” Legolas spoke quietly, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. “If you die, then I’ll die with you.” He said.

Aspen shook her head faintly, feeling weak. “I don’t want to die...”

Not knowing what else to say, and finally unable to bear the feeling of the life leaving her body, Legolas resorted to one final option, whether it would save her or not.

Legolas brought his face closer to Aspen and his lips met hers, both bashed and bloodied tasting iron for the first few seconds. He intended to get his point across to her, so he kept his hands on her cheeks as he kissed her softly, not caring about the outcome; if she punched him, kneed him, or if he was impaled right then and there.

Aspen was frozen solid at the contact, completely unaware of what she should do. What did he just do? Did he just kiss her? Wait...he was kissing her! But why was she not reacting to him as she did all the other men? Legolas took the risk of actually making physical contact with her, and yet he wasn’t trying to get at her clothes, grope her, or anything that could relate to the sort.

No, he was keeping his hands in place and not pushing any further than that. There was no malice or taint or the act of hurting in his actions. He was trying to ease her, calm her down, and he was doing a damn good job of it. After everything they endured, all they’d been through, the anguish, gashes, bruises, and faint distrust, Legolas had fully kissed her.

God, she didn’t care if it tasted horrible, Aspen was in an utter state of bliss right now. Their lips were salty from rain and sweat, and blood still lingered in Aspen’s mouth, not really helping either at all. It would have been considered the worst taste ever in a first kiss, but Aspen cared no longer, this Elf felt something for her, otherwise he wouldn’t have done what he just did.

Being in such a careless state, Aspen thought she was going to explode with happiness, her tears continuing to fall down her sweaty face. Completely hesitant on what to do, the girl brought up her own hand to rest on the pendant she’d given him, and then her powers took control of her body. She felt no more pain in her abdomen, as she unconsciously managed to heal herself just as she did before, nourishment flooding through her veins and energizing her to her peak.

Finally, the two broke the kiss as Legolas stared into her eyes that were almost white, now, hoping that she wouldn’t cry out in despair again. He stroked her cheek comfortingly, trying all he could to reassure her that nothing would go wrong.

“I won’t let you die.” Was all he said. “Not while I still draw breath.”

Aspen swallowed, trembling, nodding in his grasp. “Hannon le...thank you...” She said, trying not to cry anymore.

Hearing Théoden call out to Aragorn, snapped the two from their thoughts as Legolas turned around to see how their friends were managing

“Aragorn, pull back to the gate!”

Aragorn nodded, turning to Haldir. “Am Marad!” He shouted to the troops. “Nan barad! Haldir! Nan barad!” Haldir looked to him and nodded, shouting for his men to follow.

Hearing this, Legolas flipped around to face Aspen. “Can you walk, now?”

Not answering his question verbally, Aspen hopped to her feet and retrieved Daeron from across the ground, sheathing the sword for now. Answering his question, Legolas grinned and the two rushed to Aragorn’s side, Legolas bearing his bow and Aspen with her fists for now.

Seeing them approach him, Aragorn turned around and was stunned when he saw Aspen on her feet and moving as if there was nothing wrong. “Aspen, you’re injured! Why are you walking?!” He demanded.

Aspen slapped his shoulder lightly. “I’m fine for now. What do we need to do?”

“Fight,” He replied. “and don’t die.”

Hearing this, the two nodded and proceeded forward to do what they were told to do. Legolas spotted Gimli still standing alone and fighting, frustrated, he and another Elf soldier ran and grabbed the Dwarf, dragging him away from the carnage as he kicked and flailed.

Determined to kill more, Gimli bellowed out, “What are you doing?! Stop it!”

Legolas rolled his eyes and turned his head to catch Aspen meeting with her friends. Looking around, the Uruks were still not defeated. There were more, pouring in one after the other, as the others retreated to the keep as their king commanded.

They were not finished yet.



---


JEEBUS that was ridiculous. there you have it! 8D Aspen's first kiss! whee! *gigglesnort* and i am terrible. i just couldn't kill Haldir. so instead, i had Aspen impaled as a substitute 8D; eheh...whoops...but! as the ending states, we're not done yet >8D



TRANSLATIONS

Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dago hon!: Stop him, Legolas! Kill him!
Am Marad! Nan barad! Haldir! Nan barad!: Pull back! Haldir! Pull back!