Fated to Love

Note: Dialogue from the movie has been changed a bit. It still means the same thing just worded different.

Chapter Two: Backup Shows up

Cassie stood in the armory watching as the men and young boys suited up for battle. Aragorn and Legolas had just had a spat about the battle being useless to win. Aragorn stormed out and sat on the steps leading into the Main hall of the Keep. Cassie stopped on the steps and watched as Aragorn spoke to a clearly scared young lad. The conversation was brief and ended shortly after Aragorn examined the boy's sword. When the boy had left, Cassie approached him.

"Aragorn, are you okay?" she said quietly setting down beside him on the steps.

"Cassie, should you not be going into the caves right now?" he said sadly.

"Aragorn, Legolas did not mean to upset you. You know that do you not? He was only expressing his thoughts. After all, elves feel things like us do they not?" she said reaching for his hand.

"Yes, I suppose they do. I believe there is hope in men. I am a man. I feel that I am strong, these men are weary, but determined. We have to believe that victory has to be won," he said looking up at her.

"I know that you are strong and can do this task. Go and talk to your friend. He will be fair and will apologize for his tone. You know, Aragorn, when I told you that you will take your place in Gondor?" she said

"Yes." he said

"You will. Everything that you and all of us are getting ready to face is only a mile stone in the discovery of your true self. Only a small step. I believe that hope is alive in all of us. Gimli and Legolas are the truest of friends. Just like with Merry and Pippin, and Frodo and Sam. This Fellowship will not fail in their task. Though you are all separated by distance you are all still close at heart. Take care and know what I say will happen. The foes will be beaten in the end. I know they will," she said patting him on the back.

Aragorn looked at her and smiled. He knew she was right. "How did someone so young get so wise?" he asked smiling.

"I told you about my world. The movies and the books. I know how this will turn out. The only thing that is not revealed is whether this is the movie or the book. I hope the book though," she said looking down at the next step.

"You never did say why that was. Is someone going to be hurt if the movie way happens?" he said.

"You could say that. But let us see how this will turn out. I will go into the caves if it does not happen. Now we must get you suited up," she said standing.

They walked back into the armory and Legolas approached Aragorn after he had started suiting up. Legolas stood there handing Aragorn his sword.

"I am sorry. I was wrong to despair," Legolas said looking sorry.

"It is okay, mellon nin," Aragorn said putting a hand on his shoulder and smiled. Cassie watched the two. Gimli came out wearing a way too large set of chain-mail. All standing there tried to contain their laughter. Cassie could not hold it any longer. Gimli looked a little irritated.

"What? I haven't had the chance to get it fitted yet. It is a little tight across the chest," he said as he dropped the chain-mail to the floor.

"I am sorry for laughing, Gimli. I don't mean to, really," she said looking down and smiling at him. She glanced over to Legolas and Aragorn. A horn sounded in the distance. Legolas and Aragorn shot looks into the direction of the horn.

"Uruk hai," Aragorn said.

"That is no Orc horn" Legolas said. He took off running out of the armory with Aragorn close behind. Gimli strayed behind a little, Cassie cringed at the thought of how this was going. She had had a feeling this was going to happen. He had come. She hesitantly walked toward the stairs leading out of the armory.

She had reached the top of the stairs just as Aragorn embraced him. He looked a little shocked at first but soon embraced him back. Aragorn spoke to the leader of the Elven army.

"You are most welcomed, Haldir of Lorien," he said.

As Aragorn backed away, Haldir was soon greeted by Legolas, who gripped him in a firm elven handshake. Just as this happened the army turned about face and looked at the two elves. Legolas said something to him in elvish. Haldir looked up the stairs and her eyes met his. He smiled at her and looked at Legolas. Legolas turned to look up at her. Haldir looked up as well again. Cassie became lightheaded. Her heart started to pound out her chest. The tears started to well up. 'How can this happen? By the Valar why?' she screamed out in her mind. Legolas motioned for her to come but all she could do was stand there. Aragorn looked in her direction concerned.

'What am I going to do?' she said panicking. Haldir just stood there staring before starting to climb the stairs. Théoden had told them that the battle was still a few hours away and for Haldir and his men to rest a little. Things needed to be planned. Cassie quickly turned and ran away. She knew it was a cowardly thing to do. She had to fight, prepare and think of something. She only knew of one place to go. The room she was put in when she first arrived. Running into the Main Hall she nearly ran into Éowyn who was on her way to the caves.

"Lady Cassie, is something wrong?" she asked worried.

"Which way to the room I was in earlier?" Cassie asked out of breath.

"This way I will show you. Are you ill?" she asked concerned.

"You could say that. I need to think and fast," Cassie told her hurriedly.

They went through the corridor and arrived at the room's door. "Can I help you, Lady Cassie? I will if you will let me."

Cassie remembered from the movie that Éowyn knew how to fight. "Éowyn, you know how to fight don't you?" she asked.

"How did you know that, Cassie? I have told no one," Éowyn said in a whisper.

"From the movie I told you about. He is here and I have to fight. I have no armor, no weapons. Help me," Cassie said as she began to cry.

Éowyn closed the door behind them. She led Cassie over to the bed to sit down. “Cassie, what are you talking about?" she said trying to calm down a now distraught Cassie.

"He is here. The March warden from the movie. The event I told you and the others about that will tell me what I must do. If I do not fight he will die. Help me, please," Cassie said crying and pleading at the same time.

"You have to save him. I understand now. Wait here, I have armor and weapons," Éowyn said as she got up to leave the room. "I will be back shortly, allow no one into this room unless it is me or my uncle."

Cassie knew that Haldir and the King would speak on the plans as to where to be and the strategies. She had time. She began to rip her gown apart. She had made it so that it could be converted into a tunic if needed. The undergarments were also convertible to leggings. All she needed was to get boots and the outer armor.

Éowyn soon arrived back with weapons and the full armor. She began to help Cassie dress and talked about battle strokes with the sword. Cassie absorbed it all in. Cassie had such a love for Tolkien she had taken sword and bow lessons but this was the real thing. She felt more confident now. Just as they finished, a knock at the door came. Cassie looked at Éowyn with a look of total distress. Éowyn looked at her and smiled. She walked over to the door to see who it was. It was Legolas and Haldir was with him.

Éowyn turned to Cassie. "Lady Cassie, it is Legolas and the March warden. Should I let them in?"

Cassie turned to the window and thought for a moment. She thought on how long she had dreamt of this. Meeting the one she had a deep affection for in the books and the movies. She was nervous and her heart pounded faster. She shook her head yes but still looked out onto the wall through the window.

"Please come in. Cassie is not feeling very well right now," Éowyn said sweetly. She curtsied to Legolas and Haldir and left them alone.

"Cassie, I have brought a friend that wanted to meet you," Legolas said in a sweet melodious voice.

Cassie turned and saw them standing in the room. She was in utter awe. Haldir was even more beautiful in person. He was dressed in his golden armor and red cape. She also thought to herself on how much he looked like Craig Parker in the movies. She suddenly felt weak in the knees. Legolas and Haldir picked up on this and both made their way closer to her. She grabbed the window sill. She looked up and both smiled. "Hello, I am glad to make your acquaintance March warden, Haldir of Lorien." she said shakily.

Haldir bowed to her and reached for her hand. He placed the lightest of kisses in her palm." I am pleased to meet you, Lady Cassie. Legolas and Aragorn told me of you," he said standing back up straight. He was arrogant and yet he was very courteous.

"Cassie, why are you dressed this way? You should be going to the caves with the other women," Legolas said looking at her observing her attire.

"I will not be hiding like a scared dog with its tail between its legs. I will be fighting after all. I told you I will fight if this reality followed the movie," she said insisting.

"So, the event you were looking for has happened, hasn't it?" Legolas said looking at her knowing.

"Yes and it is him," she said pointing at Haldir, “He is the sign I needed to know."

Haldir looked at her a little confused and said, “My Lady, I am sorry to cause you such distress."

"No, you are not distressing me. It is what I must do tonight that is bothering me," she said trying to smile at him.

"The Lady of Light had told me upon leaving Lothlorien that I would find someone here at Helms Deep that had an inner light that will shine brighter than any other present. When I saw you upon the stairs I knew that it was you she spoke about. I wanted to meet you," Haldir said taking her hand in his. Her hand began to tingle wildly. He must have felt it too, because he looked at his hand then to her and smiled.

"An inner light. I am not following," she said to him.

"All beings have an inner light. Yours shines brighter. She had mentioned that you would be different than any others present. I believe that she meant that you were tied into the fate of the battle," he said looking at her intently forgetting that Legolas was standing near them.

Cassie stared at him. Her main focus was his eyes. She could get lost in those beautiful clear blue gray eyes. She cleared her mind and shook off the connection to him. "So I am to fight? I knew it , I think," she said sadly.

She removed her hand from his and he seemed sadden by it. She thought on what to say but nothing came to her. She looked from him to Legolas who was staring at the two intently. "My dear Cassie, I will not allow you to fight. You must go to the safety of the caves. I beg of you. You are not skilled enough to fight in this battle," Haldir said insisting.

"I have to. If I don't you will not-" she stopped short of what needed to be said.

"I will not what? Live" he said.

"No you will not. I cannot allow you to fall," she said looking away.

"I came here knowing what will happen if I did. I have lived many millennia. If it is my fate I will face it," he said. Then he was lost in thought a moment.

"I will not allow it to happen. I cannot. You are beloved by your people and your Lord and Lady too much," she said protesting. Haldir looked at her knowing that she would not take no for answer.

A knock at the door came. Legolas went to answer it. Opening the door wide four more elves came through. Two were identical twins with long dark hair and gray blue eyes. Both very handsome and dressed in armor and weapons. Elladan and Elrohir, Elrond's sons. The other two looked a lot like Haldir. Both with long silvery blonde hair and grey eyes. His bothers Orophin and Rumil. Cassie knew who they were.

Haldir turned to them and spoke in Elvish. They all came over and greeted her with bowing and kissing of the hands. "I know all of you. There is no need for introductions. I am Cassandra, known to most as Cassie," she said smiling to them. She was surprised to find that they could speak her language as they said their hellos.

Aragorn arrived shortly and announced that King Théoden wanted to speak to all of them. They all turned to leave. Haldir turned back to her and held out his arm for her to take it. Cassie was a little taken aback and took it reluctantly.

Haldir and Cassie walked side by side. She could smell his scent and it was intoxicating: woodsy and male. She looked up at him and saw that he was very dominating in a protective sort of way. How long had she loved to dream of what he would be like for real? Now here he was and he was everything she dreamed of. In front of them were the twins and his brothers. Cassie noticed they would all turn and occasionally to stare at them smiling. Then in front of them were Aragorn and Legolas. They soon arrived in the Main Hall and were greeted by the king.

"Lady Cassie, I ordered that all women, children, and elderly to enter the caves. Why have you not gone?" he said looking at her.

"Your majesty, with all do respect, I want to fight. I need to. Please allow me," she said letting go of Haldir's arm and pleading with him.

"Out of the question! Women are not meant for battle! You are a guest and under my protection. I cannot allow you to," he said insisting.

"Pl-" she was cut off.

"I will not hear of it. Gamling, escort Lady Cassie to the caves," Théoden said.

Cassie looked at everyone shocked at the kings flat out refusal. Haldir said not a word and did nothing. Legolas looked irritated that she was not heard or given the chance to explain why. Aragorn insisted the king allow one of them to escort her instead. Gimli stood looking at her sadly. He knew that she had the courage to do it.

Gamling came over and took her gently by the arm. Haldir finally spoke up and looked at the king, “Your majesty, I will take responsibility for her if you allow her to fight. I see that she has courage to fight. On one condition." He stopped and looked at her. "She must fight by my side and not leave my sight."

Théoden looked from Haldir to Cassie. He motioned for Cassie to come over to speak with him privately. Cassie did as he bid her to do.

"Cassie, why do you want to fight? Choose your words wisely," he said in a stern and fatherly like tone.

"I want to fight to help save your fine people, to help Middle Earth and for freedom from Sauron. I will not let you down my lord. I promise to stay by Haldir's side," she said hiding a small fact from him. He picked up on it and smiled.

"Good answer but I sense that there is someone else you had in mind to fight for. Haldir perhaps!" he said smiling almost jesting.

"Éowyn told you didn't she?" Cassie said quietly.

"Yes and plus I recognize the armor and weapons you are carrying. I gave them to her many years ago." He patted her on the shoulder.

The king looked up at those there. "Change of plan. Haldir, March warden, I will leave this lovely young lady in your protection. I will allow her to fight. I know she has great courage in her. I believe now is the time to take our places. Scouts have returned with news that the Orcs will be here within the hour."

At that they all turned to resume battle readiness.