Eyes of the Goddess

Boromir pulled Aragorn out of the water and onto a dry grassy patch. "Aragorn!" He called shaking his friend. Aragorn coughed and Boromir rolled him to his side so that Aragorn could purge the river water from his body.

"How'd you get here?" He asked after several minutes between deep and painful coughs and gasps for air.

"I flew on the back of a winged stallion." Boromir said smiling.

"What?" Aragorn asked dazed.

"Nothing...I am here that is all that matters is it not?" Boromir asked then.

"No...how? I did not see a path down." Aragorn stated sitting up and shaking his head against the dizziness he felt.

"I followed you down on the back of a horse." Boromir stated.

"You did what!?" Aragorn exclaimed looking up at the cliff above them. "You could have been killed!"

"That is what I worried happened to you...obviously we were both wrong." Boromir said still smiling. "Oh Aragorn it was like flying it was...it was as if that horse had sprouted wings I swear!" He could barely contain his excitement.

"I had never believed you were insane before now my dear Boromir. If you were not with me now I would not believe you." Aragorn said shaking his head. He couldn't believe Boromir would do anything so foolish. "Do not EVER do anything like that again!" He scolded him then.

Boromir looked at him with his smile slipping from his face. "Then I should ask you to do the same...I pledged to follow you to whatever end...so don't leap off any more cliffs and I won't have to do anything so foolish!" Boromir snapped back.

Aragorn shook his head; he knew he was not going to win this argument with the man. He understood then that Boromir meant exactly what he said in his pledge, he would follow him hatehatever end. Aragorn decided then, that he must live up to this mans pledge and belief in him.

"I am sorry Boromir...I care about you, as you do me. I just don't want to be the cause of you getting hurt or worse killed, I could not live with myself should anything happen to you." Aragorn said then pulling the blond man toward him and wrapping his arms around him.

Boromir relaxed into his arms and said, "I know...I am sorry I worried you." If Faramir had done something so foolish he would feel the same way.

They released each other and Boromir stood up. "We better get back, I am sure Legolas and Gimli are beside themselves by now. Can you ride?"

"Yes...I think so." Aragorn said using Boromir's offered hand to get up. His body was stiff and sore and he was soaked to the skin but he was alive.

They mounted the horse together and rode for Helms Deep. Aragorn rode in front of Boromir, he was weak and Boromir's strong arms around him made him ache in more intimate ways. He could not let his desire for Boromir undermine their friendship; he must get that part of his emotions under control before it ruined them both.

Boromir found it difficult to concentrate with his arms wrapped around Aragorn he found himself wanting to lean in and nuzzle the darker man's neck in front of him. Gods where had that thought come from? Boromir tried to shake his head and stare at the plains and hills ahead. Aragorn could never know how he felt; his shame would be too great to bear if he knew.

They topped a hill and saw below them a sea of Uruk-Hai marching for Helms Deep. Both men sucked in a gasp and Boromir said, "We must return quickly to warn the King! There must be 10,000 orcs down there!"

Aragorn nodded in agreement and then whispered something in elvish to the horse. They began riding hard for Helms Deep...when they finally arrived both men sighed in relief. This would give them several hours warning at least.

Once inside the keep shouts of "They are alive." Were heard throughout the compound and a disgruntled dwarf accosted them both.

"Where are they? I am going to kill them both!" He shouted. When he finally came face to face with the two men he nearly burst into tears. "You two are the luckiest, the canniest, and most reckless men I ever knew!" He bellowed then he turned to Boromir. "Bless you, laddie for retur him him to us!"

"It's good to see you too Gimli." Boromir said patting the dwarf's back.

"Where is the King?" Aragorn asked.

Gimli tossed his head in the direction of the hall and both men strode toward it but were stopped by Legolas. "Your both late." BothBoth men stared at him a moment. "You look terrible." The elf said then to Aragorn. Boromir laughed and Aragorn smiled widely. It wasn't often Legolas made a joke.

"You lost this." Legolas said then handing the Evenstar to Aragorn and Boromir looked away. Boromir did not know how much the elf princess meant to Aragorn bt mat made him feel a surge of jealousy he wished would go away.

"Thank you." Aragorn said then clasping the jewel in his hand.

"We must speak to the King." Boromir said urgently.

***********************************************

They entered the King's hall, Aragorn first with Boromir following behind. Aragorn walked with the air of a King already, it should be Théoden bowing to him, Boromir thought briefly. After relaying what they had seen, Théoden called all able-bodied men to arms. The two men then followed Théoden outside.

"No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." Théoden boasted.

Gimli was standing against a wall listening. "This is not a rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-Hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad." He warned.

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep!" The King snapped.

Aragorn and Boromir both patted Gimli's shoulder as they passed. They knew the dwarf was right. Théoden was still not thinking clearly.

"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be re-sown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them." Théoden stated arrogantly.

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!" Aragorn argued with the King.

"What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!" Théoden yelled.

"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid." Aragorn pleaded.

"And who will come. Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead." Théoden said grimly.

Aragorn looked at Boromir and then back at the King. "Gondor will answer." Boromir smiled broadly at that.

"Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon.. No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone." Théoden shouted.

Boromir blanched and yelled angrily before storming away, "Where was Rohan when Osgaliath was besieged? While you were sowing crops and raising your horses Gondor's people fought and died to keep your lands safe! Where was Rohan when we needed her?"

Théoden looked down then unable to face Aragorn. "I am sorry my Lord, I know the sacrifices Gondor has made, the son of the Steward is right. I should not have said that. It is too late to call for aid; you know this as well as I do. It is too late." Théoden said sadly. Aragorn nodded.

"You say Gondor has not answered, but she has, the Captain of the White Tower is hes ams am I. We will fight for Rohan and her people." Aragorn answered.

Théoden snapped his eyes back to Aragorn's...the man finally acknowledged his destiny, but was it too late? He thought. Aragorn then turned on his heel and went to find Boromir. He found him sitting on the steps of one of the halls with his head in his hands.

"Boromir." Aragorn said softly sitting on his heels in front of his friend.

Boromir looked up and his eyes were pained. "I am sorry Aragorn I should not have spoken to the King like that."

"It is alright...Théoden was sorry for what he said as well. He said he realized that Gondor has defended us all from Mordor for many years and I told him that he says Gondor has not answered but she has, in the form you of and of me." Aragorn said then looking deeply into his friend's eyes.

"You...you said that?" Boromir asked astonished.

"Yes. Now come, we have a battle to prepare for." Aragorn said standing and offering his hand. Boromir took it and rose with him. They sought out Legolas and Gimli.

As they walked through the halls they assessed the men. "Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers." Aragorn said disgustingly.

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

"Or too few." Legolas said softly.

"A man fighting for his home no matter what his age can be quite a foe, Legolas." Boromir said moving to the side to allow a guard to pass.

"Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe a hyn: neled herain... dan caer menig!?" Legolas said loudly to Aragorn.

"Si beriathar hýn ammaeg nâ ned Edoras." Aragorn answered while Boromir and Gimli looked at each other unsure of all the words they were exchanging.

"Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir ortheri. Natha daged dhaer." Legolas said despairingly.

"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn yelled loudly spinning on his heels to face Legolas. His tone and body language caused Boromir to take a step back and even the elf flinched.

Aragorn stormed off and Legolas and Boromir meant to follow him.

"Let him go, lads. Let him be. This is difficult for him...reconciling the two halves of himself." Gimli said leaning on his axe.

Boromir looked at Legolas. "I did not understand what you and he said, but believe me Legolas, a man when he is defending his home be he young or old, warrior or not, he will fight. He will fight harder than a hired soldier because he is fighting for what he believes in and what he loves. When a man is faced with the choice of freedom or oppression a man will fight with all of his will for freedom. He will fight even if infirm, even if too young he will fight because the bonds of love and loyalty are stronger than those of hate. You are an elf and know little of the hearts of men...look to Aragorn. Look at all he fights for, what he believes in...how hard he fights. He is no elf...he is but a man, remember that always and take heart in that." Boromir said clasping Legolas' arm.

Legolas had been looking away with his eyes downcast until then. He looked up into the green eyes before him and smiled. "You are right, I should look to you both for strength in men because you and Aragorn are the best of them." The elf said then and strode away.

Gimli grinned at Boromir and followed the elf. Boromir stood there for a moment shocked by what the elf had said. He certainly was not the best of men; he had far too many flaws and weaknesses. Boromir set off to find Aragorn. He finally found Aragorn alone in a chamber preparing for battle. He watched him put on his armor, and then set to helping him with his many armaments. They worked in companionable silence, and then Aragorn aided Boromir with his own armor. They clasped arms and leaned their foreheads against each other. They needed no words to convey what they felt at that moment. Suddenly they realized they were not alone. Aragorn turned out of their odd embrace to face Legolas who handed him his sword.

"We have trusted you this far, you have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair." Legolas said softly.

"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas." Aragorn answered.

Boromir smiled at the elf who in turn smiled back. Gimli walked in carrying chain mail and slid it on over his head. It fell all the way to the floor bunching around his feet.

Gimli looked down disgusted. "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted. It's a little tight across the chest."

Boromir laughed and Aragorn and Legolas grinned at the dwarf.

At that moment a horn sounded outside the gates. "That is no Orc horn!" Legolas announced brightly racing up the steps.

The men and the dwarf followed him to find an army of Elven archers led by their friend Haldir from Lorien.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance." Haldir announced to the King.

"Mae govannen, Haldir!" Aragorn yelled hugging Haldir, "You are most welcome!"

Legolas moved into the ranks to join his elven brothers "We are proud to fight alongside men once more." Haldir announced.

Boromir, Aragorn, and the King smiled at the elves gratefully. Their skills as warriors would be well needed this night.

The remaining fellowship moved to their positions on the wall and watched Saruman's army approach. Legolas stood ready to fight, but Gimli looked up, frustrated, he could not see a thing.

"Arg... You could have picked a better spot."

"Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?" Legolas teased the dwarf who laughed heartily at that along with Boromir. The two of them groused like an old married couple he thought.

Aragorn moved up to stand next to Boromir beside Gimli.

"Well lads, whatever luck it is you live by, let's hope it lasts the night." Gimli said smiling up at the men.

"Your friends are with you, Aragorn." Legolas said looking at Gimli and Boromir and back to Aragorn.

"Let's hope they last the night." Gimli grumbled forcing Boromir to snicker.

"Indeed Master dwarf, indeed." Boromir answered and the group shared a small laugh.

Aragorn was charged with leading the elf archers; he began issuing commands in elvish and Boromir looked on. As lightening flashed across the night he he could see nothing but the orc army far into the distance. This would indeed be a long night he thought. He rolled his shoulders trying to release the tension and loosen up his still aching arms. He had done well in the warg battle and he intended to do well this night.

Finally the battle began when one of the human archers accidentally loosed his arrow too soon. The orcs howled and then began rushing the walls. Aragorn instructed the elves to fire. Hundreds of arrows flew past them and into the orcs below. Theoden's archers provided a second wave but as far as Boromir could tell though many hundreds of orcs had gone down they hadn't made a dent.

Aragorn called out in elvish "Pendraith!"

Boromir looked down that had to mean ladders he thought and drew his sword. So the time was upon him. Gimli looked up at Boromir grinning saidsaid, "This is more like it." Boromir smirked at him and they turned to take on any who breached the wall.

Throughout the early stages of the battle Boromir could hear Legolas and Gimli ticking off a count of how many orcs they had slain. Boromir had no time to count however and found himself fighting back to back with Aragorn.

Then Aragorn spotted orcs placing some large metal balls under the drain to the wall. He suspected they were up to something and then he saw a large Uruk-Hai running with a flaming torch toward the wall. He rushed forward and began yelling for Legolas to bring the orc down. Legolas hit him with two arrows but the orc leapt into the drain. A moment later the entire wall shook and exploded in fire, smoke, and flying debris. Boromir and Aragorn were thrown from the wall to the soaked earth below. Both men were unconscious and the orcs rushed toward them like a black tidal wave.

Aragorn rose to his knees and shook his head, he saw Boromir on the ground beside him and he began shaking him in an attempt to rouse him before the orcs were upon them. Gimli called out from the remaining wall above and leapt down to protect them.

Boromir sat up shaking his head in time to see the orcs as they rushed toward them and saw Gimli land and roll then get up swinging. Aragorn stood and pulled a still stunned Boromir up. The elves had gathered behind them and Aragorn commanded them to charge. Hand to hand combat ensued.

Then Theoden's voice cut through the din, "Aragorn, pull back to the keep! Get your men out of there!"

Aragorn set about calling the elves back and Boromir caught Gimli up and pulled him back. "What are you doing? Stop it!" Gimli protested but Boromir continued dragging the dwarf to safety.

"Théoden has called us back to the keep!" Boromir shouted.

Once inside the keep Aragorn and Boromir rushed to Théoden. "How long to you need?" Aragorn asked the King.

"As long as you can give me." The King yelled.

"Gimli, Boromir, come with me!" Aragorn called. The two followed him out onto a small ledge that concealed a secret door.

Aragorn stopped and peered around the wall and then pulled back and took a deep breath. Boromir looked at him and nodded. Gimli looked up at them both and said, "Oh, come on. We can take them!"

"It's a long way." Aragorn warned.

"Toss me." Gimli said almost inaudibly.

Boromir looked down at Gimli and then at Aragorn. Didn't he once say no one tosses a dwarf? He thought to himself.

"What?" Aragorn asked to make sure he had heard the dwarf correctly.

"I cannot jump the distance so you'll have to toss me!" Gimli said angrily.

As Aragorn reached down to pick him up Gimli pleaded, "Ehh.. Don't tell the elf!"

Aragorn looked at Boromir and they both nodded. "Not a word!" They called in unison smiling. Then Aragorn tossed him over to the gate. Next Aragorn leapt the distance and then Boromir.

The three battled the enemies outside the gate, giving Theoden's men time to shore up the entrance. As they placed the final boards in the door Théoden called, "Gimli! Aragorn! Boromir! Get out of there!"

Aragorn looked around for a way out but saw none then Boromir looked up.

"Legolas!" Boromir yelled pointing.

Aragorn looked up to see Haldir and Legolas drop down two ropes for them. Aragorn picked up Gimli and the two archers pulled their three friends up the wall.

The orc army breached the gate and Théoden called out retreat to the castle.
Haldir, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Boromir all ran for the keep. Once inside the group helped brace the gate there as Aragorn addressed the King.

"The fortress is taken. It is over." Théoden said in a defeated tone. Boromir stopped and turned to him. How could he give up now?

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!" Aragorn argued.

"Aragorn...they have broken through the r dor door...the women and children...!" Boromir shouted.

"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?" Aragorn asked beseechingly.

Théoden stood as if in a stupor and did not respond. Legolas and Haldir picked up a table tossing the crockery and candles to the floor so they could shore up the inner most doors.

Aragorn looked to the King's guard Gamling. "Is there no other way?!" He shouted.

"There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-Hai are too many." He told him.

Boromir turned from bracing the door with another long table and could see a change wash over Aragorn. Now more than ever he looked the part of a true King, a man who was born to be a leader of men.

Aragorn ignored Théoden and spoke to Gamling directly, "Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!" He commanded.

Boromir moved closer to Théoden, the man was obviously about to crack under the pressure.

"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" Théoden proclaimed despondently.

Aragorn paused and looked at Boromir then the King. "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them." Aragorn spoke proudly.

"For death and glory?" The King asked.

"For Rohan. For your people." Aragorn said shaking his head.

Boromir smiled at him; no he had never been more kingly than now.

"The sun is rising." Gimli said looking to the window high above.

Boromir smiled remembering Gandalf's words. Aid would be here soon. "Aragorn the time is now." Boromir said looking from him to the King.

"Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time." Théoden proclaimed for all to hear.

Boromir and Aragorn were both relieved by his answer and Gimli cheered, \!" !" as he ran for the horn burg.

The remaining men led by Théoden, Gamling, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, and Haldir mounted horses and waited. Gimli sounded the horn, as the last door was breeched but the orcs were surprised to discover a small army awaiting them on horseback.

"Then let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds await. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn! Forth Eorlingas!" Théoden called as he charged forward.

They rode out to clear a path and Aragorn looked up for a moment to the east. There he saw Gandalf...just as he had foretold then he saw Éomer and his men. Aragorn turned and saw Boromir smiling at him. He had looked to the east as well.