Estella Bolger was flooded with relief when Haldir told the assembled company in Elrond's hidden chamber that Pippin was safe. Safe, and guarding the weapons that would be passed to the prisoners, even! How brave he was, her Pip.

Wait, her Pip? No, Pippin belonged to Diamond, and Merry belonged to her. At least, Estella wanted him to. She had almost thought that Merry was going to make love to her right there on the floor with Bilbo snoring away on the bed before the others had returned with Legolas. She knew she would have let him. She wanted him to, wanted to know what it was like. She wanted him to love her, and she wanted to love him back. Maybe she did already. Estella wasn't completely sure. She had always thought she knew what love was, but what she felt for Merry was completely different from what she felt for Pippin.

This was not the time to try to figure it out. They were off to make an attempt to drive out the Uruk-hai, but the Uruks still outnumbered them at least two to one. Estella was frankly terrified. She looked up at Isilwen, the other female among them. The dark-haired Elf was so calm, cool, and collected. Estella wished she, herself, possessed the poise of Elves, but she knew that she never would.

"I still say Estella should not go. She should stay here, where its safe," Merry said, interrupting her reverie.

"Bilbo should stay, too," said Frodo, sounding weary.

"I can fight as well as any of you youngsters!" Bilbo said.

"I meant that you could…protect Estella," Frodo said, clearly trying to placate his feisty uncle.

"Well," Bilbo said, simmering down, "Well, yes. Protecting the lady. That's valiant."

"Indeed it is," said Merry.

Estella took a deep breath. "I want to go with you," she said.

"What?" said Merry. "Estella, no."

It took all of her courage to volunteer, but she did it anyway. "I think you're going to need all available hands."

"She is right," said Haldir. "Let her come if she wishes."

The big blond Elf looked around at the group. Estella found where she had left her dagger and picked it up. Haldir nodded.

"We are ready," said Frodo. He rose from his chair, and Estella watched him gather his strength. The hollows beneath his big blue eyes seemed almost to disappear as he fortified himself for what was to come. Estella had always admired Frodo's courage. He was a hero after all.

"I will go first," Haldir said, "Followed by Isilwen, Legolas and the Dwarf."

"He does have a name, you know," Legolas commented. Haldir gave him a steely look, but it did not seem to bother the young Elf Prince. Estella knew she would probably faint if Haldir looked at her like that.

"Gimli, then," Haldir ground out. "After him, the Hobbits. Frodo and Bilbo, then Merry and Estella. Orophin and Rúmil will make the rear guard."

Estella was surprised that Elf actually knew her name. She was satisfied with the arrangement, as being in the middle was generally safer.

"That sounds satisfactory," Gimli said.

"We are simply going up to the store rooms to start. From there we will look for the safest way to begin distribution of weapons. If it seems feasible to attack, I will signal you all to do so," Haldir said. "Have you any questions?"

"Should you not tell your brothers the plan?" Gimli asked.

"They understand the common tongue very well," Haldir said, looking amused.

"Then why in blazes don't they use it!"

Rúmil and Orophin both smirked at Haldir and Rúmil said something which made Legolas laugh and caused Haldir to smack him in the arm.

"Don't be rude."

"What did he say?" Gimli demanded of Legolas.

"Never mind," Legolas said. "But really, Gimli, you should practice your Elvish. Come on. Let's go."

Legolas stood up and swayed slightly. Estella knew he was trying to pretend he had recovered from his beating, but he must still be stiff and in pain. The Prince of Mirkwood lifted his chin bravely.

Easily they fell into the formation which Haldir had organized. Back through one dark tunnel after another they went, but Estella was not afraid, not yet. She felt suddenly that with Merry beside her, she could face anything. How true this might be had yet to be proved, but the thought gave her courage.

They emerged into the storage room where Pippin, Diamond and Erestor were waiting.

"Look what I found," Haldir said.

"Merry!" Pippin exclaimed, throwing himself on top of his cousin and hugging him. "And Frodo, and Bilbo…"

Estella turned away, unable to stop from feeling sad and ashamed. A lump rose in her throat as she was reminded how desperately she did not belong among these Hobbits. Yet before the tears could fall, soft arms came around her and hugged her. Diamond kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm so glad you're safe," she told Estella, sounding so sincere that another wave of guilt washed through her.

"I'm glad you're safe, too," Estella said, and she found that she meant it.

"Thank you."

"I owe you an apology," Pippin said, turning to Legolas.

"No," said Legolas. "You do not, Pippin. I am fine."

"What happened to Ciendriel?" Diamond said, turning towards Legolas. She was still holding tightly onto Estella.

Pain flashed in Legolas' blue eyes. "I do not know."

"They did not take her out of the banquet hall, so it is quite probable that she is still alive," Haldir said, putting a hand on Legolas' shoulder.

"Are you sure?" Erestor sneered. Estella got the picture that he did not think much of Haldir, who seemed very brave and very wise to her. Then again, it seemed Erestor thought very little of anyone except Lord Elrond.

"Positive," said Haldir. "Isilwen and I found the bodies of the Uruks my brothers killed outside the door of the hall. Had they taken Ciendriel out, they would have discovered them before we did."

"We moved the bodies and wiped out the trail of blood they left, so they could not follow," Isilwen added, looking to her brother as if she needed his approval. Erestor did not seem inclined to give it to her.

"Most Uruk-hai would not notice a trail of blood if they were walking in it -- and generally they are," he sniffed. "You were wasting time."

"We were protecting our friends," Haldir growled, coming to her defense. "Underestimating the enemy is the fastest way to get killed."

"So is arguing when we should be preparing for this fight," Erestor hissed.

"How are we going to get the weapons into the hall?" Bilbo asked. The old Hobbit shifted his weight from foot to foot, looking nervous.

"Angelica and I can take them back in," said Pippin.

"No," said Haldir. "It should be an Elf. Hobbits are too conspicuous."

"They didn't notice us before," Diamond said.

"But they may notice you returning."

"I suppose you want to go so you can take all the glory," Gimli sneered at Haldir.

"Actually, I am going to go," said Isilwen. "I am the least likely of all of us to be noticed."

"We can hide under the tables in the banquet hall very easily," Pippin said. "Maybe we could help as well?"

"Let Isilwen go in first," said Legolas, "And if she deems it safe, the Hobbits can follow to hide under the tables and help distribute the weapons."

"And the Dwarf!" Gimli added.

"I am agreeable to that," said Haldir, "But I prefer if Gimli stays behind with us. In the event that the Uruks come in through the kitchen, we will need your skill with the ax."

Gimli swelled proudly. "Well, well. A compliment from you! There's something I thought I should never live to see!"

"Do not worry. There will not be another one," Haldir said, shaking his head.

"It's close to dawn," said Frodo. "I can feel it. We should move soon."

Merry moved to Estella's side and took her hands in his. "Are you ready?" he asked her, looking anxious.

"As ready as I'm going to be," she whispered.

"I'll stay close to you," he promised.

Haldir led the way as they crossed from the store rooms, through the kitchen, which had apparently been wrecked by the Uruk-hai. Broken dishes were everywhere.

"Be careful," Estella whispered to Merry.

"Yes," said Pippin, "Wouldn't want you to get another splinter."

They slipped one by one into the tunnel behind the banquet hall. Haldir motioned them all to silence. No one dared speak. Estella's eyes grew round as she saw the enormous pile of bows, arrows, swords, and daggers mounded inside. It brought home to her the danger of the situation.

She watched as Isilwen readied herself to enter the hall. The Elf maiden was so brave, Estella thought. So admirable. Haldir bent over and said something in an impossibly low tone into her pointed ear, and roses bloomed in Isilwen's cheeks. She looked up at him with adoring eyes and it came to Estella that the pair of them were in love. Estella wondered if they even knew it yet. And no wonder Erestor hated Haldir so much.

Everyone pressed back against the walls, hands on their weapons, as Isilwen slowly moved the tapestry aside just enough so her slender body could slide past it. It could be deadly to all of them if the Uruks spotted her emerging. Merry reached out and squeezed Estella hand and she felt better.

She was not sure how much time had passed before she saw a slight ripple on the curtain and saw Isilwen's hand slip inside, motioning to Haldir that it was safe for the Hobbits to start infiltrating the dining hall. Frodo went first, followed by a nervous Bilbo, then Angelica, then Pippin. Finally it was Estella's turn. Merry would follow behind her. Haldir bent over and whispered in her ear.

"Crawl under the first table you meet, and wait for Meriadoc. If the Uruks attack, your best bet is to stay low and keep moving. Hobbits are much faster than Uruk-hai. Do not panic, and you will survive this."

Estella understood that his words were meant to be reassuring, and they were certainly good advice, so she nodded. Haldir patted her shoulder, and then Estella dropped down to her knees to crawl out of the tunnel into the banquet hall.

She glanced up as she emerged into the hall. A table occupied by five or six Elves, including Isilwen and Princess Ciendriel was no more than five feet from the tapestry. The hall was dimly lit by sputtering torches. The Uruk-hai guards seemed tired and sluggish. A hand waved to Estella from under the table. She scurried forward. Diamond was alone under the table. A moment later, Merry joined them.

"Are you all right?" Merry asked her immediately.

"I'm fine."

Merry pressed his lips to her cheek. "Good." He looked at Diamond. "Where's Pippin?'

"He's up ahead underneath the next table."

"It's a good thing that Elves are so fond of long, lacy tablecloths," Merry said.

"Here is the plan," Diamond whispered. "Isilwen will get the weapons from Haldir. She will pass them to you, Merry. You bring them under here and Estella and I will get them to Pippin and Frodo."

"And once all the Elves are armed?" Estella asked breathlessly.

"Isilwen wants to lead an attack," Diamond said.

"It may just work," Merry said. "Elves are much better warriors than Uruk-hai."

"We'll worry about that later," said Diamond. "For now, let's just do what we can."