Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Ally to the Horse King
Our chase lasts three days. By the third day I feel some fatigue. The others, except the elf, are exhausted yet they push themselves. I can see that I am becoming more mortal for I have never been tired before. We meet horsemen on the third day. I stay behind Boromir and focus on remaining invisible. I do not know how successful I am but the elvish cloak covers any deficiency. They do not notice me.
Aragorn is gifted with three horses. I have never ridden a horse. My only contact with horses prior was braiding nettles into the tail of a horse and watching as the frustrated rider worked them out. I ride behind Boromir; as I am very light there is no inconvenience to the horse. We reach the pile of burning Uruk-hai quickly. The others begin to mourn but I am drawn to the trees.
The thickness and twining of their branches have made it very dark within the forest. What draws me is not the lack of sunlight but the darkness in the heart of the trees. The forest is very alive and very angry. The others join me staring into the wood as Aragorn has found a hobbit trail into the trees.
We enter.
The darkness of the trees speaks to me. I do not understand the language they speak. It takes some time before I understand what they try to convey. The white wizard is in the woods and he is going to war. The trees want to do something.
I turn to warn Boromir but Legolas has already told them of the threat. Before I can join them they spin to confront the wizard. I call my sword to my hand but it does not come. The others drop their weapons and no arrow or ax is able to hit him.
Challenges are shouted and the wizard responds. As he speaks I know Gandalf has passed his test. I knew he returned, but I did not know when or where. I come forward to stand with Boromir. Gandalf will know I've changed the Now.
It is later, when we wait under the stars for morning, that we speak.
"You have done what you sought to do, Tinúviel, yet still you journey."
He is some distance from the fire. Aragorn has finally decided to rest. I soak up the dark. It does not give me as much strength as it once did but it gives me enough. I join Gandalf.
"I have joined the Now. Something has changed in me. I go to see where this new Now journeys for it will be my path too."
Gandalf smiles and pats my arm.
"You have become very strong but I think your change has not finished. I am glad to find you with us still."
"Gandalf," I whispered, "You have traveled the Bright Paths. Does the Great One still accept us?"
"He loves and accepts all His creation."
I nod in relief to know that if I must take the last dark path the bright shore will welcome me.
"Come, tell me of what transpired after I fell."
We spend the rest of the night telling our stories. Gandalf seems pleased to know I have more of the shadows in the vial. There is another question I must ask since I have seen a possible Now.
"There is a strong chance the horse king will choose to go to the fortress of rock and stone. Shall Boromir and I go to the city of white for help? Or do we go and stand with him?"
Gandalf takes time to consider this.
"How strong a possibility is Theoden's decision?"
"He was very determined, especially after you put your hand on his throne as the creeping man did."
Gandalf nods.
"I shall remember that. I think we must take council with Boromir."
The others are stirring as the sun bares full upon the camp. Boromir is called over and Gandalf explains. Boromir does not seem pleased.
"I wish I could tell you that my father would honor our alliance with Rohan but I fear it is not so. He will be very displeased that I do not return with the Ring. When he finishes raging about it he will focus on our own defenses. Rohan will be of no consequence to him. It would go better if I can stand for Gondor in this battle."
"I am no small ally either. It seems we journey with you, Gandalf."
I join Boromir in preparing our horse. I wish to learn all I can.
"You need not fight, Tinúviel."
"Neither you. We both go because it is right. Do not fear for me yet, Boromir. They can hurt me, yes, but they cannot kill me. Not yet."
He nods his acceptance and mounts the horse. I take his hand and climb up behind him. Gandalf sets the pace on the lordly horse that permits him to ride. We reach the horse king's hall as evening approaches. I do not seek to hide my presence among them.
The people of the city live on a massive hilltop in the middle of a plain. The King's Hall stands guard at the top of the hill. It is here that we boldly ride.
We approach the door and are ordered to give up our weapons. I raise my hands in an open manner to show that I bear none. The surprise that I am a woman yet not dressed as such is evident in the soldiers' faces. Gandalf retains his staff and we enter the Great Hall of the King.
It does not take much time for us to be attacked. I call no weapon as none is needed. One man falls by each of our hands except Gandalf. He approaches the King. Gimli holds the creeping man but the rest of us stay back as Gandalf battles that which holds the King.
Things happen much as I saw them before; the King decides to flee to the rock fortress, despite the fact that Gandalf does not touch his chair. It is made clear we will journey with him. I know Boromir wishes to offer aid from Gondor but dare not make any promises he is not confident will be upheld. Gandalf leaves us to ride for aid and we set out for the shelter.
They offer me a horse to ride and are surprised when I admit I do not ride. We travel very slowly and I continue to ride with Boromir or walk. The King's kin approaches me on the second day when the sun is still climbing.
"I am told you are a warrior of your people, yet no one will answer me who your people are."
I know she will not like my answer and for the first time I find myself caring. I want this one to like me. I will not lie or dodge the question.
"My kin and I would be known to you as the 'Cold Ones.'"
She shakes her head indicating that she does not know this name.
"The 'Walking Dead'? Noch Fasalltini?"
She reacts by pausing in her step and staring at me.
"I had always thought they looked different."
I nod.
"We do. Most of my kin cannot be seen except as whispers of humans now and then. We are not truly dead, as we have never lived as humans do. As for me," I look down at my feet, legs, arms, and chest - all visible in the sunlight, "I am no longer of my kin. I have many battles to front and choices to make on my journey."
The daughter of kings waves her arm about to encompass all that walk with us.
"They treat you as an equal. I would prize that above all else."
"Are you not treated as such?"
She meets my gaze.
"Ah, you are given those tasks that do not require battle but wisdom."
I look at Boromir. He rides at the front of the column. He is leaning to speak with Aragorn and the King.
"I have learned much in this Now," I glance at her, "In this time. Never give up; never stop trying for what you desire. It may come to pass. If so, you must accept whatever consequences come with it."
"You would encourage me also."
She nods at Aragorn and is silent for a time.
"Would you tell me of your kin? Have they always been apart from the world?"
I spend much time telling her of my kind. We are separated by a warning call from the column. We both rush forward. Boromir holds out his hand and pulls me up behind him. The King stops Eowyn, from mounting her horse. I do not see or hear more as Boromir is urging on our horse towards battle.
"Wargs."
He shouts to me. I remember this battle from a previous Now. This shall be quite a different memory then last. I watched from on top of the rocks then. My sword comes to my hand and we rush into battle.
Boromir and I take down our first opponent but I know he is pulling short on his swings for fear of hitting me. I drop from the horse and call full armor. I cannot fight on horseback. He cannot fight to full advantage with me behind him.
Another warg attacks me believing a downed rider and easy prey.
I am never prey.
He rushes forward to snap my arm. It is no longer there as I have ghosted to one side. My sword comes up into his throat and I jerk it around and out to bring him down. Blood gushes out of the wound but the massive creature does not go down, even as he dies. The orc swings at me to distract me as his mount attempts to rip off my sword arm. I rip his weapon from his fingers and use it to pin him to his mount, slicing through his inner thigh, through his leather saddle, and lodging the sword in the spinal column of the warg. As I pull my hand back from that action I recall my sword and thrust it into the warg just below his ear. I pull my sword downward, splitting him open from ear to jaw. This time he goes down, sliding in his own gush of blood. The rider, pinned to the dead warg, is easy to dispatch.
I feel that I am taking too long for each kill. I allow the Blood Rage to take more of me and quicken my pace. More difficult are these orcs to fell then the goblins from the cavern but still they all fall before one of shadow enraged. I return to myself as the others cheer their victory. The search for the dead and wounded begins. A bloody warg soaks the ground before me. I leave it and find Gimli pinned under several foes.
He pushes upwards and I pull. Eventually the two wargs and one rider are removed from on top of him. Together we seek the others. Boromir stands over a fallen orc and Legolas a little further on looks over a cliff with Theoden. It seems that even in this Now Aragorn must face another testing. Gimli moves on toward Legolas, I go to Boromir. He stands staring at the dead orc. It is curled around its hand as if he held something he valued. As I stop beside him he begins speaking.
"He was the last of his line. How will my people go on without hope? What shall I tell them?"
Boromir shifts his gaze from the dead rider to the cliff side where Legolas and Gimli stand. Theoden is returning from the cliff but does not approach us as if he cannot come up with any more words to express his grief or ours.
"Do not give up hope, Boromir. Aragorn is not to be dismissed so easily."
Boromir jerks his head around to look at me and before he can protest I continue.
"Yes, I consider a fall from a cliff easy for him. One never knows where a Now may go unless one walks it. I do not know how this Now goes but I can tell you that there is much hope based on the past Now. Do we keep walking this path?"
He looks down to the orc again, considering.
"Ever do you offer me hope. I am still the only representative of Gondor. I will see this through."
We join the others in seeking injured and getting them on horseback. Once this is done we mount and continue to the fortress of the horse people. Our group moves much more quickly without those who traveled on foot, even with the wounded. We reach the stone fortress by evening.
The others ride triumphantly into their stronghold. Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, and I are restrained. In the previous Now I saw Aragorn save the white city of Boromir. I saw him fall and return to this place. It is possible that things will be different in the Now I have changed. Perhaps he and Boromir cannot both return to the White City. I did not stay to watch the coming battle; I simply made sure that Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn moved on from this point. I moved quickly through the Now, not marking details. I saw them gather at the peak and leave the horse people. I followed them through the deep places and watched them emerge from the ships upon the river near the White City. Once I knew they were victorious, I returned to the Now in which Boromir lived.
I know the general details of the coming battles but I do not know the particulars. As I descend into the caverns to see if I can assist them, I begin to understand the worry of humans. What will happen tomorrow? Where will my path through the Now go?
We spend the next day preparing provisions for all the people who have fled here. There are few with swords and many with children. The fighting in Rohan has already taken many of its young men. I am no help with most practical tasks as my life has been spent making mischief. I help haul foodstuffs down into the caves until I discover I have another talent. I am able to entertain the young, those so small they cannot even help carry goods. I ghost through objects and pretend to be unable to hold small items. They laugh and giggle as they find new things for me to drop or as I peek out of solid rock at them.
Boromir comes and takes me away as I am pretending to be unable to hold a small coin. The little ones are sad as I leave and that gives me a warm feeling. They ask me to return to play when I can. I like that I am accepted among them despite my differences.
As we head to the surface, Boromir tells me that Aragorn has returned. He seems to think I knew it would be so but I simply smile and shake my head.
"I did not know he would return. There was only a strong possibility because of the previous Now. I have changed so much that I cannot promise you anything will be the same."
The news Aragorn brings is bad. At least ten thousand orcs will be upon Helm's Deep by nightfall.
"Tinúviel, what happened in the Now before this one? Was Helm's Deep saved?"
I hesitate. We are at the top of the stairs and I can see Theoden and the others gathered around a table set in the middle of the fortress keep. I do not want Boromir to be less cautious because of what I have seen happen before this Now.
"I can promise you nothing, Boromir. You must be prepared for everything to change from what I have seen. What I will tell you is that before Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli made it to your city."
He closes his eyes and smiles. I shake my head and grab his arm.
"No, Boromir, do not assume it will be the same. Your very existence can change everything, as can my own. We are two new pieces moving through the Now, the ripples we cause may alter the outcome. You must fight as if all around you will die."
Boromir has opened his eyes as I plead with him and watches me. He stops smiling and nods.
"I understand. There is only hope of survival but no guarantee."
We join the others at the table. King Theoden outwardly accepts the challenge but the darkness in his heart is not hidden from me. He fears what is to come, he fears that he is unable to lead his people. We tour his keep and he attempts to prepare for battle. The words of encouragement he speaks are for himself and his people, yet he does not believe them.
"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."
Aragorn attempts to council Theoden but he has already lost to despair. He mocks the idea that any would answer such a call. Boromir stiffens as he cites the lack of response from Gondor but says nothing. Again, he receives the slights caused by his father's disgrace. King Theoden is correct in his judgment of Gondor's aid but he is discourteous to say it before Boromir.
"No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone."
He turns. I burn at his scorn of Boromir and the others.
"In numbers, perhaps, but I stand for the Shadowkin and a gift of one such warrior is no small thing."
Theoden half turns back so he can see me. Boromir gently grabs my elbow to hold me back. He is trying to remind me that this is not proper etiquette. I am not human; I need not abide their unspoken laws.
"I grant you have never seen Shadowkin so I will permit you to withhold your judgement."
I turn in the opposite direction and stalk off along the walk we have just journeyed. It seems I have a temper. I care not for the king's favor I only hope I have not offended Boromir. I leave the main keep and go sit among the rocks along the cliff that backs the fortress. I will wait here for the battle to begin.
It is Boromir who comes and tells me that elvish warriors from Lothlorien have arrived and are to be stationed on the wall.
"I, too, shall fight here on the wall. Aragorn leads the elves and it is him I follow, not the King of Rohan."
I stand and call my armor to me. I considered much as I sat among the rocks. I will follow Boromir where he goes and the decisions he makes but I my actions will be my own. Even as I follow, my Now must be my own. I will here for Theoden's people because it is where Boromir is but also because it is right and my companions are here and need me. Fully dressed for battle I smile at him.
"I am glad for it is here I will stand too. They will attack the shorter wall first."
We take up positions on the wall behind the elves. Neither Boromir or I use the bow but we will be able to deal with those orcs that climb the wall. We are just beyond Legolas and Gimli. Aragorn ranges up and down the wall.
Soon enough the orcs bring up ladders and Aragorn calls for swords. Boromir draws his as mine appears in my hand. The first orcs force themselves onto the wall and I close my eyes and focus on what is to come. I will use the Blood Rage but I must not be so mindless. There are many allies and not much room.
Power fills me and I know I can control it if I have the willpower to do so. The Uruk-hai come and I attack. They swarm the wall. It becomes a matter of hacking through them. The pile of bodies and pieces begin to grow around us. The orcs seem to be endless. Up cut through one's chest, across another's head, follow through the swing to cut down another's shoulder, twist to sever another's hand, continue the arch down to remove his leg, and trust Boromir to take the one charging to my side. There is no thought, only thick, oily Uruk-hai blood spattered on everything.
And then the world explodes.
I cannot see and every sound is muffled and hazy. I do not know if I am dead or wounded and dying. Little pinpricks of light begin to take shape and I am aware that there are fires all about. Other shapes move and I recognize elvish cloth. There are elves all about the wall. Someone is shouting, I can tell because it is louder than all the other muffled sounds. I know I should understand it but I do not. My eyes focus on a body prone beside me. Boromir. I crawl toward him and in doing so find that I am still intact. There is blood on my arms and I know it to be mine.
I crawl forward. I can see that Boromir is bleeding but has not lost any limbs. He may be dead anyway.
"Boromir."
I think I am speaking aloud but it sounds wrong to me. The sound seems to rattle in my own head and comes out all hazy. I am close enough to touch his face and can feel that he breathes. I rise to my knees. I can see no mortal wound on him but that does not mean there isn't one.
An orc is running at me.
Rage that he would dare harm Boromir engulfs me. My sword blocks his swing and hacks his legs from beneath him before I realize I am his target.
Fighting from my knees is intolerable. Whether my legs can support me or not, they must. I can see more of the wall when I stand. Before me there are many lying dead and a few elves and orcs fighting. Behind me a large portion of the wall is gone. That was the explosion.
There are fewer orcs on the wall because of the breach but some still advance up the ladders. I look over the wall and see Legolas and Gimli below fighting orcs entering through the hole. I kill another Uruk-hai that charges me. There will be a retreat for we are being overrun. Boromir must get up.
I plant my feet beside him and fight any that approach. At the same time I try and nudge him awake. The stairs that will return us to the courtyard below are still held by the elves but I know it will only be for a short time. The Uruk-hai have abandoned the ladders and so the few remaining elves and I have cleared the wall, for now.
I kneel beside Boromir.
"You must wake."
I shake him and pat his face. He does not respond.
"To arms, Boromir!"
At this shout his eyes open. He looks about, confused and disoriented. I release my sword and take his instead.
"Quickly. They will have to retreat soon and we must not be caught upon the wall. Lean on me, you must get up."
He does as I ask and we start toward the staircase. He is heavy, more so with his entire set of armor. We stagger to the top of stairs. There is an elf fighting on the landing. I swing Boromir's sword as I am able and slice the Uruk-hai's leg. While I distract him the elf kills him. He offers assistance and I accept. Together we carry Boromir down the stairs. He is still unable to move his legs and his feet drag on the steps.
Aragorn is shouting for us to fall back. We reach the bottom of the staircase and the other elves begin helping us. A path is made through the orcs for us to reach the staircase that will take us to the Keep.
Upon reaching the second set of stairs Boromir is able to support most of his own weight. I slip out from under him and ask the elf to take him the rest of the way. Boromir is still too dazed to protest. I press his sword into his hand and recall my own. Other elves are retreating and the orcs are pressing behind them. I will not let another Uruk-hai by me.
I hold the stairs, moving up them slowly and backwards. Not a single orc gets by me. I wait for Aragorn at the door to the keep; he is the last to enter. I kill the few Uruk-hai I can and ghost through the bolted door.
Boromir is standing before the doors to the inner hall. We both know a final retreat will be called. He has recovered enough to join the battle. He smiles at me and I take a stand beside him. We will protect those who flee here.
There is not much time before we are fighting again. He and I keep the Uruk-hai back, slowly retreating ourselves, until they are crushing against us. It is then that we slip through the last small opening they have left us in the doorway.
We have a brief respite. The Uruk-hai are hammering on the doors. The soldiers of Rohan seek to barricade them. I pause to examine my wounds; all are minor. I stand to one side waiting for instruction and watching the events before me. The King of Rohan is unable to make decisions and so Aragorn fills the gap. As the sun rises they determine to ride out. Boromir will go with them. I am no horseman; I will stay to defend the keep.
The surge of horses out the door eliminates a good deal of the Uruk-hai without, but not all of them. Gimli, those without horses, and myself force back all those that remain. There is no form, no style to the battle. We hack and slash our way through Uruk-hai bodies. Slowly we gain ground until we have most of the keep in our hands again. A few men go to the main gate to hold there, the rest of us fight our way down the stairs towards the breach in the wall. Once again I find myself fighting orcs outside the main keep. There are far fewer allies. The Blood Rage answers to my will now and I let it loose upon those breaching the wall.
It is still morning when Gimli pats my arm in congratulations. We have won.
There is much cleaning to be done, friends to bury, and foes to burn. I am told by Boromir of how the very trees swallowed the remaining Uruk-hai and of Gandalf's return. He brought the King's male kin and was able to turn the tide of the battle outside of the keep. He also speaks of another issue.
"Sauron will now focus on Gondor and Minas Tirith. He must if he is to destroy man. Once we no longer oppose him, he will be able to march out freely to kill the rest. I know the others will reach my city but I must go home now. We must be prepared and I do not think my father will do what is necessary."
"Then we ride for Minas Tirith. I am ready to leave even now."
Boromir is watches me closely.
"You need not come."
"But I will."
He smiles.