Ch 7: Stuck with Aragorn

"Finley, I want you to listen to me very carefully," Gandalf was saying.

Following the funeral the day before, she had joined Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli in the Hall to eat. Gandalf and the king had burst in, two children following behind with Eowyn. A conversation which Finley did not understand had taken place and ended when the king commanded that his people retreat to a place called Helm's Deep. Gandalf was leaving them to find help.

"Whatever Aragorn commands you to do, you must listen to him. He will do all he can to keep you safe."

Finley's eyes widened in fear and her gaze flickered from the wizard to Aragorn, who stood just behind Gandalf, his expression like stone. She didn't understand what was happening, but she did understand that whatever it was, it was very serious. She looked back to the wizard and nodded.

"Keep your weapons with you and keep your eyes open for danger."

"Alright," she replied, now thankful for the knives she had managed to talk a guard into giving her. They weren't much, but it was something.

"I don't mean to scare you," he said as he placed his hand on hers. Warmth spread from her hand up her arm and then all over her body and she felt calmer. "Aragorn and the others will watch out for you, but Rohan is at war. The road ahead is dangerous. Just… keep your eyes open."

"Alright," she said again, not fully understanding, but she found herself trusting Gandalf completely.

He gave her a nod, then released her hand, taking his warmth with him, and walked out of the hall. Finley followed his steps with her eyes. Aragorn walked with the wizard and when they got to the door, he turned to look at Finley. There was no mistaking the expression of distrust. Finley's frown set deeper. Well, she didn't particularly like him either, but they were stuck with each other. She'd rather just go home, instead of living out this nightmare in the middle of a war torn country that she had no knowledge of. Finley had more reason to distrust them, as far as she was concerned. Unfortunately, her choices remained limited. And she did find herself trusting Gandalf, so she would do as he requested. At least she would have weapons and would be able to defend herself.

She looked down at her fingers, now scabbed over from the workout she gave them with the bow two days ago. She was anxious to give it another shot.

"Finley?"

The voice startled her and she looked up at Legolas.

"Are your fingers still hurting?" he asked.

"Oh," she replied. "No, they're fine, thanks."

He handed her the bow and quiver full of arrows that he had carried in.

"These are for you," he told her.

She took them with a thanks.

"It's time to head out."

"Alright," she said and set the bow down so that she could she put the quiver strap around her body. With a pull on the strap, she tightened it so that it was snug around her.

Legolas was smiling when she looked up at him.

"What?" she asked.

He just shook his head and picked up the bow she had set on the table.

"Theoden King has found a mare for you to ride," he told her as he took her elbow and began to lead her from the hall. The two walked in silence out of the hall and down through the city until they were just outside of the stables. Men and horses were crowded in the streets. Legolas led her to a brown mare that was already saddled and ready to ride.

"Werregast," Legolas told her as he let go of her arm.

"What does that mean?" Finley asked, holding her hand out to let the mare sniff her. She nudged her nose into Finley's hand playfully. Finley laughed at the horse.

"I think you made a friend," the Elf commented. Werregast pulled away from Finley's hand and shook her head, then slung it towards Legolas, who dodged it easily. Finley pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. The mare had personality, she would give her that much.

"Easy girl," Legolas said, patting the horse on her neck. He set her bow down and held his hand out to Finley to help her up. She took it firmly, and mounted, spending several seconds trying to straighten the skirt around her awkwardly, so that the material both protected her skin from rubbing against the saddle and trying to keep her legs from showing.

Legolas picked up the bow and handed it to Finley, an amused expression on his face.

"Roughly translated, her name means 'War Spirit'," he told her, ignoring the skirt kerfuffle. "She's been trained to be a war horse. She will protect you if we run into trouble."

"Um… okay," Finley replied, not knowing exactly what trouble he could be meaning.

She sat quietly on Werregast and watched Legolas mount the white horse that he had ridden a few days ago as Aragorn mounted the roan. A Rohan soldier helped Gimli get on with Legolas and then the Elf nudged his gelding towards her.

"Here," he said when his horse stood beside hers. He held out his hand and gestured to her bow. Finley handed it to him and he leaned over to her back and attached the bow to her so that she wouldn't have to hold it in her hand as they rode.

"Thanks," she said when he leaned away.

From the front of the group, the king gave to order to move out, and the city emptied as the people began the long procession to Helm's Deep.

~TBC~