Disclaimer: I own nothing that Tolkien wrote. I am simply borrowing them for the purpose of this story as a form of entertainment for other. I am by no means making any money off of this. So suing me will not be necessary. The only person that is I own is Alexandra Mathews. I also do not own any lines from the movie or text from Tolkien's great books
After leaving Eomer, Alexandra went back to the tent that she shared with Éowyn. To her surprise when she walked in she saw Éowyn digging through a chest that contained men's armor. When Éowyn did not acknowledge that she had heard Alexandra return, Alexandra decided to stand where she was and watch Éowyn for a bit before alerting her of her presence. After about five minutes when Éowyn still had not notice her Alexandra voiced her presence.
"Éowyn what are you doing with that armor, because I know that you can not possibly be thinking about going into battle. That would be wrong because war is a man's province, well according to your thick head brother it is"
Startled Éowyn jumped up from her previous position and turned to face Alexandra.
"Oh, my you startled me. I did not hear you come in"
"I would say so; because if you had I am sure that you would have hidden all that armor for fear that I was someone who would thwart your plan"
"And just what is this plan you think I have?"
"Why dear Éowyn you plan on disguising yourself like a man and when tomorrow comes you plan to ride off to war with everyone else"
"And why pray tell do you think that this is my plan, if I even have one?"
"Because I was planning on doing the same thing" Alexandra said as turned and walked over to her bedding and from underneath the furs pulled out some armor of her own.
"Wha… when did you get all of this? And more importantly were you going to tell me about your little plan?"
"Well of course I was, in fact I was planning on talking you into coming with me if you decided that it was a bad idea"
"Why?" Éowyn asked
"Why what?"
"Why would you ride to war for a place that has only been your home for a few months at most, not even that really?"
"Well at first it was because I thought I would be better able to help if I went to war, I mean what could I do just by sitting on my hands, I would feel useless, I know how to fight, you helped teach me. But now part of the reason I want to go to war is because of your brothers' pigheadedness. 'War is the province of men' my ass" Alexandra said doing her best to imitate Eomer towards the end, while her face took on a sour and discouraged look.
"Have you and my brother been fighting again?" Éowyn asked sitting down next to her
Alexandra clenched her fists before speaking, "He makes me so mad. Tonight for instance, I went looking for your brother and I ran into Legolas on the way. Well we started talking and he told me that he was leaving to travel some road with Aragorn and Gimli and you know I had heard your brother and him talking about it before and they said it was dangerous, so I told Legolas that he better come back alive and I hugged him and told him good luck. Well it turns out your brother saw that happen and I don't know why but he got mad. So we had it out, I told him that Legolas was leaving with the others and that I was just wishing him good luck because he is a friend of mine. And we also argued about some other things, but it ended up with me walking away and telling him not to expect me to tell him goodbye or good luck tomorrow and I walked away" Alexandra finished with a sigh and then laid her head in her hands as Éowyn gently rubbed her back in a soothing way.
"There, there don't worry, I know my brother and what he can be like, he will see that he is in the wrong and then proclaim his undying love for you"
"You think so, I mean he was pretty angry and I don't know if he is going to get over being angry anytime soon after our fight and I… wait did you say confess his undying love for me! Where did that come from?"
"Well to others and yourself it might not seem apparent but to me, it is very clear that my brother does care for you and it is only a matter of time before you both figure it out and we are planning a wedding instead of a war" Éowyn said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Alexandra just stared at her with a bizarre look on her face. "You my dear friend are completely insane. That will never happen. It doesn't matter if I like him, your bother was not happy with me and after what I said I don't blame him"
Éowyn looked at Alexandra as she finished talking and the biggest grin made its way onto her face. "So I was right you do like my brother"
"What? I said no such thing" Alexandra exclaimed
"Yes you did!"
"When did I say that?" she asked
"Just now, you were talking about how it doesn't matter if you like Eomer because you said he was terribly angry with you"
"Damn… well I guess I can't hide it from you anymore. Oh Éowyn, I don't know when it happened but somehow I fell for your brother, and its pointless really too"
"Why would you say that?"
"Because it seems all we ever do is fight. Yes the last couple times we have made up, but still, how does that account for a healthy relationship, if one at all?" sighed Alexandra.
"Well I would suggest that the first thing you do is make up with Eomer." Éowyn said
"But how, I told him that I was not going to speak to him."
"Well when one cannot speak how do they communicate with another?" Éowyn replied as she got up and left the tent, leaving Alexandra to her thoughts.
'How does one speak to another when they cannot talk?' mused Alexandra. 'Oh I know. If you can't talk then the only other way to speak is through written word. I'll write Eomer a letter and give it to him. That way I'm not talking to him and I am sticking to my word at the same time'
Clutching the letter that she had just finished writing in her hands Alexandra walked up to Eomer's tent. Stopping just outside of it Alexandra took a deep breath. It was pretty late and she figured that Eomer was sleeping so she planned on just slipping into his tent and leaving the letter some place where he would see it in the morning, but that did not happen. For just as she was about to walk into his tent, Eomer walked out of it and ran right into her.
"Alexandra? What are you doing here?" he asked
Alexandra did not answer him, she just looked at him for a moment before throwing her arms around him and giving him a hug. Not knowing what to do Eomer did not move for a few seconds, but soon his wits returned to him and he moved his arms to hug Alexandra back.
"Lexy what is this all about?" he asked again
Still not answering him Alexandra simply let him loose from her embrace and handed him the letter that she had written. Taking the letter Eomer just looked at it before lifting his eyes to meet Alexandra's.
"What is this?"
Again not answering Alexandra lifted her hand to his face and then gently she ran her fingers down his from his temple to his chin and with a soft smile turned and walked away, once again leaving a very baffled Eomer in her wake.
After of about five minutes of staring off in the direction that Alexandra had fled to, Eomer looked back down at the piece of parchment he held in his and moved to go back inside his tent. Once he was inside he went over to a low rise table and lit the candle that sat there so he could see. Opening the letter he began to read.
Eomer,
After our discussion tonight I realized something. You infuriate me to no end, you make me want to walk up to youand slap the smug look you get on your facewhen you know you are right clear off your face! But for reasons unknown to me I can't andI can notbe mad at you in fact I can't even find it in myself to hate you even the tiniest bit, even though I would be entitled to. I promised that I would not speak to you for a while and I hold true to that, right now after everything that has happened the past couple days you do not deserve my words, hence the reason that I am writing this letter. Eomer I will not see you tomorrow this I know for sure, but I could not let this matter go unresolved. Your words hurt me and I know mine were not kind either, but Eomer I care for you as both a friend and more. I know that telling you this in a letter is not the ideal situation in fact this is not at all how I saw myself telling someone I cared for them deeply, but right now this is how it has to be. Eomer tomorrow when you ride to war, I want you to remember that I care for you and that I will be waiting for your return and for your thoughts and when you return we will talk and everything will either go back to the way it was before or it will become more, that all depends on you. So think of this as an incentive for you to come back safely, that and Éowyn would surely find a way to bring you back just so she could kill you herself for getting killed in battle.
Be safe Eomer son of Éomund,
All my care and best wishes,
Alexandra (Lexy)
Eomer sat on his bed for a long while looking at the letter he held in his hands and rereading it over and over again. Once everything started to sink in, a ghost of a smile graced his face. 'She likes me… no she cares for me' he thought to himself looking back down at the letter. Lying back in his bed, he held the letter in one hand, placed the other behind his head and crossed his feet at the ankles.
"This letter does give me a rather big incentive to coming home" he spoke out loud to himself. Sighing he looked at the letter once again "I only wish that I would be able to see her tomorrow and speak with her, but she is right, right now I do not deserve to speak to her and it is not the right moment to start the conversation that needs to be had between us. When this blasted war is over and peace is restored and we are back in Edoras we will talk and I will be able to tell her that I care for her also".
With one last look to the letter, Eomer folded it back up, placed it on the bedside table, blew out the candle and settled down to sleep, with delightful visions of what would come after peace once again ran throughout the lands of Middle Earth.
The bright rays of the morning sun came all too soon for those among the Rohan camp. The men all scrambled about the encampment preparing and packing what would be needed for the ride to war.
The morning also saw Éowyn and Alexandra viewing the magnificence that is the rising sun. Both women said not a word they just stared at the sun as it came up over the mountain tops. When Théoden King approached the two women Alexandra excused herself on grounds that she had something to see too. Théoden King's conversation was not one of pleasantries but rather one of business. He told Éowyn that he had left instruction that she was to take his place if neither he nor Eomer returned, and wished her well in defending Edoras should the battle go ill. When asked what other duties he would like her to do, the king simply told her that he would see her be happy and not morn for those who's time had come.
Alexandra made her way back to the tent and began dressing herself for battle when she was just about done Éowyn entered the tent, the two looked at each other but no words were spoken, both just finished dressing, then when they were done they slipped out the back of the their so as not to be seen.
As the two women joined the ranks, they both stayed towards the back, near men who did not know them and would not recognize either of them or Thunderfoot. As they sat atop their horses they heard Théoden and Eomer speaking.
"We must ride light and swift, it's a long road ahead and man and beast must reached the end with the strength to fight" Théoden said as they mounted their horses and started to ride off, but he stopped when he came upon young Merry. "Little hobbits do not belong in war Master Meriadoc"
"All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind" Merry said
"It's a three day gallop to Minas Tirith and none of my riders can bare you as a burden" was Théoden's response
"I want to fight" declared Merry
"I will say no more" was all Théoden would say before he turned and rode off with more men following him.
Merry stood and watched as everyone rode away, his face held a forlorn look to it, he was desperately wishing to go with them, his wish was granted. All of the sudden out of no where's a rider galloped up to him and snatched up the young hobbit and placed him in front of them.
"Ride with me" the stranger said
"Mi'lady?" Merry said with a grin on his face
"Mount up! Move out!" Eomer yelled out as he rode through camp
"Ride! Ride now to Gondor" Théoden cried out along with Eomer.
The three day ride to Minas Tirith seemed to take less time then one would have expected. Along the way Alexandra and Éowyn would switch on and off carrying Merry with them. But in the end he would end up riding into battle with Éowyn.
When the Rohirrim came upon the Pelennor Fields, where the battle for Gondor would be fought, they rode in like a wave of deliverance with the power of the rising sun at their backs and horns blowing. Shields ready, armor shining, and spears sharpen. Forming their lines upon the hill overlooking the battle, Théoden King rode back in forth in front of his men, shouting out words of encouragement and orders to his men. Both Éowyn and Alexandra turned their heads whenever Théoden King rode past them.
"Eomer take your Éored down the left flank. Gamling follow the King's banner down the center, Grimblod take your company right after you past the wall. Forth, and fear no darkness! Arise. Arise, Riders of Théoden. Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered. A sword day... a red day... ere the sun rises."
Éowyn holding onto Merry whispers in his ear "What ever happens, stay with me. I'll look after you"
Théoden rides down the line of men hitting their spears with his sword calling out, "Ride now... Ride now... Ride. Ride for ruin and the world's ending." Then he shouts out "Death." And he is answered by the Rohirrim with an echoing call of "Death" Théoden calls back "Death" once again he is answered with a call of "Death" and then with a mighty roar Théoden shouts for the last time "DEATH!" and along with everyone else Éowyn and Merry shout out "Death" and with a swing of his sword Théoden cries out "Forth Eorlingas!"
The Rohan army slowly begins to make their way toward the battle. As they get closer and closer the army begins to pick up more and more speed. With sounds of the charge blowing on the air the men of Rohan, two women and a hobbit charged the orc armies, barreling into them at great speeds. Alexandra and Éowyn made sure that during the charge they stayed as close together as they could, neither one wanting to lose site of the other. A hail of arrows rained down on the army from the orcs, many men fell, but when the orcs saw that they were not stopping they became scared and started to back up, for everyone, man and orc alike, knows that you cannot hold fast against a cavalry of charging horses. Orc after orc was slain, everyone was fighting as hard as they could, and everyone knew what was riding on this battle. Alexandra was lost with in the adrenaline that was flowing through her veins; she barely was able to register Eomer's words.
"Back them to the river"
"Make safe the city" cried Théoden King a cheer went up with these words, but it died quickly. For in the distance, where the orcs were fleeing too, came a huge band of Oliphaunts. On their backs they carried 20 plus men, their tusks were rapped in deadly spikes, as well as some of their feet. The head riders let their horns call out and the Oliphaunts began to charge.
"Reform the line, reform the line" Théoden called "Sound the charge" and with the blowing of the horns the Rohirrim rode off to battle once again, but the destruction was not in their favor.
The Oliphaunts large and powerful tossed aside horses and riders as if there where nothing more then flies and rag dolls. Many a man and horse met their end under the ever crushing feet of the Oliphaunts. Arrows flew but they appeared to do little more then piece their thick hides. With men firing down at the Rohirrim from the backs of the Oliphaunts it appeared as if the Rohirrim was done for, that was until Eomer came.
With a sharp eye, a strong spear and mighty throw, he took out one of the head riders of the Oliphaunts, with out his rider to control him the Oliphaunt went head first into another one taking them both down and giving the Rohirrim some hope of victory.
Éowyn and Alexandra hadbecome separated during the charging of the Oliphaunts. Currently Éowyn and Merry were riding under and in-between the stomping feet of the Oliphaunts and with the swing of her swords Éowyn was able to drop an Oliphaunt to its knees, disabling it and preventing it from getting up.
"Aim for their heads" cried Eomer as he loaded a bow and fired. As the men began to aim for the heads of the Oliphaunts, the Oliphaunts reared up and cause the men on their back to fall to their deaths and it also caused the Oliphaunts to tip over, effectively bringing them down.
"Bring it down! Bring it down!" shouted Théoden King.
During the Oliphaunts tumble Éowyn and Merry were knocked off their horse and separated. "Merry, Merry" cried Éowyn, but she could not look for him, for she saw her uncle being swarmed by orcs, and she ran over to help him, but little did she know that it would not be an orc that would slain her uncle.
The Witch King seeing how the battle was going, took his Nazgûl and flew to battle and he flew straighttowards Théoden King. Taking the horse of the king in his mouth the Nazgûl threw the king and his horse, causing the horse to land on top of the king. Slowly walking toward the King of Rohanthe Witch King told his pet to feed on his flesh. What the Witch King did not expect was a lone solider coming to the aid of his king, or rather her king.
"I will kill you if you touch him!" Éowyn spoke
"Do not come between the Nazgûl and his prey." The Witch King hissed out. The Nazgûl lunged at Éowyn, but she was able to side step the beast and with a mighty swing she cut into the beats neck, and with the second swing she detached the beasts head from his neck. The beast flared around as his body reacted to the shock of having its head removed. Once the beast lay still on the ground the Witch King stood from the ground and turned toward the one who killed his pet. Picking up a shield Éowyn prepared to fight the black monster known as the Witch King.
The Witch King attacked first lunging at Éowyn with his huge mace. Éowyn side stepped the mace, then ducked as he swung it at her, Théoden watched in earnest as this nameless solider fought to protect him in his incapacitated state. Side step, duck, side step, duck, walk back. This was the tone of the fight, but this did not last long for the Witch King swung one more time and Éowyn tried to block it with her shield, but the force of the Witch King's blow shattered her shield and her fore arm. Éowyn was flung back onto the Kings' dead horse.
As she laid there holding her arm, Éowyn watched helplessly as the Witch King approach her. Once he reached her the Witch King picked her up by the neck and in his dark voice he hissed.
"You fool. No man can kill me. Die now." and as he went to strike Éowyn down Merry crawled up behind them and stuck a dagger in the Witch Kings leg causing him to drop Éowyn.
Once Éowyn regained her footing she lifted off her helmet and spoke "I am no man." And with a cry of anguish and anger she stabbed the Witch King in the head and the Witch King was no more.
After killing the Witch King Éowyn started crawling away calling for Merry, when she noticed an orc that she had been fighting earlier was not dead and was making his way towards her. But just when he was about to get to her, Aragorn came through with Gimli right behind him and together they killed the orc and as they continued on their way a green mist that strangely looked like men made its way through the battle grounds killing any orc or inhuman like creature they came across.
With the orc that was chasing her dead Éowyn was finally able to make it to her uncle.
"I know your face... Éowyn. My eyes darken."
"No, no. I'm going to save you"
"You already did... Éowyn. My body is broken. You have to let me go. I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed. Éowyn..." and with his final breath taken Théoden King of Rohan, who served his country from 2948-3019 who fell before the gates of Mundburg died. He rested for a while in the land of his birth, among the dead Kings of Gondor, but was brought back and laid in the eighth mound of his line at Edoras. Then a new line was begun (Appendix A).
To Alexandra:
Alexandra had dismounted Thunderfoot after a while and chose to fight on foot, she had slapped him on the hind quarters and told him to go and get somewhere safe and stay there until she came for him. As she fought Alexandra could not help but think about Éowyn and Merry, she hoped that they were safe. As she fought Alexandra did not see the orc that was coming up behind her, but she heard him grunt and when she turned around she saw the orc fall and was met by a decaying green being that she could see through. Startled at first, she soon realized that these were ghost and that they were helping them fight, so she nodded her head in thanks and turned to fight some more. As she was fighting she heard Aragorn call out to Legolas, when she looked for him she was shocked to see him climbing up the side of one those gigantic Elephants.
"That elf is absolutely crazy" she muttered to herself before an approaching orc brought her attention back to the fight.
The fight raged on but soon the orcs were over taken by the army of green ghosts. Alexandra stopped fighting; the ground was covered by the dead bodies of orc and men alike the soil stained black and red with blood. As she stood on the battle field Alexandra did not notice the orc moving on the ground next to her. She did not know he was still alive until his blade swiped her side cutting into her through the leather armor that she wore. Taking her sword she cut the head from the body.
"Damn it! I knew I should have worn the chain mail, but damn it I wanted more speed and it would have weighed my down, well that's irony for you Alex" she spoke to herself.
Standing up and gritting through the pain Alexandra walked over to a near by fallen warrior and kneeled next to him.
"I hate to do this to you, but I need to use your cloak to stop the bleeding. Your death will not be in vain if I can live" she spoke to the dead solider. Taking her sword Alexandra cut into his cloak and made a makeshift bandage to tie around the wound and prevent the flow of blood. Once she had done this she stood back up and made her way to find someone she knew who could help her look for Éowyn and Merry. The first person that she came across was of course Legolas.
"Legolas my friend I am glad to see you are alive" she called out.
Turning to the voice Legolas was surprised at who he saw. "Alexandra what are you doing here? How did you come to fight in this battle?" he asked as he walked towards her.
"Éowyn and I disguised ourselves as men and road with soldiers who did not know us, but I need your help, I was separated from Éowyn and Merry when the giant Elephants showed up, we have to find her" just as she was saying this a gut wrenching, pain filled cry was heard. Turning both Legolas and Alexandra saw a sight that stopped them cold. Eomer was kneeling on the ground next to his uncles' dead body and in his arms he was holding the life less body of Éowyn.
"No, no it can't be" Alexandra cried
"I am sorry" Legolas said as he placed his hand on her shoulders trying to offer her his comfort.
AN: Well here's the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. I am already to start the next chapter, but I do not know when I will get it up and out. School starts in less than a week so we will see. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and I hope I did the Battle of the Pelennor Fields justice. I would like to once again thank all of my reviewers your reviews inspired me so much that I just had to finish this chapter and post it for you all. So keep those reviews coming and I will try to see what I can do about the next chapter. As always feel free to tell me what you think is not working and what you think would work or what you would like to see. Comments are always welcomed. So until next time
Bunny