"No parent should have to bury their child..." his voice rang in my ear outside in the cold, as I sat on a the steps outside of Meduseld, my head on my knee closest to it.
"No child should have to bury their family either." I whispered to myself...
They were covered in blood... knives in my mother's skin, an arrow in my father's heart, and my sister's stomach was pierced.
"Rhasslairiel?" I looked up to see Legolas coming down the steps. Quickly wiping my eyes I smiled at him as he sat by me.
"Hello Legolas." I nearly whispered.
"What are you doing here alone?"
"Just thinking..." I replied, "Living in the past..." I sighed as Legolas put his hand on my back, leaning my head down further, trying to hide my tears. Legolas said nothing and for that I was thankful. His touch improved my thoughts and I had a mind to lean onto him... but...
Gandalf was leading a horse toward Theoden's home, two children upon it and up the steps. Eowyn ran out to take them inside, covering them in blankets. Legolas and I looked at each other, exchanging a worried glance and rushing inside.
"They had no warning!" Eowyn was saying, "They were unarmed. The wild men are moving through the west fold burning as they go. Every cot and tree." Legolas, Aragorn, and I looked at each other.
"Where is Mama?" the little girl cried, as if to add to the effect.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." Gandalf said, holding out his hand. Theoden sat beside him, his head in his hand, sitting upon his throne heavily, his face thoughtful and full of trouble.
"Ride out and meet him head on." I said forcefully, walking away from Aragorn and standing before the King, ''It's the last thing he'll expect. Draw him away from your women and children." Theoden looked up at me and for a moment I thought he might yell.
"You must fight! " Gandalf said, more forcefully though quieter than I.
"You have two thousand good men riding North as we speak." Aragorn added, his hand on his pipe, sitting at the table littered with food. "Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King." Theoden stood up, nearly shoving me out of the way. I watched him.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now!" Theoden argued, "Eomer cannot help us." He turned to me. "I know what it is you want of me Alandia Wanderer, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you. Whether you risk it or not." Aragorn argued back. Theoden turned to Aragorn.
"Last I looked," he said. Legolas uncrossed his arms, "Theoden, not Aragorn was King of Rohan." Gimli let out a burp, ale dripping down his beard. Legolas and I looked at each other with an amused look on our faces.
"Then what is the King's decision?" Gandalf asked. Theoden turned back to him.
"We will find shelter in Helms Deep." He said and turned to the guard at the door. "Inform the people." He said and watched as the guard left the throne room. I frowned, fire seizing my heart.
"You flee?" I cried, ignoring Legolas's hand on my shoulder. Aragorn stood, "Flee when you should fight! Long I have heard the stories of how wonderful the King of Rohan is! But now I see you for who you truly are... nothing but a cow-" A hand slipped its way over my mouth and Aragorn pulled me back.
"She didnt mean it my lord!" he said, forcefully yet gently pulling me back further. I forced myself out of his grasp. "Did you?" he said, his teeth clenched. I yanked my arm from his hand and looked back at Theoden, my eyes wide and ablaze.
"I apologize, my lord." I said, my teeth clenched, "This is your kingdom." Theoden nodded to me, too infuriated to speak, and stepped back to his throne.
"Helms Deep!" I cried as we walked out of Meduseld, "They flee to the mountains when they should stay and fight. Who will defend them if not their King?" Legolas put his hand on my arm as the people who stood nearby looked at me.
"He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people." Aragorn said, frowning as we walked into the stables. "Helms Deep has saved them in the past."
"But will it be enough this time?"
"There is no way out of the Deep." Gandalf said, "Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety..."
"what they will get is a massacre." I said.
"Theoden's will is strong but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan." I nodded as Aragorn sighed. "He will need you before the end, Aragorn." He said to Aragorn. "The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold." I nodded.
"They will hold." Aragorn said, barely audible. Gandalf nodded once and walked into the stall where Shadowfax stood, running his hand over his mane.
"The Great Pilgrim. That's what you used to call me." Gandalf began to look into the air, as if to no one as he spoke, "Three hundred lives of men I walked this earth and now I have no time!" he seemed frustrated. I opened the gate of the stall.
"Good luck, my search will not be in vain." He said, mounting Shadowfax, "Look to my coming, at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east." I bowed and backed out of his way as Aragorn looked at his old friend, a light in his eyes and a near smile in his face.
"Go." Aragorn said. And with that, Gandalf galloped out of the stable.