Back Amongst The Living
I know that things will never be the same
Now I'm forced to face the truth
That the best part of me died with you...
"The Beacons of Minas Tirith! The Beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!" Aragorn burst into the golden hall where the King chatted mindlessly to a few Rohirrim.
"And Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim! Assemble the army at Dunharrow; as many men as can be found. You have two days. On the third, we ride for Gondor. And war. Gamling, make haste across the Riddermark. Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow." The king hesitantly announced, still not believing that Gondor deserved their help.
"Éomer, you must stay back "Théoden grabbed his nephew's arm, preventing him from moving.
Stay back?!
"But, my lord those are my men" Éomer replied calmly while anger raged inside of him.
"Ren will lead them while you are absent, come we've a plan to strategize" The king motioned for him to follow.
Théoden, Éomer, Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli stewed for hours trying to create a plausible war plan but had come up short each time.
"There is simply not enough time!" Gimli cried frustratingly, the others stood staring at the dark haired dwarf.
"The urgency is too great to give up, dwarf!" Éomer sighed crossing his arms over one another in frustration.
Strange terms where thrown around the room such as "Armies of the dead" and "paths of the dead" but the talk went on and on, it was pointless.
Blade walked briskly through the dark corridor, listening to the chatter that echoed from the Hall, her plan was foolish and she was certain Aragorn would see it that way but it was a plan. It seemed like she had been walking a lifetime once she had reached the room filled with men, they didn't notice her at first among their own arguing, she stood silently next to the doorway.
"You need a diversion", Her voice pierced the angry silence. All five men turned to her in synchronicity, each with their own look of surprise.
"I'm glad to see you're among the living once more hunter" The king spoke with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as the hunter stepped out of the doorway and into the stone room.
"I am glad to be among the living" She stated firmly and ran a hand through her tangled hair.
Aragorn was the second to step forward, he looked at her unsurely then engulfed her in a tight hug. The hunter slowly returned his embraced and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Your spell works, I see" he whispered whilst heartily patting the hunter on the back.
"I'm glad to see you, lass" Gimli spoke kindly.
"Likewise" Legolas added and smiled toward her.
Éomer stood next to his uncle while the hunter reunited with her friends, it was somewhat comforting to have her back.
"She has a strong will", The king spoke with a mysterious look in his eye.
"Much like yourself", Théoden continued, giving Éomer a look he understood.
"She has a death wish", The Third Marshal spoke sharply, not wanting to discuss the Hunter further.
"Do not be unwelcoming Éomer", The king nudged him toward the hunter with a sly smirk.
"Welcome back hunter" Éomer spoke firmly, stepping forward.
"I assumed you would be the one to send me to an early grave" She joked, a genuine smile grew on his face.
"As did I" he responded and held out his hand.
The hunter suspiciously eyed his hand but took It none the less, a strange spark ran through her hand as their skin touched. She was sure he felt it too from the sudden drop in his smile. The two looked up at each other with the same shocked expression plastered on their faces and Blade was quick to snatch her hand back.
"A diversion?" Legolas abruptly broke their eye contact, remembering her previous words.
"Yes" Blade replied and all eyes were on her once again.
"Of what kind, lass?" Gimli asked as hope grew in his dark eyes.
"I have something that Sauron desires" Blade spoke sharply, making eye contact with Aragorn, who looked displeased.
"No, Blade" Aragorn spoke plain and simple, looking desperately into her eyes but he knew a plan brewed beneath them.
"Strider, I will not be persuaded", Blade grasped his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"When I touched the Palantír I saw a glimpse of his plan. Sauron is growing impatient, he will eventually realize the fault in his crusade and it will destroy him .", The hunter spoke with venom and looked into Aragorn's green eyes that revealed his uncertainty.
"How do you know?" Legolas asked softly, the plan seemed flimsy and easily failed, it was unusual for Blade to suggest something so weak.
"I don't, not for certain" She said firmly and flickered a glance to his blue eyes.
"So you wish to just stroll into Mordor and confront Sauron?" Éomer asked sceptically with a hand on his chin.
"Sauron is not my concern, his power lies with the Witch-king. Kill the witch-king and Sauron will soon follow."
"What of the other eight wraiths?" Aragorn asked in deep thought, "They will not let you do so with such ease"
"The Ringwraiths do not emerge in the sunlight, it is blinding to them." Blade spoke sharply and glanced back and forth between the company. Gandalf was gone. "The witch-king does not fear it, nor does he fear water like the others" She continued and Aragorn turned his head toward her.
"The wraiths cannot be harmed by any weapon forged by man" The ranger added. The hunter sighed inwardly and slowly unsheathed her sword. The weapon singed the air and she held it in front of her. The obsidian blade was sharper and wider than any mere sword. A strip of silver engraving ran from the hilt to the middle of the blade, an ancient protection spell. At the hilt the almost black blade curved inward to the silver skull with broad wings that overshadowed the hilt of the weapon.
"It was forged by a necromancer in the west, it will not shatter as yours did" Blade said firmly and he raised an eyebrow. How did she know the events that unfolded on Wheathertop?
"You have been tracking me" He smirked slightly, he had taught her well.
"For a few months now" She replied and sheathed the weapon.
"Using fire to ward off the Ringwraiths was a wise thought" Blade added.
"They are not visible all but the cloaks they wear" Aragorn stated firmly and crossed his arms.
"I will find them"
"You have strong faith, hunter. I see you will not be persuaded by your friends" Theoden intervened with a slight smirk." "You will meet us at Minas Tirith in four days time?".
"I'll be there" Blade replied firmly.
"Then so be it, we ride for Gondor" Éomer voiced grimly as he made eye contact and stared into her green eyes. "I hope you are right hunter".
"I'll be there'' Blade said firmly, finding his attitude extremely annoying. The vision of her dying had her worried but she would not run from it nor would she sit still and wait for death.
"You will die a fool" Éomer hissed silently and crossed his arms over his chest.
"This strategy just might work" King Théoden confirmed as he thought of a plan to action.
"You cannot be serious" Éomer interfered angrily and stepped forward.
"You dare question your King?" Blade spoke with wit.
Éomer cast a glare to her and clenched his jaw in anger.
"We will meet again at Minas Tirith" Legolas said innocently, his blue eyes gleamed with concern.
The hunter nodded politely and turned on her heel to face the company.
"God bless your heart lass" Gimli blurted and fumbled embarrassedly with his axe. The hunter smiled and she thought over her war strategy.
"Aragorn you summon your army of the dead and the rest of us will round up your aid for Gondor. Blade will find the witch-king" Theoden recited, already regretting his decision.
The company simply nodded and proceeded to leave the room in single file with Éomer being the last to leave. She watched Éowyn stride past the doorway with an expression that told Blade she had tried to plead to be let on the battlefield but was left with only hurtful words of little comfort. The woman in the lavender dress nodded her head toward Blade, completely ignoring the Third Marshal who breathed out softly to conceal his frustration.
"Éomer" Blade called as he was about to walk through the doorway, she motioned her hand to summon him next to where she stood. He cautiously strode next to the hunter wondering what it is she could want with him.
"Yes, hunter?" He replied with little patience and saw the seriousness in her eyes. Éomer felt as if a grim conversation lay ahead.
"Éowyn is a good swordswoman, why do you restrain her to the duties of a maid?" Blade asked with little emotion as she thought of the day she had fought the woman."She should be a warrior not someone to care for the men" She added. The hunter watched the anger grow on his face, he was tired of the conversation, it wasn't her place to ask.
"She is not your concern!" He hissed in anger, walking away from the unpleasant conversation. His sister would not see battle, not while he lived. The Hunter grasped his arm lightly, not to add flame to his anger. He violently ripped his arm away, surprising her. His usual calm facade was overcome with the stress and frustration he felt. He had almost reached the door before she appeared in front of him, pushing back his chest with her hand so he didn't trample her.
"If you leave as you are you will allow your soldiers, your family to see weakness. Do not allow them to lose hope following someone who already has", Blade's soft words made his anger lessen slightly, realising his frustration was not with her. He stopped in his path, glancing toward the woman who had no weight on him, that had stopped him. She had a way with words when she wanted to, he saw where Aragorn's influence had come to play. The lean but muscled woman tore her hand away from his chest and slowly shut the door that had been left open.
"It may not be pleasant to hear but it is something you need to", Blade spoke in a hushed tone, feeling his scrutinizing glare that burned holes in her forehead.
"I may need to hear it but not from you", Éomer hissed in a cruel tone, trying to taunt her with his words.
"Not from someone who kills without consequence, without thought. Without reason. You are more creature than human", He spat viciously. Blade furrowed her eyebrows with confusion, she had done none of the actions he had accused her of yet he did so. The hunter backed away from the man, choosing to leave instead of fight. She didn't owe him her time or breath.
"Coming from someone kills without reason: If you do not allow her to fight, she will grow to resent you" Blade retorted calmly and strode past him. Harboring hard feelings.
"I can live with her resentment, as long as she is alive". Éomer stated firmly, knowing he had been wrong to accuse the hunter of such things. Blade opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, opening the door but it was pushed shut as fast as she had opened it.
"What?", He breathed out with his hand holding the door shut, he knew she had something to say.
"I had a brother who was protective like you. I never had to protect him, he died because I didn't know how. Don't allow Éowyn to suffer the same fate. You cannot shield her forever", Blade flickered a glance into his eyes, walking to the open window to observe the desert like paddocks. Éomer watched as she walked away, surprised at the heartfelt confession. He almost felt sorry for her.
"She knows her place isn't on the battlefield" He had a certain venom in his tone that told her something had happened to him to make him so protective of his sister.
"Neither is mine, but I am here nonetheless" Éomer watched in anger as she turned her head toward him and a beam of sunlight highlighted the scar across her cheek.
"You are a hunter" He hissed and took a step forward.
"I was not meant to be a hunter" Blade confessed firmly,
"There is only so much you can deny Éowyn before she defies you" She added and his eyebrow raised in suspicion.
"My sister is loyal, we have enough men to fight this war" Éomer hissed back, particularly aiming the last comment toward her.
"It was men who started this war" Blade responded and took a step forward. His defiance sparked her anger.
"Watch your mouth, hunter" Éomer towered over her but she was not intimidated.
"My words are the least of your problems", She clenched her jaw, looking up to the man who glared into her eyes with the same expression. They were chest to chest almost, inches away from each other's faces. He was drawn into her defiance to bend to his will. She opened her mouth to speak but he inched even closer, uncomfortably close. Closer than any man dared to get in many years. His lack of fear seemed foolish.
"If they kiss, you owe me your little elvish sword", Gimli's voice boomed through the silence of the chamber, breaking the seriousness of the moment. Blade turned to see Gimli and Legolas behind her, they had returned through the open archway that lead outside. She met Éomer's eyes once more before walking away. He watched her leave, feeling a strange loss at her absence.
He met the eyes of Gimli who smirked underneath his ginger beard, telling him that there had been more to their conversation the day prior after he had left.