Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Story line, characters and script belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. I only own Aerilyn
Chapter 11
Later in the hall, I was sitting between the two children that we found outside. Eowyn was off to the side. "They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree." "Where's mama?" Freda asks. I put a hand on her back. "Shh..." I said and kiss the top of her head before getting up. I move over to stand by Aragorn as we address Théoden on what to do next.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight." Gandalf says. "You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Aragorn said. "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us I know what it is that you want from me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." "Open war is upon you. Whether you rick it or not." Aragorn says. "When last I look, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan." Théoden says to Aragorn. "Than what is the king's decision?" Gandalf says.
I find myself now follow Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli towards the stables. "Helm's Deep." "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?" Gimli said. "He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn says. "There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defence have to hold." "They will hold." Aragorn says. Gandalf turns to Shadowfax. "The Grey Pilgrim...that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east." Aragorn opens the stall door. "Go." Legolas and I jump as Gandalf rides out of the stables.
After Gandalf left, I was helping Aragorn get Hasufel ready when we heard a horse snorting and rearing. We walked over. "Ho" One of the stablemen says as the horse rears again. "That horse is half mad, my lord, my lady. There's nothing you can do. Leave him." The other said to us. Aragorn walks towards the horse saying Elvish words to it. "Fæste, stille nú, fæste, stille nú. Lac is drefed, gefrægon." The horse calms down a bit, but is still snorting. Aragorn touches its neck and releases one of the ropes. I move over to stand beside Aragorn. "Hwæt nemnað ðe? Hm? Hwæt nemnað ðe?" I say patting his nose. "His name is Brego. He was my cousin horse." Eowyn say as she steps over. "Brego? Ðin nama is cynglic." Eowyn stands there watching us. "Man le trasta, Brego? Man cenich?" I said looking into his eyes. "I have heard of the magic of Elves, but I did not look for it in Rangers from the North. You two speak as one of their own." "I was raised in Rivendell...for a time. Aerilyn learned it from Gandalf. Turn this fellow free. He's seen enough of war." He leaves me with Eowyn. I turn to Eowyn as she takes over the saddle from the stableman. "Lady Eowyn." I said. She turned to look at me. "Yes?" "I was wondering if there was a horse free that I could ride. I would like very much relive Aragorn of sharing a horse." "Umm, yes follow me." I followed her to a stall with a beautiful black horse with a white star shape burst on its forehead. "This is Gilroch. She has no master. You are welcome to use her for as long as your want." She said and walked off. I got the horse ready and then was off to find Aragorn.
I was riding beside Aragorn as the Rohirrim refugees were heading towards Helm's Deep. Gimli was on Arod chatting with Eowyn ahead of us. "It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And it fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, haha that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men." Eowyn smiles and looks back at Aragorn. He gestures and whispers. "It's the beards..." She turns back to Gimli. "You should not encourage her." I whispered, watching Eowyn laugh. Aragorn moved closer and took my hand. I turned to look at him. "My heart will only belong to you, don't ever doubt that." He said as he brought my hand up to kiss the back of it. I smiled and he didn't let go of my hand as Théoden rode up beside us.
"I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time. She was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief." Eowyn laughs as she brushes Gimli off and looks back at Aragorn with the sun behind her and the wind in her hair. "Then she was left alone, to tend her king in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man, who should have loved her as a father." Aragorn squeezes my hand as Eowyn's smile disappears.
Later that night I was sitting beside Aragorn as he was removing the bandage from my cheek. He looked at it closely. "I think you can go without it covered. It has healed well. Hardly a scar." He said as he kissed it. "That's good." I said as I gingerly touched it. Eowyn then comes over with a pot and plates handing out food. She comes over to Aragorn and presents one to him. He takes it with a nod, and puts some strange white meat on his spoon and swallows it, looking up at Eowyn who looks a bit disappointed and waits eagerly. Aragorn nods. "Hmmm...It's good." He says. I try to hide my laugh behind my hands. "Really?" Eowyn turns around and leave. Aragorn tries to pour the stew-soup on the ground, but Eowyn returns before he can do so.
"My uncle told me a strange thing. He said that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But he must be mistaken." Eowyn says. "King Théoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time." Aragorn says. "Then you must be at least 60." I look at Aragorn to see he looks embarrassed. "Seventy? You can't be 80?" "Eighty-seven." Aragorn says. Eowyn was astonished but then realized the truth. "You are one of the Dunedain. A descendant of Numenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race has passed into legend." She said. "There are few of us left. That including Aerilyn here. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago." He said as she chanced a glance at me. "I'm sorry. Please eat!" She said and left. Aragorn was going to continue eating but I took the bowl from him. He looked up as I poured the soup by the fire. "I'll be right back." I said and kissed his forehead. I moved off towards the carriages to find two guards. "Can you show me where the food is kept." I asked one of them. He took me to the back of the carriage where there were baskets of food in them. "May I ask what it's for my lady?" "Just for my companions." I said. I took one of the empty bowls and filled it with barriers and some bread for Legolas. Then took another bowl and put some bread, berries and vegetables, and some of the better looking meat into. I turn to the guard still there. "Thank you." I say, he just nods. I walk back over to the other and up to Legolas and hand him the bowl. "Here you go Legolas." He looks at the bowl then back up to me. "Thank you Aerilyn." I then moved on to Gimli and show him the other bowl. He takes some bread and meat and starts to eat on them. I then move back over to Aragorn and sit beside him presenting him the bowl. I took some meat while I ate some of the barriers. After we ate, Aragorn turned to me and lifted his left arm. "You should get some rest. I feel we have a long day ahead of us." I move closer and rested my head on his shoulder as he places him arm around me. I fall asleep to his warmth.
