Chapter eleven - Where Will Wants Not ...
Morning waxed and though the sun should have raised its head in the east, it was deferred by a dark cloud creeping slowly from the Dark Towers.
Eliahna was pacing the stables and thinking on the towers of Minas Tirith when Merry quickly joined her. His face was bright red, flushed with excitement. When she inquired, he told her the story.
A man from Gondor had ridden in during the night. Merriodoc was seated beside King Theoden along with Eowyn and Eomer, when the man disturbed their meal. He hastily begged his pardon and then begged for aid from the Mark. The men were promptly given the order to prepare to ride at dawn.
Eowyn asked Merry not to disturb Eliahna until morning, but now the men were all preparing to ride.
Something flickered in her eyes when Merry mentioned a messenger from Gondor. She questioned him in depth on the man's appearance and of whom he had spoken. If he had mentioned the captain of the city. Merry answered "Nay. "
The man had only mentioned Denathor by name and that all feared that the armies of the Dark Lord would soon over run the borders and take Minas Tirith if they could not find aid soon enough, and then pondered if it were a false hope. Perchance aid well enough was not to be found in all of Middle earth to repel him.
Merry cast a solemn gaze downward and he seemed quite disheartened. Eliahna asked him if he were well.
"I am fine for the threat of the end of days." He answered.
She studied him, but said nothing. His response only strengthened the idea that something was apparently bothering him. Something beyond the threatening doom.
His face twitched, and then he kicked the bottom of a stall, muttering. "I took an oath. I was appointed to stand with Theoden. Am I to sit with no use? I can do more stealing from the farmer maggot's garden than here. "
"Merry, what is this that you speak of? "
"Theoden has ordered me to stay behind. That's what I speak of. Was I not sworn to serve the King faithfully? How can I do that when I'm doing next to nothing twiddling my thumbs while he rides off to war? "
"And I wonder what's become of Pippen." He said quieter. "He should have run out of his weed by now."
She smiled briefly. "I know that you miss him. Nevertheless, he was well when I left him. He also gave his service to Lord Denathor. Pippen is well Merry, as we know most of us are. I have faith that Frodo and Sam are also well and nearly to the fiery mountain. "
He met her gaze with a marked unsteadiness as she lowered herself down to eye-level and said firmly. "Merry, we have passed over harsh roads, and dark places you and I … and the others."
When he flicked his eyes downwards, she slipped a hand under his chin and raised his head up, placing a steady gaze into his own. "Fear not Merry, we will all be together again. Then we will share a drink and raise our voices together as we did before this darkness weighed upon us. "
"We will sit again to drink and to laugh. And we will tell our children stories of the dark days when we all fought for Middle Earth. I believe this, and so must you. It will not be long and you will see Pippin again. "
Eliahna stood again when Eowyn came into the stables. Her eyes were shiny and she joined them with an air of intent around her. Eliahna waited to hear what she would say.
Eowyn sighed and then spoke. "It seems the sun will not rise today. Regardless, the men ride to Minas Tirith now and fight. I am guessing Merry has told you of the man from Gondor who rode in the evening past? "
Eliahna confirmed that he had done so and then Eowyn spake once more. "Come then. It is a tradition for the women to farewell the men. "
Merry held his chest out and gave an indignant snarl. "I am NOT a woman!"
The two women broke out in laughter at his antics, to which he declared that there was "nothing funny about it. "
The air was stiff with anticipation and dread. The chill was more than just the weather. It was a cold felt from the inside out. Little could be done to shake it. The horses were disquieted as well and some of them nearly bolted upon being mounted.
Six to eight hundred men waited command. Eliahna had not seen such and found that she felt small within their numbers. Yet, she was convinced that Aragorn was wrong and that her place was not to sit and watch those she loved battle for hearth and home, for those that they loved. And she was glad for the heart of Eowyn, who urged her on to do what she knew in her own heart she should.
So, the whole company was prompted to ride as one through the Mark, aiming for the camp where they would find one more nights rest before galloping into the fray of battle.
Eowyn, Eliahna and Merry were permitted to accompany them, but were forbidden to travel any farther than the camp. Once fare welling the men, they would be expected to turn back to Edoras and wait.
The group plodded through the foot of the mountains and then between them. The echo of horses snorting and whinnying on occasion were the only sounds for some distance, until, one by one, whispering conversations sprinkled between the men. Rohirrim men speaking in their native language.
Eliahna could pick out some of the words, for their speech was in a like manner to the native language of the hobbits. This was because the language of the hobbits sprouted from that of Rohan.
When they reached camp, some twelve leagues from Edoras, it was late evening. The three would return early morning as the rest of the men went onwards to defend the land, but for now, they tied the horses, fed and watered them.
Eowyn, wanting to encourage Merry, sent him off to the Smithy to sharpen his short sword. Eomer found no humor in this and argued with his sister. He saw no use for a hobbit who could hardly ride the pony given to him by Theoden. Eowyn had no use for his words and beckoned Eliahna to follow her.
"Merry has as much cause to fight as any of them" She argued her parting words to Eomer and then turned her back to him.
"As do we." She whispered leading Eliahna to their tent.
She lit a wide candle, once inside, and reached under a bundle.
"I do not intend on returning to pine alone in the cold walls of the empty chambers come morning. Sitting idly by while our people are slaughtered."
She looked steadily at Eliahna. "The women of this country are taught to defend themselves. I was taught to fight and not hide as one cowers, waiting for execution. "
She revealed two sets of mithril along with armor and helmets adorned with the symbols of the Rohirrim. "You have a sword - perhaps you should also go to the smithy. For if I am on the mark, you will not be returning to Edoras either, but riding in secret to meet the enemy and fight with those you love. "
The corner of her mouth turned upward at Eowyns words. "And of Merry?"
"He will ride with us. That pony of his will never make it far enough. They would just send him away again. By the time they discover what we have done, it will be too late. "
As she unwrapped the garments, she continued. "It was not fair for my uncle to encourage him by giving him a title and to sit by his side only to reject him and tell him he is of no use."
Eliahna was envious of this plan of hers and gathered her new clothes in wait for the hour that she should take them up.
The evening was long and she tossed over the rocky ground beneath her. It was not the surface of her bed that disturbed her slumber, but the thoughts racing through her mind. She did not enjoy the notion that she would remain behind while Aragorn joined the Gondor men to battle.
She also had another fear that had grown increasingly heavy since facing Sauron. She longed to know what had become of Faramir and desired to see that no evil had come to him. Yet, the visions the dark lord lain upon her pressed on her mind.
Even so, when they passed Snowbourne, (as she had done before) she had remembered the words that Manwe Sulimo had spoken to her.
"Daughter of Kings, why fear?" He said. Then he promised to guide her.
"It is time" She heard Eowyns voice shortly after falling to slumber. "Wake up, we must go now!"
She rose and learned that Eowyn had already bidden farewell to the King, telling him that Eliahna was still sleeping. He said only to bid farewell to her and that he wished not to disturb her for an old mans sake.
As soon as he began to ride, she hurried back to Eliahna and woke her. Now was the time for them to disguise themselves and join the men in battle.
Filled with anticipation, they donned the garments of the Rohirrim. Though it be dire circumstance which caused such drastic measure, to view each the other dressed in this manner brought them to laughter.
"Well" Said Eowyn, "What shall we call you?"
"I think I quite like the name Dernhelm." She answered thoughtfully.
"Then DernHelm it is."
They readied the horses with ease. The weight of the helmet pressed against her head. It was awkward, but she adjusted well. Eomer mustered the men with a call to the Rohirrim, Riders of the Mark (as they were also called) take arms to defend their land and country.
Then they prodded the horses, which took off at a gallop into the dark horizon towards the path to Minas Tirith, filling the valley with the thunder of hooves beating the earth at great speed.
As she and Eowyn were mounting, Eliahna glimpsed Merry standing on the ground, sword in hand. He looked on, watching them ride as a little boy would.
Eliahna motioned for Eowyn to move on and she then approached Merry. She stooped down and spoke in his ear.
"Where will wants not, a way opens, and so I have found myself! You wish to go where the Lord of the Mark goes. "
Merry turned round.
"And you shall go with me. Such good should not be denied. I will bear you under my cloak until we are far afield. Say no more to any man but come! "
She helped him onto Estel, of whom Eowyn liked to call Windfola, and they rode fast to rejoin the others.
"Thank you sir!" Merry said gladly. "Though I do not know your name."
"Do you not?" She answered, quietly amused. "Then call me Dernhelm."
Into the shadow they rode. There was no song or words of cheer from Rohan to be spoken now. They had not seen a glimmer of the sun, nor even a sliver of the moon, for two days now.
It seemed as though Mordor had already overtaken without the strike of even one sword in defense. They went through the Folde and on to FenMarch where the great Oakwood climbed the hills under hellfire.
They were riding along the border of Gondor now, and word rose that the orc hosts marched into the Wold of Rohan. This caused the men to slow as they began to doubt, but Eomer stirred them again yelling.
"Ride on! Ride on! Rohirrim, haste now - we need! "
The coldness pressed and in this dark hour, the hope in their hearts waned, but Eliahna grasped it with every grain of vigor that remained.
As Merry tensed against her, she recalled the promise of the valor.
"I will guide you daughter."
"Do not fear, Master Merriodoc, swordthain," She spake with much confidence. "There may come a day when we will fall never again to rise or have breath remaining to speak but it is not this day. "
Recognition brightened his face. "Eliahna?"
A/N - I took a slight liberty here, but it is only reasonable that if Eliahna were riding with Eowyn that she would pick up Merry given their long going friendship. So, I kept the storyline that Dernhelm picked up Merry, but that it was Eliahna who took the name and not Eowyn.
