I watched from below as mothers said goodbye to their children and all I could think of was my own mother. Had any time passed since I had come to Middle-earth back in the real world? And if so, what was my mother thinking right now? I was supposed to come back home after exams for two weeks before heading to my summer job as a camp counselor. Ten days had passed since I'd been here.
My mom never worried about me much. She never cared about what I did with my future as long as it made me happy. She was an army veteran and the only thing she ever objected to was me joining the military in her footsteps.
Now, not only am I joining an army and going to battle, I'm encouraging others to come with me. I know that the Men of Rohan will win this battle with the help of the Lorien Elves and Eomer's Rohirim, but that doesn't mean lives will be spared.
That doesn't mean my life will be spared.
"Haleth," Maywen said to her son. "You must stay below with your grandmother. Watch her. Keep her safe."
"I want to be there with you and Father."
"But you can't. If the Uruks breach the walls you are the last defense of our people. You must try."
I hated hearing this argument. I left for my shared quarters with Eowyn to change into the chain mail that had been sent there.
I hated chain mail. It was heavy and weighed me down. I wish I had practiced while wearing it. Luckily I was being sent with the archers up on the highest towers of the Hornburg so hopefully I didn't have to worry about being weighed down by the chain mail.
Eowyn was already in armor. She was also to be with me on the highest tower by order of the king, even though she was much more suited for the sword. She didn't complain though. She knew not to test her uncle's limits.
I was putting my vest on over the mail when there was a knock on my door. "Come in," I answered.
Legolas walked into the room. "My lady," he greeted.
I sighed, sitting down on my bed. "I don't know why you insist on calling me that. I'm not noble or royalty. I'm basically a commoner."
The Elf just stared at me. "It is a mark of respect," he answered. And that was all he had to say on the matter. "Gimli and I worry about the state of this army."
I nod and slip on my left boot. "I know why. Most of the men are too old. The women are too unpracticed. The weapons are not all that great."
"It is not only the army we worry about," he says. "We are also concerned for you. We find you too reckless, my lady. You enter an army of three hundred, half of which are greatly untrained against the forces of ten thousand Uruk-hai."
I slip on the other boot. "Are you asking me a question?"
"I agreed not to question how you knew of the Uruks. But I must know how you predict a victory for the people of Rohan."
"Who says I predict a victory?"
"My lady, please do not treat me as ignorant."
I turn away from him and start strapping on my sword. "Gandalf warned me not to tell you."
I hear him shift behind me. "If Gandalf has forbid it, then that is accepted. But I must warn you, my lady. Your recklessness had rubbed off on Aragorn. Though there is little victory in sight, he plans his strategy as careless as you do."
I sit back down on my bed, facing the Elf once more. "I really want to tell you what's happening, but I barely know myself."
"Tell me what you can."
I take a deep breath. I don't remember Gandalf telling me to keep my past a secret. Only the future of this story. "I'm afraid if I do, you won't believe me." Legolas just sits there, waiting for my explanation. "Okay. So, I guess I'll start with the fact that I'm not from Middle-earth."
"I've gathered that much."
"Where I come from, this place, Middle-earth? It's a fairy tale. A storybook. And you and Aragorn and Gimli, you're all in it."
"How is this possible?"
"I'm not sure, but Gandalf says Sauron is behind it. He knew he would lose. That Frodo would destroy the Ring." Legolas's eyes widen. "Yeah, I know all about the Ring. But that's not important. Sauron brought me here because when you add new people to a story, the plot changes, no matter what."
"So you are here to help the enemy win?"
"No," I protest, hoping his mind isn't headed in that direction. "Sauron didn't know that I know the story. He didn't know that I would pick your side. He didn't know that I can keep the story on track."
"I have heard you and Gandalf speak. You are not the only one of your kind here in my world."
"No. my friends Kristen and Claire. Claire is with Merry and Pippin. I don't know where Kristen is but Gandalf says she is here."
Before Legolas can absorb all of this information, the long blow of a horn sounds through the stone walls. Instinctively, my head shoots toward it, then back to the Elf, smiling. He looks at me in puzzlement. "That is no Orc horn."
I jump up, running to the gate, hearing the men call to open it. Theoden, Aragorn, and Gimli are there as well, eager for the gift that waits outside.
Two thousand Elves march through the gate, armed and ready for battle. Haldir of Lorien stands at the front, facing Theoden, who is dumbstruck. "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell," Haldir says. "An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance."
Aragorn runs up to the Elves and grabs Haldir by the shoulders, giving him a grateful hug. "You are most welcome," he says.
Even Legolas is shocked at our sudden calvary. "This is why you were not worried."
I smile and nod. "Pretty much, yeah."
He nods and grasps the shoulders of his kinsmen. "We are proud to stand alongside Men once more," Haldir says.
A/N: A long pause, but summer work has me on duty about 14 hours a day...not much time to get the creative juices flowing. So I spent my one day off a week vigorusly writing new chapters to update over the next few weeks when I can get to the internet. Many thanks for reading!
