Afternoon all :)

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Thank you all for enjoying the story enough to review, follow and favourite my story.

Here is the next chapter.

Chapter 12

Elahir POV

Elahir leant against the battlements that protected Edoras. She watched the wind create ripples throughout the long grass of the hills and could hear the sobbing of the king as he spoke to Gandalf at his son's grave. She knew that the people of Edoras were curious of her as they walked by, peering up at her, but she ignored it. She soon heard light foot falls behind her.

"Lady Elahir," Eowyn greeted as she appeared by her side dressed in black for the mourning of her cousin. Elahir stood up in surprise at being addressed so and turned to face Eowyn, with a bow of her head and a fist over her chest.

"Mae Govannen," she greeted. Eowyn bowed her head in return. "What can i help you with, milady?"

"Would you walk with me a moment?"

Elahir was confused but nodded and followed Eowyn as she turned to walk along the battlements. "It is a glorious day for Rohan, you and your companions have done us a great service in returning our king to us."

"We will all need to band together to rid the land of Sauron's evil soon."

Eowyn's eyes widened with curiosity. "So the rumours are true?" she breathed. Elahir cocked her head to the side, unsure of what the fair lady spoke. "I wish to fight, I feel I am caged here. Surely you could use another companion?" Eowyn pressed, stepping closer to Elahir, her eyes round and pleading.

Elahir took a step back, surprised by the slight tone of desperation she heard in Eowyn's voice. "Milady, I'm afraid that is nothing I can decide for you. I do not think it would be wise for you to stray," she replied, doubting the young woman knew a fight. She saw her crestfallen look. She saw something in the woman, something niggled at her mind. "One day, milady, your time will come, where you will be able to prove yourself, and you will know your chance. And you will take it." She knew not where the words came from, but she had no way of stopping them. She touched the fair lady's shoulder lightly. Eowyn's eyes searched the she-elf's face and then seemed satisfied with the answer.

"I have been told that Elf maidens rarely leave the lands of elves?" Eowyn asked, her face becoming curious. "Why is it that you have travelled so far from home?"

Elahir looked at Eowyn with trepidation, unsure of how she could answer the question, and then back out to the hills surrounding Edoras. She was about to answer as best she could when she spotted something moving upon a hill in the distance.

"Lady Elahir?" Eowyn looked at her face, she was now squinting to make out the movement on the hill. She too looked to the hill.

"Lady Eowyn, call the guards," she demanded urgently as she watch a small boy slip off the back of a large horse. Elahir leapt from the battlements to the ground far below and ran with great speed to the horse, which stopped and waited for someone to retrieve the boy.

oOOo

The boy and girl slurped their stew hungrily, it had been many days since they had eaten a hearty meal. Eowyn stroked the little girl's hair as she ate. Elahir sat on the other side of the boy, encouraging him to eat slowly so as not to make himself ill.

Eowyn stood up to address Theoden and Gandalf. "They had no warning, they were unarmed." Theoden rested his forehead in his hand and looked at the ground with deep regret. "Now the wild men are moving through the West fold, burning as they go."

Elahir looked to where Aragorn and Gimli were sitting and eating and Legolas stood watching on. Aragorn looked from Legolas to Elahir with a sad look as he brought his pipe to his mouth.

"Where is Mama?" the little girl demanded, looking up from her food as Eowyn wrapped a blanket around the little girl's shoulders, hushed her quietly and encouraged her to eat more.

Elahir stood up and joined Aragorn and Gimli with her back to the wall so she could see what was going on while she nibbled on a little food. Legolas glanced at her as she picked up a small piece of meat from her plate and popped it in her mouth. She glared when she caught the glance and looked back to the children.

"This is but a taste of terror that Saruman will unleash," Gandalf explained to Theoden, motioning at the children. "All the more potent now that he is driven by the fear of Sauron." Theoden looked up and at the children sadly. "Ride out and meet him head on," Gandalf urged. "Draw him away from your women and children, you must fight." Gandalf put his hand on the arm of Theoden's throne.

Elahir raised an eyebrow at this, watching carefully for the King's reaction. Theoden glanced sideways at Gandalf's hand. It was Aragorn who spoke next though.

"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."

Theoden stood up hastily and strode from his throne across the room. "They will be three thousand leagues from here by now," he growled in frustration. "Eomer cannot help us," he mumbled looking at Eowyn and the children. He looked back to Gandalf and then at Aragorn. "I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war," his tone was resolute in his answer.

Elahir lifted a grape to her mouth and looked sideways at Gimli, whose chewing was so loud she found it quite agitating. She pulled a face, glancing quickly at Legolas, he saw the grimace on her face, and the corners of his mouth began to turn upwards in amusement. She quickly set her jaw and their attention turned back to the conversation at hand.

"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn warned, taking his pipe from his mouth.

Theoden turned to look back to Aragorn, he had a look of frustration on his face. "When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan," he spat in response.

Elahir was taken aback by such ferocity in his words. Aragorn looked solemn and said nothing more. There was a long silence within the room. All except for Gimli's munching and the horrendous belch he let loose from his mouth. Elahir's eyes went wide and she pulled a face of utter disgust, getting up to move away and help Eowyn with the two children again.

Gandalf stood and moved towards Theoden.

"Well, what is the king's decision?" Gandalf demanded, impatiently.

It was as the king's eyes met hers, that Elahir suddenly felt the world stop for a split second.

The cloud within her head grew and she suddenly felt the loss of function of any of her body parts. Vivid pictures began to roll before her eyes. She stood before Orthanc Tower and looked up. On the highest balcony she could make out Saruman and Grima. She narrowed her eyes at them but for a moment before she heard a tremendous and terrifying roar. She turned around slowly and her eyes widened with shock.

A huge army, not of just orcs, but of Saruman's Urak-Hai, they bore the white hand mark on their chests. They were stomping their feet, the sound terrifying and blood chilling. All around Isengard the beautiful land had been destroyed and was no ugly and charred. She saw Saruman raise his hand to the army of ten thousand or more and they roared with passion. This was what they would face. She felt the urge to flee but before she could do so a new vision appeared. Two Urak-Hai ran with large spiked balls straight at her, and then a well armoured Urak-Hai carrying a torch charged at her too.

Then everything went black, but only for a moment. She felt her body heat surge and felt like she was on fire. When she opened her eyes flames lashed at her body and suddenly she saw it. The eye of Sauron was upon her. She screamed.

"Elahir!" came Legolas' voice. It was distant but distinct. "Elahir!" he called again. She lay still, not daring to move. Not until she felt a warm hand touch her shoulder and neck. It sent the same, warm tingling through her entire body as it had before, as if waking it up.

Her eyes shot open and she gasped for breath, sitting up fast and looking around. Legolas put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from standing. She looked at him in surprise. His face was filled with great confusion, but his eyes had turned grey with concern she noticed. She looked past him for Gandalf.

"Elahir, penneth, what did you see?" Gandalf asked urgently, rushing to her side, knowing what had happened as soon as her eyes had seeked to locate him.

"Ten thousand, Gandalf," she answered with ragged breath. "Ten thousand at least, is what we shall face." Everyone looked at her in horror, most so Theoden.

oOOo

The companions hurried after Gandalf as he hurried to the stables. Theoden had ordered the evacuation of Rohan to Helms Deep. None of the companions agreed with the decision but Gimli voiced his displeasure loudly.

"Helms Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight!" he growled, as he jogged to keep up with his longer limbed companions. "Who will defend them if not their king?"

Aragorn followed closely behind Gandalf as he hastened to the stables.

"He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people," Aragorn defended lightly. "Helms Deep has saved them in the past."

"There is no way out of that ravine," Gandalf pointed out, as he looked for Shadowfax. "Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading them to safety." Aragorn opened the stall gate for Gandalf to collect the majestic horse, who waited patiently for his old friend to return. "What they will get is a massacre," he warned Aragorn as he entered the stall. Aragorn looked thoughtful. "Theoden has a strong will, but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan."

Gandalf looked past Aragorn at Elahir, who was standing by the door watching the ensuing panic and pretending to be calm, although he could see that inside her mind she battled with her guilt. Gandalf motioned for Legolas and Aragorn to come closer.

"She will be key to this war. Her foresight is strong albeit unpredictable," he murmured in a low voice, in the hopes she was too distracted to hear him. "And teach her well." He looked pointedly at Legolas, for his final instruction was directed solely at him. "I have done all I can, but there is still much more she is yet to learn of herself." Gandalf straightened once more.

The man and elf looked to Elahir, you could see she felt guilty, for it was after she had her vision and disclosed the information to Gandalf in front of Theoden, the king had decided to give the order to flee the city.

Elahir finally stopped in her thoughts and looked back to see Gandalf mounting his horse. She pulled open the stable door wide.

"He will need you before the end, Aragorn, the people of Rohan will need you. The defences have to hold," Gandalf murmured to Aragorn, who looked sombre at this responsibility.

"They will hold."

"Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day, at dawn. Look to the east." He spurred Shadowfax on making him rear and then galloped out the door with haste.

In the middle of editing I got another review from Azkahdeliah, I'm sorry to have you so addicted :P I'll try and feed you're addiction as often as I possibly can ;)

Also, if anyone is any good at drawing I'd love to see someone come up with their take on a story cover! I'll choose the best one and put it up as the story cover with credit to the artist :)