A/N: I'm just going to just straight into review responses because there were a lot of them.
Certh: Your point has been taken, and I changed it to remove the "White Rider" comment. I have no problem admitting when I am wrong, and I thank you for fighting with me about it. Not many people would. I try to keep the original film canon in the story as much as I can, but there are moments that I have to change certain things, of course. I worry sometimes that I might be interfering a little too much, but I'm glad that I'm doing it right.
Loslanna: Thank you for your first review. I plan on continuing this story, though I'm debating on how much further I'm going to go. I hope you'll stick around for all of it.
Willow: Don't get your hopes up for a LegolasxBraedia relationship. As much as I'd like to, it would just complicate things too much (for now).
jaejoong1: Thank you for your first review. I've been told that I have become really good at the whole cliffhanger thing (some would say too good), but I hope that I don't leave you hanging for too long.
brandibuckeye: I try to keep things classy as much as possible.
Also, I'd like to give a shout out to TheLadyAranel. She has just started writing a Lord of the Rings Fanfiction called "Mithrenniel, Daughter of Gondor". There is only one chapter so far, but it's very good. So if you wouldn't mind popping over there for a minute after you're done here, it would make me happy. She's been a loyal reader, and I like to pay it forward when I can.
If you'd like me to take a look at your story, I'll gladly do it. Just send me a PM, and I'll let you know if I will feature your story in an upcoming chapter. NOW ON WITH THE STORY!
At length, Èowyn sighed and looked at the king.
"These children were sent here by their mother to raise an alarm after their village was attacked. They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot, and tree," She said. She unfurled the blanket and wrapped it around the children.
"Where is Mama?" the little girl asked insistently, but Èowyn shushed her and encouraged her to eat more.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent now that he is driven by fear of Sauron," Gandalf said, briefly motioning to the children.
I watched as Théoden listened to Gandalf. He was taking in the words, but I could not tell if he was really listening to him. He looked old and weary again, and I wanted to rush forward and comfort him. But I stayed silent and watched.
"Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children," Gandalf said a little more compassionately.
He put his hand on the arm of Théoden's throne. The motion caused a look of mistrust to cloud Théoden's features, and I knew his mind was back in the days that Gríma had done such a motion.
"You must fight," Gandalf insisted.
Théoden looked down, and I could see a look of hard concentration on his face.
"You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak. Èomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king," Aragorn said on the heels of Gandalf's words.
I felt my heart throb painfully at the mention of Èomer's name. Now that I knew that Boromir was truly lost to me, I felt significant regret at the way I treated him in our last meeting. I should not have said those words to him. He most likely hated me for them, and I could not blame him if he did. And yet, I could not help but to have a vain hope that he might still think of me. These men had come across him, so maybe he gave them a message for me and they just have not found the time to tell me. I would have to ask later if he mentioned me in their meeting.
Théoden stood up and walked halfway across the room. "They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Èomer cannot help us," Théoden said, his voice sounding dejected.
Gandalf stood and tried to talk again but Théoden spoke over his attempt.
"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," The king said sternly.
"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn said, a little stubborn.
The king turned to him with an angry look. "Last I looked, Théoden not Aragorn was king of Rohan," Théoden said, his tone biting.
King, I thought.
And then the thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. Aragorn, son of Arathron. I could have kicked myself for forgetting. When Faramir and I would go to the libraries, Faramir would pull down a massive text. It was the book of genealogies for the nobles of Gondor. Faramir would often look down Isildur's line, and show me how the Steward's came to have rule of the country.
But then he would show me a separate text that was more hidden that showed how the line was not broken, but that the heirs had chosen to go into exile. I could see the page clear as day in my memory. The rest of the names were written in meticulous and neat calligraphy. But at the very bottom, one name was scrawled in sloppy, almost hasty, script, as if the mention of this man was just an afterthought. Aragorn. He was the Chieftain of what was left of the Dúndedain Rangers of the north, and he was heir to the throne of Gondor.
I looked at Aragorn now, and I could almost see the hints at Gondorian features. His eyes were strange, but he did have blood from other lines, so it was reasonable to think that he could have different features. I did not know if he could sense my gaze, but I looked away so not to call attention to it. I would most definitely have to speak with him later.
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked with a resigned sigh.
Théoden looked around for a long moment. "We shall go to Helm's Deep. We leave at dawn tomorrow," Théoden said quickly before storming off.
I sighed and looked at Èowyn curiously. She was shaking her head. I would have to find time on the road to speak to Aragorn.
The rest of the day, the city was a buzz with activity. Everyone was preparing to leave, and the residents of the Golden Hall were no exception. I spent much of my remaining hours at Èowyn's side, except for when she bid me to go with the healers to help prepare the carts for transporting the sick and those who could not walk. At the end of the day, I fell asleep as soon as my head touched my pillow. It only felt like I had been asleep for a few minutes when there was pounding at my door. I knew that everyone was being roused to begin preparations. I stood and splashed my face with water. I went to Èowyn's room, knowing that I had to help her prepare before I began my own preparations.
When I entered her room, she was flying through her drawers and wardrobe, as if she were searching for something she could not find. She spotted me and looked relieved for a moment before continuing her search.
"I need simpler clothes. We are traveling and the road is long and hard. This is not the hour for courtly dresses," She said sternly as soon as I had shut the door.
"My lady, you have a few plain dresses of your own," I said, moving to her wardrobe.
I pulled out a simple blue dress, and found a brown linen overdress and a corset to go under the overdress. I also pulled out her brown coat that was lined with fur. I held them up and she consented. I dressed her quickly.
"My lady, I have to prepare to leave myself. May I meet you in the stables to prepare the horses?" I asked after she was dress.
"Yes, but do not delay," She said, her voice a little anxious. She was so distracted that she did not chastise me for not referring to her by her given name.
I nodded and quickly left the room. I went to my own room and opened one of the drawers. I withdrew my old clothes, the ones I had first worn when I arrived. I had repaired the places where the fabric had grown thin and worn. I slipped into the black hose and pulled on the black breeches. I pulled a grey-green tunic over my head and then a darker green jerkin over that. The tunic was light-weight, but the jerkin was thick and kept me warm. I slipped into my soft leather boots and pulled them so they were tight around my calves. I pulled out my belt and my father's sword and put them on quickly. I had grown a little around the waist since the last time I wore the belt, but not by much. I put on my quiver and bow, securing them tightly across my chest. Lastly, I wrapped my dark green cloak around my shoulders and looked in the mirror. If it hadn't been for all of the experience I had gone through since arriving, I would have sworn that this was my first day in Edoras. I quickly brushed my hair and threw it up high, securing it with a strip of leather. I found my satchel and packed a few essential items like my brush (I was determined never to be without one again; the nightmare of untangling my hair dictated that choice), extra fletching and tips for my arrows, my sharpening stone for my sword as well as a towel to clean it. I threw my satchel over my shoulder, and took one last glance around my room. I quickly left before I found myself lost in memory.
I marched quickly out to the stable and went to saddle my horse. Narmírë looked at me strangely, and I chuckled.
"I know I'm wearing weapons. I usually don't, do I?" I said, petting her nose a little.
She whinnied a little, but I brushed her down and saddled her anyway. I vaguely noticed that a horse was acting spooked, but I had no time to take care of my own horse and calm another. I went to prepare Èowyn's horse, but found that she had already done so and was now looking at the source of the racket in the barn. Aragorn was speaking softly in Elvish to the horse, and I sighed. I could catch small bits of his speech but I found that I was lost when he started speaking rapidly.
I turned back to Narmírë, and threw some saddlebags across her back. I left and went to the storerooms to gather some food for the journey. I was able to slip past most of the crowds, and grabbed a few apples, a loaf of bread, and some dried fruits and meats. I went back to the stables and found that Aragorn had moved on to take care of his own horse. Èowyn was standing next to my stall with her horse, waiting for me.
"Oh good, you had the forethought to consider provisions," Èowyn said after she started a moment.
She had not seen me armed in some years. I nodded and split the food between our saddle bags. I led Narmírë out of the stable, following Èowyn and Aragorn fell into step beside me.
"You are heavily armed for a lady-in-waiting," He commented.
"I lived in the Wilds for some time before I ever came here. I had to learn how to use a bow and sword," I said with a smirk.
"Indeed," Aragorn said distantly.
We mounted our horses and Èowyn turned to us.
"Join your uncle, my lady. I will be there in a moment," I said.
I looked at Aragorn as she rode to the head of the column. "Amin cenlle, aran en' Gondor," I said softly in Elvish.
He looked at me, quite confused. "How do you…?" he asked, still trying to puzzle it out.
"Those of Gondor are familiar with the line, and its members, Aragorn. Why did you hide?" I asked, knowing that every Gondorian would want to know the answer.
"I was not ready," Aragorn said after a moment.
"Are you now?" I asked seriously.
He looked at me, and shook his head. After a second, I felt a shock ripple through me. I could not believe the words had come out of my mouth. It was not my place to question him about such things.
"My apologizes, my lord. I will ask no more on this subject," I said, looking down.
I kicked Narmírë's side and rode her up to Èowyn's side at the head of the column. I was shortly joined on my other side by Legolas, who bore Gimli on the back of the saddle. He looked at me curiously. I blushed, knowing that he probably overheard my exchange with Aragorn. I shook my head, but he did not press me. Théoden led his people out of Edoras and toward the mountains.
When we were about a mile from the city, Théoden turned and looked at the procession behind him, and the city we were leaving behind. I looked too, and found that my heart was saddened with the thought of leaving the city. It had become like home. Then Èomer's words came floating back to my mind.
I know I will be coming back…even this darkness must pass.
I sighed and looked down. Yes, Èomer. This darkness must pass. We will return, I thought to myself as I turned Narmírë away from Edoras.
I rode up to Legolas and Gimli and fell into step with them.
"Why does a lady like yourself need to carry weapons?" Gimli asked after he had greeted me.
"You never know what dangers may be out there. Another sword would not hurt if we had to face them," I said with a smirk.
He laughed and agreed.
"Are you skilled with them?" Legolas asked.
I gave a look of mock insult. "My lord, I do not wear these items because I enjoy their weight or because I feel they match my eyes. Of course I have skill with them. It may not be as much skill as yourself, but I do have it," I said with as much fake hurt as I could muster.
Legolas stumbled over his words for a moment, trying to amend his error to my feelings, but I laughed at his efforts.
"Come now, my lord, I was jesting," I said.
"Please call me Legolas, my lady," He said.
I laughed again. "I will as long as you call me Braedia," I said with a smirk.
He smirked back and we agreed.
"How long is the road to Helm's Deep?" Gimli grumbled.
He shifted on the horse's back, and I could tell he was uncomfortable. We had been walking for some time now, and I knew that a rider's most comfortable place was in the saddle.
"It is a long road, and I am sure that we have some way to go yet, Master Dwarf," I said.
He sighed and told Legolas to stop. I also stopped and watched as the dwarf shimmied down the rump of the horse and onto the ground.
"I'd rather walk than sit astride that animal for another moment," He grumbled.
"You legs will grow weary, my friend," Legolas said with a jesting smile.
"Then I will find another seat when that happens. But for now, I will walk. You two may ride on if you please," Gimli said with a gruff sigh.
We laughed and moved into a trot.
Translations:
Amin cenlle, aran en' Gondor: I see you, King of Gondor. (Sort of cryptic, but hey, it works)
P.S.- I'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone that has read this story. We recently just hit the 5,000 hits mark, and that make me so grateful for all of my readers. Without you guys, I wouldn't be writing this story.