Eowyn scrambled to unsheathe the sword she had hidden beneath her saddle bag, her fingers scraping the leather as she searched for the gentle chill of the leather grip as she shouted for the women around her to stay calm, struggling to raise her voice above the cries of horror and sobs of worry. With a quick grin of triumph, she loosed her sword and turned her full attention to the chaos that surrounded her, as riders galloped forward and left their wives and children trembling in their wake. Initially, she had prepared herself to ride out with Theoden, but had been told to guide the remaining citizens to Helm's Deep.
And to hurry.
She had swallowed angry words when the order had first been placed, but as the small hands of terrified children had grasped in desperation at her skirt, she knew that this was no time to argue. Still, she nodded to herself as she drew in a deep breath and wrapped her fingers tightly around her faithful blade, there was honor in defending those who could not protect themselves. The people around her ran as fast as their weary legs could carry them over the rocky terrain, hurrying towards the distant walls of their sanctuary as the sound of a battle rang out over the plains to the east. She searched for Amera as she ran, unable to find her familiar form amidst the others, and continued to call her name out as she guided the frightened around her.
Eowyn froze as the sudden, sharp cry of a child rang out over the chaos, looking left and right in desperation as she searched for its source. She pushed aside the sprinting women as she struggled through the crowd, nearly tripping over that had been left behind as they ran. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as adrenaline rushed through her, but stopped as she finally located the child.
It was a small boy, no more than a child, who was trapped against one of the rocky outcropping, his back against the aged stone as he sobbed in fear. He clutched a tiny dagger in his hand, tears streaking his dirtied face as he stared at the warg and its rider that slowly closed in on him. Eowyn felt a small gasp escape her chest, for she had never seen a creature such as this and felt a great wave of terror rush through her as her eyes scanned the bristled fur that rippled over the warg's muscled haunches, the filthy claws that extended from slender paws and the hot, thick saliva that fell from its gaping fangs. The rider itself was even more horrible to her widening eyes, a leering grin stretched over yellowed fangs that rivaled its mouth, a skinny, dark body covered with foul markings and a crude, rusted spear that now extended towards the child as the warg prepared to pounce.
"Let him be!" Her voice rang out with accord its own, weaker than she should have desired as a distinct tremble echoed in it. The rider froze and immediately looked over his shoulder in confused as he tugged the reins of his foul steel, his eyes widening maliciously as they fell upon her. The warg turned and the child sprinted away, sobbing as he hurried to catch up with the mother that had left him behind in the confusion. Eowyn swallowed hard as the rider laughed with a high, hissing snarl as the warg began to tread towards her, growling as it bared its impossibly sharp teeth. She felt the sword waver as she held it out, her jaw set as she stared down her foe.
This was the moment she had waited for all her life, the moment she had trained for in the dead of night when robbed of sleep and comfort and had turned to practice with a blade to console her weary heart. This was the moment she had imagined so many thousands of times when she had swung her sword in the dark corners of Meduseld, defeating a thousand foes with each parry and thrust as she imagined herself to be one of the great warriors of legend. Of when she had imagined herself to be the Aeliniel upon the plains of Evendim, fighting to defend all that she loved.
With this thought, any fear was suddenly purged from her body as rage swirled through her veins, hot fury coursing through her as she stared down the enemy that had taken Theodred from her, had taken her parents and so many others who should have seen a thousand more bright mornings. She gave into this strange, long buried emotion and charged forward with a wild cry, the afternoon sun glinting off the steel as she swung with an intensity she did not know her slender arms could possess. Both warg and rider were caught off guard as the beautiful maiden roared a warrior's cry and Eowyn's blade found its way in the side of the warg as it attempted to dodge the swing. She ignored the hot blood that suddenly spilled over her pale hands as she withdrew the sword, crying out yet again as she slashed at its hindlegs and cut through sinewed muscle and bone.
The warg howled and tripped, its rider flying forward as she took advantage of the creature's agony and buried the blade into its ribcage. It shrieked and writhed in pain as it fell to the side, Eowyn stumbling forward as the enormous body suddenly tilted to the side. She cried out in frustration as she tried to free her sword from the ribcage of the warg, but found it hopelessly stuck despite her frantic efforts. A sudden shriek of fury pierced her ears and she gasped as the rider began to sprint towards her holding a broken spear in its gauntleted hands as it howled. She was frozen then, unable to move, to defend herself and closed her eyes as she prepared for her end, but blinked as she heard a cry of pain instead.
She opened her eyes and blinked in utter surprise as the goblin staggered in pain, its skinny arms waving helplessly as it reached to free the sword embedded in its back. Another moment and Amera suddenly appeared as she galloped towards the foul creature, sliding off of her horse with an almost serene grace as she retrieved her sword with a mighty pull. Eowyn marveled at how calm she looked, almost bored as her hands gripped around her sword, her foot snapping into the goblin's spine as she pulled her weapon from its back mercilessly. The goblin wailed and its cries pained her ears, but Eowyn was nonetheless finally able to free her bloodied sword from the side of the warg, watching silently as Amera's blade sliced effortlessly through the goblin's neck. A few drops of dark blood splattered her pale face as the body convulsed and fell to the side, the head rolling by her feet. Amera's revealed no emotion that Eowyn could see, save for a strange fire that flickered in her stormy eyes.
But suddenly, another warg jumped down behind Amera from the rocky outcropping that towered over them, snarling as it prepared to pounce upon the unsuspecting woma. Eowyn roared Amera's name and ran forward as her friend's eyes opened wide in confusion. Her hand reached around the broken spear of the warg rider as she sprinted forward and as Amera rolled to the side, she threw it forward with an impassioned cry. The spear flew true and buried itself in the warg's neck as the creature howled. Amera rose and savagely thrust her sword into its side, turning her head as dark blood splattered against her dress.
Their eyes met briefly and Eowyn ran towards Amera as the dying creature beside her twitched its last, her chest heaving as adrenaline soared through her. Amera nodded to her and tilted her chin towards the terrified horse that stood beside her, swiftly explaining, "Lead them onwards, Eowyn, and I will guard the back."
Eowyn nodded and quickly mounted the horse, running a calming hand against its neck as trembled. She looked over her shoulder at Amera once more and took note of how tired she look as she ran a hand through her hair, dark crimson staining her pale fingers. However, the luxury of further observation could not be afforded and she dug her heels into the sides of the horse, leaving Amera behind as she guided her people towards the safety of Helm's Deep.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Amera sighed with relief as she dipped her hands into the bucket of water one of the women had fetched, closing her eyes in simple joy as she felt the familiar chill swirl around her fingers. She scrubbed her hands together as the sounds of the now crowded streets of the sanctuary echoed around her, the voices of women, children and horses blending together as the people of Rohan struggled to settle into their temporary home. They would not be comfortable yet, no, they would be no true sense of security until their husbands and sons passed through the gates, their swords and spears stained with the blood of Saruman's riders as they returned from battle.
With only a momentary pause, she dipped her hands once more into the now murky water and raised the water to her face. She closed her eyes as it flowed over her features, cleansing away the filth of battle with a gentle, familiar coolness. She allowed herself to bask in strange combination of the evening sun as it warmed her and the water as it tingled against her face, then wipe her face off with the back of her sleeve as she tied her hair back with a piece of cord. She absently dried her hands against her hips as she carefully made her way through the crowd, standing on her tiptoes to try and find Eowyn's fair hair amidst the hustle and bustle.
She spotted her a few minutes later and carefully made her way up a steep set of stone stairs to the top tier of the fortress, an enormous statue of a fierce warrior wielding a hammer set in the center of the little courtyard, staring out at the plains and mountains that spread out before him. And beneath this status stood Eowyn, her fair hair blowing around her shoulders as she was still. Amera saw the familiar stains upon her hands and was quiet as she approached her, following her gaze as they both searched for the forms of those they cared for appear in the distance.
"You fight well, Eowyn." She murmured softly, offering a gentle nod as she stood beside the woman.
Eowyn feigned a small smile at this, her eyes never leaving the plains as she whispered her reply, "I could not retrieve my sword, Amera."
Amera shrugged at this, crossing her arms over her slender chest as she leaned back against the base of the great statue, swallowing a quick wince as her scars flared at the sudden chill. "The first time I even attempted to handle a sword I nearly cut off my foot, and besides," She turned to the women and gently continued, "I owe my life, Eowyn. No matter how you believe you handled yourself, I am indebted to you."
"And I to you," Eowyn stated softly and there was a pause as both women strained to stare out over the plains, but the silence was broken as Eowyn quietly continued, running the tip of her tongue nervously over her lips, "May I ask something of you, Amera?"
Amera shrugged again, running a hand absently through her tangled curls. "Of course."
Eowyn then turned to her and Amera felt her eyes search her, though not unkindly, as if they searched for a hidden source as she spoke, "How were you so calm, Amera? My…my heart felt as though it would beat out of my chest." She closed her eyes as she remembered and Amera watched silently, "I could not think, could not speak. All I knew was the blade in my hand and it was terrifying, yet you looked bored, Amera. You were so calm, as if it was nothing but a minor hindrance, the potential to die. How," A pause, "How can you be so brave?"
Amera was quiet for a long moment, then smiled very faintly as she faced Eowyn, "What strength lies within me was tempered by blood and fire. I am not a warrior, despite what the legends may say, nor do I yearn for the rush of battle, but I do what is required of me."
"Then why did you leave Rivendell with the others?" Eowyn inquired, "Surely that was not asked of you."
Amera was quiet for a long moment, then smiled with genuine contentment as she softly replied, "For better or for worse, I followed my heart."
A sudden cry rang out from beneath them, for the riders had finally returned. Eowyn and Amera both gathered their dresses as they sprinted down the strenuous stairs out of want for swiftness, as opposed to propriety. Amera bit her lip, her hands kneading into trembling fists by her sides as she scanned the riders for any sign of her friends, her heart pounding as she could not help but take note of how severely injured some of the riders appeared to be and overall, how few had returned. Weary men and their mounts trotted past as they sought rest and care amongst their families and as the line of riders grew steadily thinner, Amera felt a paralyzing fear grow within her, tying her stomach into knots and numbing her senses as she waited.
She nearly collapsed with relief as she finally spied the fair hair of Legolas, shining against the high sun as he and Gimli trotted forward. Theoden was beside them and she was Eowyn bound forward from beside her, though she paid no attention to her words as she awaited Boromir and Aragorn.
Amera sobbed with gentle relief as she caught sight of Boromir's shield behind a tall mare, rushing through the small crowd. She froze as her eyes fell upon the dark blood that glistened on his right cheek, three deep claw marks scratched along his cheekbone. However, one she realized such a wound was not too harmful, she ran forward with absolute abandon and threw himself into his arms, breathing in the familiar scent of him as she kissed his neck and chest in absolute relief.
She looked up as Boromir was silent, unmoving as she embraced him. His eyes were glassy with pain, which she understood, but there was something else there, some distance that she did not understand. She whispered his name in confusion but he was silent, his jaw trembling as he held it firm, staring blankly through her.
Amera then realized that the line of riders had emptied into Helm's Deep, all that had survived had passed beyond her, and there was no sign of Aragorn.