The Master Of Illusion.
How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep…that have taken hold.
The citizens of Minas Tirith gathered on the rooftop of the white tower. Chattering in excitement for the coronation of Aragorn son of Arathorn and rightful heir to the throne.
Blade stared in wonder at the intricately placed flowers tied to the pillars that were decorating the doorway. How had she missed the small detail?
It had been two days since the battle at Mordor, mankind was safe due to one little hobbit. Her leg didn't bother her except for a slight limp. Her mind hadn't felt hers as such since the man in Sauron's fortress tried to break his way in. She felt scattered. Breakable. It was a feeling she loathed. She felt as though the people around her moved while she stayed still, paralyzed by the darkness that had tried to consume her.
Everyone had dressed up in their best clothing for the ceremony except Blade of course, She wore her usual coat, boots, breeches and blouse. The hunter watched intently as Aragorn emerged in his silver armour with a smile on his face. Gimli stood beside him bearing the crown and Gandalf stood in front to coronate him.
Blade zoned out of the ceremony when Gandalf started his long and agonising speech, her eyes followed a black crow that was perching on the ledge.
"You should be paying attention" Éomer's hand met her waist and kissed the top of head in a subtle action that few would notice.
"I was paying attention…to that bird over there" She smirked and placed her hand on his that was wrapped around her waist.
"Of course" He smiled shyly and stood next to her.
Éowyn who stood directly across from her gave her a smirk as almost if to say 'I knew it'. It had not been hard to guess. They had spent twos day harmoniously, without a spiteful word to separate them. He worried about her.. He worried that she had been deeply wounded but didn't show it. She wasn't as attentive as her usual self. He often found her in a world of her own. Except when they were alone, she had always given him her full attention in her state of question. Always. It worried him more than if she hadn't paid him any mind. She was trying to convince him she was fine. She wasn't.
Blade's soft smile and side ward glance reassured him to her word. Under Éowyn's glare she turned back to the celebration.
While the fellowship was at war Faramir had asked Éowyn to marry him and she said yes. Blade knew the news wasn't something Éomer had taken lightly not embraced with open arms. He didn't approve of Faramir and she was almost certain it was because of the history they had shared, so she said nothing.
Blade would miss Éowyn, she had become like a sister to her.
"Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed." Gandalf placed the crown on Aragorn's head and the whole town cheered with joy.
"Hail to the King!" She shouted to Aragorn who nodded in appreciation to her.
"This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace. Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta." The King of Gondor spoke with pride as he overlooked the town people and his friends.
Blade looked over to Éomer who tried to hide a confused expression on his face.
"Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world." She translated to him in a whisper.
"How many languages to you speak?" He asked in surprise.
"Five" She replied with furrowed brows.
"Only five?" He teased, earning a smile from the Hunter.
"Hannon le" (Thank you) Aragorn smiled to Gandalf then strode down the stairs and on the small path where they were gathered.
White flower petals rained down from the sky and swirled down softly to the ground.
Blade stared at the flowers in deep thought, Her quest had ended yet she felt like it had only begun. Any direction that had once lead her was swept from her path, leaving her blind to the danger Leon warned her about.
"Blade" Éomer whispered beside her.
"Yes?" She absent minded answered.
"Are you alright?" His voice was soft and caring.
Her eyebrows perched in confusion then her gestured to her hand.
She hadn't realised she'd gripped on tightly to Éomer's hand during her moment of contemplation.
"Sorry" She quickly released her death grip and placed her hands by her side.
"Don't be" He smiled and placed a white petal in her hair.
"Better?" Blade pointed to the flower in her hair.
"Much better" He teased.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Aragorn approaching and bowed to him like the rest of the people.
"You bow to no one, Blade, Shadow hunter of the east" He outstretched his hand for her to shake it, she laughed and brought him into a hearty hug.
"Don't forget King of Gondor and ranger of the north if you ever need me, look to the Shadows." Blade patted his shoulder and parted from him.
"I will never forget, Blade" He smiled and returned to greet the rest of the town's people.
Aragorn stopped just in front of Legolas who was dressed all in white and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hannon le" His eyes filled with gratitude and Legolas motioned behind him.
Lord Elrond stood proudly next to a figure whose face was blocked by a silk banner that waved slightly as a breeze blew through the tower. Slowly a tall figure revealed themselves and stepped in front of the banner.
"Arwen" Aragorn whispered in disbelief at the beautiful elf dressed in a golden gown.
"Arwen", Blade spoke to herself with a wide grin on her lips. She was happy for her friends who had been torn apart only to be reunited when hope seemed dim.
Arwen gracefully walked to Aragorn who brought her into a deep kiss almost immediately.
Blade smiled widely and clapped with the rest of her friends as Arwen laughed in happiness.
The two figures walked out of the hunter's sight and she turned back to Éomer who was glanced to her with a sly smirk. It gave him joy to see her so ecstatic for her friend's reunited love.
"What?" She asked with confusion.
"Nothing" He responded to keep the moment in peace.
She turned around and noticed the people gathered on the roof top were all bowing to the hobbits and swiftly bent down on one knee, painfully.
Argh
"Damn" She whispered to herself and tried to shift to a more comfortable position.
"Blade, you stand" Aragorn spoke as he glanced over the town's people.
"It is not so easily done!" She responded with a groan of pain, earning a chuckle from the fellowship.
"Here" Éomer stood, holding out his hand and helped her up.
She limped to her feet and gained her balance, her eyes looked around to be met by the blank stares by people she had never met.
"Thank you" she nodded to Éomer.
"Blade you belong over her with our saviors, come" Aragorn smiled widely next to Arwen.
The hunter limped her way down the white pathway toward the new king of Gondor. It took her longer than usual with her noticeable limp slowing her down. Arwen smiled gracefully toward Blade who gave a side ward smile and stopped in front of four hobbits.
"Frodo have you met Blade?" Aragorn spoke to the brown haired, blue eyed hobbit.
"I do not believe I have" Frodo replied in a soft voice that surprised the hunter.
"It's a pleasure to meet you master hobbit" Blade said in her nicest voice.
"Likewise" He nodded.
"I sent Blade to watch over you while you made your journey from the Shire to the Prancing Pony. She destroyed the Nazgul that stabbed you, Frodo", Aragorn continued with a proud smirk.
"I am grateful for you assitance, Hunter", Frodo spoke with kindness.
"I found Blade when she was seventeen, much like Frodo she had been struck with a morgul blade. Not only did she survive, she killed the creature deemed immortal, a creature of the Shadow world. She has saved my life times over and didn't falter in the face of Sauron. For as long as the age of men stands, Blade will have a place in Gondor...She bows to no one", Aragorn announced and a round of applause echoed off the stone walls.
Blade smiled to the King and to Arwen whom she hadn't seen in almost six years. The Elf's raven hair shined in the bright sun, illuminating the light green of her gown that flowed against the slight wind.
"Hannon le" She nodded and waited eagerly for the applause to stop so she could return to her life outside of the public eye.
"Speech!" Éomer called from down the aisle.
"Speech!" Legolas joined in.
"Speech!" Eowyn smiled innocently..
"Speech!, Speech!, Speech!, Speech!" People shouted in all directions.
"Okay, Okay" Blade glared daggers at Éomer for suggesting the idea.
"Thank you Aragorn, for your words of kindness but I do not require praise , it was a duty I am happy to fulfill for my friends." Blade spoke sharply, which seemed to satisfy the crowd as they applauded.
"Blade" Arwen's soft voice called her away.
"Arwen" The hunter smiled as Arwen brought her into a hug.
"It's nice to see you" Arwen's voice came out muffled in her coat.
"Likewise" Blade smirked and broke the hug.
The four young hobbits stood shyly in the middle of the celebration talking amongst one another.
The hunter's eyes shifted to the hobbit who was unfamiliar to her and back to Frodo.
"If you'll excuse me" Blade said to Arwen then strode to where the hobbits stood.
"Blade" Frodo spoke as she approached.
"Frodo, Merry, Pippin and?" She acted clueless but he smiled none the less. She had heard Frodo say his name many times in when she was tracking them, back in the shire.
"Sam" He added.
"Sam" She confirmed and held out her hand.
The blonde hobbit shook her hand in amazement.
"Do you plan to return to the shire when this celebration is ended?" She asked out of curiosity.
"Yes, we haven't been home in a long time" Frodo answered.
"It is a nice place, hobbiton" Blade remembered the green grass and pleasant little cottages from her last visit more than a year ago. She also remembered she had left Éomer behind.
"If you'll excuse me, I seem to have forgotten someone. Nice to meet you Samwise Gamgee" She smiled to the strawberry blonde hobbit, who looked genuinely surprised.
If I were a Rohirrim beast, where would I be?
Blade chuckled slightly at her own joke and limped down the grassy path.
People smiled graciously toward her and bowed as she walked past.
"Please, do not bow to me" She told them repeatedly, it was beginning to become exhausting.
Where the did he go?
The hunter glanced around the courtyard but saw no trace of the Third Marshal.
"That speech went well" Éomer startled her, appearing right next to her.
"That's too bad I'm a hunter not a poet" She joked and turned to him.
"Blade, poet of the east doesn't have the same ring to it" He laughed.
"Exactly" Blade smirked and dragged him over toward Éowyn.
"Where are you dragging me, woman?" Éomer asked as she led him through the crowd by his arm.
"To your sister and her soon to be husband" She spoke simply.
She almost fell over by the force him suddenly stopping in his tracks, it was a reaction she had expected.
"What?" She breathed out and stared at him suspiciously. She knew why he halted.
"You can go, but I have matters to discuss with Aragorn" She could see he was lying through his teeth, his eyes flickered to Faramir every couple of words.
"I see you have not come to be fond of Faramir" She observed with a smirk.
Éomer stayed silent, clenching his jaw.
"Have spoken to him?"
"Yes" He said simply.
"He is a noble man. You should be pleased Éowyn did not chose unwisely" She tried to convince the stubborn Rohirrim soldier.
"A noble man who still holds a flame for you whilst engaged to my sister?" He spoke with spite, his eyes softening seconds after. She gave him a look he had seen many times before.
"Blade..."
"Do not waste your breath", Blade spoke sharply while walking away from the man.
As soon as she reached her chamber she closed the door behind her and walked to the balcony where she lent against the railing and tugged at her hair in anger, violently throwing the white petal to the ground, trying to untangle the messy braid. She sighed heavily in relief at the hair that became untangles and flicked her slightly wavy hair over her shoulders.
Her eyes drifted to the light sprinkle of rain that blanketed the city in a thin veil of grey. She liked the rain it was calming to her troubled mind. Holding up her coat she lifted her leg over the railing and pulled herself up onto the cold flat stone surface, positioning her back against the wall. Listening intently to the rain she pulled her knees to her chest and rested her sore head on them.
Blade hadn't set foot on the balcony since the stormy night that Éomer saved her from being thrown over the railing, it seemed like a lifetime ago.
Small drops of rain landed on her face as she poked her head over the railing, observing beautiful white city. It was amazing how it had nearly been destroyed but still it remained shining bright even with severe damage to the walls and tower.
The rain poured down heavily on her but she didn't mind, it soothed her racing thoughts.
"Arghh!" She grunted in frustration and rested her head against the wall.
Her head throbbed tortuously since she that creature had invaded her mind. Such evil hadn't been intended for her. Her dreams of late had been grim, it always ended with Éomer dead and her powerless to stop it. Every night the same. He was 'marked' and for by that means he would die. She hadn't discovered quite what that meant. She didn't want to. Anything linked to Leanthar meant death. She thought of Theóden. He knew many things he didn't disclose to his kin. Secrets that may give her answers.
"You think of such hidden secrecy when you may just ask", Theóden's voice startled her silent thoughts. Theóden? She snapped her sight toward the figure that appeared by her side. He looked at peace in his ghostly form. His eyes showed no fear nor pain like their last meeting.
"How-"
"Your mother was a necromancer, Blade. A summoner of the dead. Did you think yourself different?", His authoritive voice spoke above her question.
"You worry for Éomer...you fear something will bring him harm", Theóden's glassy blue eyes met her own orbs.
"Leon told me Éomer had been marked by Leanthar. I have never heard of such a thing. I don't know how to aid him", Blade breathed out weakly. Unafraid to tell the man her fears for his nephew.
"I cannot give you the answers you seek for much of your word still remains undiscovered to me. I'm sorry Blade", He spoke while watching the steady rain fall against the white city. Blade hadn't expected him to know, but she had hoped he would. She was silent for a moment, absorbing the fact she may never know what it meant to be marked.
"Éomer's power does not resonate with his talisman. How?", She spoke above the sound of pattering rain.
"My sister was strong like yourself but she knew what danger Middle Earth held, magic and sorcery was the only thing to keep her children safe, protected. Éomer was young when he fell under the effects of magic that was not meant for him...a power he could not control. It was the bitter aftermath of dark magic...That 'broken' talisman keeps his curse underneath the surface, it's power comes from him not the latter. But you know much of this for the one you wear 'is not a talisman, it holds...darker magic'. I can only imagine by darker magic you meant the power that resonates within you", Theóden hesitated in his speech with a pained look in his eye.
"I can not tell you what darkness will come but it will require your full strength to battle.", He continued in a hushed tone, crossing his arms behind his back. Blade's long fingers met the cold pendant that had clung to her throughout the better part of eight years, breathing out a sigh of anguish.
"It is failing me", She met Theóden's watchful eyes that softened with empathy. His red shirt and leather tunic clung to him in the harsh wind the echoed through the tower.
"After Sauron infected my mind, the magic that is contained within this pendent has seeped through the cracks", Blade confessed, lowering the silver metal in her hand. Necromancy was an ability she had tried to contain within spells and runes.
"Just as all Hunters are not evil, all magic is not evil. You will see in time.", Theóden reassured, fading into a ghostly figure.
"Wait. Why doesn't Éomer remember?", The Hunter spoke quickly.
"My sister was gifted with spells. He need only try to remember", His voice lingered on the balcony as he faded into the wind.
Blade tried desperately to brush off the fear she felt, to tell herself she would be fine, but she knew this blissful peace wouldn't last, something bad would soon happen. Something she wouldn't be able to hinder the outcome of.
"Blade?" Éomer called from her chamber door, ripping her from her thoughts.
"Blade?" She heard the door open and heavy footfalls following.
Her eyes remained focused forward on the now heavy rain as he approached her. How could she tell him what she knew? How could she protect him from the hurt that he would feel?
"I'm sorry, Blade"
"You do not say anything you don't mean, spare me your apology", She spoke with a flat tone.
"Blade, you are right to feel so, I didn't-", Éomer started to speak but she cut him off with a venomous glare.
"How did you know?", Her question caught him off-guard.
"Know w-"
"I was to betrothed to Faramir", Blade cut him off quickly.
"He thought you were dead...we all did", He looked away for a moment, clearing his throat, before returning his stare into her eyes.
"It's been eight years, Éomer, I was sixteen, I didn't love him...I", Blade let the words fall from her mouth before she could stop them, hoping Éomer would think nothing of it. Her hope seemed to be destroyed by the surprised expression on Éomer's face from the sudden confession. He was almost sure that the hunter just told him that she loved him.
"Aragorn told me what you did that day, thank you" Blade spoke with delay, diverting the conversation.
"Blade", Éomer silenced her by softly pressing his lips against hers. The kiss was loving, passionate. It told her in fewer words that he loved her too, like he had intended it to do. The hunter wrapped her arms around his neck, reciprocating the warm kiss that sent tingles through her body in its tenderness. His kiss replicated how he felt, how he knew he had always felt in its desire that flamed wildly at the touch of their lips. He smiled under the kiss with breathlessness and rested his forehead against her own.
"Where are you planning on going hunter, now the fellowship has ended?" He asked, dreading her answer.
"Wherever I'm needed" She said, knowing he was hinting at something else. She needed to find answers to her question, how could she settle at a time when she felt so torn? So lost within herself?
"You will always be welcomed at Edoras, If you ever find yourself in Rohan" He spoke softly, He wanted her to come back to Rohan with him but it had to be her choice.
"I might just take you up on that offer" She smirked and pushed herself off the wall. She couldn't leave him. Not when he discovered his power.
"Does that mean you'll come back to Rohan with me?" He raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"It doesn't mean no" She teased.
"You speak in riddles, woman" He sighed in frustration.
"It means…yes" Blade watched as a wide smile grew on his face.
"Really?" His eyebrow raised as if to ask if she was serious.
"Really" The hunter nodded while smiling.
Éomer smiled, excitedly lifting her into the air by her waist with her legs wrapped around his torso and her arms by his neck.
She laughed at his childish antics and he brought his lips down on hers and kissed her passionately.
Things were looking up for the hunter as she finished gathering her very few belongings. This room held so many memories for her in her short stay, she would miss the coolness of the stone ground and the softness of the double sized bed. Blade let out a sad sigh as she took one last look over the elegant chamber and slung her bag over her shoulder, closing the door in the process.
The halls were almost empty, most of the men had returned home to their families. The hunter walked carefully down the stairs, focusing on the placement of her feet. Her damaged leg burned with every step down the winding stair case.
I don't remember the stair case being this long
"Blade" An unfamiliar voice called to her.
"Yes?" She snapped her head in annoyance to the masculine figure sitting in the window sill space.
"Say hello to your brother for me" The man aimed a flying dagger toward her.
Out of pure shock she jumped backward, narrowly missing the step and tumbling backward.
Her coat flew behind her as her body twisted down the stair case, the world span and she felt herself beginning to slip into unconsciousness with every hit.
Stay conscious.
Suddenly her body stopped failing and she landed on a flat surface. Blood trickled down from where her brow had split and from her lip. She laid sprawled out on her stomach, trying to regain her senses but all she could hear was the blood pulsing in her ears.
"I'm disappointed, Blade I thought you'd put up more of a fight." His voice was distant and drowned out.
"Arghhh" She cried in pain, her right shoulder was surely dislocated. Begging her limbs to cooperate, she rolled over and lifted her broken body off the floor.
"Where's your weapon…Blade?" The blurred figure teased as she stumbled like a drunk man, grabbing on the nearest wall.
Where is my weapon?
Her emerald green orbs searched the ground for her sword, she hadn't heard it clatter behind her when she fell.
Great
"Hunters have a taste for rare objects" The whiny voice continued, running his hand along her sword.
Big mistake.
"Who sent you?. So I know where to send your severed head" Blade said with venom, her senses had increased tenfold and now she was pissed.
"She calls herself Geneviéve and she wants you dead" The brown eyed creep glared at her.
"Tell Geneviéve to get in line" Blade hissed and pushed herself off the wall.
"Now if you don't mind, I'll have my sword back" The hunter said cockily and held out her hand.
The Bald figure leaped at her, slashing left and right. Blade ducked the swings and kicked him in the kneecap, hearing a satisfying crack.
The man keeled over in pain but continued to slash at her.
"Gladius" (Sword) The hunter held out her hand and summoned the black object.
The feel of its leather grip sent a powerful surge of adrenalin through her veins.
A look of horror spread over his features and he attempted to run.
"I haven't had a good hunt in a while" She spoke to herself and took off after the man.
He was fast she'd give him that, but she knew this place and there was no way he'd leave alive.
Her heavy boots hit the stone ground like a clap of thunder that echoed off the walls. Left, right, straight, right, left. She could sense his fear, smell his blood and it fuelled her anger even more.
She found herself in the hall where Aragorn, Éomer, Arwen, Éowyn, Gimli, Faramir and Legolas sat, discussing matters of importance and saying their goodbyes.
Where are you?
The loud thud of her boots stopped in the door way of the hall, her eyes scanning over every pillar and crevice.
"Blade?" Aragorn noticed her first then they all stared at her in curiosity.
She barely heard them over her racing thoughts to find and kill the man.
"Blade, what are you doing?" Éomer gestured toward her brandished sword when he noticed the cuts and bruises on her face.
Her breathing was heavy and her wild eyes scanned the room viciously until she saw something move behind a pillar to her right. With a loud crack she pushed her shoulder back into place without even blinking.
Her head snapped inhumanly toward the shadow and she stalked slowly toward it.
Sneaking around the left of the pillar she came face to face with the man and forced him to run in the direction of the hall.
Her legs were a blur, she was so close behind him she could feel the heat coming from his body.
Grabbing the collar of his shirt she pulled it back, slamming him to the ground and jumping on him with her knee on his chest. Her sword drew blood from his neck by its closeness, any slight movement would kill him instantly.
"Any last words?" She spat through clenched teeth.
"There are more where I came from" The man smiled sinisterly and laughed.
"There's about to be one less" She brought back her sword and prepared to impale him.
"Blade!"
In the corner of her eyes she saw a flash of silver and turned her head to see a speeding arrow flying toward her skull.
Her body lurched sideways and hit the ground with a thud.
"What the?" She whispered to herself, she was unscathed. The archer smirked and dissipated into thin air.
"Éomer?" Her eyes rested where the third marshal lay motionless.
No….
An arrow penetrated his armour and stuck out at a strange angle right above his heart. Her heart stopped at the sight and her breaths deepened as if in slow motion. She knelt in front of him and shook him to see if he was conscious. His hazel eyes opened suddenly and he grunted in pain at the wound.
"You Idiotic man" Blade hissed and glanced at the blood that poured from his chest. No...It couldn't be...It wasn't supposed to end like this.
"Saved your life…" He painfully smirked and looked down at his wound.
"This is going to hurt" Blade shakily warned and cut the end of the arrow off to try to pull it out. It was all she could think to do. The only thing that made sense.
Wrapping her hand around the rare silver tipped arrow she looked at him for approval.
"Do it" He nodded weakly and shut his eyes.
"On the count of three" The hunter spoke hopefully.
"One…Two!" She yanked the arrow out and threw it to the ground.
"Arghh!" Éomer weakly groaned in pain and clutched his bleeding chest. She could hear Éowyn shouting something inaudible to the men that restrained her.
The hunter's hand's shook uncontrollably as the blood spilled from his wound. What was she supposed to do?!
"Éomer...I don't know how to heal you" She wept and pulled his body onto her lap. Her power couldn't fix damage so severe. He was close to death.
"Blade…I'm going to die" He choked out in pain.
"No" She held back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes and brought her hand to her mouth. He couldn't die, not now. Not when they were so close to happiness.
"Blade?"
"Yes, Rohan?" She flickered her eyes around desperately for something to clean the blood up with.
"I...I love you" His voice was weak and course. Her heart ceased to beat at the words that cut through her core. He gave his life for her.
"I love you too" A smile formed on his pale face and her placed a hand on her cheek. It was the words he had craved to hear from her.
"I am glad to have met your wrath that day in the forest", He spoke with struggle against the blood that choked him.
A stray tear slid down her face as he leaned forward and kissed her. It was a short and pained kiss that she wished could've lasted forever.
Blood seeped out of the corners of his mouth and he began to choke on his own blood.
"Éomer?" Blade looked at him in panic.
"Aragorn, how do I stop the blood?!", She looked to the Ranger that held no answers.
"I need to get your armour off" She spoke mostly to herself and moved next to his torso. Her hands fumbled around with the straps on his maroon armour and somehow she'd managed to rip off the breast plate. The wound was worse than she thought, a lump grew in her throat from all the blood and the jaundice colour his face had taken on.
"You won't die...not today...not for me"
"Stay with me!" She lightly slapped his face and his eyes slowly opened. Dark magic was all that could aid him
Her mind raced for any spells she knew for healing.
The assassin.
crawling over Éomer's body, she pinned down the bald assassin once again.
"Ex Léna Venatoré sum th…." Her hand reached into the assassin's chest until she felt the heavy beating of his heart. His screams echoed through the white tower, falling upon deaf ears.
Blade, don't!" Aragorn ran beside her and tried to pry her off the bald man with help from Faramir.
The hunter gestured her hand toward the nearest wall and the men were thrown back.
"Aciem restituere vitae!", His screams for mercy came to a sudden halt when she ripped out the organ. Blood ran down her arm and covered her hand as she held the still beating organ. Éomer had stopped breathing yet blood still gushed from his wound.
Forgive me.
Blade gripped tightly and squeezed the heart until a fine red dust poured over Éomer's chest.
"Sanaé", The dust buried itself into the deep circular hole in his chest and slowly stitched the skin back together. The wound was taking longer to heal than she'd anticipated. Longer than she had hoped to wait.
Come on, open your eyes
All that remained of the hole was a faded circular scar, but still he lay motionless.
It didn't work. She was too late...Too slow to action. He was dead...
"Come on, Rohan!" She shook his shoulders with tears blinding her but his face was unfazed and body motionless.
"Éomer!" She shouted and knelt over his body in sobs. He was gone...
"Blade, he's gone" Legolas' voice echoed through her mind as he pulled her off the dead body of Éomer and embraced her. Her head rested on his chest, breathing heavily she looked down at Éomer's paled face surrounded by blood. No he couldn't be. Not him.
Éowyn knelt next to her brother in tears and sobbed uncontrollably. Faramir knelt next to her and consoled her.
Shaking her way out of the Elf's grip, her eyes spotted the silver object that had taken Éomer's life.
"Fraudulenti" The engraving read.
"Trickster" Blade hissed in disgust and captured the arrow in her hand.
"Blade I beg you, don't go after them" Aragorn's voice was drowned out by the thirst to kill.
"I'm going"
"Please Blade, these creatures are smart and deceiving. They mean to trap and kill you" Aragorn pleaded.
"Then let them!" She snapped, gaining everyone's attention. The look of utter sadness and betrayal on Aragorn's face was something she'd never forget.
"I can't let you go" Legolas stepped in front of her.
A surge of anger and pain washed over her body, the hunter effortlessly moved her wrist and flung him to the floor. She could feel that her eyes were turning black but she did nothing to stop it, she gave into her power.
"I am not yours to command!" She smiled a sinister grin. Her eyes tore from the body on the ground to the window behind her.
"Stabulisé"(Stables) She spoke without emotion.
"Blade!" Éowyn called after her but she'd vanished into thin air.
"Blade, what have you done?" Arwen whispered to herself.
A sudden jolt of electricity ran through his body and air assaulted his lungs causing him to sit bolt upright. His vision was blurry but he could see figures crowding around him.
"Éomer?" His sister's sweet voice called to him and his vision became clear.
"Where's Blade?"