PLEASE DON'T HATE ME FOR THIS CHAPTER! PLEASE! And btw this is the second to last chapter—just so ya'll know.
Chapter Twenty Four~
We all stand in the Great Hall of Minas Tirith; Gandalf, Aragon, Legolas, Gimli, Eomer, Haldir and I to decide the last course of action.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening." Gandalf says as he walks across the hall to stare out the windows.
"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it." I say as I stand beside Haldir, his arm around my waist protectively.
"It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping." Gandalf says in responds not turning to see me but Gimli pips up,
"Let him stay there! Let him rot! Why should we care?"
"Because 10,000 Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." Gandalf says to turn and see us all before saying,
"I have sent him to his death." I step up to Gandalf and putting a hand on his shoulder say with more confidence than I feel,
"No. There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that." I hear Gimli asking how we do this task and turn to see Aragon who picks up where I left off,
"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate." Gimli chokes on his pipe at this and I roll my eyes as Eomer steps towards Aragon saying with confusion in his voice,
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms."
"Not for ourselves. But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves." I reply making the man stare at me as Legolas catches on.
"A diversion!"
"Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?!" Gimli cries and I smile at his enthusiasm as Gandalf says to Aragon,
"Sauron will suspect a trap; he will not take the bait."
"Oh, I think he will." I say and turning to see Aragon wink knowing what he's planning to do to get Sauron's attention. We all separate then; Aragon to the Palantir, Gimli and Legolas going over plans and ideas while I head to the Healing hall to see Eowyn. Haldir has gone off to try and make contact with his Lord and Lady leaving me to wander alone to the Hall. Halfway there I feel a shadow looming behind me and go to reach for my sword only to find it's not there, I had put it away hours ago.
"Zoe," it's Eomer and at his voice I flee to get away somewhere where he can't get me. I can taste the bitterness that fills his heart as I run, my hair flowing behind me like a banner of retreat.
"Wait!" he cries but I sprint onwards and are about to turn down a hallway when I feel a hand grab my arm, hard. Just as I'm about to let lose a cry of shock lips make contact with my own with so much force I lose my breath. The pang of animosity, resentment, anger and self-hate is bitter on my tongue as I try to push him off of me. Even though I've been through great battles I cannot fight back against his rage. Pinning me to a wall, my hands on either side of my head he continues to kiss me even though I start crying. My heart if full of horror, a horror I haven't felt ever on the battlefield, this is a new kind altogether.
"You torturer me." he growls as he pulls back just enough to look at my face. His dark blue eyes are nearly black as he examines my face and I'm still in too much shock to do anything but stare back.
"You temptress, you heathen, you sorceress!" he shouts into my face but as I look over past him see a wonderfully familiar figure and scream as loud and long as I can.
"GET OFF HER!" a voice screams in reply and then Eomer is being pulled off me by two figures as more come rushing over. Once he is off me I fall to the ground and sit stunned unable to comprehend what just happened.
"She is poison!" Eomer screams as he's literally dragged away from me by Legolas and Aragon, Aragon shouting for guards to remove him as Haldir and Gandalf help me onto my jelly legs.
"Gimli, fetch a healer," Gandalf says as both the wizard and Elf pull me away from the raving Eomer. Blindly I follow them into the Healing hall where I'm put on a bed and an elderly woman comes rushing over.
"I know not what he has done physically, but I will not take a chance." I hear Gandalf say to the woman as Haldir stands as firm as stone in his fury. As the elderly woman shoos them out I call,
"What did I do? What did I do to deserve this?" and unable to face their expressions I turn away and sob. The Healing Hall is empty now save for the woman and myself, the woman coming over saying to me,
"My name is Eloise my lady. I do not mean to cause more distress, but did he—"
"No!" I shout scooting back in my seat before saying,
"No he only kissed me, nothing more." at this she breathes a sigh of relief before saying,
"I shall get you something to soothe your nerves my lady. I shall return momentarily." she leaves to exit the Hall and as she heads out in charges Eowyn a look of horror on her face.
"I heard my brother forced himself on you!" she says kneeling before me and taking my face into her hands.
"Even now all your brothers wait outside for news or a word, only I was allowed in because I am female. Please, please tell me he didn't—" but I demand myself to smile and manage out,
"He didn't, I doubt he was going to anyway."
"He was screaming madly when he was pulled away; even Lord Faramir and I heard him. I cannot believe he would do something so—so—horrible!" she says in disbelief as she looks deeply into my eyes and says in a voice that shakes with disgust,
"He shall never lay a finger on my fellow sister at arms again!" when she leaves Eloise hands me a goblet of foul smelling liquid but I drink if only to get my mind off the shock. By the time I'm calm enough to talk the night has fallen and only when I am in a better frame of mind, or so Eloise says, does she allow Gandalf inside. He takes a seat before me and looks grim as he says,
"Lord Eomer has recanted any wrongdoings he has done, stating that he was under Dark forces that were trying to harm you. He states he did not mean to cause you any harm, but I doubt that very much. I have seen the way he looks at you, especially after you and Haldir were brought together. His rage has turned his heart bitter and it has broken. I fear, in your current state of mind and body you will not ride out with us. But I also fear that should you stay he will try again to carry out whatever he has in store for you." he stops here only to breath before continuing on,
"He will ride out with us, under the command of Aragon who claims the throne of Gondor. He shall ride out under the command of Gandalf the White who shall bind him to his word. He shall ride out under the command of your brothers in arms who will bind him with their own hands." his fury at Eomer is full force as he talks but I place a hand on his shoulder to bring him back.
"I am sorry that you had to experience that horrible event my goddaughter, you should never carry the weight that is now in your heart." he says softly before leaning forward to kiss my brow, and when he stands to leave says,
"I shall keep the others out, you are not ready to receive them." and then he is gone. The next morning comes too soon, and I'm forced to watch out a window as Aragon, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Merry, Pippin and my Haldir ride out. He told me he would go in my stead, since they were told I wasn't going to come. Eomer is with them and I can just make out his hands tied to his reins. I feel hollow as I watch them ride out; my family is leaving me alone to wallow is self-misery. My godfather, my brothers, my love are leaving me to fight and possibly die. I can't lose them, I can't lose the family I've always wanted! As they reach the gates I flee to the stables and thank the Valar that I decided to wear breeches and a tunic; it was for symbolic reasons beforehand, so that I could feel a part of them. But now as I make a mad dash to the stables I care not that my sword isn't with me, I just need to go with them! I reach the stables to find one horse left; a black mare with a star on the snout and sitting on its saddle is a sword. I don't bother to check whose it is as I mount and gallop out of the stables, grabbing a helmet as I go to cover my head. I charge through the city and manage to fall just behind the last rider before the gates close.