Chapter 24: helms deep
Shadows p.o.v.
It was a long journey for us all but we had finally come upon the gates of helms deep. During the walk I ended up walkin beside shadow whilst she holds onto Éothain and Freda, the little boy and girl I came to know that had turned up at Edoras' gate alone, exhausted and unfed and watered. "not long now little ones" I say to them lightly "just through those doors". "At last!" a woman sighs in relief "Helm's Deep" another claims "There it is, Helm's Deep" Éothain say cheerily. I look around to see the delights of people as they continue to seeing Helm's Deep. Midnight and i stop beside Éowyn and look up at Helm's Deep.
"We're safe!" a woman says next to me and gently pats my arm, another woman approaches Éowyn "We're safe, my ladies Thank you." as she takes Éowyn hand then carries on walking. I look over to Éowyn with a grave expression, knowingly that we are beyond safe, as she helps an elderly woman continue on. The gates of Helm's Deep open finally for us all. I look around and sees refugees who had gotten there before we had. I guide shadow through the doors and stop off to the side to help get the children off her back "here we are then little ones, all safe and sound" I say to give them hope, before I had chance to talk any further with them Freda and Éothain run off "Mamma!" "Freda!" the woman replies opening her arms and hugs both of her children. I look on with adoration in my eyes, midnight nudges me with her snout "I know girl... Maybe one day" I mutter stroking her muzzle.
I walk over to where Éowyn is helping people with the food supplies and planting some of the supplies down that shadow and I had carried "Where is the rest?" she say to a passing soldier "This is all we could save, my lady" he replies mortally "Take it to the caves." she sighs "don't worry, we'll survive this" I mutter patting her shoulder. I turn my head slightly as I could hear horses and armour clanging in the lower parts of the keep "Make way for the king. Make way for Théoden. Make way for the king." we hear and run over to meet them half way "So few. So few of you have returned" she states to her uncle "Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives" Théoden replies "we are beyond safe here, bunched together like cattle to the slaughter, we should never have come" I whisper shouted at him "saruman has predicted this move, if not im sure that rat has told him of it" I continued all I received is a murderous look as he strolls to his guards.
I started to shake with frustration at this careless decision and the stubbornness of this king. I turned around when I heard the heavy but familiar footsteps of gimli as he approaches Éowyn and I "lassy, My lady" I all of a sudden got chilly like something grave has happened "Lord Aragorn…where is he?" Éowyn questioned "He fell" the master dwarf replied "he fell! where, how" i cry out quietly "im not sure how lassy but he fell of a cliff into a ravine" i look over his should to Legolas who i see walking up behind him. Éowyn looks over to Théoden with a very upset and surprised look on her face. "Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate. And set a watch on the surround." Théoden claims walking off with his armed guard "What of those who cannot fight, my lord? The women and children?" Gamling questions "Get them into the caves. Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here." Was his short answer.
My attention was diverted back to Legolas. We looked at each other then threw ourselves into the others arms, my head tucked into the crook of his neck "he must be out there somewhere" i whisper gently parting slightly and looking into his eyes whilst a tear slowly slips out of my eye "he'll be here, I know he will" replies kissing me gently and I reciprocate. When we part I take Legolas' hand and whistled shadow over. She trots over and I stroke her muzzle with unoccupied hand "please go and search for our fallen companion my friend we need him here" I whisper urgently to her and with a gentle kiss upon her nose she bounds off and out the gates from where we just came.