Here's a new chapter (finally)! I apologize for the delay. My entire family got sick, myself included. I've spent the past week trying not to puke into a bucket. Needless to say, work and school did not exactly wait for me to get better, and I'm still catching up, LOL. Thank you all so, so much for your support! On to the reviews . . .
goosebumps (and can I just say that I love your penname?!), PointyEars, guest, Warriorheart5, and guest, so glad y'all enjoyed it!
xXx3LegTaur4Evr and morgynstarlight, wait and see. ;)
annie, glad you enjoyed that scene! I admittedly struggled with it quite a bit; I feel that at times I don't do a very good job with fleshing out characters and maintaining their personalities.
This chapter is a bit shorter than I would like, but denser than usual. And . . . well, we're still not at the battle. ...yet. I promise it's coming soon, though! I'm just trying to fill in stuff that I won't be able to cover in the actual fight scenes.
Enjoy!
Tauriel trailed slightly behind the King, the man she had learnt was called Gamling, and Gimli, who was clearly making an effort to bite his tongue. Aragorn was speaking to someone quite a ways behind them, his brow furrowed. She glanced back once, then moved after her companions.
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall," Theoden growled, barely pausing. Gamling nodded. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping wall, or set foot inside the Hornburg!"
"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs," Gimli growled through his beard. "These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad."
Theoden turned to stare down at the dwarf, eyes freezingly cold. "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."
Gimli looked as if he had suddenly swallowed something rotten.
Tauriel was scowling, more annoyed at Theoden's dismissive treatment of Gimli than anything else he had said in the previous five minutes of planning. "And what of the women?" she said calmly, her words clearly enunciated and delivered with force.
Theoden looked at her sharply. "They will go to the Caves, along with the elderly and children."
Tauriel raised a single brow. Standing straight, she was almost as tall as Theoden, and the fact was not lost on either of them.
He took a single step backwards. "If you propose we have them fight, you will be met with disappointment."
Her eyebrow lifted again, arching upwards and then falling once the message had been sent. "You think them weak, king?"
"No, no! But the women cannot fight alongside the rest of us."
She leaned closer, eyes burning into his own. "I am an elf-maiden," she said softly, her words lined with poison. "A woman. Would you make the mistake of saying that I am soft, weak?"
"Of course not!" His words were blustery and louder than required. Gimli was huffing out quiet laughs behind the king, his eyes bright underneath his helmet.
"Eowyn, then. You have already sent her off to hide from those she is in danger from. I have seen how she can fight. You are forcing her to waste her talent, and there are so very many more down there in the caves that know how to parry the thrust of a blade, and then stab their attacker through the heart." She stepped back. "Men are not the only ones who can fight, my lord." There was more than a hint of derision in her tone, and she knew that she was pushing things. "You would do well to remember that."
He was clearly taken aback. Women fighting alongside men was not an entirely reviled idea, at least in the world of Men. But it was certainly not a common occurrence, and the fact had often irritated Tauriel.
Shoving her annoyance down, she looked at Gimli, who was now looking mildly uncomfortable.
"I will take my leave, then," she said, dipping her head ever so slightly downwards.
She turned on her heel, ignoring the kindling rage in Theoden's eyes. She had established a clear dislike of the man within hours.
Aragorn stopped her with a gentle touch to her elbow. She looked at him in surprise. She had almost forgotten that he had accompanied them. "Aye?"
There was the smallest of smiles playing around his lips. "You would talk in such a way to a king?" he murmured, tilting his head towards Theoden.
"A king, yes. Not my king," she shot back. "I have no king, no realm I would call home, not any more. Even if he was my king, I would say the same to him - I have no time for pompous, arrogant fools." She acknowledged to herself that, when she was younger, she had had much the same opinion of the Elvenking. Her views had changed, but the memories were still bright - and she doubted Thranduil would have truly forgotten their many clashes, either.
Aragorn arched a brow. "Strong words."
Her lip curled. "Perhaps not strong enough."
He chuckled softly. "But never stronger than you." She looked at him sharply, trying to discern the meaning behind his words, but he revealed nothing. Aragorn clapped her on the shoulder. "And your strength will be vital in the coming battle." He stepped past her, moving to join Theoden and Gamling.
She shook her head, frowning. Her mind was whirling. If the women wished to fight, and were capable of fighting, she would find a way - someway, somehow - to let them fight. How, she did not yet know, but she was confident that there would be way.
She halted for a long moment, looking down at her clenched fists. The skin was toughened, covered with callouses after many long years of handling a variety of weapons. The wrist-guards that protected her forearms from the snap of the bowstring were still smooth, hiding the corded muscles in her forearms. Her daggers leaped from their sheaths into her hands, and she twirled them expertly. Though she did not know it, she was smiling.
Her smile was as razor-sharp as the blades she held.
Audriel slid easily from the marching ranks of elves, her glamour sliding off her face as if washed away by a pail of cold water.
Haldir fairly scowled at her, his brows dipping until they almost met.
She smiled at him. "I am flattered." Her words were pleasant, but as ever there was an unnerving undertone to it.
"Do you have something of importance to tell me?" The March-warden's tone was clipped.
She grinned, as if he had surprised her by guessing the answer to some question correctly. "Indeed I do. Tauriel - Seena - how do you know she will be there?"
"She will be there."
"That is not an answer to my question. If you will refuse to tell me, I have my own means of discovery. Unfortunately, they can be rather unpleasant for both parties." Her eyes were shooting green sparks, and Haldir avoided meeting her gaze.
"The Lady of the Wood assured me that Tauriel would indeed be participating in the battle. I have full confidence that she is correct."
Audriel rolled her eyes. "Ah, yes. Your unfaltering love and admiration for her. Does it never tire you, to be commanded about by one person?"
"I would not expect you to understand, Half-elven." His words were the closest they had ever come to a snarl, still mostly calm, but now with an undercurrent of anger.
She arched her brows. "Impressive. At least you have some fight left in you. You had best hope it stays with you through the battle."
He ignored her, jaw clenched.
She fell out of step with the taller elf, waiting until he could no longer hear her before hissing a few harsh, well chosen words underneath her breath.
Looking up, her smile was back in place, and as she moved back into the columns of marching elves, the glamour slid over her face once more, turning her hair silver and her eyes grey.
Her lies came easily, for in the end it would all be worth it.
At least, that was what she told herself.
"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock." Theoden was pacing. "Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them."
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child."
Theoden spun, his hand grasping at the front of Aragorn's shirt, pulling him close. "What would you have me do?" he demanded in a low, rough voice. "Look at my men. Their courage hands by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."
Aragorn stepped carefully away. "Send out riders, my lord. Call for aid."
"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer," Aragorn said calmly.
"Gondor?" Theoden spat. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?! Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon -" He stopped, calming himself with effort. "No, my Lord Aragorn, we are alone." He stepped away. "Get the women and children into the caves."
Gamling hesiated. "We need more time to lay provisions for -"
"There is no time," the King growled. "War is upon us."
"We Ents have not troubled about the wars of Men and wizards for a very long time. But now, something is about to happen that has not happened for an age. Entmoot."
Merry perked up. "What's that?"
"`Tis a gathering," Treebeard answered, his voice groaning like a trees' branches would in the midst of a great storm.
"A gathering of what?"
The distant creaks were becoming steadily louder. Merry glanced over his shoulder to see what they were from, but stopped, gaping.
Pippin swallowed hard, staring out at the great trees as they gathered amongst themselves, talking, whispering. He frowned as he imagined the Ents swinging their club-like limbs, smashing their feet into the ground. They would be an impressive sight, he knew.
"Beech. Oak. Chestnut," Treebeard croaked, "Ash. Good. Good. Good. Many have come. Now we must decide if the Ents will go to war."
Pippin smiled.
"Eowyn." Tauriel's voice was rough and low. "Eowyn!"
The girl frowned, wiping her hands on her apron before hurrying over to look Tauriel straight in the eye. "Yes, my lady?"
Tauriel scowled. "I am no lady." She had always had a certain contempt for the word, at least in that particular context.
Eowyn shrugged slightly, palms up. "What should I call you, then?"
There was a moment of silence. "Tauriel," she finally said. "The name given to me by my people is Tauriel, and as such that is how you should address me." The fragile truce she had presented to Eowyn was either ignored or not fully recognized by the girl, who nodded calmly and continued.
"And what is your bidding, Tauriel?"
"The women," she said softly. "How many can fight, and are willing to help defend their country?"
Eowyn's face brightened considerably. "There are a few of us. But most were never trained with a sword, and would be cut down in a moment. I would not ask it of them to throw their lives away."
Tauriel nodded, filing this piece of information on the girl's character away for later examination. "The King would hide you all away, and keep you from the battle. I do not agree with him on the matter."
Eowyn grinned. "You would let us fight."
She nodded, praying that she was not making a grave mistake. "Gather those amongst you who would be willing to carry a blade. I would ask it of you that only the best join the fighters. As you said, it would not be fair to them to have them throw their lives away."
Eowyn nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I will not fail you."
Tauriel nodded half-heartedly. "As you say. Find me when you are done. I will not have gone far."
"We'll place the reserves along the wall," Aragorn muttered, half to himself. "They can support the archers from above the gate."
Legolas stopped his pacing. "Aragorn, you must rest! You are no use to us half alive."
He scowled, opening his mouth to answer, but was interrupted.
"My lord! Aragorn!"
Aragorn turned.
Eowyn was approaching him, trailed by a small group of women in split-skirts with swords hanging from their waists. His eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Aye?"
"Where is Tauriel?" she asked, eyes flicking about the room.
Tauriel rolled her eyes, peeling herself away from the shadows and pulling back the cowl of her hood. "I was wondering if you had been successful in your attempts."
Eowyn sucked in a surprised breath at Tauriel's unexpected appearance. She watched as the red-haired elf paced smoothly towards them, hair pulled severely back from her face. Her features were all sharp angles and deep hollows, the weight of time and memory lending age to her eyes and a sadness to the tilt of her mouth. She looked deadly, but also as if she had lost much life.
"My la - Tauriel," she corrected herself. "We are here, as you requested."
Tauriel's eyes flicked over the assembled women. Many appeared nervous, and most were middle aged. There was one woman who was older, with skin like parchment and silvery-white hair. She still stood tall and proud, despite her advancing years.
Tauriel halted in front of her. "Do you have children?" she asked softly. "Grandchildren, perhaps?"
She smiled, wrinkles spreading out from her face. "One. A boy. His parents passed on last winter."
"And if you were to fight today?"
There was a immediate rush of noise from behind them, most recognizably from Aragorn, who had begun to splutter in what she hoped was purely confusion. Tauriel frowned, raising a hand for silence.
The woman lifted her chin. "I would do it well. I've been serving my people for many a year now, and I will do so until my dying breath."
Tauriel felt a flash of resentment that time would take such a proud, strong figure from the world, but knew that it was the way of life. "You are an inspiration," she said softly. And the woman smiled, her eyes lighting up at the simple words of praise.
For the first time in a long while, Tauriel felt it - a little burst of flame as she, a natural-born leader, stood tall and looked at those who she knew would follow her, even to the death. There was a great weight of responsibility, and a burning guilt that would follow should they fall in battle, but she had finally slipped back into her place.
She turned to Aragorn. "They will fight at my side, if they wish it. I will brook no argument. The King's way has been the only way for far too long, it seems."
Aragorn opened his mouth for a moment, and she braced herself for a flood of arguments. But he just heaved a sigh of what almost seemed like defeat, and stepped forward, clapping her on the shoulder as he smiled. "Legolas was right when he said that you are not one to bow down to those above you," he said in her ear. "Your fire burns brightly in this darkness." There was a pause, then, "Arwen would say that you have finally stopped your fall."
Tauriel's eyes flicked up at Aragorn's words, then focus beyond him, meeting Legolas's gaze. Legolas's grey eyes met hers for only a second, but it was long enough.
He is - proud?
She had barely an instant to comprehend it before he had turned away, and she looked back at Aragorn.
"Theoden will not be entirely accepting of this," he said, a hint of worry in his voice. "I have no argument here; indeed, I am nothing if not pleased ." He dipped his head. "Lotesse i' valar will lle ilya a' be varna."
Eowyn turned to Tauriel, a question in her eyes. Her fingers were clutching the hilt of her sword nervously.
"I will talk to the King," Tauriel said. "If he wants my blade, he will let you fight."
Eowyn nodded, just once. "Thank you."
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers."
"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli said gruffly.
"Or too few," Legolas put in. "Look at them. They're frightened. You can see it in their eyes."
Tauriel winced, watching as many of the men turned to stare at Legolas. His words had struck a blow in their armor. She turned to him, opening her mouth to protest, but was cut off.
"Boe a hyn neled herain dan caer menig!"
"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras," Aragorn shot back.
"Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir ortheri. Natha daged dhaer!" Legolas's words were filled with a strange regret, and Tauriel found herself rethinking her stance on having the women fight. If - no, when - they fell, their blood would be on her hands. . .
Aragorn's temper snapped. "Then I shall die as one of them!"
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet. The already weakened morale of the troops dipped even further, for Aragorn's words had left little doubt in their minds about what Legolas had said.
Aragorn turned away, his jaw set. Legolas made as if to stride after him, but Gimli stopped him. "Let him go, lad. Let him be."
Tauriel shook her head. "He does fear for them," she said to Legolas, picking her words - in Elvish, this time - carefully. "And he has every reason to do so."
"But to let them fight - like this, knowing that many will fall, knowing that the battle is not in our favor - I cannot see how -"
She looked him straight in the eye. "You have never truly commanded a battle, have you? The guilt you carry with you when those who follow you fall - it is a heavy burden. It is also one we must all learn to bear. Know that Aragorn is doing the best he can."
"My lord?"
"Who am I, Gamling?" Theoden was motionless, his eyes dull as he stared out into the nothingness.
"You are our king, sire."
"And do you trust your king?"
"Your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end."
He exhaled, his shoulders straightening almost imperceptibly. "To whatever end."
I know that, in having the women fight underneath Tauriel, I am stretching things quite a bit. I am also a bit torn on if the scenes should remain. Depending on my own thoughts on the matter, the response I receive, and how I feel the plot should continue, I may or may not remove this from the fic.
As ever, I welcome your thoughts, opinions, rants and raves. :)