Chapter 19: Helms Deep and the Waiting Game

Percia ignored everything but the person currently in front of her. Once they had made it to Helm's Deep, the seemingly impenetrable fortress, she had set up shop in the corner of the main hall. There were people here seeking refuge from all over Rohan, many were injured in some way or another. So, she basically threw her weight around and made this section a healing ward for the past few days.

She healed those she could, bandaged the ones she couldn't and for the sick she directed the women helping her how to care for them. Gods she would love some of her Apollo cousins right now. Thankfully none of them argued with her when she had them clean sheets, or even wash the patients. Really, the hygiene of this world was probably the cause of most of the sickness going around. She certainly refused to let more of it pass on, not with the inevitable battle coming.

Okay, so she was trying her hardest to forget about Aragorn dy… falling and currently missing! He is not dead! There must be proof before she will believe it.

Not for elf-boy and Gimpy though. No, they were acting like he was gone for good. Well, when he showed up, after she punched him for worrying her, she'd tell him how little faith those two fools had.

At least they were leaving her be and not pushing for her to grieve, not like some of the women. Gods, if one more person told her to let it all out she'd let it out alright. Only it would not be tears but full on rage! Well… not really. Percia wouldn't take it out on others unless they really deserved it.

"Thank ye milady," he current patient stated after she healed his arm. "The man who marries ye will be a lucky man indeed."

That caused her eye to twitch. Then again, if she kept getting comments like that, she might make exceptions.

Ugh! She despised the patriarchal crap that these people lived by! She could total understand why Artemis and her hunters denounced all men. As if she needed a man! They tended to be more problematic than not any way.

"Nin kuruni."

Case in point.

"What," she asked a bit tersely. So sue her! She'd been busy non-stop and all the sexist comments were fraying her last nerve.

"You need to rest," he told her gently, clearly aware how close her temper was to snapping. Seems the elf could learn.

"I have patients to look after."

"No you don't," he informed her, stepping into her path to force her to look at him. "You have healed all of the major injuries. Those left are minor enough to be handled by others, or they are sick. You need to eat and rest. Gimli and I need your opinions on the battlements."

"As if the King and soldiers will accept a woman's opinion," she sneered, some of her anger shining through.

"And you have never let such things stop you before," he quipped back, strangely calm. "I know you are trying to distract yourself from what happened with Aragorn." He stopped her from interrupting. "I agree, we do not know if he is dead, nor can we go look because these people need us. Letting your anger get the best of you is not helping. Eat, rest and tomorrow we can re-evaluate the situation. If the enemy is coming as we fear, then we will all need clear heads."

Percia huffed petulantly. "Since when you are the voice of reason?"

"Since you have apparently left yours to go on the war path," he stated wryly. "You may not notice, but you have frightened several people with your glares."

"I have no…" She glanced around only then taking note of the way several people watched them warily, as if waiting for her to explode. She sniffed a bit refusing to give him a total victory. "Well… I am rather tired…" His grin had her rolling her eyes. "Shut up."

She allowed him to lead her out to a section of the Keep with a few side rooms, most being held by families or groups of small folk. Gimli had procured one for their use, though neither Percia or Legolas had truly used it aside from setting their bags down. She supposed it shouldn't surprise her that her bed roll was already laid out, waiting for her to rest. Not bothering to acknowledge the elf she laid down and was asleep before her head fully settled.

Xx

She didn't dream, which was a godsend in her opinion. Apparently working oneself to the bone helped to make sleep easier.

When she woke the next morning, she felt far more rested than she had for days now. Most of her anger had also dissipated. Darn it, she hated when the blasted elf was right. Now he'd be smug, well, smugger. Raising she vaguely noted Gimli's sprawled out form, his snores near deafening in the small quarters. She must have been exhausted if she slept through that!

She made her way to the hall where Eowyn had set up a make shift canteen for the people. There were tables for people to sit once they exited the 'soup-kitchen' line where women served the food to the people. In fact, she could see the young princess helping out, her eyes often sliding to the soldiers enviously. The girl had a fighting spirit but no one to support her endeavors. Sadly she wouldn't find any from Percia, the girl was barely sixteen. She had lost her innocence at twelve and she did not wish that on anyone. Eowyn was too young and not experienced enough to fight, at least not yet. Frankly she's lucky her uncle hadn't seen fit to marry her off yet, given the beliefs men held about a woman's worth in this type of society.

One of the women handed her a bowl full of some sort of stew, from the smell she could tell Eowyn had not been allowed to help with this one. Cooking was NOT one of the girl's talents. Gods she'd had a good laugh when Aragorn was forced to eat her cooking, the girl watching him so closely, clearly besotted with the idiot.

Chuckling to herself she made quick work of her meal, eyes wandering as she took in the people around her. Most were old men and boys, all of them decked out in some sort of leather armor. No doubt they were preparing for the siege to come. It was sad to think about what was to come, but she knew very well war cared not for age or experience.

It might not have seemed so dismal if the main army was there, however from what she knew they were under Eomer out riding through the Riddlemark. Though she hoped there were more than the group she saw when they first encountered the nephew of the king. Granted she had no idea how large of an army Rohan could muster. She wasn't going to ask either. The king and his 'advisors' had also taken to treating her like a simpleton because of her gender. It would probably look bad if she decked the leader of this nation. Feel extremely satisfying, but not diplomatic.

Gods she couldn't wait for this all to be over and she could finally go back to ignoring such things.

She gave her dishes to the women handling them and moved to the healing 'ward' checking on the people there. Most of the cases were minor and easily handled so she did not need to worry about it. Moving on she made her way outside just in time to see Aragorn riding into the Keep on a very tired horse.

A sense of relief flooded her. She had buried enough friends, she did not want to bury her honorary brother.

Someone sidled up to her side, the blond easily distinguishable even among these people. So she flashed him a very appropriate 'I-told-you-so' smirk, earning an eye roll for her effort.

Making her way down the steps with a bit more perk than she'd felt for the last few days she collided with Aragorn making sure to hug him extra hard. The slight flinch he gave was proof he'd hit the river hard. Pulling back she gave him a bright smile, before punching him hard in the arm.

"Don't do that again, idiot."

Aragorn snorted, rubbing his arm to alleviate the pain. She could tell he was glad to be back with them as well.