Disclaimer: I don't own Agent Carter which belongs to Marvel and Disney nor the Lord of the Rings and anything related to that universe which belongs to Warner Brothers/New Line as well as the Tolkien estate. This story is strictly being done for pure fun and in no way is an attempt to profit of the properties involved
Author's Note: Hey everyone. Happy New Year. Sorry it's been so long since the last chapter. Regardless it's here now and read down below regarding my plans for this year. If I commit to it I'll feel a little bit proud of myself. Anyway I hope you enjoy the next chapter of story.
Road to Helm's Deep
The evacuees from Edoras stretched in a long line as they travelled westward towards their destination of Helm's Deep. A small military escort of a hundred cavalry and infantry protected the column. The column included the Fellowship, Theoden and his court. Edoras's civilian population formed the bulk of the evacuees. A few fortunate residents had packhorses, wagons or carts to carry elderly or infant family members. The rest carried their meagre possessions on stretchers or their own backs. The column sporadically grew in number along the journey after being joined by refugees from outlying villages and farms that had been attacked by Saruman's forces. That said, the Rohirrim's morale continued to hold due to their belief that they would be safe once they reached Helm's Deep.
It was midday on the second day since Edoras had been evacuated. The Fellowship had placed themselves apart while still being in reasonable proximity to each other. The one exception was Legolas who had volunteered to act as a scout for the evacuee column. Riding Sigrid, Jarvis had earlier in the day conversed with Hama who was riding his own steed. The Captain of the Royal Guard spoke with pride that his eldest son, Haleth, was commencing training with Eomer's eored later that year. Jarvis was now riding to the left of Theoden who was riding his white stallion named 'Snowmane'. His conversation with Jarvis proved to be an interesting experience. While he was suprised to hear of the supposed realm that he and his friends had come from that was more advanced then this one, as Gandalf vouched their identity, Théoden didn't doubt the realm's existence. That still didn't mean he had queries particularly about the interesting and intelligent man he worked for.
"From how you describe him Mr. Jarvis it would seem Master Stark is like a weapons smith?," Théoden asked trying to understand the descriptions of what his employer does."
"You can say that your majesty. Although suffice it to say not all his exploits are mine to tell." Jarvis explained. As a king of noble standing he presumed Theoden had no time for Stark's exploits.
"I understand." Théoden said getting the point as he asked further "So where is your employer? Would be able to aid us?"
Jarvis felt guilty for lying to the king but given the secrecy of their mission felt it best not to say anything. "I'm afraid I don't your majesty. Last I saw him was when I came here with Miss Carter. Stay with us long enough you'll find we get wrapped up in these journeys often."
"Journeys are often long Mr. Jarvis. And when they end you'll understand what it was like to go through them and put it into perspective." Théoden said as he rode further leaving Jarvis to ponder those words.
Ahead of them, Eowyn held the reins of her steed as Gimli rode on its back. Peggy walked alongside her to her right. Aragorn was just a few yards behind riding his own horse. Fulfilling her promise Peggy was also revealing more about their world to her. Eowyn was staggered to learn that 'America' was nearly seventy-fold the size of Rohan. And as for its population – surely not even Sauron had that many orcs under his command! She could never see herself exchanging a trusty mount for one of those 'automobiles'. However, Eowyn was curious to travel in one of those 'aeroplanes' if only to see what it was like to fly like a bird. Conversation eventually turned to family.
"Eomer and I've been raised by our uncle ever since we were children," Eowyn told Peggy and Gimli. "Our parents died when we were quite young. Losing Theodred was like losing a brother."
Peggy nodded in understanding before replying, "I'm sorry about for your losses. My family, what remains of it is distant. I don't think we'll see each other much in the future." Peggy explained. She opted not to reveal what happened with Michael was the major reason why.
Underwood had emerged alongside them as she looked at Eomer and back to Aragorn "Why do people grow beards here? You don't like shaving or something?"
Gimli felt obliged to answer "I personally feel Miss Underwood a man's beard gives him character. And more often men have been found to win a lady's favour because of it"
"I'm assuming you're giving first hand experience?" Dottie asked him.
Eowyn found herself chuckling at the comment. She initially didn't know much of Underwood other than the sanitised version of her story she told her. While Peggy felt she shouldn't be trusted she had little option at the moment but to deal with her. Even Peggy though had to crack a smile.
"Do Dwarf women look like you? Shaggy beards and all?" Peggy asked adding to it.
Gimli began educating the ladies on the subject. "It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men. And this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women." Despite resting one of his axes on his left shoulder, Gimli waved his hands around as he continued. "And that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!"
Peggy and Eowyn laughed at Gimli's remark. Dottie also smiled, more sincerely than she had before.
The Dwarf joined in the women's merriment before he concluded, "Which is of course ridiculous!"
Gimli had become so animated about this discussion that he accidentally spurred Eowyn's steed with his legs. The steed took this as a signal to go into a canter. Gimli let out a startled cry as his ride's change of pace caught him completely by surprise. After the horse had moved a few yards forward, Gimli unceremoniously fell off his ride hitting the ground with a noticeable thud. The small commotion grabbed the attention of those in the immediate vicinity. Eowyn rushed to Gimli to check on his welfare while Peggy and Dottie ran to catch Eowyn's steed, both hanging onto one end each. As soon as they caught the horse's reins they heard Gimli trying to save face.
"It's alright, it's alright," Gimli proclaimed as if nothing were amiss. "Nobody panic. That was deliberate. That was deliberate."
Peggy quietly whispered to Eowyn's steed, "We both know that's not true."
"True to that Peg" Dottie said from the other side
After Eowyn's steed appeared to snort its consent, Peggy turned around to look at his two travelling companions. Although her back was turned, Eowyn seemed to be gazing towards Aragorn.
Dottie seemed to see it too as she looked at her rival "You see it to right? Trouble in paradise."
"Breathe no word of Arwen." Peggy warned her "Or else."
"What? You'll kill me?" Dottie asked her "I don't think you have it in you."
"Why do you think that?" Peggy asked though she knew she was right somewhat.
"Because you're not the kind to kill without reason." Dottie said "You want me around Peg. You think there's hope I'll join you're little brigade."
Peggy remembered what Gandalf told her. How her keeping Dottie alive would fall on her own judgement and test of character. If she was going to commit to that she would need to let go of her mistrust and begin to try and understand her enemy. Still she remained cautious "You just need to worry about my eyesa and where they are watching."
The Road to Helm's Deep
It was moderately overcast the following morning. Legolas and Peggy agreed to exchange the role of scout at around noon. That being the case, Peggy found herself in the middle of the column walking between Dottie and Jarvis who were both mounted. The three spoke in hushed tones.
"Eowyn is a nice girl and all. But her stew was awful" Dottie said with no hint of sincerity to spare her feelings.
Peggy looked at her annoyed at her impoliteness.
"Ask Jeeves he's a witness." Dottie said pointing to Jarvis.
Eowyn had cooked a stew she personally served for dinner the previous night. Polite acceptance marked the Fellowship's reaction to it.
"Regrettably she is right. It was as cold as it was bitter and raw." Jarvis said recalling the taste.
"Gimli and I must've missed it when we went to check on Legolas," Peggy informed them. "There was this old lady who insisted on giving the three of us a platter of ham and roast potatoes. She said she wanted to reward the heroes who'd freed Edoras."
Dottie without hesitation spoke up "I'm going next. If we're going to suffer you will too."
Peggy folded her arms "I think that's the first threat you've given me since you joined this journey that I believe."
Dottie was surprised by this but before she could quip back they were broken out of their conversation by a commotion seemingly at the front of the column. The word 'Wargs' soon rapidly swept down the column. Hearing the word again naturally triggered back memories to Peggy and Jarvis.
"What are wargs?" Dottie asked catching on they knew something.
"They're like a giant breed of wolf," Jarvis grimly answered. "And they're just as evil as the orcs who ride them."
Theoden's call echoed down the line. "All riders to the head of the column!"
The trio rushed towards the sound of Theoden's voice. Seeing that the column was under attack, the three were at the front of the column in quick time. Jarvis noticed that Gimli was on the white horse that Eomer had given the Fellowship. The horse seemed to be stubbornly remaining in its place despite Gimli trying to urge it forward.
"I shall go help our Fellowship's Dwarf," Jarvis told Peggy and Underwood before breaking away from them.
"No question about it but that's excellent service" Dottie commented at Jarvis's constant willingness to spring into action regardless of whether he was ordered too.
Peggy and Dottie found themselves near Eowyn who was about to mount her steed. The pair of them had no doubt what Eowyn was planning to do. Unfortunately for her, those plans came to a quick end when Theoden trotted up on Snowmane.
"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep," Theoden commanded his niece. "And make haste!"
"I can fight!" Eowyn insisted.
"No!" Theoden firmly rebuked her before speaking to Jarvis who quickly returned to them. "Mr. Jarvis, please ensure my niece's safety while she does so."
"Yes, sir," Jarvis replied without hesitation.
Eowyn was livid at her uncle's order to Jarvis. Being denied another chance to engage in battle was bad enough. But to imply that she could not defend herself from enemy attack was even worse.
"I have no need of escort, Uncle!" Eowyn indignantly stated. "I'm a Sh-"
Eowyn stopped arguing the moment her designated bodyguard gripped her arm. Jarvis thought that touching Rohan's ranking lady was probably more out of turn than when Aragorn argued with Theoden in the Golden Hall. He appreciated why Eowyn felt upset but this was no time for arguments.
"I'd like to fight as well Miss Eowyn," Jarvis quietly soothed to Eowyn. "But your uncle's just given us a direct order. Let us give him one less thing to worry about."
The anger in Eowyn's face drained after Jarvis had spoken. After slowly nodding her agreement, she walked towards the civilians in the column.
"Make for the lower ground!" she firmly told them. "Stay together!"
Jarvis looked at Theoden. The King gave him a small nod of appreciation before charging forwards.
Eowyn shared a look with Peggy who had stayed uncharacteristically silent throughout their argument. She presumed it was out of respect for her Uncle and her own safety and decided not to bother her more. Her response proved her theory correct.
"If this had been three years ago I would have jumped to your defense. But..." Peggy tried to explain.
"You did not want to risk me being further chastised by my Uncle." Eowyn finished "I am not offended Peggy."
Peggy looked at Jarvis who she gave a knowing look "I think there will be a chance yet to fight some Orc. When you see one. Stick a knife in it's gob for me."
Eowyn seemed to gave a small smile as she left to attend to others in the column.
"See you at Helm's Deep," Peggy said with simple optimism.
"Until the next time Miss Carter," Jarvis said as he turned to Dottie "Miss Underwood." He then spurred his mount as he went to join the column.
The two friends did not give even the slightest of backward glances as they went their separate ways. In comparison, Eowyn and Aragorn shared a last look before the latter rode off with the other riders of the column.
As the company of riders neared the slope of a hill, Peggy noticed a Rohirrim's badly mauled body on the ground next to the bodies of the Warg and orc that had killed him. It was then she realised the dead Rohirrim was none other than Hama. As Peggy approached the crest of the hill, she noticed that Legolas had been firing arrows at the oncoming enemy. There appeared to be dozens warg-riders charging towards the Rohirrim and their allies. She noticed Dottie looking at him with slight awe as the Elf effortlessly stopped Gimli's horse before vaulting on to its back. In response to the Warg's howling and snarls, Theoden lead the column's riders in replying with a defiant cry.
Dottie looked at Peggy as she asked regarding Legolas "Is he single?"
"I wouldn't if I were you." Peggy said warning her not try and tempt her friends.
"Whatever. Hope you don't plan to fight with the gloves on." Dottie said as she rode a mount towards a Warg and threw her two knives into it's head, causing it to fall dead within seconds as she then quickly bent down to grab them out only to plunge it into the Orc who had been riding it that was still alive. She quickly put them back in as she pulled a gun from a holster and shot another Orc and a Warg in the head as both fell down. "Come on Peg keep up!"
Peggy quickly regained her senses as she took stock of the conflict. Within seconds, the two sides collided head-on and engaged in bloody combat.
The battle had degenerated essentially into a series of individual duels. If the Rohirrim were fighting other horseman this would not be too much of a problem. But in this battle, a Rohirrim had to fight not just an orc but the orc's mount as well. Several Rohirrim were dismounted or killed when a warg attacked their horse first.
As she engaged in combat, Peggy tried keeping track of the other Fellowship members in the battle. Peggy became slightly concerned when he saw Gimli on the ground in a defensive stance. As Gimli prepared to receive a Warg's lunge at him, Legolas shot it with an arrow from horseback.
"That one counts as mine!" an indignant Gimli told Legolas before having to defend himself from another warg's attack.
Peggy seemed grateful they were doing well as she then shot two bullets into a Warg's head. Deciding she needed to spare what she had for now she switched to her sword as she swung it upwards at a Warg's throat causing it to fall dead as she then stabbed the Orc rider. Her attention was soon caught by more pressing matters.
Theoden showed good agility for a man his age as he parried and defeated a pair of enemy attacks. In some ways, Theoden had welcomed the opportunity to engage these warg-riders. It allowed him to vent some of the anger he still felt over Saruman's possession as well as Theodred's death. However, there were not enough Royal Guards to ensure that Theoden was well protected from all sides. Theoden thought he was about to join his fallen son after being caught unawares by a riderless warg that leapt straight towards him. He was then spared by Peggy jumping onto the Warg trying to steady it. Theoden was taken aback by the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s determination to engage the beast which surely would kill her should she make a wrong move.
"Go on! I've got this under control!" Peggy urged the king
"My thanks, Director Carter" Theoden thanked her.
Peggy controlled the Warg as she rode it into a nearby boulder, jumping before impact as she tumbled and rolled across the field, not even looking as the Warg was too late from hitting it's head into the boulder's side, killing it instantly.
Rising to her feet she saw Dottie riding towards her as she held out her hand "Come on take it."
Peggy was about to take it before something leapt onto the Dottie, causing her horse to fall to the ground and her to tumble as she struggled in the individual's grasp. She was shocked at what she was seeing, a rarity for the Russian spy. She wasn't seeing an Orc but another hideous creature entirely.
Struggling in it's arms she saw Peggy leap onto the creature's back as she tried to pull it off. Their struggle dragged them to the side of a cliff as the creature finally shook Peggy off as she began to fall but clung onto the side. Looking up she saw the creature's face and to her surprise seemed to recognise what was facing her "Boromir?"
The vampire Boromir gave a noise as ear shattering as a Nazgul as the lapse in shock causing Peggy to lose her grip and fall down the cliff's side as she fell struggling to grasp on before sliding and falling onto a lower side. She than saw both Dottie and the vampire that appeared to be Boromir as both fell. Peggy prevented Dottie from falling further as she grasped her and both sat on the lower cliff, still a little bit away from the bottom as the vampire fell and tumbled to ground, knocking the creature unconscious or possibly killing it.
Peggy struggled to move as Dottie sat up. She noticed Peggy's right leg was cut all the way down.
"Leave it. I can manage." Peggy said as she struggled to stand but couldn't.
"You keep lying to yourself. For once can't you tell the truth?" Dottie asked
Peggy didn't know how to respond as she struggled to stay alert but lapsed into unconsciousness.
The Road to Helm's Deep
Legolas and Gimli were so fixated on their battles they failed to notice Peggy and Underwood were in danger nor did they realise that Aragorn was also in trouble. Aragorn was struggling to free himself from a Warg that was blindly charging towards the edge of another cliff as both then fell over it's side.
After a few moments the Rohirrim began plunging their spears and lances into any immobilised foe. Wargs that were in their death throes expressed their pain with grating cries and whimpers. Many riders had dismounted and were tending to others lying on the ground. Those grounded riders who were not dead instead released a cacophony of painful cries from the wounds they'd sustained. Other hale riders had the grim duty of having to dispatch wounded horses that had no chance of recovering.
Finishing a kill, Legolas realised his friend's absence. He then began calling out Aragorn's name, growing increasingly nervous when he didn't respond.
Gimli noticed Peggy and Dottie were unaccounted for as well. "Peggy?! Miss Underwood?!" It was then he saw that Legolas was searching the ground near a cliff edge. It was the same cliff that Aragorn had been involuntarily heading towards. Gimli walked towards his friend hoping he had found something.
"I've found no trace of Aragorn either," Legolas worriedly reported.
"Peggy and Dottie are gone as well." Gimli regrettably informed him.
The two members of the Fellowship then heard a snicker from a dying warg-rider close by. It was none other than Sharku himself. Gimli walked over to Sharku and bent down as he pointed his axe at him "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing!"
"He's dead," the Orc chortled.
Sharku was enjoying that his dying words would break the spirits of such a representative group of the Free Peoples. After a cough, he provided the brief details of Aragorn's demise.
"Took a little tumble off the cliff," Sharku revealed.
"You lie!" Legolas exclaimed to Sharku with uncharacteristic anger.
The Prince of Mirkwood refused to believe that such a great Man as his friend had been killed by a cliff fall. Not when Middle-earth most needed Aragorn to finally accept his destiny.
Sharku gave a horrible gurgle before he expired. Legolas, and Gimli noticed an object fall softly from Sharku's dead hand. Legolas bent down to pick it up. The two of them widened their eyes in horror when they saw the object was the pendant of the Evenstar. Both of them walked over to the side of the cliff. The cliff was steep with its face bottoming out at a rocky riverbank. The river flowed to the west at a great speed. The two spotted no trace of Aragorn either on land or in the river.
Looking over at another cliff side Gimli spotted two items as he picked them up. They were a gun belonging to Dottie and Peggy's sword both of which had fallen from them in their struggle with the vampire Boromir.
Such was their shock at possibly losing their friends even Underwood, none noticed Theoden had come up behind them. The remaining members of the Fellowship only turned around at the sound of Gamling's question to Theoden.
"Your orders, milord?" Gamling asked his liege.
"Get the wounded on horses," Theoden answered. "The wolves of Isengard will return" After a pause, and despite the sorrow he felt for so many of his fallen subjects around him, Theoden then coldly added, "Leave the dead."
Legolas gave a silent cold stare at Theoden which he shared with Gimli. Both wanted to go down and find their friends. They couldn't give up on them. Not for how much they sacrificed. Theoden could tell they didn't agree with his decision which he didn't either deep down. But they needed to keep moving. Seeing them for the warriors they were he knew somewhere they would be honoured. His rescue from Peggy also had given him much to think about regarding women serving in combat. Whether he could truly keep his niece from fighting despite his best efforts he didn't know. Placing a hand of support on the Elf's shoulder he urged him to move "Come."
Reluctantly the two members of the Fellowship followed the King.
The Road to Helm's Deep
While its riders had been engaged in battle, the remainder of the column continued towards Helm's Deep. A tense atmosphere pervaded due to the uncertainty over how the riders were faring against Saruman's wargs. An unspoken concern was that if another warg pack attacked the column, there was no cavalry screen to protect it. On that basis, no one objected to Eowyn's decision for the column to get to Helm's Deep without stopping for a break.
Jarvis was walking a few yards to Eowyn's left. He was guiding by the reins the horse carrying Freda and Eothain. But the brother and sister were not the only children within Jarvis's proximity. A gaggle of more than a dozen Rohirrim children (both boys and girls) between the ages of six and twelve walked closely beside him. He initially was trying to keep the two children Peggy had found company but others had spotted him engaging with them and found themselves curious too.
Eowyn wondered how Jarvis – not being a father himself – had learned to be such a brilliant entertainer of children. Jarvis gave his audience a few stories from his journeys with Peggy, albeit sanitised. The way he spoke made them feel like a series of adventures. She didn't realise that her word usage would have at one time made Jarvis feel guilty and remember his argument with Peggy in the desert. He had now learned to live with it though even if the memory sometimes still pains him. As would her speculation on possible fatherhood for him and Ana which they could never have.
Although she had known Jarvis for only a few days, Eowyn had quickly developed a strong liking of the man. He was a good man and servant who treated her and her role as a shield-maiden with respect and as an equal. While many servants often voiced displeasure in their line of work Jarvis seemed to feel no ordinary tasks were beneath him. Anything he did he did so with respect and sincerity to his job. Jarvis's gallantry, kindness and gentlemanly manners reminded her of Theodred. If he had known of it Jarvis would have felt surprise at being compared to the future King but would be grateful to know Rohan would have had a respectful future ruler had he not been snuffed out in his prime.
Helm's Deep
At about noon, the column came within sight of its intended destination. Helm's Deep was wedged into a narrow step-sided valley. Its front was facing north with a sheer cliff face at its back. Helm's Deep most prominent feature was the Hornburg. The Hornburg was a tower some three hundred-foot tall surrounded by concentric inner and outer walls. The Outer Wall stood one hundred feet above the ground and had the Gatehouse to its front. The Gatehouse was the only entrance into the fortress, via its two large wooden doors set between two guard towers, which were approached by a curving stone causeway. Behind the Inner Wall was a courtyard with archways that had been carved into the rock. The archways led to the fortress halls, quarters, stables, and armoury. Connecting the Hornburg with the other side of the ravine was the Deeping Wall. The Deeping Wall was over thirty feet high and nearly three hundred feet long. Jarvis's initial impression of Helm's Deep was that it was unlike any he had seen in Europe during the War, the few times he travelled with his previous employer to such structures.
Jarvis followed Eowyn up the causeway with Freda and Eothain in tow. As soon as he passed through the main gates, Jarvis was immediately struck by how crowded Helm's Deep already was. Refugees were everywhere including on the ramp that curled up to the courtyard. Jarvis grimly thought history showed a crowded location under siege was often vulnerable to the threat of disease.
The sentries assigned to Helm's Deep were directing the new arrivals to less crowded areas of the fortress. Seeing that Jarvis was close to Eowyn, one sentry assumed he must be a man of importance.
"Would you like me to take your horse to the stable, milord?" he offered Rogers.
"Yes thank you my dear fellow." Jarvis replied before taking Freda and Eothain off the mount. He then heard a woman's voice call the children's names coming from behind him.
"Mama!" Freda screamed in recognition.
She and her brother ran at full speed until they shared a joyous and relieved hug with their mother who had arrived at Helm's Deep earlier. Jarvis smiled as he took in the happy family reunion. Not all victories in war were solely won on the battlefield. It again reminded him of Bard's family. Satisfied he had kept his promise to Freda and after asking a sentry where he could find Eowyn, Jarvis walked over the ramp that connected the Gatehouse to the Courtyard. When he emerged into the courtyard, he saw in its middle a stone statute of a bearded man wearing armour holding a horn in his hand. Jarvis assumed this had to be the Rohirrim that the fortress was named after.
Jarvis eventually found Eowyn in a small-enclosed area of the Courtyard. She was inspecting food supplies in conjunction with the fortress quartermaster. The food was mostly bread, potatoes with some eggs and dry meat. It wasn't much of a supply compared to the number of people within the bounds of Helm's Deep. Eowyn seemed to have the same concerns.
"Where's the rest?" she asked the quartermaster
"This is all we could save, milady," the quartermaster awkwardly replied.
After a beat, Eowyn commanded him, "Take it to the caves."
"Caves?" Jarvis repeated.
"The Glittering Caves," Eowyn clarified for him. "They're within the rockface. In the event of an attack, those who can't fight can take refuge in them."
Eowyn held on to the hope that her Uncle would not count her among that number. After leading the column unscathed to Helm's Deep as instructed, surely she'd be allowed to defend the fortress as Rohan's leading shield-maiden? While she meant what she said to Peggy, knowing he would have to see her in battle with Wargs, she thought on a selfish level after witnessing such a feat that her Uncle would be persuaded to change his mind on seeing women join the battle in the future.
"The jewelled caverns are quite spectacular, Mr. Jarvis," Eowyn continued describing the Glitting Caves. "Especially when torchlight is reflected off the large pool. Under happier circumstances, I would be glad to give you a tour of them."
Before Jarvis could reply, he and Eowyn's attention was caught by the sound of Gamling's voice echoing up the ramp into the courtyard
"Make way for the King! Make way for Theoden!"
Eowyn and Jarvis rushed out into the courtyard proper. Theoden's force halted around the statue of Helm Hammerhand. Many within the courtyard immediately began moving wounded riders to the infirmary. Several others began sobbing when they didn't see riders who were also loved ones. Jarvis began immediately looking for the rest of the Fellowship.
After doing a rough estimate of the number of returning riders, a shocked Eowyn observed to her uncle, "So few. So few of you have returned!"
"Our people are safe," Theoden grimly advised her. "We have paid for it with many lives."
As Theoden said this, Jarvis saw Legolas looking forlorn. It was than he noticed Aragorn wasn't with them.
"Where is Aragorn?" Jarvis asked with a rising sense of dread.
It was then that he overheard Gimli's reply to Eowyn who had asked the Dwarf the same question.
"He fell," Gimli advised in a voice choked with sorrow.
Jarvis then cursed himself as he also realised Peggy and Dottie's absense. He nearly choked up before regaining composure as he asked the question he feared the answer too "And Miss Carter? Miss Underwood."
The looks of his two friends explained everything without words. Peggy and Dottie had seemingly shared the same fate as Aragorn.
Eowyn and Jarvis shared a look. Even in her grief at the news, Eowyn did not want to show any public display of weakness. She broke away from Jarvis's gaze before rushing up the stairs into the hall. At least the excuse of following Theoden could be used as a pretext to privately unleash the tears that wanted to burst from her. Jarvis had seen similar looks to Eowyn's and knew what she was really up to. He thought it best not to go after her. Largely because he felt the same way about loss of their friend's as she did.
Legolas looked at Jarvis who despite his best efforts to conceal it, he knew he was in pain. "Do not bury your pain my friend."
"I know. But Miss Carter would want us to move on. And I intend to carry out that request." Jarvis said brushing aside his grief for now.
"What would they have us do?" Legolas asked regarding the absence of the leaders of the Fellowship
"We will fight." Jarvis replied with a hint of fierceness in his voice.
Below the cliffs far from Helm's Deep
Dottie had managed to climb from below the cliffside as she carried Peggy down. Her struggle though caused her to slip as she fell face first on the slope. She also failed to secure Peggy who was sliding down the slope unconscious. She then crawled and moved towards Peggy.
Managing to move to her she checked and saw Carter was still alive. Sitting there with the unconscious Carter she asked the inevitable. "So Peg. What now?"
Author's Note: So yeah that's that chapter. Sorry that I pretty much stayed out of things on this until now. My goal regardless of how this year turns out is to finish this by this year's end and eventually obviously plan for future stories. I realise that in the timeline of events I'm dealing with some people would question how I could continue to create further stories but I've been nestling some ideas. Again if you want the Avengers version of this type of crossover go read Dr. Matthattan's Avengers of the Ring series. It's excellent and my stories will always follow in it's shadow as a pale imitation.
Anyway with this chapter it's a question of trying to contrive a reason for Peggy and Dottie to survive albeit with injuries but it sets up the building tension. Two characters who are enemies forced to survive is a recurring trope that often develops and reveals more about their relationship. How much they have in common and how much they differ. Backstory I add for certain characters will be some of my own guess work given we'll probably not explore Agent Carter's timeline in the future of the MCU.
Some would probably think Peggy should have more of a reaction to Theoden's order. She is always the first to stand firm against something she doesn't believe in. But this case of a life and death manner and years of close calls particularly in stories like this that are a far different type of threat and exploration for the Agent Carter timeline she'd be more cautious and like Steve wouldn't want to trade lives. That doesn't mean she won't stand with Eowyn in the future in battle though. Readers can assume whether that mean's she'll help during the Witch King fight but that's still awhile away yet.
Also slightly off topic who here is enjoying WandaVision? I am. Helps that after Peggy, Wanda is my favourite superhero female character in the MCU. Mostly because I've grown to like her character overtime, Olsen's performance has evolved and the potential she has as a character. Again the Doc's stories were the first to explore this and open my eyes to this and obviously I'm liking what's going on in those stories too. Go read his new chapter if you haven't already.
Again others if they are inspired to write their own Agent Carter/Middle Earth stories I encourage you do to do so. I also wish everyone the best during this time and thank you for reading. Your continued interest has been well appreciated and I wouldn't be writing this story or my other ones without it. And if this is your first time reading don't be afraid to say so.
Anyway I think that's it for now but knowing me I've forgotten some stuff. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and again any feedback you leave is appreciated. This is your friend Steve993 and I'll see you next time.