Roped Into Helping
Lady Countryrose
Ch. 14
Hermione woke up, only to be told that she was asleep for three days. With that, Gandalf and Pippin had already left for Gondor. Then the sight of the hills lit of fire. Singling that Gondor was calling for aid.
Hermione had woken up in time to climb onto her horse. And ride off with the rest of her group. With the people of Rohan. She wasn't going to lie, she was still a little tired.
On the road, Aragorn rode on one side of her. While Legolas and Gimli were on her other side. Hermione could tell that the three of them were worried. She just hoped that she would not need her magic for a couple of days.
"What did you do?" This caused Hermione to turn towards Aragorn. "What made you so tired?"
Hermione had taken a deep breath. "I destroyed the stone. But I wasn't expecting it/him to fight back."
She lost focus on what was in front of her. "At first, I had thought the stone was fighting me." She gulped. "Until I heard him. So dark, cold and full of power."
Hermione turned to him. Knowing there was no emotion on her face. "He tried to make me join him. But I fought him. I destroyed it."
Legolas smiled at her. "You are brave at heart."
"Eye lassie," she heard Gimli. "More brave than half of us."
The group followed the armed forces of Rohan. Before they were to rest for the night on a mountain pass. Only to see thousands down in the valley, camped out and waiting.
Their group sat around the fire and ate some stew. Before Aragorn had been called away. Only for them to notice that he was going to sneak off.
"We're going with you," stated Legolas with determination in his voice.
"No," Aragorn shook his head. "They need you."
"You need us more." Hermione smiled kindly at him.
"Face it, laddie," added Gimli. "We're going with you."
The four friends climbed up onto their horses. Rode into the deepest shadows of the mountains. Living behind the army of Rohan. Only to hear whispers of despair.
Hermione knew that they were losing hope. Thinking that Aragorn was their hope against the enemy. She knew how Harry was like that for the Wizarding World. Their living hope. But still too much on anyone's shoulders.
Gimli complained how scary it was. Before they stopped at a cave-like entrance into the mountain.
"The way is shut. It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it," read Legolas on the doorway.
"The land of the dead," asked Hermione.
Aragorn turned to her. "There is no other way. We are going to need all the help we can get."
Hermione had been in the Wizarding World for a handful of years. But never heard of the dead aiding the living. 'Unless you're Harry.' Thinking about the ghosts that had helped him out of the graveyard. 'I am starting to see a lot of similarities with the two.'
With that, she followed him into the mountains with Legolas at her side. Then Gimli followed shortly after. Before long, Hermione noticed a shimmer city within the mountain. It did not look solid, and it had an unhealthy looking green glowing tint to it. It was enough to make her sick.
Shortly after seeing the city, they were surrounded by the dead army.
'This doesn't seem like it's going to go well…'
xXx
Harry has been traveling with Frodo, Sam and a Golem for days. It was enough for Harry to want to zap away his anger and lack of patience. He was done with every turn of bad luck that they had seemed to face. He was even done with the arguments.
But what he was done with most of all. Was the cursed ring. He could hear wisps of a voice. So soft but evil and yet still out of his hearing range.
Harry saw that it had been affecting Frodo. He and Sam had offered to carry it. But Golem poisoned his mind. Only to say that they would steal it from Frodo.
But Harry knew better. Golem could tell that Frodo was close enough in his weakened state that it could simply just take it. Only to bide his time to do it. While Harry and Sam were too strong for Golem to wrestle the ring from them.
Harry may not be as smart as Hermione, especially when it comes to grades. But he was smart enough to see an angle, when one was given to him. He was no Slytherin, but he knew how they act. And Golem fit the bill.
Harry was worried how Hermione was facing, with her own journey. But he had a feeling that she was alright. She was always alright. There was nothing that could stop Hermione from getting something done. She would even fight against her own friends to do it.
Harry had thought back about the kiss. He felt sad that it didn't feel right. 'Is it too much to find someone for me? And not have someone fall for me, because I lived.'
He noticed then how little Frodo was eating. Along with the massive low energy, as he stumbles on the mountain pass.
'How long can he hold out?' He looked around the dislet landscape. 'How long can we all hold out?'