Chapter 2: Helms Deep
written by: misanoe
*****
And death fell to al that saw the Lady of Rohan.
"He has fallen."
Eowyn stood in front of the sorrowful dwarf, Gimili, in shock. Searching for reason in the madness of his words, she lifted her head to meet the pitying gaze of her uncle, Theoden, and his face betrayed him.
Was she to be pitied then, she idly wondered, unable to comprehend the death of such a man. We were neither lovers nor old friends, and yet the pain of Gimili's words struck deep and true. Numb, she backed away from the clamoring crowd before her, and only few saw the young, grief stricken maiden flee from the fort's courtyard.
Finding solitude in the small backroom that held the King's armor, Eowyn mourned. To loose too much in so little time, her heart would break and she longed for her brother's safe return. Would he only survive, she might be saved from the complete despair that threatened to swallow her whole.
Sitting alone in the deadly silence, their last moments together came to mind, flooding her body with emotions she could not control. "If I were a male I would fight to avenge his death, and yet even that I cannot do." She whispered in the faint light, angry tears spilling silently down her pale face.
*****
The orcs would come swift and strong. Craning his head, he searched for Lady Eowyn, a troubled frown creasing his forehead as he pulled the reins of his horse to catch one last glance. Alone she stood, apprehension written clearly in her face. Their eyes met and Aragorn knew he could not let the orcs pass. As long as he drew breath, no harm would befall her. And he paused only long enough to imprint the image of Eowyn in his heart, before riding off to battle.
*****
Images flooded in Aragorn's consciousness as he floated limply down the stilling water. His body jerked abruptly, led into sturdy ground. The sun beat strenuously on his lifeless form, gentle waves lapping against his side. Unaware of all around him, Aragorn dreamt, and Arwen was as beautiful as the moon, flawless as the clearest night sky.
Then there stood Eowyn, fierce and vibrant like the many hues of dawn.
*****
He lived. Eowyn lost her breath as she caught sight of Aragorn, bedraggled and weary, greeting the elf, Legolas. Across the courtyard, one thought ran through her mind; she must go to him. It was then the elf offered Aragorn a familiar silver pendant glittering harshly in the sun, reminding her once more he belonged to another.
Frozen, emotions raged in her slim body. She was torn, unable to force her gaze away from his figure and her glinting jewel that cut sharper then any sword.
She would be glad. For though his heart may lay elsewhere, he lived. And through her unshed tears, she smiled.
*****
In a small dark recess of one of the many caves, there, Aragorn found Eowyn sharpening her sword. Barely visible from the dim light of the single candle, Aragorn studied her forbidding profile.
"I know why you seek me. You would ask me to stay with the other women." She spoke without looking up from her work, aware of his company long before she spoke.
"I would." He answered without hesitation.
"There are children and men that will fight, less skilled with the sword then I." She ran her flint steadily against the long side of her blade. "I will fight, slay as many foes as I might."
Crouching down beside her, Aragorn placed his left hand above hers, halting her movement. "Do not seek death my lady."
Looking up in earnest, Ewoyn spoke. "I do not fear death my lord."
"I cannot fight and fear for your safety lady."
"I do not wish for your fear; nor, do I ask for your protection. I only wish to fight with my fellow country man. What use is a sword if I do not wield it?" She asked, trying to move him with reason.
"These men fight for the safety of their home and hearth, for their families and future. The safety of their wives will give them hope. And with that hope, they will fight with all their might to protect that which they hold sacred."
"I have no husband save for my sword."
"Your wellbeing gives me strength." Lifting his hand to cup her cheek, his eyes drilled into hers. "I do not wish to argue. You are needed here; the women depend on your strength to guide them."
"Your words do not console me. There is little good I may do them trapped here, then I might do with my sword," grasping his hand with her own, her eyes sought his. "Yet I will do as you ask, though my heart will be on the battlefield beside you." Silent with her admission of defeat, she could not contain the words that next exploded from her lips. "I would rather die a noble death then cower here in this bleak hole with little hope of meeting you again."
"Put your faith in me Eowyn, we will meet again." Aragorn vowed.
"I will hold you to your word Aragorn, son of Arathorn."
*****
With the rest of the females and younger children, Eowyn did as much as she might to prepare the soldiers. And when the strength of the sun waned, swallowed by darkness, Eowyn herded the woman and children through the thick doors of the entrance to the caves of Helms Deep.
The last of the women, Eowyn turned to catch one last glimpse of the preparations for battle before stepping into the refuge. Craning her head, she sought the distant figure of Aragorn. Staring intently back at her, he flicked his fingers and saluted her.
The soldiers began to shut the heavy door and Eowyn clenched her fingers, her nails digging deeply into her palm to stop the curious burning sensation poking at her beneath her eyelids. Her eyes locked on Aragorn's through the narrowing passage that would shut her away from him till Rohan claimed victory or defeat.
The door banged shut with a deafening thud that left a large lump in her throat, and one whisper was heard in the sudden darkness.
"By whatever power there may be, let those I love return to me."
*****
Doors opened wide and those that had been locked in the cave blinked hard at the brief blindness that comes with the sudden rush of brightness after much darkness.
The woman and children streamed out of the cave, greeted by the silent crowd of their surviving men. Amidst the joyful clamors of reuniting families and the grief stricken wails of those that had been less fortunate, Eowyn desperately sought the face of Aragorn.
A soldier walked past her, blocking her view for but a moment then revealing Aragorn. Across the bloody courtyard he was weary and grim. Caked in mud with hair stringy from rain and dirt, he stood proud, and in her eyes more noble then ever she beheld him.
Quickly pushing her way through the crowds towards him, his dark eyes searched out the crowd, his haggard features softening at the sight of Eowyn.
In the matter of seconds, she stood before him, a broad smile lighting up her face. Pressing both palms to his cheeks, she threw herself in his arms. Her eyes shut in his embrace and she held to him dearly.
"You are well. You are safe." He heard her murmur into his shoulder.
Breaking free of his embrace, Eowyn took a small step back to scrutinize him. Scanning his figure, she reassured herself he was truly uninjured, eyes misted with the pain and joy of his loss and return.
And Aragorn too, took this time to study her. There were dark streaks of dirt on her chin that rested against his grimy, battered jacket. Her hair was untamed and whipping about her face wildly in the strong winds of early dawn; vivid blue eyes flashing up at him with gladness, he thought her very beautiful.
Lifting his hand to her face, his fingers rested against her jaw bone, thumb brushing tenderly against a dark smudge on her chin.
"As I vowed." Still, they drew comfort from the other, and no more was said.
written by: misanoe
*****
And death fell to al that saw the Lady of Rohan.
"He has fallen."
Eowyn stood in front of the sorrowful dwarf, Gimili, in shock. Searching for reason in the madness of his words, she lifted her head to meet the pitying gaze of her uncle, Theoden, and his face betrayed him.
Was she to be pitied then, she idly wondered, unable to comprehend the death of such a man. We were neither lovers nor old friends, and yet the pain of Gimili's words struck deep and true. Numb, she backed away from the clamoring crowd before her, and only few saw the young, grief stricken maiden flee from the fort's courtyard.
Finding solitude in the small backroom that held the King's armor, Eowyn mourned. To loose too much in so little time, her heart would break and she longed for her brother's safe return. Would he only survive, she might be saved from the complete despair that threatened to swallow her whole.
Sitting alone in the deadly silence, their last moments together came to mind, flooding her body with emotions she could not control. "If I were a male I would fight to avenge his death, and yet even that I cannot do." She whispered in the faint light, angry tears spilling silently down her pale face.
*****
The orcs would come swift and strong. Craning his head, he searched for Lady Eowyn, a troubled frown creasing his forehead as he pulled the reins of his horse to catch one last glance. Alone she stood, apprehension written clearly in her face. Their eyes met and Aragorn knew he could not let the orcs pass. As long as he drew breath, no harm would befall her. And he paused only long enough to imprint the image of Eowyn in his heart, before riding off to battle.
*****
Images flooded in Aragorn's consciousness as he floated limply down the stilling water. His body jerked abruptly, led into sturdy ground. The sun beat strenuously on his lifeless form, gentle waves lapping against his side. Unaware of all around him, Aragorn dreamt, and Arwen was as beautiful as the moon, flawless as the clearest night sky.
Then there stood Eowyn, fierce and vibrant like the many hues of dawn.
*****
He lived. Eowyn lost her breath as she caught sight of Aragorn, bedraggled and weary, greeting the elf, Legolas. Across the courtyard, one thought ran through her mind; she must go to him. It was then the elf offered Aragorn a familiar silver pendant glittering harshly in the sun, reminding her once more he belonged to another.
Frozen, emotions raged in her slim body. She was torn, unable to force her gaze away from his figure and her glinting jewel that cut sharper then any sword.
She would be glad. For though his heart may lay elsewhere, he lived. And through her unshed tears, she smiled.
*****
In a small dark recess of one of the many caves, there, Aragorn found Eowyn sharpening her sword. Barely visible from the dim light of the single candle, Aragorn studied her forbidding profile.
"I know why you seek me. You would ask me to stay with the other women." She spoke without looking up from her work, aware of his company long before she spoke.
"I would." He answered without hesitation.
"There are children and men that will fight, less skilled with the sword then I." She ran her flint steadily against the long side of her blade. "I will fight, slay as many foes as I might."
Crouching down beside her, Aragorn placed his left hand above hers, halting her movement. "Do not seek death my lady."
Looking up in earnest, Ewoyn spoke. "I do not fear death my lord."
"I cannot fight and fear for your safety lady."
"I do not wish for your fear; nor, do I ask for your protection. I only wish to fight with my fellow country man. What use is a sword if I do not wield it?" She asked, trying to move him with reason.
"These men fight for the safety of their home and hearth, for their families and future. The safety of their wives will give them hope. And with that hope, they will fight with all their might to protect that which they hold sacred."
"I have no husband save for my sword."
"Your wellbeing gives me strength." Lifting his hand to cup her cheek, his eyes drilled into hers. "I do not wish to argue. You are needed here; the women depend on your strength to guide them."
"Your words do not console me. There is little good I may do them trapped here, then I might do with my sword," grasping his hand with her own, her eyes sought his. "Yet I will do as you ask, though my heart will be on the battlefield beside you." Silent with her admission of defeat, she could not contain the words that next exploded from her lips. "I would rather die a noble death then cower here in this bleak hole with little hope of meeting you again."
"Put your faith in me Eowyn, we will meet again." Aragorn vowed.
"I will hold you to your word Aragorn, son of Arathorn."
*****
With the rest of the females and younger children, Eowyn did as much as she might to prepare the soldiers. And when the strength of the sun waned, swallowed by darkness, Eowyn herded the woman and children through the thick doors of the entrance to the caves of Helms Deep.
The last of the women, Eowyn turned to catch one last glimpse of the preparations for battle before stepping into the refuge. Craning her head, she sought the distant figure of Aragorn. Staring intently back at her, he flicked his fingers and saluted her.
The soldiers began to shut the heavy door and Eowyn clenched her fingers, her nails digging deeply into her palm to stop the curious burning sensation poking at her beneath her eyelids. Her eyes locked on Aragorn's through the narrowing passage that would shut her away from him till Rohan claimed victory or defeat.
The door banged shut with a deafening thud that left a large lump in her throat, and one whisper was heard in the sudden darkness.
"By whatever power there may be, let those I love return to me."
*****
Doors opened wide and those that had been locked in the cave blinked hard at the brief blindness that comes with the sudden rush of brightness after much darkness.
The woman and children streamed out of the cave, greeted by the silent crowd of their surviving men. Amidst the joyful clamors of reuniting families and the grief stricken wails of those that had been less fortunate, Eowyn desperately sought the face of Aragorn.
A soldier walked past her, blocking her view for but a moment then revealing Aragorn. Across the bloody courtyard he was weary and grim. Caked in mud with hair stringy from rain and dirt, he stood proud, and in her eyes more noble then ever she beheld him.
Quickly pushing her way through the crowds towards him, his dark eyes searched out the crowd, his haggard features softening at the sight of Eowyn.
In the matter of seconds, she stood before him, a broad smile lighting up her face. Pressing both palms to his cheeks, she threw herself in his arms. Her eyes shut in his embrace and she held to him dearly.
"You are well. You are safe." He heard her murmur into his shoulder.
Breaking free of his embrace, Eowyn took a small step back to scrutinize him. Scanning his figure, she reassured herself he was truly uninjured, eyes misted with the pain and joy of his loss and return.
And Aragorn too, took this time to study her. There were dark streaks of dirt on her chin that rested against his grimy, battered jacket. Her hair was untamed and whipping about her face wildly in the strong winds of early dawn; vivid blue eyes flashing up at him with gladness, he thought her very beautiful.
Lifting his hand to her face, his fingers rested against her jaw bone, thumb brushing tenderly against a dark smudge on her chin.
"As I vowed." Still, they drew comfort from the other, and no more was said.