Part 7
"I will not plunge my people into war, Gandalf. They have been through enough already. I will gather all and take them to Helm's Deep. It has always served the people of Rohan in times of trouble."
Aragorn sat his pipe down and looked at Theoden. "War is coming whether you wish it or not. You would do well to stay and fight. Send the women and children to Helm's Deep but stay and fight."
Theoden narrowed his eyes at Aragorn the same time Willow narrowed hers.
'Send the women and children. Okay she got sending the children away but what the hell was that about sending the women away?' Willow thought.
"The last time I looked it was Theoden that was king of Rohan not Aragorn."
Aragorn nodded his head in acknowledgment and Willow turned her narrowed eyes on to Theoden. 'No need to get snippy buddy'.
"I have fought a war against darkness since I was fifteen years old. I have seen friends die before they should have and Aragorn is right. The war will come whether you want it to or not. I understand that you feel the need to protect your people but the worst thing you can do is ignore the darkness. This Saruman will come after you at Helm's Deep when he comes here and sees it abandoned."
"You may be correct Lady Willow but if he does come to Helm's Deep he will need an army of tens of thousands to breech it."
Willow blinked at that information. Theoden turned to Hama, "Tell everyone that we are going to Helm's Deep in the morning and to only take essentials."
Hama bowed and turned to do his King's bidding. Eowyn rose to help with the transition to Helm's Deep.
When Theoden and Eowyn left the hall Aragorn turned to the others, "Eomer would be of help in this war. Now that Theoden has returned he would fight by his side. He is still loyal."
"He is probably leagues away, he won't be in time to bring to here. Shadowfax and I will go. We will meet you in Helm's Deep."
~~~~
The fate of Wormtongue was completely out of the minds of those in Rohan. They gave no thought to the odd little man as they packed their essentials and weapons for the move to Helm's Deep. That was a mistake for he had taken advantage of the kindness of the King. Instead of Wormtongue's head on a pike as warning to others the King had let him live but he was forbidden to ever return.
Wormtongue went to Isengard and the wizard Saruman. "The King will go to Helm's Deep. He thinks it is impenetrable but there is another way in. Deep in the shadows is a gate where the water runs through. It is forgotten thus unprotected. But it is still impossible to defeat him there. It will take an army of tens of thousands and I don't know where you will find that many."
Saruman just smiled at Wormtongue, "You have done well. But do not worry about the army. That will take care of itself."
There was a roar outside the tower's window. Wormtongue was curious as to the sound, "What?!"
Saruman just quirked his lips and pointed. Wormtongue made his way to the window and the sight put terror into his heart. There were tens of thousand of Uruk-hai. A silent tear escaped his eye and he risked a glance at the Wizard. He had no idea that Saruman had gone this far. He watched in horror as Saruman went to greet the masses.
"I think a diversion on the road to Helm's Deep will be a nice demoralizer to begin with don't you, Wormtongue?"
"You are wise as always, Saruman. What kind of diversion?"
"Oh I think some Wolf Riders."
~~~~
Willow and Gimli were given horses of their own to ride to Helm's Deep. Before leaving on the trail Legolas wanted to show Willow how to shoot an arrow from a moving horse. She had practiced for hours with Legolas and Gimli providing moving targets for her to try to hit.
Eowyn walked out to the balcony overlooking the training area. She watched as Willow hit target after target. With a smile quirking her lips Eowyn raised her own sword in acknowledgement to another female warrior. Eowyn decided to get some sword practice of her own done before the trek. Turning to return to the hall she didn't notice Aragorn standing in the shadows watching Willow until he spoke, "Shield maiden of Rohan, would you like a sparring partner?"
"I would, Lord Aragorn. It has been awhile since my brother has fought with me. I fear I grow rusty. Your Willow is a fine warrior. She has taken to the bow and arrow as if born to it."
"Yes, she has picked it up quickly. She is a quick learner of all things, I think. She has a very curious mind."
Aragorn raised his sword as Eowyn brought hers down in an arc. They began to train in earnest.
Willow stood in the doorway watching as Aragorn and Eowyn trained together. They reminded her of Buffy and Angel as they sometimes did weapon training. She smiled wistfully as she watched. She missed Buffy and Xander. The only thing keeping her from being too homesick is the knowledge that when she returned it would be when she left and her friends aren't worried over her disappearance.
Aragorn heard a sigh and turned to see Willow in the doorway. Eowyn barely cut into Aragorn's shoulder as his attention was on Willow. Willow gasped as she saw Eowyn not able to stop her sword's movement in time. "Aragorn!"
Quickly moving to his side Willow placed a hand on his cut and softly mumbled an incantation. With surprised eyes he and Eowyn watched as his shallow cut knitted itself together. He only knew of Evlish magic that can heal. Did Willow have Elvish blood?
"Willow, I have only known Elves to heal like that. Do you have Elvish blood?"
Willow smiled at Aragorn. "Not that I know of, though my father always called me his Pixie."
"How did you heal Lord Aragorn? Do you have healing magic?"
"All things of the Earth are connected. I just draw on the Earth's magic and heal. That is probably how the Elves heal others. From what Legolas and Gimli have told me they are very much natural creatures."
Eowyn and Aragorn stood as they saw Theoden enter the hall.
"It is time."
Aragorn placed his hand on the small of Willow's back and walked with her out to meet the others.
Legolas smiled as he saw Aragorn and Willow walk towards them. His casual hand at Willow's waist did not go unnoticed.
Aragorn watches Willow ride in front of him as they leave Edoras. Aragorn absently fingers the necklace that Arwen has given him. A piece of him will always love Arwen but Elrond was right. They were meant to go on. She was meant to be with her people in the Undying Lands and he was meant to be here. He silently said goodbye to Arwen.
Willow smiled as she watched Gimli explain to Eowyn about Dwarf women. She and Gimli had the same conversation yesterday and she smiled when she remembered Aragorn mimicking that it was the beards the Dwarf women wore that confused others as to their gender. They had come a long way in their relationship. It had only been a few days since she arrived in Middle Earth but she had developed deep feelings for all her fellow travelers. She cared deeply for Gimli, Legolas and Gandalf. But her feelings for Aragorn confused her the most. She feared she was developing a crush on him like she had with Angel. Two heroic warriors she thought wryly. At least she was consistent with her crushes. Though Angel's nearness never caused her heart to skip a beat or tingles to go down her spine.
The sound of horn blast from the front of the line caused Willow to be pulled out of her thoughts. She prodded her horse into a trot to bring her beside Legolas. "What is it?"
Legolas looked into the valley.
"Wolf Riders."
