As we walked through the caves we could hear distressed voices. As we got
closer the voices became louder. Then I could hear what the people were
saying. "We can't be in any danger, Helm's Deep has always protected us and
it will now." I heard a man's voice say. He didn't seem too sure.
Then I heard a young girl's voice. "Mama, what is happening?" She asked. There was an answer but I couldn't hear it over the other voices. Finally I could see shadows on the cave walls.
"Hello!" I called out. I didn't want to catch the people off guard. I heard a man answer me.
"Who is there?" He asked. The man's voice sounded familiar, but before I could tell him who I was a girl spoke to me.
"Fatima is that you?" She asked. I quickly recognised Erowan. I rushed over and saw her standing waiting.
"Yes Erowan it is I. I have missed you." I said to her, as I hugged her. "Where is mother and father?" I asked. I looked around but I couldn't see either of them.
"Father is preparing to fight and I haven't seen mother since she came." She said. She had a look of concern on her face. I suddenly felt alarmed. My father was going to war and my mother could not be found.
"Erowan, do you know where Eowyn is?" I asked her. She looked at me a little confused. She didn't answer and just looked at me, then she spoke.
"Yes Lady Eowyn is at Edoras with the king. She did accompany us to Helm's Deep but then left for the castle. I do fear for her safety as she left Helm's Deep alone. Fatima do you know what is going on and where have you been?" She asked me.
"Erowan I have no time, all I can tell you is that there is an evil which is trying to take over middle-earth but you must stay calm. I must go now, I have to find Eowyn." I said to Erowan. I hugged her and I turned to Ilhan.
"Ilhan we have two choices. We can either go from Helm's Deep straight across to Edoras, but that course will be a dangerous one, but the fastest, or we can ride back around the mountains, it is still dangerous but not as much and it will take more time." I laid out the choices for him.
"I will choose the dangerous but fast path, but if you can give me reason for the other I shall follow you." He said. He looked at me waiting for my answer. I thought about it, and decided to agree with Ilhan.
"I know of no other reason." I said. I took my horses reins and lead him through the caves. I looked to Ilhan and saw that his horse had no saddle or reins. It was the way of the elves to ride a horse freely. Ilhan's horse followed him obediently, and didn't seem to mind all the people and the lack of space. Ohtar was restless and didn't like the cave but he continued to pursue me.
When we came into a larger room I realised we must be in Helm's Deep. It is said that the walls of Helm's Deep have only been breached once but the enemy didn't victor, and that war was against Sauron. This got me thinking of the current evil threatening my home. No one at the moment knows the identity of the evil, but we shall find out as soon as we find Eowyn.
"Who is in charge, in the absence of the king?" I asked firmly. Two men turned to face me and they looked at me doubtfully.
"Who wants to know?" The taller man asked me. He seemed to be old and he didn't look fit to be in charge. I looked at him in anger, I knew that he would not tell me what I needed to know. I looked to the man next to him.
"My name is Fatima and I am in search of Lady Eowyn. I was told that she is at Edoras, and if this news is true then I must go there quickly. I come from Mirkwood and I have a message for Lady Eowyn." I said. I tried to sound as sophisticated as I could, but the taller man wasn't buying it.
"You do not look like an elf. And if you do have a message for her then you can tell me and I shall pass it on to her. " He said. This man angered me so much that I hadn't noticed my hand on the hilt of my sword. The other gentleman must have seen it as he quickly spoke.
"If you are who you say you will have trouble getting to Edoras. We are under attack and it would be difficult for you to pass the enemy." He said. I smiled at him.
"That is what I am about to come to. I ask that the noble men of Rohan look over my companion and myself as we go to Edoras. I think with your help that we can make it safely past Helm's Deep." I said. The man looked at me with surprise. He did seem a little shocked to see a woman with a belt and a sword attached to it. But then his stare softened and he almost smiled.
"I shall tell my men and we shall do what ever we can. Fare you well" He said. He quickly motioned for one of the men standing around with his finger to come towards him. He whispered an order in his ear and the man hurried towards a flight of stairs and was out of sight.
"Thank you Captain?" I paused waiting for him to finish my sentence.
"Keylmas, but may I ask are you really an elf?" He asked. There was hint of a smile creeping up to his lips. I decided I wouldn't fool the captain and told him the truth. To my answer he just smiled.
"Rohan is my home. I am the daughter of Balnathorn son of Alnathorn." I said proudly. He continued smiling as if he had known my true identity all along. I turned to Ilhan who was waiting patiently. He then motioned with his head for us to be going.
"Aika take this woman and gentleman to the secret door and open it for them but you must close it immediately." Captain Keylmas ordered. I saw a short man with grey hair approach Ilhan and myself. He then began to lead us to the secret door Captain Keylmas spoke of.
When we arrived at the door I placed my foot into the stirrup and held the reins tightly and pushed myself onto the horse. Ilhan lifted his body easily onto the bare horse and I saw Ilhan take an arrow from his quiver and he was holding his bow firmly. I unsheathed my sword and prepared for battle. "You must strike quickly as you will be in the enemy's sight as soon as you step out of this door." The short man named Aika said. I smiled at him and he opened the door.
Ilhan rode in front of me and as soon as he was out the door he shot an arrow which hit a Nemanus. I skillfully swung my sword at the enemy and most were left without a head and were killed instantly. But I also realised there were arrows coming from above us and I knew it must be the men of Rohan. It was difficult to ride and use my sword at the same time but I did it for as long as I could and it seemed like it was long enough, because I finally saw a clearing where there was no more threat.
I looked to Ilhan as we rode swiftly, and I saw his was holding his sword now. It seemed he had run out of arrows. I looked behind me and saw the creatures become smaller and smaller as we rode away from them. Edoras was not too far away from Helm's Deep and I knew we would be there soon.
I tugged on the reins in my hand and Ohtar stopped. Ilhan's horse gracefully stopped beside me. In the distance I saw a black cloud approaching. "Ilhan do you see that black cloud, what could it be?" I asked him. I looked to Ilhan and I saw him squinting. Then a look of panic swept over his face.
"Crebain! We must get out of their sight!" He shouted. Ilhan began to look for a place to hide and I joined the search but it was open land. There were only mountains to our right. Ilhan began to ride towards the mountains. "Come Fatima, quickly!" He said. I gently kicked Ohtar with the heel of my foot and he galloped after Ilhan.
There was a small opening in the mountains and it was perfect place to conceal Ilhan and I from the flying menaces. We both leapt off our horse and lead them into the small cave. We watched the Crebain fly past, but I wasn't sure if they had seen us. But Ilhan seemed positive enough as he quickly jumped back onto his horse. I did the same and we began to ride once again.
Far off I could see we were getting closer to Edoras. But I could see something I didn't like at all. I could see smoke rising from different places and I assumed that the Nemanus had destroyed all the houses. I didn't want to believe what I was thinking but then I had no choice.
I now saw the source of the smoke and it was the flames that engulfed the houses of Edoras. I stopped Ohtar so I could see a safe way to the castle, but I could see none. Ilhan stopped beside me and he pointed to a small group of Nemanus. I immediately knew what he was thinking.
Then I heard a young girl's voice. "Mama, what is happening?" She asked. There was an answer but I couldn't hear it over the other voices. Finally I could see shadows on the cave walls.
"Hello!" I called out. I didn't want to catch the people off guard. I heard a man answer me.
"Who is there?" He asked. The man's voice sounded familiar, but before I could tell him who I was a girl spoke to me.
"Fatima is that you?" She asked. I quickly recognised Erowan. I rushed over and saw her standing waiting.
"Yes Erowan it is I. I have missed you." I said to her, as I hugged her. "Where is mother and father?" I asked. I looked around but I couldn't see either of them.
"Father is preparing to fight and I haven't seen mother since she came." She said. She had a look of concern on her face. I suddenly felt alarmed. My father was going to war and my mother could not be found.
"Erowan, do you know where Eowyn is?" I asked her. She looked at me a little confused. She didn't answer and just looked at me, then she spoke.
"Yes Lady Eowyn is at Edoras with the king. She did accompany us to Helm's Deep but then left for the castle. I do fear for her safety as she left Helm's Deep alone. Fatima do you know what is going on and where have you been?" She asked me.
"Erowan I have no time, all I can tell you is that there is an evil which is trying to take over middle-earth but you must stay calm. I must go now, I have to find Eowyn." I said to Erowan. I hugged her and I turned to Ilhan.
"Ilhan we have two choices. We can either go from Helm's Deep straight across to Edoras, but that course will be a dangerous one, but the fastest, or we can ride back around the mountains, it is still dangerous but not as much and it will take more time." I laid out the choices for him.
"I will choose the dangerous but fast path, but if you can give me reason for the other I shall follow you." He said. He looked at me waiting for my answer. I thought about it, and decided to agree with Ilhan.
"I know of no other reason." I said. I took my horses reins and lead him through the caves. I looked to Ilhan and saw that his horse had no saddle or reins. It was the way of the elves to ride a horse freely. Ilhan's horse followed him obediently, and didn't seem to mind all the people and the lack of space. Ohtar was restless and didn't like the cave but he continued to pursue me.
When we came into a larger room I realised we must be in Helm's Deep. It is said that the walls of Helm's Deep have only been breached once but the enemy didn't victor, and that war was against Sauron. This got me thinking of the current evil threatening my home. No one at the moment knows the identity of the evil, but we shall find out as soon as we find Eowyn.
"Who is in charge, in the absence of the king?" I asked firmly. Two men turned to face me and they looked at me doubtfully.
"Who wants to know?" The taller man asked me. He seemed to be old and he didn't look fit to be in charge. I looked at him in anger, I knew that he would not tell me what I needed to know. I looked to the man next to him.
"My name is Fatima and I am in search of Lady Eowyn. I was told that she is at Edoras, and if this news is true then I must go there quickly. I come from Mirkwood and I have a message for Lady Eowyn." I said. I tried to sound as sophisticated as I could, but the taller man wasn't buying it.
"You do not look like an elf. And if you do have a message for her then you can tell me and I shall pass it on to her. " He said. This man angered me so much that I hadn't noticed my hand on the hilt of my sword. The other gentleman must have seen it as he quickly spoke.
"If you are who you say you will have trouble getting to Edoras. We are under attack and it would be difficult for you to pass the enemy." He said. I smiled at him.
"That is what I am about to come to. I ask that the noble men of Rohan look over my companion and myself as we go to Edoras. I think with your help that we can make it safely past Helm's Deep." I said. The man looked at me with surprise. He did seem a little shocked to see a woman with a belt and a sword attached to it. But then his stare softened and he almost smiled.
"I shall tell my men and we shall do what ever we can. Fare you well" He said. He quickly motioned for one of the men standing around with his finger to come towards him. He whispered an order in his ear and the man hurried towards a flight of stairs and was out of sight.
"Thank you Captain?" I paused waiting for him to finish my sentence.
"Keylmas, but may I ask are you really an elf?" He asked. There was hint of a smile creeping up to his lips. I decided I wouldn't fool the captain and told him the truth. To my answer he just smiled.
"Rohan is my home. I am the daughter of Balnathorn son of Alnathorn." I said proudly. He continued smiling as if he had known my true identity all along. I turned to Ilhan who was waiting patiently. He then motioned with his head for us to be going.
"Aika take this woman and gentleman to the secret door and open it for them but you must close it immediately." Captain Keylmas ordered. I saw a short man with grey hair approach Ilhan and myself. He then began to lead us to the secret door Captain Keylmas spoke of.
When we arrived at the door I placed my foot into the stirrup and held the reins tightly and pushed myself onto the horse. Ilhan lifted his body easily onto the bare horse and I saw Ilhan take an arrow from his quiver and he was holding his bow firmly. I unsheathed my sword and prepared for battle. "You must strike quickly as you will be in the enemy's sight as soon as you step out of this door." The short man named Aika said. I smiled at him and he opened the door.
Ilhan rode in front of me and as soon as he was out the door he shot an arrow which hit a Nemanus. I skillfully swung my sword at the enemy and most were left without a head and were killed instantly. But I also realised there were arrows coming from above us and I knew it must be the men of Rohan. It was difficult to ride and use my sword at the same time but I did it for as long as I could and it seemed like it was long enough, because I finally saw a clearing where there was no more threat.
I looked to Ilhan as we rode swiftly, and I saw his was holding his sword now. It seemed he had run out of arrows. I looked behind me and saw the creatures become smaller and smaller as we rode away from them. Edoras was not too far away from Helm's Deep and I knew we would be there soon.
I tugged on the reins in my hand and Ohtar stopped. Ilhan's horse gracefully stopped beside me. In the distance I saw a black cloud approaching. "Ilhan do you see that black cloud, what could it be?" I asked him. I looked to Ilhan and I saw him squinting. Then a look of panic swept over his face.
"Crebain! We must get out of their sight!" He shouted. Ilhan began to look for a place to hide and I joined the search but it was open land. There were only mountains to our right. Ilhan began to ride towards the mountains. "Come Fatima, quickly!" He said. I gently kicked Ohtar with the heel of my foot and he galloped after Ilhan.
There was a small opening in the mountains and it was perfect place to conceal Ilhan and I from the flying menaces. We both leapt off our horse and lead them into the small cave. We watched the Crebain fly past, but I wasn't sure if they had seen us. But Ilhan seemed positive enough as he quickly jumped back onto his horse. I did the same and we began to ride once again.
Far off I could see we were getting closer to Edoras. But I could see something I didn't like at all. I could see smoke rising from different places and I assumed that the Nemanus had destroyed all the houses. I didn't want to believe what I was thinking but then I had no choice.
I now saw the source of the smoke and it was the flames that engulfed the houses of Edoras. I stopped Ohtar so I could see a safe way to the castle, but I could see none. Ilhan stopped beside me and he pointed to a small group of Nemanus. I immediately knew what he was thinking.