Chapter 2: Making Acquaintances
The battle rages on above the women and children in the caves. Some of Eowyn's bitterness seems to slide off her shoulders as she walks among the women, offering what little comfort and assurance she can. Most of the women sit against the walls, holding their children close, trying to comfort them. Some tend to those who are not well and weak from the long journey to the fortress, trying to make them comfortable.
Eowyn comes to a small group of eight women; all eyes are downcast in fear, listening. Most of them look young, two or three years over twenty. Two of them seem to be of middle age. Blond, brown, black, and red hair tumbles down their backs.
"What are your names?" Eowyn asks them.
They all look up at her with their blue, green, brown, grey, and hazel eyes full of surprise and murmur, "My Lady."
"I am Mowen," says the black-haired woman, her grey eyes swimming with tears.
"Laesien."
Another looks at Eowyn and says, "Ethoethien."
"Larewen."
"Tralede."
"Neisa," shyly answers another girl.
"Thathien."
"And I'm Freda," says the last woman. Her hands rest lightly on her large belly.
Eowyn gives them a small smile.
"My Lady," says Mowen. Eowyn meets her grey eyes and nods for her to continue. "Do you think the fortress will hold?"
Eowyn chooses her words carefully. "I do not know. We have to hope that we will survive the night. But there is the possibility that the fortress would fall." She thought back to when Aragorn had come to Helm's Deep, saying that an army of 10,000 would reach them by nightfall. They did not have half as many men fighting on the fortress walls as they spoke. It seems hopeless -- they surely will not hold through the night.
"What will we do if the fortress falls?" Neisa asks, her blue eyes wide.
"We would have to take the secret passage that would lead us to the mountains," Eowyn answers, a slight edge to her voice. She herself will not use the pass if the need comes. She will not abandon her king and uncle. She as a shieldmaiden will not leave him.
"You do not desire to leave if it comes down to it," Thathien observes.
Eowyn in surprise meets Thathien's gaze. "Yes," she answers quietly, "I would stay. But I would send the others to take the passage. I would rather fall with my king."
Tralede takes one of her hands. "We would need you to lead us to the mountains. We could not make it on our own. You give us courage to hold on to what hope remains."
Eowyn is speechless and is only able to gaze at Tralede in amazement.
"She's right," Larewen says. "You are a shieldmaiden of Rohan. But you being with us help us to keep holding our heads up. We need you."
Eowyn sighs. "Thank you for believing in me, even though I do not." She holds each of their gazes one by one.
"We are at your service, if we may be of use," Ethoethien says. The others quickly nod their assent.
Eowyn gives them a genuine smile. "Thank you," she says. She makes to move on, and then she pauses and looks at Freda. "How long?"
Freda smiles. "Less than two months," she answers.
~~~
Eowyn holds a little child in her lap. His mother once again thanks her for her help before turning her attention back to tending an old woman. Eowyn gazes at the sleeping child's face. It seems amazing to her that the child can sleep peacefully despite the noise above them. She leans against the wall and closes her eyes.
BOOM!
~~~
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