Anarrima stood before the grave of Theodred, her fellow Ranger fallen at
the hands of Saruman. She stood in silence as the wind whipped through her
hair and tears streamed from her eyes. It seemed so strange to her though,
she grieved over the death of a mortal. She was always taught never to
become attached to humans and still she whispered her prayers to the voices
floating above the breeze. Theodred's funeral had been held while Ana was
still in her healing chamber and she decided to pay her respects while the
people of Rohan prepared to leave immediately for the fortress of Helm's
Deep.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli walked slowly down the path from the city and watched in quiet mourning of the female Ranger. She held a single flower in her hand and her voice reached over the crying wind. Her bow and quiver was strapped to her back and her daggers were once again at her waist. The three started over to where she stood and bowed their heads as well. Anarrima's voice trailed off and she let the flower fall to the ground upon Theodred's grave. Death. It was something she had never understood; even through the death of her mother she never felt so much loss and pain.
Aragorn stepped forward and placed a hand on Ana's shoulder. He knew Theodred's passing would be difficult, especially for her. She knew him better than any of the other Rangers; he was the only one, save for Aragorn, that had accepted her and her skills. "Are you alright, Ana?"
She turned slowly to face him, her eyes still red with tears. She gave a small, insecure smile. "Yes, his spirit will find its way to the halls of his forefathers in time." She glanced back at Legolas and Gimli then headed back up the path to Edoras. "I'm going to ready Dimrost for the journey."
They watched as she disappeared back up the path to the stables. Legolas could feel in his heart how much pain and turmoil she felt. The look she gave him revealed so much to him. Sadness, indifference... emptiness. She had lost so much in her life that no elf should ever have to endure.
"Poor lad," Gimli said shaking his head. "No matter where she goes, sadness is never far behind." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their journey would lead them through the mountains and to Helm's Deep, though their trek would not be a short one. Aragorn rode beside King Theoden at the head of the group and Gimli was speaking with Eowyn on the matter of dwarf women. Legolas rode beside Anarrima who was speaking with the maiden from her healing chamber. He could see that Ana's mood had changed slightly but he didn't dare leave her after he almost lost her once.
"You are an elf?" Ana questioned with curiosity at the young maid.
"That I am," she smiled back. "My name is Aurora, sent by Lord Elrond from Rivendell to aid the people of Rohan." Aurora sat upon a grey steed, clad in the garb of the Rohan woman. Her golden hair hung about her waist. "You are lucky mylady that they found you when did. We feared for your life." Their horses continued down the path as the mountain appeared to their right.
"How long have you dwelled in Rohan?"
"Since the last snow of the New Year's winter."
Anarrima smiled and continued to speak with Aurora about her life and her years as a Ranger. But suddenly Legolas rode swiftly to the head of the company and dismounted his horse. He felt that something evil was approaching. His eyes searched the hills and plains of Rohan. At first he couldn't discern what was approaching. As they came closer, his eyes widened. "Wolves, the wolves of Isengard." The fight was about to begin.
Legolas pulled an arrow from his quiver and prepared himself as Anarrima ran up beside him. Her fear rose as she beheld the sight. They wouldn't have much time before the wargs would arrive. She pulled out her daggers but Legolas gave her a sharp look. "Ana, I want you to help lead the people to Helm's Deep."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What! No, I will not leave y-..."
"You are no use to us with only half your strength," he interrupted firmly. His eyes pierced hers and she could see all his emotions in their depths. "You must do this for me."
As the first wave appeared over the hill Legolas aimed and fired, then started down the hill but Anarrima ignored his plea. She would not leave him here that easily. She pulled one of her arrows from her quiver and swiftly placed it to her bow and let it fly. Her mark was straight as one of the riders came tumbling off his vile creature. Legolas took the head off the fallen rider then turned back to Ana. "Anarrima go NOW!" He demanded harshly, his expression was hard and his eyes flashed; his will unmoving.
Surprised and frightened by his sudden sternness she placed her bow back and turned from the fight and ran to Eowyn. She too was denied a chance in battle and had been instructed by King Theoden to lead the people safely to Helm's Deep. "Eowyn, we must lead them as quickly as possible. I will scout ahead to ensure our safety." She mounted Dimrost and urged her to the head of the company. She had traveled this way before with the Rangers and knew the way fairly well. But her thoughts were turned back to Legolas and his words. In his eyes was a fire she had never seen before. Why would he not trust her skills? Even half of her strength was more than what mortal men could offer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Helm's Deep appeared in the distance and the Rohan people cheered at its sight. Their long journey had finally come to an end. They made their way to the gates across the vast plains and entered the great fortress. Anarrima felt neither joy nor relief as she passed the great doors. Saruman's attack upon these innocent people would be relentless and their numbers were too few; even if those left to battle survived.
Men, women and children lined the hallways of the fortress with all they had left of their lives in Rohan. They looked sad and defeated. Men, who give up on hope so easily. They smiled as she passed them, but their smiles were only superficial. Fear was in their eyes. Pain was in their hearts. Dimrost was taken to the caves and Aurora walked up to her, a frown upon her face.
"I heard the Prince's words to you before we departed," she said.
"His words," Ana began hiding her gaze to the ground, "his words were so... dark. He does not believe in my skills. He never did."
"He loves you and wishes to protect you at all costs," the maid argued. She saw that day in Rohan, she saw the look in his eyes when he looked upon her... and nothing but love and compassion shined in them. "He knows that in our fight here against Saruman, we will need your skill the most. That is the reason he sent you away."
From the gates they heard the sound of hooves against the stones as the men entered the fortress. Ana and Aurora ran to the entrance and the men dismounted their horses. Her heart pounded. Legolas walked up to her, his eyes held regret and remorse. She couldn't stand to look at them... the vision of their fire still burned in her memories. She felt like crying, she knew something was wrong. He had that same look when he came to Lothlorien when Gandalf fell. Aragorn was not among the ones who returned. In Legolas' hand she saw it, the Evenstar.
"Ana... Aragorn," Legolas began, but was unable to finish before Anarrima fled back to the chambers atop the stairs. He could hear her sob as she dodged the people and climbed the stairs then disappeared. He gave an uncertain look to the dwarf.
"Go to her lad," Gimli said and nodded. Legolas ran up the steps as quickly as he could and passed through the wooden doors. She was sitting on one of the benches, her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking from the sobs she let loose. He knew nothing of the pain she was feeling, nothing of her sorrows. He slowly walked to her and took her in his arms.
"Amin uumsint llei elmare, en' amin on irmoieamin, cormamin... melamin. Lle ale quel'[I do not know your pain, but I give you my desires, my heart, my soul... my love. You are not alone.]" He whispered softly in her ear and comforted her as best he could. Her sobs became less and less and he felt her relax under his touch. He encircled her back and felt her breathing return, then he began to sing to her softly.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
when you scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Ana looked up in surprise and wonder. She knew that song... it was the same one she had spoke of in the confines of her chamber the day she left Mirkwood. How did he know of that song? "How...?" She questioned.
"I was at your door when I heard you singing so long ago. I didn't mean to listen in, but it was so beautiful and so sad. I couldn't help to be so selfish as to wish you were mine. And you still have all of me."
For hours he held her close to him and dusk slowly rose above the horizon; battle was near at hand. Suddenly the doors flew open and Aragorn staggered into the chamber barely alive.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli walked slowly down the path from the city and watched in quiet mourning of the female Ranger. She held a single flower in her hand and her voice reached over the crying wind. Her bow and quiver was strapped to her back and her daggers were once again at her waist. The three started over to where she stood and bowed their heads as well. Anarrima's voice trailed off and she let the flower fall to the ground upon Theodred's grave. Death. It was something she had never understood; even through the death of her mother she never felt so much loss and pain.
Aragorn stepped forward and placed a hand on Ana's shoulder. He knew Theodred's passing would be difficult, especially for her. She knew him better than any of the other Rangers; he was the only one, save for Aragorn, that had accepted her and her skills. "Are you alright, Ana?"
She turned slowly to face him, her eyes still red with tears. She gave a small, insecure smile. "Yes, his spirit will find its way to the halls of his forefathers in time." She glanced back at Legolas and Gimli then headed back up the path to Edoras. "I'm going to ready Dimrost for the journey."
They watched as she disappeared back up the path to the stables. Legolas could feel in his heart how much pain and turmoil she felt. The look she gave him revealed so much to him. Sadness, indifference... emptiness. She had lost so much in her life that no elf should ever have to endure.
"Poor lad," Gimli said shaking his head. "No matter where she goes, sadness is never far behind." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their journey would lead them through the mountains and to Helm's Deep, though their trek would not be a short one. Aragorn rode beside King Theoden at the head of the group and Gimli was speaking with Eowyn on the matter of dwarf women. Legolas rode beside Anarrima who was speaking with the maiden from her healing chamber. He could see that Ana's mood had changed slightly but he didn't dare leave her after he almost lost her once.
"You are an elf?" Ana questioned with curiosity at the young maid.
"That I am," she smiled back. "My name is Aurora, sent by Lord Elrond from Rivendell to aid the people of Rohan." Aurora sat upon a grey steed, clad in the garb of the Rohan woman. Her golden hair hung about her waist. "You are lucky mylady that they found you when did. We feared for your life." Their horses continued down the path as the mountain appeared to their right.
"How long have you dwelled in Rohan?"
"Since the last snow of the New Year's winter."
Anarrima smiled and continued to speak with Aurora about her life and her years as a Ranger. But suddenly Legolas rode swiftly to the head of the company and dismounted his horse. He felt that something evil was approaching. His eyes searched the hills and plains of Rohan. At first he couldn't discern what was approaching. As they came closer, his eyes widened. "Wolves, the wolves of Isengard." The fight was about to begin.
Legolas pulled an arrow from his quiver and prepared himself as Anarrima ran up beside him. Her fear rose as she beheld the sight. They wouldn't have much time before the wargs would arrive. She pulled out her daggers but Legolas gave her a sharp look. "Ana, I want you to help lead the people to Helm's Deep."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What! No, I will not leave y-..."
"You are no use to us with only half your strength," he interrupted firmly. His eyes pierced hers and she could see all his emotions in their depths. "You must do this for me."
As the first wave appeared over the hill Legolas aimed and fired, then started down the hill but Anarrima ignored his plea. She would not leave him here that easily. She pulled one of her arrows from her quiver and swiftly placed it to her bow and let it fly. Her mark was straight as one of the riders came tumbling off his vile creature. Legolas took the head off the fallen rider then turned back to Ana. "Anarrima go NOW!" He demanded harshly, his expression was hard and his eyes flashed; his will unmoving.
Surprised and frightened by his sudden sternness she placed her bow back and turned from the fight and ran to Eowyn. She too was denied a chance in battle and had been instructed by King Theoden to lead the people safely to Helm's Deep. "Eowyn, we must lead them as quickly as possible. I will scout ahead to ensure our safety." She mounted Dimrost and urged her to the head of the company. She had traveled this way before with the Rangers and knew the way fairly well. But her thoughts were turned back to Legolas and his words. In his eyes was a fire she had never seen before. Why would he not trust her skills? Even half of her strength was more than what mortal men could offer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Helm's Deep appeared in the distance and the Rohan people cheered at its sight. Their long journey had finally come to an end. They made their way to the gates across the vast plains and entered the great fortress. Anarrima felt neither joy nor relief as she passed the great doors. Saruman's attack upon these innocent people would be relentless and their numbers were too few; even if those left to battle survived.
Men, women and children lined the hallways of the fortress with all they had left of their lives in Rohan. They looked sad and defeated. Men, who give up on hope so easily. They smiled as she passed them, but their smiles were only superficial. Fear was in their eyes. Pain was in their hearts. Dimrost was taken to the caves and Aurora walked up to her, a frown upon her face.
"I heard the Prince's words to you before we departed," she said.
"His words," Ana began hiding her gaze to the ground, "his words were so... dark. He does not believe in my skills. He never did."
"He loves you and wishes to protect you at all costs," the maid argued. She saw that day in Rohan, she saw the look in his eyes when he looked upon her... and nothing but love and compassion shined in them. "He knows that in our fight here against Saruman, we will need your skill the most. That is the reason he sent you away."
From the gates they heard the sound of hooves against the stones as the men entered the fortress. Ana and Aurora ran to the entrance and the men dismounted their horses. Her heart pounded. Legolas walked up to her, his eyes held regret and remorse. She couldn't stand to look at them... the vision of their fire still burned in her memories. She felt like crying, she knew something was wrong. He had that same look when he came to Lothlorien when Gandalf fell. Aragorn was not among the ones who returned. In Legolas' hand she saw it, the Evenstar.
"Ana... Aragorn," Legolas began, but was unable to finish before Anarrima fled back to the chambers atop the stairs. He could hear her sob as she dodged the people and climbed the stairs then disappeared. He gave an uncertain look to the dwarf.
"Go to her lad," Gimli said and nodded. Legolas ran up the steps as quickly as he could and passed through the wooden doors. She was sitting on one of the benches, her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking from the sobs she let loose. He knew nothing of the pain she was feeling, nothing of her sorrows. He slowly walked to her and took her in his arms.
"Amin uumsint llei elmare, en' amin on irmoieamin, cormamin... melamin. Lle ale quel'[I do not know your pain, but I give you my desires, my heart, my soul... my love. You are not alone.]" He whispered softly in her ear and comforted her as best he could. Her sobs became less and less and he felt her relax under his touch. He encircled her back and felt her breathing return, then he began to sing to her softly.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
when you scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Ana looked up in surprise and wonder. She knew that song... it was the same one she had spoke of in the confines of her chamber the day she left Mirkwood. How did he know of that song? "How...?" She questioned.
"I was at your door when I heard you singing so long ago. I didn't mean to listen in, but it was so beautiful and so sad. I couldn't help to be so selfish as to wish you were mine. And you still have all of me."
For hours he held her close to him and dusk slowly rose above the horizon; battle was near at hand. Suddenly the doors flew open and Aragorn staggered into the chamber barely alive.
