"Why do you want to help Gondor? They didn't come to our aid at Helm's Deep," Theoden followed Iasyn and Eomer down the stairs. Iasyn whipped around.
"If you had bothered to call, maybe they would have. They have always been our allies, but if we leave them to the wolves of Isengard we can forget it," she said. "Gondor will become the seat of the king of Middle Earth after the ring is destroyed. You know that just as well as I do. If it falls, then what?" She didn't wait for his answer as she caught up with Eomer.
"We ride south to defend Gondor. Follow if you will!" Eomer called. Iasyn pulled up her hood and turned to ride on Eomer's right side. The company of two thousand charged out of Edoras and off toward Gondor. Theoden stood with Eowyn behind him. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli watched from just inside the doors.
"They are fools," Gimli said, leaning on his axe. "They should at least have left her ladyship here."
"You know she would not accept being left behind. She would have ridden out when no one was looking. She has a gift for not being seen when she wants," Aragorn said. Theoden and Eowyn walked up to join them.
"I would have gone with them," Eowyn said bitterly.
"Risking one shieldmaiden is enough. Since the battle of the Riddermark, they no longer fight," Theoden said.
"They risk nothing compared to what my people did at the battle for Helm's Deep," Legolas said.
"It was their choice," Theoden said.
"If you had not been so unwilling, perhaps it never would have happened in the first place," he stared down the king.
"That's enough! Legolas, come with me," Aragorn put his arm across his friend's chest to hold him back. "Gimli!" The three walked back into Aragorn's chamber.
"They haven't gotten far. If we ride fast, we can meet them. Boromir's brother is still at Osgiliath, but Saruman's army is heading for Minas Tirith. They'll be totally unprepared for attack," he said.
"You're suggesting we ride out with the Roharrim and divert Gondor's army to Minas Tirth? We'll never make it before the Uruk-hai do," Legolas said.
"If we leave now, perhaps we will," Aragorn grabbed his Lothlorien cloak and headed out the back entrance to the stables. Eowyn was already there.
"I'm going too, no matter what you say," she said. "I know these lands better than any of you."
"Then we will not stop you, my lady," Aragorn said, mounting his horse. Legolas tossed Gimli up and mounted in front of him. Eowyn rode out first, hoping that her uncle wouldn't see her. Even if he did, she wasn't going to stop.
Eomer, Iasyn, and the rest of the company were fast reaching the southern borders of Rohan. The mountains were getting close and they would ride parallel to them until they reached Minas Tirith and eventually Osgiliath, where Faramir and his troops were.
"Saruman's army isn't near the size it was at Helm's Deep. He knows Gondor hasn't finished cleaning up from the last time he swept through. However, he's still got about two thousand Uruk-hai marching on Minas Tirith," Iasyn told Eomer.
"Minas Tirith? Faramir's forces are still in Osgiliath. How much time before the Uruks reach Gondor?" he asked.
"Three days, I'd say. He wasn't finished marshalling them all together when Aragorn and I were there earlier in the week," she said.
"Three days to organize a band of disheartened men. What a job we have," he sighed.
"It's all we have," she said.
"Captain! Lordess! Riders approach!" someone yelled from the back. They pulled up their horses and turned. Aragorn, Eowyn, Legolas, and Gimli came galloping up behind them.
"We weren't going to let you go it alone, so we thought we'd come for support," Eowyn said.
"Thank you for the consideration," Iasyn said.
"To Gondor!" Eomer called and the company plus four continued their journey.
The company trotted up to the watchtower at Osgiliath well after sunset. They weren't expecting a warm welcome.
"Who enters Gondor uninvited?" the lookout called.
"Eomer, son of Eoman of Rohan and Iasyn Haldiryn. We need to speak to your captain, Faramir," Eomer called.
"Captain Faramir is not here. He was called away suddenly," the lookout replied.
"To where?" Iasyn called.
"Erech, in the mountains. He should return by sundown tomorrow," he said. Iasyn leaned over to Eomer.
"That leaves us little time to mass forces and make it Minas Tirith well ahead of Saruman's forces," she said.
"Send a rider to Erech to get him. It would be faster than waiting," Eowyn suggested.
"Who could we afford to send? We need the fastest riders," Aragorn said.
"I'll go," Eowyn said. "That way, Eomer and Iasyn can still lead the troops and the heroes of Helm's Deep will be on the front lines." There was a hint of bitterness in her voice. She'd wanted to fight at Helm's Deep, but Theoden had forced her to look after the people.
"Go then and quickly. We need Faramir as soon as possible," Iasyn said before anyone else could speak. "Ride well."
"Ride true," Eowyn smiled as she turned her horse around and galloped back toward the mountains.
"Come, friends of Gondor and make yourselves comfortable," the lookout yelled down.
"Thank you, kind sir," Aragorn called as they walked through the gates.
"Now what do we do?" Legolas asked. "We just sit around here and wait until Eowyn returns?"
"Have you a better idea?" Aragorn asked.
"No," Legolas replied.
"This is no time to snap. We'll be at war with Uruks before the third sun rises. Everyone just be quiet," Eomer said as they rode to the stables. Aragorn, for what was the first time, glared at Legolas. He didn't seem to notice. He'd gotten off his horse and left Gimli, he was so distracted. Iasyn had to help him down.
"Thank you, my lady. It seems Legolas is not quite himself today," he said, smoothing out his tunic.
"No, it would seem not," she said, looking after him. Aragorn and Eomer came up behind them.
"Will you be alright by yourself tonight?" Aragorn asked. Iasyn was surprised.
"Why would I not be?" she asked.
"It is a new place. You never know what shadows can appear unnoticed," he said.
"I will be quite alright, thank you. I survived the battle of Helm's Deep without you holding my hand, I think I can survive a night in Osgiliath free of orcs," she said, whipping her cape behind her. She walked up into the main building, leaving the men behind. They could be so frustrating at times. She wished Eowyn hadn't gone off to find Faramir. She wasn't sure how much more male behavior she could take.
It was late into the night and long after Iasyn had gone to sleep that Aragorn and Legolas, each unbeknownst to the other, watched her sleep.