Title: Despair and Hope

Chapter 7: Planning and Plotting

"Well, Lord Aragorn?" Theoden said, as he, Haldir, Legolas and Gimli entered the room. "Legolas tells us you have an idea. We are so desperate now that we will try anything."

"You did say you'd be willing to try anything, right, your Majesty?" Aragorn asked cautiously. What he was about to suggest no king would ever allow when in his right mind. He sincerely hoped Theoden was not in his right mind.

"Anything, Lord Aragorn! We are losing time with all this ideal chatter. In the name of all Middle-earth, tell us your idea. I give you my word I will not scorn it without reason."

Aragorn paused. "Is…is there anyway out of the caves? A secret way, one whose existence the Uruk-hai would never suspect?"

Theoden's face mirrored surprise. "What on earth has that got to do with it?"

"Never mind that, your Majesty, just answer the question quickly! We are in need of haste. You said so yourself."

"I…well, I'm not exactly sure, but I think there might be a passage. But Eowyn would know better than me. She and Eomer used to play in those caves as children."

"Then fetch her! Believe me this is very important."

"I will go," Legolas said. He left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

 Haldir moved towards Aragorn.

*How are you feeling, mellon?* he asked in Elvish. He was far more anxious then his cold, calm face displayed. Aragorn had been badly hurt.

*I am feeling fine,* Aragorn replied.

Haldir's eyebrows rose in incredulity.

*Then you are most certainly terribly hurt* he said. *The antics you get up to! Really mellon, one would have expected more from a friend of elves. *

*But I am no ordinary elf-friend, * Estel said, chuckling, feeling surprised he even had the heart to chuckle. However, his laugh quickly turned to a low moan. His hands pressed at his ribs, where he had taken deathly hurt from the orc. *Don't make me laugh! *

*There you see, * Haldir said triumphantly. *You are feeling fine? The ease with which you say it, you could be dying, and no one would know the difference. *

*I…* Aragorn started, but broke off as the door opened and Eowyn came in, trailed by Legolas.

"What is this all about?" she asked, looking around at Aragorn. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Oh…yes, there is actually a small matter…."Aragorn said, hesitating.

"Yes?"

"Is there- is there any way out of the caves?"

She looked surprised. "There are many ways. The caves are a labyrinth of tunnels and passages. It would depend on how far you wanted to go. They all come out at different points."

"The orcs are about half a league from the causeway. Do you think there is anyway we can get out behind them? Take them by surprise?"

"Well…"Eowyn said, her brow furrowing deeply. "Yes there is one. It would come out just behind the orcs. If that is indeed the distance they are from the causeway."

"But what has that got do with anything, lad?" Gimli asked. "Do you seriously think-"

"This," Aragorn said, interrupting him, "is what I propose. The men, with the exception of one small contingent, will be lead by Lady Eowyn through that passage. They will come out through that passage behind the orcs and take them by surprise. As for the remaining men, they will keep a watch on the causeway, for the Uruk-hai will get suspicious if they see no watch on the outer wall."

"But," began Theoden, eager to protest.

"Eowyn will only lead the men up to the entrance. She will not under any circumstance go and fight herself." Aragorn looked at Eowyn pointedly.

"That's all very fine," Haldir said. "But we are still too few to have a chance of over-powering them. Even if we do take them from behind, what good will it do?"

"I am betting on the fact that the 'huge thing' the orcs are milling around is in fact the same kind of weapon they used to breach the outer wall," Aragorn replied. "One of you must, in the confusion, go to the explosive and try to turn it on. That person will of course be dressed as an orc. When they managed to turn it on, they are to shout something, a signal, so all our men can get back into the passage as fast as they can. Passages of this sort are usually sheltered. I imagine that once in the passage the men will not feel the greater effects of the blast? Eowyn? Is this correct?"

"Er…quite, but all this is based on a lot of assumptions, some wild guesses, and of course the fact that everyone will probably die anyway,"

"Well-" Aragorn began, but Theoden cut him short.

"Wait a minute," he said. "We are first of all assuming that Eowyn will lead the men up to the entrance of the passage. I disapprove entirely. Not only is she a woman, but she is also a woman who would defy all orders and go and fight if she was within a league of any battlefront. I cannot put any woman, let alone my dearest niece, in danger of this sort."

"Your majesty, we have absolutely no choice," Aragorn replied. "I know my plan is based on a lot of assumptions, but my assumptions usually turn out to be correct…and let's face it, no one around here has any better ideas. We must act now. We have to take them unprepared and unawares."

*Estel, * Legolas cut in, *Why go to these desperate measures? Mithrandir is coming, dawn is nearly here-*

*In case you hadn't noticed, mellon, * Aragorn snapped, *Dawn is already here, and Mithrandir shows no signs of coming. We cannot wait now. How many times must I say this - we have to act now. *

There was a long, awkward pause. Legolas turned away from Aragorn, sick at heart.

Finally, Theoden cleared his throat. "Alright. I give in. I do see the sense in what you say. But Eowyn must promise me that she will under no circumstance fight."

"I promise, uncle," Eowyn said sweetly, beginning to ease out of the room. "It is time to make the necessary preparations. I will move the women and children out of the caves into the innermost and securest part of the Keep."

 As everyone began to hustle out of the room, eager to make preparations, Legolas caught sight of Eowyn's fingers, crossed behind her back.

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