Chapter 5

I was flying through the air like an eagle. The wind lashed across my face and I closed my eyes in a mixture of fear...and of relief. It would finally be over. The pain, the guilt, the duty...in a matter of seconds I would have died from plunging off a cliff into the water below to save someone else...

Rather dramatic exit if I do say so myself.

Somewhere in the distance, I heard my name being called but it was too late. I knew I would be gone soon. I would be with Grace and Leith soon...I wonder why I told Eowyn she was my sister...I mean, we weren't related or anything but...I always felt I had a connection with her somehow. It's strange to think we were best friends...we were so very different. Me, a tough soldier who's only concern was getting me and my loved ones to safety...and Grace, a kind slight girl who cared for any living thing in need, regardless of who or what they are.

I was rushing towards the water faster and faster.

Oh...Ow.

It was like needles are pushing into me all over my body when I hit the water. I let my body sink underneath it's cool surface and allowed the current to take me where ever it wanted. My eyes were suddenly open underneath the water and I stared at the strange underwater plants, in wondering when my lack of oxygen would become painful. I felt the heavy black mist threatening to overcome me and I gladly allowed it to swallow me whole.

"Faith..." A familiar voice whispered. I tried to groan but my voice wouldn't cooperate. I was so very cold...I forced my eyes to open and hissed when the bright light of the sun se-emed to blind me. I shut my eyes tight again and this time opened them more slowly. I was on the bank of a river, alone, wet, hungry and too exhausted to move. "Faith..." The voice whispered again. My heart skipped several beats and I held my breath, "C'mon baby, you have to get up, I don't have much time," I tried to smile or laugh...or SOMETHING to show how happy I felt, but I just couldn't. My body had decided it had enough of my exertions and seemed to have given up. Somehow, I managed to croak out one thing,

"Leith?"

"Yeah baby-girl, it's me. Listen, you have to get up now. You have to go and help the people at Helms Deep...and you have to destroy Saroumans book to stop the war happening all over again...You cannot give up...OK?" Tears streamed down my face and I searched wildly with my eyes to find the source of his voice. "Just 'cause I'm not with you physically, doesn't mean I'm not watching over you. I love you and I always will, but you have to move on and fight for these guys. They need you. I have to go now but promise you'll try OK? Faith?" The tears poured harder but I managed to croak,

"Okay...don't go..."

"I have to. You have to let me go Faith; we'll see each other again when it's time. You have to live your life without me babe. You have to move on. As long as you're happy, I'm happy. Ten ad gevedir (until we meet again)...I love you."

"NO LEITH!!" I managed to choke...but he was gone. I lay still for what seemed like years, Leith's words rolling over in my head.

A large sloppy thing nuzzled my neck and I opened my eyes in shock to find a pair large light brown eyes staring into mine. "Shoo horsey..." I whispered. The horse nuzzled my neck again, insistent that I get up. I have to move on...I thought, the voice in my head had the determined edge I used when my mind was set. I slung my arm over the horse's neck and it kneeled and helped me mount it. I was relieved to find the horse had a saddle and stirrups, because there was no way I would have been able to ride it bareback in normal circumstances, never mind when I was exhausted and injured. It was then that I realized I had no idea where to go, I didn't even know where I was.

But the horse seemed to know.

It allowed me to get my bearings and grab a tight hold before galloping top speed up along the banks, trying to get to higher ground. I closed my eyes, allowing the horse to do whatever it wanted and trying to ignore the painful shocks the jarring ride sent through my body and the fact that I had lost Leith's ring.

The next morning, we were still galloping through the countryside. The sky was grey and I saw storm clouds far off in the distance, it seemed like the horse and I were heading towards it. I talked quietly with the horse, comforted by the fact that I knew it wouldn't answer. I just had to set my thoughts straight, get them out in the open.

"Had Leith really been there? Or had it been a wonderful illusion due to a hit in the head? It wasn't possible was it? To speak to someone who's dead...well, it's no more impossible than travelling back in time I suppose...what do you think? I suppose I should give you a name or something, eh?" I croaked, ignoring the pounding in my ears and the extraordinary amount of blood that was leaking from my bad shoulder. "How about..." I regarded the horse beneath me carefully. It was a light brown colour, and it's mane was as black as my hair, "How about Spirit? Like the cartoon...you look kind of like him," I said, marvelling at how crazy I must have seemed to an onlooker...honestly, talking to your dead beloved was one thing but talking to your horse was something else entirely.

I stiffened at the way I had just referred to Leith as...dead. And worse than that, I'd not even felt the pang of guilt I'd grown accustomed to. Of course, I still felt familiar little lump of grief in the back of my throat, but there was no guilt that accompanied it...just sadness. The jerk of Spirit stopping made me look up, and my breath caught in my throat...the sight before me was far more terrifying than anything I had ever seen in my life.

Hundreds and thousands of horribly disfigured...THINGS, each armed with sharp swords and gruesome looking daggers, were marching in sync towards us. They were far away, so they probably didn't notice me, but that didn't change the flow of adrenaline rushing through my body. I controlled my shaking hands with ease thanks to years of practice, and leaned kicked gently into Spirit's sides. He seemed to get the message and soon we were galloping off into the horizon.

As we sped through the strange rocky countryside, I caught sight of a sort of fortress, far off in the distance. I threw my good arm up in the air, giving a shout for joy...we had made it.
Soon enough, I had come to the huge gates of Helm's Deep and the guards let me in happily, sending a young boy to run and tell the others. I climbed of Spirit, giving him a pat on the neck and wincing at the fact that my entire behind had gone completely numb...I would have given anything just then for a big old Range Rover, complete with air conditioning and a radio.

The blissful thoughts were cut short by the sight of a small, bushy red thing running towards me. I jumped, startled when I realized the thing was actually Gimli.

"You are the single most insane person I have ever known!" he shouted, frowning before looking around to make sure nobody was there and kissing the back of my hand like they do in the movies. "And the bravest woman I have ever had the honour to meet," he added gruffly. I smiled widely, unable to think of anything to reply. But before I could, he moved away and hobbled off into the crowd that had just began to gather.

I tilted my head when I saw Legolas standing at the large wooden doors I was heading for, his face utterly expressionless. If he was surprised I was there, he didn't show it.

"You're late," he said, his tone neutral but a hint of laughter within it. I raised an eyebrow at the elf and placed a hand on my hip. "And you look terrible," he added, sounding exactly like Caleb in one of his more annoying moods. I fought the urge to grin and instead said,

"You would take to a lady like that?" I said quietly, then raising my voice I added, "I risk my life for a man I barely know, I lose my ring..." I was about to continue my rant when he held out his hand and opened his palm. There, glinting in the sunlight...was Leith's ring. I stared at it for a second before grabbing it and pulling it back onto my finger before pausing...wondering what to say. Instead of saying anything, I pulled the taller elf into a bear hug, smiling at his tense surprise before pulling back and roughly wiping the tears from my eyes. "Manen (how)?" I said, my voice a little hoarse from emotion. He smiled and shrugged a little before I stood up straight and tall, striding through the doors.

The entire room became silent when I entered and you could easily have heard a pin drop.

"Your Highness," I said, bowing as low as I could without making my back feel as though an elephant had played football on it. Aragorn stepped out from behind the king and rushed forwards stopping abruptly in front of me. His shook his head in what seemed to be amazement and reached out, touching my good shoulder gently to check if I was real. The poor guy must have felt seriously guilty.

"Your alive..." he breathed.

I gave him a manic grin, "Looks like it," I said teasingly.

He laughed and lowered his voice, "Women never cease to amaze me," he said quietly.

"Yeah well, get used to it because behind every great man is a woman," I said, using my favourite quote. He laughed again and without warning gave me a firm but gentle hug. I smiled into his shoulder before slapping his back, remembering guys always do that when they hug to assure each other of their 'machoness'. I pulled away and turned to face the King, flashing a quick smile at the astounded looking guard who had made fun of me back in Edoras.

"How did you survive?" King Theoden asked, looking impressed.

"That is a long tale, which I shall tell when there is time. Your highness, I come bearing grave news," I said, lowering my voice a few octaves again. "When I was riding here, I caught sight of a great host of Uruk-hai coming towards us from the North."

"A great host you say?" King Theoden said. Had the situation been remotely funny, I would have laughed. Our conversation was going exactly like the one between Aragorn and Theoden in the old legends. It was only then that I realized with a jolt, that it was I who would be in those legends now. The thought was both frightening and exhilarating.

"All of Isenguard has emptied,"

"How many?" The old King asked, his eyes weary.

"Ten thousand strong...at least," I said, managing to keep the shudder out of my voice.

"Ten thousand?" King Theoden breathed. His eyes wide and his hands clenched into fists.

"It is an army bred for a single purpose..." I paused before saying the famous line that made children shudder when their parents told them the story, "To destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall," I said, clenching my jaw. King Theoden narrowed his eyes and turned away from me, heading for the door.

"Let them come," He hissed, his voice assuming the determined edge to it that any leader does when they know their people are going to be killed...I know, I've used it more times than I'd care to count.

Aragorn and I followed him and were soon flanked by Gimli, Legolas and two guards. "I want every man and strong lad fit to bear arms ready for battle by nightfall," Theoden said to the closest guard as we walked. I sighed and shut my eyes briefly. I had forgotten the young boys would be fighting too...this whole situation was getting far too familiar for comfort. King Theoden lead us out onto some battlements and I felt bats fly around in my stomach when I looked out despite the knowledge we were going to win this battle. At the thought I remembered the most important thing that lead to the many of the deaths on our side.

The drain in the wall.

I remembered the bastard Sarouman had wrapped his greasy mitts on gun powder and had blown up the wall.

I interrupted king Theoden, "You Highness, we need to block up the drain," I said quickly.

He looked startled, "The what?" he asked, looking at me as though I had lost my mind.

"The drain...down there, in the large wall. We have to block it up!" I said, my voice lilting with panic.

"Why? If we block it up then we block off the stream," he said. I looked to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli but they looked just as bewildered as King Theoden.

"I know this sounds insane...but you must trust me. That drain shall be the downfall of this keep..."

"I have been fought many wars, Master Faith, I know how to defend my own keep!" He shouted, his face getting clouded with anger and stress. I took a deep calming breath and counted to three, wondering if it said in the 'how to be a man handbook' that you have to think you're right on every occasion and act like a stubborn ass.

"I do not doubt that, Sire, but the coming battle is not like any that has ever been fought. When my companions and I went to fight, we sent several spies into Sarouman's ranks and we found out he has a new and terrible weapon in his hands that can do more damage than my own weapon by 100 fold," I said, thanking the Valar that I am such a consummate liar. King Theoden frowned and his eyes bore into mine. I could see the doubt and the uncertainty there so I said something that Delos would always say in order to convince me to do something. "It is better to safe than to be sorry," I said quietly. He blinked and nodded.

"That it is. You have a wise head for such young shoulders, Master Faith, never forget that," he said before turning and instructing some guards to do whatever I told them. I thanked him and followed the guards down into the mines, choosing some of the larger men on the way there. I was rather glad to be out of Theoden's way at this point...I didn't want to be there when he lost his temper at Aragorn...the story was disturbing enough and I didn't want to spook myself. I kept reassuring myself that the Elves would come, that we would win. I tried not to think about the thought that scared me the most. I was never in the stories so of all the facts and the little things I did know that was going to happen...I didn't know one ever so crucial fact that affected me the most.

Whether I was going to die in this battle or not.