Chapter 18.

It had taken nearly the whole winter to empty the lands of the horse-herders. The villages were great distances apart and many of the people were as stubborn as Anborn when it came to moving into the city. After telling his story to them, Anborn persuaded many to relocate as he had done. The city's quarters were nearly full, and the stables even more so. Luckily, many soldiers from Théodred's battalion had been in need of horses at the time and the city of Aldburg was more than happy to oblige them, for the right price.

It was a pale, February morning, when a messenger from Théodred came to find Éomer in the city. He gave him an audience and with his uncle and Dengal listened to his story in the dining hall.

"Two days ago Théodred received news from his scouts that forces were mustering at the Gates of Isengard. The only possible explanation for this, after learning of Saruman's betrayal from your own mouth would be an attack on the Fords of Isen and an invasion of the Westfold. The second marshal has sent me to tell you of this and procure your help to defend the Fords with him and Grimbold his captain. Messages have also been sent to Elfhelm in Edoras. They left immediately for the Fords before I left for this city."

"We will come to their aid immediately, gather the men and we will leave within the next hour. I only pray we do not come too late," Éomer answered and then left with Dengal to gather the other men.

Théodred knew that the battle depended on the strength and numbers of his men. Saruman had chosen the spot well, he had the advantage here. The river ran slowly and was shallow enough for the horsemen to cross, however if the horsemen were beaten they would be forced to retreat back across the Fords. This would lead to disaster because the enemy could surround them easily once they attacked and then the only possible retreat would be a long journey to Gondor.

Théodred prayed that the messengers had reached Éomer and Elfhelm in time. Until then he would have to attack the enemy with eight companies and leave only three on the east bank with Grimbold. The adversary's force was larger than any could have expected from Saruman. Although he had heard of his treachery he did not know that it ran so deep. His horse stirred beneath him as he slowly led the companies in crossing the river.

They gained the Fords at sunset, suffering heavy losses of men. The enemy force had been huge and dangerous. The slow moving waters of the river gleamed crimson and gold. Théodred wiped the sweat off his nose and looked to the west bank where Grimbold and fifty dismounted Rohirrim defended it. He chose to stay on the eyot with his own company, unhorsed. The rest he sent across the river to defend the newly acquired east bank. There, also, were the extra horse herds.

The waters lapped serenely against the eyot when suddenly Saruman's eastern force attacked. An arrow grazed off Théodred's shoulder. He could see with a darkening countenance that Dunlending horsemen and warg-riders were attacking. The horses stamped nervously at the sight of the wolves and their gleaming, yellow teeth. The air was filled with the hissing of arrows as the eastern forces of the Rohirrim sent the enemy a volley.

The wargs growled as they charged at the horse herds and dug their teeth into the horses' warm flesh. All the unattended horses were destroyed, or had escaped over the plains in terror. Behind the warg-riders came two battalions of fierce Uruks who with a great battle cry, ran forth to meet the Eorlingas.

The eastern defenses were quickly swept away. Men fell into the water screaming. Théodred cried out as one of his men turned toward him with an arrow protruding from his face and fell into the water. Théodred choked back his fear and turned in astonishment to see the western bank already taken and Saruman's forces closing in on him from all sides. The battle had gone just as he had feared it would.

Wayward Eorlingas were running in circles, petrified, "To me Eorlingas!" he yelled out in an effort to regroup the men. He turned in panic with eyes wild. A strong group of orcs began to march on the eyot, mouths bared in snarls and each bearing a keen axe. Théodred raised his sword with a shout and strove to the front of the line, "To me Eorlingas!" he cried again clashing his sword against the first orc.

The orc parried his blow with his axe, knocking Théodred's sword awry. The second marshal of the Mark blocked the next blow with his shield and the axe stuck firmly in it. He took the opportunity to strike of its head. They were completely overrun. Théodred vaguely heard Grimbold's voice cry out as he felt the cold bite of iron cut through his skin. Warm blood gushed out of the wound as he fell onto the gravely ground of the eyot.

He cried out, but the person to whom he cried was far away now, sitting on a throne, unaware of his surroundings. He could feel his father's hand on his head as he faded in and out of consciousness. He could remember how firm and commanding the king's voice had once been. He could remember how much he admired him. For the sake of that memory he struggled to stay alive.

Pain oozed out of every pore until it dimmed to a dull throb and then to no feeling whatsoever. He knew that this feeling of nothing was dangerous. He must stay awake for the throne he would someday take, for the worm he wanted to kill, for the brave line of Eorl and for the race of all men. His hand clutched at his stomach as warm liquid leaked through his fingers. He felt the cold water of the Isen lap on his other hand. The water seemed red to his blurry vision, whether by the blood of his fallen men or by the light of the setting sun he could not determine.

He felt a hand supporting his neck. His eyes met Grimbold's own. The captain's voice seemed husky and his eyes were strangely lit by unshed tears, "My lord Théodred," he said clasping his hand, heedless of the blood.

He struggled to speak though thick, blood, that clogged his throat, "Grimbold, I had thought… you were dead."

Grimbold shook his head no and tried to raise the wounded man, "No Grimbold let me lie here – to keep the Fords until Éomer comes," Théodred said and closed his eyes, his body was suddenly limp, his hand losing it's grip on Grimbold's.

The last light of the sun suddenly disappeared and a harsh horn sounded. Théodred did not hear it. Instead of the body-strewn river banks of the Isen he saw the wind rustling through plains grass, and heard the distant sound of music from a lyre. A white horse galloped on green grass. Suddenly, he found himself standing in a great hall; he and the many other people who sat in thrones along the walls were dressed in finery. Tall men and women of obvious Rohirrim lineage stood to welcome him.

A woman's hand shyly grasped his own and a strong, masculine hand gripped his shoulder. He looked up to see his uncle smiling at him. The woman who held his hand was less familiar. She seemed to him some distant memory from a dream. Her eyes were deep blue, and she smelled of simbelmynë as she embraced him. He realized that it was his mother.

They all looked up at a man who approached, and bowed low. Théodred instantly recognized him from the tapestries and songs that had told generations of Rohirrim about his legend.

"Westu Théodred hal, you have come to the Halls of Mandos," he said his voice like a mighty waterfall, his flaxen hair shining upon his shoulders, "Welcome my child to the end of your journeys, and to the end of all journeys."

"My lord," Théodred interjected humbly, "What of Rohan and our people?"

"For them the journey will go on much as it has before, the valiant will rise up, the wicked will fall, and great kings will be appointed to rule. Have no worries here in this place my child, the courage of our people will never die, it will be passed on even when shadow covers all the land and tales of our deeds are long forgotten. Our line will always feel the tug of bravery and honor at their hearts, even if they do not know from where the urge comes," The lord Eorl said and led him in the midst of the throng of people.

Éomer felt the sprinkle of rain fall on his face as he urged his men to hurry toward the river. They had already spotted many dead bodies strewn on the ground as they galloped towards the riverside. They quickly emerged from a small growth of trees and looked around them in shock. Hundreds of dead orcs and men and horses lay on the ground, soaked from the river and the rain. A small group of men were gathering the dead men into a pile to bury.

Grimbold approached him with a somber look, and Éomer dismounted. The captain looked to his hands which held a helmet Éomer knew all to well. He took it from Grimbold roughly and looked around frantically, "Where is he Grimbold!"

"My lord," he was interrupted by Éomer who grabbed him brutally by the shoulders.

"Where is he!"

"He was killed!" Grimbold yelled back and then his voice softened, "I am sorry Éomer, I was cut off from him when they came, a group of orcs attacked the eyot, just like they were looking for him," he held his head and his voice cracked, "After he died Elfhelm and his men came to reinforce us. Many died, but after Théodred was killed the enemy dispersed, almost as if it was their goal. We fought orcs trying to drag off his body; he had taken a blow to the stomach. He wanted to stay here and keep the fords, he wanted to wait for you to come," Grimbold finished his shoulders shaking.

Éomer released him and choked as he spoke, "I am so sorry Grimbold, I am sorry… Please let me see him, I must take his body to Edoras,"

Grimbold straightened, "Tis nothing my lord, I do not know what this must feel like, his body is this way."

Note: Hello my faithful reviewers thank you so much for your support. We are finally nearing the end of this story. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, it was very hard for me to write, and I probably will repost it due to editing at least a couple of times in the future. If you have any suggestions feel free to tell me so I can improve the reading experience.

This chapter is strictly book based, on the unfinished tales and the appendices, so any incongruence with the TT movie were caused by a different story told by Tolkien's books. I hope I didn't create a lot of confusion for you all! Thanks again!