By the Light of the Moon
Disclaimer~ I do not own any of Tolkien's creations. I only own SOME of the storyline and the characters I made up. This takes place during "The Two Towers". Legolas is a sexy elf.I'd love to own him! *smiles*
~I want to thank all of you.and I mean ALL of you who have reviewed my story and bearing with me with school becoming a pain. It means a lot to me and I really appreciate it~
Chapter 8~ Aragorn's Return
The next day was going by slowly, no special events and no signs of evil.nothing remotely disturbing. Mariah sat in the hall with the king and his soldiers. She sat in a corner on the floor with her chin rested on her knees, whish were held tightly by her arms. Truth be told, many would have mistaken her for a child instead of an adult based on her behavior. Being alone for many years and practically never leaving home had kept her protected, but she was in Middle Earth with elves, men, dwarves, and evil that surrounded her like a black cloud. Her curse was torturing her heart. Gimli knew, but the one person she wanted to know couldn't.and that person was a certain elf. He was having an effect on her.making her have feelings she had never felt before. Mariah closed her eyes tightly and continued to think inside her darkness.
Meanwhile, a stranger rode a horse up the stone ramp and through the doors, stopping at the stairs. The people of Rohan were shocked and kept whispering, "He's alive!" It was Aragorn, son of Arathorn. The ranger was alive and well. Suddenly, Gimli came pushing through the crowd of refugees and shouted, "Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way. I'm gonna kill him!" When he finally saw Aragorn, an enormous smile came to his face. "You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew!" the dwarf said as he embraced the ranger and clung to him like there was no tomorrow, "Bless you, laddie!"
"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked breathlessly. The dwarf gestured toward the hall and Aragorn placed a hand on his friend's shoulder before leaving him. He stumbled up the steps and walked toward the hall with his head facing the ground. He stopped abruptly when he saw Legolas standing directly in front of him. "Le ab-dollen (You're late)," the elf said as he glanced over his friend's wounds, "You look terrible." Aragorn laughed heartily and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. They both smiled at each other and Legolas placed Arwen's jewel in Aragorn's hand. He looked over it and glanced back up at the elf. "Hannon le (Thank you)," he said with a smile as he walked past him and pushed open the doors to the hall.
King Théoden's eyes snapped up when he saw Aragorn enter the hall with Legolas behind him. Mariah only looked up, but didn't move from her spot. Her eyes went wide when she saw Aragorn standing there, drenched in blood and a mixture of water and sweat. How can he be alive? she asked herself. Mariah knew that she had watched him slip from her grasp and hit the river. He should have died, or at least gotten ashore and collapsed. Knowing how scared she was becoming, she pushed herself farther into the shadows of her corner.
Aragorn scanned the room and saw Mariah sitting there, staring at him blankly. "My lady," he whispered as he strolled over to her and extended his hand. Tears began to stream down her face as she studied his wounded hand. "My lady," he said again as he moved his hand slightly to get her attention. She gracefully accepted it and stood up, not letting her gaze drop from his eyes. "A.Aragorn?" she stuttered.
"Yes, I'm here," he said calmly as he reached out and touched her cheek, pushing her hair back. To his surprise, she didn't pull away in fear, but leaned into his comforting touch. Without thinking, Mariah embraced him strongly and rested her chin on his shoulder. He was filthy, but she didn't care. This man had always tried to help her and she thought it best to return her thanks. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of him, gross or not.it didn't matter. She was just so happy that he was alive. "You're okay.Thank GOD!" she said as she continued to hold him.
When she opened her eyes, Legolas was staring at her in disbelief. Mariah backed away from Aragorn and walked down a small passage close to the hall. She sat down and rested her head against the stone wall. Legolas knew.he knew. She didn't know how much o her dark secret was notorious, but some of it was. What am I going to do? she asked herself. Legolas had been having an effect on her.it was clear now. He could either read her mind, or perceive her feelings. She shook all thoughts from her head and headed back to the hall. Aragorn and King Théoden were having a serious conversation. "A great host, you say?" Théoden said with his back to the ranger.
"All Isengard is emptied," Aragorn replied.
"How many?"
"Ten-thousand strong at least."
"Ten-thousand?" the king asked in astonishment as he turned around.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose.to destroy the world of men." Mariah watched Aragorn closely and saw the dread n his eyes. He continued to speak, "They will be here by nightfall."
"Let them come," King Théoden said angrily as he stormed out of the room. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gamling followed with Mariah creeping behind them, listening intently. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall," he told Gamling, who nodded and went about his duties. Mariah caught up to them as they walked up out onto the crossway. She stood beside Gimli and rested a hand on his shoulder. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg," Théoden said proudly.
"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad," Gimli interrupted. The king walked back over to the dwarf and stared down at him as if he knew more. "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." With that, the king walked back inside, followed by Aragorn and Legolas. Gimli lingered for a moment and looked up at Mariah. "Is something wrong, my lady?" the dwarf asked.
"We're all going to die.aren't we?"
"Nah, especially not ye, lass. You have a special gift.remember that." Mariah smiled gratefully at Gimli and knelt down beside him, hugging him gently. What they didn't know was that Legolas had been listening to them from behind the door. The dwarf and the woman walked past him and up to the hall. Legolas crossed his arms and glared in that direction before following. He knew her had to mention this to Aragorn.
When Mariah and Gimli caught up to Aragorn and Legolas, they were following King Théoden and listening to his orders. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child, "Aragorn said as he walked closer to Théoden. The king turned around swiftly and pulled the ranger to his side. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."
"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid," Aragorn replied desperately as the king began to walk away. He turned around and walked back to the ranger. "And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer."
"Gondor?" he asked angrily, "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon-?" he calmed his voice and finished coolly, "No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone." The ranger looked at him disapprovingly as he walked away. "Get the women and children into the caves!" he shouted to Gamling.
"We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord -" Gamling began.
"There is no time. War is upon us!" Théoden interrupted as he continued to walk past his soldiers. The men secured the gate quickly and continued their business to prepare for battle.
Disclaimer~ I do not own any of Tolkien's creations. I only own SOME of the storyline and the characters I made up. This takes place during "The Two Towers". Legolas is a sexy elf.I'd love to own him! *smiles*
~I want to thank all of you.and I mean ALL of you who have reviewed my story and bearing with me with school becoming a pain. It means a lot to me and I really appreciate it~
Chapter 8~ Aragorn's Return
The next day was going by slowly, no special events and no signs of evil.nothing remotely disturbing. Mariah sat in the hall with the king and his soldiers. She sat in a corner on the floor with her chin rested on her knees, whish were held tightly by her arms. Truth be told, many would have mistaken her for a child instead of an adult based on her behavior. Being alone for many years and practically never leaving home had kept her protected, but she was in Middle Earth with elves, men, dwarves, and evil that surrounded her like a black cloud. Her curse was torturing her heart. Gimli knew, but the one person she wanted to know couldn't.and that person was a certain elf. He was having an effect on her.making her have feelings she had never felt before. Mariah closed her eyes tightly and continued to think inside her darkness.
Meanwhile, a stranger rode a horse up the stone ramp and through the doors, stopping at the stairs. The people of Rohan were shocked and kept whispering, "He's alive!" It was Aragorn, son of Arathorn. The ranger was alive and well. Suddenly, Gimli came pushing through the crowd of refugees and shouted, "Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way. I'm gonna kill him!" When he finally saw Aragorn, an enormous smile came to his face. "You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew!" the dwarf said as he embraced the ranger and clung to him like there was no tomorrow, "Bless you, laddie!"
"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn asked breathlessly. The dwarf gestured toward the hall and Aragorn placed a hand on his friend's shoulder before leaving him. He stumbled up the steps and walked toward the hall with his head facing the ground. He stopped abruptly when he saw Legolas standing directly in front of him. "Le ab-dollen (You're late)," the elf said as he glanced over his friend's wounds, "You look terrible." Aragorn laughed heartily and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. They both smiled at each other and Legolas placed Arwen's jewel in Aragorn's hand. He looked over it and glanced back up at the elf. "Hannon le (Thank you)," he said with a smile as he walked past him and pushed open the doors to the hall.
King Théoden's eyes snapped up when he saw Aragorn enter the hall with Legolas behind him. Mariah only looked up, but didn't move from her spot. Her eyes went wide when she saw Aragorn standing there, drenched in blood and a mixture of water and sweat. How can he be alive? she asked herself. Mariah knew that she had watched him slip from her grasp and hit the river. He should have died, or at least gotten ashore and collapsed. Knowing how scared she was becoming, she pushed herself farther into the shadows of her corner.
Aragorn scanned the room and saw Mariah sitting there, staring at him blankly. "My lady," he whispered as he strolled over to her and extended his hand. Tears began to stream down her face as she studied his wounded hand. "My lady," he said again as he moved his hand slightly to get her attention. She gracefully accepted it and stood up, not letting her gaze drop from his eyes. "A.Aragorn?" she stuttered.
"Yes, I'm here," he said calmly as he reached out and touched her cheek, pushing her hair back. To his surprise, she didn't pull away in fear, but leaned into his comforting touch. Without thinking, Mariah embraced him strongly and rested her chin on his shoulder. He was filthy, but she didn't care. This man had always tried to help her and she thought it best to return her thanks. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of him, gross or not.it didn't matter. She was just so happy that he was alive. "You're okay.Thank GOD!" she said as she continued to hold him.
When she opened her eyes, Legolas was staring at her in disbelief. Mariah backed away from Aragorn and walked down a small passage close to the hall. She sat down and rested her head against the stone wall. Legolas knew.he knew. She didn't know how much o her dark secret was notorious, but some of it was. What am I going to do? she asked herself. Legolas had been having an effect on her.it was clear now. He could either read her mind, or perceive her feelings. She shook all thoughts from her head and headed back to the hall. Aragorn and King Théoden were having a serious conversation. "A great host, you say?" Théoden said with his back to the ranger.
"All Isengard is emptied," Aragorn replied.
"How many?"
"Ten-thousand strong at least."
"Ten-thousand?" the king asked in astonishment as he turned around.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose.to destroy the world of men." Mariah watched Aragorn closely and saw the dread n his eyes. He continued to speak, "They will be here by nightfall."
"Let them come," King Théoden said angrily as he stormed out of the room. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gamling followed with Mariah creeping behind them, listening intently. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall," he told Gamling, who nodded and went about his duties. Mariah caught up to them as they walked up out onto the crossway. She stood beside Gimli and rested a hand on his shoulder. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg," Théoden said proudly.
"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad," Gimli interrupted. The king walked back over to the dwarf and stared down at him as if he knew more. "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." With that, the king walked back inside, followed by Aragorn and Legolas. Gimli lingered for a moment and looked up at Mariah. "Is something wrong, my lady?" the dwarf asked.
"We're all going to die.aren't we?"
"Nah, especially not ye, lass. You have a special gift.remember that." Mariah smiled gratefully at Gimli and knelt down beside him, hugging him gently. What they didn't know was that Legolas had been listening to them from behind the door. The dwarf and the woman walked past him and up to the hall. Legolas crossed his arms and glared in that direction before following. He knew her had to mention this to Aragorn.
When Mariah and Gimli caught up to Aragorn and Legolas, they were following King Théoden and listening to his orders. "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child, "Aragorn said as he walked closer to Théoden. The king turned around swiftly and pulled the ranger to his side. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."
"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid," Aragorn replied desperately as the king began to walk away. He turned around and walked back to the ranger. "And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer."
"Gondor?" he asked angrily, "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon-?" he calmed his voice and finished coolly, "No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone." The ranger looked at him disapprovingly as he walked away. "Get the women and children into the caves!" he shouted to Gamling.
"We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord -" Gamling began.
"There is no time. War is upon us!" Théoden interrupted as he continued to walk past his soldiers. The men secured the gate quickly and continued their business to prepare for battle.