Thank you for the smashing reviews I love them and they really encourage me to write more. aikoalima
Caitlin felt the pressure of her position every moment over the course of the days to follow. The dwarves were sent off to gondor as planned and all the while preparations were made for the armies to march. Theoden was reluctant to move until the lit beacons were in view but Caitlin's constant insistence convinced him to continue preparations.
Every morning Caitlin awoke without having any dreams, in a way this was more disturbing than having the nightmares she had been plagued with ever since she had arrived in middle earth.
Every morning she also would recall her conversation with Gimli. How he has told her of his argument with Legolas. How he had told her of what Legolas had said. She had yet to speak with Aragorn but knew he had been there when Legolas had left. She did not know if he would return. But had had little time to think on the subject as her time was spent these days giving orders and coordinating with theoden and eomer about the troops.
She was afraid to think about legolas absence, afraid that if she though on it too much or talked to Aragorn, that legolas would be the only thing on her mind from then on. She felt so confused and saddened. Why had he left her? She knew all her questions would be answered if she spoke to Aragorn, but she didn't know if the answers were ones she wanted to hear.
Every morning she would also awaken to the sight of her new armor. Propped up on a wooden dummy as though it were telling her not to get to comfortable, telling her more battles were soon to come. It was a reminder of home, with its red white and blue coloring its eagle design and winged helmet. She had to admire the craftsmanship of their work, these people of middle earth. How she loved her armor. It made home seem not as far away as she knew in reality it was.
On this day she awoke knowing the beacon would be lit she knew it would be lit in the early morning before even the violet shades of dawn and the thick fog had left the plains of edoras she had come to know so well. This is why she got up this morning before the break of day had even begun. Caitlin gathered her things. All of them. Slowely, and went quietly out to the stables, packing asufeld for the journey they would make today. It took her several trips to finish packing and saddling him. The night was lit only by the torches that riddled the castle walls and the moon, which soon would give way to the morning dawn.
The only people she passed were the guards who all stood up as straight as they could when they saw her pass by, all undoubtedly wondering why she was up so early. Caitlin wanted to get everything done before the beacon was sighted, she didn't like how chaotic she knew this place would get.
Upon returning to her room she looked around. It was barren now, as though she had never been there at all. the only thing left for her was her armor, it's gleaming silver metal calling to her in the moonlight. It was with sadness, and a reluctant hand that she picked up the first layer of armor and strapped it to her chest.
With every successive piece she felt her body become more and more heavy with the now familiar feel of this freezing silver garment against her skin. And with every successive piece her heart sank with sadness. She knew all to well what terrible purpose this beautiful wardrobe had in store for her hand; death, killing, nothing but pain. How she hated war. She strapped the last leg piece to her shin and wrapped the belt with her sword and dagger to her waist. She picked up her helmet and held it under her left arm and with her right picked up the final piece, the spear of gil-galad. Her hair flew about her back as she silently said goodbye to edoras. Standing their, closing her eyes in silent meditation as she again searched for strength. After a moment she opened her eyes, and found she no longer was the young girl who had arrived here a little less than a year ago. For in that moment she not only said goodbye to this place, but also to the girl she had been. She said goodbye to every doubt, every fear, they were of no use to her now. She surrendered herself over to whom she needed to become in order to survive. She was now a warrior, a general, a leader of men to their deaths, a defender of middle earth and all it held sacred. That was who she was now, it was this role that encompassed who she was and who she would die being. Now and forever. Then without another thought she walked out of the room and closed to door behind her. Leaving her past behind.
The guards looked in awe as she passed them and indeed she was impressive in her battle gear.
The sun was coming up as she exited the great hall and stood out on the balcony staring out at the mountains where the beacons would be seen. Far out on the edge of the village Caitlin saw Aragorn, sitting under a tree, smoking his pipe, she knew he too was awaiting the beacons and wondered if he had stayed their all night.
The sun rose higher into the sky and the dawn began to give way to the day and Caitlin for a moment thought she might be wrong about the day the beacons would appear. If this were true everything they had planned would be lost. The dwarves wouldn't arrive at the same time and would surely be slaughtered.
"The armor suits you."
Caitlin turned to find Eomer standing there his hair billowing in the cold morning breeze, dressed casually as though he had just awoken holding two steaming mugs. Caitlin was surprised he was no freezing with this weather.
"Are you expecting someone?" he asked with a small smile.
He came to stand beside her and handed her one of the mugs
Caitlin smiled slightly and liked up at him. "You know we are," she said as she took one of the mugs and held it up to her face to warm it. "Your neighbors from the west are going to call and invite us all for a little get together today." She said. It was the first joke or even half happy thing she had said for over a week.
Eomer smiled down at her but then his expression became serious. "You know they aren't just my peoples neighbors anymore wizard." He said.
Caitlin looked up at him with a questioning expression on her face.
"They are our neighbors," he moved his gaze from the mountain and looked down at her. "Your place of birth may be far across the sea. But you can always call this your home. And should you ever find yourself alone. Know that you have protection here, always. Please know that anyone of my people would traverse the entire length of middle earth to ensure your well-being. Our home is your home." He said with a small smile. He placed a hand behind her neck and ran it through her hair as it blew in the wind. "My home, my heart, will always be open to you." He said. "I love you."
His hand caressed her face softly as she stared up at him. What could she say, she knew there was nothing she could say that would ease his heart, she could not love eomer as he wished her to. She knew her love belonged with legolas.
She looked at him sorrowfully and opened her mouth to speak, "oh...Eomer...i..."
"Don't." he said removing his hand. "I know I will never have your heart so long as he is in your life....i just had to tell you." he said. He turned to leave.
"Wait." She said. And turned to face him. "Thank you, for everything you have given me." She said. And stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
Eomer smiled down at her and she up at him. Then he continued his walk into the great hall, knowing he loved someone he would never have but in a small way also feeling at peace with it.
Caitlin shivered slightly and decided to go down to the stables where it was warmer.
Asufeld munched happily on some grain as she entered. Caitlin walked up beside him and pressed her face into his fur. Smelling his wonderfully mucky odor. She fought back tears as she thought of Legolas. She felt so betrayed. How could he just abandon everything?
She then heard noise outside and then a scream. She lifted her head abruptly and saw two women and a man rushing past the stable door headed up to the great hall.
Caitlin gripped asufelds saddle and threw her leg over his back galloping out into the courtyard.
Theoden, Eomer, and Gimli stood on the balcony of edors where she had stood just moments before. The rohirrim flag waving just behind them. Aragorn soon approached the stairs dashing up them shouting to them all.
"the beacons of minas tireth, the beacons have been lit." he paused slightly turning to Teoden. "Gondor calls for aid in their battle." He said out of breath.
Their was a long pause. Then Theoden turned to Caitlin and she nodded her head in understanding. She knew he could barely speak anymore and it was with this act that she would agree to his request of leading his troops with her. It was with this that she would finally give him an answer.
She looked across the plains for a moment up to the mountains and to the fire that burned brightly now. She paused for a moment thinking on what she was about to do. "AND RUHAN SHALL ANSWER THEIR CALL!!" She yelled as she rode over to them. Answering for Theoden. "Eomer muster the rohirrium, we ride out today." She said glancing again at Theoden as eomer bowed and followed her order. "My king," she said as she placed her fist over her heart and bowed to him. Telling him in the ruhan solute that she had placed her allegiance with him and accepted his request.
Theoden smiled and bowed to her in agnoligment; and Caitlin knew in gratitude.
Over the course of the next twelve hours the city bustled with activity as they prepared to set out to the encampment. It wasn't until late that night that they set out and not until early the next morning that they arrived,
During the journey Caitlin noticed that there were hundreds more women accompanying them tot the encampment tan she remembered in the movie. For a moment Caitlin was proud, she had helped start women's lib in middle earth.
That morning when they arrived Caitlin rode up front with theoden asking how many men each lord had brought.
It was later once they had reached the top of the mountain that he Aragorn and Caitlin stood out over the thousands of men and counted the numbers.
"six thousand spears, half of what I had hoped." Said Aragorn.
"We need more men." Said Theoden in a raspy and wavering voice.
"There are none left my lord," said Caitlin as she looked out over the thousands of tents.
She glanced at Aragron, his face filled with worry. "This will not be enough to break the lines of mordor." He said in a defeated tone.
"I hope you have some tricks up your sleeve wizard, I don't know exactly how many orcs souron has but I can guarantee this is not enough." Said Eomer as he walked up from behind them.
"Six hundred thousand troops." She said softly.
"What?" asked Aragorn. Not believing what he was hearing, "did you say six hundred thousand." He stated. Aghast at the number.
"Yes." She said not really wanting to believe it herself.
"We need more troops." Said Eomer as he peered down at the six thousand that lay below them. Knowing inside that there would be no more.
"Don't reveal this to the men." She said. "I shouldn't have told you.," she said. "You don't need to know that."
"Can we win?" asked Eomer.
Caitlin was silent.
"Do we even have a chance?!" he said more fiercely, frustrated at her silence. He took hold of her arm and spun her around to face him, angry now that she would not answer. "TELL ME..."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!" She yelled. Wrenching her arm free of him. Caitlin looked down to see aragorn with his hand resting on his sword. An angry expression on his face.
"Why do the odds make any difference? Had you known sourons strength from the beginning would you have just given up and surrendered your life and the lives of those you love to him. I highly doubt that." Caitlin said angrily.
She stormed off leaving them there.
I didnt quite know where to end this chapter so I just ended it here. more to come and it gets better. Where is Legolas? How will Caitlin deal with narsil? Will she keep it or give it to aragorn? Hey don't look at me for answers I just work here.
aikoalima