Chapter 21; The Exodus

"By order of the King, the city must empty." I heard a voice shout from outside, "We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep! Do not burden yourself with treasures; take only what provisions you need!" I grumbled as I stood and walked outside the room; it was windy, again, but the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day though it was tainted by that sense of uncertainty and ambiguity in the air. I knew they were evacuating Edoras for the safety of Helm's deep but I wondered if the people even knew why they needed to flee in the first place. As I packed my things I thought to myself, 'They know about Saruman, that much is certain, but do they know that it is Isengard they run from?' Once all of my things were together, I carried them out of the room and began to make way towards the stables.

"Good morning Laura." I heard a voice ask me. "Did you sleep well?" I looked and saw Aragorn sitting only a few feet away from me. He was smoking a pipe and gazing out over the city as the people frantically packed their things and gossiped with their neighbors. I answered as I approached him,

"Yes I did. And yourself?" At this he sighed and answered,

"I have slept better." I sat beside him on the bench and looked out of the city on its surrounding plains, it really was a breath taking view; yet, though I did not want to, I could still see the scurrying citizens hastily packing their possessions. "He is only trying to do what is best for his people," Aragorn stated. "Since Helm's Deep has saved them before; but Helm's Deep cannot save them from what Saruman is ready to unleash." I asked quickly,

"But still there is hope?" I looked at him, "Surely Rohan can stand some chance against Saruman's forces?" Aragorn looked to the ground, then back out over Edoras as he answered,

"Of course there is always hope. Hope lies in the hearts of Théoden's people, it lies within Théoden's heart and sword," he stopped and looked at me as he said, "it also lies in Èomer and the two thousand good men who ride north alongside him who would turn to their king's aid at a moment's notice."

"Won't the king call them?" I asked. "Does he not see that he needs all of them? If he called them there-"

"He will not call upon them." Aragorn interrupted, "The King's mind is set. Edoras will empty and his people will go to Helm's Deep; he feels, as king, that this choice is best for his people. We should not question what he feels what is best for his people if we wish to remain in Théoden's good view." I nodded as he added, "And this morning Gandalf has gone from Rohan."

"What?" I asked quickly.

"He left to find Èomer and bring back what little hope that Théoden has. He truly fears for the survival of Rohan and knows that even though Théoden has a strong will, he will need more than that to survive." I sighed as I pushed aside my sadness that Gandalf did not say goodbye and answered slowly,

"You're right. I guess all we can hope on now…is hope." I looked to the floor then out over the city before I began to say, "Aragorn, I have traveled with you for months and I have still yet to say this," I looked at him with a smile as I finished, "thank you so much for helping me. I will never be able to thank you enough. You have done so much and I really think of you dearly." I looked at him as I continued, "You've been like a father to me and I appreciate that so much." He did not answer me right away; I gazed to the floor and said, "I sounded like a fool didn't I?" Aragorn laughed as he said,

"No…I do not mean to seem distant. Thank you Laura; it means much to me." Aragorn smiled and gave me a big, one-handed hug and I hugged him back as I said with a laugh.

"Thank you." he smiled and said light heartedly,

"Go! You should hurry! We haven't much time."

Meanwhile, in the hall, people hustled back and forth between trunks and bags as they carried blankets, swords and many other things. I looked around and found Èowyn helping with some of the packing. I walked to her and said,

"Hello Èowyn!" as I set the things in my arms down on a nearby table. She looked to me with a smile and said quickly,

"Good morning Laura. No doubt you have heard from Lord Aragorn." I smiled and scratched my head. I answered as I remembered the "shouting man" who woke me up,

"Yes. I have heard. It is so sad."

"No." she said quickly, "There is no time to be sad." She paused as she picked up a big pile of blankets and firs. She gave them to me quickly as she said with a smile, "Only time to pack." I laughed as I took the blankets and walked them to a nearby trunk. When I returned from packing them Èowyn said, "I have been up most of the morning helping to pack the hall." She added sadly, "However I fear that there may not be a hall to return to." She looked at all the immense tapestries of galloping horses and golden haired men as she sighed and continued to unpack.

"I don't think that it will end like that." I said in a fearless voice, "I do not think that that will be the end. That should only happen if we keep our fears and forget our faith." At this Èowyn looked down at the floor and smiled slightly as she said to herself,

"Yes…our fears." With that she grabbed a sword that lay on the table and examined it closely. "What do you fear Laura?" she asked.

"Me?" I asked and she nodded. I crossed my arms as I thought about it, "What do I fear…" I laughed as I replied, "My fears are silly, childish actually." Èowyn smiled and opened her mouth but was stopped when we heard a loud clamor of steel on the table behind us. I looked and at the table I saw both Gimli and Legolas. Gimli was smiling awfully big and Legolas was examining the swords on the table.

"Well good morning Lady Laura." Gimli said happily, "And how are we this fine and beautiful morning?" I gave Èowyn a quizzical look and she laughed as I answered,

"I am well, but disappointed that we must leave the hall." Gimli laughed heartily and as he walked away I was sure I heard him mutter,

"Oh I'm sure you and the 'pointy-ear' are both quite disappointed!" 'What?' I thought to myself as he walked off. 'What did he mean about me and Legolas? Oh…he must have seen us talking!' I shook my head, laughed, and then looked back. Èowyn was laughing to herself and shaking her head. She then said to me,

"You had better go to the stables to pack your horse; the King has granted permission for you all to ride the horses to you by Èomer." I smiled and replied,

"I was planning on it. Until later." I said, recollected my things then left for the stables. I only had my sword and some furs to pack for I had left my bag, my water flask, and my other sets of clothes in Parth Galen. When I arrived, the stables were filled with the hustle and bustle that seemed to overcome the entire city; men were moving from stable to stable, harnessing, bridling, and saddling horses. Finally I came to Hasufel's stall and smiled as I began to open the stable door; but a strong hand came down upon it keeping it shut. I looked up and saw a gruff looking man staring back at me.

"What do you think you're doing girl?" he asked with a sarcastic sweetness. I moved his hand aside and answered politely,

"I am packing my horse. Would you excuse me?" I tried to open the gate again but his hand held it shut again.

"I do not know why you think you may ride this horse." He said curtly, "This horse belongs to the king! Go back to your father's house and ride his mare." At this some of the men in the stable laughed. I told him angrily,

"This horse was given to me by Èomer! Sister-son of the King! Let me pass for I am to ride!" The soldier laughed at this once more and pushed me away from Hasufel's gate. At this Hasufel was startled and became somewhat restless.

"Èomer was banished from Rohan a month ago. And to think that you crossed his path and he gave you a horse of the King's house? Save your lies for stories child, go home."

"But he is my horse!" I exclaimed. "Leave me be for the King allows me to ride him!" I moved forward once more but the man pushed me back and drew his sword as he said,

"Go home child! You do not belong here! You can walk with the rest of your family."

"Then you turn away the order of your king?" a smooth voice asked from behind me. "Do you turn away the same woman who traveled Lord Aragorn, son of Arathorn and Gandalf the White? The same woman who was called Elehyanda, by the Elves of both Rivendell and the woods of the Lady of Light?" It was Legolas' voice speaking and I fought to hide a smile as I looked in the man's eyes and I saw amazement and fear. Legolas' fair face and rhetoric could daunt any man, well, save Aragorn I think. "In this woman is the faith of your King and his heir. She was given order to ride this horse along side your King; barring her from this could be viewed as insubordination and treason." The man looked at me and looked back at him superiorly.

"My Lady…" he said cowardly as he lowered his head and sword. "Forgive me. Please." He opened the gate for me and I nodded to him as I entered. I laid my things on the stable door and moved to Hasufel's side; as I grabbed his harness, the soldier said quickly, "My Lady, allow me to saddle him-"

"No." Legolas said. "Your ignorance has worn our patience thin. Go." With that the man bowed and left the stable. I looked at Legolas from inside the stall and laughed as I led Hasufel out and tied him to a bar so that I could saddle him.

"Well, you certainly let him have it!" I said to him with a smile as I grabbed a brush and brushed Hasufel's back. Legolas smiled and stroked Hasufel's neck as I brushed; I then found a saddle as well, but it fastened onto the horse like no way I had ever seen before. I placed the saddle blanket on his back, then the saddle, and I tried my best to buckle it. Finally after fifty tried I gave up. "This is impossible…" I exclaimed as I leaned against Hasufel's flank. Legolas looked at me with a smile as he moved to the saddle and in a few short yanks, pulls, and knots the saddle was set. I laughed and shook my head as he asked me,

"Where do you like your stirrups?"

"About there." I said with a smile as I pointed; Legolas fixed the stirrups on both sides of the horse and as he did, I packed my saddle bags with what little I; Legolas came back around the horse and handed me the bridle. I took it from him and said to him,

"Thank you, and thank you for helping me out…with the saddle and the man."

"Your welcome." Legolas said as he stroked Hasufel one last time then left the stall. I fastened the bridal, placed the harness on the door then patted Hasufel's head. He had large, beautiful eyes and he nuzzled my side; I laughed as I began to search for a treat of some sort. Across the way I saw a carrot; so I took it, broke it into pieces and fed it to Hasufel who crunched them happily. I stroked his neck one more time before taking the reins and walking him out of the stables. Outside were Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn all with their horses. Legolas tended to the saddle as Gimli prepared himself for the long ride, and Aragorn deeply concentrated on tying his sword to the saddle and tending to every small detail. Legolas soon mounted, helped Gimli into the saddle behind him and I got into the saddle as well. Aragorn then mounted and said,

"The beginning." before walking his horse through the crowds. We followed him as we approached the King and his guards.

"My Lord, this is the woman whom I asked to ride with us. Her name is Laura, daughter of William." Aragorn said and King Théoden looked at me, I lowered my head and said,

"My Lord." I heard his horse's feet move and I looked back up at him as he looked skeptically between Aragorn and myself.

"Aragorn." Théoden said, "She is just a girl." I bit my lip as Aragorn said in my defense,

"I assure you my Lord, she is not." The King looked me over once more then trotted away, with many of his guards following him. I looked at Aragorn who raised an eyebrow and rode off. Legolas and Gimli trotted beside me as I tried to catch up with Aragorn and soon Èowyn rode beside me on her horse. I smiled as we all trotted together then cantered out of the gates of the city.

Our horses did little more than trot after that and I found this the most tedious journey I had traveled yet. At first there was little talking, only some small talk and remarks about the weather. Sometimes I would dismount Hasufel and lead him as I talked to Èowyn, and then when I was not talking to someone else it was quiet and I could almost feel the gloom and dread of the people. So I tried to occupy my mind by trying to remember what the second book said about Helm's Deep. It was no use though; I hurried through and skipped a lot of the chapters in the second book just so I could start the third and, hopefully, beat Janine. In the end, I didn't beat her and now more than ever I regretted skipping many of the pages and chapters. As I thought about the books, I thought about the movies and how different and alike the first movie was. One thing for sure was half the elves in the movie couldn't even compare to the ones in real life, not even Orlando Bloom. Legolas was so much more, real, I suppose; real in the sense of verisimilitude.

Aragorn was very similar, as was Èowyn, Gimli, and Théoden, and the hobbits were as well. I laughed as I thought about the hobbits; I really missed them all. When we traveled with them there seemed to be youthfulness or a more playful attitude among us, and it had been such a long time since they left. I began to worry for Sam, Merry, and Pippin, but most of all for Frodo. I could only hope my heart out that he would be okay and that Sam would take care of him, which I knew he would.

On one of the first nights that we camped Èowyn and I got together and tried to make a stew from what he had. If I can say, I am a very good cook when I have the recipe book right in front of me, but improvisation on those kinds of things was another story. We finally ended up with this watery broth with bits of soft root and things I don't even remember adding.

"Well, this looks tasty, doesn't it?" Èowyn said proudly as she stirred the steaming stew concoction. I nodded and she asked, "Care to try it?"

"No!" I quickly replied. When I saw the look on Èowyn's face I added sweetly, "I mean, there is one person who deserves the first bite more than I do!" I looked past Èowyn and saw Aragorn sitting on a stone. Èowyn looked and her eyes were filled with happiness.

"Yes! Let's go give him some!" Èowyn said as she lifted the pot from the fire and walked toward Aragorn; I had to stifle my laughter and follow; this was going to be funny.

"That." Aragorn said, as Èowyn walked away, "Was the most vile, stew I have ever had!" I had to sit down I was laughing so hard. Aragorn was wiping his mouth and spitting madly. "You put her up to that didn't you!" he asked in a playful, angry voice.

"No! I didn't put her up to making the soup, but…" he laughed as he pushed me off my stone and I fell on the ground! "Hey!" I exclaimed with a laugh. He laughed too, gave me his hand then walked away, leaving me alone with the sunset. I sat back down and watched in awe as the sky lit up brilliantly. I had seen a good number of sunsets in my life but none of them could compare with what I saw here. As I watched I heard soft footsteps right beside me; I looked and saw Legolas standing still, staring out at the sunset. "It's the most beautiful one I've seen yet." I said to him quietly. "I never really appreciated them until…well I came here."

He nodded as he in the grass beside me. We said nothing as we watched the sun pass behind the hills and the last tinges of orange leave the sky to navy. "Seeing all this peace is so strange," I said. "In a matter of days, Saruman's forces will be attacking these people. It is almost like…the calm before the storm; and now that I can see it, I feel so unsettled." Legolas nodded as if he agreed. I sighed, wondering about Helm's Deep. "Do you think Rohan will survive, Legolas?" He looked at the sky as he answered,

"I cannot tell. Aragorn believes that they can with Èomer, but I still doubt." I looked at him and his eyes met mine as he said, "I feel something coming, ominous masses in the distance; they unite under hatred and greed…I know that they come for these people to satisfy a taste for blood." As I listened to his words I began to worry. He looked away as he continued. "Such numbers can be overthrown, but not with these men. An army would need thousands of warriors to defeat such power; we only have old farmers and stable boys." There was silence before I got the courage to say,

"But Gandalf does ride, Legolas; he rides to seek aid for Rohan from it warriors-"

"For Rohan?" he asked, "For a country torn by sorrow and fear? For a country who banishes its warriors and sends its weak to fight?"

"That is not the fault of the king." I said, "It is the fault of Saruman. Was it not you who said that it is Saruman who spreads fear and doubt so efficiently? It was Saruman who banished the Rohirrim, not Théoden." I looked to the sky as I said my last piece of hope, "This evil can be undone, but I wonder if it can be undone in time." Legolas did not answer but stood once more and crossed his arms in front of him.

"Time." He said pensively. I shook my head as I said,

"Yes, time. The one thing that will decide this battle is the thing most scarce."

Chapter 20 Review Replies

TriGemini: Yeah, I really felt it necessary that Laura had a grounded support in middle earth: both female and similar. Well, she did have a friend in Arwen, but Arwen isn't there for her you know?

Lewa-the-punk: Hey thanks! I love it that I have a new reader! Did you read the old version of the story or just this one?

Ms. Unknown: Actually, Chapter 20 in the original version was the version where the two of them first fell in love! It was the whole conversation after the song and they fell in love. I actually changed this story because I felt that the relationship didn't grow like normal relationships do, you know? From friends to something else…

Isabel: Well, it's coming a long, it's just more eloquent than last time, more sincere…or, it will be when they fall in love! )

Crystal Moon Magic: She will eventually be paired with Legolas. I have to do a bit before anything can happen though, but I assure you that it will happen soon!

Raz42492: Thanks for your reviews! Sorry about the delay between updates!