Chapter 26; The Horse and The Rider

"Where are the horse and the rider?" I heard Èowyn ask quietly after the caves were closed for sometime. I looked at her quizzically as she continued with a lowered head. "Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadows." We sat on a raised boulder we'd found; she looked up as she finished. "The days have gone down in the west. Behind the hills into shadow…" She paused and looked to the floor again. In the cave I heard the rustling of clothes and feet from the many women and children in the cave. I saw a small child sitting with her mother against an enormous stalagmite; one of the blankets I brought was wrapped around their shoulders. We waited in the cave for about an hour and all I had heard was the occasional scream of a child and the quiet shushing of mothers. I turned to Èowyn and asked her,

"Is there any more?" Èowyn shook her head and I sighed. "It was a nice poem…" I stumbled over my words as I said, "Melancholy, but nice…it's fitting isn't it?" Èowyn didn't acknowledge me, I knew she thought about the same thing I was trying to avoid. I looked at the floor then up to the large wooden doors that kept us from the outside. Two guards stood outside them, I already checked; they sounded like two elderly men by the way they spoke. "Èowyn please don't despair…" I said as I put my arm around her leaned my head on her shoulder. "Please remain hopeful, for me…for all the other women and children in this 'cage.'"

"Hopeful of what?" Èowyn replied with a shake of her head, "What is there to hope in? Hope in death? Life? Hope that those guards will open the doors and I will fight alongside Aragorn and my father?" I lifted my head and she looked at me angrily. "What would you have me hope in?" At that moment, a beating rhythm echoed in the caves; I looked around searching for the source of the beat but found nothing. It was discord echoing in my ears until I realized that it came from above us; marching feet was what we heard, marching Uruk feet.

Some of the women began to shriek, "What is that?", "What is happening?", or "This is the end!" and the children began to cry. It was a pandemonium as I stood on my rock and called,

"Everyone calm down! Don't shout!" No one listened as I continued, "It's all right!" I looked over the women and still none paid any attention to me. I had stopped shouting, figuring that it would be of no more use, when Èowyn stood and called,

"My people of Rohan! Listen! Our men and sons are above us fighting for our lives and theirs!" the women began to turn and look at Èowyn. "They stare these very creatures in the eyes and we are fearful of the sound of their footsteps?" the women began to quiet as Èowyn finished, "Honor your sons! Honor your men! Be brave and believe in them!" I watched Èowyn as she spoke. She sat down and for the only sound heard was the pounding of feet that came from above; the natural sounds of the women and children of Rohan grew slowly until the beating and the voices intermingled.

Èowyn looked back down at the floor as things returned to normal.

"Did you believe anything you just said, Èowyn?" I asked. She did not answer; with a heavy sigh I left her saying, "I need to stretch my legs. I will be back." I wove in and out of the mass of women and children until I came to a secluded spot in the back of the caves. I was so angry at Èowyn's sense of hopelessness that I felt like screaming. I beat my fists against the cave wall nearest me and grit my teeth as I tried to control myself. The throbbing in my head seemed to beat to the same rhythm of the pounding Uruk feet; I turned around, leaned against the wall, and stared at the ceiling as anger and fear filled my heart. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas were up there and for some selfish reason I wanted all of them down in the caves with me; to be near me, to feel the same trepidation that I was feeling, or maybe to protect me. After a while my anger left me, and all that remained was my fear; fear that three men, well, a man, an elf, and a dwarf whom I cared deeply were so close to death's face.

"Here child, take this." Said an elderly lady. I looked to my right and there she was, the woman who spoke to me and in that instant the pounding feet stopped. "Ahh." She said with relief. "At last that wretched pounding has stopped!" She held out to me a crude cup and I was slow to take it from her. "It's all right." She assured me. "It's not but water."

"Thank you." I replied and drank from the cup; I immediately felt the cool water tame my throat and cool my head. I sighed as I began to feel more comfortable.

"Well, aren't you a pretty young crea-ture?" she asked me kindly and I smiled. "Though…I have not seen you before…"

"No," I agreed, "you probably wouldn't have. I am not of Rohan."

"You didn't need tell me that dear. I could tell from across the cave that you were not of any house in Rohan." I began to open my mouth but she stopped me. "Now…I'm not going to ask you where you are from child, that is for you…to figure out for yourself." I was a bit confused at this but before I could speak she continued. "You know, this is the second time I have been in these caves." She took a breath, "The first time I was here my husband fought and died defending this fortress, and it was here that he finally found his peace. He was a good, handsome man; strong both of heart and arm and blessed with loyalty. I, being of a lower class than he, thought it foolish to love him. When I found that he returned my affection I thought the entire nation would be glad of us, and they were…save his family." She shook her head and laughed as she continued, "He fought for years trying to keep his relationship with both his family and I, but we both knew that he could not have his family's affection while we still loved each other."

I held the cup in both of my hands as she continued. "He spent all of his life torn in two, searching for a place in between where both sides would be satisfied. And it wasn't until his death when he finally realized that he did have both his family and I. It did not matter the condition of the relationship, only that those relationships made him who he was; the man whom I fell in love with. Though they were not connected strongly anymore, his family was still very much apart of him." I took another drink from the cup, emptying it. I handed the cup back to her and as she took it she said, "Promise me child that you won't waste your life torn in two. My husband lost the best years of his life to a losing battle and learned all too late. Embrace who you are and give that self to the one that you love." I looked at her and she smiled at me. She sighed as she stood and said; "Child, never forget who you are, what good is only giving only a half of yourself to the people who care about you?" I watched the woman as she nodded to me and walked away. I watched her as she limped from group to group offering water to those who needed it. I then began to think about what she said, Wasting my life torn in two? I shook my head and rested my head in my hand as I thought until a question crossed my mind,

"Am I giving my entire self to all the people I know?" I surely gave everything to them…right? I glanced across the cave and saw Èowyn now standing and looking around the cave. She was probably searching for me, but as the seconds passed I became less and less concerned about Eowyn. My eyes felt dry as my eyelids became heavier. I rested my head on my shoulder as my eyelids closed and I drifted to sleep.

Pain…suddenly my head hurt…screams of women and children and the sound of falling rock. I opened my eyes and rubbed my head; there was a rock lying on the ground by my hand. It must have hit my head…I put my hand on my forehead and felt a big bump on the right side. I brought my hand back down before me and saw that blood dotted my fingertips. Everywhere around me rock and dust fell from the ceiling and the woman cried. The cave was in chaos and I wondered how long I had slept. When I stood I put my hand to my hurt forehead once more and a woman rushing past shoved me into the cave wall.

"Hey!" I shouted as I began to leave but a small crowd of women running as if their lives depended on it stopped me. "Wait!" I called to the last one of their group, "Wait! What has happened?" I grabbed her shoulder and she whipped around with fear in her eyes.

"The cavern, the cavern! The great blast! Our men have failed us!" she yelled at me; she then shrugged her shoulder curtly to rid herself of my hand and continued to run.

"What?" I asked myself in confusion and ran into the center of the cave. If I wanted a straight answer I would have to find Èowyn; I may have been mad at her but now wasn't the time to cling to petty arguments. I finally saw her on the far end of the cave near the entrance; she was helping so people wounded by the falling rock. I forced and shoved my way through the hustling crowd and made my way to Èowyn. "Èowyn! ÈOWYN!" I saw her look up from a child she was bandaging, glance at me, then look back down to what she was doing. Her face was that of annoyance or irritation, but I shrugged it off. I finally arrived at Èowyn's side and asked breathlessly. "Èowyn! What's going on?"

"Here you are." She said snidely, "Where were you?"

"I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner but I fell asleep! Wha-?"

"You must have had a terrible time…" she said shortly. I looked at her in confusion and she pointed at my forehead. I shook my head and said quickly,

"No, a rock hit me. What happened in the cave?" Èowyn suddenly became very serious and answered,

"There was an explosion above. The entire cave shook; thankfully only a few of us were hurt." She helped the child whom she was bandaging to his feet and led him gently to his mother. "We have still no news from above." She said, "and all we can do is wait until it arrives." As if on cue two men of Rohan came into the caves. The first was gaunt faced and covered in sweat. He was obviously a warrior, I could tell by his age and armor; another helmeted soldier followed him in. Èowyn looked up at the man who entered and said with concern,

"Gamling! What is going on?" both of the men bowed their heads quickly and the one called Gamling answered breathlessly,

"My lady, the army of Saruman has breached the deeping wall." I could not believe what I had just heard…clearly neither could Eowyn.

"It has been breached?" her voice was fearful and shocked as she asked. Gamling shook his head quickly before he answered.

"Yes. They are entering the fortress at great speed. My lady, you and the women and children must make for the mountain pass at once. We have very few guards able to barricade the entrance to the caves for long." At the presence of the men in the caves the women began to gather around us and listen to the conversation. "Our army has been forced into the keep; your time is running short and you must leave with haste!" Before Èowyn needed to say anything the woman began to move; the women in the cave were unpredictable and unstable in a state of panic, but when their lives were in the balance they knew exactly what they needed to do. It took about forty-five minutes to get the majority of the women out and moving towards the mountain pass; Gamling and the soldier with him remained to help. Although we did have their help, it proved not enough; with in moments we heard clanging armor, grunts and growls of war and hatred, and the gurgles and cries men dying.

"The DOOR!" I shouted and ran to it. Gamling followed and when I arrived I could hear the Uruk-Hai: their feet and armor, their growls and breaths, their weapons. I looked at Gamling and said, "Whatever barricade you arranged is now overcome." Suddenly the door banged, and I was startled…they were trying to come in. The small lock that held the doors shut would not hold long. "Gamling! There must be another way to bar the door!" I looked behind me and saw that still not all the women have left. "Hurry! We're running out of time!"

"Here!" Gamling shouted as he found a dark piece of wood lying against the side of the cave wall. "Help me!" he called to me as I helped him move it and lift it into the slots made on the door. The wood was old, it was soft and I could feel that it was rotting.

"This won't last! This wood is rotting!" I said to Gamling as I looked at the long plank. He looked at me quickly and answered,

"We don't need it to last long, just long enough." We moved away from the door and he asked, "You are Laura daughter of William are you not?" I looked at him somewhat surprised. "You came with Gandalf and Lord Aragorn?"

"Yes I did." The door boomed again and I could hear the straining and slight cracking in the wood. I then saw a gloved hand extended in front of me; it was Gamling's hand offering me a handshake. I took it and shook strongly as I laughed. The door boomed again and the wood strained once more, but it seemed as if the women weren't moving any. I dropped his hand and moved back to Èowyn and the guard. "What is slowing the women?" I asked.

"I don't know!" Èowyn said fearfully. The door boomed again, but louder this time. The log that was holding the door was breaking. I looked between the women and the door quickly then asked Èowyn,

"Do you have your sword?" Èowyn replied angrily,

"No I do not have my sword-"

"Then you must hold off the Uruk-Hai until the women leave the cave." I said to Gamling and the other soldier. "I can help you-"

"You must come too Laura!" Èowyn said.

"Èowyn I have a weapon. I will help these men defend the others as long as I can! Who knows how many Uruks wait outside! Besides, I have no idea what pass there is in the mountains! You must lead them! I am sorry that this I happening but I will not let any of those Mordor scum touch those women!" The door boomed again and the wood that held the door broke halfway. The soldier drew his sword and ran to face the door. Gamling drew his as he watched my conversation with Èowyn. I could see the rage bubbling in Èowyn's eyes as I finished, "Èowyn, I am sorry, I know how much defending your people means to you, but if I can fight I will." I looked at her one last time and hugged her as I said, "Please forgive me." I clung to her as waited for her answer and surprisingly she hugged me back and said,

"Go. But promise the next time there is battle before our feet, we fight together." I let go of her and put my hands on her shoulders and said,

"I swear it." Èowyn hugged me once more and I hugged her back tightly, dreading what I was about to face. I watched her for a while before drawing my sword and going to the door alongside Gamling. As I waited I breathed deeply and looked my sword over with care: the leather and metal hilt was still as beautiful as the day I received it in Lothlórien and suddenly I felt confidence rush through my body as I thought of Lothlórien. That moment the door burst open and ten or twelve Uruk-Hai swarmed through the door. I stabbed my sword through the throat of the first Uruk who approached me before anything else. I pulled my sword from his throat then attacked another who came right after it. These Uruks had thick armor and long swords making them formidable opponents. I used my shoulder to push one that attacked me to the floor then I attacked the one behind it. After a few parries I was able to strike his leg, and then stab his throat. I then pushed another Uruk aside and struck another. Their numbers dwindled and I heard a man scream. I looked and saw that the guard who came with Gamling had been struck down. In my moment of pause I was grabbed and restrained by an Uruk arm; it wrapped around my neck while another Uruk began to swing his pointed sword at me. I truly thought I was through but before the sword touched me another sword protruded through his front and he fell dead. Behind him was Gamling who threw a blade and hit the Uruk who held me in the neck. I landed on my feet as the Uruk fell behind me and I gently massaged my neck. All the Uruks were dead now; I looked to Gamling as he said,

"We bought them time." I looked and saw that all the women and children had vacated the cave.

"Thank the lord." I said breathlessly before I asked Gamling, "Gamling, where is the king? We must go to him and tell him that the women and children are on the mountain pass."

"But if we go out there we could very well be out numbered." He said in protest.

"If we wait we will be vulnerable. We won't look for fights. We'll sneak our way to where the king is. Now where is he, Gamling?" Gamling thought for a moment or two then said quietly,

"Come, follow me, but we must make haste." I sheathed my sword and followed Gamling as we ducked behind rocks and hid in shadows. We finally came to a stone hallway lit by torches; there were no hiding places in this hallway so all we could do was pray that no Uruks would come. We finally came to a wooden door. Gamling tried to open it but it was locked tight. "It's locked!" He exclaimed and I became scared. At that moment I heard the clanging of armor coming up the hallway on my right. I looked at Gamling and we both began to bang on the door and call, "Let us in! Please open the door!" but it wasn't fast enough. Endless numbers of Uruks came pounding up the hallways; we drew our swords and it did no good, we were outnumbered. As I went to strike one warrior another would punch me in the face, as another slammed the flat of his blade onto my head.

"Help!" I screamed but to no avail. As I was beaten so was Gamling, I could hear him. Suddenly another sound came to my ears…an opening door…splitting air and the twang of a bowstring…cries and shouts of battle, of men in battle. Suddenly Uruks' around me began to fall and I felt a strong hand grab my arm and pull me out of the hands of the Uruk-Hai. The Uruks screamed and I swung my sword at their hands if they tried to grab me. I blinked my eyes once and when I opened them I was on the other side of the wood door. It was being pounded against from the outside as many men of Rohan held it shut. The hand that held my arm still held onto it.

"Laura!" a familiar voice said. I looked and it was Gimli who had a hold of my arm. I smiled as I saw his face and hugged him. I laughed and said,

"Gimli! How glad I am to see you!" He was surprised by my hug and he laughed.

"Laura!" he exclaimed, "Your…your face! It is beaten!" It was at this time that I was glad that I could only feel the pain on my face on not see it. "Uruk scum, we'll show 'em." He then helped me to my feet and left my side. I was in the chamber where Théoden had told Èowyn and I that we had to remain in the caves…how ironic.

"Laura!" I looked to my right and saw Aragorn calling to me. He walked toward me with open arms and Legolas at his side. I went to them smiling as much as I could with my beaten face. When I came to them Aragorn smiled and clapped a hand on my shoulder. "It is good to see you." I smiled and Legolas said with concern.

"You are hurt."

"It is nothing more than scratches." I replied to him. "The women have fled the caves and made for the mountains."

"But why are you not with them?" Aragorn asked and I replied,

"Because in order for them to flee, the Uruks who overtook the cave had to be stopped." I looked between Legolas and Aragorn then continued, "Myself and Gamling remained and we came to tell the king that the women are safe." They nodded and suddenly there was a great bang against the main doors of the chamber. I looked and saw a group of Rohanian warriors gathered in front of the door holding it shut. Aragorn left and Legolas looked at me and said,

"I too am glad you are here…and well." I smiled and nodded. I then heard Gimli say,

"The sun is rising." We looked to him then I looked to a nearby window. A beam of light shone through the high stone window and cast a light on the floor. After all of the darkness and shadow that had surrounded me the beam of light looked solid, tangible. I sighed as I whispered,

"I did not stay in the caves…I'm sorry." Legolas looked over his shoulder at me then stepped forward and placed his hand on my shoulder as he said,

"I understand." He said then looked to the king; I turned and did the same.

"Yes. Yes!" King Théoden exclaimed to Aragorn. "The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time. Let this be the hour when we draw swords together." Men began to bring horses into the chamber and I looked at Legolas with a smile as I said to him,

"I am here…there is no going back." He smiled too and grabbed a horse for the both of us. I mounted my horse right next to him and looked straight ahead. What a deep train of thought Théoden must have been in to not even notice my arrival.

"Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn!" at that moment a great horn sounded in the keep and resounded in the walls and the rooms of the fortress. It filled my heart with courage as I felt the sound vibrate and gather in my chest and ears. I drew my sword and held it high as Théoden shouted out, "Forth Eorlingas!" The men around me began to shout out in a fierce battle cry; I looked to Legolas, who looked to me and shouted,

"Hold on!" At that moment the doors of the hall burst open and I dug my knees into the horse's sides sending him onward. As the Uruks piled through the doors myself and the others plowed through the hordes with all the power our horses could muster. We rode with our swords high all the way out the doors of the fortress and down the stone path into the heart of the battle. There I fought, with the horn of Helm's deep blowing behind me and I forgot all the fear that held me back. I swung my sword with great strength taking down Uruks one by one. I urged my horse forward sometimes to plow more over with his hooves and to take my sword to fresh Uruk-Hai flesh. I fought until I saw rays of the new morning sun creep into the hills. I looked and at the high part of the deep stood a white rider with two thousand men on horseback. The Uruks all turned to this new threat; as they charged the sun itself seemed against them and aided as the men on horse back plowed through the remaining mass of Uruk-Hai warriors; ending the Battle of Helms Deep.

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Elvenladygreenleaf4ever: Thanks! Well with every chapter the romance is coming sooner and sooner!

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Elwen of Lórien: Thanks for the compliments! Believe me, this story has come a VERY long way!

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