Disclaimer: I should not have to point this out by now. I do not own Lord of the Rings. The characters all belong to Tolkien.

Summary: We've seen them against Sauron, Mary-Sue and Valar knows what else. Now the Fellowship is up against an entirely new horror. Will they (and Middle-Earth) survive?

A/N – I may be switching Point Of Views around a bit later on. However, unless stated otherwise, the story is from Natasha's POV.


Chapter Eight

Theoden called to him, asking what was wrong. The answer chilled me to my bones.
"Wargs! We are under attack!"


My mind started running through all the swearwords I knew of. I stood frozen until Bella's voice shook me out of my shocked state.

We ran toward Eowyn, who was protesting that she could fight. She gave a faint scowl when her Uncle refused and told her to lead the people to Helms Deep. She looked ready to protest further when I grabbed her arm. "Eowyn, these people need a leader. Their king just galloped off to fight, your brother is who knows where, so that leaves you. Lead us, please."

I was not about to admit it, especially in front of a four-year-old, but I was scared out of my mind just then. Eowyn needed to lead before the people started to panic more than they already were.

My friend looked at me. "Do you not want to fight, I have taught you how?"

I gave her an 'are-you-out-of-your-mind' look. Why did my friend have to choose the most inopportune moments to insist on proving that she could do more than act as a china ornament. "But I am not skilled enough to go into battle and survive! I prefer fights where I stand a chance of coming out relatively intact! Your people are panicking; they need someone to lead them! Don't even think about suggesting me because I do not even know where Helm's Deep is!"

Finally, she gave the barest of nods and started calling out orders. I breathed a sigh of relief; Eowyn could be unreasonably stubborn when she wished. Bella tugged on my arm, her eyes wide. I lifted her into my arms and followed after the White Lady of Rohan.


A good hour later, we came in sight of an open plain. Up against the cliffs on the other side of said plain, a very solid looking fortress was built. From the relieved cries behind me, I formed the correct assumption that this was Helm's Deep.

Behind us, a woman I did not know spoke to Eowyn, her voice overjoyed, saying "We're safe, my lady, we're safe."


Inside the fortress, we set to finding places to put everyone and sorting out which supplies went where, and so on. Eothain and Freda had met up with their mother again, for which I was grateful.

Organizing things took up our time until the riders returned from battle, far fewer in number than when they set out. I could see King Theoden, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and several of the Rohirrim that I had known from my stay in the Golden Hall. Noticeably missing, however, was a certain Heir of Isildur.

Eowyn, Bella and I almost ran down the steps to where the warriors were dismounting. Eowyn's face fell when she took in the number of faces absent from the company. "So few. So few of you have returned." Her Uncle nodded grimly, his face hard. She turned toward Gimli, "But Lord Aragorn, where is he?"

Gimli looked uncomfortable and his voice was gruffer than normal as he answered, "He fell." Who knew that two simple words, six letters, could put a person into such a state of shock?

Well, aside from the obvious, anyway. Read the books, seen the movies, been near Eowyn since she first laid her eyes on him…

Okay, you would have had to be blind, deaf and a flat out imbecile not to have seen that she had a crush on him but I don't think many expected it to go further than that.

Manners may not get you everywhere, but they do tend to get a response from people who were brought up to be polite. I sent Bella to pull Eowyn out of it and keep her distracted for a while, then pulled Boromir aside. "Tell me, please."

Boromir told me what happened after the refugee column parted from the Rohirrim when the warg riders attacked. From Legolas's equestrian stunts, to the various styles of fighting, to Aragorn being unable to detach himself from a warg before they both went over a cliff. I would have preferred a slightly more general summary, but I suppose that as a Captain of Gondor, Boromir would be more used to giving detailed reports. When he finished, I thanked him and escorted him to the healers. He may have thought himself perfectly all right, but I was not keen on taking chances with the bloody gash in his arm. Especially when the physical well-being of Bella and myself was directly connected to how well he could fight. I finally resorted to pointing out that a sword was not much good without an arm to hold it. The ruse worked, and I went in search of Eowyn.


I finally found her in the room that we were to share while in Helm's Deep. Eowyn was seated on the bed, holding Bella, and crying.

That threw me for a loop. I am fine when it comes to upset children but I have no clue how to act when it comes to people my age and up. Especially because most of the experience that I do have is with my sisters and my younger one, Alice, would rather throw something and scream at you than accept an offer of help.

I sat down next to them, not saying anything. A minute or so after, Eowyn sniffed and wiped her eyes. I offered her a tissue from my bag and waited. My friend blew her nose and looked at me, "That can't have gone down well for my image as the 'unbreakable White Lady of Rohan' could it?"

I shrugged, "I don't think many people saw it and I am not about to rush around screaming the possibility that Lady Eowyn is subject to actual emotion if you do not wish me to."

That earned a watery laugh. "I am not that bad, am I?"

I smiled back, "Depends. There are those who see you as some higher being, distant as the stars. I suppose you would have to be at times. I see you as an actual person, with real flaws, strengths and emotions. It all depends on your view point."

I stood and wet a cloth in the washbasin, handing it over. Eowyn wiped her face, looking a bit better. We sat for a while, talking about whatever came to mind. Our families, dreams, fears and everything in between. Eventually, it began to grow dark and the topic of hopes came up. Eowyn spoke first "It may seem foolish, but do you think it possible to survive a fall from a cliff?"

I smiled faintly, "Working with children, I learned not to disregard anything as impossible until it is proven so." I changed track slightly, "Did you know that the Elves call Aragorn 'Estel'? It means 'hope'. Perhaps Aragorn will live up to the name."

Eowyn pulled a face in my direction. "Sometimes hope can prove false. Why do you cling to it so? Especially in a time when nothing is certain?"

I looked at her. "False or not, it is hope that had gotten me this far. Hope that my family could stay so when my parents separated. Hope that I could make my own way when I left school early. Hope that I could survive in a land where everything was strange and I also had a child to protect." My smile was slightly bitter, "If I do not hold to some hope, I will go mad. Simple as that."

A bell rang, calling everyone for the evening meal. We rose and I took a bracelet that I had bought recently out of my bag. It had originally been a 'hello' gift for my dad's girlfriend when she visited us in Australia, (She lives overseas) but I think it might serve a different purpose here. It was very similar to the one I wore: Dark brown thread intricately knotted and set with a carved jade flower, with four round jade beads on each side. I handed it to Eowyn. She looked at me, then at the bracelet.

I smiled sadly at the unasked question. "Jade stone. Where I am from, it symbolizes love and healing. I thought you might like it."

Eowyn accepted and slipped it over her wrist, tightening it so it would not fall off.
We closed the door and headed down to dinner.


I was around the middle of the next day when our missing ranger showed up. I won't mince words, he really was a mess. I was in the Hall, surrounded by children, keeping them occupied while their parents were busy, when I heard Gimli out in the courtyard, bellowing, "Where is he? Get out of my way, I'm going to kill him!"

Mm. It looked like Aragorn had returned. Eowyn would be pleased.

A few minutes later, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli entered the Hall to inform Theoden of the Uruk-Hai army headed in our direction. Thankfully, most of the children were too busy playing with a ball that Eowyn and I had managed to make out of rags to pay much attention. Aragorn urged Theoden to send out riders calling for aid. Unfortunately, Theoden did not share Aragorn's faith that help would arrive. Next thing you know, the women and a large percentage of the children were moving provisions into the caves and boys as young as ten were being taken to the armoury with the men to be geared for battle.

Eowyn and I followed her idea of having a weapon in the caves just in case. I had to admit that having the means to defend myself if worst came to worst did make me feel a bit better.

Slightly less helpful was the minor outburst from Legolas about how those who were fighting were frightened and the probability of everyone dying, Gimli saying that they were not warriors and Aragorn slipping into the common tongue when he shouted that he would die as one of them. Nice of him to offer support but if he had to mention death could he have at least stuck to elvish? The end result was most of the younger fighters (those not yet too proud to admit they were scared) coming to me or Eowyn to be re-assured.

What do you do when confronted with children asking if they will survive the night? What can you say except to trust to hope and that men are not automatically correct in everything they say? How do you look upon such a young face, know that you may never see them alive again, and say that everything will work out?
My heart broke with each word I spoke, shattering like glass as I watched them walk away, faces shining with hope and knowing that that hope would fade again all too soon.


We were ready to bar the doors to the caverns when we heard the sound of a horn.

Elven warriors marched into the courtyard, Haldir of Lothlorien at their head. Help uncalled and unlooked for, perhaps, but certainly welcomed.

I really do not know why people cannot say something as simple as 'hello, would you like help?' without turning it into a huge fancy speech. I'll quote it for you here:

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between men and elves. Long ago we fought, and died, together" pause while Aragorn, Gimli, Boromir and Legolas rush in "We come to honour that allegiance." another pause while Aragorn and Legolas greet and welcome them "We are proud to fight amongst men once more."

Bloody Drama King.


Not long after that, the ground begins to shake with the tramp, tramp of Uruk-Hai footsteps. In the caves, all is silent except for the occasional crying child. Eowyn and I sit near each other. Bella is silently crying in fear. I hold her close, unsure if it is for my comfort or hers.

I do not know how much time passes. Every minute seems longer than an hour. From outside you can hear shouting, and the sound of sword against shield, metal against metal. The explosion when Saruman's device destroyed the wall and the sound of falling bodies and rubble. But inside the caves, everything is quiet. No-one wishes to hear the noise of battle but all are desperate to know what is happening. Do their loved ones still live? Which side is winning? Is there hope of victory or will we be over run by the creations of Saruman?

It seems to last forever, but suddenly we hear the sounds of rejoicing, cheers that the battle is over and that we have won.

Won, but at what cost? The surviving fighters can cheer all that they bloody well like, but most of us would prefer news of our loved one's safety.


We come out into the sunlight, searching for family amongst the survivors. Eowyn and I rush toward Theoden and the Fellowship. A tall man that I have not seen before joins us soon after. Eowyn introduces him as her brother, Eomer. Apparently he and Gandalf showed up at the last minute to save the day with a thousand of the Rohirrim horsemen.

A small part of my brain rolls its eyes at that. Why is it always a thousand? And why is it always at the time when all hope seems lost? The larger part of my brain, accompanied my most of the rest of me, is busy trying not to stare at Eomer.

After things settle down slightly, we do our best to clean up after the battle. Personally, I am so thrilled at the fact that we survived that I am having trouble thinking clearly. So, back to looking after the children.

Eomer is watching as I gather them up and move to somewhere relatively out of the way. I wonder at the interest, but then brush it off as curiosity as to who I am.

I am not hoping that he is interested for other reasons. No, really, I'm not. And I'm certainly not noticing that Eomer has a very nice body. Really.


Later, Theoden, Gandalf, Eomer, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, Eowyn, Bella and myself ride off while everyone else is busy. We are off to Isenguard, hoping to find Merry and Pippin.


A/N – The Two Towers is finished! Yay!
Next Chapter: Starting the Return of The King and a surprise at Isenguard.

Review and tell me what you think.