Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's characters, places, things, or anything relating to LotR. I only own my plot and those whom I have created for this story.


Chapter Six

The Road to Helm's Deep


It was strange to see the faces of a nation that had lived so long without any hope. Elora and Besorg had ridden quietly through the ranks of weary men, women, and children. All had the same taunt, lifeless look about them. Bodies which were hunched from sorrow, and eyes that had been tainted with a feeling of misery. The children walked like adults...for at heart...there were no children left.

She scowled, it was a cruel thing...to see a proud nation go into such decay. She glanced down at Besorg, patted his neck. Then looking around at the people walking around her, she dismounted, too ashamed to ride any longer.

Elora didn't find Aragorn, Legolas, or Gimli for a while, so instead rode alone. The way to the Deep was long, and the road perilous. Every so often the soldiers would gallop their horses up and down the long train of refugees to make sure that all was well. Elora took in all of this with growing sadness, and it was then, towards dusk, that she noticed two children, a girl and a boy, stumbling along side of her. The girl had locks of dirty blond hair and a face that had long since seen a smile. She looked no older then eight or nine. The boy, who looked slightly older, was shouldering a small bow. His flaxen hair was cropped to his shoulders and he looked straight ahead as the two walked.

The girl felt Elora's stare and turned to her, her large brown eyes curiously running over her male clad features.

The girl's brows knit in confusion. "Are you a girl or a boy?" She asked rather bluntly.

Her brother jerked, apparently startled at the girl's words and turned to look at the strange woman walking with them. His eyes, equally as large and brown as the girl's, were wide with horror.

"Léofcild!" He scolded. "You do not ask people those kinds of questions."

The girl looked slightly hurt, "I was not asking anything rude, I just wanted to know because she's not wearing a dress."

The boy looked helplessly up at Elora, "I am terribly sorry milady. She is not used to strangers."

Elora had to fight back a laugh and instead grinned. "Its all right." She said, "I don't mind."

The boy did not smile in return.

"What are your names?" She asked.

"I'm Eledferth, this is my sister Léofcild." He said simply.

Elora nodded, "Pleased to meet you. I'm Elora."

Eledferth's brows knit in a similar fashion as his sister. "You were in the great hall." He said suddenly, "When the Worm was driven out."

Elora, surprised, nodded, "Yes...how did you know about that?"

"Everyone knows about you." Said Léofcild. "They said you were very brave."

Elora laughed outright this time. "I don't know about that."

"But you did help to drive out the Worm." Eledferth persisted.

Elora nodded reluctantly, "A little." She thought of the fight the day before, and how Gandalf had returned Theoden to his rightful self. She had not seen them drive Grima out of the Golden Hall. But by the way Eledferth spoke his name, she guessed that Grima had not been favored by the people of Rohan.

"You did, Papa saw you." Continued the boy, "He is a guard, he saw the whole thing."

Elora flushed, eager to change the subject she said, "I'd like to walk for a stretch more, would you to like to ride my horse? He needs the exercise."

Léofcild nodded quickly, while Eledferth looked slightly hesitant. "Your sure you don't mind?"

"Of course not! Here, I'll give you a leg up."

Eledferth had no objection after Elora's reassurance, she stopped Besorg and lifted the two into the saddle. Both were light as a feather. Léofcild reached out to stroke the dun's silky coat and Elora almost thought she saw a gleam of pleasure in the little girl's eyes as she did so.

"So, where are your parents anyway?" Elora asked.

"Papa has to ride with the Riders. And Mama had to go up to aid the other woman in gathering food and wood for the camp tonight." Eledferth said softly as he watched his sister stroke Besorg's neck.

"I like horses." Léofcild said quietly.

Eledferth nodded, she could see pride written on his bronzed face. "Léofcild wants to be a Rider like Papa when she grows up. I told her she couldn't. But I am going to be one. I'll be just as brave as Papa."

Léofcild's lip stuck out in a mild pout. She turned to Elora, "Eledferth says only boys can be Riders. Don't you think I could too?"

Elora frowned, her knowledge of Rohirric history was a bit rusty at the moment. She couldn't recall anything that was to happen later in the story, she had to just take it as it came. But she did recall one thing about the people of Rohan.

"Perhaps you'll become a shield maiden."

Léofcild's eyes widened at this thought. "Do you really think so?"

"Why not? You could be a warrior, dressed in the garb of Rohan. Maybe that is better then a Rider."

Eledferth said nothing, but the girl's eyes did not return at once to their normal size. "Are you a sheild maiden Elora?"

Elora laughed, "I'd like to think so."

Eledferth stared for a moment longer, then asked. "Where do you come from Elora? You do not speak like the Rohirrim."

Elora looked at him in surprise, these children were wise for their years. "I am not from Rohan." She answered slowly.

"Then where are you from?"

She paused, "Far away, very far away."She caught Eledferth's eyes and he slowly nodded in understanding.

"Why does your country not help us with this war?" Asked Léofcild, "Papa said we might win if we only had a bit of help."

Elora blinked, that was a hard one. "Well, I don't think they know about it. We live so far from here..." Elora gazed around, desperate to change the topic. Eledferth knew too much for his own good, and what she did not want right now was a lot of questions. "Would you like to go faster?" She asked quickly.

Both nodded, and Elora smiled. She clucked and Besorg, who had pricked his ears at this noise, broke into a fast trot. Eledferth held onto his sister tightly, but as they continued, she thought she saw a shadow of a smile pass over their faces. She slowed Besorg to a walk, and he snorted as she did so "Did... you... like... that.. then?" Elora asked breathlessly.

The brother and sister exchanged glances, and nodded, small smiles creeping onto their wind swept faces.

So their day passed, Eledferth was not as talkative as his sister, but the three of them got along quite nicely. When finally they stopped to make camp and their mother came over to collect the two, she thanked Elora heartily and asked her to eat the evening meal with them. Not finding her previous companions in sight, she accepted.

The meal, though simple, was delicious in and of itself. The children's mother, Éohides, was a slight woman with hair that Léofcild had clearly inherited. Despite appearances, she was a strong woman, and a brave one at that. Their father, Blanca, was tall and broad shouldered. He had the same flaxen hair as his son, and, he was in no desire to let Elora off the hook about her deeds the previous day.

Once they meal had been finished, she bid the family good by and led Besorg to a quiet spot on the outskirts of the refugee camp. She set up a camp with the provisions Éowyn had given her. She made a fire and let the dun graze a little ways off from where Elora sat thinking. She drew one knee to her chest, stretching the other leg out and absent-mindedly stroked the fire with a long stick.

She remembered her home. The small farm on the hill. The horses. Her parents training the horses in the arena. Her sister riding out on the trails with her. She shook her head, she didn't want to remember. For it was only a painful reminder that she did not know how to get back home. She thought briefly of Snowy and his memory made her wince. She jerked in surprise at the sound of footsteps nearing the fire and she turned round to see her visitor.

"Elora?"

It was Aragorn. She started to rise but he kept a hand on her shoulder and sat down opposite of her.

"Aragorn, I couldn't find you earlier..."

He cut her off with a smile, "I rode with King Theoden." He paused, "But it seems you've had no trouble fitting in."

Elora smiled, thinking of Eledferth and Léofcild. "No, not at all." She agreed softly.

Both were silent.

Aragorn clasped his hands together. "Have you had any luck remembering how to return to your home?"

Elora shook her head.

"Our road leads to danger." He warned.

Elora looked up at him, meeting his grey gaze. "I'm am not afraid."

He nodded, not pressing the issue.

"Where do you live?" She asked.

Aragorn looked into the fire. "Up north, with my kin sometimes, sometimes no where at all. I travel most of the time."

Silence again.

"What about your home Elora, what of your family?"

"My family? My parents work with horses. I have a little sister, and..." she paused, "an older brother." She paused again, "But I hardly see him anymore."

Aragorn nodded. It was strange, talking to the character of your favorite book. She couldn't help but wonder why she had been placed in the middle of all of this. The thought almost made her smile.

Besorg came over to Elora and nudged her. She turned to him in surprise and laughed, "You are hungry my friend?" The horse snorted, she smiled and fed him a piece of bread she had leftover from her supper.

Aragorn smiled. "He seems to like you. Tell me, what's his name?" he asked.

"Besorg."

"That is a good name."

Elora shrugged. "Lady Éowyn gave him to me." She looked up at the dun as walked off a ways for more grass.

She didn't speak again on the matter. She did not want to become too close to the dun. She knew there was trouble brewing, and she had no desire to lose a friend all over again.

"Being at peace with horses is a good thing, they are a noble animals. You must be well respected where you live."

Elora did not reply. She didn't want to think of home. She didn't want to think about anything referring to it.

"Sometimes," Aragorn said gently, "the burdens we carry are much easier if shared with someone."

Elora looked up at him, and saw wisdom in his eyes. She turned away, she had no desire to tell Aragorn her troubles, he had enough of his own.

He rose, "Get some rest, we have along journey ahead of us."

Elora nodded, stretching out by the fire. She feel asleep almost immediately, the efforts of the day finally kicking in. Her head still hurt from her excursions and it had only added to her weariness.

Aragorn watched her with small smile on her face, then looked up at the dun. He was standing lazily over his mistress.

"Take care of her." He whispered to the horse in Elvish. The horse flicked his tail, then slowly, curled his legs under him and laid down next to Elora's still body. Aragorn watched, pulled a blanket over her. Before he rose once more and turned to leave.

"Well done my friend." He said, The dun knickered softly. Then Aragorn turned, walking back to his own camp. Leaving Elora sleeping soundly next to the horse as the fire died down to embers.


Yes, I finally updated. I hope you all like! Just so everyone knows, Eledferth and Léofcild are 'Loricka and Frodrick' from 'A Loss of Memory'. Same people, different names. :)

I will try to update soon! But I make no promises...

TO BE CONTINUED...