Niori, Jane and Carla lounged lazily on the front stairs leading into the Golden hall. They had stayed here after Wormtongue had been banished and Gandalf had taken the king to his son's grave.
Yawning, Niori turned over on to her stomach and sprawled on a stair. Carla sat a step above her, fiddling around with one of her arrows and Jane sat below them both, staring up at the sky with a faraway look on her face.
" So." Carla started to speak, but was cut off as Gandalf, holding a little boy in his arms and Theoden strode past them, with a little girl, who had a dirty, tear streaked face, following them.
After they had entered, the three girls looked at each other. " Should we." Jane started.
" Yep," Carla finished, placing her arrow back into her quiver and bounding to her feet, quickly followed by Niori and Jane. The three rushed up the stairs and re-entered the hall.
The two children that had entered with Gandalf and the king sat were seated at a small table, where Lady Eowyn wrapped heavy blankets around their shoulders and placed a bowl of food in front of them.
The three girls quietly made their way to where Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli were. Both the king and Eowyn gave them quizzical looks as they stood beside Aragorn & company, but quickly brought their attention back to the two children, where the little boy began to speak.
He told them that their village had been attacked by the men of the wilds and that their mother had sent them here to warn the king.
" They gave no warning," Eowyn spoke, casting a sad glance at the children, " they just attacked and destroyed their village,"
" This is but a taste of the terror Sauraman will unleash," Gandalf spoke from his seat beside the king, " and all the more potent is his attack, for he is driven fiercely by fear of Sauron,"
" I know what you would have me do," Theoden said, " but I will not risk open war!"
" Ride out and meet them, draw them away from your woman and children," Gandalf insisted, not giving any heed to what Theoden had said.
" You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak," Aragorn spoke up from where he stood, " Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return to fight for you, their king,"
" They will be 300 leagues away from here by now," Theoden sighed, " Eomer cannot help. I will not risk further death of my people. I will not risk open war,"
" Open war is upon you," Aragorn spoke, stepping further towards the king, " whether you would risk it or not,"
With his eyes narrowed, Theoden approached Aragorn, and stopped when they were only inches apart. " When last I looked," Theoden growled, " Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan,"
" Oh for God's shake!" Carla cried angrily, " Listen to Aragorn! He, unlike you, has some idea of what he's talking about! Half, if not all of Isenguard will attack you! If you don't prepare for a tough battle, YOU WILL ALL DIE!"
" You have no right to talk to me like that," the king hissed at Carla, " you may hold high in Aragorn's view, but to me you are nothing but a woman,"
" You have no right to talk to her like that!" Niori cried, stepping up beside her cousin, " She's right! And you're an idiot not to listen to Aragorn and Carla both! If you stay here and hope that Sauraman will decide to spare you all, Rohan will fall!"
" Niori," Legolas spoke, placing a hand on her shoulder. Niori turned back to glare at him, but when she saw his face, realized now was not the time for her to run her mouth, no matter how right she was.
" Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked.
After a moment, Theoden spoke.
" We shall go to Helm's deep," he said, " and we shall leave at first light," ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
" What an idiot!" Carla mumbled to herself as she, Niori, Jane, Gimli and Legolas made their way to the stables, where Aragorn and Gandalf already were.
" He only tries to do what is best for his people," Legolas told her.
" And hiding in a big mountain is the answer?!" Niori said sarcastically, " Please!"
" You're right," Legolas told her, " but it is not for you to decide. Theoden is the king, and it is his choice right or wrong,"
" When the hell did you get so smart?" Jane asked the Elf, raising an eyebrow.
" Very funny!" he growled.
They pushed open the doors to the stables, and just as they entered, jumped out of the way just as Gandalf raced past them riding Shadowfex.
Aragorn walked back to them. " We shall stay and help fight for Rohan. We shall be the ones to keep sure Rohan's defenses hold,"
" OH Goodie," Jane muttered sarcastically.
" Come, we must catch rest tonight, the journey to Helm's deep will be long and full of dangers. The king has already offered us rooms in the hall, at Gandalf's persistence,"
Silently, they returned to the Golden hall, just as one of the guards were announcing to the people that they were to leave for Helm's deep come dawn tomorrow. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later, Niori sat in a far corner of the throne room with Carla's CD player and a pair of headphones she had found in one of the corner pockets of Carla's bag, on.
All around her, guards were hurrying here and there, taking things needed for the trip to Helm's deep. She leaned back against the wall and silently listened to her "Linkin park" CD.
Her attention was caught when lady Eowyn entered the room, knelt in front of a chest, opened it and pulled out a sword. She swung it around her and then whirled around, sword high, to block Aragorn's own blade. She moved quickly, and then pushed Aragorn's blade off her own.
Niori clicked the off button and watched with interest.
" You have some skill with a blade," Aragorn commented, putting his blade back into its sheath.
" Woman of this country learned long ago that those without swords could still die upon them," she replied coolly, " I fear not death nor pain,"
" What do you fear lady?" Aragorn asked softly.
" A cage," she said, her taking on a clear ring of pride and spirit, " to stay behind bars until use and old age accept them, and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire,"
" You are the daughter of kings," Aragorn spoke, " a shield-maiden of Rohan. I do not think this will be your fate,"
Eowyn looked at him with puzzled and awe filled eyes, and without another word, Aragorn turned and left the room. Eowyn stood frozen for a moment, and then Niori spoke.
" He's right. You are good with that thing,"
Eowyn's head whipped around to see Niori sitting on the floor.
" Why are you so different?" Eowyn asked her, as Niori got to her feet and moved towards her, " Why does he, Lord Aragorn, allow you to travel and fight beside him and treats you like an equal. You are a human woman, so why does he permit you to fight?"
Niori sighed and gave Eowyn a quick grin. " I come from a whole different world than you. Where I come from, men and woman ARE equal. Woman can do anything they fight,"
" I wish I could see your world," Eowyn sighed, " I wish this was such a world where I, a woman, could help fight for my land. I can wield a sword, yet they treat me like a jewel to be kept hidden away,"
" Don't worry Eowyn," Niori smiled, " you'll get your chance to fight for Middle-Earth, I'm sure. Your spirit is made of fire, kinda like me, and no one will be able to hold you down me.I broke away,"
Eowyn smiled " Thank you Niori,"
" Welcome,"' she said, " but I better be going.I didn't tell Carla or Jane where I was going, so they probably , they probably wonder where I am,"
They said their goodnights and goodbyes, Niori gathered up Carla's CD player and then started to walk down the dark hallway towards her, Carla and Jane's room,"
" Niori!" a voice called from behind her. She turned and saw Legolas walking towards her.
" Hi," she said with a smile.
" I was looking for you," he said as he reached her.
" Well," she said with a smirk, " I guess you found me. So, what do you want?"
" I was getting tired of practicing with my bow by myself, and thought."
" Maybe I'd like to join you?" she finished, " I'd love to, but lets not practice, a walk .I don't feel like practicing,"
With that, the two walked back down the hallway. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Later that night, as Carla did her routinely exercises, Jane slipped out of the bedroom the three girls shared, a semi-stupid idea forming in her mind. Going down the long hallway, passing the other guest rooms where Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn slept, she came to a large, open room filled with lots of armchairs and a blazing fire. She could just see someone in one of the chairs reading a book, and hoped it was the person she wanted to see.
It was.
Aragorn looked up as Jane walked over and sat down across from him.
"Hello," Aragorn said, going back to his book.
"Uh...Aragorn?" Jane said awkwardly, as the Ranger continued to read
his book," I uh. was just um... wondering if you would- but you won't want to- uh... teach me to use a sword?" " Could you say that again, please?" Aragorn said kindly, closing his book and turning his gaze to the girl. "Well," Jane said in simpler terms," I have a sword, but I don't know how to use it. So-" "So, you want me to show you how," Aragorn finished with a smile. "Oh my God would you?" the girl cried eagerly, bringing her chair closer to his. "Well, since we may be forced upon open war, I will want you to be prepared..." Aragorn thought aloud. " Sure. Meet me in an hour in the courtyard, for we leave tomorrow at first light for Helm's deep." Jane grinned," I'll be there." Smiling madly to herself, she walked quickly from the room and into the vast hallway. In her daze-like state, she crashed into Niori who was coming from a hallway that branched off. " Where were you?" they said together, stepping back. " Were you with Legolas?" Jane asked slyly, moving around her friend to face her. " That's none of your damn business," Niori snapped back, her eyes narrowing, seeming to dare Jane to venture further into the subject. "OK, well...I'll be seeing you-" Jane turned to go back to her room, but Niori stopped her.
" Wait! Were you with Aragorn?" Niori asked innocently. " My business...remember?" Jane said sweetly. She turned the other way, and walked back to the bedroom. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~AN- Well, there's the chapter, hope you liked and all, so bye that was short, but remember, please review! ~