Chapter Eleven: Noting, Secrets, and News
Kendra had walked into Helm's Deep with Eowyn and immediately stopped. There were so many people crammed into the walls here. All were from surrounding villages that had been destroyed. Kendra noted the looks she was receiving but didn't respond to them. Her eyes were quickly at work, noting the structure of the fortress.
Kendra walked, noting how strongly this place had been built. You could obviously see that this place had been used before, as some of the stone was chipped and cracked. She walked up the steps to the battlements. Her eyes looked out to the opening of the pass. It was wide enough for several hundred people to walk through, shoulder to shoulder, and still give them room to fight. Off to the right side of the pass, there was a steep hill, which would be good for rolling things down. But only if there was some way to get to the top.
"Impressive, isn't it?" she heard someone ask.
Kendra turned, surprised to find King Theoden standing there.
"Your majesty, when did you get here?" Kendra asked, forgetting to bow.
"Only a couple of minutes ago. I am surprised that you didn't hear us. Legolas said your senses are remarkable for a human."
"I was busy," Kendra admitted. "I was looking around here. This fortress is impressive, though, I would not call it truly safe."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, first off, if this wall were ever breached, nobody would make it out of here alive. Secondly, I don't see any other defenses beside the main doors over there. If they broke down that door, this battle would end."
"Well, that's where the secret passage through the mountains comes in."
"Secret passage?"
"Yes, when this place was built, a cavern was carved out to hide those who couldn't fight. If the Deeping Wall was ever breached, they would follow some passages out to the other side of the mountains."
"Sounds safe. But, and I am sorry to say this, your majesty, but something isn't sitting right with me. Something feels wrong."
"Well, until you can tell me what you think might be wrong, I am going to help prepare the defenses."
Kendra bowed slightly as Theoden walked away. Just after he walked away, Legolas and Gimli walked up.
"Kendra," Legolas said, sadness seeping through.
"What is it, Legolas?" Kendra asked, looking from elf to dwarf back to elf again.
"There is something we have to tell you."
"Wait, where is Aragorn?" she asked, looking around. "No, don't tell me."
"He fell. An orc said he went off the side of a cliff. He fell into the rapids and we couldn't find any sign of him," Gimli told her.
Kendra stared at the two before turning back to the wall. She rested her hands on the cooling stone, trying to force herself away from despair. She couldn't believe it. Aragorn couldn't have died that easily. Aragorn had too much before him to die now. Hope was not a word that she was familiar with but she hoped now.