Chapter Thirteen: Back from the Dead and Friends Quarreling

Kendra had fallen asleep, propped against the wall. She had come down to sit behind the battlements and she had promptly fallen asleep. No one had wanted to bother her and they all gave her a wide berth. So it surprised her when she felt someone nudging her leg. Kendra blinked her eyes, trying to clear them of sleep.

"Hi there, sleepy," a very familiar voice said.

Kendra started awake. There, standing as plain as day, was someone she thought she would never see again.

"Aragorn," she said, not believing her eyes.

Aragorn smiled as he looked down. Then, he held out a hand to help her up. Kendra took it and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. Once she was on her feet, she surprised him by throwing herself against him. It took him a few seconds but he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug.

"Legolas and Gimli said that you had fallen," she said once she had pulled back.

"I did fall. And I didn't think that I would make it."

"Then, how did you survive?"

"An angel came to me and gave me a new life."

Kendra smiled, knowing exactly who he was talking about. Aragorn turned and started walking before stopping to look back at Kendra.

"Kendra, will you fight with us? I think we may need your help this night," he said.

Kendra nodded and followed Aragorn to the armory.

Kendra stood in the armory and watched as old men and young boys were handed armor and weapons. She shook her head, saddened at the sight. This was too common for her and it saddened her heart to see it happening here. There were so many here that had so much to live for, whether it be a family they have yet to see or family that they want to see grow.

A shirt of mail was handed to her. Kendra took it, looked it over quickly, and then handed it right back. Most of the chains were rusted and it looked like it would fall off her at any point. She walked out of the main crowd and towards Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.

"...These are not warriors," she heard Aragorn saying.

"Most have seen too many winters," Gimli said.

"Or too few," Legolas added.

Legolas turned his back to them before saying something in elvish. Kendra watched his face, noting that it seemed to twist in mockery of something. Aragorn replied in elvish, seemingly trying to pacify the elf. Whatever Legolas said after that proved to be the final straw for Aragorn.

"Then I shall die as one of them!"

All movement stopped as the Rohirrim turned to look at the quarreling friends. Kendra stood there, eyes shifting between man to elf and back to man. Quickly after his outburst, Aragorn turned and left. Legolas started to move after him but Gimli stopped him. Kendra watched as the scared faces of the young boys watched Aragorn leave and then turn to Legolas. Kendra leaned back against the nearest wall, one not covered with weapons and she slid down so that she was sitting on the floor.

'Friends quarreling before a battle. That cannot be a good sign,' she thought.