Ch. 2- Dead Fathers

"No."

As the disguised woman said the word, her cool indifference faltered slightly.

Anourir raised an eyebrow. Elfhelm steadily regained control of herself and there was an awkward silence before Anourir chanced to speak again.

"Ah, maybe you mistake my intentions."

"No." she repeated firmly, shaking her head to enforce her descision.

"I will have you know, sir, I am not of lowly birth-"

"I know. I know. I knew…your father." She said gently.

"Then you must know why I am obligated to defend my city."

"You are obligated to continue on your way and save your life." She said with a tone of harshness.

Anourir paused momentarily. His brow wrinkled and his eyes flamed. Elfhelm gazed over him, wondering what had become of the young man she had met so many years ago. She had remained mostly unchanged since their last meeting, but Anourir seemed older, sadder.

"Please tell me what is afoot in the southern lands. I have not been to my home in some time. These darkened skies coming from beyond the Anduin worry me. I am no master of lore but I can sense some evil has awakened. Why does Rohan ride to Gondor's aide?"

Elfhelm sighed and took a seat. "Please, seat yourself." She said tiredly. He followed her instructions and took a seat a few feet away from her.

"As you well know Gondor has been attempting to hold Osgiliath at the river for many years." Anourir nodded to this- he had never enlisted to fight, but he knew well of Gondor's army.

"A new evil comes from the place they once called Minas Ithil. They were…not able to hold the Anduin."

Anourir turned pale and swallowed thickly at this.

"We received the Red Arrow a day ago."

Anourir lost yet another shade of color from his face and his eyes darkened. He closed his eyes and Elfhelm could see the wheels turning behind them, the calculations being fearfully drawn. By now or dawn at the latest, Gondor would be laid under siege by forces pouring out of Minas Ungol. Osgiliath had been the last and most strongly maintained outer defence in the south- east. If they had broken through that…She shuddered slightly at the thought of Minas Tirith's pure white walls marred with unholy devices, it's cobblestone streets dirtied with the blood of the innocent…

"I understand the danger." Anourir said finally in a dangerously quiet voice. "But I still wish to accompany you."

"I cannot allow it."

"Why? I will follow behind in any case if you will not have my company. Do you hold some grudge against me, or my father?"

A change came over Elfhelm that was visible outside even her helm. She could feel tears welling up behind her eyes, but refused to let them spill out. "No…" she choked. "I will not allow the son of Dain to share the fate of the Rohirrim." She muttered a word under her breath, one that Anourir did not recognize. It sounded foreign, but filled the tent with a sense of power, of resilience.

Anourir thought to himself: There is something strange about this person. My father never mentioned in all his life being friends with a strange man as this, and he had little relation with the people of Rohan.

"If you knew my father so well, I am sorry to report that he no longer lives. He became ill three years ago and passed away shortly after…" Anourir stopped when he saw the effect of his words on the warrior in front of him.

Elfhelm was deathly silent, unmoving. She was shaking with the effort to control her voice and appearance. "I'll have to ask you. To leave. Now. It is late. I have things. To attend to." She said through gritted teeth.

A guard appeared at the doorway and gruffly escorted Anourir outside. As he left, he swore he could have heard the sound of muffled sobbing inside the tent.

Inside the tent, Elfhelm had removed her helm and was unabashedly crying. She had just lost a man who had been more of a father to her than her own blood. The first man to have ever shown her kindness, who took her in as a runaway, and later as an orphan.

The bearer of that news had been his only son, her first and closest friend, who did not even recognize her. The boy she had regarded as being a brother. Who had turned into a man… who had not recognized her even though…

…even though he had claimed to have loved her.

thank you EruntaleofRohan for the review... yes I created this character some time ago to use for LotR Rp ing and decided that it would be interesting to write about the story of her life up until the battle of Pellenor, which is the only time that character is ever really mentioned in the books. I thought it was a strange name that could possibly have a strange story to it...so I elaborated. Hope you enjoy!