Chronicle 9
The barricades at the entrance shook. "Stand firm." Nienna told her.
Éowyn gripped her sword and dropped ever-so-slightly into a defensive stance.
Roaring could be heard on the other side. Nienna's ears pricked and she looked at the woman, her eyes narrowing. "That is no Orc sound…" she said. The sounds became clearer and they both realised that it was voices they heard on the other side. Men's voices.
They sheathed their swords and rushed to the entrance pulling back their barricades. The men on the other side did the same. Sunlight flooded the caves as the doors were winced open.
"Where are the women and children?" Gamling asked.
"They've gone to the mountains." Éowyn replied.
Gamling directed men to go after them and bring them back.
"Did we…?" Nienna looked past him.
"Yes," he replied, "Gandalf and Éomer appeared in the light."
Nienna pushed past him and out of the inner fortress. She looked around at the victorious, looking for her friends.
Gimli came towards her, "My lady-"
His words were cut short by surprise as she flung her arms around him, holding him tightly. "Nienna?" he pulled back and looked at her.
"I'm just…" she planted a kiss on his forehead, "I'm glad you've returned unscathed."
He blushed at the kiss and muttered something about 'bloody elves', shuffling away.
She stood and watched him walk away. "Lady Nienna?" she spun to see Gandalf standing tall over her.
"Gandalf," she smiled, "You returned just in time."
"I did say that I would. I have something for you," he reached into his robes and pulled a vial from them, "This is for you."
She took it from him, studied it and looked at him quizzically.
"It will help your father," Gandalf explained, "Give this to him, and he should rise from his bed in but a few days." He leaned close to her, "One other thing; banish that Isilwen."
Nienna smiled, "Thank you. I will send it to him."
"No, you must do this yourself." Nienna opened her mouth to argue, but Gandalf raised a hand, "I will explain all later… but for now, I think there's someone you need to see." He turned her to see him walking up the steps. She turned to thank the wizard once more, but he had moved off.
She walked towards the elf, stopping at the top of the steps. He stood on the step below. They looked at each other, as though afraid to move in case it broke the peace of the moment. Suddenly he reached for her, needing to feel her warmth against him. She clung to him, never want to part from him.
He pulled back and looked into her mocha eyes. Cupping her cheek, he moved towards her. She ducked her head slightly and let his lips take hers.
The five friends rode out from the fortress and stopped at the top of the hill.
"Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift." Gandalf told them, "The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness."
Nienna let her thoughts rest on their two friends for a moment. Legolas reached for her hand, pulling her from her thoughts, and kissed it, "Be careful melamin."
"I'll meet you again at the end," she replied. She looked at the rest of the group, "Be strong, ride fast and fight bravely."
They parted ways; the remaining fellowship towards Gondor, she towards Ered Luin. None knew if or when they'd meet again.