Chapter 9: Balrogs!

Hermione and Eowyn joined the women in the store rooms gathering supplies. Large trunks had been brought down, and were being filled with whatever was needed for the journey.

"Where are you from, Hermione?" Eowyn asked after a while.

"You probably won't believe me even if I told you," replied Hermione. Eowyn looked up from the food she was laying in a trunk with a confused look on her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Hermione sighed. "Ron, Harry, and I were sent here from another world."

"Another world?"

"I knew you wouldn't believe me," said Hermione. "Never mind."

"No, I believe you; you are with Gandalf after all." Hermione smiled.

"Yes, we did come with Gandalf. He is a friend of the man that sent us."

"Where are you from if you are not from Middle Earth?" asked Eowyn as she closed the trunk. Hermione pulled out her wand, and continued to pack using magic. Eowyn and the other women looked at her with wonder.

"We are from a magical world. Harry, Ron, and I are magical," she said quietly.

"Like Gandalf?" someone asked.

"Gandalf's magic is different, his is from almost like a higher power, ours is taught to us. That's who sent us, someone who teaches us magic."

"Do you know why you were sent here?" Eowyn asked. Hermione shook her head. "I am sure that you will find out."

"Yeah, I'm sure we will," Hermione said quietly, and she left to find Harry and Ron.

Harry and Ron were busy helping people pack to leave. Ron was surprised when he felt a delicate hand slip into his. He was relived when he turned and saw that it was Hermione.

"I thought you were helping that girl," said Harry.

"Her name is Eowyn, and I stopped. I want to help you two; keep you out of trouble," she explained.

"We're fully capable of staying out of trouble on our own!" Ron said.

"No, you're fully capable of getting into trouble on your own," retorted Hermione. Ron smiled, and kissed Hermione on the cheek.

"You know," said Harry. "I think I prefer when you two would fight all the time." Hermione shrugged.

"Doesn't matter what you think, I thought you knew that," she said. Her face fell slightly when she saw King Theoden.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked her.

"I can't tell you," she replied. Ron pulled her over to a secluded corner with Harry in tow.

"Come on 'Mione, why did you act so weird when you saw the King?" Harry asked her. Hermione shook her head, and laid it on Ron's shoulder. Ron slid his arm around Hermione's waist.

"Something happens to him," Harry said slowly. "Am I right? Something happens to him?" Hermione shook her head.

"He dies. Not yet, near the end of everything, he's killed in a battle," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Why are you talking so quietly?" asked Ron.

"Legolas as amazing hearing, even though we can't see him, that doesn't mean that he can't hear us," she explained.

"What else happens?" asked Harry.

"I can't tell you!" Hermione snapped. "It's too dangerous! I've already told you that! If anyone here in Rohan finds out what I've just told you, they'll try to change it! It's not meant to be changed; it's supposed to happen like this. It's like why you can't go back and stop your parent's deaths, they were supposed to die, whether you like it or not." Without saying another word, Hermione stormed off. Harry and Ron looked at each other. Harry looked shocked at what Hermione had just said. Ron read his face.

"Don't worry about what she said, mate. Hermione's just really stressed out about everything," he said.

Harry shook his head. "'Mione's right. My parents were supposed to die, and if anyone finds out what Hermione said, they'll try and change it. It's, it's like Sirius," he added quietly. Ron patted his shoulder, and went off to make sure Hermione was alright.

Hermione stormed off from Ron and Harry, and found Eowyn. She was busy helping people get ready for the long journey. Her long, wavy blonde hair fell down to her waist.

"Eowyn," Hermione said. "Is there anyway I could help?" Eowyn turned around.

"I'm afraid not. We are just about prepared to leave. You should probably go tell your friends, so they don't get left behind," replied Eowyn. Hermione turned around, and saw Harry and Ron walking towards Aragorn. Their horses had been fed, and were ready for the journey. One was also being provided for Hermione. It was a simple brown horse, but was very strong.

Theoden began to lead his people out of the city to Helm's Deep. Hermione mounted her horse, and trotted up alongside Harry and Ron.

"You okay?" Ron asked her when he saw her.

"I think so. It's a little bit awkward, that's all," replied Hermione.

The trail was long and tedious. Aragorn had dismounted his horse, and was walking besides it, talking lightly with Eowyn. Hermione found herself mysteriously tired, but pushed her fatigue to the back of her mind. Harry and Ron were talking about Middle Earth in general. Ron had begun to read The Lord of the Rings books, which had surprised his girlfriend that he actually picked the book up. He was trying to explain to Harry the basic background of each character, but there were too many to count. Even though Legolas was off scouting some distance ahead of the group, Hermione was afraid that someone would overhear their conversation.

"Be careful what you say, Ron," she directed. "People might overhear you."

"Why are you so worried about what I say?" demanded Ron. Hermione nudged her horse forward, so she was directly next to Ron.

"If someone hears what happens before it's done, then things could go drastically wrong. All I want you to do is be careful. Please, for me?" Hermione pleaded. Ron obliged, and went back to talking to Harry.

After another hour, Hermione got off of her horse to stretch her legs. Eowyn held back to talk to her.

"How are you fairing?" she asked her. Hermione looked up from the ground.

"Pretty well. Helm's Deep is farther away than I thought," she replied.

"Oh, yes. We don't go there often. Only for emergencies." Hermione nodded as she dug through her saddle bag for a fresh robe.

"Eowyn," she said. "Would you mind holding my horse's reigns for a minute?"

"Of course." Eowyn took the reigns as Hermione unfastened her filthy robe. Underneath, she had on a pair of jeans, and a formfitting light blue t-shirt.

"Such unusual clothing," murmured Eowyn. "We could have provided you with some gowns if you were in need of clothing," she said louder. Hermione pulled on a fresh Hogwarts robe.

"Oh no. This is fine. It's what I'm used to wearing. If I told you something, would you believe me?" she asked.

"It depends on what you tell me."

"Harry, Ron, and I are magical."

"Magical like Gandalf the White?" Eowyn looked very confused.

"In a way." Hermione pulled out her wand. "We use wands in replacement of staffs. The principles of our magic differ also, but yes, in a way, our magic is like Gandalf's." Eowyn looked like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the mysterious people that had arrived with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf were magical also!

"The times are unusual, and for that reason, I don't doubt your tale," Eowyn said with caution.

Meanwhile, Ron noticed Legolas looking at something at a distance with a curious look. Something didn't seem right. Suddenly, Legolas was yelling.

"We're under attack!" shouted Aragorn. Hermione immediately mounted her horse, and pulled up next to Ron and Harry.

"Lady Hermione, I cannot allow you to fight. It is too dangerous. I want you to help my niece to led the people to the deep," Theoden said in a powerful voice. His voice made it seem like his word was final, yet there also seemed to be a slight leniency towards Hermione. Theoden rode off the Eowyn who was about to mount her horse. The two began to argue, but Eowyn eventually began to give in.

Ron pressed his lips against Hermione's briefly. Hermione was shocked, but began to kiss him back.

"You be careful, both of you," she said quietly, and she left without another word to help Eowyn. The people were in a panic, because of the sudden attack. They looked to Eowyn, who began to lead them in the direction of Helm's Deep. Hermione urged the horse forward, and helped people along.

With much anger, Hermione left the battle behind. What confused her even more was the fact that the battle wasn't in the book. She began to worry if her knowledge was really useful here in Middle Earth.

Helm's Deep was cut out of a large cliff in Rohan. A long brick pathway led the people up to the massive gates. Inside, there were refugees all over the place. They would find an empty spot on the streets, and stay there. They parted when they saw Hermione come in on her horse. She felt so tall and powerful next to the sad looks given to her by the people of Rohan. Hermione dismounted her horse in front of the Great Hall, and began to help Eowyn settle in the new occupants of the deep.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update! I'll try not to let it happen again! I've been busy with chorus, school, and I'm posting my original stories at (I use the same penname Tina101 if you want to check them out!) Until next time!

Tina101