Marie: Thank you, everyone for reading. I hope you like this chapter.
Cadoc glanced back at Threwen, her eyes wide circles of shock and fear. He hated to scare her but he knew this wasn't good. Never have been much of a fighter. He smiled at her, trying to reassure her, and then looked forward, following the soldier's directions up to the armory. Hopefully he would find Rannyn. He wanted to be close to the young man during the battle, if possible.
I wonder how bad it will be.
He marveled at the number of orcs coming. It seemed the finish of the battle had already been decided just by looking at how many the enemy had and how many they had. Not exactly great odds. Cadoc had to admit to being scared. He was but a stable warden, a keeper of horses, not a warrior. But he would fight. The old man had determination left in him. He would defend his people.
Upon reaching the armory a noisy din reached his ears. There were quite a few men getting their weapons and armor, some mere lads and others older than him. Those were the ones that concerned him most- the too young and the too old. The boys looked frightened and the men had bleak expressions. He asked someone nearby where to go first and he directed him over to where he should go. Cadoc smiled and thanked him. He was only a young man, about 16, and looked frightened but extremely resolute. He seemed so confident but the old man knew he wouldn't be once he saw the enemy. He would be quaking in his boots.
"Cadoc? What are you doing up here?"
Cadoc found whom he had been seeking. "Ah, Rannyn. It seems I am an able-bodied man." He made a small bow, trying to lighten the mood, but looking glum nonetheless. "Cadoc, stable warden, at your service."
Rannyn shook his head, a look of distress on his face. "You shouldn't be up here. You need to be down in the caves with Threwen. You're an old man, Cadoc, no offense, and Threwen needs someone to protect her, should…" He drifted off in mid-sentence.
"Should the worst happen?" Cadoc nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. "But I remind you, I'm an old man and I wouldn't be of much help anyway."
He still looks a bit distraught, he thought seeing Rannyn's face. "Don't worry, my friend. She is with Caraedry and his family. She is among good people."
Rannyn sighed. So much for the determination he'd had. It seemed to come and go. "Cadoc, why did they pick you? You're exactly the type of people we're trying to save- the old or the defenseless. I'm not saying you're utterly weak, but why sacrifice yourself? You could do so much better spreading hope to those around you in the caves. You're an encouraging man, something those people need."
Cadoc smiled at him, his face wrinkling up, his grey eyes sad. "Son, maybe I'm supposed to do this. If I'm so encouraging maybe I should be up here giving encouragement to the men. They're going to need it, I'm sure."
Rannyn fought with himself over this. He didn't want to see his elderly friend going into a battle such as this. But maybe he should have more confidence in the man. He had seen Lord Aragorn and many other leaders trying to boost morale.
Cadoc put a hand on his shoulder. "Rannyn, if this is my time, it is my time. I would gladly die doing what's right and defending my people." He waited until the young man reluctantly nodded. Cadoc smiled kindly at him again and then went off in search of armor, thinking to himself all the way.
I only hope it's not your time too.
Rannyn was mad. How could they send an old man up to fight? That was just as bad as sending a 12 year old out, which had been done. He was still determined to fight to the death, but some were children. They had their whole life ahead of them. It just didn't seem right. And the old men should die in peace, not in the midst of a battle they shouldn't have been in the first place. He decided to search out one of the soldiers that was close to Théoden. He found him talking with another man.
"Why must we use so many people who are too young or too old?" he demanded angrily of the man.
He turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "That's the point. We must use people. In case you haven't noticed we are rather short on forces at the moment and we are facing an army of ten thousand orcs. What do you suggest we do?"
Rannyn ran a hand through his hair, a nervous movement which was becoming a habit with all the events of the last few weeks. "I just don't think its right to sacrifice those which have no training in defense. We're sending them to their deaths!"
"Who else have we to send?" he asked quietly, staring the young Rider in the eye. He didn't respond. "We can use all the help we can get. I suggest you stop questioning our choices and start preparing."
And with that he turned away, leaving a frustrated Rannyn standing there with a dejected look on his face.
"Why so glum, chum?"
Rannyn brushed off the young man who had seated himself next to him on the steps outside the stronghold. He had blonde hair like every other man of Rohan and he had a bold look in his eyes, although there was a melancholy touch in them. He had noticed the Rider sitting there all by himself and was obviously making an attempt to be friendly.
He bumped him lightly with his shoulder and said, "Hey, just because we're about to go into a battle and most likely not come out alive doesn't mean you shouldn't be happy you're alive now, eh?"
Rannyn had to smile slightly. At least he wasn't in total despair like a lot of the people there. Théoden was right. Their hope hung by a thread.
The young man stuck out his hand. "I'm Blaennyn."
Rannyn chuckled, thinking this was hardly the time to start a friendship. He took his hand and replied, "Rannyn."
"Hey it kind of rhymes- Blaennyn and Rannyn." He smiled. The two sat in silence for a moment, thoughts of what was to come consuming their minds. "So, you got anybody? You know, back in the caves?"
It seems like a lot of people are asking me that question- Caraedry and now this guy. "Yes. Threwen."
He nodded. "Me too. Cerrarien is in those caves and I'm pretty sure she's not only scared for her life but for mine too." He got quiet and stared off into the night sky. "We were going to get married, in just a few years."
Rannyn nodded slowly. Both men knew what it was like to leave a loved one to go to try and protect them, hoping that they'd be able to return to them when it was all over.
Suddenly something struck him. Did he just say Cerrarien?
He turned to him. "You don't mean you're courting Cerrarien, sister of Caraedry?"
Blaennyn looked at him in surprise. "Aye, that's her. Do you know her? Amazing young woman, that she is."
"No, I met her brother on our way over here. I sort of helped him out when he was in a tight spot. We're friends. He told me about her. He's very proud."
"Then you must be that Rider that helped him after the Warg attack. Cerrarien told me about you." He looked at him with wide eyes.
"Yes," Rannyn replied softly. He didn't really like people talking about him.
His voice got solemn with respect as he said, "You're a good man."
"Thank you but I'm not better than anyone else. Any other would have tended to him if they had found him out there."
Once again they sat looking at the horizon, as if they could see the enemy coming out of the blackness. Rannyn was broken from his train of thoughts when Cadoc sat down next to him on the other side. He introduced him to Blaennyn and the two shook hands. After a while they figured they'd better go find their places. They began to stand up when they heard a sound. At first all three men panicked, thinking their foe had arrived. But no, that didn't sound like an orc horn.
They rushed to where a large group of people were collecting. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. It was an army! They had come to aid the people of Rohan. But who were they?
Rannyn gasped. It's the Elves!
"How is this possible?" asked the King who had arrived on the scene shortly.
The leader of the company turned to him. "I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance."
Aragorn was thrilled to see them and one could feel how much it cheered the men, a new source of optimism causing renewed confidence to surge through the crowd. It wasn't ten thousand but it was help.
There may be hope yet.
Don't take another one away from me. Please don't.
Threwen closed her eyes for a moment. Cadoc was gone. Rannyn was gone. And now she was left with a family that thought they were doing charity by pitying her.
"Are you okay?"
Threwen eyes opened to see Cerrarien standing in front of her. The girl was obviously concerned and she regretted thinking of her badly. She was only worried about the young man she loved. Threwen supposed she was in the same boat as her. Really the girl was handling it well but Threwen didn't believe she knew exactly what was going to happen to them if they failed. She simply nodded.
"You're worried about Rannyn, your friend, aren't you?" She sat down beside her and pulled her knees up to her chest. She studied her.
She sighed. "And my friend Cadoc. He's too old to be out there. He means a lot to me."
"Cadoc will be alright. He's a wise man."
Threwen flinched a little as Ruthiel sat down on the other side of her. The woman, for some reason, unnerved her. She always had the impression that she only felt sympathy for her. It made her uncomfortable and now with her blubbering about Cadoc she knew she must look really weak. She hated it. Plus the fact that the woman was now seated on the side of her injured arm, causing her to want to draw away a little. It was terribly sore and she didn't want anyone touching her.
Except maybe Rannyn coming back to hold her. That would be okay…
But the woman looked at her and then said quietly, "You do not trust me."
Threwen looked at her right hand, the one not in the sling. It was entwining itself in the folds of her skirt. She shrugged, not quite sure what to say.
"I am sorry. I had hoped we could be friends."
There's not much time for that now, she couldn't help thinking. She finally dared to look into those hazel eyes. Instead of pity all she saw was kindness. Alright, maybe a little pity… But for the most part Threwen sensed that she genuinely wanted to get to know her.
She took a deep breath. Time for another step. "I'm the one who should be sorry."
Ruthiel's face softened. "So I suppose we should simply forgive each other and then sit and worry about our men." She smiled and glanced at Caraedry who was sitting nearby changing the bandage on his leg.
Threwen had to chuckle. She was right. They had nothing to do. Although she seriously doubted that doing something would help her take her mind off of Rannyn. She felt something in her melt when she thought of him. She glanced sideways and became aware of Ruthiel's eyes on her.
"You love him?"
For a moment there was silence, hesitation, reluctance. Then a small nod. A look of understanding came into the woman's eyes.
"He'll be back." She held her head high and she looked confident of this, as if it were a fact.
"How can you be sure?"
She looked her in the eye. "How can you be unsure?"
Threwen was startled. How can you be unsure? She was right. She needed to trust. He promised. He'd be back. She opened her mouth to say something but found her breath was a little short. She coughed a little and croaked for water, her voice sounding wheezy. Cerrarien's face looked concerned but she got her a drink. She took it gratefully and took a long drink, hoping her now parched throat would feel better.
"Thank…thank y… She tried to say it but suddenly there was a shooting pain in her arm. She caught her breath and dropped the cup, clutching her arm but careful not to touch the wound. It almost felt like someone was pressing the heel of their boot into it. She bit her lip and winced.
Ruthiel was alarmed by this, the pain apparent in Threwen's eyes. Her eyes widened.
"What's wrong?"
Threwen tried to catch her breath but her words came out in gasps. "I…my arm…it…" She realized she'd started to press her hand against the gash. She moved her hand and saw it was soaked with blood. She looked up at Ruthiel.
The woman took action. She quickly told Cerrarien to get her brother and have him bring some bandages. After the girl had gone the short distance to talk with Caraedry, Ruthiel turned back to the young woman.
"Why? Why is this all of a sudden happening?"
Threwen shook her head, unable to speak. She knew what it was, or rather who it was. And she dreaded what the outcome of this particular episode might be.
End Note: Yes, I know, another one of the breathing episodes. What can I say? Anywho, I appreciate reviews. I'm getting really, really close to the battle. In fact, I think it'll start in the next chapter.