A/N: Ooh. So close to the end. I'm going to be doing a sequel so buckle up for a long ride.
Threwen heard something. It was off in the distance, like waves lapping against the shore of a river, going in and coming out, drawing closer and then farther away. She struggled to grasp it, to figure out what it was in the corners of her mind. It was getting closer and closer, the sound becoming more distinct and recognizable.
"Threwen?"
That was it! Her name. Her name was being called. It was stronger and louder now, just an eyelid opening away. All she had to do was open her eyes and see who it was that was calling her name.
It would help if they would focus first!
Everything was a little blurry and Threwen muttered something. "Rannyn?"
There. The face was in focus.
But that's not Rannyn.
"No, it's Caraedry."
Threwen saw the young man looking down on her. She stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what to say and then she asked, "What's going on?"
"With the battle or with your physical condition?" he asked, a slight smirk on his face.
"Both," she replied, still a little groggy. She tried to move a little, noticing her arm didn't hurt as much as it had when she was fighting in her mind. All that seemed a distant memory, as if it was only a dream.
Caraedry looked at her worriedly. "Well, judging by your shoulder I would say you shouldn't be doing too much right now!" He stressed the last few words, trying to hint at her to take it easy.
She rolled her eyes and winced suddenly for moving the wrong way. Apparently some of the injuries she had sustained during the dream were still there, such as a very sore stomach from being kicked by the wizard. But this didn't stop her, as if anything would, and she slowly slid her way up into a sitting position. She asked for water and Cerrarien, who had been sitting nearby viewing things quietly, went to it.
"How's the battle? Have you heard anything?" she asked as she took a sip from one of the water skins.
Caraedry studied her for a moment, probably wondering if he should ask her some questions about what had happened to her recently, like her slipping into unconsciousness, making them think she might die from an infection, and then waking up a while later almost perfectly fine, except for a sore shoulder and a strange look in her eye. He finally decided to explain things to her now and ask questions later.
"We recently heard a very loud explosion. It shook the place pretty badly. We're not sure how things are faring."
Threwen chewed on that thought. What were those Uruks up to? What was this explosion? More of his conniving devilry? She sighed and rested her head against the rock behind her. For a moment she closed her eyes, seeing that she was no longer haunted by images of the wizard, looming just inside her mind. She was finally done with him. She was rid of him. She opened her eyes again and looked at the young man.
"Do you wish to fight, Caraedry?" she asked softly after the silence of contemplation from both sides.
He looked up at her, clearly surprised at her query. For a moment he thought about it and then answered, "I would've liked to have helped defend my people and my country. Keeping my family safe is my main priority. But with my leg still healing from being slashed by that Warg I don't really have a choice."
"How is your leg?"
Since when did I inquire about other people so much? she asked herself. But she had been changing a lot lately. It was all for the good.
He smiled and looked down at the wounded appendage. "It's doing much better. I found a healer among some of the people here and they gave me some things to put on it. Of course supplies are few, especially now, but at least its something. I can walk on it and all but it hurts. I need a cane, as you can see." He gestured toward the piece of wood he was using to help balance himself.
They sat in silence for a moment, thinking about everything, listening to the sounds of the battle waging above them. They were totally oblivious to what was going on up there, totally in the dark, and it drove them both nuts. Little did they know how bad it really was.
Rannyn considered his options. Stay up on the wall and get killed by orcs. Go down to the ravine and help protect the breeched wall and then get killed by orcs.
Not very good odds.
He finally saw that the need was greater down below, even though Aragorn and a large group of Elves were collecting to charge. He worked his way down there. He saw that Cadoc was also fighting near that area.
At least we'll go down together.
Rannyn struggled to push these negative thoughts from his mind. He needed confidence or else he would fail and he knew it. He had seen enough battles to know this. He looked around for Blaennyn, trying to see if the young man was still fighting. There. He was already ahead of him, making his way down to defend the ground now exposed because of the explosion. The Elves and a collection of Men charged and the fighting continued.
How long can this go on? How long can we hold out? What about the gate? How long will it hold?
A million questions and thoughts were rushing through his head. What if this and what if that. How long for this thing and how long for that thing. The blonde had to remember to dodge swipes from orcs and continue to slash them through. The slaughtering wouldn't stop to give him time to ponder.
He kept on, only taking time to look up now and then. There were a few comical highlights to the battle, like seeing the dwarf, Gimli, being hurled through the air to aid the fighting at the gates along with Aragorn. The two defended the gate valiantly, showing their skills as warriors. They continued on, like everyone else, hoping it would end soon.
And that's when it happened. The Uruks were too great in number and soon the King called them to pull back. Rannyn worked his way to the gates, wondering what was going to happen. What did the future hold for them now? Saruman had sent them for one reason- to destroy them, down to the last child. And now it looking like they were losing. They were pulling back.
Does this mean we lose? Will we keep fighting? Will we give up hope? What happens now?
Rannyn had reached a place where he could slip inside, soon to be followed by Blaennyn. He let him in first, keeping watch for any arrows from the enemy. Once the young man was safely inside he turned to go in. But something stopped him. He turned around, looking for that something and not finding it. He frantically searched the mass of soldiers and Uruk-hai, wondering where it could be. He found it.
"Cadoc! Come on! We have to pull back!"
The old man nodded to him and started toward him. But this time something stopped him, only this something caused Rannyn to rush to him as fast as his legs would carry him, calling to Blaennyn to help.
An orc, from behind the older man, had slashed him when he was turned trying to make his way back into the keep. Rannyn saw a look of shock pass over his face as he paled and then fell.
"Blaennyn! Someone! Help me!" the Rider yelled desperately, crouching over him. He felt everything go out of him, every ounce of hope, of energy. In a moment his world seemed to shrink.
Not again. No. Not again. This can't happen. We're going to get through. Please, not now.
Blaennyn came up and picked up the stable warden's feet, allowing Rannyn to grasp his arms. They quickly carried him into the keep, another soldier coming up to shield them from arrows and other orcs. They were safely inside.
"Set him over here," the aiding soldier said, gesturing to a spot inside the inner room of the stronghold.
Blaennyn looked at Rannyn, who was breathing heavily, as if wondering what to do next.
"Rannyn?" he asked. The normally optimistic young man looked downtrodden. "Rannyn?"
But Rannyn wasn't listening anymore. He was staring down at Cadoc's face, his old wrinkled face. That face had captured his full attention. It had captured his attention because his eyes were open. And he was trying to say something. The young man leaned closer.
"…Time…t-time…"
"What time?" Rannyn asked, searching the face in order to possibly comprehend what he was saying.
But he didn't answer. His head drooped and his body went limp.
"Cadoc?"
Ooh, drama. I love it. I appreciate reviews if you've got 'em.