AUTHOR'S NOTE The dates at the beginnings of these chapters are for the day that the chapter first starts. So this one technically starts on the 7th of March, then jumps five days to when the beacons are lit. Later on, the chapters are going to jump years, so I decided to just put dates on all of them.
DISCLAIMER I have my characters that I made up (Rae, Calíme, Emeriel, Colindor, Gauna, Daelin), but lovely Tolkien and/or his estate own all the canon characters. This chapter too contains dialogue from the movie, written by Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. All theirs.
…
March 7, Year 3019 of the Third Age
For four days after Gandalf rode with Pippin for Minas Tirith, Edoras was quiet. Most of the Rohirrim believed that the war was over. Saruman was defeated. The Uruk-Hai and wild men were destroyed and Rohan was safe.
Gauna, Daelin, and Marek had moved to Edoras permanently, as their village in the Westfold had been destroyed by the Wild Men before Helm's Deep. The Lórien Elves who had survived the Hornburg had returned to Caras Galadhon. Most planned to stay only to say good-bye before departing for the Grey Havens. Calíme, Emeriel, and Colindor, however, returned to Edoras with me. They knew the war was not over.
Legolas was quiet also. I knew he was worried about Pippin and Gandalf, but Aragorn had become strangely sullen. I knew Legolas worried about his friend. Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and Merry, the four members of the Fellowship who tarried in Edoras, stayed close in the Golden Hall.
I spent the days with the friends I held dear. Gauna, Daelin, Emeriel, Colindor, and Calíme passed those slow days by my side.
But on the morning of the fifth day, harried life was breathed into the city again. I saw Lord Aragorn running for the Golden Hall and my insatiable curiosity bid me to follow. He burst through the doors of Meduseld crying, "The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!"
A tense silence fell over the hall as all eyes turned to Théoden King. Finally he spoke. "And Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim!"
Meduseld erupted in flurry. Théoden and his marshals held short conference before each marshal departed to rouse the warriors of the Riddermark.
I found Legolas. "Will you ride?" I asked.
"Yes Meldanya. I will ride." He smiled though. "We have survived Helm's Deep and before. There will be no doom for me in Gondor." I let him go then, as he had much to do before riding.
Éowyn called me back into the Hall.
"Yes Lady Éowyn?" I said.
"We have a tradition in Rohan for the women of the court to ride to Dunharrow," she explained to me. "There we can give them proper farewell. Though you are but a visitor to Edoras, I invite you to ride with me to the encampment." She must have seen the gratitude in my face, for she put a hand on my shoulder. "I can see in your eyes the deep love you feel for him. I would that you have these few extra days with him."
I couldn't believe it. "Thank you so much, my Lady!" She smiled and left me.
So it was that after good-byes to Emeriel, Calíme, and Gauna, I rode behind the Lady Éowyn with the column of warriors. Legolas rode at the head of the column of warriors with Aragorn, Gandalf, and the King. It was a long ride to Dunharrow, taking two days, but to Éowyn and I, it felt far too short.
During the first night at the camp, Legolas came to me. "Strange things have happened," he said. He was dressed and armed for war.
"Legolas, the Rohirrim do not ride until dawn. What is going on?"
"Lord Elrond of Rivendell has come with urgent news. Gimli, Aragorn, and I are leaving at once."
"But the war! Théoden King will not ride until dawn." I did not understand what he was doing.
He put a finger to my lips. "Shh, Meldanya. We are not riding with the Rohirrim this time." His eyes darkened just a little. "We are taking the road to the Dimholt and then into the Dwimmorburg."
Confused, I asked, "What is the Dimholt? And the Dwimmorburg?"
After a moment, he only replied, "It is better that you do not know." But his eyes brightened once again and he took my hands and smiled. "Do not worry for us, Rae. The Grace of the Valar will deliver us through this battle. I will return and then we will be wed."
That caught me slightly off-guard. Sure. Now, as he's about to ride into battle and possibly death, does he bring up marriage. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
"Wed?" I asked coolly. "I know of no such promise between us." His face fell in such hurt that I felt bad about teasing him. "It is customary to ask for the maiden's hand before planning the wedding," I remarked.
He just glared at me. "Amusing," was all he said. I laughed.
His horse nickered from nearby. Sighing, he said, "I must go. Do not fear for me."
"If only I couldn't." He kissed me good-bye and I never wanted to let him go. That persistent horse nickered again and he pulled away.
"Good night," he said softly.
"Legolas!" I called as he walked away. He turned. "Ethol a nin."
He smiled and nodded. I heard the Rohirrim soldiers talking later that night with fear of the Dimholt, but no one would tell me what it was.
After the Rohirrim rode for war, I searched for Éowyn to prepare to return to Edoras. Instead, I found only one of her handmaidens crying. "What has happened?" I asked.
"Lady Éowyn will not return with us to Edoras," the girl said tearfully. "She has gone."
"Gone?"
"She rode with the warriors this morning," explained another girl, older than the first.
"What do you mean?" I demanded. "How could she do that?"
"She disguised herself as a man and rode into battle," the second girl snapped. "I watched her do it. She even took the halfling with her."
My legs felt weak. Éowyn went into battle and she took Merry with her. Legolas had ridden down a dark road that no one would talk about. The shadow of the war had spread and covered all at last.
…
Meldanya – Beloved (Quenya – Legolas's pet name for Raélowen)
Ethol a nin – Return to me (Sindarin)
