I do not own Lord of the Rings nor its characters or places. Only Mÿne is mine.


Before the caravan had packed up their things again and was ready to move, it was already noon. The people of Rohan fell into a line again, hoisting along their children, belonging and their sick on carts. Mÿne watched them for a moment before she grabbed the reigns of Hasufel and climbed on the horse. She rode with Eowyn for a while, chatting happily and watching the people of Edoras.

"Will we reach Helm's Deep soon, milady?" one of the men asked as they passed them

"Yes." Eowyn answered, stopping her horse. "It will be but an afternoon walk." The villagers sighed happily and thanked her.

"I have not been in Helm's Deep before." Mÿne said to Eowyn. "What is it like?"

"It's a fortress, cold stone walls against a big rocky mountain. Nothing but a cage really, if you ask me." Eowyn said as she shook her head.

"You don't like it?"

"No, but if it keeps our people safe..." Eowyn said, ending the topic. Mÿne could sense it made the girl uncomfortable. In her mind she made an imagine of what the fortress might look liked, but she was sure it was something different than Rohan.

They soon chatted about their surroundings, forests and places they'd like to travel to. Hopes and dreams.

"I long to see the Ithiliën forest." Mÿne said. "It is said its pine trees give off a scent that calms everyone who walks among them. Exotic birds live in it, and animals none has seen before."

Mÿne thought about it for a moment, a small smile on her lips. Because of Sauron's threat th ey had not visited it before, her and Aragorn, but she would sure love to some time, when the times were hopefully better.

"Of course, the forest of the north are nice too. They're very old but I guess you can say they have a lot of stories to tell." she said.

Eowyn nodded in understanding, a small smile on her own lips as well, as the sound of hooves on grass broke their silence.

"I'd love to see it some day. Something other than stables and long grass." Eowyn said, "There are a lot of places I want to go. I've heard a lot about Elven realms, ancient trees on our borders and mountains so big that snow covers it entirely... The men go out to discover the world and the women get left behind, to tend for children. I want to see something for myself of this world before I depart it."

They met up with Aragorn, who rode in the front of the caravan. He was caught up in his own thoughts. Eowyn climbed off her horse and pointed at the jewel around his neck, with his collar open like that, it shone proudly in the sun. Mÿne looked at the pair as she navigated Hasufel calmly between the people.

"Who is she? The woman who gave you that jewel?" Eowyn asked as she looked at him.

Aragorn smiled at her, but didn't gave an answer. Mÿne thought of her own jewel, around her own neck. She fingered it as she looked at the caravan. The stone of the jewel scraped against the rough skin of her fingertips. She closed her eyes as she listened to Aragorn and Eowyn's converation.

"My Lord?" Eowyn asked again as she eyed him worriedly.

"She is sailing to the Undying Lands, with what's left of her kin." Aragorn said quietly.

Mÿne looked at him and sighed. Yes, none could say 'no' against the power and wisdom of Lord Elrond. It was no surprise he would have Arwen sail away in these troubling times, even if it meant she had to leave the love of her life behind. Mÿne released the necklace she was given by Galadriel when Hasufel started to act strange. She neighed and stomped her feet nervously on the ground. Her ears were flattened against her head.

"Whoa girl, what's wrong?" Mÿne asked as she patted the neck of her horse.

In the distant a yell was heard, one of pain and despair. Aragorn noticed it too and gave the reigns of Arod to Eowyn. He ran forward, to Legolas, who jumped over the rocks, to their side. He had been gone for a moment, Mÿne now realised, and had probably been scouting ahead. A moment later Aragorn ran back, as fast as his legs could carry him.

"What is it? What did you see?" the King yelled as he rode past Mÿne and Eowyn.

"Wargs!" Aragorn shouted back, "We're under attack!"

He ran back up to Mÿne and Eowyn, almost out of breath. Eowyn quickly gave him back the reigns of Arod and Aragorn mounted the horse, Gimli soon as well, with some help of soliders. The villagers started to panic. They grabbed each other and cried as they fled from the caravan, lost from their flock.

"I'm a rider too!" Gimli yelled at Aragorn. "Let's have their heads, lad!" and Aragorn took off with Gimli.

"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep." said the voice of King Théoden.

Mÿne blinked her eyes in surprise as she rounded in her seat. She looked upon the royal face of King Théoden, who neared them on a bright white horse. For a moment she thought he had been talking to her.

"I can fight!" Eowyn retorded bravely.

"No!" the King's voice boomed. "I need you to do this. For me." and after that he rode back to the head of the caravan and called out for all riders.

Mÿne gave Eowyn an apologetic look before she pulled on the reigns of Hasufel and let her run forward, responding to the King's call. She could almost feel Eowyn's eyes pierce her back as she rode.

They set in a sprint quickly. From a distant Mÿne could see the group of Warg riders that came their way. Ugly beasts they were, looking like a crossing between a wolf and a dog, only bigger. They snarled and howled as they ran, sending the blood in Mÿne's veins cold. Her eyes turned to the scene before her, where Legolas stood on one of the rocks of the soon-to-be battlefield, shooting arrows at the Wargs.

"Legolas!" Mÿne yelled loudly, trying to get his attention. In a battle of cavalerie he would only get in the way or himself killed, skilled Elven warrior or not.

He turned around, eyes searching for her and Hasufel before they lit up in recognision. He grabbed for the gear of the horse and swung on her back, landing behind Mÿne.

"Nice trick!"

"I call it improvisation." he said, and through his voice she could hear a grin, as he grabbed another arrow.

"You shoot, I'll ride!" she said as the King shouted a charge.

The group of warg riders were speeding up, aiming to collide head on with the horses. Closer they got, and now she could truly see how ugly the beasts were. Long teeth, flatttened snouts and angry snarls. Mÿne gulped as she could avoid one of the beasts. She steered Hasufel to the right and Legolas shot the beast with perfect aiming. It was chaos. Several horse riders were thrown off their seats as the beasts pushed them over. The orcs on them with bows struck the riders that lived after their horse was dead.

"On the left!" Mÿne shouted to Legolas, pointing at a beast that was aiming for their deaths. "LEFT!" she screamed, and right before the beast could charge, it was shot.

Next to them rode an orc, laughing as he grabbed his sword. Mÿne reached for her own and cut his head off before he could do anything. She turned the horse around, avoiding a cliff and Legolas was just in time to save Gimlli, who'd fallen off his horse again.

"That one counts as mine!" he roared, hacking his axe on another beast.

They rode around for a while, shooting and cutting orcs and beasts. Mÿne realized that it was not that big of a group Warg riders. She looked around, seeing the dismounted orcs were now being finished of by the Rohan riders.

They managed to get the last orc, trying to run from the battle field. Legolas struck him down with an arrow through its head. Dead bodies filled the fields, both Rohan and Isengard, Horse and Warg. Then they came across something Mÿne didn't like.

"That's Arod." she said as she pointed to the brown horse, who laid on the ground, dying.

A wound as large as a shield on his leg was visible. It neighed softly and sad as they approached it. Mÿne climbed off her horse and ran over to it. She hated what she had to do, but leaving it like this was too heartwrenching to look at and they were in no position to save it anymore, not in this state. Right now it was only suffering. She grabbed her sword and with closed eyes she ended his pain.

"But where's Aragorn?" Legolas stated as they looked around the battle field.

Panic raised in Mÿne's heart as she turned to every corner, but could not find her friend and mentor. How could he have vanished from the battlefield? Had he simply gone beyond their sight or had something happened to him?

"Aragorn?" Gimli shouted as he walked across the field. "Aragorn!"

Mÿne saw a dead orc lying not very far from where Arod was. They approached it, and saw it was not dead...yet. Gimli pointed his axe at him.

"Tell me what has happened and I'll ease your passing." he offered.

The orc started to laugh, coughing up blood.

"He's...dead! He took a little tumble off the cliff." the orc coughed. Mÿne gasped as she brought her hands to her mouth. Her heart felt like it had been pierced by something so sharp.

"You lie!" Legolas said as he grabbed the collar of the orc.

The orc laughed again, opening his hand. Something shiny laid in it. Mÿne pushed Legolas out of the way and snatched the necklace of Arwen out of its filthy hands. Trembling she held it in the air, before her eyes, as she gazed on it. Its silvery lines were still unstained and even though she was certain the stone had shone brighter in past days, it was still in one piece.

Tears filled her eyes as she approached to cliff. The roaring sound of whirling water boomed in her ears as she looked over the cliff, cautiously. It's funny, somehow she expected Aragorn to hang onto the cliff with one hand, but he wasn't... Her disappointment made room for silence and despair.

Legolas, Gimli and even the King approached her. They stared at the river for a few seconds. For a moment Mÿne thought she'd seen a head in the waves, but her eyes were fooling her. There was no body in the water, and if it had: it would simply been swept away by the current.

"Get the wounded on horses! The wolves of Isengard will return!" the King boomed at his riders. "Leave the dead."

Mÿne turned around quickly. She glared at the man that called himself King.

He eyed her with sympathy, putting a hand on her shoulder before he turned away and told her to follow. Mÿne rejected the idea and made for Hasufel. She took a little sprint, the soles of her boots making soft noises on the grass, and grabbed the reigns of the horse.

"Mÿne!" Legolas shouted as he ran after her. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to look for him!" Mÿne said as she climbed on the horse.

Legolas ran to stand in front of her. He spread his arms and shook his head.

"Not now. The warg riders we've slain were scouts. Soon this field will be filled with orcs. They are marching to war, they will not stop to kill you!" he said as he took the reigns from her clenched hands. Tears spilled over Mÿne's cheeks.

"I cannot leave! I will not!" she shouted at him, angered. "He is your friend too, is he not?!" and she averted her eyes to her saddle.

With Legolas holding the reigns of Hasufel, she knew she wasn't going anywhere. She would be too slow to walk, Legolas would catch up to her quickly enough, and she was certain she would lose wrestling the reigns from him. She wiped away her tears and Legolas climbed on the horse too. But he didn't answer her, and she didn't speak.


They reached the stone fortress that was called Helm's Deep around the evening. It was dull place, solid, but dull. They rode through the gate and Legolas let go of the reigns. He climbed off the horse and watched as the gate closed.

"Mÿne, are you going to continue not speaking with me?" he said as he looked at her with his blue eyes.

"I'm not talking to you." Mÿne mumbled as she stayed on Hasufel. From behind a stone passage a woman came their way. It was Eowyn and she was gazing at the wounded.

"So few..." she started. "So few of you have returned..."

"Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives." the King answered, tired.

Gimli, who had rode with one of the guards appeared from the crowd. He sighed as he addressed Eowyn. Mÿne had not the heart to tell her. She was still horrorstruck herself. It felt like someone had stopped her heart, as if it had no right to exist.

"Milady..." he said softly.

"Lord Aragorn," Eowyn said stern, but her voice shivered already, as if she knew the truth. "Where is he?" and her eyes flew up to Mÿne. With reluctance, Mÿne looked back at her and tried to muffle a sob.

"He fell..." Gimli said and his voice broke. Eowyn backed away, looking at Mÿne and her uncle in disbelief. She quickly ran away, hands covering her face.

"Mÿne, I-" Legolas started again.

"Save it. I do not wish to hear it." Mÿne said to him as she dismounted Hasufel. She guided it to the stables, leaving Legolas alone at the square.


She could not tell why she was so mad at Legolas. It wasn't just because he didn't let her search for Aragorn. She too understood that there'd been no time to do so and the danger had been too great. But then why was she mad at him? Why couldn't she talk normally to him. She sighed as she placed Hasufel's gear on the stands. She picked up some hay and fed it to her.

"I don't know what it is, Hasufel. I suppose you cannot help me either." Mÿne whispered as she stroke the horse's nose.

She placed a kiss on it and closed the door of the stable. She felt lonely without Aragorn. She sunk down against the wooden door and started to sob softly. Soon there would be war on them and she didn't know if she had the strength to face it. With Aragorn gone she didn't know what to do. Why? Why had he fallen so easily? It was nothing like him! If only she'd watched him more carefully... Though the battlefield had been too crowded, she had been too busy slaying the orcs. When she closed her eyes Aragorn's smile was the only thing she could see. Slightly crooked with that one chipped tooth, his eyes gentle. It hurt so much. Not only had he been her teacher, he had been her brother and friend as well. She stayed in that position for a while, on the ground, crying softly.

When her tears were dried up and no more sobs came out of her throat, she got up. Mÿne made her way to the stairs that led to the Hall of the King at Helms Deep. She dragged herself up the stairs and pushed open the heavy wooden doors. In the middle of the Hall stood the King, surrounded by his men. They were looking at a table with parchment. Their heads turned to her, and Mÿne felt her cheeks redden.

"Mÿne." the King spoke softly. "Come. We will have need of your help as well."

So Mÿne had no choice but to walk over to the table and gaze upon a drawing of Helms Deep. Gimli looked at her with a small smile.

"We have strengthened the doors of the gate with wood, milord." one of the men spoke. The King nodded.

"What about the Outer Wall?" Mÿne asked, placing her finger on the drawing. "If the enemy takes the outer wall, it would only be moments before the keep itself would be overrun."

"We'll place archers there. However, we do not have many." one of the men answered for her harshly.

"I'll guide them." Legolas offered, "I have great experience and can see much."

The King nodded at that. Mÿne's mind started to work. She was an archer too, wasn't she?

"The Outer Wall will be struck the hardest, I fear. I want to be there to defend it." Mÿne said, looking at the King. "With your permission of course, milord." she added quickly.

"As you wish." the King said, nodding again.

"Well, I cannot abandon my friends, can I?" Gimli said gruffly.

"Gimli, the walls are high. You wouldn't be able to see a thing." Mÿne retorted at him, raising her eyebrows.

"I'm not going to sit and wait somewhere, watching you two." he said, crossing his arms.

Mÿne sighed deeply and shrugged, though with a small smile. It was good to at least know that she would face the coming battle with her friends, even though her situation with Legolas now was a bit...hard to define. Of course he was still her friend but she could not deny the turmoil of emotions inside her. Soon after that King Théoden send everyone away and Mÿne left to get some rest. She left for the chambers on her right. Stairs led her to the room she was sharing with Eowyn, for they were with too many to get their own rooms. Mÿne longed for a deep sleep, gathering up her strengths was something important if she had to stand her ground on the Outer Wall. The whereabouts of the enemy were unknown and they could be here any moment. Through the heavy wooden door of her room she heard sobs. She opened the door and looked at Eowyn, who laid across the bed, her head buried in her pillow.

"Eowyn..." Mÿne said dumbstruck and quickly she closed the door. How long had she been here, crying like that? Eowyn looked up from the bed and dried her eyes.

"I'm sorry Mÿne, it's just-" As sudden as Eowyn stopped, it had began again. Tears rolled over her cheeks and Eowyn fell back on the bed.

Mÿne walked over to her and sat down on a free spot on the bed.

"What is it? Why do you weep, Eowyn?" she asked as she gave Eowyn a moment to calm herself. Eowyn sat up and looked at the door, expecting someone to barge in directly.

"It's just...Lord Aragorn made me feel so happy. So safe. And now he's..."

"...gone." Mÿne finished for her. "I know how you feel. He was my mentor, my brother and my friend. He has been there for me the entire time and just like that he's gone."

Eowyn began to cry again, she rocked herself from side to side while she buried her face in her hands. Mÿne hesitated but placed her arms around her for a moment.

"I felt loved by him!" Eowyn cried out. "I found safety. I found happiness. I found hope! It's all gone now!"

Mÿne hushed her as she laid her head on top of hers. Her tears flowed too and they sat on that bed for a while, both crying.

"You're still loved, Eowyn, daughter of Kings. By your people. By your friends. By your family." said Mÿne softly.

Eowyn seemed to calm from that. She stopped rocking herself and dried her cheeks.

"I am." she said, regaining her composure.

"Yes you are. And war is upon us. Your people need you more then ever." Mÿne said. Eowyn broke free from the comforting hug and looked at Mÿne. The Eowyn she knew had returned. Stern, but loving.

"We're not going to win this war are we?" Eowyn said softly as she smoothed out the sheets on the bed.

Mÿne stood by the door.

"I do not know." Mÿne said as she looked out the window to see the sun setting. It would soon be dark.

"But I will not let your people die without a fight. They will have to cut down my body and break my bones if they want to reach you and your people. And I will not let them easily." Mÿne said, she had found new hope and strength.

"Our people." Eowyn corrected her. "You once lived in Rohan, you're still one of us." and she looked at Mÿne.

"Our people." Mÿne repeated, smiling.


They went down to the hall for supper. The King sat on one of the tables as he munched on a piece of bread. Gimli and Legolas sat on the same table, each busy with their food. However, Mÿne didn't want to face Legolas, so she grabbed some stew, a piece of bread and an apple and disappeared to the open night sky outside.

They had set up guards outside, who were warming themselves by the small fires that were lit. Mÿne walked over to the Outer Wall, nodding at the guards as she passed them. She had to walk slow, to not spill her stew. When she reached a calm spot she sat down. She watched the sky as she munched on her bread. The star that she'd named Boromir shone brightly that night. She dipped her bread in her stew and smiled softly. It tasted a lot better then the stew Eowyn had made on the road, as well intended as it had been. She sighed as she remembered how Aragorn tried to dispose of the stew, and failed. He wasn't here any more, but in a way Mÿne had calmed down about that. Maybe crying and sharing her feelings about it with Eowyn had helped her, maybe it was the nervousness of the upcoming battle... She did not know, but it had made her feel better in a way. She placed the empty bowl of stew aside and let her feet dangle from the Outer Wall. Within short time the enemy would be here. And she would be here too, defending the last hope of the people of Rohan.

"No...Our people." Mÿne corrected herself softly as she grinned.

She would give it her best and she would stand stronger than she'd ever done. A strange feeling welled up inside her. Excitement came close to it, but there was also fear and anxiousness. Would she survive it? Would they all survive it? She fingered the hilt of her sword and nodded. Giving her best was all she could do for now. But she could not do it alone, and she didn't have to. Her friends were here too.

She got up and walked the path down to the stables. She fed her apple to Hasufel who neighed happily as she stroke her.

"You have to be a big girl too you know." Mÿne whispered as she placed a small kiss on it's head. "But I know you'll be."

When she returned to the Hall most of the people were gone. The king was gone and only Eowyn, Gimli and Legolas remained, along with some guards. Mÿne pulled up a chair and sat down at the fireplace in the middle of the hall. She pulled out her pipe and weed and lightened it. With her other hand she fingered the necklace she was given by Galadriel. As from tomorrow she would take on the role of Gwethilcylleth, Sister-bearer. Galadriel told her she used Nenya to protect her people. Now Mÿne would use the courage that she found in Galadriels words to protect hers.

When the fire had smothered the people in the Hall went to bed or their duties one by one. Mÿne was glad she didn't had to watch anything tonight. Too much had happened today. Afraid of the nightmares to come, Mÿne grabbed her mug of ale from the ground and chugged it down in one big gulp. It was her fourth mug of ale now and Eowyn had advised her to stop at her second but Mÿne didn't listen to her. The only way to shut out the nightmares was to knock herself out. The ale seemed to work, she was tired and her sight a bit blurry. She placed the empty mug on a table and waddled out of the Hall, to the stairs. Eowyn was fast asleep when she entered the room. Silently Mÿne laid down her weapons and undressed to her pants and undershirt. She crawled under the sheets next to Eowyn, who softly muttered in her sleep. Mÿne's eyes fell and within seconds she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.