REVAMPED
A/N:Thank you for all your kind reviews and for sticking with me through the story. I hope your continuing to enjoy it and that you'll continue to leave your reviews! I love reading any feedback/advice you have and how much you like the story and characters.
Aragorn was alive, standing in front of her. He hurriedly explained to King Theoden what he had seen on his return, making Kate understand why there was such an urgency.
"A great host you say?" Theoden repeated.
"All of Isengard is emptied."
"How many?"
"Ten thousand strong at least." Aragorn replied. Kate's hand fell against the table in shock.
"Ten thousand?!" Theoden repeated in astonishment. Kate sunk down into the bench of the seat, her arm slapping uselessly against the table.
The whole room vibrated with unease. They didn't even have half that number, including men, women and children, and of that who would even be able to fight? What would they consider too old, too young, or too sick to fight?
Kate shivered a bit at the memory of Kieran lying on the table and she knew just how young they'd allow…Kieran was older than Bergil, sure, but not by much. And what of his father? Would he have to fight? Even in his condition? It would hardly be a fair fight, they'd need more soldiers. They had to have more soldiers.
How long would it take to call in reinforcements? There are reinforcements, right?
"It is an army bred for a single purpose. To destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall."
"By nightfall?" Kate echoed. "So soon? My God…" So much for reinforcements then. Theoden turned on his heel, walking purposefully out the door.
"Let them come." He challenged. Kate's eyes met Aragorn's, who shook his head in frustration.
"He's not serious, is he?" She asked incredulously. Aragorn said nothing as shared an exasperated expression with his niece, and swiftly followed the King out through the door, Legolas, and Gimli following after. "Oh…oh, he is serious."
Kate cleared her throat nervously as she stood to follow the rest of them out. Her head was swimming from the events of today and yesterday. Aragorn was dead, now he was alive, they were preparing for a future battle and now that battle would be here tonight…and the odds were not in their favor.
It was a lot to digest.
"Ten thousand." Kate muttered in disbelief as she followed after the men.
She could hear Theoden giving commands a he marched through the battlement, finally stepping out the large doors to illustrate his plans. As if to prove to their merry band of misfits that there was nothing to fear.
"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breeched the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." He declared with a pointed look to Kate, to which her only reply was an uneasy stomach.
"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are the Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields are broad." Gimli warned. Theoden stepped closer, looking down at the Dwarf.
"I have fought many wars Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep."
"No one is doubting that, your highness." Kate insisted, hiking up the skirt of her dress to keep up with the men. "We are only advising you to consider your enemy more closely, and not be so certain that the wall will not be breeched. These Uruk-hai…they are different, just as Gimli said! They think and fight differently!" Theoden barked out a mirthless laugh as he continued walking, picking up his pace to put distance between them.
"Tell me, Lady Kate, is it a familial trait between you and your uncle to question a King so brazenly? You think that I have underestimated my enemy, but you are wrong. No, they will break upon this fortress like water on rocks. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resewn, homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them."
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages." Aragorn contested, beyond exasperated now. "They come to destroy its people, down to the last child!" Theoden whirled on him, without warning, gripping his clothes and letting loose his frustration and fear. People were beginning to notice the disagreement between them and the king…and he couldn't have that.
"What would you have me do? Look at my men, their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!" He let him go, eyes narrowing in warning, but Aragorn would not be dissuaded. He would not lie down and accept defeat now! How was it that Theoden was so ready to admit defeat? Kate was beginning to wonder if this really would be their end.
"Send out riders, my Lord. You must call for aid."
"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer."
"Gondor?" Theoden was incensed now. "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon- No, my Lord Aragorn we are alone." The King fumed for a moment and then continued on with renewed vigor, leaving them to their own devices as he barked out orders to the guards that followed him.
Kate stood by, not entirely sure what to do next, but the overwhelming since of urgency gnawed at her.
"So…what now?" Kate asked after a moment. Gimli snorted in reply.
"Now? Now we drink and hope this wall this as strong as the King says it is."
"And if it's not?" Kate breathed out.
"We drink more." The dwarf added flatly. Aragorn had said nothing since the king had left and promptly stalked down the causeway, to what Kate had no idea but she needed to speak with him, alone, and since he couldn't be bothered to be tended to upon his unexpected arrival, Kate decided now was as good a time as any.
She stole a glance at Legolas whose expression was unreadable before hurrying after Aragorn, shoving past the crowds of people she purposefully pushed her growing concerns out of her mind. Though try as she might the air was thick with palpable anxiety, as guards urged the people to keep moving.
"Aragorn, hey, wait. Let me take a look at you!"
Kate called to the man, who was already busy formulating a battle strategy with Legolas. Quick to action he was, she'd give him that.
"I am alright, Kate, I do not need tending to." Kate scoffed at his refusal, maneuvering her way through the crowds to get closer to him.
"You told me you fell hundreds of feet off a cliff and then got up and rode all that way back to Helm's Deep, and given your propensity to downplay your own personal injures I'd say you're in a world of hurt right now, whether you would admit it or not. Aragorn, you need a lot more than just tending to, you need a full body CT scan! Besides there are… things that I need to tell you."
"Then tell me." He said simply and turned back to Legolas. "How many archers do we have available to us?"
"Not enough." Legolas replied, irritation flooding his tone.
Kate frowned, folding her arms around her. It wasn't exactly something she could shout out here in the middle of everyone. She desperately needed to tell him about the wall, and what she believed would happen and that certainly wasn't information she wanted made public. Especially not now, when the only thing keeping the people from absolute panic was the assumed safety of that very wall.
Then, of course, there was also the bit about what had happened in the caves, but she decided she'd save that bit of trivia for another time. Now wasn't exactly the right time for honesty hour, and she was sure it'd take a lot more than an hour to explain, and to beg forgiveness! Of course, if this war went how everyone believed it would go than she'd never have to share that bit of information, which would be a win for her.
Still, she'd much prefer not dying. She didn't know how the wall would fall she just knew that it would and it was Kieran who she had seen and he was quite sure it had fallen. She wasn't sure how Kieran got to her world in the first place and that would be far more difficult to explain than simply telling him the wall was going to fall and it had just now struck her that she more than likely would never be able to ask the boy…and that she very well might have seen him alive for the last time.
This certainly wasn't something she could talk about out here.
"Aragorn, I need to talk to you alone, please. Five minutes, at the least! Just enough to look you over, make sure your battle ready. I can talk as I'm tending. It is important. I wouldn't be saying it if it wasn't." Aragorn raised an eyebrow at the young woman, suggesting that he didn't quite believe her and continued on. Time could not be spared to indulge his niece, not this day. There was too much to do.
"We will place the reserves along the wall. They can support the archers from above the gate."
"Aragorn, you must rest. You are no use to us half alive." Legolas insisted.
That is literally what I've been saying this whole time!
"My Lord!" A cry rang out, as Kate opened her mouth to plead with her uncle again. "Aragorn!"
Eowyn bounded toward them, more put off than Kate had ever seen her. Aragorn let out a low sigh and Kate couldn't help but smile pityingly at her uncle. Back from the grave less than a day and people were pulling at him and calling after him left and right, herself included. To be fair, I need to talk to him about something actually important…and he does need to rest!
"I am to be sent with the women into the caves." The lady fumed.
Kate and Legolas took a respectful step back, just far enough to give them the appearance of a private conversation.
"That is an honorable charge." Aragorn said.
"To mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return. What renown is there in that?"
"They really are sending the women and children into the caves? All of them?" Kate whispered to Legolas.
"That is the King's order." Legolas answered, his mouth set firm.
"But you don't agree?"
"It is of no consequence whether I agree or disagree."
"Well I rather think it is actually, but suit yourself. Damn. I was really counting on having a few extra hands to help me out." Kate muttered under her breathe, her eyes looking back to the tense conversation Eowyn and Aragorn. Maybe she could wrangle Eowyn into helping her with patients? She'd be good at it, Kate thought.
"Kate…Perhaps it is best if you-" Legolas started, only to be cut off.
"You do not command the others to stay!" Eowyn shouted suddenly, jutting her chin toward Kate and Legolas. "They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. Because they love you."
Aragorn said nothing and an uneasy silence fell over them.
"I-I am sorry." The lady muttered, suddenly embarrassed and hurried past without a second glance to the others or Aragorn.
"Perhaps, a few moments rest for you to tell me what is so important." Aragorn relented.
After looping around to grab her pack, however woefully diminished as it was, Kate had met Aragorn back in the storeroom and carefully cleaned his wounds, bandaged a few, and marveled once more at how altogether fine he really seemed.
He looked like crap, there was no denying that, but that seemed only fair considering he had no broken bones, no sign of a concussion, no signs of internal bleeding that she could see, not so much as a dislocated shoulder.
"The doctors at my old hospital would have had a field day with you." Kate remarked approvingly and she was satisfied with her assessment. She smiled at her uncle, who gave her a weary one in return. "I'm very glad you're not dead."
"As am I." He laughed suddenly. "Now, what was it you needed to tell me so urgently?" Kate chewed her lip as she repacked her supplies and tried to think of the best way to explain such a thing. Her pack was abysmally short on supplies so such an action did not afford her much time and she decided it was better just to crack on with it.
"Well, so we know the whole traveler thing." Kate started and Aragorn suddenly sat straighter, the topic garnering his attention.
"Yes…"
"I really need to come up with a better name for that. Anyway, uh, well there is someone here…I guess he can do the same thing too, I don't know maybe he went through by accident. I'm not quite sure but…before I came here there was a boy who was brought into the hospital, extensive injuries and he was ranting and raving…about orcs…and how the wall had fallen, screaming that they'd all die, the wall had fallen." Kate swallowed hard as goosebumps rose across her skin from the memory. "It didn't make sense to me at the time, then…we kind of just brushed it off, thinking he must be crazy, because that kind of thing…I mean it is crazy and I'd forgotten about it completely until…well I came here, to Helm's Deep. Aragorn, I saw that boy today, here, alive! I swear it was him! He was perfectly fine…and so I realized that not only did I come to this world from my time…I must have gone back in time…or this boy went forward…you know I'm not entirely sure of the details, but either way, Aragorn that wall is going to fall. I'm not sure how, or why…but I'm willing to bet it'll be tonight."
Aragorn said nothing as he sat upon the small bench in the stockroom, arms crossed.
Great, good on you Kate, you broke your uncle with your useless intel. Well done.
"Is that all?" Aragorn asked quietly. Kate shifted, and stared down at the ring on her hand, twisting it anxiously.
"Well…no…I…there's more, but that bit isn't really pertinent to the current situation…I don't think." Aragorn raised an eyebrow and continued staring at the woman with a blank expression. "It can wait. Yes, it can definitely wait. I just…I'm not even sure if what I told you is even helpful in anyway at all since I don't know how or why or even when the wall falls…but like I said I think it will fall tonight. I just have a feeling… I just wanted to tell you so you'd know how to prepare…just in case." She finished. Aragorn nodded and stood, giving Kate a kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you for telling me." He said, giving her a small smile. "Once you have your belongings ready than you will assist Eowyn in the caves, she will welcome the help I am sure."
"What?" Kate repeated, jerking back her head in surprise.
"Kate, you heard what I said do not feign surprise. If Eowyn, as skilled as she is with a blade must stay and in the caves, you cannot imagine that I would allow you to fight." He explained, just as patiently as he could.
"First of all, Aragorn I'm not trying to fight. I get that would be a bad idea right now, I'm not arguing that., but I certainly don't need you to allow me to do anything." Aragorn ran a frustrated hand down his face and let out a stifled groan of frustration.
"If you do not want to fight that what possible objection could you have? Why must you fight me at every turn? Can you not see that I am trying to keep you safe? Will you not just let me see to your safety?" He asked, his eyes pleading with her, allowing her to see just how tired, desperate and afraid he was. It was a rare thing to see this side of her uncle; she did not often see him as vulnerable. Yes, he was affectionate, but he had most definitely picked on the elvish way of concealing their emotions.
"Aragorn…" Her heart wrenched. Just hours ago, she thought he was dead, lost to her forever, and now here he was right in front of her and after everything they'd learned, everything they would face his goal was still to look out for her safety. She moved next to her uncle, sitting beside him on the bench as she gingerly took his hand, staring at the blood still caked in between the nails. "Aragorn…if there is anything at all that I have learned from you it's that I must do what I can to help people if I'm able. If there is even the smallest shred of hope that I can be of help than I will do it. I believe that I can help. I know that I can help these people.
Kate explained her original vision, explaining that since the battle would be much quicker than she thought, she would need to modify it but her original goal was the same. She intended to help the injured. After much arguing, back and forth Aragorn relented, despite his opinion on the matter. It was not a bad idea really, quite honorable in fact, and had it come from anyone other than the only remaining member of his blood line he would have been quite impressed.
"Kate…you understand that if you go through with this…you will not be shielded from this battle, you will not be able to rest should your injury become a hindrance. There will be no assistance as none can be afforded. You will be alone in this. If the wall does fall and things…go ill you will not be safe."
"Aragorn none of us are safe. Not the women and children who will be sealed in the caves, not me, not you and the men and children that will have to fight, no one. But I have to do what I can, and I'm no good to anyone sitting in a cave waiting while people are dying."
"Kate-"
"No, Aragorn I don't want to argue with you, please I don't. I am doing this. I need to do this. If I can prevent needless deaths I will. I have to, you know I have to."
"And the king has agreed to this?"
"More or less…but it's not like it's a disagreeable idea. Alright, he was initially opposed to the idea of me having some women stay behind but that doesn't really matter now so…it's fine."
"How will you do this alone?" He asked quietly.
"I'm not sure…but I have to try." She insisted, her voice cracking with restrained emotion. She couldn't just let those people fight so hard and face all that horror only to die from infection, or something else just as preventable.
Aragorn pulled his niece into a hug, letting out a frustrated sigh as held her.
"You are so much like your mother…It brings me both pride and frustration." Kate stifled a laughed as she hugged him back, the smell of sweat, blood and a hint of pipe weed filling her nose.
She hoped this would not be the last time she would hug her uncle. She hoped she had not won him back against all odds only to lose him now. She hoped they would win this battle. She hoped she would not lose her hope throughout the night, but there was only so much hoping she could do. Now she needed to prepare.
With one final farewell, they went their separate ways; Aragorn to prepare for the battle and Kate to prepare for the battle on her end.
Kate ran her hands through her hair, exhaustion already seeping in and the sky was only just starting to darken outside. She had shredded as many linens she could into bandages, thankful that she had already prepped some things the day before, but she needed medicines and more supplies than she had. She had a few tins of medicines left from Lothlorien but since arriving to Helm's Deep she had used up a good deal of her stock, and there really wasn't much here to replenish her supplies. She had lucked into some dried Yarrow, which would be more than useful…but they still needed more.
Ten thousand versus three hundred…this isn't even close to enough. She stared dejectedly at the supplies and suddenly wanted to cry. Just outside she could hear the soldiers taking their places, shouting orders, weapons being sharpened…each sound belonging to a person that might die.
Try as she might to ignore that unease, it was impossible! She couldn't ignore the voices she heard of the people around her, saying they wouldn't live out the night, that these were impossible odds. That they'd never win. More than a few men even stopped by to ask why she even bothered.
"Seems unfair to save 'em just to watch 'em killed again, don't you think?" They'd all ask.
"Well if I see you in here, I'll ask what you think about it then, hmm?" She'd retort, but she couldn't blame them…a part of her even wondered if they were right. Was it cruel? Was it worth it?
Really this whole undertaking was a monstrous task, much more than she initially thought. She hadn't planned it this way! Her plan had a system in place, with people to help, people who sort of knew what they were doing, or at least knew to wash their hands in between patients and use clean supplies. But her plan wasn't worth a fig now. She'd barely had time to scrape this room together and get a fire going, prepare some boiling water, ready make the few tinctures that she could.
With a grown she sunk down onto the table, smacking her head against the wood. You and your big ideas. Her heart was in the right place, sure, but she didn't have the supplies to care for everyone! She had a scalpel, some bandages and a very limited store of medicines and-
"Amputations! Geez! Why didn't I think of looking for a bone saw, my God! Idiot. Why the hell didn't I think of it." She yelled at herself, hoping up from the table in frustration. "Why did I do this? How could I be such an idiot?"
"Because you're exhausted. I believe I did tell you to get some rest, did I not?" An eerily familiar voice called out, making her blood run cold. Without thinking she grabbed the first thing she could, a useless, small wooden bowl and flung it at the man who caught it easily.
"No. NO!" She screeched. "Go away! You've clearly recovered from your horse injury, if you even had one to begin with, so you have no business here." The man smiled politely, placing the offending bowl a shelf behind him and continued making his way into the room, unmoved by her objection to his presence.
"I hate repeating myself, Kate, but I did tell you we'd be seeing each other again. In fact, we'll be seeing quite a lot of each other." Kate stilled, his words rekindling the small flame of hope she had. But she didn't want that hope to come from him!
"You shouldn't say things like that you know. It gives the implication that I survive this war after all."
"Well, now that I've given away the ending...Congratulations. You survive the war. A well-earned victory for the race of men!" He informed, rolling his eyes and clapping his hands sarcastically, unmoved by the grave circumstances the people of Rohan were facing at the present moment. War was nothing new. He straightened, clasping his hands in front of him excitedly. Back to the business at hand. "Now, how far have you progressed since I last saw you? Show me what you've learned." He demanded, eagerly waiting to hear how far she'd progressed. If things were going to go as he planned than she'd have to have mastered several of the easier skills fairly quickly. She should be strong enough by now to at least hold open a portal, or close one. Child's play really.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about." She said innocently, turning her back to him and rearranging her bandages by size. It took everything within him not to slam her head into the table, but that would do no good…he knew that wouldn't work so, he smoothed his tunic in an effort to calm himself instead.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, dear Kate." He replied, jaw clenched. His voice was even and calm, but the threat was there, hidden within the grating timbre of his tone. She needed to stall him, she thought. The door was only a few feet away but the man stood between her and escape, blocking her path. If she could rile him up just enough to move him away from the door, she could run away to safety!
"Oh, do you mean how's my progress coming along here? Quite well, thank you, although I have learned that one should not endeavor to start an entire medical unit when one's supplies are woefully depleted. So, there's that." She quipped, ignoring the irritated growl that emanated from him. "Oh, and a bone saw! Can you believe I didn't think about that? A whole war with medieval weaponry and all that and I didn't stop to think about the possibility of amputations. Well I'm still learning after all, this is my first crack at it. I'll be more prepared next time I suppose."
"Kate." He seethed moving closer to her, reminding himself that he did in fact need her alive…for now anyway. "I am in no mood to be toyed with this evening and you are playing a dangerous game."
"You're not in the mood?!" Not caring who heard her. God, she hoped someone would hear her! She would have laughed if she wasn't angry! Whirling around to face him she stifled a yelp then she realized how close he was to her, so close he could reach out and snap her neck before she could even register it. So, close she could see the thinly veiled anger boiling within his grey eyes. So, close she could see herself reflected in her eyes, could see how much she was shaking! "I don't even know who you are! You come here making demands of me without even explaining yourself, without telling me anything, just expecting me to know what to do! But, if you haven't noticed I've got my hands full at the moment, I'm trying to save lives, I don't exactly have time to play right now but if you'd like to leave a message I'll try and get back to you."
"You're not nearly as clever as you think you are, and an even worse liar." He replied in mild amusement, sneering down at her. She was amusing he'd give her that, and bold. Too bold. He would need to correct that. His eyes raked her up and down, unabashedly until he began to laugh. "Oh! Oh, but you have tried! I can see it in you. Oh, that is very good. I knew you couldn't be as stupid as you let on. It really is in your benefit you know." He sounded well and truly delighted and, almost as a reward he took a step away from her, hiding his sneer as he watched her visibly relax.
Humans. For all their bravado they all felt that same fear when they were around him. They knew his power. They were all the same.
"Yes." Kate relented, taking another seemingly innocent step toward the door. "I wanted to prove that you were wrong."
"Well done then, you've certainly made your point." He mocked and Kate snorted her response. "Well what did you learn?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, I grow weary of this Kate."
"No, really, nothing. I moved a couple of the energy lines around. Nothing really." She hated the way he said her name, so clipped and spit out, like a swear word. Annoying.
"Ley Lines."
"What?"
"They are called Ley Lines, Kate." He repeated, bored by her lack of knowledge. "What else have you done? Have you moved the portals yet? Shrunk them? Enlarged them? Closed them? Opened them? What else?"
"I-I can do that?" She asked dumbfounded, so stunned she had forgotten to take another step toward the door. He stood at her, mouth agape and glaring.
"Of course, you can! Are you completely serious?"
"Well I didn't know that! In and out, that's kind of all its been for…well many generations I would imagine. So, no I did not know that. It's not like I have my own personal Mr. Miyagi to clue me in either… I didn't know." Kate explained, hating herself for even feeling like she had to explain any of this to him. "It doesn't matter anyway. I'm not doing it again. I tried it and it's not really my cup of tea."
"What?" The man asked, truly stunned. "What do you mean 'it's not your cup of tea'?" Kate swallowed hard and took another imperceptible step toward the door.
"I meant exactly what I said. I tried it the once but, quite frankly, the whole thing is a bit too Sci-Fi for me at the moment. I would rather not." She continued and while his back was still turned to her she gingerly lifted one of the scalpels into her hand, concealing it under the sleeve of her tunic.
She knew she was riling him up…and she didn't know how dangerous he was, but she knew how dangerous he felt and she decided that anything could yield its original purpose to be used as a weapon and a scalpel would do just the trick.
Just as Kate was about to make a run for it the man laughed, sounding half crazed but truly amused. The sound was so unexpected Kate stood there staring at his back, appalled and more than a little put off. What could he possibly have found so funny? There was not one thing funny about this situation at all, from what Kate could see. He's insane. He has to be.
"I gave you simple instructions, Kate. I asked you to take off that ring and practice. That's all I asked. What have you been doing this whole time?" He asked, no longer laughed but clearly still amused.
Kate blinked at him stupidly, realizing that he was completely sincere in his questioning. Kate barked out a mirthless laugh.
"You can't be serious? Look around! There are ten thousand orcs headed this way. Ten thousand." Kate snapped, leaning forward. "And just in case you missed it the first two times, I'll say it again. Ten thousand against three hundred of us. Do you have any idea the preparation that goes into fighting a war against ten thousand?! That, that is exactly what I've been doing! I've been scrambling to get enough supplies to save people's lives in a war we cannot win! So sorry, I've been a bit busy!"
"I already told you that you'd win. You are not responsible for these people, Kate, you have much more important tasks ahead of you." He dismissed, with a wave of his hand, as if this should have been common knowledge to her.
"You cannot possibly know that!" She screeched. She was well past her wits end at this point, and she didn't have the time to sit here and argue with a man who was clearly insane! He was either completely insane or terrifyingly brilliant, there was no in between she was quite sure.
"But I do know that Kate." He said softly, almost comfortingly, as he stepped forward, closer to her. He was taller than her short frame and she knew he was doing it to intimidate her. "Just as I know that as much as you resist this, you will do ask I ask. You can't resist that calling. Stop being so irrational. So … impractical. That's not like you at all. Come now."
"You don't know what's is like me and what's not. I'm not going to help you." Kate sneered. "I have important things to do here and now." The man laughed, shaking his head in true amusement.
"You Travelers. You all think you're so noble. That you're doing it all for the greater good. You waste your life away and for what? In the end, none of it matters!" He stepped forward, reaching his hand out carefully, like he was trying to settle a startled animal. "Would you rather not see things as I see them? For how the world could be and not for what you believe it should? Things are not so black and white, you know this. You could make changes, real changes. You could live in a world where the love between a mortal and an Elf never goes questioned. You could prevent so much heartache, so much sickness, so much needless death. Won't you help me do that?"
Kate stated at him, the words taking root in her heart, unbidden and unwelcome. She didn't know what he was talking about. She couldn't change things, she couldn't change anything!
"I don't know what you're talking about. You have the wrong person, I am not this…this Traveler." She pleaded, trying to make him understand. "You've mistaken me for someone else. I cannot help you with this."
His previously calm face contorted with rage and Kate took the opportunity. She grabbed a bottle of the table and threw it at him, turning and bolting for the door. The bottle shattered in the air with a wave of his hand and before she had taken two steps he had her, grabbing her by the arm and shoving her back against the wall so forcefully Kate nearly lost her breath. He held her there, his hand over her throat and his thumb held against her jugular. He took several deep breaths, calming his ragging temper and Kate could barely move, barely speak. Every thought was focused on the scalpel concealed in her sleeve, on how to get it and strike.
Calmly, as if he had divined her thoughts, his hands reached up her sleeve, graving the scalpel and presenting it to her, waving it in front of her.
"If you really want to kill me, then do it already." She spat. "Get it over with. Because I won't help you! I won't. I'll stop you. I'll-" He rested the scalpel against her lips, shushing her.
"Shh, hush now. You do carry on so… I suppose there are some that find that endearing. Brave even, but as I said before it's all for nothing. You will help me." He insisted his voice dropping dangerously low as he dragged the blunt end of the scalpel across her skin, fascinated by the way she reddened, and the gooseflesh appeared as he moved across her collarbone. The thought of killing her flitted through his mind once more. Would it not simply be easier? But…what if no other Traveler graced this world again. He would have lost his chance forever, all because he could not control himself. No, best to stay the course. He could kill her after.
He chuckled to himself, placing the scalpel on a shelf out of her reach and tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. Her eyes wide and her jaw set firmly, trying to appear brave but she wasn't fooling anyone. Why did she look so frightened? All she had to do was agree to help him. Could she not see reason? Why was she so maddening? The old Travelers had seen the sense in what he said, why couldn't this one?
"How long do you insist on frustrating me? On rebelling? Hmm? You really think you could resist all that power for that long?" He asked again, genuinely curious. Was it simply because she was so young? "See, I too know what it's like to have power, and it's not something I am willing to lose, nor will I settle. I want more. I'll have more and I know you want more too. You've tasted it and you won't be able to forget it now. Like an animal that's tasted blood for the first time. It will consume your every thought. It's who you are, Kate. You are a Traveler. Have you not had the urgings, the dreams, felt that calling? Is it not the most satisfying feeling in the world? To hold that power in your hands and know that you control it all. Time bends to your mercy. The very energy within the earth awaits your bidding. The world could be yours and all you have to do is reach out and take it. You and I…we understand this in a way no one else can. That is why I know you'll help me, because you need to." He purred, his alluring voice a stark contrast to the painful grip he had on her arm.
Just then a horn rang out, echoing throughout the keep and Kate froze. Orcs? It didn't sound like any orc horn she'd ever heard. What could that possible be? A warning? She yanked her arm, trying her best to break his grip but the action did nothing. Maybe if she screamed out…
His cold finger forced her chin up until she was looking into his eyes. He wanted her to know just how serious he was before he let her run off. He was trying to give her a chance. If she didn't take it she was a fool.
"Do not force my hand Kate. This will not end as you believe it will." He said calmly, it sounded almost pleading to Kate. "You will find that my patience is not infinite."
"You keep saying that, like it should scare me. But you won't tell me who or what you are. So why should I be afraid of you?" She spat, foolish as it was…but there was a part of her that wondered, for all his vague threats, that he might need her alive….and that these threats were just that, threats. "If I'm as powerful as you say, maybe you should be afraid of me."
The shock that lighted across his face was only temporarily satisfying for her and she couldn't help the low chuckle that left her mouth. She watched his face contort with rage as she spoke and his grip on her chin was so tight she thought he would break her jaw and she realized that she might have been wrong in her previous assessment. He very much looked like he would kill her. Then just as quickly as his anger flashed it disappeared, replaced with a smile.
"I tried to warn you Kate. I did try. Go, win your little war. Enjoy it while it lasts." Came his simple reply and he let go of her chin, stepping back and staring at her with a mixture of disgust, pride and…excitement? Then with a nod to the door he smiled, delighted that she had even thought to try and escape him. "You never would have made it, you know."
Kate flew toward the sound of the horn as quickly as her feet would carry her more to alleviate her fears than anything, she knew he would not follow her. She had little time to ruminate over it now anyway. There was an excitable energy that thrummed through the air and people crowded around the front.
"What's happening?" She asked once she had spotted Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. The men shook their heads but she noticed the excited gleam in their eyes and it gave her hope, hope however small it may be.
Row upon row of elvish warriors lined the front of Helm's Deep, as far as she could see. There, speaking with King Theoden was Haldir. Oh, blessed Haldir! She listened astonished, as he explained why they were there and Kate waded through the poetic words to divine their meaning; they were here to help!
"Mae govanen!" Aragorn exclaimed, rushing to the Marchwarden. Then without warning he pulled the elf into an embrace, a comical sight as Haldir seemed a bit put off, but smiled anyhow. "You are most welcome." He exclaimed and Legolas followed suit, greeting Haldir in the traditional elvish way.
Kate could have cried with relief. This…. this really did make all the difference! Perhaps there was hope after all! A nagging in the back of her mind reminded her that more elves meant more that needed healing… but a movement caught her eyes as another elf came and took his place beside Haldir. The elves turned to face them now, moving in unison, their steps rhythmic and choreographed and Haldir continued just as Kate's eyes lighted upon the individual standing next to him.
"Nestaron!" Kate exclaimed bounding down the steps so quickly that her injured leg gave out and the only thing that stopped her from falling was Nestaron himself. She hugged the Elf tightly, partly to keep herself upright and partly because she was so thrilled to see him.
She straightened quickly, wiping away stray tear drops that had tumbled down her face.
"Oh, you have no idea how happy we are to have you guys. I mean…really! Truly!" She exclaimed, still wiping tears. "Please tell me you're here as a healer and not as a soldier." She all but begged and her friend smiled smugly and nodded, waving forth two more elves who both carried a large trunk, setting it down in front of them.
"That I am. I have come to offer aid in what way I can, and with supplies, if you are in need of them."
"Oh, we absolutely are you wonderful, wonderful elves you!" She exclaimed. She didn't care that she looked silly or over emotional! All the events from the last few days, all the emotion that she had been trying her hardest to ignore came bubbling to the surface and she couldn't hold them back. All she could do was thank them over and over again. The march warden smiled, in spite of the situation.
"We are proud to fight alongside Men once more." He offered.
The additional elves were quickly shuffled to their positions by a very astonished and grateful King Theoden.
"Um, well I've set up a room just around the hall there." Kate informed Nestaron, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious about just how abysmal her setup was compared to his at home. She hoped he wouldn't think less of her for it. "It's not much, we didn't have much time to prepare…There isn't enough really."
"There never seems to be enough time." Nestaron replied, his self-assured demeanor was calming to her particularly at a time like this. She nodded and gave him a weak smile, before turning to give one final farewell to her men for the night.
Her eyes locked with Legolas and her heart stopped. What would she say to him? Words didn't seem to come easy to her…or perhaps it was that words came so frequently to her that they lost their meaning? Legolas turned his eyes away and spoke in a low voice to Aragorn, who nodded. Kate took the time to wish Gimli luck and safety, kissing the dwarf on the cheek and he guffawed and waved off her worries, but Kate knew he was pleased by her show of concern.
She had already shared her goodbyes with Aragorn but the two embraced again, feeling more hopeful now than they had at their previous parting. She smiled up at her uncle one last time, begging him not to do anything foolish and then at last turned to Legolas. She smiled at him and any trace of fear she had felt had all but dissipated… she'd tell him about it of course…but she wouldn't want to distract them right now! They needed to make it through the night…she needed to make sure they did, and this information would do nothing but distract.
"I would accompany you back, if you would like." Legolas began.
"Yes…if you have the time…I would like that." She replied, wondering why things between them lately were either awkward and unsure of passion fueled.
She didn't miss Nestaron's uncomfortable cough and she certainly didn't miss his open frown as the Elf's keen eyes flit back and forth between her and Legolas.
"No, quite alright. I shall find my own way about, thank you." He sniffed and waved his hands for the Elves behind him to follow him with the trunk of supplies.
"No, no of course you won't, don't be silly." Kate insisted, stifling a laugh as she motioned to him to follow her. "I would never risk you getting yourself lost, you're far too valuable." She teased and Nestaron stiffed but carried on.
"Forgive me, dear friend. It is good to see you again." Legolas insisted, following closely behind Kate, still hoping he might steal a moment or two alone with her. They hadn't seen each other much…and perhaps that was for the best, he had been rather pessimistic in the hours before and he couldn't have imagined he would have been good company, as he'd proven to Aragorn and the countless soldiers in the artillery room. Or maybe his pessimism might have been improved by an earlier visit to her. Who could say. "Once again, we are more than grateful to you."
"Yes…you seem to be doing rather well yourself, your highness." He reproached, another disapproving glace between the human and the elf prince. "But not you, Kate. What has happened to you. Why are you limping?"
"Orcs." Kate said simply, not wanting to relive the ordeal. "It's healing quite well now, much better than it was." Nestaron hummed in response but did not pry further, sensing it was not a comfortable subject. That was not the way of their friendship anyhow, to talk over uncomfortable matters.
"Is this where you will be working?" Legolas asked, glancing around the small room. "It is…very close."
"Well, yes, it has to be." Kate remarked, unbothered. "Close so soldiers can come and bring their wounded. It wouldn't make sense to have them drag someone all the way to the back of the keep."
"Yes…that is understandable." He remarked. Suddenly the room became a flurry of activity as Kate, Nestaron and the two elves under his tutelage moved to set up the medicines, boil more water, move pallets for the injured to rest upon and tables together for procedures. He took a moment to admire the way Kate's demeanor changed, how sure of herself she was now as she ordered others about and helped prepare medicines. It seemed like the two of them had all but forgotten about him, so absorbed with their tasks they became and Legolas quietly began to step out. He did not need to say goodbye…he would see her again, of course, he rationalized, moving quickly through the halls to return to his post.
"Legolas!" She called, her voice echoing in the halls as she hurried to him. "Wait, I just…I just wanted to talk to you … a moment." Legolas smiled and took her hands in his as she came to him, kissing her hands tenderly.
"We will see each other again." He said, comfortingly.
"You sound so sure." Everyone seemed so sure of the outcome but her. Did they all have access to some oracle of knowledge she didn't?
"I am not…" He replied, truthfully. "But it is something that I must tell myself." Kate scanned his face, searching for any signs of fear, or trepidation, but the only thing she saw was affection. She shivered at the intensity of his gaze, suddenly aware that they were alone for the first time in days…she should get back, return to business as they both knew each of them were duty bound to do, but what if they never got this moment again?
"Well…we have been rather lucky today…perhaps that will carry on through the night." She whispered. "But…just in case…" Her fingers reached out, gently tracing the lines of his face, as if she could commit it to memory by this action alone.
She felt his soft exhale brush across her cheek as her finger made their way over the tips of his ears and suddenly Legolas was pulling her into the privacy of the tiny alcove, pressing her against the wall and kissing her with more intensity and desire than he ever had before. If their first kiss had been enough to shake Kate this one would have brought her to her knees if the wall had not been there to support her. However, she quickly regained her composure and reached her hands up to entangle them in his hair, pulling him closer to her and deepening the kiss, moaning delightedly as he responded pressing his body firmly against hers.
Emboldened by her reciprocation Legolas's hands roamed down her body, grasping and pulling her closer to him if that were at all possible. She felt his lips leave hers, groaning in frustration and then pleasure as he bent lower to trail kisses down her neck. Everywhere he kissed felt like fire, burning her skin delightfully and she felt the familiar warmth spread in between her legs as he moved back up her jaw to take her mouth again.
This was not an apprehensive, awkward first kiss, or the sweet, comfortable kiss of a lover. This was needy, and desperate and full of the desire that hadn't been able to physically express until now. But even now it was just as bittersweet as their first…what good was it to give in to the desire when they might never be able to have more? While Legolas's words sounded hopeful, the way he kissed her suggested otherwise.
Legolas was the first to pull away, panting and peppering her neck with smaller lighter kisses that held no promise of more. Kate's chest heaved as she worked to calm herself, willing her legs to regain their strength and her fingers to work their way out of his hair.
He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin atop her head, smiling to himself as he heard her breathe deeply, knowing she was smelling him. She did this often, he realized, and as funny and peculiar as he found it he realized he did it just as often. There was a comfort in being so close that just the smell of the other person could calm them, set their nerves to rest and their breath to a normal rhythm.
He kissed the top of her head, reflexively smelling her hair and laughing at himself as he did. He loved the way she smelled, a heady mix of floral bath oils, sweat, and medicinal herbs. She always smelled of assorted herbs and tinctures, as she always tinkered around with this plant or the next, trying to find the right mixture for this person or the next.
He loved that about her.
He loved her.
He wanted to tell her, he so desperately wanted to tell her, wanted her to say she felt the same…but not now. Not in this moment as they both went off to fight their respective battles, he did not want her to doubt the sincerity of his words. He knew she cared for him…but did she love him the way he loved her? Yes, she must he decided, pushing the thoughts out of his mind with a sigh.
Kate sensed the shift and with a reluctant sigh of her own disentangled herself from his arms, already regretting the absence of his warmth in the now too cold hallway.
"Back to business, soldier." She joked, her voice hoarse and cracking with the emotion. Her fingers smoothed his tunic, needlessly straightening the Lothlorien brooch, and patting the chainmail underneath his clothing as if she the action would be personally assure her of its effectiveness.
"Yes." He quietly agreed, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.
"Legolas…please be careful." Kate urged, feeling their time together drawing to a close.
"I need you to stay safe…to come back. There is so much I want to say to you…so much I have to tell you."
"I make no promise, for none can know what the future holds. I can promise you that I will, with all the strength I have, fight to come back to you, and to do what I can to keep these people safe." He said soothingly, cradling her face in her hands. "But you must promise to forgive me if I do not." He added with a playful glint in his blue eyes. Kate slapped his hands away, knowing he was joking but not finding it funny, especially the way he continued to laugh.
"I will not forgive you, Legolas." She insisted stubbornly, not even wanting to think about that as an option, even in jest. "If you get yourself killed I will never forgive you. I do not want to see you, or Gimli or Aragorn in that room, is that understood? No one gets forgiven if they die. Spread the word!"
"Of course, my lady."
"I'm serious."
"Oh, I am quite sure that you are!" He maintained through the amused smile that spread across his face as he leaned down to plant another kiss on her lips.
"I might forgive you, after a considerable amount of time, if it truly wasn't your fault." She replied stiffly, knowing he would laugh and smiling a bit when he did. "But don't let the others know."
"It will be our secret."
"You're so good to me." She laughed but the air had shifted and the sound seemed too jovial now. It was time.
"Do not work yourself too hard. Try and rest if you need to. You cannot be an effective healer if you are not well yourself." Legolas said suddenly to which Kate nodded in response, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "I am so very glad Nestaron came to our aid…it is good you do not do this alone. You will learn much this night."
"Yes…I suppose I should be getting back to him now." She responded, tearing her eyes away from him. Legolas nodded silently and his hands trailed down her arms, clasping her hands until only their fingertips touched.
"We will see each other again." Legolas insisted once more, to strengthen himself more than anything.
"We will."
I love you.
She wanted to say it…it was on the tip of her tongue. All she needed to do was open her mouth and the words would tumble out with very little effort on her part…but she knew if she said the words she'd never have the strength to leave him…and what good would it do to say it now?
Their fingers parted and the space between them felt like miles, and the further they walked away from each other the more Kate was sure he had taken a part of her heart with him.
Quickly she walked back to her makeshift hospital, clearing her thoughts of all but the task ahead. She needed a clear mind. She needed to focus. She needed a latte. Extra shot of espresso.
"Move that again and I will personally see that you are fighting at the front lines, is that understood?" She could hear Nestaron bellow, and laughed to herself at the memory of the first few times he had reprimanded her in such a way! It made her want to shrink down into a hole and die and she was sure the elf must have been feeling the same way.
"You seem tense, Nestaron." Kate quipped, moving to the basin to secure her hair out of her face and then scrub her hands. "I don't quite remember you threatening my life when you were teaching me."
"No? Surely I must have at one time or another." He replied flatly, scowling at the other elf who was preparing what Kate assumed was a sleeping aid. "This is your fault you know."
"What? You taking students?" Kate laughed. "How in the world is that my fault. I think it's good for you, you've a lot to offer as a teacher. You know, after you get past all the …you."
"I have not the slightest idea what you could mean. Hand me that powder." He said with a roll of his eyes. "You are very lucky we came, you know. How did you possibly think you could get by with a small vial of yarrow, a calming tincture, a one tin of cleansing balm?"
"It wasn't like I had a lot of time to prepare." Kate defended, handing the powder to her friend and deciding she would make an infusion with the dried Lady's Bedstraw plant; it would help speed up wound healing and had disinfecting properties. She smiled thankfully at the trunkful of supplies and shrugged, heading back the prep table. "Besides it's not like these people have access to the types of supplies you do. Do you know that they had no healer? Like, at all! I did ask for special ordered supplies and to train a few women to help, but it all happened so fast and…I'm not sure the king likes me very much."
Nestaron snorted in response, putting a stopper on the large mixture of antiseptic.
"Of course not. You are quite disagreeable." He agreed and then handed her the vial. "This needs to be made as fresh as we can. It will only be effective for a few hours. You remember how to make this? I can trust you to remake this at the correct time then?" Kate nodded.
"I wouldn't say I'm disagreeable."
"Oh no? Pardon me then I must have you confuse with another. You will want to remedy that behavior if you ever hope to garner favor with King Thranduil." He retorted, and then his eyes narrowed at the elf who began pouring the sleeping aid. "Pour it slowly, I said, slowly! Did you not hear me? No-oh, it is too late. You will have to toss it out and start again. See how it has changed color? You were too eager. You will not make that mistake again and I am sure that whatever wretched individual who has to remain awake for the treatment of his injuries will appreciate the lesson you have learned today."
Kate did a double take at her own infusion, ensuring everything was in proper order. She certainly didn't want his rebuke and they did not have the supplies to waste.
"Why even agree to take students Nestaron?" Kate defended, now letting her infusion cool.
"Oh, well that would your fault. I never did quite get the opportunity to thank you for that."
"I don't follow."
"Well since the Lady Galadriel seemed so thrilled with your progression under my tutelage, she asked if I would not be opposed to taking on some more Elflings who were eager to learn the trade…for the appropriate compensation of course."
"Not such a bad gig." Kate said with a shrug and then paused. "She was impressed with me?"
"You would say that." He sniffed. "No, it would not be so bad if all of them were as eager to learn as I assumed they would be. Though apparently, they care as much about healing as I care for farming. So, as it turns out, they were rather ill suited to the position as Galadrim soldiers and the Lady Galadriel is far too benevolent, could not bear to have them shamed she insisted upon finding them a position elsewhere."
"I suppose you would be elsewhere?"
"Well done."
"Ah…shame that is. Still…you are kind of hard on them… I don't remember you yelling that much with."
"Because you were not completely useless."
"That is quite the compliment coming from you!" Kate laughed and Nestaron rolled his eyes, however Kate did not miss the corners of his mouth quirking up in amusement.
"The night is young. Plenty of time to disappoint me yet."
"I missed you too, Nestaron." Kate laughed. "Still they both can't be useless."
"No, I suppose not. That one there is …mildly adept." Kate snorted in response and tried to give in encouraging smile to the Elf in question but then everyone stilled, listening.
For more than a few moments Kate could hear nothing and wondered if she should even waste her time trying when finally, she did hear. She didn't realize at first what she was hearing, mistaking the low syncopated rumble for rain when suddenly it hit her that the thunderous noise was the sound of thousands and thousands of footsteps. Tens of thousands to be exact, and getting louder with each passing moment. Kate could feel the blood drain from her face as she realized that the moment that had all feared was now here.
Nestaron hastily pulled her to the corner, speaking low and sternly.
"Listen now, Kate. This will be like nothing you have ever seen. You cannot, even on your worst day, summon up an imagined scenario that would come anywhere close to what you will see here tonight." Kate gulped, so loud she was sure he heard her, but she nodded, listening intently to any and all advice he could offer. "There will be some that you cannot save, I know you know this…but there will be some you might save, some that could live if we had the time and the resources to save them. You will need to let them go, do you understand? I know this might sound cruel to your ears, it did to mine at first, I heard it, but it is good council. If there comes a time in which we cannot properly care for ever individual than we must provide care to those if will live if given treatment, not those who might. Do you understand? I need you to understand Kate."
"I-I, um, yeah. Yes, I understand." It did sound cruel, and every fiber of her being raged against the notion but she also knew he was right. With their numbers and limited supplies, even with everything they had now, it still would not be enough. Some would still die here, waiting…
"Good." Nestaron said with a stern nod of his head.
The steps were louder now, so loud that she was sure they were just outside the wall, a wall that was several feet thick. If she could hear the orcs marching and taunting this loudly from inside the room she was sure it would be deafening out there.
Kate moved to scrub her hands again, needing something to do now that they were as prepared as the could be. Besides that, the methodical, instinctual motions calmed her, allowed her to let her mind shift back into the carefully detached demeanor she had to cling to in order to properly.
She scrubbed her hands until the glowed pink from the friction and the warmth of the water. She scrubbed and scrubbed until suddenly she realized that the noise outside had gone quiet.
A pregnant silence hung in the air, threatening to drive Kate mad…and then a thunderous roar could be heard, like no sound Kate had ever heard and imagined in her mind the great number rushing forth, intent on killing every last man, woman, child, and elf.
"And so, it begins." Nestaron said heavily, his voice far to devoid of hope for Kate's comfort. But they would win…right?
"Congratulations. You survive the war. A well-earned victory for the race of men!"
For the first time since she met that odious man she hoped he was right. Dear God, she hoped he was right.
A/N: Ok! A lot going on there and I hope that chapter was well worth the wait. We're really picking up the pace here as things are moving along for Kate and the whole Mötley Crüe. Also, if this is rife with errors than I am terribly sorry about that, please know that I will edit this later, I just wanted to hurry and get this chapter posted so i hope there will not be too many difficult to read mistakes.
As always, I always appreciate hearing any thoughts and feedback that you all have, so please review and that me know what you think. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Cheers!