A/N:Chapter 26! Wow, just wanted to thank everyone who had reviewed and followed, I can't believe I'm at almost 200 hundred reviews! You all are wonderful and I appreciate every last one of you who take the time to review and read this story, so thank you!
Quick order of business before we get down to it! A lot of (90%) of the dialogue between King Théoden and the Wild Men are lifted from the book, so just so you are aware! Obviously, we take the same dialogue from the movies, with a proper disclaimer but it hits different when it's a book, you know? Anyway, just wanted to let you know that. Also, thank you to everyone who offered to Beta, I really appreciate it and thank you to RubberDuckiez for Beta-ing this chapter!
A huge thank you to , RubberDuckiez, Pint-sized She-Bear, d'elfe, tadah2, Julsalthil, yasmina1, x3sunnydaay, Mooncatknits, daughterofthechief, and Guest for the reviews!
Kate stood stock still, waiting for him to speak. "What is it?" she asked after several moments.
"Drums," he replied and Kate could swear she felt the color leave her face.
"Orcs?"
"No," Legolas said, an odd smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "The Drúedain."
"The what?"
"The Drúedain," he repeated. "They are known in Rohan as the Woses, or Wild Men." Legolas took her hand, lightly pulling her toward the direction of the noise. The action settled her thrumming heart just a bit, knowing Legolas would never purposefully be bringing her into a situation that was dangerous.
"Oh. Ok, yeah, sure." Kate nodded, her steps quickening to match his hastier pace as they moved in between rows of tents toward the forest edge, ignoring the irritated looks of the soldiers. "I don't think I've ever met a… wose… before."
Legolas chuckled to himself quietly as he shook his head, leading them closer toward the edge of the woods, where he had last seen the lamp light and huddled figures.
"Neither have I, and I would not have looked to find them here."
"Why not? If they are friends to Rohan maybe they are coming to fight. We could use the numbers, that's for sure," Kate replied, frowning to herself. They would take all the reinforcements they could get! Legolas shook his head, pausing for a moment as he thought of a more tactful way to say what he wanted.
"They are no friend to the Horse-men," he said at last, resuming his search for the Woses once more. Kate let out a disappointed sigh, but she was not altogether surprised. Reinforcements on the eve of battle was highly unlikely. "The Men of Rohan do not look fondly on them, for they are not… lovely to look at. Perhaps it is for that reason the Horse-men hunt them, driving them deeper and deeper into the Drúedan Forest…" Kate frowned at this.
"They hunted them? Killed them?" she asked, deeply disturbed by this revelation. It didn't sound at all like the actions of the noble Rohirrim she had come to know… but then again, what did she really know of them? "Why? Because they look different? That's awful." Legolas nodded in agreement.
"I know not, it could be for that reason, but it could be another. I have heard stories of what the Drúedain are capable of… magic is the rumor." Kate snorted.
"You really believe that?"
"You do not?" he asked, a small laugh escaping his lips as they walked into the forest. "You of all people?" Kate shrugged, brow furrowed. She didn't really know what she believed anymore. The things she'd seen, the things she'd done… but she couldn't call that magic.
"Not magic, no."
"Oh? What do you call what you do then, if not magic? Or Mithrandir?"
"Energy," she sputtered, not really able to come up with a better word."I believe in… energy. The quantifiable manipulation of energy. Not magic. You can't quantify magic!" she said at last, earning another low laugh from her Elf.
"Not everything can be measured, mellethnin," he laughed, pulling her back behind a tree and sneaking a kiss. "For example, my love for you is beyond measure. Would you say it does not exist?" Kate felt the blood rise to her cheeks, as it always did when he said such things. She broke the kiss playfully ducking under his arms and laughing at Legolas's surprised look.
"You're teasing, but I am not." she added, turning around and marching through the woods. "Most things can be measured. And I do know just how much you love me."
"Oh? Tell me then, my wise one," he teased, his fingers interlacing themselves with hers.
"More than the stars in the sky." she replied, deepening her voice and dramatically sweeping her hands across the sky. Legolas made a great show of contemplating this statement and then shook his head.
"That will not do. Can you number the stars in the sky?" he asked, laughing as Kate's shoulders slumped.
"There are a lot… I don't know, millions."
"Millions is not a definitive measure," he countered. "Try again."
Kate laughed, shaking her head, unwilling to capitulate just yet. Legolas held fast to her hand as she climbed over a fallen log, ensuring she made it over safely. His eyes followed the lanterns and the hooded forms that made their way toward the tent of the king and suddenly he froze.
"What's wrong?" Kate asked, the mood suddenly shifting.
"You will need your medical supplies, there is one who is injured among them," he said in reply.
"How bad? What kind of injury?"
"I know not, I cannot see the wound, but I hear the labored breathing…"
"Amazing," she replied, shaking her head but preparing to head back.
"They desire to meet with King Théoden. Aragorn has already sent word for you."
"Ok, I'll meet you back at King Théoden's tent," she said with a nod, noting that the initial curiosity and whimsy was gone from his face, and now changed to the familiar stern countenance of the warrior he was.
Kate hurried through the bramble, thankful they had not delved deeper into the woods, and collected her kit as quickly as she could before rushing back to the King's tent. She decided it was best to bring everything, not sure how bad the injury was and as the large sack rested on her shoulders a million thoughts rushed through her mind. What did these Drúedain want if they were not here to fight? How bad off were they if they came to those who hunted them for aid?
As Kate marched toward the tent she ran into Gamling, who was searching for her upon Aragorn's request just as Legolas had said. Pleased to find her ready to go, he moved along, albeit at a glacial pace.
"We meet in the forest, a common area of sorts," he explained when Kate inquired as to why they were not stopping at the tent. Kate nodded.
"Well, then let's pick up the pace, shall we? I've an injury to attend to," Kate tutted.
Eventually, they emerged in a clearing, those that were there all gathered around a small fire. King Theoden and Eomer were there, along with Eowyn, Kate noted with chagrin, and several of the King's guard. Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn were there as well, and the man motioned for Kate to follow him toward what she had initially assumed were dwarves, but that was not right.
The ten Drúedain were seated around the fire as well, their small dark eyes warily regarding Kate as she stepped forward. She thought, for the briefest of moments, she saw their deep-set eyes grow red, but that could not have been right. Perhaps it was the firelight.
They talked amongst themselves in a garbled language that Kate had no hope of understanding as she came forward, but now they had grown quiet.
"Kate, is my sister's daughter," Aragorn explained, hands placed together in earnest as he spoke to who she assumed was the leader of the Drúedain. "She is a skilled healer, and would be happy to take a look at your injured, if you would allow her."
The leader turned his flat face to her, looking up at her and for a moment Kate felt something jerk within her, like two live wires making a connection. She stood straighter now, regarding him just as he was her.
Magic.
She hated that magic was the first word that came to her mind upon their initial meeting. These people did not appear magical, and Kate wasn't really one for the word itself but she certainly felt something.
Several tense moments went by as the two regarded each other, and then suddenly the squat man nodded.
"Ghân- buri- Ghân is honored," he replied, his voice sounding like gravel as he waved a gnarled arm in the direction of the wounded individual who ambled forward. Kate could see the blood soaked bandage hastily tied around a barrel-shaped chest.
"What happened?" Kate asked, stepped forward to remove the bandage. "I'll need some boiled water, please." She spoke to one of the guards.
"Let it be done, whatever is needed," Théoden said, sending a guard to prepare the water. If the Rohirrim man felt the task was beneath him he did not complain, and instead, rushed forward to procure it.
"Gorgûn," the injured one spat, his voice controlled and steady but his heaving chest let Kate know he was in a lot of pain. She didn't have to speak their language to know what he had said: orc. Kate unwrapped the bandage and looked at the wound, the familiar melted edging of the wound making her inhale sharply. "Gorgûn tip arrows. Ours better. If our arrow, Koa-buri-Takú is dead," he added, answering Kate's unasked question
"I see," she said as she nodded, hoping the soldier would come back with the boiled water soon. If this was the same poison she had seen at Helm's Deep, and she believed it was, she needed to act fast. "Koa-buri-Takú? That is your name?"
"Yes."
"Mind if I just call you Koa?" she asked. He made a gurgling sound, which Kate assumed to be a laugh.
"Koa is good. Koa thanks you. It is honor to be healed by one like you." Kate's brow furrowed not picking up the meaning and shrugged.
"Thank me once we've got you all fixed up," she said. After a blessedly short moment the guard returned with the boiled water and Kate began to mix up the remedy that would stop the spread of poison Nestaron had taught her.
As Kate worked, cleaning the wound and administering the remedy to Koa, who to his credit offered not the smallest complaint, she listened intently to the exchange. As expected, the Drúedain had not come to fight.
"Our need is for aid in battle!" Eomer scoffed. Kate could plainly see the discontent on his face, the distrust between the two races so readily apparent now.
"Why have you come then, if not to fight?" King Théoden asked, frustration seeping into his tone.
"News," Ghân answered. Kate had finished applying the bandage and took the now empty cup from Koa, refilling it and handing it to him again.
"I'll need to check on this again in another five to ten minutes. Preferably five. If the spread has stopped you'll live, if not…well..."
"I die," Koa finished, in a matter-of-fact manner and Kate gave a curt nod.
"Thank you, Lady Kate, for your service. You are dismissed now, we will call upon you again if needed," Théoden said, and Kate had opened her mouth to explain her necessary proximity when Ghân harshly spoke up for her.
"The Traveler stay," his graveled voice echoing off the trees, sounding like a thunder clap. Kate would have been frightened by these Wild Men then, had she not been so shocked.
The company grew silent and unmoving, the only sound that could be heard was the crackling of the fire. Kate couldn't move, staring at the leader in wide-eyed shock. Had he just outed her as a Traveler? Surely he had made a mistake.
"What did you say?" King Théoden asked, a suspicious eye now cast on Kate. In her periphery, she could see Legolas's hands go to his bow, and both Gimli and Aragorn inched toward.
"The Traveler stay. We come to give news, help where we can. In return, Horse-men kill gorgûn and leave Wild Men alone. Hunt us no more. Traveler makes sure Horse-men honor their word. Traveler make it true. Traveler make it right," Ghân said evenly.
King Théoden took in a shallow breath, calming himself but Kate had not moved. She could feel all eyes boring into her and she thought for a moment that she should escape, run while she could. It was only the glaring and hurt look of Eowyn that rooted her to her spot. Would she hate her now, Kate wondered?
Sure, they were not on the best terms at the moment but Kate had assumed they would reconcile at some point. Now she was not so sure. Nestaron had told her humans were highly mistrustful of Travelers and if Rohan hunted the wild men because of their mistrust of them, what would they do to her?
"You believe Lady Kate is a Traveler?" Théoden asked, receiving a nod from the leader. "What … evidence do you have toward these claims? To say such unfounded… our people owe her much, they would not take such an insult lightly."
The Wild Men laughed, a heavy grating sound as Kate slowly started to breathe again, all except for Koa, his dark eyes understanding now what the others did not.
"They not know?"
"No, they… not know," Kate whispered as regretted flooded his harsh features.
"Traveler is no insult," Ghân declared, amusement written across his face. "Traveler is good honor. Traveler is gift. You Horse-men see only with the eye."
"Is that not how seeing works?" Gamling asked, earning a nervous chuckle from those closest to him as he cast an uneasy eye on Kate.
"Not for us. Not for her," he said simply, jerking a chin toward Kate.
5 minutes.
Kate concentrated on breathing as she snapped back to action, pulling back the bandage and inspecting the wound. The growth had definitely slowed, but not stopped.
"Another five minutes," she muttered, urging Koa to finish the rest of the tincture, pouring more into his cup.
"What of your news?" Eowyn asked, breaking the stunned silence and moving along the conversation. Kate's eyes went to the woman's in thanks, but Eowyn refused to meet them. She hadn't done it for her anyway.
"We look out from hills. We climb big mountain and look down. Stone city is shut. Fire burns there outside. Now inside too. You wish to come there? Then you must be quick," the Wild Man said. "But gorgûn and men out of faraway sit on horse road. Very many, more than Horsemen."
"How do you know this?" Eomer asked, to which the Wild Man turned and gave him a disapproving glance.
"Wild Men are wild, free, but not children," he answered. "I am great headman, Ghân-buri-Ghân. I count many things, stars in sky, leaves on trees, men in the dark. They have more, and many more walk around Stone-houses."
Kate sunk back onto her feet, feeling defeated as she glanced over to Aragorn who looked absolutely crestfallen. Was this it then? Were they too late? Was Gondor going to fall?
"It is as he says," Théoden responded. "Our scouts have reported seeing great stakes and trenches on the road… we could not defeat such a number in time to reach Gondor."
"But will we not try?!" Eomer shouted. "If we make haste now-"
"Then we will only hasten our demise!" Théoden shot back, cutting him off.
"Let Ghân-buri-Ghân finish! More than one road he knows," he said, standing to his feet now. "He will lead you by Road where no pits are, no gorgûn walk, only wild beasts. Road is forgotten but not by wild men. Over hill and beyond hill it lies, still under grass and tree, there behind Rimmon and down to Dîn, and back at end to Horse-men's road. Wild Men will show you that road. Then you will kill gorgûn and drive away bad dark with bright iron, and Wild Men can go back to sleep in wild woods."
The King pondered this offer for several moments, and Kate took the pause in conversation to inspect Koa's wound once more, praying the spread of poison would have stopped. She let out a sigh of relief as the melted edges of the wound had not spread more.
"It will leave a nasty scar, but you'll live," she said with a smile.
"Scar from Traveler healing great honor to Wild Men," Koa responded gratefully. "No shame in such a scar."
"Well, plus there is the added benefit of not dying, so I'm sure that helps," she quipped earning a laugh from him as she continued to assess the wound. "There is dead tissue from the poison though… I will need to remove it, clean it again and re-bandage it."
"Do what you must."
"It…it will hurt. You understand this? A lot of pain," Kate emphasized, as she listened to Théoden accept Ghân's offer.
"Koa-buri-Takú understand pain, not afraid of pain. Do what you must," he said stoutly, and Kate gave a firm nod, digging in her pack for her scalpel when suddenly his hand shot out, grabbing Kate's. "Wait… wait for Horse-men leave. Then do pain."
Kate pursed her lips, her instincts telling her it was better to start now than allow the dead tissue to remain, but a few more minutes would be fine. She could allow him that courtesy. With a curt nod, she sat back on her heels, anxiously waiting for the conclusion of the meeting as the Wild Men agreed to meet the soldiers at first light and take them down the road toward Gondor.
Another soldier came up, a messenger, who whispered to Théoden, and then to Aragorn, a message delivered.
"It appears we have many visitors tonight," the King grumbled, standing to his feet. "I thank you and we will receive your offer. If you are faithful, Ghân-buri-Ghân and we succeed, then we will give you a rich reward, and you will have the friendship of the Mark forever."
"Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no gifts," he said in reply. "But if you live after the Darkness, then leave Wild-Men alone in the woods and do not hunt them like beasts anymore. Ghân-buri-Ghân will not lead you into a trap. He will go himself with father of Horsemen, and if he leads you wrong, you will kill him. Ghân-buri-Ghân keep word. Father of Horsemen keep word. The Traveler make it so," he said with a heavy nod toward Kate, who looked away, fiddling with something in her bag.
He sure is putting a lot of faith in me.
"So be it," Theoden said, and with one last lingering look at Kate, turned and left. Aragorn stood to follow, but turned back and stalked toward Kate.
"Do not fear what is to come. No harm will come to you now that they know what you are, and nothing said in this meeting will be told to anyone. I promise you this."
"You can't really promise that, Aragorn," Kate said with a sigh, watching as those present dispersed. "You can't keep people from talking. Especially not in a place like this, bad news spreads fast."
"Théoden will not allow harm to come to you. You are my kin and he owes much to our family, he knows this," Aragorn said, and a part of Kate wondered if he was reassuring himself more than he was her. His brow furrowed as Kate stood to her feet, the sharp pain throughout her body making her wince.
"You're running late to your meeting. I don't want to hold you up," she said, breathing through the pain. It was amazing how quickly her body now reacted the potential alteration in timelines, tasks, and dreams. It was as if her body had agreed to be a Traveler long before her mind did.
"Will you be well? A meeting is less important-"
"I'm fine, Aragorn. You need to go," Kate soothed, grabbing her scalpel as she noticed Legolas conversing quietly with the Wild Men. "Tell Elrond I said hello," she said with a smile. She'd seen this… she knew he needed to leave, she just didn't know why. Aragorn shook his head in confusion.
"How can you know this?"
"It's the stupid Traveler thing," Kate said with a roll of her eyes. "Go, you need to go, you're slowing things down here," she insisted, and then before he could react she threw her arms around him, hugging her uncle fiercely.
"All will be well, Kate. You will see," he whispered, kissing the top of her head and giving her a calming smile. She couldn't be sure but she did her best to give a confident smile as he turned and walked back toward the camp.
Kate bent down, waving the scalpel in the fire to sterilize it before turning back to begin the debridement of Koa's wound.
"Ready?" she asked. Koa's lips pressed together in a hard line as he gave a firm nod and then Kate began removing the dead flesh, cursing the Orc's poison and wondering how bad the Wild Men's was if he would have been dead by now.
Koa said nothing, remaining stoic and unmoving throughout the process, save a strained gasp here or there. Thankfully though, it was a quick process, as there was not much necrotic tissue to remove, and Kate quickly repacked the wound and gave him instructions on how to care for it while it healed.
"Koa-buri-Takú did not know Traveler was secret for Men. Elf and Dwarf say it is, so Ghân-bur-Ghân… is sorry to bring trouble to Traveler after great healing," Koa said after Kate had finished her wrapping. She shrugged, grabbing out the small vial of alcohol and cleaning her hands with it.
"You didn't know, it was an accident. I'm not upset."
"Then why have great shame in your face?" he asked. The perceptiveness of the question surprised Kate, so much that she nearly dropped her bandages, and had to begin rewrapping them. It was a good question though. Why was she so ashamed? Now that she thought of it, she'd never been given a reason to be anything other than ashamed of this.
"I… Well, others do not look at Travelers like you do. There is no honor in it… I don't know, I am new to this. There is still a lot for me to learn."
"It is as Ghân-buri-Ghân says, men see with eyes only. Not like us. We see more. We see between." Kate tied off the bandage, his choice of words making her wonder.
"Are you a Traveler?"
"No!" Koa laughed, a heaving choking sound that drew the attention of the other Wild Men. He translated Kate's question in their own language, and soon after the others laughed as well. Kate's shoulders slumped and she looked to Legolas in annoyance. The Elf merely shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "No, Koa-buri-Takú is no Traveler. Is not so blessed. Koa-buri-Takú has different gift. Koa-buri-Takú sees far and in between, like Traveler, but can change nothing. Only see."
"Oh? Like clairvoyance?" she asked. Koa shrugged, not knowing the meaning of her word and therefore unable to clear things up. "Well, there's no shame in that either."
"No. It is honor. Wild Men see better than Horse Men," he sighed, grabbing Kate's hand in his as he looked into her eyes. "No shame in far seeing. No shame in Traveler. No shame in love Elf."
Kate's face warmed and she let out a small laugh, risking a look at Legolas who was now talking excitedly with the other wild men.
"How do you know that?" she asked, fighting back the blush from rising on her skin.
"I see far," Koa replied with a smile and sat back on his heels. "Koa-buri-Takú would give Traveler gift, for great blessing and for great trouble caused."
"Oh, well, that's not-" Kate was about to protest, to tell him that it wasn't necessary, but then she remembered Bergil and when she began treating the Rohirrim and wondering if the Wild Men also felt the need to compensate for services somehow. Or maybe he just simply wanted to? Either way, Kate corrected herself. "Thank you, that is very kind of you." Koa nodded, and spoke to the other Wild Men, who seemed unbothered by the notion.
"Others must go. Elf. Dwarf. Wild Men. Only Traveler and Koa-buri-Takú," he explained. Kate bit the inside of her lip, looking to Legolas, but nodded.
"The Elf and I will wait at the camp for you, lass. We'll keep an eye on things, don't you worry."
"Thank you, Gimli," she said with a smile. Legolas's hand grazed hers as he walked past, reiterating what Gimli had said. "I'll find you," Kate promised as they walked back to the camp. The Wild Men too, faded into the tree's so quickly Kate didn't even have the time to wave goodbye.
"Come," Koa urged, bringing her closer to the fire. "Koa-buri-Takú gives gift of far seeing to the Traveler. Three questions Traveler ask him. Only Three. Does Traveler accept gift?"
"Oh," Kate said, as she settled into a more comfortable position, the soil underneath feeling cold despite the fire close by. "Wow, that is quite the gift. Thank you… I, uh, accept," she said quietly. Koa nodded solemnly, grabbing Kate's hand firmly in his. From the belt he wore over a loincloth, Koa withdrew a wicked looking knife and held it over Kate's hand.
"Is Traveler sure? When start far seeing cannot stop. Is Traveler sure? Traveler wants to know secrets of far away? Traveler must accept what Koa-buri-Takú sees. Traveler must not harm Koa-buri-Takú for what he sees."
"I wouldn't do that. You can't be blamed for what you see," Kate insisted, but for a moment she paused. Did she really want to know? She had already seen some future events in her dreams, and what she saw… well she wished she hadn't.
But the things she had seen had no meaning. They were jumbled images that had no chronological order to her and no geographical location. Faces, images of people and places that came and went. They gave her no answers only tasks to be completed. But there was one dream she had had since she came to Middle Earth… a dream that made no sense, didn't fit into the life she had now… and she needed answers for that. It would be nice to have definite answers to certain things. But what if the answer was not what she wanted? What if these answers were proof that everything she feared would come true and everyone she loved would suffer?
"Is Traveler sure?" Koa asked again. Kate paused, jumping as an owl swooped down to grab whatever prey it had set its sights on and disappeared.
"Traveler sure," she said firmly. "I mean, I, me. I am sure. I'm sure."
Koa paused, giving her one more moment to change her mind and then suddenly his grip on her hand tightened and in one quick and practiced motion he slid the knife across the palm of her hand. Kate jerked her hand back in surprise as a ribbon of blood bubbled to the top, but Koa's grip held tight.
Deftly, Koa turned her hand squeezing it until the blood dripped onto the ground. With his other hand, he stirred the bloodied dirt until it was a muddy paste and with his thumb he spread it over his eyes. Kate watched in macabre fascination, not daring to speak a word as the mud mixed with her blood dried on his eyes.
Unbothered, Koa whispered what she assumed were ceremonial words and suddenly Kate was all too aware of a familiar hum in her ears. As she looked around she saw ley lines assembling around them, circling them and panic began to grow in her. If they touched they'd make a portal, and she couldn't risk that. Instinctually, her hand went out to stop the line from coming any closer, to put them back where they were but Koa grabbed her other hand, shaking his head firmly as he continued his chant.
Sweat began to bead across her forehead and muscles began to twitch, despite the ring still being on her finger. Everything within her screamed to stop this, roared within her to move the lines back and stop this. The lines spun around them, faster and faster and Kate began to wonder if this was a trap, a trick of the Wild Men. Maybe they hated Travelers after all, and just wanted to be rid of her? She opened her mouth, ready to argue, to put a stop to this but just as quickly as it started it stopped.
Kate exhaled in relief as nearly all, save a few, of the ley lines returned to their positions, and the panic within her subsided. The lines that circled them now did so slowly, never touching, and Kate could no longer hear the humming or feel her muscles twitch.
"Three questions Traveler may ask. Only three. Ask them now. Traveler must be quick," Koa said once everything around them had calmed and Kate felt her tongue dry up in her mouth. Only three questions when she had thousands circling around in her head… how could she only ask three?!
"Will we survive this battle? Eowyn and I, the hobbits, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli?"
"All mentioned survive battle," he replied after a moment. Kate nodded, letting out a slow breath of relief. Ok…this is good. One less thing to worry about. We're gonna be fine! "Next question." What would she ask… she had so many questions! But there was only one thing that stuck out in her mind, the one thing she wanted to know more than anything.
"Legolas… I love him."
"Not a question, Traveler."
"I know, give me a second."
"Must ask quickly."
"Do we have a future? Will he die because of me? Will it kill him?"
"Why ask three questions when traveler knows answer to two? Does Traveler not already know he dies when Traveler dies? Does Traveler wish to waste questions? Traveler is not stupid. Come, what question would you have Koa-buri-Takú answer?"
"The Lady Galadriel said there was no future in our union… is it true? Is there no future for us?" As soon the question left her mouth she wanted to take it back, shove it to the back of her mind where the rest of her fear and doubts lived but it was too late. The question had spilled out like a glass of wine poured out onto the table, staining and spreading and there was no way one could put that back into the bottle.
Koa remained quiet for longer this time, and Kate's hand, already slicked with blood began to sweat in his warm grasp. She waited for him to speak, the night drawing closer and every crackle from the fire or noise of the forest made her jump and squirm. The wait was maddening! Finally, he spoke, low and slow, his voice like rocks scraping against one another.
"Koa-buri-Takú sees no future here for Elf and Traveler. It is as Elf woman say. Still, no shame in great love. Love for Elf is good… not here." Kate's throat began to tighten and hot tears sprung up in her eyes quicker than she could blink them away. She let out a choked sob, just one, forcing herself to regain composure. She held her breath for as long as she could, once, twice, until she was sure she would not cry.
She hated this. Why did she do this? This was a mistake. She knew what Galadriel said, why did she waste a question trying to refute her? Idiot! It doesn't matter, you heard Legolas, it doesn't matter! You'll make it work, and enjoy it while it does. It doesn't matter what they say about it! But it did matter, it mattered more than Kate wanted to admit, the throbbing pain in her heart was proof of that!
"Last question," Koa prompted, in what sounded like a gentle manner. "Remember promise to Koa."
"I'm not mad," Kate whispered, the words feeling like razors on her throat. "I'm not mad, give me a second… it's just… harder than I thought."
"Must ask quickly." Kate let out a frustrated growl. All other questions left her mind, save one. It was one that had plagued her since she had arrived here… the only repetitive dream, assignment, she'd had… and one that was more terrifying to her at the moment.
"In my dreams… I saw the sky, but it was not our sky."
"Travelers go many places. Are not always under same sky."
"Yes, but this, in a very different time… and it was on Earth. I was at the stones and I could not go back." Kate explained, the dream unfolding in her mind once more, all too vividly. "So…my question is…do I lose my home because I helped Kedron?"
"Yes," he answered, with little pause and Kate felt the air leave her lungs. "Traveler go back to Earth. Traveler will help Kedron, and Traveler is punished."
Kate stumbled out of the woods, holding her wrapped hand to her chest. It didn't hurt and the bleeding had long since stopped, but she wouldn't risk the infection, not with the injury in her side already giving her trouble.
With a heavy heart Kate walked into the encampment, not blind at all the ways the soldiers danced around her. One thing at a time. Kate thought so herself, making her way to Legolas' tent when a motion caught her eye.
"Aragorn!" Kate called to the man, who was packing his horse.
"Get some rest, Kate. Legolas will keep watch over you, you need not worry."
"I'm not worried about that," she scoffed. "I'm worried that you're leaving by yourself." The man paused for a moment, but quickly resumed his task.
"You cannot come, Kate. Not this time. It is far too dangerous."
"No, no…I know that," she said with a sigh. "You know I would though, right? That I would have gone with you if I could." The man's expression softened and he walked over to Kate, pulling her into an embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around the last living member of his bloodline.
"I know, but even then, I would not wish it for you."
"And what do you wish for me?" she asked. Aragorn looked at her then, tracing the bags under her eyes and the tear marks that had streaked down her face.
"Peace. I wish you peace, for the rest of your long years."
"Not marriage?" she asked with a teasing smile.
"He has asked you then?"
"He has."
"Then I am happy for the joy it will bring you both," he said, kissing her forehead and returning to his task. He had smiled but it did not touch his eyes and Kate stood quietly by for a few moments, watching her uncle.
"I don't want you to go… I know you have to, but I wish you'd stay. Is that selfish?" she asked quietly, unsure if she was asking the question to him or herself. Aragorn sighed, shaking his head.
"If it is selfish then I am guilty of the same," he responded after a moment. "I would want… more time."
"You're coming back Aragorn," Kate insisted, but the words sounded far too forced in the light of this present moment. "You're coming back," she said one more time, hoping to sound more convincing. Koa had said they all survived this… and she knew he was right. "I'm not going to say goodbye… because I need you to come back. Arwen needs you to come back. Gondor needs you to come back… it's better if I don't know what you're riding to… you just have to come back, ok?"
Aragorn slowed, turning to look at Kate once more before giving a curt nod.
"Good. Well… good luck. Don't get yourself killed," she muttered. "Love you," she said quickly, turning her back and walking away before she went back and begged him not to go. He needed to go, she couldn't ruin the timeline, but she sure as hell would make sure he wasn't going alone.
Through misty eyes Kate headed to look for Gimli and Legolas, so focused on her task she smacked right into Eowyn.
"Kate!" she said, concern flooding her features, only to quickly be replaced with disdain. "Why are you crying?"
"Nothing, I just… nothing. Aragorn is leaving and it's just upset me, but it's fine." The woman's face went whiter than Kate could have thought possible.
"What do you mean he is leaving. He cannot leave! We ride out with the Wild Men to Gondor at first light," Eowyn argued. "He cannot leave! We must stop this. Come along."
"He has to, leave it, Eowyn. He'll come back."
"I will certainly not leave it! How can you allow this to happen?"
"Because it has to."
"Do you deem it fated then? Is that the wise council proffered from our Traveler?" Eowyn wrenched her arm from Kate's grasp, her gaze hard and cold. "He is your uncle. Your kin. It is as if I have never known you at all, Kate," the woman seethed, but to Kate's ears it sounded more hurt than angry. Kate had no time to explain, she needed to alert Gimli and Legolas before it was too late.
Kate took off at a run now, dodging in between the rows of tents before running into Legolas' tent. He sat upright immediately upon her entry, and Kate looked around, abashed as she realized she had woken him up and he wore no tunic. Her eyes grew wide as she took in the sight of him. Legolas raised an amused eyebrow, leaning back to offer her a better view. Was this truly the first time she'd seen him without a tunic?
"Am I to anticipate these regular intrusions once we are wed?" he asked, chuckling to himself as Kate's eyes grew wider by the moment.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you would be sleeping."
"It is no bother. What is it?"
"Oh… I have totally and completely forgotten," she whispered. You're a blithering idiot! The sight of him makes you forget everything! Come on Kate, pull it together! Legolas stood to his feet, and Kate's heart began to beat in her chest as he walked to her, his leggings leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Well, then perhaps I can help you remember?" he asked, cupping her face in his hands as he tilted her head up for a kiss. A pang shot through her and she jerked away, startled.
"Oh! I've remembered! You have to get dressed!"
"I must admit, I had not anticipated that reaction," Legolas said, a wry smile on his face as Kate shook her head apologetically.
"No, no, not that. You and Gimli have to get ready, Aragorn is leaving."
"Leaving? This night?"
"Yes," Kate said, hastily throwing him his tunic, and gathering his boots. "I don't know where or why, but he's leaving."
"I have a suspicion," Legolas said, shrugging on the tunic.
"Don't tell me, I don't want to know," Kate said, with a frustrated grunt, tossing him his other tunic and a belt.
"As you wish, though you will discover it yourself soon enough," he said, grabbing his knives, and Gimli's pack, quickly throwing in the Dwarves belongings. "Grab your things, I will meet you here with the horses."
"Legolas," she said, "I'm not going."
"Do not be frightened, Kate. Fear has not stopped you before," he teased, laughing as he pulled another tunic over his head. "Come along, grab your things. I will meet you shortly."
"No, I'm serious…I-I can't go." Legolas turned to face her, confusion written plainly across his face. "I have to stay here… there's something, an assignment, I need to do."
She hated saying it… to her it felt like servitude, and she hated the shame that burned in her because of it. Because she couldn't make her own decisions. Sure, she could ignore it, blow off this task and let the chips fall where they may, but at what cost? What would happen if she ignored this? Would this be her life now, she wondered? A life together but only half her's?
Legolas stood still, unmoving as his mind processed this new information.
"And what is it that you need to do?" he asked, though it was useless. He already knew and his heart constricted in his chest at the thought, begging her to say it was anything else than what he imagined.
He had wondered about her sudden increased vigor for practices, how much she absorbed of the soldiers. She had learned much since she began her instruction, but Kate was no soldier.
"Do you really want to know?" Kate whispered.
"You cannot do this, Kate. To what point and purpose?" he said suddenly, forcefully, carrying the full weight of one who was born to have his word obeyed. Kate shook her head sadly,
"I have to make sure someone goes, something needs to happen, I need to make sure it does."
"That is madness! You do not need to fight in the battle to ensure it happens, I can assure you it will happen. Is that not enough? What more could be asked of you?"
"That's not what I'm talking about, Legolas," Kate sighed. "You need to hurry, there's not a lot of time. He's leaving. He can't go by himself."
"And I cannot leave you to fight unaided in a war you cannot win!" he shouted, his voice cracking just a fraction. Legolas had never felt more torn in his life.
"It'll be ok," Kate said, reaching for him. "We'll survive this. Koa told me."
"Kate-" he choked out, holding her to him, his forehead resting on hers. "You cannot know this… Do not do this."
"You have to go Legolas, he needs you."
"How long have you known?" he asked, his thumb tracing her hip where the stitches once were, wondering to himself if Orc would sense that weakness in her. Suddenly, all he could see were the weak areas, all the ways she could be killed. She was not physically strong enough, she didn't eat enough, she was smaller than most women, and her gait was just a bit slower since the injury to her leg… one misplaced step and she would fall, any enemy would take that opportunity. It was enough to drive him mad! "Why did you not tell me?"
"I haven't known long, since we left Rohan. I didn't want to worry you."
"I see."
"Legolas, you-"
"I know, Kate! I know what I must do," he said. He was a warrior after all. Duty first, always. Aragorn was his friend, he would not leave him to go down that road alone, but Kate… Kate was his everything.
"Legolas," Kate said, holding onto him just a bit tighter as the pangs shot through her body. He needed to go, now. "Tell me one more time, what you said that day… after I found out about all this…"
"I said I did not care what Nestaron or Lady Galadriel said, that they cannot know the future, it is not set in stone," he whispered, cupping her face in his hands, committing those brilliant green eyes to memory. "I believed that then, and I believe that now. Whatever the future holds for us, it is you and I who write it!" Tears streamed down Kate's face, either from the pain that coursed through her or his certainty, but she did not care.
Suddenly his lips crashed against hers in desperation as the two clung to one another, a desperate need to be closer than any of them had time for. Legolas' hands cupped the small of her back as he pulled her closer to him, molding her body to his and kissing her lips with a bruising need. Every kiss, every touch set Kate's skin on fire; she would have happily continued to burn so long as he kept touching her like this, kept whispering his love for her. How could she have a future without him?
Don't go. She wanted to beg. Stay with me. Don't leave. Don't go. But he had to. She knew it and so did he.
"You have to come back," she whispered, forcing herself to pull away. It was time, he had to leave, now. "I need you to, Legolas. You have to come back."
"I will. I will look for you…I will find you!"
"I know… I know, go! You have to go!" she cried, and with a frustrated growl Legolas pulled away, grabbing Gimli's things and pushing open the flap of the tent. "I love you," she whispered.
God, she was so petrified, why? Koa had said they would survive, but Kate had so very little faith in the positive outcomes of the future nowadays, it seemed to her she would take it a day at a time.
But they would survive. They would come back. Frodo would destroy the ring and all would be well. She had to believe that.
"I will be back… we will be wed, and our future will be ours," Legolas said, reaching out to grasp her hand but not trusting himself to touch her. If he touched her, he would never let her go. "I will find you. Please do not be reckless, I beg of you." Kate nodded, wiping tears away and trying her best to give a small smile.
"Come back." He turned and walked away, to saddle Arod, and leave with Aragorn and Gimli.
He will survive, they all will survive. I will find him. We have a future and it does not end today or tomorrow or the next day! He will come back to me.
Kate watched him walk away until he turned and was no longer in her sight. She assumed the pain would subside by now but it hadn't.
With a frown, she turned and walked back to her tent, hoping to get some sleep before daybreak but there was much to do. First, she needed to figure out how to get her and Eowyn to the battle in the first place, as women were not generally welcomed as soldiers here. Then there was procuring the right armor and weapons and the whole horse issue.
What a freaking day, Kate thought, falling back onto her cot and allowing herself a moment of self-pity and rest. However, neither would come as the pain and warning within her would not let her rest.
What was wrong? She needed to sleep she couldn't keep Eowyn up all night with her tossing and turning. Where is Eowyn anyway? Kate crumpled the fur blanket, shoving it over her face and letting out a strangled growl of frustration before tossing it back and jumping to her feet.
Finding Eowyn took less time than she initially thought, but it was not where she expected. Tucked away by the woods, Eowyn was readying her horse, a sword strapped to his side. A scourge of pain shot through her as Kate marched over to her.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kate asked.
"If no one will stop him, I will go after him," Eowyn said, not even bothering to look at her.
"After him- after Aragorn?" Kate repeated incredulously. She had to be joking! "Eowyn, you're not going after them. Are you insane?"
"No, quite the opposite. In fact, it seems as if I am the only sane one here," Eowyn shot back, fastening the straps on her saddle. After this, she suddenly whirled around to face Kate.
"Is your definition of sane riding off after a guy? Because if so, you're right, it's just you."
"How can you not go! How can you let them rid off to war while you stay here and fret? Does it not madden you?"
"Of course, it does. But Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas… they have their paths and you have yours, and it's not to ride off into the sunset after a man who will never love you the way you want him too. I'm sorry… but that's the way it is," Kate said, losing her patience. It's been kind of a bad day, can I get some slack, please? Please?!
"You are so certain of this. Is my life pre-destined too?" Eowyn scoffed. "You send others to their deaths and call it fate and yet you will not even stay and fight by their side. You are a coward! You are scared and instead of facing that fear you hide behind a title."
"Yeah, you're damn right I'm scared! The only reason you're not is because you have no idea what it's like!" Kate shouted as the two women faced each other, the tension crackling in the air around them. "You don't know what it's like to be surrounded by orcs who want to eat you. To have them run their vile hands over you and threaten the worst, only to be saved from it because there is a fate even worse than that in store. You don't know what it's like to watch your friends die and be powerless to stop it. Eowyn you have no idea."
"But I am willing to take the risk. I do not have the same fears as you! I do not fear death." Eowyn seethed. "And should I meet my end it will be on my terms not because a Traveler willed it so! I will not have my fate decided for me!"
There it was… buried beneath the blue, deep within her eyes was the fear Eowyn claimed she did not have. The woman was scared. She was petrified… but not like Kate. No, Eowyn just wanted a chance to prove herself, to prove she could break the mold… and because Kate had to, she would manipulate that… because Eowyn needed to be on that battlefield.
"You want death and glory?" Kate asked with a sigh, hating herself. "Fine, but not this way. If you go with them, no one will know your name."
"Do not waste your breath in asking me to stay here, I cannot do that. It is not in me, Kate."
"Yeah, I know. I'm not asking you to stay, I'm asking you to wait. To wait and fight alongside your King. To leave with the rest of the soldiers at first light." Eowyn blinked rapidly as her mind processed what Kate was asking.
"How would I do such a thing…?"
"We'll figure it out," Kate said with a shrug as Eowyn shot her a quizzical look.
"We?"
"Yeah, we. I'm going with you," Kate grumbled. Eowyn barked out a laugh.
"You can't be serious? You don't want to fight."
"No, I don't. But you do… and you're my friend, at least for my part, so I'm going with you," she said.
"You still think of me as a friend? And you will ride with me?" Eowyn asked again, confused by this shift. This was not how the Rohirrim woman saw her night going.
"Well, someone needs to make sure you don't get killed," Kate grumbled, not mentioning that she also needed to make sure her and the Witch King squared off. The last thought made Kate shudder. Eowyn would fight him, and Kate would make sure she won and lived to tell the tale because after everything she still considered Eowyn a friend. Friends don't let friends chase their crush when they're supposed to go to war… or however the saying goes.
Eowyn nodded slowly, a small hesitant smile spreading across her face.
"Someone also needs to make sure you do not cheat."
"I honestly have no clue what you're talking about," Kate said, doing her best to keep her face straight, but eventually a smile won out. "So, let's go get your glory, huh?"
A/N: What did you think? Leave a review and let me know!