Author's Note: I am sorry I have been away for so long, like I said last chapter I've been a busy body, my little family and I moved homes and I got a new job so I'm not quite as free as I used to be but I will be continuing this story have no fear! Just let me know what you think of it so far…

Chapter Five

We were moving again and I saw that Eowyn had not stopped her pursuit in badgering Aragorn with questions. At the moment, I saw a faraway look in Aragorn's eyes, he was thinking of Arwen. No doubt the last time they spoke with Rivendell. Arwen looked angry but not defeated. I know Elrond didn't approve of the two's union, and I very much doubt he'd be very receptive to Legolas and my own. If Elrond had his way Arwen would be on the next ship to the Grey Haven's away from death, famine and of course…Aragorn. She stayed for Aragorn, she stayed for the hope the two would be together, and I had a funny feeling in my bones that they would be. You couldn't stop fate.

We were walking across the plains, the hills were large almost like mountains in some places. It was also incredibly open and vulnerable. The animals in me were twitching, something was about to happen. I could feel it. The horses were restless, they felt it too. Legolas was a couple feet ahead as a look out. Hama and Gamling ride past Legolas confused, but they pause.

"What is it? Hama?"

Hama shakes his head.

"I'm not sure,"

I smelled the Warg before I saw it, it runs down the cliff face towards the two men, barreling into Hama's horse and throwing Hama. The Warg's rider attacks, and narrowly misses killing him. Legolas shoots and kills the Warg's rider before it kills Hama. I dash from Gimli's side, thankful I agreed to leave my weapons and pack on Arod. I pulled my cloak tight and pulled the hood over my head, and let my body be taken over by the animal inside. Almost instantly my body creaks and I felt my bones break and elongate and form into the form that took over. Blinking, I discovered the dire lion had taken over. Fitting considering it would set me apart from the Warg and allow me the speed and power necessary to fight.

Legolas journeyed to the dead Warg Rider to be sure it was dead, but was nearly blindsided by its Warg, when I barreled into its side and throwing it to the side and I quickly used my jaws and rear legs to break the neck and disembowel the creature. Aragorn appears nearby.

"A scout!" Legolas calls to him.

Aragorn hurried back down the hill to the people and to Théoden, he meets him halfway.

"What is it? What do you see?"

"Warg! We're under attack!" Aragorn states running to his horse and saddling up.

Almost immediately I felt the panic in the air from the people of Rohan.

"Get them out of here!" Aragorn called.

"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden called.

He rides to Eowyn but I don't dare stay and watch what they're saying, I focus more on the Warg, behind me I heard the clopping of hooves. For good measure I assure the horses I mean no harm I let out a war cry. The Warg slight falter in their charge but continued at the urge of their Riders. I ride out to meet them the lead seemed excited and over confident, just as we were to meet in a tackle, an arrow whizzes by me and lodges itself in the head of the rider, throwing the Warg completely off balance allowing me to plow into the Warg claw first. It wasn't able to put up much of a fight as I snapped its neck and disemboweled it. Warg themselves were horrible creatures, they smelled horribly, and disemboweling them made it work, whatever they fed these things…was putrid. But it was one of the few ways to definitely know that thing wasn't going to get back up.

Once the one was dead I launched myself into the next nearby Warg helping the rider's out as much as I can. They were at a disadvantage on the horses, no matter how good you were, Warg were low to the ground and were made to get up under a horse and let their rider fly. Rohan's horsemen were experts but Warg were evil creatures. The battle seemed to go on forever, everyone seemed to be holding their own. Finally the battle is over, I was covered in blood, I probably smelled as good as I felt, I had scratches and some bites from the various fights with the Warg. I heard Legolas and Gimli looking for Aragorn. I notice Legolas looking at something from the ground and I hear a Orc laughing. I drug the corpse of the Warg off, and notice the Orc was dying, laughing but he was dying. I growled lowly and put pressure on its chest, fully intending to collapse the ribcage and let this worm die painfully.

"Tell me what happened, and I may let her ease your passing."

The orc looked at me scared but resolved at the fact that he was dying.

"He's…dead. He took a little tumble off the cliff."

Legolas glared at him.

"You lie."

The orc dies, not by my paw, but I realize what was in his hands, I whined and Legolas unraveled the chain from his hands and held it in his hand. Théoden was already at the ledge looking at the fast flowing river below, there were no signs of any bodies. Gamling walks to the king.

"Get the wounded on horses…the wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead."

Legolas looks at the Horse Lord disbelievingly. Théoden places a hand on his shoulder.

"Come,"

He walks away leaving Gimli and Legolas staring into the river. He pauses at me and I saw dark and unrestrained anger flit across his eyes. I took several steps back and shifted back into my human form, I wasn't much prettier looking in my human form, pulling the hood from my face I stared at the Horse Lord holding his gaze.

"Chain her up and make sure she cannot escape."

My eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?"

The men hesitated not wanting to get close to me, Théoden repeated the order and I saw Legolas and Gimli spin around flabbergasted.

"My Lord, she is not a danger," Legolas tried to assure him.

"I cannot risk that chance with my people, she's a witch who is unstable, young and unstable mean danger. Lock her up."

I was nearly tackled to the ground, my animals in me were roaring with protest as iron clapped itself around my wrists and my arms wrenched behind my back painfully. Rope securing my arms and legs. I growled lowly, it didn't deter them but actually sped up their process. One even went so far as to tie a rope around my mouth between my teeth so I couldn't bite.

"My lord, this is entirely improper! She has been no threat to the people as of now, why would she suddenly change her mind?" Legolas asked angrily.

Théoden didn't look at him, but looked at me as I glared at him hatefully from my position in the mud as they tightened and pulled the ropes.

"She's an animal and a witch, both are unpredictable. MOVE OUT!"

I wasn't even allowed a horse as we made the remainder of our trip to Helms Deep, I didn't even get a chance really to look around before I was rushed past the crowds and the eyes looking at me like I was some prisoner of war. The soldiers whom I fought with looked at me unbelieving and some even with pity. Legolas was livid, and Gimli was silently fuming. Gandalf would blow a gasket when he found out. I was quickly ushered into the main dwelling of Helms Deep, past the smells of the kitchen and down past the hall that led into the caves down deeper. Where they kept the prison cells.

I was unceremoniously thrown into the last cell, one with very little light and was mostly mud floors and walls. They didn't even both to untie me as they threw me into the room, crashing into the mud. The iron dug painfully into my wrists and my arms ached from being tied too tight. Had I the energy I could break free from them, but the battle exhausted me, and my wounds throbbed painfully. No doubt if I did not receive medical attention soon they would fester and make me sick. After a few moments of trying to get my bearings I managed to sit up, getting my face out of the mud, I tried to work my jaw a little but the rope in my mouth prevented much movement. The rope was nasty and caused me to drool slightly around it. Once I could recover part of my own strength I'd chew through it. I looked around my new "room". It was mostly mud like I had originally though. In the left corner of the room was a cot that had definitely seen better days and would not last to any weight no it before it collapsed. There was a small rotting ending table a few feet away from that. In the wall on the far end of the room was an enclave with a candle in it. That at least was new and would provide light for a time. Sighing I maneuvered my way until I was sitting against the right wall of the cell and leaned back as best I could and tried to remain calm. I tried clearing my mind…but one thing I was certain of.

The Race of Men…never changed.

I'm not certain how much time had passed, but it wasn't long before the fever set in and the body sweats. My animals were unusually silent, it unnerved me as I was accustomed to their presence whether I wanted it or not. My body soon became clammy and I knew my body was shaking slight. Whatever foulness was afoot from the Warg it was entering my blood system and effecting me, it was not a pleasant feeling. I closed my eyes and tried to steel myself from the pain and the clammy feeling throughout my body, I would have to ride this out and pray my body was immune enough to whatever they had given to me.

It was much later, the candle was nearly gone barely a stub now and barely reflecting light. No guards had come to me, no food, no water, I had resorted to digging a makeshift hole in the corner and relieving myself there and had to cover it up. I was dirty, cold, tired, and sick, the fever still hadn't broke. I heard footsteps, they were light and lithe. Turning to where they were coming from, through the haze of the fever I saw the familiar pale blonde of the elven princeling.

"Braelyn,"

I smiled despite my situation. He frowned however upon seeing me. I heard him curse in elvish, something I never thought I would ever hear. He knelt beside my cell, and I dragged my body closer to cell door, he pulled me close and untying the rope around my mouth. Gingerly I tried opening and closing my mouth, it ached and it was tender near the side where the rope rubbed but it was finally off.

"Are you all right?' I asked quietly.

He looked at me puzzled, and shook his head, it was a look between anger and flabbergasted.

"Not with knowing you are down here by yourself, tied up and feverish…"he said placing a hand on my forehead.

I shrugged, I had felt worse before, granted not in some time, but definitely had worse. I was trying to reserve my strength in fighting the fever, but there was little hope with no food nor energy in me to fight. My body was very weak and it ached everywhere. Especially having been tied up for so long the iron from the jail cell, didn't directly affect me, but it made my spirits low being cooped up. I wondered aloud how long I've been down here.

"It has been a day and a half since we arrived in Helm's Deep,"

I blinked in surprise. When there was no access to the sun, you really didn't know what time it way or how much time has passed. I glanced at the waning candle, time really had passed quickly.

"Have you eaten anything?"

I shook my head, groaning at the nausea it caused.

"No one has been down here, and I doubt I could stomach anything at the moment," I admitted.

I heard Legolas curse again in elvish.

"No one has brought you food? Water?"

I made a noise I hope sounded like no. I felt Legolas's hand brush against my forehead again and I leaned into the touch, it cool hand felt good against my heated skin.

"I have a right mind to knock some sense into the Horse Lord."

I chuckled once without humor.

"Don't. We don't need more of our group down here. Théoden will need us before the end, I just hope he realizes it before it's too late."

I searched his eyes and he looked worried, were we not in the middle of a war and that it loomed overhead that he would join me in here, I don't doubt he'd try to spring me loose. Then again, the elven prince doesn't know much about thievery, stealth and lock picking. A bit too proper for that.

"Remind me to have you teach me how to pick a lock," Legolas stated glaring at the lock on the door.

I smiled at that.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Though, I doubt very much Thranduil will appreciate his one of his sons knowing the art of a rouge." I said quietly.

I saw the smile on my prince's face.

"I'm going to see if I can convince them to untie you at least," He said softly.

"They won't,"

Legolas looked at me a little confused.

"Diplomat or not, prince or not. They will not untie me." I said lowly.

"Why?"

"I'm dangerous. I'm a liability." I said with a sad look.

"You have never cause the need for him to cautious. You have never attacked anyone, aside from those that would do us harm," Legolas argued.

"He doesn't care, he just sees me as a threat," I said sullenly.

Legolas and I were silent for a while, he rubbed his thumb over my cheek there were horns from outside and he looked up.

"Go see what it is, they may need you," I whispered.

He hesitated.

"I'll be right here, can't go very far,"

He frowned at my attempted of a joke.

"I'll be back soon,"

I nodded. He left, while I felt better in his presence I was largely holding back the amount of pain I was in so he didn't worry. But the pain I was in felt like pins and needles were being jabbed into my skin repeatedly. Like my entire body had fallen asleep and it was slowly waking up. I had thrown up a couple of times, leaning my head against the muddy walls of the jail cell. Wondering bitterly to myself…is this really how I'm going to die?