A/N: Usually I'm against Valentine's Day which is a money scheme and a fine example of one but to all those who fall head over heels for red and pink hearts, roses and such, Happy Valentines Day.
Convincing A Worm
Any other day it would have been a tedious task assigned to a young soldier just starting out with his training but today the task ranked as one of the most important. It was why Legolas took to over seeing those who had the task. The tasks being seeing to that all blades and arrows are sharp enough to use in battle. Every so often Legolas would instruct someone on what needed sharpening or jump in himself and do what needed to be done. The mundane task kept him from thinking of Aragorn.
Legolas felt more than anything that it could not simply be the end for the ranger. He felt like there was just too much to be done for Aragorn to be gone. Legolas refused to believe it. He kept the Evenstar in his pocket close by, anticipating Aragorn's return. Even with falling from a cliff there was still a small possibility that he could have survived and Legolas was taking that small possibility and making it the only possibility. Settling for anything else was unsatisfactory.
The talk of Aragorn's defeat went disregarded to Legolas. He took up an arrow from amongst many and eyed it critically. Legolas was sure that Aragorn would return just as sure as the arrow he held would find its mark in battle.
The sharp pain that had been going through Aragorn's head had slowly begun to ebb away even though at first the movements that Brego made were not helping him feel much better. The horse sensing its rider's distress moved across the land at an incredibly slow pace. When Aragorn was ready to ride at the normal pace Brego would sprint forward but not a moment sooner. For an hour Aragorn had fought against the feeling to give up and just pass out. It was important that he reached Helm's Deep.
Feeling a little more up to par, Aragorn sat up straighter on Brego. He felt more determination seep into him. He had to get to Helm's Deep so to extinguish his friends thoughts of him being dead. He had to show them that he was not to be gotten rid of so easily. He was going to fight in this war.
In elvish he told Brego to go faster and gave the horse a squeeze with the heel of his boot. It was just the signal Brego needed. Feeling the wind in his hair and face made Aragorn feel even better and conscious. It inspired him to tell Brego to go even faster. The russet horse complied and moved even faster in the direction they needed to go.
A deep booming sound made him pull the reins and halt Brego's speedy run. Aragorn looked to his left and saw what surprised him only a little. There was Saurman's army heading for Helm's Deep. The mass of the army was more than incredible and at the sight made Aragorn's eyes grow wide. Before his position could be compromised he signaled for Brego to go.
Now the need to get to Helm's Deep was even more important than before. Aragorn had to inform Théoden of the army that was coming to Helm's Deep. Yes, Aragorn knew that Saruman's army was inevitably coming but he had not the slightest idea when. Now that he knew that the army was coming and soon, he know had to act as a messenger and notify Théoden of his finding. So it was like the wind that had coaxed Aragorn back to feeling well again that he rode forward.
The news of Aragorn's return spread faster than a wild fire. The person who had warned the king that the enemy would come had survived his plunge into a thunderous river from a cliff. At first the news had begun as a rumor. No one dared to believe it until they had seen first hand Aragorn alive and well, but then it became all too apparent that the rumor was no rumor at all. Aragorn was becoming the image of hope to many.
Aragorn followed Théoden inside after telling him that the need to speak to him was of great importance. Legolas and Gimli followed behind them, both of them all too overjoyed for the return of their friend. Neither of them had doubted Aragorn's capabilities for getting himself out of trouble. There was no time to rejoice in the man's return though because as it seemed there were things of greater importance that needed to be addressed and anyone who did not believe so only had to look at Aragorn's face for proof. Aragorn took to explaining what he had witnessed on his way to Helm's Deep as soon as the door to the room had closed.
Legolas had sensed the urgency in Aragorn even when he had given him back the Evenstar. The elf knew that something dramatic was about to begin.
"How many," Théoden asked. The exigency in his voice was very apparent. It was as if he did not quite believe what was being told to him even though he had evacuated the city for this very reason. He had hoped that what the man before him had been telling him all along was nothing more than paranoia. Théoden knew that this was his reality that the news Aragorn came bearing the first time they had met was in fact real.
"Ten thousand strong at least."
The words Aragorn said seemed to echo throughout the room. Théoden tried to not show the horror on his face that he felt on the inside. He simply did not have the men to fight this war. The enemy greatly out numbered them and they would not be successful without any allies to aid them in battle. Decisions were going to have to be made that neither he nor anyone else would be pleased about.
Seeing Théoden's hesitation to speak Aragorn decided to remind him of what was they were up against. The urgency of the situation was much too important for indecision and silence.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose; to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall," said Aragorn.
The words he spoke both Gimli and Legolas believed full heartedly. Such a large army would be moving with speed towards its enemy. There would be no hesitation in their brutal acts. The army of Urk-hai would not wait until they had a fair amount of men to wage a battle against them. These were creatures that knew no honor and had no ethics.
King Théoden was still not a person who gave up. He was a man who held too much pride and too much stubbornness. This was proved in the hasty decision he was forced into making.
"Let them come."
He walked from the room with an air of determination about him. For a split second all that Aragorn could accomplish was staring after the king. Only did he finally step into action was when Legolas walked passed him to the door with Gimli hot on his heels. Making quick work of his feet he breezed passed his two friends to catch up to Théoden.
"This is not a rabble of mindless orcs. These are Urk-hai," said Gimli in an attempt to try and make the king see how serious this army was. "Their armor is thick and their shields broad."
Legolas and Aragorn looked at Gimli once they heard the slight rudeness in his voice. All of them knew that there would be no way in convincing the king to come from his high horse and ask others surrounding Rohan for help. He strongly believed that no one would come to the aid of Rohan. If he kept on believing that this was so then there was no way to win this battle and the people of Rohan would be lost. Théoden was not to be persuaded by the words Gimli nor Aragorn spoke.
Théoden looked sternly at Gimli but his words were met for Aragorn and Legolas as well. They would all see that Rohan could carry its own weight.
"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock." With each word that was brought forth from his mouth hardness crept about. "Crops can be resown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outcast them."
Aragorn was now passed the point of breaking but kept in mind that he was speaking to a king. There were people's lives at stake and he felt that there was more important than proving a point or trying to save pride.
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages," Aragorn stressed. "They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!"
"What would you have me do," King Théoden asked whirling over to face Aragorn. "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!"
Legolas looked around him at the soldiers that meandered around carrying out their duties. The king was certainly right about the morale being low. It was an understandable thing seeing as they were about to face an enemy that was completely new to them. These were not just a rag tag orc army these were Urk-hai a newer bred.
"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid." Aragorn tried to argue. The inflection in his voice rising more than it normally did.
"And who will come?" Théoden's voice matched Aragorn's own taunt voice. "Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."
"Gondor will answer."
Théoden shook his head. He couldn't believe that the man before him would suggest such a thing.
"Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gondor…No, my lord Aragorn we are alone."
With one last final look at Aragorn King Théoden walked away. Aragorn let out a hefty frustrated sigh. He had a feeling that it was going to take more on his part to get Rohan the help it needed in defending Helm's Deep.
"Just because you've acquired a means to break apart rock does not guarantee you victory! You're going to lose!"
Amara's yell vibrated through the room. From a distance she had watched Saurman's little demonstration with what was what she knew to be an explosive. She knew that it was coming to this. Amara felt goose bumps run up her arms despite how covered they were. Her words she knew were falling on deaf ears. The only things that they wanted to hear from her were the secrets they needed to win the fight.
Secrets that she would never divulge.
Wormtongue stood in awe at what he had witnessed and was now a little more convinced about the infiltration of Helm's Deep being successful. With this new feat of defense on their side there was not a chance they were going to lose. He was unaware of the small smile that was lingering on his face. The only thing he was thinking was that he had chosen the right side to be on. Saurman and his army would prevail.
Despite his clear advantage Saurman did not look pleased. He ignored the smug smirk on Wormtongue's face and walked past him to the woman who insisted upon touching his nerves. He stood in front of her so close that he could feel her uneven breaths and so close that their noses almost touched.
"And what is it that makes you so confident that I will not succeed?"
Having to summon up every ounce of bravery was proving to be difficult with an evil wizard in her face. She was successful in finding her voice even with Saurman so close to her.
"Because you are on the wrong side."
At the comment he scoffed and backed away from her. For the slightest moment he thought that maybe she knew something that he did not.
"This does not guarantee me that I have already won but it is a significant step into procuring what I wish. The fact that my army greatly outnumbers that of Rohan's does look excellent for me."
"This still does not mean your indefinite victory." Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around herself.
"No, it does not," he agreed calmly but his agreement felt more than a little cold to Amara.
"What guarantees me victory in this war is the fact that I have an empath well within my grasp. You will win me this war Amara," said Saurman. His eyes dared her to say or think differently. It was a challenge the empath took.
"You can do whatever you want to me. I will not help you."
Again Amara knew that this was her mess and her mess alone. She simply would not betray her friends.
"You can not simply throw your powers away. You must use them and use them for our cause."
'Our cause? Our cause?' Amara thought with distaste. When Saurman was involved there was no our.
"Screw my powers," Amara spat out angrily. "This isn't about my damn powers. This is about me trying to stop you and I will."
Again Saurman scoffed. This woman had to be all of five foot four and a bit on the scrawny side as well. It was most unlikely that she would be stopping anything. The only thing she was going to do was aid him. As Saurman looked at her he saw his most powerful tool, more powerful than the explosives. He no more saw her as human as he saw an orc.
"One way or another, with or without your cooperation you will help me not only see to my victory but Sauron's as well."
His voice was daring her to contradict him. The look in his eyes was as evil as ever. In the heat of the moment Amara did not feel frightened by the look or words Saurman was shooting her. She was too busy being engulfed by something that felt all too dangerous. This was something that was creeping into her veins, trying to warp around her heart. She looked at the wizard and knew that these nasty disgusting feelings were coming from him.
Unknowingly to her, the blue in her eyes were darkening to the point were it was down right eerie. Little by little she began to feel angry; angry that she was not accomplishing something anything. She was angry that she was letting Saurman hold some supremacy over her. The thought of not being as strong as her brother came to mind and only served to darken how she felt. The unexplainable thing that had begun penetrating her walls felt raw and wrong on so many levels to her.
Saurman saw the distinct change in her eyes and inwardly smiled. This was the exact change that he needed to see take place within her. He was pleased with what was taking place within the woman but no longer did he want her in his presence. He did not wish to hear her ill words against him.
"Wormtongue," Saurman snapped. He turned to the man who instantly jumped though not physically.
"Take her back to her room. I do not wish to see hide nor tail of her until absolutely necessary."
Wormtongue nodded and said a clear yes. He knew what Saurman meant. He meant for him to lock the door once she had been shown securely to her room. Wormtongue shot a pitiful look at the woman and took her arm gently but firmly. Amara didn't bother to struggle as she was pulled from Saurman's presence. She was far too busy to pushing back violent thoughts and urges.
While walking down the cold halls of the tower she was in, Amara tried to shake the feelings away. Dark things had begun to infiltrate her mind, things that she would have never thought of. Amara knew they had came from Saurman and his heated anger with her. She tried to block the dark things filtering through her mind from by thinking of things that made her undeniably happy. It was hard to think up things that made her happy when she was in the predicament she was in.
The grip Wormtongue had on her arm went a bit slack from when they were before Saurman. Amara didn't have time to analyze this detail; she was still fighting off the cold feeling that made her shiver every so often. Amara let her thoughts drift to Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf and the hobbits. She thought of the time she had came in second place in the battle of the bands and changed her whole school around. These thoughts that she had worked hard to manifest into her head she held onto with force until the terrible thoughts and feeling she had experienced when in the presence of Saurman had dissipated.
She regained a slightly normal pattern of breathing and looked to her walking companion. If she could remember correctly they were almost to the room she had been allotted. The steady pace she had kept in tune with Wormtongue was seized as an idea began to dawn in her head. At her abrupt stop Wormtongue too stopped and turned to her.
"Now is not the time to linger in the halls," he hissed.
"Will you listen to me please," Amara asked attempting to be somewhat decent to the man who could prove to be her key in all of this.
No matter how dangerous Wormtongue thought he was because he was Saurman's lap dog he wasn't. In actuality Wormtongue was the chink in Saurman's armor and she was going to use this fact to her full advantage.
"You have to know that what Saurman is doing is wrong. You can not possibly believe what is being done here is the right thing!"
Wormtongue recaptured his grip on her arm and began once more to pull her through the darkened corridor. Amara though was not to give up. She managed to over power the grip Wormtongue had on her arm and halted his progress down the hall. Her eyes flashed with determination because she had to get through to this man.
"How can you condone the torture of innocent people and the wreckage of lands?"
Wormtongue was not looking at her now too busy casting looks around at anyone who might over hear what she was saying. A few lone orcs had crossed their paths but none of them had shown the slightest bit interest in them. Wormtongue looked back to Amara once he was sure that no one was around.
"I will not hear you-you speak such blasphemy!"
Amara tried not to flinch at the harshness that seeped through Wormtongue. He might've been weak but she could tell that it was going to take a hell of time trying to get him to listen to reason. He was brainwashed plain and simple.
"What I'm saying isn't blasphemy!" She resisted the urge to add you great ass to the end of her sentence. "Why the hell have you aligned yourself with Saurman?"
"I do not have to answer to you. Now come before I have you dragged most unpleasantly back to your room."
Wormtongue had no desire to have her dragged back to where she would reside nor did he wished to speak to her on such a harsh level, but he told himself that distance would be the most appropriate thing to do. If she continued down the stubborn road that she had set herself upon then things would only get much worse for her. He did not want to feel bad or culpable if things entered that point. Thankfully she complied to the threat he threw at her and allowed herself to be guided back to the room.
"You have to stop this," Amara whispered.
Wormtongue looked straight ahead as if he were to look at her he would suddenly see meaning to her words. He was right were he was supposed to be. He was on the correct side of the battle. Amara felt flutters of frustration seeping from herself. Of course Wormtongue wasn't going to change his stripes right before her in the hall. It was going to take time and that she had to keep reminding herself.
It felt like they were arriving before the door to her designated room all too fast. She stopped before it and faced Wormtongue. Crossing her arms and raising her eyebrows she said, "Will you just hear me out before you condemn me to four walls?"
Amara didn't wait for his approval. "You know as well as anyone else that the Ring has to be – no must be destroyed for the good of Middle Earth."
Amara saw the distant and aggravated look in Wormtongue's eyes and ignored it.
"Do you really think that if Saurman wins this war it'll be over for you? You'll continue to be his lackey until you screw something up and he kills you."
There was a nauseating silence after what Amara had said. Wormtongue stood only staring at her with an unknown expression. Wormtongue reached behind her and opened the door to room. It was all too quick that Amara found herself being shoved into the room. Wormtongue slammed the door hard enough to make an echo down the hall. Amara quickly went to the door.
"You'll see that I'm right," she yelled through the thick wood. "You'll see that you're nothing but a tool!"
Deep inside Helm's Deep preparation for battle was proceeding. It was the most depressing of sights. Men young and old were being extracted from their families. The need for more men in Rohan's army made it necessary for any and every man or boy capable of holding a sword to join in the battle. Protests from mothers and wives were brought forth from angry lips but nothing could be done to bring back their loved ones.
They were needed and as heart breaking as it was there was nothing that could be done to change the matter. The cries from both women and children were pitiful and soon became more than a common occurrence in Helm's Deep over the next few hours. Weapons were being distributed out to those who had none. Those who passed out the weaponry gave neither words of confidence nor any words of encouragement. Qualms and tension went through the soldiers of Rohan as they felt that they were fighting a losing battle.
Aragorn observed all that was around him and felt saddened at this, but the idea of war was neither fair nor glorious a thing. It was everyone's right to feel upset about having loved ones taken away when they had no guarantee that they would be coming back. It was something that had to be done and he would see to it that any who needed assistance would get it from him. As many around him prepared for the upcoming war that seemed to be looming ever so viciously over them, Aragorn could not help but feel a bit uncertain about the whole situation. With a shake of his head he cast away whatever negative thoughts he had.
There was no room for them.
Legolas thought the idea of sending men of almost any age was more than absurd. It was quite unlikely that they would be able to win a war with young men who barely knew how to hold a sword and much older men who had trouble wielding a sword due to old age. The king of Rohan should have sent word to Gondor for assistance and Aragorn should have pushed the matter further. Legolas did not want to see Rohan and its people perish at the hands of foul beasts and the stubbornness that Théoden exhibited was useless to all of them. After all that Aragorn had just been through he thought he would have pushed the matter a little further about gaining more numbers to support their need.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers," Aragorn whispered as he finished his assessment of those around him.
Gimli had to agree with the man. "Most have seen too many winters."
"Or too few," Legolas put in. Anger in the elf was beginning to build up and part of it leaked into his voice. "Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes."
Aragorn looked grimly at Legolas who although had a much valid point but need not say so.
"Boe a hyn neled herain..dan caer menig?"
And they should be…300 against 10,000!
The question rang clear for everyone to hear and as he asked it there was no doubt of the anger that the elf was currently feeling. The anger stood in the room as if it were a person, a person sucking the very hope from the situation. It was not something that was needed and because of that Aragorn felt frustrated with his friend for stating what was obvious. It was obvious yes but it did not mean that they could not prevail. The only thing that Aragorn was grateful for at the moment was that no one could understand what Legolas had said. No one needed to know what Legolas had meant in his words.
Aragorn knew exactly what Legolas had meant.
"Si beriathar hyn ammaeg na ned Edoras," Aragorn said firmly. He tried to not draw attention to them but it was not working out well.
They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras.
"Aragorn, nedin dagor hen u-'erir ortheri. Natha daged dhaer!"
They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!
Aragorn having heard just about all he could take from Legolas he switched from elvish and said what sounded to be final. "Then I shall die as one of them!"
He left the two of his friends in his attempt to flush away anger. Many eyes followed him as he left but he took no notice. Aragorn had to get away.
Seeing the distress he had caused, Legolas tried to go to his friend to perhaps try to get him to see the reason behind his words or perhaps to make peace. It was no good being on separate sides when you were fighting on the same side in battle. He was stopped though by Gimli, his words seeming to be the best and only advice he could accept at the moment.
"Let him go lad. Let him be."
It had been hours since she had any contact with anyone. Amara knew this. The darkness that enveloped the room made her feel weak and tired. She refused to sleep; she refused to let her guard down. If someone was to enter the room she wanted them to know that she was stronger than they thought and that if anything was to move forward it was going to be on her say. To keep back the demons of sleep she stayed as far away from the bed as possible. She could practically see herself falling asleep atop the mattress.
Instead she opted for sitting in a corner of the room away from the door and bed. Every inch of her felt fatigue prickling at her, trying to invite her into what it had to offer. Amara felt weak, so weak, but she would never in her lifetime admit to it. A bout of proud arrogance had been born inside of her it seemed ever since she had come to Middle Earth it had built up by the influences of many. The arrogance that she had felt when she left with Wormtongue was all spent for the moment and she could only feel like a lonely small child that was in too deep.
She could not control her emotions any more. They became too heavy of a burden to carry. She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly. The quiet darkness of the room was not comforting and had not been for some time. She had no way to predict what time of day it was or even who was going to come through the door.
Different scenarios began to whirl their way into her head. The lack of company of any kind was making her think about what her fate could be. Maybe it would be better if she refused to do anything that was requested of her. Maybe it would be best from this point forward to try and find away to end everything that she left in her wake. Maybe it was best if she brought herself to an end.
No!
A voice in her head interrupted the awful thoughts she was having. It would have been a solution but it would have been the wrong way. It would have ended all the hopes of helping a dark army succeed. They would get nothing from her dead corpse but it was not her fate. She was not gifted this power to only lie down and die with it. She was meant for more and more had no room for the suicidal.
Amara was not suicidal, but she was not brave at the moment either.
She hugged her knees tighter to herself and let the tears slip from her eyes until they emerged nonstop. She could no longer fight the tears that were coming forth and in the silence of her room she sobbed.
Grima Wormtongue was barely grasping the plans Saurman was going over with him and a few Urk-hai he had appointed to lead armies into Helm's Deep. His mind swirled with thoughts of what he had done to help Saurman gain and achieve. As he looked at Saurman, the one whom he had plead full allegiance to, he wondered if what he had done and was doing was the right thing. So many innocent people had been taken down to help achieve what needed to be done. So much harm and destruction was now on his hands and for what purpose? What reason?
He quickly reassured himself that it was all for a greater reason. It was for survival. It was so that he and others like him would be on the winning side in a war so big as this one. His mind kept questioning every reason he had given himself in the beginning though. Ever since Amara, the stupid woman that she was, had planted the seeds of doubt in his mind questions plentiful and unadulterated had began to filter in. The looks he had received from Eowyn were now suddenly understood.
Eowyn saw the side of him that was not loyal to her uncle and she found him disgusting. She had seen the evil that had lurked about in his heart. This had made her not want to be in his presence.
"Ahh, the woman, she is beyond stubborn," Saurman said half way managing to startle Wormtongue from his own troubled thoughts.
"Half of what we must go through could be wiped away if she would only just cooperate!"
Wormtongue thoughts were now of Amara as the conversation turned to her. It was all too correct to say that she was a definite asset to their side but at what cost? There wasn't a doubt in Wormtongue's mind that the woman was going to face horrid things because of Saurman. The deluge of his torment would overcome the goodness she held inside herself until she was forced to do his will. At what cost was it all worth it?
Wormtongue's thoughts were interrupted by the harsh commanding voice of Saruman. "I am going to see the woman. I do not wish to be disturbed."
Saurman took up his staff and hastily left the room. In Saurman's absence Wormtongue worried for Amara. Saurman would not stop until she was broken. Wormtongue had long caught the sense that Amara was not one to easily give up and that it was that trait that could be her folly.
Rough footsteps rang through the silent room and she could tell that they had a purpose. Amara brushed her tears away to the best of her capabilities. She tried to put back up the façade she had created while she was in the presence of the wizard. It wasn't easy but she managed to pull herself together before he came bursting in. She stayed in the same position, her arms clutching her knees, not even acknowledging his entrance.
"You must comply," he seethed. He had had enough of playing this retched game of hers.
Amara looked at him defiantly. The color had drained from her face to the point where she looked almost sick. Every ounce of rage that Saurman was feeling she felt. Her walls were no longer strong enough to deflect his emotions.
"Comply," was his one word, his only demand.
Amara only looked on at him. A hot rage was consuming the both of them. Saurman had enough of her. He raised the ivory white staff in his hand without a second thought to what his actions were going to be.
Beyond the small room that had contained the empath a scream could be heard sharp and filled with pain echoed through the halls.
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