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Rated M for violence and sexual encounters

Disclaimer: The characters all belong to the master Tolkien and this is only being written for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours. No money or profit involved

A Cage of a Different Kind

Chapter Seven

Eowyn sat astride her horse. Her hair was hidden under her helm and she was indistinguishable from any other warrior there except for the hobbit sitting behind her. Merry and Eowyn both gasped as they looked at the battle raging below. Merry's grip around her waist tightened as the horn blew. "Courage Merry" Eowyn whispered as the host from Rohan swept down the hill and into battle.

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Legolas' eyes scanned the horizon as he looked toward the coming battle. Aragorn had been successful in gathering the dead and bending them to his will. His heart tugged at the call of the gulls and if it hadn't been for his consuming concern for Eowyn, he might have been lost. As it was, he could not ease the pain of the memory of their last evening together. Why did she get so upset about his concern for her safety? Why had he pushed when he had known that there was nothing he could do to dissuade her? He had had to try and had been thrown out of her tent for his trouble. If anything happened to her, he would not be able to live with the guilt and sadness. "I know that she is out there somewhere and I will find her..."

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The ships pulled into the dock and the Orc's relief quickly turned to terror as the three companions leaped ashore followed by the army of the dead. As the spirits surged over their enemies, Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli joined the fray.

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Eowyn had seen her uncle fall and she stood protectively in front of him and faced the Witch King and his dread mount. Her knees trembled with fear but the adrenaline and concern for her uncle overcame her terror and with one swift stroke of her sword, the nazgul's head fell at her feet.

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Legolas quickly climbed up the side of the Oliphant, cutting the strap of the bower, he slammed against the side of the animal and nearly lost his grip when his still tender wound sent spikes of pain through his body. He let the weight of the toppling bower pull him up onto the large beasts back. With most of his enemies sent to their death by the fall, his attention turned to the driver. Quickly dispatching him with an arrow he took a moment to assess his situation. "Now to stop the creature." he thought as he leaped atop the huge head and sent his arrows into its brain. Abruptly the Oliphant stumbled, Legolas surged forward and began to slide down its trunk. From that height he had a view of the battle field, why a flash of blond hair caught his eye he would never know but his soul recognized her. "Eowyn?" he cried and almost lost his balance.

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"No mortal man can kill me" the Witch King hissed as he stalked towards her, his huge sword ready to smite her.

Eowyn swayed with fatigue, trying to gather her wits, the realization that this could well be her last moments on earth. The elf's face came unbidden to her thoughts and she could not help but feel sorrow for the way they had parted. Suddenly the Witch King stumbled. "Merry!" her faithful friend had come to save her and had taken their foe by surprise, striking him in the back of his legs. All of a sudden it came to her, Merry was not a man, he was a hobbit and he had been able to damage the evil creature.

Eowyn used the moment to sweep her helm off her head, her hair spilling about her shoulders. "I am no man!" she shouted as she ran her blade through the monster in front of her. She gasped at the pain as the evil energy surged around her from his escaping spirit.

As the shock of darkness and pain started to overwhelm her and she saw Merry lying as if dead. Her heart went out to him but she could no longer stand and she sank slowly to the ground as darkness overtook her. Her last thought was of Legolas and how she wished she had another chance to talk to him.

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Legolas ran faster than he had ever run in his life before. He could not believe what was happening before his eyes. He watched in horror as his love took her sword and ran the Witch King through. But before he could get to her, she crumbled to the ground as if dead.

He rushed to her side, the battle all but forgotten, still raging around him. The Valar must have been watching over him because he made it there unscathed. Shaking, he felt for a pulse. Relief flooded him as he found the faint flutter of life still within Eowyn but the darkness was strong. Without a thought for his own safety, he scooped her up gently in his arms and fled towards the halls of healing yelling at another soldier to follow him with the hobbit.

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Aragorn perused the field littered with the dead and dying. This had become too common a sight as of late and his heart was heavy. He felt a hand take his arm, "Looks like another victory for the good guys." a gruff voice said beside him.

He looked down at his friend "Aye, but at what cost?" He responded sadly, still trying to feel elation at the victory but unable to in the face of such death and destruction.

Just then a ghostly form appeared before them. "We have fulfilled our oath, we ask for our release."

Aragorn sighed as he responded. "I hold your oath fulfilled. Go, be at peace." He could not stop the shudder that went through his body as he watched them disappear.

"We would not have won the day without them Laddy." Gimli said trying to relieve the pain he felt in his friend.

"True my friend." All of a sudden Aragorn realized that a few of their close friends were missing. One in particular. "Have you seen our elf? He has not taken a wound and slunk off to hide again has he?"

"Nay, the last I saw he was showing off with that Oliphant. I need to make sure he knows that only counts as one, size was never part of the reckoning."

Aragorn had to smile as the dwarf brought levity to a tough situation yet again.

Just then Gandalf strode up to inform them of the Witch Kings demise and Eowyn's part in it.

"I have bad tidings, Theoden King is dead."

They said nothing as he quickly led them to the Kings body and Aragorn sank to his knees beside him feeling uselessly for a pulse he knew he could not find yet needing the affirmation himself. He rose as he paced the scene, his ranger skills taking over.

"A strong magic protected him, how was Eowyn able to overcome it?" Aragorn inquired as he looked at the empty husk at his feet.

"Not to mention, what was she doing here anyway?" Gimli added.

"We have the stubbornness of our shield maiden and friend Merry to thank for that for he could not have been defeated by any man. Unfortunately, they now lie wounded in the Halls of healing, we should make haste. Legolas is with Eowyn." Gandalf responded.

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Gandalf, Aragorn and Gimli rushed into the hall and quickly seached, finally finding their friend sitting beside Eowyn, his golden head buried in his hands. She had been placed in a small alcove, the only small bit of privacy available, where she lay as if dead. Her pretty face was not peaceful, she looked as if she still battled something only she could see. It was easy to recognize that there was a struggle going on within her, perhaps even a battle for her very soul. One look at the elf showed them that he knew it as well and that knowledge was almost more than he could bear.

"We cannot find a wound upon her but she cannot be awakened." Legolas said sadly as he lifted his head and looked remorsefully at his friends. "I tried to dissuade her from going into battle but she has ever been headstrong..." his voice trailed off as he took her hand in his and lovingly pushed a strand of hair off her face.

"Is there nothing you can do for her Gandalf?" The anguish in his voice was almost more than his friends could stand. Aragorn went to stand beside him, laying his hand gently on his shoulder, pouring as much comfort and sympathy into that simple gesture as was possible. Legolas must have felt it for he looked up at his friend gratefully.

"I am sorry Legolas, Only Eowyn can win this battle but we all know how strong she is." Gandalf replied regretting his inability to do more and sighed in frustration.

Just then, Eomer came rushing in. "Where is my sister?" He looked in shock at the still form on the cot. "What is wrong with her? Why is she even here? Did she follow you elf?" He looked at Legolas with anger and dislike. "I hope you are happy, I knew you would only hurt her."

Aragorn felt his friend stiffen. Shock and disbelief were written all over Legolas' face as he started to rise. Just then, Gimli grasped Eomer by the arm and spun him around. "What you are accusing my friend of is insane. I understand your shock and sorrow but Legolas had no part in this. Your sister came without his knowledge that was her choice. I happen to know that Legolas did everything he could to make sure she went back to Rohan."

Legolas looked at Gimli with a mixture of wonder and gratitude. He was thankful his friends were there to support him, he did not have the strength for another confrontation with Eomer.

"Each of us had their own part to play Eomer and Eowyn was no different." Gandalf laid his hand on Eomer's shoulder trying to calm him.

"Are you saying that you knew she was here and you allowed her to go into battle wizard?" Eomer's anger was momentarily focused on Gandalf.

"Of course not Eomer, but I did know that someone special would have to step up in order to rid us of the Witch King and it appears that your sister was that person."

Disbelief played across Eomer's face as he turned back to look as his sister. "She killed the Witch King?" his voice quivered with emotion. "My brave stubborn sister." He knelt by her other side and took her hand in his. Tears sprang to his eyes as he laid his head on her cot. Sobs shook his shoulders and everyone was shocked by this display of emotion from the ever gruff rider.

"These last weeks there has been little but anger and harsh words between my sister and myself. Would that I could take them all back and start anew. My uncle is dead and now my sister may soon follow. I have been such a fool. Eowyn, if you can hear me, please forgive me."

Everyone softened when they heard the genuine sorrow in his voice and quietly left the room so he could have a few minutes alone with his sister.

"That is as close to an apology as you are ever going to get from that one my friend." Gimli said quietly as they waited for Eomer to emerge.

Legolas looked at him and smiled sadly, "I do not need an apology Gimli, I only want Eowyn whole and in my arms once again."

No one knew what to say so they just remained by his side in silent support. Soon a voice startled them out of their thoughts.

"Let's go check on our hobbit friends, I heard that Merry played no small part in this victory and is now much the same as Eowyn." Gandalf said as he ushered the companions down the hall.

"I mean no disrespect to Merry, but I wish to remain here." Legolas said softly.

Everyone nodded hesitating for a moment, but concern for their other friends quickly wone and they followed Gandalf.

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Days went by with little change in either of their friends. Legolas would not move from Eowyn's side and he and Eomer had struck up an uneasy alliance as they sat by her bedside. Aragorn and Gimli made sure that food and water was available to them as they split their time between the companions for Pippin would not be parted from Merry either.

Finally Aragorn and Gandalf called the remainder of the fellowship together including Eomer. They could not allow this to make them lose sight of their quest. They needed to discuss their next move.

"Do you think they still live?" Aragorn asked Gandalf quietly as they pondered the fate of Sam and Frodo.

"I am sure of it." He responded much to everyones relief. That feeling quickly came to an end with his next statement. "Ten thousand orcs stand between Frodo and Mount Doom. But there is still hope."

"Hope? What can two small hobbits do when faced with those kind of numbers?" Eomer asked, his spirits severly shaken after what had happened to his sister.

"There is always hope for who thought they would even make it this far?" Gandolf responded.

"Maybe we could create a diversion. Draw out Sauroman's armies and turn the eye towards us. That might give Frodo a chance." Aragorn suggested.

Even though he had been distracted, this comment caught his attention. "That's right; keep him blind to all that moves but us! That is a grand idea Aragorn." Legolas exclaimed.

Gimli sat thinking while smoke billowed from his pipe. "Overwhelming enemy forces, little chance of success, sounds right up our alley." He said with enthusiasm.

Soon all were talking at once and they continued making plans until early the next morning.

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Time meant nothing to Eowyn as she swam in the inky darkness. Evil voices whispered to her and she was lost and afraid. A tiny light shone in the distance and somehow she knew she needed to find her way back to it. Her fractured mind seemed know that this was her anchor. "Perhaps she could somehow use it to return. " Coherent thought suddenly left her again as the malevolent voices drowned all awareness once more and she sank back into the blackness.

Legolas could see her eyes move beneath her lids. There was something going on but he knew not how to help her. Every time he reached out, he could only sense almost overwhelming darkness before being closed out completely once again.

"It is time to go friend." Aragorn said as he stepped into Eowyn's room. She had been moved to more private quarters as things had begun to settle down. Legolas reluctantly let go of her hand and gently kissed her forehead. His hand lingered on her face as he turned pain filled eyes to Aragorn. He was clearly torn between staying by her side or going with his friends.

"You can stay if you need to Legolas. You have done more than your share for this quest and no one would begrudge your need to stay with Eowyn."

Legolas squared his shoulders all doubt leaving him as he reached a decision. "Nay Aragorn. I am sworn to help you and Frodo destroy the ring and I must see this through. I could do nothing for her these many days and I can only pray to the Valar that she will be awake and whole when we return." He lovingly stroked her face and turned back to Aragorn. "Besides, I cannot leave you and Gimli without protection."

"Leave us without protection! Why you arrogant, over inflated, pointy eared princeling. You have needed my protection far more often than I have needed yours!" Gimli sputtered as he entered the room.

"Are dwarves always this out of touch with reality Aragorn?" Legolas slyly asked Aragorn as Gimli laughed heartily.

Everyone smiled to hear their banter once again and Gimli gently touched his friend's arm, the smile leaving his face. "I know she will recover my friend. Believe it." Legolas looked fondly at the dwarf. "It is time to kill more orcs. Let us be on our way."

"It is time to give our friends a chance to destroy the ring Gimli, although I can see you are anxious to reclaim your title once again." Legolas said.

"Reclaim my title? When have you ever taken it from me elf? That Oliphant only counted as one." Their voices faded as they walked down the hall.