Disclaimer: I do not know Naruto or Lord of the Rings; they belong to their respective publishers and creators. I gain nothing from writing this but a creative outlet and writing/editing experience.
Summary: Kakashi was a relic of the past, a time where children were prepared for a war they were unlikely to live through; in fact, his career had revolved around the keeping back the threat or war. His brief tenure as Hokage only showed just how dated he was in this new era of peace and technological growth. So...this seemed fitting, a fitting end for a man who had known war for most of his life.
A/N: I am late in updating, yes, but in part because I keep learning bad medical news which just ends up depressing me. Anyways, this fic will not be much longer, though I need to reread the battle of Helm's Deep before I can begin on the next chapter-so I would say the next update will be in August or so. Dialogue in this chapter comes from J. R. R. Tolkien, chapter 6 in book III of the Lord of the Rings (aka, the first half of the Two Towers).
Anyways, thank you for all of your responses, favorites, and alerts ~ with love, depressedchildren.
Chapter 4: Amidst the storm rides in hope
Kakashi had managed to sleep for perhaps four hours when the door to his hovel slammed open. He sat up instantly with a dagger in hand and only seconds away from throwing it. Two guards were approaching him, but at the sight of the dagger, they brought up their weapons. "Lay down your dagger!"
What…? His sleep addled mind was a little slower than usual. However, Kakashi's gaze went between the two of guards and he quickly realized they were looking at him like he used to look at those who he had come to kill for breaking an S-ranked secret. Okay… The guards warned him one more time and began to approach him menacingly. Given what he knew about Rohan, these men would not be executing him on the spot like ANBU would have, so there was no real danger at the moment. Kakashi slowly set down the dagger on his bed and then kept both of his hands in front of him for the guards to see. Yes, Kakashi could take these men out with some ease, but what would that do for his case if he was wanted for something?
"Get on your knees!" the guards ordered, and Kakashi complied if only to make his case better. They quickly came up to him, and one guard moved Kakashi's hands behind his back and began binding them with coarse rope. He was then pulled up to his feet and led out the door. He scowled at not having his boots or cloak on, but he couldn't exactly complain if he was being arrested.
"What are my crimes?" he asked as they began to march him up to Long House (he knew it was called the Golden Hall but it had not looked as such lately even with the fresh thatched roof). His face did not betray his thoughts, which were racing with all of the treasonous things he had done of late.
"Endangering the royal family, defying the King's orders, and plots of murder." Kakashi was shoved slightly with each crime listed. He felt the villagers' eyes on him, some surprised, some fearful, and some just curious. Kakashi never stumbled, even when the guards jostled him between themselves—even as his bare feet hit sharp stones on the path and cut open—he did not flinch. He was half surprised he didn't have a coarse bag thrown over his head, but perhaps they meant to shame him in this walk up to the Hall?
Kakashi was soon in the Long House and brought before the King's throne. Wormtongue began sneering at Kakashi once he entered the longhouse. Lady Éowyn was also in the room, but she had two guards flanking her. She was pale, as usual, but something in her shut off expression said something had happened. Kakashi came into her line of sight, and she flinched slightly before a slight tremble began in her lips. Ahh…the endangering the royal family crime Kakashi could infer as Wormtongue's own jealousy acting up in light of learning Kakashi's relationship with Lady Éowyn.
Kakashi scoffed even as the guards pushed him to his knees. Wormtongue scowled more, "You laugh before your King? The man who let you live within these walls instead of dying out on the plains?!" Wormtongue's indignation rang clear through the room.
"No, I laugh at the worm who stands between us," Kakashi responded with an eye-smile directed at Wormtongue. He heard the man inhale sharply before he backhanded Kakashi. It was a weak blow, and Kakashi could not stop from raising an eye-brow at it—though he did resist from smirking.
"I am the advisor to the King, foreigner!" the worm's eyes had narrowed into slits as he spat these words out.
Kakashi just stared up at the worm. "You charge me of many things. What proof, what evidence do you have?"
Wormtongue closed his eyes as if to compose himself at the same time the King spoke up in a thin voice. "A stable-hand saw you and Éowyn leaving a stable in the early morning. My sister-daughter claims you teach her the skills of a warrior." If there was judgement in the King's voice, Kakashi was uncertain.
All Kakashi knew from this exchange was that Wormtongue likely had men outside of the Longhouse watching Lady Éowyn, and had been…displeased to learn of her staying in Kakashi's company late at night. He probably confronted Lady Éowyn, perhaps reprimanding her and making claims of her having no virtue—or some other such medieval bullshit—and to ensure Kakashi would not be immediately executed, she divulged their relationship.
"And so I do, King Théoden," Kakashi responded immediately now that he had an understanding of the situation. Wormtongue scowled more as he opened his eyes and prepared to accuse Kakashi of something, so the former Hokage promptly interjected. "Lady Éowyn has the heart and mind of a warrior and should have the matching skill set. I had come across Lady Éowyn training one night five month past and gave her advice. I have continued to teach Lady Éowyn since then. I also know of Rohan's Shield Maidens and do not see the harm or folly in my teachings."
Lady Éowyn had looked down at the floor with a slight blush on her face at his praise but quickly schooled her features while Wormtongue only scowled more. Kakashi pressed on in his defense, "I do not endanger Lady Éowyn's life, but teach her to protect it."
The guards around him shifted slightly, perhaps understanding his actions and even begrudgingly accepting of them, but Wormtongue persisted. "You do endanger her; you raise your sword against her." Kakashi gave the man an unimpressed look and he hurried onto the other charges. "I also know you have helped to orchestrate this...rebellion," he spat the word out "amongst the people." Kakashi only raised an eyebrow and feigned ignorance.
"Have I? How have I done this?" Wormtongue gritted his teeth in anger.
"Your allies have betrayed you as the master-mind, Grim Traveler. You intend to raise Lord Éomer upon the throne; you intend to strike down our King!" The King made some sort of grumble at this.
"I see…" Kakashi nodded his head slowly. "Of course the one person who has so little to gain from this situation would invest so much into it. Tell me Wormtongue, what am I to gain from such treasonous actions, my death or expulsion from the one place I have been given refuge?"
The younger man looked ready to pop a blood vessel when the door opened and several guards, including Háma, escorted in four men—er…an elf, a dwarf, a middle-aged man, and an old man. Wait…wasn't that—
"Gandalf Stormcrow!" a guard whispered behind Kakashi. Wizard, right…Kakashi had thought he recognized the old man. So, did that mean the middle-aged man, the dwarf, and the elf were the same ones Lord Éomer had come across on his way back from eliminating the Urukai?
The newcomers waited near the door while Háma informed the King (Wormtongue) of the situation. Wormtongue narrowed his gaze at Kakashi and hissed, "We will see to your trial later." But no guards made any move for him to get up from his kneeled position. Háma returned to the newcomers and they were brought past the fire pit in the middle of the Hall.
There was then an almost awkward silence as each party surveyed the others. Wormtongue's focus left Kakashi fully, but the foul young man closed his eyes while facing the old wizard. The King sat there unmoving and Lady Éowyn almost looked hopeful while the newcomers seemed to assess what they could of the power relations in the room.
At last, the old Wizard came forward and spoke in a rather booming voice, "Hail Théoden son of Thengel! I have returned. For behold! the storm comes and now all friends should gather together, lest each singly be destroyed." Damn it, they were speaking common which Kakashi had a harder time following thanks to the insular politics the King had been implementing as of late.
To Kakashi's surprise, the King actually stood up in response, though he had to rely on a staff which rested against his throne. Kakashi tried to see what must have roused the King, but he was uncertain, especially since he could only guess he was returning the welcome.
"I greet you," the King said, "and maybe you look for welcome. But truth to tell your welcome is doubtful here, Master Gandalf. You have ever been a herald of woe. Troubles follow you like crows, and ever the oftener the worse. I will not deceive you: when I heard that Shadowfax had come back riderless, I rejoiced at the return of the horse, but still more at the lack of the rider; and when Éomer brought the tidings that you had gone at last to your long home, I did not mourn. But news from afar is seldom sooth. Here you come again! And with you comes evils worse than before, as might be expected. Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow? Tell me that." He sat down again, and unfortunately, Kakashi realized the sudden energy likely did not come from the King but whatever spell was on him. Kakashi also gathered that the King was summarily shutting the wizard down in his request for aid.
"You speak justly, lord," Wormtongue jumped in with a sneer, his eyes now open and bright with his usual cruel intentions. "It is not yet a week since the bitter tidings came that Théodred your son was slain upon the West Marches: your right-hand Second Marshal of the Mark. In Éomer there is little trust," he shot an especially vicious look at Kakashi with those words. "Few men would be left to guard your walls if he had been allowed to rule," this time the glance was shot at Lady Éowyn. "And even now we learn from Gondor that the Dark Lord is stirring in the East. Such is the hour in which this wanderer chooses to return. Why indeed should we welcome you, Master Stormcrow? Láthspell I name you, Ill-news; and ill news is an ill guest they say." Wormtongue laughed before he gazed narrowly at the newcomers.
"You are held wise, my friend Wormtongue, and are doubtless a great support to your master," the old wizard responded, though Kakashi was unsure if there were any underhanded comments thrown in there given his minimal grasp of the language. "Yet in two ways may a man come with evil tidings. He may be a worker of evil; or he may be such as leaves well alone and comes only to bring aid in time of need." Did Kakashi understand what the man was saying? Nope. He was missing something in order to fully understand what was being said, maybe it was a contextual thing or vocabulary issue he had with common? So Kakashi looked over at Lady Éowyn but she only looked hesitantly hopeful.
Wormtongue straightened up and nodded his head slightly. "That is so," he was making a concession! Kakashi could tell that in any language, but then there was also the counter meant to cut and undermine the previous speaker and he could just hear the but hanging in the air. "But there is a third kind: pickers of bones, meddlers in other men's sorrows, carrion-fowl that grow fat on war. What aid have you ever bought, Stormcrow? And what aid do you bring now? It was aid from us that you sought last time that you were here. Then my lord bade you choose any horse that you would and be gone; and to the wonder of all you took Shadowfax in your insolence." Ah! Yes that controversy with the King Horse thing. Kakashi may not know all the words, but he knew the name Shadowfax well-enough.
"My lord was sorely grieved; yet to some it seemed that speed you from the land the price was not too great. I guess that it is likely to turn out the same once more: you will seek aid rather than render it. Do you bring men? Do you bring horses, swords, spears? That I would call aid; that is our present need. But who are these that follow at your tail? Three ragged wanderers in grey, and you yourself the most beggar-like of the four!" Uh…was Wormtongue now disrespecting their state of dress? Kakashi again tried to read the faces of those listening to this, but everyone was tensed and trying to play their cards close to their chests—although the dwarf looked annoyed and close to throwing something if not for a look from the elf.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden son of Thengel," the wizard almost said this dryly and more pointedly at Wormtongue. Oh so it is a fancy insult throwing competition, okay, Kakashi could understand that…maybe. It did seem a bit low for the Middle Earthlings and more than a little juvenile, or was this to cut down their ethos? Damn it, if only he understood the language better!
The wizard wasn't done yet, "Has not the messenger from your gate reported the names of my companions? Seldom has the lord of Rohan received three such guests. Weapons they have laid at your doors that are worth many a mortal man, even the mightiest. Grey is their raiment for the Elves clad them, and thus they have passed through the shadows of great perils to your hall."
Okay…so if Kakashi had understood all of that common speech correctly… Uh…something about them being special guests and in elvish dress? Oh! And really pricy weapons; he thought he had caught something about that too.
Wormtongue only took whatever was said and attempted to turn it on them—it was his style so even if Kakashi didn't understand everything, he knew that was what was being done. "Then it is true, as Éomer reported, that you are in league with the Sorceress of the Golden Wood? It is not to be wondered at: webs of deceit were ever woven in Dwimordene." Well, whatever Wormtongue said really pissed off the dwarf and annoyed the elf.
The Dwarf had stepped forward, perhaps ready to punch Wormtongue in the face—or gut, or whatever he could reach—but the wizard stopped him to…to sing a fucking poem. Damn… Kakashi was half looking forward to the dwarf punching Wormtongue, also, Kakashi's knees were starting to hurt from kneeling—he was getting old and this song was too fucking long for him to have to kneel through.
The only thing that made the poem good was it ending with the wizard throwing off his cloak in a flashy display to reveal…seriously? Pristine white robes? This was middle earth, how did the wizard expect those to stay clean?! Even with dry cleaning, Kakashi could never keep his jounin uniform clean and it had dark colors to try to hide the blood.
"The wise speak only of what they know, Grima Son of Gálmód. A witless worm have you become. Therefore be silent and keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man til the lighting falls." Lady Éowyn trying to stifle her awe and amusement told Kakashi the old wizard had thrown some kind of deep insult at Wormtongue. Well, he had clearly caught the word worm and death so…
The wizard ended his annunciations by rising his staff up high and bringing it down with a thunderous crack. That action and its sound seemed to snuff out all light—even the fire in the pit went down to embers. In the murkiness though, Wormtongue spoke in a displeased hiss. "Did I not counsel you, lord, to forbid his staff? That fool, Háma, has betrayed us!" There was suddenly a flash of light, like some kind of lightning release and then Wormtongue fell onto his face.
Well! There was no use for Kakashi to remain on his knees while the newcomers had all the attention. Using the current darkness, Kakashi slipped away from the slack-jawed guards and ducked into a shadowy corner while he worked his hands out of the restraints. It would maybe take a minute. All the while, Kakashi got to hear the wizard speak to the King as Kakashi worked out the pain in his knees.
"Now Théoden son of Thengel, will you hearken to me? Do you ask for help?" The wizard raised his staff and light began to pour through the high windows again. "Not all is dark. Take courage, Lord of the Mark; for better help you will not find. No counsel have I to give to those that despair. Yet counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you. Wil you hear them? They are not for all ears. I bid you come out before your doors and look abroad. Too long have you sat in shadows and trusted to twisted tales and crooked promptings." Ah! At last, his hands were free and the old wizard was done talking.
The King slowly rose from his chair and the light in the hall grew with each step the King took. Lady Éowyn moved past the guards standing beside her and rushed to the King's aid lest he fall. The guards watching her had started handling their weapons in a sort of subconscious reaction, but soon saw the woman meant no harm and was only helping. They then followed Gandalf to the door of the hall. From what Kakashi could tell, the wizard had actually cured the King of the melancholy and spell. The former Hokage could see parts of King Théoden in there again.
They were now at the door and Kakashi was close to leaving by a side exist when a guard spoke up in a language Kakashi could understand. "Wait! My Lord, what are we to do with this treasonous foreigner." The guards then looked at where they had had Kakashi kneeling, and Kakashi sighed as he stepped out of the shadows with his hands folded over his chest.
"There is no reason for me to be treasonous, you know; I have too much to lose and too little to gain."
"B-but we have witnesses who say you plotted to put Lord Éomer on the throne." Kakashi again raised his eye-brow. The King frowned, and seemed to be thinking for the first time for himself in a long time. He eyed Kakashi for a long hard moment and then turned to Lady Éowyn.
"The Grim Traveler is your mentor, yes?" Lady Éowyn nodded almost hesitantly, and the King hummed, "then you will represent him before a tribunal with those also in the rebellion; I will join once I am finished speaking with these men."
Two guards came up beside Kakashi again and were at first startled by the lack of bonds but hurriedly brought him over to Lady Éowyn and those others within the tribunal. The guards began to tie Kakashi's hands together when Lady Éowyn gestured for them to stop.
"Had the Grim Traveler resisted arrest?" she questioned, and the arresting guards shook their heads. "Has he shown violence to anyone in his capture?"
"He had a dagger drawn," one guard said.
"Because they barged into my room and I thought I was under attack," Kakashi sighed, which made the men look down abashedly.
Lady Éowyn nodded her head before announcing: "Then there is no need to restrain him."
"But my lady!" one guard began to protest, but Lady Éowyn shook her head.
"Will you resist arrest or try to escape again?" Lady Éowyn asked him this time.
"No I will not resist, and I was not trying to escape," she didn't buy his blatant lie, so he hurried on. "My knees are old and do not stand the kneeling." She pursed her lips but nodded and asked for someone to get him a chair while they waited for the other rebellion starters to join them. Háma was sent to the porch and then came back their way a few minutes later; he was moving toward the barracks and jail. Another few minutes passed and Kakashi saw Háma return with Lord Éomer who carried a sword. The Lord acknowledged each of those in the rebellion before he left the Hall and moved onto the porch. What…what did this mean? Was Éomer going to challenge the King now that they had him back?!
The minutes were tense as everyone in the hall looked from one to another and then Háma returned and began searching for the King's sword. Lady Éowyn swiftly brought it to the man, and several guards picked up the now awake Wormtongue at Háma's prompting.
"What do you suppose happens without?" Fraeda asked one of the guards within the rebellion.
"I do not know."
Lady Éowyn was worrying her hands near Kakashi who watched the door fixedly. He had seen the King and Éomer standing beside each other when Háma had returned to the hall for Wormtongue. So there had been no duel… "Lady Éowyn should reassure herself; no one has been harmed," Kakashi murmured in his odd articulation, and those around him looked to him sharply. "I imagine Lord Éomer re-affirmed his loyalty to King Théoden and they now decide the fate of the worm." Kakashi chose his words carefully and slowly to ensure he said everything as correctly as he could.
"Then what will happen?" Hamil asked as he stood beneath the glares of those guards not in the rebellion.
Kakashi shrugged, "We ride to war or meet our ends at dusk." Who knew how forgiving the King would be. It was one thing to pardon kin for being pulled reluctantly into these plots, but another to forgive those who actively worked in it. Minutes passed by before Háma returned and their fears were assuaged; they would be riding to war, though the tribunal was to still take place.
Several more minutes passed before the hall's doors opened and the King re-entered with Gandalf and the other company behind him. "You will have refreshments, but first I must judge these men and women."
As the King approached, those around Kakashi moved to their knees but Kakashi only stood from the chair and bowed at the waist—he would not kneel to anyone in such reverence but his Hokage (and even then, having been a Hokage…well, he might get some lenience on that formality).
"We must be swift in this judgement, for we ride in two hours' time" the King announced immediately. "Tell me Grim Traveler, did you indeed orchestrate the rebellious acts of the men and women around you? Even the increase in supply shipments to Helm's Deep?" Kakashi straighten at the address and folded his arms behind his back in the style of a mission debriefing.
"My Lord," Éomer spoke up before Kakashi could organize all his thoughts, and the King turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "I had ordered those supply increases."
It seemed the truth had won out, but it also seemed the King was in a more reasonable mind-set and the others around him were too fearful to come forward with their involvement. "Mah, but King Théoden is correct, it was after we discussed the inevitable war before us, and I continued ensuring there would be enough supply at Helm's Deep once Lord Éomer was gone with patrols and in prison." The words were clunky and awkward but he managed to get them out well enough.
King Théoden merely looked Kakashi up and down. "What purpose did your actions hold?"
Kakashi shifted slightly but nodded his head in recognition of the order within the question. "King Théoden is a strong, worthy leader but not of late," the King's gaze narrowed slightly but Kakashi did not bow his head. Instead, the former Hokage pressed on, "Lord Théodred had been good man and he cared for his people—I made promise by his death bed to not let his people fall, and Wormtongue's…spell kept strong King Théoden at bay." The King had flinched at the mention of his son's death, but he stood stoically through the rest. "I enacted standard siege preparation tactics, and yes…" Kakashi looked over to Éomer, "wanted to ensure Rohan had strong leader for war, but we have such now and one that is wiser." Kakashi then bowed his head again.
"Tell me Grim Traveler, if your citizens, even those whom you had accepted into your village, began rebelling your orders, what would you do?" The King asked as a test.
Kakashi smiled almost lopsidedly, "I would kill them." He dropped the smile as he continued speaking, "but if enough rebelled I would first look into my…ah ruling. If rebellion is warranted by my actions, I will take advisement but still punish."
The King nodded his head slowly, "And would riding into war be punishment enough?"
"It is our duty already, is it not?" Kakashi asked in return with a slight smile on his lips.
"You do not hold allegiance but through that which you have made. You could leave Grim Traveler." Now he was testing Kakashi's resolve.
Kakashi's expression sobered into a serious mask as he shook his head curtly. "I will fight for Rohan to my death; I will fight in memory of Lord Théodred and for a strong, wise ruler." The King nodded his head once more.
"You were a fine leader of men once, Grim Traveler, and your counsel may be accepted in these times of war." Kakashi only nodded his head and the tribunal seemed to be finished with those words. Everyone, minus the newcomers, seemed skeptical at the punishment, but then the words sank in for Fraeda and the other women. Some of the guards caught on too and they were caught between acceptance and horror. The women of Rohan were taught to fight and would die by the blade rather than cower from it, but still, women riding to war was a foreign concept. Fraeda and the other women in the rebellion hurried out of the Hall; likely to make arrangements for their children as well as to say their goodbyes.
As those in the Hall processed what had happened, servants began setting the boards with meats and breads. Kakashi began to head for the door with the others after ensuring Lady Éowyn was well, but Lord Éomer quickly caught his arm and dragged him to the King's board where the travelers were and Lady Éowyn waited on her uncle. She eyed Kakashi in confusion and he shot her an equally confused look. The dwarf and elf gave Kakashi a distrustful look, but the older man eyed Kakashi up and down with curiosity while the Wizard looked at him intently before King Théoden drew his attention away.
"Lord Éomer?" Kakashi questioned in a whisper while the Third Marshal called a servant over and instructed him to get parchment and a piece of charcoal. What ever did the young lord want now?
"Have you lived through many sieges?" Kakashi immediately understood what Éomer was getting at now, and like flipping a switch in his brain, he began thinking about the different tactics he had learned as a Jounin and then as a Hokage. He also immediately began eliminating those which would not be suitable due to the lack of chakra and shinobi forces. All the while, Gandalf and King Théoden talked about Saruman—Kakashi recognized that name well enough in Common.
The servant brought the paper to Lord Éomer, and while still listening to the conversation around the table, he began sketching the walls of Helm's Deep. Kakashi then asked for the dimensions of the outer wall and for any openings. He learned of a small drain at the front of the wall; that small archway would be structurally sound, but also exploitable. Concussive blasts at the walls would only make a dents given the thickness, but to blow it up in the middle from beneath…it would make it structurally weak and cause more damage. The question, however, was whether middle earthlings had explosive material.
Kakashi drew an arrow from the drain and made a small diagram in the upper corner of the parchment of how that area could be exploited with an explosion originating there. He also diagramed other places where catapults could cause severe structural damage. Kakashi added marks on areas where a catapult on their side would be beneficial. However, since this was only the external defenses, Kakashi wanted to ask about the defenses inside the wall. What layout did they have? It all made an impact in how they took care of the civilians and spread what forces they had out.
He added these concerns to the mental list of question he already had. What intelligence did they have on the enemy? If the army against them was only five hundred strong, they should not have any issues with people breaching the wall, but their enemy (Saruman) was clever and knew Rohan's defenses, so there would be at least a thousand (perhaps much more since these weren't shinobi forces) bearing down on the walls. With that, they could expect people trying to flood the walls and scale them, or people bursting through the main gate. Furthermore, an aerial attack would be a perfect tactic if the middle earthlings had such capabilities.
Kakashi was positively brimming with questions but he sensed he shouldn't interrupt the King's conversation. So instead, he began sketching the outer defenses in the face of varying enemies using different tactics like ladders, catapults, siege towers, and so forth. Kakashi looked up when he recognized the name of Shadowfax coming from the old man's lips and something about the King giving Shadowfax? Well that was water under the bridge now. Kakashi thought he also heard the King mention the armory.
"Ah!" Kakashi interject, "King Théoden," he addressed in the language of the Rohirrim, "I have questions about the enemy's capabilities and further questions about Helm's Deep if I am to be tactical aid."
The King was initially surprised by this until he saw several maps laid out around Kakashi's place at the table. He gestured for one and soon they were passed out to the men about the table. The middle aged man raised an eyebrow in surprise while the Dwarf genuinely looked shocked and the Elf cocked his head to one side. Gandalf pointed the diagram of the wall exploding.
"What do you mean by this?"
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head as he processed what the man was asking in common. "Ah…I know not how to say in common," he broached awkwardly in common. The dwarf nearly laughed at this.
"How does this one not know common!?" His incredulity told Kakashi all he needed to know and he gave the dwarf an unimpressed look.
"We had taught you common some time ago, did we not?" Lord Éomer asked in that lovely language Kakashi actually knew.
"Only a little, but then Wormtongue helped pass the ban on any other language but your own." The King frowned and nodded his head slowly while the human men and wizard also gave almost sympathetic looks.
"And where do you hail from Grim Traveler?" the wizard asked in the language of the Rohirrim.
"Far from here," Kakashi answered curtly, and Lady Éowyn shook her head reproachfully, though only the middle aged man and Lord Éomer caught the gesture.
"You are an easternling then?" the wizard asked almost warily as he sized Kakashi up and down.
"No." His curt response was followed by him gesturing at the diagram the wizard originally had a question on, "Do you middle earthlings have means of cultivating a…ah…flammable clear gas or highly flammable black powder?" All at the table looked at Kakashi oddly, well except for the wizard who looked to the dwarf and then translated Kakashi's question.
"Aye…I know of the gas he speaks, but we have not found a means of harnessing it. It comes from deep veins and has cost us many lives." The dwarf's words were nearly unintelligible given his accent but Kakashi gathered there were such tools.
"Saruman has delved deep into the lands around him and may have also found the gas he speaks of," Kakashi thought he understood what he wizard said and so gestured for them to consider the plans he had in case of such an explosive tactic.
Kakashi then asked his next question, "Do we know the number Saruman will press on Rohan?" Those around him shook their heads, though Gandalf's grim expression said he might have some news.
"While I was held captive by Saruman, I saw him creating an army the likes of which Middle Earth has not seen outside of the Black Gates." This was fortunately not in common, but Kakashi still looked to Lord Éomer for clarification.
"More than a few thousand, perhaps even ten thousand," Éomer guessed with his expression drawn into a hard line. Kakashi could only nod before he gestured to learn about the inner defenses.
He was surprised to learn of the veritable labyrinth beneath and in the sides of Helm's Deep. He was also shocked to learn the civilians (women and young children) would trapped in a deeper cave within Helm's Deep. It could be accessed by several means, granted some were much more winding, but still.
"What evacuation procedures do you have?" he asked the King who frowned deeply.
"There is a path up into the mountain; it will deposit the people on the other side of the mountain and into the forest, but it could be a trap for them." Kakashi nodded his head slowly, but he knew the hope of safety outweighed the other possibilities.
He explained that the women should defend themselves below, and at least half of the fighting dogs should be stationed with them. Some could also be stationed in the tunnels leading to the cavern they would stay in, along with some of the younger fighters who had less battle experience. He could train them on the way to Helm's Deep.
The King nodded and made some minor adjustments to these propositions. If the wall was breached, the civilians would be sent in their evacuation. Those women in the rebellion must stay behind to cover the path. Kakashi questioned in turn if there was a way to collapse any tunnel walls, which was then translated to the Dwarf who replied he would have to survey the walls in question.
They continued to hash out the possible tactics, and the man, Aragorn, weighed in on some tactics. They had little to their advantage, especially if the approaching army was to be as big as Éomer and Gandalf supposed. Frankly, they could be starved out if the opposing army bided their time.
With as much planned as they could have planned, Kakashi was brought to the armory with the other guests, and Éomer explained he could pick what armor he wished. He found a light chainmail shirt with a leather vest and some leather greaves. These may not offer the most protection, but they would also be the least restrictive. He was then allowed to return to his hovel to pack the rest of his supplies and finally put on his damn boots. He had to clean and wrap his feet before he could even put them on but, in the end, what did it matter? Within the next ten minutes, Kakashi was at the gate of the city along with everyone else.
As they began marching to Helm's Deep, he grabbed Lady Éowyn and had her help him teach the young men and the women some simple defensive and offensive moves. He also made sure to teach anyone within the dog division the necessary terms for attack, defend, and search. Soon the board would be set, and then…then the war would begin.
…
The young lord was a worthy opponent, though he was slower than most opponents Kakashi was used to, Kakashi was also significantly slower than he used to be too since he could not add his chakra to give him any additional edge. It was also different fighting with heavy weapons. Indeed, Kakashi wondered if this was what all of his peers had faced back in the academy. He was frustrated with what his body was capable of and how unnatural each movement was. He supposed there was also a sort of dissonance between what he was now capable of and how his mind thought about combat.
Still…judging by his confrontation with the Wild Men, his spars with Lord Théodred, and what he managed to see of the soldiers' training Kakashi should not be too hurt by these sudden changes. His opponents wore heavy armor which both restricted their movements and slowed them down. However, this also meant the armor absorbed some of the blows and Kakashi had to find the gaps between the metal plates to deal any lethal damage. The weapons these warriors used were even meant for sustained attack against metal plates—they were more bludgeoning than truly slashing, Still with enough force, momentum, and right placement, these swords could cut through an enemy.
The soldiers of the Rohirrim fought differently from Shinobi in more than just the obvious ways. Shinobi seldom formed ranks but the soldiers always formed ranks—whether on horseback or not. This gave them all cover and forward ground, while such tactics did not work as well with shinobi considering their special abilities—however a good line of ninjutsu users was always a viable formation. These soldiers were a single force moving forward, while shinobi almost always fought in small teams to allow versatility of movement and attack.
Hell, even back in the last war, the allied forces had split into divisions of skills and those divisions split into smaller groups to carry out missions. When a large number of shinobi did fight, it was in the case of holding off the zetsu. Kakashi new of the tactics these Rohirrim used—civilian and civilian bandits used them—but Kakashi had never understood why anyone would until now.
Without speed, chakra, or jutsu, one must hold their enemy back as best they can. Having one's allies beside them to raise up defenses would obviously help.
Kakashi blinked as the flat of Lord Théodred's sword hit his arm. The young lord was smiling slightly, "You are distracted, friend." Ah yes, the young lord had begun to call Kakashi such, and perhaps they were.
Kakashi sighed and nodded. "I think on how you people fight," he said the words slowly to ensure he conveyed what he wished too, though he knew there were more efficient and appropriate words.
"Oh?" the young lord asked as he sheathed his sword and moved to bucket of water locate in these training grounds. Filling up one of the stone cups beside it, he sat down on a bench. "And what is your assessment?" he asked before sipping at the water.
Kakashi retrieved his own water before sitting next to the young man. He didn't know all the words he would like to use, but he supposed he could always ask the young lord for assistance. Humming he began slowly as the awkward words rolled off his tongue, "You people move slow. Armor ah…eto…" he wanted to say deflects or absorbs but he did not know the words in their language, "stop blows," he grimaced but the young lord nodded his head to indicate he knew what Kakashi meant. "You ah…make…" Kakashi set his hands together at the finger tips and made a line which the then moved forward.
"Hmm? Form lines? Make ranks?" the young lord questioned and Kakashi narrowed his gaze for a moment before the young lord explained what he meant with diagrams and Kakashi nodded. "Did your people not fight in armor or form rank?"
Kakashi shook his head. "We did not need to," he stated slowly. The young lord looked genuinely intrigued and Kakashi eye-smiled. "We….are much fast-er" he added the suffix at the last second as he recalled the need for such in comparative cases. "Armor slow down people and would not help in battle. Attacks would rip through."
The young lord nodded slowly, "So your people valued speed over all else—speed ensured victory in your battles."
Kakashi nodded but with a grimace. "Not always."
Lord Théodred smiled, "Your people are truly interesting." He looked up then and smiled more broadly. "Cousin!" Kakashi looked up too to see Lady Éowyn walking toward them. She eyed their swords envyingly for a moment.
"King Théoden wishes to speak with you Théodred," she stated.
"And he sent you with the message?" the young lord asked with a knowing look to match his disbelieving tone.
The Lady looked away and it might have been an amusing situation if not for the stiffness to her frame or the hardness to her expression. The cousin caught this too and his expression became serious. "What has Grima done?"
The woman shook her head, "He has done nothing, but I wished to be out of his sight for a moment." The young lord sent his hand against her arm in perhaps a comforting manner—that was another thing, people were rather reserved in expressing feelings for another person, not that shinobi were much better.
"I will see to what my father wants of me," Lord Théodred announced and left with a nod goodbye to each of them. The young lady stood in the training area for a moment longer, looking at some of the training swords lining a weapons stand.
Kakashi cocked his head to one side as he examined the woman. "Does Lady Éowyn wish to spar?" he asked slowly. He hadn't noticed any woman taking up weapons and had assumed there was some sort unspoken law about women and fighting. He supposed with the primitive healing methods, people were more likely to die from infection after war, and women had a high enough mortality rate from childbirth that no one wished to risk those capable of bringing in the new generation to die with the men.
The woman looked up surprised for a moment, her eyes were wide and she looked like she had been caught doing something bad. She looked away. "I have my duties to get back to," she hurriedly said before leaving. Kakashi shrugged and picked back up his weapon and resumed his kata.
…
Helm's Deep was not like Kakashi had imagined—even with the sketches he had made earlier. There was something breathtaking about seeing the towering walls in person. It was built into the wall like some Iwa defenses, but structured differently. It had too many openings along the mountain base for it to be effective against fast moving ninja, but plodding middle earthlings could be trapped in labyrinth tunnels beneath the mountain. Thus, his first order of business was to build traps and triggered cave-ins—with the advice from the dwarf who was translated by the human man. The wizard had left without saying anything to them, but the human man seemed to know what the wizard planned.
Kakashi's second order of business was to continue working with those who would man the tunnels closest to where the women and children would hide. He trained them with the dogs and coached them on releasing the cave-ins. The human and dwarf that had been following him had gone up top to speak with the King; thus, Kakashi was surrounded by children, elders, dogs, and the few women involved in the rebellion. Lady Éowyn chose this moment to approach Kakashi. She had assisted him in training the others on the way to Helm's Deep and assumed she had approached him to do the same now; at least until she pulled him aside while the other did drills.
"Kakashi-sensei," she began softly, "they plan to put me with the women in children in the tunnels." Kakashi nodded his head slowly in acknowledgement, but when he didn't comment any further she looked almost hurt. "Should I not be fighting with my family, or at the very least fighting with the people in these tunnels?"
"Lady Éowyn knows the path out of the mountain and to safety. Lady Éowyn knows how to fight and can protect her people once in the mountains. She can also lead her people should the King and her brother fall." The young woman opened her mouth to protest but closed it and looked past him at the cave wall.
"My duty then is what?"
"To ensure the survival of Rohan in the capacity most needed." Kakashi paused as the young woman processed his words, but she only looked more troubled afterwards. He sighed, "Lady Éowyn must not mistake me." She glared at him for a moment but he pressed on. "The people look to you for leadership, just as they do the rest of your family. Should the others fall, the people will turn to you for guidance. They will be confused, leaderless, and many gravely wounded from battle if any do survive. Those who go with you into the mountains will be in similar states, but you are strong in more than just the physical sense." The young woman's brow furrowed but she nodded her head slowly.
"I am to ensure the survival of Rohan…" she murmured and looked back at the people they were training. She then looked back at him, "And after I have done this duty?"
Kakashi cocked his head to one-side, "Is it not always Lady Éowyn's duty, the duty of all warriors and leaders?" She blinked in surprise, perhaps she had not known he had always spoken of her in the capacity of a warrior. Frowning slightly, he figured she didn't fully understand his intentions. "Why do we fight, Lady Éowyn?" he asked and she blinked for a moment.
"Because we are threatened."
"But why do we fight?"
The young woman looked again at the ground in thought. "They will kills us all if given the chance…"
"Yes, survival, but why?" Kakashi pressed. "It is likely we will die every time we fight, but we do fight. Why?"
"Because we must," she responded, and Kakashi just raised his visible eyebrow. The young woman exhaled in annoyance at his unasked question and furrowed her brow in thought. "We fight to survive, yet we know we may die…" she said these words slowly as she tried to figure out why. After a long moment, she began to speak again, "It is not our survival…but the survival of-of Rohan?" the young woman's expression lightened with understanding as she turned to Kakashi for affirmation.
Kakashi eye-smiled and nodded slightly. "Yes, we fight so our people, our future can survive." Kakashi pushed himself off the wall and moved to be in the way of any people looking at them. He then set his hand on her shoulder and squeezed slightly. "Lady Éowyn knows her duty, and she will do as is best for Rohan." The young woman smiled and straightened up.
"I will always do what I must for my people." Kakashi retracted his hand and turned to those he was training while Lady Éowyn moved away to do what she must in preparation of the assault.
Kakashi stood before the assembled with his hands folded behind his back. "You are warriors," he stated as he looked at each pale face. The pre-teens and teens straightened up in partial excitement, while the other adults frowned at his words. "What is a warrior's duty?" he asked them. The boys blinked and some of the adults gave him blank looks, but an elder man who had been close to where he and Lady Éowyn talked spoke up.
"We ensure Rohan's survival even if we die." Kakashi nodded his head and the boys' enthusiasm dampened immediately.
"You are the last line of defense for friends and children. They are the future and they must survive at all costs." There were grave nods from them all, and Kakashi grimly smiled as he nodded his head. "I have faith we will ensure Rohan does not fall." The words hung in the air and their morale lifted slightly. They would be ready for battle when it came.
TBC