A/N: I own nothing.

***Chapter 20***

**Saffy's POV**

Morning had come too soon. I still wanted to be sleeping. But today would be the first of the journey to Helm's Deep. I hauled myself from the bed and quickly dressed. As soon as I had fastened my cloak about my neck, I headed out the door. It was a quick walk before I caught up with Eowyn. She was standing with her horse near the stables, and she smiled when she saw me.

"Are you ready for the two-day journey?" I asked sarcastically.

She laughed and shook her head with a smile. "I'm sure that I am more ready than you."

"Why do you say that?" I replied.

"Because, I have my horse ready, while you will be walking the whole distance." She laughed.

I groaned at the idea of having to walk for two days straight. Then again it was about the same as when I was with the fellowship. Eowyn's smile remained intact, and she shook her head at me.

"Come on, we will both be walking for most of the journey. The horses will have enough to bear without adding us to the list. Besides, the exercise will be good for you." She teased.

"We are going to walk for two days straight! Do I get time off after this to make up for it?" I joked with her.

The call to move out was made by one of the guards and with that the whole populous of Edoras began the two day journey. A short ways into the journey, Eowyn offered her horse for Gimli to ride. He sat astride the horse and joined in our conversations. Aragorn was walking his horse behind us.

We had walked for hours, and it was now about mid-afternoon. The sun was beating down upon us mercilessly. Instead of Eowyn and I really talking, we listened to Gimli lecture. He talked about anything that he could think of, explaining Dwarf culture to Eowyn and I.

"It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often mistaken for dwarf men." Gimli began yet another lecture on all the fine points of Dwarves.

I glanced back at Aragorn who was making the motion of a beard with his hand and mouthing the words: "It's the beards". Eowyn and I both laughed, but turned our attention back to Gimli. Eowyn was in between me and Gimli, so I began making mocking motions of how Gimli was talking with his hands as he rode.

"This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground."

We laugh at this, but Gimli decides to continue with his lecture and sharing his opinion on the matter.

"Which is, of course, ridiculous."

Gimli threw his hands into the air, talking with his hands once more. Eowyn laughs at my mimicking his movement, until Gimli's horse runs ahead with Gimli on it, leaving Eowyn and I behind. But Gimli can't really ride a horse, and he falls off the back and lands on the ground with a loud thud, his horse continuing to run ahead. Eowyn laughs at the display then runs to help the dwarf up. I laugh as he stands up acting as though nothing happened.

"It's all right. Nobody panic. It was deliberate. It was deliberate." He announced, earning another laugh from me and it looked like Eowyn as well.

I quickly moved forward, catching up to my friends. We took the horse back from one of the guards, who had chased after it. Gimli waved off climbing back up onto the horse.

"Are you sure, Gimli? If Eowyn holds the reins for you, it should be fine." I asked again.

"No, I deliberately got off the horse, as I was tired of riding and wanted to walk for a while." He bluffed.

Both Eowyn and I laughed, but we walked with Gimli, who was unexpectedly out of dwarf lectures. So Eowyn and I joked back and forth for the rest of the day, until we stopped to make a camp for the night. I think camp was a little off for the word for the large settlement for the night, it was more like a mobile city.

We left Gimli to set up the tents along with the other men, I would be sharing a tent with Eowyn tonight, under her insistence. She told me that there would be no way I could sleep in the same tent as my friends, and she would like the company in her tent. She then dragged me over and had me help prepare the stew for the night. As they didn't trust my ability to cook, I was left to chop vegetables. I watched as Eowyn cooked the meat. It was going to turn out awful, as she hadn't prepared it right. There were large, almost raw chunks of meat throughout the stew, all of them a disgusting gray color.

"Do you want to come with me and distribute the stew to the men?" she asked. I thought for a moment, contemplating if I could be charged as an accessory to murder for helping her dole out the disgusting, probably food poisoned stew. But decided that since there was no democratic system here, and Eowyn was the king's niece it would be safe enough. Plus, the expression on Aragorn's face would be priceless when he ate this stuff.

"All right, sure." I told her, carrying a bunch of bowls and spoons in my hands as she carried the stew.

We began walking around the encampment, offering stew to the men. Most of which politely turned down when they looked at the floating gray masses. We passed Gimli, and Eowyn politely offered the stew to Gimli. He took a glance at the stew, then looked up at me and Eowyn. I was standing behind her and shook my head that he shouldn't eat the stew.

"No, I couldn't I really couldn't." Gimli stammered, trying to get out of eating it.

Eowyn nodded her head understandingly, though she was more understanding that he didn't want stew rather than the stew was disgusting to look at. She merely walked over to Aragorn, he was focused intently upon cleaning and sharpening his sword.

"I made some stew. It's not much. But it's hot." Eowyn offered the stew for him, and she filled a bowl for him. I offered the spoon.

"Thank you," he said, eating a mouthful. At the taste his face neared a grimace, but he managed to cover it up before Eowyn saw. "It's good."

His voice was so hoarse from the disgust, I barely managed to conceal my laughter. Eowyn's face lit up. This was the first time that anyone had complimented her stew.

"Really?" she asked. She was very excited by this.

She turned to walk away. I watched as Aragorn began pouring out the stew onto the ground. But she turned back and he quickly took the stew back into his hands right in front of him. He had spilled some of the hot liquid on his leg, and he winced a little at the burning. He looked at her expectantly, his mouth tight with holding in the pain.

"My uncle told me a strange thing. He said that you rode to war with Thengal, my Grandfather. But he must be mistaken." Eowyn said, she was obviously curious about why her uncle would say something like that.

"King Theoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time." Aragorn stated.

This time it was Eowyn's face that was priceless, her eyes were wide with shock. She obviously could not believe that he was so old.

"Then you must be at least 60." Eowyn stated shocked, Aragorn was based at her assumption. "Seventy? But surely you cannot be 80!"

Aragorn winced a little at how shocked she was that he was that old. He smiled a little and looked at her.

"Eighty-Seven." He stated simply, looking back at the ground.

"You are one of the Dunedain. A descendant of Numenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race passed into legend." She realized.

"There are few of us left." Aragorn stated. "The Northern kingdom was destroyed long ago."

Eowyn must have realized how rude her behavior was, she looked apologetic immediately.

"I'm sorry. Please, eat." She stated. He reluctantly started eating the stew once more.

I decided that maybe I should take pity on Aragorn, as he was being fed what could constitute as poison. Eowyn was currently standing, watching Aragorn eat the stew.

"Eowyn, would you mind if I stayed here with Aragorn? It seems that I haven't seen much of him since we got to Edoras." I explained, and she looked a little disappointed.

"Yes, that is perfectly fine. I was just going to continue offering stew." She stated. Then she returned to her task, having taken the spoons and bowls from me.

When Eowyn as safely out of hearing distance, I couldn't keep the laugh in anymore. Aragorn scowled at me as I laughed.

"I'm sorry. But your face was hilarious. I can't believe that you actually ate that stuff." I laughed. Aragorn poured the rest of the bowl out on the ground.

"You could have warned me it was that bad." He said quietly, wanting to be careful that Eowyn didn't hear him.

I looked over at her. She was standing with a group of soldiers, probably attempting to coerce them into eating the stew. When one of the men accepted a bowl from her, I was almost sad that I was going to miss the facial expressions of all the people who were going to be eating her cooking.

"I thought that Gimli refusing it would have been warning enough. I didn't even know that he tasted his food he eats it so fast. But apparently, even he has higher standards than that." I joked. I know it was a little mean to be making fun of how bad the stew was. But it wasn't going to hurt anyone.

"I probably should have realized that sooner." He admitted.

"So you are seriously eighty-seven?" I questioned.

"Yes." He mumbled, a little embarrassed that this was the topic of discussion once more. He must have thought that people would find it strange that he was so old but looked so young.

"Wow, well. You don't look a day over fourty-five." I reassured him, he smiled at me.

"Not all of us could be considered children, Saffron." He teased me.

"Hey, I have to start younger than you. Since we're both courting elves. Plus you have the elongated life-span on your side." I teased him, he laughed and pulled out his pipe.

We sat around the fire, he smoked and I cleaned my swords. Overall it was a pleasant evening, when it began to grow late Eowyn arrived to tell me where our tent was. I said my farewell to Aragorn and headed to the tent with Eowyn. We both decided to retire for the evening, spending the rest of the evening inside the tent talking.

"So, did Aragorn talk about me when I left?" Eowyn asked girlishly. No matter the world or time period, girls would be girls.

"I think you were mentioned a little." I said, not wanting to really give her much hope. "I don't really remember."

"Oh," she stated, her face contemplative. "Do you think that once this war is over, Aragorn would be interested in courting me?"

I tried to find the best way to phrase it, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but she also shouldn't get her hopes up.

"I really wouldn't know, Eowyn. Aragorn isn't all that big on sharing about his personal life." I explained.

She frowned for a moment, but her face smoothed out. She must have been thinking about how that wasn't exactly a no. She sighed and looked at me once again.

"Do you know him very well?" she questioned, it was definitely going to be a night of gossiping about Aragorn.

"We have been traveling together for a while." I stated.

The rest of the night continued on in that fashion, she gushed about how rugged Aragorn was and how noble. I listened patiently. DiDi would occasionally do this, talk about a guy for a good part of the night, and I suppose I had done the same thing a few times as well. We finally fell asleep, it seemed that the amount of gossiping Eowyn could do about Aragorn, had finally run out.

**Deirdre's POV**

After watching the Uruk-hai massacre one another all of yesterday, I was more than grateful to be going to meet with Saruman and Wormtongue this morning. It at least would have less gore involved, that is unless for some reason they decided to have a brawl, but I wasn't going to keep my hopes up. I strode into Saruman's study once more. This room was getting all too familiar. Saruman was in the midst of a conversation with Wormtongue when I entered.

"Theoden will not stay at Edoras. It's vulnerable. He knows this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road to take through the mountains. They will be slow. They will have women and children with them."

"You are going to send your Warg Riders." I told him, at this both of them turned around. "While you won't succeed in slaying any women or children, there will be a significant loss of soldiers. Along with the heir of Elendil."

"So you would advise attacking while they are on the road?" he verified.

"Not only would I advise it, but I know that you will do it and it will be successful." I told him, keeping my confident tone.

"Very well." Saruman said, turning to walk out the door. "Deirdre, you will come with me."

I followed him out of the study, leaving behind Wormtongue. It seemed that his use was becoming less and less over the time that I was here. Hopefully, it would breed the same contempt that was necessary.

"Sauron informed me that you were betrothed." He stated as we walked down the hall.

"Yes, he said I would be his bride should I prove my loyalty through the end of the war." I stated simply.

"Then your worth has increased even more. It was folly for Gandalf to think that you would remain on the side that loses." He smirked evilly.

"When has Gandalf ever shown much competence?" I said, feeling slightly guilty for bashing the wizard. "After all, he didn't notice that the One Ring was under his nose in the Shire for many years."

Saruman chuckled darkly at my statement, it seemed that I had completely earned his trust. As much as I was hating this, it was a good thing. It ensured my survival at Isenguard. We reached the underground labyrinth, quickly finding the leader of the Warg Riders.

"Send out your Warg Riders." Saruman ordered, then he turned to me. "Deirdre, go back to training the warriors."

I nodded my head, returning back to the familiar training ground. It was another blood-filled day. Over the past two days, I had thinned down the army by close to a thousand. If I kept going at this rate, the odds would be evened more in the favor of Rohan. I smirked as I watched the Uruks cut one another down.

**Saffy's POV**

We were travelling once more. Today I walked between Aragorn and Eowyn, since both had horses and I didn't. Aragorn was miles away, when Eowyn interrupted his thoughts.

"Where is she?" Eowyn questioned, earning her a confused look from Aragorn. "The woman who gave you that jewel."

Aragorn looks thoughtful once more, drifting back into his thoughts of Arwen. He remains silent for a while, Eowyn looked at me worried, but I just shrugged my shoulders.

"My lord?" she questions.

"She is sailing to the Undying Lands with all that is left of her kin." Aragorn responded sadly, this time it was Eowyn who fell silent.

"What about you, Saffron? Your elf love, where is he?" she questioned.

"She should still be in Lothlorien." I responded. It took Eowyn a moment to notice that I had said 'she'. Her eyes widened for a moment but she was silent.

There was an awkward silence as we walked together, at least between Eowyn and myself. Aragorn was back in his thoughts of Arwen and perfectly content, unaware of the tension between Eowyn and I. The silence continues for a while, only interrupted by the sound of a terror-filled scream.

Aragorn springs into action, leaving his horse in my care and racing over to the hill that Legolas had been seen on previously. Within moments of his reaching his destination, he was racing back to the king.

"What is it? What do you see?" Theoden called to him.

"Warg! We're under attack!" was the call that came from Aragorn.

He reached us and took the reins from me, climbing onto the horse rapidly. I backed away from the horse as he continued yelling. My swords were at my sides and I was ready to fight. Aragorn nodded his head to me, but had taken off before I could climb up on the horse with him.

"Get them out of here!" Aragorn shouted, motioning at the women and children.

"Eowyn?" I questioned, I knew that I needed a horse. She nodded her head.

"All riders to the head of the column." Theoden's shout rings clear.

Eowyn lifts up the saddle blanket on the horse to reveal a sword beneath, she began to remove the sword to reattach it at her side. But she was interrupted by the king riding up next to us.

"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and make haste." Theoden ordered her.

"I can fight." She tried to argue.

"No. You must do this. For me." He told her. She looked like she was about to argue with him, but closed her mouth and nodded.

"Eowyn, can I borrow your horse?" I questioned, Theoden looked at me skeptically, shocked that I was planning on fighting.

"Saffron," she began to argue, but was cut off by the king.

"Go with Eowyn." Theoden ordered.

"My lord, I can fight. Aragorn trained me himself and I have already proved myself in battle." I attempted to persuade him.

"The women and children will need you if any of the Wargs chase after them." Theoden told me.

I wanted to argue more, but understood where he was going with this. It was going to be one of the only ways to assure Eowyn would not return to fight, if I went with her. Also this would give her less of a reason to argue with him.

"Very well." I said tightly. Knowing that my friends would be fine, but still I wanted to be there for them.

We turned away from the sounds of the riders racing into battle with the attacking Wargs, it took Eowyn no time at all to take control of the women and children.

"Make for the lower ground." She ordered, the people followed her instructions. "Stay together."

With a final glance back at my friends, who were riding into battle, I too followed Eowyn's instructions. My stomach was twisting into knots as I left. Aragorn falling off the cliff would definitely upset Eowyn.

**Legolas' POV**

The Wargs were coming over the hills toward us. I shot arrow after arrow. Every arrow shot felled another Warg. The riders crumpling under the weight of their mounts, and the beasts toppled over, falling upon them. I glanced back behind me. The riders were fast approaching with Gimli on our horse in the front. I grabbed the strapping on the front of Arod and flung myself onto the horse, landing in front of Gimli. Locking my legs tight around the horse, I drew my bow and arrow back out. My arrows flew and struck the Wargs, until finally our forces clashed in a forceful clatter. The sounds of death were all around, screams as blades cut into flesh. Gimli slid off the horse behind me, his voice ringing through the sounds of the battle.

"Bring your pretty face to my axe." He growled at a Warg.

I smirked and turned my bow, striking the Warg that he was waiting for with an arrow. It crumpled to the ground right before him. He sputtered for a moment.

"That one counts as mine." He called out to me.

Even though we are in the middle of the battle, I still chuckled at him. We had come up with a competition to prove if Dwarves or Elves were better, whoever could fell more creatures would win.

I continued to shoot arrows into the Warg's and their riders, silently keeping count of every fallen creature. When the fighting finally was drawing near to an end, I dismounted Arod and began walking around trying to find Aragorn and Gimli. Gimli was easy to find, as he made a lot of noise and had just felled another Warg.

"Aragorn!" I called out, trying to find him.

"Aragorn?" Gimli questioned.

I walked over to the edge of the cliff, looking everywhere for him. But he was nowhere in sight. Suddenly the sounds of evil laughter came to my ears. Glancing over, I saw an orc who was laughing at my search. I quickly moved over to the orc, fixing my glare upon him. He only laughed more.

"So you're the elf that the Mistress was playing with?" he chuckled out, blood mingling with the words.

"The Mistress?" I questioned angrily.

"Mistress Deirdre." He chuckled lowly. "She wanted us to tell you that she was much happier now that she is betrothed to Sauron."

Red filled my vision, as much as I didn't believe the words he was saying, I was furious none-the-less. Gimli however, came over before I could interrogate the dying orc anymore.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing." Gimli told him, bringing his axe close to the orc's neck.

"He's…" the orc was choking on its own blood now. "dead. He took a little tumble off the cliff."

I reached down and grabbed the orc's armor, pulling him closer to me. This orc is telling one lie after another it seems, first that Deirdre is betrothed to Sauron and now that Aragorn was dead.

"You lie." I accused the dying orc.

The only response was a last smirk and grunt of a laugh, before life left the orc. I shoved the body away from me, distancing myself as much as possible. But a glimmering sparkle in the orc's hand catches my attention, and reluctantly I peer at it. Inside the hand of the dead orc, is the Evenstar pendant that Aragorn wore. As I pull the pendant from the dead hand, my world shatters around me. The dead thing wasn't lying, Aragorn was surely dead if he lost the pendant that Arwen had given him, the sign of her undying love for him. I backed away from the corpse and from Gimli, shock creating turmoil in my mind.

I raced over to the edge of the cliff once more, looking down at the racing waters for any sign that Aragorn was there or alive. But there was nothing but the river, there was no body strewn on the rocks or caught on the side. My friend was gone.

In the corner of my mind, I recognize that it is Theoden who is standing next to me looking down at the water. But right now, I am totally focused on two things. That Aragorn is dead, fallen in this small fray. This was nothing compared to the attack that had been waged on us by the Uruk-hai before, that claimed our friends. But still he had fallen. The second was that there was a possibility that the Orc had told me the truth. That Deirdre had only been playing with me. That she was going to marry Sauron and rule Middle Earth. That she had never really cared about me in the first place, and every kiss had only been a deception.

"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isenguard will return." Theoden's voice pierced my inner turmoil. "Leave the dead."

I turned sharply to stare at him, appalled that he would leave his fallen soldiers to be the meal of wild animals. That he wouldn't give the men that had died fighting for him and his people the respect that they deserved. He had the decency to look sympathetically at me, showing that he didn't really want to do this. His hand touched my shoulder, resting there in a reassuring manner.

"Come." He said gently.

The king walked away to help collect all the wounded and get them up on horseback so that we could make our way to Helm's Deep once more. My mind began racing once more as I looked down into my hand. The Evenstar pendant shone beautifully, never again to be worn by the warrior who had stolen the heart of its' elvish owner. My fingers carefully closed around the jewel, making sure not to break it. If I ever saw Arwen again, I would return the pendant to her. I slipped the pendant into my pocket, and turned to go back to Helm's Deep and give the news to Saffron that we had lost another friend.

***End Chapter 20***

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