Chapter 4: The Beacons
Disclaimer: I own nothing besides Ana and plot changes
Ana
I walked out of the castle looking for Eowyn. I stopped a man that was walking by. "Have you seen Eowyn?" I asked him. He nodded and pointed over my shoulder. "Thanks." I said as I turned toward her. "Eowyn!" I called to her. She stopped and smiled at me. "Good morning Ana." She said. "Maybe." I returned. "Why is that?" she asked me. "I'm pregnant." I said. She gapped at me then a smile spread across her ace. "Ana that's wonderful! A small bundle of joy promised to the new age." She said happily. I blinked at her. Then I saw Aragorn running towards the castle. Eowyn and I ran after him and all of us made it. "The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!" Aragorn cried coming to a stop in front of the king of Rohan.
I walked closer to Aragorn watching Théoden. The room grew silent. Legolas wrapped his arm around me from behind. "And Rohan shall answer. Muster the Rohirrim." Théoden ordered. Eomer bowed and rushed out of the room. The bell begun to ring a minute later. "Gather as many men as can be found. You have two days." Théoden said as we all readied to leave. "On the third, we ride for Gondor and war." He said. I was dressed and hurried over to my mares stable. Making quick work of her saddle. Leading her out of the stable. I sighed "It's just the three of us now girl." I murmur to her while stroking her nose. I looked over and saw Eowyn and Aragorn standing together with their horses. I walked close enough to hear their conversation. "Will you ride with us?" Aragorn asked.
"Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men." She replied while she made herself busy with the side of her saddle. Aragorn reached over and lifted the flap of one of the saddle bags revealing a sword. She quickly pulled it out of his hands and covered it over. "The men have found their captain. They will fallow you into battle, even to death. You have given us hope." She said. Not wanting to be caught snooping in their business I got onto my mare and rode over to Legolas and Gimli. "Horse men." Gimli muttered. I sighed. "I wish I could summon a legion of Dwarves, armed and filthy." Gimli said. Legolas shoots me an amused look. "You two seem to be getting along great!" I said to him smiling. Legolas rolled his eyes at me.
"Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands." Legolas told him. Gimli fell silent. "Are you wearing the Mitheril?" I nodded and moved the neck of my shirt down to show him. He nodded and we set out behind Aragorn in the sea of horse-men. In the middle of the ride I saw the mountain. With its winding road going up the front of it. My group fallowed the king up the mountain while the other men made camp around its sides on the bottom. I walked around the camp, I felt a hand grip mine. I looked down and saw Merry next to me. "Don't want to lose your way in this camp Ana." He said smiling at me. "Thanks Merry." I said giving his hand a squeezing his hand.
"I think you'll make a great mom, and Legolas will make a great father. That child will be very lucky to have you two looking after it." He said glancing at my stomach. I smiled at him. "We can't forget about Uncles Aragorn, Gimli, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry." I told him as we walked back to our main camping area. Eowyn came up to us. "Your fiancée is looking for you. Go find him." she said. I nodded and pull her to the side. "Eowyn, you know that Aragorn's heart belongs to another." I reminded her. "I know it does, I can't help it." She whispered. Then she shook her head then smiled and shooed me away "Go to your fiancée." She told me. Now pushing me towards my and Legolas's tent.
I walked into the tent and sat down on the bench I heard someone enter behind me. "Legolas?" I called. "There you are. Are you tired?" he asked as I turned around "no." I said with a little smile. He smiled back taking away my ability to breathe for a second. "That's good." He said while wrapping me in a hug. "Worried about me already?" I teased. "Well women are pregent for nine months and elivish women are pregent for six months." He informs me. I nod "And since I'm half elf and human we don't know how long I'll be pregent for." I said. Legolas nods and them I hear the horses whinny. I left the warmth that was Legolas and walked out of the tent to see what was causing the horses distress. I heard Legolas fallowing behind me.
"The horses are restless…the men are quiet." Legolas said. Eomer walked toward us. "They
grow nervous in the shadows of the mountain." He said looking toward the road that lead into the darkness beyond what we could see. "That road there…where does that lead?" Gimli asked "it is the road to the Bimholt, the door under the mountain." Legolas said. "None who have ventured there ever returned. That mountain is evil." Eomer said turning away. Later that night I sat down and looked out at the lights of the fires of other camps. I noticed a single light coming up the winding road. I stood as he neared the top and removed my sword from its sheath. "Who are you? Declare yourself or you will go no further." I told the hooded rider. "You have grown much young Daughter of Celeborn since I last saw you in Rivendell." "Lord Elrond!" I gasped. "No lord title from you, Ana. You're my adopted daughter. I thought you were above bonding to Legolas? It seems that you have changed your mind. And you have a baby on the way. A small ray of hope in these desperate times is appropriate. If you could lead me to the King." He said. I nodded and lead him to the King's tent.
Once there Théoden sent a man to get Aragorn from his tent. When he came in, I smiled at him from my spot behind Elrond. "I take my leave." Théoden said. I went to fallow him out of the tent, but Elrond stopped me. He took off his hood and stood before Aragorn. "My Lord Elrond." Aragorn said bowing to him. "I came on behave of one whom I love. Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come." Elrond said. Tears escaped from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks to drip off my chin.
"It will not be our end, but his." Aragorn said. "You ride to war, but not to victory. Sauron's army marches on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in secret he sends another force which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the south. They'll be in the city in two days. You're out numbered Aragorn. You need more men." Elrond pointed out. "There are none." Aragorn replied. "There are those who dwell in the mountain." Elrond reminded him. "Murderers…traitors. You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no one." Aragorn said.
"They will answer to the King of Gondor." Elrond said. Bringing out the once shattered sword. "Anduril, the flame of the west forged from the shards of Narsil." Elrond said presenting it to Aragorn. Aragorn slowly took it from Elrond. "Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil." Aragorn said as he pulled the sword out of its sheath. I got up and stood beside Elrond. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith." Aragorn recited.
"The man who can wield the power of this sword…can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road. I give hope to men." "I keep none for myself." Aragorn replied. I knew that this is where mine and Aragorn's paths part for the first time. "Stay safe, I cannot come with you. My path is with Théoden." Aragorn nodded, I pulled him into a hug, and then when we parted he walked out of the tent. "I know you will not change your mind about going to battle. I wish that you will stay safe." Elrond said drawing me into an embrace. "I love you Elrond, like a daughter would her father. Tell Arwen I love her, tell her that she is an auntie." I said. With that we parted and in the morning light Théoden and I rode with the rest of our army towards battle. "Ride now to Gondor!" Théoden yelled to his troops.