The Wild Westfold

By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard

Chapter Twelve: Wargs

Sleep wasn't an easy luxury to find for many that night. I tossed and turned on a wool blanket for hours listening to Gimli snoring like a sleeping bear. No one could possibly sleep lying within three or four ear shots of him. Legolas left long ago to take up a post at the top of the hill as a lookout. I watched the moon for a long time as it made its slow crawl through the night sky until I finally decided to go and wash up in the nearby lake. There was a bend in the hill side that offered enough privacy. I could not change my dress yet, though. My crate was still packed tightly on the caravan by Théoden's camp. I rose from the blanket and was I stepped over Gimli's loud; sleeping form I almost had half a mind to kick him.

The walk across the valley in the shadow of the hill was very dark and spooky. The campfires flickered and cast dancing light across everyone's solemn faces. Seldom looked up at me and even fewer dared a friendly smile. I had just rounded the corner of the bend in the hill when I bumped into Aragorn. His hair was wet and his face was still dripping water from his own bathing.

"Are you going to wash up, my lady?" he asked.

"Yes. I can smell the horses on me and my hair is getting tangled." I said.

"You have no escort?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"My body is no different from anyone else's. Besides, if anyone dared a peek I could handle them myself. If they were to elude me than they deserve a quick look." I said.

He said. "Do you have no qualms at all for life, my lady?"

"Life is far too short to fret and worry." I said smiling. Aragorn gave me a look somewhere between disapproval and humored.

"There were three other men, riders, who were washing in the lake as well when I left. Will at least permit me to keep watch for you?" he asked.

"You may do as you please." I said and continued on around the corner toward the lake. There were three men still at the side of the lake. One of them looked up at me and then tapped his friend on the shoulder. The friend had just lifted a handful of water up to dampen his beard. He looked up at me.

"Pardon, my lady." He said and both the men stood and joined the third who was standing at the hill side tying the strings of his shirt. They all nodded their head to me in respect as they passed. I watched them walk around the bend in the hill. One of them, the one who had wet his beard, lingered at the corner of the bend. I saw Aragorn appear from the darkness and tap the man on the shoulder. The man quickly looked away and walked on embarrassed. Aragorn nodded at me and returned to the other side of the bend to keep watch.

At first I thought I would only wash my face and hair but the day had not been as cold as most days of the season. I undressed quickly and silently laying out my dress on the grass. I waded up to my shoulders into the water. It was very cold, but it was also refreshing to my tired muscles from the constant ride. I undid the tie in my hair and it flowed around me like a crimson curtain. I started to run my fingers through it and lift sections to ring out and wet again. I had no soap but it was better than nothing. Eomer could appear any day at any time. He may already be at Helm's Deep.

I turned around when I heard a rock being disturbed somewhere above me. It was very dark on this side of the hill without any fire light and I could only make out a tall, slender silhouette. Whoever it was realized that his presence was known and quickly turned his back to me, but spoke. It was Legolas.

"Forgive me, my lady. I heard the water ripple and wanted to make sure it was not any foul play. I saw none of your flesh, my lady." He said.

"No harm has been done, Legolas. You are doing a very good job at keeping watch." I said back to him. He turned back around.

"Is that you, Deya? I should have known. You are the only woman in Rohan who would disrobe and splash around in a frigid lake surrounded by half the population of Edoras." He said chuckling.

"What is going on, my lady?" Aragorn asked looking around the corner of the bend careful not to let his eyes fall on the surface of the lake. I don't know why they were being so polite. Even if it was broad daylight they would not have seen anything through the dark water and my billowy hair. I rolled my eyes.

"It was but Legolas. He heard me splashing around. Nothing to be concerned about." I said to Aragorn.

"Did you actually go into the lake? It is far too cold, you would risk a fever?" he asked.

"For clean skin and soft hair, yes, yes I would. Have you forgotten that I am indeed a woman?' I asked. I heard Aragorn sigh but he did not say anything and returned to his post.

"Good night, my lady." Legolas said and his silhouette receded back into the night.

I finished washing quickly and dressed. Now that my hair was damp it was much colder than it had been. I had not realized that my long locks were almost acting like a shawl over my shoulders. I came around the corner of the bend and saw Aragorn leaning up against the hillside. He had a pipe in his mouth and was staring out into the open space. In his mind he had left Rohan and now dwelled in some happy, warm place. He had a look in his eye I had never seen before. It was soft, but sad at the same time.

His eyelids began to slowly droop until his pipe fell from his mouth and his head slumped to one side. I walked over carefully avoiding any twigs or rocks. I picked up the pipe and extinguished it though it did not have much left in it. I picked up his cloak that was folded by his side and covered him. He stirred but did not wake and I returned to my own campsite.

The morning did not seem to come quick enough. I got very little sleep and only in between Gimli's inhales and exhales. The sun rose slowly and I was soon reunited with Hama and Gamling. We rejoined Théoden next as the party packed up and pressed onward. The sun shone down upon us bright and bringing warmth. There was a fair wind in the air. Wonderful traveling weather.

"Deya?" Théoden called out. I was in front of him and looked back. He motioned for me to come back and talk to him. I slowed the horse and joined Théoden at his side.

"Yes, my lord?" I asked.

"You have been doing a good job so far in your duties, but I fear that you may not be taking in all aspects of it." He said. I looked at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Protecting me from nothing and trotting on horseback all day are very humble compared to battle and facing death. Do you realize this?" he asked. I was taken aback by his words.

"Of course, my lord. I am no stranger to a fight or to blood. I am prepared to take on all necessary responsibilities." I said. Théoden sighed and nodded his head.

"Very well. Continue on." He said. I bent my head to him in respect. What an odd thing to ask. I was no fool. Yes, I have never fought in a battle, but I am a fast learner and my whit and skill will balance my inexperience.

I saw Aragorn riding along with Eowyn at his side a few feet behind Théoden. I moved over to them.

"Good morning, my lord and lady." I said.

"It is a glorious morning isn't it?" Eowyn said smiling looking up at the sky.

"Thank you for last night." Aragorn said. Eowyn's smile faded quickly and she looked up at him and then to me with a glare that held just a twinge of jealousy. Aragorn seemed oblivious to her reaction but I noticed and mended the situation quickly. I would have no rumours started about where and with whom I laid with on these cold nights.

"There was a chill in the air. I could not let you freeze after you feel asleep, nor could I just pass you by after you so chivalrously kept watched for me as I bathed up in the lake." I said. Eowyn looked very relieved by my words and I had to hold back a chuckle. I hoped that my affections for Eomer were much more subtle. I sighed. Where could he be now? What if he had been struck down on the plains by an Uruk-Hai? What if he was wounded and needed a skilled healer like Lady Da? He could very well be dead and stiff behind any one of these boulders I passed by. He could be floating face down in the Entwash. The images flashed in my mind as my imagination drifted from me. I felt my chest tighten suddenly. I reached up and clutched it through the breastplate. Aragorn may have been oblivious to Eowyn's affections but he noticed me when my horse slowed from my reaction.

"What's wrong?" he asked. I shook my head trying to forget the images my imagination had haunted me with. How cruel of it. However, it was probably a side effect from the lack of sleep.

"Nothing, my lord. I think I may have inhaled a fly." I said.

"A fly? How odd. It is very early in the season for flies." Eowyn said looking at me.

"It matters not." I said quickly and I urged Thenhines to quicken his pace. I moved on to think of other things. I wondered what Eomer had said when he met Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas on the plains. I thought about his eyes. Those eyes drew me like no other pleasure. Maybe it was his eyebrows and the way he expressed himself with them. I could almost feel him staring at me. I felt my cheeks grow hot and realized that I had quite drifted off from present time. I looked over at Aragorn. He too looked miles away with an expression that I assumed I too had on my own face not moments ago. His face looked much as it had the past night before he fell asleep. He was no longer riding on his horse. He had dismounted to give the animal a break. He and Eowyn now walked side by side. They made a handsome couple, but judging by Aragorn's betraying stare Eowyn was trespassing on a heart already claimed.

"Where is she?" Eowyn asked him. Aragorn looked at her. "The woman who gave you that jewel." Eowyn continued looking at his necklace. I had never noticed it before. It was very beautiful. It was a star made of crystals intertwined between two silver leaves. Aragorn looked away lost in his thoughts again.

Poor Eowyn. Aragorn was a perfect match for her. I hoped that whatever happened, it would happen in her favour and she would not get hurt.

"My Lord?" She asked again breaking Aragorn from his trance. He looked at her again but only briefly.

"She is sailing to the undying lands with all that is left of her kin." He said with sadness in his tone. Eowyn said nothing back to him and looked away knowing she had broke upon a topic best left unspoken.

I heard fast paced hooves approach behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Hama and Gamling trotting up toward me.

"Come, Deya." Hama said. "We ride ahead to check the path near the cliffs. The road divulges between high and low. The high is the quickest route but it is also narrower and less concealed." I nodded at him and kicked my horse to quicken his pace. I followed Hama and Gamling up over a small hill. We passed by Legolas who was still playing the part of lookout keeping a keen eye on the horizon. The hill flattened and then turned downward by a large ridge of boulders that had several sharp outcroppings casting a shadow onto the grass. Hama's horse stopped suddenly and started to whinny and jump about in panic. Gamling halted his horse.

"What is it?" he asked looking around. "Hama?" Hama was trying to get his horse under control.

"I'm not sure." he said. Hama, Gamling, and I began to inspect the horizon. There was nothing in sight for miles. I heard something fall to the ground. It was a rock from one of the outcroppings. My eyes drifted slowly to the top of the boulder ridge and rested on a monstrous creature. His rider was an equally monstrous orc. My heart frenzied as the creature leaped from the boulder.

Hama and Gamling turned their attention to the rock and screamed out in shock. The creature rammed Hama's horse knocking Hama a few feet away. He landed awkwardly and rolled over several times before he stopped. Gamling was still trying to get his horse controlled after the attack. My horse too bucked and I had to keep a firm grip on his reins to keep from flying off.

"Hama!" I yelled out as the creature approached him…but it was too late. I watched in horror as the creature snarled. Hama screamed out as fangs encompassed his head. I screamed out as well as I heard the crunching of bones.

"WARGS!" Gamling cried out pulling out his sword. The creature threw Hama's now lifeless form to the side. Gamling engaged the orc until Legolas appeared from the hill. He shot the warg down with a single arrow and his rider fell off. Legolas was upon him in moments. The orc screamed but was silenced as Legolas sliced across his throat with one of his knives. Aragorn emerged at the top of the hill.

"A scout!" Legolas yelled out to him. He kicked over the orc's body that was now spewing black blood onto the grass. Aragorn turned and ran back down the opposite side of the hill. I stood by Hama's body looking down at him fighting back tears. The closest thing I ever had to a true father laid dead with his skull smashed and neck twisted. This should not have been his fate…..

"Deya!" Gamling called out. I turned to him. "We must rally to the king!" I nodded.

"Hyah!" I said kicking the horse hard. Gamling and I hurried back down the hill.

"What is it? What do you see?" Théoden asked galloping toward Aragorn.

"Wargs! We're under attack!" he said running past Théoden toward his own horse.

All the people in the party began to scream out in panic and run around mounting horses and grabbing their loved ones.

"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden called out. Gamling and I joined him at his side. Théoden looked at us. "Where is Hama?" he asked. Gamling shook his head. Théoden expression changed to that of rage. "Stay here and rally the soldiers." He said as he rode off toward Eowyn. Several soldiers had gathered around us already. I saw Théoden exchange a few words with Eowyn. She did not look happy and for a brief moment he eyes drifted to me before turning away from Théoden who was now galloping back towards us.

"Follow me!" I heard Théoden call out as he approached us at the top of the hill. I looked behind me. Aragorn was now galloping toward the riders as well as Gimli. When Théoden joined the riders we all formed a line and galloped over the hill in near perfect unison. Legolas was picking off wargs from the advancing threat. There were at least fifty mounted wargs charging over the plains toward us. Just as we reached the top of the hill, Legolas reached out and grabbed a saddle strap of his horse and flipped up and around landing behind Gimli. There would never be a cease to the amazement of the elves.

Théoden drew his sword. I could already hear the snarls of the creatures as the gap between us grew very short very fast.

"Charge!" Théoden yelled. Many others joined his triumphant cry including me. This was my first real chance to prove myself….it was also the first real chance to be slain. Like Hama, I may have risen this morning to look my fate square in the eye.

The two small armies of riders clashed and the air was filled with sounds of horse's bones being crushed, men's shrilling cries of death, and the snarls of the wargs. Spears and arrows flew through the air like leaves on a brisk wind. Metal on metal of swords rung like a melody of blood.

I had engaged three orcs already. I slew two of them myself. The third I only managed to slice off his arm.

"AHHH!" I heard Gimli cry out in battle lust. I looked over at him. He lifted his axe up in the air but lost his balance and fell off the horse. I turned my horse around quickly to aid him. He rose to his feet and picked up his axe. A warg that was feasting on a dead horse nearby saw him and growled.

"Bring your pretty face to my axe!" Gimli said readying himself for the cleave. The warg charged.

"Gimli!" I called out rushing over to help him. Legolas had turned around as well and was also rushing to him. Just as the warg nearly jumped Gimli, Legolas released an arrow and the warg fell at Gimli's feet dead.

"But that one counts as mine!" Gimli yelled out to Legolas. Another warg appeared and Gimli turned around and cleaved it. The warg cried out and fell dead right on top of Gimli. He gasped as the weight of the creature pressed down on him. He needed help. He was a sitting duck now. I stopped my horse near him and urged him to turn around. I suddenly felt all the air get knocked from my lungs as an unmanned warg slammed into my horse. I flew off and landed on my shoulder. The horse whinnied and rose to his feet quickly galloping off back down the hill. I laid on the ground helpless.

I slowly pushed myself up onto my knees and clutched my heaving chest trying to catch my breath. I felt all the color drain from my face as I heard a snarl behind me. I could feel the creature breathing down my neck and sniffing me. I looked around to see where my sword had fallen. It was at least ten feet away. I closed my eyes and tensed up. This was the end!

"DEYA!"

I heard the arrow fly and the creature thudded down dead behind me. I opened my eyes and looked up to see Legolas speeding past on his horse. I rose to my feet quickly and grabbed my sword. An orc rushed me and I chopped off his head. I looked around. I saw Théoden thrust his sword into the mouth of an warg. Aragorn rushed past with a spear in his hand and let it fly into a warg that had almost tore its fangs into Gimli. Gimli was still pinned under the warg he had cleaved but now there was also a dead orc and now another warg on top of him. I had to help him. I started running over to Gimli when I saw Aragorn get knocked off of his horse. I stopped in case he needed help as well but he quickly rose to his feet.

I turned my attention to getting to Gimli's side to aid him as best as I could. I took off toward him again. I dodged one warg and wounded another that leaped over a horse carcass toward me. Gimli had finally freed himself and appeared next to me as the wounded warg fell whimpering.

"Urgh!" He said cleaving it. He looked up at me and nodded.

The air was growing quiet. The warg riders were retreating. I walked toward Théoden who had dismounted his horse to help check his riders to see who was dead and who was wounded. Legolas was standing next to Théoden. They started looking around and their expressions turned to worry in a matter of seconds.

"Aragorn?" Legolas called out walking away from Théoden to search the area. Gimli started to look around as well.

"Aragorn?" he asked. I looked over to where I had seen Aragorn get knocked off his horse. He was nowhere near. Legolas had picked up some kind of trail in the grass and he walked toward the steep cliff that overlooked the river. I followed him, Gimli quickly followed me.

I could not see what Legolas was seeing. He bent down to investigate something on the rock face near the edge of the cliff. A orc believed to be dead started to laugh a few feet from him. Legolas looked over at the orc. The orc continued to laugh until he started to choke on his own blood. Gimli stood over him and held his axe next to the orc's neck.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing." He said sternly.

"He's…." the orc choked again, "dead."

Théoden, Legolas, and I now all stood around the orc looking down at him. The orc continued.

"He took a little tumble off the cliff." The orc said and laughed again in between hacks and gurgles of the blood in his throat and lungs. Théoden looked toward the cliff with worry and sorrow. He hurried over to the edge. Legolas knelt down and grabbed the orc by his collar.

"You lie!" he exclaimed giving the orc a threatening look. The orc only laughed and then his face froze as he chocked again and became silent. Legolas released the lifeless orc and he thudded against the ground. Suddenly, Legolas froze as well as his gaze fixated upon the orc's half closed hand. He reached in and pulled out Aragorn's necklace. Legolas's face quickly turned to grief as he stared at the necklace for many moments. He stood up and walked over to the cliff where Théoden was looking down at the river. Gimli and I followed slowly afraid of what we might see.

I searched the rocky outline of the river for any sign of Aragorn or what might be left of him. With the thrill of battle easing in my blood my heart now filled with grief and sorrow and my muscles cried out from overexertion. Hama…..Aragorn…..Who else would be claimed in this blinded hate and evil?

I heard footsteps on the rock. Both Théoden and I turned around. It was Gamling, forlorn and looking exhausted but alive.

"Get the wounded on horses." Théoden commanded. Gamling nodded at him. Théoden continued, "The wolves of Isengard will return." He re-sheathed his sword and looked around at the tragic scene of the fight. "Leave the dead."

Legolas looked up at Théoden sharply at his words. Théoden noticed this and looked at him. He rested his hand on Legolas's shoulder in comfort.

"Come." He said. Legolas returned his gaze to the river below. He lingered as Theoden walked away and looked back down to the necklace in his hand. I looked up at him.

"Legolas?" I asked. He looked at me and I could see the pain in his eyes. "We will not let his death be in vain, my friend." I too rested my hand on his shoulder.

"Do you see now what evils await you in war?" he asked. "That could have just as easily have been you or myself. Do not grow accustom to luck. Even the most brave and valiant can run out of it." He said and he turned away from me to return to his horse with Gimli.

I remained at the edge of the cliff. Hundreds of emotions pulsed through my veins like a sickness. Hama was gone. I would no longer have a friendly companion at Meduseld. Returning to Meduseld at all seemed like a dream. Aragorn was gone. Eomer was gone, but at least there was a chance he was still alive but it could be months or even years before he returned to Edoras. It could be months or years before I even returned to Edoras.

I stared down at the water below. My imagination ran away from me again and another image flashed behind my eyes. Eomer was laying on the rocks below. I could see all the burning fire leave his eyes and I could see the rock stain from blood trickling from his mouth. I shut my eyes and shook my head. No more of this nonsense!

I turned around and walked slowly toward the pack of riders. I looked up. Théoden had mounted his horse. Thoughts and emotions clouded my sight and everything suddenly became very slow. Théoden's eyes met mine. I saw his lips move but no sound came out. I stopped walking, confused. A few of the other riders looked over including Gamling. He too spoke but I could hear nothing. What was going on? Everyone was now staring and speaking but I felt like I was inside of a glass box. I raised my hands to my ears and control of my body left me. I screamed and fell to my knees. Tears poured from my eyes. The scream lasted for what seemed like hours until it finally stopped and turned to sobs a few seconds later. Gamling promptly dismounted his horse and ran over. He too fell to his knees and grabbed my shoulders.

"Deya?" he asked. I looked up into his eyes but could not stop crying. If anything, his actions only reminded me of Hama when I had first met him when he helped rescue me from the Wildmen. I screamed out again and pushed Gamling away from me. He turned around to the riders.

"Help! Help!" he called out. Théoden hurried over on his horse followed by the rest of the riders. A couple of the other riders dismounted and joined Gamling in trying to calm me. I fought them off still crying and screaming. I couldn't tell you what came over me that day. It was Legolas that finally managed to pick me up over his shoulder. Gamling mounted his horse quickly and Legolas handed me to him. I don't remember the journey across the plains. I don't remember arriving at Helm's Deep. I just remember my tears, my tears and my pain. War was a bittersweet lover.

My eyes could only see darkness. All was quiet. I looked around me. There was nothing. No feeling. No air. Was I dead? Had Rohan finally claimed me?

"Deya…."

I turned around and my heart leaped out of my chest. It was Eomer. My jaw dropped as I stared at him. He stood before me.

"Eomer…." I whispered as I reached out and touched his cheek. I felt his warm skin under my fingertips. My eyes watered with joy as a smile spread across my face. I rested my hand on his cheek and he reached up and set his hand on top of mine closing his eyes reveling my touch. He inhaled deeply and his other hand went to the small of my back pulling me to him. My hands rested on his broad chest. He raised his hand and caressed my cheek. The tip of his thumb grazed my bottom lip and then his hand trailed down the side of my neck. His eyes…..those eyes…I could see my reflection inside of those eyes. Like I was inside of him, burning somewhere deep down in his heart.

His hand that was at the small of my back slowly began to travel up my back until he came to the ties of my frock. I gasped as he tugged on the strings sharply and I felt the bow come undone. He buried his face in my hair smelling it. My hands traveled to the back of his neck embracing him.

"I need you, Deya…" he whispered. His lips brushed my ear and I felt his warm breath on my neck. I closed my eyes. This is right where I belong. His hand that had undone the tie gently broke through the fabric and his fingers ran across the bare skin of my back. I shivered and dug my fingernails into the back of his neck urging him to continue. Suddenly….it stopped.

I couldn't feel him anymore. I opened my eyes. I was standing in the doorway of the house out in the middle of nowhere on the plains.

"Eomer?" I asked looking around. My eyes fell onto a flat piece of wood sticking out of the ground at the base of the hill to the right of the house. I lifted the hem of my frock and ran over to it. I fell to my knees. I could barely read "Eomer, son of Eomund" on the board. It was old and weathered. The grave had long been overgrown by grass and weeds.

"No!" I yelled. I started to dig into the ground with my bare fingernails. "No! No! No!" I said as tears fell down my cheeks.

I inhaled sharply and opened my eyes. I sat up and covered my face as real tears formed in my eyes. Had nothing changed in my fate? Maybe Legolas was right and I was a fool.