The Wild Westfold
By: Lauthica Green Clinkenbeard
Chapter Fourteen: Tensions, Sons, and Beautiful Creatures
There was never a more heart wrenching scene in all the histories of Middle Earth than the one that played before my eyes that night. Guards and soldiers moved through the various walkways and passages rounding up the people. Grimwold, Friktuff, and I all helped get the women and children filed into the caves.
"Move back! Move to the caves!" Friktuff yelled over the clamor of the herd of people.
"Come on, people! Quickly now!" Grimwold yelled out. I watched from a platform above the stairs that led up to the hall and the entrance to the caverns. The faces of the people blended like a tragic mosaic. I sighed as they passed beneath me. If this battle was lost they would be all that was left of Rohan. They would be responsible for the continuation of our ways and culture. What a terrible burden to force upon one's shoulders.
I saw the crowd part temporarily as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli started walking toward the stairs. Aragorn still looked pretty bad.
"We'll place the reserves along the wall." Aragorn said pointing up. "They can support the archers from above the gate." He said and continued walking on.
"Aragorn, you must rest!" Legolas said dodging through the people moving toward the caves. Aragorn looked at him for a moment but continued on. "You're no use to us half-alive." Legolas said. Aragorn looked at him for a moment but then looked back up the passage as someone called out his name. Eowyn emerge from the chaos of people. She stopped in front of Aragorn and looked up at him. She looked angry. I raised an eyebrow. What was going on now?
"I'm to be sent with the women into the caves." She said to him.
"That is an honorable charge." Aragorn said nodding his head slightly.
"To mind the children! To find food and bedding when the men return! What renown is there in that?" she asked letting her temper flare.
"My lady," Aragorn said trying to calm her. "A time may come for valor without renown. Who then will your people look to in their last defense?"
"Let me stand at your side." Eowyn said sternly and confidently
"It is not in my power to command it." He said and he looked at her and turned away.
"You do not command the others to stay!" Eowyn yelled out. Aragorn stopped and looked back at her. "They fight beside you because they would not be parted from you!" Aragorn was standing in front of her again. She looked up at him and I recognized that same glassy eyed gaze that I had found myself in many a time at the mere mention of Eomer. I found myself in shock at the next words to come out of her mouth when he continued.
"Because they love you." She said softly still staring into Aragorn's eyes. It may not have been the most blunt or direct confession of affection, and perhaps Aragorn did not realize the exact meaning behind Eowyn's words. I felt a tight pull in my chest. Love? What is love anyway? Was it nothing more than a burning desire of the flesh?
Aragorn gave Eowyn a stern look and she looked away from him. "I'm sorry." She said and walked past him and through Legolas and Gimli. She stopped when she reached the stairs and looked up at me. She glared at me with hate in her eyes before she joined the mass of people entering the caverns.
What had I done to Eowyn now? Was she jealous that I was to fight while she cooed children and fed babies? She just wanted to be near Aragorn. I wanted a title so I would become a worthy match for Eomer. A realization sunk into me that moment. Eowyn and I were not so different in our motives after all. It was not Eomer's flesh that called to me. It was he, he himself. It was the burning life in his eyes. It was his dedication and loyalty to Rohan that I wanted…and I wanted it. I wanted to grasp it and never let it go as if I were to reach into his very soul and attain it. Eowyn loved Aragorn; she had said it herself out loud. I now understood that I….I loved Eomer. I wanted him and no other.
"Captain?'
I turned around. It was Grimwold.
"Yes?" I asked.
"We need your help in the caves, captain. Some men have snuck in with their families and some women have hidden their older sons and snuck them in as well." He said. I sighed and nodded.
"Yes, Grimwold. We must follow orders." I said and I followed him into the caves.
I had thought the warg battle was hard. I thought that living my life as a servant was hard. I had thought that watching Eomer ride off with no promise to return was hard. In those caverns I experience the true meaning of hard. I took husbands away from their wives. I tore sons from their mothers. I heard them cry at me and curse me. They grabbed at my arm trying to stop me. The younger boys fought me and bit me screaming and crying. I had to keep my emotions hidden. I had to keep a stern face. I was the captain of these men, but I couldn't help but wonder. Was I any better than the Uruks that marched upon us? In the eyes of these women helpless to defend those that they loved the most I think not.
The stragglers were herded into the armory. The small room was packed to capacity. Boys was handed axes just as big as they and given shields and spears. Elderly men struggled just to lift their swords and draw back their bows. I stood tall and strong against the wall next to Gimli. Legolas was near looking upon all of the grim faces of the men being armed. Guards were handing our swords like candy. Aragorn picked up a rusty warped blade and looked it over. He shook his head and tossed it back into a pile on the table in the middle of the room. He looked up.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys." He walked over and faced us. "These are no soldiers." Gimli looked up as an elderly man walked by in full armor.
"Most have seen to many winters." He said.
"Or too few." Legolas said joining us. Aragorn sighed. We watched the men go about being armed. Legolas shook his head.
"Look at them." He said. "They're frightened. You can see it in their eyes." I casted him a look as every man within earshot stopped and looked at him. Aragorn looked at him as well with the same look. Legolas shook his head again and then started to walk away but stopped and turned back around to Aragorn. He said something in elvish. No doubt trying to keep it hush hush after his last comment gained so much attention. Whatever he had said Aragorn did not look happy about it. He said something back to him in elvish with tension rising in his voice. Legolas too was growing frustrated and answered him back once again in elvish. He sounded angry whatever it was he said, but it was Aragorn's next reaction that I was sure casted the most despair and fear into everyone's heart.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" He yelled stepping into Legolas's space. Legolas said nothing and the two men stood staring at each other for several moments. Finally Aragorn turned away and left the armory. Legolas took a step to follow him but Gimli grabbed his arm.
"Let him go, lad." He said. "Let him be." Legolas turned around. His read a great pain inside of him. He then looked up at me.
"I have seen many battles, and I have seen much blood shed on both sides of opposition. Never once have I felt so unsure or unsettled about war." He said to me.
"Legolas, look at where we are." I said and gestured around the room. "We are at Helm's Deep. The mountains themselves are fences and we have history on our side." I said. Legolas looked angered again.
"History?" he asked. "When in history has ever an Istari betrayed his order? When has an army matched to conquer all that was good and free? Saruman is wise and powerful." He said and he shook his head at me. "Whatever we have in our advantage of history is folly. This is a new dawn with new enemies." He said and he too left the armory in a huff. Gimli looked up at me and then tapped my side.
"If anyone will become a hero this night I would put my wager on you, lass. I would rather fight along your side than anyone of these men." Then he chuckled, "I would rather face another fifty wargs than ripen your temper and fight you, lass." I laughed. Gimli always had a talent for brightening my spirits.
"Come here." I said and I knelt down and gave him a great big hug.
"Now, now. None of that mushy nonsense. There is a battle upon us." He said turning bright red and he made his way through the people toward the other side of the armory. I only laughed again.
I left the armory and made my way back to the hall. I had finished one duty and needed to find out my next. Nightfall was upon us as the last rays of the sun were swallowed whole by the daunting peak of the mountains. The front doors of the hall were wide open. I found that strange. I saw Théoden standing in the middle of the hall. I entered the hall slowly making sure I was not interrupting anything important. Théoden head me and turned around. He stared at me for a long time. His face was stricken with despair and grief. I nodded at him and his gaze fell to the floor and he turned back around. Gamling came over from the side of the hall.
"What is the progress?" he asked in a hush tone.
"All is well and as best as can be expected. The armory is busied and more men still waited at its door as I left." I said. Gamling nodded.
"There is fresh bread and roasted fowl and potatoes on the table. Help yourself. You will need your strength and eat hardy. This meal may be your last." He said to me. He then did something I was not expecting at all. He raised his hand and rested it gently on my cheek. I wasn't sure what to do, but he spoke.
"I am not nearly half the man that Hama was. I know sometimes I can be confused and awkward. I know sometimes I can be slow to action, but I had made a promise to Hama. I did not you from before and I did not know you the day you returned, but I promised Hama that I would look out for you. And I promise you that I will fight until my very last heartbeat to keep you safe." He said. I was so touched that I felt my eyes grow watery.
"Thank you, Gamling." I said smiling. He smiled too and bowed his head to me. I took his advice and headed to the table to eat. He picked up a breastplate from a nearby table and walked toward Théoden.
"Every villager able to weld a sword has been sent to the armory." Gamling said walking over to Théoden. I sat down at the table and prepare myself a bowl. I took a healthy helping of fowl and potatoes and tore off a large piece of bread. Théoden stood as if frozen. I took a bite of the bread but looked up at him puzzled.
"My lord?" Gamling asked.
"Who am I, Gamling?" Théoden asked in a voice full of doubt and despair. I set the piece of bread down and looked up at them with a worried look.
"You are our king, sire." Gamling said taking a few steps toward Théoden.
"And do you trust your king?" Théoden asked. Gamling walked around the king.
"Your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end." Gamling said as he started to put the breastplate on Théoden. He started to fix and fasten the shoulder straps. Théoden nodded to himself.
"To whatever end…." He said.
I sighed and continued on with my meal. My king was losing hope. The men were fearful. This victory, if there was to be one, would not be easy. Gamling continued on attaching Théoden's armor. I had never seen him in his full, regal attire. It was inspiring. When I was finished I picked up my own bowl and started to head toward the kitchen.
"Where is the horse and the rider?" Théoden said. I stopped in my tracks and turned around.
"Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west…behinds the hills…into shadow. How did it come to this?"
My eyes burred with tears and Théoden's words sunk into my very soul. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks as I watched Gamling finish up Théoden's armor. I turned back around inhaled a sharp breath. For my king, this night, I will lay down everything that is dear to me on the line for a victory. Eomer would have to wait. Tonight, I would fight only for myself….myself and my king. I set the bowl in the small kitchen and walked back out into the hall. Théoden was now sitting in his throne. I walked up and knelt before him.
"My lord." I said.
"What is it, Deya?" he asked.
"What do you want me to do, my lord?" I asked. He did not speak right away. His eyes drifted away from him and he sighed.
"Do as you please. Gamling and Grimwold will be with me on the watch tower over the gate. You may join Aragorn's team if you wish." He said. I bowed my head.
"Yes, my lord." I said and I stood and left the hall.
Nightfall was now complete. The fortress was dotted with hundreds of torches. Some static and some moving about in the hands of the soldiers.
"Move! Move to the outer wall!" one of soldiers yelled from the walkway above the gate. Hundreds of other commands carried on the wind. Men and soldiers rushed around and a few stragglers hurried into the hall to enter the caves. I saw Aragorn sitting outside the steps of the hall. I had not seen him since his quarrel with Legolas in the armory. He looked as in as much despair as Théoden. I walked over to him. He looked up at me as I sat down next to him.
"Are you alright?" I asked him. "How is your arm?"
"My arm is fine." He said looking out watching the men hustle about. "And my arm should be the least of your worries."
"My worries are somewhere far away from this fortress." I said and rested my chin on my knees.
"Do you speak of Eomer? He should not worry you either. He is a fine warrior and would not let any harm come to him and his men easily." Aragorn said pulling his pipe out of his jerkin pocket. He started to clean out the residue and sprinkled in fresh tobacco.
"My worries are strangely not of Eomer. It would be a lie to say he is not in my thoughts at all, but there is so much that I have found is bigger than myself or he. The king was speaking of the west falling and the Riders of Rohan as if they were only a dream." I said.
"My lady," he said looking at me sternly. "Do you hear of what you speak?" I looked up at him.
"I speak truth." I said.
"Truth is an illusion. You are a noble woman of Rohan and you speak as if the battle was already lost." He said.
"Look at these people….the battle was lost before we even left Edoras." I said. Aragorn gave me a puzzle look and he stood up quickly.
"On your feet." He said. I looked up at him confused. "On your feet!" I stood up. He reached out to my side and pulled my sword out of my sheath.
"Hey!" I said trying to grab it but he tossed it a few steps below us. He then removed his own sword and his dagger. He raised a fist to me.
"Fight me." He said. I raised an eyebrow.
"Are you mad?" I asked.
"Yes!" he said lowering his fist. "Not insane, but furious!" he said raising his voice.
"What have I done?" I said raising my own voice.
"You," he said pointing to me, "Have done nothing. It is this person that stands before me that has offended me. For this person is not Deya. Deya would never despair. Deya would never give up. Deya would not have hesitated for a single moment to engage me in a scrimmage of play. Deya is brave and strong hearted woman that I feel honored to call my friend….but I fear she has died. If you find her," he said and he picked up his sword and dagger and put them in their proper place at his belt. "Let me know."
I was the one who was now infuriated. I drew my arm back and with every ounce of strength I could find I back handed him across the face. He stumbled and fell back catching himself with his sore arm. He winced but had no time to get back to his feet. I placed my foot hard on his chest and forced him back. He raised his hands in surrender.
"How dare you profess to me about who I am supposed to be when not an hour ago I saw you yell at one your own friends! I saw you break like a twig under galloping hooves. You melted and fell through the cracks of your heart like rain." I removed my foot from his chest but stood over him. "You should stop and take a good look around, ranger. You are in Rohan. This is my land! Such words could be your last within these borders."
Aragorn sat up and looked at me. I was beyond enraged, but he only smiled.
"Welcome back, my lady." He said. My expression softened at once. I realized now that I had lost myself in the tensions and despair. I now smiled too and I reached out my hand to help Aragorn to his feet.
"No, I would rather sit for a while." He said and rubbed his cheek. I laughed out loud.
A couple of soldiers walked by near us. Aragorn looked at them for a moment and then his eyes focused intently on something. I followed his gaze to a younger boy looking confused standing by a fire cauldron. The boy glanced over at us for a moment and then looked down at the rusty sword in his hands unsure of what he was supposed to do.
"Give me your sword." Aragorn said to him. The boy looked up a little shocked and stared for a few moments before walking over and handing out the sword hilt first to Aragorn. Aragorn took the sword.
"What is your name?" he asked the boy.
"Haleth, son of Hama, my lord." He said. My eyes widened. I had never met Hama's son before. Now that he had said it I could just barely notice the resemblance. But where Julia had been a spitting image of her father, round and fair haired, Haleth was thin and his hair was dark. Aragorn started to look over the sword as Haleth spoke again.
"The men are saying we will not live out the night." He said. Aragorn looked up at him as he continued. "They say that it is hopeless."
Aragorn sighed and stood up. He held out the sword and looked it over. He spun it around once and then again until he stopped and gripped the hilt. His eyes traveled over the rusty and dented blade. He hid what he was truly thinking and then looked back at Haleth.
"This is a good sword." He said as he handed it back to the boy. "Haleth, son of Hama." He said as he rested his hand on the boy's shoulder. "There is always hope."
"Your father would be proud of you, son." I said picking up my own sword and returning it to my sheath. Haleth smiled at me and returned to the fire caldron. Aragorn looked at me and he looked me over.
"I think we should return to the armory." He said. I nodded at him and I followed him up the stairs.
The armory was empty now and the walls and shelves were barren. Aragorn hunted around what was left on the shelves. He grabbed a handful of chainmail shirts and put them on the table digging through them. He found a smaller one and handed it to me.
"Try this on." He said and he picked up another chainmail shirt to hold up to himself. He was happy with his and slipped it on over his red shirt. I took off my jerkin to try on the chainmail as Aragorn was retying his own jerkin. The chainmail fit my chest and shoulders but came down a little lower than I would have like on my legs. It didn't though. Aragorn had just finished fastening his belt back around his waist and he came over and helped me fasten the straps of my breastplate and shoulder straps. I found a pair of leg guards that almost had the same pattern as my shoulder guards and fastened them quickly over my shins and the tops of my boots. I found a helmet and gathered my hair up to be able for it to fit securely. As I started to put my own belt back around my waist I noticed Aragorn looking around for his sword. Legolas appeared at the table and handed it out to him.
Aragorn half smiled and took the sword nodded at Legolas.
"We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair." Legolas said. Aragorn looked at him and then he patted his chest. He said something in Elvish and Legolas patted his chest as well. The two men reached out and rested their hands on each other's shoulders. I heard footsteps and Gimli came out of one of the back rooms of the armory with a chainmail shirt gathered around his shoulders.
"We had time, I'd get this adjusted." He said moving the shirt around. He let the chainmail fall and it fell clear to the floor. The sleeves flowed over the ends of his hands. I couldn't help but chuckle. Aragorn raised his eyebrows and looked at Legolas who was trying to suppress laugher. Gimli looked up at us.
"It's a little tight across the chest." He said. Legolas and Aragorn smiled.
Our attention was quickly claimed when a high pitch sound rang through the room. Legolas eyes widened.
"That is no orc horn." He said and he hurried to the stairs of the armory. Aragorn and I followed closely behind him. We ran through the walkways and hurried up and down steps. Several of the soldiers were all gathering by the gate of the causeway. Aragorn was the first to reach the commotion, followed by Legolas. As I rounded the corner and headed down the small stairs I had to stop and gasp.
It was a small army of elves. There were at least one, maybe two hundred of them. I noticed their quivers and realized they were all archers; all just as skilled as Legolas. I saw Théoden standing by the commander of the archers. I felt my cheeks grow hot. He was one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen. He was tall and broad with long silver, blonde hair pulled back much like Legolas. He had a square face and large eyes as grey as the clouds. Sorry, Legolas, but this….this man was the true embodiment of the tales of the charms of Elvish men.
"We come to honor that allegiance." The commander said looking to Aragorn. Aragorn walked toward the commander and said some kind of greeting in elvish. They both patted their chests much like Aragorn and Legolas had just done in the armory but instead and touching each other's shoulders Aragorn was so overjoyed that he embraced the man. The man looked a little shocked for a moment, but smiled and returned the hug. Aragorn now placed his hand on the man's shoulder.
"You are most welcome!" he said. The man turned then to Legolas and then grabbed each other's arms. Suddenly, in perfect unison, every single one of the archers all turned their heads to Legolas and then then turned their bodies to him. The stone walls off the fortress echoed with the sounds of their armored boots as they about faced.
The man turned to Théoden. "We are proud to fight alongside Men once more."
"Very well. Aragorn?" Théoden asked. Aragorn looked at him. "They'll be in your charge." Théoden said and he returned back up the stairs.
I couldn't help but be drawn in by the man and I soon found myself at his side staring up at him as if he were a god in the flesh. He turned to look at me smiling at first and bowed his head but when he realized that I was just standing there staring at him expressionless and frozen his brow furrowed for a moment and then he raised an eyebrow. He turned to Aragorn.
"Is he mute?" he asked him. Aragorn looked around.
"Who is he?" he asked. The man looked back down at me and then back to Aragorn. I was still under the elvish man's spell and had no idea what was going on around me. Aragorn looked at the man and then at me and then back to the man and then started to chuckle. The man got a puzzled look.
"What is so funny?" the man asked.
"That is no he." Aragorn said. "Deya, take off your helmet." He said. I was still in a trance staring at the man. "Deya?" Aragorn asked reaching out shaking my shoulder gently. I finally broke my gaze from the elvish man and looked at Aragorn.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Take off your helmet." Aragorn said chuckling again.
"Oh!" I said as I realized that I was supposed to introduce myself. I took off the helmet and shook out my hair as it fell back down long. The elvish man's eyebrows raised and his lips parted for a brief moment.
"A woman?" he asked turning back to Aragorn.
"Shouldn't you be asking her that? She is second in command of the Edoras guard." Aragorn said. The man looked shocked and looked back to me.
"Forgive me, my lady." He said and then he bowed in respect. He then reached out and took my hand. I thought my heart would flutter right out of my chest when he raised it to his lips and placed a teasing light kiss upon it. "I am Haldir, the Marchwarden of the realm of the Lorien woods."
"My name is Deya." I said trying to keep my cool as best as I could.
"Your eyes are absolutely striking." He said as his gaze bounced from one of my eyes to the other. I melted like fat in a skillet.
"Uh huh….." I said staring at him again. Haldir smiled.
"What are your skills, my lady?" he asked.
"Uh huh…" I said again. Haldir raised his eyebrow again and turned back to Aragorn.
"Is she ill?" he asked. Legolas came up next to me and nudged me. He leaned over.
"What is wrong with you?" he whispered.
"I don't know…" I whispered back. What was wrong with me? I felt like giddy teen again. Haldir came back over to me.
"Perhaps you get need a glass of water, my lady. I would be happy to escort you to the nearest barrel." He said and offered his arm out.
"I am fine. Forgive me, my lord. I am not sure what came over me." I said trying not to look him in the eye again. He was like a strong draught.
"So pray tell me, my lady, what are the skills you profess?" he asked again.
"I know how to weld a blade. I have fair skill with a bow, though I am sure not nearly as skilled as you and your kin." I said.
"I see." He said and smiled at my feeble attempt at a compliment. "If you would permit me, I would like for you to stand by me and my kin on the deeping wall. You may learn a thing or two." He said. I felt my heart race and I gulped as nervousness took me.
"Uh huh…." I said weakly. Oh dear….what was this new devilry? With Haldir in the picture. Eomer seemed like a faint glimmer of memory.