The Rose of the Fellowship
Song: Stand My Ground
Artist: Within Temptation
Disclaimer: Any and all things mentioned in this story that are copyrighted do not belong to me. I am just using them for enjoyment and inspiration with this story, and no profit is being made with these copyrighted things.
AN: I'm skipping the funeral scene. For those of you who've seen the Extended editions, you know what I am talking about. For those of you who haven't, it's really not that important to the storyline. Probably the reason it was cut in the first place : /
Chapter Nine: Stand My Ground
When Théodred was buried, I joined Eowyn and the others in walking back to Meduseld. I stayed next to the Princess, knowing that she may need someone to talk to. I was the only woman of our company, and her uncle was still at Théodred's grave. My suspicions were proved correct when we entered the hall.
"How is it you convinced the others to let you accompany them and fight?" she asked me. The others heard, and Aragorn shared an amused smile with Legolas.
"Gandalf informed us that Sarah was not from any country that we knew of," Aragorn answered "and that the land she was from was a land where women were much bolder than the women here."
"I knew how to defend myself well," I told her with a smile "And I would not let them leave me behind while they all risked their lives."
"But why fight when you are not from any country of Middle Earth?" Eowyn asked. Her question was a good one.
"Because, in the short time I've known them, this rabble's all become close friends of mine, and I would die for my friends," I answered with a smile. I then remembered the weight on my right hand, and my smile disappeared. "Though I do, now, have a personal reason to see this war won."
"And what is that?" Eowyn asked gently, seeing the change in my demeanor. Legolas must have noticed it as well, because he answered for me.
"While Sarah does not have any blood family here," Legolas told her "One of our number, Boromir of Gondor, became like a big brother to her." I could see Eowyn nod. She knew all too well the pain of losing family in battle.
We were in Meduseld for a while when Gandalf and Théoden entered with the two children from the Westfold. The young boy had collapsed from exhaustion. I looked to Eowyn, and we both took the children. We gave them some hot food, blankets, and they told us their story. I could scarcely begin to imagine how these children would grow up after seeing their village burned and many of their friends killed.
"They had no warning," Eowyn told her Uncle, who was as appalled as her at the tale the children told "they were unarmed."
"Now the Wild men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go," I added, rubbing the shoulders of the young boy, Eothain. "Rick, cot and tree." Eowyn put a blanket around the young girl, Freyda's, shoulders.
"Where is mama?" Freyda asked. Eowyn shushed her.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." Gandalf told Théoden. "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron." Gandalf leaned forward and caught Théoden's eye "Ride out and meet him head on." he placed a hand on the arm of Théoden's throne "Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight!"
"You have 2,000 good men riding north as we speak." Aragorn told Théoden "Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Théoden jumped up from his throne and walked down to the floor with the rest of us.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now!" He replied "Eomer cannot help us." he sighed. Théoden then turned back to Gandalf. "I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people." he declared "I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not." Aragorn told him. I flinched inwardly at that. Théoden turned to Aragorn.
"When last I looked," the king growled "Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
"Then what is the kings decision?" Gandalf asked. There was silence, but I knew the answer.
"Grimbold, Gamling," Théoden turned to his advisors "send word to the people, we make for Helms Deep at first light." I could see that this was the last thing the others had expected. While Théoden gave Grimbold and Gamling more instruction, Aragorn turned to me, and I saw concern flash onto his face.
"Are you alright, Sarah?" Aragorn asked me. I was confused.
"Of course." I replied.
"Then why are you crying?" Gandalf asked, the others having turned to us. I reached up to my cheeks, and found that I was crying. Suddenly, a wave of sorrow hit me. I staggered and fell to my knees under its weight, but Legolas caught me before I hit the floor. I knew where this sorrow was coming from. I could clearly see his shocked and anguished face.
"It's Faramir," I whispered, looking at the others as they gathered around me "Boromir's little brother."
"What about him?" Gandalf asked, confused as to my behavior. My heart was shattering at the pain the man I considered a brother was feeling.
"He's found the Horn of Gondor," I replied, trying to hold back sobs. I looked Aragorn in the eye, and I could see he knew what that meant. "He's learned that Boromir's dead."
"How is it you know this?" Gandalf asked. I drew the Heart of Lothlorien out from under my shirt. I had tucked it in there when we had started tracking the Uruk-hai. He saw it, and knew immediately what it was. We all slept uneasily that night, knowing that hard times were ahead. I woke at dawn, packed my things, and joined the others in going to the stables. We heard Hama giving the Kings orders to the people.
"By order of the king, the city must empty!" Hama called out over the crowd "We make for the refuge of Helms Deep. Do not burden yourselves with treasures. Take only what provisions you need." I heard Gimli grunt in annoyance.
"Helms deep!" the dwarf scoffed as we entered the stables "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight! Who will defend them if not their king?"
"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people." I defended
"Helms deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn added.
"There is no way out of that ravine, Théoden is walking into a trap." Gandalf said, entering the corral where Shadowfax was being penned "He thinks he is leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre." Gandalf turned to Aragorn "Théoden has a strong will, but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold."
"They will hold." Aragorn assured the wizard. Gandalf mounted Shadowfax and turned to leave.
"With luck, my search will not be in vain." Gandalf informed us "Look to my coming, at first light on the fifth day." Aragorn and I opened the paddock door wide "At dawn, look to the east." Aragorn and I nodded.
"Go." we told him. Gandalf then urged Shadowfax out of the stables and then out of Edoras. Then, before we could take care of our own horses, we heard panicked neighing and the sound of beating wings. Aragorn and I rushed outside, and found some of the stable-hands trying to tie up Ravenwing.
"What is going on here?" Aragorn asked Hama, who was observing the whole thing, as well.
"The men believe this creature to be a demon, my lord," he replied "they are trying to get it out of Edoras." this angered me. I went forward and, with one movement, drew my samshir and cut the ropes they had tied to her. I sheathed my samshir.
"Easy, love," I gently hushed the distressed Pegasus in elvish "no one is going to hurt you." I didn't look her in the eye, since that was a predatory behavior, and reached forward to pat her neck. She snorted and stomped her front hooves, but remained where she was.
"You would think," I said loudly, directing the comment to Aragorn, though it was meant for everyone around us "that knowledgeable horsemen would recognize a Pegasus from Numenor." I could see the shock on everyone's faces when they realized that I was speaking the truth. The stable-hands left without a word, and Aragorn went to saddle his own horse. While I gently placated the still edgy Pegasus, Eowyn came up to me.
"I had heard of the Numenorian Pegasus, but I did not think that I would see one with my own eyes." she whispered, in awe of the tall horse that had become my dear friend. I scratched Ravenwing between the eyes, and smiled at Eowyn.
"Ravenwing chose to help me," I told the princess. "in the short time we've known each other, she's become a good friend." Eowyn smiled at me, and went into the stables to saddle her horse.
I looked over the now calm Pegasus, and found that the stable-hands had put a bridle on her. She didn't seem to mind it, so I left it on her. I hopped up on the nearby fence, and mounted her. Many of the men were obviously surprised that I was able to handle such a large horse so well. I heard a horse ride up next to me, and smiled when I saw Legolas and Gimli. I was eye level with Legolas, since Ravenwing was a few hands taller than his horse.
"You would think that they'd seen a woman riding a horse, before." Legolas said to me in elvish. I chuckled, and urged Ravenwing forward. We left Edoras, and began the four-day journey to Helm's Deep.
As we got underway on the fourth day, I found myself riding with some of the Rohirrim. I walked alongside some of the men who I had met when we arrived at Edoras.
"So, my lady," one of them started, walking up next to me with his horse in tow. "how is it that such a magnificent creature chose you to be her rider?" During this journey, I had found myself growing comfortable around the men.
"I'm not entirely sure," I told him, glancing up at the tall horse at my side "My guess is that she sensed my spirit, and chose me based on that."
"Please forgive us for what happened back in Edoras, my lady," another soldier said "please understand that we have never seen a Pegasus, and there has not been a black horse in our herds for years." I nodded.
"I've heard of Sauron's theft of black horses, it is a shame that has happened," I replied "and I forgave you long ago for what happened." I continued chatting away with the Rohirrim for a while longer, then I saw Hama and Gamling ride ahead of the column. I then watched Aragorn run ahead over the hill, and I knew that the fight with the Wargs was coming.
I noticed a tall rock close by, so I led Ravenwing over to it and mounted her. I grabbed her reigns and rode up next to Théoden as Aragorn ran back to us.
"What is it?" Théoden shouted. "What do you see?"
"Wargs!" Aragorn shouted back, running to his horse "We're under attack!" I could hear the panic of the citizens as the news registered.
"I'll fly ahead!" I told Théoden, nudging Ravenwing forward "See how many there are and what I can do!" I could see that he wanted to stop me, but I was away from the crowd by then. I nudged Ravenwing with my knees right behind her wings, and she took off. I flew relatively close to the ground, and got higher into the sky when I reached the hill that Legolas was soon to top. I could see that there were at least fifteen Wargs coming for us. I landed next to Legolas and drew my bow. I nocked an arrow and aimed at one of the approaching wargs. I loosed my arrow and it pierced the orcs head.
I heard the riders come up behind us, and put my bow away. I drew my samshir and urged Ravenwing forward in a gallop as the others reached us. At that point, I knew that the men were more concerned whether or not I was any good as a fighter than the fact that I was a woman. We met the Wargs head-on, and I immediately cut off the head of one of the Orcs. I guided Ravenwing through the battle, killing Wargs and their Orc riders as I went. The Rohirrim were doing a good enough job that I was able to look around and see what was happening. I searched for Aragorn, and found him about to jump the Warg that would drag him off the cliff. I felt the strong urge to help him, but I knew that, if I did, we would not have advanced warning of the army of Uruk-Hai. So, I kept my urges in check by dismounting Ravenwing and killing what Orcs and Wargs I could.
Soon enough, the battle was over, and Legolas started searching for Aragorn. I followed Théoden as he joined Legolas and Gimli in search of Isildur's heir. The elf and dwarf stopped to question the dying Orc, and I followed Théoden to the cliff edge. We looked over and saw nothing but rushing water and the blood from where the Warg hit the rocks. I heard Legolas come up behind us, and I knew that he was still trying to come to the realization that Aragorn may very well be dead. We heard Gamling call out to Théoden. We turned around.
"Get the wounded on horses," Théoden ordered "Leave the dead." Legolas turned to the King, anger evident in his eyes. I put an arm out to keep him from doing anything that he would later regret. He turned to me, and I could see the pain in the young elf's eyes.
"Come," I said to him, nodding towards the horses and remaining Rohirrim. "Aragorn would want us to keep going." I could feel that Legolas understood the truth in my words. We all helped the wounded, and commenced the twenty-mile ride to Helm's Deep.
"Sarah!" Théoden called to me from the head of the column. I rode up to him.
"Yes, my lord?" I replied, riding up next to him.
"Fly ahead, and make sure that the path is clear." He ordered. I nodded, and nudged Ravenwing ahead. As she took off, I turned my gaze down to the river.
"Be safe, my friend." I thought "We'll see you later."
End Chapter Nine
AN: Again, sorry it took so long to update! I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to rate and review! Bol'shoe spasibo i Bog blagoslovit!