Chapter 16: Tess Was Right

"You are a daughter of Kings, a Sheildmaiden of Rohan…I do not think that would be your fate," With a small nod Aragorn walked away from Éowyn, the blonde woman watching him go with wide unblinking eyes. Naomi frowned. She sat at one of the many benches, fully dressed and ready to go but unable to fully walk by herself just yet. Her wound was healing over quickly but it was advised that she rest as much as possible. People were bustling around her to prepare for the departure to Helm's Deep, packing and locking away things that were not to come with them to the stronghold. Naomi was frowning because she had seen the moment between Éowyn and Aragorn and absently she wondered what the hell had happened to him and Arwen. She did not have time to ponder as Éowyn walked over to her, her smiling face not showing any sign that she had noticed Naomi watching her.

"Would you ride with me? I was told that your companions had already pared up on the horses my brother lent them, and thought that perhaps you would wish to ride with someone you knew," Naomi smiled and Éowyn's offer and gratefully accepted it.

"I would enjoy that very much," And so the woman helped her stand and walk out to the yard where people were beginning to mount up. Éowyn led her to a dark brown horse with a black mane, the animal happily nudged Éowyn as she neared.

"This is my horse, Windfola, we have been friends ever since I first learned to ride," Naomi smiled and held out her hand.

"Aren't you a pretty thing?" She had just begun to stroke the animal when Gimli appeared grumbling.

"We shall switch, I shall ride with the Lady and you can go ride with the moody Elf," Gimli said glaring over his shoulder. Naomi began to speak but the Dwarf grumbled at her and turned her around, passing her on to Tess.

"Hey, where are you off too?" Tess asked as slipped an arm under her friend's shoulder to help.

"Legolas apparently," Naomi said looking over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow as Éowyn helped Gimli up into Windfola's saddle.

"Yes, I heard Gimli muttering as he walked by me," Tess chuckled as she led Naomi to Arod, who was standing saddled next to Hasufel.

"This is Arod, feisty thing he is but he likes Legolas," Tess said offering her hands to Naomi. The woman smiled before raising her right arm up to grab the front of the saddle, then using Tess' hands a boost she raised up and swung her right leg around. She smiled down at Tess who was watching her with a frown.

"What?"

"How come everyone except me can get on a bloody horse?" Tess grumbled, turning to Hasufel to stroke his neck.

"I can get off of one too," Naomi laughed, making Tess glare at her over her shoulder.

"Naomi?" The gentle voice of Legolas made her look down to her other side, the Elf looking at her in surprise.

"I thought Gimli was…?"

"He thought you were too moody and asked me to take his place," Naomi chuckled, and Legolas almost joined in. Tess cleared her throat and when Naomi looked back over at her she finally noticed something.

"Do you….have a new shirt on?" Naomi asked with a raised eyebrow. Tess beamed and nodded. The tunic was exactly the same as her old maroon one, except for the fact that it was bright red and had a golden trim around the edges.

"Now you'll always be able to find me!" She said, happy that Naomi had noticed the new item. The blonde woman rolled her eyes at her friend's joy at getting a new shirt, although she couldn't blame her. Not being able to go to a wardrobe and change into whatever one felt like was annoying a lot of the time. Naomi's babble was cut short when somebody yelled.

"Come! It is time to leave!" Théoden's voice called out over the racket and Legolas mounted up behind Naomi. When Naomi looked to Tess to speak she was startled to find her friend sitting in Hasufel's saddle…backwards. The two shared a look and just as Naomi was about to say something the other spoke.

"I got into the saddle, that is an accomplishment," Tess spoke whilst facing the hall, a straight face pulled over her features, though Naomi's was quite the opposite as she burst into laughter. She winced when her side started to hurt and Tess stuck her tongue out at her,

"Karma,"

/\\

The villagers made a long line that walked across the plains of Rohan. There were some that had horses, but many loaded those up with provisions rather than people. The trek was slow and if it weren't for the hills Tess bet they would still be in sight of Edoras. The sun started to drop in the sky and Théoden King stopped the large group for the night next to a small lake. Gently Legolas helped Naomi down to the ground before going to watch the horizon for any possible enemies. Tess and Naomi sat side by side as Aragorn sharpened his sword. Gimli grew bored with sitting around and stood for a walk, going past Éowyn on his way.

"Gimli?" She asked holding out a pot, and after a quick look the Dwarf declined.

"Ah, No, I couldn't!" He said walking off muttering something behind her back about really couldn't. The Lady took no head though and walked onwards to the girls and Aragorn.

"Tess? Naomi?" She asked holding the small cauldron out; Tess covered them quickly by pulling out some lembas.

"We're right thank you," Tess said, Naomi nodding with a smile. Éowyn nodded and turned to Aragorn.

"I made some stew…it isn't much but, it's hot," The Ranger couldn't say no and accepted the bowl before trying to pick out the most edible looking part. He raised it to his mouth and ate, but paused when the flavor of whatever it was hit his tongue. Éowyn looked down worried and he swallowed quickly, wincing slightly as he did before trying to smile at her.

"It's good," Tess and Naomi were trying not to laugh by shoving some lembas in their mouths, Aragorn caught their attempts not to laugh and resisted the urge to glare.

"Really?" The Lady smiled happily before turning and walking away. With relief Aragorn began to tip the rest of the stew out, but to no avail as Éowyn suddenly turned around again to speak. He grasped the bowl and winced painfully when the hot mixture ran over his fingers. Naomi and Tess snorted as they tried to hold their laughs in, playing it off as coughing when Éowyn gave them a worried look.

"My uncle told me a strange thing; he said that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather, but he must be mistaken," She returned with a smile on her face, that said she thought it was just a joke. But Aragorn did not deny it.

"King Théoden has a good memory, he was only a small child at the time,"

"Then you must be at least sixty," She remarked kneeling down in next to him, Aragorn sat there saying nothing.

"Seventy?" She asked, Aragorn scoffed and looked down.

"But you cannot be eighty!" She asked with eyes that were growing ever wider.

"Eighty-seven," he said with a small smile. Éowyn went to say something but a loud coughing sound made both look over at Naomi and Tess. Naomi raised her hands innocently not laughing at all; Tess meanwhile was choking on a piece of Lembas. She waved her hand in front of her face to tell them not to worry, so Éowyn went back to speaking.

"You are one of the Dúnedain, a descendant of Númenor, blessed with long life," It was a statement, not a question. Aragorn nodded his head yes to everything.

"It was said that your race had passed into legend," She muttered unbelieving.

"There are few of us less, the Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago," He said saddened.

"I'm sorry…please! Eat," Éowyn said smiling as she stood again, and did not leave as Aragorn began to eat again. Naomi could bare the man's pain no longer and called to Éowyn.

"Éowyn, would you mind helping me take a walk? I feel the need to stretch m legs as Tess is…," Naomi looked over to her still coughing friend as she tried to swallow and cough up the lembas bread crumbs that scraped up and down her throat.

"…Incapacitated," Naomi finished.

"Oh yes, of course," Éowyn agreed at once and helped Naomi stand.

"I though perhaps I would find my uncle and offer him some stew as well," Éowyn stated as they started to walk away. Naomi looked over her shoulder and saw Aragorn mouth his thanks to her, she nodded quickly to him and turned back to the unsuspecting Éowyn.

"That sounds like a good idea," She would deal with getting the King out of eating Éowyn's soup later. Aragorn watched the two blonde women walk away and gratefully poured the rest of the stew out.

"Eighty…seven?" Tess managed to rasp out as she drank out of a flask.

"Looks can be deceiving," He muttered to her. A sudden memory flickered across his face and Tess remembered too.

"Gandalf has many more years than perhaps all our ages put together, we are but children in his eyes," The ranger whispered with a faraway look as the rest of the Fellowship entered the room.

"That doesn't make me a child; that makes him a reallyold man…though he doesn't quite look it," she retorted and Aragorn grinned at her.

"Looks can be deceiving,"

The two looked at each other for a moment before laughing.

/\\

"Four thousand seven hundred and twenty eight bottles of anything that will kill this boredom on the wall, four thousand seven hundred and twenty eight bottles…you take one down, find it empty, four thousand seven hundred and twenty seven bottles on the wall…Four thousand seven hundred and-,"

"Oh! For the love of god! Shut the hell up!" Naomi moaned as she looked over at Tess.

"But I'm bored," The other woman countered with a sigh.

"You can be bored, just be silent as well," Naomi said glaring at her. Tess lay in the saddle with her back the Hasufel's neck, her feet hanging on either side of the saddle as she sang badly and looked back over the line. Naomi rode on Éowyn's horse today, at the very front of the line next to Hasufel. Aragorn and the White Lady had opted to walk and were leading the horses, meaning that Tess was free to laze about and sing as badly as she wanted, not having to concentrate on anything. Naomi however had had plenty of sleep and was intently listening to the conversation between Aragorn and Éowyn about the necklace that Arwen had given the Ranger. More than once Naomi had seen Aragorn brush his hand over it intentionally, a faraway look on his face when he did. Naomi looked up as Gamling and Háma rode past to go and scout ahead, but her interest strayed to the back of the Elf standing atop the hill.

"So…anything interesting happen after I left?" Tess queried, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on her lips. Naomi flushed red and was about to say something when the sound of a panicked horse reached her ears. It was soon followed by a roar of sorts, then the scream of a dying man. Tess sat up and spun around so that she was sitting right as Aragorn ran to the top of the hill, while Legolas disappeared down over the other side. Aragorn paused at the top of the hill before turning and running back down towards them. Théoden had ridden to the front of the line asking what was wrong and Aragorn shouted back.

"Warg! Were under attack! Get out of here!" Mayhem broke out as woman and children screamed, running the other way. Tess leaned over and snatched Naomi's swords off her lap, buckling the belt around her own waist.

"Hey! I-,"

"You have a bow and arrow," Tess retorted as Aragorn grabbed the rains to Hasufel to calm him before turning to Naomi as she started to get of Windfola.

"No, you stay on that horse and go with Éowyn," he commanded, passing the reins over Hasufel's head.

"What about Tess? You're letting her go-!"

"That's because she takes forever to get off the horse!" He grunted swinging up in front of Tess, who glared at his back. Naomi watched them with wide eyes and Aragorn spurred Hasufel forward.

"Do NOT die! Do you hear me! You will come back!" Naomi called loudly, getting only a thumbs up from Tess. After a quick discussion between The King and Éowyn, Windfola was turned around and Éowyn was taking the lead, directing everyone to stick together and head for lower ground. Naomi held the horse steady and directed everybody from in the saddle, pointing which way so that everyone who could not hear could see. She looked over her shoulder for a glance at Tess and Aragorn, Tess' new bright red tunic flashing from under her Elven cloak as the two disappeared over the rise of the hill.

"Come back," Naomi whispered to the wind.

"You didn't tell me they were giant dogs!" Tess roared angrily in Aragorn's ear. She had had a fear of dogs when she was younger, and seeing these oversized vicious canines did nothing for her.

"They are not dogs they are Wargs!" Was all Aragorn said as he drew out his sword, Tess pulling out only one of Naomi's swords as her other hands was still gripping the Ranger's side. Théoden yelled out a battle cry and everyone charged forwards towards the Wargs, the Orcs on the backs of the evil beasts doing the same. The two groups collided and Tess concentrated on slashing at anything enemy like that passed her. More than once she nearly fell out the saddle, but managed to catch herself at the last second every time.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a Warg step on top of a pile, an orc and another Warg under it, and under them was Gimli.

"Aragorn! Gimli!" She shouted at the Ranger, who wheeled Hasufel around and cantered forward. He grabbed a spear from the ground and threw it forward. The beast fell instantly as the sharp pole pierced its chest. They didn't stop though and Aragorn turned around to race after the next enemy, his sword quickly took care of the Orc and Tess bent down low to finish of the Warg. It was at that moment that a stray Warg jumped at Aragorn, dragging him from the saddle and to the ground.

"Aragorn!" Tess called, sliding forward to take the reins. The Ranger stood quickly and swung up onto a Warg's back, with Aragorn alright Tess focused on her own fight.

"Good boy Hasufel, we can do this!" She called to the horse as she pulled him about before leaning down and pulling a knife from her boot. She let the thing fly at an oncoming Orc on foot, the blade burying deep in its bare chest. The fight was slowing now, any remaining riders and Wargs fled, whilst the Rohan Riders finished off stray beasts. Tess pulled Hasufel to a stop and sheathed Naomi's sword, looking around at the area. There were many dead Orcs and Wargs yes, but there were also many Rohan Riders and Horses dead as well.

"Tess?"

"Over here!" She responded to Legolas who stood next to the King, Gimli not far off finishing off a howling Warg. The Elf nodded as she approached before looking around.

"Where is Aragorn?"

"Well he was…over there last I saw him," Tess said looking around for the Ranger, but couldn't find him.

"Aragorn?" Legolas called out and Tess' heart started to falter when no answer was heard except Gimli crying out for the Ranger as well. She and King Théoden looked frantically around but could see no sign him, dead or alive. Gimli and Legolas shared hateful words with a dying orc, the King walking to the edge of the cliff. Tess felt her heart froze as she slowly and ungracefully dismounted Hasufel. Legolas and Gimli joined Théoden at the rocky edge, Tess following quickly after, and looked down at the murky green river below.

"NO!" Tess went to jump off with the intention of finding the Ranger but was held back by Théoden.

"That would be foolish! You will hit the rocks!" The King reasoned with her, but Tess still struggled.

"But Aragorn-!"

"Is gone!" Théoden told her sternly and only let go when she completely stopped moving. He turned to Gamling and told him his orders.

"Get the wounded on horses! The wolves of Isengard will return…leave the dead," Legolas turned to him, his eyebrows pulled low over his blue eyes. The King gently placed a hand on the Elf's shoulder before turning and walking back to his horse. Legolas looked down at Aragorn's necklace in his hand whilst Gimli shook his head with grief. Tess was the last to turn from looking down at the river, and it was only at Gimli's call.

"Come on lassie, time to go," The ride back to Helm's Deep was very silent, and Tess did not say anything nor did she shed a single tear.

/\\

"Eothain! Freda!" A woman called out as Naomi's two little friends ran forward for their mother. The woman eloped the two in a hug and did not let go for a long time. Naomi smiled grimly, holding her side as she walked slowly to one of the top walls. She could walk by herself now but it still pained her to stretch her left arm too far. A loud shouting made Naomi turn from the bustling streets to look down.

"Make way for Théoden! Make way for the King!" Someone bumped into her and Naomi jumped startled, but smiled when she saw Éowyn.

"They are back! The men have come back!" She told Naomi happily, grasping her right hand and walking quickly with her to an open area. The two women looked about at the small numbers, Éowyn voicing her concern to her Uncle as he dismounted, his horse being led off by a stable hand.

"So few…so few of you have returned,"

"Our people are safe, we have paid for it with many lives," He stated helping a wounded soldier down from his horse. Naomi's stomach flip flopped as she looked around anxiously.

"My Ladies," Éowyn and Naomi turned at the sound of Gimli's voice. The Dwarf stood with his axe in one hand, his helmet off his head and in the other, a solemn expression etched into his face. Naomi gripped Éowyn's hand as she asked for the whereabouts of Aragorn.

"He fell," Naomi stared at him wide eyed and let Éowyn's hand slip from hers as the woman turned to sit down.

"Wh-What about…the others?" Naomi asked as she swallowed back the lump in her throat. Gimli looked over his shoulder as Legolas approached, Arod being taken away by another stable hand.

"L-Legolas! Aragorn-!" The Elf looked to her and Naomi felt the first tears roll down her cheeks. Quickly he moved forward and wrapped his arms around her, murmuring in Elvish to her. A flash of red caught her eye and Naomi saw Tess walking with an emotionless face towards the stables, not letting anyone else take Hasufel's reins. Naomi would find her later, for now she let Legolas lead her off until they found somewhere that was quieter than the rest of the Keep so that Naomi might be able to cry in peace.

/\\

Sometime later when Naomi was out of tears and her eyes were puffy she stood from the crate she sat on next to Legolas and asked him to take her to the stables. She was correct in her assumption that Tess would still be there, the brunette woman stood brushing Hasufel's coat.

"Tess?" Naomi asked, walking forward and leaning against the stall wall. Legolas nodded to her before walking to leave the two women alone. Tess jumped as she was startled from her thoughts, the brush dropped from her hand.

"What planet where you on?" Naomi joked, but it was lost of Tess as she bent and picked up the brush nearly completely ignoring her friend's presence Naomi sighed before rubbing her head.

"What's wrong,"

"Everyone is saying he's dead!"

"Tess, there aren't many people that survive falling off a cliff-," Naomi jumped this time, as Tess slammed the brush down onto a barrel, startling several near-by horses. She didn't say anything but Naomi could almost see the anger rolling off of her friend and the words that she wished to say but would not in fear of offending people.

"I see now is not the time to speak of such matters, I will leave you be," Naomi said softly as she turned and left the fuming woman to the horse. Slowly she wandered back into the main hall where Théoden sat on a throne, a loud cheering sound came from outside the hall's double doors and Naomi looked to the King.

"What's going on?" He did not have time to answer her question as both doors swung open with a loud creek and Naomi's jaw dropped as Aragorn stumbled through.

"What do you know…Tess was right," Naomi groaned as she thought of the teasing that would come after this.

Author's Babbling:

Yes, short chapter, I feel like being a slack ass cos I just wanna get to the battle already! I'm sorry guys but seriously, there is no REAL action in this part of the movie except the warg thing …but anyway! There wasn't really a chance for any Naomi/Leggy time, what with the whole 'Aragorn is dead but now he's not dead' thing. So….yeaaaah.

Love you all

AxM