2

Watching You Scream, Quiet or Loud

Aragorn and I fought back to back until once more we separated. I moved away from the broken stone courtyard, deeper into Helm's Deep.

All of a sudden I heard, "Myraneth!" I spun on my heels.

It was Eowyn.

"What are you doing here, Eowyn? Your uncle will have both of our heads!"

She ignored the threat, "We need help. There's a woman, Aliandra, giving birth in the caves."

I stared at my friend for a moment, "Take me to her."

The caves were dank, musty and filthy. This was no place to bring new life into the world.

I had met Aliandra before, I knew that the moment I saw her, "Eowyn bring some fresh water, please."

She hesitated.

"Oh, don't tell me there isn't any!" I exclaimed. She shook her head, her tangled fair hair flying.

I glared around the cave. I couldn't even see the beauty of them, "Get someone to stay with her. Then show me where your water supply is."

Another woman, Alesandra, who was Aliandra's sister, took my place. Eowyn led me deeper into the caves.

She stopped by a shallow pool. It was almost empty of filthy water. I promised myself that after this war I would come back here and do something about this.

"Stand back, Eowyn." She took a small step back. I concentrated hard, deep within myself. It was so much more difficult to do this when one didn't have the water right in front of you. It would do me no good to replicate what little water was in the pool. I started to chant, "Water of the Misty Mountains, hear my call, answer my call. Water of the Misty Mountains, hear my call, answer my—"A scream tore through my concentration. I fought to keep control of the magic and I ignored Aliandra.

"Myraneth!" Eowyn cried.

I ignored her, too, "Water of the Misty Mountain, hear my call, answer my call. Water of the Misty Mountains, hear my call, answer my call, come to me." I opened my eyes. The pool was flooded with clear, warm water, "Eowyn, grab a bucket, now!" I shouted.

She looked at me incredulously, "How—"

"Eowyn, I have to get back out their! Come on, sister!" I cried.

I tore back to Aliandra, "You're ready, Aliandra! Get ready to push!"

It went on like that for about an hour.

"Congratulations," I told the dark-haired young human, "You have a daughter." I passed her one of my smaller daggers and let her cut the umbilical cord. Then I passed her the bay Eowyn had just finished cleaning.

Aliandra smiled at me, "What is the name of your blade, Lady?" She asked.

"Myranaina," I told her, "In my language, it means Wolflight."

"That is to be her name, then. Myranaina."

"A choice befitting a princess." I bid them all farewell and then raced out of the caves.

"Tell me that isn't your own blood!" Everlas cried as I dove into the Hold. I slammed the door shut.

"It's not, don't worry. One of the women was giving birth in the caves, I had to help."

Someone slapped me. It was Aragorn, leading Majesty and Brego. I glared at him.

"Mount up, Myraneth. We ride with the King."

The group we formed consisted of Aragorn, Théoden, Gamling, Everlas, Legolas, me, and many others that I couldn't name.

The final assault. Our final bid for freedom. I raised Myranaina. Beside me, the other riders did the same for their own swords.

In the distance, I heard a horn blow.

The horn of Helm Hammerhand.

"For Rohan!" King Théoden cried.

"For Rohan!" I echoed. I added, "And for the peace of Middle Earth!"

They came by the hundreds, bursting from the already overtaken Hornburg courtyard into the Hold.

We charged them.

Look to my coming. On the fifth day, at dawn, look to the east. Gandalf's words came back to me. Gandalf was coming!

Then I saw it. With my keen hearing, I could make out everything that was said on that hillside as the first rays of the day's sun filtered into the sky.

"Théoden King stands alone," The lone rider said. It was Mithrandir.

A brown stallion trotted to a position just beside Shadowfax. It was Eomer. I hadn't realized he and the Riders of Rohan had left our ranks.

"Not alone," Eomer said. He shouted, "Rohirrim!" The Riders of Rohan had joined us once more.

And Shadowfax leapt into a gallop, and the Riders of Rohan followed the White Rider into the masses of orcs. I watched the riders as they jumped fearlessly into the maces and spears. Not ten seconds had passed.

Then it was over. It was done. The remaining orcs ran around like chickens with their heads cut off, and the Rohirrim slaughtered them.

I trotted Majesty to the edge of the Deeping Wall, collecting arrows as I went along. Then she stood still as I picked off one orc at a time from five hundred feet. When my arrows were spent, I went to search the dead for anyone who may still be alive.

I walked in a daze right passed Leaf and Gimli. Their heads both turned towards me, but I took no notice of it.

Eowyn had left the caves early. She fell in step beside me, tears traveling in silent paths down her cheeks.

I saw once more the collapsed mass of black and silver fur.

"That's not—"Eowyn gasped.

That was it for me. I raced to Silverfang, cradling his massive head in my arms, "I had since he was just a small puppy," I sobbed, "Never once did I expect to outlive him. He was the King of all Myraneth," I suddenly raised my head, "Estel! Where is Cassan?"

But I couldn't see Estel, either, "Legolas! Everlas! Estel!" I cried. Then I remembered that Legolas was alright, as I had just walked past him. But I couldn't stop crying, not until Aragorn, Everlas, Legolas, and Cassan were safely in my arms.

It was a tight fit.

Hurriedly, I checked them over. Everlas had been grazed by an arrow, Estel had a deep wound from a sword, and Legolas had managed to badly break a bone in his foot. I made him sit down. Cassan had a rather long arrowhead imbedded in his shoulder.

I smiled through my tears. Eowyn brought me bandages, and I healed what I could. As soon as most of Estel's flesh had knitted together under my hands, and the wound was bandaged, I let him up to help Legolas. I had learned long ago that my magic, as strong as it was, would not stretch to healing broken bones. Legolas was managing to refrain from grimacing, but a thin sheen of sweat was evident on his brow. Next, I took care of Cassan. He was by far the easiest. Everlas refused to let me heal her cut, and bandaged the wound herself.

"Lady Myraneth, Lord Aragorn," Théoden made his presence known, "We have set up an infirmary. Can we count on your help?"

I looked at him. My magic was running low, but I could still heal the manual way, "You can, My Lord." Without looking behind me, I pushed Legolas back down onto the bench. He would only injure himself further.

I spent three hours in the infirmary, healing what I could, treating what I couldn't. I was close to collapsing from exhaustion when Théoden of all people forced me to rest.