Chapter Four

The next week or so was pretty slow, we were resting, sharpening our weapons, and mending what needed to be mended. I felt an uneasiness in my heart, something was coming. I was currently playing chess with Legolas in the Main Hall, since the confrontation with Théoden, the Horse Lord has been strangely quiet towards me, I felt his gaze and a few times when I was irritated with the stares I held his gaze until he looked away. But today I chose to ignore it as he was speaking with his advisors. Gimli was beside me drinking some ale, and Merry was watching our game. Suddenly the doors burst open revealing our slightly winded Ranger of the North.

"The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit!" Aragorn calls.

Théoden turns and all the attention is on the breathless Ranger.

"Gondor calls for aid."

There was hesitation in the room and the tension was so tense you could cut it with a knife.

"And Rohan will answer! Muster the Rohirrim."

Eomer bows and leaves, we all start moving quickly, Legolas and I return to our room and gather our things, and our quivers now full with arrows and our melee weapons sharped. Personally I was happy for clean clothes. I could always sharpen my weapons on the road. As we exited the main hall we saw many of the other men scattering about getting ready. Legolas went to get Arod as I watched his pack. From my spot I could see that Aragorn and Eowyn were speak to one another. She caught my stare, for some reason she looked at me with contempt. She pulled away from the stare at the notion that she had been caught staring.

Aragorn noticed the unkind stare that the blonde had been giving his comrade in arms.

"Why do you dislike her so?" He asked.

The Shieldmaiden looked at him and blushed embarrassed.

"It's not that I dislike her, it's just…she's not…normal." Eowyn struggled to explain.

"Depends on your definition of normal. She's quite normal to her comrades. She has different abilities and skills, but she's very much normal. She's a sweet and kind girl my lady, give her chance."

Eowyn was silent for several moments.

"The elven prince said they were betrothed…"she ventured.

The Ranger nodded.

"Yes, they are to be married, eventually."

"How did they meet?" Eowyn asked.

"Gandalf originally brought her to Mirkwood for tutoring, Legolas was her tutor."

Eowyn's eyes narrowed.

"Love at first sight, huh?"

Aragorn chuckled slightly, bringing her attention to the Ranger.

"Hardly, Legolas and Braelyn fought constantly. They bickered like an old married couple." Aragorn said amused.

"What changed?" Eowyn asked now intrigued.

"Several things, Braelyn saved his life against a Warg ambush, she was actually attacked and imprisoned under her time at Mirkwood." Aragorn said softly.

Eowyn looked the Ranger as they walked but he didn't looked her. His eyes were dark, hard and angry at the memory.

"Not so unlike here," Eowyn whispered.

Aragorn's face was in a frown.

"She was tortured and nearly died if the King and Legolas hadn't found her time, she may not have made it. She has a deep mistrust for those that have harmed her, men in particular, not necessarily the Race." Aragorn said darkly.

Eowyn didn't speak but her mind was racing with millions of questions.

We rode for a good two days, now at the valley of Dunharrow, where the men were camping. There were hundreds of thousands of men. We all had our own tents. Legolas and I shared a tent, Gimli, Aragorn and Merry shared a tent not too far from our own. We had left our packs in our tents and we were walking amongst the men. I had convinced the elven Prince for a piggy back ride. As we were walking I noticed how the men were jittery and quiet and the horses were restless.

"The horses are restless and the men are quiet," Legolas murmured.

"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."

I looked at the large flat mountain that stretched before us. Noticing the small path in the rocks leading on deeper into the mountain.

"That road there, where does it lead?" Gimli asked.

"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain," Legolas replied.

I felt the hair on my neck stand and I could feel the animals in my mind pace nervously. They liked the mountain no less than the men.

"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil." Eomer said seriously.

He walked away. Looking down the pathway I was able to see a ghostly visage in the distance, but I wasn't able to see what it was, it looked strangely…corpse-like but it had a human soul near it.

"Aragorn!"

Both Aragorn and I jumped, and judging from his face, we were looking at the same thing.

"Let's find some food," Gimli stated.

When I return my attention to the mountain, the visage was gone.

It was late at night and I had changed into a blue tunic top with dark blue flowers gently embroidered into the fabric and gold roping in the neck, sleeves and hem of the tunic. I wore dark brown pants and was barefoot when a soldier requested entrance. Legolas was dressing down too, taking off his boots and was in a causal green tunic and brown leggings.

"My lady?"

I looked him quizzically.

"King Théoden is requesting your presence."

With that the soldier leaves. I looked at Legolas and he nodded his head towards the tent, signaling I should go. I strapped some throwing knives to my leg, not bothering to put shoes on I head to the King's tent. Upon my arrival I realized that Aragorn was there as well, and he looked just as confused as I was. Théoden was speaking to someone hooded and seated at the far end of the tent. Théoden looks at us and then the hooded figure.

"I take my leave,"

With that Théoden leaves, the hooded figure stands and removes the hood.

"Ada," I say happily

I give him a hug which he returns and I noticed Aragorn bows.

"My lord Elrond,"

Now, Elrond was all business his smile gone and his face grim.

"I come on behalf of whom I love. Arwen is dying, she will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor."

I cover my hands over my mouth. Elrond gently squeezes my shoulder, but I felt no comfort.

"The light of the Evenstar is failing, as Sauron's power grows her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The Shadow is upon us Aragorn. The end has come." Elrond says gravely.

"It will not be our end, but his."

Elrond searches his face. There is a sense of mockery on his face, it makes me want to nudge it off his face.

"You ride to war but not to victory. Sauron's armies ride on Minas Tirith, this you now. But in secret he sends another force, which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They will be in the city in two days. You're outnumbered Aragorn. You need more men." Elrond says sternly.

I sit in a nearby chair.

"There are none," I whisper.

Elrond looks at the two of us.

"There are those that dwell in the mountain."

There was a pause and I remember the ghostly visage and the tingling I saw back at the mountain. The King of the Dead. From the look on Aragorn's face, he was remembering the same thing, when our eyes met he looked back at Elrond.

"Murders, traitors. You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no one.

Elrond's face grew strong.

"They will answer to the King of Gondor."

From inside his cloak he pulls a sword and holds it out with both hands.

"Anduril, the Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil."

Aragorn takes the sword from Elrond. I remember Arwen always pushing her father to remake the sword…he had finally done it.

"Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil," Aragorn muttered.

He draws the sword, it long, and beautiful. It was marvelously crafted. Something of elven make. It was beautifully crafted.

"The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith," Aragorn vowed.

"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be." Elrond said softly.

Aragorn looks torn, and frustrated.

"Onen i-Estel Edain," (I gave hope to the Dunedain) Elrond said softly.

Aragorn paused.

"U-chebin Esel anim." (I have kept no hope to myself) Aragorn said after a few moments.

I rolled my eyes and Aragorn sheathed the sword.

After a short time with Lord Elrond we set out for what we need to do. Aragorn was saddling his horse, and I had change backed to my travel clothes and was helping him saddle Brego. Footsteps come rushing towards us to reveal Eowyn.

"Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle." She swallows thickly. "You cannot abandon the men,"

Aragorn looked frustrated and sad, I pretend to ignore the whole situation and focus on projecting calming thoughts to Brego who was becoming uncomfortable with the idea.

"Eowyn," Aragorn says softly.

"We need you here," Eowyn argues.

There was a pause.

"Why have you come?" Aragorn asked.

Eowyn looks shocked.

"Do you not know?" She asked softly.

"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek." He said softly.

She backs up clearly upset.

"I have wished you joy since I first saw you,"

Tears were in her eyes and we both walk off leaving her alone, I could hear her cry quietly but wisely chose not to say anything.

"Just where do you think you're off too?"

Gimli was sitting beside a tent. Aragorn shakes his head.

"Not this time. This time you must stay Gimli,"

Coming up on Aragorn's other side was Legolas pulling up with Arod.

"Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" He asks.

"You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie," Gimli said standing.

At this Aragorn smiles, and glares at me upon noticing my pack upon Arod's saddle.

"You knew?" He asked conversationally.

I shrugged.

"Educational guess, I said nothing." I said, lifting up onto Arod's saddle.

Legolas took up his usual spot behind me, and Aragorn and Gimli were saddled together, as we headed towards the mountain we heard the soldier's talking.

"He leaves because there is no hope," I heard Gamiling say.

"He leaves because he must," Théoden argues.

"Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor." Gamling argued.

Théoden shakes his head.

"No, we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless."

There was silence greeting his statement.