Hello lovelies. So this chapter was very difficult for me to write. Not because of writers block, but because I had several different options for a particular event. With all those options, my mind couldn't focus on a single one until I wrote out each option to place in this chapter. So after four days of whirlwind writing, and lack of sleep, I finally got it down to one. Hopefully you all will enjoy the option that I chose.
Also, my updating this story is going to turn sporadic again. Blame the preparations for moving on it taking so long.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or LOTR.
The day following Théoden's return from the clutches of Saruman was one filled with grief and sadness. Early in the morning, both Théoden and Éowyn prepared Théodred's body for burial. They shared their pain and loss together as they washed Théodred's body, and dressed it in his armor. Once that was done, both of them went to dress in mourning clothes for the burial.
In the guest rooms of Théoden's halls, the occupants are also dressing themselves for the burial.
"Would you like some help?" Kelda asks as she watches Inara struggle with her hair.
Kelda is wearing a dark green, almost black looking, dress that hugs her body, then goes into an A-line skirt at her hips. Underneath the skirt, she has on her soft brown traveling pants and boots. The arms of the dress cling to the muscles of Kelda's arms. Her Auburn hair is has simple braids in it. To any dwarf that would see them, the braids would tell them that she is Kili's daughter, a princess of Erebor, and of the line of Durin.
No Inara, who is seated in front of a vanity and mirror, is wearing a midnight blue dress. It is not as form fitting as Kelda's or Tauriel's, but it does hang loose either. The collar of the dress sits at base of Inara's neck. If Inara was back in her original world, one would think that she was from the Victorian Era by how the dress looked.
"If you could, please." Inara rasps out to Kelda, answering the girl's earlier question. Because of all the screaming that Inara did yesterday during her attack, her vocal chords are sore today.
"Of course." Kelda says with a smile. She moves to stand behind Inara, and begins to brush the older woman's hair. Once the tangles are all gone, Kelda hands the brush back to Inara. Taking hold of several strands of hair, Kelda begins to weave only the necessary braids into Inara's hair. The first braid is one that shows that Inara is Thorin's wife. The second on shows that she is loved by the line of Durin. The third, on the opposite side of Inara's head, shows that she is Queen of Erebor. The fourth braid shows that she is mother to the next Heir of Erebor. Finally a fifth braid is placed at the back of Inara's head. This one is to show of Inara's status in her ancestral tribes.
"All done." Kelda says softly to Inara, once the last braid is done. "Is there anything else you need?"
Inara lets out a sarcastic chuckle as she closes her eyes. "I know you mean well, Kelda, but you don't need to worry about me." Inara opens her eyes to look at herself in the mirror. "Your Adad does enough of that for everyone here."
Kelda gives a shy smile before speaking again. "He cares for you. Not like how Irak'Adad Thorin does, but like that of a sibling. Seeing you in that cell has left Adad shaken. Naneth says that he is starting to close himself off. He blames himself for what has been happening to you."
Inara lets out a sigh as she listens to what Kelda is telling her. She knows that it is Sauron and Saruman's fault that all this is happening to her. Yet to hear that Kili is blaming himself over it is outrageous. But then again, Thorin had made Kili promise that he would look after her.
"Kili shouldn't feel guilty for any of this. I do not blame him, nor do I blame myself. I blame the two who are trying to capture me. This is a game to those two, to see who shall come out victorious. Well, I refuse to allow them to hold power over any of our family members." Inara speaks seriously to Kelda as she moves to stand up from her seat. "Now I suggest we make our appearances for Lord Theodred's burial. Rohan is our ally, and I owe Théoden a life debt for his son saving my life."
Kelda nods her head to Inara and follows the queen out of the chambers to where the rest of their friends and family wait.
At the noon hour, everyone leaves the hall and makes their way down to the burial sites at the base of the large hill. There are many mounds, covered with small white flowers at the burial sites of those who have passed before. Now all of Rohan is to witness the burial of their beloved prince here.
Inara, Kelda, Kili, and Tauriel stand a few feet away from where Éowyn is standing. Théoden had asked Kili to stand with what remains of the Rohan's royal family. Not only as an ally, but as friends. Kili had agreed to it, but only after Inara pressured him into it.
Slowly the procession of Theodred's body makes its way down from the gates of Edoras. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf follow behind Théoden as they walk through the parted citizens of Edoras. Theodred's body is being carried by his fellow soldiers and friends who didn't parish or were exiled.
As Theodred's body reaches the burial chamber, the bearers slowly lower the litter down from their shoulders. Slowly the bearers begin to lead the litter, carrying Theodred's body, into the burial vault.
While the bearers are doing this, Éowyn begins to sing a song of mourning for her cousin. The women that stand on Éowyn's other side are whispering along with the mourning song. Though many are trying hard not to weep in front of their king.
Once the body is placed inside of the burial vault, the stone door is closed and sealed. The citizens of Edoras express their sympathies to their king and to Éowyn. This lasts till the late afternoon, in which the only people left at Theodred's tomb is Gandalf, Théoden, Éowyn, Kili, Kelda, Tauriel, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Inara.
"On behalf of Erebor, we grieve with Rohan at the loss of your son and heir." Kili says to Théoden. "We shall not forget his sacrifice, and we will sing songs of him that will last through all of time."
"Rohan thanks Erebor for their kind words." Éowyn says to Kili. She knows that her uncle is unable to speak as he has become fixated on Theodred's tomb.
Kili steps away from Théoden and Éowyn, and makes his way back over to where Tauriel, Kelda, and Gimli are standing. He and the others are waiting patiently for Inara to come towards them so that they can head back into the city. However, they watch as Inara approaches Theodred's tomb's door.
Everyone watches with bated breath to see if Théoden will shout or say anything at Inara's placement. But the king remains silent, but keeps his eyes upon the Queen of Erebor as she kneels before the tomb's door.
Inara lets out a high shriek as she begins to chant a song of mourning that she remembers hearing her grandmother use at her grandfather's funeral. It is an old chant of the Ottawa people, one that many in her original world had never heard. But here in Middle Earth, Inara chants the song for the one who gave his life for hers. While she chants, she removes a small dagger from its hidden place in her sleeve. Moving the blade against her palm, Inara allows a drop or two of blood to fall to the ground. Then she uses the same hand with the cut, to pull a few strands of loose hair forward.
Kili had moved to stop Inara when he saw the dagger, but Tauriel took hold of his arm and shook her head at him.
Aragorn too had wanted to move to Inara, thinking that she was going to kill herself. Yet Gandalf stayed him the same way that Tauriel stayed Kili.
They all watch as Inara cuts a few strands of her hair and squeezes her them with the cut hand. Then the places the now blood covered hairs onto the ground. By this point, her chanting has become loud that it echoes. Tears are streaming down her face as she finishes the chanting. Once her chanting is done, Inara says a prayer that the others hear as well.
"What was she singing?" Éowyn asks softly to Gandalf.
"It is the mourning song of her people." Kili replies before Gandalf could answer. "She has sung it only a few times before, and it was at the burial of family members. But she has never cut herself or her hair before."
At this point, Inara rises up from the ground and walks away from the tomb. She doesn't make eye contact with anyone as she walks back to the city's gates.
The others take their que from Inara and follow, leaving just Théoden and Gandalf at the tomb. But not before Éowyn hands a small white flower to Théoden. She gives him a watery smile as he takes it from her. Then she follows the small group back to the Royal Halls.
Gandalf and Théoden stand there for a time till the sun has almost finished its descent in the sky.
"Simbelmyne." Théoden says softly once the others have left. Then he allows the small white flower to fall onto the ground. "Ever has it grown on the tombs of my fore-bearers."
He turns to face Gandalf, who has not yet left.
"Now it shall cover the grave of my son." Théoden says to Gandalf. "Alas that these evil days should be mine. The young perish, and the old linger. That I should live to see that last days of my house."
"Theodred's death was not of your making." Gandalf says to Théoden, trying to give some comforting words to him.
"No parent should have to bury their child." Théoden says as his grief takes hold of him. He covers his eyes with one of his hands before dropping down to his knees to weep.
"He was strong in life." Gandalf says to Théoden. "His spirit will find its way to the hall of your fathers."
Seeing that the king will need some time alone, Gandalf says an ancestral saying before turning to leave Théoden to grieve. As Gandalf walks up the path that leads back to the city, something catches his eye in his peripheral vision. He turns his head to see a horse with two children coming towards Edoras. The horse comes to a stop and both children meet Gandalf's eyes. Then the boy slides off of the horses' back in exhaustion.
This has Gandalf moving quickly towards the horse and the two children.
Inside of the Great Halls of Edoras...
Gandalf had brought the children to the great hall. Since the others were in the hall, Tauriel and Kelda quickly checked over the two children to make sure that neither one was injured or ill. After being checked, the children were lead to a table where Éowyn made sure that the two children were eating.
"They had no warning. They were unarmed." Éowyn says to Théoden, both still wearing their mourning clothes. "Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go."
Théoden is sitting on his throne, rubbing a hand upon his forehead at the news. He had heard Gandalf's hurried movements outside, and was shocked to see the horse. Since then, he had the children brought in and had now heard what news they carried with them.
"Don't forget the Orcs that are roaming the lands as well." Inara says from where she is leaning against on the pillars near a table. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and her hand which she cut earlier, is wrapped.
Seated at the table is Aragorn, Gimli, Kili, Kelda, and Tauriel. Two out of the five are still eating from the mourning feast that was held earlier. Aragorn is smoking his pipe while listening to the conversations. Legolas, who is not seated, is standing directly behind Kelda with a watchful eye.
"Rick, cot and tree." Éowyn says before the little girl at the table cries out for her mother. So Éowyn tries to comfort the girl.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." Gandalf says to Théoden. "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Especially now that Inara has remained to keep herself out of his grasp. Ride out and meet him head-on."
Gandalf places a hand on the arm of the throne, and Inara watches as the Rohan King looks at it wearily.
"Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight." Gandalf says, trying to get Théoden to see what needs to be done.
However, Inara knows the look of someone who is trying to decide if someone is a friend or foe. She also knows why Théoden is hesitating to agree with Gandalf. 'You can't force a king to do what you want them to.' She thinks to herself. 'He sees Gandalf's suggestion as a challenge to his throne.'
"You have 2,000 good men riding north as we speak." Aragorn says from his seat at the table. "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."
At this point, Théoden rises up from his throne and begins to pace around the room. "They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us."
"But a volunteer army of dwarves, led by Thorin can." Inara says all of a sudden. This draws everyone's attention to her. "He left several weeks ago with the small army. They would come if they knew that I was here with you."
Inara pushes off of the pillar that she is leaning on and walks a few feet towards Théoden before continuing to speak.
"Thorin and the small army are searching for me. If I were to fight with your troops, Thorin and the small army would fight with you." Inara pleads in a serious voice.
"I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." Théoden says loud enough for all in the room to hear.
"War is upon you, whether you risk it or not." Aragorn says to Théoden's back.
This causes Théoden to turn around to look at Aragorn before walking towards him.
"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan." Théoden says sternly.
"Then it is perhaps time that you thought more like a king." Inara says to Théoden. "Your people are already being slaughtered while we sit here and do nothing."
This causes Théoden to look directly at Inara. The two lock eyes in a challenging stare, that neither one is willing to back down from. Both rulers know that Inara has struck a nerve with her comments, but both of them also know that the words are true.
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asks as he gets up out of his chair and walks towards the two rulers.
Théoden keeps looking at Inara before taking in a breath so that he may answer Gandalf's question.
The next morning...
Théoden's decree is being stated by several of the guards to the people. Many of the people are hurrying to pack away their things before preparing to leave. The citizens do not question their kings' command, but there is a small group that does.
Leading the small group down to the stables is Gandalf. He isn't thrilled at the decision, but there isn't much he can do about it.
"Helm's Deep. They are fleeing when they should stand and fight." Gimli says gruffly, voicing many of the small groups' thoughts. "Who will defend them if not their King?"
"He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people." Aragorn says. "Helm's Deep has saved them in the past."
"There is no way out of that ravine." Gandalf says in response to Aragorn's words. "Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading them to safety."
By this time, they have entered the stables and Gandalf is now entering Shadowfax's pen. He turns to look at Aragorn with a serious look upon his face.
"What they will get is a massacre. 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." Gandalf says to Aragorn. "The defenses have to hold."
"They will hold." Inara says as she comes up to stand next to Aragorn. "Gandalf. If you happen to run into Thorin and the army, send them to Helm's Deep."
Gandalf gives Inara a smile and a nod before approaching Shadowfax. As he climbs up onto Shadowfax's back, Inara says one more thing to him.
"And make sure that someone with a good sense of direction leads them, for I fear Thorin will get them lost if he hasn't already." Inara chuckles out to the white wizard.
"I will. Look for my coming at the first light of the fifth day. At dawn look to the east." Gandalf says to both Inara and Aragorn before sending Shadowfax into a gallop.
By mid-morning, the people of Rohan are ready to leave Edoras, and Théoden is in the front to lead his people. Just behind him rides Aragorn and Inara with the rest of their group several feet, and people, away. All of them are wearing traveling clothes and cloaks. Though Inara's traveling clothes causes many to look at her, for she is wearing men's clothes instead of women's dresses. Tauriel and Kelda are wearing their elven garbs, so no one looks at them with confusion.
The people of Rohan have traveled a good distance as the day has passed. It is now late afternoon and they are still a day's distance from Helm's Deep.
To pass the time, many are talking to each other. Namely a certain dwarf riding a horse next to Lady Éowyn. He is telling her about how the dwarrowdams look like the dwarrows. This has the lady snickering at his words. Especially when his horse decides to throw him off.
The citizens of Edoras reach a small lake to take water and rest for the night.
In a small lean-to like tent, Inara is lying on the ground on a bedroll. Her cloak is covering her like a blanket as she gets lost in her thoughts. She can hear the snores of Gimli and a few from Kili, who are both lying just outside of her lean-to tent. Tauriel, Kelda, and Legolas have volunteered to join the watch for the night. So this leaves the rest of the group to sleep.
Taking in a deep breath, Inara can smell the smoke from someone's pipe. Lifting her head slightly, she can make out Aragorn's outline thanks to the moon. Knowing that there is still someone still awake, Inara lays her head back down and tries to fall asleep.
On the second day of the march to Helm's Deep, things are going smoothly among the people. No one is falling behind, and everyone is moving at a comfortable pace. Yet the peace of their journey is about to take a terrible turn.
Legolas and Kelda are a head of the line, and both are watching the landscape for trouble.
"Something feels off." Kelda says to Legolas.
Legolas is about to respond when two riders on horseback pass them to scout the terrain ahead. Both watch the two riders with interest, but also worry. It takes only a few seconds for the sounds of screaming and the howls of wargs to reach Kelda and Legolas's ears.
"Tell the others!" Legolas yells at Kelda before running towards the sounds.
Kelda runs quickly to tell the others, but Aragorn reaches her first.
"There are wargs!" Kelda tells him. "Legolas went after them."
This sends Aragorn into action. He pulls his sword and runs to sound the alarm with Kelda right on his heels.
"What is it? What did you see?" Théoden shouts as he brings his horse to a stop from its galloping.
"Wargs! We are under attack!" Aragorn yells out his reply.
"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden shouts to his men on horseback.
Inara, upon the gray mare Renika, charges towards Théoden and Aragorn. At her waist, she has four newly made tomahawks courtesy of Kili and Gimli. Besides her tomahawks, Inara also has a sword given to her by Éowyn.
"Where do you need us?" Kili asks Théoden as his head pokes out from behind Inara's body.
"We need to draw them away from the others." Théoden says before going in search of Éowyn.
"Kelda you should stay with the others." Kili says as he sees his daughter pull out her two short swords.
"I will fight with you, Adad. Naneth is too far back to catch up. You will need every fighter." Kelda growls out at Kili.
"You may ride with me." Aragorn says to Kelda as he offer to help her up onto his horse.
The four of them head into battle upon their horses, with Gimli's horse following not too far behind. The horses and their riders charge up over the large hill, to where Legolas is trying to shoot at the oncoming wargs and their riders. When Gimli's horse gets close to Legolas, the elf jumps onto the back of the horse.
Near the base the hill, the two separate groups slam into each other. Wargs pull the humans off of their horses. Several javelins are thrown at the orc riders on the wargs. The carnage that ensues is small compared to what Inara, Kili, and Legolas have ever seen.
"I need to get down, Inara." Kili says in Inara's ear. Even though he has his bow, shooting from horseback is a bit challenging for him.
"Hold on." Inara growls out as she pulls on Renika's reigns to get her to rear up. At the sound of a loud thud coming from behind her, Inara loosens the reigns to allow Renika to put her two front hooves on the ground.
"Thanks." Kili groans out as he gets up from the ground.
"Heyah." Inara says to Renika and she digs her heels into the horses' sides.
Spotting an enemy close by, Inara has Renika charge right for it. Trying to be as careful as she can, Inara holds onto the pummel of the saddle while bringing her feet to sit on the saddle seat. The orc and warg have their backs facing them, and as the horse gets closer, Inara pulls two of her tomahawks out from her waist. In the crouch position, Inara waits till Renika gets closer to the warg. Then, with as much effort as she can, Inara leaps at the orc on the warg.
Burying the blades of her tomahawks into the upper back of the orc, Inara is able to land directly behind the orc. The orc and the warg realize that they have company, and the warg begins to buck around like a bronco. Inara pulls the right hand tomahawk out of the orcs' back, and hacks away at its neck till the head comes off.
Once the orc is taken care of, Inara tries to knock the dead body off of the warg. However, both her and the dead orc fall off of the warg and onto the ground. As she tries to get up, the warg growls at her and begins to charge at her.
"Arrrgh!"
Kili comes out of nowhere and buries his sword deep into the warg's neck, killing the beast. He pulls his blade free from the warg's body and turns to Inara. Offering her a hand up, Kili helps Inara get up off of the ground.
"You are more reckless than I ever was." Kili tells her before another orc and warg come charging at the two of them.
Elsewhere in the carnage, Gimli has slid off of his horse and is taking on a warg by himself.
"Bring your pretty face to my axe." Gimli cries out at the warg as it charges at him. However, Legolas shoots the warg dead before Gimli can get a hit on it. "That one counts as mine."
However, another warg comes up behind him and Gimli begins to attack that one instead.
Further into the mass of fighting, Aragorn and Kelda are working in tandem to dispatch each warg and orc scout that gets close to them. But Kelda sees that her cousin Gimli has gotten himself into a bit of a pickle.
"Gimli!" Kelda shouts as she sees a warg pinning down a dead orc and its warg on top of her cousin.
Aragorn, who hears Kelda's shouts, turns their horse towards where Gimli and the warg are. Charging the horse forward, Aragorn is able to pull a javelin out of the ground. Once they are close enough, Aragorn sends he javelin at the warg with a killing blow.
Bringing the horse to a stop for Kelda to climb down Aragorn does not notice an approaching warg. The warg jumps at the horse, knocking it and Aragorn onto the ground. Kelda is quick to kill that particular warg, but there are more to kill.
Aragorn sees another warg and orc scout heading for Kelda, who has landed on the ground a foot or two away from himself. Aragorn quickly pushes himself in front of her in an attempt to divert the warg. Grabbing onto the warg's fur coat as it gets close enough, Aragorn tries to swing himself up to attack its rider. As he get on top of the warg, a scream fills his ears as he fights with the orc.
Trying to knock the orc off of the warg, Aragorn can see that the warg has hold of Kelda's arm, near the shoulder. As it is running, it is dragging her along the ground. Seeing the female in pain, causes Aragorn to lose focus in the fight, and the orc is able to knock Aragorn off of the back of the warg. However, he takes hold of one of the straps that is keeping the saddle on the warg's back. Several times, the orc tries to knock Aragorn away, but Aragorn fights back till he is finally able to kill the orc.
"Kelda!" Aragorn shouts as he realizes that his hand is now stuck between the strap and the warg's moving body. He sees the approaching ledge and dread fills him. "Look at me!"
Kelda, through the pain of having her arm still in the warg's mouth and her body hitting the ground, she tries to look at Aragorn with tear filled eyes. Then, all she can feel is something akin to being weightless as the world flashes past her eyes.
Kili, slams his sword into the last living, but injured warg. The fighting is over with since all the wargs and orcs now lay dead on the ground.
"Aragorn!" Legolas shouts as he can't seem to find his friend.
"Kelda!" Kili shouts as he can't see any sign of his daughter.
"Aragorn!" Inara yells as she also looks around the battlefield.
"Kelda?" Gimli calls out as well. "Aragorn?"
Both Legolas and Kili survey the orcs to see if any are still alive and who may have knowledge on where the other two may be. They come across an orc that is still alive, but just barely, and it is laughing.
"Where are they, filth." Kili growls at the orc with his sword pressing against the orc's neck.
"They're dead." The orc coughs out at Kili. "They took a little tumble off the cliff."
Legolas beats Kili at taking hold of the orc, and looks the orc in the eyes. "You lie."
However, the orc keeps up his choking laugh till he dies. But it is what is in the orc's hand that catches Legolas and Kili's attention. It is a necklace and a few strands of auburn color hair. Legolas removes both and shows it to Kili.
Kili, by now, is breathing heavily with tears filling his eyes as he sees the strands of hair.
"Lu akraditu!" Kili bellows loudly as he punches the dead orcs face. "Lu akraditu!"
Inara rushes over to Kili and quickly pulls him off of the dead orc. Holding him close, like a mother would a crying child, Inara lets Kili weep.
"Mizimel. Mizimelûh." Kili croaks out in his tears. He doesn't want to believe that his oldest daughter is gone, but seeing the sad look on Théoden's face is enough to cause his hope to fall apart.
Legolas, who is now standing near the edge of the cliff, is fighting back his own tears at hearing Kili's heart-wrenching cries. His own heart feels broken as well, but there is a little pocket of hope that is still beating within his chest that whispers that Kelda is still alive.
"Gimli." Inara says to the red-haired dwarf. She can see tears running down his face as well. "I need you to bring Renika to me."
Gimli, hearing Inara's request, quickly wipes away the tears from his cheeks.
"Of course." Gimli stutters out as he leaves to go find the horse.
Théoden looks on as Inara tries to comfort Kili. He knows the grief that Kili is now going through. Being as sensitive as he can, he bends down and places a hand on Kili's shoulder.
"Your daughter was a brave fighter, Master Kili. Rohan mourns with you on her young death." Théoden says softly before standing up again. Then he addresses his men. "Prepare our wounded for travel. We need to catch up with the rest of our people."
Legolas hears Inara and Gimli trying to get Kili to get on the horse to leave. He knows that he should be getting ready to leave as well, but he just can't seem to make his legs move. Not before saying something for Kelda.
"Novaer, Nóruiloth." Legolas closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before whispering a secret to the wind. "Le melin."
With his words said, Legolas turns away from the cliff edge to see Gimli watching him closely with the reigns to their shared horse in his hands. Inara is watching Legolas from atop Renika, as he holds a quietly crying Kili in front of her.
Legolas moves towards Gimli and helps the dwarf onto the horses' back before climbing up himself. The two horses begin their trek down away from the cliff. Not too big of a distance is covered before they reach Théoden and the rest of the men on horseback. Then they head out for Helm's Deep.
It doesn't take them long to reach Helm's Deep, and Théoden leads them inside of the massive fortress. They take their horses up to a courtyard where Éowyn and Tauriel are waiting for them.
"So few have returned." Éowyn says in dismay.
Théoden gives her a look before handing his horses' reigns to a stable hand. "Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives."
"Where is Kelda?" Tauriel asks Inara since Kili is refusing to come down from the horse or to even look at her.
"She and Aragorn were fighting together." Inara starts to say and tries to fight back the sob that wishes to be released. "They were attacked and..."
"She is gone." Kili says with a hollow voice. "Our daughter is dead."
"No." Tauriel whispers out as tears fill her eyes. "No. She can't be."
"There was no sign of her nor Aragorn once the battle was over." Legolas says softly to his old friend. "I am sorry, Tauriel."
Tauriel clutches a hand to her chest as she begins to hyperventilate. "No. No. No. She can't be."
Kili climbs down from the horse, and races over to Tauriel as her legs give way. He gathers her up in his arms as she screams for their daughter. He lets her scream and cry as he allows silent tears to stream down his face as well.
Legolas looks over at Inara and sees that the Queen of Erebor is fighting to keep her face from showing her sorrow in front of so many people. He too is trying hard not to weep openly for the loss of Kelda and Aragorn. Still he keeps watching Tauriel and Kili as they weep for their daughter.
Éowyn, who is trying to hard not to shed tears as well, gently leads them away from prying eyes and into the king's area deep in the fortress. There the group stays the night to weep for their fallen comrades.
The next morning, Inara is walking with Théoden along the main walls ramparts. His military advisors have already walked with him yesterday, but Théoden wants Inara's input. He is hoping that she will see something he and his advisors missed.
"Are you sure that the main gate is the only way in or out of here?" Inara asks as a light breeze, coming off from the mountains, has the skirt of her gray dress billowing out. "No hidden doorways or weak points in the stones?"
"None that I am aware of." Théoden replies as he watches Inara look over the high edge of the wall.
"Hmmm." Inara continues to look down, at different angles, at the stone wall. Glancing down in a diagonal line sight, something catches her eyes. "What about down there? Where water comes in from a drainage canal."
Théoden glances over the side to see what Inara is seeing. He has never given the drainage canal much of a thought as a weakness before.
"That has always been there. Never has our enemies tried to break through it." Théoden says with a reassuring voice.
"You may not, but others might use it to their advantage." Inara replies before moving away from the rampart wall and towards one of the stone stairs that lead to the ground.
"Inara?" Théoden calls out as he moves to follow her.
Once Inara has reached the bottom of the stairs, she hurries over to where the drainage canal is in the wall. She gives it a quick once over with her eyes; then she moves along the edge of the water to try and see inside.
"It has an iron blocking the whole of the water way. Even down into the mud of the bottom. There is no way anyone could get past it."
Inara gives a huff of annoyance at Théoden's naivety about the iron. "Iron rusts over time, Théoden. Even if it has a coating to it. I would suggest placing a few archers and soldiers down here to keep an eye on it. For all we know, Saruman could be plotting to use the brute force of his soldiers to tear this grate apart."
"I will take that into consideration. Do you have any other suggestions before I go and speak with my council?"
"I do." Inara looks Théoden straight in the eyes before speaking. "Give what able-bodied women you have some kind of weapons in case Saruman's forces break through. You say that the caves are impenetrable, but would you be able to find rest in the afterlife knowing that your women and children are raped and tortured before they are killed? For that is what Saruman and Sauron want. They wish to wipe the race of men clean off of Middle Earth. Would you enable them to do so by refusing to allow the women to fight as a last resort?"
Théoden looks thoughtfully at Inara before asking her a question. "Would the King Under the Mountain ask it of his people?"
"He would." Inara replies. "The dwarves start training at a young age. Both male and female. However, the females have the choice not to, but the males do not. It is part of their culture that males are the fighters, but a few females have joined ranks in our army. If Erebor was under siege, and a breach was to occur, then the females would fight side-by-side with their male counter-parts."
"I see."
"All I am saying is that you need to think about all of your options. Not just the ones that are looking you in the face."
"I shall bring your idea before the council to see what they say." Théoden gives Inara a small, but sad smile. He walks up to her side and places a hand on her shoulder. "Please give your prince and his wife my condolences about their daughter. And ask if they would join us in battle."
"I will tell them for you, but you will not be standing alone before this army. I received a raven from Thorin, and his volunteer army is closing in. They may be late on arriving, but he is willing to join forces with our ally."
"Let us hope that he arrives before Saruman's forces do." Théoden gives Inara's shoulder a squeeze before heading up to the Keep to meet with his council.
Inara, now left alone by the water way, lets out a sigh before sitting down to meditate on the events of the past few days. The skirt to her dress is big enough to allow Inara to sit Indian Style on the ground. She sits there for a while before the sound of footsteps comes close to her.
"I am surprised to find the Queen of Erebor sitting on the ground." A familiar female voice says.
Inara looks up towards where the woman is standing. It is an elderly woman, whose eyes are very familiar to Inara.
"Tilda?" Inara asks softly before rising up off of the ground. "Is that you?"
The old woman chuckles at Inara's shocked facial expression, and then pulls Inara into a hug.
"Am I dreaming?" Inara says as she pulls out of the hug to take a good look at the old woman. "How are you alive? Sigrid told us that you had died."
Tilda chuckles softly, and soon both women are seated on the ground before Tilda begins to speak again.
"When Théoden took the throne, there were many who did not want to see him rule." Tilda explains. "My husband agreed that Théoden was the rightful King and made sure that everyone knew it. But there were a few members of Thengel's old council who refused to give up their power to Théoden. So, one day before Théoden's coronation, members of the guard found my husband murdered in the main halls of Edoras. Théoden, who is cousin to my dead husband, started an inquiry to find out who was responsible. Once the murders were found, Théoden sent myself and my two children away. He feared for our safety if the families of those responsible were to retaliate. We were on the road when we were attacked."
Inara places a comforting hand onto Tilda's and waits for the woman to continue her story.
"My two children, a boy named Ansgar and a girl named Hanna, were slaughtered in the attack. But unknown to everyone, including myself, I was with child at the time. All alone after the attack, I made my way to a village, where I stayed for the rest of my life. Most of the village people didn't know who I was, and many took pity on me when after I birthed my daughter, Morwen. Eventually she married and now I am a grandmother."
"Wow. Tilda, I don't know what to say to you. Sounds like you have been through a lot over the years. But why didn't you try to contact Sigrid or Bain?" Inara asks, wondering why Tilda didn't do so.
"I was trying to remain hidden. There was no way to tell who it was who attacked us on the road, and I didn't want them finding us if it was plotted. I need to keep my last child safe. So I didn't tell anyone. What about my sister? How is she doing? And Bain as well?"
Inara took a deep breath and looked Tilda in the face. She wasn't sure how the woman would react, but Inara wanted to make sure that Tilda got the whole story. So Inara spoke to Tilda about Bain's death and of Sigrid's. Of how her nephew Brand is now ruling Dale with his wife and young son, Bard II. Also talked about were Balder, Freya, and Solen.
During the talk, Tilda listened intently and cried at finding out that she was the last of her siblings to still be alive. Yet, she was happy to hear about her nieces and nephews, and how she was a great-aunt. Tilda asked many questions of Inara, and eventually the two women were sharing stories of their children and husbands.
Eventually the two women were pulled out of their conversations when Gimli came upon them both.
"Inara." Gimli says while doing a quick bow. "They have returned."
"Who has returned?" Tilda asks Gimli before Inara could.
"Aragorn and Kelda. They arrived a short time ago with serious news. I suggest you come right away and hear the news for yourself." Gimli answers.
"Duty calls." Inara says before rising up from sitting on the ground. She reaches down to take hold of Tilda's hand to help the older woman up.
"Gimli."
"Yes, Inara."
"Will you see that the lady Tilda returns to her daughter safely?" Inara asks the dwarf while giving him a smile.
"Very well." Gimli replies before walking over to stand near Tilda. "My arm, my lady." He says to Tilda as he offer her his arm.
"Thank you, Master Dwarf. Tell me, do you know Kili?" Tilda asks as the pair begins to walk away.
Inara lets out a chuckle as Gimli begins telling Tilda all about his cousin, Kili. Knowing that time is of the essence, Inara jogs her way into the narrow streets of the fortress and makes her way up to the Keep.
In the Keep of Helm's Deep...
"A whole host you say?" Théoden asks Aragorn as he tries to think about what this will mean for them.
Besides Théoden and Aragorn, there are two commanders from Théoden's army who are listening to the conversation. Kelda is standing a small distance away from Aragorn, with her parents standing on either side of her. Tauriel is trying to clean Kelda's wounds, while Kili is holding the necessary materials needed to bind wounds. Legolas is standing next to Aragorn, but half of his focus is actually on Kelda.
Inara, meanwhile, has quietly entered the room and is standing with her back leaning against the wall. Her arms are crossed with eyes watching closely as Théoden talks with Aragorn.
"All Isengard is empty." Aragorn replies anxiously. The wound on his arm is still bleeding and some of the blood is dripping off of his fingers and onto the floor.
"How many?"
"Ten thousand strong as least." Kelda says, as Tauriel tries to wipe away the blood that has dried upon the young lady's left cheek.
"Ten thousand!?" Théoden replies with shock in his voice.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose." Aragorn says, as he watches Théoden.
"To destroy the world of Men." Kelda finishes before wincing as the cloth in Tauriel's hand gets close to the cut on Kelda's cheek.
"They will be here by nightfall." Aragorn says, trying to drive home the point that this coming army could bring death to them all.
"Then let them come." Théoden says as he turns and walks away from Aragorn and Kelda. His two commanders are hot on his heels as they leave to prepare for battle.
"This is going to be a blood bath." Kili says as he takes the small bowl of water from Tauriel, and hands her a dry cloth.
"Worse, actually." Inara says as she finally makes her presence known to the others. "There are not enough troops to defend Helm's Deep against that many of the enemy. Not unless Thorin and his volunteer army arrives before them. But that isn't going to happen before the battle begins."
"So we are on our own then." Kili sighs out before looking up at Aragorn and Legolas. "I hope you two have a plan."
Aragorn pops an eyebrow at Kili's statement before walking out of the hall, in search of Théoden. Not too far behind Aragorn is Legolas.
"Kili, help Tauriel tend to Kelda's wounds." Inara states before leaving the small family to follow after Aragorn and Legolas.
As Inara catches up to Legolas, she can't help but say something to the blonde elf.
"So, should I be waiting for an invitation to your wedding soon?" Inara teases while they walk.
"I do not know what you mean." Legolas responds.
"Oh I think you do. Don't get me wrong, Legolas, I have seen that look before."
"What look?" Aragorn asks as he slows down to hear what Inara and Legolas are talking about.
"Oh I was just asking Legolas when his wedding will be taking place."
"Really?" Aragorn gives Legolas a surprised look. "To who?"
"Kelda." Inara answers with a chuckle.
"Truly?"
"Oh yes. Haven't you seen the way he looks at her? All pining and doe-eyed." Inara tries to recreate the look on her face, which causes Aragorn to chuckle.
"Enough." Legolas growls out. "Her heart belongs to another."
Letting out a snort, Inara gives Legolas a knowing look. "Oh really. You think that Kelda has given her heart to another?"
"Yes." Legolas growls out. "For he has given her a betrothal gift, and she accepted it."
"Really?" Inara asks curiously. This is the first time she has heard of it. "What was the gift and by whom?"
"It was a dagger, and he was in Lothlorien when he gave it to her." Legolas huffs out before hurrying his steps upon seeing Théoden not too far ahead on the winding road.
"Lothlorien?" Inara softly says before looking over at Aragorn. "From who?"
Aragorn gives Inara hard look before answering her question. "Haldir."
"Ahhh. Okay then. So I made an error." Inara thinks about Kelda and this Haldir person, but she can't seem to see the two of them together. "Mmmmm. No. I don't see them being together. Maybe Legolas has it wrong."
"I do not think so, Inara. Elves only take one mate, and it is for life. If Haldir has made his intentions known to Kelda, and she has accepted them, then to the elves they are betrothed. No other can interfere or put forth their own suit." Aragorn explains to Inara.
"Ouch. No wonder why Legolas was all snarly at me."
"Do not hold it against him. I have known Legolas for a time now, and there was only one other time that he thought to enter into a betrothal with someone. But he found himself too late to press his suit."
"Tauriel." Inara says before letting out a loud sigh. Shaking her head, Inara speaks again. "Poor lad. Where I come from, we would say that he is a little slow on the up and up when it comes to women. To lose Tauriel to Kili, Legolas has to be hurting to lose Kelda to Haldir. But I am not so sure about Kelda going through with a marriage to Haldir. It just doesn't seem right."
"Is that your gut telling you, or your spirits that you speak with?" Aragorn asks as they come up to where Théoden is.
"Both." Inara whispers to herself before listening in to what Théoden is saying.
"I want every able-bodied man and strong lad to bear arms and made ready for battle by nightfall." Théoden tells one of his commanders as they walk.
Théoden, Aragorn, Inara, and Legolas make their way outside of the large doors that lead into the fortress. The King of Rohan turns to face the other three that he knew would follow him.
"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg!" Théoden tells the three with confidence backing his words.
"Be careful with what you say, Théoden." Inara tells the king in a serious voice. "Or the fates will humble your pride and prove you wrong. The Uruk-hai are not like your weak run-of-the-mill orcs. They are faster, smarter, and harder to kill. Do not underestimate them."
Approaching Inara, Théoden gives her a hard look after hearing her words. "I have fought many wars, Queen of Erebor. I know how to defend my own keep."
"Then you should also not tempt fate with over-confidence. Believe me when I say, it will be upon your pride that fate will teach you humility." Inara says to Théoden, with each word having an echo of both male and female tones to them.
This causes Legolas and Aragorn to go wide-eyed at hearing her slightly changed voice. Neither one is sure if it is Inara who just spoke or her connection to something of a higher power that has warned Théoden. Yet both refuse to speak up to defend Théoden or add to what Inara has just said.
However, Théoden has never heard Inara's voice change like this before, so he ignores her warning and leaves. Aragorn and Legolas are quick to follow him. This leaves Inara standing alone by the gate.
Looking out into the distance, Inara scans the horizon for any sign of Thorin and the volunteer army. But there is no sign of them. Yet there is something that Inara does recognizes. A raven is flying towards her with great speed, like its parents. Holding her arm up, Inara watches as the raven dives towards her. With grace, and gentleness, the raven lands on Inara's forearm.
"What news my friend?" Inara asks the raven.
"Your mate is getting closer. He says the army and battle rams are ready. They have met up with the Wizard and the horse-men." The raven tells Inara.
"Thank you, Kitchi." Inara says as she pets his head gently. "Can you scout for me on our enemies whereabouts? I need to know just how far they truly are from here."
"What Queen Numees wants, she gets." The raven, Kitchi, replies before flying off in search of his quarry.
So there is part three for you all. I decided to give Tilda a little back story of her own.
Kitchi means "brave" in Native American Algonquin. Numees means "sister" in Native American Algonquin.
Algonquin is of a totally different Native American language from Ojibwe or Huron. But I figure that with Inara being part Native American, she would know some of the other native languages as well.
Part four will have the whole battle, so it might be a very long one. So not much is left for the Two Towers. Thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Reviews are welcomed and loved.
Selene.