This chapter has some action i hope you like it! also as verity gets her memories back her personality will come out more.
I had ignored how hungry I was; solely focused on learning the language I didn't hear my stomach interrupting us. The sun was rising and people around us began to stir. Gimli was gone and his bedroll. Did I not hear him get up at all? Lóth nin he's said that before. Nin means my. What does the other word mean? His tone of voice made it seem as an endearment. I blushed at the thought. I really loved spending time with him; he was very understanding and patient, much like Aragorn. But Legolas felt different, he didn't feel like a big brother. Maybe because I didn't want him to be a big brother. I stood up and stretched, still sleepy, and followed him to a wooden cart where a woman was handing out cups of a brothy soup. We stood silently drinking the soup. I think I like silence with Legolas as much as I like speaking with him.
"Verity, Legolas" I turned around and saw Aragorn walking towards us and the cart, probably to get himself some breakfast. We watched as he got himself a cup of the brothy soup and walked over and stood by us. He began discussing warg and orc activity with Legolas. Every now and then he would glance at me then they would switch to elvish. They spoke so quickly and used none of the words I learned, I had no hope of following the conversation. I long finished my soup and had already returned my cup to the woman manning the cart and walked back to them. They were both laughing and joking now, switching back and forth between English and elvish. I frowned and grumbled "I'm starting to understand how Gimli feels" crossing my arms over my chest. Legolas chuckled at me
"You may freely join our conversation lóth nin."[my flower] Aragorn gave him a strange look hearing the elvish but didn't say anything about the term.
My brows raised to the challenge I could do this. I could speak a simple sentence that would blow their socks off! I took a deep breath and turned to Aragorn
"Aragorn nin mellon Suilad" [Aragorn friend my hello] I said confidently he quirked a brow and looked back and forth between Legolas and I.
"You should find a better teacher" he said laughing. I burned with a blush. Legolas seemed to be holding in his laughter for my sake "your pronunciation is improving" he said finally which made both Aragorn and I laugh.
"We should reach Helms Deep by midday" Aragorn said before we all parted ways. This gave me an overwhelming feeling of dread. I know we're not safe on the plains, but Helms Deep… Gandalf said we'd find no refuge there. Every step I took felt like I was marching to my own execution. The day dragged on, my feet slugged through the tall prairie grass. A scream called out in the distance behind me, I turned seeing giant goblin creatures, sat atop of grotesque wolves galloping down the plains towards the line. Guards and men on horses rushed past me to defend their people. The women and child in the line fled at all sides seeming the explode the line, dividing it asunder. No longer caring to stay together, fleeing for their lives. I felt myself running and gripping my dagger without my thought, when did I grab it? My thoughts were clouded by the sound of anguish, drowned out by the women and children sobbing. I was running towards the battle. Several guards lay lifeless their bodies mangled, the stench was overwhelming, a rich iron. Men on horses zoomed past me fearless, swords drawn slicing and cutting orcs and wargs alike. What am I doing here I can't fight. I dismissed the thought running hesitantly towards an orc who had already set his sight on me. I trembled holding my dagger, as we met eyes. His eyes were black; he smiled showing his pointy teeth. I froze. He was relishing this slaughter, I felt anger surge through me. He swung his sword to my shoulder I dodged just as I had training with Aragorn. Could I attack him? This is why I'm here isn't it? Could I live with myself? We continued on our dance, my panic rising as I realized how out of breath I was already. I can't defend forever. I can't distract him forever. His blade graced my shoulder causing me to cry out. I quickly moved on offense, no longer holding back. My life depends on destroying his. The life of those around me. He lunged at me knocking me to the ground on my back.
I yelped holding my dagger out as I fell, closing my eyes to protect myself from the trauma I'd see. Black blood oozed and gushed out spraying my face and neck, his body twitched as his breaths became gurgled until ceasing. I screamed hyperventilating under his weight,
and the thought I just killed someone.
"I'm so sorry" I whispered my shoulder seared in pain. I used all my strength to roll his body off of mine enough to crawl out from under him. My dagger was still embedded in his neck and when I pulled it out even more black blood covered my hand. I stood in shock, my eyes wide, adrenalin pumping through my veins, an arm grabbed me I turned almost in slow motion and saw Aragorn he was shouting at me but I couldn't understand him, it was as if I were underwater I looked at him confused and he ran to slay an approaching orc. I stood there watching the battle in a daze. The orcs blood had soaked my tunic and stuck to my skin like a deep shame. Men were screaming all around me, I could see Legolas up ahead shooting down wargs with arrows, my eyes felt blurry. I tried to focus on Legolas's form. An orc came up behind me; I turned to him still in a daze. My hand still gripped the dagger. I stared at him as he raised his sword over his head. My eyes weren't wide with panic anymore instead I felt as though I were watching the scene in a movie and it wasn't happening to me. I sluggishly dodged the sword. My shoulder burned as my red blood mingled with the orcish black blood that covered my tunic. A part of me wanted to die, not wanting to live after what I did. Even with my eyes shut I could imagine how the orc looked as the life left his eyes. The orc in front of me moved to attack again, my body reacted on auto pilot dodging. I was walking backwards dodging his blows. Someone called my name but it didn't feel like it belonged to me, I still felt underwater. I continued the dance with the orc, dodging his blows taking a step back. An arrow shot through the orc in front of me its blood splattered my face, I felt numb to it. I didn't scream, I stood still watching his body fall backwards.
A hand grabbed my arm turning me. It was Legolas, he was shouting at me the same way Aragorn had. Still I couldn't understand what he was saying. His form seemed blurry; I saw his hands move along my shoulder checking the injury. I did not feel it, my body was numb. He continued shouting, staring at me he grabbed my elbow to drag me away, I reacted on auto pilot, almost feral. Yanking my arm out of his hold, holding my dagger close to my body standing still. My eyes half lidded blinking slowly. What ever was happening didn't feel real, it didn't feel as if it were happening to me. He continued to speak now no longer shouting his tone was softer, he continued to reach and grab for me each time I dodged swiftly. He seemed to sigh, and grabbed me with both his hands so quickly I could not dodge. My body fought against him, squirming trying to run. He held me close to him; his arms encircled my back, his head bent down next to my ear. He whispered elvish songs into my ear. I felt my body go limb in his hold and I succumbed to darkness.
"Again!" My father shouted, 14 year old me sighed and wiped the sweat off her brow, gritting her teeth. They began to fight in hand to hand combat; in a way that showed routine. This was something they did together often. Her dad stopping to correct her irritation laced his voice. They began again the girl was pouring sweat her face red, her breath heavy. He tripped her causing her to fall on her face in the dirt. He reached out a hand to help her up "That's what I was sayi-"she interrupted him "I don't want to be like you dad I don't want to fight and be like you." she cried, picking herself up off the ground running away from him.
I awoke being lowered onto a makeshift cot. I looked around, my surroundings were all gray, the stone walls seemed to echo how dull I felt. Legolas stood over me frozen, seeing I was now awake. His eyes were laced with concern. He must have been the one to lower me into the cot. I sat up wincing at the pain in my shoulder. "Where are we?" I asked my throat felt dry my voice was hoarse. He reached out and brushed a hair that had strayed from braid out of my face.
"Hornburg" he said I looked down at myself I wore a new tunic and leggings, and had a bandage over my shoulder. That was real then. That happened. I sat up bringing my knees to my chest "I killed that orc" I said quietly. He grabbed my hand standing there comforting me urging me to continue. I shoved his hand away not wanting his kindness. His eyes looked pained when I did this. I killed an orc. I ran to the battle with the sole purpose to hurt.
"Why does my throat hurt?" I asked
His eyes flashed again with pain and turmoil. "You were screaming in your sleep."
I looked down not meeting his gaze that seemed to bore into me. I felt bad for disturbing him so deeply with my screams. How long had I been asleep? How long had he had to listen to it?
"Where is everyone else? What do we do now?" I flew into a coughing fit my throat burned.
"Gimli is with the king, ara…" he trailed off
"Aragorn? where is he?" I asked
"Aragorn fell in battle." He said his voice wavering full of emotion.
I stood up dizzy and wobbled on my feet "no he didn't I saw him." I said matter of factly and bent down to put on my boots that were placed next to the cot.
He placed a hand on my back "yes Verity, I'm sorry he fell over the cliff" he spoke grimly. My body tensed and I froze. Aragorn has fallen? Aragorn who protected me, who acted as my brother. He has fallen because of them. Because of the orcs. Would he have fallen if I were not there? If were not distracted by me?
"Then we will make them pay" I said my voice full of venom. I finished getting my boots on stuffing the dagger inside my left one and stormed out of the room, ignoring Legolas's cries and protest for me. I walked angrily along the streets, glaring at anyone who looked at me. The gray stone path and walls of the buildings seemed to swallow me in their melancholy. I walked on until I walked right through the gates of the city and into the field before it.
I wanted to kill them all, my body churned with a newfound bloodlust. I sat in the field quaking in my rage. Part at myself for what I have done. The feeling flowed through me, a small shrub laced with thick thorns grew at the base of my feet. I looked at it curiously, stooping down to touch it with my hands. I jumped back as the thorns pierced my fingertips. I gasped with surprise, this gift, this gift that was once soft blossoms, now was dark unforgiving thorns. If I could build a wall of this… no what am I thinking, do I want to cause more hurt and pain? Yes. I stood straight now; yes I think that I do. I walked back to the keep the sun hung low in the sky; I walked through the causeway, blood dripping from my left index finger I didn't care. The streets were emptier than before. The faces I saw were hard and grim, their skin almost matching the gray of their surroundings.
"He's alive?!" I heard someone gasp behind me I turned around
"Lord Aragorn!"
"How has he returned?"
I followed the sound of voices cutting through narrow alleys. Then I saw him, he clung to his horse, his jaw was swollen and forming a bruise. He was limping, even while he tried to stand tall. Fury burned inside of me once again seeing his pain. But he was alive. I ran to him "Aragorn nin mellon "[friend my] I yelled as I approached he smiled when he saw me. As I got closer I saw deep purple bruises forming in his neck trailing up to where his jaw was swollen. He smelt of sweat and mildew. Legolas strode to him from behind me, "I must speak with the King." He said grasping Legolas's arm to steady himself and Legolas led to him where the king was, I followed close by. I wasn't invited, but I do not want to be far from Aragorn, the grief of losing a friend still to fresh.
"I have seen the army that marches on this keep" Aragorn said once we reached the king his voice was strong and noble. "All Isengard is emptied it is a host so great that-"
"A great host you say, how many?" Théoden shouted interrupting him; he began pacing lost in thought.
"Ten thousand strong at least." I gulped ten thousand orcs? "They will be here by nightfall."
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall!" Théoden bellowed "Any man who can walk or lad who can lift a sword. They will defend our keep with blood and honor. We will cover the causeway and the gate from above; no army has ever breached the Deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg!"
"The valley will run with the blood of Isengard this night!" Théoden rang out no longer pacing now facing Aragorn "let Saruman the white try what he will. He will hear the ring of our swords and the cries of our victory all the way from his black tower" he spat out
A sound of metal scraping stone sprang my attention and I turned to my left and saw Gimli his axe scraping the ground "this is no rabble of mindless Orcs!" he shouted lifting his axe in his hand, so now it no longer lazily scraped the ground. "These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad."
Théoden marched towards him pointing at him "I have fought many wars master dwarf… I know how to defend my keep." He turned and continued pacing and spoke into the room "They will break upon this fortress like water on rock; Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn. We've seen it before. "
He trailed off then adjusted his sleeves "Crops can be resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls we will outlast them."
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages" Aragorn raised his voice "they come to destroy its people… down to the last child"
I turned and started walking away no longer wishing to be close to Aragorn or eavesdrop. Is this the end? Are we all going to die tonight? How can we possibly defeat ten thousand?
I was at the edge of the room now my back to the wall. The king was screaming now losing all of his composure spit flying from his mouth as he screamed.
"Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? We are alone, Lord Aragorn."
"Get the women and children to the caves!" I ran out of the room now and into the city my stomach a sinking pit. They plan to lock the most vulnerable in a cage? And how will they escape when the city is fallen? They'll be cornered nowhere to run against the savages. Slaughtered. I froze where I stood, relieving the battle before, the orcs body on top of mine, the smell of iron. Men hurried past me, women and children sobbed embracing their loved ones for what they thought would be their last time. All parting around me. A man sobbed holding his newborn to his chest then handing the baby off to a stranger. I was gripping my dagger breathing heavily, when had I grabbed it from my boot?