Daughter of the Shapeshifter (A Lord of The Rings Fanfiction)

Chapter 28

As we march along to Helm's Deep, I noticed Eowyn staring at Aragorn the whole time.  Not that I was jealous, but I knew he had someone waiting on him.  Meantime, I rode with Legolas, who kept glancing over at me the entire time.  Gimili also watched me carefully.  Finally, after a few hours, I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously, guys, what are you doing?"  Gimili puffed his chest out proudly.

"Just making sure our friend isn't in any trouble at all."  Legolas smacked him upside the head as he shook his own.

"Actually, Gimili here claims to really like your, Era..."  Gimili turned beat red as he glared up at Legolas.

"First of all, that was meant to be secret.  Second, don't think I forgot what you said."  He lifed his eyebrows as he stood taller.  "If anyone may end up with her, it may be me because, no matter how many years you've seen, it's nothing in the eyes of another immortal."  I felt my heart sink a little as I shook my head.

"Sorry, guys, but...  I only consider you friends.  I really don't think that I could love again."  Legolas frowned as he looked at me.

"Because of Boromir?"  I nodded.  "What about Haldir?"  I shrugged.  Even if he does still love me, how do I know he'll forgive me for agreeing to marry Boromir in the first place?

If he's really willing to forgive you, it means he loves you...  I frowned and looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.  Was I imagining things, or did I really just hear Mother's voice?  Legolas frowned as he waved a hand in my face.

"Are you okay, Era?"  I looked back at him and shook my head, shaking the voice from my head.

"Yeah, I'm fine..."  He smiled a little and shook his head.

"I swear, Era, you tend to be more down to earth than your mother..."  I tried not to think of Mother as we continued on the road.

Helm's Deep was a huge, dark castle hidden in a very rocky terrain.  I frowned as I looked up at it while we approached.  Aragorn approached me and smiled a little.

"You okay?"  I nodded at the tower.

"Are we sure we can defend this place?"  There were way too many cliffs behind it, making it easy to come in from behind.  "Besides, how do we know this place hasn't been discovered?"  He shrugged as he looked at it.

"It's exactly what I was thinking...  That's why I came looking for you.  We want you to scout it out and see if you can see any enemies."  I nodded and shifted into a raven, flying towards the stronghold.

The place was large and seemingly empty, but I couldn't pick up a scent.  It seemed long abandoned, but I still didn't trust this place.  Without thinking, I flew over it and took a look at the land surrounding us.  In the distance, I saw a dark, very small shape.  Extending my senses, I smelled the air, trying to pick up a scent.  I shook my head as the scent nearly knocked me over.  Flying back to Aragorn, I huffed and puffed, trying to catch my breath.

"The place is clear, but I don't like it, Aragorn."  He frowned at me.

"What do you mean?"  I pointed at the tower.

"Whoever built this place made it too easy to breach the walls from behind.  Also, it looks as though no one's been here in at least 100 years, if not, 1,000 years.  But, that isn't all.  We have another problem."

"What type of problem?"  I jumped at the voice behind me.  It was Gandalf and King Theoden.  I took a deep breath and lowered my voice.

"We've got Orcs coming towards us, and they're about half a day's journey from here.  We've got until tonight at least before they reach us."  King Theoden looked at Aragorn, who had paled.

"Get everyone inside and gather the men.  Every boy over the age of 15 should join ranks and prepare to fight.  The women and children should find shelter in the great halls of the tower."  He turned to me.  "I want you to stay back and see to it that the women and children are safe."  I nodded and found Eowyn.

"Eowyn, I really need your help.  We have to get the women and children to safety.  I need you to help me gather all of them and help me lead them to the great halls of the tower."  Eowyn nodded and took off, spreading the word as she went.  I turned and found myself face to face with Legolas.

"Are you going to be alright, Era?"  I rolled my eyes at him.

"Seriously?  I'm more worried about all the men.  I couldn't tell how many there were, but it was more than 3 hosts of Orcs.  More than 10, even.  We only number to 600 or more people, and more than half of us are women or children."  He nodded as he looked at the sky.

"I know...  A lot of blood will be spilt tonight."  Looking me in the eye, he sighed.  "Just promise me that, no matter what, you will stay back with the others."  I nodded.

"I've been ordered to protect them, Legolas.  I refuse to leave them."  He smiled as he took my hand and kissed it.

"If I can't love you like I wish to, may I consider you a sister rather than a friend?"  I smiled at him.

"I guess, if you don't think my mother will mind.  However, I do have one condition..."  He tilted his head at me.

"And, what would that be?"  I thought for a second.

"Try not to get killed."  He chuckled and nodded.

"Of course, Era."  As he took off, I smiled a little.  It felt good to know that I had friends who truly cared about me, even if I didn't love them more than if they were friends.