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

Chapter 30

I was still cradling Haldir's corpse when I heard a horn that sounded vaguely familiar.  Nearby, someone shouted.

"It's the Rider's of Rohan!"  I smiled as I looked out to see the horsemen.  We will survive...

*Era's Pov-

After what felt like forever, I heard a knocking on the door.  I growled as I approached it, waiting to see what happens.  A gruff voice called out.

"Era!  Eowyn!  Open the door!"  Eowyn's eyes widened as I recognized the voice.

"Eomer!"  She raced over and flung open the door.  Outside, the sunlight shined brightly on Helm's Deep.  I frowned as Eowyn embraced Eomer.

"Is the battle over?"  He nodded as he looked over at me.

"Yes, Era...  It is over.  We won!"  I smiled and nodded to the women.

"We must tend to the wounded."  Without another word, I raced out, past Eomer and Eowyn, looking for Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimili, hoping that they would be okay.  When I found them, I stopped short.  "What happened?"  Aragorn turned to face me while the other two stood shoulder to shoulder, trying to hide something.

"Era..."  I looked around and felt my frown deepen as I saw elves.

"Elves of Lothloria..."  My harsh whisper cracked as I realized that...  "Haldir...  Where is he?"  Legolas swallowed hard.

"Era..."  I growled as I brushed past Aragorn and pushed between Gimili and Legolas.

"No!"  Tears streamed down my face as I collapsed by the body they had tried to hide.  It was Haldir...  He was dead.  I sobbed quietly into Haldir's shoulder, ignoring the others as I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Era..."  I felt anger rage within me as I looked up and glared at Aragorn.

"What happened to him?  How did he die?  Tell me who killed him so I can avenge him!"  Aragorn shook his head at me.

"He was attacked from behind as we were retreating during the battle...  We slew every Orc who dared to come near the corpse until the end of the battle.  I'm sorry, Era."  Fresh tears streamed down my face as I buried my face in Haldir's cold shoulder, feeling abandoned.

"First Boromir...  Now, Haldir..."  I shook my head, refusing to believe it.  "How many must die for our cause?  How many more will die trying to protect me?"  I looked up at Aragorn knelt down beside me.  "I never got to tell him how sorry I was.  He was my best friend...  He saved my life hundreds of times, and I turned my back on him for Boromir..."  Aragorn pulled me into a hug, just like I knew Father would have if he were here.

"He said he was sorry, Era.  He loved you, but he was upset.  He wanted you to know he forgave you for leaving him and that he was sorry for forcing you to make the choice between his friendship and Boromir's."  I cried into Aragorn's shoulder as Legolas knelt down beside us.

"We are all sorry, Era.  He was a good elf..."  I shook my head as I pushed Aragorn and stood, trembling.

"I can't take it anymore...  I have to do something."  My mind began to race.  "I could go to Isenguard and destroy that tower brick by brick...  Then...  I could go to Mordor myself and face Sauron.  Make him pay for taking those I cared about most in this world!"  Gimili caught my arm as I brushed by.

"No way, lass...  We won't let you.  You could be taken again."  I glared at him through my tears.

"I dare our enemy to try...  I'll wipe out all of his forces before I submit to that...  That..."  I took a shaky breath as I shook my head.  "I don't even know what to call him!"  I turned and saw Gandalf approaching.

"Acting hastily will only make matters worse, Era."  He smiled gravely.  "In the meantime, we must ride for Isenguard.  The Ents from the woods surrounding Isenguard attacked last night as we fought and managed to defeat the defences."  He nodded at each of us.  "We must leave."  I looked back at Haldir's body.

"Please, allow me a moment."  With that, I knelt down beside him and took a shaky breath as I whispered in his ear.  "I'm so sorry, Haldir...  I just...  I..."  I shook my head as I drained what energy I had left in the necklace he gave me and tranferred it into my original necklace.  Taking Haldir's necklace, I tucked it into the pocket on his breast.  "I can't bear a reminder of what I did to you...  But, I will always remember you.  I will survive this, and I will avenge you."  Kissing his forehead, I stood and turned to face the others.  "I'm ready..."  Aragorn nodded and motioned for me to follow them.

Boromir was killed fighting by my side to protect Merry and Pippin...  Haldir was killed fighting alongside the people of Rohan with the hope of surviving and seeing me again.  I looked down at where the necklace used to rest.  Like my heart, my neck felt completely empty now that I had paid attention to the absence of the reminder of our friendship.  I shook my head as I mounted a horse beside Aragorn.

"Era!"  Eowyn and Eomer came running up.  I forced a smile for their sake.

"My friends...  Duty calls me away."  Eowyn smiled as she took my hand.

"I wanted to give you a token of our friendship, Era."  With that, she slipped a single, silver band onto my wrist.  Eomer watched me carefully as she did.

"Are you okay?"  I nodded at him and smiled at Eowyn.

"Thank you, my friend.  I promise never to forget either of you."  With that, I looked up and started after Aragorn and Gandalf, feeling less hopeless as we rode for Isenguard.  No...  I would never forget anyone I considered a friend or ally for as long as I lived.