Bravery and Courage. Found on the Battlefield.

Chapter four: Goodbye, my friend.

Arneth's POV.
Today, it is a day of sorrow. Today is the day we bury Théodred, my friend and my partner in crime when I would stay in Rohan. I walked on Théodens left as he led the procession of the funeral. When he was told he just nodded and went back inside. I followed him and both Éowyn and I soothed him while he cried, no one else was allowed into the hall for the rest of that day, not even Gandalf. Once Théoden had finally regained enough composure he walk over and picked up my cloak. Which I had completely forgotten about. He smiled as he handed it to me and then all three of us went to see Théodred's body. He looks at peace, but my emotions were far from it. Éowyn and I had a silent cry as we watched Théoden hug and kiss his sons forehead for the last time. Then he went about arranging the funeral, which is taking place now. Members of the Rohirrim carry Théodred on their shoulders and as I look up I see Éowyn waiting at the entrance of the tomb with all the other women. The reason I'm in the procession, Théodred would've wanted it, according to Théoden. As we get to the tomb, his body is passed through the peoples hands and as I reach up to help him I notice Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli step up beside me. I take up the initiative and take Théodred's head into my hands as Gimli somehow supports his back and Legolas and Aragorn take his legs. As we make our way intothe tomb to place Théodred down Éowyn begins to sing.

"Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended
giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende
on Meduselde þæt he ma no wære
his dryhtne dyrest and mæga deorost.
Bealo...
(An evil death has set forth the noble warrior
A song shall sing sorrowing minstrels
in Meduseld that he is no more,
to his lord dearest and kinsmen most belover.
An evil death...)".

She has a beautiful voice and once she had sung the last words the door to the tomb closed. I watched on as the crowd dispersed. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli seeing that I was with Gandalf, left with Éowyn and I stayed rooted to my spot staring at the tomb of my dear friend with tears in my eyes as his father and Gandalf start to speak. "A Simblemynë. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my fore bearers. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas that these evil days should be mine. The young
perish, and the old linger. That I should live to see the last days of my house" Théoden said. "Théodred's death was not of your making." Gandalf argued back. "No parent should have to bury their child" Théoden choked out and I wept harder as I watched Théoden fall to his knees and weep in front of the sealed door. If I thought losing parents were hard it must be unbearable to know that you have outlived your own child. I do not think I would be able to cope with that. "He was strong in life, his spirit will find it's way to the halls of your fathers. Westu hál. Ferðu, Théodred, Ferðu. (Be-thou well. Go-thou, Théodred, go-thou.)" Gandalf said. I turned around to make my way back when I saw a horse coming towards us. Just then a boy fell off the horse who stopped, and a little girl was on its back. "GANDALF!" I yelled as I sprinted towards the boy who was passed out on the grass. Theoden and Gandalf were close behind me as I tried to wake the boy. "I will bring him back to the keep Arneth you bring the horse and the little girl." Théoden says as he scoops up the boy and I nod. Gandalf goes with Théoden as I turn towards the horse. "Hello sweetheart, are you ok? What's your name?" I asked her. "My names Freda. What's yours?" she asks. "I'm Arneth. I'm going to bring you back with me now would you like me to hop and and we'll run or I can take the reins and we walk, it's not that far?" I ask again. She smiles and says "We can run, but the horse will need sleep after it.". I nod and hop onto the horse behind her, grabbing the reins and nudging the horse into a gallop. We were back at the keep ten minutes later.

I hand the horse off to a stable hand and pick Freda off it and carry her. As we get inside I see the boy running around panicked but as soon as I enter with Freda he, along with Legolas, Gimli and my brother, visibly relax. I put Freda down and take her hand, then I take her brothers hand and lead them both to a table where bowls of food were put in front of them. Less than a minute later both Freyda and her brother have blankets over their shoulders also. A few minutes later I was sitting opposite Freda and her brother, whose name I found out is Éothain. "Where's mama?" Freda asks and Éothain shushes her as Éowyn smoothes her hair. I smile at the sight, although it is a bittersweet moment. I turn my head and find Gandalf, Théoden and Aragorn speaking together. I go sit with Legolas and Gimli and we share a few jokes. Towards the end of the night I fell asleep with my head on the table. When I woke up I found myself in the hall alone, I walk outside and sit down watching the approaching dawn, I didn't sleep long. My mind is preoccupied with worries for Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin and myself. I keep checking over my shoulder now. I know that I am a danger for people and that kills me. Aggravated, I rise to my feet and storm down the steps and towards the stables. I don't know why but being near horses always soothes me! I sit in Hasufel's stable and I hear people approach and as they start to speak I know that it's Gandalf and my brother. "Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight.
Who will defend them if not their King?" Gandalf says. "He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn replies. I hear them move closer and I crouch lower to the door. "There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them into safety. What they'll 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. Their defenses have to hold." Gandalf says as he stops at the stall opposite this one, Shadowfax's. "They will hold," Aragorn replies. "The gray pilgrim, that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time. With luck my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east." Gandalf says. "Go" Aragorn replies and I hear hoofbeats as Gandalf leaves.

He left... Why? Suddenly I hear a loud clatter and Legolas and Gimli come running into the stables. "Is Arneth with you?" Legolas sounds worried. "No, I thought she was with you!" Aragorn replies. I decide to scare them so I pop up and yell BOO! Aragorn and Gimli fall over and Legolas jumped at least two foot in fright. "WHY ARNETH?" they all yell at the same time as I laugh so hard I can't breathe. So then after I was sufficiently scolded by all three, we were sorting ourselves out for our departure for Helms Deep. I was saddling Hasufel when I saw two stable hands struggle with a horse. The horse is struggling against the ropes and has reared. "Ho." one of the stable hands says as the horse rears again. I drop the saddle and walk over to the horse. "The horse is half mad my lady. There's nothing you can do. Leave him." the other stable hand said and I waved him off. I walked towards the horse slowly and gently placed my hand on his face and speak gently to it in Elvish. "Fæste, stille nú, fæste, stille nú. Lac is drefed, gefrægon. (Fast, be quiet now, fast, be quiet now. A battle is stirred up, they heard.)" I say as I take the ropes of it. He stands quietly but the whites of his eyes are still visible. "Hwæt nemnað ðe? Hm? Hwæt nemnað ðe? (What is your name?'Hm? What is your name?)" I whisper to him, rubbing his face gently again. Then Éowyn is beside me. "His name is Brego. He was Théodred's." she tells me. "Brego? Ðin nama is cynglic. (Brego? Your name is kingly.)" I say gently to him stroking his mane. "Man le trasta, Brego? Man cenich? (What troubles you, Brego? What did you see?)" I continue to whisper to him. "I have heard of the magic of Elves, but I did not look for it in you Arneth. You speak as one of their own." Éowyn says to me, she was the only one that did not know about my background. "I was raised in Rivendell ... for a time. Turn this fellow free. He's seen enough of war." I say as I lead him towards the stable door. Once there I watch as he takes off, free from his worries, and though I know it's irrational, I can't help but envy him. The next thing we hear is "WE LEAVE NOW FOR HELMS DEEP.". As we walk away, I look back towards the direction of the tomb and look for a while. I mark the back of the group and finally decide I've lagged behind enough as I have the reins of Éothain and Freda's horse. As I walk away I say a final goodbye to my dear friend.

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Hey guys,
New chapter update. Hope you like it!
Let me know what you think.

~Annacricket