An Olympian's Daughter

The Kings sword

Théoden and Aragorn ride through the encampment at Dunharrow, surveying Rohan's army.

Théoden calls out to his man "Grimbold, how many?"
"I bring five hundred men from the Westfold, my Lord." Grim old answers.

Gamling hollers "We have three hundred more from Fenmarch."

Théoden look concerned "Where are the riders from Snowbourn?"
"None have come, my Lord." From a small, high encampment, Théoden surveys his army.

Théoden stands looking down at the camps below. "Six thousand spears. Less than half of what I'd hoped for."
Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor." Aragorn says walking up next to him.
Théoden echos only hoping "More will come."
"Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have till dawn. Then we must ride." Aragorn says with haste.

Théoden nods. A horse rears. "The horses are restless, and the men are quiet." Hali say looking around.
Éomer answers "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."

"That road there, where does that lead?" Gimli asks looking down the shadowed path. "It is the road to the Dimholt; the door under the the mountain." Legolas responds, Hali feels a shiver run up her spine as she too stares down the shadowed path. "None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil."

Aragorn looks down the path and sees a shadowy profile. "Aragorn, let's find some food." Gimli calls out drawing both the rangers and the paladin's attention away from the dark path. At night, inside a tent, Éowyn helps Merry dress for battle.

Éowyn pats Merry's shoulders "There. A true esquire of Rohan."
"I'm ready!" Merry draws his sword. Éowyn leans back, startled but amused. "Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp." Merry blushes looking down at his dull blade.
"Well that's no good. You won't kill many orcs with a blunt blade. Come on! To the smithy, go!" Èowyn pushes him in that direction.

Merry exits the tent, taking practice swings. Éowyn follows, laughing. Éomer and Gamling sit nearby, eating. "You should not encourage him." Her brother calls out to her while sitting by the fire. "You should not doubt him." She hisses at him.
"I do not doubt his heart, just the reach of his arm." Gamling chuckles.
Éowyn looks disappointed at her elder brother "Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause go to war as you! Why can he not fight for those he loves?"

Éomer stands to face his sister. "You know as little of war as that Hobbit. When the fear takes him, and the blood and the screams and the horror of battle take hold, do you think he would stand and fight? He would flee, and he would be right to do so. War is the province of men, Éowyn."

Aragorn wakes with a shout, drawing his knife. A soldier stands in the tent doorway. "Sir? King Théoden awaits you, my Lord."

Aragorn walks to the king's tent.
Aragorn enters Théoden's tent. Théoden stands next to a seated, cloaked figure. "I take my leave." The king exits his own tent. The cloaked figure stands and approaches Aragorn, lifting his hood.

Aragorn bows "My Lord, Elrond."
I come on behalf of one whom I love." Elrond says with sorrow in his tone. "Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come."
"It will not be our end but His."

"You ride to war but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, as you know, but in secret He sends another force, which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They'll be in the city in two days."

Ships are shown gliding through the water, past burning buildings.

"You're outnumbered, Aragorn. You need more men."

"There are none." Aragorn stresses before Elrond brings up those who broke their oath once to a King of Gondor, "There are those who... dwell in the mountain."

A flash is shows of a ghost.

"Murderers! Traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They answer to no one."

"They will answer to the King of Gondor!" Elrond reveals a sword.
"Andúril... Flame of the West. Forged from the shards of Narsil."

"Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil." Aragorn draws the sword. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."

"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road." Elrond commands.

Aragorn looks uncertain.

"Ónen i-Estel Edain." Elrond whispers unto his ears only
(I gave Hope to the Dúnedain.)

"Ú-chebin Estel anim." He finishes, for he had read these words so many times before.
(I have kept no hope for myself.)

Aragorn readies his horse to depart. Éowyn approaches.

"Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle!" Éowyn struggling for words "You cannot abandon the men."

"Éowyn..." he calls out to her getting cut off by her plea for him to stay.

"We need you here." She pleads with him. "Why have you come?" Aragorn asks her looking away from his horse.

"Do you not know?" She looks at him puzzled,

"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek. I have you wished you joy since first I saw you."

He touches her face then turns away.
Éowyn is shocked and saddened.
Aragorn approaches the Dimholt road alone. "Just where do you think you're off to?" "Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli."

Legolas appears with his horse. "Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" Legolas teases them both. "Might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie." "And just where do you think you three are going without me hmm" Hali looks down from her tall stallion "if you left without me it be a sure way now if you would return, come on boys we've got our own ghost king to find" she giggles before heading to the point in the mountain.

The three follow behind her off on the Dimholt road, as soldiers look on.

"What's happening?" "Where's he going?" "I don't understand."
"Lord Aragorn!" "Lady Hali" soldiers mutter and call out to the two of them. They disappear into the darkness.
"Why does he leave on the eve of battle?" "He leaves because there is no hope." Gambling answers with a seldom face. Théoden looks back at his men "He leaves because he must."
"Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor." Gamling says. "No, we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless." Théoden musters his courage.

At dawn, Éowyn is approached by her uncle. "I have left instructions. The people are to follow your rule in my stead. Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill."
Éowyn looks shocked at her uncle "What other duty would you have me do, my lord?" "Duty? No. I would have you smile again. Not grieve for those whose time has come." Théoden strokes his niece's cheeks with a sad smile on his lips.
"You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair."