3rd Person
Théoden and Aragorn ride through the encampment at Dunharrow, surveying Rohan's army.
"Grimbold, how many?" Théoden asks
"I bring five hundred men from the Westfold, my Lord," Grimbold replies
"We have three hundred more from Fenmarch." Gamling calls
"Where are the riders from Snowbourn?" Théoden asks
"None have come, my Lord," Gamling tells him
From a small, high encampment, Théoden surveys his army.
"Six thousand spears. Less than half of what I'd hoped for." Théoden says to Aragorn
"Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor," Aragorn replies
"More will come," Théoden says very sure
"Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have till dawn. Then we must ride." Aragorn reminds him
Théoden nods. A horse rears.
"The horses are restless, and the men are quiet." Legolas comments
"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain," Éomer says to the elf
"That road there, where does that lead?" Gimli asks
"It is the road to the Dimholt; the door under the the mountain," Legolas tells him
"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil." Éomer says
Aragorn looks down the path and sees a shadowy profile.
"Aragorn, let's find some food," Gimli says to him startling him.
At night, inside a tent, Éowyn helps Merry dress for battle.
"There. A true esquire of Rohan." Éowyn says
"I'm ready!" Merry exclaims
Merry draws his sword. Éowyn leans back, startled but amused.
"Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp." Merry says
Lyra
"Well, that's no good. You won't kill many orcs with a blunt blade. Come on! To the smithy, go!" Éowyn tells him.
Merry exits the tent, taking practice swings. Éowyn follows, laughing. Éomer and Gamling sit nearby, eating. I watch smiling from where I stood by a tree waiting for Legolas.
"You should not encourage him," Éomer says
"You should not doubt him," Éowyn replies to her brother
"I do not doubt his heart, just the reach of his arm," Éomer mutters
Gamling chuckles.
"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?" Éowyn asks
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?" Éomer asks
"He would flee, and he would be right to do so. War is the province of men, Éowyn." Éomer tells her
"I do not think so. I have seen the courage of hobbits more than once while traveling with them. I believe he would fight." I say walking over.
"War is not for hobbits or women," Éomer says
I growl "No, it is. Do you think Sauron will stop with the race of Men? No! He will kill or imprison any who would stand against him. He would see everyone enslaved and the world burned to ash. So war is not just Men's problem. Every race in Middle-Earth will face it if we don't win. So he has as much right to fight" I tell him anger rising in my chest.
"Calm down Melamin" comes Legolas' voice behind me. He comes and stands behind me arms around me, hands on my stomach.
"Understand this Éomer son of Éomund: War will effect not only Men but all races, that includes hobbits. If we were to lose this fight, Sauron would take over our world and it wouldn't be just Men who suffer hobbits and other races will too" I say and Legolas and I walk away to our tent.
Translations:
Melamin - My love
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Skin-Walker (#Wattys2017)
FanfictionLyra Lane is the last of her race the Skin-Walkers of Middle-Earth. Lord Elrond takes her in after learning her dark past and that she is alone in the world. He then asks her to join the Fellowship four years later. She accepts though some of them a...
