Aravan {A Lord of the Rings Story}

E•L•E•V•E•N

A/N: Helloooo beautiful people! As I have promised, here is chapter 11! I feel like I need to add more detail to it, but I'm not sure what to add to make it fuller and more satisyfing. If you guys have any suggestions, please let me know!

Also, please welcome Odeya Rush, the actress I have chosen to portray Artanis, to the LOTR family! :)

E•L•E•V•E•N

The banging continued on for hours. Everyone sat in the safe hold huddled together as if that might somehow make them even less exposed to danger. But even though they were hidden, they knew: the danger was just outside the door. They knew from the unceasing clatters and screams from above, from the flickering candles and the whimpering children. Yes, they were safe for now; but probably not for long.

While Éowyn stood in front of the door with watchful eyes, Artanis sat cradling a boy who was too young to fight. She had learned that his name was Larcwide and that he could not seem to find his parents anywhere in the vast and intricate tunnels of the cave. And so, Artanis took him into her arms and rocked him back and forth and hummed Blue’s familiar tune in his ear while gently stroking his messy, blonde locks. His fearful brown eyes seemed to settle a little, and after awhile, his muscles loosened. Artanis found that she was able to share in his comfort, but at the same time, she was not able to share it all the way. She was still frightened.

It wasn’t the flickering candles that scared her, nor was it the incessant banging or the doubtful and terrified looks of the people. No, it was the shouting: the battle cries and the screams of pain and the wails of grief. She could only imagine the number of wise old men and ripe little boys losing their lives just outside the walls around her; she didn’t want to imagine. Constantly she told herself that she needed to calm down, at least for Larcwide’s sake. But she couldn’t help the shaking of her hands and the rapid beating of her heart. It was impossible to avoid.

She jumped as a boom, the loudest boom so far, resounded right outside of the door. Éowyn stood a little taller, but also backed away.

‘Artanis,’ she said, her voice quavering. ‘Please, come be by my side.’

Artanis nodded and looked to Larcwide.

‘I am going to put you down now, the lady Éowyn needs me. Will you be alright?’

He nodded and climbed out of her arms. She ruffled his hair as he went to find someone else to sit with. She approached Éowyn and obediently stood next to her, never allowing her eyes to leave the thick, oak doors.

‘Do you know why I asked you to come?’ Éowyn asked after a time had passed.

‘No,’ Artanis replied, ‘but you said come, and so I came.’

Éowyn gave her a strange look. ‘You are so loyal to me, Artanis. Why?’

Artanis looked at her. ‘I suppose it is because I trust you.’

‘And why do you trust me?’

‘Because you are the lady Éowyn,’ she said, ‘shield maiden of Rohan, and the woman who vowed to take care of me no matter what in my darkest hour.’

She smiled. ‘Do you trust me even now?’

‘Yes. Of course.’

She pursed her lips and nodded, then tore her eyes away and fixed them on the door.

‘Look there,’ she said, ‘right near the handles. What do you see?’

Artanis squinted. ‘A crack.’