Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 28: Decisive Reunions

Cathy:

It's been over three hours since Aragorn dropped me off. Three hours to figure out how I'm going to make it to Helm's Deep. Three hours of coming up with some form of apology and excuse for when Aragorn yells at me.

So far, in those few hours, the only thing I was able to figure out was how to skip a rock across the stream.

I looked back up to where I last saw Aragorn riding off. So far, no black speck. I don't know if Abby is walking all the way here or riding. If she's walking, then I would have to wait longer. Wait to return to Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli. Wait to help them.

I gripped Estelone and the crystal glowed orange

I can now fully feel it in my bones: I have to help the people at Helm's Deep. A deep, gut force was compelling me to go.

I tossed another rock and it skipped three times before sinking.

Why this feeling? This feeling of eagerness to fight? Is it because it's Saruman's army? Is it because I now know that Darkness has a hand in all of this? Is it because this is just the start of what the people of this world and my world and many other worlds will be facing when Darkness emerges from its shadows?

Is it because I have thrown my life out of the window and now don't care for it anymore?

Nope, don't go down that path, Cathy. It was literally the only 'good' option at the time.

Good.

There's probably a lot of good, innocent, people at Helm's Deep. Will they have enough men to face the thousands of Uruk-hai?

I tossed another rock. It skipped two times before sinking.

If Sauron and Saruman are working with Darkness, does it mean that the army will also attack my world? Attack my friends? My family? How long until the fight reaches them?

So many lives. And Helm's Deep will just be the start

I tossed another rock and it landed with a big splash.

I ground my teeth and looked back up at the horizon. My eyes landed on a black spec far down the stream. It was coming in fast.

Was it Abby? I almost raised my arms, but stopped myself.

Better safe than sorry.

I ran over to the large crevice in the boulders and slid into it and steadied my breathing. I strained my ears, waiting for a sound. Soon I heard quick, heavy clicks gradually getting louder by the secodn. Within a minute, a horse galloped by with a petite rider.

Was that-?

I jumped from the crevice and stared at the rider. Small, slim figure, caramel hair, an outfit that looked similar to mine but cleaner and blue.

I grinned.

"Abby!" I called.

The rider jerked the reigns and the horse halted and turned. Sure enough, it was my best friend on the horse.

And the first thought that came to my mind was: How and when did she learn to ride a horse?

"Cathy?" She gasped. Her face went from shock to a huge grin. She jumped down from the horse and ran over to me. I dropped my staff and embraced her hug.

"Oh my God." She cried. "You're really here. You're really alive."

"Yeah," I laughed, tears rolling down my face. "Sorry about that. Things got a bit crazy back there." I stepped back to get a good look at her. "You look good. Hell of a lot better then I do." I looked down at my tattered and stained clothes.