Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 29: Another on the List of Impossibilities

Abby:

"We can't," I said in defeat.

Haldir frowned. "Why not?"

"I promised Aragorn that I'll wait for help," I explained.

"Technically," Cathy bit her lip. "If you said you were going to wait for help, then that's essentially what you are doing right now."

I frowned, but then it clicked. I looked between her and Haldir and the army of elves.

I was about to argue with Cathy, but she is, in a way, kind of right. Although, my full intentions were to wait for Gandalf...

"When will you leave?" Cathy asked Haldir.

"Very soon. I can give you two a short time to discuss and prepare, if need be." Haldir bowed, and disappeared into the elvish mass. The other elves around us stepped away, also disappearing into the army.

Cathy shook her head. "I can't wait, Abby. Everything in me is telling me to fight."

"I know," I nodded. "Trust me. I want to help protect the people at Helm's Deep as much as you."

"Then let's fight," she urged. "Besides, if we win this, it hits Saruman hard. If Saruman gets hit then Sauron should feel it too, and Darkness." She gripped her staff, and I couldn't help but notice that the crystal glowed dark red. Since when did her staff started doing that?

I bit my lip.

"I don't like going against Aragorn either," Cathy continued. "But I couldn't live with myself knowing that I could have helped him or the people at Helm's Deep or that I could have saved someone." Cathy's shoulders fell, and the crystal's red hue dissipated. "I just want to help, no matter what."

I bit my lip again. I felt for her, I really did. And I was in a similar boat. I don't want to go against Aragorn's order, yet, if I remember correctly, there was a loophole in my promise. But there was a great chance that we could die, either with a sword in the back or an arrow in the chest.

I suddenly remember my dream. I brushed it aside earlier because I thought it was crazy for elves to be fighting at Helm's Deep. But now? With Haldir's army marching to aid Helm's Deep? And the guard yelling to Aragorn, who I thought was dead at the time? And the woman's scream for Haldir? The more I think about it, it sounded a lot like Cathy. It seems that another one of my dreams will become a reality, again.

My hand brushed against my wrist, including the flower bracelet that the little girl from that morning gave me. That little girl will be in the caves fearing for her life. Fearing for her mother's life. Her brother's life. Her father's life. For all life. The smile she gave me after accepting her little gift. For some reason, when I tried to pictured the girl, she was wearing jeans and a frilly tank top with pigtails.

If my dream comes true, which seems to be the pattern, then Haldir will just be one of many that will die, and not just the men. The women. The children. My stomach churned at the thought of children falling into the hands of the Uruk-hai

I sighed and shook my head.

"For someone who claims to be a Ravenclaw, you sure fit into Slytherin quite nicely."

Cathy raised an eyebrow. "Is that a yes?"

I nodded. "It's a yes."

She grinned. "We can do this."

"We better, or I will so kill you."

Simultaneously, we raised our hands and high-fived each other.