Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 30: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Cathy:

"Are you certain of this?" Aragorn asked as we walked along the wall.

I glanced at the Uruk-hai army that was now a few hundred yards away. "Yeah," I breathed.

Shortly after we arrived, the Uruk-hai's chanting filled the crevice of Helm's Deep and within the hour, their torches were spotted. Aragorn and Lord Théoden sprung into action and got everyone into position. Some of the elves stood on what everyone called the Deeping Wall and some stood behind it. They gripped their bows, and stared unblinkingly ahead. The rest of the men were on the Hornburg's walls which was the main fortress. Abby went off with Legolas and Gimli while I walked with Aragorn through the fortress to try to get a general idea of the place while he continued to get everyone else into position.

His entire focus was on the men and elves. There were a couple elves he stopped at and grasped their forearm. He would thank them in elvish along with a few other things that I couldn't understand. I could only guess, judging by his face and motions, that he was expressing gratitude.

"This will not be like the mines," Aragorn warned me.

"Yeah, I know." I swallowed and took a deep breath. "Look, Aragorn, I'm sorry for nearly breaking your promise."

"Well, as you said earlier, you found a way around my promise without necessarily breaking it." He sighed and shook his head. "I will just have to more thorough with you from now on." A shadow of a smile played on his face for a split second.

"Is there a way to make it up to you?"

"Stay close. I will not allow you to fall into Saruman's hands, again."

He turned to go up a set of stairs, but I grabbed his hand to stop him. A sickening feeling churned in my stomach as a thought crossed my mind.

"If they get a hold of me," I said, shakily. "If they get a hold of me, I want you to do something."

He frowned.

I swallowed and took a shaky breath. "I want you to kill me."

He opened his mouth, but halted.

I bit my lip. "Give an order to an archer or someone if you can't but if they get their hands on me, please, kill me. Death is better than what Saruman and them have planned for me and for everyone else."

He was quiet for a few moments. He stared down at our hands his face unreadable. He closed his eyes and nodded.

"I will," he quietly said.

"Thank you." I released his hand. It felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. "Also, since we're on the topic of my life, Abby told me about the sketchbook."

"She did?"

"And the drawings."

He was quiet. "You think your ties to this world are weakening?"

I shrugged. "I guess? I don't know, Aragorn. I have absolutely no memory of those drawings." I shook my head. "I thought I was fine as long as I still had that Wraith scar."

He rested a hand on my shoulder. "We are here to help, Catherine. If we make it through the night, we will figure this out."

My heart swelled. "Thank you. It means a lot to me."

He squeezed my shoulder. "I have to speak to Haldir. I will meet you with Legolas, Gimli, and Abby."

"Okay."