Another Life

Chapter 21 - Oh yeah, I'm a woman...

Gimli first tended to my wounds, quiet, and when I didn't speak, he asked, “Is there something you need to talk about?”

“I ...don't know.”

“Say it, lass. I am a friend and you will not focus until it is said.” Gimli's hands were soft, his own face haunted, his eyes on the scrapes.

“I tried to save Hama. I saw ...I saw his death. I see them sometimes. Not you, or anyone now, but...” I shut my eyes, telling him, telling him what I'd seen. What I'd tried to do. And how I couldn't change it. Gimli didn't speak, he stared at me, but ...he was quiet, calm, watching me, with no judgement on his face.

“We can sometimes change our lives or the lives of others.” Gimli said softly. “Sometimes. But when we cannot, we must accept it.”

“It's easier said than done...”

“Aye. But we try.”

“Do you see things?” Gimli's words made me hesitate as he wrapped a light cloth over the cut and sat back up. I watched him carefully.

“Sometimes dwarves see things, yes. It isn't just Elves who have that gift. We view it as a gift. Some of us are able to change our lives. Some of us cannot. But men, dwarves and even Elves can go mad with the grief when they cannot change it. Sometimes it has to be left alone.” Gimli spoke quietly, his eyes down. “To answer your question, aye. I have seen things. But nothing that I have changed. You say you changed one thing. Think of it as a gift, girl, that one moment.”

A gift. Boromir's life had been a gift, granted to both of us, something I had changed. I nodded, breathing in slowly, and Gimli stood.

“Now, we must do our best. Help these people. Aragorn would expect no less if he were-” He trailed off, eyes shut, and I nodded, standing. “We will defend them.”

“We will.” I agreed.

We carried things in, side by side, trying to help. There seemed like an endless amount of supplies but from Eowyn's face, it was clear it wasn't enough, not for everyone. She smiled a tense smile at me, but her face was white, and I swore tears were just cracking. Aragorn. She'd liked him. Who could blame her?

“Are you in the caves with us?” She asked, tense, as we paused to accept water. I stared at her and Eowyn added, impatient, “The women and children are ordered to remain in the caves. But you are free, you are not bound by our King.” There was a flash of pain, frustration, she gritted her teeth as she glanced back. “While I am bound to serve his will.”

“And protect them.”

She nodded, vaguely, eyes distant. “If it comes to that.”

“Eowyn, I-”

“If I had your freedom, I would stand beside the man I loved. I would have fought beside him as equals and defended my people. But we have a duty to do here.” Eowyn said quietly. She turned, moving past me, heading out again. “Come, there is more.”

I sighed, shutting my eyes, aware that she was right. I was lucky to be so free with choice. I doubted the King would order me into the caves, not with the support of Legolas and Gimli, I was free to stand beside them. That was a gift. Wasn't it? A chance she would have killed to have with the warg. But I knew what was coming and I was already terrified.

Legolas returned that night, as we were crawling into a corner, sitting down nearby. He smiled a tense smile at me, reaching out to touch my hand, before he re-focused on the dark hall. “Sleep. I will keep watch.”

“Don't need to tell me twice.” Gimli grunted, tugging the pillow under his head, groaning. “Horses!” He snorted, shifting one arm behind him, and I could guess he was probably rubbing one of the many horse related bruises.