Another Life

Chapter 23 - Sea of false light

Outside no one would know me. I knew that. But in here, with brightly lit braziers on the walls, and my hood down, she knew it. Even with the helm, she knew it. How much had she heard about her own future?

Eowyn opened her mouth. Before she could speak, I heard a shout, Theodan's voice echoing, “Eowyn!”

She startled, staring sideways, as he came down the hall, and to my surprise she actually grabbed my hood and yanked it over my head. Something was shoved into my hand. Her sword.

“I thought my weapon would be of use.” I heard her say softly, “We will speak later,” before she strode off down the hall.

“She is a good woman, my niece.” Theodan said softly, watching her go. He moved to clasp Boromir's shoulder. “I see you found something remaining that fit. Good. Come, Boromir.” Theodan didn't even really look at me, and when he did, my hood must have covered my face enough. “And friend. It is time.”

“This is a friend from the Elves. He remains by my side for this.”

Theodan didn't even blink at this request from Boromir, he nodded, and strode off, distracted. We followed him outside, Boromir ahead of me.

It was quiet outside. The only sound was of metal shifting against metal, armour rubbing, braziers sending thick smoke and the smell of coal into the air. The light of the moon cast down on Helm's deep, creating glinting silver shapes, and I followed Boromir to his position some ten metres along the highest wall from Theodan.

We were not on the front line up here. We weren't even close to it. I was honestly just happy to be apart of it, though 'happy' was the wrong word, and I knew that with my bow I could do a hell of a lot of damage. Probably more than with Eowyn's sword realistically.

In the distance, we felt it, we heard it, this 'thump, thump, thump', shaking the ground, a great stream of light coming slowly towards us. It had to be at least two or three miles away and yet it was already making the rubble dance on the edge of the wall in front of me.

“A river of light.” I said quietly, gazing at it, at what 'ten thousand' really looked like. It was seriously frightening. As I spoke a rumble of thunder drowned me out.

“A misleading one, aye.” Boromir nodded, gazing out, the wind in our face. “Sh.”

Elves lined the lower wall, alongside men, and I remembered that I wasn't supposed to speak. But when I looked for them, Legolas was far along the lowest wall, right on the front line, and must not have heard me over the thunder. Phew.

The sky started to rumble, flashes casting a light briefly over the thousands of dark bodies marching to us, and as they got within five hundred metres or so, I heard the tinkering of rain on helm, metal, bodies. Yeah. It was time. Now I shivered. Now I felt afraid.

I felt a hand grasp mine, briefly, Boromir leaning closer to my side. In the darkness no one saw or cared. What surprised me was how this simple 'friendly' gesture suddenly made me want to hurl. It scared me. I didn't like being touched by him.

“You have skill with your bow, little sister.” He said softly. “I will not be far.”

Fine. I smiled a tense smile and felt relieved when he let go, though he probably thought it was nerves for the battle, my hand cold suddenly.

Boromir moved to the side, to men who had come to stand around him, offering orders from under his hood. I lifted my bow and gazed at it. It was Elvish. Why hadn't I noticed before? When or how had he gotten his hands on this? It wasn't Legolas bow, that was for sure. It was smaller and fit perfectly. It drew in my hands easily and yet I was sure it was incredibly strong.