Different

Chapter 12

   Gandalf came back into the castle with two children; a boy and a girl. They were eating some soup hungrily. "They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are traveling through the west fold, burning as they go," Éowyn said, tending to the little girl. "Where is mamma?" she asked. Éowyn shushed her gently and laid a blanket over her shoulders.

   "This is but a taste of the terror Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven mad by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight," Gandalf told Théoden. "Yes! Fight!" I nodded in agreement. "You have 2,000 good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King," Aragorn added.

   Théoden rose from his throne. "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war," he made clear. "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn pointed out. "When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan," the king said. "Then what is the King's decision?" Gandalf perplexed.

Outside

   "By order of the King, the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourself with treasures. Take only what provisions you need!" one of the knights shouted. "Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their King?" Gandalf wondered, frustrated. "He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them before," Aragorn said.

   I, overhearing this, growled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he's running like a coward," I muttered. "Bean, to you, anyone who does not fight is a coward," Legolas teased lightly. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't keep from smiling.

   "Go," I heard Aragorn tell Gandalf, who got on his horse. I walked down to Aragorn as Gandalf rode away. "Where's he off to?" I asked him. "He's gone to get help," Aragorn replied vaguely. "We do not need help; we have me. But if he thinks he needs help, he can go and find it," I shrugged. Aragorn smiled lightly.

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   I found Éowyn inside and walked up to her. "You might want to practice a bit before we battle," I smirked. "I'll be sitting over here." I sat down to watch her, and she took out her sword. I put my hair up so I would be ready to fight. As I watched, I came to the conclusion that she was pretty good. She turned around, and he sword clattered against another sword. It was Aragorn's.

   "You have some skill with a blade," I heard him say. "Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords could still die upon them," she explained, then sheathed her sword. "I fear neither death nor pain." "What do you fear, my lady?" Aragorn asked curiously. "A cage. To stay behind bars until old age. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire." Aragorn shook his head. "You're a daughter of Kings. A shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate."

   He bowed to her before leaving. I got up and walked over to her. "Ready?" I inquired, making her jump with surprise. "You startled me!" she sputtered. I laughed as she unsheathed her sword again. I got out a sword that I had borrowed from the armory. We fought for about 7 seconds. I won. "Don't feel bad, m'lady. I've had thousands of years of practice," I grinned, lowering my sword. "Though I originally practiced with a large stick." "How old are you?" Éowyn puzzled. "2,933 years old," I answered. "Well, I must say, you look good for your age!" she said. I smiled. "Why did you practice with a stick?" she questioned. "They wouldn't allow me a sword," I said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Who?" "The humans," I stated. I realized she had no idea what I was talking about.

   I told her how I was kidnapped and raised by humans, and rolled up my sleeves and showed her some of the scars they gave me, which I had shown no one else. "I cannot believe they did that to you!" she gasped with horror. "It's alright. I'm just glad they left scars. What's even the point of getting severely hurt if it isn't going to leave a mark?" I said. "You are quite strange, Princess Tiabeanie," Éowyn marveled. "Please, just call me Tia or Bean. No 'Princess'," I told her. "Alright, Bean," she grinned.

I hate how short this one is