The Return of the King and Queen

Chapter 19: Doubt While Traveling

The next morning, Gandalf was not at all happy with the decision as he burst through the doors out to the stable.

"Helm's Deep!" he shouted angrily as he walked beside Aragorn and Amdiriel while Legolas and Gimli trailed behind them. "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their King?" he asked grumpily as they got to the stables. Legolas and Gimli decided to tend t their horse while the other two followed after Gandalf to Shaowfax's stable.

"He is only doing what he thinks is right for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn tried to reason. "There is now out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap, thinks he is leading them to safety." Gandalf replied. Aragorn then opened the stable door for the wizard. Gandalf entered but still looked at the two leaders next to him. "What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him, I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need both of you before the end. The people of Rohan will need both of you. The defenses have to hold." Gandalf told them. Aragorn and Amdiriel nodded, "They will hold." Aragorn promised. Gandalf looked at the two before him before turning to pet Shadowfax "The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time." He said and climbed up onto Shadowfax, who then turned ready to run out while Aragorn and Amdiriel held the stable gates open. "With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East." Gandalf instructed them, the two nodded to him and then moved out of the way. "Go." the said and with that they were off, Shadowfax running out, nearly running over Legolas and Gimli as they did.

Amdiriel watched as they go. "Do you think he will make it time?" Amdiriel asked. "I hope so, for Rohan." Aragorn replied. "Come we must get ready." he told her. They begin to prepare the horse Amdiriel had gone out to get water for her horse when she heard loud fussing of the men in the stables followed by a loud begin, she could tell the horse was scared but that the sound of the horse was familiar. Amdiriel left her bucket and ran back towards the stables.

"Brego?" she asked when she got to the entrance, there she found Aragorn speaking to him in elvish. "Oh good, you've calmed him." she said and approached the horse. when the horse saw her he nudged her with his nose, causing Amdiriel to chuckle as she petted him.

"I've heard of the magic of elves but I did not look for it in a ranger form the north. You speak as one of their own." Éowyn said as she approached Aragorn. Aragorn looked at her as it dawned on him and Amdiriel that she did not know who Argorn was. "I was raised in Rivedell for a time." was the only explanation Aragorn gave her before he said "Turn this fellow free, he has seen enough of war."
Amdiirel then spoke up "I'll let him loose. He has a tendency to bite people he is not comfortable with including Éomer." She said with a chuckle at the memory. Aragorn smiled and let her take the horse, leading it out of the stable. She pulled off the reins still hooked on before stroking his mane. "It will be alright. You are free, old friend." she told him. The horse looked at her and then out to the open plains then back to her. "You will find them. Go." she whispered. The horse neighed and then ran off, free from all pain. Amdrieil smiled as she watched Brego run. He stopped at the edge of the first and looked back at Amdiriel who smiled and raised her hand to wave goodbye. The horse neighed before running off. Amdiriel smiled "May you find peace, like your rider." she whispered before she walked back to the stables to prepare her own horse.

When done, she walked back to the Hall where she found Éowyn swinging a blade quite nicely, her back was turned to her. She then saw Aragorn walked forward and pulled his dagger from his side while Amdireil stayed behind and watched. She swings around and is met by Aragorn, who blocks her parry. "You have some skills with a blade." he told the wide-eyed Éowyn who then with a swift move, swings her sword and renders Aragorn vulnerable. Aragorn puts his blade down and Éowyn stands there for a moment, blade still pointed at him till she retracts it, "Women of this country learned long ago: Those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain." She said and put the sword back onto the trunk she found it.