It had been a tough day for the King, for that he had my sympathy. I didn't know Théodred personally but I had heard stories about Rohan's prince.

I had no idea what must have been going through Théoden's mind that day. He had just woken up from a living nightmare to find his kingdom ransacked and his beloved son dead.

The funeral was that afternoon. With an hour or so until the prince was due to be burried, Legolas took me to the healers to get me properly looked at.

They cleaned and dressed my wounds, applying ointments and medicine where necessary. With a fresh black tunic now on, I felt extremely better. By the time we were called to the King's side, I felt like my old self again.

Me, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and Gandalf walked behind the King, our heads bowed respectfully as Théodred's body was carried in front of us down the roads of Edoras.

We followed him all the way through the city and out of the gates, towards the tombs of the Kings of Rohan.

As we neared the tomb, covered with white simbelmynë flowers, Éowyn Bagan to sing. She held back tears and tried to stop her voice from cracking as she watched her cousin's body being set inside it's tomb.

"Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended
giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende
on Meduselde thæt he ma no wære
his dryhtne dyrest and maga deorost." Her voice was haunting, carrying over us all.

Every citizen of Edoras was gathered around us, shrouded in black, mourning the lose of their prince. Éowyn's voice drowned out the wind as she sang, her lips quivering as her cousin's grave was closed.

***

While the rest of us retired to the Golden Hall to eat, Gandalf stayed with Théoden who understandably did not want to leave his son's grave so soon.

Once in the hall, we were given food and drink. It was just some cold cuts of meat, some bread and some cheese but we were all greatfull.

I was particularly famished because when I had visited the healers earlier that day, some of their medicine had made me nauseous and throw up.

I looked opposite me to where Legolas sat. He was eating the bread and cheese but when he saw my already empty plate, he offered me the cold cuts.

"Minding your figure, Princess?" I mocked, taking the meat from his plate and munching down on it.

Legolas rolled his eyes and was about to retort something when the doors to the hall opened. In came Gandalf and Théoden with two children in tow, wrapped in Gandalf's cloak.

"Bring hot food and water for these children, they have traveled far to get to us," Gandalf said as Éowyn came forward and set the children down on the table.

A few minutes later and two bowls of stew were served to the children along with a jug of water.

Once Éowyn had sat down to talk to the little children, she sat up and strode over to the rest of us.

"They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree." She explained to the King who sat upon his throne, his head in his hands.

"Where is mama?" The little girl asked, as Éowyn placed a blanket around their shoulders.

"Sush," she cooed, encouraging them both to keep eating.

"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," Gandalf explained sitting in the advisors chair besides Théoden, "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."

"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak." Aragorn pointed out, lowering his pipe, "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King."

Théoden got to his feet and marched over to Aragorn, "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us."

Gandalf came forward again but Théoden cut him off, "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."

"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not." Aragorn pointed out.

"When last I looked," he turned to glare at Aragorn, "Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan."

"Then what is the King's decision?" Gandalf asked.

"We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep." He sighed after a few moments thought.

***

"Helm's Deep." Gandalf grumbled irritably as we followed him towards the stables.

"They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight." Gimli huffed, "Who will defend them if not their King?"

"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people." Aragorn sighed, "Helm's Deep has saved them in the past."

"It is their future we should be worried about," I added.

I had seen Helm's Deep from afar. It was the greatest fortress in Rohan but even I could not see a victory for Théoden should Saruman attack us full on there.

"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre." Gandalf explained as he strode into the stables and headed for Shadowfax, "Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defences have to hold."

"They will hold." Aragorn assured him.

Gandalf turned and stroked 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. With luck, my search will not be in vain."

Gandalf jumped up onto Shadowfax, "Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east."

"Go," Aragorn urged as Gandalf galloped out of the Stables.

I passed StarLight's pen and saw Nasha curled up on the corner, nawing on a hunk of bone one of the stable keepers had obviously given her.

I fetched a saddle for StarLight and when I came back, I saw Legolas petting her and admiring her black fur.

"Get your own horse," I smirked, pushing past him so I could ready the saddle for her.

"Where did you get her?" He asked curiously.

I chuckled lightly and turned to him, "She was a gift from your father, King Thranduil, actually."

"Really?" He asked in shock.

"Yes, I attended your last festival of Star Light. You were nowhere to be found yet again. I've met your father a few times and so he was kind enough to offer me a horse to guide me through Mirkwood." I explained, "That's why I named her StarLight."

"And Nasha?" Legolas asked, turning to the wolf which was still occupied with the bone.

"She's from Mirkwood as well if you can believe me. I found her on the outskirts of your city. The rest of her pack had been slaughtered by the spiders but she survived."

"Why did you take her under your wing?" He asked, leaning against the fences of the pens.

"Because she was like me." I spoke softly now, not wanting some of the others to hear me admit it, "She was alone and without parents so I did just what my father did to me, I saved Herz raised her and now she's one of the most loyal creatures in Middle-Earth."

"You are not alone, Sapphire," Legolas smiled warmly at me.

I returned the smile as best I could but I ended up shaking my head, "I have been all my life, why stop now?"

"No reason..." Legolas sighed with what sounded like disappointment as he left me standing there in the stables.

***

I find my way back to the Golden Hall, to find many of the staff bustling around, packing the essentials for travel. We wouldn't be setting out until first light the next day so they would have plenty of time to do so.

I saw Éowyn standing over a chest in the middle of the hall. I walked over to her and leant on one of the pillars as she took out a sword from the chest.

She noticed me then and stopped in her tracks. I gestured for her to continue whatever it is she was doing.

She took the sword out from its scabbard and held the blade up in the air in front of her, running her hand along the metal.

I watched as she swung the sword a few time with ease. I saw Aragorn approach us and just as Éowyn turned and swung the sword again, Aragorn raised his dagger and blocked it.

"You have some skill with a blade." Aragorn observed, admiring how fluid her motions were when she used it.

She twirled the blades around so that Aragorn's dagger was out of the way and her sword was now pointed straight at his head.

"Women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them." She explained, placing her blade but into its scabbard and putting it away, "I fear neither death nor pain."

"What do you fear, my lady?" Aragorn asked curiously.

"A cage." Éowyn turned to look at him, "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."

"You're a daughter of Kings," Aragorn shook his head and spoke softly, "A shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that would be your fate."

With that, he bowed and left, leaving Éowyn and me in the hall. I turned to her and pointed towards the sword.

"May I?" I asked, coming forward.

"Please," she nodded, letting me take it out and give it a few swings.

"It is quite light, a little too light for my taste, but a perfect weapon of choice for you," I gave her a reasurring smile before I handed it back to her, "I presume you don't practice often?"

"I practice when and where I can," she mused sadly before she looked back up at me, "How is it that you came to be in the Fellowship? Surely there was opposition to your involvement."

"There was," I huffed in annoyance, "But for nearly three thousand years, I have managed to survive on my own and there comes a time when you disregard everyone else's opinion of you, and just do whatever it is you must."

***

We set out at dawn the next morning. Théoden stayed mostly to the front of the line, though he would occasionally change this so as to make sure everyone was accounted for.

While Éowyn and Gimli talked together about dwarven culture, Aragorn and Théoden had their own hushed conversations.

With Nasha padding along beside me, I steered StarLight over to Legolas' horse and hit him playfully on the arm.

"Hey, Princess," I chuckled as he sent me a glare, rubbing the spot I had just hit, "I didn't punch you that hard! Oh poor Princess Legolas is too delicate for my punches."

He chuckled along with me before he playfully hit me on the arm as well.

"Hey, you just hit a woman." I tried to sound shocked but I couldn't stop a smirk from reaching my lips.

"You just hit a Prince." He scoffed, a smirk growing on his lips as well.

"Fair enough," I rolled my eyes, both of us falling back into silence.

It was then that I remembered what had happened the day before in the stables. I was still confused as to Legolas's disappointment.

Was it something I said? I mean, I know my mouth has a mind of it's own but did I say something to offend him?

"Can I ask you something? Did I do something wrong because yesterday you left pretty abruptly. Was it something I said?"

He seemed to think for a few moments before he finally replied.

"I was just wondering about what we would all do when and if the Ring is destroyed..." He answered a little quieter than usual.

"Well I assume we would all go our separate ways. Why? What were you thinking?" I asked curiously.

He didn't reply. He just took the reigns of his horse and galloped over to Aragorn, leaving me sat there without an answer.

This was beginning to frustrate me now. What was so hard to say that he couldn't say it to my face? It was such a simple question, why didn't he just answer it?

I would have to confront him later and ask him. I hated being in the dark about something. When we would next make camp, I would use any means necessary - bruises included - to pry whatever it was he was hiding from me.

"It's true, you don't see many Dwarf women," I heard Gimli explain to Éowyn, "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."

"It's the beards," Aragorn whispered as Éowyn turned to him.

"This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women and that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground." He chuckled, making Éowyn laugh heartily, "Which is, of course, ridiculous-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, his horse suddenly bolted. I let out a snort of laughter as Gimli went tumbling off.

"It's all right. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate!"

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