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━━━━»•» act three. age of anguish

38. road to ruin  «•« ━━━━

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ third age ━━ year 3019

𓇻 rohan; great west road

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MORNING DEW CLUNG TO HER CLOTHES AS THEY RESUMED THEIR JOURNEY. Behind them lay white capped mountain peaks, while ahead the seemingly eternal grassland stretched as far as the eye could see. Helm's Deep was getting closer with every step, yet somehow it still felt as though they were running out of time. Elgarain couldn't understand her sudden sense of urgency, but it was breathing down her neck as though the orcs had already descended upon them.

The thought made her reach for Aragorn's hand, his presence beside her calming her somewhat. His gaze was drawn to the unlikely pair of Eowyn and Gimli up ahead. The Dwarf was seated upon a horse, while Eowyn held the reins as she walked beside him.

"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women," Gimli was saying, his booming voice carrying far enough for Elgarain to hear him even though she was walking behind him. "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."

Eowyn threw a look over her shoulder, as if looking for confirmation.

"It's the beards," Aragorn mouthed, pretending to stroke a long beard.

Eowyn giggled and shushed him before returning her attention to Gimli.

Elgarain chuckled as she looked at Aragorn's rather smug face. He looked like a young Elfling, proud of his own joke. It were these rare moments, when the weight on his shoulders didn't seem as heavy, she wanted to hold on to the most.

"This in turn," Gimli continued, completely oblivious as to what was happening behind him, "has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women. And that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground, which, of course, is ridiculous."

He gestured wildly with his arms as if to illustrate his point. Though the horse wasn't all too happy with the waving gestures near his eye. The animal neighed and took off in a sprint, forcing Eowyn to let go of the reins. To his credit, Gimli managed to stay seated longer than Elgarain would've thought him capable of. But then the horse swerved to avoid crashing into a cart and Gimli was thrown to the ground.

Eowyn rushed over to him, but he was already getting back on his feet. "I'm alright! Nobody panic! That was deliberate, it was deliberate."

Aragorn shook his head, though he couldn't hold back his grin. Once he saw Gimli truly was alright, he took off to make sure the horse was alright as well. Elgarain felt her own smile fade as she watched him take the reins and whisper softly to the creature. Even among the Elves it was a rare talent to be able to calm such a mighty creature with a few words. He truly had a gift.

Before he could make his way over to her though, Théoden came riding up to him. Aragorn threw her a look and she nodded, letting the two kings converse in peace. She walked on alone, her smile returning when she saw Gimli and Eowyn had been joined by Legolas, coming to make sure his friend was alright. Her own friendship with Gimli had been somewhat unexpected, but Legolas and Gimli forming a bond was an even bigger surprise. The two hadn't been able to even so much as breathe the same air when the Fellowship left Imladris...

Unconsciously, her eyes searched for the person she'd once been unable to stand either. Their bond had become so strong over the years that now it hurt her to be unable to speak to her. When she was younger, Elgarain had sought out arguments and discussions with her guard on purpose. Now, it broke her heart when they had a fight.

As if her silent longing had been spoken out loud a voice called from behind her.

"Elgarain." Gyda's voice was steady, but Elgarain noticed her nerves in the way she tightly held on to the pommel of her sword. "May I speak with you?"

Elgarain smiled reassuringly, despite her own nerves. "Of course."

Gyda nodded and fell in step beside her. Silence lingered for a moment, conversations of the others around them filling the void. "I-I," Gyda began, then she paused. Her face was an unreadable mask, one Elgarain wished she would stop wearing. "You're still sick."

The words startled her, clearly she hadn't been hiding her condition as well as she thought she had. "I'm fine," she said firmly, almost without thinking. They had enough to worry about...

Gyda squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, lips morphing into a grimace, before she spoke again. Her tone was gentle, though her words were stern, "You're not, Tarinya."

Elgarain sighed. "I'm just tired. I haven't been able to rest properly since-" The knife flashed before her eyes, the screams of the Hobbits agony in her ears. She cannot say the words out loud, "since what happened in Fangorn forest."

"It can't be just that, it shouldn't be..." Gyda breathed in, hazel eyes met emerald green. "I worry for what awaits us, and I need you to be strong...I can't-" she paused, swallowing the words and choosing different ones instead. "You're not fine, and I don't know what to do."

For a moment, Elgarain remained silent, considering her words. Of course, Gyda wouldn't be fooled by her idiotic excuse. Elves should heal much faster than she was currently doing. But the truth was, she had no idea what was wrong with her either. How could she possibly tell Gyda that without worrying her even further?

"I took some herbs with me to relieve aching joints," she said at last. "It helps. Beyond that I'm not sure there is much we can do."

Gyda bit her bottom lip, clearly not believing her. "I worry it is because of me," she finally admitted. "I worry it is because you saved me."

Elgarain frowned, surprise washing over her at those words. She thought they put that theory to rest. "But Gandalf said I hadn't endangered us because of what I did that day."

"He also said my connection to the ring should fade, but Elgarain, it grows stronger." Gyda threw a look at the small ring on Elgarain's finger. "I fear something terrible will happen."

She hated to admit it to herself, but had she not been feeling the same way just moments earlier? That awful feeling of watching a dark cloud approach on the horizon, not knowing when the storm will hit but knowing it would unleash nothing but terror? She had ascribed it to the coming war. After all, she'd never been in a war of this scale. But the fact that Gyda was feeling it too, strong and capable Gyda, made her suddenly worry. What if it was something else, something more?

"I fear the same," she said. "But what can we do? Gandalf is not here to answer any of our questions. We've got a war to worry about, all these people we're supposed to be protecting..."

Gyda hand twitched by her side, then she reached out, fingers clasping around Elgarains' pale wrist. "I-I, I want you to know Elgarain, I should not have called you foolish. My anger spoke for me and even if we disagree, I know how difficult this is for you. For me...for us all. I don't want to face what is ahead filled with regret knowing we—" She squeezed her wrist, "we may not see another day."

A small smile tugged at her lips and Elgarain squeezed her hand in return. "I forgive you, Nesa. And I'm sorry for dismissing your point of view. I should know better by now than to turn down your counsel on these matters." She held her gaze, her smile widening. "Even if we do not live to see tomorrow, know that I'm glad to have you beside me today."

"I'm glad to have you with me as well Elgarain."

For a moment they walked on in silence, until Elgarain's eyes found a blond Elf making his way to the head of the column. "So, now that we're on speaking terms again...Mind telling me why you're suddenly allowing Legolas to be anywhere near you?"

Gyda awkwardly cleared her throat, sputtering as she searched for an answer: "Who said I never allowed him near me?"

Elgarain raised a brow. "The fact that the two of you were walking side by side the entire time yesterday. As well as sitting together by the fire."

"I've sat with him before, that is nothing strange." She denied, averting her gaze as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Right and I got over Aragorn completely during our time apart." Elgarain playfully rolled her eyes, then looked at Gyda expectantly.

Her friend shot a quick look at the archer before looking away again. "When he is close—" She hesitated for a moment. "I feel comforted by his presence. I've never experienced such a thing before."

Elgarain smiled warmly, the feeling all too familiar. "I understand."

"He loves me."

Her eyes widened as she looked at her friend. Her heart seemed to swell with happiness. It was no small thing for an Elf to use such words, so if that was truly how Legolas was feeling...Well, if anyone deserved to be loved by someone as good as him, it was Gyda. "A laita Elbereth," she whispered, "he told you this when?"

Gyda blushed. "In Lothlorién and here in Edoras." She looked away shyly, "on the road with different words. I don't know what to do," she whispered.

She barely managed to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. "This isn't some complicated battle strategy Gyda. Tell him how you feel."

"But it isn't simple." Gyda shook her head. "He is a prince who must return to Mirkwood, and my place is where you are."

Elgarain studied her for a moment. Once she would have dismissed those words, now she knew better. That vow was all Gyda had left of her father, it was the very foundation she lived on. It would be cruel to take such a thing away and yet... "Even if where I am does not make you happy?" she asked softly. "I do not believe that is what your father meant for you when he let you make that vow."

Gyda shuddered, as if remembering something unpleasant. "It's all that I have left of him...standing where he stood, it makes me proud."

Elgarain couldn't help but notice how her question remained unanswered. Which was enough of a sign for her, now she just needed her friend to see it for herself. "Pride isn't everything in life, Gyda. What about happiness?"

"It makes me happy...but—"

An agonizing scream echoed through the valley, followed by one of warning: "Wargs!"

Without wasting a second, Gyda set off in a sprint. Elgarain was quick to follow, judging by the pain in that scream, someone was in desperate need of medical assistance. She followed Gyda up the rocks and around the riders and people of Rohan. In the distance she could see Legolas jump down from the rock he'd been standing on, Aragorn close behind him.

The two Elves crossed the valley and stumbled to a halt near their friends. Two riders had fallen, but they were hardly recognizable. The Wargs had left an absolute carnage behind.

"A scout!" Legolas said, hand tight around the wood of his bow.

Gyda clenched her fists by her side, while Aragorn took off to warn the others but Elgarain cannot take her eyes away from the bloody mess of limbs and bones on the ground before her. Footsteps near her and Gyda softly tugs at her tunic, pulling her back. "You cannot help them, Elgarain."

For a moment she didn't move, didn't look away. She knew Gyda was right and yet part of her wasn't willing to accept it. If she could bring herself back from the brink of death, should she not be granted the power to do so for others as well? She blinked, pushing those thoughts aside. There wasn't even a recognizable body left for her to save.

As soon as her guard saw that Elgarain had managed to pull herself together, Gyda pulled her away towards the rest of the column.

"What is it? What did you see?" Theoden came riding forward.

"Wargs! We're under attack!" Aragorn warned, voice bellowing over the clearing.

Terror took over the camp. Her heart fell at the sight of screaming children and running families as they hurried to get to safety. They were too late...

"All riders to the head of the column!" Theoden commanded firmly.

Elgarain moved to follow his orders, but Gyda tightened her hold on her tunic, forcing her to turn around and face her. "Elgarain, you must go. Go far away from this fight," she urged desperately.

But Elgarain was already shaking her head. "No." She refused to leave these people behind. Her days of running from danger were long gone. If anyone was supposed to know that, it was Gyda...

"You can't stay. You have but a small dagger to protect yourself and you're ill," Gyda reasoned. She placed both her hands on her shoulders. "Tarinya, I can't protect these people if I am worried about your safety. Please."

"I—" she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew her guard was right. She might be able to defend herself but in a fight like this, while feeling sick...She would only be a burden to the others. If she went with the people of Rohan, she would be far more useful. "Alright."

The Elleth nodded and stepped away from her before unsheathing her sword and moving to retrieve her glaive from the card by her side. She climbed on her horse, then took off towards the howls of wolves in the distance.

Her eyes scanned the fleeing mass, then landed on Aragorn as he readied himself to follow the others into battle. With a few quick strides she made her way toward him. Before he could even so much as utter a word, she'd kissed him, hands desperately clutching his tunic and pulling him close. For the tiniest of moments, the chaos around her faded into meaningless noise. But there was no time to waste, and the kiss ended way too fast.

He placed his forehead against hers. "You have to run."

The word brought her back to a glade in the forests surrounding Imladris. Back when they'd both been younger and challenged each other to a duel. But then Orcs had shown up and he'd told her to run. She'd done so, but only to get help. She'd returned just in time to save his life. That day she made him promise something...

"You wouldn't ever ask that again," she whispered, her heart feeling heavy. "You promised me."

The sorrowful look in his eyes told her he remembered. He leaned in and tenderly kissed her forehead. "Go, anarinya."

She trusted him and his skills, with her whole heart, but that word had filled her with a feeling of dread she couldn't explain. Still, there was nothing she could do. So, she took a step back and watched him get into the saddle and take off. Though, before making his way over the hill, he turned around, holding her gaze for a moment. She tried to smile and silently bid him good luck.

Then, he spurred on his horse and disappeared from her sight.

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𝕬𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝕹𝐎𝐓𝐄 . . .

Look at Gyda and El being all grown-up and talking through their issues! They have come a long way :) But of course we had to be mean and interrupt their conversation hehe. You better prepare yourselves for the next chapter...

xx Nelly

ELVISH TRANSLATIONS:

A laita Elbereth ― Bless them Elbereth