"It gives me strength to have somebody to fight for; I can never fight for myself, but, for others, I can kill."

I wake up when a warm hand caresses my cheek. 'Melamin' His husky voice sounds like a melody in my ears. 'Wake up' He says again, sounding more desperate. I open my eyes slowly, I feel still drained from energy. But luckily my body doesn't feel like it is burning anymore. 'Pippin?' I ask him. My voice sounds so weak.

I hate it.

'Pippin is also awake en feeling better. We had a council with Théoden, Mithrandir, Legolas and Gimli. We have decided or rather Mithrandir has, that it is for the best that Pip is going to the White City'

'Alone!?' I open my eyes fully and try to sit up straight. Aragorn pushes me gently back into the cushions. 'No, Mithrandir is going with him. We were lucky. Because of Pip, we know a little of Sauron's plan of attack'

'The King's city is the first to fall' I whisper, knowing what the plan is. First Gondor and from there all of Middle Earth.

So we have to stop him before he can take Gondor!

Aragorn sighs deeply. He looks troubled. 'I wish that I could take your path from you' He says suddenly. I move my hand towards his cheek and rest my forehead against his. 'My fate is not written and so is yours Melamin. We both have our destiny yes, but how it ends, that is what we decide' Aragorn lips collide with mine and the passion grows. Remembering I am in bed, only wearing a thin piece of fabric, I stop him. He smiles. 'Are you well enough?' I laugh. 'Yes, I shall get dressed and what are we going to do then?'

'Saying goodbye to our friends'

Oh.

Aragorn leaves the room and I get out of bed. I wash my face with water and dress myself quickly. A blue tunic, a corset and black pants with my leather boots. I brush my hair quickly and braid it. I put the circlet on my head and put my belt around my waist. I take my sword and put it in the sheath. When I am ready, I walk out of the room towards the Hall. There are Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas already waiting for me.

Together we walk towards the stables but I am too late. Mithrandir thunders out of the stables towards the gate. Merry runs after them, towards the watchtower. Aragorn runs after the Hobbit.

He clambers the watchtower up, Aragorn in pursuit. I see Mithrandir disappear into the distance and so do they.

Aragorn and Merry are climbing down and we walk towards the Hall. 'Now we have to wait' Aragorn tells us. I sigh.

Great.

∑

I am in my room, reading one of Éowyn's books. We are waiting for four days now. I look outside, the sun is going down. Suddenly I feel myself being transported. I blink a couple of times and see that I am standing before a statue of a man, he is wearing a crown.

But I don't know him.

'The crownless again shall be King' A voice sounds around me.

Naneth?

'Reforge the sword' Naneth continues.

Which sword?

Then I see the sword, it is withdrawn from a pool of steaming water, it shimmers as the water drops slide down the blade.

'Narsil' Naneth says. 'The sword that was broken has been remade' The sword is shining in the moonlight. 'The sword that was broken, is reforged' I whisper.

The once broken pieces of the sword of the king Elendil is now whole again. I hear Naneth's voice again. 'Andúril, also called the Flame of the West'

Flame of the West.

My eyes fly open. I am breathing heavily and drops of sweat are falling from my cold body. I had a vision. But who is going to bring this new sword, this new heirloom to Aragorn?

'Trust us' Naneth's voice rings in the air around me. I smile. They are watching over me. The dawn is upon us.

And like every day, for four days now, Aragorn is watching the mountains, there were the beacon shall be lit.

I dress myself and braid my hair. I put the circlet on the top of my head and put my belt around my waist. The comforting heaviness of the sword feels familiar. Suddenly a bell tolls urgently. I run down the hallway to the great hall. Just in time to see the Aragorn burst into the hall. 'The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!' He yells in excitement. The king sitting in his throne, surrounded by several men, looks up, startled. I look at the king and with me, all the others in the Hall. The tension hangs in the air. Théoden lowers his head and after several seconds its rises, he looks straight at Aragorn. 'Then Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim!' He commands. The words left Théoden mouth and everyone is suddenly rushing around. He stands up from his throne and with him Éomer and his soldiers walk with him outside. I walk towards Aragorn. He is still standing on the same spot as when he entered the Hall. I slip my hand in his. 'We are going to help our friends' I say quietly. 'Finally' Gimli grunts next to me and Legolas chuckles. The Princeling clutches his bow in his hand, his expression happy.

Outside I hear the King command his soldiers to make ready for war.

War! Finally.

A shiver runs up my spine. My destiny is coming closer now. Aragorn squeezes my hand. Like he knows how I feel. And when I look into his eyes, I know he does. He kisses me passionately and when he pulls back, a small sigh leaves my lips. Not wanting to be apart from him, but I know I must. I let his hand go and run back to my room. I put my armour on, my breastplate and forearm protectors. Then I return to the Hall, seeing everyone has already left, I rush towards the stables. Luckily I run into Éowyn, she is putting on her riding cloves. 'You ride with us?' I ask her bewildered. She smiles and mount her horse. 'Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the women of the Court to farewell the Men' I smile and see a small bump beneath the cover of her saddle. I reach past her and lift the cover. Only to reveal a sword, strapped to the side of the saddle of her horse. Éowyn deftly pulls the cover back down and looks me dead-into the eye.

'The Men have found their Captain – they will follow Him into battle, even to death. You will follow him, why shouldn't I?' She questions me. 'He has given us hope, like has given you. Eleniel do not deny me this one change to fight for my people. Just like you do. Because I am a women, doesn't mean I can't fight. I am trained to fight! I know how to wield a sword, but only to be locked up again in a golden cage' Her voice sounds quiet. But her eyes are speaking the truth. She is angry, hopeful but also afraid. Not for this war, no, but to live in this cage forever. I lay my hand on her shoulder. 'Éowyn, you are a shield maiden of Rohan. I am a shield maiden for my own people. Why shall I deny you your own destiny. I am happy for you that you have found it and that you are willing to fight for it! I shall say nothing to the others, but promise me, that in the heat of the battle, you will find me and that will shall fight side by side' Éowyn smiles and throws her arms around my neck, embracing me. 'Thank you Eleniel!'

'It is nothing Éowyn, that is where friends are for!'

'Eleniel!'

'Melamin!' I am being called. Quickly I mount Déor', my horse and together with Éowyn we rush outside. Aragorn, Legolas, Merry and Gimli are waiting by the gate, while Éomer and Théoden with their soldiers are already moving. Éomer sees me and Éowyn. He nods at us and rides his horse forward. 'Now is the hour! Riders of Rohan -Oaths you have taken. Now, fulfill them all - For Lord and land!' He calls out to the assembled soldiers. They yell a battle cry and then we begin to move. Riding across the plains of Rohan. I ride together with Aragorn and Merry, Legolas and Gimli and the king and Éomer. Éowyn rides somewhere behind us, save for any attack. We are thundering towards Dunharrow in the mountains.

The sun is already going down when we arrive at the camp. It is hidden against the side of the mountain. I can see a lot of soldiers, horses and tents. Their fires are already burning for the night. 'Grimbold, how many?' Théoden asks a man, who is coming forward. 'I bring five hundred Men from the Westfold, My Lord' Another soldier comes forward. 'We have three hundred more from Fenmarch, Théoden King' I can see the king smiling grimly as we rides on. I hear him whisper towards Gamling, who is now riding besides him. 'Where are the riders from Snowbourn?' Gamling sighs. 'None have come, My Lord' The king shakes his head almost invisible.

We are with so few.

How can we win?

I feel that Aragorn is looking at me while we ride through the camp. The king is riding further towards a plateau. Aragorn follows him, nodding at Legolas that we have to move on. And that is what we do. We ride into the camp, choose a couple of tents and take care of our horses.

I search for Éowyn, but I lost her in the crowd. 'Eleniel' Legolas voice brings me back from my thoughts. 'Come' Merry is already in his tent, I think so it is only me and Legolas and Gimli who are going for a walk.

We walk through the camp and I see the soldiers sitting with each other, quiet, no one is speaking. We walk into Éomer, who is unsaddling his horse. 'The horses are restless ... and the Men are quiet' Legolas speaks up. Éomer looks at the Princeling. I can see the same fear into his eyes as by his men, but he is concealing it very well. 'They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain' I turn around towards the mountain. A row of ancients standing stones mark the entrance to a road, leading away from the encampment and into the mountain. 'That road there - where does that lead?' Gimli asks Éomer curious. I know which road this is. It is a doomed place.. 'It is the road to the Dimholt... The door under the mountain' Legolas answers the question from our dwarf. 'None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil' Éomer says under his breath. I look back at the mountain, I feel the darkness too. It is spreading quickly across the plains. Suddenly I see Aragorn, now standing with the ropes in his hand before the entrance. His horse whinnies and pulls at the ropes. I move towards him. 'Aragorn!' I call out to him, but he look fixed on something in the distant. 'Lassie!' Gimli calls out to me and Aragorn. 'Let's find some food!' Legolas chuckles behind him, but I see him also looking towards Aragorn in worry. I lay my hand on his shoulder. 'Melamin' I say and it is like he wakes up from a dream. His eyes are wide. 'Come, we are going to find some food' I take my hand in his and he willingly walk with me and the boys to our tents.