The doors of the Great Hall swung open. Gandalf stomped through them, brushed past Estelwen, and headed straight for the stables. Aragorn followed him while Estelwen looked on. What happened in there? She had not been invited to listen in on the Théoden's plan for Rohan, so she had waited outside.

Estelwen started towards the stables, but Gandalf galloped out and past her before she could say anything. Aragorn walked out of the Hall. Estelwen waved her arm, catching his attention. "Where is Gandalf going?" she asked warily.

Aragorn blew out air. "There is some explaining to be done, for much has happened in your absence." As briefly as he could, he told Estelwen how Gandalf had freed King Théoden from Saruman's hold. When he told her who Gríma was and how he ran off, she stopped him.

"So that snake was the one who passed me by? The one who rode out of Rohan straight to Isengard?" Her eyes widened incredulously. "You know what that implies for Rohan, do you?"

Aragorn led the way to the stables. "Saruman already knows we are here and that he no longer controls these lands. Théoden has decided to bring everyone to Helm's Deep for safety. Gandalf believes that Théoden should stay and fight. Regardless of where the people stay, Rohan is in sore need, so Gandalf has gone to seek Éomer and the Riders. Oh, and..." He crossed his arms. "You owe me a horse."

Estelwen smiled briefly. Aragorn was joking, but only half. "You can ride with me. Take the lead if you like."

"Or," Aragorn touched his chin. "I can ride Rocelin, and you can ride with Legolas," he said, raising his brow matter-of-factly.

Estelwen looked to the side. "You know he will be on foot. And it seems that he would rather tie me to the back of the horse than have me ride with him."

"Have you spoken to him yet?"

She strapped the saddle onto Rocelin. "Yes and no. I know not what goes through his mind. Perhaps he needs time to himself. I often do."

He shook his head. "He needs you to speak to him."

"I have already explained myself. What more is there to tell?"

He sighed. "A few words from a friend are little to ask for."

"'Tis true. And I will. But I...I am waiting for the right time." She handed Rocelin's reins to him. "Here."

"As you say. Where are you going?"

"I wanted to speak with Éowyn before we left. Although I would never complain of the company I have been with for the past months, it felt good to speak to another woman again." She looked down at the scattered straw in a nearby stall. "I miss Arwen."

Aragorn looked at her and then at the floor. "I know."

Estelwen picked up her pack from underneath the straw in Rocelin's stall. She could feel the tip of the menacing arrow through the cloth of her bag. She felt guilty for not sharing her real plans with Aragorn. Although she was planning to speak with Éowyn, she first wanted to ask Théoden about the arrow. Aragorn would not approve. He thinks I will be saddened if I remember Boromir. That must be why he was hesitant to give this to me in the first place. But she had to figure it out. It was a bothersome misfit that lingered in her mind. "I should be back to ride soon."

After walking up the stone steps to the Hall of Kings, she took a deep breath. Théoden regarded her carefully when she entered. He stopped in the midst of his packing as Estelwen bowed.

"So you are the earthborn?"

"Yes."

He walked up to her. "Gandalf trusts you and Aragorn has told me what you did for my people. For that, you have my thanks. But I must ask that you keep your 'skills' hidden for the meantime. I do not want my people thrown into a further chaos or fear."

"But I would only-"

"Estelwen," he raised his hand. "I'm afraid I must insist. Now, why have you come to me?"

This is what I came for, she reminded herself, keeping her frustration in check. She slid the arrow out of the bag and handed it to him. "This arrow was used by orcs to kill Lord Boromir, son of Lord Denethor. Neither elves nor orcs have forged it. Do you know anything of its origins?"

His hands grazed the tip as his eyes traveled over the runes on the shaft. "This is not of man's make..." he whispered. He looked at her inquisitively. "You say it killed the Steward of Gondor's son?"

"Yes."

He handed the arrow back to her. "I know nothing of it. I daresay it resembles a legend. But that is more of a rumor."

"What rumor?"

"That a black arrow likened to this one killed Isildur after he had first defeated Sauron." He looked at her with a wary eye. "Beware of superstitions, Estelwen. We should only hold on to the truths that are in front of us."

Hours later, the people of Rohan were traveling over hilly country under the king's lead towards Helm's Deep. Aragorn rode alone, smiling as he watched Estelwen and Éowyn. He did not know what they spoke of, but it felt good to see them both at ease.

Éowyn glanced at Estelwen's swords, sheathed and strapped to her back. "Do all the women fight in Rivendell?"

"Most know how to shoot a bow, but few have been trained to wield a sword."

Éowyn looked wistfully ahead. "The legends say that the elven women have the right to fight as much as the men do."

She feels left out. Estelwen realized in dismay. "Every race has its own traditions," she said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

Éowyn noticed her silence. "Do not be upset or sorry for me. It was a bold question, but not an accusation."

Estelwen smiled, admiring how Éowyn's balance of kindness, honesty, and elegance. "Speaking of bold, I think I might have overstepped those limits when I inquired about the Black Arrows."

Éowyn laughed. Her uncle had been surprised that Estelwen sought information about a dark legend. "My uncle doesn't think badly of you, just that you are a bit peculiar."

"I admit that I might be too curious." The bag with the arrow was still in her hand, the weight of it never leaving her mind. "Éowyn, does the rumor happen to mention how many arrows there were?"

"Three."

*****

Legolas scanned the valley and hills ahead. Nothing. The skies were also clear. Due to his eyesight, King Théoden himself had asked Legolas to be Rohan's watchful eye. Since Legolas did not tire like men, he stayed ahead on foot.

Two brown horses were visible to his left as they broke away from the crowd. It was the captain, whose name he learned was Háma. Another rider galloped alongside him over a hill. Before they were out of sight, he could hear Háma telling the other rider, "Come now, we are the Riders of Rohan, not to be outdone by an elf!"

Legolas frowned, but let it pass. A horse neighed nervously in the distance. A few seconds later, a man screamed. Legolas dashed forward .

Háma's neck was locked in the jaws of a warg, a wolf of Isengard. The warg tossed Háma into the air before Legolas' arrow pierced its thick skull. The warg massive body slumped against the ground, permanently flattening the grass. The miserable orc toppled off and gave a loud screech before Legolas cut it off. Aragorn ran up next to him.

"A scout!" Legolas disgustedly kicked the corpse over. He could already hear the other wargs racing towards the scout's call.

Aragorn hurried back to Théoden and the villagers.

"What is it?" Théoden shouted.

"Wargs! We are under attack!" Aragorn mounted his horse.

People screamed as they turned back, running from the slaughter that was surely to come. Théoden first rode to Éowyn. "You must lead the people to Helm's Deep. And make haste!"

"I can fight!" she said.

"No! You must do this for me." He turned his horse and galloped towards the battle.

Estelwen felt sorry for Éowyn, even though she was doing what was necessary. Her spirit makes her as fearless as any man. Surely she could learn to fight like the others!

Éowyn guided the people. "Stay together!"

Estelwen spotted a crying child in the midst of carts and running sandals. She dashed over and snatched him up. Knowing that it would be impossible to find his family in the terrified crowd, she placed him in a cart with another family. After ensuring that no one would be left behind, she pulled out her swords. Théoden did not tell me to stay behind. The wind rode through her hair as she raced to join the fight.

By the looks of it, the battle should have been over quickly. The orcs were prepared and the wargs were battle-hungry. One warg ripped a man in half. Spotting Estelwen alone, it charged. Its beady eyes never left hers. It opened its maw, drooling as it pounded across the ground. Estelwen remained as a statue, not allowing a hint of emotion to show on her face. Her mind dared to play games, and she almost felt the powerful jaws crushing her. At the last moment, she twisted to her right. Her right sword sliced underneath its neck and her left blade quickly followed. Her dagger protruded from the orc rider before he could dismount the headless warg.

Only thirty more to go. Estelwen snatched up her dagger and slid it into her belt. Unfortunately, that little trick will not work on them all.

Another warg charged towards her. She raised her swords.

*****

Legolas was not worried when he saw another warg rush towards Estelwen at full speed. One was no match for her skill. What terrified him was that it stopped. The orc riding it yanked its head back, forbidding it from snapping at her head. Another warg came from the side. The two stayed away from her blades until they faced her from opposite sides. When a third moved to join them, Legolas had no doubt. They were not going to kill her. They mean to take her.

Grabbing the hair of the warg beneath him, he jerked it in Estelwen's direction. The beast snorted as it sensed new prey. Before it reached the other wargs near Estelwen, Legolas severed its spine with his daggers and leaped off its back. He quickly loaded an arrow and shot one of the orc riders through its neck. The rider less warg lunged at him, but he twisted to the side and summersaulted over its back.

Estelwen's mouth hung open, but she quickly shut it. Unbelievable. Legolas had left one of his swords in the back of the warg, just as she had done with the cave troll in the Mines of Moria. However, he had done it while flipping.

She suddenly realized the dripping red – that he was cut on the shoulder. He saw her look and pretended to ignore it. He flicked his hair over his shoulder, as if to say it was nothing. Estelwen was about to thank him, but quickly changed it to, "Get down!" She threw her sword where his head had been. It sunk straight into the neck of a rearing warg.

Legolas spun around and stabbed the riding orc. It fell and did not move. Before Estelwen could let out a breath, Legolas was gone, back into the heat of battle. Estelwen cast her gaze to the bodies of the three dead wargs. Had they attacked her straight on like the others did, she would've been able to use their momentum against them. Defects of the pack, she thought.

Nearby, Gimli stood eager to shed blood. He called out to a warg, "Bring your pretty face to my ax!" It snarled at him and ran. Gimli pulled back his ax, ready to swing. The warg leaped through the air, but stopped short and fell to the ground. Legolas had shot it. Gimli furiously shouted, "I wasn't talking to you! And that one counts as mine!"

What does he mean by 'counts as mine'? Estelwen noticed Legolas muttering something after every orc and warg he killed. Is he...counting? She couldn't believe it. They were competing in their own game during a battle. A little part of her wished that she had also kept track of the filth she had dispatched.

The orcs and wargs were many, but Rohan was prevailing with their courageous Riders and skilled guests.

Théoden jerked his sword out from the belly of a warg. He breathed out with relief to find that it was the last. "Search for the survivors!" he ordered. "Leave the dead."

Estelwen's eyes kept scanning fr. Surely there are more who survived! She felt a tug on her dress and looked down. A man's left hand was missing to the wrist, and was bleeding profusely. "Hand me my reins."

Estelwen grabbed the reins of a brown steed nearby and gave it to him. "Wait here, or you will surely die of blood loss!" She prayed that Aragorn still had some of his healing herbs.

"I will, unless the kings says otherwise," he said hoarsely. He ripped the bottom of his shirt and wound the course material tightly around his left wrist. His eyes rolled back as he let out a gasp of pain.

Estelwen scanned the faces of the men, searching for Aragorn. Her eyes landed on a man holding a black horse's reins. Rocelin. That man was not Aragorn. Her hand flew to her mouth when she saw Legolas looking down the edge of a cliff, holding onto Arwen necklace. The same one she gave Aragorn before he departed with the Fellowship.

*****

Legolas stared down the edge of the cliff. The rapids roared below. Estelwen stopped next to him. The horror on her face showed what he felt inside. She did not have to ask to know that Aragorn and fallen down the cliff. She stared, mouth agape, her right hand creeping up and slightly extended over the river.

Legolas could not move. He is gone! Gone...

Théoden walked up to Legolas. "Come, Master Elf, we must all reach the keep before dawn."

Legolas looked defiantly at him. For once, he understood Boromir's feelings to be given time to mourn the dead. Leaving so quickly was wrong.

"We cannot leave."

Théoden and Legolas both looked at Estelwen, whose eyes had not left the river.

Normally, Théoden would have yelled at someone who defied his direct orders, but her soft voice could do no less than cause his soul to tremble. "I am sorry for your friend. But remember what he fought for. Let not his sacrifice be in vain." He left quietly, trusting Legolas would bring her.

Estelwen's face was pale, her gaze on the river growing more intent. Her muscles tightened, and she leaned towards the edge. Legolas grabbed her.

"Let me go!" She pushed against him.

His arms wrapped around her waist, also pinning her arms to her side. "Estelwen, we must leave. Ending your life will not bring him back!"

"I am not trying to kill myself! I have to save him!" She struggled. When he did not budge, she nearly burst into tears. "Stop! He is alive. I know he is! Do not try to tell me otherwise!"

He spoke with a calmness that surprised himself. "I will not tell you otherwise."

She stopped struggling, and he loosened his hold on her. He steadied his voice and tried to appear reasonable. His hands rested on her shoulders as he tried to look her in the eye. "Aragorn knows where we are going. He will find his way back to us, but we can do no good by trying to go after him. There may be more wargs. These people need us."

Estelwen did not respond. Her body stiffened, but her shoulders were slumped forward. Her eyes were fixed on the ground.

Legolas could not see her eyes. He could not tell what she was thinking or what she would do next. "Come, Estelwen," he pleaded. "We will wait for him at Helm's Deep."

He left out his true thoughts about Aragorn. If said, he knew it would crush her. 

Thank you once again for reading this sporadically-updated fanfic. And FYI, your comments are the best! It makes my week to set my school aside just to read what you have to say and how you are faring along this journey. 

Estelwen seems particularly sensitive around death. Although we all know Aragorn survives, does anyone get the feel that Estelwen may have to face death in a personal way in the future? Possibly in a way that will change her permanently? 

No, just me? Alrighty.

Happy reading,

<3 Reese