Chap. 26 - The Wargs

I was riding next to Legolas and Gimli, while Aragorn fell behind. Eowyn was slowing him down by talking to him. I turned to look at him when Eowyn wasn't looking, and smirked at him. Aragorn smiled, and held back a laugh.

He said something to her, and he trotted up to us. "I told her you needed something. I got away."

I laughed, "I was gonna ask about how you left her back there. Oh no.. Here she comes again. Heh, have fun again!"

He grabbed my arm, as I pretended to ease Arroch into a trot, "No! Don't go yet."

"But...," I groaned. Eowyn slowly caught up to us. I hunched over in my saddle.

"Lady Alex, are you alright?" Eowyn asked me.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I was just stretching out my back," I said quickly. Legolas flicked my arm with amusement when she looked away. I turned to him, and he was trying not to laugh. I giggled, and instantly stopped when Eowyn looked back at us.

She looked at Aragorn, and at Gimli who was staring at the short women who were way up in the front. "Gimli, do you have a special someone?" Eowyn asked.

Gimli shrugged, "Nope. You don't see many dwarf women around these days. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."

We all laughed, and Gimli continued, "It's true!"

"It's the beards," Aragorn muttered, and pretended to stroke a long beard. Eowyn and I laughed, and Gimli kept talking, "This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women and that-" Gimli spreads his arms out wide "- Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground! Which is, of course, ridiculous."

Eowyn and I laugh, and Gimli's horse got spooked, and ran ahead, and knocked Gimli off. Eowyn ran towards him, and helped him up.

Arroch again, seemed quite jumpy and energized. "I think I will let Arroch run for a little. He seems.. Hyper," I said, and patted Arroch's neck.

Aragorn nodded, "Be careful. Orcs could be anywhere. Don't go too far."

I snorted, "Yes. I'll run all the ways to Helms Deep and beat you all by two days."

Aragorn playfully slapped Arroch's behind, "Go, you. I'll make sure we get there before Arroch ever does!"

I laughed, and pushed Arroch into a gallop. His long legs reached far, and we flew across the grassland. I could hear Arroch's breaths. I felt free. I let out a whoop, and let Arroch go where he wanted.

~ARAGORN'S POINT OF VIEW~

I watched as Alex and Arroch galloped away, and wished I could do the same. I hoped she wasn't captured again. As Gimli was back on his horse again, Eowyn came up to me. She walked besides my horse. I cursed in my head, and forced a smile. She looked at Alex, who was now a tiny speck in the distance.

"Why did she go?" Eowyn asked.

"She's letting Arroch stretch his legs out," I said, and watched Alex. I told her not to go to far out, and that is what she was doing.

Eowyn looked at my locket Alex had given me, "Where is she? The woman who gave you that locket."

I looked down, and remembered when she gave it to me. I shuddered, "She is galloping away."

Eowyn looked over to where Alex was. A look of hurt crossed her face, "Lady Alex gave it to you."

We set up camp in the grasslands, but in a secluded area hidden by boulders. It was growing dark, and Alex still hadn't returned. I started to grow worried, when Legolas came up to me.

"Stop worrying about her. She is stronger than you think," Legolas said, and clapped my shoulder.

"I know she is strong. I just can't help to think about the last time I sent her away. And she was captured by orcs," I sighed, and watched the sunset.

"She went willingly this time. Alex will return. Trust me, my friend," Legolas said.

I nodded, and said quietly, "I trust you, my friend."

Legolas smiled, and went to join Gimli.

~ALEX'S POINT OF VIEW~

It was sunset, and Arroch was still going. He hadn't slowed down at all. We must have been out for hours! Arroch slowed as I pulled on the reins. We stopped on a hill, that looked down onto the valley. I saw a small campfire. Orcs. I heard a strange growl come from the campsite. It was not an Orc growl that I've ever heard. I eased Arroch back into a gallop, and we went back the way we had come. The cool, nighttime air chilled my face as we ran. My legs were warm, and wet from Arroch's sweat. After awhile, we approached the camp. I thought of Aragorn. He must be worried.

I slowed Arroch to a walk, and we emerged into the camp. The villagers stared at me in wonder as I walked past. Arroch was stepping high, kind of like the dressage horses I saw on TV a couple timeS. I wondered why they were staring at me. Around a small campfire stood some figures. I walked up to it, and dismounted Arroch. I led him to a water bucket, and Arroch drank some.

A figure slowly walked closer to me, and then quickly jogged. The person gathered me into a hug. Aragorn. I hugged him back.

"You've been gone a long time. I told you not to stray too far," Aragorn said into my hair.

"Arroch needed it. He must have been in the stables for awhile," I said, and then remembered the campfire I saw in the valley. "I saw a small campfire. In the valley. I assumed it was an orc camp. A strange growl made me turn back."

Aragorn went stiff, "Wargs. You stumbled across an orc camp that ride wargs."

"Wargs?" I asked, confused.

"Wargs are intelligent, and giant wolf like creatures. Orcs use them for transportation," Aragorn said. Eowyn came up to us, carrying a pot of something. I pulled away from Aragorn, and looked at him.

"Don't eat the stew. Just say no," he whispered quickly. I raised my eyebrow, and smiled at Eowyn.

"Lady Alex! You have returned. We were growing worried. You must be hungry. I made a quick stew. It's not much, but it'll help," Eowyn said, and offered me some.

I shook my head, "No thanks. I had some elven bread before I reached camp. I'll have some when I get hungry. But thank you for asking."

She smiled, and left. Aragorn looked at me, and raised his eyebrows, "You handled that smoothly. Did you really eat the bread?"

I smiled, and shook my head no, "I'm starved!"

Aragorn chuckled, and led me to the campfire. Legolas and Gimli were sittinng around it, and eating some bread and some actual meat stew.

Gimli looked up at me, "Ah! You're back lass. Here, have some stew. It's a lot better than the other lass's."

He handed me a steaming bowl and some bread. "Thank you, Gimli." I sat down, and began to eat.

...

In the morning, I woke up in a tent. I could have sworn I fell asleep next to the campfire.. I stood up, and picked my bow back up. I walked outside. It must be early. The sun was barely up. Legolas and Gimli were packing their small bags and putting them on their horses. People were taking tents down, and packing for the day's journey. We should be at Helms Deep by tonight.

I ate a quick breakfast of elven bread, and cunningly avoided Eowyn's stew again. I fed Arroch, and was murmured a good morning by Aragorn. Once we were ready, I mounted Arroch again. We headed back onto the road to Helms Deep.

Once we reached the valley where I saw the orc camp, there was no trace of orc. Scouts were sent down to check if the area was safe. They came back, and reported that it was fine. Now the sun was in the middle of the sky. It was bright, so I had to squint. We entered an area with rocks and small cliffs. More guards went to scout the area. Legolas watched them, and looked up at a cliff top.

"Wargs!" the guard said, and turned his horse.

"It's a scout!" Legolas yelled. Aragorn turned his horse around, and galloped back to the villagers.

"We are under attack!" he yelled, and King Théoden turned to Eowyn. I watched as Eowyn tearfully led the villagers to another path.

Aragorn galloped back, and I saw a lot more wargs running towards us. A deep canyon was etched into the ground. A river must be down there.

"Alex! Go back with the villagers!," Aragorn yelled, and unsheathed his sword.

"No! I will stay and protect!" I yelled back angrily. Aragorn shook his head, and rode towards the battle. He knew that there was no way to persuade me to go to Helms Deep. I took my bow, and galloped after the other men. Legolas had already killed a whole bunch, and Gimli was battling with a warg and an orc.

I dismounted Arroch, and shoved him away, "Go Arroch! Go over behind those rocks. I will come back for you!"

Arroch seemed to understand, and ran where I told him. I can't believe I was talking to a horse and he understood me.

More wargs approached, and I let loose arrows. I hit an orc in the head, and the warg kept running. It ran straight for me. My eyes widened, and it came closer. The orc grabbed me, and pulled me up. I struggled against it's grip. It laughed, and spit at me. It landed in my face. Disgusting.

I yelled, and unsheathed my sword. And beheaded it. I laughed, I'm not sure why, and shoved the body off. I climbed up onto the running warg. How do I drive this thing? I leaned left, and it went left. I laughed again, and killed orcs with my arrows. I looked around, and saw wargs attacking the soldiers, and tackling them down from their horses. I shot at a warg who was trying to get Gimli. I looked around for Aragorn. I found him, and sighed with relief. Legolas watched me as I rode by him. I laughed once more, and killed more orcs. After maybe two more minutes, most of the orcs were dead. i looked around, and tried to find my friends. I found Legolas, Gimli, and couldn't find Aragorn. My heart jumped. I saw him finally, and he was hanging off of a warg. The orc who was riding it shoved Aragorn, but he fought it back. He stabbed the orc, and caused it to fall to the ground. I jumped off of my warg, and tumbled onto the ground. I stood up, and shot the warg. It tumbled over, and went limp.

I looked for Aragorn again. This time, I couldn't find him. I panicked. Legolas and Gimli were running to the edge of the cliff. No. He couldn't of. No! I wouldn't let the thought in my mind. I sprinted to them. Legolas leaned over to talk to someone. Aragorn? No! An orc! Legolas picked up something from the orc, and killed it. Gimli was peering over the edge. I finally reached them, and looked at Legolas and Gimli, who were standing and looking forlorn.

"Did he?" I croaked out, and I felt the tears coming. Legolas looked up, and nodded sadly. His fists were clenched. I ran to the edge. The was no sign of a body. "No!"

Théoden came up to us, and ordered to the remaining soldiers, "Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead." He looked at us, "Come."

I looked over the edge, and saw a path down to the rushing river bank. I started to run, and heard the blood rushing through my ears. Arms grabbed me, and pulled me back. I kicked at the air, "No! Nooo! I have to check! I have to check! No! Legolas! Let me go!"

Legolas turned me around to face him, and said sadly, "I'm sorry Alex. He couldn't have survived that fall. We must go. The wolves will return. Théoden is right."

Tears flowed down my face, and I peered one last time at the rushing waters. I followed Legolas and Gimli. As we walked, Arroch trotted over to me. I sniffed, and got up onto him. I cried the whole rest of the way to Helms Deep.

WOO INTENSE. :D