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Shieldmaiden of Helm's Deep

Chapter 1: A Cage

The women and young children huddle together, seeking comfort and warmth from each other. Many faces were stained with tears on their cheeks, a great pain in their hearts from having a loved one torn from their arms. The darkness surrounds the refugees like an early morning fog, the only light coming from a few torches that hang on the walls, like rays of the sun appearing on the horizon. It is cold and damp in the huge caverns.

The noise of men rushing above them preparing for battle long ago ceased. Now there is silence in caves, except for the whimpering of children. Suddenly everyone stops breathing and moving. Women tilt their heads, ears straining to hear. The caves are silent as a tomb.

A noise reaches the refugees. It sound like a low chanting that builds in volume until the caves rumble from it. Children cry out. Some plug their ears, trying to keep the noise at bay. The chant ceases. All tense, waiting, though they do not know for what.

A roar is heard, followed by shouts and screams, from both man and orc. The ground above them trembles from pounding of feet. Dirt and gravel rains down from the ceiling, causing those looking up to lower their heads.

Eowyn sits with her back against the doors that seals them in the caves, also listening. Her right hand rests on her sword which sits on her lap. Her other hand lies on a battered basket with a cloth covering it.

Her heart goes out to these women, but she cannot comprehend their feeling of loss. She herself has no husband or child save her sword.

She stares blankly at a wall. Her eyes are hard, her jaw firmly set, her cheeks dry; but her eyes are filled with unshed tears. Her face is full of bitterness and frustration; she slams her fist against the doors, hard. Her eyes close, a sigh of frustration escapes from her lips.

A battle goes on above them. A battle that she should be taking part in with her fellow people.

"So it begins," she whispers. She moves her hand from the basket and checks for the dagger hidden in the folds of her dress. It is there.

Eowyn swiftly enters her room and firmly shuts the door behind her. She leans against the door and surveys the room for a moment. It is small, with an old bed in a corner and a small table. Her trunk sits across from the bed against a cold stone wall. A little window offers a way for sunlight to creep in.

Eowyn crosses the room and puts a basket on the table. She looks at the half dozen daggers that rest in the basket. They may be of use tonight.

She turns away and goes to her trunk. Opening it, she retrieves her sword which lies on top of one of her dresses. After closing the trunk, she unsheathes the sword and examines it closely. She runs her hand along the flat of the blade. A memory lightly brushes against her mind. The corners of her mouth turn up slightly; her eyes are fill with sadness.

"My lady?" a voice is heard on the other side of the door, followed by a polite knock.

Eowyn quickly sheathes her sword.

"One moment, please," she says.

She places her sword on her bed and then notices the basket. She opens the trunk and takes out a white sash. She places in on the basket, carefully makes sure that the daggers are hidden from view.

She walks to the door, willing her heart to stop racing.

"Who is it?" she asks.

"Hama, my Lady," comes the answer.

Eowyn opens the door and looks questioningly at the man.

"The king desires for you to help see the women and children to the caves," Hama says.

Eowyn nods to him and gives him leave to go. She enters her room again and takes a dagger from under her pillow and tucks it into the folds of her dress. She then leaves the room.

Walking through the fortress, watching the preparations for the war, Eowyn directs women and children to the caves. Both men and women weep as they part, not knowing if they will meet again. Boys, no more than seven years old, are pulled from their mothers arms to fight that night. The scene is heart-wrenching.

Eowyn pauses in her wandering to lift her eyes see Théoden, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas overlooking the fortress from the Keep. She jolts slightly when she discovers Aragorn staring down at her. She gives him a stiff nod in acknowledgment and turns back to her task.

She has not spoken to Lord Aragorn since his arrival at Helm's Deep earlier that day. She was uncertain what to do. She had seen him come. She had seen Legolas return the Evenstar to him. She had seen the relief that shone in his face at having it back. He had not noticed her there, beaming with happiness at his return, yet crying with sadness because what she longed for could never be. She had gotten her hopes up only to have them crash down when he sadly told her about his love – for an elf. What chance did she have? She could not yet make herself face him.

Eowyn shakes thoughts of Aragorn out of her mind and turns back to the scene about her. Her heart goes out to her people. They are tired, confused, and full of despair, without hope. The coming war seems hopeless. How many will survive the night? she wonders.

She is about to go back to her room when a voice stops her.

"My Lady?"

"Hama," Eowyn says in greeting.

"I am to escort you to the caves, by order of the king."

Fire flashes in Eowyn's eyes. "Am I to idly stay with the women while men and children lose their lives?" Her voice is cold as ice.

"For your own safety, my lady –"

"I do not need protection. I am a shieldmaiden of Rohan. I can fight! I should help my people. What use is a sword if I cannot wield it?" She ignores the curious stares of people watching.

"I do not doubt that you can fight, my lady. But you need to stay with the women. They are frightened. Their husbands and sons have been taken from them. They need you to lead them, give them strength," Hama tries to reason. "Aragorn will lead the men of Rohan. The women of Rohan need your help."

Eowyn turns from Hama and stares at the floor. She does not belong in the caves. She can fight. She is not helpless.

But then the dream comes back to her. Women screaming. Children crying. They were defenseless against an unknown enemy. "The women of Rohan need your help." Eowyn turns the words over in her head. She sighs. This is not the first time she has been kept from fighting. And it will not be the last.

She turns back to Hama; the fight has gone out of her, but her eyes are still hard. "I must get some things from my room first," she states.

Hama nods meekly.

Eowyn turns and walks off, Hama follows. She ignores the looks from the men. Quickly reaching her room, Eowyn picks up her sword from the bed and the basket from the table. Hama gives her a curious look; she returns it with a challenge. He lowers his eyes.

"If it is what the king commands," she says shortly and allows the man to lead her to the caves.

She is the last to enter. Her gaze wanders over the hopeless faces. Her back straightens. She will stay; she has no other choice.

The doors behind her slam shut. Now they can only wait.