One Day You'll Know

Chapter 27- The Truth

Wow. Ok. This has by far been one of the hardest chapters to write. But I decided to have a little fun with it and throw some Star Wars references in it- 11 to be exact. Comment below if you spot any! Also, I've published a third and fourth entry in my Notebook.

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"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free," John 8:32

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Théoden's company rode in silence the rest of the way to Helms Deep. The only thing Noelle had on her mind was still trying to comprehend the fact that Aragorn was gone. This all just seemed to be one bad dream that she would never wake up from.

They reached the fortress at late afternoon. Noelle handed Flash off to a young stable boy, while she headed off to the walls, lost deep in thought. And yes, she didn't care that she was by herself again. If Náedran showed up to bother her, she'd Force-push him off the wall.

As she leaned against the wall, her chin on her arms, she noticed a single, solitary rider headed their way.

She wondered if she should tell somebody, but as he got closer, her heart leapt.

It couldn't be.

Noelle ran as fast as her legs could carry her down to the front gate.

Gimli was already yelling. "Where is he? I'm gonna kill him!" He hugged Aragorn. "You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew! Bless you laddie!"

If only he had met Anakin, Noelle thought with a snort. Anakin made Aragorn's antics look like child's play.

"Aragorn..." She shook her head, trying to keep the aggravation out of her voice. "Please, please. You all need to stop scaring me to death. Literally."

Aragorn smiled slightly, as she gave him a side hug too. "I need to see the king, Noelle." He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. "They're coming."

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"A great host, you say?" Théoden asked, not sounding concerned at all.

"All Isengard is emptied," Aragorn added.

"How many?"

"Ten thousand strong at least."

"Ten thousand?" Noelle and Théoden repeated at the same time.

"It is an army bred for a single purpose," said Aragorn. "To destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall."

"Ten thousand," Noelle repeated to herself in disbelief. Aragorn had to be mistaken...

But she knew he wasn't. Gandalf had told her Saruman was breeding an army of Uruk hai, and if there were really ten thousand of what they had run into before, they would all be dead before morning.

"Prepare to move the women and children into the caves!" Théoden was ordering. "I want you to gather every man and strong lad able to bear arms-"

"Noelle," Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder, interrupting her thoughts. "You should go with them."

Noelle looked up. "What? No! You're kidding, right?"

But Legolas closed his mouth and looked at her intently. No, he was dead serious.

Noelle sighed. Ignoring him, she stomped off. She might as well go to the armory now and find something that would hopefully fit her, and get her sword sharpened just to be safe.