The Elf, the Hobbit and the Ring - Book 2 NEW VERSION

Helm's deep

There was chaos everywhere Míriel looked. People were rushing past her, grabbing their children and leaving their things behind. Míriel glanced toward the horizon where she couldn't see Legolas or the others any longer. They were already far away at battle.

"Make for the lower ground!" Éowyn yelled and awoke Míriel from her thoughts. She snapped out of it and realised she had to help.

"Stick together, hold your children!" Míriel said and urged Windfola forward.

It was up to her to lead the way to Helm's deep from the front of the pack. Éowyn had given clear instructions of where the keep was and they were not too far away now. Míriel rode in the lead for quite a while and for a moment it seemed as though they Orcs had abandoned their hunt. Míriel decided to climb off Windfola's back and put three children in the saddle instead. They were much more tired than she.

"Míriel!"

Screams were heard as three wargs came running right toward them and Éowyn was alone in the back, the only one armed to fight. Míriel gasped and began running to help her friend fight their enemy. She grabbed her bow and aimed an arrow at one of the wargs, shooting it in the head and killing it instantly. Its rider tumbled down from the wargs back, but the Orc was quickly up on his feet. He pulled his sword and began charging toward Éowyn, however the girl quickly disarmed and killed him with a stroke through the chest. Míriel raised her eyebrows in surprise - Éowyn's title as shieldmaiden was obviously not only a courtesy title.

The two other wargs and Orcs were defeated similarly as the two fought side by side. Éowyn's skills were impressive for being so young. As the last Orc fell dead to the ground, Míriel turned to Éowyn.

"Go to the front, if there are more I'll hold them off," Míriel said to Éowyn who nodded and hurried to the lead.

As Míriel turned she finally saw it - their refuge was only a few leagues away. Helm's Deep was right ahead and a spark of hope was lit in the people of Rohan. They began walking faster, new energy in their tired legs and Míriel smiled relieved. Together, she and Éowyn had led Rohan's people to Hornburg.

As they stepped inside the keep there were sounds of laughter and relieved cries. For a moment they could be joyful and safe, though it might not last for very long. Nonetheless, Míriel allowed herself to smile yet again and turned to Éowyn who soon threw her hands around Míriel's neck. She laughed, shocked by the embrace, but hugged her friend tightly.

"You will make a great leader, Éowyn", Míriel said and smiled. "You led your people here."

"With your help." Éowyn smiled, a bit embarrassed by the compliment. "I couldn't have done it without you, my dear friend."

Míriel was quite certain she could have, but said nothing more of the matter. She helped an eldery couple inside the helm. Somewhere far away Míriel heard the little girl Freda call her mother for she had finally found her. In fact, many seemed to find themselves reunited with long lost family members from those who had escaped the burning of the Westfold.

Míriel sighed - not matter the joy in the helm she couldn't help but wish that she was in the battle with her companions. One of the worst things in the world was to do nothing and that was precisely the situation she had found herself in.

It didn't take long before Míriel began pacing back and forth in front of Éowyn who was shouting out commands from the main level of Helm's Deep. Éowyn had taken charge and everyone turned to her for directions. She'd placed food in the caves and set up a place for the wounded to convalesce. Éowyn was in full control while Míriel had never felt more useless. It hadn't even been a day since they arrived, yet the men had not returned yet and it was the only thing she could think of. Something terrible could have happened.