Memories
It's been a long time since my life at the forest, honestly I lost count how many days, months, and years have gone by, they have just merged into a rushing river gushing through my memories. Now I live my days as a wanderer, or, on some few lucky days, I am able to stop in a city or citadel to help or gain help. I cannot remember much of my old life, for old 'twas it. I only remember the day I forgot. We were in the forest, a group of us fighting…something, or searching for something. I remember there was one I cared about, whose name once lived in my mind. I recall a group we came upon, a strange group, we had saved them and were taking them back to…the place I lived. I remember falling and a screech and he was there but I fell to fast and that is all I have from that place. I woke up from a chilling blackness to unknown trees and an unforged path. Since then I have wandered the lands, trying to find my past. I have at least made a new name for myself, Randir, many call me, or wanderer in the common tongue. I enjoy the name; I first used it when someone identified me as an elf. He was a lone traveler such as I and asked what an elf was doing in these parts. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Wandering." I replied.
"Randir." He retorted in a tongue that sounded familiar in some way, I now understand it is called sindarin. The name stuck. When one would question my title I would say that. Many others just call me the Elven Ranger, I am no ranger but I was not insulted, so rarely I would correct them. I eventually brought a horse into my possession, Darkrun I call him for his sleek charred mane and swift hooves. I was a sight, a small fair-skinned woman atop my scarred blackened horse. I get many a strange looks when I proceed to a town, women are not often perceived to ride and fight such as I. Such a man's world 'tis it. I pulled myself from past thoughts as I rode into the area of Rohan. I caught wind of an evil and I knew the riders of Rohan have been fighting constantly do not usually interfere with the matters of men, but I somehow knew this would affect all of Middle Earth. I sped Darkrun up, wanting to get to the capitol without running into a patrol. I have nothing to hide, it would just be easier, to say the least. I had been making much ground and I believed I was getting close when my luck turned. A group of riders were coming up behind me. I slowed; if these men were trained with bows and I sped up they may be all too happy to shoot me off my perch. The group doth in a velvet green rode around to a stop. One tall man questioned what my doings were in this land.
"I am to ride to Edoras, sir, to help you in your fight." I said proudly, the man interrogating me snickered before he answered.
"Women do not fight, but come ride to Edoras, humor Théoden. Beside you are of no harm." I nodded stiffly and followed the riders. The horses galloped at a swift pace and soon Edoras rose from the ground in front of me. The corners of my mouth twitched upwards, honestly this was too easy, the guards just escorted me to the front gates, if I wanted to be a threat, which I did not, it would be foolishly simple. As I passed into the town the guards eyed me suspiciously but the leader of the patrol group nodded, as if to say she will bother no one. The man then leaned to one of the sentinels, whispered a few words, then proceeded to engage me conversation.
"Sir Théoden is seeing no one at the present time you may go and talk, but be warned I will have guards posted inside." I nodded at the weak threat and I trotted up the hill towards the palace, before I made it half way up a young stable-boy ran to me and told me he was to put my horse in their stables.
"Take good care of him, and a few more coins will be in your pocket." I said as I passed Darkrun to a now eager boy. In truth I barely had enough coin as it is, but I wanted my horse in good care and the boy looked sick. I guess now, everyone is sick. I glanced upwards at the ever darkened sky; the whole atmosphere seemed filled with an ever-present ominous feeling. I shook my head from the thoughts and walked up. The guards let me through at the door and the great mass of wood swung open. The king sat in his chair, seemingly musing about something or another. He glanced up and saw me,
"And who are you to be let into me halls." The king asked. I bowed my head slightly before answering in a loud tone.
"I am Randir, and I have come to help you in your battles." The king a bit taken aback and had to think before answering.
"Women of Rohan do not fight with the riders, but you are not of Rohan so I cannot say no, yet my heart would be sorrowed to see a young maiden's slain head, laying on the fields." I believed he was trying to discourage me with tales of death, but I had fought before.
"If I die it would be meant to be," Was all I replied. Théoden chuckled before he once again responded.
"Fine, but you must listen my commanders, and do not believe we will not slay you ourselves if you try anything to hurt my soldiers. But why do you take concern in our matters?"
"We both know these matters concern Middle Earth as a whole, now I do not need a place to stay but may I at least be allowed to sleep under the stars in some peace?" Once again the great King seemed amused by my thoughts.
"Yes, yes, if you prefer the sky to roofs sleep wherever." I nodded graciously and left, I don't sleep anyway so I didn't want to burden him with finding me a room. I walked out of the palace and saw a sight uncommon to this place. A group of men rode up the hill, but not just any men. There was a wizard, some hobbits, a dwarf, and… I gasped, nearly fell to the ground. He was there. His face remained nameless but memories flooded back in a fierce flash. He was right in front of me, the one whose memory relentlessly burned in the back of my head. I watched him as they rode pass but he did not see me…or has he forgotten over all these long, lonely years?
A/N: First off, I don't own anyone of Tolkien's wonderful work, second off I hope you enjoyed and will follow, favourite, and/or comment. I was pretty nervous posting this story, when the books are so amazingly written it's hard to live up to. Anyways, thanks for reading!