Break Forth the Dawn
Chapter OneA Lord of the Rings fan fiction storyby Krystie Jamsion
Eáránë Ancalamë watched as Éomer, nephew of the king, rode away with those loyal to the King.
To her left, Éowyn, Éomer's sister stood waving, on the verge of tears. She had never been so alone before. Her uncle, the king of Rohan, Théoden, had been poisoned in some way from an unwanted advisor, and her cousin, Théodred, had been brought back the day before nearly dead. And now her brother is gone, being banished from Edoras, and with him, the hope of Rohan, or so it seemed.
Eáránë watched as Éomer looked over his shoulder at them. She knew his eyes held tears of sadness that should not have been there. Éomer waved and rode away, slowly disappearing from the sight of Edoras.
Eáránë turned to her mother, who was standing close behind her.
"Could you please take care of Éowyn, mother?" she asked quietly. "I must speak to father."
Tari Ancalimë smiled and put a knurled hand on her daughter's cheek. "Of course, Eáránë," she replied.
Éowyn was now walking towards the Hall, and Tari silently followed her.
Eáránë went the opposite direction, towards one of the many houses that covered the massive hill that Edoras was situated on. She opened the door to find her father sitting at a table, deep in conversation with one of the villagers.
He looked up when she walked in.
"Ah," he said wearily. "Eáránë. Just the person I wanted to see just now." He motioned to a chair across from him.
Galdor Ancalimë's scarred face was filled with sadness, as he knew what Eáránë was about to tell him. His eyes traveled back to the villager who was shaking from the cold, and talking rather fast.
"Slow down, my friend," he said putting his hands on the man's. Galdor motioned to Eáránë to get a blanket to put around his shoulders. She did so, and the man thanked her, and then turned back to Galdor and went on with his story.
"I was putting the horses away for the night, when I heard this growling," he explained. "I knew it wasn't any of my dogs, for I keep them in the house at night, and they do right by that and stay in. But the most peculiar thing happened."
He paused for a moment. "I saw these beady eyes staring right at me, and then…" he paused again, if trying to remember something," "…and then…well…I don't remember anything else. All I remember is waking up and seeing that they had taken the horses, burnt the barn to the ground, along with the rest of the village, and killed everyone but me. I don't know how I lived, while the rest of them burned to a crisp in their beds, but I did. It scared me so terrible much that I knew I must warn the other villages, before they were torn apart too."
The man's face saddened suddenly and tears came into his eyes. "I went to the nearest village, but it had already been destroyed, and along with it, all its inhabitants."
Eáránë listened to the man with great sorrow. It was true that Saruman's orcs were roaming freely, just as Éomer had said. Their people were dying, but the king would do nothing. At least Éomer would now be able to try to defend their lands while he was roaming. Earane knew he would do his best.
Galdor nodded after the man had explained what had happened, and told the man to rest on a nearby cot.
Eáránë looked at her father, who stood up.
"It is becoming too dangerous, Eáránë," he exclaimed. "Our people are dying, and there is nothing we can do about it until Theoden gives us permission, but his ears are deaf and his mouth is mute from some curse this new advisor of his had given him."
Eáránë nodded. "I know, Father. With Éomer gone, and the heir to the throne almost dead, what are we to do but wait here until Gandalf comes?"
"Éomer has gone?" he said in disbelief.
"Yes, father," Eáránë replied. "Grima has banished him. He left but half-an-hour ago."
"Banishment?" Galdor shook his head and sat down again. "What of Théodred?" he asked, looking at her with a dim light of hope in his eyes.
Eáránë shut her eyes for a moment before answering. "He is not strong enough to stay alive. He will die in a few days, if not hours."
Galdor sank down in his chair, his eyes filling with tears. Life as they once knew was vanishing, and a new life of fear was replacing it.
"If only Gandalf would come," Eáránë whispered.
Galdor looked up at Eáránë again. "Gandalf?" he asked. "Do you think he could help us? Do you think he is strong enough to break Saruman's spell over our good king, my daughter?"
Eáránë's mouth formed a small smile. "Yes, father. I believe Gandalf is. You have said many, many times, Father that the good in this world we live in far outweighs that of the bad, no matter how much stronger the bad seems. We must believe in that now, for if we don't, none shall have any courage to stand up to anything."
Galdor smiled and took his daughter's hand. "I wish I could still think as I used to daughter. I thank you for reminding me."
Eáránë smiled back at her father. "You are very welcome." She stood up and walked to the door. "Now I believe that I must go to Mother and Éowyn."
Galdor nodded and watched Eáránë walk out of the door, and then sighed. The good, old days. Where had they gone? The only thing to do now was wait for Gandalf. But, if he did not come, then they needed another plan. But now, he had to tend to the villagers who were crowding his little home.
They had come to seek help, and a few moments ago he had none, but now, with the wisdom that his young daughter had showed him, he could help them find their courage and rebuild the shattered pieces of their life with it. It would make them stronger and invincible in a way that the Enemy would never be able to break.
A/N: Hope you liked the first chapter! Another one is soon on the way! Sorry that this one is so short, but I kinda had to hurry because I didn't have a lot of time with which to write it. I hope that everything is explained well, and if you have any questions, please let me know. I'll try to answer them in the next chapter. Thanks! Krystie Jamison