Grima, Aelfen and the Rohirrim
Chapter1 – Prologue
TA2999
Galmod of Rohan looked around the once beautiful settlement with despair. They had come too late. He had been spent a lot of time in this village over the years, as had many of his men. It was the natural stopping point on their patrol as it lay on the border they shared with the Gondorian region of Lamadon. They would often meet with warriors from Gondor and share a drink with them in the tavern. But now the village and indeed the tavern were deserted and the village burned to the ground.
Sending his company of Rohirrim on ahead Galmod took a moment by himself to pray for the souls of those who had been lost. Closing his eyes briefly in remembrance he said farewell to those he had known.
When he opened his eyes however he was not alone. Through the smoke of the still smouldering buildings he could see what looked like a small child, a boy holding something in his arms.
"Hail! Are you well?"
Not getting an answer the warrior took a couple of steps forward, prompting the boy to take a step back, pulling whatever he was holding to his chest defensively.
"You are safe child. I am from Rohan."
When he took another step forwards the boy stayed where he was, so Galmod continued forwards one agonisingly slow step at a time until he reached the child. He couldn't be any more than 8 years old.
"Are you hurt?"
The boy shook his head and Galmod smiled. He could now see what it was that the boy was holding. It was a baby.
"What is your name?"
He asked, but the boy didn't reply.
"And who is this?"
Galmod tried again. This time the boy spoke, but he held the smaller body even tighter against him as if he thought the man would take it from him.
"My Sister."
Dropping his arms down by his side to show that he wasn't going to try and take the baby away Galmod asked another question.
"Where are your parents?"
There was another moment of silence before the boy started to cry.
"I… I don't know. I woke up and everyone was gone. I woke up and we were in this horrible place."
Wanting to comfort the boy but not knowing how Galmod knelt down so that they were the same height putting one hand on the tiny shoulder.
"I am Galmod of Rohan."
It was then that he noticed the spear and helmet stitched onto the collar of the boy's shirt.
"Is that for your name?"
He asked pointing to the design. The boy nodded.
"Then for now I shall call you Grima. For that is what your name would be in my tongue."
The boy smiled a little at this and Galmod could not help smiling back.
"And your Sister is so fair she must be one of the forest sprites, so I will call her Aelfen. Is that alright?"
The boy nodded again.
"Good. Then let us get you something to eat."
After a brief meal Galmod rode back to Edoras with the two children in front of him on his horse. He was determined that he would do anything in his power to help them forget the horror of what they must have been through that day. Of course he would have to convince his wife Gylda to adopt them with him, but he didn't think that would be much of challenge.
