Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to LOTR, I only wish I did.

Rating: PG for now, high probability of going to R before the end. I will change the rating when necessary.

A/N: No flames, please. If you do flame me, you will just be ignored anyway. Constructive criticism appreciated. This is told in the first person, from Freda's point of view. (For those who have no idea who I'm talking about, and I wouldn't be surprised, this chapter hits on the first two scenes in TTT that she's in. If you still don't remember, watch the movie again! Because who of us can really say that they have an aversion to watching it twenty million times?) The first few chapters are more like flashbacks and memories, there will be much more story to follow.

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From the First

Chapter 1: First Acquaintance or Invasion of the Westfold

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My earliest memories are some of my most vivid. We lived in a small village in Rohan, made of small cottages and stables nestled along the banks of a small river. I was almost too young to understand the things that were happening around me in the weeks and months before the raid. But even at the age of I knew that everyone was becoming increasingly more tense; it was as if the world had taken a deep breath and held it, waiting for whatever was coming. Mama woke me that morning, calling to me with more urgency than I'd ever heard in her voice before.

"Freda! Freda! Wake up! We must go!"

I opened a sleep filled eye and saw her frantically grabbing for a dress of mine, my brother, Eothain, standing near her, rubbing the sleep from his own eyes. "Mama?" I asked, her panic beginning to register within my heart. Something very bad was happening.

"Shh. Come, Freda, put this on. Hurry!" She helped me into my worn and faded garment.

Shouts and terrified screams were starting to echo through the village. I met my mother's glance with frightened eyes, hers trying to reassure me, but I saw the thinly veiled terror there. My heart beat faster. "What's happening?" I asked as she led out outside. People were running everywhere, trying to flee. I followed mama's gaze to the other side of the river, wondering briefly what it was that was rushing down the far embankment and crossing the waters.

A strangled gasp escaped my mother's lips as she turned to Garulf, our stallion. She saddled him quickly, and then motioned for us to come to her. My brother was still staring, realization sinking into him.

"Eothain! Eothain! You take your sister. You'll go faster with just two." She lifted him onto the large horse, reaching down for me next.

"Papa says Eothain must not ride Garulf. He is too big for him!" I complained as my brother placed his arms around me, grasping the reins tightly.

"Listen to me." My mother said, her voice raising in pitch with the increased screams caused by the advancing army of men "You must ride to Edoras and raise the alarm. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mama." Eothain answered dutifully.

The situation finally dawned on me as I realized that she was sending us away, and I started to cry. "I don't want to leave. I don't want to go, Mama!" I leaned toward her, silently begging her to bring me down from our mount and keep me with her. I felt her hands lightly grasp my cheeks, holding my eyes with hers.

"Freda, I will find you there." She said, looking to her left. The army of wild men and orcs were in the village now, and closing in on our location. "Quickly!"

Garulf took off, galloping away at such a pace that my tears were whipped away by the passing air. We paused for a moment atop a small hill, looking back at our home, which was now showing the first of flames and smoke as the advancing army proceeded to burn everything in site. I remember thinking that I would never see my mother again. Then, before I had a chance to consider trying to convince Eothain to turn back, my brother gave a short command, and Garulf was off again, carrying us toward Edoras.

The ride to the city took days, Eothain ever trying to maintain his strength to urge Garulf forward. We stopped only a few times to rest, and only in daylight. There was a small bit of dried meat in Garulf's saddle, which we ate the within the first two days. Afterwards, we had nothing. I was beginning to fall asleep, held within my brother's protective embrace as we came over the last rise and saw the city before us, not far away. Eothain weakly reigned Garulf to a halt, and then, without warning, his hold on me suddenly loosened, and he slid from the horse's back, his body making a dull 'thud' sound as he struck the earth.

I did not move, to tired to try to get myself to the ground unharmed, to afraid to go on without Eothain, when I noticed an old man with a long white beard hurrying forward through the calf-high grasses, his white robes flowing behind him. I heard faint shouts, and soon others were hurrying out from the gates. As the old man came nearer, Garulf became uneasy, but was calmed when the man suddenly began speaking to him in a strange language, eerie and beautiful all at the same time. With a quick glance at me, and assured that I could wait until the others reached us, he knelt down over Eothain, murmuring more words in that strange tongue.

A man in the uniform of the Rohirrim led Garulf to the city, with me still perched in the saddle and clutching the horse's mane. Eothain was carried beside us. When we finally reached the Great Hall, I was helped down, and followed the men who were taking Eothain to a room to revive him.

I stood just inside the doorway, shaking and unsure, as they managed to rouse my brother. "Eothain!" I ran to him as he sat up, looking around at those around us. A woman entered then, finely dressed, her golden hair braided and secured up off of her neck.

"I am Lady Eowyn, niece to King Theoden. Can you tell me what has happened?" She asked, her pale eyes searching Eothain's and mine.

"Wild Men, and orcs of some kind." Eothain answered shakily"They burned our village."

Eowyn's eyes widened. "How long have you been traveling?"

"A few days." Eothain suddenly remembered Garulf. "Is my horse alright?"

A small smile formed on her face, and she nodded, understanding that the horse would be one of the boy's first concerns after relaying the information he was sent to deliver. "You may see to him after you have bathed and eaten. For now, we are doing our best to make sure he is resting and comfortable. He is a fine horse indeed."

Pride glowed from my brother's face as she spoke, changing to a grimace as we were led to separate rooms, each with a basin to wash in. I, however, was terribly excited. A bath! Bathing was something that was usually done in the river, whose waters were normally a little chilly. We only got heated water for bathing in the winter, and then only when there was snow to melt, and a scrap of cloth to wash ourselves with.

The Lady Eowyn came with me, followed by a kindly older woman who carried a pail of warm water. I took of my soiled clothes and was helped into the basin by the older woman, who proceeded to scrub my hair with some soap. The king's niece was examining my dress, and looked dismayed when she came across a few tears.

"These will need to be mended." She uttered before picking up the dress and moving to the door. She called out to one of the maids, telling her to bring a needle and some thread to fix the garment. Moments later, the girl entered, and began to stitch the holes closed. It was good as new by the time my bath was finished and my hair was brushed free of tangles, the top formed into two braids and then braided together and secured.

Once dressed, I was led into the hall and back to my brother, and we proceeded to the dining hall, where we were brought stew, bread, and drink. Famished, Eothain and I plunged into our meals, unaware for a few moments of anyone else being in the great hall. I looked up, catching sight of the others for the first time, and paused to examine them. There were two men, one of whom I recognized from mama's description and his dress, King Theoden, upon his throne. The other man wore strange garments that showed more wear than anyone's I'd ever seen.

Even stranger were the man's companions. An elf there was, tall and fair, with long golden hair, and a dwarf was there as well. I'd never seen either of their kind before, and thought to myself how they were not as I had imagined they would be. The old man was there, too, with his white staff and robes, sitting beside the king. My eyes were drawn back first to the dwarf, who was eating noisily, smacking his lips and almost grunting his approval. He was not much taller than I, yet far older. Long, red hair and a matching beard adorned his head, flowing in waves down his back.

Eowyn motioned for me to continue eating, drawing my attention. As I ate, I found myself transfixed now on the elf, who was watching Eothain and I with what seemed like mild amusement. When he caught me staring, the corners of his mouth twitched in a repressed smile, and I couldn't resist the urge to smile back.

"They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot, and tree." She glanced around to the men. Thoughts of my mother rushed back to me, and I was suddenly filled with worry.

"Where is Mama?" I asked, my small voice echoing loudly off of the high walls of the hall.

"Ssh!" Eowyn cooed, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. Eothain hesitated at my question, and then finished eating.

As the adults spoke with each other, I finished my stew, and sipped at my drink. I wasn't entirely sure what they were discussing, but it didn't sound good. My attention was brought back to them when the king's voice rose a bit.

"I will not risk open war."

"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not." The strange man answered, lowering his pipe.

This upset the king. "When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan."

In the awkward silence that followed, the dwarf burped loudly, and I giggled. Eowyn shushed me again, signaling for one of the women to come to us.

The old man broke the silence "Then what is the king's decision?"

As we were being led out of the hall, I heard one of the king's men shouting to the townspeople "By order of the king...the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep."

Eothain and I went to the stables, and Garulf whickered softly as we came near. We stood by as men and horses began to move, and the stable jumped to life with preparations for the evacuation. I saw the elf enter with his companions, and inched my way closer to get a good look at him and the dwarf as he began to saddle their horse, my childish curiosity getting the better of me. I stood on a bale of straw to get a better view, looking back as Eothain whispered my name from Garulf's stall. I shook my head at him, then turned back to my two subjects, only to find one of them missing.

The dwarf was staring right at me, and I reflexively moved back, embarrassed. I had forgotten, though, that I was standing on the bale, and began to fall, only to find myself steadied by a strong arm followed by a soft chuckle. Startled, I looked up into pale gray eyes, alight with amusement.

Eothain was instantly beside me, pulling me down. "Pardon my sister, my lord. She sometimes forgets herself."

I stuck my tongue out at my brother as I pulled out of his grasp, eliciting another soft laugh from the elf.

"Curiosity is a virtue, young one." The elf said.

"You are an elf." I stated matter-of-factly, oblivious to my brother's groan.

"I am." He responded. "What is your name?"

"Freda. And this is Eothain." I gestured to my brother.

"Saesa omentien lle, Freda. And you, Eothain." The elf said with a small dip of his head. (1) "I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm. This is Gimli, son of Gloin." The dwarf nodded curtly, pulling himself up to his full height.

"Can you teach me your language?" I asked.

"Freda!" Eothain scolded.

"Alas, I fear that now is not the proper time for such things, but perhaps in the future, we will have time for that." Legolas answered politely.

"Right now is the time to ready your horse and make for Helm's Deep." I turned toward the voice. Eowyn had our saddle in hand and inclined her head for us to follow her to Garulf. "Come."

Reluctantly, I followed Eowyn and Eothain to our horse, still watching Legolas and Gimli as they finished their own preparations. I waved to them as they lead the stallion out of the stables, ready to ride. With the help of one of the Rohirrim, Eothain and I mounted Garulf and set off with the people of Edoras, making our way westward to the great fortress.

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(1) Saesa omentien lle – Pleasure meeting you.