A/N: HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! Okay, I'm better now. I hope everyone has a fantastic day, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter to start off a new story!
ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter 1: I Love Horses...
The endless hills of coarse grass and random patches of exposed rock told me that we had entered Rohan long before Aragorn voiced the confirmation of our location. We had been tracking the band of uruks for three days with only short breaks to rest before continuing our hunt, and I was surprised at how well I was holding up in spite of my injury. Gimli, on the other hand, was about ready to drop even though he constantly huffed out ridiculous things to try and save his dignity.
Aragorn and Legolas gracefully leapt out of the narrow passage between two massive boulders we had been traversing, and I could easily hear Gimli huffing and puffing as he stumbled to keep up with their long-legged pace. "You know, Gimli," I whispered,"I could carry you when they aren't looking. It might be easier for you to keep up that way."
"Never in my life!" he snapped, his face red with exertion and embarrassment,"No one carries or tosses dwarves!"
I nodded and leapt out of the passage but let out a sharp cry as pain shot through my left knee. Three pairs of concerned eyes fell on me, and I saw Aragorn turn to run and help me. I straightened up quickly and waved him away,"I'm fine. The jump just stung, that's all."
No one looked very convinced, but Aragorn turned back to Legolas as the elf took a vantage point on top of a boulder, and Gimli tumbled out of the passage and panted on the ground for a few seconds before lurching to his feet. "Perhaps it's not me who needs to be carried, lass," he whispered with concerned eyes.
I frowned and shook my head. "I'm fine. The jump simply shocked my knee. I'm fine, really," I stated, looking ahead to Aragorn and Legolas.
"Come, Artemis!" Aragorn shouted excitedly,"We're gaining on them!"
The man sprinted ahead as Legolas sent me a look of concern, his eyes lingering on my knee before he shook his head and jumped down after Aragorn. "Come on, Gimli! Keep up!" the elf shouted, enraging the dwarf.
"Three days, no food, no water, no rest, and no sign of our quarry except for what bare rock can tell!" the dwarf grumbled,"I'm coming, you pointy-eared weasel! Dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!"
I suppressed a chuckle as my dwarvish companion broke into a sprint as he tried to catch Legolas, and I eased myself into a jog before building into a sprint to catch the others. I had healed the bones and muscles which had been damaged by the arrow I took to the knee only three days prior, but running still made the joint sting. I knew that something wasn't yet healed, but I wouldn't dare let my companions know, especially not Aragorn, because the damn fool would carry me no matter how much I protested or how much I slowed him down.
We ran on through the day and through the night, and when the sun rose the next morning, it was red as blood. Legolas paused as we reached the crest of a hill and gazed at the sun with an unreadable expression on his face. "A red sun rises. Blood was shed last night," he stated somberly, and I felt his words pierce my heart like knives.
He looked to me, and I nodded as our eyes met to show him that I understood the very possible implications of the red sunrise. In the distance, I could see a thin trail of black smoke winding into the sky, and my heart clenched with fear. Then we noticed a sound like a dull roar, and a large band of riders mounted on armored horses came over a hill in the distance at gallop in our general direction.
Aragorn grabbed me as Legolas grabbed Gimli, and they dragged us into the cover of a couple large boulders. As the riders passed our hiding place, I found myself unable to tear my eyes from the horses as they thundered past. The ground rumbled from the pounding of the hooves, and the air was full of the scents of metal, blood, sweat, and horses.
Once the riders had passed, Aragorn stepped out of our hiding place and called out to the riders. "Hail, riders of the Riddermark! What news from Edoras?"
The riders swept their mounts into a wide curve as they turned and rode back towards Aragorn. Gimli, Legolas, and I darted out to stand next to Aragorn, and I gripped the hilt of my sword under my cloak as the riders circled around us. "What business does a man, a girl, an elf, and a dwarf have with the Riddermark?" a rider demanded, riding forward into the circle to glare down at us.
"Give me your name, horse-master, and I'll give you mine," Gimli stated calmly, looking rather pleased with himself.
The rider tilted his head slightly before dismounting and stalking right up to my companion. "I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," the rider growled.
Legolas and I had arrows nocked before the rider had a chance to blink. The riders' spears were down and aimed at our heads within seconds. "You would die before your stroke fell," Legolas snarled.
Aragorn said something to Legolas in elvish while gesturing for us to lower our weapons. "I am Aragorn, these are my companions. Legolas, Gimli, and Artemis, princess of a far off realm. We are hunting a band of orcs who captured three of our companions. We are friends of the Riddermark," Aragorn stated, and I flinched inwardly when he stated my title as though it were nothing.
"Why would a princess travel without Royal guard?" The rider inquired, shifting his gaze to me and leaning a bit close for my liking.
The air temperature dropped significantly as I met the man's gaze, ice forming along the shaft of the arrow on my bowstring as I struggled to control my temper. "Because I am the best warrior in my kingdom below my father, and I have no need of a personal guard. One of our captured companions is my cousin, a young woman with red hair and unusual clothing," I stated coolly, glad that my voice didn't waver as I spoke.
The rider looked to me for a moment before stepping back. "Whether or not you are friends is irrelevant. Theoden King no longer recognizes friend from foe," the rider paused to remove his helmet,"Not even from his own kin."
I inclined my head out of respect for the man before he turned away from me. "Our two other companions are hobbits," Aragorn stated, eyeing the rider cautiously,"Halfings. They would appear only as children to your eyes."
The rider nodded slowly. "We encountered your band of orcs last night and slaughtered every last one of them," he stated coolly,"Nothing was left alive when we left, and we burned the bodies. If you wish to check, feel free. Your companions may have slipped away in the night."
The rider let out a whistle and shouted three names before three beautiful horses trotted into the circle. I couldn't help it. I immediately approached the black gelding with the white blaze and stocking and spoke soft and low as I took the reigns in my right hand. The gelding nickered and nuzzled my cheek, and I laughed lightly at the display of affection from the beautiful equine.
All of the riders let out surprised gasps and backed away slightly causing me to look around and send a questioning glance to the lead rider. "That horse has never taken to a rider so quickly," the rider explained,"You are quite impressive, Princess. Good luck finding your companions."
I nodded my thanks before turning back to the gelding and continued bonding with the beautiful creature until the riders all galloped away towards the north. Suddenly away of my companions staring at me, I slowly turned to look over my shoulder at the three men who were gaping at me in utter shock. "What? Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Lass, you continue to surprise me. You're snarling and growling like a cornered wolf one second then smiling and giggling like a small child," Gimli chuckled as the gelding nuzzled my face again.
I laughed softly, my mind returning to Amelia as I moved to swing myself up into the saddle. "Well, what can I say? I love horses," I sighed, glancing towards the north to see the riders disappear over the crest of a hill,"The riders? I'm not sure just yet."