First LOTR story. I have done TONS of research for this story, and I really hope it holds up.
Rated M for sexual themes.
I do not own LOTR or The Hobbit(I wish!)
A/N: I promised myself that I would NOT post this story until I reached ten chapters, and boy oh boy I have done it! If you are a reader of any of my previous stories, you know how badly I lag with posts, I AM GETTING BETTER I PROMISE!
Summary is terrible, but I feel like it works for this story. A slow beginning, but I promise it will speed up. This story touches a lot on The Hobbit and pre/during The War of the Ring. It will be broken up into several parts. Part I: Pre War of the Ring, Part II: Fellowship, Part III: Two Towers, Part IV: Return. While some of the parts may have longer chapters in them, the story is getting broken up as such. I will not be posting a new story each time, each part will take place in this story alone. (I'm PRETTY sure, nothing is set in stone though)
Each chapter will be posted every Monday from here on out(I can't promise a certain time of day, but it will be posted) until we reach chapter ten, I'm hoping to be halfway through Towers by that point. Anyway! Read and Enjoy! Reviews are always welcome.
TA 3001
"I still don't understand why I have to go?" Annalynn glared at her mother's back, while she and one of the maids gathered her few dresses and folded them into her traveling chests.
Green eyes glared back at her. "The King has requested your fathers presence."
"Then Father can go alone." The nine year old huffed as she leaned against the back of her headboard.
"Annalynn, this is not the time." Her mother scolded.
Annalynn continued to brood from her spot atop her bed with her arms folded across her chest. Not two days ago, her father received a message from the King, requesting he travel to the capital on matters that she cared less about.
A loud and very off key song came bursting through her doorway and there stood her sister. Who had been extremely ecstatic when she heard the news. "Isn't this wonderful Annie? We're finally getting to get out of here!" She sang and twirled. "I've always wanted to see Edoras. I wonder what it really looks like."
"Guwenifer have you finished with your packing?" Cyndol asked.
"I have mama. Unlike some people." Guwenifer stuck her tongue out at her younger sister, playfully.
"Be mindful of your tongue sister-mine, lest you lose it." Annalynn teased, leading Guwenifer to swallow the pink appendage back into her mouth.
"What's this talk of tongue losing?" A large man walked into the room.
"Papa! Annie said she was going to cut my tongue off again. You won't let her, will you? You'll save me from the savage beast?"
Sensing his daughters playful mood, Aldric went along. Pulling a short dagger from his waist, he pushed his eldest behind him and went on the defense. "Who dares threaten my daughter? Show yourself beast, I shall cut you naval to nose!" He proclaimed as he made a large swipe through the air.
Annalynn grabbed her own dagger from underneath her pillow. Standing on top her bed, she pointed it at her father. "It is I. Have at thee!" With a lunge, Annalynn jumped from her bed and at her father. The two playfully swung at the other, until they were in a deadlock. Aldric carefully pushed his daughter down, "Do you yield?"
"You both yield." A soft, but stern voice came from behind them. Cyndol stared at her family, hands on her hips. "That's enough. We leave at first light tomorrow."
"But Mama.." Guwenifer pleaded.
"No. It's late, get some sleep." With one final look at her husband, Cyndol walked from the room.
Sheathing his dagger, Aldric sighed. "You're mother is right. It's a long journey to the Capital. Let us rest." Giving both his daughters a peck on the forehead, Aldric followed his wife.
He found her in their chamber. She was slowly gathering things that had been left behind. "Cyndol."
"It's not right Aldric, you know this." She whispered.
"I do, but there is no way around it." He moved behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Cyndol placed her own arm over his and grabbed his hand. Using it as an anchor to keep her from falling.
"Let's get some sleep. The journey to Edoras will not be easy." Aldric kissed the top of her head, carefully untangled himself from her, the pair moved to their bed and fell into uneasy rest.
The road ahead would be a long one.
It had been two days since Annalynn and her family had set forth for Edoras. They made few stops and only when necessary. Unlike her sister, Annalynn knew there was something amiss. The amount of soldiers that had accompanied them was definitely unusual. The fact that her father seemed to fall back into his former Marshal ways rather than that of a councilman was alarming.
"Annalynn look!" She was pulled from her thoughts as her older sister was pointing ahead of them. The setting sun did not give much light to see the sight her sister was pointing at, but nonetheless Annalynn saw it. A large hill stood before them, a small city at the lower level and a golden hall stood tall at the highest point. If she was being honest with herself, it really was a magnificent sight to behold.
It was only a short ride to the gates at the base of the hill, the gates began to open at their arrival. Annalynn lead her horse up the slope and into the city. Many of the people going about finishing their days stopped and stared at the newcomers. Some whispering to the person next to them. When they stopped at the gate that lead up to the hall, the soldiers that accompanied them took off in a different direction.
"Milady." Annalynn looked down to see a stable boy with his hand stretched out towards her. She stared at him for a moment with mild confusion.
The boy stared back at her, "I'm supposed to take your horse to the stable milady."
"Oh!" She exclaimed. A small blush creeping up her face. She handed the reigns to the boy, grabbing the horn of the saddle, she swung herself from its seat and slide from her horse.
"Annie! Come on!" Guwenifer grabbed her sisters hand and linked her arm with her sisters.
"You be good now Eagon." Giving him a pat on his muzzle, he followed the boy towards the stables.
Walking besides her sister, Annalynn took in the sight of Edoras. The home of her king and his forefathers. The home of her father.
Before he had married her mother, Aldric was a Marshal of the Mark. He often spoke of Edoras, of its people and plains. Its men strong and brave, its women fierce and stubborn, but above all her father spoke of the compassion of the people of Edoras. They we're not much different then the rest of the Eorlingas, but from her fathers stories, the home of the King seemed far more different than that of any village in Rohan.
"Aldric!" A booming voice came from the steps of Meduseld. A handsome man in full armor came rushing down the steps to greet Aldric.
"Eomund. How are you my friend?" The two grabbed each others forearm and gave a hard shake.
"I am well. Clearly not as well as you." He moved past his former captain. "Lady Cyndol, you are radiant as ever." Eomund said as he kissed her knuckles.
"Take care what you say Eomund, Lady Theodwyn will not take such praises lightly."
Eomund laughed out at her comment. "Come my friends, Théoden awaits your arrival.
Eomund led the small family up the steps into Meduseld. Both Annalynn and Guwenifer stared openly at their surroundings. Their own home was grand, but nothing as grand as the Golden Hall.
Annalynn stared ahead in the hall and saw a man standing around a table full of parchment and what looked to be maps.
"My lord." Aldric called out.
Théoden looked up from his table and gave a large smile. "Aldric, I hope your travel was well?"
The king and Aldric gave a similar greeting as he and Eomund had exchanged. "It was my king." He let go of the kings arm. "You remember my wife, Cyndol."
Cyndol moved forward and gave a small curtsy. "My lord."
"A pleasure as always Lady Cyndol." He said as he grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"My daughters. Guwenifer and Annalynn." Both sisters gave a similar curtsy as their mother.
"Ladies." He gave a small nod. "Come, you must be tired after your travels." He motioned for a woman to come over. "This is Freyga, she'll lead you to your chambers."
"Thank you my lord." Cyndol lead her two daughters as they followed the older woman into the inner halls of Meduseld.
"Aldric, I thank you for doing this."
Aldric stared at his king, it had been sometime since their last meeting, Annalynn only a babe, and it appeared that he had aged many years than he actually was.
"No need for thanks my lord. Your letter was brief, but I have not been blind to all that has happened. I gladly pledge my allegiance to you and to all of Rohan." Aldric said as he placed his closed fist over his heart and bowed to Théoden.
"Then let us not waste a moment."
With that all the men in the room turned towards the table. Battle plans lay out before them, maps of Rohan and the surrounding areas.
The sun had not yet broken past the mountains, but as usual Annalynn found herself awake. She sat up in the bed she was currently sharing with her sister. Guwenifer was sound asleep, one thing she envied about her sister. She always seemed to be able to fall asleep anywhere and for all hours of the day.
Knowing she would not fall back to sleep anytime soon, she rose from her bed and walked over to the small bowl place atop the dresser. Pouring the cold water into the basin, she washed her face and hands. After she was dry, she pulled her braid from her back and undid the tie, letting her long hair fall to its full length.
Careful not to wake her sister, she opened her chest and pulled out a simple tunic and a pair of riding leggings. Slipping into her clothes, she grabbed her boots and her cloak and walked from the room. Her bare feet making no noise as she walked the halls into the main room. She saw a few maids and guards, all you simply nodded their heads at her as she left the Golden Hall.
Sitting down on the top step, Annalynn slide into her boots and tied the laces. She sat there a few moments as she saw the dark sky being painted with red and oranges. This is one of her favorite times of day. When the stars still shined, but the sun comes to wake those from their slumber. The slow creep like those rubbing the sleep from their eyes and silently crawling from their beds.
"Milady?"
Annalynn turned from her seat and saw a portly man standing behind her.
"Good morning." She simply smiled.
"Good morning." He smiled back. "What brings such a young one as yourself out this early?"
"Eagon. He wasn't very happy about being in the open plains and not being allowed to run."
"Like many of the horses in the Rohirrim." He chuckled.
"I best be off before my mother wakes." She giggled
Standing up, Annalynn took a few steps down the stairs before she realized something.
"My lord." She called to the man who made his way back inside.
"Please little one, call me Hama."
"Hama." He nodded in answer. "Do you know where I can find the stables?"
Giving her a small smile, Hama gave her direction and after a small and quick curtsy Annalynn bolted down the steps and to the stables.
Having found the stables quickly, Annalynn found the stall in which Eagon was housed. After brushing and a small apple she managed to find in the tack room, the two burst from stables and out the front gate.
Without restraint, Annalynn urged him faster, which Eagon accepted completely. The duo flew through the plains. Annalynn kept her horse on his toes. With quick lefts and rights, Eagon moved fluidly. It was only after they found themselves back at the front gate did they slow to a trot.
Moving Eagon up the slope that lead into the city, she took in its appearance once more. In the morning light, it did have more appeal than it does at dusk. She figured by the sun, she was out for more than an hour. Her hope of sneaking back in before her mother woke was not gone, so Annalynn figured a tour of the grounds seemed best.
Settling her horse back into his stall, she quickly brushed him and fed him, and after a quick cleaning of his stall Annalynn left the stables. She simply began to wander around. Many of the folk had pulled from the warm beds and were starting the days work. Walking to the side of the Golden Hall, Annalynn followed a small path. Rounding a corner, she saw two figures standing in a large pen, assuming the sparring area
'Seems I've found the training grounds.' She thought gleefully.
Hearing a thud and a loud groan, Annalynn stopped in her tracks.
"Why can't do it?!" The smaller one cried.
"Worry not cousin, you'll get it soon enough."
Moving from her spot, she found a better view to watch the duo. A man and boy, even without the older saying the relation, Annalynn could see it.
"Can you show me again?" The boy asked.
"Okay, but then we must go inside. You still have you lessons."
The boy, probably no older than herself, grumbled but nodded in agreement.
Annalynn watched in awe, as the two began sparring. With a few short movements, the younger was on his back. "You make it seem easy." The boy pouted from the ground.
"I have had several years of practice Eomer, you're just learning. You'll get it." He said as he pulled him up and ruffled the youngers hair. "Now, off you go. I'm sure your mother is looking for you."
After Eomer walked back up the path Annalynn had just come from.
Annalynn moved from her spot once Eomer was out of sight, "That was amazing!" She exclaimed.
The older man looked in surprise at the young girl standing before him. Her face dirty, her hair flown across her shoulders and down her back wildly.
"Why thank you." He chuckled. "I don't believe I've seen you around before." He said staring at the girl once more.
"I'm here with my father and mother."
"Ah, so you must be our visitors who arrived last night. Aldric is your father?" Annalynn simply nodded. "Well daughter of Aldric, the day is young and I have much to do."
He turned to leave, put a tug on his sleeve made him stop his motion. "Wait!' He looked down at her.
"Yes?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Annalynn quickly let go of his sleeve and fiddled with hem of her shirt. 'Do… do you think you could teach me?"
"Teach you?"
"How to fight with a sword. Mother won't let me and Papa is always too busy." She pouted.
He stared down at the little girl, a twig was a compliment to her size. The top of her head barely reaching his waist. Her legs were half the size of his forearms, and her arms looked as if they'd break upon holding a sword but there was something about this child that told him her size did not halt her spirit.
"What is your name child?'
"Annalynn." She answered looking up at him.
"Annalynn daughter of Aldric, I would be glad to be your tutor."
"Really?!" She beamed as she launched herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his middle. "Thank you!"
He pulled himself from her embrace and walked over to a small chest that sat in the corner of the training ring. A pulled a small sword from its depth.
"This should suit you. We use these in training the young boys who are as eager as you."
Annalynn took the sword from him. Gripping the hilt with both hands she listened on as the older man educated her on how to properly hold and swing the blade. After a few practice moves, he pulled his own sword from its sheath.
"Are you ready little one?" He teased
"Are you?" He let out a out laugh and moved into position. Annalynn copied his form and steadied her breathing.
"Begin." He commanded and Annalynn lunged for him. The clang of steel meeting.