Disclaimer: Tolkien owns all characters apart from Kareswan and Lightford
and any other character that doesn't appear in The Lord of the Rings or any
other Tolkien works.
*typos corrected*
********************************************************************
Chapter 1
The time had come, she couldn't wait any longer, she must depart from Edoras now or she may never see the day when she did. She crept into the cold stable, the wind ruffling her dark hair. Pulling her cloak closer around her she hurried past the many dark stalls until she approached the furthest. Slowly and quietly she undid the old bolt lock, scraping metal against metal, pulling the wooden door open. Her horse neighed loudly in recognition, causing the girl to jump. 'Ssh', she hissed as she strained to hear any sound of movement outside the open stable door. She heard nothing apart from the stillness of the night
Giving shaky sigh of relief, Kareswan suited up Lightford and was ready to mount when she heard footsteps outside in the now interrupted night air. She gave no heed to the sound for her mind was set, she was riding away tonight before the moon faded and didn't care if every creature in Middle Earth knew.
Kareswan mounted Lightford, her heart racing, sorrow filling her heart for having to leave her father without any warning. But she must tell someone and that was what she was setting out to do. As she gathered her wits about her, she realized what she was leaving behind. She didn't want to leave but if she wanted everything and everyone she knew to be the way they were now when she returned she must leave and fulfil her fate. Tears filled her eyes and she shuddered at the task ahead. Lightford feeling her anxiety, snorted and Kareswan was jerked back to the here and now. The conversation outside had faltered. Keeping her eyes on the stable opening, Kareswan swung her green hood over her head and bent by her horses ear, whispered some well- chosen words and with a stamp of Lightford's strong hooves, they set off into the night, startling the stable boys outside.
He rode away from Edoras for he knew where his rider so desperately wanted to be. He knew the land more readily than her and Kareswan knew she could trust him. Galloping across the moonlit land he rode into the night.
The wind travelled many leagues, over mountain and sea, land and river, as it reached the Western land of Middle Earth it felled a single leaf of a tree overlooking a small dell. The leaf fluttered over Kareswans sleeping self and gently caressed her face. Kareswan muttered and suddenly sat up straight. Struggling to keep her tired eyes open she looked into the west. The sun was low in the sky, a sign that it was time for them to be setting off for another journey closer to their destination.
Lightford uttered a noise as if whispering to her, urging her to get ready. They have been riding for two full moons and Kareswan was becoming weary. Her food supply was low and she missed her comfortable bed. She was beginning to doubt whether they'd ever get to Rivendell in time. They had passed the Gap of Rohan on the third night, where they were now she did not know. Lightford was guiding her and Kareswan was following blindly. Though her hope remained, as she trusted her horse as any man would their sword.
Almost reluctantly she got to her feet, packing up her things and springing lightly onto the patient horse. Kareswan, fingering the reins, took a deep breath, 'looks like another cold night, Lightford, go on' she urged. As he started trotting out from the cover of the trees a sound caught Kareswans attention, hooves approaching. She pulled her horse to a stop as a horseman emerged on the eastern side of the dell, the sun glinting off his unsheathed sword. 'No,' she muttered, 'not now, I'm not being caught now.'
Pushing Lightford forward they rode out of the trees, galloping north. Hoping she could loose him she muttered 'Noro lim, Lightford, noro lim', he sped up. Not far behind she could hear the man gaining the distance between them, Leaning forward in her saddle, she whispered almost to herself 'come on, not now, not now.' The wind sweept through her hair as she struggled to keep a hold of herself. Taking a quick glance behind her she was horrified to discover that the rider was only a dozen yards behind her and gaining. He was almost upon her. Kareswan needed to find cover, to loose him, but the land was as flat as could be. She heard the man shout something to her in a different tongue, she did not catch it. But to her surprise Lightford started to slow down.
'No,' she screamed, 'what are you doing?'
Kareswan had no control over him, Lightford came to a stop, turned around and to the apprehension of his rider, waited for the man to arrive. Kareswan shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortably aware that she was very much unarmed. Her heart was racing, she was dreading what may come next. 'What are you doing,' she cried again in despair, but Lightford only neighed as if reassuring her.
The man stopped infront of her and jumped down from his horse. He was no longer holding his sword but she was horribly aware that he was fully armed, bow and arrow and all. His long dark hair fell over his hard face and he was wearing clothes that seemed to have lasted many ages.
'I will not hurt you, you needn't worry,' he said, 'but you must come with me.'
Kareswan felt very sick in her stomach and the armed man did not make her feel any better with his words.
'I will not go anywhere with you until I know of who you are' she replied in a shaky but determined voice.
'My name is Strider, I-'
'Strider?' she questioned, 'that is no proper name'
'That is what you shall call me'
'I do not wish to stay with you long enough to call you anything'
'Kareswan,' he replied urgently 'this is above you, you are not safe, they are following you' She almost fell off her horse at the mention of her name but she did not let this Strider see it.
'Gandalf sent me, he spoke to you did he not, before you left?'
Kareswan relaxed at the mention of Gandalf but eyed Strider with suspicion.
'I do not understand' she replied eventually.
'We cannot stay here,' Strider said, jumping back onto his horse, 'follow me.'
*typos corrected*
********************************************************************
Chapter 1
The time had come, she couldn't wait any longer, she must depart from Edoras now or she may never see the day when she did. She crept into the cold stable, the wind ruffling her dark hair. Pulling her cloak closer around her she hurried past the many dark stalls until she approached the furthest. Slowly and quietly she undid the old bolt lock, scraping metal against metal, pulling the wooden door open. Her horse neighed loudly in recognition, causing the girl to jump. 'Ssh', she hissed as she strained to hear any sound of movement outside the open stable door. She heard nothing apart from the stillness of the night
Giving shaky sigh of relief, Kareswan suited up Lightford and was ready to mount when she heard footsteps outside in the now interrupted night air. She gave no heed to the sound for her mind was set, she was riding away tonight before the moon faded and didn't care if every creature in Middle Earth knew.
Kareswan mounted Lightford, her heart racing, sorrow filling her heart for having to leave her father without any warning. But she must tell someone and that was what she was setting out to do. As she gathered her wits about her, she realized what she was leaving behind. She didn't want to leave but if she wanted everything and everyone she knew to be the way they were now when she returned she must leave and fulfil her fate. Tears filled her eyes and she shuddered at the task ahead. Lightford feeling her anxiety, snorted and Kareswan was jerked back to the here and now. The conversation outside had faltered. Keeping her eyes on the stable opening, Kareswan swung her green hood over her head and bent by her horses ear, whispered some well- chosen words and with a stamp of Lightford's strong hooves, they set off into the night, startling the stable boys outside.
He rode away from Edoras for he knew where his rider so desperately wanted to be. He knew the land more readily than her and Kareswan knew she could trust him. Galloping across the moonlit land he rode into the night.
The wind travelled many leagues, over mountain and sea, land and river, as it reached the Western land of Middle Earth it felled a single leaf of a tree overlooking a small dell. The leaf fluttered over Kareswans sleeping self and gently caressed her face. Kareswan muttered and suddenly sat up straight. Struggling to keep her tired eyes open she looked into the west. The sun was low in the sky, a sign that it was time for them to be setting off for another journey closer to their destination.
Lightford uttered a noise as if whispering to her, urging her to get ready. They have been riding for two full moons and Kareswan was becoming weary. Her food supply was low and she missed her comfortable bed. She was beginning to doubt whether they'd ever get to Rivendell in time. They had passed the Gap of Rohan on the third night, where they were now she did not know. Lightford was guiding her and Kareswan was following blindly. Though her hope remained, as she trusted her horse as any man would their sword.
Almost reluctantly she got to her feet, packing up her things and springing lightly onto the patient horse. Kareswan, fingering the reins, took a deep breath, 'looks like another cold night, Lightford, go on' she urged. As he started trotting out from the cover of the trees a sound caught Kareswans attention, hooves approaching. She pulled her horse to a stop as a horseman emerged on the eastern side of the dell, the sun glinting off his unsheathed sword. 'No,' she muttered, 'not now, I'm not being caught now.'
Pushing Lightford forward they rode out of the trees, galloping north. Hoping she could loose him she muttered 'Noro lim, Lightford, noro lim', he sped up. Not far behind she could hear the man gaining the distance between them, Leaning forward in her saddle, she whispered almost to herself 'come on, not now, not now.' The wind sweept through her hair as she struggled to keep a hold of herself. Taking a quick glance behind her she was horrified to discover that the rider was only a dozen yards behind her and gaining. He was almost upon her. Kareswan needed to find cover, to loose him, but the land was as flat as could be. She heard the man shout something to her in a different tongue, she did not catch it. But to her surprise Lightford started to slow down.
'No,' she screamed, 'what are you doing?'
Kareswan had no control over him, Lightford came to a stop, turned around and to the apprehension of his rider, waited for the man to arrive. Kareswan shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortably aware that she was very much unarmed. Her heart was racing, she was dreading what may come next. 'What are you doing,' she cried again in despair, but Lightford only neighed as if reassuring her.
The man stopped infront of her and jumped down from his horse. He was no longer holding his sword but she was horribly aware that he was fully armed, bow and arrow and all. His long dark hair fell over his hard face and he was wearing clothes that seemed to have lasted many ages.
'I will not hurt you, you needn't worry,' he said, 'but you must come with me.'
Kareswan felt very sick in her stomach and the armed man did not make her feel any better with his words.
'I will not go anywhere with you until I know of who you are' she replied in a shaky but determined voice.
'My name is Strider, I-'
'Strider?' she questioned, 'that is no proper name'
'That is what you shall call me'
'I do not wish to stay with you long enough to call you anything'
'Kareswan,' he replied urgently 'this is above you, you are not safe, they are following you' She almost fell off her horse at the mention of her name but she did not let this Strider see it.
'Gandalf sent me, he spoke to you did he not, before you left?'
Kareswan relaxed at the mention of Gandalf but eyed Strider with suspicion.
'I do not understand' she replied eventually.
'We cannot stay here,' Strider said, jumping back onto his horse, 'follow me.'