Aelfwyn, Rider of Rohan

Chapter 2

Aelfwyn tied her horse up and walked over to a rider who sat alone be a fire. He looked up as she approached. Aelfwyn smiled then crouched down. "Um... hello, can I bunk with you?" she asked

"What's the matter? Don't you have a tent.?"

Aelfwyn shook her head.

"Well, why not?"

"I just joined." She said praying he wouldn't ask to many questions.

"I guess, you can bunk with me. That's my tent there. My name is Deorlaf," he said pointing to the tent behind him.

"Thank you."

"Only until you get a tent. Understand?"

She nodded.

He bent over the fire and began cooking something in a stick. "You hungry?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. Having ridden for hours, she was very exhausted. She was glad that this was going well, but she had a feeling that it was just going to get harder.

Deorlaf handed her a piece of meat, then tore into his. Aelfwyn had been taught to eat delicately, and didn't know how men ate. She watched Deorlaf eat intently. He stopped chewing and stared back.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said, then began to eat the meat hurriedly, ignoring any crumb that landed on her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Deorlaf staring at her. She looked up.

"Slow down," he said, "You'll get a stomach cramp."

She chuckled nervously."Right."

Two Riders ran up to them, "Where's lord Eomer?" one asked urgently.

"Probably by his tent, " said Deorlaf.

They ran off.

"Wonder what that was about?" He then went into his tent, then poked his head out of the flap. "You do have a bedroll, right?"

She nodded. Then it came to her, she couldn't take off her armour. They would definitely know she was a woman then.

"I'll be back, " She said. Grabbing some bandage cloth she ran off out of sight and earshot of camp. Luckily it was dark. She took off her armour and the tunic beneath it. Taking the cloth she began to bind her chest. It was a good thing I wasn't all that big to begin with, or I would have never been able to pull this off, she thought.When she finished she put her tunic back on. It was baggy, so it would help hide any womanly cruves and lines. With her chest bound, it was difficult to breath, but she would have to get used to it.

Walking back to camp she picked up her bedroll. In the tent Deorlaf was already asleep. She unrolled her bed and then walked back outside.

It was a beautiful night.

--- --- ---

After stareing at the sky for an hour or so, a Rider came up to her. "Wake Deorlaf, we spotted some Uruks west of here. Lord Eomer wants to attack them while it's still dark out."

Aelfwyn entered the tent. Deorlaf was snoring loudly. She shook him, but he didn't get up. She tried shaking him harder, but nothing happened.

Finally, she kicked him in the rump and yelled, "Wake up."

He jumped up clutching his behind."Ow, what was that for?"

"Lord Eomer wants us to attack a band of Uruk-hai, while it is still dark." She said. "Now come on."

Slowly he got up and put on his armour. Outside they mounted and got in formation. Eomer stood at the front. He explained that they were to ambush the Uruks.

"Leave none alive!" he shouted.

At that the rode off to the west. It was dark, but the light from the moon and the stars was enough to see. After twenty minutes of riding they came to the party of Uruks, which was camped next to a Fangorn Forest.

They rode forward silently. Aelfwyn spied an orc stooping over what looked like a smaller one. She then threw the spear, peircing its back. The Riders rode and began to fight the Uruks. Aelfwyn grabbed the spear again then threw it at another. Drawing her sword she began to hack the Uruks and orcs before her. The sword was heavy in her arms, and every swing threatened to pull her off the horse.

Just ahead, she saw an Uruk try to pull Deorlaf from his horse. She rode up and swung her sword. The head flew off. She had to bit her tounge to stop from vomiting. Deorlaf thanked her then ran off into battle.

They fought long and hard, until all the Uruks were slaughtered. By the end, Aelfwyn thought she was going to die.She dismounted and leaned over her horse, panting. The sun was rising. It was red. Aelfwyn grabbed a spear from the ground and mounted her horse. The other Riders were piling the dead Uruks and burning them. After an hour or so they mounted their horses. Organising themselves into a column formation, and waited until Eomer gave the signal, then they rode off. As they reached a rock formation, a voice rang out.

"Riders of Rohan," came a voice from behind, "What news from the mark?"

The company turned as one, moveing to surround the three strangers that suddenly appeared from behind a pile of rocks. As the surrounded them, the Riders pointed their spears at the three strange people: an elf, a man and a dwarf. Aelfwyn was the nearest to the elf.

The elf looked at her, his eyes wide. Aelfwyn started. Could he know I'm not a man even though I am wearing my helmet? The elf's gaze quickly moved on.

"What buisness does an elf, a man, and a dwarf, have in the Riddermark.? Speak quickly!" said Eomer.

"Give me your name horse master, " said the Dwarf, "And I shall give you mine." Eomer dismounted and walked up to the dwarf.

"I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground." Eomer sneered.

"You would die before your stroke fell." Said the elf as he drew his bow.

The man pushed the elf's arm down. "I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Legolas of the woodland realm."

Legolas glared at Eomer.

"We are friends of Rohan, and of Theoden your king," Aragorn assured him.

"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe," Eomer said as he took off his helmet "Not even his own kin."

The Rider lifted their spears.

"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over this land. My company are those still loyal to Rohan. And for that we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked." He glanced at Legolas, "And every where his spies slip past our nets."

"We are no spies," said Aragorn. "We track a band of Uruk-hai westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friends captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed, we slaughtered them during the night." Eomer replied

"But, there were two hobbits, "said Gilmli, "Did you see two hobbits."

"They would be small, only children to your eyes," added Aragorn.

"We left none alive." said Eomer solemnly. "We piled the carcasses, and burned them." he said pointing to the pile a short distance away.

"Dead?" asked Gimli.

Eomer nodded, "I am sorry." he then whistled, "Hasufel! Arod!" two horses appeared. "May these horses bear you to better fortune then their former masters." He nodded. "Farewell." He mounted." Look for your friends but do not trust a hope. It has forsaken these lands." He then addressed the riders. "We ride North!"

They sped off. Aelfwyn turned and looked back. Legolas whispered something to Aragorn. Aragorn stared at her.

Aelfwyn turned around and sped off to catch up to the Riders.