Following Elith Laurel walked out the door and down the corridor towards the hall. There was quite a bit of noise coming from the hall, it was a happy busy hum that Laurel hadn't heard for a long time. So still following in Elith's footsteps they entered the main hall. Laurel looked around, she had been here before but last time the details of the room had been lost in her blind panic.
Now she looked around, the ceiling was high with a slanted roof. The beams that supported the ceiling ran along both the left and right sides of the room leaving a large free space along the centre of the room. To the right of the hall stood the main doors, which were large and made of solid wood. At the opposite end stood a raised section of floor, with a throne made of elegant wood. The beams that supported the ceiling were carved in beautiful detail. Laurel could see at the bottom of the pillar fish leaped and splashed among the knots. Towards the middle a heard of wild horses galloped across the grain, and at the top birds took flight until they merged with ceiling. Below the throne dais a table was set up, it was very large and would easily seat ten people. Eomer was seated in the middle of the table with Tao to his right they were both eating breakfast and talking.
As Laurel approached she saw Eomer and Tao break from their conversation and watch them. Elith came right before the table and curtsied to Eomer.
"The Lady Laurel, sire"
Laurel stepped forward and following Elith's example she also curtsied. Eomer looked highly embarrassed and quickly stood up, he pulled out the chair to his left and Laurel realised that there was a place already set for her.
"Please sit," he said still holding out the chair ready for her. Laurel smiled and walked around the table to the seat. As she sat Eomer pushed the seat in. Looking out on the hall she felt quite shy for a moment, being at the head table with all eyes on them. This soon passed as Elith served her some porridge. Eomer was looking at her, smiling gently.
"How do you feel Laurel?"
"I feel fine, in fact I can't wait to go outside and look around." Eomer chuckled slightly at her enthusiasm.
"Are you sure that it is wise for you to be so active only just having recovered?" Laurel turned sharply, her large silver blue eyes boring into his, and her lips formed a slight pout.
"Oh please Lord Eomer, I have been inside for such a long time. I neeeeed to get out! And Laris said it's all right; pleaseā¦" she said this while slightly batting her eyelashes, now she had brought out the cavalry. Eomer's heart melted, and he knew that he could never deny her anything, he would do anything to see her smile, Valar knew what he would do if she cried.
"Yes my little Laurel you can go out. Please don't be upset I was only jesting with you. And please none of this 'Lord' title, it is Eomer to you."
"Yes Eomer." Laurel said while beaming up at him. However she was feeling very restless now and she wanted more than anything to go outside and explore. Laurel acted with all her patience and ate her porridge while listening to Eomer and Tao, and looking round at all the other people eating. Having finished half of her breakfast Laurel's restlessness got the better of her, so she put down her spoon, and started twitching with pent up energy. She sat there just gazing out the open front door, daydreaming. I'm so bored; I really wish I could just go outside. It was then that she realised that Eomer and Tao had stopped talking. Slowly she turned her head to look at them, while still twitching her feet.
"Laurel can you not sit still?" Eomer looked slightly amused with one eyebrow raised. Laurel giggled and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry but I really can't help myself. I'm dying to explore this place! I still don't really have any idea where I am." Upon saying this Laurel saw a fleeting shadow cross Eomer's face but it was gone the blink of an eye.
"Well be off with you then. I wouldn't deny you a chance to explore Edoras. Run along then, but I want you back here before dusk, understand." Laurel nodded excitedly then pushing back her chair she half skipped down the hall towards the welcoming sunlight shinning through the doors.
Eomer smiled as he watched Laurel practically skip from the room. Heads turned and smiled as they watched her leave and Eomer couldn't help giving a small chuckle under his breath, that girl just seemed to exude happiness. Turning to look at Tao Eomer found a similar look upon the half-elf's face, it seemed his captain had become as attached to the child as he had.
"Tao." His captain broke his gaze away from the hall doors to look at Eomer. "I want you to inform the guard that Laurel is out in the city today. Make sure no harm befalls her and that she does not leave the city's walls." Tao smiled and nodded. Rising from his seat he presented a quick bow to Eomer before walking briskly from the hall to see to his duties. Smiling again to himself Eomer also stood, he had rather a lot of paper work to do today, but seeing Laurel up and well made him think there was worse things in the world.
Laurel stood outside the hall where she had just been and gazed around a look of utter amazement and wonder on her face. She stood atop a long line of stone steps leading down the main part of the city. The hall where she had been was perched on a small hill with the rest of the city of Edoras forming a circle around it. High wooden walls ran all along the edge of the town giving the place a wonderful feeling of being safe and secure. It was a small island within the middle of a great wilderness. Laurel looked passed the walls of the great city and saw nothing, as far as the eye could see rolling plains of grassland rustled with the constant breeze that flew across them. It was a strangely beautiful land, wild and free, Laurel found she very much liked the look of it and longed to run across the rugged land. Although she thought it very unlikely that she would be allowed outside the city walls for a while.
Turing her eyes away from the land around Edoras Laurel looked down on the city and the people. It was a busy day in the city, with the sun bright in the sky everyone was outside. She saw men and women going about their daily duties, with children running through the streets, it seemed some kind of game was in progress. The air was thick with their shouts and voices as they chatted and called out to each other blending with the neighs and whinnies of horses.
Smiling Laurel started to descend the stairs, she was excited and wanted to start exploring and meeting people. No one noticed as she made her way down, everyone was busy going about their business. Laurel reached the last step and stopped looking around at all the people. Sitting down Laurel continued to gaze around, for fifteen minutes undisturbed.
Suddenly from her left Laurel heard footsteps fast approaching and someone shouting something. Looking around Laurel just had time to see a young boy around her age running full speed towards her. He was chasing a flying disc that skimmed over her head and landed on the ground nearby, so intent was he on the disc that the boy only noticed Laurel at the last instant and by that time it was too late to stop. He barrelled straight into Laurel sending them both flying in a crumpled heap to the ground next to the disc.
