9
Edoras was no short distance. I could no longer ask anything more from Majesty. I turned her out and sent for Silverfang.
As soon as I saw my Myraneth, strength returned to me. The fatigue that had settled into my bones began to ebb away.
Within a few hours, though, I began to feel it again. I had to rest. By a rocky outcrop I stopped and stowed my weapons. Silver stood guard over me as I had my fit, and then I fell into the Elfish form of sleep. I almost sighed in relief.
I was with the thirteen princesses of Northern Mirkwood forest, the thirteen daughters of king Thranduil.
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I did a quick count. Anastasia, Tatyana, Megan, Kendara, Ginny, Victoire, Everlas, Matilda, Elevra, Minerva, Morgana, Eleanor, Alianna. Good, we had them all. Wait a minute—
"Everlas!" I cried out, "Where's your brother?"
"I haven't seen him, Myraneth!" She called back. The girls jumped into the trees. Wood Elves were so at home in the trees. The only ones I was worried about were Everlas and Legolas.
"Ana, Taty! Watch your sisters! I have to find Leaf!"
Everlas followed me, "Come on, Myr. I can help you. Our Link is strong." She wrinkled her nose and the tips of her ears turned blue, "He's about a mile away. He's hurt! He's in so much pain, but he's blocking me! Myraneth—"
############
I jolted awake. Silverfang was growling beside me. 300-odd riders surrounded us, all with spears at our throats.
I jumped up.
"What is a lone maiden doing with a Wolf in the Riddermark? Declare yourself!" The leader spoke.
"Names are not something to be thrown around in these times, Horsemaster. Give me your name, and I shall give you mine." Silver growled.
He dismounted, "Call off your dog, girl."
Ha! How could he call a horse-sized wolf a dog?
"Silver!" I called him by his Elfish name. He backed down, "Havo da, Silver."
"What language do you speak?"
"Your name, Horsemaster."
"Very well. I am Eomer, third marshal of the Mark, sister-son of the King."
"I guessed as much. I am Myraneth Accolte, Firstborn daughter of Elrond Half-Elven." I threw back my hair, revealing my ears.
He stumbled back, "You're an Elf!"
"Yes, I had realized that. I've been an Elf for over a millennium. How long have you been human, Eomer?"
He chuckled a bit, "Did you know, I have never met such strange guests! Why, just a few days back, I met another Elf, a man, and a Dwarf!"
"You met Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli!" I all but shrieked at him.
"You know of them?"
"Know of them? Aragorn is my foster brother! I half-raised Legolas and his thirteen sisters, and they were all my companions! Hang on—there should have been another man with them! Was there?"
"Nay, it was just the three. They were looking for two Halflings, though, hobbits they called them.
"Merry and Pippin!"
"Are you following them to Fangorn, my Lady?"
"No, I'm to Edoras. And just Myraneth will do, Eomer."
"Very well, Just Myraneth. Ride with us. We are heading that way, too. We'd prefer if you did not bring the wolf, though."
"He follows me wherever I go. But I can have him go to his mate. My horse will be along momentarily."
"I would certainly like to see an Elf-horse up close. I've only ever seen one from a distance. Beautiful mare it was, a black and white paint."
I whistled and then laughed. How stunned Eomer was going to be!
Majesty came in all her splendour and, well, majesty. A few of the horsemen fell out of their saddles as they broke ranks to allow her passage.
"This is Majesty's March," I told him as she nuzzled his stupefied face, "She likes you." I vaulted on.
"Myr!" A voice cried out. A cool, crisp female voice that I recognized.
I turned Majesty. A white horse that rivalled Shadowfax came galloping up with a young woman in the saddle.
Unlike her twin brother, Princess Everlas Starleaf of Mirkwood forest had a long black plait of hair. The darkness of it contrasted beautifully with her close-to-pallid skin. She drew Snowshadow around and jumped off.
"Where is my brother?" She demanded, "Everyone is worried sick! Ada is beginning to fade! I see it in his eyes every day. When he looks at us, all of us, he sees the son we all were supposed to be! It's killing Ana and Taty! Alianna has it worse because she actually resembles Legolas! I need to know that my brother is okay, Myraneth! He's Ada's only heir! Nobody else can inherit! And if you tell me that some filthy, maggot-riddled orc has felled my twin, then I will personally rip apart every orc in this forsaken Middle-Earth—"She said this all in one breath.
I grabbed the girl in a hug after I dismounted.
"Wow, Star. I didn't know you had it in you."
"Where is my brother, Myraneth?"
"He's headed to Fangorn with Estel and Gimli."
"Fangorn!" Everlas shrieked.
"Calm down, Ever. He'll be safe there. That forest is full of Ents."
"Treeherders," Star said in awe, "Shepherds of the forest."
"Anyway, we're going to meet at Edoras, if you want to join us."
"Edoras? That is no short distance. I hear all is not well with the King."
"Word has reached Mirkwood?"
"No. I have been away for a few months now. And anyway, I am also headed for Edoras. I am meeting Elle and Alianna there."
"Come along with us, then." I got back on Majesty.
She mounted Snowshadow, "I also heard that Gandalf fell. Please tell me that that is not true."
"He did fall. But he's back now. He'll be in Edoras, too."
