SUP! SO. NOW THAT I AM ON SPRING BREAK, I PLAN ON WRITING MORE STEADILY. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE KINDA ROCKY UPDATE SCHEDULE. ANYWAY, PLEASE ENJOY!
AND HUGE THANKS TO EVERY REVIEWER SO FAR! YOU GUYS MAKE MY DAY!
GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!
~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER
The silence drew on after my song concluded, and I swallowed as it turned awkward. Had I done something wrong? If so, what?
"...It's just one of the songs I know all the way through, guys. No big deal. It doesn't mean that that's how I feel." I explain rapidly, wanting to get them speaking again.
"...Such strange songs you know, milady." Eomer finally says thickly. It's clear the song affected both siblings, but I didn't know how or why. "Strange tales they weave." He adds under his breath. I swallow.
"Sorry. I just...know them. I...I…"
"It's alright, Rowena." Eowyn assures me, shaking herself out of her stupor. "We just...are unused to your world's songs. They seem so serious." I smile.
"Not all of them, really." The pair look at me quizzically. "The two I've sung so far are easy to remember since the instrumental parts are not complicated and the lyrics aren't hard to memorize." I clear my throat. "Some of the songs are more upbeat and lively." The siblings look at me expectantly. I laugh. "Alright then." I take a second to think of what song before deciding on 'Try Everything' by Shakira. It didn't mention anything from my world that those in Middle-Earth would not know about. "I messed up tonight. I lost another fight. Lost to myself, but I'll just start again." I begin, swaying my body to the beat while remaining seated. Eomer and Eowyn laugh as I continue with the song. Once I was done, they seem in much better spirits.
"That was the most lively song I have heard, at least in a long time." Eowyn says and chuckles. For the moment, we're just three people chatting, forgetting the door between us and Eomer, alone but not lonely. Not anymore.
"Thank you." I reply. "There is a wide range of songs in my world, as with this one, I would assume." They nod.
"Somewhat, yes, I suppose. We haven't sang much these days, however." Eomer notes sadly. I swallow, feeling the sudden shift in mood as clearly as if it were a breeze, blowing away any cheer I'd brought by my song. I bite my lip.
Thankfully, someone approaching saved the situation entirely. I turn and see Eothain. I stand, grinning and wave a greeting.
"Hey, Eothain!" I say happily. He smiles back.
"Hello, Winnie!" He replies, and accepts my hug. "You mind if I chat with the captain for a moment? There are some matters I need to discuss with him." I nod.
"Meet you in the main hall when you're done?" I ask. He nods.
"Indeed. I meant to ask you something when my business with the Marshall was concluded." I nod and practically skip to the main hall alongside a more sedate Eowyn. I then force myself to be a little more somber for her sake.
"I must prepare Theodred for his funeral." She murmurs quietly. I nod, grimacing.
"Oh, geez. That...that's awful. I'm sorry it came to you." I reply, trying to console her. She sighs.
"Yes. I understand you tried to help him?" It's posed as an innocent question, but I am unsure if that is reality as I sag in guilt and shame.
"Yes." I eventually reply, hardly audible. "I...I…"
"Did what you could, even without training." She interjects evenly, though I can hear the pain in her voice. "I am thankful you eased his passing, if nothing else." I nod.
"Thanks. My only regret is not curing him entirely." I reply, swallowing thickly. Theodred had not been mentioned since I had arrived, and it the sudden resurgence of memories, I was threatened by tears welling in my eyes. I blink them back. I had failed Theodred; I had no right to grieve his loss. I shake myself. "Perhaps, my lady, we could begin violin lessons when you are...indisposed?" She nods.
"Perhaps, although we have to cede to Eothain; he begged your attention first." I nod.
"Of course." With that, we parted ways, and I couldn't help but pat her shoulder reassuringly, though I doubt it helped at all. I then sit at a table and try to recall what I can about this series; there was something important that had to be destroyed and there were a group of people to help get it done. I remember that Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and the other wizard guy, Ganard- -or something like that- - were a part of that group. It was something really small that had to tossed into a volcano, I recall. It nearly didn't work, but in the end, it all somehow worked out. There were several battles, intense, amazing battles, and...that's about it. There was a lot going on here. A lot I didn't remember.
A hand on my shoulder startled me out of my reveries. It was Eothain. "Oh, geez, dude!" I squeak. "A little warning next time, please! That startled me!" He laughs.
"I did call your name when I approached, Winnie." I sigh.
"Sorry. I was just a bit...lost in thought, I guess. What was it you wanted to talk about?" I ask politely. He shifts on his feet a bit.
"Well...I was wondering if I could test my theory about your riding skills. Would milady be interested?" I laugh.
"Oh, geez. Um...yeah, I guess." I shrug. "Why not?" He chuckles.
"Why not, indeed?" I then hesitate to take his arm.
"How long are we gonna be gone?" I ask. "I wanted to get some violin lessons from Eowyn tonight, as well." Eothain frowns.
"Not too long, I suppose, depending on how you take to the saddle." I nod.
"So, I should be able to get back in time for a lesson or two before supper.?"
"Indeed. Now, shall we go?" I then think of another thing.
"Isn't this taking time away from your duties? I'd hate to be a hinderance and land someone else in trouble." He shrugs, waving away my concerns.
"Nay, Winnie. With Eomer...incapacitated, it leaves us in his Eored to idle and visit with Edoras' populace." I nod.
"I am sorry for that. I didn't- -"
"You did nothing wrong, milady. If anyone is to blame, it is Grima. He has slowly corrupted the king until our borders are to be guarded at all costs, when we should accept travelers and offer them refuge if they need it, after evaluation, of course." He interrupts. "I wish this thing to be put from your mind, Winnie. Now, let us discover the Rohirrim in you!" He cheers, taking my hand eagerly and all but running out of Meduseld and down to the stables. He saddles two horses swiftly, leading them out to where he's left me, at the doorway. He nods toward the one in his left hand, a palomino, I think. "This is Herund, my steed." He then nods toward the other one, a chesnut bay. "And this is Grimbold. He is at his prime and well-trained. He will not let you fall nor will he bolt." I nod, suddenly a little nervous; being on a led horse at a fair was one thing. Being the master of the horse was another. However, when Eothain gave me the bay's reins, I was happy to see that Grimbold was steady under my hand, no sign of rebellion. "We often use him for first-timers." Eothain notes, arriving at an apparent landing designed for a horse's departure. He steps into a stirrup. I glance at his body's posture and try to mimic it. "That's it!" He praises. "Now, grab the horn tightly and swing your leg up and over." He says as he mounts. I take a breath and heave myself up and over. My legs protest slightly as they slide over the horse's body, but they cease after a moment. "You want to be gentle at first, gently nudging your foot into Grimbold's sides. You want to clock your tongue. Here, mimic me." He says, performing a quick jab of his feet and a trio of fast clicks with his tongue. Herund obeys. I nod.
"Coming!" I call when Eothain looks back. I perform a jab, clicking my tongue. Whether or not Grimbold was just humoring me or wanted to walk, I don't know, but he moved forward easily. Eothain beams.
"You are a Rider of Rohan under that mysterious exterior, Winnie!" He calls happily. I laugh.
"Eothain, I am from Scotland! I had hardly heard of Rohan until my companions told me that's where I was." I reply. He frowns a little.
"'Hardly heard', Winnie?" I blanch. Whoops.
"Didn't hear, more like." I amend. For some reason, it didn't seem like the right time and place to tell these people that they were characters in a book series and movie trilogy (I had only seen them once, when I was young; I hardly remember them). He nods.
"Well, in any case, let's try a brisk trot." He muses. I lead Grimbold out of Edoras, but it seems the horse already knows how; he's a very patient, intelligent animal. I take a breath.
"Alright." I tell him. Eothain jabs and clicks again, and I follow. This really isn't too bad, I muse, and find I am quite enjoying riding a horse. Soon, we're galloping over the fields before Edoras, laughing and enjoying ourselves immensely. Eothain leads us around a large field and up a hill on a narrowing track through a copse of trees. He then halts on the other side, letting Herund walk at his leisure, and I followed suite. We're both laughing breathlessly.
"Told you you were a Rider." He teases. I frown playfully.
"I find horses dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle. Why would I want something with a mind of its own bobbing about between my legs?" I reply. He cocks a brow. I burst out laughing again. "It's nothing. Just a kind of joke in my world. It's a quote from...a, uh, kind of play." I explain. "It's about a man who looks for clues and evidence at crime scenes and things like that, solving crimes and helping a land called England catch its greatest criminals." I explain, laughing at his expression. "Come on. We rode for a while, and I think we should be getting...Eothain?" I ask as he looks with a darkening expression toward something behind me. I wheel Grimbold around and spot three figures, all on horseback (I think), and then suddenly remember something; there was about to be some big thing happening in Meduseld. I had to get back. "Come on!" I call over my shoulder, jabbing Grimbold hard in the heels.
Something told me I wouldn't want to miss whatever was about to happen.