"There really is confusion out there. Finding common ground sounds good. But the reality is, a lot of people on all sides have a stake in the fight" - Charles Haynes

Chapter 11

The stone floor of the lowest level of Meduseld's halls was cold. Even with a cot beneath me, I could feel the chill of the stones seep through the thin fabrics and hay cushion. I didn't sleep. The thought of finally getting to talk to the one entity of hope that could possibly help me return home made me too anxious. Gandalf the Wizard was no longer considered a threat to Rohan and he could help me. Of course he needed to help these people, the people of his land. I wasn't unrealistic. But we would be traveling a long distance on the road in the morning, and I would have plenty of time to pick his brain. To read signs in his bright blue eyes and attempt to solve this magic puzzle of how I came to this land.

I was foolish to think I could be so lucky.

The morning was a blur, gathering the children, their things, and food for the trip. The kitchen maids of Meduseld had provided what they could to us travelers, but it wasn't much. The food rations in Rohan grew smaller and smaller by the day as workers either left their crops for the Hornburg or Orcs took them with fire. The men from the northwest border of Rohan had reportedly also sided with Saruman the White. The Men of Dunland, Vanesse told me. She called them the Wildmen. Combined with the Orcs, the Westfold of Rohan saw hardly any crops spared.

By the time we managed to gather our provisions, it was nearly time to depart for the Hornburg. Carts outside of Meduseld had been filled with the remaining food and cots for us travelers when we reached our destination. I looked around, but I couldn't see Eomer.

"Do you wish to go look for him?" Vanesse asked when she noticed my wandering eyes.

"Would you mind?"

"I think I can handle the children for now. But come back to us before we depart."

"Thank you," I said, giving her shoulder a small squeeze. I made for the front of the traveling line, but I did not see him. Even Firefoot was absent. I looked around and spotted a stable beside Meduseld's massive frame. Eomer wouldn't even let squires tack Firefoot. He always did it himself. I figured this was as good a place to look as any.

Inside it was nearly empty, save a few stable hands gathering the few remaining horses. Near the back of the stall, however, I finally found some luck.

"Hey buddy," I said, noticing my speckled friend. Firefoot raised his head from his hay at the sound of my voice. He was tacked and ready to go, but still, no Eomer. "You ready for this stupid journey, yet?" He let out a huff and brought his head to my outstretched hand.

"Not many outside of Eorl's house have such luck with Mearas bred horses," a deep voice said behind me. I turned and found the face of the Ranger from the night before.

"What breed of horses?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Mearas."

I shook my head. "Don't know what those are, sorry."

"Are you Gondorian? Or do you hale from further north?"

"Why?"

"All Rohirrim know of the Mearas. The first breed brought to Middle-earth by Bema himself."

More magic. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. I considered lying, but this man was a friend of Gandalf. If I wanted help, it did me no good to lie anymore. "I hale from neither, I'm afraid."

"You must be Eomer's traveling friend, I take it."

"Mallory. My name is Mallory."

"I am Aragorn, miss," he said with a small bow of his head. "Eomer spoke of you, but he told me little, I am afraid. Your argument with Lady Eowyn last night brought many questions. Your lord was reluctant to answer too many."

"Why do people say that?" I asked. "That he is 'my lord'? If you know that I am not Rohirrim, you know I have no lords."

He grinned from the corner of his mouth. "I suppose I stand corrected."

"I did come to find Eomer, though. Do you know where he is?"

"He is sharing partings with his sister. She stays to command Meduseld in Theoden's absence."

I rolled my eyes, keeping a steady pet on Firefoot's nose. "Guess with her sense of privilege she can get out of this stupid walk."

"I do not agree with the travels either, Miss Mallory, but do not judge the White Lady too harshly. You know not what she has been through. I suspect staying behind the walls of this house is not what she desires at all. My judgement says she would switch places with you in a heartbeat. I must admit your animosity towards her has me flustered."

"I do nothing to her and she berates me in the middle of the night."

"You are a stranger wandering the halls of her home. Grima Wormtongue's similar actions dealt her grave consequences, I suspect."

"Who?"

"Theoden's former advisor. He dwells here no longer, thank the Valar. May I offer you some advice?"

I nodded.

"Do not judge those whose story you do not know. From what Eomer has told me of you, that advice should serve you well."

I looked away from him and back at Firefoot, whose eyes had closed as I continued to pet him. For the first time in along time, someone had found a way to put me in my place. And I didn't know how to respond.

"Mallory!" someone called from the entrance. It was Eomer.

"Your friend has found you," Aragorn said. "Perhaps we can speak more on the road?"

I nodded again and he walked away, grasping arms with Eomer on his way out the door. "You should be with Vanesse and the children.

"She told me to come find you before we leave."

"Then why the need to find me first thing in the morning? I would have found you on the road. This party is not that large."

"You wouldn't be too busy with your uncle?"

"I wish you would take my word that spending time with you is greatly prefered over the company of my uncle."

"I take it Gandalf wasn't able to persuade him against this like you had hoped."

"Alas, no."

"And will I be able to finally talk to him on this journey as well?"

Eomer closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. "Mallory, Gandalf won't be traveling with this party."

I took my hand from Firefoot's nose, balling it into a fist. "What?"

"He left early this morning, before daybreak. I know not where he went."

I shook my head and made for the exit. "One promise after another."

But Eomer grabbed me and pulled me back toward him. "I know you are not from this land and our problems are not of your concern," he said, his temper showing in his eyes for the first time in a long time. "But perhaps you could attempt to grasp the concept that our world does not center on getting you back to your home It was a priority and a promise I have made, but things are different now. I am no longer just a Marshal. A throne that I never wanted is now a part of my inevitable future. And with that throne comes responsibilities that put certain promises on hold. This war is my ultimate responsibility and until it is over-"

"What if it's never over?" I said, yanking my arm from his grasp. "What if you don't win and everyone dies? You get to die on your lands with your people. Me? I'm stuck here. My friend's will not only never see me again, they won't know why. What little family I have left will never understand why I just vanished. Did you ever think of that? I'm not asking for your help anymore, Eomer. I'll figure it out on my own."

I turned back around. "Mallory, please."

"The party will leave soon. I should get back to Vanesse and the kids."

"She throws spiteful words, your lass," Aragorn said as I pulled Firefoot out of the barn.

"Spiteful, yet not untrue."

"Your words speak truths as well, my new friend."

"When two opposing sides both speak truths, where can the common ground be reached?"

"A question for the ages."

"Does Gandalf not want to help her? He left with such haste and I worried her story was the reason."

Aragorn shook his head. "Gandalf rode for a different reason. I'll not pretend to know exactly why but your Mallory is not the reason."

"She is not mine."

He laughed. "You both are so insistent that neither belong to the other."

"What do you mean?"

"She says you are not her lord/ You say she is not your maiden. Yet your paths are now so intertwined with promises, intentions, and time spent together and apart. Eowyn is perceptive, more than you give her credit."

"You see only what little you know of her. I have not told you her full story."

"I respect that you wish her the privacy and privilege to disclose what she wishes when she wished to disclose it. But I do not speak of just her. Perhaps she is taming a horselord?"

I wanted to deny it, but it did no good. If Eowyn was perceptive, than Aragorn was omniscient. His years of experience did not show through his body, but it showed through his eyes. "She doesn't wish to tame a horselord, Aragorn. She only wishes to return to her home. And I cannot blame her. To be stripped of a peaceful life with little loss, worry, and hardship only to be thrown into this world of war and unrest…"

He clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Perhaps start with that common ground you wish to find. You cannot help her find a way home soon. Maybe give her a reason to stay. At least for a little while."