Nariel the Red
Chapter 51: Rohirim
Two days later the hunters caught sight of a company of riders coming towards them. They decided to stay where they were and await their approach. There was nowhere to hide in this landscape anyway. "What do you know of these horsemen Aragorn? Do we sit here waiting for sudden death?" Gimli asked. There had been rumours that the men of Rohan paid a tribute of horses to Sauron, but the man did not believe it. "I have been among them. They are proud and wilful, but they are true-hearted, generous in thought and deed; bold but not cruel; Wise but unlearned, writing no books but singing many songs. But I do not know what has happened here of late, nor in what mind the Rohirim may now be between the traitor Saruman and the threat of Sauron. They have long been the friends of Gondor, though they are not akin to them. It was in forgotten years long ago that Eorl the young brought them out of the North and their kinship is rather with the Bardings of Dale, and with the Beornings of the woods." The dwarf nodded. "Nariel's folk rather than your own." He said turning to Nariel, now in bear form. "Yes it may be fortunate that she is here" Aragorn said. But Nariel was not so convinced. "I do not think they will trust me, Kin or not. If they have heard of Saruman's treachery they may be distrustful of Wizards." Legolas relayed this to Aragorn. "We will see soon enough. They are nearly here."
"What news from the North, Rider's of Rohan" Aragorn called as the riders approached. Within moments they were surrounded by spears. "Who are you and what are you doing in this land?" Aragorn was ready to answer for all of them, but Gimli beat him to it. "Give me your name horsemaster, and I will give you mine" This obviously was the wrong thing to say as the leader of the Rohirim dismounted and drew his sword. "I would have your head dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground." Legolas pulled back his bow. "You would die before your stroke fell." Nariel barred her teeth and stepped towards the man, who still had his sword drawn, although it was now pointed at Legolas. "Nariel suggests you lower your sword" Legolas said hearing her voice in his mind. "I will lower my sword when you lower your bow" The man replied. Aragorn rolled his eyes. This was going nowhere. He stepped in and forced them both to lower their weapons. "I am Aragorn son of Arathorn. This is Gimli son of Gloin and Legolas of the woodland realm." The rider looks at the bear. "And this I presume is Nariel?" Nariel stood and changed shape. "Nariel the Red" Legolas confirmed. "Of the Beornings" Gimli added trying to be helpful remembering Aragorn's comment about the Rohirim being akin to the Bear-men. "I can see that" The rider said as the now woman bowed slightly.
"We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden your King" Aragorn stated. The rider removed his helmet but his men kept their spears trained on them. "Théoden no longer recognises friend from foe, even his own kin. I am Eomer his sister son. Saruman poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those 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. And everywhere his spies slip through our nets" There was still distrust between them. "We are not spies" Aragorn stated. Legolas tilted his head slightly to one side. Nariel was fed up with this talk, it was getting them nowhere. "Nariel asks that your men lower your spears. We are not your enemies. She says that if they do not she will lower them herself" Eomer sneered. "I will not fear a woman, bear or not" Nariel returned his sneer stepping forward. "She thinks you should" The man was obviously not impressed. "And why is that?" Legolas laughed. Nariel closed her eyes and mouthed a couple of words. The horses, although they couldn't hear her reared up suddenly. She was her father's daughter after all. The riders dropped their spears as they tried to control their steeds. Nariel laughed silently turning towards Eomer. "Because" Legolas began "She is more than just a bear. She is the Daughter of Radagast the Brown, and she is much much more powerful than you." Nariel smiled at the pride in the elf's voice. "Nariel, Legolas stop it!" Aragorn scolded them. Now that they had reconciled they were back to acting like children. "That isn't helping."
Eomer walked towards her. "Why do they speak for you silent one?" he asked. Nariel tilted her head back slightly revealing the mark on her neck while Legolas answered for her. "She was injured by the creatures we track." Aragorn explained further. "We track a group of orcs across the planes." Eomer turned towards him. "The creatures are dead. We slaughtered them in the night." But if they were dead where were the hobbits? "But there were two hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?" Gimli asked voicing their concerns. "They would be small, only children to your eyes" Aragorn added. Eomer shook his head. "We left none alive. We piled the bodies and burned them." He pointed off into the distance. Dead, how could they be dead? "I am sorry" he continued. "Hasufel! Arod!" two horses were brought to them. "May these horses bear you better fortune than their former masters. I am sorry that we only have two to spare" he said. "Nariel needs no mount" Aragorn said. Legolas looked at her questioningly. He was worried that she shouldn't ride in her condition, but he also worried of her doing too much. As of yet they hadn't mentioned her pregnancy to the others. Should he do so now. "I'll be fine" He heard in his mind as she changed to run on four legs. "Farewell" They left the riders in search of the hobbits.
