And so it went. When Earenis had learned where King Elessar was going and why, she had asked to accompany him. She was in favor with Lord Elrond anyway, so she had redeemed the favor in this way.
She didn't know exactly why she wanted to go with him to Fornost, but she had the feeling that she had set all this loose and maybe had something to do with it personally. She was also eager to pursue all the open questions. She had at least asked carefully, but nobody seemed to have heard that name before. Ghâshburz ... A mystery, because they hardly possessed more than this name.
The only thing that Earenis did not like very much was that both Lord Elrond himself and especially Legolas accompanied King Elessar. She secretly had nothing against Gimli, the dwarf seemed to meet her quite friendly, a pleasant change. But she had already caught Legolas looking at her viciously several times. She hadn't expected anything else from an elf like him. Of course, she was not well received for what she was. It had always been that way.
She avoided him as best she could and preferred to join King Elessar's men as soon as she could no longer avoid the company of the others marching in this small army. But for the most part she stomped along in silence, paying little attention to the people and elves around her.
In the meantime the small army of a good two hundred men, elves and humans alike, had covered a large part of the distance to Fornost under the leadership of Lord Elrond and King Elessar. Winter was approaching and the temperatures had dropped considerably. The nights were now increasingly frosty. So probably everyone was happy when they reached a larger village after more than two weeks of walking. It had an inn, which had been prepared for the army commanders as soon as the inhabitants learned who was arriving. Earenis had also rented a small room from her own money, which she had received for the two dead trolls.
The evening had fallen, and many a soldier treated themselves to a mug of beer in the inn. Earenis had retreated into a dark corner of the bar and treated herself to the innkeeper's beer and some bread, sausage and cheese. While she ate in silence, and Mistaroa would slip in little treats now and then, she watched the other people. King Elessar and Lord Elrond were nowhere to be seen, probably the bustle down here was too turbulent for them. But she saw Legolas and Gimli standing at the bar. Apparently the dwarf tried to persuade his friend to have a sip of beer, who obviously didn't think much of barley brew. Right, the royal family of Eryn Lasgalen were wine lovers, very classy people...
She snorted. Vainglorious cock.
Under the table, Mistaroa buzzed and pushed his wet nose against her leg to beg for another bite. Sighing, she also gave him the rest of the sausage.
Maybe she should have kept her armour on after all, she thought. As Ceomon had said, it had been repaired, as had her sword, and she hadn't had to pay for it. Now she had left her equipment in the small attic room she had rented for the duration of her stay here. After all, she would not need any armor or weapons here. But with so many people around her, she felt defenseless without her equipment.
She decided to eat her food quickly and returned quickly to her small chamber. It was not the best accommodation (Lord Elrond and King Elessar had been given it), but it was enough to sleep. The mattress was filled with straw, and she even had her own blanket and pillow, although both were somewhat thin. But she did not want to complain, she had already experienced worse. The only thing that bothered her was the cold whistling wind. The roof was not completely tight in all places and in some places the cold winter air came in. It could be a fresh night.
Earenis noticed how Mistaroa suddenly became restless. Whimpering softly, he ran up and down the small room, lying down again and again, but never finding any peace. She frowned.
"Well, there's nothing," she said to him. "Lie down and sleep. Or are you too cold?"
Mistaroa pricked up his ears and looked at her with almost indignation. As if to say what his mistress thought of him. She grinned crookedly, scratched him between the ears and then went to bed herself.