Chapter 7: In Which Access is Denied

Melyanna gently stroked Pepper's mane as Luna strapped her bags to the saddle that her black mare already wore. "You will stay with Lord Boromir under all circumstances, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mother. Lord Denathor has already commanded this of me."

"You plan to take long routes to reach the elven kingdom, correct? You will be-"

"Less likely to encounter Orcs and other enemies. Lord Boromir approved my travel plans."

"You must be excited to return to Rohan."

"Mother," Luna said, pulling tight at the straps of her bags. "Taking the Gap of Rohan and traveling through Isengard is the quickest and safest way to make it to Rivendell. I do not have time to seek out old acquaintances."

"Eomer was more than an acquaintance to you, my dove."

"And a letter has not passed between us in over a year. I am sure he hardly thinks of me these days. No doubt his mind is more full of tactical maneuvers and ways to feed his city, not of me."

"When you pass through the Mark, will you promise-"

"I will pick you some Evermind. I promise."

Melyanna gave a small smile to encourage her daughter, fighting off the tears that threatened to take hold. "If your father knew Lord Denathor was making you do this…"

"It is better that he doesn't. Please do not write to him immediately. I couldn't bear the guilt if he rode after me. When you do send a letter, please don't tell him where I've gone. Delay that detail as long as possible. Dol Amroth needs him more than I do."

"I will not let him abandon his duties, dove."

The two women studied each other's faces. "I don't like saying goodbye," Luna eventually muttered.

Melyanna wiped a streak of tear from her face. "It is not goodbye forever."

Luna had not the heart to argue. This would not be an easy journey. The roads would be rough. She and Boromir were likely to encounter Orcs more than a few times. For the first time since accepting this fate, she realized she might not return to Gondor. Behind the white stone walls of Minas Tirith, she was safe. It was plausible for her to imagine returning to Belfalas when all of this was over. Now, she realized she may never see the ocean again. Or her father. Instead of speaking these fears aloud to her mother, Luna instead pulled her into a hug. She poured all the love she could into that hug, for Melyanna would have to be the one to pass it on, should she not return.

A cough at the door of the stable broke the two women apart. "Forgive me," Lord Boromir said, entering with his own packed saddle bags. "But if we are to reach Rohan's borders before the end of the week, we best set forth."

"Lord Boromir," Melyanna said, wiping away another tear. "I know I have no need to ask, but a mother must. Please, with all of your ability-"

"I will keep Mistress Luna safe in my care. As long as I am alive, she will be as well. And I am honored to have her there to guide me to the Elf Kingdom. When you next exchange words with your husband, you must tell him of the great honor your daughter is performing for Gondor. No doubt my father and brother will pass along the same praise to my uncle, Imrahil." He set his saddle bags down beside his stallion and took Melyanna's hands. "It does no good to ask you not to worry, and I will not put that burden on you. All I can ask is that you continue to serve Gondor in your capacity of healer, Mistress Melyanna. Gondor is kept alive in your hands, of that I am certain."

Melyanna smiled up at the tall captain. "Of course, my lord." And with one last goodbye to her daughter, Melyanna left the two companions to their journey.

As her mother left, Luna raised an eyebrow at the captain, watching him as he strapped his bags to his stallion. "Why do you stare at me, so?" Boromir asked, annoyed.

"Did you actually mean any of that?" she asked. "Your words to my mother are so flowery and eloquent. She ate them right up."

"And you think my promises are false?"

"No, but I think your promises were said in a way to get her to leave."

"We have a long journey ahead of us. I gave ample time for farewells."

"That wasn't a denial."

He let out a deep breath as he tightened the last strap. "I want to get one thing clear, Mistress-"

"And what is that, my lord?"

He took a second deep breath. Luna held back a grin as she realized his obvious annoyance at her. "This journey will be long and tedious. The road will be rough and full of dangers. You need me to keep you alive from those dangers. I need you to keep my feet on the right path and food in my belly. For this to be a success, I demand your respect."

"Respect is earned, Lord Boromir," Luna said, giving Pepper's nose one last scratch before mounting her. "So long as it is given in return."

Boromir wasn't one for conversation. He wasn't one for songs or games to pass the time. He didn't like questions much, either. So Luna watched her shadow shrink towards midday and grow long as the afternoon passed. At dusk, Boromir broke his silence, dismounting his horse. "We can make camp here. The horses are slowing. I can make fire and tend to the steeds. You may hunt, but do not stray far." He held a hand out to her and she took from it a small, wooden tube. "This is a whistle. Should you encounter something dangerous, blow and I will come to your aid. We are still not far from Mordor, nor the Anduin. Be on your guard."

Luna simply nodded and took off toward the treeline, her bow and quiver already strapped to her back. She would set traps for small game as they neared bedtime. For now, she was glad to be with her own mind, free from the shadow of Boromir's surliness. And for the first time since Faramir bestowed this quest upon her, she found herself completely alone, the thoughts of Rohan creeping into her silent mind.

Would he remember her? Of course he would remember their letters and her name, but would he know her on sight? Luna thought of what six years could have done to Eomer. She was now twenty-two, the same age Eomer had been when they had first met all those years ago. She had not changed all that much, or so she could figure. She had grown little in height, hardly nothing changed in weight. She thought of the two plaits she used to wear her hair in, on either side of her face. Now she kept it tightly bound in a bun, often under a wrap or hood. It was easier to keep it put away in Minas Tirith than have everyone stare at it. Black and brown hair being so common in Gondor, no one had hair like hers. Eomer had often written of his love of her hair in his letters. He would be in his twenty-eighth year now. What might have changed about him? Luna could not picture anything but the hardened exterior of a young man that guarded a soft, gentle soul underneath. With kind blue eyes and braided yellow-blond hair just past his broad shoulders…

She shook her head. It had been a while since she had allowed herself to think about the horselord from her fantasies. It did no good to dwell on him in these times of war. But now that she was to return to Rohan, be within the same realm and kingdom again, it was hard to stop the thoughts of him from drifting through her mind.

She focused on hunting as best she could. They had left Minas Tirith with as many dry provisions the two horses could carry, but with their travel gear and weapons, that did not leave room for much. Luna managed to shoot down two rabbits and find a blackberry bush within a half hour. The sun was falling faster in the sky now, and she knew it would do more harm than good to keep Lord Boromir waiting for her return.

Back at their camp, Boromir had lit a small fire and readied the horses for rest. Luna did not greet him as he sat polishing his sword by the firelight. Instead she got right to work on skinning and cleaning the rabbits. She worked so diligently that when Boromir spoke, she gave a little jump of surprise.

"My father says you were chosen for this mission because of your acquaintances in Rohan. He believes this will help us pass through the horse kingdom regardless of the travel ban."

"Aye," she muttered.

"What I do wonder," he said, stretching back, leaning on his arms. "Is how a healer from Dol Amroth finds herself acquaintances in a kingdom that seldom travels outside its own borders."

"I traveled into theirs."

"Really? Why, may I ask?"

"My father is Callum, stablemaster to your uncle, Prince Imrahil. I assisted him on a journey to the Mark six years ago."

"And your acquaintances that you met six years ago on a horse-trading trip will vouch for you as a traveler? That seems like a long shot of faith, even for Faramir to believe."

"I never said that this plan would work, only that I would agree to try. I know not if anyone in Rohan will remember me. But I do believe I am the only person in Minas Tirith who stands a chance. At that, Faramir was right."

"You seem rather confident."

"I do not fear the horse kingdom."

"What can you tell me about Rohan? Anything that might be useful."

Luna skewered her fresh meat onto a spike and set it by the fire to cook before starting on the next rabbit. "I suppose the biggest misconception I can think of is that they are not a brutish people. Certainly harder than Gondorians, but they are kind and generous. At least, all but one Rohir I encountered were."

"And who was that?"

"I...I do not wish to talk about this, Lord Boromir," she said, wiping her brow.

"You do not wish to arm me with valuable information and insight to a country we are to enter as unwelcome visitors?"

That wasn't it. But if Luna explained how she knew so much about Grima Wormtongue, then she would have to explain why. And her relationship with Eomer was something she had always kept to herself. Callum and Melyanna did not pry into their letters and Luna never told Lothiriel. The secret between them is what caused them to drift further and further apart, along with the war and the trials and duties it brought. Her relationship with Eomer was documented only in those private letters and Luna's memories of him. And she wanted to keep it that way. At least as long as possible.

"I think," Luna said, choosing her words carefully, "That you and Faramir overestimate how well this attempt to pass through the Mark to the Gap of Rohan will go. I would not be surprised if we need to take the back-up route through the mountains."

"There is something you are not telling me, fair maiden," Boromir said, picking at his fingernails. "In time, I will learn it, whether you want me to or not. Perhaps you just get it over with? No?"

He waited for a reply, but Luna did not budge. "I found a blackberry bush," she said, tossing him the satchel she had filled with her find. "The rabbit should be done soon."

The next four days were filled with little more than travel, hunting, and cooking for Luna. They encountered only one trail of Orc footprints in that time. That was the night the two travelers skipped a hot supper. The nights were easiest. Boromir let Luna sleep first, and the most. She would wake after five hours and Boromir would rest for four. Those four hours were the only peace she truly got, for after that first night, Boromir followed her as she hunted. He didn't wish to be separated now that they were so many leagues from Minas Tirith.

As they neared the border of Rohan, Luna's stomach churned with anticipation. How would she go about this? She figured the Eastfold would be patrolled by the First Eored, the eored based out of Edoras. She remembered the innkeeper and the midwife in Edoras that she had befriended and hoped that they remembered her enough to vouch for her character. Then, she could still keep Eomer to herself. She need never share that with Boromir.

Her travel companion had pulled out a Gondorian standard to function as their white flag. He held it aloft, hoping patrol men of Rohan would see it as they approached.

See it they did. The Gondorians could hear the Mering Stream in the distance that marked Rohan's border. No sooner than four gallops closer did they make it, when a voice in the distance to their right called. "Halt! In the name of the King!"

Boromir pulled the reins of his stallion, bringing Yellowtail to a halt. Luna followed, pulling Pepper still.

"Be you the border patrol of Rohan?" Boromir called.

The man who had called out to them rode closer, two others flanking him on either side. Their blond hair whipped under their helms as their giant horses carried them closer. "Aye, we be the border patrol. What bring ye travelers to Rohan in these times?"

"We wish you to grant us passage through your lands," Boromir explained. "We make for the Gap of Rohan."

"Don't know if ye've heard, Gondorian," the patrolman said. "But Theoden King has banned all travelers unfriendly to Rohan."

"Yes, but my companion," Boromir said, gesturing to Luna, "Has been to your lands before. She is a known ally to your people."

"Is she?" the patrolman said. "And who might ye be then, lass?"

"My name is Luna, Daughter of Callum. Emric, Edoras's innkeeper can vouch for my character. As can the midwife of the city, Mistress Gillwen."

But the patrolman's eyes grew dark and his companions rustled as she voiced her name. "You need to leave here, lass. Immediately. You'll find no refuge in Rohan, nor ease of travel."

"What is this?" Boromir asked. "She has provided two witnesses to her character-"

"If ye value your life, Lady Luna, you will turn and head back to Gondor."

"Lady?" Boromir asked. "She is no Lady."

"Was I talking to ye, Gondorian?" the patrolman spat, before turning back to Luna. "Grima Wormtongue put a bounty on your capture equal to that of Gandalf the Grey. If he knew we was letting you go, our lives would be forfeit. But Lord Eomer would never forgive us and we value him more than the worm."

"Why?" Luna asked. "Why me? I haven't been through the Mark in six years."

"The worm knows of your courtship with Lord Eomer. He would use ye to control him. He already has Lady Eowyn trapped in Meduseld. He can't have ye too. It would break Lord Eomer."

"How do you know all of this?"

"Eomer is me nephew. Brother-son to me wife, Eodwyna. I took on the border patrol for this reason, in case ye ever came through these parts. Promised Eomer I would protect ye, I did. Now, turn around, go back to Gondor. The Mark isn't safe for ye now."

"But we can't. We need to reach-"

Boromir coughed. He didn't want her giving away their destination.

"If ye intended to travel through the Gap, you'll need to go around the border. So long as ye don't come into the Riddermark, Grima can't hurt ye. Take the mountain pass through the Mering Stream. Travel along the border of the mountains. Take the wide road around Dunland. The Wildlings grow in numbers every day. Stay clear of Isengard. You can make your way back to the main road in Tharbad."

"Thank you..um?"

"Ridderion, my lady." he said with a small bow of the head. "Next I see Eomer, I will pass along your well-being."

"And him?" Luna asked, before she could stop herself. "Is he well?"

"I wish I could say yes, Lady Luna. But alas, Theoden King wavers on his deathbed. Grima all but runs the kingdom now. I won't ask what your travels are. Best I don't know for me own sake. But knowing you're well, that will lift his spirits, even a small bit."

"He still...he still thinks of me, then?"

Ridderion smiled, his eyes crinkling underneath his helm. "Not many moments pass when he doesn't think of ye, my lady. Now, go. Be on your way. And for the love of Bema, keep yourself safe."