Chapter 27: Dwarf Woman
The Rohan people are still walking around the lakes. Gimli rides on a horse led by Eowyn.
"It's true," said Max, "you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, heh… that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."
Tori smiled and looked back at Trent, who rode along Théoden,
Trent made a hand gesture over his chin as he whispered to Tori, "…it's the beards… "
Max went on, "and this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women. And that dwarves just spring… out of holes in the ground!"
This remark made Tori laugh gaily.
Max laughed as well, "hehehe! Which is of course ridiculous- whoa!
.
.
Max's horse suddenly reared up… and galloped away as Tori lost her hold on the reins. Max fell off after a short distance and lands with a loud thump.
Tori smiles, and then quickly runs to help him.
"It's alright, it's alright," Max said while struggling to get up, "nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate."
Treat and Anton riding side by side grin widely. Tori looks back at Trent laughing. He laughs back, and his laugh turns into a smile.
Anton then said to Trent with him as he observed Tori closely, "I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time. She was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then she was left alone, to tend to her king, in growing fear… doomed to wait upon an old man… who should have loved her like a father."
She looks dreamily at him smiling, the wind in her hair.
Tori looked back at Trent with the sun behind her and the wind in her hair. She smiled at him for a brief moment… but then lowered her expression, when she noticed the somber look upon Trent.