chapter five - days
Dawn came and passed and brought on the new day. The eyrien's were nowhere to be seen. But Eomer knew that they were there. They would not abandon Rohan, and especially Gandalf. "my lord, scouts have reported sightings of orcs to the east, they are marching towards us". The guard told him. Eomer nodded. "very well, set sentries up on every post, to keep watch, no man to stay on duty for more than 3 hours, I do not want them falling asleep on duty". He ordered. The guard nodded and left. "Where are you Eyrien's". he muttered.
"they are close by Eomer, they will make their presence known when the time is near". A voice told him. He looked beside him and saw Gandalf. "my uncle has finished with you in council?" Eomer asked. Gandalf ignored the arrogance in his voice, he was young and many things were on his mind, courtesy was not a priority. "he has, I was searching for Lucien". Gandalf answered. Finally someone has brought her name up.
"I have not seen her". Eomer answered. "not since last night?" Gandalf asked. Eomer looked at him sharply.
"yes I know she came to see you Eomer, she can blind most but not me, I see all I have to see and sometimes even that which I don't want to see". The wizard explained. "and what could you possibly not wish to see old man?" Eomer asked of him. "something that should not be happening here, right now". Gandalf said simply. "such as?" Eomer really didn't want to know, but curiosity got the better of him. "another immortal falling for a mortal, Aragorn and Arwen, beren and luthien, and now you and Lucien, such is the way of life, even Lucien didn't wish this to be so, but she cannot disobey the fates such as her mother did until it was too late". Regret in his voice for the loss of Elen. "I have heard of Elen, if Lucien is anything like her then we are lucky to have her with us". Eomer answered. "perhaps, we shall see, but try not to change the warring ways of the Eyriens they do not play fair in war, you will soon see what I mean". Gandalf moved off and saw that an eyrien had uncloaked his mind to see them. Gandalf stopped to talk to her and they both walked away. Eomer now wandered how many others were around him without him seeing them. Shivers and dislike pooled through his blood, he did not like what he could not see. He went to the main chamber to break his fast.
Eowyn sat next to him and also broke her fast. "something is troubling you brother". She said quietly. "something, everything, this war is troubling me". He answered. He looked at her. "do not love someone who would break your heart sister, he is taken, and it will only cloud your mind". He told her, offering her his advice. "much like she has clouded yours?" she answered back hotly. "nay, she is free and so am I, we are different from you, look for another who has been besotted by you since the moment he saw you, yet you are blind to it". Eomer answered, standing up and taking his breakfast with him to the outdoors. Eowyn sighed and watched him leave. She looked around the hall and spotted several Gondorians breaking their fast nearby. One she noticed. The captian of Gondor. What was his name?.
~~**~~
"do not offer words that are not spoken by me to relay dorian, I do not abide lying". Lucien told Dorian. As they both stood alone by the river. "you will tell me that you have feelings for this mortal?" he asked.
"there is no reason for you to dislike mortals dorian, they have done nothing to us, I once knew you to be a gentle warrior, why has that changed?" she asked back. "times have changed, much will happen in these days, that will ultimately decide our fate". Dorian told her. "our fate is already decided, we will retreat back to the mists until the time is come for us to leave these shores like the elves do". Lucien said absently, her mind wandering back to last night. "your mind is wandering Lucien". "and yours is intruding dorian". She looked at him with anger blazing in her eyes. "our friendship is fast and firm dorian but do not mistake it for intruding on my privacy, we value that above all things". Dorian bowed low and took a step back. "my lady". He said sarcastically. "dorian, I love you as a brother, our bond could never be, we have different paths, you know that was decided long ago at our emergence, we are not for each other, and although I would like nothing more than to have you as my mate, it is against us, we have examples of it". Dorian knew she was right, the example she referred to was that of Titan and Raven. Both Eyrien's not destined to join but did anyway, and they died horrible deaths, because it was against the law, of the eyrien's. "I understand Lucien, and forgive me please, I will always be your friend, and I will be at your back in war". He kneeled down and offered her his sword.
"stand up dorian, I do not stand upon ceremony, my friend, you will also have me at your back". She returned the sword to him. They embraced and he left her to face the mirrors alone.
She knelt at the edge and peered in. the water nymph appeared and smiled at her.
"all will be well maiden, do not fear, do not hold back from what is demanded of you, it will not make the course any different from what will happen in this land". The water nymph disappeared. She stood up and turned. Faraway she could see Edoras, standing so tall and so proud. Mounting her horse she rode back.
~~**~~
she went into the main chamber and spotted Eowyn. "maiden please join me, for a meal". Eowyn invited her. Wary, Lucien went over and joined her. "it seems that many of the men of Gondor eye you maiden, your beauty is unsurpassed in this land". Eowyn told her. "none beat the Lady Arwen of Imlradis, my lady". Lucien answered.
eowyn looked at her sharply. "I had forgotten her, is she all that beautiful?" "she is the Evenstar, of the elves, tales of her run among the mortals, she is much revered, for she is wise, and offers comfort to her people". Lucien answered. "and yet she has not wed". eowyn said looking down. "she is betrothed to the King of Gondor, his heart is hers alone". Lucien told her. "but yet he gave himself to your mother". Eowyn said looking at her, hardness in her eyes. "my mother could not help fate, it had been decided that Aragorn was her mate, mortals run along a different set of rules, he offered his essence so that she might live, but his heart never belonged to my mother, he remembers her with love for she did much for the land and people, this is something you would never understand". Lucien stood up. "and why wouldn't I understand?, because I am mortal? It seems to me that you hold yourself higher than any of us". Eowyn shot back.
"I hold myself higher or my people do?" Lucien asked dangerously soft. "both, I know you have lived longer than the elves, I am not stupid to that fact, but to flaunt it in front of us is insulting". She replied. "if we were to flaunt it my lady we would not be here offering to you our services to save you, your land and your people, we would be back home bragging of the fact that we could never be wiped out, and laugh at your tiny attempts to save yourselves". Lucien shot back even more harder. "you are high for one so low my lady, you would love a man who has shown you and told you he cannot offer you anything but his friendship, you would disregard an age old betrothal all because it suits you". Lucien continued. "and you use your blind gift to take advantage of others". Eowyn continued. Lucien shook her head, she couldn't believe that the lady continued to bait her. "if you wish for your head to leave your shoulders my lady then you have only to request it and I'm sure someone would oblige - happily". Lucien replied. "guard!!" eowyn shouted. A guard came.
"she has threatened me with my life, take her to the dungeons". She ordered.
"but my lady, she is the lady of the mists, Gandalf would not be pleased". The guard refused to obey. "do so or I will have your rank, I will take responsibility for this". Eowyn ordered. "and tie her to the wall, so that the light does not reach her". Lucien looked at her. Did she know of the Eyrien's weakness?
~~**~~
"you will not lay a finger on her Risar". A masculine voice said from behind them. They all turned to see Eomer leaning against the door. His hand on his sword, his eyes were on his sister. "your betrayal is hard on my heart sister, I had not thought you would destroy what little hope we had left in our lands". He told her, regret in his voice. "brother she insulted me". Eowyn said walking over to him. "no more than you insulted her I would guess, I know you eowyn, you fight battles well and do not know when to keep your voice quiet, the Eyriens are the only ones that can help us win this battle, would you see us loose our people and our lands, that has taken us generations to gain?" he asked her. "I know how long it has taken us Eomer, but I do not stand on insult". She continued.
"when has your heart become so hard my dear sister?, I once knew you to be a gentle maiden whose touch and voice was soft and full of healing, has faramir gone blind that he does not see your true qualities?, or have you hidden your true self away from all of us so that you do not hurt anymore?" Eomer asked her. Eowyn's eyes filled with tears. "hear me sister, Lucien means you no harm, her people have suffered much at the mortals hands, she does not trust easily and with that comes at times harsh words and actions, you have always prided yourself on your saying not to judge a book by its cover, yet you have gone against your beliefs, and cast her to the wolves, by doing this, you go against me also, for my heart belongs to her, and I would not loose her to anyone or anything". His voice pleaded with her. "you are right Eomer, forgive me, I do not know what has come over me". She turned to Lucien. "and to you maiden, I ask your forgiveness, my words were harsh and they were not meant to be so". She offered to the Eyrien. Lucien bowed her head to her. "do not worry my lady, I was not far behind with the insults, we are on equal ground, if you will excuse me, I am much to do". She gave a bow and left the chamber. Eomer watched her leave. Then turned back to eowyn. He touched her face.
"to protect our people we must now set our minds upon, nothing else matters at this moment but what is at hand". Eowyn nodded and kissed his cheek gently. She turned to see faramir and gave him a tentative smile. To which he returned. Eomer walked away, glad that nothing had come of that squabble.
~~**~~ Lucien met Gandalf outside. "how do you fare maiden?" he asked her.
"well enough old man, we are leaving tonight". She told him. He looked at her surprised. "why?, we need you here". She looked away then back at him. "do not question my motives, the elves will soon be here, Galadriel has promised this, they will assist". She replied. "your running away, your afraid". He told her. "afraid?, no Gandalf, we are not leaving to go back to the mists, we are leaving to attack the orcs that are heading this way, if we can avoid them reaching rohan the better, less lives to lose". She explained. Gandalf sighed. "did you think I would go back on my word?" she asked.
"after what just happened?". Gandalf asked her back. "do not worry old man, I know my duty to the fates". "are you going to do it because its your duty or because your heart is in it?" he asked softly. "yes I love him if that is what you ask, and I will return, but I would ask of you not to tell anyone of where we go, they would try to stop us". She requested off him a promise he did not know if he could make. "Lucien - ". She cut him off. "Eyrien's are better warriors than the rohan Gandalf, I have seen the mirror, I know the outcome". She told him. "so you would sacrifice your lives for the mortals?" Gandalf asked. "yes, it is our duty as guardians of this earth, you know that, I cannot believe we are having this argument old man". Lucien turned away. "would you leave him then?" the wizard asked. "and what would you have me do?". "only you know the answer to that, your leaving because you don't want to end up like elen, giving her life for the man she loved, you fear that by you staying here and fighting you will ultimately save his thus ending yours". She didn't answer him, he was right. History did repeat itself occasionally. "Lucien answer me". He demanded.
"I answer to noone old man, that is the law". She told him angrily. "you answer to the Istari, that is the law, do not play games with me child I am way older than you". He replied just as angry."I have not forgotten the purpose of the Eyrien's, if one rohan dies, then one Eyrien dies, that is why so many of you died in the last war is it not?, the bond has not diminished". He said softly.
"If one Eyrien dies with a blade, a Rohan lives ". She finished off for him, her eyes filled with tears. "I would not lose him Gandalf, or lose any of my people, only now have we regained who we once truly were, this is the only way".
"I will not lose you as I did your mother, rest her soul, she was the best at what she did, she thought nothing of herself always saving the life of others, and giving what she could not give herself, it brought her death, hold counsel with the Rohan, let them know the truth, they will think themselves cowards in your eyes, if you go silently". He said not realizing how much he was actually giving away. "I will not die Gandalf, I do not go blind into this, all my army is behind me and they agree, to save rohan we must fight, but there is something else you do not know, the elves, they are meeting us at the river juncture, we fight not alone". She revealed.
"and when were you intending on sharing this?" he asked. "Haldir came early this morning, I met him at the river with dorian, we agreed". She said. "I see". Lucien smiled. She touched his face.
"Gandalf, look inside yourself, you know this is the right way". She told him softly. "and what of Eomer?" "I will hold counsel as you advise, then we leave". She said and walked away. Discussion ended. "do you think its right they do this?" a voice asked from the shadows. "the eyrien's are a law onto their own, and they will succeed". Gandalf answered before turning to the voice. "and how long were you standing there Aragorn?" "long enough". Came the answer before he walked away also.
Dawn came and passed and brought on the new day. The eyrien's were nowhere to be seen. But Eomer knew that they were there. They would not abandon Rohan, and especially Gandalf. "my lord, scouts have reported sightings of orcs to the east, they are marching towards us". The guard told him. Eomer nodded. "very well, set sentries up on every post, to keep watch, no man to stay on duty for more than 3 hours, I do not want them falling asleep on duty". He ordered. The guard nodded and left. "Where are you Eyrien's". he muttered.
"they are close by Eomer, they will make their presence known when the time is near". A voice told him. He looked beside him and saw Gandalf. "my uncle has finished with you in council?" Eomer asked. Gandalf ignored the arrogance in his voice, he was young and many things were on his mind, courtesy was not a priority. "he has, I was searching for Lucien". Gandalf answered. Finally someone has brought her name up.
"I have not seen her". Eomer answered. "not since last night?" Gandalf asked. Eomer looked at him sharply.
"yes I know she came to see you Eomer, she can blind most but not me, I see all I have to see and sometimes even that which I don't want to see". The wizard explained. "and what could you possibly not wish to see old man?" Eomer asked of him. "something that should not be happening here, right now". Gandalf said simply. "such as?" Eomer really didn't want to know, but curiosity got the better of him. "another immortal falling for a mortal, Aragorn and Arwen, beren and luthien, and now you and Lucien, such is the way of life, even Lucien didn't wish this to be so, but she cannot disobey the fates such as her mother did until it was too late". Regret in his voice for the loss of Elen. "I have heard of Elen, if Lucien is anything like her then we are lucky to have her with us". Eomer answered. "perhaps, we shall see, but try not to change the warring ways of the Eyriens they do not play fair in war, you will soon see what I mean". Gandalf moved off and saw that an eyrien had uncloaked his mind to see them. Gandalf stopped to talk to her and they both walked away. Eomer now wandered how many others were around him without him seeing them. Shivers and dislike pooled through his blood, he did not like what he could not see. He went to the main chamber to break his fast.
Eowyn sat next to him and also broke her fast. "something is troubling you brother". She said quietly. "something, everything, this war is troubling me". He answered. He looked at her. "do not love someone who would break your heart sister, he is taken, and it will only cloud your mind". He told her, offering her his advice. "much like she has clouded yours?" she answered back hotly. "nay, she is free and so am I, we are different from you, look for another who has been besotted by you since the moment he saw you, yet you are blind to it". Eomer answered, standing up and taking his breakfast with him to the outdoors. Eowyn sighed and watched him leave. She looked around the hall and spotted several Gondorians breaking their fast nearby. One she noticed. The captian of Gondor. What was his name?.
~~**~~
"do not offer words that are not spoken by me to relay dorian, I do not abide lying". Lucien told Dorian. As they both stood alone by the river. "you will tell me that you have feelings for this mortal?" he asked.
"there is no reason for you to dislike mortals dorian, they have done nothing to us, I once knew you to be a gentle warrior, why has that changed?" she asked back. "times have changed, much will happen in these days, that will ultimately decide our fate". Dorian told her. "our fate is already decided, we will retreat back to the mists until the time is come for us to leave these shores like the elves do". Lucien said absently, her mind wandering back to last night. "your mind is wandering Lucien". "and yours is intruding dorian". She looked at him with anger blazing in her eyes. "our friendship is fast and firm dorian but do not mistake it for intruding on my privacy, we value that above all things". Dorian bowed low and took a step back. "my lady". He said sarcastically. "dorian, I love you as a brother, our bond could never be, we have different paths, you know that was decided long ago at our emergence, we are not for each other, and although I would like nothing more than to have you as my mate, it is against us, we have examples of it". Dorian knew she was right, the example she referred to was that of Titan and Raven. Both Eyrien's not destined to join but did anyway, and they died horrible deaths, because it was against the law, of the eyrien's. "I understand Lucien, and forgive me please, I will always be your friend, and I will be at your back in war". He kneeled down and offered her his sword.
"stand up dorian, I do not stand upon ceremony, my friend, you will also have me at your back". She returned the sword to him. They embraced and he left her to face the mirrors alone.
She knelt at the edge and peered in. the water nymph appeared and smiled at her.
"all will be well maiden, do not fear, do not hold back from what is demanded of you, it will not make the course any different from what will happen in this land". The water nymph disappeared. She stood up and turned. Faraway she could see Edoras, standing so tall and so proud. Mounting her horse she rode back.
~~**~~
she went into the main chamber and spotted Eowyn. "maiden please join me, for a meal". Eowyn invited her. Wary, Lucien went over and joined her. "it seems that many of the men of Gondor eye you maiden, your beauty is unsurpassed in this land". Eowyn told her. "none beat the Lady Arwen of Imlradis, my lady". Lucien answered.
eowyn looked at her sharply. "I had forgotten her, is she all that beautiful?" "she is the Evenstar, of the elves, tales of her run among the mortals, she is much revered, for she is wise, and offers comfort to her people". Lucien answered. "and yet she has not wed". eowyn said looking down. "she is betrothed to the King of Gondor, his heart is hers alone". Lucien told her. "but yet he gave himself to your mother". Eowyn said looking at her, hardness in her eyes. "my mother could not help fate, it had been decided that Aragorn was her mate, mortals run along a different set of rules, he offered his essence so that she might live, but his heart never belonged to my mother, he remembers her with love for she did much for the land and people, this is something you would never understand". Lucien stood up. "and why wouldn't I understand?, because I am mortal? It seems to me that you hold yourself higher than any of us". Eowyn shot back.
"I hold myself higher or my people do?" Lucien asked dangerously soft. "both, I know you have lived longer than the elves, I am not stupid to that fact, but to flaunt it in front of us is insulting". She replied. "if we were to flaunt it my lady we would not be here offering to you our services to save you, your land and your people, we would be back home bragging of the fact that we could never be wiped out, and laugh at your tiny attempts to save yourselves". Lucien shot back even more harder. "you are high for one so low my lady, you would love a man who has shown you and told you he cannot offer you anything but his friendship, you would disregard an age old betrothal all because it suits you". Lucien continued. "and you use your blind gift to take advantage of others". Eowyn continued. Lucien shook her head, she couldn't believe that the lady continued to bait her. "if you wish for your head to leave your shoulders my lady then you have only to request it and I'm sure someone would oblige - happily". Lucien replied. "guard!!" eowyn shouted. A guard came.
"she has threatened me with my life, take her to the dungeons". She ordered.
"but my lady, she is the lady of the mists, Gandalf would not be pleased". The guard refused to obey. "do so or I will have your rank, I will take responsibility for this". Eowyn ordered. "and tie her to the wall, so that the light does not reach her". Lucien looked at her. Did she know of the Eyrien's weakness?
~~**~~
"you will not lay a finger on her Risar". A masculine voice said from behind them. They all turned to see Eomer leaning against the door. His hand on his sword, his eyes were on his sister. "your betrayal is hard on my heart sister, I had not thought you would destroy what little hope we had left in our lands". He told her, regret in his voice. "brother she insulted me". Eowyn said walking over to him. "no more than you insulted her I would guess, I know you eowyn, you fight battles well and do not know when to keep your voice quiet, the Eyriens are the only ones that can help us win this battle, would you see us loose our people and our lands, that has taken us generations to gain?" he asked her. "I know how long it has taken us Eomer, but I do not stand on insult". She continued.
"when has your heart become so hard my dear sister?, I once knew you to be a gentle maiden whose touch and voice was soft and full of healing, has faramir gone blind that he does not see your true qualities?, or have you hidden your true self away from all of us so that you do not hurt anymore?" Eomer asked her. Eowyn's eyes filled with tears. "hear me sister, Lucien means you no harm, her people have suffered much at the mortals hands, she does not trust easily and with that comes at times harsh words and actions, you have always prided yourself on your saying not to judge a book by its cover, yet you have gone against your beliefs, and cast her to the wolves, by doing this, you go against me also, for my heart belongs to her, and I would not loose her to anyone or anything". His voice pleaded with her. "you are right Eomer, forgive me, I do not know what has come over me". She turned to Lucien. "and to you maiden, I ask your forgiveness, my words were harsh and they were not meant to be so". She offered to the Eyrien. Lucien bowed her head to her. "do not worry my lady, I was not far behind with the insults, we are on equal ground, if you will excuse me, I am much to do". She gave a bow and left the chamber. Eomer watched her leave. Then turned back to eowyn. He touched her face.
"to protect our people we must now set our minds upon, nothing else matters at this moment but what is at hand". Eowyn nodded and kissed his cheek gently. She turned to see faramir and gave him a tentative smile. To which he returned. Eomer walked away, glad that nothing had come of that squabble.
~~**~~ Lucien met Gandalf outside. "how do you fare maiden?" he asked her.
"well enough old man, we are leaving tonight". She told him. He looked at her surprised. "why?, we need you here". She looked away then back at him. "do not question my motives, the elves will soon be here, Galadriel has promised this, they will assist". She replied. "your running away, your afraid". He told her. "afraid?, no Gandalf, we are not leaving to go back to the mists, we are leaving to attack the orcs that are heading this way, if we can avoid them reaching rohan the better, less lives to lose". She explained. Gandalf sighed. "did you think I would go back on my word?" she asked.
"after what just happened?". Gandalf asked her back. "do not worry old man, I know my duty to the fates". "are you going to do it because its your duty or because your heart is in it?" he asked softly. "yes I love him if that is what you ask, and I will return, but I would ask of you not to tell anyone of where we go, they would try to stop us". She requested off him a promise he did not know if he could make. "Lucien - ". She cut him off. "Eyrien's are better warriors than the rohan Gandalf, I have seen the mirror, I know the outcome". She told him. "so you would sacrifice your lives for the mortals?" Gandalf asked. "yes, it is our duty as guardians of this earth, you know that, I cannot believe we are having this argument old man". Lucien turned away. "would you leave him then?" the wizard asked. "and what would you have me do?". "only you know the answer to that, your leaving because you don't want to end up like elen, giving her life for the man she loved, you fear that by you staying here and fighting you will ultimately save his thus ending yours". She didn't answer him, he was right. History did repeat itself occasionally. "Lucien answer me". He demanded.
"I answer to noone old man, that is the law". She told him angrily. "you answer to the Istari, that is the law, do not play games with me child I am way older than you". He replied just as angry."I have not forgotten the purpose of the Eyrien's, if one rohan dies, then one Eyrien dies, that is why so many of you died in the last war is it not?, the bond has not diminished". He said softly.
"If one Eyrien dies with a blade, a Rohan lives ". She finished off for him, her eyes filled with tears. "I would not lose him Gandalf, or lose any of my people, only now have we regained who we once truly were, this is the only way".
"I will not lose you as I did your mother, rest her soul, she was the best at what she did, she thought nothing of herself always saving the life of others, and giving what she could not give herself, it brought her death, hold counsel with the Rohan, let them know the truth, they will think themselves cowards in your eyes, if you go silently". He said not realizing how much he was actually giving away. "I will not die Gandalf, I do not go blind into this, all my army is behind me and they agree, to save rohan we must fight, but there is something else you do not know, the elves, they are meeting us at the river juncture, we fight not alone". She revealed.
"and when were you intending on sharing this?" he asked. "Haldir came early this morning, I met him at the river with dorian, we agreed". She said. "I see". Lucien smiled. She touched his face.
"Gandalf, look inside yourself, you know this is the right way". She told him softly. "and what of Eomer?" "I will hold counsel as you advise, then we leave". She said and walked away. Discussion ended. "do you think its right they do this?" a voice asked from the shadows. "the eyrien's are a law onto their own, and they will succeed". Gandalf answered before turning to the voice. "and how long were you standing there Aragorn?" "long enough". Came the answer before he walked away also.