Ina awoke in the cold dawn, two hours or so before her usual rising time. She lay in her bed in the hayloft, and from that position she could see the lightening sky through her tiny unglazed window. She had dreamed again, as she had not for many years, of her childhood. Back then she was Ina-Horse-Hair. Back then she was an outcast, and all because of one other little girl, the perfect little girl. The golden haired young Lady. Ina had stood out, the one dark spot in the crowd of shining tresses, for though her skin was as fair as any in Rohan and her eyes as blue, her hair was dark brown like a wild Dunlending's. Ina did not know why. Her mother's hair had been yellow like wheat, and her father's also. Her brother, dead these past seven winters of a fever had been as blonde as his parents. It was a cruel trick of nature to give a child dark hair in the golden kingdom of Rohan, and to place her in the path of the young, neglected seeker of attention, Lady Eowyn.
Horses stamped and snorted down below, but she paid no heed, for she was used to them. She lay and gazed at the window, hoping to drop back into sleep and make use of the short time still available to her for rest, when a bird landed on the sill. She hoped it would not come inside, it would create noise and mess and unnecessary trouble. The bird dropped something from a claw and took flight again. The something rolled across the floor, coming to a rest within arms reach of her low bed and reaching out she took it. It was a letter, rolled and bound in wax. Breaking the wax she unfurled it. Its message was short:
"Ina. Isengard - the Tower of Orthanc, North West of Edoras. A great evil will befall Rohan before the week is out. Ride swiftly; I would be with you again. Grima."
She got up to dress, though it was madness for her to be abroad at this time, for she had many hard duties ahead of her in the coming day and precious little time to sleep already. She woke now for a purpose and could not help herself. Once dressed she slipped silently down the stairs and into the stables. She had no horse of her own and was unwilling to ride one of the servants' shared mounts, the poor beasts did twice the work they should already. Her eyes fell on Lady Eowyn's steed.
Within five minutes Ina was mounted and ready. Into the pale sunlight she trotted out of the horse-door and looked to the North-West. Now she must make her decision. There was talk of the citizens fleeing to Helm's Deep. If she left now she might not be able to get back in time, she may never make it to the place of safety. But could she live with herself if she chose safety over heart's desire?
Her mount tossed its head, its long golden mane catching the sunlight and reminding Ina of someone. Her expression hardened. She was as good as any Shield-Maiden; she would follow her instinct and ride hard over the plains. Lady Eowyn's tack included a short dagger and scabbard attached to the saddle. Ina gripped its hilt and drew it part way out of its sheath. Then with a cry she thrust it home, spurred on her steed and galloped down the steep slope towards the gate of Edoras.
Horses stamped and snorted down below, but she paid no heed, for she was used to them. She lay and gazed at the window, hoping to drop back into sleep and make use of the short time still available to her for rest, when a bird landed on the sill. She hoped it would not come inside, it would create noise and mess and unnecessary trouble. The bird dropped something from a claw and took flight again. The something rolled across the floor, coming to a rest within arms reach of her low bed and reaching out she took it. It was a letter, rolled and bound in wax. Breaking the wax she unfurled it. Its message was short:
"Ina. Isengard - the Tower of Orthanc, North West of Edoras. A great evil will befall Rohan before the week is out. Ride swiftly; I would be with you again. Grima."
She got up to dress, though it was madness for her to be abroad at this time, for she had many hard duties ahead of her in the coming day and precious little time to sleep already. She woke now for a purpose and could not help herself. Once dressed she slipped silently down the stairs and into the stables. She had no horse of her own and was unwilling to ride one of the servants' shared mounts, the poor beasts did twice the work they should already. Her eyes fell on Lady Eowyn's steed.
Within five minutes Ina was mounted and ready. Into the pale sunlight she trotted out of the horse-door and looked to the North-West. Now she must make her decision. There was talk of the citizens fleeing to Helm's Deep. If she left now she might not be able to get back in time, she may never make it to the place of safety. But could she live with herself if she chose safety over heart's desire?
Her mount tossed its head, its long golden mane catching the sunlight and reminding Ina of someone. Her expression hardened. She was as good as any Shield-Maiden; she would follow her instinct and ride hard over the plains. Lady Eowyn's tack included a short dagger and scabbard attached to the saddle. Ina gripped its hilt and drew it part way out of its sheath. Then with a cry she thrust it home, spurred on her steed and galloped down the steep slope towards the gate of Edoras.