Chapter 31
Short chapter, but I have been busy, rebuilding stockyards. The next chapter will see more action, and maybe a naughty scene!
We have been two weeks journeying. We are travelling south and somewhat east as well, and as we ventured further the landscape becomes more and more different from anything I have seen before. Tall trees are scare, as are animals. Those animals we see are mostly in the care of herdsmen. The daytime temperatures are rising, and the night-time ones falling. Elandra assures me this normal, and that the environment will change a lot more before we reach our final destination.
The afternoon is drawing on, and we decide to stop for the night in the next place that has water, for our water skins were low. We breast a small hill, and see a perfect place. A tiny creek, grass for our horses to graze, a small grove of tiny stunted trees which will doubtless provide deadfall for firewood.
Elandra is setting up camp, lighting the fire, saddling and hobbling the horses, and I am supposed to be scouting the surrounding area, and looking for game. Rabbit tracks led me to the warren, and after some observation, I chose two suitable animals and shot them quickly. Walking back to camp, I find some ripe berries and pick them. These will make a nice addition to the rabbits.
Elandra has started to prepare food back at the campsite, she is toasting some bread and has made herbal tea, and as I sit next to her, see hands some a hot cup. 'I will prepare the rabbits,' I tell her.
She nods, 'anyone out there?'
'I could not see those who follow. Whoever they are, they are very good at staying hidden!'
She nods again, and I prepare the rabbits. Ellie stuffs them with some of the berries I found, and some fresh herbs she had gathered. Waiting for the rabbits to cook, we eat the toast, and the rest of the berries. We carry lembas and dried meat, but we are saving it until there is no other food available.
As I drink my tea, I notice the silver ring I now wear, the betrothal ring Elandra gave me in the brief ceremony were we exchanged rings and a promise to wed in the garden surrounding the white tree sapling.
Only family members, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien, King Eomer of Rohan, his sister the Lady Eowyn and her husband, Prince Faramir, and two representatives of the people of Gondor were present. We exchanged rings, vows, and a kiss. Our wedding is to be arranged on our return from the Harad, but under the customs of the Wood Elves we may live as a married couple without further vows until first child is conceived. Our journey had precluded our being able to indulge in love making, but I am hopeful Elandra will give herself to me once we reach a place where our safety does not depend on a constant watch being set, and weapons always close to hand.
Elandra believes we are a day's journey from Tyre, the great trading town we are bound for. There we will rest for two or three days, buy camels to use instead of our horses, and reprovision ourselves as well. I admit to looking forward to being in a town, for our watcher is more likely to make trouble out here, in the wilderness, than in a town full of curious people.
The Watcher. Who is he? When we left Gondor, we rode out at night, and our route took us through a hidden group of Elven Archers, who had successfully ambushed and shot three evil looking men who had been following us. A day and half later we had become aware of being watched, and tracked. Despite our best efforts to conceal our tracks, and use the rolling hills and groves of trees to conceal ourselves, I knew from the close eye I had kept on our back trail he was still there. Watching, waiting. I hoped to loose him in Tyre, but if we did not, I was prepared to have to take more drastic action.
Short chapter, but I have been busy, rebuilding stockyards. The next chapter will see more action, and maybe a naughty scene!
We have been two weeks journeying. We are travelling south and somewhat east as well, and as we ventured further the landscape becomes more and more different from anything I have seen before. Tall trees are scare, as are animals. Those animals we see are mostly in the care of herdsmen. The daytime temperatures are rising, and the night-time ones falling. Elandra assures me this normal, and that the environment will change a lot more before we reach our final destination.
The afternoon is drawing on, and we decide to stop for the night in the next place that has water, for our water skins were low. We breast a small hill, and see a perfect place. A tiny creek, grass for our horses to graze, a small grove of tiny stunted trees which will doubtless provide deadfall for firewood.
Elandra is setting up camp, lighting the fire, saddling and hobbling the horses, and I am supposed to be scouting the surrounding area, and looking for game. Rabbit tracks led me to the warren, and after some observation, I chose two suitable animals and shot them quickly. Walking back to camp, I find some ripe berries and pick them. These will make a nice addition to the rabbits.
Elandra has started to prepare food back at the campsite, she is toasting some bread and has made herbal tea, and as I sit next to her, see hands some a hot cup. 'I will prepare the rabbits,' I tell her.
She nods, 'anyone out there?'
'I could not see those who follow. Whoever they are, they are very good at staying hidden!'
She nods again, and I prepare the rabbits. Ellie stuffs them with some of the berries I found, and some fresh herbs she had gathered. Waiting for the rabbits to cook, we eat the toast, and the rest of the berries. We carry lembas and dried meat, but we are saving it until there is no other food available.
As I drink my tea, I notice the silver ring I now wear, the betrothal ring Elandra gave me in the brief ceremony were we exchanged rings and a promise to wed in the garden surrounding the white tree sapling.
Only family members, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien, King Eomer of Rohan, his sister the Lady Eowyn and her husband, Prince Faramir, and two representatives of the people of Gondor were present. We exchanged rings, vows, and a kiss. Our wedding is to be arranged on our return from the Harad, but under the customs of the Wood Elves we may live as a married couple without further vows until first child is conceived. Our journey had precluded our being able to indulge in love making, but I am hopeful Elandra will give herself to me once we reach a place where our safety does not depend on a constant watch being set, and weapons always close to hand.
Elandra believes we are a day's journey from Tyre, the great trading town we are bound for. There we will rest for two or three days, buy camels to use instead of our horses, and reprovision ourselves as well. I admit to looking forward to being in a town, for our watcher is more likely to make trouble out here, in the wilderness, than in a town full of curious people.
The Watcher. Who is he? When we left Gondor, we rode out at night, and our route took us through a hidden group of Elven Archers, who had successfully ambushed and shot three evil looking men who had been following us. A day and half later we had become aware of being watched, and tracked. Despite our best efforts to conceal our tracks, and use the rolling hills and groves of trees to conceal ourselves, I knew from the close eye I had kept on our back trail he was still there. Watching, waiting. I hoped to loose him in Tyre, but if we did not, I was prepared to have to take more drastic action.