Hunter of Thunder
Chapter 4 – Rain's Gifts
With his last enemy dispatched, Éorinaë ran dropped his sword and ran over to the Dunlendings' prisoner, hope and joy filled his heart. The man looked up at the boy, "You are Rohirrim?"
"Yes sir," Éorinaë said as he untied the man's hands and feet.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
"I am Éorinaë," the boy hesitated, "Are you…my father?"
The man looked up and shook his head, "I have no son." Éorinaë's heart dropped and his face fell. "I'm sorry, lad, if that's who you're looking for?"
"That doesn't matter now," Éorinaë said. As long as anyone had known him, Éorinaë had always put his needs second over the needs of others; and now he helped the man to his feet. "There are more wild men about; not to mention that other man…"
"The Hunter? You saw the Hunter?"
"I know not of any Hunter, but a man in a dark cloak saved me from some orcs before I came here."
"The Hunter rarely shows himself to anyone, young Éorinaë," the man nodded, "There must be something about you… but you are right, we should be going."
Éorinaë whistled and Crysto came out from the woods, "You should ride, I can navigate the forest on my own."
The young rider helped the former Dunlendings' prisoner mount the horse. The man smiled, "Many thanks, Éorinaë. Perhaps I should tell you my name now. I am Halin."
So, Éorinaë lead Halin and Crysto through the woods. They walked quietly for the most part, since there were still many dangers that faced them; and at least one known fact, the Hunter. But what they did not know, or appeared not to know, is that the Hunter was watching them.
Éorinaë could feel they where being watched, but he said nothing to Halin. Crysto, no doubt, sensed the boy's feeling of caution and stepped with care not to be so loud. The sound of thunder got closer and finally the swirling clouds above them opened up and it rained. Éorinaë knew that they needed to find cover. Halin was injured, but the boy did not know how bad. They still should not be out in the rain. He pulled Crysto along, faster through the trees.
They came to a clearing and Crysto stopped. Éorinaë and Halin looked up from beneath their hoods and wet hair. There standing before them was the Hunter, sitting upon a black horse.
Neither Rider quite knew what to think, nor what this Hunter would do. Finally, it was the Hunter that spoke.
"What are two Rohirrim doing this far into the woods?" the Hunter's voice was rough but there was a hint of something else.
"I am searching these woods for something –er..lost. I found Halin, here, in the captivity of three Dunlendings," Éorinaë managed to say.
The Hunter nodded and dismounted his horse, "Halin, then, you are fortunate to be found by such a brave young one." The Hunter walked towards them, his eyes not visible under his hood; but fixed on Éorinaë. "You fought against those orcs well, little Rohirrim. Tell me, what is it that you search?"
Éorinaë stood firm, not afraid by the Hunter's demanding presence, "I am looking for my father, sir."
The Hunter cast back his hood reveilling his dirty blonde hair and beard, and cool blue eyes. He knelt down in front of Éorinaë, in the rain.
"Éorinaë, you name is," he said.
The boy nodded.
The Hunter's face seemed to soften, "Then you have found what you are searching for."
