Disclaimer: Elmar and Erin are the only things that belong to me.
Thank you very much to my reviewers. I shall try not to disappoint!
I also want to say that I think that it is absolutely horrible that Éomer is not in the character choice list. For shame, FF.N, for shame!
~*~
Another night had passed, and Erin was not sure how much longer she could last. It was the third day on the blasted grassland, and wasn't the limit that someone could go without water three days? Still, she trudged on, though her mouth and throat were begging for a drop of moisture, and her belly felt like yawning chasm pleading to be filled with anything, anything at all… she had attempted to eat some grass the day before, but had not been able to get it down. She also felt like she had rolled around in a vat of grease, and would have very much liked to have been able to have a bath - after taking care of her more serious needs, of course.
The cold had finally seeped through her clothing, and the sweatshirt that had kept her warm before was no longer doing its job. Shivering, Erin wrapped her arms around her tightly and ducked her head down, staring at the world moving underneath her feet.
How far she had traveled, she couldn't tell. It was like being on a treadmill; the scenery never changed, and she felt extremely fatigued. Standing still for a moment and looking up to focus on the mountain range ahead of her, she decided that perhaps it looked slightly closer than the day before. Progress!
For a few more moments she stayed in that position as she reveled in that slight success, but before long she ceased seeing the sights before her. Instead, her mind was conjuring pictures of succulent foods, nice, cool water, and a cozy bed. Erin shut her eyes so that she might see the images clearer and let out a small sigh of contentment, before her knees gave out and she fell to the hard earth.
She lay there on her side for over five minutes before attempting to return to her feet. It felt so good to lie down and rest, she mused as she stared over the miles of emptiness. She was exhausted, and every part of her ached.
So she allowed her body to have an unscheduled rest, and surveyed the land in front of her. It was in truth no different from the land behind her, except for the fact that there appeared to be a small, gray mass in the distance that she did not recall being there before. She watched it and wondered idly what it might be.
It was coming nearer at a quick pace, and as it made its approach it became larger, yet still Erin could not make out what it was. A faint rumbling could be heard and was steadily and rapidly become louder, accompanying a clearer visual: it appeared, to Erin, almost like a herd of horses… smiling, she then noticed the riders on top of the horses. It's such a nice hallucination, Erin thought to herself.
Suddenly the information locked in her brain clicked; her ears finally understood the meaning of the noise and her eyes the meaning of the sight at hand. A great deal of horses were coming straight. At. Her.
Her eyes widened to the size of coasters, and as adrenaline pumped into her veins she scrambled to her feet as quickly as she could. It would be impossible to out run the line of horses, but there didn't exactly seem to be any other options. Erin ran.
~*~
It was over quickly; Erin never really had a chance. The horsemen, who now happened to be pointing spears at her in a menacing fashion, had almost immediately surrounded her. Erin stared at them in wonderment. They were the first people that she had seen in three days… and there was something about them that looked familiar…
One rider nudged his horse forward and looked like he was trying to appear intimidating, and was succeeding. His face, mostly hidden by a tarnished helmet, was far above her own, so it was thus that she found herself looking more at the Rider's horse's nose, rather than the rider himself.
She heard him utter something, but she could not comprehend it.
~*~
Éomer was at a loss. The being before him, who appeared to be a young Rohirrim woman despite the extremely odd garb she wore, had just collapsed. She had not responded to his hails, but had looked at him dumbly instead. Her face had a gaunt look about it, like one that had not slept nor ate for some time.
He knew that minions of the Enemy would try to sneak into Edoras to join the agent already place there by Saruman, and that none should be allowed to go any further once he had them in his grasp. Yet, he did not believe that even Saruman would use someone as weak as the one that lay before him.
In one fluid motion Éomer dismounted from his steed. The men of his éored relaxed slightly and lowered their spears, while he walked over to the girl lying supine on the ground. Grabbing her under her arms, Éomer roughly hauled Erin to her feet and held her there, for he did not believe that she had the strength to stand on her own. Looking down at her, he repeated his earlier words, this time in Westron, but she shook her head as if to indicate that she did not understand. A few moments later a croaking noise emitted from her mouth. At first alarmed, Éomer realized that she was attempting to speak. She tried once more, but soon shook her head again.
Something had to be done, but what? It would be wrong to leave someone in the Gap of Rohan with no provisions, especially one such as this. He took pity on the girl, for something surely must have addled her brains for her not to understand either languages spoken to her.
He gently set her back on to the earth, and re-mounted his horse. The girl made a noise as if in protest, but he paid no heed to her. Instead, he called out a name.
"Elmar!"
A path was cleared in the circle surrounding Éomer and the girl, and one horse and Rider pair moved through it to the center.
"What is your will, Éomer?"
Éomer grey eyes swept over the Rider before him, and sighed inwardly. Elmar was an eager warrior, but young. Too young, thought Éomer, to be banished Edoras and thus from his family. He was giving Elmar a gift, though he knew Elmar would not see it as one.
"Take this girl to Edoras. She looks as though she needs care, and it seems some strange spell has overcome her that she can neither understand nor speak Rohirric or Westron. It would be best to bring her to your home; your father is a good man, and will treat her well." He paused for a moment, considering. "Do not take her to the Golden Hall, unless Háma feels it is necessary, for I fear it may prove ill."
Before Elmar could gather his wits to protest, Éomer let forth a cry of "Forth, Eorlingas!" and the éored moved out swiftly, leaving Erin and Elmar quite alone.
Thank you very much to my reviewers. I shall try not to disappoint!
I also want to say that I think that it is absolutely horrible that Éomer is not in the character choice list. For shame, FF.N, for shame!
~*~
Another night had passed, and Erin was not sure how much longer she could last. It was the third day on the blasted grassland, and wasn't the limit that someone could go without water three days? Still, she trudged on, though her mouth and throat were begging for a drop of moisture, and her belly felt like yawning chasm pleading to be filled with anything, anything at all… she had attempted to eat some grass the day before, but had not been able to get it down. She also felt like she had rolled around in a vat of grease, and would have very much liked to have been able to have a bath - after taking care of her more serious needs, of course.
The cold had finally seeped through her clothing, and the sweatshirt that had kept her warm before was no longer doing its job. Shivering, Erin wrapped her arms around her tightly and ducked her head down, staring at the world moving underneath her feet.
How far she had traveled, she couldn't tell. It was like being on a treadmill; the scenery never changed, and she felt extremely fatigued. Standing still for a moment and looking up to focus on the mountain range ahead of her, she decided that perhaps it looked slightly closer than the day before. Progress!
For a few more moments she stayed in that position as she reveled in that slight success, but before long she ceased seeing the sights before her. Instead, her mind was conjuring pictures of succulent foods, nice, cool water, and a cozy bed. Erin shut her eyes so that she might see the images clearer and let out a small sigh of contentment, before her knees gave out and she fell to the hard earth.
She lay there on her side for over five minutes before attempting to return to her feet. It felt so good to lie down and rest, she mused as she stared over the miles of emptiness. She was exhausted, and every part of her ached.
So she allowed her body to have an unscheduled rest, and surveyed the land in front of her. It was in truth no different from the land behind her, except for the fact that there appeared to be a small, gray mass in the distance that she did not recall being there before. She watched it and wondered idly what it might be.
It was coming nearer at a quick pace, and as it made its approach it became larger, yet still Erin could not make out what it was. A faint rumbling could be heard and was steadily and rapidly become louder, accompanying a clearer visual: it appeared, to Erin, almost like a herd of horses… smiling, she then noticed the riders on top of the horses. It's such a nice hallucination, Erin thought to herself.
Suddenly the information locked in her brain clicked; her ears finally understood the meaning of the noise and her eyes the meaning of the sight at hand. A great deal of horses were coming straight. At. Her.
Her eyes widened to the size of coasters, and as adrenaline pumped into her veins she scrambled to her feet as quickly as she could. It would be impossible to out run the line of horses, but there didn't exactly seem to be any other options. Erin ran.
~*~
It was over quickly; Erin never really had a chance. The horsemen, who now happened to be pointing spears at her in a menacing fashion, had almost immediately surrounded her. Erin stared at them in wonderment. They were the first people that she had seen in three days… and there was something about them that looked familiar…
One rider nudged his horse forward and looked like he was trying to appear intimidating, and was succeeding. His face, mostly hidden by a tarnished helmet, was far above her own, so it was thus that she found herself looking more at the Rider's horse's nose, rather than the rider himself.
She heard him utter something, but she could not comprehend it.
~*~
Éomer was at a loss. The being before him, who appeared to be a young Rohirrim woman despite the extremely odd garb she wore, had just collapsed. She had not responded to his hails, but had looked at him dumbly instead. Her face had a gaunt look about it, like one that had not slept nor ate for some time.
He knew that minions of the Enemy would try to sneak into Edoras to join the agent already place there by Saruman, and that none should be allowed to go any further once he had them in his grasp. Yet, he did not believe that even Saruman would use someone as weak as the one that lay before him.
In one fluid motion Éomer dismounted from his steed. The men of his éored relaxed slightly and lowered their spears, while he walked over to the girl lying supine on the ground. Grabbing her under her arms, Éomer roughly hauled Erin to her feet and held her there, for he did not believe that she had the strength to stand on her own. Looking down at her, he repeated his earlier words, this time in Westron, but she shook her head as if to indicate that she did not understand. A few moments later a croaking noise emitted from her mouth. At first alarmed, Éomer realized that she was attempting to speak. She tried once more, but soon shook her head again.
Something had to be done, but what? It would be wrong to leave someone in the Gap of Rohan with no provisions, especially one such as this. He took pity on the girl, for something surely must have addled her brains for her not to understand either languages spoken to her.
He gently set her back on to the earth, and re-mounted his horse. The girl made a noise as if in protest, but he paid no heed to her. Instead, he called out a name.
"Elmar!"
A path was cleared in the circle surrounding Éomer and the girl, and one horse and Rider pair moved through it to the center.
"What is your will, Éomer?"
Éomer grey eyes swept over the Rider before him, and sighed inwardly. Elmar was an eager warrior, but young. Too young, thought Éomer, to be banished Edoras and thus from his family. He was giving Elmar a gift, though he knew Elmar would not see it as one.
"Take this girl to Edoras. She looks as though she needs care, and it seems some strange spell has overcome her that she can neither understand nor speak Rohirric or Westron. It would be best to bring her to your home; your father is a good man, and will treat her well." He paused for a moment, considering. "Do not take her to the Golden Hall, unless Háma feels it is necessary, for I fear it may prove ill."
Before Elmar could gather his wits to protest, Éomer let forth a cry of "Forth, Eorlingas!" and the éored moved out swiftly, leaving Erin and Elmar quite alone.