We fled southeast from the bridge, leaving the flat river plain behind us. The scenery changed subtly as we rode, from the dark shades of fertile farmland to rocky outcroppings and scrub grass. We stopped to rest in the small hours of the morning, when Shadow felt we had put enough distance between ourselves and the settlement.
I flung myself off the horse, exhausted and out of temper from the hard pace. Shadow slumped onto the ground beside me, sprawling full length in the cool grass. The horses, untethered, milled about in the long grass beside the road.
I stretched out on the ground, determined to get some sleep before we had to remount. I was almost asleep when Shadow's voice startled me awake again.
"Are you well?" The tones were neutral, unmarked by emotion or concern.
I sat up to unfasten the cloak from my shoulders. "I suppose. Tired and a little sore, but otherwise fine."
"Did it shock you, seeing those people?" His voice was more pointed now.
I thought about the question as I spread my cloak on the ground and wadded up my hood for a pillow. I rolled myself up in the makeshift bedroll before answering.
"It did. Especially the children." I rolled so that I wasn't facing him. I knew he had witnessed such violence before, and I wanted to be stronger than I felt in front of this man who seemed to be unmoved by the days' events.
"You handled yourself well. It bothers me also. I fear, lady, that we will see much more, and much worse, before we reach Osgiliath."
"When we will arrive in the city?" I couldn't hide the anxiety in my voice; I badly wanted the journey to be over, even if it was among people I didn't know. My fears about fitting in and being accepted suddenly seemed silly.
"We're not heading directly for Osgiliath. My friend, the one who speaks Elvish- I need to speak with him. He might know more about what the Orcs are doing."
I frowned, a movement lost in the early morning shadows. "I thought Orcs always did this sort of thing. Where are we going, instead of Osgiliath?"
He sighed hollowly. "I've never seen Orcs venture so far north, so far from Mordor. Something must be afoot, and Strider will know what it is."
"So where are we going then?" I repeated.
"Rivendell. He is staying with the Elves. I need to see him, and you will be safer there than on the road. We don't want to draw any undue attention to ourselves."
I puzzled over his remarks until I fell asleep.