DISCLAIMER: Lord of the Rings is not mine, at least not yet. I will tell you all the moment I own it, okay? Gwen, Maedron, and Gwen's new horse Nirod are mine. But you all know that by now. Except for the new horse, because he is new. But other than him, you know all the rest by now.
Gwen strode down the hall in the House of Healing to Eowyn's room to have one last chat before she left. Gwen knocked timidly on the door, for it was later in the evening.
" Yes?" came Eowyn's voice from inside.
" It's just me. May I come in?" Gwen asked.
" Of course! I was hoping you would come see me before you left," Eowyn said as Gwen opened the door.
" Well, you're looking a sight better!" Gwen exclaimed. She was right. The color had returned to Eowyn's cheeks and her voice had grown a bit stronger.
" I feel so much better. And it hasn't even been that long!" said Eowyn.
" We are leaving tomorrow at dawn," Gwen said. Eowyn made a face.
" I wish I was going with you," she said mournfully.
" I am sorry Eowyn, but I am not sneaking you off under my cloak, or some other out of the question way! Besides, I hear that you are not the only one being denied battle rights. There is a young captain of Gondor just down the hall, so if you get bored or frustrated with being left here to relax in a nice, safe bed, I am sure you can go have lunch with him on the terrace and moan about being left behind. Or better yet, tell him of your previous escapade!" Gwen said with a laugh. A second later, she was forced to duck the pillow that Eowyn had slung at her. Gwen squealed and threw up her arms. Eowyn laughed and put the pillow down.
" I hear that you are riding off with a man of your own!" she teased.
" What is that supposed to mean?" Gwen asked innocently as she turned pink.
" You know very well who I mean! A certain elf who has hardly been able to keep his eyes off you!" exclaimed Eowyn. Gwen looked down in embarrassment. Eowyn looked at the pretty elf maiden, thinking he hasn't told her anything of how he feels. Gwen loves him so much. Instead of voicing her thoughts, however, Eowyn pulled up another pillow and lightly hit Gwen upside the head.
" Aye!" Gwen yelled as she tried to block Eowyn's fierce onslaught.
" Oh, come on! You were battling swords and spears all day two days ago, and now you are squealing over a pillow?" Eowyn laughed. Gwen caught the pillow.
" Eowyn, you are forgetting your broken arm!" she warned her friend. Eowyn stopped swatting at her and made another face.
" Oh, come on! Let's just relax. This is the last time I may sit in a bed for a while," Gwen said. So that is exactly what they did until late that night when Gwen walked back to her room and fell asleep.
" Gwen! Wake up!" yelled Maedron as he pounded on her door. It was an hour before dawn, almost time to go. Gwen groaned as she pushed herself out of bed.
" Okay, okay! Let me get dressed!" she mumbled as she pulled on her clothes. She walked out a few minutes later.
" Are we leaving soon?" she asked him.
" Within the hour, at least. Here is some breakfast. When you are done with that, I will take you to see your new horse," he said as he handed her a steaming bowl of soup. She looked at it warily.
" Gimli didn't make that, right?" she asked him.
" No! Aragorn wouldn't have allowed that!" he said with a laugh. Gwen spooned a bit of the soup into her mouth as they began walking.
" So, I get another new horse?' she asked.
" Yes, you do. You seem to go through horses faster than most," he said with a sideways glance at her.
" It wasn't my fault that my other one took off on me when the Nazgul screamed!" she cried as she swatted at him.
" But you did get Bryn killed," he said solemnly. Gwen nodded her head sadly. Bryn had been a good horse. But then she brightened.
" Oh, hush yourself and stop reminding me of all the damage I have done!" she said. He smiled and looked down at her. Gwen was in full battle regalia. Her long sword was at her belt and her two long daggers were strapped across her back, so she somewhat clanked as she walked down the hall. She had washed the night before under Nori's orders, so she was nice and clean.
" So, lead me on to my new steed!" Gwen said as she finished her soup.
" This way," Maedron said as he led her out into the streets. The wind was blowing softly, ruffling his long black hair. Gwen watched him as they walked and noticed how the gazes of women lingered longer on him than on other men. He IS very handsome, she thought as she walked along besides him. Without thinking, she giggled silently. But not so silent that Maedron didn't hear.
" What are you laughing at?" he asked. She smiled slyly.
" Oh haven't you noticed, Maedron, that all the women in the city have their eyes on you?" she asked, one of her eyebrows arched.
" I don't know what you are talking about!" he cried in indignation, turning slightly red.
" You can't be that ignorant! Look at them all drooling over you! The handsome elf from Rivendell!" she said with a mock swoon. He grabbed her and swept her up into his arms and began tickling her as he walked.
" Yeek! Put me down you villain!" Gwen shrieked as he walked down the street with her, causing more women to stop and stare. That is how they entered the stables.
" Ha ha ha!" laughed Gimli as he caught sight of them. Legolas turned and smiled. Maedron set Gwen down in front of a stall.
" Here is your horse," he said as Gwen regained her composure.
" Maedron, he is huge," she said as soon as she saw the great beast. The horse was huge. When Gwen stood next to it, her head barely reached its back. Despite its size, the horse looked very graceful and limber. Muscle stood out clearly from it's roan hide.
" I know, he is a bit big. But, I rode him out myself, and he is a very good horse," said Maedron as Gwen circled the animal. When she reached its front, it brought it's slender head down and began looking for treats.
" Maedron, hand me an apple," Gwen said with a laugh. He complied and she fed it to the horse.
" His name is Nirod," said Maedron as he watched the girl and the horse. Gwen nodded and began speaking to the horse in elvish as she brushed out his fiery hide, making it shine. Soon she had him saddled and ready to go. Aragorn walked into the stables just as she finished.
" Aragorn, are we ready?" she asked. He looked at her.
"Gandalf is waiting outside the gates with the army. Mount your horse, we are ready," he said. Gwen began leading Nirod out of the stables and into the sunlight where she could better mount him. Throwing the reins over his neck, she placed her foot in the stirrup, which was so high that she was stuck hoping up and down on one foot. Once she got a grip on the saddle, she began to pull herself up. Pain shot through her shoulder, causing her to draw her breath in sharply and loose her grip on the saddle. She fell to the ground, quite angry at her injury. Gritting her teeth, she put her foot in the stirrup again. This time she couldn't even grab the saddle before she lost her balance and fell to the side with a cry of frustration.
" Gwen, hold on," said Maedron as he rode out on his horse. Once he dismounted, he walked over to her.
" Give me your foot," he ordered as he held out his hands. Gwen did so.
" On the count of three. Ready? One, two, three!" he cried as he lifted her up. Gwen threw her right leg over the saddle and sat in it triumphantly. He smiled up at her as he put her left foot in the stirrup.
" I guess I'll need to find a rock or something from now on," she said.
" Or just yell for me," said Maedron as he got back on his horse.
" Thank you," Gwen said softly.
" My pleasure," he said with a smile as he steered his horse up next to her's. Gwen's horse was so tall that although she was a bit shorter than Maedron, she could see eye level with him. Legolas rode out of the stable on Arod with Gimli sitting behind him. Aragorn came behind them with Pippin in front of him.
" Come, to Pelennor Fields!" he cried and took off down the winding streets of Minas Tirith. The four of them followed him. Once on the fields, they met Gandalf and the army. Gwen looked out upon the army that had amassed for the stand at the Black Gate. They were not much, but would be enough for a distraction. Aragorn held up Anduril and all went silent.
" We ride to Mordor, to the Black Gate to challenge Sauron!" he cried and kicked his horse into a gallop. The men roared and followed. Gwen fell in behind him in between Legolas and Maedron. They rode in silence, knowing what was about to befall them. For the first time in her life, Gwen was unable to shake off the fear that was growing in her heart.
I began to write this chapter with every intention of getting right to the battle, but then I thought it would do the story a little better to have a little more dialogue between Gwen and Maedron. But they next chapter will cover the battle to the best of my remembrance, so hang tight and REVIEW!