Teonvan felt a soft hand touch his forehead. Sunlight warmed his cheeks.
Memories of the previous night began to flood into his head. Hador's
lifeless eyes haunted his thoughts and warm tears started to build up
behind Teonvan's own eyes. His friend, nay, his brother, was now with the
Valor. Hador would never see the tower of the White City again. I lifetime
of friendship was lost to the blade in an instant.
Teonvan slowly opened his weary eyes. What met his sight made his breath go
short. A beautiful woman was kneeled down next to him. Her golden brown
hair was gently draped behind her shoulders. Her eyes were piercing at
first glance, but they were truly gorgeous. Their deep, green color matched
that of the mallaron trees in Lothlorien. There was a warmth, a welcomness
to them, yet somehow sadness seemed to lurk not far beneath their surface.
The maiden's soft, pale skin was as fair as a morning's sun. Her dress was
simple, only a deep red cloth in a peasant's style, but on this fair
maiden, it was the most exquisite gown Teonvan had laid eyes on.
"'M Lord, you're awake," her calming voice filled Teonvan's ears.
"Yes, fair lady," Teonvan said as he tried to sit himself up, realizing the
sharp pain in both his head and arm.
"You are badly wounded, sir. I must get you back to my village, Dyryn." The
woman moved to her feet and swiftly moved behind her to prepare her bay-
colored horse.
"Pardon me, m' lady, but may I ask your name?"
The maiden turned back to Teonvan and stared into his eyes. "I am Eteridth
Elros, daughter of Emerin. And may I ask you, kind sir, what a Gondorian
warrior is doing in Rohan?" Her eyes hinted at the beaten armor Teonvan
wore. "Our lands are not at peace with each other."
"I am Teonvan Voronwë. My unit and I were heading to Minas Tirith to aid
them in the battle against Mordor. We were attacked by an army of Uruk-Hi
last night. I fell from the cliff above after failing to save my friend's
life," Teonvan looked away, his grief came over him once again. Eteridith
moved from where she stood and silently walked to Teonvan and crouched next
to him. She laid her arm around his neck and whispered, "We are in dark
times. Sauron knows no love, nor does her know grief. Your friend is at
peace, away from our petty wars. His mind is at rest, let your also be."
Teonvan looked up into Eteridith's eyes with his own tearful ones. For a
moment their gazes held, but Eteridith then glanced away and abruptly stood
and said, "Shall we move on?" She took Teonvan's good arm and helped him to
his feet. Together, they both got Teonvan onto her steed and then Eteridith
got into the saddle.
"You may want to hold on, our lands are rocky and you would not want to
fall and injure yourself further," Eteridith said. She suddenly felt
Teonvan's hands on her waist and her spine tingled with goose bumps. This
feeling was new to her and her cheeks turned red. She was glad Teonvan
couldn't see her face as they rode across the rolling hills of Rohan
together toward Dyryn.
Teonvan woke in a small room. The walls were decorated with tapestries of
rohirrium designs. Across the floor lay the fur skin of a beast, identical
to that one which was laid over Teonvan for a blanket. The window next to
the bed looked out onto, what Teonvan figured must be, the village of
Dyryn. The street was slanted, for the village lay at the foot of a
mountain. Peasants pushed carts of hay and other goods to be sold up and
down the dirt street. Suddenly the door to the room opened and Eteridith
walked in.
"Good morning, m' lady," Teonvan said with a smile.
"Good day, Teonvan," Eteridith replied as she walked over to the bed and
sat on its edge. She started to unwrap the bandages from the night before
on his arm as she asked, "How are you feeling? Are your wounds not as
painful this morning?"
"They are healing. Eteridith, because of you, I will not die alone on that
plain." Teonvan took his hand and held Eteridith's chin up so he could see
her eyes. "I owe you my life. You are like my angel, my broken angel sent
to save me."
"It was nothing, sir," Eteridith said as she pulled Teonvan's hand away
from her chin and turned her head the other way. "I was merely on a morning
ride and saw you. It was chance that I saw you, chance that has saved your
life."
"Then was it chance that has brought us together?"
Eteridith turned quickly back to Teonvan and looked strangely at him. "How
can you say that? What do you mean?"
"Do not tell me that you do not think the same, Eteridith. We have just
met, yes, but do you not feel it? Eteridith..." Teonvan's voice trailed off.
He took his hand from under Eteridith's and put it back to her face. He
then moved toward her and kissed her. Eteridith did not move away, nay, she
held Teonvan also. Teonvan slowly moved his lips from hers and opened his
eyes again. He saw the small smile spread onto Eteridith's face.
"I will not lie to you. I do feel it. I've felt it since I saw you laying
there. Oh Teonvan, I'm at a lost for words..." Eteridith mumbled out, but
Teonvan put his hand gently over her lips. "Love is a mysterious thing. But
true love cannot be hidden where it truly lies. Just to know you feel the
same is enough for me now."
"Will you stay here?"
"Yes, for a time. The only thing that worries me is that our lands are
not...agreed with each other right now. What would happen if people knew? My
people would not approve of this," Teonvan said straightly to Eteridith.
"For now we have each other," She said as she took his hands in hers, "Just
take that for now."
