Author's Note: Sorry that this chapter is so short; I needed something to tie it together- the memories and where she is going. The next one will be longer, I promise. Thanks to my reviewers you are all wonderful. Hugs all around.
Roisin Dubh: Yes, I am getting more review, thank you all. It is supposed to be 'binding', not 'bunding' and in the other chapter it's 'seem' not 'seen'. I don't think that this chapter has any typos, but I probably just jinxed myself.
Nephthys5: Yay, a new review, thanks for saying that I'm not butchering them, because I'm trying to keep them as close to Tolkien as possible. Unfortunately we can't all be that good. I like to think that they would be very good friends, they both are new to Gondorian society and pretty much the two most important women in the city.
Eladriewen: Am continuing. Thank you, and let me thank you again for all your wonderful help.
Kerrie: Thank you so much! I'm glad my story plays on your emotions like that, that's the effect that I want it to have on you, and it's nice to hear that it does. I was thinking about doing an Eowyn/Faramir thing when "Winter" is done, but I have so many ideas that I don't know what I'll do first.
Disclaimer: What would everyone do if I said that I actually owned this? :watches as lawyers gather up their briefcases and prepare lawsuits: Okay, I was only kidding, I confess, I actually don't own any of this.
"They had passed away and the land was silent." --(III. 344)
CHAPTER FOUR
I rose as the sun showed itself over the dust plains. In the distance I could see the dark line of trees spread across the horizon. I mounted my horse and began the day's ride in that direction. Until now I had been wandering about Gondor and Rohan. I had camped by Fangorn but two nights past. But now my journey had a purpose, even if my life seemingly did not.
I called my horse; he had been free roaming on the plains of Rohan for he would not venture far. In only a few seconds I glimpsed him cantering towards me on feet light as clouds. Here came my one friend left in the world, so it seemed.
Riding lifted my depression somewhat; it always had a positive effect on whatever I was feeling. Feeling the sweet morning's wind on my face as my horse trotted under a sky of brilliant blue helped as much as anything would, although even that could not cure my weeping spirit. Mayhap nothing ever could, but I felt that if anything, the remedy would be found in the land of my mother and grandmother. It was there that I headed.
After nearly two weeks riding I had almost reached my destination. The trees surrounding Caras Galadhon were eerily silent. How many times had I journeyed here to stay with my mother's mother in her Golden Wood? Laurelindórenan, Land of the Valley of Singing Gold, later renamed Lothlórien, the Dreamflower as the tide of the Elves ebbed. It had no name now, poor forest, abandoned by those who loved it and forgotten by those who feared it. It was here that I met Aragorn as the king that he was and fell in love with him under these very trees. I dismounted and walked through the silent mallorns in the dead of their winter as I was in mine. At last I came upon that which I sought. Standing upon Cerin Amroth I could see neither the twilight or the Shadow that I had forsaken, but only my darkness; for it was nightfall and I could see no star.