***Third from the top***
It was the third day of their run. It amazed Demi how far and fast the troop could run. It amazed her further still at how far her elvish abilities took her and that she could keep up. The tension between Demi and Rhia was steadily rising and now Legolas had caught on, even though he was preoccupied with the case.
Dusk came and they retired for the eve. The same watch was set, as the two elves needed little sleep. Demi took the first watch that night. She sat away from her friends thinking about what had come over her friend. Was it that bad, whatever Demi did? Though Demi could not see what had happened. She woke Legolas a few hours after midnight and sat up with him for a while.
"What is it?" he asked her after moments of silence, save Gimli's snores.
"Nothing." Demi lied.
"It's Aure isn't it?" the elf asked quietly, he paused waiting for Demi's reply. "I do not know what is wrong, but I have sensed her emotions rising against you since Caradhras." He paused again for a moment, looking at Demi who was pulling out blades of grass, her head low and her hair fell over it. "She is jealous."
"Of what?" Demi asked, whipping her head and attention to him. Legolas just frowned.
"Of you. Your immortality and power." He said at long last.
"Why? I didn't ask for them! I just wanted…I just want…a family. My real family. I want to know them, not a quest! Not a stupid power!" she said angrily, tears now falling from her eyes, far too loudly, for Aragorn sat up and looked at the two. Then he set himself down again, listening carefully. "I have lived a lie too long."
"You cannot deny who you are and who you were born to be. You will do great things! I can see it even now. But when it comes to your real family, your biological family, they are unfortunately dead. But your family is here, amongst your friends." The elf said, putting a comforting arm around her. "All my life, I have wanted a sibling. Someone to while away the hours with, and you know what?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What?" Demi asked softly.
"I have found one. In you and Aure, Aragorn and the hobbits. Boromir too."
"What about Gimli?"
"We are barely friends, for too long have our kin argued. We are bringing them together. Starting anew."
Demi smiled and rested her head on his muscular shoulder, soon she found herself falling asleep. Aragorn smiled and fell asleep again.
***
"Wake up now Vaira! It is time to go." Legolas said, nudging Demi. Her eyes came into focus and she sat up somewhat reluctantly. Yes she did desire to find Merry and Pip, but she too longed for a soft bed and a pillow.
"Awake!" Legolas called, waking everyone up. "Awake! It is a red dawn. Strange things await us by the eaves of the forest. Good or evil, I do not know; but we are called. Awake!"
They set off at once again, the downs growing closer and closer each hour, every minute and footfall. About noon, they finally made it. In a great circle, they could see the grass trampled and disfigured by many footprints. This is where the trail vanished again. Aragorn stopped and surveyed the area. Aure too got in on the act, making whatever she could of things and comparing notes with her ranger cousin. The two bent down and mumbled together for a moment then stood again.
"They rested here a while, but that was a day and a half ago. If they held such a pace they would have rested just outside Fangorn at nightfall." Aragorn said, turning his attention to all the remaining fellowship members. "It is still fifteen leagues or more to the forest borders following the Entwash."
"Well, let us continue then and I will make my legs forget the miles. They would be more willing if my heart were less heavy." Gimli said.
Again they set out at a striding pace at first, moving into a steady run. Without rest for hours they went on like this as the sun was sinking. Gimli was beginning to feel the chase so they slowed down to a walk. Demi slowed down to give her friend a word of comfort.
"How now there Gimli? Do not loose hope. Even as we speak we gain closer to finding our friends." She said.
"Aye, that we may be, but I cannot help but fear for them, even after your guessing." He replied. His back was bent and he was leaning on his axe.
Demi walked on beside him in silence there after, her mind racing, hoping to the valar that help would be sent to their aid. Legolas sprung lightly along the ground, leading the way. He led them up a small hill staring around, gazing out for a sign of their quarry. Again they stopped and rested whilst they could. It was growing dark and their was naught to do without light and a trail. Legolas again took watch and Demi took all the sleep she could, for she knew, or at least thought that if they caught up with the orcs, she would have to fight hard and against many. She hoped to reserve as much strength until that day, if it ever came. Aragorn and Gimli awoke during the night and waited dawn with Legolas, after hours of fitful dreams.
***
Sunrise can cold and clear, so the hunters again rose and ran onwards. Fangorn still stood ten leagues away, and everyone seemed to be giving up hope. But still there pace was strong as they found the orc trail again running towards the Entwash. Legolas stopped for a moment, his hand shading his eyes from the sun as he looked ahead, whilst Aragorn was crouched down on the ground. Demi came and stood beside her friends and looked onwards with Legolas. In the distance, the figures of many horsemen came towards them, their spears twinkling in the light. Demi had to look again to make sure her assumption was correct and she glanced at Legolas who looked to her.
Araogorn stood up at once and cried, "Riders! Headed towards us!"
"Yes," agreed Legolas, " one hundred and five. Yellow is their hair and bright are their spears. They are little more than five leagues in the distance."
"We will await them and find news. Our hunt has failed and I am weary." Aragorn said, casting himself upon the ground.
"Or we may meet spears, weary or no." Gimli said.
"There are three empty saddles, but I see no hobbits." Legolas said.
"I did not say the news would be good, but news either way we will await here." Aragorn said, leading them from the hilltop down the northern slope. They sat, huddled under their cloaks at the foot of the hill. Boromir sat between the two girls, confused by their silence.
The others spoke for a while and it was presumed that the riders coming towards them were the riders of Rohan. Soon Demi and Legolas could hear hoof beats and a short while later, even Gimli could hear them. They were ridding hard and their cries could be heard. They rode past like the sound of thunder, right past Aragorn and the others.
The riders were tall and their horses fair, all strong and of great stature. The men wore helms, their blonde hair flowing freely underneath, passing in pairs. Aragorn then stood and called out to them.
"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"
The riders quickly turned their position with great ease and skill, swiftly circling the six runners and enclosing on them. Then silence. They pointed their spears at the hunters, and then one rode forward, the tallest. His spear pointed at Aragorn, who remained still as stone.
"Who are you and what are you doing in these lands?" asked the rider.
"I am named Strider from the north. I am hunting orcs." Aragorn said, his voice unwavering. The rider dismounted his horse handing his spear to a comrade. He then drew his sword and faced Aragorn.
"At first I thought you of orcs, but now I know I was wrong. You know little of orcs if you hunt them on foot. Yet I sense something strange about you Strider. That is an odd name for a man and even odder how you appear before us. Did you spring from the grass? Are you all elvish folk?" the rider asked.
"We do not hunt this way out of choice and nay, there are only two elves amongst us, Legolas of the woodland realm of Mirkwood and Vairarista of Lothlórien, where we have stayed and left gifts and the favour of the Lady." Araogrn said.
"The Lady of the Golden wood is real as the old tales say? These are strange days! Yet stranger with the company you keep! Two maidens, one elvan, an elf and dwarf! Why do you not speak silent ones?" the rider asked, turning his attention to the others. Demi just stared back. He would not see her as weak, no matter how…good-looking he was.
"Give me your name horsemaster, and I will give you mine." Said Gimli, gripping the hilt of his axe firmly. Demi smirked, good old Gimli.
"As for that," said the rider, looking down at Gimli with a grimace on his face, "the stranger should declare himself first. Yet, I am Éomer, son of Éomund, and the third marshal of the Riddermark."
"Then Éomer son of Éomund, Third Marshal of the Riddermark, Let Gimli the dwarf Glóin's son warn you against foolish words. You speak evil of what is fairest, far beyond your reach of thought. Only little wit can excuse you." Gimli said. Rhia couldn't help herself and she let out a snort.
Éomer's eyes looked they were going burst Gimli on fire and the Men of Rohan spoke angrily to each other moving in closer so that now their spears were dangerously close.
'This is Lothlórien over again!' thought Boromir. But before he could talk sense into Éomer, whom he had spoken with before, the Third Marshal spoke first.
"I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood a little higher from the ground." Éomer growled.
"You would die before your stroke fell!" Legolas said, taking out his bow, notching an arrow and pointed it at Éomer before you could say Happy Meal. Éomer raised his sword and was about to go at Legolas now when Boromir intervened.
"Your pardon Éomer." He cried stepping between the two. "I am Boromir, Denethor's son. We have met before. Please, pardon my company against their actions. We mean no evil to Rohan nor its folk or steeds. Please hear our tale before your strike!"
"I shall, if the one named Strider will reveal his real name and the story." Éomer said, then as an after thought, "It is good to see you again Boromir, son of Denethor."
"First tell me whom you serve." Aragorn said. "Friend or foe of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor before I continue."
"I serve only Théoden, King of Rohan, son of Thengel and we serve no power of the black land but we are neither at open war with him. If you flee him then it is best to leave these lands. Come, who are you? whom do you serve?" Éomer said.
" I serve no man, but I pursue the servants of the Dark Lord to any land they run. There are few o' men who know more of orcs than I, and as I have said, we do not hunt them in this fashion from choice. The orcs we chase took two of our friends captive. We left in such need quickly, for we had no horses, nor chance to get any. For a man under such circumstances will ask no leave to follow the trail. Nor leave without weapons. I am not weapon less." Aragorn said, tossing back his cloak revealing the sheath of Andúril. " I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur, Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the sword that was broken is reforged! Will you aid or smite us? Choose swiftly."
Demi was utterly gob smacked. Her jaw dropped and Aragorn seemed to have grown taller and more king like instead of his usual ranger self. Éomer seemed to have the same reaction. He cast his eyes down. "Tell me lord, what brings you here in such strange days and the meanings of the dark words." Éomer asked.
"The doom of choice. Now say this to King Théoden, open war lies before him, with Sauron or against. Life as we have known it is long lost and few shall keep what was their own, but if chance allows I shall speak to him of this later, for now I am in great need. Now what can you tell us of the orc party that passed through your lands?" Aragorn asked.
"We destroyed them during the night, you need no longer follow them." Éomer said.
"And out friends?" Boromir asked.
"We found none but orcs." Éomer replied, his face was now looking grave as he sensed something was wrong.
"But that is odd, did you search the bodies? Were any not like orcs? The ones we search would be small, only children to your eyes clad in grey." Aragorn said now, pressing the matter further.
"There were none of the sort, we burned the slain, and now they lie smoking by Fangorn forest." Éomer said.
"We speak of hobbits or halflings, not children.' Said Gimli. "They are very dear to us."
"Halflings!" Éomer laughed. "They are only tales."
"Time is pressing my lord, we must continue south and leave these wild folk to their fancies. Or shall we bind them and take them to the king?" said the rider Éomer handed his spear to.
"Please Éothain! Tell the éored to make ready to leave the plains to the Entwade." Éomer replied.
Éothain took his lord's orders and assembled the ridders, whom left Éomer and the runners to be. Aragorn then explained about Gandalf and the treachery of Saruman. He explained the chase.
"On foot?" questioned Éomer.
"Yes, even as you see us."
Éomer was once again in awe and looked in wonder at the remaining fellowship. "Strider is too poor a name for you lord. I name the Wingfoot and the deed of these six friends shall be sung in many halls! Forty-five leagues have you run in four days! But now I must return in haste to Théoden lord. War is coming as you, then I must inform my king. Here, take these three horses. I am sorry but that is all I can offer. I am sorry. But you must return them to the kings house whence you have ended your search. Will you come? For your sword and the weapons of your friends could well be used. I hope you will all pardon my course words about the lady."
"That I shall and thank you for your gift and fair words. I cannot desire that my heart desires to follow with you now, but I cannot desert my friends whilst hope lasts." Aragorn said.
"Do no trust to hope." Éomer said. "And if your friends live they will be on the northern borders." He remained silent for a moment then said: "I must leave now my lord and every hour lessens your hope. Please return the horses to Théoden, for then he shall know that I have not misjudged you. I may be placing my life in your good faith. Do not fail."
"I will not." Said Aragorn.
"Here!" Éomer said, then he let out a loud whistle. "Hasufel, Arod, Brytta!" then three horses came over to him and Éomer took them by the reins, handing each horse to Aragorn, Legolas and Bormoir. "May these horses serve you well. Farewell and may you find what you seek!" Éomer Then mounted his horse and the Rohirrim took off again at the great speed in which they came.
Now with three horses and six ridders, they divide up. Boromir and Demi rode together, and much to Demi's dismay, Boromir at the reins; Legolas and Gimli; and Aragorn, Rhia behind him. Hasufel, a dark grey horse, Arod, a smaller and lighter horse, of the colour white whom Legolas rode with out reins of saddle; and Brytta, a black/brown strong steed, calm and ready. Here now they set off quickly, in search of their lost quarry.
***
Author's note: Another chapter over and this one were quite longer than the rest. I absolutely love the name of Brytta for a Rohirrim horse. Just a lil background info, Brytta was a King of Rohan in the second line of Kings. His people called him Léofa and were loved by all, as he was very kind and helpful to the needy. He died in battle with a great band of orcs whom he drove into the mountains and it was thought that all the orcs had been killed, but that wasn't true.
Anyways, enough of that this chapter's poll is:
What would you have called the third horse?
Thank you to all who answered the last poll. It was not a success, but still I enjoy it.