Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi and J.R.R. Tolkien, respectively.
Chapter 3- Reaching Gondor
Makoto had been watching these strange travelers for some time. It was after all her duty to safeguard the realm of Gondor. Even in times of peace, there were still vagabonds and no good types that lurked in the shadows These three womenfolk did not seem threatening, however, something made her keep watch. The fair haired woman was leading them, with fairly decent accuracy straight toward Ithilien, and that made Makoto nervous. But they had yet to do anything suspicious, so Makoto remained hidden in the trees. The leader paused.
"My lady?" The blue haired one queried.
"It has been many years since I last passed this way. In the growing darkness, any path could be the right path." She answered her. "And you do not need to address me as 'my lady.' We are many long miles from Edoras." That answered that question then. They were travelers from Rohan. Makoto filed that information away and returned her attention to the conversation.
"I am sorry, but I am afraid that I cannot make myself address you otherwise." The girl shook her head in defeat.
"It would be useless to try and find our way in the dark. Let us rest here for the night." She then drew off her pack and tossed in to the ground, casting herself after it a moment later. Her companions followed suite, settling themselves next to her. For a while it seemed that they were asleep already, but then the lead girl spoke again.
"Do you ever wonder if there is anything beyond our sky?" She wondered. The blue-haired one rolled over to face her directly, and the short one leaned up on her elbows to peer at them in the dark.
"Always my lady." The fair one turned to the short one.
"Hotaru?"
"Only when the mood takes me, Lady Usagi. Sometimes it feels as though I should be up there, and not down here. But then the moment passes, and I am myself again."
"I have always loved the stars. They make me feel as though I am being cared for, despite the things that happen." The girl said.
They were silent again, and some time passed before Makoto decided that they were indeed asleep. She whistled lowly for one of her soldiers.
"I must return to the city and seek counsel. Remain here and watch these travelers until I return. Do not wake them. Do you understand?" She whispered. She saw the soldier nod in the moonlight.
"Yes Captain."
"Good. I will return as quickly as my feet can carry me."
Usagi was poked awake by the end of a long staff. Her eyes flew open, and reflex caused her to attempt to jump to her feet. The staff stopped her.
"What are you doing here?" A strong female voice demanded.
"We are travelers out of Rohan."
"We received no notice of travelers."
"Our journey was meant to be as secret and swift as was possible."
The staff moved and a hand appeared in front of her face. She took it and got to her feet. She was facing a young woman, one who had seen as many winters as she had herself. She was tall, and she carried with her a sword and shield, though neither were raised. She wore a mailshirt underneath a think over-tunic bearing the White Tree of Gondor. Underneath her skirts, Usagi could see the toes of thick boots. The girl had reddish brown hair pinned up away from her face in a long tail. Her eyes were a startling shade of green. Usagi couldn't help but think that she had seen her somewhere before.
"What is your destination, if you be travelers?"
"I go to visit my kin in Ithilien. We are on a mission, and I had hoped that she may help
us." Usagi told her. The girl raised an eyebrow.
"What are your names? Who is your kin?"
"My name is Usagi. My companions are Ami and Hotaru of the.."
"The Shire. Yes, we know of Hobbits here in Gondor. Answer my second question."
"My kin are the Lady Eowyn and her daughter Minako." A look of recognition passed
through the girl's eyes.
"Usagi of Rohan? Daughter of Eomer-King? Why did you not say? Your cousin if my lady-liege, and she tells me many stories of you! I am called Makoto, Captain of my lady's guard. Come with me, I shall take you to her dwelling in Ithilien." She cried happily, then heading off into the forest. Usagi looked at Ami and shrugged her shoulders before following. It took a few steps to catch up to the taller girl, as her strides were much longer.
"You are a soldier of Gondor?" Usagi asked when she did catch up. Makoto's face grimaced, but her eyes remained proud.
"If I were not a daughter of the guard, I would not be. Women are not highly thought of as soldiers. But the Lady Eowyn is working on correcting that particular problem. Already, more women of Gondor are more skilled with the sword than in times past, even if they are not soldiers."
Usagi nodded slowly,
"Even those unskilled with a blade can still die upon them." She said, sagely. Makoto glanced at her.
"Yes. Lady Eowyn said something similar to me once."
"There is a similar situation in my homeland. We have many sheildmaidens, but they are considerably fewer in number than the Riders of Rohan." Makoto narrowed her eyes.
"The men-folk just do not understand that we can fight as well as any of them. And that we have just as much reason to do so."
"Times of peace erase the need for soldiers, not just women-folk." Ami mused quietly.
"Do you fight, Ami of Rohan?" Makoto asked. Ami frowned at her.
"I am a scholar. I will only draw sword if I have need to, and no other recourse exists." She said, quietly, but fiercely. Makoto nodded.
"Not all soldiers are those skilled with blades." She murmured. "My mother was a scholar. One of the strongest women ever to live."
They continued of in silence for a time, following Makoto's lead through the forest. It was not long before her long strides led them to a large village, established in the forest itself.
"Welcome to Ithilien. Home to the Steward of Gondor and my lady-liege."
The three visitors stared around them in awe. The forest had been beautiful, but somehow this village was even more so. It had been crafted with great care, and with great skill. The people living there loved their Lord it seemed. A gentle nudge from Makoto broke Usagi from her spell.
"What do you think, Lady of Rohan? Is it not a fair place?"
"Indeed, it is. I have seen no fairer in my years." Usagi answered. Makoto smiled.
"Come, it is early yet. My lady-liege and the Lady Eowyn will be practicing in the courtyard."
Minako leveled her sword at shoulder height once again, coming out of the intense set of movements. It was a new set, one that she had learned only recently. It was complicated, but it was getting easier with practice. It was better when she had a sparring partner, but her mother had ended her morning session earlier when her maid had appeared and mentioned a visitor. Minako decided not to bother, as visitors seldom concerned her. She started her set again, this time moving with slightly greater speed. She was so focused on her exercise that she did not hear the four girls enter the courtyard, at least, not until Usagi spoke.
"Still fighting away the invisible demons, Minako? I thought you had grown out of that long ago."
She whirled around and brought her sword down in a sweeping arc. Usagi had her own blade out of its scabbard and blocking in a split second. Sparks rose a foot in the air with the blades hit, and the other three jumped backwards in shock. Minako smiled and struck again.
"And greetings to you too, dearest cousin." Usagi parried the second blow and sliced one of her own. Ami and Hotaru backed themselves against a wall when they moved past, narrowly avoiding being knocked over.
"Been keeping well?" Usagi asked.
"Well enough. How was your journey?"
"Long, rewarding, if uneventful." The swords clashed between their bodies and sparked again. They stared at each other through their swords. Blue eyes met blue. They resembled mirror images of each other, both fair haired and skilled with their swords. They were performing the same set. Were it not for the deadliness that a mistake carried, they looked like they could have been dancing. They broke apart after a moment, and leveled their swords at their shoulders once again. Then their faces broke into smiles. Swords fell and the girls embraced.
"Usagi of Rohan it has been far too many years. You do not visit as often as we would like."
"The same could be said of you, Minako of Gondor. When was the last time you made the journey to Edoras?" Minako laughed.
"We are both guilty of the same sins, cousin. Come, mother will want to see you."
Minako made to re-enter the manor, but she paused after a couple of steps and turned back.
"I must apologize, I have been so caught up in this reunion that I have forgotten proper introductions." She directed her attention to Usagi's companions. "I am Minako of Gondor, daughter of the Steward. You have probably guessed that I am Usagi's cousin."
Ami smiled at her.
"I am Ami of Rohan. I have been a companion of the Lady Usagi's since we were both very small."
"I am Hotaru Brandybuck. I come from the land of the Halflings, the Shire." Hotaru told her proudly.
"Indeed?" Minako exclaimed. "My mother and father have told me many stories of the bravery of Halflings. I never imagined that I would meet one myself. The name Brandybuck is familiar to me, are you kin to Meriadoc Brandybuck?" She chattered.
"He is my father, my lady."
"Indeed? This is most fortunate. My mother was very fond of Meridoc. She would be glad to meet with his daughter."
"Meet with whose daughter?" A new voice demanded. They swiveled around towards the archway leading to the main house. The Lady Eowyn was standing in the center of it. Time had not changed her much, she was still as fit and agile as she had been twenty years earlier. Her face broke into a smile when she laid eyes on Usagi.
"Why, my brother daughter, were it not for your resemblance to my own Minako I would hardly recognize you." She exclaimed, holding her arms open to Usagi. She went to the older woman and embraced her.
"It is good to see you. I should have made this journey sooner."
Eowyn smiled at her.
"Indeed you should have. But no matter, we will talk more, but later. Now, who are your companions, as the Lady of Ithilien, I must greet them properly."
Usagi smiled.
"This is Ami of Rohan. She is a scholar, and has been a trusted friend for many years. And this is Hotaru Brandybuck from the Halfling's Shire."
Eowyn's faced changed to wonder and awe as she gazed at Hotaru.
"Brandybuck? You are Merry's daughter." She smiled at the hobbit. "I knew your father in time's past. Is he well?"
"When I last saw him, my lady, he was quite well. He speaks of you often my lady, and if it is not too bold to say, you are more impressive in person than in any story." Hotaru said, smiling wide. Eowyn laughed.
"I will take that as a most gratifying compliment young Brandybuck. But I am not so impressive now as I was when your father knew me."
"Mother you do yourself too little justice. You are magnificent."
"You are supposed to say that. You are my daughter after all. But none of this matters. I have received another visitor on this day, and with Faramir away, I must assume the responsibility of something quite serious. We have much to discuss. You must join us as well Makoto, your skill will be required." Eowyn commanded. Makoto protested.
"But my lady, I have left my unit guarding the perimeter of the forest. I must return to them."
"You are needed here. I will send your brother to command them until your return."
Eowyn led them swiftly from the courtyard, through the manor house without pause, and into a small study where a dark figure was standing in a corner.
Usagi and her companions had seen the figure before.
"Setsune the Silver!"