Chapter 3:
"Lindsey, have you seen Kaitlyn?"
Lindsey, looked up from where she sat, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun and taking in the figure that stood on the step above her. Bethany was wringing her hands impatiently and glancing every which way, searching the city steadily for her friend. The colors of the dieing sun played shadows in her shoulder length auburn hair, the wind typical of Rohan blowing it and her dress in every direction. She obviously had something to talk about. With one hand Lindsey brushed her pink tinted blonde hair out of her face and with the other pulled Bethany down to sit next to her.
"I haven't." she admitted. "I think we all needed to be alone for awhile today."
"Ya," Bethany thought about her time in the Golden Hall and shuddered, it was much warmer out here, and with Lindsey. "I was kinda worried about her though, she was pretty upset, and what are best friends for if not talking." Lindsey smiled and put her chin in her hand.
"I feel like, well, we have to do something."
Bethany nodded in agreement. "Maybe if we ask Theoden for a couple horses we can double up and ride to Gondor tomorrow. I mean, that's where the action is right?"
Lindsey looked expectantly in the direction of the closest beacon of Gondor. "Soon there's gonna be quite enough action to go around me thinks."
Bethany nodded, "I just don't want Kaitlyn thinking we don't care, or understand about her current emotional dilemma, it's crazy if you ask me, he is after all just a character."
"Not here he isn't, and not to her." Lindsey smiled at an approaching stable hand and raised her eyebrow as he came to stand directly in front of the two, apparently her heaving bosom had paid off.
"Umm – Beth-any?" he stuttered over the unfamiliar name. Lindsey shook her head, disappointed but indifferent and pointed with her thumb at Bethany sitting beside her. The boy held out a piece of paper and Bethany took it curiously.
"What's this?" she asked
"A letter Miss," The boy shifted his feet and flashed a quick glance down Lindsey's shirt. She saw him, and glared her most piercing stare; after all, she did have a boyfriend. "Your friend bid me deliver it to you, before she went for a ride." Bethany and Lindsey both looked at each other as a sudden thought donned on them.
"A - ride?" Lindsey asked, Bethany echoing her words with her pleading eyes. The boy looked nervous and nodded.
"She left from stable yonder, when the sun was above." He pointed at the twelve o'clock position above their heads. Bethany glanced anxiously at the sinking sun in the western sky. Leaping to her feet in a blur of red fabric, she dashed towards the high vantage point above the walls surrounding Edoras, gliding up the stair way and huffing onto the platform. Grasping the railing in front of her Bethany stared out over the empty plains of Rohan, even when Lindsey placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder she could not tear her eyes away from the sinking horizon, could not move from her silent vigil, not when her stomach was so full of lead. Eventually Lindsey managed to pry the still un-read letter out of her hand and open it carefully. When she did her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened slightly.
"Bethany, this" she waved the letter in front of Bethany's face, drawing her back to the present. "Is from Carolyn!"
Carolyn was dammed pleased with herself. She had never done anything quite so take-charge before, more or less an even keel sort of person, this was her first experience as a run away. Certainly she would have been allowed to go to Gondor on her own accord, surely, it would have been far less complicated if she had simply requested a horse, and talked it all out, but then her friends would have wanted to come along. It was not that she didn't want her friends around, she very much wanted their support, not to mention she felt responsible for keeping an eye on them in what she considered to be her own world. However, Gondor was about to become under siege, it was not even a guarantee she would make it there before the siege began, she didn't even know the way. This made Carolyn gulp nervously. She had not thought about that before. She could get lost. Clutching the horses reigns (she had acquired the horse quite quickly from an eager stable hand) she glanced back in the direction she had come. No! Snapping her eyes back to the front she silently berated herself. There will be no looking back now Carolyn! No looking back.
Shaking her head she continued to muse over these things, and was far too engrossed within her own mind to tell that she was about to round a corner, a perfect spot to be ambushed. A spot Gandalf had purposely avoided for that reason. It was around this corner that the hooded figure lurked, waited, watched.
"Carolyn?" Bethany could not stop the shock from edging into her voice. Why hadn't she thought of this first? Perhaps the fact that it was delivered especially to her, or the knowledge that Kaitlyn was unhappy, were those the reasons she had thought her best friend would abandon her? despite herself she felt a surge of relief, though her worry for Carolyn could not be denied. Lindsey shoved the letter into Bethany's hands and she took it, shaking visibly.
Well, what can I say to you guys? I wish you were coming with me? That about covers it. I know that you will find your own battles to fight, lessons to learn, I already know what it is that I must find. If the stars are smiling, and oh Arda, let them smile, I will find my answers in Gondor. Forgive me, and please, never forget.
Namarie, and rest you gentle
Carolyn
"She- left?"
"Looks that way hun." Lindsey put a hand on Bethany's shoulder. "We have to find Kaitlyn." Bethany could only nod, yes, find Kaitlyn. "I don't know how she'll take this. But if I know anything I would say that Carolyn is in some deep trouble. Theoden will want to know where his horse has gone, and why no doubt. Merry will want to know as well I should think, poor hobbit, probably will wish he had thought of it first. Bethany? Are you listening?"
She wasn't. Because the groom was running towards them red in the face and puffing, waving another piece of paper. When he got close enough that they could understand the words pouring from his lips in a jumbled fashion, Bethany felt her heart slip back into her shoes.
"There's two horses missing! TWO! And they found this in one of their stalls, I'm guessing your friend had something to do with this, my master will be furious! TWO horses MISSING!" Lindsey snatched the paper and held it in front of her so that Bethany could read over her shoulder.
Cant stay, have to find what I'm here for.
Kaitlyn
"Damn it!" Bethany swore and stomped back to her vigil on at the wall edge. Things were worse than she had expected, not only had her best friend ran off with Carolyn, but this meant that Lindsey and herself were left without the two greatest Tolkienites in a virtually alien world. Deciding that she could take care of the emotional implications of this later, Bethany took charge now of her fears and pains. She would go to the king, explain the situation, and if nothing else, ask for his forgiveness, and his advice.
Lindsey sat cross-legged on top of a table in the golden hall. She had her face in her hand and her pink-blonde hair fell in ragged waves around her cheeks and in front of her eyes. Through this veil, she watched the slow proceedings. Bethany was standing in front of Theoden, slumped in his thrown deep in thought. He had not taken well to the news of his missing horses, or the missing girls. Unsure as to whether or not these girls, who had practically been put in his charge by the old wizard before his departure, could be trusted.
"I believe they can be Theoden, though with how much, I can not say. My advice is to keep them near to you, keep them informed to whatever extent you please, and to listen when they speak."
Well, he was listening, and what he heard was not quite to his liking.
Lindsey had decided the moment she realized that her friends were gone, that it was her job to take care of Bethany, (Bethany would certainly have believed the opposite) and above all, that they were in charge of Rohan. Carolyn and Kaitlyn could have Gondor If they so decided, Lindsey already realized she could do nothing to help them, it was her belief that to live in the moment, it meant to take advantage of where you are at the present. And now, she was in Rohan.
"I believe," Theoden was saying in a slow thoughtful manner, "we will be at war before the week is out. Gandalf expects that, if Gondors beacons are lit, we will ride out."
"And will we?" Bethany wondered sheepishly, her tone bringing a smile to Théoden's wizened features.
"Now that," he decided, leaning back in his throne and scratching his chin, "truly is the question."
"Not to be or not to be?" Lindsey wondered allowed, without realizing it, and before she could stop herself. Bethany smiled, her tension eased, and the puzzled Theoden chalked it off to an inside joke of some kind.
"We have enough troubles of our own in Rohan," the King continued, "There is little time to worry over Gondor. Besides, where were they when we needed them? They say they are our allies! Pah!" Lindsey rolled her eyes in Bethany's direction and mimed the old king with her hand. Bla, bla, bla, was all she was hearing.
It was that moment in which Aragorn chose to appear, standing as an outline in the doorway of the great hall for a moment before moseying up behind the girls. He dropped a heavy hand onto Lindsey's shoulder causing her to jump violently with surprise. She smiled at him and motioned in Théoden's direction, once again miming the king with an expression of supreme sarcasm. Apparently, Aragorn did not understand the joke, raising an eyebrow and shaking his head before addressing the king, who still sat fuming in his high seat.
"I believe that there is very little that would keep Gondor from joining Rohan at Helms deep, the only explanation I can give is that they were unable to do so. Perhaps it is that their captain Faramir was delayed or occupied, I have heard tell that Osgiliath has been under siege once again."
"Or perhaps he deemed unfit to help us. We all here know you would defend Gondor." Theoden snapped back, before once again falling into his thoughtful stupor. Aragorn sighed and took a seat between the two girls. Bethany felt her cheeks begin to burn.
"I admit, my ties with Gondor may cloud my judgment in an aspect, however, my opinion is founded outside my allegiance, why would Gondor wish to weaken its ties with the greatest of its allies in its time of need?" Theoden seemed to take heart in this deduction, nodding and even smiling a little.
"I suppose your correct." He reasoned before falling back into the depressed spiral, "Though rumor has reached me of Denethor's decline." Aragorn raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, instead choosing to pull out his pipe. He did not light it, not particularly feeling inclined to smoke at the present, instead, he rolled it between his fingers and stared intently at the carvings around the bowl.
"I believe," Bethany started after an interminable silence, "That though Denethor may well not be in his right mind," she was choosing her words carefully, speaking slowly, "it is your duty, as a king, and an honor bound man, to act in Gondors defense, if not for Denethor, than for yourself. If Gondor falls, it will be Rohan that is next."
At that moment, Eowyn came through the small doors to the left. Back strait, head high, looking down her nose at the small party assembled. At her appearance, Bethany fell silent and looked away out of a mixed feeling of distaste and indecision. The rest of the room was riveted. Théoden's craggy face broke into a smile and he held out his arms to her, she came quickly to the feet of his thrown and knelt at his side, taking one of his wrinkled hands and smiling up at him, very different from the woman who had entered the room a moment ago; she was a child once more. Her mask lifted.
"I have heard speak of this dilemma with Gondor."
"We have just been discussing it." Theoden motioned to the rooms other occupants. Eowyn's eyes hovered over them as though she was seeing them for the first time, her gaze riveted by Aragorn, until she wrenched her eyes away and turned back to her uncle.
"Will we ride if they call?" she asked distractedly. Theoden shook his head and closed his eyes.
"There will be no more speak of this," he decided finally. "That bridge will be crossed in time, at present, I would rather think of our own defense. Where is your brother?" Eowyn seemed disappointed, she let go of his hand and stood, once more the proud shield maiden of Rohan.
"I am not my brother's keeper." She snapped irritably, "he's probably tending that pony of his."
"Hush! If he heard you speak such concerning Firefoot, he would have your hair."
"And freely would I give it," Eowyn's mood changed again, her voice dropping and her eyes clouding. She said no more, leaving quickly and without goodbyes. Theoden frowned and shrugged his shoulders apologetically.
"Forgive my niece; she has had a rough time of my . . . temporary absence. For long, she has had to rely on herself, and with no friend to comfort her."
"You need not make excuses for the lady," Aragorn mused, "I believe she speaks solely for herself."
The glade was empty at first glance, bare and cold just as the rest of the journey had been. She had been riding strait for what now, 12 hours? 5? 2? It was hard to tell. Carolyn glanced up at the sky, but the trees blocked her view of the sun and she turned her attention back to the upcoming bend. Empty, bare, cold. And then, a figure materialized from the growing darkness, and Carolyn felt her heart jump into her throat at strangely haunting sight.
"Carolyn?" her name floated towards her from out of the gloom and for one long moment she thought that the devil had come for her, calling to her by name from the depths of the green riding cloak, but then the voice registered in her memory and she jumped in the saddle.
"Kaitlyn?" The two girls were off their horses in an instant and in each other's arms in a wild fervor of an embrace. Questions were flung between them without any answers being given.
"What are you doing here?"
"What are YOU doing here?"
"When did you leave?
"Why didn't you say anything to me?"
It went on like that for some time before the girls decided they did not have much choice but to carry on together. Asking what questions they wanted while they moved. Mounting once more, they carried on.
"If I remember correctly," Carolyn was musing aloud, once all the questions had been asked and their minds had returned to the immediate dilemma. "It took four days for Gandalf to reach Minis Tirith, and that was atop Shadowfax after all."
"So what you're saying is that we can look forward to an eight day ride, at least." Kaitlyn was visibly deflated. Neither girls were particularly athletic, the constant movement and worry was beginning to take its toll on both of them.
"Something like that." Carolyn nodded, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She glanced over to Kaitlyn, slumped in the saddle and musing over her increasingly dark thoughts.
"We'll make it Frodolyn." She said softly, using Kaitlyn's parody name to give her heart. "Just keep your face turned towards the white city, I promise, we'll get there."
Kaitlyn smiled a little, but under her breath she muttered, "if we're going in the right direction."
6
