Chapter 2: A Journey Begins
Dwedain, a black and brown horse carried two riders across the plains of Rohan.
"Your horse is fast," Alem noted, "surely he is from here?"
Alem was beautiful. Her long blonde hair was cut delicately and made her sharp face even more pretty. She had green eyes, pretty features, and a slim body. Although her frame was that of a shield maiden she was also slightly muscular, this was most likely from training of a blade.
"But where else." Paused Barradir, he added, "Milady"
Alem took Barradir for what he was a silver-tongued rogue, but he was wise, handsome, and talented at many things, for this she liked him. In fact he was growing on her, she was beginning to like him more and more by the minute. The events of last night seemed like a dream, after freeing her Barradir had piled the corpses and lit them ablaze. He then got her on the horse and mounted after her.
In Barradir's mind Alem was the fairest woman he had ever laid eyes on. This was saying a lot considering all the traveling he had done. He had not known who he was saving or even that there had been a captive, until he had freed her. He was ever grateful that the Uruk's had captured her though, for had they not he would not have a new companion and beautiful one at that.
"Are you hungry fair one," Barradir grinned.
"Famished," Alem answered.
"Well I must not have a shield maiden hungry," he joked playfully.
Barradir stopped Dwedain and dismounted, he helped Alem off though she needed little help being a person of Rohan. He moved quickly over to a boulder, stopped turned and smiled at her, he then pushed at the boulder. His muscular frame staggered under the weight, finally he was the victor and the rock budged then rolled. He had found what he wanted underneath; some herbs and mushrooms which he gathered with his knife blade.
He pulled a copper pot off his horse and carried it to a small trickling brook. He filled the pot put the plants in it and laid it down.
"Now for a fire," he grinned, "you will find some tin bowls in my travel pack, care to grab them, Milady?"
"You think me helpless?" she added in mock despair.
Alem shoved Barradir playfully away from the fireplace and began making the fire herself.
"You are as smart as you are pretty," Barradir stated with a thin smile.
"You keep that up and I might think you fancy me," she flashed back.
Later that night, a joyful fire cackled and Alem and Barradir started joking and kidding together again. They each held a steaming bowl of soup and the whole feeling warmed them right to the bones. Dwedain had been fed soup and slept noislessly in the background,
"Where are you taking me, my hero?" asked Alem with a grin.
"Where else but too Edoras," Barradir spoke, "Unless you have something else in mind?"
"Of course," she spoke quietly, "I cannot go there, I was banished." A tear trickled down her face.
"Banished?" Barradir spoke astounded.
"Yes, along with Eomer and the Riders of Rohan," Alem finished, "Ever since the Uruk Hai began marching around with the white hand painted on them, Theoden has been poisoned by Saruman and Grima Wormtongue, he is little more than their servant." She shook, more tears coursed down her face.
"Then we must hurry," Barradir pulled her close and hugged her, stroking her hair, "what of Theodred?"
"H-h-h-he has fallen," she stammered more tears poured freely down her face, "and Theoden didn't even acknowledge it."
"So the heir has died, and the king corrupt," Barradir hissed, "this sounds like the work of Saruman." He pulled her into a tighter hug. He tried to stem the grief that flowed through her, as fresh as a new wound.
Author's note: Sorry this was uneventful, action will take place, but of course this story needs plot. Awaiting your reviews and I hoped you liked it.