"This one does not give a riddle," he said. "Instead it gives directions. It reads, 'Start on the side of the Golden City which is last to feel the morning sun's rays. Ride towards the Mountains of Shadow, steadily for six days without pause. When you reach the plains, turn north to the borders of the stone valley. Follow the banks of the Great River to the third bend. Cross the river to its opposite shore, and continue along the eastern shore. Ride for many days until you reach the ford at the crossing of the dirt path on which Elves have trodden. Turn westward on the road into the forest. After riding for two more days, turn north into the forest itself. Travel to the rock formation and speak the word…" Hwesta stopped, looking up at the girls. "The remainder is gone, I'm afraid."
Jnían turned to Andúin. "I hope it is enough, he said hopefully.
Andúin smiled with false faith, and then pulled out a hand drawn map. "I don't know where to even start," she admitted.
"Well," Jnían said, "It said the starting point is 'The Golden City.'" She thought for a moment. "Well, during the second War of the Ring, the city of Edoras in Rohan was still considered the Golden City. I think it lost the title in the raids in Rohan half a century ago."
"I don't know of anything else ever called that before," Andúin said to her. "I suppose Edoras will have to be it, then." She traced the path with her hand along the map. "I think this will take us into the Rhovanian."
Jnían looked up at her. "I've never been there before."
"Until this trip, I'd never been out of Gondor," Andúin admitted. "But I've heard stories."
"As have I," Jnían said. "But it's where we must go." They packed their bags and remounted their horses. "Let us go."
They rode hard several days until they reached Rohan. Andúin was relieved to be back on Alata, and with her leg feeling better, they were making excellent time. "Edoras is only four days away," Andúin said one morning as they put out the campfire.
"We don't have time enough," Jnían replied. "We need to cut that time. We shall take shorter breaks at night. Ride late, start early."
Later that same day, they reached the edges of Fanghorn, halting near where they had found Hwesta in what felt like such a long time ago. "Hwesta," Jnían started cautiously, "this is where we first saw you, or rather you found us. The rest of our journey will be hard, long, and full of peril. I understand if you wish to rejoin your people. I know you have a future." Jnían brushed a tear from her eye, and both girls awaited his solemn answer.
But it came not. "I know I joined this journey to become a member of our Council," Hwesta began, "But now that seems of little importance to me. What is a mere council, if the whole world is to fall? Did that council really help? No. A position is life is so small, so insignificant in the rest of the world. You are just one small person in thousands. There is so much more I can do here, with you two, and then I could ever do on a council. The matters they solve are small, and this is a matter of such a large importance. Who will remember me, saying yes or no to decide a mere small crisis? No one. Yet, if this task is successful, which I pray it does, I will be remembered always in tales, and my short time here will not be wasted. If I am to die tomorrow, I want to be doing something good for the whole world, and my short existence not to have been in vain. Life is too short to spend sitting down. I shall stay with you until the end."
"You have our eternal thanks," Andúin exclaimed.
"We should go," Jnían started, "We're already behind schedule." Jnían turned Amáteria and Andúin followed suite.
They began their new task with confidence, and headed towards Edoras. They rode fast all day without breaking. It was almost sunset when they reached their destination.
"It said where the sun touches last," Andúin thought aloud.
"We need to go to the west side of the city," Jnían chimed in.
"Because the sun rises in the east," Hwesta finished.
They rode swiftly to the west side of the city, and then halted. "What is next, Hwesta?" Andúin asked.
"We ride towards the mountains of shadow," he answered. Andúin pulled out the map once again, and seconds later they were heading west.
With the mountains in view the sped up, encouraged by knowing they were getting closer. Before they reached the vast plains, they turned right, heading north. The directions were remarkably accurate. It had taken exactly six days to reach the North Marshes. After that, about a day passed when they reached the Great River Andúin.
"I agree, your parents chose correctly in naming you after this extraordinary part of the earth," Jnían said, staring intently at the river.
"It's funny, I was named after it yet I haven't seen it until now. Ever since my mother died my father has been against just about anything having to do with me leaving Minas Tirith. 'You have everything you need right were you are' he'd say when I spoke of wanting to go on epic adventures like in the stories he would tell me." Andúin went silent, concentrating on her thoughts.
"We should stop for a bit and rest while the horses drink," Jnían suggested, dismounting.
Andúin, not answering, dismounted as well still looking at the river. Hwesta hopped off Amáteria, and ran to the water. He began to slide across the water. Any average person might have thought this odd, but Andúin and Jnían knew him too well for it to be anything but normal. He was at about the center when two arms emerged from beneath the surface and closed around Hwesta. What started as two arms turned into a man, and soon five. The one holding Hwesta pulled a dagger to his throat, and walked out of the water. Jnían slipped the map and directions into her left boot, unnoticed. Seconds later they were tied up, submitting because of Hwesta's compromising position.
"So where are you young ladies headed?" one of the men asked in a gruff voice.
"We go wherever the wind takes us," Andúin spat.