Chapter 5-Windrider and Firefoot

Windrider neighed into her hands and munched happily on the carrots her master gave her. Windrider adored her master. She fed her, she talked to her in elvish tongues and she was beautiful beyond any other lady Windrider had ever seen. She pet her, now, in the lovely stable of Minas Tirith. It was one of the only places where wood could be found in the city. Windrider had been sent there immediately and her master promised she would visit as soon as possible. A whole day passed before her master came to her but she forgave the young woman. She knew she was a very busy person.

She purred into Windrider's ear as she brushed her hair with a costly horse brush. Windrider could tell her master was pampering her for her accidental neglect. A sound came from the door and her master turned around to see a young muscular man who had a grace like a steed. Windrider found his blonde hair and proud features very attractive and she could tell her master did as well.

"Hello, Princess." Her master snapped up like she was scared but at the smirk of the young man she simply smiled back.

"Hello, King."

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"Funny, I expected you to be the first in line."

"I was detained by my sister. She wanted me to approve the seating chart for the celebration." He laughed and rolled his eyes. "Is that your horse, my lady?"

Her master looked at her as did the handsome man and Windrider neighed with delight. "Yes, her name is Windrider. She is a very good horse. We grew up together. I fear she is getting restless, though." At this Lothiriel rubbed Windrider's nose as the horse knew not what they spoke. "She is used to wide open fields and miles of sea. We do not even have stables in Dol Amroth. We let the horses run where they will and often that is near the ocean. Windrider loves the sea."

"Our people are known for their care of their horses. It is one of the main reasons we won at Helm's Deep and, honestly, at these gates as well."

"Oh, do not misunderstand me. I speak no offense to containing animals. Often keeping horses inside protects them, it's just in Dol Amroth we have so many open fields of protected land that they can roam free and still be safe. Believe me, we do not compare to your country's horse raising. Though, my father says you traded some horses with him after the war was over."

"Yes, we wanted to work some cross breeding. Your people are quite good at horse raising, actually, and we had a large number of males while your country had a large number of females. It was an obvious trade."

"Well, I do not know much about horse raising. But I certainly love the animal." Windrider neighed again as her master stroked her ears and whispered to her.

"I can tell, my lady. You are quite good with your friend."

"It doesn't take much, she is a gentle creature. She doesn't have a war like bone in her body. She actually reminds me of myself."

"Oh? How so?"

"She is proud and strong willed, but she dislikes fighting for her pride. She will defend herself if she must, but she never goes looking for trouble."

Éomer furrowed his brows at how mistaken her idea of war was. "My lady, no one goes looking for trouble. Every move we make is defense. And those who don't take up swords can still die upon them. That is why I fight. I fight for those who cannot themselves. I would rather die than live knowing I could have done more."

Lothiriel could feel her heart beating faster as Windrider nudged her in the back asking for more carrots. "Perhaps I was mistaken." She turned away from him as she could feel her cheeks getting warm and her heart pounding. He was like no one she had met before, and she admired him like a brother. Something in her heart, however, told her that brotherly love wasn't all that was there.

"I'm sorry, my lady, if I offended you. I would never purposely upset you."

"No, you spoke true," she said still turned away from him as she tried to calm her nerves. A moment passed where neither knew what to say and then Lothiriel turned around swiftly. "Would you like to go for a ride? I hear there is a stream near here and I know us ladies would love to hear the trickling of a spring."

Éomer was surprised by her suggestion, but he smiled widely and put out his hand to help her into her saddle, "Let's."

Surprising Éomer even more, Lothiriel flipped into the saddle of her lovely gray horse with no help from his offered hand. He just smirked and went to the stall where his own horse stood pacing with anticipation.

Windrider was in love. Firefoot was a proud strong steed that looked at everything with a caring eye. She couldn't believe that such a handsome man could have such a desirable horse mate. The two masters seemed to be preoccupied, but as Windrider nudged Firefoot with her nose the masters noticed.

"They seem to like each other," Éomer said with a laugh. It was a very proud laugh. He was very attached to his horse friend. They looked like one person together.

"She hasn't kept her eyes off him," Lothiriel said. She couldn't help but look at Éomer when she said it. He caught her eye and after a moment smiled sweetly to her.

"Is there anything unpleasant about you?" he asked very boldly. She wasn't used to such dry questioning, but she liked the way it made her uneasy.

"I don't know what you mean, my Lord."

"You ride like a horse itself, laugh like an angel, and speak as intelligently as any man I've ever met."

"Is that all a lady is to be, sir?"

"I didn't even get to how beautiful you are, lady." She blushed furiously but she couldn't keep the smile from her lips. She had been taught not to show appreciation of compliments of that kind but it was not her choice. She felt her body throwing caution to the wind when she was around this man.

"And so you would tell me that in the short amount of time you have known me you have found favor? You flatter me, sir."

"I may not know you very well, but I can say that you would make any man happy."

"If you jest you are quite cruel, for I find myself more and more often believing everything that you say."

"Then you are wise indeed," he said with a laugh. She rolled her eyes and brought her horse to a gallop.

The rest of the afternoon they spent at the stream sitting and talking while their horses made acquaintance with one another and fell in love. It was not long, though, before their bellies started to rumble as they went off to lunch.

A/N: Review...please. lol