Hebo Estel

Chapter Nine: Traveling

A/N: Hey everyone! I was a little disapointed, because I didn't even get one review last chapter! Let's try a little harder this time around, shall we?As ever, much thanks to LothirielofRohan, who continues to remain my faithful and helpful beta!

When the three sisters had finished their tale, Beregond stared at them in surprise. "You are in love with Lord Boromir? And now you want me to help you out of the city?"

Delyth nodded anxiously.

Beregond studied her for a moment, and then grinned. "I would never deny love, especially the love between my Lord and my betrothed's sister. Follow me."

All three sisters squealed with delight. They gathered their food and water in their arms again and scurried after Beregond, who was already almost around the corner.

They wound their way out of the Citadel again past the white tree to the gates. "Let me do the talking, alright, ladies?" Beregond bade them to wait while he stepped forward.

"Who goes there?" called an unseen guard.

"Beregond, Guard of the Citadel," Beregond called back.

"Beregond?" the guard said, a little less formally. "Why are you out so late, and with women?"

"This I cannot tell you now, friend," Beregond responded calmly. "Perhaps someday you will know, and will be commended for helping us now. But right now, we must get to the sixth level. Will you please let us pass?"

There was a slight hesitation, during which all three sisters held their breath. Finally, the guard said, "Certainly," and the gates slowly opened.

Once through the gates, they had to only walk a little ways before reaching the royal stables. Beregond spoke to two stable hands, who immediately began to prepare Mirror, Vanui, and a horse the three sisters didn't recognize. "Wait here, I must go do something, but I will be back shortly," Beregond ordered.

After he had gone, Dera asked, "Which horse am I taking?"

Eirien and Delyth looked at each other. "We only have two horses. We weren't planning on you coming with, Dera."

Dera pouted. "But I am coming with you, Delyth. Two of us will have to ride on one horse."

Delyth thought for a moment, and then said, "Dera, you will ride with me on Vanui, and you will put your pack on Eirien's horse. We will also put the food on Mirror, and I will keep my things on Vanui. This way, things will be generally even." The other two sisters nodded, agreeing with the arrangement.

As they prepared their horses, with the help of two groggy stable hands, Delyth thought of her father, and of their earlier conversation. "Eirien, we've established how I'll be able to leave without getting our father in trouble, but how, may I ask, will he explain your absence to the Steward, and who will serve the Steward's meals?"

Eirien smiled. "Father and I have planned it all out. While you were sleeping, he and I discussed everything. After he tells the Steward that he disowns you, he will mention that I left at dawn to stay with our cousins on the fifth level. I suppose that once he notices Dera has also left, he will tell the Steward that she has come along with me. Later, he will tell the Steward that you have disappeared, and that will be that. As for who will serve the meals, Dwyn and Eira are young, but they have watched us serve, and they will do fine. I'm sure little Eiriol will help out too, if she can. They'll have to take turns watching the boys."

Delyth nodded, this information calming her. "I am glad that he knows I have left. I would not feel comfortable leaving without him knowing. Thank you, Eirien, for everything."

Dera cursed as she fumbled with the buckles and knots in the darkness, and both of her older sisters scolded her. Then, as they were near finishing, Beregond returned, carrying his weapons and a sack. "I will be accompanying you, ladies. I cannot very well just let you three go out on your own; no matter how accomplished you are with warfare. You need a man with you. I will not hear otherwise." He said firmly, preparing his own horse, a beautiful chocolate brown stallion. Eirien grinned, Dera rolled her eyes, and Delyth just shrugged. It did not matter to her who came with them; she only wanted to catch up with Boromir and tell him she loved him.

They had to move some of the baggage around, because Eirien was going to ride with Beregond, Dera was still going to ride Vanui, and Delyth was going to ride Mirror.

Thanks to Beregond, they had little trouble getting out of Minas Tirith, and it felt wonderful to finally be out galloping across the fields of Pelennor. After riding in the darkness for about three hours, the sky began to turn grey, and then pink. The small group stopped to rest and figure out their plan, something they had not already done.

Delyth gave everyone a handful of grapes, and then sat down to join them on the ground. Eirien was sitting rather close to Beregond, and he was watching her, breathless and speechless. Eirien pretended not to notice, but her flushed cheeks gave her away. Dera rolled her eyes at Delyth. "I hope you and Boromir aren't like that," she said, gesturing her head at Beregond and Eirien while popping a grape into her mouth.

"Worse," Delyth chuckled. She stopped suddenly, as she felt a wave of sadness flow through her. She missed Boromir terribly, and could only hope to catch up with him soon. She ignored the odd look she received from Dera, and said, "Beregond, how will we find Boromir? Forgive me, but I do not know where Rivendell is."

Beregond snapped his gaze away from Eirien to stare at Delyth. Finally, regaining his composure, he said, "Well, I think I have an idea. I was lucky enough to be with Faramir when he and Boromir discussed his route to Rivendell. He was going to travel along the Great West Road until he reached Edoras, where he would stay and talk with Theodred about the best way to get to Rivendell. I think that we should follow the road, also, as we would be less likely to get ambushed by orcs on a road than out in the middle of nowhere."

The three sisters nodded in agreement, and then lay down to sleep awhile before sunrise, while Beregond, the stoic guard, kept watch.

Delyth woke up by herself, and saw that Dera was asleep. When she rolled over, however, she noticed that Eirien was gone. Getting up and looking around, she realized that Beregond was absent, too. Delyth smiled to herself. She was glad that her older sister had found love, because it was she who deserved love the most. Eirien was the one who had taken care of them all when their father suffered from grief. Eirien knew the best ways to keep the twins under control, and worked the hardest and the longest out of all of the sisters. Delyth looked up to Eirien, and hoped that one day she would learn to be as loving and caring as her older sister was.

She began to prepare the horses for a long ride, and saw to it that they were sufficiently fed and watered. She squinted in the sunlight and saw that it would be a beautiful, clear day; perfect for riding. She looked on ahead to the road that they would be taking, and thought it looked peaceful enough.

There was rustling in the trees on her left, and Eirien and Beregond burst out, holding hands and grinning happily.

Delyth laughed out loud; the couple's happiness was contagious. "And what have you two been up to?" she asked, stroking Vanui's nose gently.

Eirien immediately blushed, and Beregond coughed. "We've been, uh… planning our wedding," said Eirien shyly.

"More like you've been planning your wedding night." Delyth muttered under her breath. No one heard her.

Eirien went over to wake Dera, and everyone prepared to leave. It wasn't long before they were on the road again passing through the Druadan forest. They kept their eyes constantly on the road ahead of them, always ready for an ambush.

The road was long, and there was no interesting scenery to look at. On the left side of the road, mountains loomed not very far off, and the right side of the road there were plains and fields for miles and miles.

After several days of traveling, the three sisters were getting tired and irritable. They weren't used to traveling so long and so far, and neither were Mirror or Vanui. Delyth grew quiet and began to anxiously scan the horizon, searching for Boromir's figure.

"Beregond," Delyth began, pulling her horse into a slow walk next to the horse both Eirien and Beregond were riding, "why haven't we seen Boromir yet? We've been traveling for almost a week, and still the only signs we've had are old fires and campsites."

Beregond looked out at the road ahead of him, and answered, "Boromir has many advantages on us. For one thing, he started out several hours before us. Another thing, he's sure to have traveled this road before. Also, he is traveling on his own, so he can go at his own pace, which must be very fast. I think it would be safe to assume that we won't meet up with him until we reach Edoras."

Delyth gave a very frustrated groan, and Eirien asked, "Well, how long do you think it'll take to get to Edoras?"

Beregond thought for a moment, calculating in his head. "I think we should be there sometime late next week, if we keep up this pace."

"In that case," Delyth said, urging her horse into a trot, "we should ride faster and longer, and take less breaks!"

Beregond laughed and began to trot as well, with Dera following suit.

When they had been traveling for more than a week, the road led them through the middle of a small forest. "This is the Firien Wood," Beregond announced as they entered it in single file. "When we reach the other side, we will be within the borders of Rohan. Then it should be about four days until we reach Edoras, if we continue at this pace."

"That's good news," said Dera happily. "I am very sore, and tired, and all I wish for is a bed and some decent food!"

Delyth laughed at her younger sister. "You were the one who insisted on coming with us, little one! No one forced you!"

Dera's mood suddenly changed from happiness to anger as she shouted back, "I told you not to call me 'little one!' You know I hate it when you do! Stop treating me like a little girl!"

Beregond whipped around at Dera and hissed, "Keep your voice down, O wise one! You never know who's around to hear you!"

Dera looked instantly guilty and hung her head. Delyth smiled to herself. Suddenly, Beregond stopped his horse, causing Mirror and Vanui to almost crash into him.

"What is the problem, Beregond?" Eirien asked. "Do you hear something?"

Beregond nodded, his face white. "Orcs," he whispered.

A/N: Please, please review!