Hebo Estel
Chapter Ten: Rohan at Last
A/N: Ack! I am disapointed in you lot! Not one review last chapter, not one! Oh well, I wil continue to write, at least until even my beautiful beta is bored with it. Please review this time around, folks. It really means alot to me. What ever happened to Cindy, and EruntaleofRohan? Teehee. Please review this chapter, okay people? It will only take you a minute, I promise!
As ever, a buttload of thanks to LothirielofRohan for being my bright and helpful beta!
The trees were not very dense, but very little sun seeped through the branches. Delyth looked from side to side, squinting into the depths of darkness between the trees. They all went silent, and suddenly Delyth could hear the orcs, too. She heard the faint sound of branches cracking and figures moving. She heard low growls and hisses, and looked frantically in every direction. She couldn't tell where the orcs were coming from; it sounded like they were surrounding the small party.
Beregond hopped off his horse, and motioned for Delyth and Dera to do the same. Eirien remained mounted, holding her bow at the ready. She had always been the best archer. The other three Gondorians guided their horses quietly forward by the reins.
"What are we doing?" Dera asked impatiently. "Shouldn't we just fight them?"
Beregond looked very annoyed. "There is still a small chance that they don't know we're here. We should be quiet, and get as far as we can. It isn't very far from here to the edge of the wood, and if we can make it back out to the sunlight, it is likely that the orcs won't bother with following us. You should, nonetheless, be prepared to fight if they attack." Dera closed her mouth and nodded, gripping her sword tighter.
For the next fifteen minutes, they followed the Road through the forest, silently praying that they wouldn't be discovered. The horses seemed to sense what was happening, and grew quiet and were more careful of each step. All Delyth could think about was that if she was attacked and killed, Boromir would never know how much she loved him. She would never have a chance to see him again.
Suddenly, the sounds all around them grew louder and louder, until about a dozen orcs burst forth from the trees. "Hi! What're all you doin' in here?" asked a larger one, who seemed to be their leader.
Beregond put up his hands. "We are just passing through. We don't want any trouble."
The orcs began to cackle and laugh as if Beregond had just made a joke. "Don't want any trouble, eh? How about you leave those pretty little things with us, and then we'll let you go on your way?" the larger one sneered again. Several of the orcs laughed and licked their lips.
"I don't think so!" shouted Dera. Faster than lightning, she whipped out her bow and shot an advancing orc.
"Dera!" Eirien shouted, meaning to reprimand her younger sister. But suddenly, the forest was frenzied with fighting, and Eirien didn't have enough time to speak.
More orcs kept pouring out from the trees, and all Delyth focused on was the thought that she must get out alive. She slashed and stabbed at anything that came near her. Eirien stayed atop the horse, shooting at every orc she could. Beregond was decapitating orcs left and right, and Dera was brandishing her sword with unhuman determination. The fight only lasted for a little over twenty minutes, but when Delyth had wrenched her sword out of the last orc's gut, she was exhausted.
"I haven't practiced sword fighting for ages!" she sighed, sheathing her sword. "Everyone okay?"
"I've got a few cuts and bruises, but nothing serious.That was amazing!" Dera said happily, wiping the blood off her weapon.
"It was quite… interesting," Eirien agreed, smiling. She hopped off the horse and set about gathering any arrows that could still be of use.
"Shhh!" Beregond commanded, holding his hand out to silence them. All three sisters listened, and what they heard filled their hearts with dread.
Delyth strained her ears and could hear the sound of many orcs yelling and whooping. "There are more of them!" she whispered in disbelief.
Beregond nodded gravely. "We must get out of this forest immediately." He helped Eirien back onto the horse and mounted behind her, while Delyth and Dera each mounted their own horses. They raced through the forest, leaping over orc bodies when needed. At last, the end of the forest came into view.
Twice, an orc stepped out of the woods and stood in their path, but Eirien, who was riding in front, drew her bow and shot them dead where they stood. Finally, they broke free from the trees and trotted into the sunlight.
"We should cover a few more miles if we can before nightfall!" Beregond called back, his voice wafting on the wind. "We need to get as far away from here as possible!"
They rode on well past nightfall, none of them wanting to set up camp anywhere near the forest. At last, they decided that they were far away enough so that the orcs would not follow them. They rode about half a mile away from the Road, and set up their camp behind some trees so that they would not be easily seen. There was a tiny stream nearby, where they could water the horses and refill their canteens.
It was nearly midnight when the horses were fed, watered, and cleaned, and the three sisters were tired and sore. Wearily, they cleaned and bandaged their many cuts and scrapes. Well trained as the girls were, the orcs had still slashed them several times. At last, they collapsed on their bedrolls and slipped into a dreamless sleep.
They slept late the next morning, and when they woke, it was nearly noon. Beregond finally gave in and slept while the girls prepared to leave, as he had miraculously not slept all night. An hour later, they were ready to leave, and did so.
"We should reach Edoras in three days, because we made good time last night," Beregond informed them. As he spoke, a large party of horse riders appeared beside the road, far ahead of them. They were galloping at full speed. "Stay behind me, ladies," Beregond instructed Delyth and Dera as the horse riders approached them.
There were about two hundred men on horses, and they were all dressed in what Delyth recognized as Rohirric armor. She had seen many messengers arrive in Minas Tirith from Rohan in such garb, and had, in truth, served many of them their meals. The Rohirrim stopped abruptly not four yards away from the small group, and one man rode forward.
"Who rides in Rohan?" he called.
Beregond answered, "I am Beregond, son of Bereth, Guard of the Citadel in Minas Tirith. This is my betrothed, and two of her sisters. We seek Boromir, son of the Steward. Have you seen him?"
"Greetings, Beregond, son of Bereth. I am Theodred, son of King Theoden. You are welcome in these lands," said the man, his face breaking into a smile. "But I am afraid you have poor timing. Lord Boromir met up with us not two days ago, and I sent him with my cousin back to Edoras yester eve. My men and I are seeking a band of orcs that has been plaguing our people near the boarders of Rohan."
"We may have run into those very orcs, my lord. They attacked us yesterday in the Firien Wood. We fought them, and only barely escaped," Beregond said.
"We? You mean these women fought, also?" Theodred asked skeptically.
"Yes, we fought, and we fought well, lord," Dera responded, ignoring the hissed objections from both of her older sisters. She rode forward, and stopped in front of Beregond and Eirien's horse. "Our mother taught us, as her father taught her."
"I see," said Theodred, a look of amusement flashing across his face.
Delyth couldn't stand it any longer. She rode forward to be level with Dera. "My lord, you spoke of Lord Boromir. Was he unharmed? May we see him?"
Theodred stared at Delyth, surprised at the eagerness and concern in her voice. "Yes, Lord Boromir was unharmed. As I said before, he left last night with my cousin for Edoras. They would be halfway there by now."
"Please, my lord, it is important that we speak with Lord Boromir soon," Delyth said in a quiet, pleading voice.
Theodred stared openly at her, obviously confused. At last he responded, "I can send you ahead with one of my men, and you may catch up with Lord Boromir sooner. Beregond and your sisters will travel behind you with seven of my men, and I will go on with the rest of my men to hunt down the orcs that attacked you. Does this plan suit you?"
Delyth nodded quickly, not wanting to fuss. She was almost sick with impatience; she had to see Boromir, and soon. Theodred whistled sharply, and men began to move and reassemble. Eight men rode forward. Seven of the men grouped up and waited for more orders, while another man rode up to Delyth and got off of his horse.
He introduced himself as Eothed and began to instruct Beregond, Delyth, and her sisters, and they were careful to do exactly as he said. Delyth gathered her bed roll and a few small things that she would need into a small sack and put them on Eothed's horse. Eirien would ride Mirror, so she got off Beregond's horse and mounted the grey mare. Finally, everything was ready, and Delyth mounted Eothed's horse behind him.
She bade her sisters, Beregond, and Theodred farewell, and with a simple word from Eothed, they were off, riding fast. Delyth had never ridden so fast, and she held tightly to the man in front of her. The air whizzed past her ears, making a pleasant buzzing noise. She tried to keep her eyes open, but she was so tired, and so sore. She leaned her head on Eothed's back and promptly fell asleep.
A/N: Now that you've taken the time to read this entire thing, will you please take a minute to review? Tell me what you honestly think of this story. What thoughts ran through your mind as you read? Are the characters believable? How about the dialogue? Will you continue to read and review this? Spot a mistake?Do you have any questions about this story? Any at all? I'll try my best to answer them! Questions, suggestions, comments, and criticism are all very much welcome, so just REVIEW!