A/N: Read.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths help. Breath in. Breath out. Just breath…
Threwen kept repeating this over and over in her mind. She was about to make the first step in her plan. She pushed open the heavy doors to the Golden Hall, automatically aware of all eyes on her. She had already gotten directions from the guards about where to find him. She just had to get there.
She scanned the room, found where she wanted to go, and started walking, all the while keeping her eyes on the exit. She walked behind a couple of pillars, receiving a couple of watchful stares and hearing a few whispers. This was normal. Threwen turned a corner and went through a doorway, only to be stopped by a guard. All was going according to plan.
"I'm afraid I have to ask where you're going, miss," he said gruffly. He had a reddish brown beard and longer hair. His eyes were kind but stern.
Threwen put on a façade of being a little lost and confused. "Um, I'm looking for the Rider, Rannyn, sir." She glanced around the room timidly, hoping everyone was buying it. They were.
The guard's eyes softened, him finally noticing the ever fading bruise on her right cheek. It had healed a lot in the past few weeks. "Oh, it's you. Go right ahead. He's talking with Lord Eomer."
Threwen nodded and quietly passed by the guard, making sure to smile at him, hoping her green eyes were glowing. She flicked a look toward the throne. Théoden looked like he had aged decades in the last few months. She also noticed his advisor. He caught her glance. She looked forward again.
Through the door was a room that contained only a few people. They were all men, most of them fair-haired, the majority going through a large pile of papers and maps. Threwen picked out her quarry and made a point of memorizing his position and where he was. She turned and went through another door in the room, her footsteps silent as a mouse's.
This room was darker and looked like someone's study. The desk was dusty, along with everything else in the room. She positioned herself in a place that would allow her to see the entrance and settled down, waiting for someone. He should be there any minute now.
"Threwen?"
Her eyes widened. This was not the visitor she had been expecting.
"What are you doing in here? They told me you asked for me."
"Um, Rannyn, I, uh..." she stuttered, hoping her comrade who was missing in action would notice that something went wrong with the plan and stay away.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
Drat it all! Threwen became aware of the look in Rannyn's eyes, something she had seen there before but couldn't place. She glanced uneasily toward the door. "Um, I was just going to ask you when you were leaving. I was going to pack you some food for your trip since you've been so kind to me and…um…all that…"
Can we say awkward?
Rannyn looked touched, apparently thinking he had broken through her hard shell. "Oh, well, we're leaving in the morning." He looked at her and then said, "Why did you come in here?"
Threwen bit her lip. How was she going to get out of this one? "Um, I was just looking around. I'm sorry."
His stern eyes softened and he said, "Oh, it's alright. This place is just a dusty junk pile anyway. It used to be the King's personal study." Threwen sensed sadness in him. "But not anymore…" He trailed off, staring into space, into the past.
Threwen shuffled her feet. She hated it when people looked back, into their memories. She preferred to just look at the present. Her past wasn't something she wanted to relive. She cleared her throat.
Rannyn looked up, suddenly aware of himself. "I'll stop by your cottage in the morning."
She nodded and quickly left, taking one last look at the blonde Rider. He didn't suspect anything. That was good. That was all part of the plan. She had deliberately asked for him so that in case something went wrong she could say she had come to visit him. Apparently people were talking about how he had been watching out for her for a while and how they'd become friends. Threwen used this for her benefit.
She hurried out into the cold air once again. She decided not to go for her nightly ride around Edoras. It was best that she stay home for that night, in case her missed companion tried to contact her.
Threwen had been right. Upon getting inside the door she was aware of a piece of paper tacked to her table. A shiver ran up her spine when she realized anyone could get in her cottage at any time. She picked up the paper and saw only two words scribbled on it.
Stables. Midnight.
She leaned her head on the wall, the note still clutched in her hand. So that was it. Her fate would be decided at midnight.
End Note: I got nothing.