Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Authors Note: Whoa its hot! The heat has finally hit Dorset. I was baking at work yesterday, what idiot designed a black uniform in a garden centre. Luckily not working today so can work on the rest of my tan. Well we are nearly at the end of this story. Upsetting really. Oh well, have fun reading, and I'm loving the reviews as usual.
Chapter 52: Dusk in Rohan
They galloped until the silver moon rose high in the sky. Her face smiling down on her two children running free with the wind.
"Where first do we travel to?" Elfking asked as he kept his stallion at the same pace as Amy's fire coloured mount.
"Rohan my friend, to Edoras in the lands of the horse lords!" Amy called as she pushed her unnamed horse into a faster run.
Elfking shook his head; he did not think that Whip could run any faster. His flanks were already heaving. Whip was not the fastest horse, but the Gondorian lords did have a need to ride and so their horses were not of the best stock. "Whip cannot go any faster!"
"Elfking, say 'Norolim'. All horses understand the speech of elves." Amy called back as she bent low over her horse's neck.
"Norolim Whip, Norolim." If by magic Whip lowered his head and lengthened his stride to an impossible length, within seconds he had caught up.
"In Edoras we will get you a new mount, strong maybe Whips heart, but for our journey you will need a horse of Rohan blood. Do not fear Whip will be found a good home." Amy said.
Elfking just nodded, the pace at which they were going was taking his breath away.
OOOOOO
Their last burst of speed had taken them outside the borders of Gondor and into the lands of the Rohan lords. Leagues of heather and gorse spread out before them broken by granite tors that offered grey islands in a land dominated by purple. Slowing to a walk Amy described what she was going to teach Elfking and where they were going.
"First we are travelling to Edoras to see if the horse lords are still loyal to the land of Gondor, I need to know if they will come if Gondor calls for aid. There I will find a suitable mount for you, one which you will not be able to control with rein or saddle. You will learn the art of elvish riding." Amy ignored the look of shock on the prince's face; she told his father that she would teach him the ways of the races, and this she would do! "Then we will travel to the Hornberg, there is something I wish to do there." Her heart tightened at the thought of the grave of Chinky, yet she knew she would have to visit the last resting place of the mighty horse. "From there we travel north to Isengard to see the great Fanghorn forest, then through the pass to the western sides of the Misty Mountains, we will travel to the Shire and the hobbits then north again to the capital of Anor, here you will do your business. Then south again to Imladris, the last resting place of the elves. Through the mountain pass we will end at Lothlorien then on to Mirkwood and the dwarves of Erebor. Finally south through the Gates of Mordor and to Oronduin."
OOOOOO
Amy smiled as Edoras came into view; the city had grown since she had last been here and now spread into the low lying lands surrounding the mound. Two banners flew from the front of Meduseld, one a white horse prancing; the traditional flag of Rohan, the other made Amy cringe.
"If the wind changes you might stay like that!" Elfking said smiling at Amy's expression.
"Oh shush you. That banner is hideous! They should be glad that Moridin can't see that or the mighty Raken! It's a disgrace to their names!"
Elfking smiled as looked upon a banner containing a black horse prancing before a red and gold dragon. "Well I like it; perhaps they might be more welcoming of us than my own people!"
Amy just snorted before patting the fire coloured mount beneath her, 'I really must name you,' she thought to herself.
"Come on, we should be there in an hour." Leaning down she galloped off leaving Elfking in her wake.
OOOOOO
They galloped up to the city and she raised her hands in a gesture of peace as they cantered through the main gates and slowed to a walk once inside the original city. Placing one hand on her horse's chestnut rump she leant back and beckoned Elfking up beside her.
"This is the original part of the city it was built by Brego, who was the second king of the Mark in the year 2569 of the Third age. When I was last here this was the only part of the city there was. Seems like only yesterday I was riding up here on Chinky. Anyway King Aragorn the second, your namesake, had a horse called Brego, he used to belong to Théodred, King Théoden's son at one point. Bit of useless information for you." Amy said.
"No, useless information is good. Useless information is what always stays in my mind. Are you ignoring the fact that everyone is watching us or did you not notice?" Elfking said turning round in the saddle to see that almost the entire city had come out of their homes.
"Yes I did notice. I think they are looking at me though, so don't worry!"
When they finally reached the steps to the Golden Hall they dismounted and waited for the guards to come down to greet them. Elfking reeled in shock as four guards all drew swords and placed them at Amy's throat. Without thinking he drew his own sword and held it aloft.
"Put it down Elessar, you are not yet ready to take on four in one go, plus they are obviously not after you." Amy said casually turning to face the prince. "I am sure that these lovely gentlemen in front of me are going to tell me what the problem is. Then I will answer any questions they have and they will lower their swords."
The guards looked warily at each other, seemingly lost for words at the calmness of the small girl in front of them. Still one lowered his sword and stepped forward. "Who dares ride into the lands of the horse lords with a stolen mount?"
Recognition flashed across Amy's face; that would explain her mount's nobility. "This chestnut stallion is yours? He was found wandering the plains of Gondor not a week past; as no one claimed him I took him for my own as I needed a mount."
"He is Narraw, Fire Lion. Prised possession of the king, yet no one had been able to tame him. Here you are riding him without a saddle or bridle. What is your magic?" The guard said.
Amy smiled, the name suited him. Ignoring the blades she raised an arm and pointed to the banner above them. "See that black horse? Moridin is his name, last King of the Mearas, understood and spoke the speech of man. Chinky a pied mare was his dam, last Queen of the Mearas, his sire; Shadowfax lord of all horses. That Dragon? Raken is her name. The last of her kind to dwell in Middle Earth, at this moment she awaits my call and then we will travel together to the undying lands. There I have a husband awaiting me, friends I have not seen since the beginning of this age and that black horse. For death will not come to him while I live."
The guard looked at her in shock before his eyes wandered to her now exposed ears. He gasped slightly before nodding. "Amy, last of the elves to dwell on this land, Rohan welcomes you, and apologises profusely for the poor start to your visit."
"She lies! No elves yet survive!" One of the guards yelled and leapt forward sword raised.
Without thinking Amy shoved Elfking out the way with her shoulder before raising her sword and parrying the blow to her head. "You want to fight little human? Everyone please stand back he initiated this fight and I wish him to lose it." Amy said as she simply sidestepped another thrust.
The guards formed a perimeter around them giving them room to fight, Elfking held his horse and the newly named Narraw, and watched in interest. He had never seen Amy fight a proper opponent and wished to learn as much as he could.
"Seeing as no man can even think to rival the speed, agility and stamina of an elf I'll go easy on you. Your nice long sword against my two handed sword, that I will hold in my left hand alone." Amy laughed at the sarcasm in her own voice.
"You cannot beat me! I am the best there is in this land!" The guard announced getting into proper fighting stance.
"So you maybe, but you seem to forget I was born at the end of the First age. I am the best there is in this world! I learnt from Aragorn the second, king of the united realms. I gave Èomer, first king of Rohan of the third line, lessons. You cannot beat me!"
The guard was either too stupid or too cocky to drop his sword and step down; instead he made a poor attempt at a lunge. His sword came flying out of his hand and skidded across the dusty grown, in an instant a long blade was at his neck and flame danced in front of his nose.
"Please, you could have given me a bit more of a challenge. Anyway can I speak to the King?" Amy said as she walked away leaving her sword hovering in front of the stunned guard, every time he tried to move it followed him and stayed at his throat.
The captain of the guards nodded and led her and the young man beside her up the stairs. He gave one disdainful look at the other guard, who was still getting chased by a long sword, and gave orders to leave the horses where they were and disperse the crowd. There was no way he was going near that chestnut beast, he still had the bruise from their last encounter, and he swore he saw it smile out of the corner of his eye.
OOOOOO
"So you are the son of Edaining, what is your business in this land?" The King said.
Elfking dropped to a knee and placed a fist over his heart; Amy nodded in approval and tapped him with her foot to indicate that he could stand now.
"We are here to see if the bonds of fellowship that were forged between Aragorn the King of the United Realms and Èomer King of Rohan still hold strong. I am also in training my Lord. Amy daughter of Onlee here is training me in the ways of the ancient races of Middle Earth." The prince said looking directly at the King.
The King nodded and stood up from his throne; he was pleasant to look at and was just beyond his middle years. "You are young Elessar yet I see you have a thirst for knowledge. I will tell you now that I have no love for your father and had I not seen a worthy heir I would be reluctant to aid you. You, however, have impressed me so far and if you are being trained by the rider of the King of the Mearas herself then I cannot fault you. Yes the bonds of fellowship still survive, yet they are to you rather than Edaining. If your father calls my soldiers will not come, if you call for aid me and my knights will ride to Gondor with haste."
"Thank you my King, I will not falter I will learn all that I can. I hope that I do not have any need to call on you, yet Amy believes there is trouble stirring and we need to be on the look out." Elfking said looking to the small girl for conformation.
Amy nodded then stepped up beside the King. "I am very sorry my King for stealing a horse of Rohan, I know that Narraw was prized."
"You can keep him, he is yours. No one here could get near him anyway. Fine is his bone structure and strong are his lungs, but he is no use to me if I cannot mount him. He seems to like you, I saw you ride in on him. If you are the companion of the Kingly Moridin then I see no reason to keep Narraw from you." The King said.
"I am glad that I have lived in a time when I met such lordly horses. I knew the lords of the Mearas; Snowmane, Shadowfax and Chinky to name but a few. Of course Moridin was my mount, the son of Chinky, he and my husband await me in the Undying Lands for as long as I draw breath my Black Warhorse will not die. I miss him with every passing day. Yet Narraw is a fine mount and will do me fine in our travels. Please tell do you have another horse we can buy, for I am afraid that Elessar's horse is not up to the pace of our future travels." Amy said.
"I wish I could have known such a horse as Moridin and Chinky, but alas I only have tales and paintings to delight me. Yes you may have another horse, do not worry about pay. I only ask that you train your charge to the highest level of Kingship. Tomorrow morn I will take you to the fields myself for you to choose a horse. For now I will have rooms prepared." The King said, noticing the look in the girl's eye as she spoke of her horse and husband.
"Elessar stay here I will tend to the horses." Amy said as she walked out of the hall.
"Come my young prince I will show you to your rooms. You can have that horse tomorrow on the condition that you promise me something." The King whispered something to Elfking and the young prince just nodded.
OOOOOO
The next morning the sun shone bright and clear as Amy and Elessar stepped outside of the great Golden Hall. Amy looked over the plains and her elvish sight picked up a couple of small boys herding a large group of horses towards a paddock just outside the city. She could not pick up details of the horses from this distance yet if they were of Rohan stock they were all going to be good. The main door banged shut behind them as the King stepped out followed by a handful of guards dressed in the Rohan finery.
"Good morning my King." Elessar said placing his fist to his heart and ducking his head.
"There is no need for that, my name is Halad, please, call me by that name." The King said smiling.
"It is a lovely morning is it not Halad. Are those the horses down there?" Amy said.
"Yes that is them, come let us go down to them."
As they walked through the city, Halad engaged them in light conversation about the new extensions to the city. He then questioned Elessar on what he was to be learning with Amy and where they were travelling. Elessar explained animatedly that he was fluent in both Quenya and Sindarin two forms of elvish and he could write in tengwar. He was just explaining that they were going to be travelling to Helm's Deep when they reached the horses.
"Why to Helm's Deep?" Halad asked.
"Because that is where Chinky was buried." Amy said butting in. "That green mound, I do not know whether it is still there however."
"A green mound with flowers growing surrounded by barren waste land. Aye, it is still there. I had always wondered why it was like that, now I know." The King said as he came to a stop and leant on the paddock gates.
Amy swallowed back the lump in her throat as she thought of Chinky and looked at the horses in front of her. They all looked young and strong, yet one stood out more than the others and she wondered if Elfking would pick up on it. She watched his eyes roam the herd and pause on several before moving on. Then she smiled as she saw his eyes rest on the one that she had picked out.
"Can I have a closer look at the buckskin?" He asked the King.
"Go ahead. If you want him, he is yours."
Elfking looked at Amy who nodded. He vaulted the gate before looking for a halter.
"No halter Elessar. Elves do not use halters. Walk up to him slowly and lower your eyes." She said as she watched him slowly and calmly walk up to the buckskin horse. "Speak to him in elvish, that's it well done."
She smiled as she watched him place a hand on the buckskin's nose and lead him over to her and the King. Small boys came in quietly and took away the other horses and so left the paddock empty and free of distractions. Vaulting over the fence she stood next to the horse and looked him over.
Looking in his mouth she took his age as roughly six years and his height was about 16.2 hands. Running her hands down his legs she asked him to pick each hoof up in turn, he did all this obediently without any fuss. His pale yellow coat glowed with good health and his black mane and tail were silky and shone in the morning light. "Can you tell me anything about him Halad?" Amy asked.
"Six year old gelding. Was caught in the drifts last autumn, and was backed early spring. Pretty thing isn't he. Not sure of his parentage as he was brought in on the drifts, but we think it is one of four dominant stallions that roam the Westfold. All of which are of a very high standard." Halad said reaching out a hand and stroking a velvety nose.
Elessar looked at the horse up and down and smiled. Leading it over to another part of the fence he got him parallel before climbing onto the fence and using it to mount the horse. The horse flattened his ears against his head as he felt the weight on his back, yet after a few gentle elvish words he relaxed again.
"Well done. Once he gets used to you we'll get you vaulting onto him. But well done for using the fence to not startle him first time. Squeeze his sides gently to move him forward around the paddock." Amy said walking away from the fence and into the middle. "If he starts getting nervous just talk to him in elvish."
Elessar was quite happy walking round then he tried to trot. Having never ridden bareback before he started to bounce around and before long he hit the dirt. "Ow." He said standing up and rubbing his side.
"We need to work on stopping. Give it a few days and we'll have you galloping in no time." Amy said walking back to the horse that had started grazing. "We need to get him a name and take him up to the stables."
"I call him Dusk. Not only is his coat a dusky colour but so are my breaches after falling off."
And so the newly named Dusk started off on his journey.
OOOOOO
Amy smiled as she woke up; the sun filtered in through the open shutters in her room and cast a soft glow. Pulling the blankets off her she stood up and stretched and yawned loudly. She dressed quickly and set herself to brushing out her long hair. Once it was lying straight down her back she carefully braided the front away from her eyes and twisted it up at the back of her head. She made sure that her fully pointed elvish ears were on show as she quickly used Water to sort out any wispy bits. Picking up her dragon marked sword and her leaf shaped blade she fixed them to her belt and buckled it tightly to her waist. She then picked up her bow and quiver full of arrows and fixed them to her back. Checking to make sure that the buckles were tight enough to stop the bow and quiver from slipping loose she opened her door and walked out into a hallway that led to the Golden Hall.
"We are leaving then today Amy?" Elfking said as he met her in the hall.
"Yes, you have learned enough about this place and can ride well enough. We leave after we have breakfasted." Amy said sitting down on a long bench and picking up an apple.
