Silweyn groaned as she slid off her horse. No matter how hard she tried, she would never truly like horse-riding. She preferred to go on foot. She was very susceptible to saddle-sore. She didn't find it very comfortable either.

"Not fond of horse-riding?" Aragorn said behind her.

Silweyn turned smiling. "No, I'm afraid. I prefer to go on foot."

"I know people who couldn't believe you for saying that. They probably shoot you." Aragorn said jokingly.

"Who are they then?"

"The Rohirrim. They fought alongside them in the wars. They are a fair and just race. But they are the horse-lords."

"Rohirrim? I've heard of them. Their King is Théoden, is it not?"

"Not anymore. Théoden was killed by the Witch King in the Battle of Pelennor. Eomér son of Eomund rules the land now."

"Well, I love the animal; I just don't like riding them. Not a lot of the people of Ariannon do. We ride the race of the Carahan."

"Carahan?"

"They are a race of horses. They are a much gentler race of horses. More for people who are not too comfortable sitting on a horse. Note how their coat seems to shimmer and how they obey so quickly and efficiently."

"I see."

"Well, you shall soon be acquainted. He comes to Minas Tirith for my coronation."

"But, surely that is a long way to travel?"

"They come, because they want to. Also, his sister, Lady Eowyn is betrothed to the Captain of Gondor, Faramir son of Denethor."

"I see."

"Well, Silweyn of Arianon, I suggest we turn in. We have 4 more days ride until we glimpse the Tower of Ecthelion. I bid you, goodnight." With that he turned into his tent. Silweyn stayed outside for a little while longer. She enjoyed the peace and the warm breeze that blew lightly across her face. But she missed her home. The last time she had ventured out she was 12 years old, and she had gone into the realms of Mirkwood. But was rescued by an elf. Who became her great friend. Alas, she had not seen him for gone a decade, as her father had stopped giving her such long expanses of time for her ventures. He preferred her to venture to the West, not to the East. He described Mirkwood as a place of mystery and danger. Silweyn had seen where the Wood-Elves lived, however and thought it beautiful. But she had not walked under the boughs of Mirkwood for many a year. She was afraid she never would. Before her father left, he was searching around proposals of marriage for her. But Silweyn wanted to marry for love, not politics. But this she feared, was not her choice to make. With a sigh she turned into her tent.

The sound of the horn of Gondor echoed around the city walls.

"Lord Aragorn has returned!"

"Someone call for Lord Faramir!"

"He brings people with him!"

Eowyn ran to the battlements and looked out. Faramir joined her.

"He has returned."

"Yes," said Eowyn. "But who does he bring with him?"

Faramir laughed. "I thought the eyes of the Rohirrim were better than the eyes of any Gondorian."

"Oh, hush if you are not going to be helpful. Eomér will help. Eomér!"

Her voice rang out across the battlements. Eomér turned.

"What is it little sister?"

"Hark now, who comes with Lord Aragorn?"

Eomér squinted into the distance and frowned.

"I know not. They have a flag that my eyes have never seen before. I have also never seen the horses they ride."

"Trust a man of Rohan to note their horses." Faramir said cuttingly. "Come, let us go and greet him."

"Hi, Gimli! Legolas! Will you not come and greet Aragorn?" called Eowyn.

"We will my lady, but this Princling and I, have a score to settle!" replied Gimli.

As Eowyn, Faramir and Eomér walked away. They distinctly heard:

'Gimli. The skill of archery is more effective than any axe weaponry. Did I not prove this at the battle of Helms Deep?'

'You will remember Legolas, that I won that fight fair and square. I fought most of mine on the bridge leading up to the doors of the Keep."

'Oh yes, my good friend. How did you get onto that bridge exactly? It's a hell of a long way to jump.'

'Well, I, to be honest, I…."

Silweyn stared at the White City looming before her. Aragorn looked at her from the corner of his eye. She appeared not to be scared, but Aragorn knew better than that. He had grown to love Silweyn like a sister and knew how shy she was. He knew she was daunted by the city and its mass of people she would have to be introduced to. Silweyn kept her eyes straight ahead. As they approached the city, the gates slowly opened. Silweyn took a deep breath as she took a deep breath. She slowed her horse, Callien as they went through the gates. They continued to trot all the way up to the 5th level where they were met by three people. Silweyn noticed that she and her riders were getting a lot of looks and whispers. 'Well, obviously. They have no idea who we are.'

Silweyn held in her grimace as she slid off Callien. She watched Aragorn embraced the two men, one with blue eyes and brown hair. He was fair. 'Obviously a man of Gondor.' She thought. The next man was also fair but he had long blonde hair. He had a rugged sort of look. 'This must be Eomér.' Silweyn considered. The woman was staring at her. She had very long blonde hair and blue eyes. She was staring at Silweyn with a puzzled expression on her face. Aragorn turned to her.

"This is Silweyn. Leader of the people of Arianon. Silweyn, this is Faramir son of Denethor, Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien, Eomér son of Eomund, King of Rohan, and this is Lady Eowyn, his sister."

Silweyn bowed to them and they bowed/curtsied in return. Then a short stout man, obviously a dwarf pushed through the crowd.

"So, you've graced us with your presence Aragorn."

"Still sore with losing that card game, Gimli?"

Gimli grunted. "Who's this young lassie than Aragorn, eh?"

"This is Silweyn, leader of the people of Arianon. Silweyn, this is Gimli son of Gloin, who is my dear friend."

Silweyn smiled. Then a voice came out from the crowd.

"Silweyn?"

Silweyn knew that voice. But it couldn't be. The people of Gondor were dispersing now.

Legolas pushed through the crowd.

"Legolas?" said Silweyn in disbelief.

"Silweyn!" Legolas ran up and embraced Silweyn in a tight hug. "Last time I saw you, you were 12 or was it 14 years old? And I had to help you out of Mirkwood because you had got lost…again."

"I haven't been to Mirkwood for a long time, Legolas."

"You two know each other?" Aragorn asked

"He helped me when I got lost in Mirkwood, but I haven't seen him in years." Silweyn said.

"What were you doing in Mirkwood?"

"Exploring."

A cold wind blew through the city of Gondor.

"Come, let us go and eat in the warmth," said Aragorn as he made their way up to the hall of Minas Tirith.

Silweyn found herself next to Eomér at the table. She thought him a quiet man. He had not said much to her, when he suddenly turned to her and said:

"What is the race of horses that you ride?" Silweyn surprised at the sudden flow of speech replied:

"They are the race of the Carahan. The people of Arianon do not sit so comfortably on a horse than the people of Rohan. We prefer to go on foot, so we ride the Carahan as they are gentle rides, and sense the riders wishes."

"So, you do not like horses?"

"Oh no," said Silweyn quickly "We like the animal, we are just nervous on them. I have no idea why, we just are. I think something happened many centuries ago, which made us nervous of horses."

"One day, I will teach you to ride a horse properly, if you like."

Silweyn looked into his eyes. "Thank you. I would be grateful of that."

"I also see, that you do not have a royal title, Leader of the people of Arianon. Where is your King or your Queen?"

"They are away." Said Silweyn shortly. "My father and brother are away in council with the elves of the far North."

"Your mother?" said Eomér quietly.

"That I do not know."

He said nothing for a while after that. He waited until Silweyn spoke again. She was grateful for this. A comfortable silence grew between them both, until they were drawn into the chatter going on around them.