"A person who's never made a mistake is someone who's never tried something new"- Albert Einstein

Chapter 8

Boromir and his party departed the next morning. I hadn't slept well. Not that I ever really did anymore and watched them leave from the window of the room I had been given. He looked up towards me and parted with a wave. I returned it, hoping that his journey to Imladris proved worth it for the both of us.

As I continued to watch them ride off, a knock sounded on the door to my room. "Eomer," I said, stepping away from the window.

"Good morning," he greeted with a small nod. "It seems the visitors have left as fast as they arrived."

I nodded, unsure of what to say.

"What did you make of Lord Boromir?"

"He...was kind," I said. I didn't know what I should tell him. Boromir had been very helpful to me. Not nearly as helpful as this horselord had been. But I didn't know how to say that without being rude.

"He was kind to you? I had wondered what his intentions were. I heard he was looking for you last night."

"His intentions were only kindness, not that it's any of your business," I snapped.

"By Bema, I cannot say anything right to you, can I?" he said, leaning against the doorframe and rubbing at his eyes. "I didn't come here to fight with you, Mallory."

He looked...defeated. I don't think I had ever seen him that way. He was normally so confident and sure. Now, it seemed I had finally gotten the best of him.

"Then why did you come?" I asked.

"I fear I have made a mistake. I came to rectify it."

"I hope you mean about yesterday."

"I do. I apologize, Mallory. I realize now that I wrongly approached the situation." He paused. "But I had to."

"You had to?"

"Death is hard. Yes, I have seen a lot of it and I have grown numb over the years. I forget that not everyone has my experience. But you have to trust me when I say that I do have experience. If you shut yourself out, sit behind walls and refuse to conquer it, then it wins. And I don't want you to lose to death."

He didn't want to lose me? What was that supposed to mean?

"Um...thanks…" I muttered, unsure of what to say. I mean, I knew what I wanted to say. That Eothain's death sucked, yeah, but it's not like we were close. He definitely was way more interested in me that I was in him. That was easy enough to tell. It did me no good to become infatuated with anyone here. I needed to get home and that's who Eothain was to me. The one person I had met who showed any interest in helping me. Boromir said he might be able to ask around for someone to help, but I honestly didn't expect him to find anything. This world was too plagued with war to find time for me.

Eomer nodded and came further into the room, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "I've thought of something for you to do, if you are interested in leaving these walls."

"What's that?"

"I know you wish to return home, but until we can find time and means to research a way, then I have something of a job that needs doing."

"What's the job?"

"There are a few children here in Aldburg that have become orphaned since the Orcs began attacking. There is a caretaker of our small orphanage, but she is a young and simple girl. I know you neither speak, nor read Rohirric, but it is uncommon to find someone of your background who can read and write even the common tongue. If you would be willing to teach the children, give them something to do that can take their minds off of the death that has plagued their lives, it would be fulfilling, I think."

I couldn't deny, it was tempting. I missed the classroom. Back home, I disappeared at the end of my summer vacation. By now I would have started preparing my classroom for the year, learning my students names, and having school open house. And really, what reason could I possible have for saying no? If I could show the people of Aldburg that I wasn't a monster, then maybe things would get easier for me.

"Okay, I'm in," I said, standing up. "When do I start?"

Eomer looked surprised. "I must admit, I didn't think you would accept so quickly."

I shrugged. "What have I got to lose?"

The orphanage was small. Just a little building just out of the town's square. Simple, built of wood, your basic Rohirric fashion, I guess. "How many children?" I asked as we walked the road from the barracks.

"Five,"" Eomer said. "Many of our soldiers have perished, but what tends to happen is that mothers remain alive for their children and unclaimed orphans have thankfully remained few. Some have elder sisters, aunts, or extended family to care for them. These orphans do not. Three of these children's mothers were slaughtered while sewing crops during a raid. One never knew her mother. I believe she died in childbirth. The fifth's mother was a Shieldmaiden."

"What's a Shieldmaiden?"

"They are women trained as soldiers. They have a long history in Rohan's past."

"I would like to hear it someday."

"Perhaps someday I will share it with you." I swear I saw him smile out of the corner of my eye. Didn't see that often. "Are you nervous?" he asked.

"A little." In truth, I was terrified. These children probably didn't need a teacher. What they needed was a counselor. I didn't speak their language and what they probably needed most was someone to talk to. To listen to them.

The only thing that kept me walking was something that had stayed with me since Boromir had left. His innate curiosity of where I came from and how I came to be here, not to mention his desire for the same answers I wanted, made me believe that my situation could be curious enough to spark something in more people to help me. I mean, I did get here. There had to be a way to get back. And if expanding my life outside of a room and a stable could help me somehow, I was willing.

"Do not be nervous, Mallory. Rohirric children are strong and able. They will want to know you. To learn from you. Not many children have the opportunities to learn what you can teach them. They will welcome it."

I chuckled. "You don't know anything about children, do you?"

He smiled again. "I am afraid you are right. Children are a puzzle to me."

"Children like to have fun. They like what makes them comfortable. They like their peers and their social lives. Most children don't like sitting behind desks and learning how to read and write. Especially if they have bigger things on their minds. Like their parents dying."

"That is quite bleak, I must say."

We entered a small silence, walking slowly through the town square. Passerby stared at me, like always. I wish I could know what they were thinking. But dwelling on that was not healthy. "Did you like learning to read and write?"

"By Bema, no. I much preferred learning the blade or the taming of horses. Eowyn was much better suited for studies than I, though I doubt she liked it any more than I did. She was just better at it, I suppose."

'Who's Eowyn?" I asked.

"My sister."

Right. I remembered now. He had mentioned her long ago on that day I traveled to Aldburg with his eored. "She lives in the Capital, right?"

"Indeed."

"Is it hard living so far away from her and your uncle?"

"It was when I first left Edoras for my position here. She was all I had for so long and my uncle had become the only father I could ever know again in this life. But we write each other often and I visit from time to time. In fact, I will make for a visit there in a couple of days."

"You're leaving Aldburg?"

"For a short time. I will leave a trusted member of the eored in charge here while I report my findings of Saruman's involvement to the king and his advisors. Now that I have proof, perhaps an advancement can be made in our favor."

I nodded, trying not to look bothered. I would never admit it outloud, but I didn't want him to leave. With Eothain gone, he was the closest thing to a friend I had in this town. The prospect of losing that, if only temporarily, was frightening.

We had reached the door to the orphanage and he opened it for me, gesturing me inside. It was small. Five cots were positioned in a corner. Basic provisions like food and cooking supplies were stored around a fireplace. There was a dining table and chairs. Little knick knacks and toys littered the floor.

Like Eomer had said, there were five children, various ages, scattered around the simple building, four were engaged in play. Another little girl sat over by her cot with knitting in her hands.

"Vanesse," Eomer said, walking me over to a small woman stirring the fire. "This is Mallory Gilmore."

I noticed he didn't switch to Rohirric. The girl smiled at me. "Do you speak Common Tongue?" I asked.

"I do, miss. I'm afraid the little ones do not, though."

"I speak a bit of Rohirric. With your help, I'm sure things will be fine."

She continued to smile. "I am sure of it. Would you like to meet them?"

I nodded and she took me over to the group of four, switching to her native tongue. "Everyone, this is Mallory."

They all looked up, even the one with the knitting. One of the boys started talking so fast, I could barely understand him. Vanesse must have seen my puzzled face and switched back to Common Tongue. "He asks who you are and why you are here."

I nodded a knelt down, sitting on my knees amongst them. "My name is Mallory," I said in Rohirric, doing my best to keep my speech from breaking. "I came to spend time with you all."

The little boy shot up to his feet, toy animal in hand. "I am Arton," he said, pointing to my head. "Are you dúnælf?"

I looked back at Vanesse as Eomer chuckled behind me. "I don't know what he's asking."

She smiled. "He asks if you are Elfkind."

Oh. That's why Eomer laughed. I shook my head, turing back to the boy. "No. I am a person. Just like you."

"You have brown hair like dúnælf. My papa told me about them."

I had noticed before that there was very little brown hair in this town. Nearly everyone was flaxen. Everyone in this room was blond except for me. It was something that I had noticed, but paid little attention to. I turned to the other children and asked their names.

Along with Arton, who must have been around seven years old, there was another boy, Fion, who seemed to be around ten. And the two girls playing with them, Tara and Mariel, both probably about ten years as well. "And what's your name?" I asked the girl over on her cot. She looked up from her knitting. "Lia," she said quietly.

They were all very sweet. But there was also something they all had in common. They were all terribly sad, even though most of them tried to hide it through distraction. Lia was the worst at it, but also the best at occupying herself. She would be a challenge.

Eomer stayed the entire time with me. It was strange to see him in this element. I was so used to him brooding and infusing his intimidating presence everywhere he went. But here, he was soft and kind. How many layers did this guy have?

"Did you like it?" he asked me as we walked back to the barracks later that evening.

"They're all great kids. Lia seems a little weary of me though."

"She is the one who lost her mother to battle."

"The Shieldmaiden's daughter?"

"Yes. I think with time, she will grow a bit more at ease with you though."

"Thank you," I said, kicking a rock in front of me down the street. "You were right. I needed a reason to get out of the walls I had stuck myself behind."

He chuckled. "I didn't think I would ever hear you admit that I was right about something."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You remind me of Eowyn. Stubborn and confident, the both of you. I think you two would be good friends."

"Maybe I could meet her someday."

He shook his head. "If Eowyn ever needs to leave Edoras then things will have grown exponentially bad in the Mark. And I intend to keep my promise, Mallory. I will help find your home as soon as I have the resources to do so."

And I realized something as we continued our walk.

I was starting to like this Marshal of Rohan very much.