"Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it's not because they enjoy solitude. It's because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them." - Jodi Picoult

Chapter 9

"I thought the plan was for you to ride to Edoras?" I asked Eomer as he packed saddlebags for his trip.

"Theodred was supposed to meet me there, but the Fords of Isen have been attacked. I must aid my cousin."

"So this is like a real battle. Not one of these skirmishes you've been fighting all along."

"The Hornburg and the Fords see much more terror than we do here. Theodred has been fighting these battles without me. Elfhelm sends word that I must meet them and bring my aid, least they fail to secure the Gap of Rohan from Isengard."

"And that's where Saruman sits."

"Yes. With any luck, we will be able to hold off the attacks and Theodred and I can ride to Edoras and convince my uncle to send aids of his own."

"Theodred is his son, right? Why hasn't he sent them already?"

"It is likely his advisors have convinced him otherwise. They think of what they know and what they see. They do not understand the severity of this issue. For years, Saruman has been an ally to Rohan. It will take some argument to convince the advisors and the king that the attacks come from the White Wizard."

"How long do you think you will be gone?"

"It is hard to say." He paused from packing. "Do you worry for me, Mallory?"

The truth was, I did. I didn't like the idea of him going where I could not follow. He had become such a staple in my life that it would be hard to imagine like here at Aldburg without him. But I couldn't admit it outloud. The thought of admitting that I had become attached to someone in this realm that was not my own was difficult for me to do. I didn't want attachments. I wanted to go home as soon as possible, and that would be easier if I didn't get attached. So i just shrugged my shoulders. He didn't look pleased at that response.

He left not long after with over half of his command. It was weird, watching him leave. Since Eothain's death, there hadn't been much reason for him to leave the fortress. There had been none of these Orc attacks. Perhaps Theodred had been doing a better job of keeping the Orcs from passing through the Gap of Rohan. I had been studying the maps Eomer had brought me extensively. It was the one thing I could do in my free time that made any sense to me. If I could learn the geography of this land, when all this fighting was over, maybe I could travel it to figure out a way home.

But I had made a promise to myself. I would be there for the children Eomer had tasked me with, especially while he was gone. I wanted him to see progress when he returned. I wanted him to know that I was trying, like he had asked me to. Why I cared so much, I had no idea. But I wanted to do this for him.

He left not long after with few words. I wish he had said more.

My days in Aldburg continued rather normally without him there. I had decided to move into the orphanage with Vanesse until Eomer returned. There really wasn't much point in staying at the barracks anymore and this allowed me to be near the children if they needed me.

I was more of a caretaker than a teacher, to be honest. They didn't really want to learn how to read, and it's not like I had much to teach them with the resources I had at my disposal. No books or readings in the common tongue were available to me in the Mark and, while my Rohirric had greatly improved since coming here three months ago, I still could not read it. It's why I constantly read over maps. Geography had no language. So, we played. I listened to their stories. Life went on for a few days. Until someone new showed up in Aldburg.

His name, Vanesse told me, was Elfhelm, the messenger Eomer had spoken of before he left. He was a tough looking man. Blond and big, just like the rest of these Riders, but not as stoic or sinister. And I followed every word of his Rohirric when he came to Aldburg and addressed the town.

"By order of the King, every person in Rohan will be housed in the Hornburg until further notice. There will be no need for provisions. Crops will now send their harvests to Helm's Deep. Bring only what provisions you need. Travel close together. We will move quickly on foot to Edoras and make for refuge from there."

"What of Theodred Prince?" someone in the crowd called out. Arton and Tara both held my hands as we watched this announcement.

"Theodred Prince is dead. Theoden King and his heir, Marshal Eomer will be taking command of the Hornburg now."

Tara's hand tightened around my own. "What does he mean, Theoden's heir?" I asked Vanesse.

Her eyes were slightly wet at the news of her Prince's death, but she answered. "If Theodred Prince is dead, the line of succession falls to the next descendant of Eorl. That is Lord Eomer, son of Erol's descent Theodwyn."

"Theoden has no other family?"

"Theodred Prince was his only son. Lord Eomer will succeed the King now."

That was a lot for me to take in. When the announcement was over, Vanesse and I returned to the orphanage to help the little ones pack. Moving them across those plains on foot was not going to be easy. "Why do we have to go to the Hornburg?" I asked my companion as I gathered what little I had.

"It is what Theoden King has declared. He must think it is best."

"But isn't the Hornburg constantly attacked from the Gap of Rohan? Wouldn't it be safer to keep the children as far away as possible?"

"The Hornburg is a fortress. Much larger and better suited to hide from the attacks. Its walls have never been breached. While we will be closer to the fighting, we will be much safer behind the walls."

It didn't make much sense to me. From what I could gather, there wasn't much point to this. There was nowhere behind the walls of the Hornburg to grow food, based on the maps I had studied. The only source of fresh water was Helm's Deep, the river that ran through it. It wasn't meant to be a place to house communities. It was meant to help secure the Gap. But I knew this was an argument I had no point in pursuing. If I tried to stay behind, someone, probably Elfhelm himself, would force me to move and there was no point in that conflict if I wanted to keep the children safe.

Lia was over in her corner, trying to pack too many things into her one bag. "Lia, you must leave some of this behind."

"These are my mama's things," she said. "I cannot leave them behind."

"You will grow too tired on the road trying to carry all of this."

She started to cry, but I managed to calm her down. We settled on her mother's knife and knitting needles. I gave her three balls of light yarn she could use them with. I wasn't too keen on a ten year old possessing a knife, but she always kept it in its sheath and never let the others handle it. As for myself, I packed three of the maps Eomer had given me. One of the Mark, one of all of Middle-earth, and one of Gondor, Boromir's home. I also packed a notebook with a pen and ink and the blanket Eomer had given me all those months ago. Other than that, there wasn't much by way of sentimentality. The rest of the children packed light toys. Vanesse and I carried clothes for everyone in our bags. Better we be weighed down than the children.

Outside, everyone was gathering to depart. Mostly elders, women and children. Elfhelm had said it would be a two days walk with everyone here. By my estimation, it was about thirty miles to Edoras. "They expect these children to walk thirty miles in two days?"

"Miles?" Vanesse asked. "Are those like leagues?"

I had no idea how long a league was in comparison to a mile, so I just nodded my head, hoping she understood my meaning.

"Rohirrim are tough, Miss Mallory. And I think the children will be tougher than you give them credit."

She was right. They were tough. Much tougher than me. By the third hour with Elfhelm and his guards posted down the line of Aldburg's citizens, my feet were crying. Back home, I was an avid hiker, but I never just walked with a bunch of people virtually against my will. The only child that seemed to be suffering as much as I was was little Arton, who kept asking for piggyback rides. I hated turning him down, but I knew if I took on his extra weight, that there would be no way for me to make it. So I just held his hand and encouraged him to keep moving with his friends.

We stopped at midday for a lunch break. I made everyone eat before I let them sit and play with the toys they had brought. Lia just sat with her knitting, as usual. "Is that one yours?" a voice said behind me.

It was Elfhelm and he was pointing at Arton with his little wooden bear. "No. None of them are mine," I answered.

"He hold your hand so tightly. I meant no disrespect, miss."

"They're Aldburg's orphans," I said. "I am one of their caretakers."

"A great service you do for your village."

"I do what I can."

I wasn't trying to be rude, but I hated what this conversation represented. The loss of my identity. The fact that now, I was just a caretaker in Aldburg. Still a lost girl, but one who was growing increasingly doubtful of her ability to return to her home.

"Where did you acquire a map?" he asked me, nodding to the one in my hands.

"Lord Eomer gave it to me," I muttered. As much as I hated my new identity, I didn't want to explain my situation to a stranger. I hadn't even really explained it to Vanesse.

He nodded. "Mistress Frieda told me you were a favorite of the Marshal's."

I rolled my eyes. Frieda was here amongst us, of course. But I continued to avoid her. The beef between us was obviously still there. If I ran into her in town, I did my best to stay out of her way. It had only been a month since her brother's death. If she wanted to talk to me about it, I would let her, but I wouldn't force myself on her. I had decided that immediately.

"Marshal Eomer spoke of you last we met at the Hornburg," Elfhelm said.

"How is he?" I blurted. I hadn't known they had talked.

Elfhelm smiled, but it was half-hearted. "Like brothers were he and my Prince. Theodred's death has hit him hard. He and Lady Eowyn grieve. But they are both resilient. Eomer wished to avenge his death by maintaining hold of Helm's Deep."

"I can't imagine Eomer wanted this," I said, nodding towards our traveling companions.

"He does not. Gandalf Greyhelm tried to convince the king that burying our citizens behind the walls of the fortress was not the way. The Wizard managed to convince Eomer, but the King continues to do what he thinks is best for the people."

"Gandalf?" I muttered. "I thought he had been banished from Rohan."

The Rider sighed. "A lot can happen in a matter of days, Miss Mallory. Especially in times of war. Allies are thin here. Gandalf and his party have proven their worth since their arrival."

"When did he get here?"

"Two days past." He paused. "Why so interested in the Wizard, Miss Mallory?" Well, there was no way to explain that one, so I shook my head, hoping that would put an end to that. Eomer was in Edoras. I'd ask him these questions when I got there. And the Rider nodded in return. "We make to depart again soon. I would prepare the children."

He walked away and I looked at my pained feet. "Here we go again, boys," I muttered.

I don't know what I was expecting, honestly. I mean, Eothain had told me that Aldburg was the second largest city in Rohan and it was small and it was seriously tiny with like, a hundred people. Edoras was basically the same thing. A small town with your basic crop of citizens. The one thing Edoras had that Aldburg didn't was this giant building on the top of a hill. Sporting the same flag and sigil as Aldburg's fortress, this wooden building was massive. In the glow of the evening sun, its thatched roof glittered and shined light around the area.

"See that?" Vanesse asked Fion, who was the most tired of the children. "That is Meduseld. Home of Theoden King."

The Riders that had accompanied us were giving out instructions to the people of Aldburg. Elfhelm came to Vanesse and I as the children leaned against us and each other for support on their tired legs. "Miss Mallory, Miss Vanesse, refugees carrying children will stay in Meduseld tonight. The King opens his doors until we depart for Helm's Deep in the morning."

"Thank you, Lord Elfhelm," Vanesse said, finding some kind of remaining strength and picking Mariel up in her arms. "We welcome the comfort of the King before continuing tomorrow."

"Peace be with you for the night," he said, turning to me. "For both of you and the little ones."

"Thanks," I said, Arton's hand still tightly around mine. "Let's go get some rest, you guys."

We walked to children up the hill towards Meduseld, but we didn't get far before we were stopped again.

"Mallory!" a voice called behind me. I turned and found Eomer, wearing his armor, still sporting those deep black bags under his eyes. He ran towards me and Arton let go of my hand, running towards Vanesse. The next thing I knew, his arms were around me, pulling me into an embrace that I certainly had not been expecting. He held me tightly and I found myself clinging back. Though it had only been about four days, I had missed him so much. Aldburg was a lonelier place without him.

"Eomer!" Another voice called. Female this time. It was a tall, blonde woman in a white dress, standing on the terrace of Meduseld. "Uncle and Lord Aragorn request your presence," she said in Common Tongue. I hadn't heard my native language in so long, it was shocking to me at first.

Eomer closed in eyes and took in a slow breath. "I will be there in a minute, Eowyn." Ah. His sister. The one everyone called The White Lady of Rohan. She fit the description. He turned back to me. "It brings me joy to see you safe."

"I think I've been safer than you, all things considered." I paused, wondering if I should say something. I took the chance. "I'm sorry about Theodred."

Eomer bowed his head, looking at my feet. "He is gone from the war. He will find peace in the next life."

I put my hand on his face, bringing his eyes back to mine. "It's okay to be sad."

He shook his head, forcing a small smile on his face. "I cannot be sad when you are back by my side." He grabbed my hand from his beard and held it in his own. "I know you must be tired, but when I am done, might I come and find you? My world has been a lonelier place without you in it"

I smiled and nodded. "Absolutely."