"By order of the King, the citizens of Edoras are to make for the refuge of Helm's Deep!" Háma shouted. "Take only what you need for the journey!"
He turned and glared at Ailith who was lugging a large pack towards her horse.
"That extends to members of the court," he said sternly.
"I need to take it. It has my medical supplies," she said.
"There are medical supplies in Helm's Deep," he pointed out.
"Yes but I don't know what they are. I have everything I need here. We would be in a wonderful mess if I did not have something vital to treat injuries. Besides, if it is at Helm's Deep then I will be carrying extra," she explained.
He gave her a disapproving look but said no more. His eyes travelled slowly over her clothes; riding trousers, undershirt and her mail shirt.
"I'm not changing," she said, answering the question that was not asked. "I have to run everywhere today and I cannot do that with material swishing around my legs."
He nodded slowly, clearly uncomfortable, but moved off to help an old man load a sack onto a cart.
Ailith rubbed her horse affectionately on the neck. "Ready for a journey, my friend?" she asked. He whinnied and nuzzled her, causing her to laugh. The doors to the stable opened and a handsome chestnut trotted out and down the street. She watched him go and longed to catch him and take him back to the safety of the stables. Yet she dared not, he was a descendant of the mearas and he would not yield to anyone but the Royal family. His name was Brego and he had been Théodred's horse.
Her own horse's ears flicked forward and he watched Brego make his solitary way down the street. She patted him comfortingly on the neck again. "It seems we have both lost companions," she whispered.
Her brow furrowed as she sorted through the chest.
"Here, take these," she puffed, pulling out the heavy woollen blankets and handed them to the waiting servant. "I want them packed, no matter what Háma says!" she called after him as he vanished.
The clash of blade on blade rang out and she looked around hurriedly. Her panic eased when she saw Éowyn and Aragorn with blades interlocked. She smiled as Aragorn yielded his hold and Éowyn spun her blade around. She loved to watch her friend fight. Éowyn had so much fire hidden inside her and she let it flow into this incredible deadly force when given the chance. In their secret training sessions, Ailith had discovered that her friend had forgotten none of the training they had received as children. Éowyn had quickly picked up the techniques Ailith had shown her and now, although Ailith was loathe to admit it, Éowyn was easily the better swordswoman of the pair. Even now as she faced Aragorn, her stance was perfect, her sword steady.
Ailith smiled and dug back in the chest. There had to be some more blankets near the bottom; she was sure of it.
"Do you require some assistance, sir?" a voice said behind her.
"Lady, not sir," she said, looking around. Aragorn smiled.
"Lo, I discover one Shieldmaiden," he said, lifting her hand off the chest and examining the many nicks on her palms from swordplay. "And I find another right here in front of me." His eyes slid over her clothes.
"I am a Rider too," she said flatly. She closed the chest and opened the one next to it. "It is my duty to protect my country in any way I can. I would willingly lay down my life to keep Rohan safe and I refuse to wear anything but my armour when I am needed to defend."
"That is very brave of you," he said.
"Not particularly. I just know what is needed to be done."
"So, if one Shieldmaiden fears a cage, what of the other?" he asked. She looked him straight in the eye. Here was a Man who had seen much in his lifetime. He would know if she lied or spoke the truth.
"I fear not a cage but bonds of a different sort; the bonds of marriage," she said. In the following pause, she reddened and dug her head into the chest.
"Why do you fear such a thing?" he asked. Something in his tone of voice made her trust him. Had she voiced this to anyone else, they would have been affronted by her boldness. He merely sounded curious.
"I have governed Men and protected them from evil. I have been the Shepherd who guards the flock from the night," she said in a hollow voice. She met his gaze again. "Where I am from, our laws are first and the laws of Edoras are second. There is an understanding between us and the King that due to the distance we are given some leniency. Our ways have not changed in generations. With my father dead, I am the Lord. I have the responsibility of the welfare of my people until my son is able to take control. How can I risk marrying someone who doesn't understand this? My poor child shall have to be born a bastard."
"I think you need not worry. You shall find a husband who gives you the freedom you long for. You could govern equally alongside him, perhaps?" he suggested. She shook her head sadly.
"That would never be allowed."
"The Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn rule Lórien together and there are those who would say that her power is greater than his," he told her.
"I am not the Lady Galadriel. I am the Lady Ailith," she said simply.
"Trust your instincts and your heart. They will guide you through these dark times," he said. When his words failed to move her, he stepped closer. "Your cousin would be very proud of you, little Rohiril," he murmured and walked away from her. She nearly called after him but a servant distracted her and she returned to her packing.
AN- As I post this, this story has had just under 5000 views. I know this is partly made up of the same people revisiting but I still want to thank you all for reading, following, favouriting etc. It means a lot to me.