"I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul." —Pablo Neruda
Chapter 19
They paused at the border of the forest, looking out to the planes. Amber wondered how long it would take to march the long miles to Edoras, but before she could ask, Gandalf whistled a clear note into the vast space before them. He whistled three times, and with her keen ears she could hear the faint sound of distant hooves.
Three horses came into view, galloping towards them. Arod and Hasufel (the horse lent to Aragorn and Gimli) ran behind a beautiful white stallion who seemed to reflect the very light of the sun.
Legolas exclaimed at the sight of the white horse and Gandalf told them that his name was Shadowfax, a lord of horses born of an ancient lineage. The magnificent beast ran to the wizard and stopped abruptly before him, barely seeming out of breath at his run. He greeted the wizard, calling him 'friend' in his horse tongue, and Gandalf returned his greeting, though he surely had not known what the horse said.
The other horses reached them then and Gandalf, who seemed always to respect the many creatures of the world, told the steeds of their intended journey, and asked that they bare them as swiftly as possible.
The wizard set Gimli before him, to lighten the load of Hazufel, who was the slowest of the three, and Amber climbed onto Arod's back behind Legolas, so that he could focus on directing the horse. They set off at a great speed, the two horses that had been ridden the day before seeming eager to race close after their lord.
They found their way through boggy land and plains alike, their chieftain confident in his path. They only slept once, and for a few hours with Gandalf keeping watch. Amber found that as she fell to sleep, she missed the close scent of the elf, as she had grown accustomed to as they had ridden, often with her face pressed into his back for fear of falling off the horse. She did not think she would voluntarily ride again once their task was ended.
They rode again until Shadowfax halted, announcing to Amber and the horses' ears that they had arrived in sight of their destination. She looked around the elf's back now that Arod was still, trying to see of what he spoke. Legolas peered at a far off hill with a glint of gold atop it, and described the town with a golden hall at it's peak.
Gandalf confirmed that they had indeed, come to Edoras, where the King of Rohan dwelt. He advised them to stay quiet and to draw no weapon on their approach.
They rode onwards, slower now, and Aragorn told them of the Rohirrim of old, singing a song in their ancient tongue. When they reached the gated entrance to the town, armed guards barred there passing and demanded that the travellers name themselves.
Aragorn introduced the horses, explaining that Éomer had lent the horses to them. He asked after the leader of the Rohirrim, and the guards, seeming uneasy, told them that they had been instructed not to allow any strangers to pass, by order of a man named 'Wormtongue'.
Gandalf demanded the guards anounce their arrival to the king, introducing the companions by name and title. The guard reluctantly agreed, leaving his companions to guard them until he returned. When he did so, he bade them enter, but instructed them to leave any weapon they possessed at the gates to the hall to which they were headed. He also glanced to Amber, seeming nervous before he said that the woman must also stay outside of the gates to the hall.
Legolas exclaimed in fury, and both Aragorn and Gimli began to argue with the man, but Gandalf held up his hand to halt their tirade. He glanced at Amber, and meeting his eyes, she saw the hint of some secret within them, such as made her guess that he had purposefully told the man of her kin when he had introduced her as 'Amber, lady of the Beornings'. She nodded to the guard, pretending innocence, and he seemed relieved at her easy acceptance.
They followed the guard up a stone path which led through the town dwellings, up to the crest of the hill where the golden hall stood. The guard then returned to his post, leaving them in front of the watchguards who sat in front of the hall. The men welcomed them, one stepping forward from among them, naming himself Háma, and asking that they lay their weapons against the wall.
Legolas acquiesced first, handing his bow and quiver, along with his long knives, to the man, who seemed to wonder at the strange bow which the elf told him came from the Lady Galadriel, so to take great care. The man quickly laid them against the wall, seeming uneasy at their origin, and promised that they would not be disturbed. Gimli seemed reluctant, but once Aragorn finally laid his sword beside the elf's weapons, the dwarf submitted his axe.
Gandalf gave over his sword, Glamdring, and nodded to Amber, who respectfully stepped to the side, in a show of obedience. Legolas frowned, worry lining his face as he looked at her, and she gave him a small smile of reassurance.
The others made to walk into the hall, but Háma once again stopped them, requesting Gandalf leave behind his staff. "Foolishness! Prudence is one thing, but discoustousy is another" said the wizard, bending a little as if he suddenly felt the count of his years, "I am old, if I may not lean in my stick as I go, then I will sit out here with our fair companion, until it pleases Théoden himself to hobble out himself to speak with me"
This show seemed not to entirely convince the guard, but seeming to trust that the travellers meant his king no harm, he allowed them to enter without further argument.
Amber watched with curiosity at their retreating backs, then as the doors closed behind them, looked out to the dwellings below. For a while she watched, until the leering of one guard caught her attention, and still not knowing the wizard's purpose in leaving her out there, she decided she must not risk trouble.
She took a few steps down from the stone platform on which the hall stood, and staying in sight of the hall entrance, wandered a little, looking with interest at the day's goings-on and the blonde headed people who dwelt there. There were many interesting smells, and she found her mouth watering at the scent of drying meat in a building not far from where she stood.
She ambled over, hoping to see if there was anything to be had inside, but a guard stepped down from the platform behind her, seeming to be under orders to prevent her from going far. She grumbled, her stomach aching at the alluring smell, but turned away to walk in the opposite direction, still staying near to the hall where her companions now, hopefully, spoke with the king.
After a while had passed, the sun raising further in the sky, suddenly there was a sound from above her where she now stood, gazing out at the horizon. She whipped her head around, and saw a man, clad in dark clothing, scrambling from the entrance to the hall, seemingly attempting to flee. He evaded the guards, who had sat down on stone benches while Amber wandered nearby. The man fled down the steps, foul smell emitted him, and by his mean demeanour, she decided that he was not friend to those she cared for.
She sprang from her spot, and in a fluid motion, transforming as she leapt, pounced onto the man; pinning him to the stone path, a clawed paw pressing into his neck, to warn him against any attempt to overthrow her, unlikely though it was that he would have the strength for it.
Before the guards could decide whether to defend the man against the beast which terrified them, another man strode from the hall, tall and fair, with a crown on his head, and a sword in his hand. The guards exclaimed, bowing to their king, seeming astonished at his presence.
Behind the king came Gandalf, followed by Amber's other companions, as well as Éomer, the man who they had met before on the chase after the orcs. The wizard seemed glad to see the great Beast which now held the captive. "What will you do with your dark-tongued counsellor, Lord Théoden?" asked the wizard, gesturing to the foul man who Amber had caught.
The king stepped forward, hesitating at the strange sight of her, while seeming to debate his servant's punishment. Amber wondered what the man had done, for the guards too seemed glad to see the man now to be punished.
"He shall prove himself on the battlefield, as shall all men of Rohan" said the king, but the man beneath Amber's paws cried out for mercy, as if to serve his lord beside all other men was a terrible sentence. Amber stepped off the man, allowing him to stand so he could face the king.
The man tried to plead, but Gandalf, disgusted, suggested that he only wished to continue serving his true master, Saruman. The King offered the man a final choice, to ride with them into battle to prove his loyalty, or to flee, and be killed should they ever cross his path again. The man spat on the ground in the direction of the King, and at the deep growl from the beast behind him, fled in the direction of the stables, where the King allowed his men to give the unworthy man a horse on which to make his flight.
The guards followed the traitor, to ensure he did no further harm, and Amber, seeing it as good a time as any, turned back to her two-legged form. The King seemed astonished, wondering at the strange companion of his new allies, but seeing that they treated her with gladness and cheer, welcomed her to join the others to take a meal with him in the hall.
The others re-armed themselves, and as she entered, Amber saw that the hall was finely furnished with rich tapestries and carved pillars. As they walked, Legolas told her of the events within the hall, how the king had been under a dark spell, and how the power of Gandalf had freed him. Outside they could hear horns blowing, preparations being made for a ride to war.
As they ate a swift meal, Amber exceedingly grateful for fresh meat and fruit, Gandalf and the King discussed Saruman's dealings and planned for the upcoming battle which Amber gathered was to be against the forces of Isengard which threatened the lands of Rohan.
A young woman, pretty but with sadness in her eyes, watched the strangers as they ate, sitting with them but not eating much for herself. Amber tipped her head in curiosity at her once she had eaten her fill (enough that the servants had refilled the platters more than once, despite the lack of time). The woman looked down, shy at being caught staring.
"What is your name?" the Beorning asked her.
"I am Éowyn, daughter of Éomund, sister-daughter to the king" she said, looking up again into Amber's strange eyes, gaze glancing over her unusual features and hair.
Amber nodded, thoughtful, "So you are sister to Éomer?" she asked, trying to recall how the horse-Lord had introduced himself.
"Aye" cut in Éomer, reaching over to pat his sister's shoulder. "My sister has cared much for our King since our mother's passing"
Éowyn cast down her eyes, and looked not again to Amber. She did observe, when looking occasionally at the blonde woman, that she looked often to Aragorn. Amber grimaced, wondering if she should be warned of his betrothal, in case her interest in the man ran beyond curiosity.
After all had eaten, the companions were offered armour from the hall armoury, and they chose such as suited their needs. Amber took nothing, knowing that were she in battle, she would be in beast form, and even that armour which was made for the horses of Rohan would not fit her strange shape, more akin to that of a cat (though vastly larger) than any other beast whom she had met.
They then drank from a cup of wine, shared among them as a symbol of their parting from that hall. As they set to leave, the guard Hàma told that the people would only follow one of that lineage, and so the lady Éowyn was left in charge of that land while the men rode to war.
Éomer asked Gimli to ride with him, so that he could learn more of the Lady Galdriel whom the dwarf had defended at their first meeting. Aragorn mounted Hazufel, and Arod was brought to Legolas, who once again held his hand out to assist Amber atop him.
"I'm afraid you must continue to endure me" she sighed to the horse, both reluctant at the union. Legolas leapt behind her, sitting just far enough away to be considered not scandalous by the many onlookers.
The host then departed Edoras, Gandalf at the front beside the King, spears held aloft as they rode to war.