WHAT'S THIS!
Another chapter within the MONTH of the previous!
AxM must be losing her mind! XD
Enjoy good people
XOXO
Chapter 27: Living None-The Less
"Ought you to be a little more concerned?"
"Pippin!"
"What? I'm just asking!"
Naomi looked up from her bowl of soup and smiled.
"It's alright Merry, I'm not offended," The two bickering Hobbits stopped and turned to the woman, their interest peaked by her light tone.
"It's true; by all means I should be pulling my hair out and crying, wondering where the hell my friend is," At this her smile dropped a little.
"And wonder I do…but her body has not yet been found and for all purposes I believe it will not be found cold and lifeless," Indeed it was true. She'd been ordered back to bed where she'd spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon asleep, but a look out had been issued for Tess and anyone that had even so much as a word or glimpse of her was to tell someone immediately. Nothing had come up as people scoured the battle field and the lower levels of Minas Tirith for the wounded and the dead, yet her faith never completely strayed.
"How do you know?" Merry whispered. He fidgeting on the spot as Naomi's gaze rolled over to him, not intending to be heard, yet he stood his ground and cleared his throat.
"How do you know that she's alive? When so much death has plagued this city already?"
"Because if she did manage to get herself killed she's an idiot and I will not cry for her if it was her own doing," Pippin and Merry exchanged concerned glances as the woman placed her spoon back onto her tray, a pleasant smile on her face. Silence few over the three for a moment as Naomi took a long drink from the mug that rested on her nightstand.
"How have you two been fairing?" She asked turning back to the Hobbits seated on the end of her bed after a while.
"We've been doing well, just havin' a bit of a smoke and a little somethin' to eat," Pippin answered in his usual bright tone. Naomi smiled; a little something to eat in Hobbit terms meant they had probably had the kitchen on its toes for most of the day.
"That is good to know, but what I meant was, how are you feeling about everything?"
"It's strange, not really knowin' what's goin' t' happen next," This time Pippin's voice was more sober, his counterpart glancing at Éowyn briefly. Naomi gently grasped Merry's hand and squeezed it.
"She's going to be alright," She told him calmly. Merry opened his mouth to say something when the door opened and would have slammed against the wall had the person not had been holding the handle.
"Naomi! A messenger just arrived!" Legolas said eagerly as he made his way to the bedside, a light look in his eyes.
"Messenger?" Pippin asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes! With word of Tess!" Naomi was already trying to get out of bed.
"Melamin please be careful-,"
"No time for that! Help me up!" She told him as she tossed aside the blankets and shuffled to the edge of the bed, her bare feet poking out from underneath her now crinkled grey dress. Both Merry and Pippin leapt down from the bed and waited anxiously as Legolas wrapped his hands around Naomi and lifted her barefoot into his arms.
"Let's move it!" She encouraged, tightening her hold around his neck as he followed the Hobbits out into the hall. She shivered at first as they quickly made their way through partially open corridors, but grew accustomed to it soon enough.
"Legolas?" The masculine voice made both Elf and woman looked over their shoulder's to see Éomer watching them from a doorway.
"Where are you going with such-,"
"Tess!" Naomi said loudly, ushering the horselord to follow them as Legolas started moving again.
"There is news of her?" He asked eagerly as he fell into step beside them.
"Yes," Legolas said solemnly, his eyes focused on the double doors they were nearing.
"She has in fact been located," This was news to Naomi as well and she felt her eyebrows shoot up.
"Where was she!" She asked heatedly. Legolas' eyes softened as he looked to her for a moment.
"She was found in the dungeon,"
Naomi's breath all but stilled as Pippin and Merry pushed aside the doors to admit them into the Great Hall. Gandalf, Aragorn and Gimli stood talking to a man dressed in Gondorian armor, his black hair graying at the roots.
"Legolas, ah good you brought Naomi with you," Gandalf said breaking the conversation he had been holding.
"Who is this, Mithrandir?" The man in armor asked, his cold grey eyes taking in the new people present in the hall. Naomi felt herself flush as Legolas gently placed her on the steps of the dais, sitting beside her only seconds later.
"Angbor this is Éomer son of Eothain, nephew and heir to the previous King of Rohan Théoden," Gandalf said motioning to the horselord, who sullenly nodded at the title.
Naomi distantly wondered about the title that Éomer was going to take up, but didn't have time to dwell on it as the wizard moved on with introductions.
"-and this is Lady Naomi of Jackson," With a strained smiled she turned her eyes to Angbor.
"I am Angbor, Warden of the prisons of the White City," With a fist over his heart he bowed low.
"Angbor, your name means Iron Fist in Sindarin, fitting for that of a keeper of wicked men," Legolas remarked, his blue Elf eyes watching the stoic man.
"Indeed it seems my father named me well," He said to him before his eyes turned back to Naomi, who suddenly felt as if she should have at least bothered to put shoes on.
"I have heard stories of two women that came from across the oceans of the west to fight amongst men, though truly I did not think it to be real yet I find myself unable to believe otherwise after meeting both first hand," he remarked.
"Please Angbor, I ask that you tell us more of how you came to find Tess," Aragorn asked, taking the Warden's attention away from Naomi. She couldn't help but be relieved as his cold eyes turned at last from her to Aragorn.
"Word had reached some of my men's ears that your Lordship was seeking a woman with short hair not from this land that was to be sent on the mission to reclaim Osgiliath, I remembered the arrival of such a woman just before Lord Faramir's company left the city and immediately sought her out.
"She was indeed within the confines of a cell with the likes of seven other prisoners-,"
"Seven!" Naomi heard Aragorn's tense inhale of disbelief and fear, the same fear that rose as a sharp spike through her own chest.
"Do not fear for her, in fact, fear for those seven men," Angbor said, his eyes lighting up briefly.
"She had them well under her control; they even went so far as to warn me of her before I even dared open the cell," Naomi rubbed her temple with a sigh.
"Apparently the two men responsible for her did not wish to send the woman to her death and left her instead in the care of one of my men, who after much confrontation with her decided keeping her in a cell was the only way to contain her,"
She felt sick.
What kind of man had treated Tess so badly that her actions had forced her into a prison cell?
"Where is she now?" Gandalf asked, his wizened old eyes watching the Warden carefully.
"Several of my men were able to restrain her long enough to apply manacles, they are on their way to us now-,"
"Manacles!" Naomi cried in outrage as she stared at Angbor, who calmly gazed back, his bleak grey eyes dark like unyielding iron.
"She's not a criminal!" The blonde woman stated crossly, her nails digging into her palms as she balled up her fists.
"Mayhap not, but Lady, you must understand that this friend of yours is no easy person to escort, she has more stubbornness than any mule I have ever worked with and she was speaking of murder as my men retrieved her,"
"Murder?" Gimli spoke for the first time, his voice startling Naomi as he came to stand beside her.
"Aye," Angbor confirmed, his eyes shifting from the Lady to the Dwarf.
"Murder of the Steward in fact, though why she would wish such a thing is beyond me,"
"Not beyond me," Naomi heard Pippin mumble in an almost inaudible whisper. A quick look at the Hobbit made her frown, she hadn't ever seen Pippin so displeased about something as he was now.
"Still, I do think that iron bindings are a necessary precaution," Angbor said as a loud rap on the double doors to the front of the hall snapped everyone's attention.
"Enter," Gandalf's voice rang out and not a moment later did the two double doors swing slowly open. A box of eight soldiers made their way into the hall, three across the front and back with three down either side. The man that stood in the middle of the front row was a scraggly thing, his blonde hair even more grayed than Angbor's. The doors closed behind the small company with a resounding boom before the Warden addressed the ragged man.
"Baranor, good of you to join us; were there any problems?"
"My Lords…and Lady," he said with a quick bow to all before addressing his superior.
"No sir, in fact she has been startlingly placid," He reported as he moved to the side with a little grin on his face, revealing the person standing in the middle of the armor clad men.
Naomi's jaw hung limply as she took a shuddering intake of air.
Standing within the confines of the seven remaining guards was the small form of Tess, a previously blue dress barely clinging to the woman. A wide split ran up the length of her right leg, showing the pale flesh beneath along with blue, black and yellow bruises. Four long horizontal gaps in the left side of the torn bodice revealed her ribs and four jagged scratches that were bright against her skin. Her head was bowed as she stared to the floor, eyes hidden beneath her messy fringe. Naomi's heart constricted in her chest as she spotted the iron manacles around her friend's wrists, a small length of chain holding together her tightly fisted hands.
"T-!" Naomi's mouth moved…but Tess moved faster.
The room watched in shocked silence as two of the three guards behind the woman were floored, the third crashing into the one on Tess' left as she spun to the man on her right.
The chain between her wrists flipped around the back of the guard's neck and she tugged down, bringing his face down to meet her raised knee. He cried out as his nose broke; blood gushing immediately down his face as his eyes watered, effectively blinding him of her. With two steps she was behind him and with a harsh shove he collided into the two other guards that had been on her right. Naomi felt a scream rise in her throat when a sword was unsheathed. Although, she reflected later on, she wasn't sure if it was her friend of the guard she was more worried about at the time.
The hideous grating sound of metal on metal resonated through the hall as Tess used the chain between her manacles as a block against the sword, and then used it in offence as she wrapped it around the blade and twisted the handle from the man's grip. Completely ignoring the now disarmed man she turned for the last standing guard and ran at him, using her procured sword against his and pushing him back in surprise. Before he could retaliate she spun around him, dropped the sword and hurtled straight at Baranor. In seconds the thin man was pushed against a near-by pillar with the chain between Tess' hands pressed tightly against his throat, her fists resting either side of his head on the cool marble.
"He's not here where is he!" She demanded ferociously, the man trembling beneath her grip as she pressed the chain closer when she received no answer.
"I can't kill him if he's not here so where IS he?" She was almost screaming now and Naomi felt her blood chill at her friend's words.
"Where is Denethor!" The poor man was spared from her rage as Gandalf answered her in a carefully neutral tone.
"Denethor has passed on," the wizard's voice seemed to reach her in her animalistic state as her head snapped over to him in surprise.
"Wh-what?" Her eyes were wide and perplexed, her hands slowly relaxing against Baranor's neck.
"Lord Denethor is dead; he passed near three nights ago,"
Naomi sat still and silent, as she had since the doors had first opened.
"He's…dead?" Tess had turned completely away from the fearful man, standing stiff whilst intently staring at Gandalf, processing his words.
"Yes," At this conformation she seemed to sag and her gaze went to the floor briefly.
"Dead…," she muttered under her breath before looking back up and around her, as if taking it all in for the first time. When brown eyes locked onto blue, Naomi had the strangest feeling that she was being looked at as if she wasn't real.
Out of nowhere two guards smashed into Tess, pushing her to the ground.
"Stop…stop!" Naomi's cracking screams were joined by the others in the hall.
"She is not going to hurt anyone!" Legolas said jumping to his feet and striding forward a few paces.
"Leave her alone!" Came Pippin and Merry's protests as they too moved forward several paces.
"She is not resisting!" Éomer cried as he made to go to her, stopping when the Warden's hand rested on his arm momentarily. With a quick hand movement the men stopped and moved back from where they had been pinning her to the ground. Naomi had expected to have to watch some sort of gruesome retaliation as had been witnessed moments early in Tess' attack on them. A kick to the shins, an attempt to sock one of them in the face.
Something.
Anything.
…Nothing.
The woman moved her hands in preparation to push herself up, the manacles clanking against the stone floor with an eerie sound in the otherwise silent hall. Whatever strength she'd had earlier had left her and instead of sitting up Tess simply lay still against the marble. To everyone's surprise it was the Warden that walked over to the woman, taking the loop of keys from his belt before bending down and releasing Tess of her confines. Still she did not move, even as Gandalf came to kneels beside her.
"You and your men may leave us," The wizard said with a stiff nod the Angbor.
"Yes, Mithrandir," With a quick bow the Warden walked back to his men, Baranor following but giving Tess a wide berth as he went. The nine men filed out of the hall and the doors closed behind them with soft boom.
"Come," Gandalf whispered as he softly gripped Tess' arms. She visibly flinched away from him, a loud jagged inhale prompting the wizard to soften his hold on her even more.
Naomi couldn't blink as she watched her broken friend.
"Y-You…," words wouldn't form right as at last Tess sat up with Gandalf's help. Brown eyes were glazed over, seeing some other time.
"I w-was going to die…the o-orcs w-were going to…I-I couldn't…," her voice was cracking and her hands were clenching and unclenching as she gritted her teeth. Her shoulders heaved and suddenly Tess was crying, silent tears rolling down her grimy cheeks.
"You idiot…," Wet lashes lifted and she looked to Naomi in surprise, who sat with her hands curled tightly in her lap.
"Wh-What…?"
"You are an idiot!" The screech echoed in the hall as Naomi glared hotly, her bottom lip quivering.
"You are a stupid, dense, IDIOT!" Her face was going blue as she tried to control all her emotions while Tess looked back innocently, eyes wide and glimmering with tears like brown diamonds.
"You run off to do some stupid suicide mission and then everyone thought you were dead and now you crash in here like some half dressed idiot saying you were scared you were gonna DIE and…and-! Well you know what! I don't care!" Naomi had to take a gasp in to stop her tears.
"Go die and go back for all I care!" She screamed in frustration, fumbling numbly for something to throw at the awed woman. A stray tear escaped blue eyes as she swallowed back a sob.
Sudden laughter filled the hall and Naomi's glare turned to a concerned frown. Tess' eyes were closed as her chest heaved, a smile plastered across her face.
'She's actually lost it!' Naomi panicked. The laughter subsided as her friend finally pushed herself to her feet, albeit needing Gandalf to help with the process.
"You knew, didn't you? You always knew that I'd see you again," Using the heel of her palm she wiped away her tears, sobbing and laughing at the same time as more tears rolled down to replace those taken away.
"Of course I knew! God you're so stupid! Now get over here and gimme a goddamed hug before I deiced to kill you myself! Moron!"
/\\
Naomi was woken up when the sun was just below the horizon, the first gold light of morning peeking through the grey of dawn. The same maid that had been attending her for the past few days had roused her from sleep so that she may eat something before Aragorn called together their companions for counsel.
Despite his best efforts, Aragorn knew he would unable to convince Naomi to miss the counsel and said instead that if she wished to be part of it she was to be fed and dressed, not to mention she had to be on time. So she had sat up and a tray was placed in front of her.
'I haven't had breakfast in bed since forever,' she had thought as porridge, a thick slice of bread and a mug of something sweet was placed in front of her. She had rather hoped that the smell of food would wake Éowyn from her deep slumber, the other woman had barely even moved the past four days. Éomer had come in from time to time when he could spare it and the maid had told Naomi that he asked of his sister often.
"To lose his uncle and his dear sister in the same day would 'ave most likely shattered him," she had said shaking her head before leaving Naomi to her meal.
Blue eyes strayed to Éowyn's form and she sighed.
'Wake up soon my friend,'
The last of her porridge was just disappearing behind her lips when there was a knock on the door.
"Ma'am?" The door opened a crack and after a brief look at Naomi's bowl the maid entered again. Ioreth, she said her name was, had a quick fingers and an even quicker tongue. Naomi on more than one occasion had to twist her mind to figure out the meaning of the old woman's words as she said them so fast and changed from one subject to another in the blink of an eye.
"It's time for you to be dressed, else you'll be late to the consul with the King," She swept passed and took the empty tray from Naomi's lap, placing it on a table before going to the closet on the other side of the room and sifting through it.
'King…that's right, Aragorn is going to be King…and now Éomer since his uncle is gone and…Legolas will be one day too,' she thought as she waited patiently.
'I wonder…is Gimli going to be a King as well?' the strange thought turned over in her head as she pulled the sheets away from her legs and turned to the side.
"How's your wound treating you? Does the dressing feel at all unstable?" She asked as she helped Naomi to her feet, letting her rest a hand on her shoulder as she kept the weight off her left leg.
"Not at all, if anything its keeping my leg warm," Naomi joked, Ioreth missed it completely as she slipped the pale lavender under dress over the young woman's head.
"I will make sure there are more blankets on your bed when you return, my lady, last thing we need is you catching a cold," Ioreth helped her to sit again on a stool and laced up the back of the dress tightly. Next on was the rich purple over dress which surprised Naomi, it was more like a tunic really, the way it fell to her knees instead of her feet.
'I suppose it makes sense that Gondor and Rohan have different fashion sense,'
With the two layers and a pair of canvas shoes on she was ready to go.
"Here you are dear; this will help you walk," Ioreth tucked a wooden crutch under Naomi's left arm before stepping back to observe her work.
"Fit for a woman going to counsel," The old lady smiled before ushering the blonde woman out the room. It was slow going at first as she learned how to steady her gait, but by the time she had reached the hall it was getting easier.
"It is good to see you up and walking again," Aragorn's voice reached her as Ioreth bowed before leaving.
"It's a pain in the butt really," Naomi muttered as she blew a loose strand of hair from her face, her weight heavily against the crutch. Legolas was by her side to help her sit on the steps of the dais once again, kissing her forehead gently before going to stand by Éomer.
"Good mornin' to ya lass," Gimli nodded at her, his pipe hanging from his mouth and a cloud of smoke around his head as he sat lounging in the Steward's chair.
"Good morning, Gimli, comfortable chair?" She asked smiling, to which the Dwarf grinned back.
"Aye, Faramir had better keep a whether eye on it," Idle chatter ceased as Gandalf entered the hall, Tess following closely behind.
"G'morning," She murmured as eyes fell onto her. She was pale but clean, her short hair brushed back neatly with her bangs falling into a messy line along her brow.
"N-gaah…you look like the living dead," Naomi commented as the other woman tugged on her grey tunic. The ashy colour did nothing for her complexion and just made the bruises and scrapes stand out even more. But despite all that Tess smiled, wincing only a tiny bit when the split in her bottom lip stretched.
"Living none-the less," With that said everyone's attention turned to Gandalf and the gathering started their consul.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," The wizard stated gravely as he paced almost impatiently.
"The darkness is deepening,"
"If Sauron had the ring we would know it," Aragorn said flatly as he stared at one of the many statues in the hall.
"It is only a matter of time, he has suffered a defeat, yes but…behind the walls of Mordor, out enemy is regrouping," Naomi jumped when Gimli spoke up from beside her, his voice ringing out strongly.
"Let him stay there, let him rot! Why should we care?" The pipe was placed back in his mouth and Naomi turned to see what Gandalf would have to say.
'It's not like those forces will stay there,' she thought dejectedly.
"Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," Gandalf's reason made Naomi swallow hard, the image of Frodo and Sam entering all their minds.
'That is a fairly valid point as well,'
"Surely there is some sort of passage to Mount Doom from Minas Morgul? If they made it into Mordor unseen who's to say they are not too small to be seen now that they are right under his nose?" Tess spoke up, her arms crossed over her chest in thought. Gandalf merely shook his head and whispered softly.
"No…I've sent him to his death,"
"No," Aragorn said firmly but kindly, his arms falling to his sides as he turned around.
"There is still hope for Frodo, he needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth, we can give him that," Naomi's interested picked up at this new tone in the Ranger's voice.
"How?" Came Gimli's suspecting tone, his pipe coming up to his mouth again as this new plan Aragorn was thinking of was proposed.
"Draw out Sauron's armies, empty his lands…then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate,"
'What!' Naomi thought horrified.
Gimli choked as he inhaled his smoke too quickly.
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms," Éomer said, walking forward a few paces.
"Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us," Aragorn's tone was becoming stronger as he grew more sure of his plan.
"Keep him blind to all else that moves,"
"A diversion," Legolas said in simpler terms.
'This is crazy-!' Naomi thought as she understood what Aragorn was proposing.
"Certainty of death, small chance of success…what are we waiting for?" Gimli said around his pipe. Tess grinned over at him; indeed it seemed their company was constantly drawn to situations like this one.
"Sauron will suspect a trap," Gandalf said uneasily, voicing Naomi's own doubts about this plan.
"He will not take the bait," the wizard warned, but Aragorn was set completely on his idea.
"Oh, I think he will," he said with his own little grin.
The hall was silent for a moment before Éomer spoke up.
"As my friend, Aragorn, you succoured me and my people, so I will aid you and when you call I will go," He placed his fist over his heart and bowed deeply before smiling.
"I have no idea what succoured means, but I'm with Éomer," Tess piped up, shifting her weight onto one hip and raising her hand when several tried to protest.
"Save it! You can't tell me what to do," Aragorn, Éomer and Gandalf all sighed knowing it was futile. Gimli just chuckled.
"This is madness," Naomi declared, speaking for the first time.
"It's just as bad as Faramir's suicide mission to Osgiliath!"
"Well you don't have to like it, you're not coming any way," Tess said turning towards her friend.
"Oh to hell with that-!" Naomi began but was cut off by Legolas.
"She is right, you are still gravely wounded Melamin," His blue eyes locked onto hers and she felt her bottom lip wobble.
"I can't believe you're all going to leave me behind again!" She pouted miserably, looking up when Tess' hand dropped onto her shoulder.
"It's your own fault you keep getting hurt before major battles," She said teasingly but Naomi did not see the humor at this point and instead hoisted herself to her feet, crutch securely under her arm.
"Says the one covered in more black patches than a cow," She said hotly before hobbling away, her head held high to keep her dignity intact. Tess raised her eyebrows in surprise before shrugging.
"She has a point,"
/\\
Naomi spent most of her afternoon between walking and resting, determined to get her strength back as quickly as possible.
'Even if there isn't a chance of me getting to go…I can at least be prepared should there be an unexpected attack on the city,' she told herself as she wandered into the stables.
"Excuse me?" A nearby stable boy turned to her, a piece of straw stuck into the corner of his mouth.
"'Allo there Miss, 'ow can I 'elp you?" He asked pleasantly.
"I was wondering if a horse known as Hasufel has been found?" She asked nervously, looking at the horses around her.
"What's 'is coat colour?" He asked tilting his head slightly.
"Uh a dark chestnut, he came with me from Rohan," she added, thinking perhaps it might help.
"Hmm 'asufel from Ro'an, I think I may know of the one you're looking for," He said brightly, urging her to follow him deeper into the Gondorian stables.
"'Ere we are!" The boy said suddenly, turning to her with a grin as he stopped before a stall. Sure enough the chestnut warhorse stood silently there, his ears pricking forward at the sound of voices.
"Thank you," Naomi smiled and the boy left her to the horse.
"Hasufel! I'm glad you're alright," She said gleefully, leaning her weight on her right leg and raising her arm to stroke his velvety nose.
"You'll be pleased to know that we have located Tess and apart from her usual idiocy she's fine," The horse whuffed under her hand, nudging her to the right. A laugh escaped her as she looked to the horses in the next stalls.
To her surprise the first horse in the next stall was the black war horse she'd ridden during the attack of the Oliphants.
"My Phantom," She murmured. The stallion's head swung to the side immediately and suddenly Naomi was barraged with the whuffing of the two horses. In her laughter she lost her footing and toppled backwards into the hard leather of armor.
"Good afternoon,"
"Hello Éomer, thank you for catching me," She grinned as he pushed her up to her feet again, making sure her crutch was securely under her arm.
"No trouble," he replied once he was sure she'd remain upright.
"What are you doing in the stables, if I may ask?"
"I just wanted to see if Hasufel was okay, I was knocked from him during the battle and had to ride Phantom instead," she told him, stroking the side of Hasufel's head.
"Phantom?" Éomer asked in confusion.
"Yeah, I don't know his real name I'm afraid," she explained, motioning to the black stallion behind her. Immediately Phantom nudged the side of her head, nibbling on her hair as if recognizing he was being talked about.
Éomer's eyes immediately widened.
"My Lady, as a woman from the west I would not think you to have noticed, but that horse has the blood of Mearas within him,"
"Wh-huh!" her head instantly snapped to the midnight animal her eyebrows arched high.
"B-But I thought you couldn't ride them unless you were….you know….Gandalf? O-Or at least the King of Rohan…and I'm neither!" She squeaked suddenly very nervous of the horse at her ear.
"I do not think he is a fully Mearas, perhaps sired by one," Cautiously Éomer held out his hand and after a brief investigation the horse went back to whuffing at Naomi. With that cleared passed Éomer moved to rub down the animal's neck and side slowly and deliberately.
"He is only young still, strong and healthy," Methodically the man circled the horse, checking every inch and listing the things he discovered to Naomi. The whole time Phantom was calm, brown eyes watching Naomi as his ears flicked around to where Éomer stood. At last the man stood beside her, his gaze awe filled.
"He is a beautiful creature,"
"You have a good eye, Éomer," the pair turned to face Gandalf as he walked towards them, a soft smile on his face.
"Gandalf, can you explain this…?" Naomi asked, thoroughly confused as to how she had been able to ride this animal. The note that he had been saddled with a bridle also bewildered her, were the Mearas not supposed to reject riding equipment?
"He indeed has mearh blood within him, but only partially," with a little grin he looked at Éomer, who had been right in his estimation.
"I believe this is Feldorelóf, something of a descendant to Felaróf," Gandalf said as his hand brushed the animal's neck gently.
"Felda-what and Fera-who?" Naomi asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Felaróf was the first of all Mearas, intelligent and long-lived as any human and capable of understand the speech of men, he was but a wild foal when he was captured by Léod, father of Eorl the Young and tamer of horses," Éomer explained, the knowledge of his ancestors passing on to Naomi.
"Though no one could tame the horse, Léod attempted still to mount him and was killed when the stallion threw him," Éomer's hand unconsciously reached to stroke the animal's neck, his gaze locked onto the big brown eye of the horse.
"Eorl, vowed to avenge his father, commanding Felaróf to serve him as wergild for his father and Eorl rode him without bit or bridle into the perilous Battle of the Field of Celebrant where he came to the aid of Gondor and was granted lands in Calenardhon for his brave efforts by Cirion, Steward of Gondor at the time, Eorl led the migration of his people to these great pastures.
"He then swore an Oath of Eorl to Cirion, sworn by he himself on behalf of his people and heirs that if Gondor was attacked the Rohirrim were bound to come to its aid under the pain of falling into shadow and becoming an accursed people, in return the Steward Cirion granted the province of Calenardhon to the Éothéod to form the Kingdom of Rohan, the borders of that kingdom were established and Eorl the Young became the first King of Rohan.
"When Eorl died, Felaróf was interred in his burial mound as he too passed with his Master and Friend,"
Naomi blinked as Éomer returned to the present, a sheepish smile on his face. She was about to say something when a small bout of clapping interrupted her.
"That has got to be one the most interesting history lesson I've ever had," Sitting on a stack of hay not ten meters from them was Tess, her legs crossed over one another and a cheeky grin plastered on her face.
"Glad you enjoyed it," he all but mumbled to her as he turned back to stroking Feldorelóf.
'Is he…blushing!' Naomi was about to ask when Tess suddenly jumped up from the hay stack and walked over to them, brushing off the back of her pants.
"Ioreth sent me to find the two of you, I have good luck to find you both in the same place," With a nod hello to Gandalf she turned her attention to Naomi.
"Ioreth wants you back to bed so that you may rest before supper, although she is glad you have done some walking today," With giving her a chance to talk back the brunette turned to Éomer excitedly.
"Your sister has woken up! Scared the ever-living crap outta me and Merry, but that's not important, what's important is that you come and see her!" Tugged on his arm she walked backwards, an eager smile on her face. With brief parting words to Gandalf and Naomi he turned and quickly followed the short woman out of the stable.
Naomi rolled her eyes.
"So," she said with a deep sigh, turning back to Feldorelóf who nudged her patiently.
"Apparently you are descended from someone pretty important," She laughed, rubbing his neck passionately.
"I came upon Shadowfax in a time when I required his service, perhaps Feldorelóf found you for a similar reason," Gandalf told her with a gentle smile before he too parted with a nod of his head.
"Well Felderlelof….Felledarlof…Feld-You know what? I'm just gonna stick with Phantom," Naomi muttered as the horse nuzzled against her cheek.
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Author's Babbling:
Heeey, so if any of you have read the Lord of The Rings books (which, if you haven't, you should go do whilst waiting for the next chapter of Frontline XP) you may have noticed that I blend a little of it into the movie verse. I just can't help it, the book and the movie are so different and I really like to highlight points in the book that make a LOT of sense in regard to my story ^^
Some of you also may have noticed that two of the characters in this chapter are ACTUAL characters in Lotr, although I changed them a tiny bit to suit my needs haha
Ioreth- Wise-woman of Gondor that worked in the houses of healing and has a tendency to talk, in fact chatters Aragorn's ear off as he's trying to save Faramir in ROTK in the book (love that book)
Angbor- Actually the Lord of Lamedon (Lamedon….really? Lame-don? I'm sorry Tolkien but that name just makes me laugh) during the War of the Ring, although his name really does mean 'Iron Fist' so I decided to use him as the Warden because…well….it made sense :P
Baranor is also mentioned as the guy Tess scares the crap out of….but he doesn't seem all that interesting to be honest and that's why I used him (oh I'm such a user)
To read more about Angbor or Baranor go to heeeeere:
.#Other
It has lots of things about lots of Peoples in Lotr if anyone is interested ^^
Éomer's little history lesson came from WIKIPEDIA (I love that website 3)
Love you all
Until next time
AxM
P.S. I MADE LEMBAS BREAD TODAY! IT WAS AMAZING! XD