They were awake before dawn and set out early. Brenir yawned loudly beside her as she followed Boromir. She gave his head a little scratch and he leaned into her leg.
After lifetimes of walking, Boromir paused and Alarain ran into his back. Stepping around him grumbling, she too stopped. Brenir barked happily at the sight. There in front of them, was Edoras. The strange thing though, was the stream of people leaving.
"They must be emptying the whole city!" Boromir said in confusion.
Alarain turned to him. "Why would they do that?" she asked.
Boromir thought for a moment. "The only reason I can think of for them to leave like this, is if they knew an attack was coming."
Scanning the group, she didn't see their companions and her hope fell. Maybe they aren't here. Aragorn never said they would be though. He only said to come here, she thought glumly.
"We should go before they leave us behind." Boromir said, jogging off down the hill.
A guard spotted them and came riding forward.
"Halt strangers!" he said, voice stern and suspicious.
Boromir looked slightly insulted. "I am no stranger to Rohan my friend." he said. "I am Lord Boromir of Gondor, and I wish to know what's happening."
The man looked flustered. "Come with me." he ordered. "I will take you to the front of the line to see Theoden King."
Alarain's eyes widened. "The King?" she whispered to Boromir.
"Don't worry. I've met him before, and he is a kind man. Just make sure your arm is covered." he said quietly.
They followed the rider and he fetched them some horses. Her horse was a beautiful bay mare, and climbing on, Alarain felt happiness take over once again. It had been so long since she had been on a horse and she cherished her time on the great beast. She glanced over to see Boromir mounting a handsome chestnut stallion that pranced with energy.
Another Rohirrim guard joined the first and they lead them along to the front of the line. Brenir ran along side her horse as they went and it looked down at him curiously. Her heart fluttered with nerves as they neared the lead horses. I'm about to meet Theoden King! I'm about to meet a king! There he is!
One of the men leading them rode ahead to tell the king and she saw some other riders behind him that looked familiar. She saw the man speak and as he did, a rider beside the king turned to look back. Her heart soared when she saw it was Aragorn. And behind him were Legolas and Gimli sharing a horse! The guard lead them to the king's side and, bowing his head, left.
"Aragorn?" Boromir said in surprise as he brought his horse up beside the ranger's.
"Boromir! Alarain! It is good to see you two!" he smiled while Legolas and Gimli let out similar greetings.
Theoden was on Aragorn's other side and he looked over. "Boromir." he smiled. "It has been a while since I last saw you."
"Yes, it has. I must ask though, what is happening? Why is your city being abandoned?"
The king's face went dark. "The enemy is near and I cannot risk being caught in Edoras when he attacks. We are making for the fortress of Helm's Deep. The walls have never been breached, and there, we will survive. If we stay here, we are sure to die."
Boromir was stunned. "That is not good news..." he said.
Aragorn moved his horse so Boromir could speak with the king and rode up beside Alarain. "How are you?" he asked. "You didn't run into any trouble did you?"
She smiled. "The only trouble I ran into was with Boromir."
"What do you mean?" His voice was hesitant.
"He wouldn't let me move for days!" she exclaimed. "He was too scared that you would slay him if we left before I was strong enough." Aragorn looked at the ground, and his mouth twitched. "What?" she asked.
He smiled slightly, looking back up at her. "Who knows. Perhaps I would've."
Alarain rolled her eyes. "Sure." she replied sarcastically. "What happened Aragorn?" she continued. "Did you find Merry and Pippin?"
Nodding reassured her that they were fine. "They're safe with... a friend."
"You know me well enough that I'm not going to let you leave it at that." she glared.
"They are with an ent in Fangorn." he said, watching for her reaction.
"What? Fangorn Forest is dangerous. And what in Middle-earth is a bloody ent?"
"Calm down Alarain. Fangorn is merely misunderstood. It's residents are quite nice. Gandalf assured me of that." Her eyes flashed to his. Gandalf? He smiled happily. "Yes, Gandalf. He is alive."
"How..." she stuttered as joy began to fill her heart.
"He fought the Balrog, and won. He died upon the mountain where he killed it, but was brought back." He interrupted her as she tried to ask something. "Do not ask me how he was brought back, for I do not know. He would not say. Also, Gandalf is no longer Gandalf the Grey. He is Gandalf the White."
Alarain stared at him in amazement. "Where is he?" she asked, brimming with curiosity.
"He is not with us. He departed shortly before we began to leave the city." the ranger told her. "He told me to look for his coming at first light of the fifth day. At dawn look to the east, he said."
She was quiet, but then, she broke out into a huge grin. "He's alive." she breathed.
Glancing back to Legolas and Gimli, they smiled when seeing the grin on her face and immediately knew what Aragorn had told her. Boromir slowed his horse to walk beside her and Aragorn.
"What is it?" he questioned when looking at her excitedly happy face.
She smiled. "Gandalf is alive."
"What?"
Alarain pulled her horse around to walk with the elf and dwarf as Aragorn told Boromir the news.
"How are you feeling lass?" Gimli asked from behind the elf as he glanced at her arm.
"I'm doing fine." she said.
Legolas spoke nonchalantly. "Aragorn was very worried about you."
Gimli snorted. "If we didn't keep pestering him to keep going, I swear he'd have turned around the minute you were out of sight." he chuckled.
Alarain blushed and looked down, trying to hide her face. "He can't have been that worried. No more than he was about Merry and Pippin."
Gimli let out another scoff. "Are you blind?" he asked. She sent him a confused look and he shook his head. "Oh, never mind." he huffed.
"Alright...?" she said slowly, still very confused. Legolas laughed from his place in front of the dwarf, but did not speak any more on it.
Raising her gaze, Alarain looked forward to see Aragorn watching her. She quickly moved her eyes and they landed on Theoden King. He was glancing back in between her and the ranger. She was about to lower her eyes respectfully when he motioned her forward. Alarain gulped and trotted up beside him.
"You must be Alarain." he said casually.
He know about me? A king knows about me! "Yes, your majesty."
"Please." he smiled. "Theoden is fine. I hear you are a friend of Gandalf."
"Yes, I am. I only just learned that he's alive. Up until now, I thought he was dead."
The king turned a sympathetic look to her. "That must have been terrible." he said. "You must be surprised to find him alive."
Alarain laughed, relaxing slightly as she spoke with the powerful man. "Very surprised, and excited. I cannot wait to see him." she said, staring off into the distance.
"I've heard a lot about you from your friends." Theoden said, looking over at her. "They say you are from the Riddermark."
She thought for a moment. "I'm not sure actually. I grew up here, yes. But I never met my parents, so I cannot be sure."
He nodded thoughtfully. "The colour of your hair suggests another lineage." he observed. "Do you know of any family?"
Shaking her head, she looked at the ground. "No. There is no one."
The king sighed. "You remind me of my niece. You should meet her." Alarain was surprised, and honoured to be thought of that way by this man.
Aragorn rode up beside her. "My companions and I were just off to look for her. I can take Alarain and introduce them." he suggested.
"Yes, of course. Go ahead." Theoden smiled. They turned their horses around and he called out. "I hope to speak with you again Alarain."
She nodded back as they cantered away. Boromir, as well as Legolas and Gimli followed and the dwarf complained loudly at the uncomfortable gait. Aragorn and Alarain exchanged glances as the dwarf called out some very colourful things.
"Sorry!" he yelled as they passed a group of women on foot who were looking particularly insulted at his choice of words.
Alarain laughed at the silly dwarf. They soon slowed when Aragorn spotted the woman they were looking for. The group moved their steeds and rode up beside her. She was a tall woman, with long flowing blonde hair that fell over her face as she shuffled around, helping where needed. She paused and looked up.
"Lord Aragorn." she said in greeting.
"Eowyn. I'd like you to meet my friends. This is Alarain and Boromir." he said, gesturing to them.
She bowed her head and Boromir spoke. "I've met you before, have I not?" he asked.
"Yes Lord Boromir. Though that was some years ago. I'm glad to see you're still alive."
"As am I." Boromir smiled, glancing at Alarain.
Eowyn turned to Alarain. "It's wonderful to meet you after hearing all about you milady." she said.
Alarain blushed. Did they really talk about me so much? "Please, call me Alarain. Would you like some help?" she asked when taking in the many heavy packs and baskets being carried around them.
Eowyn let out a breath. "That would be wonderful." she smiled.
Alarain dismounted and Aragorn took her reins. She walked with Eowyn for some time, carrying things here and there, and realized she really liked this woman. She was kind and quiet, but also had a feisty attitude and was very determined. They spoke of many different things, and Eowyn was interested to hear that she knew how to wield a sword. The woman just loved Brenir, and he enjoyed the attention.
After a while, Alarain found herself laughing along with Eowyn as Gimli told them of dwarf women. He was sitting atop her bay mare now, whose name she had learned was Fayna, speaking happily to the two women. The king had joined them and rode with Aragorn not far behind.
"It's true, you don't see many dwarf women." Gimli continued. "In fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for dwarf men." She laughed at that, wondering if their had been any dwarf women at the council of Elrond.
Eowyn glanced back at the ranger and he whispered playfully. "It's the beards" He gestured to his chin. Eowyn shushed him before Gimli heard, and turned back to the dwarf.
"This in turn had lead to the belief that there are no dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!" he said with a laugh. She and Eowyn joined him and he chuckled. "Which is of course ridiculous."
With that, the mare under him took off and he fell to the ground. Eowyn ran to help him, but Alarain just began laughing even harder as he spoke. "It's alright! It's alright! Nobody panic!" he said, rolling around on his back like a turtle who had been flipped and couldn't turn itself upright. "It was deliberate. It was deliberate." he insisted as Eowyn helped him to his feet. Alarain ran to assist as well before going to fetch Fayna.
The column of people soon stopped for the night as dawn began to fall. Alarain was giving Fayna a brush when the king walked over to her.
"That horse seems to have taken a liking to you." he said, coming up behind her.
She turned and bowed her head in greeting. "Has she?"
"Yes. Her previous rider fell in battle." Then he laughed. "He could not get her to stand still for a brushing." He gave the horse a pat and looked thoughtful. "Do you own a horse?" he asked.
Alarain had moved to do the mare's other side and looked over her back at Theoden. "No, I don't." she said.
"Well why don't you keep her then." he suggested.
She stared at him before remembering her manners. "Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course. As a gift from me, she is now your horse." he said, smiling as he walked away.
"Thank you!" she called after him. His response was a nod.
She gave Fayna a little hug around the neck and the horse snorted impatiently as her grazing was interrupted.
"What has you in such good spirits?" Legolas asked over the horse's back as he passed.
Alarain grinned. "The King of Rohan just gave me a horse!" she giggled.
"Congratulations." he laughed, seemingly impressed.
"Her name is Fayna." she said, admiring the bay.
Legolas stroked her neck and she let out another snort. "She sure is a beauty." he said, eyes moving across her.
The elf then turned his head and laughed at what he saw. She followed his gaze to see Eowyn speaking with Aragorn. He had a bowl in his hands and as she walked away, he attempted to spill the contents onto the ground. She turned back to him and he quickly brought his bowl back to his lap. Even from the distance she was at, Alarain could see him wince as the hot liquid stung his hands. She snickered as he was forced to eat the whole thing.
"A word of advice." Legolas said. "If Lady Eowyn offers you stew... decline." he chuckled, watching Aragorn as he finished it off.
She giggled. "I think I'll take that advice."
He bid her farewell and left her to finish brushing the dirt out of Fayna's coat. Brenir lay on the grass nearby and the horse flicked her tail as she watched him carefully. Alarain yawned sleepily and decided to go in search of some food. She made sure to avoid Eowyn as she left.
Hay all! See what I did there! Horses eat hay. Get it? No? Yes? Oh well. Anyways, I put this at the end so you meet Fayna before reading it. I posted more links to pictures that look like her on my profile page. You can go check them out to see how I imagine her to look... or... you could just imagine her as a purple donkey with red horns, a blue nose and a orange striped tail for all I care. But you don't really want to do that, do you?