Chapter 4: We're Being Followed
In all my life, I don't think I ever felt so strange, seeing horses grazing in the field below us. I had expected to have to carry Beinion all the way to Edoras (wherever that was) and spend the night in Middle Earth. To tell the truth, my feelings were unreadable and strange. I felt happy, yet I also felt like I had fallen off a cliff and wondered if I would even be able to mount a horse in my current state. I watched Hallath run to the edge of the rise and slowly make his way toward the horses. He came upon a large brown horse standing to the edge of the herd. He had gently approached it and reached out his hand to stroke the creature's mane.
Then the worst happened. In a flash Hallath was on the ground and the horse was raging towards the young boy again. I practically flew down the hill and before the horse could run at Hallath, and put myself in the space separating them. The horse was bucking and reared up. I was scared and I no longer knew where Beinion had gone, or whether he was safe. The horse kept rearing raged, whinnying with fury. I ran to the side of the horse (the stupidest thing I could have even thought of) and began stroking the mane and reaching my arms around the horses neck. I heard myself mumbling strange words and the horse calmed under my touch. I finally released it, backing up to look at it. I sighed heavily, kind of shocked at what had just taken place. The horse shook his head and snorted, coming forward and nuzzling my shoulder.
"Brego," I breathed quietly, "Your name is Brego." I turned and gasped as I found that Hallath was lying sprawled out on the ground no more than fifteen yards away with Beinion bending over him, crying. I rushed to them, my heart in my throat.
"He's not breathing!" Sobbed Beinion and wiped his nose on his already dirty sleeve.
"Shush," I snapped, near crying myself, "He's going to be fine. Just help me lift him and get my pack, there's water in it. Wait, never mind, I have my pack." I mumbled a few other hurried and strange phrases, not keeping track of anything that issued from my mouth.
I pulled the half empty water bottle from my pack and hurriedly opened it, flinging the cap to one side. I opened his mouth and poured in some water.
"Hallath, come on, wake up!" I said, tears issuing from my eyes, "Oh, shit, shit, shit, shit shit! Why did I refuse to take lessons in CPR? I'm so stupid, but then, I didn't know that I'd get stuck in Middle Earth and have to save Hallath. Oh, if only…I don't know. And now he's probably dead and it's all my fault----Hey, don't laugh Hallath! Because of me you're dead! Wait," I blinked and stared, confused, at Hallath, sitting up and opening his eyes, "You're alive! Thank God! I….you….YAY! I think I'm going crazy, but you did scare me half to death. Are you okay?" I finally finished my crazy ranting and looked him over.
"Yes," he answered, sitting up all the way, "What happened? Did you get the horse?"
"You were kicked, and yes, I got the horse." I answered and looked up at the grazing horse, noticing that it was close to sunset, "We should go, I don't want to meet up with a band of orcs. C'mon!" I got up and went to the horse, Hallath and Beinion following. It raised its head and I mounted it, helping Beinion and Hallath on after me.
We made our way down the next rise and started toward the mountain they told me was Edoras. I held Beinion on in front of me, fearing that he would fall, and Hallath sat behind me, holding on with all the strength he could muster. I started the horse at a fast pace and for the first time in a while, felt the freedom you can only feel on the back of a horse. Suddenly, I felt Hallath whisper in my ear, "Something's after us."
I inhaled a long, shaky breath and looked behind us. Sure enough, I could make out four riders approaching from behind, making a half moon shape. We were being followed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Don't you just love cliffhangers? Sorry I made it so short; I was at a summer camp all week. Snore! OOOOO Sorry, I'm really hyper (bounces in chair) I just had a full bag of skittles and two sodas. Don't tell mommy. Anywho, I'll try to update soon, and I'm also writing another story, which you should read, if you want, and I'm going to a wedding. I should stop writing before I bore you all to tears. Please, please, please read and review! (Gets down on hands and knees) Okay, thank you all, oh yes, and have a nice day, or night, or afternoon. Again, don't mind my hyperness, please R&R:)