"I am untouchable, yet present, unseen yet witnessed, and if not held will break. What am I?" Frerin asked, and the rest of us furrowed our brows, trying to decipher the riddle. Frerin had a subtly smug look on his face, knowing he was testing our skills with logic.
"Untouchable, unseen, but still held…" Vesper muttered to herself, a pair of fingertips pressed to one of her temples.
"There is an answer, right?" Fali asked.
"Of course there's an answer." Frerin nodded. "Just think about it."
"I am." Fali huffed.
"Then think harder."
Atticus looked over to Frerin seriously. "You're sure there is an answer for this one, right?"
"Yes Atticus, just think. It will come to one of you."
"Who's idea was it to have a game of riddles anyway?" Kien asked, also having bad luck.
"Gideon's, I believe." Tauris pointed it out.
I myself was having trouble with Frerin's riddle. "Is it a pause?"
"A what?" Frerin asked.
"You know a pause, as in silence, when two people stop talking for a moment it's real but not tangible and if you start speaking again it's broken."
"Very good…" Frerin smiled, to which I began to grin. "…but not what I was thinking of. Good logic though."
"I was sure you had it." Atticus said.
"I've got it!" Orian practically leapt up from his sitting place on a large, half buried stone. His remark was so loud it startled a small swarm of birds. "It's an oath, isn't it?"
"Correct." Frerin said, to which the rest of us groaned.
"You're the only one who's the master of this game, cousin." Vesper sighed.
"Fien's turn." Frerin turned toward the second eldest of us.
"Can we not just pass it on to Kien?" Fien asked. "I'm no good at coming up with decent riddles."
"Oh come on Fien, there must be some smarts in your head, besides iron work and furnace ashes." Kien teased lightly.
"Fine." Fien heaved a sigh above our snickering. After a moment of thought he said "If there is not enough of me, you burn, and if there is too much you still-"
"The cold." All of us answered in unison.
"How did you all know so quickly?" Fien said. "That one was actually clever."
"Tauris asked that one the last time we had a game of riddles." Kien informed him.
"I should have known it was familiar…" Fien muttered.
"Imitation is flattery, or so they say." Tauris shrugged. "Would you like to try again, or would you rather pass it on?"
"Pass." He immediately said. "Does anyone else have one?"
"I do!" Fali raised her hand.
"Then let's hear it." I said.
"You need me to live. Find yourself too far away and you will die. Touch me and you will die. What am I?"
"A woman scorned." Kien joked to Fien.
"It is not!" Fali smacked our cousin on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Kien, I was about to suggest the same thing." Vesper said.
"Vesper!"
"Well the end of the riddle certainly seemed to suggest that answer." Vesper replied.
"That's what I was thinking too." Orian said.
"It is not a scorned woman!" Fali snapped.
"We understand, Fali." Frerin said, and his words were followed by a silence in which we tried to think of the correct answer.
"Is it water?" Tauris asked. "It makes sense."
"Water won't kill you when you just touch it." Fali smiled. "Try again."
"Just to be sure, the woman scorned answer…are you sure-?"
"If one more of you brings up that answer…" Fali threatened.
There were a few more half-made attempts as to an answer, but none of which were correct.
"Do you all give up?" Fali asked.
Vesper had her eyes closed in concentration, and I screwed up my own eyelids. "Is it one of us?" Vesper asked.
"It may seem like that, but no, not in this case." Fali said.
"It's nice to think you need us close by to go on living." I said. Our friend, with her increased training for leadership of the south after her mother, had become a bit more distant, distracted. But it was moments like these, when we were peacefully together, that Vesper felt closer, and she was most like her outgoing father.
Vesper looked to me. "You all make good company." She said. "One man can't always stand alone."
"Wonderful, she still needs us, even when she's heir to an entire region." Fien said. "We're not forgotten after all." He joked, to which Vesper let out a light chuff of laughter.
"What do you think it is Gideon?" Fali asked. "You haven't suggested anything yet."
My eyes closed again, and I focused my mind as well as I could. Not to far away…not to near…never to be touched…needed for life. My eyes opened to the huge sky above.
/
"The sun." I said, my eyelids heavy.
"The what?" Gimli asked.
To have the lovely images of my friends, brothers and Fali, in the foothills of Erebor dissolve so rapidly into Gimli's face was jolting. I let out a surprised yelp.
"We came in here last night, finding you dead asleep." He smirked. "Not so familiar with ale, are you?"
"Have no worries, young man." Eomer passed by our doorway. "The dwarf had to be carried in here after the festivities."
"No one can keep their mouths shut…" Gimli grumbled.
I smirked. "I imagine our elven friend had very little trouble navigating his way through the halls last night."
"Where's Aragorn?"
"Out in the training grounds." Gimli said. "We could join him." He made to grab his axe, and I got up very quickly. Though it seemed a night's rest had restored Gimli to his senses, he still remained a very diligent instructor.
"No." I said, shaking my head. "There's no need. Aragorn is probably waiting for me now. It's been so long since he taught me anything."
"We wouldn't be bothering anyone." Gimli pressed.
"I should be going now." I said, searching for my sword. I practically leapt over the cot I had slept in to grab it from the other side. "I'll be off now." I bolted for the door. "I shouldn't keep him waiting."
"I thought you enjoyed the axe training."
"I did…I do…it's fine." I stumbled over my tongue.
"Then why-?" Gimli began to ask.
"Aragorn and I haven't had the chance to train in a long time."
"But-"
"Good bye Gimli." I said quickly and then I began to run down the corridor trying to find my way. The stone floor felt very cold this morning.
"Gideon." Eowyn spotted me in my mad dash away from Gimli and his axe training.
"Miss Eowyn." I nodded, keeping up my search.
"Where are you going?"
"Training grounds." I said. "Aragorn's there."
"You're going in the wrong direction if that's the case." Eowyn said, kindly pointing me in the correct direction, which happened to be the opposite way down the halls.
"Thank you." I changed directions.
"Where are your boots?" She raised an eyebrow.
I glanced down to find my feet bare. Well, t explained why the floors had been so oddly cold this morning. "I'm was running away from Gimli, before he had the chance to start training me the axe again."
I made to change directions again in order to fetch the boots. "No, allow me." Eowyn said. "I'll bring them to you in a moment."
"I think you've done enough for me over the last few days." I said. "Speaking of which…" I cleared my throat. "Last night when you were kind enough to guide me to my chamber and all…I was in quite the sorry state. I didn't mean to be so inconvenient or mistake you for my sister again."
Eowyn smiled at me, amused. "Enough. Off you go, before Gimli comes after you with an axe in hand."
I resolved to introduce Eowyn and Fali as soon as we were all reunited. They would get along like long lost siblings.
The training grounds, empty but for Aragorn's figure at the far end, were soon found. "Aragorn!" I called to him, and readied my sword.
"Master Gideon." He turned, a little surprised at my sudden appearance. His gaze dropped to my bare feet, and he seemed confused. Further inspection of my person revealed that my clothes were all out of sorts from having been slept in.
"Eowyn will be bringing my boots along soon." I said, smoothing out my tunic quickly. "I was hoping that we could train again. It's been a long time since I've practised with you."
"You are starting to sound eager." He smiled. He gazed away for a moment, seeming to complete a moment of reflection that I had unknowingly interrupted. "Come." He motioned me over. "Stand ready."
I stood before him, setting my feet apart in the earth, my blade held in front of me, across my chest. "Have you remembered what I've taught you?" Aragorn asked.
"I believe so." I nodded. Aragorn examined my stance, judged it as correct, and took up a stance of his own. "Fine then, you may begin."
I glanced over him for any place he had left open for me to strike. A knee slightly out of place or a corner of his torso left unguarded specifically for me to aim at. He never failed to point out what he had intentionally put in front of me if I missed it, or if I had taken too long to notice. Today he had left the space between two of his ribs open.
I sprung forward, swinging strong and on point, already knowing that he would block the attack, but quickly drawing back from his defense and striking again. Aragorn moved to the side a degree and changed his position, removing my previous target. I sighed internally, and quickly examined his stance again. The target had lowered to his left leg, near the knee. I aimed lower, but he threw me off, and just like that his leg was well guarded again, no second chance to try and get a strike in.
"I appreciate the realism…" I said, "but I still think a second chance is in order."
"Try again." He prompted me, which was his way of saying that he had left another target for me. I tried to find whatever spot was left open, but a few more seconds passed and then he struck back against me, with a force strong enough to force me backward.
"It was the ribs again." He informed me. I gave him a hard look that displayed just how unfair I thought it was that he had resorted back to the previous target. Normally he changed targets without repeating, and every time he pulled tricks like this it left me feeling cheated.
I was now faced with the challenge of winning back the advantage I had with making the first move. Aragorn refused to make it easy, one second trying to force me backward even farther, and the next attempting to throw the blade from my hand. He raised his sword high, and I flinched for a second under the oncoming metal. I raised my sword in defense, catching the blade, and holding it in a block for a moment where the two swords shook against one another as we both tried to throw the other off.
Thankfully, this was when I was able to gain some more balance, escaping the block unharmed and meeting the following strike in time. Our feet moved quickly, and I moved when he did, making sure that my sides were not left exposed as we traveled around the training grounds. Perhaps it was my dream from the night, but I felt as though my friends were right behind me watching, anxiously awaiting their own turn to spar in front of an audience.
I sighed internally. Finally I had grown enough in skill to match my friends and they wouldn't be able to see it for…weeks? Months? The very first thing I was going to do when I returned was go straight to my brothers and ask them if they had the time for sparring. They'd be surprised, as I had never been the one to suggest fighting in the past. Or perhaps I'd challenge Fali, and show her that she had no need to worry over me, and that I had finally grown into the potential our parents had spoken of in regards to me and my future.
The fight continued with Aragorn shifting the targets he left open for me frequently. I felt I was gaining on him at last, and finally caught him moving his shoulder, shifting to leave his side open, and finally caught him, striking against his side and stopping just short of actually injuring him. The one time I had caught his hand was enough.
"Well done." Aragorn nodded down at my sword. "I'm glad to see you do remember."
"If only someone had seen that." I said. "I would have given up all of my things as a child to have won like that in front of my siblings. I may have hated fighting, but I still had dreams of tossing Fali into the sand just once, or being able to rub a victory just a little into Fien's face."
"Hopefully you'll be able to do such things when you return home." Eowyn approached us. She had been silently waiting for the duel to finish at the far end of the grounds, my boots in hand. "It was a marvelous fight to watch." She smirked. "Sibling rivalry was just as common between my brother and I."
"Your skill is growing. We should continue your training, daily, if such a thing can be hoped for." Aragorn said as I tied up my laces.
"Why? Are we departing soon?" I asked.
Eowyn frowned at this news and her eyes looked over to Aragorn, and once again I saw an affection that she held for him, plainly in her gaze. Love in any form is difficult to hide. My mother had spoke of love as a lightening strike, hitting very fast and burning everything up. I could feel something akin to an ache in my chest when I thought of how hapless Eowyn had been to grow affection for someone who already held it for another. Classic tales always spoke of love being blind…clearly it was true. "You really do not mean to leave us?" She asked. "So soon?"
"No, we shall stay by the side of Theoden." Aragorn promised. "But I feel this measure of peace won't last as long as we wish. The enemy plots. It may be that we are fighting again, and soon." He turned to me. "Eat, Gideon, you must be famished. We may train later today. Seek me out when you can."
He left, probably to the council of Theoden or to find Gandalf, hoping to prepare for whatever was to happen next.
"He must make a good instructor." Eowyn said.
"He does." I nodded. "I'm grateful for the faith he has in me." I followed her gaze at my friend, until he disappeared from view. What to do about this? Aragorn must suspect it, and he had always been careful to not indulge her. But still her fondness for him grew. Surely he would speak with her at some point. But when? When she made some sort of confession?
I recalled having similar conversations with young ladies I had kissed in the back of the forge, and I realised I held no serious affection for them. I had tried to be kind. Some were teary, others understanding and some quite angry. I had hated the whole conversation and myself at those times. I despised hurting people.
No wonder Aragorn had yet to say anything. Eowyn had been a dear friend to us all, and a great leader to her people. She didn't deserve to fall victim to blind affection.
"Gideon?" I shook my head of it's musings at her voice. She laughed at me, lightly. "Come, I'll have you fed. Your mind is becoming light from hunger by the look of it."
I chuckled softly. "Thank you."
"What occupies your mind?" Eowyn asked. "Concern for what happens to us next? Your sister again?"
"No, not this time." I replied.
"A lady back home?" She grinned, amused.
"No, there is none. Only family and friends, though I must say I love them too." I thought to gently bring up Aragorn and Arwen, awaiting his return. "I am not like Aragorn. I only saw Arwen a few times, and rarely spoke with her, but I saw a conversation between them once. She has such faith in him, such remarkable love." I prayed my words would spark something in Eowyn, and make her come the realisation that Aragorn was already devoted to Arwen. Perhaps she would then let go of her fondness for him.
But I was just as hapless with my words as Eowyn was with her love. Eowyn frowned, eyebrows knitting closer together. "Yes. He is fortunate." She said shortly. I had only made her upset, which brought up the old feelings of breaking hearts and having to hurt people.
"Eowyn…" I said, gently. What was I to say next? I had improved much in terms of physical confrontations but conflicts with words still rendered my tongue a slab of metal. "Eowyn…I can't help but notice that…"
She looked at me, and I wished she hadn't. Her face said everything of how she felt. Disappointed, foolish, even a little angry at herself. I swallowed, averted my eyes, and finished, in a rush of words as usual "I can't help but notice that you seem to be quite fond of him." Somehow not using Aragorn's name made saying the words more bearable. "But…"
"I am aware." Eowyn interrupted me. "But he is his own man, he can choose who he…"
"He has chosen." I said, softly. "He chose before we even began this journey."
Eowyn's eyes flashed with anger, directed at me. "How can you speak for him? You have said so yourself, you have no one waiting for you back home. You have no idea of what love is like."
"You may not know all in the subject either." I said, trying to remain gentle in tone. "And likewise, you cannot speak for Aragorn." I went on. "Eowyn one day he will come to you and on that day he will tell you news you may not want to hear. "
Eowyn gave me a look that could have turned me to stone. She was holding onto the slightest of hopes in her mind, but in truth there was nothing for her to grasp. No doubt it made her feel as though she had been ignorant the whole time. Suddenly she quickened her pace and was flying off.
"Eowyn wait, please!" I tried to chase after her. I had said something wrong, I should have not spoken at all, I should have just let Aragorn speak to her when the time came and brought comforting words after it had happened instead.
"Until later, Master Gideon." She gave a curt reply, which told me I was no longer welcome to walk beside her, and that I would be finding my morning meal on my own. I sighed. She could have a hot temper too, like Fali, and I had stumbled on it.
"Perhaps it wasn't the sun, but a scorned woman after all." I muttered as I rubbed my temples.