Hello everyone!

Double update month indeed and right before I reach the craziest part of the month before the kids go back to school. Next month will have some downtime eventually so I'm hoping to be able to get writing again decently. Hope you're having a great August and enjoy the update.

Lots of love,

LSH xxx

A Wild Heart – Part 26:

Éowara was quiet as they rode to Torsbury with a message for Torferth from Fríthild. They would be making a brief stop there before heading through the Stonedeans to stop at Isengard for the night in the company of the Ents before carrying on their journey.

Aragorn watched her as they rode and tried to read her as he'd often done but she was not travelling in a dress this time. She was wearing clothes like the ones she'd worn into the Battle of Pelenor Fields, minus the armour part as there would be no need for that. The journey would take them though Dunland and Aragorn had made sure that Éowara was wearing a symbol of Gondor and not Rohan. The Dunlandings were something that Éomer would have to contend with and he would advise the King on that during his return journey after he and Éowara had been through the region observing things.

The arrival at Torsbury was quiet but they had been expected as Torferth and Lúfa swiftly arrived to meet them. Éowara dismounted and spoke to Torfeth.

"A message from Fríthild," she spoke, "I believe it has to do with the appointing of the new Thane for Oserley," she added before Lúfa gave her a warm hug.

"May Gléoda swiftly carry you North," she smiled as she looked at her husband and Aragorn discussing something, no doubt the recent events that had transpired in the Broadacres.

After there had been a few more discussions had been had, Éowara remounted Gléoda and she and Aragorn swiftly left for the Stonedeans. They wouldn't be stopping there but they soon had entered the Riding and carried on along the road towards Woodhurst, the main town of the Stonedeans, where there was a path behind the Mead Hall that would lead them to Isengard.

"I suspect you know about the Ents from Merry," Aragorn said, "you may even have met them… I have never asked you," he added as he looked at her, waiting for an answer.

"The answer is one that you will already know Elessar," Éowara spoke as she kept her eyes on the road ahead, "I have indeed ventured into Fangorn Forest and caught sight of the Ents… have I spoken to one, however, is another matter entirely."

"That is the first time in a while you have called me Elessar," Aragorn spoke as he looked at Éowara and chuckled softly, "I don't feel I shall ever adjust to that name being used for me," he said.

"What did you think…? Back then when you first saw me and Éowyn stood inside Meduseld…" the woman asked as they finally approached Woodhurst.

"I was the only one who had seen you both and I did wonder who you were. You both looked like daughters of Kings and yet I could not understand where you both laid in the Golden Hall of Meduseld until your Uncle told me."

"That is why only you looked at us when we were told to go inside after Mithrandir had freed Uncle. You were the only one who'd sighted us," Éowara spoke as she looked at Aragorn with a sigh, "why didn't you speak to us?" she asked.

"Because that was not the moment to speak with you both," Aragorn spoke as he looked back at her, "I saw you two and you looked grave and thoughtful, as you both looked on the king. Éowyn's eye were laced with cool pity and yours were tinged with sadness and loss. You were both very fair in your faces, and your long hair were like a river of gold. I thought you were both slender and tall in your white robe girts with silver; but strong you both seemed and stern as steel, daughters of kings. Thus, I for the first time in the full light of day beheld Éowyn and Éowara, ladies of Rohan, and thought you fair, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring that is not yet come to womanhood. Of course, that was true for you, which I was not aware of at the time. I did not have an idea how old you and your sister were."

"I have always wanted to ask that as it has been on my mind since the end of the War of the Ring," Éowara spoke as she looked ahead again.

"You looked like daughters of Kings which made me think you were related to king Théoden," Aragorn spoke.

Éowara nodded as she led the way through Woodhurst, people nodding at her in greeting before the two passed the Mead Hall and she led the way to Isengard. Even in the Stonedeans Éowara was recognised. Aragorn didn't ask how she knew the way. He suspected that she knew the ways through places that he thought she didn't.

"When you leave who will be keeping an eye on me? Do not lie as I know that you will have people keeping an eye on me," Éowara spoke as she looked at the King of Gondor.

"Calenglad returned to Evendim. He and Orchalwë will be keeping an eye on you and assisting in whatever way they can," Aragorn spoke, "I also have Halbarad as your second-in-command and he will assist you as well."

Aragorn noticed a slight reaction from Éowara as he mentioned Halbarad and he wondered what had caused that reaction but that would be something for him to ponder during his time in Evendim when the three Rangers would be with himself and Éowara for a time.

"Halbarad will be traveling with us from Rivendell to Evendim," he said and all he got in response was a simple nod, "my fair lady I know that you are denying yourself the reaction that you long to show. I seem to remember you and Halbarad spending some time together after the Battle of the Morannon when you were in the Houses of Healing and at mine and Arwen's wedding. I have noticed, Éowara, and the betrayal in your heart as you struggle to understand the swirling storm of emotions in your heart."

Éowara stopped still, Gléoda sensing her distress at the truth had stopped as well. She looked at Aragorn before silently urging her horse on and away from Aragorn. She was on the way to Isengard but she was certainly not going to confirm Aragorn's suspicions.

Aragorn took off after her and eventually managed to grab Gléoda's reins and slow the horse down before the two horses stopped still on the path that led to Isengard.

"Just let me go… please…" Éowara whispered as she looked at Aragorn, "I would never betray Boromir. I loved him… I still love him," she spoke, her voice shaking as she looked down at the black path beneath her.

Aragorn wanted to give her a hug but he didn't. That could wait until they'd set up camp in Isengard. It wasn't too much longer and they were riding through the gate and towards the Ents who were busy repairing things still.