As Gwin and several others stay behind in Edoras, things are not as calm as she hoped. There is still tragedy to be found.

Chapter 132

Sure enough, Theodred, King Theoden, and the Rohirrim set out for Isengard shortly after my conversation with Halbarad. It broke my heart a little to see Elladan and Elrohir ride away from me, along with so many of my friends. I feared they would die in a hopeless battle against a fearsome enemy, but I had to stay strong and believe they would succeed.

To my surprise, instead of staying put to defend the city, it was determined that Eowyn would soon evacuate the majority of the citizens of Edoras to a safe haven called Dunharrow. It was to the South, up high on a hill. It just so happened that it was near the Paths of the Dead, which was the route Aragorn was considering. We would then wait for word from King Theoden as to how their own battles fared, and what would be done next. However, it would take a few days to prepare the Rohirrim to gather all of the belongings and supplies they would need, so we would be protecting the city and the vulnerable citizens within it. It was possible Saruman would send a force here directly, skirting past Theoden's own army and assailing the city. We needed to be ready in case it happened. The force left behind was a skeleton crew, but at least there was some form of defense.

Eowyn was busy trying to organize everything, but I could see a tightness behind her eyes. I knew she was unhappy being left behind, when she wished more than anything to fight beside her family against the enemy. She had been perplexed at my choice to stay in Edoras, instead of joining the departing army, but I didn't have the heart to go into much explanation. Truly, I didn't have the words to completely describe my reasons; I just knew that it was the right decision to stay behind this time.

The problem was that Eowyn had a deep-seated need to fight, and a small settlement called the Entwade was rumored to be under attack. "We must ride to their aid," she said firmly, a worrying fire in her eyes.

Golodir and I looked at each other uneasily, as we both happened to be in the Mead Hall when she made this declaration. "Whom will you send, my lady?" a nearby guardsmen asked.

"I will lead the soldiers," she stated, ignoring the flabbergasted looks she received from those nearby.

"If you ride out, who will you leave in charge of Edoras?" I asked nonchalantly, trying to deduce if she had given this much thought. Her shifty expression did more than enough to confirm she was acting on impulse.

"I will leave the stewards in charge, for I will not be gone long," Eowyn replied. Said stewards looked uncomfortable at her decree.

One of them spoke up, "My lady, the people look to you for leadership and guidance," he said boldly, but not without kindness. "I fear if you leave now, they will feel as if you abandoned them on a quest for vengeance."

Eowyn's eyes flashed, and the man inadvertently took a step back. "It is not a quest for vengeance, Caelwed. There are innocent people in danger and in need of our protection. We can escort them back to Edoras, where they will be safe."

"Edric made it sound like all was lost, and the battle finished," Caelwed countered, continuing with his argument despite Eowyn's warning glare. I knew that Edric was the Thane of Entwade from my brief study of the lands around Edoras.

"Edric tried to kill me in his despair; I cannot put my trust in his words," she said sharply, and I raised my eyebrows, not knowing about this attempt on her life. "I must see for myself."

Knowing he had been beaten, the steward bowed, "Very well my lady, I will make the preparations." Candaith looked unimpressed at Eowyn's behavior, but did not comment. It was not our place to argue with her leadership decisions. She whirled away from us and rapidly made her way towards where I assumed her rooms were located, likely to retrieve her gear and weapons.

"I believe she is capable of being a good regent, but she is letting her desire for battle overcome her logic," I said honestly.

"Perhaps this matter can be dealt with quickly, and she can return by sunset," Golodir mused with a sigh. "I can tell the people of Edoras are feeling overwhelmed and scared about the future of their lands and livelihoods."

Things were very uncertain, to be sure. "I hope that Theoden and his armies succeed, but I fear for them. Saruman is a powerful enemy."

"Does Saruman have much knowledge of how to lead an army?" Golodir asked. It was a valid question. The wizard was crafty and intelligent, but likely was not learned in the art of war. Uruks and orcs will do what they're told if they are promised some sort of reward, but organizing troops that are perfectly happy with both killing the enemy and each other, sounded like a challenge.

"Let us hope he does not," I replied with a shrug, thinking hard. "Do you think I should go with Eowyn? I do not know if she has the battle experience to fight off a potential army of brigands or Uruks."

Candaith, who was nearby, frowned and said, "I thought you wished to stay out of battle for a little while."

I shrugged, feeling the familiar battle fatigue creeping into my bones, but I pushed it aside. "I do not know what Eowyn will find when she arrives at this village." I lowered my voice, casting my gaze around to make sure no Rohirrim were within hearing range. "Brave she may be, and I am sure her soldiers are capable, but I have more experience. It might be helpful to have another who can fight along, especially another woman." She would perhaps feel less offended than if a Dunadan man insisted on coming.

"You would need to ask her first," Golodir cautioned. "I doubt she would take kindly to you tagging along without leave."

"She is not our liege," Candaith argued.

"I would not want her to be offended or feel I was demeaning her without asking first," I replied with a heavy sigh. I could tell she was a prideful woman, which was not necessarily a bad characteristic. It lined up with the little I had observed of the Rohirrim in general. They had needed to work hard for their lands, both to earn them and keep them safe, and they were proud of their accomplishments. Saruman threatened to take those lands away from them; they would fight hard to protect their people. "I will see what she thinks."

Timidly, I approached Eowyn, where she was saddling up her horse in the stables. "My lady, may I join you on your journey?" I cast my gaze down, as to show her due deference, and I could feel her eyes on me as she considered my offer.

"What do you have to gain from coming?" she asked shrewdly.

"I wish to help in defeating the enemy, wherever I may," I murmured. "It has been my mission most of my life. Saruman has done me great harm, and I wish to hinder him and destroy his minions." I knew this would align with her own beliefs about the wizard, considering how much he had harmed her uncle, the King of Rohan.

There was a lengthy pause, and I resisted the urge to fidget. "Very well," she declared grimly. "I will not say no to another sword, especially of one so accomplished." I risked meeting her eyes and was graced with a shadow of a smile. "It also helps that you are a woman; there are too few of us female warriors." She could not know that there were many female warriors in Elven companies; more than a third of those in the Guard were Ellyth, but I did not find it necessary to mention in this moment. "But none of your Ranger friends may come."

I furrowed my brow, disagreeing with this proclamation but unsure if I should bring it up. She had a peculiar look on her face, and her gaze was of one who's thoughts were far away from here. I wondered what she was thinking of. She blinked twice and focused on me once more. "This is a Rohirric mission. One more warrior will not hurt, but we do not need the Dunedain to swell my company."

I wished for Candaith to come, but I reminded myself that I had survived well on my own for centuries without him by my side. It would likely be a very short journey, and if I needed him, it would take him little time to meet us in Entwade due to its close proximity to Edoras. "Very well, my lady. Will we be off soon?"

She nodded quickly, casting her eyes around the stable. "Do you have a steed of your own?"

"Prince Theodred loaned me a horse, but I would not consider it to be mine," I replied. "I will take any you have to offer on this journey."

"Very well," she huffed, taking in the horses around her. "I will ask the stablemaster to find a suitable mount." She then strode away, her readied horse gazing at me calmly before turning to munch on some hay.

In short order, I found myself in the saddle on a lovely grey mare, which painfully reminded me of the steed I had been riding before I met Candaith for the first time. She had died a brave death, fighting the wolves which had been chasing me as I ran for my life. I blinked rapidly, clearing the sudden wave of tears from my eyes as I made my way over to Eowyn and the small company of Rohirrim who would be coming. Candaith smiled tightly as I spotted him, clearly nervous about my departure.

He reached up and grasped my hand, entwining our fingers together briefly. "Be careful."

My lips curled up in a smile, "I always am." He rolled his eyes, and I reveled in the small victory of banishing some of his worry.

A short time later, I was riding off with Eowyn at the head of the company, and me at the rear. My bow was strung and ready, in case we came across enemies on the plains, but I could see none within sight. Eowyn looked fierce in her armor, a heavy-looking helm covering her corn-colored, long hair. A sword that looked a little too long for her was strapped to her waist, and a shield with a horse on it across her back. Galloping north at speed, it only took about 5 hours to reach what I was told was our destination.

It was eerily quiet as we approached. The usually fast breeze had diminished, and the air was still and heavy with something.

I gasped as the town came into view, and heard a heart-wrenching cry from one of the soldiers.

Bodies were strewn throughout the village. Houses were burned to the ground, some of them still smoking. The wooden barricades were completely destroyed, and the walls around the town knocked down. The enemy must have moved on quickly after their assault.

"I did not believe him, when he approached me last evening," Eowyn said softly, nearly a whisper in the still air.

"Did not believe who?" I replied, just as quietly.

"Edric," she muttered, eyes haunted. "He threatened to kill me, for allowing this to happen to his village." She swallowed thickly, blinking rapidly. "I had hoped there were survivors, or the battle was still ongoing, and that his grief had overblown things."

Despite what was clearly before me, I dismounted and made my way through the bodies to look for survivors, and I heard the others hesitantly do the same. When I beheld the dead, their pale, sightless eyes gazed at me, as if in betrayal. I reached out with a trembling hand to feel a woman's brow, and it was startlingly cold; she must have been slain many hours ago. Luckily, nothing had desecrated their bodies. Makes them easier to identify.

My head whipped up as a shout was heard across the main square. A soldier was crouched by the remains of a burned home, looking inside at something. Eowyn strode over quickly, speaking rapidly in Rohirric, and I followed more slowly. After a lengthy moment, a young boy crawled out from beneath the crumbling ruins, accepting the help of the soldier. The child was white as a sheet and shaking, covered in ash and blood. Eowyn swiftly removed her own cloak and draped it over the boy's shoulders, who then buried his face in her tunic as he cried. She kept him close, shielding him from the view of his fellow townspeople who had fallen, murmuring what I assumed were words of comfort. This seemed to put a fire under the soldiers, and they searched with more urgency for additional survivors, with me beside them.

My heart nearly stopped as I faintly heard the cries of a baby nearby, and I sprinted towards the sound, leaping over fallen barricades and other debris. Inside one of the still-intact guard towers, someone had placed a bassinette, and an infant looked at me curiously with red eyes, tears still on her ruddy cheeks as her cries quieted. Without thinking, I picked her up gently and made sure to pull my cloak about me so she was covered. She had wisps of blonde, curly hair peeking out under a knitted hat, and a similarly designed blanket tucked around her. "Hello gwinig," I whispered, my own tears welling up. She babbled something unintelligible in reply. If not for her round ears, she looked almost identical to how my younger sister had looked when she was born, and it brought the old pain of her departure back sharply.

I startled as another person came to my side, and I was surprised to see Eowyn reach out and squeeze my shoulder gently. "Another child, orphaned by war," she said sadly. "I know the feeling myself." She did not elaborate further, and I did not ask. "No other survivors have been found. I hope she has family in Edoras, but I find it unlikely."

"Perhaps her father is in one of the Eoreds?" I asked hopefully.

Eowyn shrugged, "We will have to wait and see. She will come with us, and a suitable guardian will be found until we can investigate further." She was gripping her sword absently, and I wondered if she was upset there had been no enemy to fight. "I am leaving some soldiers behind to lay these Rohirrim to rest, in the ways of my people." I wondered what she meant, but before I could ask, she walked away towards the horses.

"Well, tithen pen," I murmured. "It looks like you will be coming with me for now." Eowyn had brought a wagon for any survivors, but it was much too big for the small boy and baby, so the lad was seated in front of one of the Rohirrim. His face was blank, and he clearly was still in shock. I rigged up my cloak so the baby was bundle securely against my chest, and we set off once more, wishing to return to Edoras before losing the light.

The hopeless battle in the town of Entwade hit me really hard the first time I played through it. So many people died, and although Eowyn and I did fight some enemies in the game, we were too late to save anyone. The tiny town stood no chance against the Uruks which ride around on black horses, shooting everything in sight. It was a little draining writing this, because I had connected a little too emotionally with the citizens of the town, for I had helped them with some menial tasks before I had moved on to Edoras. The Rohan quests are not for the faint-hearted, and the game does a good job portraying how dire things are.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and leave a review if you'd like.