Aralas Love Story

Book 2 Chapter 1- Riders of Rohan

We were running. We were running without stopping. My eyes were red and puffy from crying at night. I knew Ada and dad were concerned about me, but they didn't bring it up which I was happy about.

Dad was currently laying on the rocks his ear pressed to the earth "Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent." he said and got up running again. "Come on Gimli!" Ada encouraged him.

I don't know how, but as we've been running Ada and Gimli have become fast friends "Three days and nights pursuit. No food, no rest, and no sign of our quarry, but what rock can tell." Gimli complained.

As the hours passed on they ran farther, dad kneeled down spotting something on the ground "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." dad stated "They may yet be alive." he said and I smiled at the hope of seeing Merry and Pippin again.

"Less than a day ahead of us. Come!" dad said and started running off again. I looked behind me to see Gimli rolling down the hill "Come Gimli we are gaining on them!" Legolas called out as he continued running.

I ran back to Gimli to pick him up and help him run with me "Why are you so full of energy lass?" Gimli asked and I laughed and answered "We'll be seeing Pippin and Merry again!" We came upon a hill that looked upon a grassy plain.

"Rohan, home of the horse lords. Something is strange at work here. Something gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us." dad breathed. Ada ran down to get a closer look "Legolas! What do your elf eyes see?" dad asked

"The Uruks turn northeast. They are taking the hobbits to Isengard!" Ada shouted "Saruman." dad breathed out and I inhaled sharply.

We ran well into the night, until the Uruks stopped. We decided to stop and rest. As we gathered around the fire I played with my necklace while crying yet again. "Hey." dad said softly as he lay next to me "You ok?" He asked and I nodded

"Just thinking." I said as I stared at the fire and he nodded. I sighed and yawned before snuggling into dad and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Aragorns pov

I smiled as I watched my daughter fall asleep. I got up and sat next to Legolas and he put his hand on my torso and pulled me closer to him "It's not your watch you should go to bed." he said, but I cut him off with a kiss.

The kiss was passionate and I pushed Legolas onto the ground while kissing him. His hands were on my back and I moaned. We were cut off by Gimli snoring loudly. "Go to bed." Legolas said softly while smiling

I smiled and we both sat up. I kissed him once more before I lay back down next to Hope falling asleep in just a few moments.

Hopes Pov

I woke up in a cold sweat to find that the fire had died down and Ada was asleep which meant that it was dad's watch. I rubbed my eyes and walked over to dad and sat down putting my head on his shoulder.

"Can't sleep again?" he asked me and I nodded and sighed. He put his arm around me and looked down at me in concern "You're sweating! Are you ok?" he asked as he put his hand on my forehead to check my temperature.

"I'm fine. Just had a nightmare." I said "Do you want me to wake the others?" dad asked and I nodded "I want to save Pippin and Merry. I miss them" I said to him and he nodded in understanding.

Dad woke Gimli and Ada up and we continued running. As we were running Ada stopped when he saw the sun rise "A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night." he said

We continued running until dad hid behind a big rock and we followed suit. I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of nature. I finally heard the sound of hooves and a moment later riders on horses came riding over the hill.

Dad walked out and called out "Riders of Rohan! What news from the mark?" we watched as the leader led the riders back around and we were soon trapped in a circle. The man who led the riders came up to us "What business does a man, a elf a dwarf, and a girl have in the riddermark?" he asked "Speak quickly!" he demanded when no one answered 

"Give me your name horse master and I shall give you mine." Gimli spoke up and Aragorn put his hand on Gimli's shoulder "I would cut off your head, dwarf if it stood but a little higher from the ground." the leader said, but as he said that Ada drew his bow "You would die before your stroke fell." Ada retorted

Dad stepped in front of Ada and lowered his bow "I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, Gimli son of Gloin, Legolas of the Woodland realm, and our adopted daughter Hope. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden your king." dad said

"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. Not even his own kin." the rider said removing  his helmet "Eomer?" I asked somehow recognizing the man in front of me and he looked at me as if he were recognizing someone or something "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan and for that we are banished. The white wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say hooded and cloaked and everywhere his spies slip past our nets." Eomer told us as he pointedly looked at Ada

"You look like your parents." Eomer said suddenly to me and my head shot up "You knew my parents?" I asked and he nodded, dad interrupted me before I could ask any more questions "We track a party of Uruk hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive." dad explained to him

"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night." Eomer said to us and I buried my face in Adas chest "There were hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?" Gimli asked urgently "They would be small only children to your eyes." dad explained

I tuned out the world again. All I could think about was Merry and Pippin and how I might never see them again. I was brought back into reality  when dad, Ada, and Gimli started to climb on top of horses. I climbed on the back of dad and we rode to where the carcasses were.

All I could do was hope. Hope beyond belief that they were alive.