The Edge of Night

Returning Home

He puts back on his gray cloak and starts leading them from the forest. "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. Your wish is about to come true, Elfwyn. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."

"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli exclaims.

"We briefly met with Eomer. My father is in worse condition than when I left." Elfwyn explains.

"Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf says, looking at her sadly.

"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested..." The trees start to groan loudly at Gimli's insults, causing him to look around, afraid. "I mean, charming... quite charming forest."

"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."

"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says with a smile on his face. "You still speak in riddles."

"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up... and find they are strong."

"Strong?! Oh, that's good." Gimli says, worriedly.

"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."

"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Gimli mutters under his breath, but Elfwyn and Legolas hear it and chuckle to each other.

They break through the tree line, back out into the daylight, and Gandalf lets out a mighty whistle. In the distance, a horse whinnies, galloping into view. "That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas explains. The most gorgeous white horse Elfwyn had ever seen comes to a stop in front of them, putting his head down for Gandalf to pet him.

"Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses... and has been my friend through many dangers." With that said, they take off across the plain, the sound of hoot beats thundering underneath them as they rode through much of the day, stopping only as the sun's final rays could be seen over the horizon.

After they set up camp, and decided who was covering what round of watch that night, Elfwyn settles into her sleep pack, allowing her exhaustion to quickly take her into the land of dreams. She opens her eyes and she's once more standing in the trees in Lothlorien, the city sprawling out around her. She smiles at the familiar sites and smells that she had grown accustomed to during their stay. "Elfwyn?" She hears behind her.

Turning around, she's face to face with Haldir. "So it is true? Legolas told me of this, before we entered the mines. How some bonded have the power to come to each other in dreams."

"I have been trying to reach out to you for days. A search party found the carnage at Rauros, but there was no sign of you, or the Ring-bearer."

"Much has happened since we left Lorien. We lost Boromir, in that carnage. Frodo and Sam have gone off on their own. Merry and Pippin are in Fangorn, on their own journey. And we... we are heading to Edoras... with Gandalf." He does not seemed surprised by this. "You knew he was alive." She says, able to pull it from his head, even without him saying the words out loud.

"We found him at the border, not two days after you left. He was half dead and delirious and it took the Lady much of her power to bring him back from death's doorstep once more."

"We are with him again, heading to my home. I fear for this next part of our journey Haldir. These are steps that will cause the ripples that will lead you back to me, and my vision becomes clearer and clearer with each passing day."

"Remember what we promised. Let us not worry about the future, not until it is here."

"But it will be here shortly. I am human, it is in our very nature to worry."

"Ah, but your husband is an elf, and he says that let what comes, come. Now, we do not know how much time we have. Let us spend it in each other's company." With that, he leads her into the talan and to his bed, holding her close as even her dream self drifts back off to sleep, the sound of his breathing in her ear, calming her in a way that had been missing.

...

The sun rises the next morning, and they set off again, the hilly outcropping of Edoras coming into view in just a few hours. They stop, looking out over the vista. "Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown." Gandalf says, looking to Elfwyn.

"We must be careful. Undoubtedly they will know we are here before we have even reached the city gates." She says.

"Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here."

"I would like to see them try and command me." She huffs before they take off again. As they get closer, she sees her cousin, Eowyn out in front of the Royal Hall. But when she turns back, she is gone.

"Princess Elfwyn, we had lost hope that you would return to us alive." The stable hand said as they left the horses in their care.

"I would never abandon my people to this treachery. I merely went out to find help." She tells, motioning around to the others. They quickly climb the steps up to the entrance, where they are met with one of her father's favorite generals, Hama.

"I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue."

"Am I still not royalty, Hama, that you would take orders from him over one from the ruling family?" Elfwyn asks, venom dripping as she talks about the man who forced her out of her home.

"We will adhere to his wishes, Elfwyn." Gandalf says quietly.

She growls but starts handing over her weapons to her guards, who at least had the decency to look ashamed as they stripped her of them. When it was all said and done, she was left feeling very open and vulnerable. "Your staff." Hama adds.

"Hm? Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick." Elfwyn and Aragorn cough to cover up their laughter. Hama was not convinced either but decided to let it be. Hopefully the wizard would be able to help them free the king. With a roll of his eyes he leads them inside, back into the halls of Elfwyn's childhood.