Aravan {A Lord of the Rings Story}

S•E•V•E•N

A/N: I'm not exactly proud of this chapter. I feel like it was choppily written, but I don't know how else to make it fuller or better because of what takes place. I hope that you will still enjoy it. I promise that future chapters will be better written. :)

The video linked to the right is a cover done by the wonderfully talented Sherlockian_221B :) 

S•E•V•E•N

Éowyn returned to the great hall upstairs. King Théoden and Gandalf were speaking to one another in low voices, their eyes serious and hard.

‘Éowyn,’ Théoden declared upon seeing her. ‘What have you done with the girl?’

‘The women downstairs are taking care of her,’ she replied. ‘What do you plan to do about her guide?’

‘We will leave as soon as we can,’ he said, glancing at Gandalf. ‘We will bring him back to Edoras if we find him.’

‘If?’

‘We cannot be sure that this girl is telling the truth. She was hesitant to tell us her name and she doesn’t even know the name of her guide.’

‘She explained why she doesn’t know.’

‘I am just taking precautions.’

‘I believe her.’

‘I’m not saying I don’t believe her. I am fairly confident that she is telling the truth; I don’t believe anyone could fake such fear, and she is wounded. But in these times, you never know who could be playing with you.’

She nodded. ‘I see your reasoning. May I come with?’

‘No, dear one. You must stay to take care of the girl. Gandalf and I will ride to Fangorn.’

‘If I may,’ Aragorn said, stepping forward, ‘I would like to join you.’

‘I as well,’ Legolas interjected.

‘Aye, and me,’ Gimli said.

Théoden stared at them for a moment, then nodded. ‘Very well. You will also join us.’

And so, it was settled. They would ride for Fangorn within the next hour. While Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Théoden, and Gandalf went to prepare for the journey, Éowyn returned downstairs to check on the girl. The women were still tending to her wounds. She was out cold. Éowyn frowned at her sleeping face. She didn’t look peaceful, like a sleeping person should. Her face was twisted into a grimace, and little beads of sweat dotted her brow. Éowyn gently placed a hand on her face, and her features relaxed.

‘My dear girl,’ Éowyn sighed softly. ‘Who are you?’

Meanwhile, the men were continuing to get ready upstairs. Aragorn was in the process of sliding his sword into his scabbard when he noticed a strange look on Legolas’s face.

‘What is troubling you, Legolas?’ he asked him.

‘There is something about that girl that stirs dread in me,’ he replied solemnly. ‘I do not believe her fate to be one of good fortune.’

Aragorn nodded slowly. ‘Then there is nothing we can do to stop it. The best we can do is find her guide and take care of her until she is well again.’

‘I suppose you are right.’

They finished suiting up, then went to the great hall. Once everyone was completely ready for the journey, they set out across the plains of Rohan. Éowyn watched them leave from the top of the stairs leading to the King’s Hall, the skirt of her long, white dress whipping about her and her hair flowing behind her in waves. She wore a solemn, concerned look on her face. She worried for the wounded girl downstairs, as well as for those who had set out on the journey to retrieve her fallen guide. The land was not the same as it had been before; it was dangerous and unpredictable, and unwanted visitors roamed it freely.