Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 19: Knight in Riding Armor

Abby's POV:

I sat beside a small fire that Éomer created for me with a blanket wrapped around me and a horse laying behind me. In my hand was the Lothlórien leaf brooch. I refused to set it down and lose it, it is the last thing of Cathy's that is left. Éomer explained that the brooch fell off one of the bodies when they were lugging them to the fire and a few men noticed that it looked a lot like mine, so they held on to it for me.

I looked up at the midnight sky. There wasn't a single cloud in sight, and the stars shone brightly. It's only been a few hours since Éomer gave me Cathy's leaf brooch.

Éomer apologized over and over again for him and his men's lack of attention. He almost got as upset as me. He made sure that I was receiving the greatest of care and made camp a couple miles out from where they burned the Uruk-Hais' bodies. Yeah, apparently they're not specifically orcs. Uruk are bigger and meaner and uglier than common orcs. Éomer corrected me when I was telling him how I was being held prisoner by the orcs.

The horse nuzzled my side, making me smiled and pet his neck.

"Donovan has taken a liking to you." Éomer came over and sat beside me so he could pet the horse as well.

"Well, I also like Donovan," I smiled at the horse. The horse nuzzled me again like he was happy that I liked him. "Is he yours?" I asked Éomer.

"No, my horse, Firefoot, is with the other horses."

"Then where is his rider?"

"He was killed when we fought the Uruk-Hai," Éomer answered quietly. "As of now, Donovan has no rider."

"Aw, poor boy," I leaned in and lightly kissed the horse's muzzle. "What is going to happen to him?"

"We will find a new rider for him. Although, sometimes we may not have a say in the matter."

"Why?"

Éomer smiled. "Sometimes, a horse and a rider can have a strong bond and the two cannot be separated. I have seen a bond between a rider and a horse so strong that when the rider dies, the horse is so heartbroken that it dies along with his rider. A bond can be formed the second the horse and rider see each other. However, Donovan and his previous rider did not share a bond. And I believe Donovan is looking for his rider."

"Do you think he has someone in mind?"

Éomer studied me and nodded with a small smile. "Most definitely."

I smiled back at him and continued petting Donovan's neck. I secretly hope that Donovan has his eyes on me.

"How are you feeling, my lady?" Éomer asked for the hundredth time.

"I'm... Alright for now. And I told you to call me Abby. I'm not a lady."

"Well you have the beauty of one," he said, then his face suddenly went a couple shades redder. "I am sorry. I should not have-"

"Lord Éomer," I interrupted. Thankfully Donovan's muzzle is hiding my blushed face. "It is alright. I thought I would be more broken up about Cathy, and I was for a bit, but I think I'm just numb now and just need a friend."

"Donovan is a trustful friend," Éomer pointed out.

"I see that," I smiled at the horse. "Although, I wouldn't mind your company as well, Lord Éomer."

Éomer smiled and nodded. "Would you like any food or water?"

"Water, please."

Éomer nodded and left. I hid back a smile. So maybe the guy killed my best friend. But in all honesty, he was a total hunk with a huge heart and if I wasn't in such a depressed state, I would be hitting on him faster than you can say 'rider'. I want to hate myself for being like this; I should be mourning for my friend but instead I'm fighting the urge to flirt with my knight in riding armor.