Jinxed

Chapter Nine - Gondor Calls For Aid

Aragorn sits some short ways from Gina as she lies in the grass letting out a sound of pain every so often. He flicks the grass stem in his mouth to the other side as he chews on it thoughtfully.

Gina lets out a last groan then sits up clicking her tongue to bring Indigo's attention to her. Aragorn stands as she grabs onto Indigo's mane. "Are you feeling better now?" He asks Gina as she slithers onto Indigo's back.

Gina lets out an illegible mutter as she slumps over Indigo's neck "No" She hisses "But I don't feel worse" She offers him a hand.

Aragorn surprises Gina by taking the hand offered to him, most men she met were disgusted by her 'Womanly problems.' Even she was sometimes disgusted by Aunt Flo. Together they rode back to the town, Brego had followed Eomer home or had gone off by himself, Aragorn wasn't fussed about his whereabouts.

"My apologies for not thinking to include you in the meeting we had before" Aragorn breaks the silence as Indigo walks over the grassy plains "You are a valued member of this Fellowship and your opinions matter" Gina turns her head to Aragorn, her eyes moistening.

"Really?" She asks her throat tightening, no one had ever told her that she was valued for being who she was and not a burden.

"Really" Aragorn confirms causing happy tears to fall from Gina's eyes.

~

Aragon sits on the stoop of a house near the edge of the town, Gina sits beside him munching on a loaf of bread. The entire inside of the bread had been picked out and only the crust remained. Aragorn watches as she tries to pry out more of the inside of the loaf before eating the crust.

Aragorn looks away for a few seconds to the hills, a flicker of fire caught his eye and he stands looking at the hills to verify what he saw was in fact real. And in a split second he ran. Gina looks up and sees the flame, then drops the empty bread crust and sprits after Aragorn. "Please don't run!" She calls after him.

Aragorn throws open the doors and runs up to Théoden, with Gina not far behind him. "The beacons of Minas Tirith, the beacons are lit" He calls skidding to a stop in front of Théoden, Gina running into his back. "Gondor calls for aid"

Every one begins to gather around and Gina can see Théoden think about the pros and cons of not going to Gondor's aid. "And Rohan will answer" Is the King's final decision and Gina sees Aragorn breath out in relief. "Muster the Rohirrim"

Very quickly all the able-bodied men are tacking up their horses and Gina is still struggling about which saddle belongs to Indigo. Eomer, who had come back on for Firefoot's bridal, saw Gina struggling and grabs a dark oaken saddle and beckons her outside.

Gina follows quickly, glad for the help she has weaselled out of Eomer. Eomer slings the saddle over Indigo's back and buckles it up for Gina.

A few horses over Aragorn is checking over his gear while watching Gina strap a jewelled dagger to Indigo's saddle. He is distracted by Eowyn walking past with a horse. "You ride with us?" He questions, glancing back at Gina who has found Gimli and is helping him mount his horse, Legolas nowhere to be seen.

"Just to the encampment, it is tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men" Aragorn's attention is brought back to Eowyn and he spots a glint of bronze from under the horse rug, he lifts it up to reveal a sword, and grimaces. He can do nothing to forbid her from going into battle, Gina on the other hand he could prevent from fighting, as she was in his care. "The men have found their captain, they will follow you into battle" Eowyn puts the blanket back over the sword "Even into death, you have given us hope" The woman then leads her horse off and Aragorn is left standing alone, until Gina comes up to him.

She grins down at him. "Now is the hour. Riders of Rohan" Eomer calls out and the pairs attention is drawn to the front gates "Oaths you have taken, now fulfil them all. To Lord and Land" And with a flick of his heels Firefoot darts out of the gate, the riders following their leader.

~

Gina rides beside Aragorn through the day, deep in thought she doesn't speak a word, Aragorn knows that she wants to join the battle, but what he doesn't know is she is trying to compile words to explain that he is her Cordë. And what she doesn't know is that he already knows, that is why he has decided that she must not fight.

They ride through the lower encampments, people calling out numbers and names from the organised chaos. Théoden leads his troops to the top of the mountain that the men gather before. Gina rides Indigo to a line of horses and alongside Aragorn they untack their trusty steeds. Aragorn, still mulling over Gina walks off while the woman struggles with her saddle.

"You know Indie, this is why I ride bareback, no hassle of saddles" She grumbles as the saddle falls heavily into her arms. Eomer, who had been seeking her out quickly takes the saddle he had helped hoist down and walks off with it. He doesn't like it here. Gina follows him, with Indigo's blanket that Eomer had purposefully dropped to make it seem like Gina was needed. He had spent a month in close quarters with the girl and he knew what made her mad.

Legolas walks past with Gimli at his heels, looking around as some horses' spook "The horses are restless and the men are quiet" Legolas says to Eomer who waits for Gina to put down the saddle blanket before plonking down Indigo's heavy saddle.

"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain" Eomer explains walking towards Legolas and Gimli who look to a dark path, shrouded in mist.

"That road there. Where does that lead?" Gimli questions and Gina begins to bounce up and down on her feet.

"I know this one, I know this" she exclaims, Eomer looks in the direction Gimli was referring to. He puts a hand on Gina's shoulder to calm her hopping.

"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain" Legolas explains.

"None who venture there ever return, that mountain is evil" Eomer then turns to Gina and beckons her away. The two walk to a group of women and Gina glares up at Eomer who looks unapologetic. "We need all hands-on deck for dinner" he explains, "And you do the best stew I have ever tasted" Gina looks down abashed.

"Fine, I will cook. But you owe me for this" She growls out gently, taking a seat by an empty pot. And she begins to work with the women around her who aid her in everything she needs. They all have tasted her stew and want to get on her good side as to perhaps learn how she does it.