Journey to the North (Sequel to Rangers of the North)

Chapter Five: Edoras

Averael pulled her cloak tighter around her as they rode. It was chilly now that it was evening. The Eastfold, one of the ranges in Rohan, was only a few days away. They planned to stop in Edoras for a few days as well before continuing on. She glanced around them. To the south lay the White Mountains of Gondor, and behind them to the east lay the Ephel Duath Mountains of Mordor. Minas Tirith was hard to see against the white granite of the landscape, but she could see it. Her eyes rested on the mountains far in the distance behind them. 

Mordor was little more than an ashen landscape since the fall of Sauron. Small bands of orcs still wandered about, but King Eomer's riders were quickly dispatching them as they hunted them out. Most of Sauron's evil creatures still lurked in Mordor among the ruins and volcanic overflow, and though Aragorn had established a heavy guard on that side of the city, no harm had come to the people. 

She still worried about the city. Ciranor's death hadn't been explained, and though Baldor was a good and educated man, she felt bad for making Eowyn and Faramir stay. They were such good friends and people to her and Aragorn.

A hand rested on hers, and she turned to look ahead of her again, smiling at Aragorn. "It's still so far away," she mused, looking out. 

"I'm sorry I've kept you away from home for so long," Aragon chuckled, squeezing her hand before taking his hand back to shield the sun from his eyes. 

"I should have seen it coming," Averael laughed, "but you know me. I always think things will go smooth and planned. A proposal was never on my list when I decided to join Frodo on his quest." They both smiled at each other, remembering when they had met the hobbits and journeyed together with them to Rivendell where the Fellowship was formed. 

Her smile faded as she remembered the aftermath of the war. Frodo, along with his uncle, Bilbo, Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf, had all departed to the Undying Lands a year ago. She missed Gandalf greatly; he had been a mentor to her all her life. She missed Frodo too, and it would be hard to pass through the Shire without seeing him. She had no doubt she would see the other three. Legolas and Gimli were traveling Middle Earth, the closest of friends now. Though the Fellowship had broken long ago, she would always remember the unlikely friends she had made. 

The first few days passed uneventfully and Averael enjoyed talking with the two people closest to her to no end. A long journey wouldn't be the worst thing, she decided, as long as she could spend it with her husband and her brother. As they stopped and made camp one night, Averael and Eros laughed and recounted childhood memories while Aragorn began to make a stew. 

"How are mother and father, anyway?" Averael asked. 

"They're okay. They're staying with me and-- staying with me in my home for now. They'll be so surprised when I come home with you in tow- especially with a husband and baby on the way!" Eros nudged her arm playfully. Averael smiled, trying to look into Eros' complexion. He was hiding something from her, she was sure. 

"Perhaps with husband and baby, period." Aragorn said, coming up to them with a few bowls of soup. He handed one to Averael and Eros and they began to eat. "If Eowyn's estimate was right, we might be welcoming our babe before we arrive." 

Averael flushed and felt her stomach turn with butterflies. She was still trying to get her head around the fact that next time she was in Gondor, she'd have a toddler with her. She never really thought she would start a family of her own, and now she had, and there was no turning back now. 

The next morning she awoke from an already restless night with a horrible sick feeling. She rushed to the edge of camp before last night's stew made a reappearance. The nausea had been getting worse and worse lately, and this was no surprise. Aragorn was correct in lengthening the time it would take for them to arrive- along with not wanting to jostle Averael too much on a fast-moving horse, they had to stop frequently for her to relieve herself or to be sick. The sleepless nights only rewarded her with more fatigue and odd dreams, which didn't help the aches in her body either. 

She returned to camp and drank from her waterskin, feeling annoyed. Aragorn always acted like he had no idea what to do with her and she found herself wishing Eowyn was with them so she had a woman to talk to. She took a deep breath though, knowing her husband was doing his best and this was a first for both of them. 

Eros approached with a cup of ginger tea for her. He had started making it every morning, and it helped. He gave her a quick side hug as she took a sip. 

"It'll be worth it, I promise." Eros said. She smiled back at him, knowing he was right. She would likely forget about all the pain and fatigue the moment she had the baby in her arms. She laughed at herself. Here she was, not even three months pregnant, already dreaming of the babe. It would be perfect- starting a family in the home she had missed so much the past few years, with the love of her life... She couldn't imagine anything better. 

***

Within a few weeks they had reached Edoras, the capital of Rohan. Eomer greeted them personally as they arrived. Aragorn hopped off of Brego to give his fellow king a hug. Rohan and Gondor had been helpful and supportive countries since the war. Before, they had always been at wits with each other, but now when one needed help, the other was there. Aragorn and Eomer had become good friends over the years. 

Eomer stepped over and took Averael's hand, kissing it before finally formally bowing to the two of them. 

"It is good to see you, my friends. My doors are always open to you." Eomer said. He raised an eyebrow at Eros as he dismounted. 

"Eomer, this is my brother, Eros." She introduced. Eomer and Eros talked lightly for a moment while Aragorn helped Averael dismount. They had opted to change into formal clothing while they were in Edoras, and getting off a horse in a dress wasn't the easiest of tasks for her anymore. She was starting to show a baby bump just barely, but if Eomer had noticed, he didn't show it. They'd have to break the news to him later. 

As soon as she was off the horse, her eyes widened and Aragorn turned to Eomer. "Apologies, but the privy?" He asked. 

"Just inside, take two lefts." Eomer said. Averael smiled quickly in thanks and rushed off. 

When she returned the horses had been taken to be brushed and stalled, and the three men turned to greet her as she walked up. Eomer beamed at her. "I'm sure Eowyn had the best time breaking the news to you," he laughed. Averael rolled her eyes and turned to Aragorn. 

"You told him already? We're not even ten minutes into arriving!" 

"Actually I did." Eros spoke up sheepishly. Eomer laughed heartily and clapped Eros on the shoulder, turning to invite the three into his city. To one side of the city there was a field of earth mounds covered in white flowers. The former king, Theoden, was buried there along with his son. Eomer had done a wonderful job leading the realm in their absence.

"Sometimes I feel like you're more excited than I am, Er, and that's saying something." Averael teased her brother, taking Aragorn's hand as they followed Eomer to the Golden Hall. As they walked through the city, her eyes landed on a young girl, perhaps fifteen. The girl's eyes widened as she saw the four pass by, and she turned to the house behind her. 

"Eothain! Come see!" The girl screeched, and a boy about nineteen rushed out. "It's her! See?!" 

Averael frowned, looking at the two. She thought she recognized them, and the boy's name sounded familiar as well. She remembered suddenly, turning to the children and rushing over. "Freda, Eothain! You've grown so much!" She said, wrapping her arms around Freda. The two had been victims of Saruman's pillaging and Averael had helped them find safety before the Battle of Helm's Deep. She looked up to see an older woman with lines of worry etched into her face. She approached Averael with tears in her eyes. 

"I can never thank you enough for helping my children, my Lady." She said, taking one of Averael's hands.

"It was my pleasure. They're brave and strong children, raised by a good mother." Averael said, smiling at Eothain. Freda was excited to finally meet Averael again, but the boy seemed shy. He wrapped an arm around Freda as she ran to his side, and their mother gave her another look of gratitude before letting Averael go on her way. 

Seeing the two children be reunited with their mother had been one of her favorite parts of her experience in Rohan before. She could see herself and Eros in the two children, as close as they were to each other, and she could only hope to be as good a mother as theirs had been. Life had sped up so quickly and though it was hard to keep up, she loved everything about it.