Lady Hope of Middle Earth

Chapter 18: Edoras

Hope's POV:

We begin walking. Gandalf throws a grey cloak on and it's almost like he's the same Gandalf from before. He's missing his hat though. "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed." He says.

"Edoras? That is no short distance." Gimli exclaims. "We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the King." Aragorn explains. I scrunch my eyebrows. When did they find this out? Must have been when I was off looking for Merry and Pippin on my own.

"Yes, and it will not be easily cured." He says. "Then we have run all this way for nothing?" Gimli asks. "Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested-" He is cut off my the groaning of the trees. "I mean charming, quite charming forest." I hold back a laugh.

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

"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says. Gandalf leans in. "You still speak in riddles." He says. I smile at this as Gandalf and Aragorn chuckle and walk up beside Aragorn. I clasp his hand in mine.

"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Gandalf says. I scrunch my eyebrows. Aragorn looks at and smile. He leans down and whispers to me. "Ents are the trees." I nod in understanding.

"Strong?" Gimli asks. He looks up and around. "Oh that's good." I smile. "So stop your fretting Master Dwarf." He says. With that we take off again. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact they are far safer than you are about to be." Gandalf says.

We finally make it out of the forest where we came in. The horses the others rode in on are still there. Once we're out Gandalf starts whistling. Aragorn goes over and grabs the horse he rode in on while Legolas grabs his and Gimli's.

I hear a hose whiney and turn to see a beautiful white horse galloping towards us. It reminds me of the unicorn all those years ago. I smile. "That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas says. The horse gallops right up to Gandalf and stops.

"Shadowfax. He is the Lord of all Horses. He has been my friend through  many dangers." Gandalf says, petting him. "Climb on, we have far to go." He says. We all nod. I go over to Aragorn. "Got room on there for me?" I ask, smirking. He matches my look.

"Why of course." He says. With that he helps me on. I rest behind him, my arms encircling his waist. Once Gimli is on, which takes a few minutes, we are off. I've missed riding horses. The last time I rode was with Arwen to find Aragorn and the Hobbits before this crazy quest.

When night falls we stop and rest. I start a fire and Gimli and I lay down. Legolas is somewhere I don't know and I can hear Gandalf and Aragorn talking. I don't listen though. I don't want to know what dangers we are about to face I do pretty well with not knowing.

Soon they finish their conversation and Aragorn comes over to me and lays down, wrapping an arm around my waist. "You ok?" I ask him, concerned. He smiles tight lipped at me. "I'm alright my love. Rest now. We ride again in the morning." He says.

I nod and lay be my back down, snuggling closer to him. Soon I am asleep. The next morning we rise at dawn and pack up camp. Once that is finished we get on our horses and ride off. About midday the city is in sight.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden King of Rohan. Whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over Theoden is now very strong." Gandalf announces when we stop at the top of the final hill. He turns to me.