Laurana and Aiden's Kiss

Sorry for long time no see!  Well, here's an update!  This has no mention of LotR and it might go in one of my real novels, so this is mine.  MUHAWHAW!!!  ENJOY!  XD

-Madeline

I undressed and slipped in the water.  “Yow!” I cried, standing up.

“Oh, no you don’t.  Get back down,” said Grandma, picking up my clothes off the floor.

“But it’s so cold!” I whined.

“Yes, it is, but it was nice and warm an hour ago, if you had been there on time,” she said, giving me her look.

I sighed and slipped in the cold water again, trying not to jump up.  I washed myself off, and a good of dirt and mud (as well as skin) layer came off.  But Grandma was not satisfied.  She made me get out again and put some type of oil, perfume, and dried rose and lavender petals in the water, while I put something thick and white in my hair.  I got in again and washed off with some of Grandmother’s special honeysuckle soap, which probably took off another layer of skin.  

Grandma went into the kitchen and came back with a bowl and lathered it in my hair, saying it would make it soft and shiny.  She told me to shave my legs again while she left.

She returned yet again with another bowl, and I massaged the gritty, yet soothing stuff on my face.  When I finally washed everything off and got out of the tub, I felt clean, shiny, and more exposed then ever.  I almost wished that I had my layer of dirt on me once more.

I dried off with a towel, while Grandma disappeared again.  I hopped it wasn’t something else for my hair.  She came back a few minutes later, a bundle in her arms.

“Here.  This was mine when I was your age, when I lived in Alidor,” she said with a soft smile.  She held it out, and I took off the burlap sack to find....the most beautiful thing.  It was a beautiful, shiny cloth the color of the bluest sky in summer.  I was almost afraid to touch it, but when I did it felt soft and smooth and very comfortable on my fingertips.

“Well, go on.  Try it on!” Grandma said with a smile.

I put on my undergarments and a corset which Grandma insisted I had to wear or else the dress wouldn’t fit.

And then I pulled the gown over my head.  It felt airy and light, like goose feathers against my skin or like water swirling around me gently in the river, but without the wet part.

I looked in the mirror while Grandma tied a sash around my waist, and smoothed out the skirt.  The dress looked amazing, and brought out the blue in my eyes and the gold in my hair as well as the pinkness of my cheeks and lips.

Grandma then set me down on a chair and brushed out my hair, before once more applying something that smelt like vanilla in my hair.  Her nimble fingers ran through my hair, knotting and twirling and pulling and brushing and pinning.  When I was finally allowed to look in the mirror again, I couldn’t didn’t recognize myself.

Yes, I was Laurana.  The height and the eyes saw to that, but I was more beautiful.  Yes, regal.  A lady, someone important and queenly.

My hair was pinned up and looked soft and shiny, in an array of curls and waves at a bun at my neck.  My hair was braided on the sides, and violets and blue lorina flowers dressed it up.

I didn’t say anything as I looked at myself in the mirror, open mouthed with awe.

“Oh, you look just like your mother,” Grandma said with a sigh.  

And I did, though I always thought she was much more beautiful, at least of what I could see in the sketch father made, that hung in its mahogany frame above the fireplace.  And Grandma, whom my mother had gotten all her good looks from.

“And you,” I said smiling at Grandma.  I hugged her, while Grandma had that laughing smile on her face.

“Thank you, child.  Now I need to get ready!  Now, go sit on the couch and don’t move a muscle.  Practice your song while you’re at it, too.”

“Yes, ma’am!” I said.

Grandma smiled at me with a roll of her eyes.  “I’ll be ready in half an hour.”

Indeed, half an hour later Grandma came down, her skin soft and shining, and her silver hair in a bun much like mine, but dressed with small white flowers.   Her dark green dress was low cut and much like mine, making her seem much younger than she actually was.  Though, she always looked not a day over forty to me, and not the sixty-seven she was.

“All right, let’s go deary!” she said, a bright light in her eyes.

Alexander picked us up in his little buggy.  His blue eyes were bright, and his beard was trimmed more neatly.  And in stead of his neatly patched, worn clothes, he looked dashing in a black tunic and breeches, new black leather shoes on his feet.

“Let me help you there, Selena,” Alexander said, hopping down from the buggy.  He gently took her hand and helped her into the seat beside him.  Grandma’s face turned a lovely shade of rose when she took his hand.

I sat in the back, two big pots full of soup and pulled pork nestled in beside me.

Alexander drove us to John’s place, where other wagons and horses were packed in front of it.  Alexander helped Grandma down again, and took the baskets of rolls and cookies in for her.

I, too, was about to hop out and carry one of the huge pots in, when a dashing young man appeared.

“Aiden?” I asked.

Aiden smiled at me, the dimple in his left cheek showing.

“Good evening, Laurana,” he said.  He grasped my hand, and helped me down from the back of the wagon.  I was quite sure I was as pink as Grandma, but maybe more red.

“Good, good evening, Aiden,” I mumbled, as I took him in.  He was wearing new black breeches and boots, and a forest green tunic that brought out the green in his gentle eyes.

I went to pick up the heavy pot, but then Aiden was there, wrapping his hands around the handles, there for touching my own hands.  I blushed again, and hid my hands shyly behind me, my face cast downward.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you looked tonight?”

I looked up at Aiden’s face.  “No,” I said softly.  My heart thudded in my chest like something never before.

Suddenly Bess, Alexander’s horse, whinnied and the strange thing between us passed.  “Hmm, what is it?” asked Aiden, with that boyish grin of his.

“That is Grandma’s chicken basil soup,” I said, catching a tangy whiff of it.

“Oh, did she make it just for me?” he asked.

I chuckled.  “Perhaps,” I said.

We went inside the house, where Rosa, Aiden’s mother, greeted me with a hug.

“Congratulations with Will,” I said.

“Aw yes, Violet is a sweet girl.  Now we only have to get Aiden married, hmm?” Rosa said, looking at Aiden.

Aiden almost dropped the pot as he set it on the table.  “Mom...” he said, his face turning scarlet. 

Rosa laughed.  “Go on.  Be a gentleman and take Laurana to the wedding pavilion.  Go and enjoy yourself at the party.  The feast will start in half an hour.”

Aiden and I left the kitchen and out in the backyard, where John had laid out a wooden dance floor, and couples were dancing.  I saw with surprise that Grandma was one of them!  Dancing in Alexander’s arms with a dreamy look in her eyes.

“Will you allow me a dance?” Aiden said, bowing.

I laughed.  “All right,” I said, taking his hand.  When I touched it, it felt warm, strong, and comforting.

He led me on the dance floor, where a few of the village men were playing a cheery tune

“Will Laurana come up?” said John.

Butterflies swarmed in my stomach.  “Go on.  You’ll do fine!” Aiden said comfortingly.

“Thanks,” I whispered.  I hardly heard my own words as I walked up to the stage.

All those eyes looking at me.  My palms were slick with sweat, but I knew I shouldn’t wipe my hands on Grandma’s dress.  

I cleared my throat.  I hope the firelight of the torches didn’t show that my knees were shaking.

And then I sang.  My voice came out sweet as honey and as clear as a bell.  The words floated off my tongue, and when the song ended my fear was gone and nearly all of the crowd, especially the women, had tears in their eyes at the sad tale of Balron and his love, Lorlei, who died a horrible death after she traded her elven immortality for the mortal life of the human.

The crowd stood up and clapped, but none clapped harder than Aiden or Grandma.

I walked down the steps and then another girl began to recite a poem about spring, which was fairly good, but I honestly don’t think people liked it as much as mine.

“That was amazing!” Aiden whispered in my ear.  “It was so beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I whispered back.

After the girl finished the poem, the little band got on the stage, and everyone moved the benches to the side of the platform.

Then, a handsome couple danced on the floor, looking into each other’s eyes dreamily.  Will was dressed in a blue tunic made out of silk and gold thread, and Violet’s hair was down, and she looked lovely in a dress the color of violets.

After one song, other couple’s swarmed onto the dance floor.

“May I have this dance?” Aiden asked.

“Sure,” I said, slipping my hand into his.

He led me somewhat into the center, his hand on my waist, but our hands did not touch.  Then the fiddle began to play a stringy tune, and then the other instruments joined in a fast dance.  We whirled and twirled and danced, laughing and laughing.  Then we switched with other dance partners, and then I danced with him once more.

After three more songs, Jake came up and asked if I could dance with him.  For a moment I thought Aiden glared at him, but then he nodded.

I danced with Jake, which I decided that it was more than awkward.  He was not balanced and didn’t know the dance, and we kept on stepping on each others’ shoes.

Finally after another song, Aiden rescued me and offered to go outside with me.  I was very happy to accept.

Outside it was dark. A beautiful, full moon shined in the velvet sky, small stars twinkling beside it.  The hush of a wind, the song of the crickets, and the light of an occasional firefly made the sweet night air so romantic and sweet.

“It’s so pretty out here,” I said with a sigh.

“Yes,” said Aiden looking down at me strangely, his usually boyish eyes filled with something different.  My heart fluttered in my chest, and I looked away.

“Um, shall we walk to the lake?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said, holding out his arm.

I hesitantly took it, and we walked down the green, overgrown trail underneath the outstretched limbs of trees.

In the moonlight the quiet river looked even more majestic and more beautiful.  We sat down in our favorite crook of a tree, watching the rushing river while making small talk.  Throughout it all, Aiden seemed hesitant, wanting to say something but couldn’t seem to say it.

Finally I couldn’t stand it any more.  “Aiden, what’s wrong?  What do you want to say?” I asked.

Aiden looked at me, and then he blurted out, “Laurana, I’ve known you nearly all my life and you’re my best friend.  Well, I, I, we are getting older and all our friends are falling in love and get married and...and....”

I stared at him with shock.  Had I not been sitting down I would’ve fallen over.

He grasped my hand, his wonderful, warm hand that was so familiar.  I knew it as well my own, down to the scar on his thumb to the way his dried hands cracked.

“Laurana, I love you.”

And then his lips were pressed against mine.  His wonderful lips.  His lips I knew so well as they spoke, but I didn’t know his lips were like this.

It felt so right, and before I knew what I was doing I kissed him back, and then I snapped out of it.

“Aiden!” I cried, pulling away.

“You do love me!” Aiden said happily.

“Aiden it’s not like that,” I said, standing up.  I hugged myself and turned away.  What was I doing?

“What?  But you kissed me back,” Aiden said, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me against his chest, his heart beating against my own.  It just felt so right, and I almost leaned against him, so safe.  No.

“Aiden, I’m not ready for this.  I’m only sixteen winters.  I’m not yet ready for love, and marriage and...” I shuttered.

“But...  Aliena is already married to Nate, and pregnant, and she is but a few months older than you!”

“And Aliena has been dreaming of love and marriage and children since she was a child!  I haven’t given it hardly any thought, honest,” I said, unwrapping his arms so that they hung at his side.  I looked into his eyes.  “I’m not ready for love,” I said firmly, looking at him.

“But,” Aiden said, those beautiful forest green eyes pooling with tears.

“Please, maybe in another year or two.  Maybe then.  But not now.  I still want to be free and hunt and play, with you and the boys,” I said with a small smile.  

Aiden forced a smile.

“Let’s go back to the party.”

“All right.”

We walked back, but a foot apart from each other.  I knew then something had changed, and the carefree days of our youth were now gone.  We were both changing.  And much sooner than I wanted to.

Grandma and I left the party two hours later, during which I stayed away from Aiden and other men, and spent most of my time in the kitchen.  I was quiet on the way home, and when we got there and run up to my room and washed off my face, changed into a nightgown, set Grandma’s gown on a chair, and crawled into my bed, my face buried in the pillows.

Soon the tears came, and then did Grandma.

I spilled everything, and then sobbed.  Grandma said little, but she didn’t seem too surprised when I told her Aiden kissed me, and sad when I told her what I said to Aiden.  She then sang me a song, rubbing my back, and finally my tears stopped, and I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

Blogs!

I love blogs, but then you have to update them a lot, haha!
So here's a sort of update.

I have created a Harry Potter blog.  I LOVE Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, and I have written fanfictions about both.  The Harry Potter is a fanfiction as well, which is about a girl named Emma Roth lives in the Muggle world until an owl brings her a message saying she is a witch and can go to Hogwarts: the School of Withcraft and Wizardry.  There she meets Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley.  I had a ton of fun writing it, so I thought I could share it with the world.  :)  http://emmarotherharrypotter.blogspot.com/

Thanks for checking it out!

Also, about LOTR, what do you want to read next?  I have parts from almost every scene in the movie.  Ask for it, and I shall publish it!  :)
Go J. R. R. Tolkien!!!!
-Madeline

P.S. Don't forget I have a more personal blog as well!  This is a blog about almost anything but mostly writing.  On there I have original works and lots of novels that you'd probably like if you have read Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.  :)  http://randomnessofanauthor.blogspot.com/

Two Towers: Gimli, Blaze, and the Stew Part 2

I was to be camping right near the lake on a bluff, next to Eowyn, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn as usual.  Theoden would be in his royal tent farther away.  
Rue and Garret soon came to me excitedly with long sticks, and I took them to the lake.  Now that I could actually look at it, I saw it was quite nasty and the water dirty and muddy.  I knew anything out of that would be nasty if there was anything alive in it, but the kids seemed so excited to fish I couldn’t let them down.
As I sat with Garret and Rue, surprisingly more and more kids joined us, until they were at least fifteen, bringing their own little pieces of hard bread and sticks, asking me to the string them.
As I sat with them as the evening faded, we sang songs and chatted, coming up with silly rhymes as the parents looked on approvingly.  A very shy little baby boy even came over and snuggled in my lap, and later the mother said he had been so quiet and shy after his father died a month ago.  I couldn’t help thinking about what Theoden said about my way with children.
Surprisingly, we did catch some fish, though they were disgusting white things.  I helped the kids clean them, and they went home proudly with their catch.  I hoped the mother’s would have the sense to just throw it away instead of cook it.
After two hours of this the kids trickled away, and I sent Rue and Garret home with their three fish, as I straightened up the area we had trampled.  Leave no trace, right?
“You do have a way with children,” I looked up sharply and saw Legolas there, leaning against a tree, arms folded.
“What?”
“Theoden was right, you should get married,” he said.
I gaped at him and couldn’t decide if I should ignore him, yell at him, or blush and stammer like a stupid maiden?  Unfortunately, I did the last one.  “You heard that?” I said lamely.  Legolas nodded.
I shrugged.  “Not yet.  Besides, it’s not like I’m going to be married during a war,” I said bluntly, and walked past him.  Why did he say that? I thought frantically.
I went to go find Eowyn and tell her about this, but when I reached her I froze.  She was bent over a fire, stirring something in a pot with a wooden spoon.  What was she cooking!?
I walked over by here, and saw it was the fish the kids had caught, looking even worse all pale and gooey, with water and strange roots floating around.  “Where did you get that?” I cried.
“Rue and Garret gave it to me,” said Eowyn calmly.
“But...Eowyn!  You…” I said, trying to say something without offending her.
“It’s some fresh meat for now, and besides, it’s hot,” she said.  And smells awful and is definitely not fresh.  But of course I didn’t say that.  “Can you please get me more salt and some thyme?” she asked.
I walked over to the bag and gave it to her, but I don’t know why she was even trying.  The fish was beyond more seasonings.  She tried some and shrugged, and asked if I wanted some.  I couldn’t say no, and I nearly puked when I ate it.  It was so slimy and disgusting!  Not to mention way too over seasoned.  When I shrugged and said it was all right, she sighed with relief and then began to walk around camp, asking if people wanted it.  I lingered behind, wanting to see their reaction.
When Gimli walked by and sniffed it after Eowyn offered it, he said, “Oh no!  I couldn’t!  I really couldn’t!” and then walked away hurriedly.  That’s when she spotted Aragorn, who was sitting on a rock, sharpening his sword.
“I made some stew,” said Eowyn shyly, going up to him.  “It’s not much, but it’s hot.”  Aragorn nodded and said he’d take it like the gentlemen he was, and Eowyn ladled him a bowl, giving it to him.  I looked at his reaction.  He slowly stirred the soup with a spoon, and then put it in his mouth.  
He looked up at Eowyn with the spoon still in his mouth, but managed to swallow it and nod.  “It’s good,” he said slowly.
“Oh really?” said Eowyn with a thankful sigh.  So much for my opinion.  She then was about to walk away, and I tried not to laugh as Aragorn tried to pour the soup out of the bowl.  But, Eowyn was to fast and she turned around, and Aragorn quickly recovered, wincing as the soup burned his hand.  Yep, it was definitely hot.
“My uncle told me a strange thing,” she said, turning around to look at him.  I edged closer, giving Aragorn a sympathetic look.  “My uncle told me that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather, but he must be mistaken,” she said with a nervous laugh.
I stared at Aragorn.  Yes, he was definitely older than me, but most definitely not older than Theoden.  Right?
Aragorn looked at his soup, and then at Eowyn.  “King Theoden has a good memory.  He was only a small child at the time,” he said, his gaze flicking to me.  I must’ve looked more than ridiculous.
“Then you must be at least sixty!” said Eowyn, kneeling down beside Aragorn.  Was I really crushing on a man the same age as my grandfather if he was still alive?  But he looked no more than forty at the most!
Aragorn looked embarrassed.
“Seventy?” I couldn’t help myself.  He shook his head.
“You cannot be eighty!” cried Eowyn.
Aragorn looked at the ground.  “Eighty-seven.”
My eyes widened as I sat down in disbelief on a rock.  “Wow,” I breathed, not sure what to think.  Was he a half-elf?  How else could he still be so fit and youthful looking?
But Eowyn knew better.  “You are one of the Dunedain.  A descendant of Numenor, blessed with long life!  It was said that your race had passed into legend,” she said bluntly.
Aragorn looked up.  “There are few of us left.  The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago.”
Eowyn nodded.  “I’m sorry.  Please eat.”  And Aragorn had to finish his soup while trying not to grimace as Eowyn looked on.


That night they finally found the princess’s tent.  Eowyn quickly invited me to sleep with her after they put it up, and now we were inside, undressing by the light of a few candles since it was now well after twilight.  I helped Eowyn undo her corset and she dressed in a nightgown, letting me borrow one of hers.
Now she was on the bed which was wider than long, watching me brush my hair in the mirror.
“Laurana?”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
I looked at her.  She was playing with the fur blanket, her face a mask.  “Yeah, go ahead.”
“Well…” she paused and didn’t say anything else.  “Never mind.”
I smiled and looked at her, setting the brush down now that my hair was free of knots.  “Come on Eowyn!  Now that you told me I have to know!” I said teasingly, crawling onto the bed next to her.
“Well, I...I like Aragorn a lot, more than I should,” she said slowly, “but I know you like him, too, and I don’t want it to get into our relationship!” she finished in a rush.  “Do you like him?”
I looked at my feet, mulling it over.  “I dunno.  Even though it’s childish...well, I’m a child compared to him.  He is eighty...what?” I said.
“Eighty-seven,” said Eowyn.
“Yeah!  Eighty-seven!  And that’s a bit...that’s a bit old for me,” I said with a chuckle.  I then smiled at Eowyn, grabbing her hand.  “Besides, you look cute together, and it’s easy to tell you like him.  And I think he likes you, too.”
“Really?” said Eowyn with a dreamy smile.  “Thanks!”
I then sat up while Eowyn braided my hair back.  “Do you know about Lady Arwen though?  Aragorn told me that she gave him that jewel he wears.  He said she went to the undying lands.”
I bit my lip.  “Yes, I know her somewhat.  You know when we went to Rivendell?  Well, Arwen is an elf.  And she is...she has the likeness of Blank, who was the most beautiful elf ever to walk the earth.  She and Aragorn grew up together and are...close.  She gave him that jewel.  It’s called the evanstar,” I said slowly.
Eowyn nodded slowly.  “What happened to her?”
“I honestly don’t know, but yes, I think she did go to undying lands with her people.”
“Oh, all right,” said Eowyn.  “I’m done.”
I felt the neat braid and smiled at her.  “Thanks, Eowyn!”  She smiled and crawled under the blankets, while I blew out the candles and then crawled in next to her.  In no time we were sound asleep.

Two Towers: Gimli, Blaze, and the Stew Part 1

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for the lovely comment, Thigocia! This is dedicated to you. ;)

Enjoy!

-Madeline

“It’s true you know,” said Gimli.  
It had been a four days since we left Edoras, and in that time, Eowyn and I had worked hard to keep Gimli in the saddle.  Blaze was a docile horse, but he was skittish of Gimli just as Gimli was frightened of horses.  But, we had made good progress.  He could at least sit in the saddle without rolling off, and we were now teaching him how to lead the horse.  Eowyn and I still walked alongside him, but Gimli now seemed more confident in the saddle, even though he was taking an unbearably long time to learn.  Now, he was giving us the history of the dwarves.  It was quite interesting and boring at the same time, but it was also nice.  For once, we weren’t quite on the run, and now we could actually talk while going more or less at a leisurely pace.  
“You don’t see a lot of dwarf women.  And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance as dwarf men, they’re often mistaken for dwarf men!” said Gimli.  I burst out laughing along with Eowyn, and it didn’t help when I turned around and saw Aragorn, who was riding behind us.  “It’s because of the beards,” he mouthed, making a beard with his hands.
“Sh!” I said with a chuckle.
“This in turn,” continued Gimli, “has given rise to the belief, that are no dwarf women!”  Eowyn grinned.  

The three of us all burst out laughing again.  Gimli’s deep voice, funny face expressions, and the story itself was fun enough, not to mention doing it with my new friend.  “And that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!”  Here Gimli threw up his hands in the air to express the story, and poor Blaze spooked.  With a whinny, he shot out from under Gimli and Eowyn and I cried out.  Gimli fell off about halfway, while Blaze tossed his head and ran a few more meters.

“Oh no!” I cried with a laugh.  I let Shadow’s reins drape, and chased after Blaze, soothing the frightened gelding down, while Eowyn helped Gimli up.  As I led Blaze back, Gimli was explaining how falling off the horse was purely deliberate to the worried onlookers.  Yeah right.  
“Now where’s my axe?” Gimli wondered.
Suddenly, I slipped.  With a ‘oof’ I had slid on the blade of his axe and landed on the ground hard on my bottom, while Blaze whinnied again and tossed his head.  “Ow!” I moaned out of my laughter, while Gimli and Eowyn broke into fits of giggles.  “I think I found it,” I said weakly, standing up with the help of Eowyn and handing the heavy battle-ax to Gimli, vaguely thinking I was lucky it didn’t cut me.
I smiled and looked back at Theoden and Aragorn.  Aragorn’s smile had faded, and he was looking at fair Eowyn as a breeze tugged at her golden hair.  I looked away before he noticed me.  
“Oh, when are we going to stop?” I moaned.  Every evening at about this time, the headmasters would blow their horns and we would stop.  We were now surrounded by some lakes, and I was looking forward to some good fried fish for dinner.
As if on cue, the riders blew their horns.  “Now I guess!” said Eowyn with a chuckle.  I smiled at her, and then went over to Shadowmane, he was still strolling along, Rue timidly on his back.  “What’s going on now?” she asked.
“We’re stopping for the night.  Do you want to go fishing?” I asked, helping her off.  Rue’s eyes brightened.   
“Yes!”
“All right.  Go fetch your brother and found some long sticks for poles.  And hurry up at it!” I said playfully, watching Rue run away.
“How old are you Laurana?” said a voice.  I looked up and saw Theoden on his horse Snowmane.  Snowmane was a handsome white horse, but no where as magnificent as Shadowmane or Shadowfax.  I somewhere recalled that Shadowfax belonged to Rohan until he ran away to Gandalf, but I didn’t think about that now.  “Um…” I said.  It had been a while since I last thought about it.  “Around eighteen winters.”
Theoden nodded.  “And you are un-married?”
“Yes…” I said slowly.
“Umph,” said Theoden.  “You have a way with children.  You should settle down soon,” and without another word he galloped away, leaving me with an angry look in my eyes and an open mouth.
I groaned and stomped my foot, and roughly grabbed Shadow’s reins.

Two Towers: Finding of the Children

This is in the Two Towers: Extended Version, I think!
Really Theoden and Gandalf finds them, but in this Laurana does.  :)  It is unedited again, but enjoy.  And please don't steal any of my ideas, especially the one about 'Lakita.'
Theoden's son already died.  Eowyn and Laurana get along great, but the funeral just happened and Laurana wanted to get away.  She's out riding Shadow (Shadowmane, her horse) on the Rohan plains.  :)
Please leave a comment!  If I have just one, I'll be sure to post the next part super fast!  :)

-Madeline

I took a deep breathe of the air.  I missed the clean, piney scent of the Slyvanester woods, but this was next the best thing.  The air was thin and cold up here, and ripe and very refreshing, that gave your cheeks a red hue when outside for too long.
The rolling golden plains of the Rohan spread out before me as I sat on Shadowmane, taking it all in.  A sharp wind blew, causing my hair to blow in all directions.  I had taken my hair out of the neat updo Eowyn had made, and I loved the way my hair tickled my cheek.
Shadowmane began to walk along, and I let the reins dangle as I pressed my cheek against his neck, running my hand through his short coat, warmth reaching my fingers.
Shadowmane then let out a deep, shrill whinny all of the sudden.  I looked around and saw a lone horse in the distance.  My first thought it was Grima returning, but as the horse came closer I saw two small, huddled figures perched on the horse’s back, no bigger than a hobbit.
I urged Shadowmane forward, and I watched as the bigger of the two fell off the horse and landed on the ground, the other one screaming.
I reached them quickly, and swung off Shadowmane.  The one that was screaming was a girl with a tear stricken face, no more than six or seven.  “Garret, Garret!” she was crying.
I looked at her and touched her cheek, and she didn’t flinch.  I then looked at the little boy that was huddled on the ground, near the weak and half starved horse.  He was more around nine, and he had thick light brown curls.  His face was covered with dirt, and he looked weak with hunger, not to mention that blood was crawling down his face from a small cut.
I kneeled down and felt his pulse.  He was still alive, but just barely.  I scooped him up, and he weighed almost nothing.  “Shadow!”  The stallion came over to me and I laid the boy gently on his back, arranging him carefully into the saddle so he wouldn’t fall off.  “Take him to...take him to Legolas.  Be swift, but careful,” I said.
Shadow snorted and twitched his ear, and then broke into a smooth and graceful lope, the little boy still unconscious.  
I then turned wearily to the girl.  She was still whispering and crying.  She whimpered, and then held out her arms.  “Oh, come here,” I said, melting.  The little girl slipped into my arms and tears racked her little body.  She weighed much less than her brother.  Her fingers played with my hair as I rested my cheek on her head, singing her a song to calm her down.  “May it be an evening star, shines down over you...may it be the shadows calm, your heart to be true…”
I grabbed the reins to the horse.  Like his owners, the poor horse was covered with dirt and bruises, and looked so hungry and worn that he looked like he couldn’t take another step.  But he did.  I carried the girl while the gelding stumbled behind me for nearly half an hour, until there was another whinny and Shadowmane and Hasfuel appeared.
I smiled with relief, and the horses reached us in new time.  Shadowmane didn’t have the boy on him anymore, and Aragorn jumped off his horse almost before it even stopped and ran toward me.  “Are you all right?” he asked, grabbing my shoulders and looking at me.
I gave him a weak smile.  “Yes.  Did the boy make it back safely?”
Aragorn nodded.  “Yes.  When I left he still hadn’t awoken, but the best healer in the Golden Hall is caring for him now,” he said.
“Where’s Garret?” the little girl sniffed, looking up at Aragorn shyly.
I never saw Aragorn look more approachable.  His face melted and he smiled gently at the girl.  “Why, whose this?”
The little girl sniffed and leaned in closer to me.  I chuckled slightly.  Aragorn reached out and stroked her little head, and I gave the small girl over to him, glad of releasing my burden.  She began to whimper, but then Aragorn began to craddle her like a little baby, singing her the most gentle, soothing song known to the elvish language.  It only took moments before her eyes fluttered close and she was breathing evenly.
“Wow, you’re good,” I said, giving Aragorn a half smile.  He returned it.
We decided Aragorn would take the little Rohan girl back to the Golden Hall with Hasfuel, while I followed behind on Shadow and the little brown gelding.  Aragorn stepped up neatly in the saddle, and soon was gone, and I climbed up onto Shadow’s back, tying the horse--Roddie I affectionately named him--behind me as we followed after Aragorn.

I warmed my half frozen hands before the huge fire taking in the heat and the rich armora of food.  Suddenly there was an outcry, and I turned around to see the little girl run toward me, the blanket around her shoulders flying behind her like a bird’s.  “Lakita, Lakita!” she cried.  She jumped in my arms and I held her close.  “Lakita, Lakita!” she cooed.
I laughed.  “Hello, little bird!”
She grabbed my cheeks and closed her eyes, and then planted a kiss on my forehead.  What was she doing?  She then smiled at me, her beautiful hazel eyes sparkling.  “Lakita!”
“No, no, little bird.  My name is Laurana, not Lakita!” I explained.
“No!  Lakita!  You are Lakita!” she said, her brow furrowing.
I turned to Eoywn for help, who was smiling at me.  “What is she saying?”
“She is calling you Lakita,” said Eowyn.
“But why?”
“They come far in the west.  Rohan has many tribes and this one: the Elderoian worship many Gods.  One of these if Lakita, which she is calling you.  Lakita is the goddess of children, families, and the hunt,” said Eowyn.
“Oh,” I said, trying to take it all in.  “I see.”
Most of the people were staring at me, and Legolas smiling at me, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
“What’s your name?” I asked little bird, taking her over to Eowyn, who was sitting with the boy.  The boy looked much better now.  He was cleaned and washed up and had gotten a haircut, and was wearing clean clothes though they were much too big for him.  He was shoveling the stew so fast in his mouth you would’ve thought he would be bursting at the seams.
The girl smiled and began to eat, as I adjusted the blanket around her shoulders.
“What’s your name?” I then tested the boy.  He looked at me wairly and then wiped his mouth and grinned at me.  
“My name is Garret.  This is my sister Rue, though she won’t tell you that,” he said.
I smiled.  “My name is Laurana,” I said, holding out a hand.  Garret shook it gravely.
“My sister calls you Lakita.  Lakita is our Goddess, and my sister favors her.  I know you are not Lakita, but you have the goddess with you.”  I bit my lip.  The boy smiled.  “I’m glad though.  Rue isn’t quick to trust, but she loves you,” said Garret.
I laughed.  Eowyn handed me a bowl of stew, and I almost died.  The broth was thick and beefy, and the potatoes and carrots with the chunks of meat were too perfect.  I good see why the children were eating it so quickly.
Finally though, with lots of nudges from Eowyn, I asked the boy what happened.  As he explained how their village had been overrun by orcs and everyone was slaughtered around them but how they finally escaped on the horse, Eowyn was holding Rue tightly while I stared at the boy while braiding Rue’s hair back, trying to take it all in.  The boy tried to speak bravely and boastingly, but Garret’s lip trembled a little bit, but he was trying to be tough for his sister’s sake.
When Garret finished, everyone who heard was silent.  Then, with a yawn Rue wiped her eyes.
Gertrude, the plump old woman was to be their caretaker until we could find their relatives or someone else to take them in, came over like a clucking hen over her brood.  “Come on, children, let’s go to bed.”
Garret stood up, but Rue hung onto me.  “Where’s momma?”
I stared down into those wide eyes.  How could I tell her that perhaps her momma was dead?  “Shh...shh...It’s all right,” I said, giving her a hug.  
“Will I see her again?  Promise?”
“I promise,” I said in spite of myself.
She then smiled up at me, planting a kiss on my cheek.  “Good night, Lakita,” she then danced away with Gertrude and her brother.  I watched them leave the hall, anger growing inside of me as I turned around, glaring at Theoden.