Aethylwen breathed in the morning air and groaned as she sat up. After 12 days traveling afoot, she felt every one of her 35 years upon her. She dimly recalled a time, 18 years ago, when she felt that the trip from Lossarnach to Minas Tirith had spanned the whole of Middle Earth, and smiled slightly at the memory. Her companion was nowhere in sight, but Aethylwen was used to it. Berengol would often scout ahead before they broke camp in the mornings. She had no idea how far they had traveled, but she felt sure they were getting close. Standing up and taking in her surroundings, she felt a twinge of relief - to the northeast, she could see what could only be the East Wall of Rohan. Her legs ached, but she found herself able to bear it better every day. The first few days had been torture. Though she was fit, she was unused to travel and Berengol kept a steady pace. There was an unspoken sense of urgency in their trip, and Berengol often pushed ahead as if the Dark Lord himself was upon them
The camp had been packed up by the time Berengol returned. He was no longer surprised to see Aethylwen waiting and ready to move on. The woman had impressed him, he had to admit. The first day, he was sure she was going to collapse. Her labored breathing was audible behind him and he slowed his pace just enough for her to keep up, waiting begrudgingly, for her to ask him to stop. Still, she said nothing and managed to make it though the first few days, until he was able to keep a steady pace (though not as quick as he would prefer) She was a quick learner, however,and not the burden he expected when he first learned she would be accompanying him.
"She is in mourning, Berengol, and looks for both purpose and vengeance." Faramir said to him. "I think it would poison her soul to stay so near, and I cannot in good conscience send a widowed mother to the front lines. Bring her to Rohan with you, perhaps she can set new roots among the Horsemasters and find some small happiness in her life again."
"But Captain, surely I can't track properly if I'm also to play escort to a blacksmith's widow? Berengol asked. "What if I lose the Riders?"
"Lose the riders? And here I thought I was sending my best tracker." Faramir said, smiling slightly. "I know your skills well enough to know that even a few days delay will not hinder you. Remember, your task is only to learn who they are and what they are looking for. I certainly don't intend for you to catch them."
And catch them he didn't. In truth, Berengol found these riders very odd. They proved difficult to track, and there was no evidence that they ever stopped to make camp. Those two factors combined ensured that they were gaining at a far faster rate than he would be able to catch, even if he WAS traveling alone. Though this made him uneasy, he kept his thoughts to himself as he approached.
"Aye, that would be Rohan", he said, seeming to answer an unspoken question.
Aethylwen only nodded. In the short time that they had traveled together, they had found that neither had to say much to get through the day. Berengol seemed a man of few words, and seemed perfectly fine with Aethylwen's lack of conversation. For her part, she was grateful to finally be alone with her own thoughts during their travels. Though they meant well, her daughter, friends, and neighbors were overbearing at times. "You just need a good cry and you'll start to feel better." "You should marry again.It may not be too late for another son!" All these bits of advice of how she SHOULD be grieving, But Aethylwen didn't want another husband. She didn't want another son. She wanted HER husband, HER son, and that was never going to happen. Her life in Gondor seemed a distant memory, and she was glad to finally remove herself from the pain those memories caused. Her daughter would be fine without her for a time. Soon, she would have children of her own, and Aethylwen would be making sure that Gondor was protected for her grandchildren.
The two set off, towards the hill fort of Edoras. Neither knew what to expect when they arrived, but both hoped that they would receive the answers they were seeking.
