Leaving for Rivendell

To the Lonelands

​Neremnes ran up the path leading a horse that seemed rather too tall for her, with a thick cloak draped over its saddle. She was wearing shoes for once. Oronir stood at the top of the path by the Historical House on his own house. He shifted to see Neremnes walking up and gave her a smile. “Are you ready for this? It’s no boat ride.”
Neremnes slipped her right hand through the reins and rubbed her hands together. “Bloody cold!” She hissed, and slid the cloak off the saddle before wrapping it around her shoulders. The thing looked far too large and heavy for the small girl, but she seemed content. "I've been stuck in this village for weeks. Ready for anything, sir." She grinned as she pulled the hood over her head.

“Would you mind seeing to Leothross? He might be in his books and scrolls and packing takes ages with these scholars.”
Neremnes nodded and lead her horse to the stairs. She untied the lead rope from the saddle and clipped it to the bridle, then tied it carefully to the mailbox. "That should do it." She patted Edawild on the neck before drifting inside.

Leothross emerged from the hall with Neremnes following closely behind. They had not found Drangan, and so had to leave without him. He walked to where he had his horse tied up, giving Oronir a brief nod as he passed. He rechecked the straps on his saddle bags before swinging easily up into the saddle.
“Do we have what we need, Leothross?” Oronir and Leothross talked while Neremnes dealt with her own horse.
She untied her horse and fumbled with the shield until she just dropped it so she could deal with the stirrups. She lowered them, picked up her shield again and swung it over her back, along with a satchel attached to the saddle. She tied the lead rope back onto the saddle and clambered onto the horse who was definitely too big for her. She had a wide grin on her face however, happy to be tall for once. Leothross laid a hand on the top of his pack.
“All here. As long as we have the amulet pieces and the documents, we should be set. Are you ready?”
“Aye, lead on. I’ll guard the rear.”
“I don’t know the way, and I’m clearly in the middle anyway.” Neremnes shifted her horse.
Leothross nodded, urging his steed forward, and spared a glance and a grin at the small girl on such a large animal, “Right then.”
Neremnes and Oronir followed Leothross at a canter out of Hookworth.

Leothross eased his horse to a halt in front of the inn, glancing back at the others, “Well, last inn for a while. If anyone forgot anything...”
Neremnes suddenly tugged her reins and her horse side-stepped. “A snake!” Hoof beats danced on the dry ground as Neremnes’ sudden reaction worried the poor beast she rode. Leothross and Oronir similarly backed away from the snake with raised brows. Neremnes had moved somewhat further away.
Oronir watched the sky and finally nodded to himself. “We should spend the night in this inn and ride out tomorrow early. Stables are over there.” He nodded to the building on the other side of the road.
Neremnes glanced at the inn. “It doesn't look favourable, but it will be better than outside. Winter is not a good time for sleeping outside.”
Leothross grunted, “We could make another leg tonight... but alright. It is chilly.”

Leothross dropped several coins in the stable hand’s palm as they arrived. “Make sure our horses are warm, fed and rested. We will need them early tomorrow morning.”
“Stay close to us when we go inside, Neremnes.” Oronir said as they removed their gear from their steeds.

The trio stepped out on the porch, watching briefly as the sun peeped over the hills. Neremnes stretched her arms, breathing in the crisp morning air before heading to the stables.
Leothross trailed behind Oronir, hauling his pack, hood pulled up tight, and proceeded to buckle straps and mount. Oronir yawned while checking all clasps and saddle bags. He shivered in the morning cold. Neremnes mounted with some difficulty then fiddled with her cloak until it sat comfortably.
“I’ll take the front today.” Oronir swung his leg over the back of the horse.
Leothross rubbed the neck of his horse as its coat bristled in the chilly air. “Very well. I can take the rear this time.”
“Middle again…” Grumbled a small voice.

“We made good headway, we should rest a few minutes here. Are you all right on horseback Nemmy?” Oronir asked, and the girl nodded.
Leothross, as they slowed, glanced warily around the hills. “It will still be fortunate to make it there by dark, I think...”
“Look Neremnes, Weathertop. Leothross will have many stories about that.” Neremnes followed Oronir’s arm pointing up and up at the tall hill with a ruin sitting atop it.
“What happened to it? The structures are in ruins.”
Leothross chuckled, “They tell all sorts of stories about that place. It has a fantastic view though. Back in the day of the Arnorian Kingdom, it was a great watchtower. That was many years ago though.”
The party rested while listening to Leothross speaking of Weathertop’s history.

Oronir pulled up the reins of his horse. “Let us ride once more, it is a long way still.”
 

In Ost Gurth

“Glad we made it here safe and sound. Let us find us a place to sleep.” Oronir sighed as they trudged up the last flight of stairs, the saddle bags weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Neremnes pulled her cloak around herself. “It's still ruddy cold... If we're going to sleep, let's make it by a fire.”
“I second that.” Leothross shivered as he shuffled behind the other two.
“Ooh!” Neremnes had seen a campfire. She scuttled towards it and held her hands out into the heat.
Oronir joined Neremnes, warming his hands and face and brushing away the frost on his beard. Leothross stood as close to the welcome blaze, letting the warmth seep in. He crouched, balancing on the balls of his feet so as to get closer to the fire, “This’ll do us nicely, I think.” He glanced around the large, mostly empty space.
“We need to catch our sleep if we are to make it to Rivendell. But let us plan out the journey first.”
Leothross nodded and glanced up at Oro from his crouched position.
“Aye.” Neremnes tore her gaze away from the fire.
Oronir took out a trail map and spotted a camp marking, "There should be a camp some thirty-five miles from here behind the last bridge.” He sat on his backpack and rubbed his feet as he spoke.
Neremnes sat on her cloak, and it was so large for her small build that she could pull it up over her legs for a bit of extra warmth. She stayed silent, not knowing much about distance.
“We should be able to make that.” Leothross studied the map briefly. He pulled his cloak around him, “So much for the first day. How many more ahead of us at this speed, do you figure?”
“A day to the camp and it takes a day from the ford to Rivendell. That leaves about sixty miles between the camp and the ford. We should try to get some information on the land ahead as well here.” He paused, but no more questions or suggestions came. “'You two get tucked in and I'll wander the fort here for some information.”
Leothross grunted, and stared into the fire, thinking. His mouth moved in unspoken words to himself.

Leothross flipped a few pages in a book as Oronir approached and when he sat, he closed it. “Find out anything?”
Oronir eyed the book briefly but reported nevertheless. “The road to the last bridge has turned very dangerous. The trolls from the southern forest Harloeg have been very active in recent weeks. They actively hinder trade on the road.” He softly cursed their bad luck.
“Trolls? Brutes... They should not bother us during the day, should they?”
Neremnes yawned, and seemed to be falling asleep where she sat as her eyes drooped closed.
She layed herself down on her cloak without much thought, and had fallen asleep in moments, oblivious to the conversation between Oronir and Leothross.
“It seems they act during the day and the night. Very disturbing.” Oronir looked into the fire and whispered, not wishing to disturb Neremnes, “We should travel off the road for a time. It will slow us down, but we can still make it to the camp by nightfall.”
“Good. As long as we don't lose time in the long run. I do hope we do not have to run from any trolls...”
Oronir lay himself down to catch some sleep. Leothross opened his book to continue reading, but soon fell asleep with the book still in his hands.
 

To the lands of the Trollshaw

Oronir looked outside. The early rays of the sun on the horizon rose in a beautiful clear sky. However, time was short and he hurriedly shook Leothross. He grunted and lifted his head, pushing his cloak off his eyes.
“The day is breaking Leothross. We’ve got to get a move on. You wake the girl while I see to the horses.”
He mechanically replaced his book in his bag and checked it before pushing himself to his feet, laying a hand on the dozing girl’s shoulder. He shook gently.
“Morning already?” Neremnes groaned and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Her legs ached as she struggled to her feet, taking her cloak and satchel with her as she followed Leothross out of the room.

“Good morning!” Oronir waved at Leothross and Neremnes as they made their way to the stables. “Light is upon us. We must move onwards with haste! We have to avoid the road, so we will ride just north of if behind the hills. No dallying, let’s move.”
Leothross gave a slight groan as he mounted his horse.

The sun was high in the sky when the trio halted at the peak of a hill looking down the plains to the river. A tall, bridge stood slightly ruined, but nevertheless glorious in the shining light and above the winking waters that rushed below. Oronir pointed into the distance. “There is the last bridge, Neremnes. A marvellous sight if you know what beautiful land lies behind it.”
“Close now.” Leothross smiled in the direction of the forest.
“How far until we’re there?” Neremnes didn’t seem too phased.
“Only a few miles. Let’s ride, but keep your eyes open for danger. Much could lie where we cannot see.”

Hollow hoof beats slowed as they passed over the bridge. Neremnes scanned her eyes across the forest and canopy. “That doesn't look dangerous at all.”
Leothross smiled and breathed in deeply as they reached the other side of the bridge, “Ah... I think I can smell it now. Just another couple days and we will be at the Last Homely House...”
Oronir mimicked Leothross, smiling. “Ah, the smell of this ancient forest almost brings tears to my eyes."
Oronir nudged his horse forward, slowly urging into a gallop again. “Stick close to me, Neremnes. These forests are filled with wild animals.”
“Yes Oronir.” She ducked her head as they galloped to keep the wind from reaching her eyes. She could hear the horse breathing with each stride above the howling of the bitter cold wind and the rumbling hooves along the unfamiliar road.
 

After a mile they left the road down a lightly beaten track. They dismounted and lead their horses up a narrow way through the trees and around a small hill to a sheltered camp. Oronir bound his horse to a tree and approached an Elf, awkwardly trying to greet him in his language.
“May gofanen, Barachen.”
Leothross stepped up, laying a hand on Oronir’s shoulder with a smile, and in smooth Sindarin said, “He means, mae govanen.”
Oronir blushed slightly in embarrassment. He proceeded to ask for permission to stay the night as he had met Barachen before. Leothross chuckled at Oronir and thanked the Elf.

In the protective camp the company ate and slept soundly. One of the Elven guards woke them up well before dawn for their large trek to the banks of the ford. They prepared beneath snowy trees as soft flakes drifted from the sky. Cloaks and saddles donned, they lead their horses back down the track.
“The longest trek awaits, my friends. Let’s ride out to the road. Barachen says it shall be clear.” Oronir was relieved to be able to say this aloud with truth as the Trollshaws were a most dangerous road and he feared for the girl’s safety.

A long, cold day had passed by the time the company had reached the ford. Neremnes gazed at the sheer cliffs dropping into the river, unmistakably tall. Oronir looked over the ford, and noted the rapids of Bruinen continued to rush past, not allowing the river to freeze. “We shall make camp on the rise over there.”
The other two agreed and lead their horses onto the grass, dismounting thankfully. The girl removed her shoes despite the cold from aching feet. Oronir immediately checked the site for defence – the rise was protected on one side by a cliff, another by the drop into the river and the third by the steep bank. Only the front leading back to the road was open, and that could be watched and defended with ease.
Neremnes sat on the steep bank and slid down, her bare feet slipping against the rock and dirt. It soon got the better of her and she half slid, half tumbled to the mossy stone below. She jumped up, ignoring the cuts on her feet, and tested the water. Her hand jumped back. “Eesh, cold!” She glanced back up to camp. “Does anyone need water skins refilling?”

Leothross untied his water skin from his bag and picked his way down the slope, half sliding. “Good idea. I could use a refill.”
Oronir tossed his water skins down the slope before building a campfire for much needed heat. “Yes, mine too, if you will.” He began unpacking the food he bartered for in Barachen’s camp as he waited patiently for the sparks to catch alight in the breeze.
Neremnes pulled out her own from her satchel. She knelt down and filled it. She shook the water off her hands and rubbed them dry on the grass. Leothross cringed as he plunged his skin under the icy water, letting it fill all the way up. “This is going to feel great in the morning...” He filled Oronir’s up as well, then followed Neremnes back to camp, careful not to slip on the treacherous stone. Neremnes’ horse had laid himself on the grass close to the cliff wall.
“There is food here. I am going to set some traps on the low of the rise just in case.” Oronir waved his hand the now flickering fire.
Neremnes and Leothross picked out some food, feeling rather hungry from the day’s journey. Leothross propped his pack against the cliff wall and sat against it as he ate and Neremnes sat with Edawild, her head resting on the beast’s shoulder. A silence followed, perhaps a calm and restful silence among the company, but still the rushing of the river continued, as did the whisper of the leaves passing rumour from tree to tree, and the click-clacking or Oronir’s tools as he set a trap across the rise.