The Untold Tale of Middle Earth (Shadowfax and DarkHuntress)

[Dark Huntress]

Frodo is in possession of the ring and the Fellowship of the Ring has been recently disbanded due to several deaths and the unwillingness of Frodo, who now travels with Sam towards Mordor, to endanger them more. The Orcs are ravaging Rohan, unchecked, for the king is weakened by dark magic.

Aidyn shifted uncomfortably in his saddle-he was used to riding, but not with his sister behind him, and spending two straight days on a horse was chaffing unfortunate places. He winced as he realized he'd awakened Elwyna, his younger sister. She straightened and looked around, then yawned and stretched.
"Where are we? Aren't we there yet?" She asked softly, sweetly voicing the questions that had been running through his head.
"Almost." He lied, not wanting to worry her. He rolled his eyes as a snore from his brother, Ewyn, who was riding the pack animal, startled himself and Elwyna. They'd been in the woods for over a full day, which was odd. He was beginning to fear he'd gone in the wrong direction: away from Gondor.
A twig snapping brought his attention towards the trees in front of him.

Brygid held a hand up to signal for her sister, Amber, to halt. Amber stopped, only a second to late, snapping a twig. Brygid flinched as the small sound echoed through the great trees. This wasn't good. Traveling by herself was bad, with her sister worse, and being women, the worst.
As she shrugged off her fear, Brygid inched forward, then froze as a curved, cold blade was pressed against her neck. "Aidyn?" The question was asked by Amber and excited Brygid. The sharp edge removed itself from her skin and a strong hand grabbed her shoulder, then turned her quickly.
A sigh of relief escaped her as she saw Aidyn. Out of pure happiness she threw her arms around his thick neck, eliciting a "gross" from Amber. She breathed into, feeling safe in his arms, then pushed away. "What are you doing here?" A frown accompanied the concerned question.
"Our village was burned by the Orcs."
************************************************
"Wulf!" Damon cried, a little frustrated. Wulf, his younger brother, paused in the tree he was in,"I hear something." Damon sighed and pushed forward, pausing right before he stepped into the open highway. Three large men formed a circle around a girl.
"Do you think they'll hurt her?" Damon looked up at Wulf's question, then shrugged,"I don't know, it's none of our business."
Wulf didn't follow as Damon turned to walk away. "We should help her."
"Wulf!" Damon exclaimed when Wulf sprung from the tree he was in as one man struck the girl's face.

"Ah," Celina groaned quietly as the man's palm collided with her pale cheek, turned it red and sending her falling to the ground. With angered determination she pushed herself up and
punched him in the face, glad she padded her gauntlets.
She grabbed the other man's arm then dropped to the ground as the other lashed out at her, causing his fist to crash against the other man's face and stumble backwards. She drew her short sword quickly and drove through her attackers stomach. She stood quickly and eyed the two remaining men who were recovering.
She danced out of the way of the first as he leapt at her, then drove the hilt of her sword against the base of his neck, resulting in a sick snap. She turned, the blade of her sword laying neatly against a tall, brown boy's collarbone.
"Who are you?" She asked sharply. The boy looked down at her sword, then up. To her surprise he flashed a white, sharp-canined smile. "Wulf." Celina eyed the other man, who's throat had been slit neatly, then removed her sword, slipping in back into it's sheath, which was strapped to he back. "Celina," she picked her small, round shield off of the dusty ground.

[Shadowfax]

Maranwe was patrolling the borders of the kingdom of Rohan. Lady Eowyn had sent her out to check the orc attacks. Rumours were spreading that they were burning villages and towns, but thankfully they'd yet to reach Edoras. She cantered across the plains, her mares mane flowing in the breeze as they went. Maranwe was a woman of 21 years, green eyes and brown hair. She was Eowyn's shield sister and did as she was asked of her Lady. She was her idol and she would do anything for her.

As the sun began to set, Maranwe reined up as she saw figures on horseback up ahead. Her mare whickered uncertainly and Maranwe struggled to keep her head in a straight line.

"Easy girl.. It's just some travellers by the look of it. Best go and see if they are safe" She whispered to her horse as the trotted over to the group.

[Dark Huntress]

"What?" Brygid's horror was interrupted by the arrival of a mounted patrol. Instinctively, Aidyn started for his horses, and, ultimately, his siblings. Elwyna gave the patrol, who was near enough for them to tell it was a woman, a wide-eyed look, her wide brown eyes focusing on the girl in the most unnerving way. Ewyn simply dismounted and led the horses towards Brygid and Autumn, while Aidyn pulled Elwyna towards them. He wanted to position himself so he could protect bother his sister and his fiancée.
"Who goes there?" He called, resisting the urge to arm himself with his scythe.

*****************************
Wulf gave the girl another smile and held a coin that one of the men ha dropped towards her. "Here." Celina pocketed it cautiously, then stepped back as another boy stepped out, this one even taller, with yellow wolf-eyes. "Wulf, one day I'm going to have to bury you if you don't get some sense." He cast Celina a sullen look.
She shrugged then started down the highway as the other boy distracted Wulf.

[Shadowfax]

As Maranwe approached, she noticed there were more than she first thought. She blinked with confusion as they all seemed a little alarmed by her appearence. Surely they know they are near the kings castle? Why so shocked to see a patrol She thought. Maranwe slowed the horse to a walk when she got nearer.

"Who goes there?" Came a males voice causing Maranwe to halt her mare.

"Maranwe of Rohan. What business do you have here in the riddermark? You seem a very.. odd band of travellers. No offence of course" She said as she began to take in all their party.

[Dark Huntress]

"None taken, Maranwe," Aidyn relaxed. "We are victims of the Orcs. They burned our village, only we escaped." His throat felt scratchy, it'd been days, yet he'd never given it much thought. He shook it away. "Are we near a highway or road?"
He tensed as a figure came into his view, then disappeared.
*********************
Celina ducked behind a tree as she sighted a band of what she presumed were robbers. Who else would congregate out of sight so close to a large highway? She cast a look over her shoulder at the highway, which was some two hundred paces behind her and wondered if she could get out of this one, then peeked out at the others.
She frowned as she noticed two of them were smaller, only children or adolescents like herself. She began to move towards them a little curious.

[Shadowfax]

Maranwe relaxed a little. She'd know that there were often robbers on the trails. She had faith in her skill though so knew she could slay a good few of their party if they were to start anything. When he mentioned being victims of the orcs though she cast a sad look around them.

"I am sorry. I heard rumors, but I hoped they were not true"

Her mare shook her head and pawed at the ground impatiently, but Maranwe ignored her impatience.

"You are near to Edoras, capital here in Rohan. You would be welcome there. It might pay to tell my Lady of your village. She may be able to send out scouts and dispatch some soldiers to take care of these orcs for you"

[Dark Huntress]

Aidyn frowned at the girl approaching them, then nodded at Maranwe. "Thank-you, for the gracious offer, would it inconvenience you at all?" He gave the ground a sorrowful look,"I don't think Lady Eowyn can help us, I hear rumors that Theodoris has become ill and is incapable of assisting us."
**************
Celina gave the group of puzzle look as she wondered why none ha turned their attention on her, they had to have noticed her. Had she not trained herself so well, she would've jumped as Wulf fell into stride with her, seemingly out of nowhere in the open field. "You gave me the slip." His words were hard but his tone and expression were playful.
Celina shrugged, casually casting a subtle glance at the other boy who was several a few yards behind. "Friends of yours?" She shook her head in reply to Wulf's question, then slowed as the group began to notice her presence, probably alerted by Wulf's voice.

[Shadowfax]

It was Maranwe's turn to look sad now. She sighed and gave a slow nod of her head.

"The king is indeed sick. Eomer was banished, but Lady Eowyn remains strong and true. She would help you if you asked it of her. We still have men in the city, many men" Maranwe assured them.

"I will show you the way to Edoras if you would like to follow?" She told the travellers.

[Dark Huntress]

"There are three people behind you," Aidyn stated in an undertone before continuing,"If Eomer is banished for trying to help us, what would be done Eowyn. Worm tongue should've thought before he sold his loyalties." Aidyn shrugged and beckoned for the others of his family and extended family to follow.
He swung himself up onto his horse, then started to pulled Elwyna up before pausing and gesturing for Brygid to mount his horse, which she did hastily. "Elwyna, ride with Amber," he commanded. Elwyna shrugged and climbed onto Amber's horse, the large animal towering above her five foot frame. With everyone mounted they began to follow Maranwe.
******************
Celina stopped as the group began to head towards she and Wulf. She hated to admit it, but she was rather glad Wulf was there-he was probably a better conversationalist. "We come I peace," Wulf said quickly as the femal patrol approached and drew her sword.

[Shadowfax]

Maranwe halted her mare and checked back over her shoulder to see that the others were following. Sure enough, they all mounted up and began to follow her. She smiled to herself and nodded. The night air was cold now and she needed to take them back before the sky turned to black. She wasn't the best at navigating in the darkness.

"Which village are you from?" She asked Aidyn, hoping she wouldn't sadden him by talking about it.