A Kinship History, part 3

A few weeks after the encounter with Eomer, my father Berongorn was called to make a delivery to Edoras. My mother Gwendien had known that land well at one point, and wished to cast her eyes upon it once more. In turn, Freawyin and I were also asked along, a requests that filled us with joy, for the thirst of adventure was heightened in us. 
We left one sunny morning, at the eve of the month of March, a caravan of 20 strong men, women and a handful of children. I was of that age when parents are unsure on how to treat you: too young to play with swords, but too old to play with dolls. Truth to be told, according to my mother I was ready to wed, but given my "adventurous" disposition, she had given up hope. My father used to tell her, 'Would you give her a break, Gwendion? If she's more into blades than in chasing boys, quite frankly I'm over the moon about that!' That would prompt my mother into retaliating, accusing us both of wanting to terminate our family line single handedly! 

Aah! We always laughed togeheter, it was a trait of my family. Which reminds me, did I tell you where our title, Evermind, came from? 
One of the types of crop my father was often asked to deliver was that of the Simbelmynë (in our language is 'Evermind'); it is a white flower that grows in Rohan primarily on the grave mounds of their Kings and most thickly on the burial mound of Helm Hammerhand. The flower is also called evermind, uilos ('snow white'), and alfirin ('immortal') because it blooms all year long. It was also found growing in the grass at Gondolin and at the tomb of Elendil. 
Now, my father on that day, was asked to deliver this very crop to Edoras. And although he often delivered this flower of sadness and loss, he always had a smile to spare. 'Let the living enjoy life,' he would say to me, 'but without forgetting the dead.' The title Evermind was bestowed on him by the Stewart of Gondor himself, and it stuck. 
As we rode along the road, the sun shone benevolent on us all. Freawyin was riding my horse, while I walked by her said. 'Is Edoras as beautiful as they say?' she asked me. 'It is,' I replied, 'and more. Theoden King lives in a golden hall and soon you shall meet him personally, for he has bestowed this favour on our family for many years.' 'So you have met him?' 'Indeed, a fine king, and fair.' 
Freawyin was quite for a while then she said, 'I want to be just like you when I grow up.' Her sweetness surprised me greatly, and I found myself blushing a little. 'Really? And one may ask how so?' 'You're strong, you're not afraid of the dark, and you ride like the wind! And you're kind, like Boromir!' she finished, giggling. I had to held her in place, least she fell backwards. I turned to her and answered. 'Thank you little sister. I cherish your words, and I promise, I will do all in my power to live by this excellent description you have crafted for me, or my name isn't-' At that moment, a scream pierced the calm of the morning. I turned to the head of the convoy and shivered at the sight of the wargs. Swiftly I turned the horse to face back the way we came. 'What's happening?' said Freawyin, panic rising in her voice. 'Ride back, my sister, and send help!' I don't want to leave you!' she cried. 'Go!Now!' I slapped the hinds of the horse and sent him galloping forward, home bound. The battle that ensued was bloody and gruesome. We fought valiantly, but in the end our men were slaughtered in front of my very eyes. The goblins riding the foul beasts had only one thing left to do, capture us, the women. I remember the killing, but not how many or how. I was in a frenzy as I hacked and slashed my way through their ranks, worried sick for Freawyin, mourning the loss of my father and fearing for the fate of my mother. 
Then someone hit me at the back of my head, and I fell to the ground, dazed and confused. How much time I spent in that way I couldn't tell, but I jolted back to consciousness when I heard Freayin's sweet voice, turning into a scream. 'Shut her up!' ordered a vile goblin somewhere behind me. They had caught her. I realised then that I had been tied to a post, unable to move or to do anything. I cried her name aloud, as she cried mine in reply, while bitter tears and a sense of uselessness took over me. Then her cry faded, until it was just an echo in the distance. That was when I lost my senses, and let oblivion take over me. 
It was late that night when I came to. I was back in Gondor, within the safety of the city walls. Alive, but alone, for evermore.