It had been close to five years since Nethrida was last in the White City, a city she, only a few months ago thought would never see again. She found herself wandering the ring where most craftsmen plied their trade, the sound of smith's hammers striking anvils the hissing of blades being quenched, and of course the numerous merchants advertising the results of their handiwork, from weapons, baubles and everything in between, it really wasnt all that different to the markets of Bree, only more grandiose.
She sighed and closed her eyes. Back as she might've been, and cleared of her charges it did not change what had happened, nor wipe away the memories the City brought back in her, especially as she rounded the corner and made her way through the Silver Gate to see the fields stretching far beyond the city walls.
Pelennor... She cringed, the memories slowly flooding back. Even in the shadow of Mordor she remembered the summer days. Stress free hours spent with the light of her life. Their hearts entwined together. It made her stronger when facing the Enemy. It gave her the courage to stare down the darkness of Mordor, and force it to blink first. She clutched her chest, but the locket was gone, as she had given it to someone else who she thought needed it more, but it mattered not for she remembered his face as clear as ever and it made her smile a little.
Then came all of her comrades, brothers and sisters at arms. Those who would stand between all they held dear, and the ever encroaching darkness from the east. Those, who would pay the ultimate price to see the White City stand tall and fair. The bravest Men and Women she had ever known, serving with her as they guarded Far Anorien from the pestilence that were the Orcs of Mordor time and again.
She felt something akin a fist clenching around her heart for a moment an uncomfortable sensation brought on by the realisation where this train of thought was ultimately leading as her gaze turns down from the fields beyond to the city below and what it had taken to come back. Through Rohan to Dol Amroth, reuniting with her brother, watching as one of her friends was dragged away in chains under false charges.
And then came day of the transfer... The ambush, the fight, she couldnt quite shake off the sound of the panicked horse made as it went over the cliff, taking their friend with it into the embrace of the sea below. She clenched her chest again, the parallels were simply too similiar and though she didnt really wish for it, she couldnt help but to recall back to what had happened.
"Captain Nethrida, here are our scouting reports, no enemy movement east of Amon Din, these are a few days old by now but if any major Orcish presence had snuck into those lands we would've noticed"
Informed Captain Baran as he handed the wrapped up documents to Nethrida as they met just outside of a small town north of the White City the corrupt Captain didnt even flinch as he gave the paperwork to Neth, who had no reason to suspect anything foul was afoot, she clenched her teeth again and leaned into the wall, staring down into the city, what if she had suspected something...? What if she hadnt taken his word...?
Instead she simply saluted "Thank you Captain Baran. We'll take it from here. Say hello to the Fellows at the Mumak" she mused jovially and motioned her detachment to move out. Thirty men and women, along with only two carriages of supplies... Barely enough only for a week when they were assigned for a month but of course she had been promised more would be sent within the next few days. It made Neth wonder if others had been in on Baran's deception aswell?
She shook her head and pushed herself from the wall and turned to slowly descend down into the ring below, tearing herself from the events of those few days. She had more pressing issues to attend than wallowing in memories old or new...
