S.A 1350
She rode swiftly with the two soldiers she had only just met. They were headed towards the mountains, and as they ascended, the air grew colder and heavier. Even the horse Orneth rode struggled to breathe properly, and it was clear that it was having difficulty keeping up. Orneth whispered comforting words in Tae's ear, and the horse kept moving, spurred on by her kind words. After an hour or two, Orneth began to feel weary, and her back ached, but she was too proud to say anything. She only had a thin cloak, and she was freezing and exhausted. Soon they arrived at an old cabin, which was dark and misty. Demdor commanded everyone to stop, and he jumped off his horse and took the reins of all three horses, gathering them together.
"Rochon, could you light a fire?" Demdor asked, turning towards the group. "I will find a safe spot for the horses and give them food and water." Orneth dismounted from her horse, feeling a little apprehensive as she watched Tae willingly follow Demdor and the other horses. Rochon noticed her unease and spoke up. "Do not worry, my lady. Your horse is in the best hands. Demdor is a gifted healer, especially when it comes to animals. They just need to rest for the night." Orneth was exhausted and cold, barely able to walk. Rochon could see this and offered his arm for support. "I apologize, my lady, but you should have told us sooner if you were struggling," he said. "You are not a burden." "I'm fine," Orneth replied weakly. "I did not want to slow you down." Rochon smiled reassuringly and led Orneth towards a nearby cabin. "This is one of the watch-houses. Please rest, Lady, there will be a long day tomorrow." Orneth collapsed onto a chair, too tired to protest. As she watched the soldier build a fire, she felt comforted by Rochon's presence. He radiated calmness and competence, making her feel safe and cared for.
Demdor walked into the room, looking worried and serious. He threw his cloak on the table and said, "I had to change Tae's horseshoes. We pushed her too hard. She'll rest here tonight, and we'll take her back to Lord Mannamo and your friends tomorrow. We can rest in the west room, and you can rest here." Orneth felt uneasy as she sensed Demdor was demanding something from her. "Is Tae okay?" she asked. Demdor left the room simply saying, "Yes, she's fine."
As the sun rose over the mountain, Rochon retrieved both his and Orneth's horses and they made their way back to the guesthouse. Meanwhile, Demdor lifted Orneth onto his horse and positioned her in front of him as they rode towards their destination. Orneth felt uneasy as she sensed his breath on her neck and his body pressed close to hers. She was uncomfortable with the prolonged silence between them and couldn't help but feel like a burden rather than a welcomed companion on this journey. "I do apologize for being such a burden," she said tentatively. Demdor took a moment before finally responding, "You are not a burden."
Orneth cast her eyes forward, focusing on the reins and the path ahead as she prodded further, "What kind of soldier were you in Ossiriand?" Demdor responded with a gentle laugh, "I am first and foremost a healer. Though I know how to wield a sword, I am not truly a soldier." Orneth's curiosity continued, "And the settlement we approach, should I be worried?" Demdor reassured her, "No, they are peaceful. It is known as Caranhoth now."
Despite a few stops throughout the day, they arrived at the settlement just as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Orneth felt a mix of apprehension and anticipation as they approached. She had no idea what kind of people resided within or if they would welcome her presence. All that mattered was that it was marked on the map as a possible location of Manyamë's son, and it was Orneth's duty to discover the truth.
Demdor smoothly dismounted from his horse and quietly approached the gate. The temporary settlement consisted of tents, and Orneth couldn't help but wonder if they had permanently made this place their home. When Demdor returned, he was accompanied by a guard who approached Orneth. The guard was draped in a deep red cloak and possessed an authoritative presence. His deep voice rumbled through the air, "So, I hear you are searching for someone?" Orneth affirmed, "Yes, I am." The figure examined her, his face obscured by the shadows of his hood, "Are you an envoy?" Orneth hesitated before responding, "I am here with good intentions." He examined her and then Demdor before finally stating, "Follow me, then." Once they started moving, Demdor made an attempt to accompany them, but the guard stopped him, holding a sword. "Not you. You understand why, Demdor," the guard stated, "You must wait outside. We will bring her back soon." Demdor pleaded, "I simply want to ensure her safety. I made a promise to her friends." The guard stood firm, "Wait here. I will speak to our leader." Demdor nodded, "Very well. I will wait." With that, the guard gestured for Orneth to follow as he led her deeper into the settlement.
Orneth followed the person in the deep red cloak down a small and narrow path. On either side were tents of a drab grey hue that surrounded the path, and she observed curious eyes following her every move, both children and adults alike. She also noted the presence of temporary stables, larger tents, and wooden stalls stocked with weaponry items and shields. There was a strong smell of smoke and grass, and in the corner of her eye, she saw the silhouette of men and ellons moving about the camp. As they walked, Orneth caught sight of a larger tent in the middle of the camp, which was easily distinguishable by its bright red hue. Once inside, the person in the hooded cloak instructed her to wait. Orneth surveyed her surroundings and found the tent to be not too different from a regular room, with chairs and a desk filled with shelves of books. In the corner, she spotted another person preparing food in a bowl by the fire-stand, and noticed a large table holding various flasks and maps. Outside, a few soldiers in red robes stood guard around the tent, and Orneth realized that this must be where she would meet the leader. Though she felt no fear, her heart beat fast and her body was tense with anticipation.
Suddenly, she heard voices and the sound of fast footsteps approaching the tent. A group of four males entered, all of whom wore red robes and shiny belts. She did not get a clear view of their faces, but the last person to enter caught her attention with his silver buttons and the longbow that hung across his back. He was taller than the others and had neatly braided, silvery blond hair that glowed in the dim light of the tent. His features were strikingly beautiful and Orneth could not help but notice the resemblance he bore to Mannamo. However, his colors were the opposite of Mannamo's, as he was pale and silvery, and Orneth found herself nearly rendered speechless by his otherworldly beauty. It was then that she remembered someone else who looked exactly like him: Naerchanar.
All picture are AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
