Author's note:

For many years, each time while watching The Two Towers, I have thought that the journey of Eothain and Freda to Edoras is just screaming "gapfiller possibility"! *lol* But I have never really figured out what to do and what to write – until the last time I watched it, some two weeks ago. It was then, finally, that things "clicked" in my mind, and I came up with this story.

Big hug and kiss to Cairistiona for beta-reading.

-x-x-x-

"Eothain, I'm hungry and scared..." Her little voice broke, and she started to cry again.

I wish there were something that could indeed comfort her. But nothing could change the fact that we were all alone in wilderness, unprotected, and that we had no food. We had run to save our very lives, and there had been absolutely no time to take anything with us. And the fact that I knew where Edoras was didn’t really mean much – it didn’t mean that we would actually manage to get there. Because it is a four-day journey, and despite our caution, we cannot know what lies ahead. We could run into enemies – Dunlendings and orcs – just like those that attacked our village.

Curse them!

Darkness fell; this was the second night of our journey. The wind started to howl.

"Eothain, I'm cold!" Her teeth began to chatter.

There was no fire in our little camp. There were plenty of bushes and branches around, but how to start a fire? Just like there had been no time to take food before we fled, there had been no time to take anything to start a fire, either.

I wondered if it was good or bad that we did not have fire. Yes, it could reveal our position to potential enemies, but they were not the only danger. Fire would protect us from predators; they don't like flames and smoke. We were lucky last night, but would we also be lucky enough this night that no wolf or bear discovers our location?

I was very scared too.

-x-x-x-

Day came. We survived one more night.

"Eothain I am so hungry!"

"So am I."

"Eothain where is Edoras?"

"Err, towards the east."

"Eothain where is the east?"

"It is where the sun rises."

"Eothain what if we stray and we don't find Edoras and what if we are lost and what if orcs find us?"

"Uhm... we won't be lost."

Her crying was so loud that she probably didn't even hear that last reply. She sobbed so hard that her whole little body shook.

No, we would not be lost, of that I was sure. But there was no guarantee of the other things. The orcs had spread over all of our land, ravaging both our plains and mountains. Their attack was an all too real possibility.

I shivered. We were all alone and without weapons – and besides, what would one single sword mean against a horde of enemies? The only thing that we had was hope.

-x-x-x-

The day passed, and each step meant we were closer to our destination. By evening, I knew we had passed the halfway point. Where were we now and how much farther to go? It was getting darker, and fog hid much of the landscape, so I wasn't sure of our exact position. But, if nothing unforeseen happened, I believed that tomorrow would be the day we'd reach Edoras.

One more day. Just a little bit more... and yet, still so much more, because we were still alone in the wild. Oh, if only we had run into some travellers. Or, even better, King's riders! But we hadn't. We were still completely unprotected, and we could be attacked by orcs or predators.

Darkness fell. This night there was no moon or stars; the sky was veiled with clouds. It was utterly dark, and we couldn’t see anything. Wolf howls were echoing in the distance. With each of their cries, I jumped and shivered.

"E-e-eothain I am h-hungry." Tears ran down her cheeks.

If only I could help her!

"I want mommy."

There was no real answer to that, there was no comfort. Because the last glance towards our village, when we turned around from a safe distance to look back, showed us that there were more enemies than people in the village, and many houses had already been burning.

She might be dead.

Ice crept into my heart.

-x-x-x-

I was the first one who woke up. There was no more fog around, so I went to inspect the surroundings. I passed this way only once, several years ago, travelling from Edoras to our village. However, now that everything was clear, I recognized the shapes of mountains south of us and plains to the north of us. My heart leapt. Yes, just as I thought yesterday, our destination was no longer very far away, and rescue now seemed a real possibility.

However, more important than just looking around and recognizing the surroundings, was what I felt inside. My heart knew – Edoras was no longer far away and we would get there by midday!

I hurried back. We must set out as soon as possible. When I returned, I saw that the young mistress was awake. She didn't cry... but when I looked closer, I realized I'd prefer if she did. Because she just sat and stared in front of her; it was as if she had lost all her strength, even for crying. She was pale and she was shaking.

"I want mommy, I want mommy, I want mommy..." Her voice broke.

But what scared me even more was the young master. He lay next to his sister, still asleep. His face was as white as milk, and the rising of his chest was barely visible.

I shivered.

Weakness because of hunger? Fever? Some illness he got on this journey? Perhaps all of those, together. We had been on the move for three full days, and the fourth one was just starting. Three whole days without food. Three whole days in the cold wilderness. Three whole days without shelter or the warmth of fire.

No! They must not die!

Oh, if only I could speak in their words! If only I could tell them what I knew – that salvation was just a few hours away! I knew it now with complete certainty. Because Edoras was where I was born; it will always be imprinted on the very core of my being. My heart and my legs would always find the way to my stable in Edoras, from any point in the world. Mistress Morwen knew it too.

I pushed Eothain gently with my head, and he groaned and blinked. His gaze was empty. Oh, if only he could endure a little bit more! I lowered to my knees. Come on, mount! I pushed them a few more times to compel them to move. Finally, they both climbed on my back.

Worry not for your children anymore, mistress Morwen, wherever you are. Oh, how I hope you are well! Worry not, we escaped both orcs and wolves, and we are close to our aim.

Worry not anymore, young mistress and master. Just a little bit more, and you will be safe – your Garulf will take care of it. You will be all right.

I stood up and ran towards the safe heaven.

I will save them.