The Dare

The first light of morning brought me to wakefulness. As I came to my feet, I noticed that every muscle in my body protested this movement. It was as if I had been thrown from a horse not once, but several times. I groaned and heard laughter.
“Artamir! This isn’t funny!” I cried to my brother’s friend and fellow horseman.
“Oh but it is! The thrill of battle is gone so quickly,” he said in reply, winking at me. He handed me a chunk of bread. “I guess those battle songs of yours don’t tell you about the morning after do they?” I grimaced and ate the bread. Elred brought me some water. As we ate and drank, we noted that all but a few of the company had mustered and were leaving the camp.

I checked on all my patients. Most were able to ride. Dior was not even conscious. Artamir, Eored and I stood around trying to think of what to do. Dior needed to be taken to Minas Tirith and quickly.
“We can not use a sling. The country is too rough and we have need of haste,” I said.

Faramir rode up. “Why are you not ready to move out? Are not all the wounded able to travel?” I glanced up at the face that had become so familiar. He looked stern and remote. This was not the passionate man who had kissed me the night before.

“Dior is not, my lord. He is still unconscious. He can not ride.” I said quietly

“Elred, how strong is your horse, Beleg?” he asked impatiently.

“Quite strong, my lord,” Eored replied.

“Would Beleg be able to carry Eolindë and Dior?”

“I believe he could though he would not move as quickly as he normally does.”

“But you believe he could do it?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“There’s your answer Eolindë. You will ride double with Dior on Beleg. We will leave very shortly.” I opened my mouth to object but the look of annoyance in Faramir’s eyes stopped me. He rode away.

Elred brought Beleg and Halan to where Dior lay. He removed the saddle and placed several blankets on his back instead. “Thank the stars that Mother taught us to ride without a saddle.” I commented.
“True. But riding without a saddle and hanging onto to an unconscious man. That is something else entirely.” Elred had a worried look.
“I can do it, Elred. I must. And I am sure Beleg will take good care of us.” I said as I patted Beleg’s nose. He neighed and shook his head. Artamir looked up in surprise. “I have heard that the Rohirrim have a way with horses. I had no idea that included speaking with them.”
“Why not? The relationship between horse and rider is a matter of life and death in our country. Of course, we speak to them,” Elred said.
Elred packed his saddle onto Halan and gave me a leg up onto Beleg. Artamir and Elred maneuvered Dior onto Beleg as gently as possible. As Elred mounted Halan and Artamir his horse, Dior stirred.
“Eolindë?” he croaked.
“I am here Dior. We are going back to Minas Tirith. You and I are riding Beleg, Elred’s horse. It is going to be a rough ride but it is the only way.”
“Oh.” and he fell unconscious again.
The call went out and we began our long ride back to the White City.

We rode until the sun was high. My shoulders were aching from holding onto Dior and my thighs were cramped from clinging to Beleg’s sides. Faramir allowed us a short respite so I could check the wounded. Elred and Artamir helped me get Dior down off Beleg. He stirred as we laid him down. His eyes opened and flashed a slight smile. “I have to check your wound. You may not be smiling at me afterwards.” He nodded.

I lifted his shirt. The wrap had some blood seeping into it. I unwrapped it further and lifted the bandage. The wound had indeed opened up and was leaking blood. I quickly made a new horsetail poultice including the lavender and comfrey powder to prevent festering. There were no signs of that yet but the longer we stayed in the wild, the chances of it becoming putrid increased. I longed for the Houses of Healing with their oils and herbals. I only had a battlefield kit. Ostoher’s arm had also started re-bleeding so I redressed that. The rest were tired and in pain. I gave everyone a sip or two from my flask of monscinan. They sputtered and coughed but I knew that it would take the edge off the pain the wounded were feeling. I met Faramir’s eyes as I went about. He was keeping watch and I could see he was anxious to go on.

We started up again and rode until dark. By the time we stopped, my arms and legs were numb. I could barely get off Beleg. As Elred and Artamir got Dior, I tried to walk out my stiffness. I stumbled and a hand caught me. It was Faramir. His hand burned through my shirt. Oh why did he have to see me like this?

“Are you well, Mistress?” he asked concern in his eyes.

“Well enough for having ridden bareback and holding onto an unconscious grown man the entire time,” I spoke jestingly. “It will pass.”

“Good.” He replied with a smile and walked on.

When I checked Dior’s wrap and bandage, I was relieved to find that there was very little blood this time. I made small cups of tea with willow bark and chamomile for all the wounded. Elred brought me some food. I ate by the fire and a sleeping Dior. Elred went to see to our horses. I pulled a small pouch out of my pack. It was a rather malodorous greasy rub usually used on horse strains. I wrinkled my nose at the smell. No one was going to want to be around me for a while. I laughed when I thought of my oh so correct cousins. I had no mirror but I knew my hair and clothes were a mess and I needed a proper bath badly. I loosened my shirt and began rubbing the ointment on my shoulders. “Aunt Iles would probably not even let me into the house smelling like this.”

“I do not think it is so bad.” A voice said while two hands began rubbing my shoulders. I nearly jumped out my skin.

“My Lord Faramir. You are being polite. This concoction smells to the stars. It’s only redeeming grace is that it works.” I tried to keep my voice steady as I felt his hands. My blood burned and I felt a flush creeping up my face. He laughed and after a while my shoulders eased.

“Thank you my lord. I feel much better now,” I said as I quickly pulled the laces of my shirt together. He sat near me. The heat I felt wasn’t just from the ointment. Being near Faramir was causing me to have some most improper thoughts. I needed to distract myself quickly.

“My father spoke with admiration about you and Boromir, my lord.” Faramir looked chagrined at the words my lord. “He said, ‘The Lord Boromir was a captain of men, bold and fearless, sometimes to the point of foolishness. But the Lord Faramir, he was a captain also but he knew when to put the soldier aside. He would sing songs and jest with us at the end of the day.’ He also said that you would often bring a book on campaign.”

Faramir laughed. “Your father is an observant man. He was born here in Ithilien you know.”

“Yes, but his family fled when he was less than a year old.”

“He was a valiant fighter here. But when he saw your mother…”

“It was love at first sight,” I chimed in. “Eored and I have heard the story many times.” I said with a chuckle.

“My brother could never understand why your father left Minas Tirith for a mere woman. And one of Rohan at that.”

“And you?”

“Well, your mother was quite a beauty. But more than that, your father seemed to find peace with her,” he said reflectively.

“Father always said that meeting Mother was like coming home.” I looked at Faramir. I saw a flicker of desire flash in his eyes. The air grew still. I wanted him to kiss me with every fiber of my being. He leaned toward me.
“By Helm’s hammer Eolindë, did you use that horse salve? I can smell it from several feet away. How’s Dior?” The cheery voice of my dear brother intruded. I cursed my twin’s untimely arrival. “Oh hello, sir. Mablung was looking for you.” Faramir stood up hastily.

“I was merely checking on Dior and our little healer,” he said and he went on his way.

“Dior is doing well for now, Elred. And yes, I used the salve. My shoulders needed it.”

“Get some sleep, Eolindë,” he told me. “Tomorrow will be another hard ride.”