I moved around the land, with my older brother beside me, keeping the other soldiers in the distance. "I told you, we shouldn't stop too much as it will delay us." Forchuil then said towards me as I pretended not to hear him. I was more focused on the fact that my wife was gone for so long and yet I has been sent out here as a reinforcement. The only one good thing about that fact was a possible reunion with my ranger friend. But I could't dwell on those thoughts for too long as we both spotted a woman that hailed us upon the road. "Well met, there..." We said both at once, then looked at each other with a really confused glance before we approached the stranger. "Well met, travelers! A fine day, is it not?" The cheerful stranger then said towards us. "It is indeed, hopefully without any nasty surprises as we venture forth." I then said laughing before introducing both of us to the stranger. "Gondor, you say? Why, I have always wanted to venture there. One day I shall! Me name's Lunalei. I'm of these lands, though I am a wanderer, never staying in one place long. Where are you venturing to?" The woman then said and introduced herself at once. She was very nice to us and kind of reminded me of my sweet Nyraewyn. We decided to join her and get to know each other better. We had hoped to journey together towards Evendim, but at the turn of the events I ended up going there alone as Forchuil disappeared into the night and our new companion was asleep when I was leaving. I did not dare touching her to wake her up.
As I rode forth through the lands, following the informations I had on the moving of the forces in the region I spied a fort in the distance. It must have been the one that I was looking for. I rode there alongside my soldiers and that is when I saw the small band of warriors inside. That must have been them, but Forngarmo was nowhere to be seen. I sighed with dissapointment. "Hail, friends." I greeted them with a salute. "Did we come in the moment of need, Captain?" I then asked as I heard the middle of their conversation about things unknown to me. I recognized only their leader. He seemed too troubled by his own matters to pay attention though. I kept waiting alongside my riders, in silence for another sign of what would need to be done. Once that was decided, we took on the warriors and helped them to reunite with their steeds. Afterwards, we moved on to aid their field hospital that has been attacked. When we got there, we kept on fighting to save the innocent souls within. I did my best, occassionally ending up pushed back or even on the ground but I knew that I would get up again. I was never alone to face such things. She might have not been here with me, but she kept always aiding me with her inner strength. I was very peaceful until I heard one of my companions yell in Black Speech. It made me really anxious to hear it again. Times of my inprisonment came flashing back into my mind. "Stay strong, Nethillon... I am with you..." I then heard my wife's calming voice within my head. I smiled as I continued fighting until I ended up on the ground again. Close to the end of the fight, I was given a helpful hand from one of our allies, an elf that came with us. We watched as our allies duelled the leaders of the assault. Then, I have learned of my friend's fate and everything seemed to be tumbling down upon me.
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Back on The Road: Meeting of the travellers and the incoming reinforcements
Submitted by Nethillon on February 4th, 2024

