“Captain Tauriel,” he bowed his head and returned the smile. “Well met, then. You say you travel of your own accord? I still do not understand why you travel for pleasure, especially on your own. Far more dangerous times may have occurred in the past, but you must have heard whispers on your way here. Isengard and Dunland growing in strength, Mordor rising in the east, nazgul seen on the Anduin. What gave cause to venture so far south?”
Eomer was still more than confused. She was alone. She was south. And she must have heard the rumors; most of them came from Mirkwood, themselves! Dol Guldur had been the start of it all, and the horselord’s brow furrowed as he waited to hear an explanation.
A gentle breeze reminded the Elf once more than a storm was harboring for the coming night.
Tauriels smile did not falter, in fact she inclined her head and set her jaw. She had already explained herself once, now she felt as though he were prodding her. ‘Perhaps the trust of man to the south is not the same of men to the East in Dale.’ In front of his men where they all could pay homage to her answer.
“There was no mention of pleasure; I know well the war we all face,” gentle was her tone as she passed a hand to her Horse’s snout, “and the dark times that are pressing down upon our shoulders. My reason for traveling is as I once said, to see other than the woodlands – I could not ask this of my guards. For who shall they guard? Nor could I ask for their leave with no guarantee of return.”
She needed to find where strengths grew, the demographics of which surrounded them. How was she to foster strength if a pronged attack was to be waged? Where did the enemies strength grew, where did their strength grow? Over the year the translucent idea that help would come was dissipating faster than before. They could not hold their position in the Halls, pressed farther north than ever before – Isolated and finding trade with Dale. They were growing desperate in their survival but none to humble to admit to such.
“If you wish to discuss the matter further, may it be in privacy for the sake of my kin and King.”