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Fairborn (PG) Print

Written by Paul Price

26 August 2011 | 24652 words

Title: Fairborn
Author: Paul Price
Rating: PG
Pairing(s): Faramir

This is a sixteen chapter short novel detailing curious events and various adventures in the twentieth year of Faramir and Eowyn’s marriage. The adventures and events concern them, their children, their friends, the countries of Gondor, Rohan, Dunland, and Harad, and enemies they did not know they had.


[ all pages ]

Chapter 4: Eothain and Anbor

Captain Eothain had mixed emotions. He was honored that Lady Theowyn had accompanied his troops on their ride to South Ithilien, but he was equally certain Prince Faramir had not approved her action. If she were harmed, then he might pay a heavy price. However, her presence seemed to raise the spirits of his troops, who called her “Daughter of Dernhelm”. He could not question her skill in mock combat, as he had seen her perform, but this was not going to be a mock battle. Additionally, he may not be able to assign troops to guard her, as he was not sure of the number of orcs he would be facing. At least she did not stand out among the troops, as her armor, weapons, and horse were similar to theirs, and her braid was not much longer than most of his men’s braids. Some of the men even had golden hair like hers. However, he wished he had brought some riders from the second eored with him.

He saw one of his scouts approaching and rode out to meet him. “How many orcs are out there?” he asked grimly.

“Just over 250.” Said the scout whose name was Gelamer.

Eothain spit and swore, and then continued his questioning. “Are they roaming, pillaging, or marching?”

“Marching. They seem to be headed North. When we first spotted the band there was about 150 of them, but then they joined another band of about 100.”

“Have you looked for a battlefield, as I asked?”

“Yes, and we found one. We also found another scout trailing them, a ranger.”

“Did the orcs send out scouts?”

“Yes, they sent out two scouting parties. We ambushed both of them.”

“Then we should be able to surprise them. Where is the ranger?”

“On his way here. He was right behind me, but stopped to examine some tracks he found.”

A short while later the ranger appeared riding a shaggy brown pony. He was a short squat man who looked to be in his middle years. He had very black, but graying, hair and a scar across the forehead of his very flat face. His eyes were brown, and his skin was similar to the dark skin of a man who spent much time outdoors, but was darker. In turn, the ranger saw a typical Rohirrim leader, a tall blond man with pale blue eyes who looked to be both strong and hard.

“Eothain, this is Anbor. Anbor, this is Eothain, Captain of the Ithilien Eored.” said Gelamer tersely, then he left to continue scouting.

“Is that whatcha call yourselves now?” laughed Anbor, “The Ithilien Eored.”

“It seemed a fitting name.” said Eothain dryly.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean offense. It just struck me odd.” said Anbor.

“What can you tell me about the orcs?” said Eothain coldly.

“I started tailin’ an orc band when they crossed the border of Ithilien this morning. There was about 100 of ‘em. I tailed ‘em until they joined a second band, then I saw your scouts and joined ‘em.” said Anbor.

“So they’ve been raiding since this morning?” asked Eothain.

“No. The group that I tailed was marchin’ the whole time. They seemed ta be tryin’ta catch the first group. The first group had all the plunder from raidin’. After my group caught up ta the first group, they stopped and talked for a while, then marched on.”

“I don’t know that they are doing,” said Eothain, “but I intend to stop it now.”

“Ya got the Crown Prince witcha, too?” asked Anbor, “I see Lady Theowyn witcha troops.”

Eothain sighed and said sharply, “She came on her own. I think she wants to be in this fight. Her brother is not here, Thank Eorl.”

“I got one more thin’ ta report,” said Anbor, “The first band likely spent last night in Ithilien. They began their raid this mornin’, and met someone, then stopped raidin’.”

“How do you know this? I thought you were trailing the second band?”

“I know from the tracks that I found. I don’t know who they met. I only know they met someone. I could track that person, if ya want.”

“No. I think I’m going to need every soldier that I can get for this battle.” said Eothain.

“I ain’t much at fightin’ from ‘orseback. But, I can use this well” said Anbor lifting his bow.

“You don’t have much of a horse to fight from.” Snickered Eothain.

“I thought ya Rohirrim appreciated good ‘orses?”

“Horse, I though you were riding a dog.”

Eothain had warmed to the ranger, and their banter continued as Eothain prepared a battle plan, organized the troops, and rode off to battle. The battle was short and decisive. Eothain’s riders slowly approached the orcs from three sides, so the orcs had only one direction to run. When the charge began, the orcs were caught by surprise, and immediately routed. The riders speared the fleeing orcs with little risk and few rider casualties. Only when a group of about 60 orcs stopped and formed a battle line, did the fighting get intense for the horsemen. It was here that Theowyn impressed the men of the eored. She charged into the orc line, forcing a breech, then dismounted and fought with sword and shield. She was even more effective than in the mock combats, as the orcs were more poorly trained and equipped than her usual opponents. According to Anbor, Theowyn killed fifteen orcs in that melee. Other riders said she killed more than that number in the pursuit prior to the melee. She had earned a high reputation with the Rohirrim. The “Daughter of Dernhelm” was welcome to join the Ithilien Eored in any battle.

After the battle, the Eored silently burned the orc dead, much more than two hundred orcs, and buried their own dead, four riders, with ceremonies and lamentations from the deceased’s friends and kin in the Eored. Then they rode away. As the Rohirrim rode from the battle field, they began to sing:

We ride,
Across our land.
For kin, our sword at side,
Our spear in hand,
We ride.

We ride,
Toward our foe.
Both horse and man, Rohan’s pride.
To lay them low,
We ride.

We ride,
From battle maul.
Victory by our side,
In saddle, tall
We ride.

It was an ancient song among the Rohirrim riders, a song of victory.

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