#eboras

Today was not much different from any other day around Eboras, and I trekked around the hills. discovering new sights and animals that I had never seen before.  This was helpful in two ways; first, it helped occupy my time, and second, I was learning the terrain.  In the not so unlikely event where I was discovered again, I would have a leg up on my pursuers and hopefully be able to lose them in the mountains around Eboras.

As I neared the thatched huts of the village, I stopped to pick a exceptionally beautiful flower that I had never seen before and tuck it into the braids of my hair.  I had never bothered to remove Thorin's courting braid after I had left.  I kept it as a memento of him, to keep his memory alive within my mind.

After I had seen Fili and Kili in the marketplace of Minas Tirith, after supposing they were dead, I had begun to wonder about Thorin.  Surely he would have come with them if he had been alive, right?  Or had he finally fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming King Under the Mountain?  The second idea was highly unlikely because I surely would have received word if he had become King.  

I now had even more reason to believe that Thorin was dead, and my heart felt like it had taken a Morgul arrow straight through its center.  I had always entertained the idea that he was still alive and well, but now...  I found it impossible to try and hope that he was alive.  

Part of me wished for news of the Cursed Mountain, but none had come to Eboras.  The people here were not concerned with it or its gold, prefering to tend to their own business.  Strangers were rare in these parts.

A strong gust of the clear mountain wind blew back my raven locks, and I felt a soft muzzle against my back.  A laugh escaped my rosy lips as I turned to see Ciara standing there, her dark ears pricked towards me as she nudged me again.  

She had put on some weight, being out on the rich pastures of the Rohirrim and not being rode much.  But she was still my swift pony at heart, and I knew that she would be capable of long distance sprints if I needed her to do so.

"Hello, Ciara.  Do you miss our rides, my beauty?"  I murmured to her, and she snuffled, nosing my open palm.  "Sorry girl, no treats today."  I giggled, and she seemed to be disappointed.  But then she raised her head to look at something over my shoulder.  Her light-coloured eyes were curious, and I wondered what had caught her attention.

Turning, I let out a gasp of surprise as I saw who was jogging towards me.  "Bofur?"  I whispered, my blue eyes wide with horror.  I thought Eboras was far enough away, but apparently not.

"Estelle, I've been all over looking for ya!"  Bofur said, panting as he hurried towards me.  "I have to tell ya something."  

I tried to back away, but he grabbed my wrist.  "Estelle, ya need to listen."  He said, his dark brown eyes locked onto mine.  I shook my head, trying to pull away from him, but I found that his grip was deceptively strong.  

"Bofur, let me go.  I don't want to hurt you, but if I have too..."  I trailed off meaningfully, but he took no notice.  

"Estelle, there is something ya need to hear about--"  I cut him off with a swift punch to his jaw.  His hand went limp around my wrist as his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell back, unconscious.  

I was very confident in my warrior skills due to Thorin having trained me during the journey to Erebor, curse its name.  He was the best teacher I had ever had, and his prowess showed in me.  Although, many of the training sessions had ended up without much training taking place at all.  Just an exchange of words.

Grabbing Ciara's bridle, I led her towards the village, towards my hut that I had finally begun to call my own, after only a few months of living here.  I'd only just begun to feel at home here among the Rohirrim, but now that was changing.

Gathering my meager things, I packed them up onto Ciara's back and climbed onto her back.  "Let's ride, Ciara.  Far away from here."  I urged, kicking her into a trot as we traveled down the

mountain slope, passing by Bofur's unconscious form.

I did feel bad about hurting him, but I'd tried to warn him.  He didn't take me seriously, which a lot of people seemed to do since I was a Dwarrowdame.  I tried to push him out of my mind, but his words bugged me.

What did I need to hear?  Was it news from the Cursed Mountain?  I didn't really want to know, but my curiosity was aroused.  Perhaps I would hear it later in my travels.  Surely I might meet someone on the road that could tell me any recent news, or perhaps the Elves of Lothlorien would know more.  They were quite knowledgeable about many things...

For now I needed to concentrate on traveling as quickly as possible and getting to my destination as fast  as I could.  I wanted to be far away from Eboras, and well out of sight before Bofur woke up.  I knew he would find some way to communicate with Dwalin, Fili and Kili to inform them of my whereabouts.