One Man, One Horse

The days passed slowly and still Calaren had not awakened or stirred or opened his eyes. His color looked better and he seemed to breath more normally than he had been but as far as narisa could tell he was just not waking up. The healers told her about his concussion and what it could do. He could wake up in an hour, a day or several days...or not at all. He had hit hard when he was thrown and though he wore a helmet, his brain was badly bruised from the impact. Ithilwen had done what she could for him, which was to give his body the needed strength to heal itself. She had said that his will to live was the key to his recovery. She confirmed that his mind was there and didn’t know exactly why he wasn’t waking up.

The two Neifbren were put in their own pasture just outside the east gate. They seemed to charge at all the other horses that were put with them and the red one with the damaged face wouldn’t allow anyone including Narisa close to it to heal it. It ate only if no one was nearby but something was definitely wrong with it. It seemed angry and afraid to Narisa. Not afraid or angry with her but definitely about something. Not even Conleth knew what was going through its head. To understand it she needed Calaren…

On the fourth day while eating an apple near the fence it came within 20 feet and then stopped. It was looking at her and its ears were poised as if it were interested and focused upon what she was doing.

For the first few days Narisa continued remain entirely at Calaren’s side. She slept next to him, read to him, and sang to him. However, as the days ticked by she knew that she would eventually have to leave his side. He would not want her to spend all of her time with him. He would want her outside, where she loved to be and tending to their horses. She had duties that she could no longer put off and so reluctantly she ventured outside for the first time in days. The sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing happily. Everyone in the village went about their duties as normal. As they spotted her they came up to her to ask her about Calaren. It was difficult for her to talk about him, but she appreciated their thinking of him.

After an hour of just walking around the village she spotted the pasture where the two Neifbren were grazing. She slowly walked over to the fence and watched the red one with the scarred face. He seemed angry and afraid and Narisa knew that it would take time for her to gain his trust. She had been given an apple by one of the other villagers and began to feel hungry. She took a bite of the apple and as she did the red Neifbren looked up at her. He watched her curiously and she saw him start to take a step towards her. She took another bite of the apple and then slowly extended the apple out for him to take if he wanted. She waited to see what he would do.

The horses nose sniffed the cool air and its breath plumed to the side of its face. It took another step toward Narisa, toward her offering…

The Neifbren was at least 3 hands taller than any warhorse that she may have seen and at least 2 hands wider. Its legs were long, thick and muscular, its hooves broad for a sure footing. It’s chest was massive with bulging muscles that bordered on too much but she could guess that its bulk didn’t slow it down at all. Calaren handled the one he rode as he had trained it for months so they obviously were intelligent animals too. It was when she came from her thoughts that she noticed it was only 6 feet away now, its eye that she could see watching her uneasily. Calaren had lost Fireheart his faithful red and the Neifbren mare in the same day.

Occasionally the large red would look down at the apple and then back up to her again. Its face was badly damaged and dried blood marred much of its flesh there with cross-crosses of what could be slashes made by some weapon. It whinnied fretfully and then it turned and bolted away from her. The light gray one wasn’t interested in her at all. Nor did it seem to shy away when Conleth came to lead it into the barn. The red had to be corralled by shifting the fences and gates until it ran into its stall all on its own. In the few days that they’ve had them it had kicked out the back of two such stalls and completely destroyed a door. It tried to bite the stablemen if they got too close and even tried to kick Conleth who had tried to look at its hooves. Though the stablemen and even Conleth said it was just a matter of time Narisa might think that it was trying to tell her something. That the red was somehow trying to connect with her on a completely different level than what a typical horse might or that it could sense that she was suffering too but if so, what was it suffering from?

At first, Narisa had thought that the red stallion might take the apple from her. She could see that he was thinking about it, but in the end he ran from her. She knew that it was going to take time with him. But she was determined to gain his trust…no matter how long it took. She finished her apple and then decided to go back and check on Calaren again. She had found a new book to start reading to him. She hoped that the sound of her voice would help him and guide him back to her.

Beren was released that next morning and Ithilwen, Conleth and Serethiel all were there to escort him out. Conleth stopped by Calaren’s room and paused at the door until Narisa noticed him.

“Any change?” He asked. When she shook her head he stepped inside. By now he had heard of what Calaren did. The talk was that he looked like the Conleth of old that was practically a fabled story in and around Gehenna. To see it for themselves was something the people of the village would not soon forget and it also brought those fabled stories to life for them. No longer were the soldiers of Gehenna content with hiding behind the walls. They formed horse patrols and began patrolling around the village in small groups to look for raiders. They found and captured several scouts since then but lately there was no sign of them and much of that was likely due to the patrols.

“Need anything?” he asked not really knowing what else to say. When she shook her head again he nodded them stepped out to catch up with the others.


Later that day after she left Calaren’s bedside, when she came the horse was already there. He was near the fence where she had offered up her apple though it stood a few more feet away. It stamped its front right leg expectantly as she came up to the fence and whinnied that same high pitched whinnie that sounded more like a whine than anything else.

Narisa was surprised to see the red stallion so close to the fence. He did not move away as she approached. She walked slowly and did not make any sudden movements. She did not want to scare him off. She managed to get close to the fence, but stayed a few feet back for now. She was quiet for a long while before finally speaking.

"The first time I met Calaren was at a festival in Rohan. We were both still young, but there was an instant connection between us. He walked right up to me and told me he wanted to dance with me. He didn't ask me...he told me. I was surprised by his boldness, but also intrigued by it and I danced with him. The next morning he appeared and announced that he was there to go out riding with me. We had talked about going out riding sometime...but for him to just appear like that told me everything I needed to know about him. He was strong and confident, but not overly so. I went out riding with him and he kissed me for the first time that day. On the way back from our ride we came across a mother and her two children whose wagon had lost it's wheel. Calaren immediately went to help them. He got horribly dirty getting the wheel back on, but he didn't mind it. I knew that he wasn't trying to just impress me either. He genuinely cared and I could see he had a good heart."

She became quiet for a moment as a few tears filled her eyes.

"I hated not saying yes to him when he asked me to marry him...it nearly killed me. But I could not go back on my promise to Eagan. I already lost one man I loved...I cannot lose another. I cannot lose Calaren."

She took a moment to wipe the tears from her eyes. The red stallion was looking at her as if he had been listening intently to every word she had said. She did not have an apple to give him, but she remembered something. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of hard candy that her grandfather had given her. She unwrapped it and placed it in her palm. She then slowly moved closer and extended out her hand to see if the stallion would take the candy.

The horse seemed to listen to her every word and indeed his ears were pointed in her direction. It whinnied softly and scraped his foot upon the ground as if deliberating about something. His eyes were watching her when she dug into her pocket. His ears shifted and then shifted back when she presented the candy. It paused and tossed his head but then took a step forward.

It took another and then another and then it stood before her, its front feet side by side. It grunted and expelled a hard breath as it took in her scent. Slowly, tentatively it shifted its neck toward her and she realized now how big he was. He could take her whole head into her mouth almost. It bobbed and then bent its neck down and smelled her hand. Detecting something it might like all of a sudden its large, black and white tongue came out and it scooped up the piece of candy and began to eat it. As its tongue came out to look for more Narisa heard a squeaky voice call her from behind.

“Lady Narisa! Lady Narisa!’ Magraine said as she ran up to her. The large red stomped his right foot but did not retreat. Magraine fell to her knees as she had obviously ran a long way. She gasped for air but then she looked up at her. “Lord Calaren…!” She said in between wheezing gasps. “He’s...he’s opened his eyes!” She croaked.

Narisa did not move as the extremely large red stallion moved closer to her. It was the largest horse she had ever seen. She had read about Neifbren's before, but had never seen one. She held her breath as she watched the horse shift it's neck over the fence and then bent it's head down towards her hand. She could feel it's warm breath and the hairs of his nose on her skin. Suddenly, a large, and strange looking black and white tongue came out and licked the piece of candy up out of her hand. She couldn't help but smile as she watched the horse munch happily on the piece of candy. She knew in that moment she had taken a large step towards gaining his trust.

Just then, she heard Magraine's voice behind her. She looked over to see the young girl running towards her. Her face was red from her exertion and she all but collapsed before her. She knelt down beside her to figure out what was wrong. However, the moment she heard that Calaren had opened his eyes she jumped to her feet and took off back into the village. She ran, weaving through people and accidently knocking into a woman who dropped her basket of vegetables. Narisa apologized but then kept on running. She ran in through the door of the healer's building and right into Calaren's room. She all but collapsed atop him, sobbing tears of joy and relief.

He grunted and the healers in the room gasped in shock. “My lady!” They said in disapproval. “Hey…” Calaren said in a strained voice. “There she is,” he said and he smiled a warm smile at her. The healers looked displeased but they filed out and left her alone with Calaren and closed the door behind them. He could barely get a word in as she rained down kisses upon him. He looked worried. “Did Lord Conleth survive? What about the mare, is she alright?” He asked in between her kisses. “And you my love, I love you,” he told her.

Narisa didn't care if the healers disapproved. Calaren had come back to her and that was all that mattered right then. The moment the door closed behind them she began to kiss him all over as her tears of happiness continued to flow.

"I love you too...I love you so much."

Finally, she managed to get a hold of herself and she pulled back and wiped away her tears. "My grandfather survived, thanks to you, but the mare did not. I'm sorry."

It was obvious he did not know how to feel and his eyes had a deep, haunted look right then. “All...all those men...died for nothing,” he said softly. He needed the mare to breed the pure Neifbren stock to start with. Now he had nothing. They had nothing. What happiness he had felt just a moment before was suddenly wiped away in his features. His face went pale too and he looked as if he were going to be sick. “The Mare was all…” he murmured. Everything was for not now, he thought. It was not difficult for Narisa to see that the light he held in his eyes died away too and for Calaren that was something that just didn’t happen.

Narisa looked at her husband and the look in his eyes broke her heart. She shook her head as she looked at him. "No, Calaren...you must not think that way. People are calling you a hero. You saved my grandfather's life and nearly died as a result. We will find another mare, but for now you must rest and regain your strength." She reached out and gently caressed his cheek with her fingers. "You gave me quite the scare. I thought I might lose you and that thought was almost unbearable. I don't know what I would do without you Calaren."

OOC-Just FYI I'm going to be out of town today and unable to reply. I will be back this evening.

He smiled and talked to her but it was clear that his heart just wasn’t in it. That and his whole body ached, especially his back. He had to argue with her on leaving him for the night. And the morning after when she seemed to think she’d just stay with him and ignore her duties. Now that he was laid up she had to do both, manage the household AND their stock. In truth though he just wanted to be alone. This was the second time he had been met with a severe failure. The first was when narisa refused his proposal. She was his now but it certainly was a blow to him then. And now this…

He had a plan, breed the mare with her mate the tall red. He had read about the Neifbren and had planned on teaching everything to Narisa. They’d breed up a stock of purebreds and then mate them with Simaril and make something new. In truth he knew he could still do it but there would be no purebreds, not now and that was like a hammer blow to his stomach. He had lost 2 horses that day...The mare and Fireheart. And so many men...How could he ever look anybody in the face now? Men who had wives and children...and this was not some skirmish or battle. Men always died or were wounded in battle. This was him being arrogant and foolish in his desires and people were dead from it.

In truth Conleth had supported him wholeheartedly but it was he who brought the idea to him. So ‘sure’ he was of everything and now the best he could hope for is a hybrid. He groaned as he closed his eyes and wished he could take it all back.

Just as before the red was there at the fence when Narisa finally came. The stable hands still couldn’t get close to him and one got his leg broke when red kicked him while they were currying him down last night. He winnied, that high pitched sad winnie at her and somehow it might make her feel that it was sad and needed her just like Calaren did. It stepped up to the fence and scratched at the ground with its right hoof. When she reached up toward it it nuzzled her palm with its snout and winnied again although softer that time. Clearly its face was infected she saw now and would need to be tended before it got much worse.

Narisa didn't know what to do to help Calaren. Clearly, he had been greatly affected by what had happened and she could not blame him. However, it pained her to know he held himself solely accountable for the deaths of the others. No matter what she said, she could not take that weight off of his shoulders and so she let him be to come to terms with what had occurred.

She went home to tend to some things there. The house seemed empty and lonely without Calaren there and she hoped he would be able to go home soon. She went to the market and purchased some items to make a meal for him. She intended to make it entirely herself. It was a relatively simple chicken dish, but was quite flavorful as well. She also bought ingredients to make an apple pie. She hoped the homemade dishes would give him some comfort.

Before starting the meal she decided to go check on the red Neifbren. She walked out to the pasture and was surprised, but pleased to see him standing at the fence seemingly waiting for her. There was a sadness in his eyes and she knew he must be grieving for the loss of his mate. She could sense that he needed her and she intended to take care of him. She smiled and rubbed his nose as he nuzzled her palm, but that smile faded when she noticed how badly infected the scratches on his face had become. He needed to be treated and she just hoped he would allow her to do so. She left him, with the promise she would return, and headed straight home. In their stable she found an ointment that was used on horses to treat infections. She also went inside and found some more candy, which she put in her pocket. She then headed back to the pasture.

The red wasn’t at the fence immediately but when he saw Narisa coming back he rolled into a gallop to greet her at the fence. By his look she might guess him to be possibly 3 years old. The dun was much younger and also not even saddle trained. Calaren got him to pull a cart though. He dangled his long, thick neck over the fence and nuzzled her hand and arm when she reached out to him. He winnied in that same high pitched winnie but it was softer now that she was close to him. He was in pain and he mourned the loss of his mate as well. 

He let her apply the ointment and also went for the candy she allowed him to have. When she wasn’t holding one for him to take he tried to find where she kept it by using his snout to root around in her bag. When he got nothing he stamped his foot as if to complain at her. Each time she spoke to him his ears shifted toward her as if he knew what she said. Each time she spread the ointment on his face his eyes took on a soothed expression. And it was now apparent to her that she may have made a friend today.

Narisa was glad that the red stallion allowed her to put the ointment on his face. He didn't seem bothered by it and was more interested in the candy she was brought for him. She spoke soothing words to him and was gentle as she rubbed the ointment onto his wounds. She smiled when she was done and kissed him upon his nose before giving him the rest of the candy. She then decided something. She spotted the gate a little ways ahead. She began to walk along the side of the fence and the red stallion followed her. When she got to the gate she opened it and he walked out. She closed the gate behind her and then, with him walking beside her, she walked back towards their house. He walked beside her the entire way without the use of a bridle. When they reached their house she walked with him into the stables and led him down to the largest stall they had. Simaril had poked her head out of her stall and looked at the newcomer. She whinnied, as if in greeting, and stomped her right hoof a few times. The stable had been lonely and quiet for her since the death of Calaren's horse.

Simaril was a placid animal by all accounts. Mindful and observant, she watched them as they came into the stable. Firehearts stall was organized and clean as it awaited his return that would never happen. It was large and as Narisa pointed the Neifbren went in hopes it might yet get another sweet from his new master. 

He wasn’t able to turn around but knew he needed to back in and it appeared he had room to spare behind. When she closed the stall gate he stepped forward to nuzzle her head and face and it was all she could do to stop from getting the ointment she rubbed on him all over her. He didn't winnie but he did bob his head and let out bluster as if he was more than exhausted. 

When Narisa came to the healing house the nurses all seemed to give her strange looks and also looks of commiseration for some reason: it was them that she heard crockery being smashed up against a all and she heard Calaren’s voice as he yelled to be left alone.

When Narisa walked into the healing house she was surprised to see all of the nurses standing around. They all stopped talking immediately when she came in and some of them gave her strange looks, while others wouldn't look at her at all. A moment later she heard the sound of something smashing against a wall and Calaren yelling to be left alone. Two seconds later a rather upset nurse left his room rather quickly. Narisa sighed and shook her head and felt patience wear thin. She knew Calaren was blaming himself, but this behavior had to stop...and now.

She walked straight in to his room and shut the door behind her. She looked at him and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I thought you better than behavior like this Calaren. You are a high ranking soldier of Rohan and are married to me, a princess of Rohan. Behavior like this is NOT acceptable. Those women saved your life and you owe them gratitude. Yes, men died that day, but it was not your fault. It was the fault of those raiders. Death happens Calaren. We cannot escape it. You dishonor their memory however by behaving like a child. It is time for your attitude to change...otherwise, I won't come to visit you...nor will I bring you any food...like I was going to tonight."

He had tried to sit up and the pain wracked him so hard his body convulsed and forced him back. He could not see how bad it was nor what they did. When the young nurse came in to take his unused tray of food and after he had told them to stay out he lost control and threw his tray at her. She squeaked and just managed to step back out the door. 

Seeing Narisa was a surprise but then by her look and her stance he knew she was not happy. Her words only confirmed it although right then he did not back down. Nor did her words comfort or bring him out of the dark place he was in. He was nearly helpless and she could say what she wanted that was no military action. Those men didn't die because of some sense of duty. They were there to earn a living and take part in the profits. That point was driven home when two of their wives had come to see how well he was getting on. It was the look in the boys eyes that broke him and he asked them to leave. 

“Then..then go!” He snapped. “Leave me be, for once!” He growled and looked for something to throw. His hand hit the base that held the flowers that magraine always brought him and it fell and smashed upon the tiled floor. He was wracked with pain and off balance as he was on his side he actually fell out of bed. He winced and groaned out loudly as he fell. The nurses were there in an instant and before she could do anything they were all there trying to get him back into bed. He fought with them feebly and shouted for her to get out in a strangled voice with tears in his eyes.

Narisa left with tears in her eyes. She walked out of the healing house without speaking to anyone and returned home. She sank down to the floor and cried. She was angry and upset and did not know what to do. She felt that Calaren was feeling sorry for himself and those feelings were not going to help him to get better. This was not the Calaren she knew and she did not know how to help him.

Finally she wiped tears from her eyes and stood up and walked into the kitchen. There, she prepared the meal she had been planning for Calaren. Everything turned out perfectly, even the apple pie which she had done with a latticed crust. Not wanting to return to the healing house, she asked one of their servants to take the food to Calaren. She then prepared a small meal for herself, which she ate alone and then walked out to tend once more to the horses before going to bed.

She didn't understand, how could she? She was...no she had been in a battle of sorts, he remembered. Faced with defending the children alone. He tried to argue to himself that it was different but it really wasn't. But how could he face anyone now? And he was completely heartbroken about the mare. Completely…

Both Simaril and The large red seemed to be content with having a companion. A pity people could not be more like they were. Forgiving and accepting. Indeed red nodded his large head and Simaril scratched a hoof in the hay as if In agreement. Both watched her too and wondered if she’d give them some attention.

Narisa was upset, but being around the red and Simaril gave her some comfort. She wanted to name the red, but she decided to let Calaren have that honor since they had both nearly died together. She took them out, one at a time and brushed them down. She sang softly as she did so. She didn't realize until the song was nearly over that she was singing Calaren's favorite song. She sighed and fought back a few tears. She then refilled their water buckets and gave them each an apple as a treat. She then walked over to each of them in turn and stroked their necks and whispered loving words to them before bidding them goodnight. She returned to the house, cleaned up the kitchen and then went upstairs to get ready for bed.

Conleth and Serethiel too were denied to seem Calaren just as she had been. That morning she heard a knock on the door but when she looked out the window all she could see was one of the horses and it didn't look like one she recognized. It was Helen that knocked on her bedroom door. When she answered it Helen was in a state. Her cheeks were flush and a loon of worry was I. Her eyes. 

“My lady...the queen and the...the Prince of Gondor!” She said and it was clear by the way she tugged at her hair and fussed over her dress who the more important of the two were to her.

Narisa didn't sleep very well. Every time she closed her eyes she thought of Calaren. She missed having him next to her in their bed. She missed breathing in his scent. She missed feeling his fingers caress her skin. She missed the feel of his lips against her own. Finally, near dawn she fell asleep. However, just two hours later she was awoken by the sound of someone knocking on the door. Getting up, she walked over to the window and looked out. She could not see who was there, but only moments later she received an answer when Helen rushed upstairs and informed her that her aunt and cousin were there. Word had obviously reached them about the attack. She told Helen to go back downstairs and offer them some tea while she dressed. She dressed quickly and was downstairs about ten minutes later. She was tired and still upset about Calaren, but she smiled at her aunt and cousin and greeted them both.

"Eldarion, I have heard that Calista is pregnant with twins. Congratulations to you both. You both must be very happy and excited."

ooc-new thread