Flo's eyes were wide open and she was sat leaning against a tree, her knees brought up beneath her chin. She felt betrayed - she had trusted Nalmalu - yet she could not bring herself to break from her. A tear trickled from her eye and Nalmalu turned away, unable to look at Flo.
But Flo could not bring herself to let Nalmalu put her own life in danger for her.
'Nalmalu.' she whispered.
Nalmalu turned to Flo.
'What - what are you going to do with me?' she asked. Nalmalu looked at her.
'I cannot betray you to Them, Flo - I can't.'
Flo looked at her some more.
'Will He - They not - search for you if you don't?' asked Flo.
Nalmalu stared at Flo. Whatever Nalmalu had expected, it wasn't this.
'They may.' she said. 'I may confront Them myself.'
'But they may - kill you.'
Nalmalu turned away. Flo spoke the truth - but what did in matter now? To her surprise, she felt Flo's hand in hers. She looked up.
'I forgive you, Nalmalu. But I beg you, do not endanger yourself for me.' answered Flo.
'I swore to protect you - I cannot leave you to die now.'
They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Flo then smiled and Nalmalu nodded.
'We should go to Rohan - we shall find help from there,' said Nalmalu, swallowing a lump in her throat. Flo nodded.
A pale light swept over them. The sun was rising. In silence they collected their things and both mounted their horses. Nalmalu cantered off quickly into the distance - a moment later, Flo followed as quickly as Chirrel could go.
A few hours later they both stopped and Flo looked around.
'These are the Misty Mountains, Flo.' said Nalmalu, pulling her cloak tightly around her and pushing Flo's hood over her head.
A bright but cold sunglared down at them. Nalmalu thought it safer to walk on foot through the snowy mountain range and lead the horses. They walked a fair way in silence, Flo clutching Nalmalu's cloak. Then Nalmalu stopped and looked ahead of her.
'See, Flo - Mirkwood.'
Flo looked down at the mass of greenery. Then Nalmalu lifted her up so she could see even further.
'Come - we must keep going.' said Nalmalu.
Flo nodded. Nalmalu sat her on her horse and then took both Chirrel's reins and her own horse's reins in her hand. Flo looked down nervously - it was quite high compared to Chirrel. Nalmalu laughed.
'The snow may be deep - we do not want you getting buried.' she smiled, walking on, the horses behind her.
The sunlight lingered for a long while as Nalmalu trudged on. Flo felt quite unnerved by the tranquility of the mountains. She half expected to be attacked whenever they reached a bend. But no danger came - but both of them felt a constant need to look over their shoulders - almost wanting to find someone following them to explain the feeling. Nalmalu, keeping her free hand on her sword-hilt - but there was nobody there - but the feeling still lingered - the feeling of being watched.
'Someone is following us,' said Nalmalu suddenly, 'Hide!' Nalmalu spun around, unsheathing her sword and comes face to face with a small, ugly man.
'Nalmalu - I .... ' he stuttered
'Rabbard!' Nalmalu sheathed her sword, 'What are you doing here?'
'I was - following you' Rabbard backed away from Nalmalu.
'You speak so openly! What is your game?'
'My game? I - well - ' He seemed unsure what to say, but the he said, 'I have been watching you since I saw you on the mountain- He will find you Nalmalu.' Rabbard looked sideways at Flo.
'Find me? Who will find me?'said Nalmalu, trying to pretend she didn't know.
'You know!' he hissed.
'Dinius...' she muttered.
'Yes - He will not be happy - think what you are doing - for your own sake.'
'My own sake?' Nalmalu laughed loudly, but there was something in that laugh that made Flo looked up suddenly. 'You really get me! I am not doing this for me fool!' She aimed a kick at him, but jumped out of the way.
' But they - they may kill you if you do not do as they say!'
'As they say? They now is it?!' said Nalmalu, getting angry, ' How many people must I serve and avoid through my life?'
'Please - listen to me - you are not making it any easier.' He said looking terrified and panicked.
'You are working for them too?' Nalmalu snarled, ' They sent you here to turn me back didn't they? You pitiful ,stupid, wreck! Do not make me angry Rabbard! Why do you so want me to turn back? What do you get from this?'
'I will be killed if I am found warning you - I am doing it for your own sake!'
Nalmalu leaned forward, until their noses were almost touching and growled,' You never do anything without paying...maybe I should kill you instead of them? save them some work wouldn't it?!'
Rabbard backed away, right up to the tall rock, that towered above him, 'Please Nalmalu - listen to me...' he pleaded.
' Listen to you? Does my heart misguide me or is some evil afoot here? What if I was to take one more step onwards-to Rohan-would my fate be different?'
' THEY SENSE IT GETTING STRONGER!' he cried suddenly, becoming desperate and then calming down,' They will find her - and you.'
'And me? It seems I have no other choice in this matter,' she said to herself, 'If I am to live then I must get away from this halfling, but what do I matter? Either way she wil be caught and found...should I go back? Back to the Dalde...I do not know.'
'I do not work for them and am not guilty of the things you accuse me of - I watch, listen - They are moving - They sense the -' he moved closer to Nalmalu and whispered in her left ear,'They mentioned an Aura.'
'An Aura? I do not know what you mean! And I do not wish to know either! But I am certain now.'
'Please - do not put yourself in danger - or all of Middle Earth will fall - you know what I mean. I am not so foolish as you belive - I watch, I listen - I learn - but I know about this - it rests on your moves.' Rabbard turned to leave but,
'Wait!' Nalmalu cried.
Rabbard turned around and stared at her.
'Why should Middle-earth fail?'
He looked at Flo for a moment, and then turning to her he said, 'You know what will happen - if you endanger yourself and let yourself die - she will have no chance - and you have heard the legend.'
'Indeed.'
'Then do you trust me - believe what I say?'
'I know what to do,'Nalmalu replied.
'Then do it - only make the right choice.'
'I shall. Though where my road shall lead me I do not know.'
'You still have days before them - but it gets stronger,' he growled.
'I know. Go! Begone with you! I owe no thanks to you,' she said suddenly.
Rabbard looked up at her, alarmed and surprised.
'I said begone! Do you have no ears? I give you thanks when all is done-now go-and I shall see you before the end...maybe.'
Rabbard nodded and then turned and ran, away from Nalmalu. Nalmalu watched him into the distance. Then she turned away and made for where Flo sat, alone on a boulder. She looked up suddenly as Nalmalu approached.
'What was that all about?' Flo asked sharply.
'What that? He's an old friend, wanted a word.'
'What about?'
'Things, things,' said Nalmalu impatiently.
'What things?'
'Things that do not concern you!'
'About me then?' said Flo suspiciously.
Nalmalu looked at Flo angrilly, 'Why must you always poke and pry into my business Florrin? Have I not told you before, that it is well not to ask too many questions? My business! My life!'
Flo was silent for a moment then, 'Why must you always be so angry?' she said, 'Why do you always sleep uneasily? And why do I fear that one day you will draw your sword against me?'
Nalmalu wrapped her cloak about her and turned her back on Flo, 'My temper gets the better of me,' she muttered, 'Time passes slowly by and I am doing nothing! Tarrying on the road with a halfling, and I must wait ever longer for my deed to come.' she sighed, 'And the burdens of the past lie heavily on me. I WANT OUT. I do not want to be forever ducking and dodging people! Serving them! Looking after them! I want to be me! I want to be free.'
Flo looked at Nalmalu nervously for a moment. She had grown used to these sudden outbursts yet she still feared them. She cautiously advanced an Nalmalu and stood behind her. Taking a deep breath, she said 'I would have left you alone earlier if you remember - but I forgave you and put my trust into you again. But if it is what you wish, I will go - leave you be - and you will be free.'
'Indeed? You offer me the chance to be free!' Nalmalu laughed,' Nay halfling! You do not understand...no, not at all.'
'I would if you just told me! I know he spoke of me, so why does it anger you?'
'Anger me? Yes, for he has told me what to do before now! Holding me back!' Flo looked up into Nalmalu's eyes and shook her head with confusion, 'Rabbard!'Nalmalu spat, ' And you! Keeping me here!'
'Me? Keeping you here? I am not stopping you leaving me, Nalmalu. Was it not your idea to accompany me? Your idea I should not go alone? And you said you could not let me go alone after Terwin left. Maybe it was all a lie...'
'Then I shall go! Leave you here on this icy mountain! How will you fare then Florrin? How will you fare then?'
And with that Nalmalu turned and walked away from Flo. She jumped upon her horse, turning him round. Flo grabbed Chirrel's reins and watched Nalmalu, unsure what to do or say. Eventually she walked slowly forward, past Nalmalu, but Nalmalu bent down and whispered in her ear.
'Right to the Iron Hills you are headed! To them!'
Flo turned and looked at Nalmalu-then ahead of her and then at Nalmalu, knowing she could not go onwards, yet unsure if she should follow Nalmalu. But Nalmalu galloped onwards and as she was to turn the corner her horse stumbled and she fell off, landing awkwardly in the snow. She didn't move.
Flo hesitated for a moment and then walked over to Nalmalu and peered down at her, concerned.
'Nalmalu?' She said, shaking Nalmalu's shoulder, 'Talk to me - are you alright?'
Nalmalu groaned and a little blood trickled from her head to the snow. Flo smiled with relief.
' Nalmalu, you cannot go on alone like this, you'll get yourself killed,' she smiled with amusement as she spoke.
'Ahh, sweet Flo...' she sighed, 'What fit of rage took me?'
Flo laughed then said, 'It seems as though we are doomed to travel together like it or not.'
'Indeed...'Nalmalu smiled and opened her eyes slightly, 'Maybe I belong in the cells of Edoras!'
'Cells?' said Flo, puzzled, 'No, but we should go there as you will find help.'
'Help? Help for what?'
Flo's eyes flicked to Nalmalu wound, 'Well, perhaps not you, but I feel unprotected in this place-even with you-and I will seek advice from the learned.'
'Maybe...though I do not know whether we will receive a warm welcome or not.'
Flo decided not to answer, but helped Nalmalu to her feet and they walked at a steady pace.Nalmalu winced slightly, but smiled at Flo 'I am not crippled yet Flo my dear, I think I can walk by myself.'
'Very well,' Flo smiled to herself and pulled away from Nalmalu, letting her walk alone. Nalmalu walked on, but quickly had to support herself, putting her hand on her horse's left flank. She breathed heavily. Then she limped forward to the reins and began to pull the horse onward.
'Perhaps you should ride, your horse will know the way,' Flo suggested.
'Yes-I shall ride,' Nalmalu replied, hoisting herself (rather stifly) up onto her horse. She went forward at a slow trot, Flo followed on Chirrel behind.
A couple of days later they gradually made their way down from the Misty Mountains, and made for the land of Rohirrim, where they sought aid and counsel in their time of need.
