Tolkien AU || Bithârui & Gwen
Gwen pulled into the stable of the small town outside of Rohan, her silver mare churning up the mud around them. It had begun to rain hours ago, and Gwen, in a moment of weakness, had decided to spend the night at the town's small tavern. She was too exhausted to spend another night out in the rain. A small stableboy came out with a dark cloak pulled over his head, and Gwen slipped off her horse, handing the reigns and a silver coin to the boy.
As she stepped inside the warm, dark interior of the tavern, she kept her hood pulled over her silver-blonde hair. Too many times, people mistook her for an elf and she simply did not want to deal with that. Ignoring the few people still sitting around the bar and tables, Gwen made her way over to a corner of the tavern, away from the bright fire. Sitting down on the wooden chair felt like a feather bed after all the riding she had been doing, and she actually smiled at the barmaid who came by to take her order.
When the woman left, Gwen relaxed once more, allowing her amethest eyes to close as she got lost in memories.
She was on her way to Rhûn, the place where she had spent much of her childhood. There was talk of a dark force gathering there, and Gwen wanted to get information on this, as well as see what influence she might have in bringing the darkness to a halt. It had been nearly eight years since Gwen had last seen the sea of Rhûn, for she was twelve when she left those deserts to travel to Ghondor. Soon after, she had been named a Ranger of the South due to her lineage. Now, after travelling over much of Middle Earth, she felt it was only right for her to try and protect it from more war if she had the power.
The smell of warm bread interupted Gwen's thoughts, and she opened her eyes as the barmaid returned with a plate of fresh-baked bread and goat cheese, as well as a mug of dark ale.
"Thank you." Gwen said as the food and drink were set in front of her. The bread let off steam when she ripped it in half, and she put a hearty amount of butter on both sides before taking a large bite. The buttered bread seemed to melt on her tongue, especially after days of nothing but vegetable roots and grit.
Gwen had taken another bite and was just washing it down with some of the ale when she heard a grunt somewhere to her left. She set down the mug of ale slowly and turned her head, her violet eyes glittering in the firelight as she watched a man move toward her. His own eyes looked glazed over from too much drink, and that must have given him the courage he needed to come towards her now. Gwen stared him down, hoping he would turn away, but it only seemed to egg him on. As he came up to her table, Gwen tensed when one of his meaty hands landed on her arm. She supressed the urge to flip him onto his back and instead met his gaze.
"May I help you?" She asked in a soft voice, not wanting to cause a scene. The last thing she needed was to bring more attention to herself.
"Yes'm. I got three copper coins innit for ya if ye'd be fancying a tussle." He grinned down at her, and Gwen's nose scrunched as his foul breath hit her face. Did this man really think he was going to get anything from her?
"I suggest you go back to your friends, sir." Gwen replied, gesturing with her free arm towards the group of men who were laughing and staring in their direction. "I'm not who you think I am."
"Aw, come now, lass. Just a quickie. Let's see if yer face is as beautiful as yer ass." As the man's hand moved towards Gwen's hood, she tensed further, and her hand reached for the hilt of her sword, her eyes flashing as her anger began to boil over. Her senses were lost to her anger as she prepared to teach the man a lesson in proper etiquette.
