Kaira: LotR 9

Guo-Jia stroked her mare's mane lovingly as she whispered sweet affections to the sleek steppe horse. She had been overjoyed when the man from Gondor had retrieved her horse and gear from the villagers. She prized her saber and recurved composite bow, but her dear Nidea was far more precious to her than any weapon could ever be. She turned to look at the Westerner and Elf as they watched her quietly, bowing her head slightly.
“I thank you for Nidea's return. I had not expected such kindness from a Westerner and a man of Gondor...I hope you can forgive my rudeness, I was angry and hurt.”
The man of Gondor nodded.
“I know the bond between rider and horse, I would not see it broken.”
Guo-Jia looked to his mount, the black charger was bigger and heavier than her own slender Nidea but no less beautiful to her eyes.
“What was your name again man of Gondor?”
“Kahan, son of Gabril.”
Guo-Jia nodded slowly, looking to the Elf who raised an eyebrow as if wondering what Guo-Jia could want from her.
“My companion is Aira-ty of Lothlorien, you must forgive her, she does not hold humans in high regard.”
Guo-Jia snorted, “Then our dislike for each other is mutual.” she glanced at Kahan. “I do not hold elves or Westerners in high regard either.”
“Understandably,” Kahan replied. “What is an Easterling doing this far west?”
“You mean when not making war,” Guo-Jia replied with a sardonic smile which quickly vanished into a heavy sigh. “I came here to warn of a coming danger.”
The elf turned to eye Guo-Jia dubiously.
“And what danger would that be?”
Guo-Jia hesitated but then resolved herself, after all the Westerner—Kahan—had risked himself on her behalf, she owed him a debt.
“The coming of the Great Khan.”
Both Kahan and the Elf looked at her quizzically.
“The Great Khan?” the Elf echoed dismissively. “What human nonsense is this?”
“It is not nonsense,” Guo-Jia persisted. “It is very real, and he is coming. He has united the Easterlings under his banner, those he could not he has crushed.”
“You know this?” Kahan asked.
Again Guo-Jia hesitated, though this time for a wholly different reason as she spoke softly while Nidea nuzzled her with a fretful nicker.
“I know because my clan was the last to resist him,” she held her head up proudly, daring either of them to question her further. “I am Guo-Jia of the Eastern Steppes and last of the Blue Thunder Clan and I am here to tell you of the coming of the Great Khan, he seeks to conquer the lands east of the Greenwood and north of the Ash Mountains.”
Kahan and the Elf looked at one another for a moment, seemingly sharing a thought before the former spoke again to Guo-Jia.
“Is that what you were doing here in the village?”
Guo-Jia nodded. “I tried to tell them my tale, but they said it was a trick, and took Nidea from me...if you had not come they likely would have killed me.”
Kahan nodded. “And you swear that all you have said is true?”
Guo-Jia bowed her head. “I swear it, my life be forfeit to you and all the shame of my ancestors upon my shoulders if I lie.”
“Do you know when this Khan will come?”
Guo-Jia shook her head. “I know not, only that he marches as we speak. Now that he has unified the Easterling's once more under a single banner he will not hesitate to strike lest Gondor come northwards to challenge him.”
“Then I will ride with you to Dale and its King, it is he that rules these lands, and it is to him that we must deliver this message.”

Aira-ty blinked slowly as she turned to look at the human in disbelief.
“You'll do what?”
He turned to look at her, bowing in apparent apology.
“I am sorry my lady, I have enjoyed your company but this must take precedence. The people of Dale need to be warned and,” he gestured to the Easterling. “They will not listen to her by herself I fear.”
Aira-ty felt a sense of betrayal wash over her, though she kept her face guardedly neutral. Was this human really abandoning her like this? And for the company of an Easterling woman no less! After what he had witnessed in the beorning's home she could find no greater insult in the notion that he had seen all she was and yet would so heedlessly cast aside her company!
“You swore you would be at my service,” she said coolly.
“Only through elfish lands my lady,” he replied. “And as you can see we are well beyond those and have been for sometime. I am sorry, but this is more important than my journey with you, enjoyable as it has been.”
Aira-ty's eyes narrowed. “So, have you found a reason to live? Or are you simply charging off to your death?”
He spread his hands helplessly. “I am a soldier of Gondor my lady. I can only do as I was taught and I was taught to protect those who could not protect themselves.”
Aira-ty sighed heavily and might have said more had not the Easterling spoke in turn.
“I do not see why it is any say of her's, she has already expressed her disdain for humans. Why consult her on the matter at all? I say we ride now and leave the Elf to her own devices.”
Aira-ty's eyes shot to the Easterling venomously, but instead of rising to the challenge she merely turned and jumped delicately atop Edoin's back behind the saddle amidst the human's baggage, what little there was.
“I am light, Edoin can carry us both with ease.” she stated flatly, her gaze fixed scathingly upon Kahan who looked up at her in surprise. “You are wasting time human, do we ride or do we tarry?”

Kahan looked at Aira-ty for an astonished moment before a smile crossed his features and he gripped the pommel of Edoin's saddle, lifting himself into the seat. The motion was made the more awkward by Aira-ty's presence behind him as he had to take care not to kick her but he managed readily enough, taking Edoin's reins in hand and looking to Guo-Jia.
“If your honor is not above such things, follow me, the city of Dale and its throne lie to the north. We will not be stopping.”
“Hah!” Guo-Jia scoffed as she jumped into the saddle, drawing her nimble steppe horse around to face the north. “You must keep up with me Kahan son of Gabril, I was born in the saddle!”
With that she urged her mount forwards with a jerk of her knees and Nidea leapt forwards into a gallop from a standstill. Kahan sat atop Edoin, blinking in surprise at the speed with which the Easterling moved atop her steed. Beneath him Edoin snorted and champed at his bit, pawing the ground restlessly as Aira-ty leaned against him and put her arms around his midsection as she murmured in his ear.
“Will you let her show Edoin his shame? Or let him take to the fore?”
Kahan shivered slightly at Aira-ty's touch and the whisper of her voice against his ear but he took heed of her words and leaned forwards to speak to Edoin.
“Come my friend, we cannot have her leaving us behind, she does not know the way.”
The black stallion snorted as Kahan let him have his rein and the powerful charger surged forwards, his muscular legs eating up the distance between himself and Nidea as his thunderous hooves sounded like drumbeats upon the rock strewn grasslands until he drew abreast of the steppe horse and the pair galloped in alongside each other towards the north.
Behind him, Kahan heard Aira-ty let out what sounded like a startled laugh at the surge of power and speed that Edoin let loose as her hold on his waist tightened but with the wind rushing past his ears Kahan could not be sure if he truly heard the sound or not.