Originally Posted by
Othniel
My Captain, Aethelbehrt, hates Dunlendings (his father hates Dunlendings, and his father's father hated Dunlendings). In his time working with the Grey Company to spy out Dunland as they traveled through, he grew to realize that not all Dunlendings are nasty, horrible, despicable creatures, little better than orcs. Just most of them. Aethelbehrt does not like Nona, but he tolerates her because his countryman, Horn, does. He prefers to spend more time with Corudan; the two have bonded as friends because of Aethelbehrt's journey into Mirkwood with Sigilleth.
To me, Horn and Corudan are more believable characters. Nona might even be believable outside of Rohan. But the differences and prejudices the Rohirrim and Dunlendings have for each other (and honestly, the Dunlendings' reputation is pretty well-earned from what I've read of the lore), that the love story isn't very believable to me (As a side note, I totally saw Horn and Nona falling for each other the moment I brought her in to Stangard, wounded). What's actually worse (to me, anyway) is how fast we have to travel in order to accomplish all the things we've done. One of my kinmates worked it out, and it's pretty much impossible (or at least very, very improbable), given the modes of transportation available in Middle-Earth, to go from Grimbold's Camp where we have our dream in Book 6 back north, through Moria, to Lothlorien to see Galadriel, south to the Great River area, and on into Rohan in time to meet up with Eomer in Edoras.