I can feel the darkness run like a spreading illness from my fingertips and
slowly creeping up my arm, consuming me. I cannot wash my hands clean of
it, nor could ever find a herb that could expel its virtues and simply
force it away. No, that cannot solve this heavy weight that has pitted
itself in my very being. Never in many, many years have I felt such a heavy
sorrow on my heart.
We won the battle, but for what? Everywhere about the hold of Rohan there are people crying, wailing, sobbing, screaming, or finding themselves so close to simply collapsing from exhaustion and sorrow they cannot find the will to carry on; sadness is not discriminating between old or young; man or woman. I watch the light step of my companions fall like heavy weights upon the Deeping Wall; which only one night hence bore a siege, or more a failed massacre, that was borne of haltered and will only fuel hatred, for only in anger, does anger find company.
Amongst the dead, I found the fallen Captain of Lorien, Hadir. In great need they came, and for his loyalty and his truth to his kin did he die. No immortal should ever need to suffer such a fate as to die amongst the showers of Orcs and in the company of Men scarcely suited to till the earth, let alone draw a bow or wield a sword. One light of Lorien shall be spared in their passing, though I fear that in sparing he lost that which is above all else great, peace.
This battle is only one of the many sparks to set ablaze this pyre of death and darkness. War's fury has yet to sweep fourth from Mordor, searing everything in its path. Though for now, away my path leads beyond the fields of Rohan into a destiny long awaited, though ill taken it seems. What awaits our company in Gondor is yet to be seen; and what I am to do is wait, for Stewards rule the Tower of Guard and I will let them at their rule until I am needed.
Until then, I will try to purge this crimson from my skin and hope, somehow, through all this bloodshed, that we are not moving on in vain. Not yet amongst the dead have I seen a Hobbit. Nor will there be one amongst the lost of Mordor. Even in scorned simplicity, the halflings find strength in what my people could only find weakness. That is where our hopes lie. Above the blood, above the searing fire, beyond this starless night we have found, the sun will rise.
We won the battle, but for what? Everywhere about the hold of Rohan there are people crying, wailing, sobbing, screaming, or finding themselves so close to simply collapsing from exhaustion and sorrow they cannot find the will to carry on; sadness is not discriminating between old or young; man or woman. I watch the light step of my companions fall like heavy weights upon the Deeping Wall; which only one night hence bore a siege, or more a failed massacre, that was borne of haltered and will only fuel hatred, for only in anger, does anger find company.
Amongst the dead, I found the fallen Captain of Lorien, Hadir. In great need they came, and for his loyalty and his truth to his kin did he die. No immortal should ever need to suffer such a fate as to die amongst the showers of Orcs and in the company of Men scarcely suited to till the earth, let alone draw a bow or wield a sword. One light of Lorien shall be spared in their passing, though I fear that in sparing he lost that which is above all else great, peace.
This battle is only one of the many sparks to set ablaze this pyre of death and darkness. War's fury has yet to sweep fourth from Mordor, searing everything in its path. Though for now, away my path leads beyond the fields of Rohan into a destiny long awaited, though ill taken it seems. What awaits our company in Gondor is yet to be seen; and what I am to do is wait, for Stewards rule the Tower of Guard and I will let them at their rule until I am needed.
Until then, I will try to purge this crimson from my skin and hope, somehow, through all this bloodshed, that we are not moving on in vain. Not yet amongst the dead have I seen a Hobbit. Nor will there be one amongst the lost of Mordor. Even in scorned simplicity, the halflings find strength in what my people could only find weakness. That is where our hopes lie. Above the blood, above the searing fire, beyond this starless night we have found, the sun will rise.