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Chapter two: The Red Rider
Ruby Gardener ran across the battlements of Minas Tirith. With all the children here, this was the best hide-and-seek game she had ever played. The older ones were at the feast but she and some of the younger ones had grown bored of the eating drinking and dancing. This was much better than twirling around in her mind. The young hobbit looked around, making sure that none of the others were hiding close. No one in sight. She had spotted the perfect hiding place. It was close to were she had to run back, but far enough to give her time; it was close to the feast if she got to tired of waiting; no one else was here so she had ample space to run away; and had a beautiful view of Pelenor fields, she could clearly see the rider coming up from the north. Suddenly, Ruby forgot all about the game. Though she didn't have the keen eyes of the elves, she could still se farther than her human friends. It was a clear night, and from the light of the full moon, the young Gardener could see that the rider was wearing elven garb. He seemed sleepy, for he was slumped in his horse as if tired.
"Ha, and you had said I would not be able to find you Ruby! Yet here you are, not even hiding." Said Faramir Took as he ran to her. Suddenly he noticed she was watching something. "What is it?"
Ruby pointed her small finger to the rider. "Elf!" she said happily.
"That cannot be, you know that no elves were ridding here. Lords Elladan and Elrohir told us such. And no one from Lothlorien is joining us either."
"Elf! Elf wider!" she said beginning to jump of excitement, knowing something the older hobbit did not. Faramir looked over the battlements and indeed, there was the rider. But Faramir could see something the young Gardener couldn't.
"Come," he said taking the girl up, he was only thirteen but he was taller than the five year-old and had no problem carrying her. "We must alert someone fast."
The young Took looked around, not knowing to whom he could turn to. After all he didn't want to cause a panic. Finally he made the decision of telling Lord Aragorn, since it was after all his city and the young hobbit was sure he would want to be the first to know. Faramir left Ruby with her mother and father and then ventured into the center of the room, a dangerous feat for Faramir since there was a rather lively dance going on. Finally he found the king of men who was dancing with one of his daughters.
"Excuse me my lord." Said Faramir in a low, trembling voice. The girl whom Faramir now recognized as Elarinya, one of the youngest daughters of the king was who heard him and told her father. He excused himself and bent down to talk to Faramir.
"Is something the matter?" said the king with a gentle smile, placing his hand in Faramir's shoulder.
"There is someone riding up the field sire, I saw him while we played out by the battlements." Faramir was afraid that the man would not believe him and would dismiss it as the actions of the young Hobbits active imagination. But then he saw the kings smile fade.
"Was it a messenger?"
"I think so sire, I could only make out that he was an elf and…he was badly wounded."
At this Aragorn's face suddenly went tense, a look of worry invading his features.
"Does anyone else know Faramir?"
"Only Ruby and she doesn't really know what she saw."
"Very well, tell no one of this. Go to were your parents are and stay there, say you got hungry or something but do not say anything of the rider."
"Yes sir." He said saluting the man. Aragorn smiled, stood up and stroked the hobbits hair. He was about to move toward were his Steward stood, when he went back to his knees.
"Did you see a banner, or any sing from any of the lands?"
"Yes sire that of Mirkwood."
"Could it truly been what he saw Aragorn? You know young Faramir's love for tall tales." Said the elf prince as he accompanied the kings of men and the steward of Gondor to the gates. Aragorn had warned him it could be a messenger from Mirkwood.
"You did not see him when he told me Legolas. The lad has never seen someone wounded in battle, let alone an elf. There was fear in the hobbits eyes, a fear I have only seen in Halflings eyes during the war."
"Still, what could possibly have happened for them to send a messenger?" said Eomer, a note of concern in his voice.
"We best hope it was a trick of the light my lords."
"Indeed we do Faramir, indeed we do. Open the gates!"
At his command the gates of Gondor opened wide enough to allow the rider to come in. The horse stopped in front of them and the rider got down from his steed. All could see it hadn't been a trick of the light; the elf's clothes were indeed covered in blood. He tried to keep as straight as he could, walk toward the lords.
"I come from Mrikwood, bearing a message for Legolas, son of Tharundil." The elven messenger said, but as he finished he fell forward. Legolas moved toward him holding him before he hit the floor. The rider could barely speak above a whisper, making it difficult for the lords of men to listen to what he was saying, but the growing look of worry in Legolas's face was more than enough to confirm their fears. Suddenly the elf went silent, and Legolas said a small prayer in elvish, he slowly turned his face toward them.
"It has happened my lords, our fears has come true."
Faramir Took sat silently by his mother, pretending to be very interested in the food in front of him. A while ago Lord Gimli had come looking for his father, saying Lord Aragorn had called them both. Faramir was starting to fear he had been the bearer of bad news in this celebration.
"Faramir Took!"
He looked up to see who had called him and found himself face to face with a very angry Goldilocks Gardener.
"While we sit outside in the night you are here eating what seems to be half the feast!"
"I'm sorry, I got hungry and forgot my duties as seeker." He said with an innocent smile.
"If it wasn't because Daisy came looking for me we would all still be out there waiting for you. The least you could have done was at least telling one of us you were going."
"You know a hobbit's mind is overpowered by his stomach Goldilocks, I couldn't help it."
"Your stomach will be the death of you some day."
Faramir was about to defend his eating habits when he saw his father come back. Peregrin Took's usually smiling face had a grave demeanor. Diamond Took noticed this change in her husband and inquired but he said nothing was wrong and not to worry. He told Goldilocks to return to her family, which she very obediently did, looking slightly worried at the older hobbits sudden seriousness. Faramir looked around and saw the other men who had accompanied the king had the same look than his father. He was about to ask what had happened, when the king called the attention of the hall.
"Now that everyone has danced and eaten to their hearts content, I invite you all to spend the night here in Minas Tirith, for a trip at this moment would be tiring and I can see that some might not enjoy the experience of a long trip, I'm sure Nestaron will make a trip must unpleasant." he said looking at the sleeping child in his mothers arms. He made a final farewell at which the people began to abandon the hall. Faramir's excitement of staying in Minas Tirith was suddenly clouded when he heard his father talking to his mother.
"You go with Faramir and retire for the night, I will join you shortly."
"Pippin what is going on?"
"It's nothing Diamond; Strider is just taking advantage of the fact that we are all here. Everything will be fine, I promise." He kissed her softly and said goodnight to Faramir and then ran to join the rest of the lords. As much as he wanted to believe what his father said, he had seen the elf; he doubted everything would be all right.
Yeah, got around to finally finish this second chapter. I hope it lives up to everyone's expectations after taking so long. Next chapter I will include a bit of what goes on in the meeting between the lords. And just what did the eleven messenger said to Legolas.
Ara, Goddess of the broken: I'm glad you like it; I tried to get this one to go a bit faster, hope I achieved it.
Munsje: Well, I'm very happy you liked it. I hope this one lives up to the first chapter. Enjoy!