And so we finally reach Gondor, yay! :D I can't remember how many years ago I first drafted this chapter, but it needed quite a bit of editing to get into postable shape! The internet was invaluable in helping me to get my bearings and figure out the timeline/geography of events in this chapter (and the entire fic). Many of the descriptions are based upon Gandalf and Pippin's approach to Gondor in the books, so all hail the mighty Tolkien for his original prose and snatches of dialogue.
And yet another evil cliffhanger to agonise over, I'm afraid! As I've already mentioned from now on events will veer away sharply from canon, and as Book Two starts to draw to a close things are set to get even darker. Believe me – you ain't seen nothing yet!
XXX
At last weak sunlight began to slowly alight upon the distant mountains. Éowyn turned and looked upon the approaching dawn, her pale face awash with its golden hue.
"I am afraid that I must leave you now," she said with a sigh. "I shall be found gone when the courts awake at sunrise. A few loyal guards helped to disguise my going at great risk, but I had not the time to clad myself as a rider."
Although she had only planned to stay with the Company for a few hours Éowyn had enjoyed their companionship so much that time had slipped away before she knew it. As they sat gathered about the fire they had told her a little about themselves and of their journey to Rohan. The loss of their companions they spoke of sparingly, and only then at great need. Éowyn could tell that their grief for the hobbit Frodo, in particular, was still very fresh.
As the night wore on she had taken to sitting and speaking with Sam, offering him whatever comfort she could as she told him of the death of her cousin; it was her hope to bring meaning to his death through her efforts to liberate Rohan. Eventually the others had drifted off around them, and she and Sam had succumbed to sleep after they had both given voice to their grief.
Taking a bundle from her horse Windfola's saddle Éowyn knelt down and unwrapped the heavy cloth upon the grass. Within lay an assortment of salted meats, and unwrapping another she revealed some dried fruit and a little bread.
"Here are some provisions I packed for my journey," she said. "It is not much, but I hope that it will help to keep you on the road ahead. It is the least I can offer in return for your hospitality."
Sam stood and bowed low, moved by this gesture.
"You have been most kind, Lady Éowyn."
Carefully Éowyn wrapped the provisions once more and secured the cloth with a loose knot. Sam stood awkwardly for a moment before turning away and delving into his own pack, drawing out a few leaves of lembas still in their leaf wrappings.
"I hope that you will accept this in return," he said. "It is the waybread of the Elves. We have more than we could possibly eat, and I am sure that you will appreciate it more than us, if you get my drift."
Éowyn smiled at this, and her hair fell across her face as she bowed in return before accepting the gift with great reverence.
"This is most kind, Master Gamgee," she said. "I hope that you may find some peace upon your road."
When all was made ready Éowyn leapt upon Windfola's back. She had cast off her heavy cloak and her corslet during the course of the night, returning them to the bundle at her horse's saddle. Now she sat in the saddle clad only in her long white dress, girt with a fine gold belt at the waist, and a pair of high boots of supple leather. A daughter of kings she looked in her finery, but her face was grave as she cast her eyes upon the distant plains.
"I ride now to meet my brother and muster the Rohirrim for war," she said. "Alas, that we must depart in this growing darkness, but perhaps our paths shall cross again in the coming days." She smiled on them and said: "Ferthu hal! I hope that Mundburg brings you closer to that which you seek. Farewell!"
Then she turned and rode away, her golden hair streaming in the wind as her horse sprang away across the rolling plains. The Company watched her go with heavy hearts, gathered before the remnants of their campfire.
"I dearly hope we shall see her again," said Merry. "I wonder if her people can survive this war?"
"We must count on it," said Legolas. "But come now! Let us pack up our camp and stumble on as best we can."
And so it was that with the first light of dawn the remaining members of the Company turned towards their own road, packing up their camp and saddling their horses with the extra provisions which they now carried. With lighter hearts and heavier packs they thus began upon the long road to Minas Tirith.
XXX
The cheer that Éowyn's company had brought them proved to be short-lived. Later that day rain clouds descended and the sun was lost to view as a storm swept across the plains. Huddled in their elven cloaks the Company struggled on, taking shelter wherever they could as they passed into the borderlands of Rohan. The clouds finally broke with the coming of darkness, although thunder rumbled ominously in the distance as flashes of lightning illuminated the sky to the north, threatening storms over the land that they just left far behind.
On they rode as the days and the leagues fell away, taking them across the Eastfold and leading them through the marshy pools and mists of the Fenmarch. In places here the grass grew so tall that it reached Legolas' knees as he sat mounted upon Arod; great swathes of oak trees climbed the slopes upon their right before they plunged into a deep cleft among the mountains.
As darkness descended upon the second day the Company crossed the Mering Stream over a small bridge made of stone. The dense trees of Halifirien grew upon its banks, and as they rode beneath its eaves a powerful silence seemed to press upon them, urging them to speak in hushed tones of reverence. Not until they emerged from the Whispering Wood upon the Great Road did they finally enter the realm of Gondor, for the forest was considered the domain of the Kings of Rohan despite its fringes extending far into the land of Anórien.
Thus they passed out of Rohan for the first time since descending from the Emyn Muil on that fateful day so long ago, and the dark lands of Gondor opened out before them, formless and vast in the lingering dusk. That night they rested as first Legolas and then Gimli took turns keeping watch. As soon as the sun kindled the white peaks of the distant mountains Gimli shook the others awake. In the chill grey mists of the dawn they set off again.
Several hours of hard riding passed as the morning wore on. Suddenly Legolas gave a cry and pointed to something ahead. They slowed their horses as a large stone wall loomed ominously from the morning mists.
They had reached the north-gate of Rammas Echor, the great wall which encircled Minas Tirith and the outlying pastures and homesteads of the Pelennor Fields. Here men could be seen working with hammers and trowels to repair a section of the partly ruinous wall; torches were thrust into the ground at intervals and glowed dully in the fog.
As the Company approached men came swiftly to bar their way. Pippin peered out warily from behind Legolas as he slowed their horse. These guards wore heavy cloaks and were very tall; one bore a torch in his hand. Their leader stepped forward and studied the company with dubious eyes, especially the hobbits.
"Who are you that seek passage here?" said he. "We wish for no strangers in this land, unless they be mighty men of arms in whose faith and help we can trust. Are you dwarves out of the mountains in the North?"
"I am a dwarf," said Gimli, "but the leader of our company is an elf from Mirkwood." The guard bearing the torch came a little closer. The others gasped a little at the sight of Legolas sitting erect upon his horse.
"We have travelled many leagues from our homelands," said Legolas, "but not so far as have our companions. You may know them as halflings." He saw the wonder in the men's faces and quickly added: "Nay, not the one that was spoken of lately, but two of them are his kindred."
"This is strange indeed!" said the man in wonder. "It seems that you come to us straight out of legend. What brings you here from such distant lands?"
"We come to bring counsel," Legolas said simply.
"Good counsel, I hope," said the guard. "My name is Ingold. I am leader of this company. My men are repairing the damage done to this wall and fortifying it against future attacks. War is upon us."
"It is upon us all," said Legolas. "My companions and I have already seen battle and passed through great perils on our journey. And as for valour, that cannot be computed by stature. If it comforts you, however, we set out from Rivendell with Boromir of Gondor many months ago."
"Boromir?" one man said in surprise. "You rode with Boromir?"
"Yes," said Legolas. "For a time. Has he passed through this gate?"
"I am afraid not," said Ingold. He thought for a moment. "But this past day a strange thing happened. During the night a horse appeared at the gate. We thought that it had lost its rider, for it had both saddle and bridle still attached. One of my men took it by the reins and calmly led it inside the gate, but no sooner had he done so then it suddenly reared up and then bolted into the night. We never recovered it."
Legolas felt Pippin's arms tighten about his waist. He could guess what must have happened.
"Did this horse come from Rohan?" Legolas said. "There have been reports of horses being stolen in raids across that land."
"I believe so," said Ingold. "We have heard grave rumour of war in the Folde. The days have grown dark indeed."
Legolas turned and exchanged a look with Gimli beside him. Obviously Boromir had put on the Ring as he approached the gate and rendered himself invisible. Once his horse had been led past the guards he had then spurred it onwards and disappeared unseen into the night. His paranoia over the Ring must have been very strong if he was unwilling to trust his own kinsmen.
Ingold lapsed into silence as he considered them for a moment. Then he gestured to the men beside him. In the flickering light of the torches the guards stood down.
"You have convinced me of your good faith," Ingold said. "And I believe that we can trust you, despite your strange garb and short statures." The others laughed. "The Lord of Minas Tirith will be eager to see any that bear tidings of his son, but you shall need to know the pass-words of the Seven Gates to proceed."
He then proceeded to give them the words which would allow them to pass the Great Gate of Minas Tirith and reach the Citadel at its summit, where they could be granted an audience with the Steward. They thanked Ingold for this kind gesture, and were then led through the narrow gate and past the men who continued with their repairs upon the wall.
"Tell me," said Ingold, as they prepared to leave, "do you know aught of the Rohirrim? Will they answer the summons to war, if the beacons of Amon Dîn are kindled?"
"They will answer," Legolas said. "But they are set to fight many battles at your back. This road and no road looks towards safe lands any longer. A host of foes may yet come here, and no Riders of Rohan. Be vigilant!"
XXX
Soon the Company left the sound of beating hammers behind them as they passed into that wide land beyond the Rammas Echor. As the sun climbed steadily in the sky they passed through the rich townlands and fertile fields of the Pelennor; here there dwelt herdsmen and husbandmen who tilled the earth and harvested food and livestock for those folk who lived in the seven circles of the City.
As they followed the North-way through this land the bleak mountains of the East barred the sky to their left, rising from a sea of mist from the distant Land of Shadow. To their right the White Mountains of Ered Nimrais marched in formation from the West to a steep and sudden end. And there the Company saw, as their horses climbed a sudden rise, the dark height of Mount Mindolluin and the Guarded City looming upon its out-thrust knee, as though it were carven from the very bones of the earth.
The Company paused at the summit of the rise and gazed long upon the sight in wonder. Nothing could have prepared them for the sheer size and majesty of Minas Tirith as it rose before them, its high walls of white stone blushing faintly in the sun. The tower of Echthelion was smote by a sudden shaft of sunlight, and even as they watched it stood out and glittered like a spike of pearl and silver. Great banners of white stirred upon those high walls, and from afar came the clear ringing of silver trumpets upon the morning breeze.
"Fair are the works of men!" cried Legolas. "Once I thought the golden hall of Edoras a marvel, but now I see that I was mistaken!" He turned to the others. "Come. If we ride hard without another rest we shall be inside the walls within an hour."
XXX
So they rode on tirelessly towards the Great Gate of the Men of Gondor and were looked upon in wonder by the guards there, for it had been many an age since such a company of folk had rode hence to the City.
"Hail!" men cried as they approached. "Hail! For this is indeed a strange sight in such times! An elf and four dwarves come to the City! What marvelous steeds! Are you of the Rohirrim? Have they come to aid us in this war?"
"We are come from Rivendell," said Legolas. "Our steeds were gifts from the heir to the King of Rohan."
"And there is only one dwarf in this company," Gimli said. "Our companions are halflings of great renown. We travelled with the Lord Boromir from the North."
"Ah," said they. "So your company has become sundered? This past day the Lord Boromir passed these walls in the early hours of the morning. He was so exhausted that he fell from his horse. We took him up to the Citadel to recover and to see the Steward. He has been hidden away from sight ever since."
"Do you know where he is now?" asked Sam.
"We have heard rumour that he takes counsel with the Lord Denethor," said the foremost guard. "He has been away almost a year now on an unknown errand, and news of his arrival spread like wildfire. By noon yesterday the entire city knew of his return, and he shall be forced to reveal himself soon lest the news be dismissed as mere rumour. There will be much rejoicing this day."
XXX
So they surmised that Boromir took counsel with the Steward behind closed doors, and had not given any order to apprehend them or otherwise impede their progress. As the iron doors rolled back before them they thus passed through the Gate without challenge and began the long paved way up the seven levels of Minas Tirith.
For the fashion of the City was such that it was built on seven levels delved into the very rock of Mindolluin, each set with a wall and a gate at different alignments in order to thwart an attacking host. Each time that the road passed the line of the Great Gate it went through an archway piercing a huge bastion of rock, rising up from the rear of the great court beyond the Gate like the keel of a great ship. It was crowned with a battlement, and here a long lamplit slope ran up to the seventh gate and the Citadel beyond. The White Tower rose up from the High Court beyond the Place of the Fountain, measuring fifty fathoms from base to pinnacle, and the banner of the Stewards stirred at its height a thousand feet above the plain.
As they rode through the stone streets Sam voiced his wish to demand an entrance with the Steward, but Legolas decided that they should rest for a few hours first. Luck had brought them safely not only through the Rammas Echor but into the City, and he did not wish to make their presence known more boldly than was necessary. It was unlikely that Boromir would be found in a conciliatory mood, especially with the Ring in his possession.
In time they came to the Citadel. Here they dismounted from their tired steeds, who were led away to be housed nearby. It seemed that word of their coming had preceded them, and the men there greeted the Company kindly, leading them to a house close to the shoulder of the mountain which stood in a lane between tall buildings of stone. Upon the first floor above the street they were shown to a sparsely furnished room, with gold hangings upon the walls and a high balcony which looked down upon the Pelennor Fields below. A number of men brought them wicker baskets filled with bread and butter, cheese, meats and the last of the winter store of apples. Ale they had in plenty.
"We have brought all that can be spared for so large a company," they said. "Eat now and rest. Perhaps you shall be granted an audience with the Steward later this day. We sense important happenings are afoot."
The Company gave their thanks as the men left. Then they took a little food and drink and sat together in their chamber, deciding upon their next course of action. It was a strange place that they had come to, knowing not whether to grieve, to forgive or to seek vengeance upon the man they had pursued across hundreds of leagues. Their course of action must be considered carefully, for whatever they did might land them in grave disfavour.
Sam said nothing but sat in the corner, chewing thoughtfully upon an apple.
XXX
The weary Company rested the better part of the morning, awaiting some favourable news. In the curtained alcoves of the room there stood many beds, and also vessels and basins for washing. Merry and Pippin, exhausted from the long hours of riding, had swiftly fallen asleep; Gimli and Sam sat together at the small table. Legolas splashed his face with some water from one of the basins. Then he walked out onto the balcony and looked out over the deep stone still, lost in thought as he pondered Aragorn's words by the Silverlode so long ago.
Soon Legolas took his leave of the others, going out into the street to speak with one of the guards at the Gate. They were robed all in black, and on their heads they wore strange silver helms set with the white wings of sea-birds; upon their black surcoats stood the emblem of a white tree blossoming beneath a crown and set about with stars. A guard named Beregond was happy to oblige his questions, although he was on duty as sentinel and could not stray from the vicinity of the Gate.
"What of the Steward?" Legolas said. "And the Lord Boromir? Men say they have been in counsel through the night, but surely they must emerge soon?"
"I know not," said Beregond. "It is either dire or fair news that keeps them so. Lord Boromir left the city last summer and has been on a long and difficult journey. Perhaps he is simply taking some rest whilst he can."
"Perhaps," Legolas said.
After speaking with Beregond a little longer Legolas thanked him and turned away, intending to return to the others. Suddenly he became aware of the distant cries of men and the sound of hurried footsteps and clanking armour. It was coming from the direction of the fountain.
Beregond turned as he heard the noise too. The next moment Legolas watched in astonishment as Pippin came racing towards them down the paved street.
"You must come quick!" he cried. "Sam has run away!"
Legolas' heart lurched with fear as Pippin halted before him.
"Where did he go?" he said. "How long has he been gone?"
"I don't know," said Pippin. His face was very red. "Gimli told me to come and get you. He has gone with Merry to go and look for him. They think that he has gone to find Boromir."
Legolas did not need to hear any more. They left Beregond at the Gate as they raced up the street towards the white-paved court before the Hall of the Kings. There they found a huge commotion unfolding upon the sward of grass before the fountain. Beneath a dead tree drooping over the pool lingered many guards; more stood at the doors of the great hall beneath the White Tower which were fast closed. Pippin turned and saw a crowd gathering at the Gate behind them. Beregond and his men were barring their way.
Gimli approached them when they reached the fountain, with Merry following close behind. Legolas could tell by the look upon their faces that they bore bad news.
"Sam has been arrested," said Gimli. "He slipped away whilst we slept and demanded an audience with the Steward. Then he attacked Boromir when he emerged from the doors behind us. There was nothing that we could do."