Chapter 21
Fastred
Sam could hear the cries of his daughter as she ran to her bedroom and slammed the door shut and locked it.
He saw Arwen running after her as she stopped and tapped lightly on the door, "Elanor, please let me talk to you," she pleaded with the hysterical Elanor. Arwen could hear her sobbing from within.
"What has happened?" asked Sam.
"I'm afraid Aragorn has upset Elanor. He abruptly told her that Fastred was arrested and now facing treason for his participation in selling the leaf! Aragorn will pass judgement of the hobbits and men that were involved with this! They are on a march here and will arrive within the week. A messenger arrived a few days ago and told Aragorn of these new events."
Shocked registered across Sam's face at hearing this news and he began questioning her. "When did all this happen?"
"As far as I know, Sam. It happened a few weeks after you left the Shire for Gondor. The messenger informed us that the buildings and fields of the Westmarch were burnt to the ground and there is nothing there now. The men who attacked their lands tried to take the leaf away from the hobbits and ended up killing Fastred's father. Fastred was captured in the men's company. The Dùnedain believe that Fastred betrayed his own people and lead the men to the Westmarch, where they attacked the hobbits who lived there. They have been watching that area for sometime. It does not look very good for Fastred. If Aragorn finds him guilty he will be hung along side the men until he is dead."
"Why didn't Aragorn tell me about this when he first heard?" asked Sam.
"Aragorn feared the Elanor was involved with this some how and wanted to make sure for himself that she knew nothing of this. He felt if he told you of this that you might influence her before he had time to talk with her. Aragorn found in talking with Elanor, that she was innocent and had no knowledge of what the Fairbarin's were doing on the Westmarch. I am so sorry, Sam!" said Arwen as she reached her arms around him. "I know this news is hard to take. Aragorn wants to talk with you next. Please take a moment and collect yourself. I will stay with Elanor and see what I can do to help her through all of this!"
"Thank you, Arwen!" said Sam as the worry on his face was clearly evident to Arwen as she released him and he walked out to the garden to speak to Aragorn, who now sat with Legolas and the men of his court.
After speaking with Aragorn and his court, Sam understood that they would hear Fastred's side of the story and what evidence that he could produce to the King's court. Aragorn apologized to Sam for upsetting Elanor so badly, but Sam knowing Aragorn, understood why he did that.
Sam knocked on Elanor's door and spoke softly to her, "Elanor, tis Da, please let me in. I need to talk with you, Please!"
The door slowly opened and Elanor rushed into her father's arms crying as he drew her into a warm hug. Sam kissed the side of her head gently and stroked the long curls of her hair to calm her. "I love you, Elanor. I am so sorry for all the pain you are in. I wish more than anything, I could take away your heartache."
"I love you, too Da!" she said through her tears.
Crying for a time on Sam's shoulder, Elanor began to calm down enough to speak with him, "Da, I know Fastred and I know in my heart that he is innocent. Please, Da! We must try and help him!"
"Elanor, after hearing everything that the king has said and from those that watched the Westmarch, are you still that sure Fastred is so innocent?"
"With all my heart, Da! It is not because I love him so, it is rather the person that he is, that makes me so sure!" she told him.
Sam looked long into Elanor's eyes and he too sensed that she believed everything she had said to him. Sam was convinced that there was more to Fastred than what everyone else believed. "Aragorn is allowing me to sit on the king's court and hear the charges and Fastred's side. The King will ultimately judge Fastred, but he had promised to keep an open mind and hear him. He is the fairest man that I have ever met and I trust him, Elanor. He will hear Fastred's side!"
"Thank you, Da! I knew you would understand!" stated Elanor as she hugged him.
~*~
The days passed quickly as Elanor waited for word of the Dùnedain's march to Gondor and she watched the gates for any sign of their approach. When there was no word, Elanor began to worry as she walked through the garden and looked at the flowers that grew there. Tears began to form in her eyes and slowly dropped down her cheeks. She sat down on the bench and began sobbing.
It pained Legolas as he watched the fair Elanor in the garden as she grieved in sorrow. Legolas approached her and said, "Please talk to me, Elanor. Tell me of Fastred and everything you know, perhaps I can help him or you."
"There is nothing no one can do, now! All is lost!" she continued to cry.
" I have learned in the long years of my life, that there is always hope. Let me help you, Elanor. Together we may find the answer to all of this!"
Elanor talked with Legolas for hours and she found the he was very easy to speak too. He listened intently and never passed judgement on Fastred or herself. Legolas understood how much she loved Fastred and believed in him. It made more sense to Legolas in understanding who Fastred was. His senses told him that something was really wrong with all of this and he was determined to find what it was.
Elladan approached Aragorn and told him the captives were less than an hour away from the White City and Aragorn prepared himself.
The horns sounded, but it was not the sound of welcome that they played. It was a call of attention, warning the people of Gondor that the captives approach.
People swarmed into the streets and gathered garbage to throw. The crowd looked ugly as they laughed and jeered among each other that caused Elanor's stomach to turn.
Sam and Legolas stood on each side of Elanor to support her as the first group of the captive men marched in the gates. The people began to throw their rotten tomatoes and old rotten eggs. Some found stones to toss and laughed as the hit their target.
Elanor could not see the captive men march down the street as the crowd pushed to get a glimpse of them. Her heartbeat rapidly as she kept her eyes fixed on the street in which they traveled. The guards of Gondor pushed the crowd of people back as they lined up the captives in a row. The Men stood in the back row, while the hobbits stood in front of them.
Fastred was the last hobbit in the first row and Elanor finally spotted him.
She clasped her hands to her mouth as a scream or horror rushed from her lips and her knees began to buckle as Sam and Legolas held on to her.
Fastred stood there with down cast eyes and hunched shoulders. His clothing was filthy and torn into rags about him. Dried thick blood pasted the side of his face and in his hair was matted almost unrecognizable as hair. His back had deep open wounds from being whipped and his legs caked with thick dried mud. Fastred never moved an inch even when Elanor called to him, but kept his eyes down cast. Elanor tried to rush towards him, but Legolas and Sam held her back. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed out her sorrow until she fainted by the sight of her beloved.
Legolas picked her up in his arms and carried her inside to her bedroom as Sam opened the door. Lying her down Rosie rushed in and sat down next to her daughter. "Oh, Sam! What are we going to do?" said Rosie as she broke down in tears crying for both Elanor and Fastred.
~*~
Legolas walked into the King's chambers and approached him saying, "Aragorn, please go to Fastred and at least heal him! He suffers needlessly!"
"I cannot, Legolas! Please understand! Being king I cannot show favoritism nor kindness to those captives. They are prisoners of Gondor, traitors that are to be punished and I am to judge them. If I show weakness to one, what message would I send to the people of Gondor! That some can break the laws or if they are luck enough to know the king, that they be forgiven just for that fact. Neigh, my loyal friend. Go to him yourself! Take what you need to heal him. Speak with him, do all you can to easy his suffering. I will hear him and I will judge him fairly. This I promise you!" said Aragorn.
Legolas took the things that he needed to help Fastred and stood at his cell as the guard opened the door for him.
Fastred sat in the corner on top a pile of hay. He did not move or look up to see who entered. Legolas bent down to the hobbit on one knee, as he looked him over.
"Fastred, I know of you from someone who sends you dear greets, Elanor! I have come to help you! Do you hear me?" stated Legolas.
Slowly Fastred lifted his head and he eyes met those of Legolas. His eyes were dulled and sunken in from lack of water and deep exhaustion. Barely coherent Fastred only nodded to Legolas to gesture that he understood.
Legolas gave him fresh water to drink, as much as he could tolerate. Lying him down Legolas began to bath him and wash his hair. He cleansed his wounds and bandaged them. Legolas brought clothing for him to wear and helped him dress. From his pack he took out some prepared meat and fruit and gave it to Fastred. After taking a couple of bites he would not eat no more. Taking out a blanket he laid him down in the hay and covered him up to sleep. Legolas stood over him and watched him fall into a deep sleep. He had hoped that he done a good enough job in the care of his wounds.
Legolas approached the guard and told him, "This prisoner will not be harmed and you will see to his needs!"
"I will not help a traitor to Gondor! I would much prefer to see him hung!"
"If I hear of anyone harming him in any way, I will personally see to it that I use you as my next target and I guarantee you that I do not miss any target that I aim at!" snarled Legolas.
~*~
The next morning Elanor came to the cell with Legolas and the guard snapped to attention and rushed to open the cell door.
~*~*~*~*
snow-angel222 : Fastred was hit by a rock from someone in the crowd while they made him march through Edoras: Sorry for the gruesome-ness of this part of the story, but I thought that Aragorn would make examples of the prisoners in order to keep mankind out of the Shire and trying to steel the long Bottom leaf for profit... I wouldn't think in that time period that they would treat prisoners fairly. I think it would have been brutal...
Tessa11 : thanks for your help with my spelling errors: I know I could use all the help I can get! English is not one of my best subjects..Yikes!
Aemilia Rose : don't worry, Aemilia! Fastred has some friends and will do everything they can to help him. Hope you had a very happy birthday! Gimli walks over to the familiar round green door and hits it with an axe, busting it to pieces and winks at Aemilia Rose with a smile!
Sally-Jo : Yes great minds thing alike ; - ) smiling at Sally-jo and hands you a big cookie..saying thanks! I love a lot of emotions in my stories, I bet you did not figure that one out yet! Hehehe! Whether it be elf, dwarf, hobbit or orc..Mawa! Loveofthering loves to torture characters..(Just kidding of course!) Yikes! I scare myself sometimes!
snow-angel222: Wow! You asked me a lot there but I'll try and answer your questions! Tolman Cotton is living at Bag End and watching Frodo and Ham, plus taking on the deputy Majors job while Sam is away. Hopefully the last chapter answered your questions about the other characters.. About writing and flames, pay them no mind. If you love writing about elves, then write about them any way you want to. You are the artist behind the story. Do what you want and do not care what others think about your story. It is a lot more fun that way!
I have written a lot of stinkers (stories) and I have learned a lot from those stories. Hopefully the more I write the better I get! Lets' hope so anyway. I love writing and I could not imagine doing anything else that is this much fun! That is what it is all about! Keep writing and do not let anyone discourage you from it!
Yuki: Thank you for your review, it means a lot to me knowing that you are enjoying this story! Hopefully you will keep coming back and reading!
Fastred
Sam could hear the cries of his daughter as she ran to her bedroom and slammed the door shut and locked it.
He saw Arwen running after her as she stopped and tapped lightly on the door, "Elanor, please let me talk to you," she pleaded with the hysterical Elanor. Arwen could hear her sobbing from within.
"What has happened?" asked Sam.
"I'm afraid Aragorn has upset Elanor. He abruptly told her that Fastred was arrested and now facing treason for his participation in selling the leaf! Aragorn will pass judgement of the hobbits and men that were involved with this! They are on a march here and will arrive within the week. A messenger arrived a few days ago and told Aragorn of these new events."
Shocked registered across Sam's face at hearing this news and he began questioning her. "When did all this happen?"
"As far as I know, Sam. It happened a few weeks after you left the Shire for Gondor. The messenger informed us that the buildings and fields of the Westmarch were burnt to the ground and there is nothing there now. The men who attacked their lands tried to take the leaf away from the hobbits and ended up killing Fastred's father. Fastred was captured in the men's company. The Dùnedain believe that Fastred betrayed his own people and lead the men to the Westmarch, where they attacked the hobbits who lived there. They have been watching that area for sometime. It does not look very good for Fastred. If Aragorn finds him guilty he will be hung along side the men until he is dead."
"Why didn't Aragorn tell me about this when he first heard?" asked Sam.
"Aragorn feared the Elanor was involved with this some how and wanted to make sure for himself that she knew nothing of this. He felt if he told you of this that you might influence her before he had time to talk with her. Aragorn found in talking with Elanor, that she was innocent and had no knowledge of what the Fairbarin's were doing on the Westmarch. I am so sorry, Sam!" said Arwen as she reached her arms around him. "I know this news is hard to take. Aragorn wants to talk with you next. Please take a moment and collect yourself. I will stay with Elanor and see what I can do to help her through all of this!"
"Thank you, Arwen!" said Sam as the worry on his face was clearly evident to Arwen as she released him and he walked out to the garden to speak to Aragorn, who now sat with Legolas and the men of his court.
After speaking with Aragorn and his court, Sam understood that they would hear Fastred's side of the story and what evidence that he could produce to the King's court. Aragorn apologized to Sam for upsetting Elanor so badly, but Sam knowing Aragorn, understood why he did that.
Sam knocked on Elanor's door and spoke softly to her, "Elanor, tis Da, please let me in. I need to talk with you, Please!"
The door slowly opened and Elanor rushed into her father's arms crying as he drew her into a warm hug. Sam kissed the side of her head gently and stroked the long curls of her hair to calm her. "I love you, Elanor. I am so sorry for all the pain you are in. I wish more than anything, I could take away your heartache."
"I love you, too Da!" she said through her tears.
Crying for a time on Sam's shoulder, Elanor began to calm down enough to speak with him, "Da, I know Fastred and I know in my heart that he is innocent. Please, Da! We must try and help him!"
"Elanor, after hearing everything that the king has said and from those that watched the Westmarch, are you still that sure Fastred is so innocent?"
"With all my heart, Da! It is not because I love him so, it is rather the person that he is, that makes me so sure!" she told him.
Sam looked long into Elanor's eyes and he too sensed that she believed everything she had said to him. Sam was convinced that there was more to Fastred than what everyone else believed. "Aragorn is allowing me to sit on the king's court and hear the charges and Fastred's side. The King will ultimately judge Fastred, but he had promised to keep an open mind and hear him. He is the fairest man that I have ever met and I trust him, Elanor. He will hear Fastred's side!"
"Thank you, Da! I knew you would understand!" stated Elanor as she hugged him.
~*~
The days passed quickly as Elanor waited for word of the Dùnedain's march to Gondor and she watched the gates for any sign of their approach. When there was no word, Elanor began to worry as she walked through the garden and looked at the flowers that grew there. Tears began to form in her eyes and slowly dropped down her cheeks. She sat down on the bench and began sobbing.
It pained Legolas as he watched the fair Elanor in the garden as she grieved in sorrow. Legolas approached her and said, "Please talk to me, Elanor. Tell me of Fastred and everything you know, perhaps I can help him or you."
"There is nothing no one can do, now! All is lost!" she continued to cry.
" I have learned in the long years of my life, that there is always hope. Let me help you, Elanor. Together we may find the answer to all of this!"
Elanor talked with Legolas for hours and she found the he was very easy to speak too. He listened intently and never passed judgement on Fastred or herself. Legolas understood how much she loved Fastred and believed in him. It made more sense to Legolas in understanding who Fastred was. His senses told him that something was really wrong with all of this and he was determined to find what it was.
Elladan approached Aragorn and told him the captives were less than an hour away from the White City and Aragorn prepared himself.
The horns sounded, but it was not the sound of welcome that they played. It was a call of attention, warning the people of Gondor that the captives approach.
People swarmed into the streets and gathered garbage to throw. The crowd looked ugly as they laughed and jeered among each other that caused Elanor's stomach to turn.
Sam and Legolas stood on each side of Elanor to support her as the first group of the captive men marched in the gates. The people began to throw their rotten tomatoes and old rotten eggs. Some found stones to toss and laughed as the hit their target.
Elanor could not see the captive men march down the street as the crowd pushed to get a glimpse of them. Her heartbeat rapidly as she kept her eyes fixed on the street in which they traveled. The guards of Gondor pushed the crowd of people back as they lined up the captives in a row. The Men stood in the back row, while the hobbits stood in front of them.
Fastred was the last hobbit in the first row and Elanor finally spotted him.
She clasped her hands to her mouth as a scream or horror rushed from her lips and her knees began to buckle as Sam and Legolas held on to her.
Fastred stood there with down cast eyes and hunched shoulders. His clothing was filthy and torn into rags about him. Dried thick blood pasted the side of his face and in his hair was matted almost unrecognizable as hair. His back had deep open wounds from being whipped and his legs caked with thick dried mud. Fastred never moved an inch even when Elanor called to him, but kept his eyes down cast. Elanor tried to rush towards him, but Legolas and Sam held her back. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed out her sorrow until she fainted by the sight of her beloved.
Legolas picked her up in his arms and carried her inside to her bedroom as Sam opened the door. Lying her down Rosie rushed in and sat down next to her daughter. "Oh, Sam! What are we going to do?" said Rosie as she broke down in tears crying for both Elanor and Fastred.
~*~
Legolas walked into the King's chambers and approached him saying, "Aragorn, please go to Fastred and at least heal him! He suffers needlessly!"
"I cannot, Legolas! Please understand! Being king I cannot show favoritism nor kindness to those captives. They are prisoners of Gondor, traitors that are to be punished and I am to judge them. If I show weakness to one, what message would I send to the people of Gondor! That some can break the laws or if they are luck enough to know the king, that they be forgiven just for that fact. Neigh, my loyal friend. Go to him yourself! Take what you need to heal him. Speak with him, do all you can to easy his suffering. I will hear him and I will judge him fairly. This I promise you!" said Aragorn.
Legolas took the things that he needed to help Fastred and stood at his cell as the guard opened the door for him.
Fastred sat in the corner on top a pile of hay. He did not move or look up to see who entered. Legolas bent down to the hobbit on one knee, as he looked him over.
"Fastred, I know of you from someone who sends you dear greets, Elanor! I have come to help you! Do you hear me?" stated Legolas.
Slowly Fastred lifted his head and he eyes met those of Legolas. His eyes were dulled and sunken in from lack of water and deep exhaustion. Barely coherent Fastred only nodded to Legolas to gesture that he understood.
Legolas gave him fresh water to drink, as much as he could tolerate. Lying him down Legolas began to bath him and wash his hair. He cleansed his wounds and bandaged them. Legolas brought clothing for him to wear and helped him dress. From his pack he took out some prepared meat and fruit and gave it to Fastred. After taking a couple of bites he would not eat no more. Taking out a blanket he laid him down in the hay and covered him up to sleep. Legolas stood over him and watched him fall into a deep sleep. He had hoped that he done a good enough job in the care of his wounds.
Legolas approached the guard and told him, "This prisoner will not be harmed and you will see to his needs!"
"I will not help a traitor to Gondor! I would much prefer to see him hung!"
"If I hear of anyone harming him in any way, I will personally see to it that I use you as my next target and I guarantee you that I do not miss any target that I aim at!" snarled Legolas.
~*~
The next morning Elanor came to the cell with Legolas and the guard snapped to attention and rushed to open the cell door.
~*~*~*~*
snow-angel222 : Fastred was hit by a rock from someone in the crowd while they made him march through Edoras: Sorry for the gruesome-ness of this part of the story, but I thought that Aragorn would make examples of the prisoners in order to keep mankind out of the Shire and trying to steel the long Bottom leaf for profit... I wouldn't think in that time period that they would treat prisoners fairly. I think it would have been brutal...
Tessa11 : thanks for your help with my spelling errors: I know I could use all the help I can get! English is not one of my best subjects..Yikes!
Aemilia Rose : don't worry, Aemilia! Fastred has some friends and will do everything they can to help him. Hope you had a very happy birthday! Gimli walks over to the familiar round green door and hits it with an axe, busting it to pieces and winks at Aemilia Rose with a smile!
Sally-Jo : Yes great minds thing alike ; - ) smiling at Sally-jo and hands you a big cookie..saying thanks! I love a lot of emotions in my stories, I bet you did not figure that one out yet! Hehehe! Whether it be elf, dwarf, hobbit or orc..Mawa! Loveofthering loves to torture characters..(Just kidding of course!) Yikes! I scare myself sometimes!
snow-angel222: Wow! You asked me a lot there but I'll try and answer your questions! Tolman Cotton is living at Bag End and watching Frodo and Ham, plus taking on the deputy Majors job while Sam is away. Hopefully the last chapter answered your questions about the other characters.. About writing and flames, pay them no mind. If you love writing about elves, then write about them any way you want to. You are the artist behind the story. Do what you want and do not care what others think about your story. It is a lot more fun that way!
I have written a lot of stinkers (stories) and I have learned a lot from those stories. Hopefully the more I write the better I get! Lets' hope so anyway. I love writing and I could not imagine doing anything else that is this much fun! That is what it is all about! Keep writing and do not let anyone discourage you from it!
Yuki: Thank you for your review, it means a lot to me knowing that you are enjoying this story! Hopefully you will keep coming back and reading!