Book 4 The Shadow and the River
iv To battle
Eären, feeling restless after so much talk, decided to walk a while in the fresh air, feeling that Elrond was very likely to be busy with messages and strategy for some while. The cut and thrust of debate had held her full attention, and she had appreciated each contribution, without feeling any longer that she needed to be a prime mover of it. Something, she thought, had happened to her, since she met Elrond, which had quite changed her! It seemed that his unexpected love for her had given her something she had lacked all her life – a refuge of the heart, which left her feeling at peace with herself and others. She no longer desired to complain, she found, or to move the pieces on the board, as she once would have. She had come to know happiness that still took her completely by surprise whenever she became aware of it - almost like a foreign body within her, that sustained her life - like lembas of the heart, she thought!
Yet Elrond's suggestion that she go with the second company had taken her aback. She did want to go – she was still, notwithstanding all that had happened, the Eären who had ridden to Imladris with Boromir, full of desire to be an active participant in the fray. Yet now she had a reason to stay, which she had not had before! She felt confused and dearly wished to know more of what was in her lord's mind.
As she passed the door to Lord Elrond's house, it opened smoothly, and Hador came to convey a message to her from Elrond, who, he said, wished to speak with her as soon as he had completed a number of pressing tasks connected with the formation of the companies.
She nodded, her heart somewhat lightened by this message.
"Thank you, Hador. Tell Lord Elrond that I shall walk for a while," she said. "I shall return to the sitting room, to await him, whenever he is ready to speak to me."
Hador bowed low. That loyal retainer would, she thought, take good care of Elrond, if she must be away - and that thought cheered her heart.
She walked on for a while, breathing deep breaths full of good fresh air, and thinking that spring must surely be on the way at last, for there was now little sign left of the hard winter frosts of late January and February, which had made even the fair valley sombre. After a good stretch of her slender frame, she returned to the waterfall, slipped beneath it unobtrusively and made her way over the greensward to the house. The great oak door swung open, though she saw at once that the study door was still closed and she could hear voices within.
She went direct to the sitting room, therefore and sat before the fire awhile, seeing that Hador had rekindled it since this morning, having swept and put all in order in that familiar room, which had already become dear to her. On the low table stood a tray with wine and two glasses. She helped herself to a glass, and sat back to wait.
After some time, she heard the study door open in the distance, and shortly afterwards Elrond appeared. He seemed pale but composed, and came to sit beside her.
"Thank you for returning, Eären," he said seriously. "I did not wish to wait until supper to speak of what is most nearly in both our minds."
"You speak of who goes with the second company?" she asked, taking his hand gently, and kissing its palm tenderly, feeling suddenly full to the brim of love and gratitude for her elf lord. 'Where,' she found herself thinking fleetingly, 'would any of us be without him?'
Her gesture caused him to gather her into a fast embrace.
"Oh, my love!" he said, now, with a sigh of anguish. "I see you, as before, to be firmly resolved upon going! Yet it is not too late to change your mind, and no one would blame you for it! I have no choice but to ask you – but that does not mean you are not free to refuse!"
She smiled a little at this thought, saying, "I think you hoped that I would refuse, and thus absolve you of the guilt of having asked it! However, be at peace, for I do not hold you responsible for what lies ahead of me – rather, it is the fault of this world, and the evil in it. I know you would not send to me into danger if you could protect me from it! Yet how could I stay behind, even for your sake, my dearest only love, knowing that I might have made a difference, however slight, to the battle our dearest friends now face!"
He sighed, and touched her fair cheek, saying sadly, "That is why I chose you as the best person for the task of guiding the company in the south. Yet I do not know how your father will forgive me, having offered you sanctuary here, if I send you back into the worst possible danger! My heart fails me, thinking of what perils I might expose you to! I do not think I could bear it, if ought should happen to you! For you are now the keystone of my heart! Once remove the stone, and I fear the whole will crumble!"
He laid his head upon her breast, in deep pain, and she stroked it a while to comfort him. Then she said softly, "I do not want to leave you, love! Yet think of this: how if the war is won, and it is known that I stayed behind to shield myself from dangers? How could I look any of the company in the eye again, or any in this valley?"
"And if the war is lost - and we cannot even spend what few days remain to us together?" he countered grimly.
She said nothing, for that thought pierced her heart, and silenced her quite.
Finally, he said, lifting his head, sounding more resolute, "I promised you once that I would never leave you again, and I hold to that vow. If you must go, I ask only this, that if, when the storm comes, you find that you cannot make a difference, you will try with all your power to come home to Imladris! Others will seek this way, also, and you will not be alone! At least we shall have a few hours, days or weeks together, at the last, and that will make all else bearable to me. Will you give me your oath upon this? For there will be ways, even then, by which I can aid you, and I shall put forth all my powers to do so."
"I swear that I will! On this I give you my oath," she said, and he felt lighter of heart to hear her say so.
She, for her part, felt quietly sure that, should that time come, Elrond would find a way to bring her home!
"Come, then, we are agreed!" said Elrond, and stood up, seeming more composed and cheerful. "Now I must go and do all I can to aid your comrades, my love! Moreover, we have a few days together yet. Let us make what we can of this time, as though it were a lifetime together. For this was ever your philosophy, I forget not – to make the best of the time that is given to us! So we may say farewell, when the hour comes, with a good grace!"
She smiled, composed, too and said, "I should like very much to ride with you, beyond the valley, my lord, before I leave."
"Then you shall," he said. "It is many years since I rode out from Imladris, and maybe it is good for me to look once more upon the world I have laboured so long to protect!"
They parted then, and Elrond returned to his many pressing tasks, while she went to the Healing Houses to see how her charges fared. At supper that evening, their honoured guests assembled once more, having sent their messages post haste to their own lands.
Elrond took this opportunity after supper to announce that Haldir of Lórien would be herald and second-in-command of the company, and that Eären of Gondor would be third in command, named as scout, with the task of guiding them through Rohan and Gondor, using her knowledge of the landscape and people there.
"You are generous to a fault, Lord Elrond!" said Thranduil, raising his eyebrows when he heard this. "For you give our company the finest jewel of your valley!"
"And most beloved by me," said Elrond firmly, evidently glad to have this chance to acknowledge openly what he had kept in his heart so long. "Yet war is war, and we must all make sacrifices."
Glorfindel said, as soon as he heard this, "Haldir and Lady Eären, pray let us talk a while, for we need to make a plan, and look again at all the maps we have, and try to envisage the road ahead as far as possible."
They spent the next half hour, heads together, over their meal, discussing ways and means. Haldir and Glorfindel were both familiar with the territory north of Lothlórien. That journey seemed straightforward to Eären, for the Great River itself would be their guide, and their main task was to remain undiscovered on it as long as possible. Once within sight of Mirrormere, a mountain lake from which flowed the Silverlode into the Golden Wood, they knew they would be under constant threat from orcs, and felt it best to travel by night most of the way.
"However, "said Haldir hopefully, "we can send word ahead to my kin of Lórien, who will send forth scouts to warn us of dangers ahead. We can rest in Lórien Wood a while, for travelling long ways by river is hard for the horses. Then there is the unknown factor of Dol Guldur! What if the Enemy has already launched his assault upon Lórien when we come there?"
"Then we shall come in good time to aid our kin!" said Glorfindel stoutly. "Yet I hope, though we are thus delayed, we shall reach the White City in the end! Assuming that we pass through Lórien without incident, the most difficult part of our journey comes after."
"The Wolds of Rohan are almost deserted in these times," said Haldir. "The horsemen have moved all their farmsteads and smallholdings westward, away from the Dark Land. But I own I do not know what lies in wait for us once we enter the Brown Lands, for the Dark Lord performs strange works everywhere north of his realm."
"When we come to the East Wall of Rohan, I shall be able to help, I hope," put in Eären. "With your leave, my lord Haldir, I will take some companions at that time and go ahead to Nen Hithoel, where the Company of the Ring broke their fellowship. It will be well to make sure that the orcs of Saruman no longer haunt that place! However, whether they do or no, we must leaved the rafts at the lake there, and carry them a mile at least, if we are to avoid Rauros Falls. I know a way, a little known path, where I think we may pass safely and unseen from the river."
Haldir looked at her now in some surprise, for he had not seemed greatly impressed at first by the idea that she should be their third in command. It seemed to him now, however, that she had at least some ideas to contribute, and he was pleased to note that she respected the chain of command, a matter that concerned him!
"Good," said Glorfindel, finally. "Then we are not unprepared. What we may meet south of Entwash, none of us can foresee. We must not try to plan further than this, I think, but await events. Take some rest, both of you. Enjoy your last days in the valley! Prepare yourselves, but do not omit to do all that gives your hearts joy! For once we leave Imladris, who knows when we shall laugh and sleep in warm, friendly beds again?"
Elrond's glance at Eären pierced her with the sadness of winter when he overheard this remark.
"And how is it with you, my Lady Eären?" asked Thranduil presently, for he seemed curious about her, and greatly impressed by her doughty courage and willingness to take part in the coming inferno. "I am sorry to have had so little opportunity to know you better."
"And I too. Yet, I am in good heart, my lord," she said now, and seemed it. "I am, I confess, a little bewildered at how fast events move, after so long spent in waiting! Yet it seems to me now that all my youth, spent upon the field of Pelennor, the plains of Rohan and the shores of the Great River was in preparation for this day!"
Thranduil nodded thoughtfully.
"When you reach the Pelennor," he said now, "I would ask a boon of you – that you look for my son, Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood; if he is in need, I pray that you do all you can to aid him! I and all the elves of Mirkwood will be eternally in your debt."
She smiled at him, saying, "Gladly, my lord, though somehow I think Prince Legolas is well able to take care of himself!"
Gloin coughed.
"And my son Gimli, my lady," he said now cautiously. "If it were – if it could be – at all possible . . ."
"I shall look for Gimli, Gloin's son, also," she assured him. "And be sure to give him all aid! But forget not that the Lords Glorfindel and Haldir lead our company! I am confident that they will do all that is necessary to protect us when they can."
Glorfindel and Haldir were pleased by this vote of confidence.
That night, and every night to come, while she remained in the valley, Eären could not wait until she lay in Elrond's arms, and enjoyed every exchange of bliss that they could devise for each other. For, as he said, it seemed imperative to make what they could of the days remaining, which now seemed desperately few.
The following day, they rode north together to the very edge of the wild, and she found that Elrond could sit a horse with the same serene grace with which he did everything else. Another day, they rode west across the moors, already springing anew with sweet smelling spring blossom, towards Mitheithel. They were precious hours, whose memories stayed with her, and enriched her mind in the long days of separation ahead. During that brief time of leisure, they strengthened their bonds to each other in a way that both of them knew rendered them indissoluble. Elrond promised her solemnly once again that should they be victorious, he would ride to the White City and ask for her hand in marriage.
"Though," he said, with an unexpected twinkle in his eye, "What your kin will make of this unexpected suitor I cannot say!"
Yet no marriage could have made Eären more completely his, she felt, and she left her heart in his absolute keeping.
Glorfindel, as Commander-in-Chief, decided that they would leave the valley at sunset on the 5th day of March, riding over the mountains by night, and travelling then both day and night to the Old Ford, for they wished to arrive well ahead of their troops. In the afternoon of the day they were due to leave, therefore, she retired to Elrond's house to change into her riding clothes. She had expected to travel in the clothes she wore when first she came to Imladris, but to her surprise, Elrond brought forth for her a soft grey elven tunic and cloak, clasped at the throat by an elf brooch, together with an elvish linen shirt, breeches and exquisitely soft leather elven boots.
"These will be far better gear for travelling," he said – and indeed elvish gear had the mysterious habit of easy camouflage, she had noticed, seen against the backdrop of a stand of trees, or a mountain side. "I think they will fit you – they belonged to the Lord Erestor as a boy, when he was nearer your height. He offers them with delight for your protection! Here also is a short mail shirt, made very light by elven craft – but wear it, I pray you, night and day, under your cloak, for it is as easy to fall by accidental misstroke, as by assault in battle! Here also is an elven sword, a gift from my armoury, which is light and easy to wield – its name is Isengrim, and the smiths of Imladris made it for my daughter Arwen, when first she rode forth on her gathering journeys, and needed protection. Though it is light as air, it will cleave a swathe through any orc neck! And here is a stout but light bow, a personal gift from Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. He wishes you well when using it!"
Surprised, she nonetheless dressed in all this gear with great pride, careful to put the Lord Elrond's elf stone out of sight about her neck, beneath the shirt. When she was ready, and had a quiver of arrows at her back, Elrond said admiringly, "If your hair were fairer, and you were a little taller, none would doubt that you were a young elf! But take care, for, dressed thus, the enemies of our blood will assume that you are their enemy too!"
She glanced in the mirror at the obvious give-away of her blazing hair, saying, "I shall ask Miriel to braid my hair and keep it out of sight. This will be no journey for long locks!"
When Miriel had done her hair, she pinned it in circlets about her head, as she had on her journey north. When she tried her elven hood in place, she looked for all the world like a handsome elf youth.
Elrond now took her to his study, and gave her a small, stout leather pack to stow in her belt, holding small maps of the terrain ahead. Finally, he brought forth a tiny pouch, with a curiously lustreless, flat blue jewel inside it. It was heavy and cold to her touch.
"Here," he said, "is an uncut sapphire, stone of stones, and name stone of my Lord Manwë! It will aid you in time of need. Keep it safe, for you know not when you may need it. When you face danger or indecision, do but breathe on the jewel and I shall hear you, and help as I may!"
He put the pouch gently into her hand, and closed her fingers upon it, and his gaze was both loving and sad. She took his dear face in her hands, now, and kissed him tenderly.
"Thank you for trusting me enough to let me go!" she said, thinking of their long talks about Arwen, and the trust that gives life to another. "I shall not forget this trust, or betray it. Indeed, I will take greater care of myself than I have ever done in my life before, for I know you love me and I would not hurt you by my foolishness! Always remember that I love you. No matter what you may hear to the contrary, none other shall enter my heart while you live!"
He kissed her in return, saying, "Do not forget that you have my oath also. Yet, when you reach the White City, if all goes well, you may find that maintaining your faith with me is not easy. I shall understand, Eären, whatever may befall. Yet, beloved, I hope and believe that you will not forget me, as I shall not forget you!"
They embraced, then, one last time, at the door. Summoning all her strength, then, she turned away and left Elrond's house, without looking back, going resolutely across the valley to seek out her comrades and prepare her horse for the ride ahead.
Later in the day, as the sun sank in the west over Imladris, the handpicked valley company assembled on the greensward before the West Porch. Lord Elrond came, as always, to bless them, and at his side were the Lords Erestor and Alrewas, both anxious and grave of face. Those two had elected to remain behind, because their lord needed them, and they would not desert the Healing Houses at this grimmest of times. Hador also remained behind – he would not desert Elrond for all the riches of Middle-earth. Enough of Elrond's elves also remained behind to defend the valley, should it prove necessary.
"I place great faith in you, especially," Elrond said now to the company, "for you are my friends of long years in this fair valley! Whatever may befall us all now, I thank you for your loyalty and years of service to your lord. Hold your heads high, and keep your bows at the ready! May the light of the Lord Manwë guide and guard your steps!"
They bowed, and those who were horsed mounted, while the foot soldiers shouldered their packs. Glorfindel, at the head of their company, wheeled his valiant grey Asfalloth – a noble spirit, already straining to be away! - and turned towards the east path. Haldir, riding a mount found for him by Niniel, and Eären, riding Brégor, fell in behind, and they rode quietly away, while the bell of the Tower of Imladris tolled solemnly, until its sound was lost to them in the deepening gloom.
Elrond did not turn away, this time, until long after all hope of catching a last glimpse of their company was quite gone.
174