I am sorry it has taken me so long to get this chapter done. Thanks for your continued patience and reviews.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
"Oh Brother…Why Me?"
By late afternoon Jesse and Haldir were gathered with the others deciding on their next step. Jesse sat quietly listening as everyone seemed to have an opinion but none of those opinions held up for very long. They just seemed to go around in circles, all saying the same thing over and over again.
Aragorn finally had enough and yelled, "Enough!" Once he had everyone's attention he continued more calmly, "Now, we know from Faramir that Frodo and Sam past through Osgiliath and Ithilien a few days ago. By my estimation they must be getting close now but it is as Gandalf and Jesse have said the Dark Lord is bent on reclaiming the ring. Therefore we must find a way to draw his attention elsewhere."
"Aragorn is right," Jesse said as she stood up next to her friend, "An army stands between Frodo and Mount Doom. They will not stand a chance at success if we do not help them."
One of Denethor's former councilors stood up angrily and shouted out his disagreement. A few others agreed with him but most of the others were looking to Aragorn and Jesse to lead them. The majority took little stock in what the former councilor believed for he was notorious for his lack of action in the past.
"Which would you rather do sit here and wait for Sauron to get his ring back and then destroy all that is right and good in this world," the elleth began glaring at the pompous old man and taking a deep calming breath before continuing, "Or do something to stop him. Haldir and I have a daughter waiting for us in Rohan and I refuse to sit back and let that bastard take over the world and destroy her future."
Aragorn laid a calming hand on her shoulder as he began to speak, "I propose we march on the Black Gate. Give the Dark Lord a more obvious threat to focus his attention on. Draw his eye to us and away from Frodo." No longer was he a mere ranger. Now he was the full embodiment of the word king and Jesse beamed with pride.
Gandalf shared a smile with Jesse from across the tent and called for a vote to be held. The only ones to vote against the march on the Black Gate were the three former councilors to Denethor. They were still grumbling about the plan when the meeting finally came to a close around dinner time.
As Jesse was leaving the tent to join her friends by one of the campfires she was stopped by Prince Imrahil. "I was wondering if you would consider aiding us tomarrow with the clean up effort. My nephew has told me that you have the ability to communicate with the Mûmakil and I was hopping that you may be able to convince them to help with the massive stones and weapons that litter the battle field," he explained with a hopeful smile that reminded Jesse of Boromir.
"Of course I will," she replied with a smile, "I am positive that they will want to help restore this land. Only three of their herd was lost in the battle so they should be able to make quick work of the clean up," she finished as she and the Prince approached the fire.
Dinner was filled with stories and songs from all over Middle Earth. Jesse found herself mesmerized by the differing tales. When Éomer sang a ballad about Eorl in his rich deep voice, she was moved to tears by its simple beauty. She could almost see the story unfolding within her mind's eye.
After he had finished his song the new King of Rohan looked to the elleth that was quickly drying her eyes and asked, "Will you not favor us with a song Lady Jesse?" There were several shouts of agreement from those she had traveled with.
It took her a moment to gather her thoughts but finally she replied, "Ever since I first laid eyes on Edoras I have been thinking about this one song that I learned as a child." Closing her eyes she began to sing in the most haunting voice they had ever heard her use,
"There is a place on the east
Mysterious ring, a Magical Ring of Stones
The druids have lived there once they said,
forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
The circled tomb of a different age
Secret lines carved on ancient stone.
Heroic Kings laid down to rest
Forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Wait for the sun on a winter's day
and a beam of light shines across the floor.
Mysterious ring, a Magical Ring.
But forgotten is the race that no-one knows.
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
Rum de rum 'rud a derimo
(Newgrange "The Celtic Women")
"That was most beautiful Jessica," Gandalf commented as he puffed casually on his pipe. The smells of burning pipe weed filling the air around the old white wizard.
Aragorn sat up straighter and after lighting his own pipe agreed, "Gandalf is right that was a very beautiful song. Though it sounded more like the songs of this world than the ones you normally sing from your previous home."
"It was written by the Celts. They were an ancient culture in my old world. I think they may have had ties to Rohan. The cultures mirrored eachother in several ways. In fact there were quite a few cultures that seemed to have a decidedly Rohirrim influence. The Celts, Norse, and Sarmatians for instance were well known for their cavalry. Their lives depended on the success of their horse herds. The tribes were nomadic and moved to wherever the grazing was abundant," she explained pouring herself a cup of coffee, "I left a book on Sarmatia back in Rivendell. There history is very fascinating."
"I would be most interested in reading this book when the opportunity presents itself," Éomer said deeply interested in what he was hearing. It gave him the hope that he so desperately needed in these uncertain times.
Before she turned in for the day Jesse made her way up to the Houses of Healing to visit her friends. Her first stop was to check on Vanora. Aragorn had asked her to make a special delivery to the young woman on her next visit. The young woman's plight had been on her mind through out most of the day and Jesse hoped that she was adjusting well.
The young woman in question was sitting on the edge of her bed and her hair was being brushed out by Aranel, Aniese's sister. Aniese was sitting in a chair by the fire mending what appeared to be Jesse's outer tunic. All three women looked up and smiled as the elleth stepped into the room. Jesse smiled at them in greeting and walked over to the bed and sat down gracefully next to Vanora.
She reached into her waist pouch and withdrew a small cloth wrapped bundle. Handing the bundle to Vanora she said, "Aragorn asked me to bring this to you." Inside the bundle lay about a half dozen pieces of a toffee type candy that reminded Jesse of her Grams's homemade caramel. "He said that it was very similar to the candy he used to bring you when you were little," she explained with a smile at the look of sheer delight that was on the young woman's face.
After visiting with Vanora for another half hour Jesse made her way to Merry's room. The hobbit was sitting up in bed with Pippin giving him a detailed account of his adventures in Gondor. The eyes of both hobbits lit up when the elleth stepped into the room.
Merry still had a hint of darkness around his eyes that would take time to completely fade, but she had no doubt that it would. Having grown up surrounded by hobbits Jesse knew that her little friend would heal from his experiences but he would be forever changed from the innocent hobbit that left the Shire almost six months before.
"How are you feeling Merry?" she asked as she walked over and sat down on the edge of his bed, "I'm sorry that I couldn't come and visit sooner but several of us were meeting too decide the best way to help Frodo and Sam on their mission. From what Gandalf and Pip learned from Faramir and what I can still sense from them, they are getting close to their goal."
"I am just really tire Jesse but at least I don't feel so cold anymore," Merry replied the fatigue evident in his voice. He shifted a bit in the bed and asked, "What do they plan to do to help Frodo?"
She looked at the anxious expressions on the faces of both hobbits and answered them honestly, "Day after-tomarrow an army will set out from Minas Tirith and head for the Black Gate. There will be riders going from Rohan, Gondor, Dol Amroth, and Arnor," she paused for a moment then with a wink continued, "And of course a few elves, a dwarf and a wizard. Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf and I will ride at the head of the army. That should get Sauron's attention don't you think? We believe it will draw his eye to us and away from Frodo and Sam. I don't think he will be able to ignore the presence of the King of Men and the daughter and heir of one of his greatest enemies."
The tow hobbits looked at one another and held a silent conversation before they seemed to have come to an understanding and Pippin announced, "I am going to ride with you Jesse. The Shire should be represented too. Merry can't go so it has to be me."
"I think you could do some good on this trip. I also know that you can handle yourself in battle. After all are you not the guard of the Citadel. I already know jus who you should ride with and I will talk to him in a little while," she said with a gentle smile as she gave the youngest hobbit a hug before turning her attention back to Merry and asking, "While we are gone Merry I would like to ask you to keep an eye on Halbarad's daughter Vanora. We rescued her from the Corsairs and she is now staying here in the room across the hall from you. I would feel better if I knew someone I trusted was here to keep her company."
Merry replied wit a smile without even having to think about it, "Of course I will but maybe you should introduce us before you leave with the army, so that she will feel comfortable with me around. Legolas told us what happened to her."
Thinking about it for a moment Jesse excused herself fore a bit and made her way back across the hall. She returned to Merry's room with Vanora at her side only a few minutes later. After the necessary introductions the hobbits preceded to tell Vanora about the Shire and the race of hobbits. Jesse smiled at the ease the hobbits had at making everyone feel comfortable with their presence. Before leaving them Jesse made Merry promise to get a good nights rest and asked Pippin to escort Vanora back to her room.
Her next stop was Èowyn's room. Stepping into the room she was greeted by a sight that nearly broke her heart. The Shield maiden was curled up on her bed weeping brokenly. Not wasting a second the elleth rushed to the woman's side and enveloped her in a comforting embrace.
They sat like that for several moments before Jesse spoke in a soft lilting voice, "Let it out sweetie. I know how important he was to you and you have every right to be sad. I was the same way when my Grams died."
"Thank you I needed that," the woman said getting herself together a few minutes later, "I know he is in a better place and he is with Théodred again…"
"But that doesn't stop you and your brother from missing him and feeling the loss," Jesse said completing Èowyn's sentence, "Do you understand now why I told you what I did when you wanted to fight at Helms Deep. If you had not been there on the battle field the Valor only know what that monster and his beast would have done to your Uncle. You made his last moments in this world one of peace with his precious niece at his side. You and Merry did save King Théoden, not from death but from the hands of the enemy."
Before Èowyn could reply they were by a knock on the door that heralded the entrance of Éomer. At seeing the drying tears in the eyes of both his sister and the elleth who had done so much for his people and his family, he strode across the room and knelt by his sister's side, "Are you alright my sister?" Èowyn told her brother the reason for her tears and he wrapped his arms around her and gave Jesse a grateful smile. "Thank you for helping my sister he whispered before burying his face in his sister's hair.
After a few moments Jesse excused herself with a promise to visit the next day and made her way to her last stop of the night. The Prince and Boromir were just entering the corridor as well and invited the elleth to join them.
As they stepped into the room Boromir was able to lower the hood of his cloak and he walked over to a side table to pour them each a cup of coffee. "Faramir, I would like you to meet the Lady Jessica. She traveled with me as a member of the Fellowship and is wholly responsible for introducing me to my lady love, the beautiful Idril," he said with a smile.
"I however can not be held responsible for his mooning like a love-sick school boy over her," Jesse responded with a laugh, "It is nice to meet you Faramir. Boromir has told me a lot about you." She took a seat in one of the chairs that Imrahil had pulled up around the bed and took a sip of the coffee that Boromir handed to her.
"It is nice to meet you as well my Lady and I believe I owe you my thanks as well for I have not ever seen my dear brother so happy," the youngest son of Denethor replied with a smile. He absent mindedly rubbed his side drawing the elleth's attention to his wound that he had received from the Witch King.
"Is your wound giving you trouble? I still have some of the herbs I used on it last night," she asked in concern.
Faramir smiled and replied with a shake of his head, "No it is fine but thank you for treating it and your concern. Tell me of how you met my brother. I am most interested to hear that tale." With that began the story of how the Crowned Princess of Noldor saved the ass of the eldest son of the Steward of Gondor. "So a princess of the elves enters the feast on the arm of a man and a dwarf. I would think that that would have surely caused quite the stir in Rivendell, did it not?" Faramir asked in astonishment.
"Oh you could have probably heard a pin drop in Mordor," she said laughing, "You know I still tend to get that reaction just about everywhere we go," she added happily as she took a sip of her coffee.
Boromir looked to Jesse and asked, "How are the ladies Èowyn and Vanora? I ended up spending my time here and with Merry, so I have not heard anything of how they fare."
"The Lady Èowyn is suffering over the loss of her beloved Uncle. I did what I could to help her and I left her in the care of her brother. Vanora is doing very well considering what she was put through as a captive of the Corsairs. She was actually visiting with the hobbits when I left. I asked Merry to keep her company while we are gone. Pippin is going with us and before you say anything yes he has a part to play. I would actually like for him to ride with you," she said standing up and refilling her coffee cup.
Her Gondorian friend took a deep breath before he responded, "If the little one is set on going with us then I would feel better if he rode with me. I will trust your word that he has a part to play for you have yet to lead us astray."
A knock on the door stopped anymore of their conversation as Boromir quickly pulled up his hood while the Prince went to answer the door. He stepped back to allow Glorfindel and Haldir to enter the room.
"Are my eyes deceiving me or is that really my husband and great-uncle actually getting along," Jesse exclaimed in mock shock eliciting chuckles from the brothers and their uncle, "I think Mordor just froze over because that is the only way Haldir and Glorfindel can get along."
"My love I have finally discovered how he was able to kill the Balrog," Haldir said stepping over to his wife and pulling her into his arms, "He annoyed it to death! I am positive!"
Laughing Jesse kissed him on the cheek then turned to a smiling Balrog Slayer, "Why must you torment him so? Shame on you Glorfindel you're supposed to be the mature one!" With that she burst out laughing. "Faramir allow me to present my great uncle Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower and my husband Haldir the March Warden of Lothlórien."
After seeing his wife yawn for the third time Haldir said their good byes and led Jesse out of the room. By the time they reached their tent Jesse was practically asleep on her feet. Carefully he helped her out of her gown and then gently lay her down upon their bed. On instinct she cuddled up to his body, when he joined her in the bed and he wrapped her in his arms. Closing his eyes he gently kissed her temple then followed her into the dream world.
The next morning Jesse and Haldir were up and going before what should have been dawn. They had eaten a quick breakfast and were hard at work by the time the city had begun to come alive.
While Haldir worked with Aragorn and the twins to get preparations for the next days march completed, Jesse was in the company of the gigantic Mûmakil. The herd had only lost three of their brethren in the battle so they now numbered three dozen strong. The animals were using their considerable size to remove the debris that littered the battlefield. It had not taken Jesse long to get the Prince's request across to the dominant bull of the herd and so by mid-morning she was able to help Glorfindel and Háma to determine just how many healthy horses they had available, and Jesse was taking care of treating the minor injuries that had not already been treated with the help of her two companions. Their final count was just under on thousand horses and though many were still going to have to go on foot at least in Jesse's mind they were better off than they could have been.
At lunch Aragorn announced that their route had been decided and by late evening the supplies should be ready. There was some discussion about using the Mûmakil at the Black Gate but Jesse said that with the likelihood of close-quarters combat that animals that large were just not feasible or safe.
When she and Glorfindel finished their lunch they rod out to check on the progress of the herds clean up efforts. The creatures had made good progress on removing the massive boulders and other large debris from the field. She took four of the largest bulls to Osgiliath where they were put to work pulling large rafts into position to create a temporary floating bridge across the Anduin River.
After dinner she made the trip into the city to visit with her friends one last time before the scheduled march the next morning at dawn. Éomer, Boromir, Pippin, and Halbarad escorted her back to the came once they had all said their farewells and Haldir was waiting for her by the fire when she returned.
The couple retired to their tent after a little coffee and conversation with their friends. Sometime later as they lay sated wrapped in each others arms they whispered words of love before surrendering to the pull of sleep. In their dreams they continued to express their love and the bond was strengthened even more.
