Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Batman and the Gotham Knights. I also don't own anything related to Lord of the Rings. They are the total and complete property of DC Comics and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Author's Note: Sorry this took longer than the last chapter, but I three major problems. First: I'm taking night classes and working. Second: My Internet has been screwy to where I lose it for days at a time. Third and this was the worse: I had major writers block. I wrote and re-wrote this chapter three times, and at one point I made it to where it was almost 10 pages longer than normal. So I've cut it down and made it into two separate chapters. The second is currently getting another re-write cause I'm still not happy with it. Heh. Please bear with me.
Now I know some of you might ask why Elladan and Elrohir are here instead of Elrond. Those people are the ones who never read the book, of course. Now, in the original text, the twins were sent to aid Aragorn and I wanted to re-introduce them for the sake of their craftiness. Beware the sons of Elrond.
Chapter 34
Separate Paths
Immediately after receiving the warning from the sentry, Théoden and Aragorn were summoned and they all moved out to meet the mysterious arrivals. It was confirmed that they weren't Rohirrim soldiers since they carried no banner of Rohan, nor did they wear the colors of the country. Instead they were all dressed in dark, and they carried no banners of any kind.
The King and his people assembled at the path that led down the mountain and watched the small cavalcade of men riding up. The Fellowship and Rohan were all prepared to attack for while no one wanted to say it, but they were all concerned that maybe Sauron had become aware of their plans for as Gandalf had warned them: the enemy's spies were everywhere.
"Halt! Halt!" Éomer shouted loudly when at last they were in distance. "Who rides in Rohan?"
The new arrivals brought their horses to a sudden stand before the Fellowship and Rohan Soldiers. Three of the riders dismounted their horses and raised their hands up, palms outward as a token of peace. The first man, who wore no mask or helmet, was tall, with both dark hair and completion. He wore weather beaten riding clothes, and his eyes held the look of someone who had seen many battles. The faces of his two companions on the other hand, remained hidden under black clocks, which they clung tightly to their bodies, but whether to keep out the cold or protect their identities, none could say.
"We have journeyed from far, in search of the Rohirrim and their ruler, Théoden King," explained the lead rider.
"You have found it," Éomer stated, his hand still holding to his sword. "When you crossed the distance fords, you entered our lands. But it is the realm of Théoden the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?"
"Halbarad Dúnadan, Ranger of the North I am," said the man. "We seek out our kinsman Strider, though he may be known to some as Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan."
"And you have found him!" cried Aragorn, fighting his way through the group and embracing the other Ranger. "Halbarad! Of all the people, you were the least expected!"
A collected sigh of relief was heard from the assembly of people, and swords were promptly returned to their sheaths.
The two rangers pulled apart and Aragorn examined the rest of Halbarad's company. "All is well for here is some more of my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why do you come here and how many are with you Halbarad?"
"I have thirty with me. That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the Dúnadan are not all whom we bring…" He jutted his chin towards the pair of cloaked men besides him. They pulled back their hoods revealing an identical pair of elf brothers, with long dark black hair and mischievous glints in their gray eyes.
"Elladan? Elrohir?" Aragorn gasped before throwing his arms around his two foster brothers, who returned the hug with matching strength. "What are you doing here?"
"We have ridden with your Ranger brethren…" Elladan began.
"…For we too desire to go to war." Elrohir continued in perfect synch.
Elladan grinned wickedly as he slung an arm around Aragorn's shoulder and pulled him in close. "And besides that, we cannot allow our little brother have all the fun, now can we?"
"We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came," explained Halbarad, rolling his eyes at the twins. He had the unfortunate luck of riding with the two hellions for several weeks and was grateful to see them torturing someone else for a change.
"But I did not summon you," Aragorn said in a confused voice, pulling away from the twins still smiling widely. "Save only by wish and in my dreams."
"Elrohir!" cried a new voice, and all turned to see Batgirl and the Fellowship running to them. Batgirl leapt into the arms of Elladan and gave him a kiss on the cheek before doing the same to his brother. "Elladan!"
"It was the other way around actually," Elrohir said with a cheeky smile, letting the girl go. "But if that is how you will greet us, my lady, you may call us anything you wish." The twins both raised mischievous eyebrows at her, to which she merely smirked just as playfully.
"Hey, that's no way to talk to my girl," Robin said in mock-defensiveness. The twins were about to give a proper greeting to the Boy Wonder, but instead turned to him with shock. They had expected several things, but in all truths that had not been one of them.
"You? And… her?" they asked in union. "Together?"
"Yup," Cassandra said, taking Tim's hand in her own.
The twins wore matching expressions of disappointment that were replaced with small half-smiles. "You are a lucky man, Timothy Drake," Elladan said with a dramatic sigh. "Many are the men and elf who would greatly have desired the fair Lady Cain's heart for their own."
"But you would do well to remember, young Robin, that should you EVER do anything in which to hurt our dear Cassandra…" Elrohir said with pointed look.
"…Then we shall have to kill you in the most horrific and embarrassing manner that we may devise," Elladan finished. "And none save the Valar, shall find your remains."
"With all due respect guys, if I hurt Batgirl, I think I should probably be more afraid of what SHE does to me," Robin said, getting a small punch in the arm from Batgirl. "Ow! See what I mean? Violence against the boyfriend."
Legolas and Merry were the next to embrace the two elves, while Gimli only glared at them suspiciously from a safe distance and all the while fingering his axe in an attempt at warning. The twins on the other hand looked back at him like pair of cats studying an extremely tasty goldfish and then began to whisper to one another, while constantly sparing a side-glance at the dwarf.
"I welcome you all," King Théoden said as he stepped forward and clasped the arms of Halbarad and the twins. "If these kinsmen be in any way like yourself, Lord Aragorn, thirty such knights will be strength that cannot be counted by heads."
The company of Rangers bowed their heads in honor of the king's words. "We thank you for your welcome, Théoden King," Halbarad said with a low bow. "We only hope that it is enough."
"Éomer, show our friends where they my set up their camp!" Théoden commanded to his nephew.
"We shall speak more later, Strider, but we are all weary from our travels and more importantly from your adopted kin," Halbarad said, before turning to follow Éomer. "I have no doubt you have many tales of adventure and mischief in which to tell."
Aragorn gave a somewhat modest shrug and tiny half-smile, before turning back to the son of Elrond expectantly. "You have not yet answered my question muindors nín (My brothers)," he said, "What brings you here? Who sent for you when I did not?"
The child-like excitement that was Elladan and Elrohir were renounced for seemed to fade away as they looked at Aragorn very reluctantly. It seemed as if the thought of answering would cause them both a great deal pain. "Aragorn, you should come with us," Elladan said in a voice far more serious than anyone was used to. "We must speak in private."
"What's happened?" Batgirl demanded getting surprised looks from the other people. "Something bad… happened. What?"
The twins shifted uncomfortably, and refused to meet her expectant gaze. "We shall explain later," replied Elladan. "But for now, it is important that we talk with the Aragorn alone."
"You may use my tent," Théoden offered. Aragorn and the twins nodded in thanks, and disappeared into the king's tent, leaving the others to stare questioningly after them.
"Something is very wrong," Batgirl stated.
"What is it?" Aragorn asked again. He had known Elladan and Elrohir since he was a small child and he had never seen them so serious and still. There were no jokes, no mischief. There was only worry and fear. "Please my brothers, I beg you to speak for your silence distresses me greatly. Why do you not make your jokes and why do you seek to speak with me without my companions? Do you no longer trust them?"
"Nay, it is not that. But we felt this was a matter a family first and foremost," Elrohir explained before taking a deep breath and nodding to his brother.
"Arwen is dying," Elladan said softly. Aragorn had sharp intake of breath and step away from his foster brother in horror, but he could not find the voice to reply.
"She will not survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor," continued Elrohir. "The light of the Evenstar is fading. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes."
Elladan's hand clenched tightly into a fist, and he looked away from Aragorn's fearful gray eyes. "Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come."
Aragorn's eyes hardened and he spoke in a firm voice. "It will not be our end, but his."
"We will be riding to war, Pen neth (young one)," Elladan said darkly, "but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in secret he sends another force, which will attack, from the river. A fleet of corsair ships sails from the south."
"How do you know this?" Aragorn asked.
"Our daernaneth (Grandmother) the Lady Galadriel has foreseen it, as have our Adar (father)," Elladan replied.
"The Corsairs will be in the city in two days. We are outnumbered, Aragorn. But we carry a message from Adar (Father): The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember The Path of the Dead."
Aragorn's turned away, feeling his foresight show images of what they spoke. "Murders and traitors?" he said in shock. "Elrond would have me call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no one."
"They will answer to the king of Gondor," Elrohir snapped and he pulled a sword out from under his cloak, and with both hands held it before Aragorn.
"Andúril," Elladan proclaimed. "The Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil. We return it to its rightful owner."
Aragorn eyes were drawn to the magnificent long sword that had always been held, broken in a place of honor in Elrond's library. He stepped forward and gingerly took the blade from Elrohir's hand. There was no second guesses, no self-doubt. He knew what this meant for him and quite possibly for the fate of Middle-Earth.
"Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil," he whispered softly. He then pulled the sword from its sheath, and the scrap of metal against metal sang through the night air. He could feel the power that seemed to emanate from the re-forged weapon infuse his body. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."
"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth," Elladan said, with a re-born kindle of hope.
"Put aside the Ranger," Elrohir stated. "Become who you were born to be."
Aragorn didn't reply, but gazed at the two elves that had been brothers to him for as long back as he could remember. "Mín tegi na firen (We bring hope to men)," Elrohir said softly in elvish.
"Im hebi baw anim (I keep none for myself)," Aragorn replied, looking up from the sword. Neither Elrohir nor Elladan could bring themselves to say anything more, and silently left the tent so to allow Aragorn time to think.
"Arwen…" the would-be-king whispered as he held his sword in one hand and touched his necklace with the other.
Upon leaving the King's tent, they found Robin, Legolas, Batgirl and Gimli standing expectantly by a nearby fire. "Where is Aragorn?" Legolas asked.
"He needs a moment," replied Elladan.
"Alright, so tell us what's the deal is," asked Robin in his best no-nonsense tone of voice.
Learning long ago to respect that voice, the Twins shared a moment's look. Taking a deep breath they explained about Arwen and the re-forging of Andúril. The others listened with silent horror; at the thought of the Evenstar's impending death should the mission of the Ring fail. They didn't mention the Path of the Dead though since it was Aragorn's decision to make and they had no right to influence his choice anymore so than they already had.
"Is there anything… we can do for Arwen?" Batgirl asked. She couldn't imagine what her friend was going through in Rivendell, with only her father and Bilbo to watch over her.
"No," Elrohir answered. He had asked his father the same question, before they had left Rivendell. "Her fate now lies in the hands of Frodo and the One Ring. They're futures are tied together. If one is to survive the other will fall. Should the Ring Bearer fail to destroy the ring, our sister will fade into nothingness."
A long silence fell over the company, each of them finding themselves unable to speak. It had had been many months since the Fellowship had last seen Arwen, but their love for her remained strong. Batgirl hugged her arms close to her chest, Robin remained stoic, and Legolas bowed his head, making a silent prayer for the Lady of Rivendell.
"That isn't everything, is it?" Robin asked.
"No," Elladan admitted. "But that is not for us to tell. Aragorn will explain when the time is right for him. In the meantime, there was something else that concerns each of you. We passed through the Golden Woods on our way here, and our Grandmother, Galadriel sends each of you a message."
"What do they say?" Legolas asked.
"We do not know," Elrohir replied, pulling several rolls of parchment from his satchel. "She bade us not to read them, and to only deliver them to whom they are intended."
"And you didn't look?" grunted Gimli. It wasn't so much a question as a skeptical statement.
"No, we did not Master Dwarf," Elladan answered reluctantly. "Though we were very tempted, I must admit. Yours in particular must have been interesting for the Lady of the Wood apparently holds you in high regard, and we are curious as to what you may have done to receive such a an honor." He waved one roll of parchment mockingly in front of Gimli, who snatched it away with a scowl. The twins handed out pieces of parchment to each of the others.
Gimli had ripped his open and his eyes scanned the paper before giving out a snort of laughter and tucking the letter away in his belt next to the strands of golden hair their owner had given so kindly. Everyone stared at him expectantly, but he smiled and shook his head. "Private," he grunted.
Legolas let out a soft chuckle, as he took his own parchment and let his eyes skim the writing.
'Thranduilion,
To you I send this warning: Heed not the calls of the gulls, for your time is not yet nigh. Look to those close, and thou shall understand why.
Galadriel'
The elf prince stared down at the parchment quizzically and with a small sense of worry. Was she foretelling that his time in Middle Earth was ending? He knew his time would come, but looking at Gimli and Robin and the others, he smiled. It would not be his time for a long while. Not if he had any say in it.
Merry, who stood besides Legolas, was staring at his own parchment in great confusion, his mouth twisted into a frown.
'My little warrior,
As you ride and your companion ride out to war, remember that you fight not only for yourself but also for your people. Be proud, no matter what fate lies in your future and know that the gratitude of the free folk shall forever be yours.
Galadriel.'
He began to wonder if perhaps this had been a message intended for Frodo. After all, what could he possibly accomplish? He was only one small hobbit with no real purpose in this journey. Not like Frodo who at this moment was defying the Dark Lord and a mission of the up most importance. Shaking his head, he folded the parchment, intending to give it to Frodo should he ever see him again.
Taking their own parchments from the twins, Robin and Batgirl opened theirs together. Elladan smiled widely as he leaned in slightly and with an impish look asked: "Might the lady need someone to read this for her?"
Batgirl shot the elf a pointed look though she didn't hide her own smirk. "I'm fine," she said flatly, hiding her embarrassment well. Her reading skills were still very sub-par, possibly only at a first or second grade level if she was lucky. But her lessons with the hobbits and her continued work since then had helped greatly. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if Galadriel had forgotten this bit of information, and she could only hope that there weren't any big words used.
'My dear Cassandra,
Take care child, for danger will come from earth, sky and beyond. But do not fear and know that your actions will not be in vain.
And remember to seek that which he loves so that he shall fall.
Galadriel
P.S. And no, I did not forget.'
Cass allowed herself a small smile, but like the others she was somewhat confused by the message. Seek what other? Who was supposed to fall? She looked over at Tim who wore a more serious expression as his opaque eyes read the note in his hands. Immediately she stiffened, noting the tensed expression in his body language.
'Little Bird,
The past will meet the present and it shall be a test of fire. She is of your soul and you are of hers. A partnership that none shall sever.
The cold may stop the spread, but the heat shall destroy it.
Galadriel'
With the notes read, they all fell silent. For some the messages were words of encouragement, but for others they were filled with warning and foreboding. All knew the Lady Galadriel did not deal in absolutes, but possibility and chances. The future was fluid, constantly changing with each breath taken. And still, they wished that she offered them more hope than given.
"Aragorn," Legolas whispered softly causing everyone to turned around to see the ranger step out of Théoden's tent, with a grim expression on his worn features. He moved with his back straight and his head held high, but all could see that deep down he was carrying a burden of unspeakable weight on his shoulder. It was a weight that seemed to grow with every step that he took. And yet, there was a new air about him that was both regal and powerful. He said nothing, but his eyes made it clear.
They had to talk
"Ghosts?" Robin repeated, with his arms crossed and a scowl on his features. "You're expected to use the ghosts of psychotic traitors in order to help us beat Sauron's assault on Minas Tirith?"
Aragorn nodded grimly as he sat on a log set before a small fire, gazing deeply into the flames. The others stood around the fire, each with varying expressions ranging from fear to shock to confusion to understanding, as the ranger explained his plan.
After a moment of thought, Robin shrugged. "Well I've heard crazier ideas than that before."
"Oh?" Gimli said with a scoff. "Why don't ye give me an example of a crazier plan than that?"
"We attack… Sauron with cheese," Batgirl said evenly.
"I stand corrected."
Aragorn stood up with a dark expression. "I do not know if what I intend will bear us any chance or hope and I do not go gladly. But it is the need that drives me, and so I must go on the Paths of the Dead, and to whatever end it may lead. But before I depart, know that I shall always cherish our time together. You have each been a true warrior and an even truer friend. I hope that we shall meet again."
"What are you talking about?" Batgirl asked.
"I must go on this journey alone Cassandra," Aragorn said firmly. "It is my burden. You all shall remain here."
"I'd have thought you would have learned by now Estel," Legolas said with a cocky arched eyebrow. "We are not giving you a choice in this matter. Gimli, the twins and I shall journey with you through the Paths."
"You might as well accept it," Gimli said with a roguish smile under his thick beard. "We're going with you, laddie."
"But what about the rest of us?" Merry asked incredulously. "Why do the rest of us have to stay."
Robin placed a hand on Merry's shoulder. "Well for starters, YOU have sworn your services to Théoden as a squire of his court, remember? Meanwhile Batgirl's skills are better suited for the battle field than chasing down a few ghosts."
"And what about you Timothy?" Elladan asked with a smirk. "Don't tell us the mighty Boy Wonder is afraid of a 'few ghosts'?"
Robin rolled his eyes. "I know a girl who was once the personification of death, a guy who turns into a demon, a bounty hunter that heaven and hell wont take and another girl who is the daughter of a powerful demonic force. Ghosts don't exactly rate amongst things I'm scared of. I'm staying because I've got my own duties to accomplish with Théoden team."
"I shall summon Halbarad and the Rangers," Elrohir stated, before getting stopped by Legolas.
"No, they're not coming with us," he said evenly.
"And why is that?"
"Because we shall not need them," Legolas answered. "Théoden's army is still dangerously undermanned. They shall need each man that they can attain. But we go off in search of the dead, and should we fail, thirty good men will have been lost needlessly. Théoden needs Halbarad's forces."
"So it's agreed?" Robin asked. "You four will go with Aragorn, and the rest of us will try and keep things running until you join the party."
"NO IT IS NOT AGREED!" Aragorn shouted. "I did not agree to any of this!"
"And again," Legolas smirked. "Who said that we were giving you a choice?"
Aragorn pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, but he couldn't' hide the small half smile that tugged at his lips.
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and the Twins rode out soon after, and drawing a large crowd as they did so. No one could believe that the brave warrior of Helms Deep and the sons of the Fabled Elrond Half-Elven were abandoning them in their time of need.
"Lord Aragorn!" cried on soldier.
"Why does he leave on the eve of battle," asked another.
Gamling turned darkly and answered: "He leaves because there is no hope."
"He leaves because he must," stated another voice, and all turned to see Théoden step forth with a steely glint in his eye. Aragorn had come to him mere moments before so as to explain his departure. And while the King did not agree with his course of action, he could think of no argument that would convince the would-be-king to stay.
"Too few have come," Gamling said. "We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor."
"No… We cannot," Théoden replied honestly. The faces of the men around him fell, for that had not been the answer they wished to hear. "But we will meet them in battle nonetheless." With that said he strode off.
"Ever considered motivational speaking as another career choice?" asked Robin as joined the King back to his tent with Éowyn, Éomer, Merry and Batgirl.
"I cannot lie to my men and I will not give them false hope. Aragorn's mission is foolhardy at best, suicidal at worse," the King stated before breathing deeply. "Are all our preparations ready?"
"As ready as they will be," Éomer relied, though not feeling at all confident. "Though I wish that Aragorn were not to go, for I wished that he and I would ride into war together. He gives our men hope."
"Now they have to find hope themselves," Théoden said.
"We can at least be thankful that Halbarad and the other Rangers agreed to stay with us," Robin said. "Its not a lot…"
"But any help offered should not be turned aside," Théoden finished. "Come we still have much to do and preparations to make." He gave a small smile at Éowyn who walked briskly at his side. "You to should prepare my niece, for once our forces leaves, it shall be you who must lead the rest back to Edoras." As he said this, everyone else stopped walking and grew unnaturally quiet. He finally came to his own stop and slowly turned to look them. "What is it?"
Everyone looked at Éomer, who suddenly felt very small before his uncle. "Perhaps… we best speak in private," he said tentatively.
Théoden suddenly felt very nervous.
TO BE CONTINUED…
REVIEW RESPONSE TIME!
Fusion Blaster: Thanks, and yes, I'm a big fan of misconceptions. I find it ever so much fun.
Kusco: I appreciate the review. And you are correct, there is many factors playing into Cassandra's behavior.
TheOneBlueGecko: Thank you. As I've told many before, this story is a What If, type of deal. What if Robin and Batgirl had been in ME during the War? And even with Robin and Batgirl, certain events would remain the same because logic would dictate certain actions occur. I try to stay close enough to the original story because certain things need to happen. But I still try to make this story my own and deviate when necessary.
Tim Digidestined of Loyalty: While Éowyn changed her brother's view on women in the workplace, as you can see she has one last obstacle standing between her and the battle field. Her dear old Uncle Théoden.
Iudex Acerbus: Thanks, and well… who can say except, don't assume anything yet.
Akira0217: As much fun as that would be to imagine, I'm thinking that the story suddenly turning into a musical in the middle of yet another battle would be a wee bit odd. (And now I have this mental image of Gimli doing the Macarena though, and that makes me laugh.) But thanks none the less for the suggestion.
P. N. Blackford: Thank ye kindly for the review. As for our loyal steeds Redd and Nadia… well, their future is still up in the air. But whatever their future, they will be well taken cared of.
Coral Skipper: Thanks for another review. And no, I have not altered any of my chapters to involve the events of "War Games" or "Identity Crisis". This all takes place before any such events. Spoiler is still alive and has never been Robin and Jack is still alive and kicking. I only went back over old chapters to clean up spelling and to expand a few chapters that felt too short. I haven't altered the original concepts.
Theo Gray: Well thank you so much for you kind words, and I'm glad to see I've given another person a greater understanding of the Batman Comics and of course Batgirl number three (Huntress was the second for you people keeping score). The Grey Company has indeed joined our heroes, but not in the same manner as the book if you'll notice.
haydock14: Thank you for that enthusiastic review, but I fear every single question you asked cannot be answered at this time. For you see, if I told you anything now, it would kind of ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?
legolasfan91: Thanks, but as I've said before, this is Batgirl and Robin's adventure. This is their time to get out from under their mentor's shadow and become stronger heroes in their own right. And while I don't like giving away stuff, I will say this: don't expect Batman and crew to show up and steal the spotlight anytime soon.
And a special thanks to the kind words from: Bumpkin, Alia G.L. Trebeco.