Chapter 38
The sun was fast approaching the centre of the pale blue wash it made its daily journey across. Beams of light poured from the ball of fire, landing on the white buildings of Gondor and slipping through the gaps in between.
I left the hall of bedrooms and made my way through the winding streets, my eyes locked on the citadel that towered above the houses. If Aragorn were to be anywhere it would be there. My boots were soft on the paved floor and it wasn't long before I emerged from the city streets and made my way into the citadel.
I marvelled at the sheer grandeur of the citadel, it stood tall above the rest of the city, a mass of perfectly carved white standing proudly against the mountain behind it. It was like a watchful guardian for the people beneath.
Guards hustled about, a majority were making an effort to repair some of the major damaged left from the attack, but either way they were too preoccupied to notice a small, petite figure slip through the halls. Upon reaching the upper level I ascended the stairs into the bright sun once more, entering a tranquil garden.
My eyes scanned over the garden, the vibrant green grass, well cut and manicured, was defined by a boarder of white marble path. In the centre of the garden, where the four white paths met to form a cruciform pattern, a circular pond of still, clear water, with a single stone sculpture stood. To the right of the pond a white tree remained, decrepit looking and weak. Its spindly white tendrils stood on end as the trunk twisted upwards. My feet carried me forward as I stared, almost in a trance at the plant; I stopped in front of the tree and let my eyes roam over the withered trunk.
As a child I had been told stories of how Isildur and Luca took an impossible quest to retrieve a sapling from Númenor, it grew and it blossomed in accordance to the line of Kings. Yet this tree was not the same one the story spoke about, it was a decent of the original, a line teetering on the edge of extinction, Aragorn's line.
I raised my hand and brushed my fingers of the rough bark, my hand paused over the wood. It was strange, how sad the tree appeared, yet beneath cold exterior a distant hope still dwindled. An urge rose inside me to comfort the tree and a thought of Aragorn shot to the very forefront of my mind. As the memory of the dark haired man warmed my heart, the tree itself seemed to react; the sickly looking bark seemed to shift ever so slightly, shinning in a more radiant manor.
Happiness flickered over my eyes before I moved past the tree and continued my way into the fortress. I entered the pristine building, it seemed to be one of the only areas that wasn't damaged by the attack, and looked left and right before turning to the right. I took a few more turns, passing various rooms that seemed to be specifically for the Steward before I spotted two soldiers, guarding a large dark wood door.
"What dealing do you have here?" One guard asked me as I approached them.
"I am looking for Aragorn" I replied.
"All members of the council are currently preoccupied in the chamber, he cannot come out yet" The other guard replied.
"Then I will have to go inside then" I replied. The guards stiffened and shifted their grip on their spears.
"No one is allowed in" His voice was stern and assertive. My eyes narrowed.
"I am the leader of the Gitana; I have a right to be in there" My eyes flashed dangerously as I stood fearlessly in front of the guards. One of them snorted.
"Miss, just go back to your wagon, the council will be over in a few hours" The one on the right said with a mocking smirk. My eyes narrowed as I debated the notion of forcing my way through, fighting my way past the guards but a much more subtle idea sprang to mind. I fixed the guards with one last glare before I turned and walked away, making my way to the small personal kitchen I past on the way in, it contained a few basic necessities and running water, I assumed it was for the guards use.
The small kitchen was empty when I entered, allowing me to root around in the various cupboards, upon finding a herb cupboard I grinned wolfishly. I pulled multiple herbs that I recognised from Franchette's teachings. It was strange how the city folk would have all of these ingredients and yet not know what they did when mixed together.
I cut the herbs before grinding them into a paste; I then added a small amount into two glasses of water, stirring the liquid until it was completely colourless again.
I placed the glasses on a tray and looked around the kitchen, spotting a maids apron and bonnet in the corner. I quickly slipped then items on and picked up the tray making my way back to the guards.
I approached the guards quietly, making sure to keep my head down, though the bonnet did help to conceal my identity. I paused in front of them and offered the tray to them, they took a glass each.
"About time" The one on the right grumbled as he took a mouthful.
"Oh are you shy?" The one of the left jeered as he too took a swig of his drink. I smirked and looked up.
"Not in the slightest" I replied. There eyes widened.
"You!" They hissed moving to step forward, but froze as their eyes went dreary and they collapsed backwards, falling asleep due to the herbal paste in their drinks.
"City folk" I rolled my eyes before pulling off the bonnet and apron. I pushed open the doors and the conversation halted immediately as all eyes fell on me as I strode into the hall.
Aragorn, Legolas, Gandalf and Eómer stood in a relaxed gathering whilst Gimli sat sprawled on the throne, smoking his pipe. I flashed Aragorn a stern glance before looking over the rest of the group.
"So much for chivalry" I eyed the group. "A room full of gentlemen and not one of you waits"
"Colette?" Eómer's eyes were widened as I joined their circle I looked to the Rohirric man to find him looking over my shoulder at the two collapsed guards.
"They're just sleeping" I dismissed, "They'll wake up again soon… probably" I turned back to face the group of men and looked at Aragorn. He looked wearily at the guards before looking back to me.
"Colette, you shouldn't be here, you need rest"
"I have rested" I growled at him, "And have you forgotten that you currently have Gitana behind these walls, there are Gitana that want to fight with you and yet no Gitana were present here?"
"Colette-" Aragorn tried again.
"I have every right to be here and you know it" I silenced him with an icy glare. Looking back Aragorn found it unbelievable how eyes such a warm colour could look so cold.
"I didn't mean to offend you" He spoke sincerely, his eyes filled with an apology.
"I know" I smiled gently into his grey eyes before sobering up "Now where were you?" I asked, turning back to the rest of the council.
"We are discussing Frodo and Sam's current… predicament" Eómer replied, choosing his words carefully.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening" Gandalf announced grimly, walking across the hall.
"If Sauron had the ring we would know it" Aragorn said.
"Yet the dark cloud in the east continues to grow" I murmured.
"He has suffered a defeat, yes. But behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping" Gandalf nodded to me.
"Let him stay there! Let him rot! Why should we care?" Gimli growled from his place in the throne.
"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom" The wizard argued, "I've sent him to his death" A heavy silence smothered the group.
"No" Aragorn broke it, all eyes falling to the dark haired man, "There is still hope for Frodo" Aragorn turned to Gandalf "He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that"
"How?" Gimli asked. I furrowed my eyebrows, looking at Aragorn curiously before, catching the daring glint in his eyes. My eyes widened as I realised what he was planning, swallowing thickly.
"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate" Aragorn explained to the council. Eyes widened as the council stared at Aragorn, Gimli choked on his pipe.
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms" Eómer argued.
"That depends on how you define victory" I spoke gently, yet my voice cut through the mounting tension. I looked directly at Eómer with gentle eyes, "It's a battle that we most likely won't survive, but if thanks to us Frodo can destroy the ring then our families and our people will be safe… For me… that is victory" Eómer looked at me with admiration before Aragorn spoke again.
"We can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves" Aragorn continued.
"A diversion" Legolas summarised.
"Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" Gimli chuckled; I couldn't help but flash the dwarf a small smile.
"It's our specialty" I smirked at the dwarf who grinned back at me.
"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait"
"Oh, I think he will" Aragorn smirked; I raised an eyebrow at him.
After the meeting I made my way to the castles main kitchen sorting some food for myself and a second plate for Franchette. The houses of healing were much calmer now, most of the patients were stable and on their way to recovery.
I knocked once on Franchette's door before opening it, she looked at me from her sitting position in the bed, her skin was livelier, her eyes brighter. But her arm was draped across her chest in a sling, completely lame. Sat at her bedside, was the familiar figure of Buion.
"Hello" I greeted them, placing the plate on her beside table. Buion nodded in reply, "How are you today?" I asked Franchette,
"Fine, fine" Franchette dismissed with a wave of her hand. I raised an eyebrow in amusement before turning to look at Buion. "I need to call a meeting" I announced to him,
"Of who, the council are back at Edoras?" He asked,
"Of every guerreros" I corrected; he raised his eyebrows but didn't question it further. I looked back to Franchette and smiled at her, "Eat" I commanded jokingly, she rolled her eyes but picked up her plate nonetheless. I exited the room with Buion. Franchette looked at the door as it closed and smirked to herself.
"Children" She chuckled before turning back to her dinner.
"You want to speak to everyone?" Buion asked,
"Yes" I nodded, "More than ever we need to be united, I can't do that if all I do is relay messages down the chain of command"
"Si Guía" He grinned before we split ways and began gathering the people.
Meanwhile Aragorn strode quickly down the long hall, Andúril gripped tightly in his hand, so much so that the skin on his hand had turned white. His grey eyes narrowed as he approached the pedestal, a spherical object lay covered beneath a cloth. The Palantir had caused him pain before, but not this time.
He pulled the cloth from the inky stone and took it in his hand, holding in front of his face. It was ice cold in his palm before it suddenly erupted with heat, a fiery image bursting across the surface of the ball. Aragorn's face contorted into a snarl as he glared at the eye of the enemy, the black speech assaulting his mind.
"Long have you hunted me. Long have I eluded you. No more!" He hissed, raising Andúril. "Behold the Sword of Elendil"
From within the heart of the flame, a dark figure clad in jagged black armour marched forward. The scene quickly changed showing the back of a small, petite person, collapsed on the ground, numerous black curls pooled over her shoulders and with a gut churning realisation, Aragorn recognised me. The image shimmered before it showed me lying on a battlefield, the Serpiente had fallen by my side, shattered, my skin had lost all of its usual healthy glow, and my eyes were left open covered with a glassy pale. My entire front was soaked in blood, as well as a single trail falling from the corner of my partially open lips.
Aragorn stumbled backwards, the Palantir fell from his hand dropping to the floor and rolling to the side. Aragorn choked in his own breath as the image of me replayed itself over and over again in his mind.
He darted out of the hall and sprinted through the city. The image burnt into his mind, but accompanied with determination…
Even if it killed him, he would never allow that to happen to me.