I've noticed there has been a lot of traffic on fan-fiction sites recently since a good portion of the world is either on quarantine or on stay-at-home orders, and this had allowed people to catch up or start new stories or in writers cases - update; however I'm an essential employee and don't have that luxury. I know that fan-fiction is a good way to keep oneself occupied so I tried to get this out to help with that.
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Chapter 22
Melda could feel her feet start to hurt as she kept up with the front of the group. While the terrain wasn't especially difficult being only rolling hills, the hard ground was not well suited for her shoes. Stopping next to Legolas she watched as Aragorn got down to his knees and pressed the side of his head to the ground. "At the pace we've been running they can't be far."
Legolas made a noise of agreement next to her before looking out in the distance. "Maybe but I've never seen Uruk-hai this fast." Legolas said.
"Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!" Aragorn stated getting up and running off without a seconds notice. Not wanting to be left behind she followed leaving Legolas to handle Gimli.
"Come on, Gimli." Legolas shouted watching as the dwarf huffed catching up to the group.
"Three day's and night's pursuit… no food, no rest, and no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell." Gimli muttered pushing himself so he wasn't left behind.
"We must believe in Aragorn's tracking skills." Melda explained feeling bad for the dwarf who had to exceed his natural stamina limits. Dwarves were not known for long distances or known for going days without food. However she understood what Gimli was feeling. They had been running for three days and they still haven't found the group of Urak-hai nor had they found any evidence that Merry or Pippin were okay. She could slowly see the stress and exhaustion slowly taking ahold of everyone in the group. She herself could feel it taking over starting with her mind. Melda needed rest but if they could pretend as if nothing was wrong so could she.
Running the next few miles, Aragorn led them through a valley where Melda could tell the Urak-hai had made their way through by the large amount of disturbed dirt. She kept her eyes trained on the tops of the rock walls that surround them on both sides. From what she had recently witness if the Urak-hai had no qualms about being sent after their small group, that they naturally outnumbered, then there was a reasonable amount of speculation on Melda's part that there could be a chance of an ambush. The rock walls were a prime spot to target any unsuspecting traveler and her group was more concerned about finding two hobbits than their own safety.
Aragorn bent down and assessed the ground. Melda looked behind her as Legolas jogged pass taking lead of the group. Raising a brow she wondered where Gimli had gone off to. He couldn't have been that far behind the elf.
"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." Aragorn stated looking at something in his hand. Melda made her way over and glanced over his shoulder to see that he held a brooch, one that clearly came for Lothlorien.
"They may yet be alive." Legolas reasoned.
"Less than a day ahead of us, come!" Aragorn shouted running with new vigor.
Looking behind her she called for Legolas, who was just about to run after his friend. "Yes, is everything alright?" He asked coming to her side.
Looking around she motioned towards the path that had led them to their current spot. "Where's Gimli?"
Confusion crossed his face before he had realize that she was right. "I don't think we lost him."
Melda could tell by the sound of his voice that he wasn't completely positive that they hadn't lost the dwarf. Was it possible to loose him? Dwarves don't simply disappear all of a sudden, do they? A sudden clash of metal against rock alert them before they saw their small companion roll to the ground. Legolas chuckled before calling to him. "Come Gimli! We are gaining on them."
Spinning on her heel she ran off with Legolas next to her as they tried to catch to Aragorn. ""I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances."
Melda couldn't help the smile the made its way to her lips.
She made her way to the top of the hill where Aragorn took resident with Legolas by her side. Captivated by the breathtaking sight of the plains in front of her she could almost feel all the tension leave her body. The light breeze caught some of her hair but not enough to be concern about making sure her eyes remained covered. Gimli rested against his ax as he and the two elves waited for Aragorn to make the next move. "Rohan. Home of the horse-lords. There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us."
Aragorn turned to Legolas, who was standing on a boulder clearly giving him a better view of the surroundings. "Legolas! What do your elf eyes see?"
"The Uruks turn northeast. They are taking the hobbits to Isengard!" He declared quickly jumping off the boulder.
Melda felt a lump grow in her throat. Isengard was her fault. It was the reason she had been undergoing punishment before this fellowship had formed. If she had handle the situation based on the facts and not on the idea that Isengard, at the time, was an ally perhaps she could have saved the two little hobbits from the very beginning. "Saruman"
Melda stared at the sunrise with nothing but a sense of anxiety filling her stomach. A red sunrise was never a good thing. Melda tried her best to keep up with the group but her nervous were on edge. Something was wrong, and she had hoped it wasn't because of the sun.
"A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night." Legolas pointed out to the rest of the group.
The sound of hooves hitting the ground quickly caught her attention. She didn't think that Rohan had sent riders out this far on their border; especially not with such a large number of riders if the thunderous noise of the horses making their way to the group was anything to go by. "Melda"
A hand quickly grasped her causing her to stumble back. She was pulled down behind a large stone as the riders came closer. Why were they hiding? Warm fingers tighten around her hand causing her to finally realize that whoever had grabbed her hadn't let her go. Melda knew who it was based on the familiar heat that threaten to cloud her mind. It seek to comfort her but she needed to remain strong. They were on assumed enemy territory and she needed to remain focused.
Melda could now feel the vibration from the horses through the ground as they stampeded past the group. Aragorn motioned to stand once he caught sight of the riders and walks out from behind the stone. "Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?" He asked.
Melda watched as the captain at the forefront of the cavalry gave a signal leading the riders to make a quick turn and head towards her and her three companions. Melda felt Legolas' hand release hers as the riders started to form a circle around them. Quickly recognizing the threat upon them both elves grabbing their bows and while Legolas didn't pull an arrow from his quiver, Melda made sure to notch an arrow just in case a split second decision needed to be made. As the riders stopped around them, each pointed a spear. There wasn't much room for the four of them to move.
"What business do two elves, a man and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?" The captain asked riding up to meet them. Melda looked at her companions wondering who was going to take on the responsible of talking to this man. "Speak quickly!"
Hearing a cough by her side she prepared for the worse. "Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine." Gimli countered.
Melda watched as the man got off his horse and made his way towards Gimli. Her fingers tightened around the string of her bow and he got closer. "I would cut off your head – dwarf – if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Out of the corner of her eye she caught Legolas notching his bow and lifting it towards the man, and respectively she spun on her heel and aimed her arrow at the riders behind the elf in case they made a move against him. "You would die before your stroke fell!"
Aragorn grabbed both their arms pushing them down away from the men. Turning back to the captain he introduced himself. "I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn. These are my companions Gimli, son of Glóin, Legolas from the Woodland realm, and Melda..." Aragorn looked towards her for assistance.
"I am Melda of Rivendell, it is a pleasure." She lied giving a small bow.
"We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your king." Aragorn claimed.
"Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe." The man removed his helmet resting against his hip. "Not even his own kin. I am Eomer."
Melda watched as all the riders pulled their spears away from them. It seems that they were no longer a threat. "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished." Eomer leaned forwards towards Aragorn. "The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."
"We are no spies. We track a band of Uruk-hai westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friend's captive." Aragorn assured.
Eomer seemed confused at Aragorn's' words. "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."
Gimli thrusted himself forward to gain Eomer's attention. "But there were two hobbits, did you see two hobbits with them?"
"They would be small, only children to your eyes." Aragorn elaborated.
"We left none alive." Eomer confessed. "We piled the carcasses and burned them." He pointed off into the distance where Melda could see wisps of black smoke.
"Dead?" She muttered to herself. They couldn't be. Her feet moved on their own as she pushed her way through the hoard of horses. She wouldn't believe it. She knew those hobbits to be resourceful and witty. They'd make it. Freeing herself of horse and man she ran towards the smoke.
"Melda, wait!"
She ignored Aragorn's plea. Pulling up the edge of her cloak she extended her stride to its fullest. She was going to find them and when she did, she'd ask for their forgiveness.
