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The group trod fast through the woods, returning to the glade where Boromir had fallen, picking up the trail of the Orcs. Aria bent down to finger a spot of trampled grass that the Orcs had recently destroyed. "It's the Orcs. No one else makes such trampling. At times it seems that they simply go out of their way to destroy things. Especially living things." Legolas said, his brow furrowed. "Yes, but we must speed up. They are going at a great pace and are certainly not tiring. There may be a time when we will have to search for the path with our bare hands." Aragorn said, beginning to follow the tracks. Gimli pounded his chest proudly. "Then let us go! We dwarves can go swiftly as well without tiring! But it will take time to track them, as they have a good headstart." Aria nodded. "Very true friend Dwarf. I say we hurry, for I'm sure we can catch up with them if we press hard." Aria said, following Aragorn up the hill. Aragorn nodded and raised his sword. "We'll lead these Orcs on such a chase that it will be talked about for years to come! Come on now!" Aragorn yelled, leading his group in a whoop and then silence as they concentrated on running as fast as was possible.
Aria and Legolas darted ahead of the group, peering through the growing shadows of the trees as they passed. Gradually, Aria slipped back to watch the rear, making sure they were not being followed. The shadows deepened, and soon the world slipped into the shadow of night. But even in the light of the full moon, the group slipped and slid about the hard country, finally climbing a ridge and slipping into the valley beyond it. When they reached the valley, Gimli plopped down on the ground as he saw Aragorn stop longer than usual. Legolas stood still, breathing deep as Aragorn searched the valley. Aria came up behind them not long after, breathing hard. "We are not being followed. Not that I can see. What is it Aragorn?" Aria asked, seeing the confusion on the Ranger's face. "I can't find the trail. It has disappeared." Aria frowned and set about to looking in the shadows for any clue. "Which way would they turn do you think?" Legolas asked, joining in on the search for clues. "My guess is that they would take a shortcut, unless of course there is trouble in Rohan or Saruman's powers have increased, this I doubt. So let us try the Fields of the Rohirrim." Aragorn said with decision as he began to press on.
A little while later, Legolas and Aria took the lead, looking about as Aragorn searched for any clues behind them. Gimli strove to keep up, a noble feat as his legs were short and stout. Suddenly, Aria stopped mid-stride. Legolas stopped beside her, watching the expression on her face as she stared hard at something. "What is it?" He whispered. Aria continued to stare, her eyebrows raised. "There is something strange about those boulders over there." She whispered, pointing with one finger. Legolas frowned, then crept closer to the boulders. Then he jumped back with a low cry. Aria ran to him, her eyes wide as she saw what she had taken for boulders. They were dead Orcs, two headless, the ground covered with their black blood.
Aria did not take her gaze from the sight even as Aragorn and Gimli came up from behind them to take in the scene. "What is going on? I wish we could figure it out, but sadly we cannot until day, which is too late." Gimli said, crossing his stout arms over his chest thoughtfully. "Well I say that there could be some hope in this. Whoever slayed these Orcs is a friend of ours. Does anyone dwell in these hills?" Legolas asked, turning to Aragorn, his face brightening. Aragorn shook his head. "No. The Rohirrim seldom come here and it is too far from Minas Tirith." Aragorn said. "Perhaps a hunting party of Men was here, but I seriously doubt it. Rarely do mortal men travel here" Aria said thoughtfully. "Well what do you think then?" Gimli burst out. "I think that the enemy is among the enemy." Aragorn said, pointing towards the dead Orcs. "These are Northern Orcs from far away. None of the Orcs that are here are the cross-breed that we fought before. I suppose there was a quarrel and they were slaughtered." Aria frowned in disgust as she eyed the mutilated bodies. "Do you think they were quarreling about, Pippin and Merry?" She asked hesitantly. The others' eyes widened as they looked to each other. "I only hope that they did not meet their end here." Gimli said gruffly.
Aragorn searched a little while longer for traces of the fight, but finally stopped. The group began to walk for a long while, till Aragorn stopped. "Finally! Here are the tracks we have been looking for. Our friends are going up the water-channel." Aragorn said, his eyes gleaming as he leapt ahead, the others following him swiftly. They traveled till dawn, when they reached the crest of a grey hill. Legolas gave a small cry and pointed into the sky. "Look! It is an eagle! Perhaps it was the same I saw a while ago. He is flying quite high, towards the North! Do you see him Aragorn?" Legolas asked, his eyes fixed on the sky. Aria looked in the direction he pointed and nodded as the eagle came into view. Feathers of brown and gold, pierced her view as she gazed into the sky. Aragorn smiled and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I'm afraid I can't see him Legolas. He is far too high for me to see." Aragorn said.
"Look! Something moves on the plains!" Gimli cried out, pointing below them. The company quickly looked down. Aragorn leaned towards Legolas, his hand still on the Elf's shoulder. "Legolas, what is it?" He asked quietly. Legolas shook his head and squinted. "Many things, and on foot. They are about twelve leagues away, it is too hard to see what they are or how many." He said, shaking his head. "I think we know where we need to go. To the fields." Gimli cried. Aria paused on the hill as the others ran down it quickly. She looked up into the sky as the eagle circled over them once more and finally disappeared. Then she ran lightly down the rocks into the grasses of Rohan. She smiled as she ran in the midst of them, the grasses curving about her waist as she ran amongst them. She sighed and breathed in deep, breathing in the fresh air. Legolas ran beside her, stopping and turning to look at her. "It is marvelous isn't it? Fresh, green smell." He whispered, before turning to Aragorn. "Come on! This is much better than any sleep! Lets run!" He yelled excitedly. Aragorn laughed as he watched the two excited Elves. "Light feet may run swiftly here, more swiftly than the Orcs. Perhaps we have a chance to catch up to them." Aragorn said, waving his hands towards the two.
As soon as he waved his hand, Aria bounded into the grasses like a deer into pasture, running quickly through the grasses, Legolas on her heels. The others followed, not nearly so swiftly or lightly, but still quickly, their eyes wide and excited. Gradually, they ran into the path that the Orcs had taken, obvious because of the bruised trail of grasses. Aragorn suddenly halted and called to Aria and Legolas who by that time were almost out of view. They came running back and Aragorn held up his hand. "Wait a moment." He murmured, eyeing the grasses to the side of the main trail. Aria looked down at the grasses and saw that they had been tread on, but not by the heavy footfalls of the Orcs. Aragorn followed the short trail, it did not last far as the main trail crossed it. But Aragorn bent down and picked something out of the grass, something that gleamed brightly and winked in the sunlight.
Aria breathed quickly as Aragorn eyed the object. "It is one of the Elven-brooches from Lorien." She whispered excitedly. "The footprints are too small to be Merry's. Pippin's I think. He was smaller than the others. And I think he was trying to give us a clue." Aragorn said, holding out his hand to the others. "The brooch from an Elven cloak!" Legolas and Gimli said together. "Yes. I think Pippin must have ran away from the trail and left it for us to find." Aragorn said softly, fingering the brooch. "Well at least we know that at least one of them was alive and at least using his head!" Gimli said. The others nodded. "I only hope he didn't pay for it. Come, let us go quickly! The very thought of those merry young folk being driven like cattle burns my heart." Legolas said, turning away from the others. Aragorn nodded, slipping the brooch in a pocket and walking on. Aria stood alone, her eyes taking in the trampled grasses, the small footprints of Pippin. She remembered the small hobbit, his green eyes always gleaming with excitement and mischief, his fetish for mushrooms. She sighed, turning towards the company as they walked away, another burden rankling her heart.
They traveled again. One day passed, still there was no sign of the Orcs. As the night was falling on the second day, Aragorn stopped and turned to his companions. "We now have a choice to make. Will we rest in the evenings, or shall we go on as long as we can?" Legolas frowned, then spoke. "Unless the Orcs rest as well, they will leave us far behind if we stay to sleep." Gimli grunted and spoke out. "But surely friend Elf, you are not implying that the Orcs do not rest?" Legolas sighed and turned to the dwarf. "Orcs rarely journey in daylight, but these ones do. What is there to stop them from not resting?" Legolas insisted. The Dwarf grumbled and his eyes narrowed. "Then how are we to follow the trail in the dark? Tell me that." The dwarf challenged. "The path goes neither to the left or the right but straight ahead as far as I can see." Legolas insisted. Aria said nothing, but watched the two with raised eyebrows as they battled.
"I could lead you at a guess in the darkness, but if we strayed even a little or the Orcs changed their course, we would be worse off than before." Aragorn said quietly. "There is this as well. Only in the day can we see if there are any tracks leading away from the trail. If one of the hobbits should escape or be taken away, say to the Great River, towards Mordor, we might pass the signs and never know it." Gimli insisted, casting an intelligent eye upon Legolas, who stared at him in aggravation. "That is true, but if I read the signs back there correctly, the whole company is riding for Isengard." Aragorn pointed out. "But it would be unwise to be sure of their plans. And also if we traveled by night, how could we tell if one of the little ones escaped. If we had traveled by night, we never would have found the brooch." Gimli said triumphantly.
Legolas raised his eyes to the heavens as if requesting mercy, then looked back down at Gimli. "Most likely friend, the Orcs will double their guard since then and the prisoners are most likely weary. There will be no escape, unless it is by our doing. How we can do it, I don't know. But first we must overtake them." Legolas said firmly. "Yes, yes. But even I, a great and mighty warrior, cannot run all the way to Isengard without a pause like your folk. My heart is weary as well and I would have started sooner, but now I must rest a little to run the better. And if we rest, then the blind night is the best time to do so." Gimli said, laying his hands over his eyes. "I said that it would be a hard choice. How shall we end this?" Aragorn asked, his hands across his chest. "You are our guide. What do you choose?" Gimli said. Legolas thought a moment, his head dropped, but then he raised it. "My heart wishes me to go on, but I will follow where you will go." He said finally. "You have given the choice to an awful chooser. Aria, you have said nothing at all during this time. What do you think?"
Aria lifted her head. She had been deeply in thought, her heart torn in two as to what they should do. She, like Legolas, wished to go on. She didn't want the hobbits to have to suffer more than they had to, but she also knew that at one time or another, even if they didn't stop this time, the others and perhaps even herself would need rest. It would be bad to be unprepared and tired when facing the Orcs. The decision was a hard one. "I would prefer to go on, but the hearts of the Elves are more sturdy than those of men and dwarves, meaning no offense of course." Aria said, nodding to Gimli, who had drawn himself up proudly. "I would do what you will Aragorn. I know that you must be tired." She said gently.
Aragorn nodded and was silent for a time. "We will not walk in the dark. Should we miss signs because we are in the dark, I would hold myself responsible. If the moon would only give more light I would give in to your requests, but as it is, the moon is barely full." Aragorn said quietly. "If only the Lady Galadriel had given us a light. What a gift she gave to Frodo." Gimli murmured. "It will be more needed by Frodo than us, for our road is less important than the one Frodo travels. I have chosen. This is what we shall do. We must use the time as best we can." Aragorn replied, laying down upon the ground, closing his eyes and almost immediately falling into sleep.
Gimli too fell to the ground, almost immediately snoring loudly as he slept. Legolas turned to them and smiled slightly. Then he turned and saw Aria sitting alone on the grass beneath one of the large birch trees. He took a few steps and sat down beside her. For a time, neither of them spoke. They simply sat and watched the shroud of the moon, rise and fall, moving slightly, casting its pale light upon the two Elves. "You are worried for Merry and Pippin." Legolas said quietly. Aria smiled and nodded. "You are still too intuitive for your own good Legolas." She whispered in jest, but at the same time, her face giving evidence of pain. "I worry for Pippin and Merry yes, but I also worry for Frodo and Sam. How will they find their way to Mordor?" She murmured.
Legolas shook his head and looked at Aria. "I know not, but I know that they have a good ally. Frodo's steadfast heart will not fail them, even till the end of the road." Legolas whispered, comfort in his tone. "I wish we could go on. I wish," Aria didn't finish her sentence, but instead let it rest, hoping to finish it later. "Legolas," Aria whispered, not turning her head. Legolas turned to look at her. Aria's face was bathed in moonlight, casting shadows about her face, but setting her eyes on fire as they were bathed in the pearly light. "I'm glad you're with me." She finished. Legolas didn't speak. He didn't need words to say what he was thinking. Aria already knew that he was glad of her company. So he simply nodded and turned back to look at the glory of the moon.
When Aragorn awoke, it was just before dawn. A small ways away stood Legolas, his face turned into the wind. When he heard Aragorn rise, Legolas turned a sorrowful face towards him. "They are far, far away. I know in my heart that they have not rested this night. Only an eagle could overtake them now." Legolas said quietly, his eyes betraying his sorrow. He cast his eyes down the hill and to the next, where at the top Aria stood, gazing over the fields. Aragorn nodded and walked up to him, following his gaze. "Yes, I know. But we will still follow them as we may." Aragorn said. Then he walked over to Gimli, nudging him gently. "Come wake up! The scent grows cold!" Aragorn said firmly. The dwarf mumbled and rolled over. "But it is still dark. Even Legolas could not see them from a hilltop." Legolas smiled sadly. "I fear that they have passed beyond my sight, on hill or plain, under sun or moon." He said quietly. "Nevertheless, we will find them. Aragorn, perhaps the earth would know where they have passed, for it sees all and knows much." Aria said, walking through the grasses towards them. Legolas nodded as she approached.
Aragorn nodded at her counsel and dropped to his knees, placing his ear against the ground. For a long while he lay there, his ear pressed to the ground. Finally he jumped to his feet. "Nothing walks for miles about us. They are drawing further from us, northward. I wonder what is happening in this land." Aragorn murmured. "Come let us not waste any more time! We must go!" Legolas said, running a little ways before the others followed him. Aragorn had to smile as the lithe Elf ran down the hill, the grasses parting at his touch, his long hair flowing into the wind. Aria did not follow him in his ways, but walked slowly, her eyes downcast. Aragorn saw this and stopped, letting Gimli pass him before Aria was at his side.
"What are you feeling my lady?" He asked quietly, his stride matching hers. Aria did not speak, her face was pale and at times she glanced around her timidly. "There is a great burden upon me. I feel it day by day. It grows stronger. It weighs me down." She murmured. "What sort of burden?" Aragorn asked, averting his gaze from the plains ahead of him to the face of Aria. "I know not. But a terrible burden it is, terrible and hard to carry. I share it with no one." She whispered. "I have heard that once before. Only it was Frodo that spoke those words." Aragorn said, stopping to look at her. Aria stopped alongside him and finally looked up at him. For a moment, Aragorn saw the dark of her eyes twist and turn in confusion, a flash of orange blinded his vision, then Aria stood before him, the same, but more weary than before. "It was Frodo that spoke those words. And it is Frodo that still speaks them." She said quietly, awkwardly. "I share his pain. Only a little, but it is there. A burden, gently pressing upon my heart, growing day by day. And its countenance is in the form of a golden ring." She said, a sarcastic edge entering her voice. "That day, you remember. In Lothlorien when I wished to feel his thoughts. Feel what Galadriel told him. The real reason why he did not want me to was because he was afraid of being hurt yes, but of me being hurt as well. He was right in his assumptions, for I fear that I feel the same weight that he carries, though only a small portion." Aria murmured, placing her hand on her head. Aragorn knew not what to say, but he did not have to say anything. He simply placed his hand on her shoulder in comfort before they moved on, pursuing their quest.
They ran hard and none of them could say what fire in their hearts spurred them on. It was a great number of things, desire to slay the Orcs that had taken their friends, the desire to know that Merry and Pippin had not been slain, desire to simply find them. This combined with the energy that the lembas from the Lady of the Wood gave them, spurred them on. Finally the group stopped at dusk. They had traveled past the plains of Rohan and the wall of Emyn Muil was far behind them to the east. Legolas sighed and placed his hand at his side. "Now do I most grudge the time we used in rest. I'm sure the Orcs are far ahead of us, perhaps they have even entered the forest and the dark hills. We, where are we? At the very beginning of the forest." Legolas said, his cool eyes gazing out over the landscape. "Well this is a pretty end to all our toil and hope." Gimli said angrily, sitting himself down on the grass. "To our hope but not our toil Gimli. We will not turn back here, not after we've come so far." Aragorn said.
Then he turned about, scanning the area, his eyes narrow. "There is something about this place. Something wrong. I wouldn't trust anything here, not the moon, or even the stars. I am tired, more tired than I should be, especially with such a clear path to follow. Something is at work here." Aragorn said, finally seating himself on the grass, running his fingers along the white necklace that lay about his neck. "I feel it also. The weariness that is more in my heart and soul than in my body." Legolas murmured. "Truly Aragorn, this must be the work of Saruman. He is trying to turn us back." Aria said, lifting her weary eyes to the Ranger's form. At that, Aragorn snapped to attention, his eyes flaming. "Well he shall not have us in yet. Oh no. He's not turning us back now. We shall rest tonight, but in the morning, we'll be right back on his trail again. He shouldn't lose faith in us so quickly." Aragorn said, a small smile playing on his lips.
Aria smiled at his sudden energy, then sobered as she looked down into the somber face of Legolas. "I shall take first watch Aragorn." She said quietly, sitting down beside Legolas, even as Gimli and Aragorn laid their heads to the ground in sleep. "When the morning comes, we will continue our quest. We will catch them. We musn't lose hope." Aria whispered. Legolas' serious face did not change, nor did his eyes move to her face. "I know this to be true. But there is a shadow growing at the back of my mind." He finally turned his face to Aria's, his face smooth and serious, showing no emotion. "It has been rising at the back of my mind since we left Lothlorien. Danger lies ahead of us." Aria smiled. "Danger lies all around us. But we shall fight it." Legolas shook his head. "You don't understand. Danger for one of us. I know not what it is, but every day, even as the moon rises in the sky so does this fear and darkness. I cannot igore it." He said softly, his eyes expressing his worry. Aria's face became clear of mirth as she looked upon his serious face. "We will protect the others, and each other. None of us will fall into shadow, not while we work together." She whispered earnestly. A glimmer of hope returned to Legolas' eyes as he took her face in. And in his native tongue he whispered,
Estel, Hope is your name, for hope you bring to all lost in darkness.
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