Chapter 16 The Beginning

Sari awoke to a knocking on her door the next morning. There was no hint of sun shining in the sky yet. She got up got dressed and opened the door. It was Aragon.

"Good morning, have a nice sleep?" he said cheerily.

"No, I have been anxious to death tossing and turning all night."

" Me too," he said in his normal tone.

They went downstairs to meet with everyone. The nine ate a quick breakfast and went outside to mount their horses. Gandalf was in the front with Shadowfax, a horse that had been his before he had his staff at hand and the Orchrist at his belt. Then came Shimshel on savage looking horse with no name he had no weapon but a knife at his waist. Sari was next with a bow and Quiver of arrows and the same sword upon her belt. She bore on Aragorn. She was closely followed by Aragon on a horse named Fellowship and the sword of his father upon his waist. Then came Sam on, believe it or not, Bill the pony he received in Bree long ago. He had Sting, which he had received form Frodo long ago. ' I not feel right taken your sword into battle Mr. Frodo.' was all Sam said at that time Frodo waved him off. He had a new Sword at belt that he called "Orcs bane" for it had slain many Orcs before that time.

Frodo was riding a pony named Isla for the river, after Sam. He had Ors bane with him. Gimli was next in line on the horse Myst and his ax upon his belt with some dwarf mail he had found in storage in Rivendell. He still made light of all his burdens. Legolas came next on a horse that was all black and very feral to anyone but him. He had the same bow and arrows given to him as a gift from Galadriel and the same long white knife. Ednocon brought up the rear on Simset, a horse from his native dwellings in Isla Somonos. He had a saber in sheath on his belt.

Gandalf looked at everyone and smiled.

"This reminds me so much of my original journey. I truly miss the ones who have experienced the first time trouble came."

All the original members of the Fellowship of the ring bowed their heads in remembrance of Boromir, Merry, Pippin and their second followed Leader, Aragorn. Even Aragon began to bow his head remembering the stories of his father. He had not known him much but loved him all the same.

"We must begin now if we want secrecy." Shimshel said with a trace of annoyance in his voice. Sari thought he was being disrespectful, for she saw this as her friends almost moment of silence and him speaking out for unwanted reality. She gave him a look of venom. To her surprise he returned the stare.

"Shimshel is correct we must leave now." Gandalf said looking weary.

They then set off with heavy hearts towards the north. They had traveled a long while when Gandalf spoke out,

" We must stop and rest or our horses will fail us. Here will eat our first meal as the Company of the stone."

That boosted every ones spirits except Shimshel. Nothing seemed to make him smile except the talk of war and confronting Orcs. Sari's trust began to fade in the elf. She had never really liked him and something about him didn't seem right.

"Gandalf, may Legolas, Aragon, and I go see what information of this land we can gather?"

He looked questioningly at her and grew suspicious. Elrond had told him of Aragon's promise to keep an eye on the two elves but hadn't trusted it.

"Yes, you may, but be back quick there is evil stirring in these woods, and I should not like to have to come and rescue you."

The three turned and set off in the woods. Gimli looked at Gandalf not knowing what to think of his friend's sudden interest in being with the elf-girl and man.

"He acts as if he were a child again, Gandalf."

"I have noticed it also, Gandalf," said Frodo coming into the conversation.

"Elves never age, so that isn't all so unusual" "But he is different, Gandalf, he used to act beyond his years now he is, well, before them." Gimli said " I believe that he feels the same age as he was when he set out from his first journey, remember Frodo. He was delivering news from his father the King of Mirkwood. He never really had a true good childhood, being raised as a prince." "Do you think so Gandalf?"

" No, dear Gimli I truthfully do not, I think I know the true reason, but I cannot tell it to you not now. I will leave that to Legolas himself when he thinks the times right."

" Oh, Gandalf you crafty old wizard. Leave it to you to put leave us hanging like that."

"I think you should ask your friend yourself, you stupid Dwarf."

" I bid you not to speak of my friend in that matter, Shimshel." Gandalf said harshly to Shimshel.

"Why you high on yourself little…" Gimli began

"Please Gimli do not return the insult. We must put an end to this if we are to continue this journey."

Meanwhile deep in the forest Aragon, Legolas, and Sari were having a great time talking and telling jokes.

"Shh…" Aragon said quietly

They stopped immediately and looked at him. Then they heard it also. It was the sound of many feet hitting the ground. They quickly got low to the ground so not to be seen. Then they saw them. There was hundreds of Orcs, marching toward the east.

"We must warn the others," whispered Aragon fearfully.

" No need for hurry I don't think they hunt us."

Even as her words left her mouth the three slowly began to creep away. Once out of sight they got up and ran the rest of the way. When they arrived there were panting and exhausted.

"What has happened to you?" Ednocon said doubtfully.

"Orcs, there was hundreds of them." Legolas said between breaths.

"What? Where?" Gandalf said rising to his feet, "What mischief have you done?"

"We did nothing wrong. They didn't see us. We heard them got low and silently crept away."

"I do not think they hunt us Gandalf." Sari said respectfully. "They were marching to the land beyond the mountains that we do not pass. I have heard them speak of it in my little tree. They are going to a new Mordor. It is called Mordor Minor, and Mordor Major is beyond them. They claim no one can go into Mordor Major and come out with the most evilness in them. For the dark lord would torture them till they became like the Wraiths it scares me just to think of such a place."

"You speak no lies, young one for I have come in site of such a place." Came Shimshel."

Everyone seemed to have a new fear in them that was terrifying to even think about.

"Well we must continue now away from the trail of the Orcs. Lets hope our paths don't ever take us into this new fear."

No one spoke of getting away from that spot, so silently they all packed up and mounted and began to travel again to Nublar.