Eli grasped the reins in her hand, twining them around her leather-gloved hands to prevent them from slipping. The moon was setting in the west, and she knew that morning was about to come. They had just passed the mounds at the Ford of Isen, when a Rider galloped up from the rear of their line.
"My lord," he said to the king, "there are horsemen behind us. As we crossed the fords I thought that I heard them. Now we are sure. They are overtaking us, riding hard."
Theoden at once called a halt. The Riders turned about and seized their spears. Eli turned Whitewing around, and drew her sword, dismounting from Whitewing's back to stand beside Aragorn. If Sauron even THINKS of getting to us now, I am going to pull out ALL the stops! In the meantime, Camille pulled an arrow out of her quiver and nocked her bow, though she didn't draw it yet. Legolas did the same. Merry had drawn his sword, and stood nearby – albeit looking more than a little nervous.
The sinking moon was obscured by a great sailing cloud, but suddenly it rode out clear again. Then they all heard the sound of hooves, and at the same moment they saw dark shapes coming swiftly on the path from the fords. The moonlight glinted here and there on the points of spears. The number of the pursuers could not be told, but they seemed no fewer than the king's escort, at the least.
When they were some fifty paces off, Eomer cried in a loud voice: "Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?"
The pursuers brought their steeds to a sudden stand. A silence followed; and then in the moonlight, a horseman could be seen dismounting and walking slowly forward. His hand showed white as he held it up, palm outward, in token of peace; but the king's men gripped their weapons. At ten paces the man stopped. He was tall, a dark standing shadow. Then his clear voice rang out.
"Rohan? Rohan did you say? That is a glad word. We seek that land in haste from long afar."
"You have found it," said Eomer. "When you crossed the fords yonder you entered it. But it is the realm of Theoden the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?"
"Halbarad Dunadan, Ranger of the North I am," cried the man. "We seek one Aragorn son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan."
"And you have found him also!" cried Aragorn. Giving his reins to Merry, he ran forward and embraced the newcomer. "Halbarad!" he said. "Of all joys this is the least expected."
Eli sighed, and relaxed, sheathing her sword and letting her guard down slightly. Phew, that was a close one! I almost thought these dudes were one of Saruman's old tricks!
"All is well," said Aragorn, turning back. "Here are some of my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they come, and how many they be, Halbarad shall tell us."
"I have thirty with me," said Halbarad. "That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war."
Almost instantly, Eli froze where she stood. Elladan and Elrohir are HERE?!?!?! She then felt a sudden urge to just melt into the ground, or disappear into the shadows, or just take Whitewing and run off somewhere, anywhere. I'm not ready to face up to them yet!
But she had no other choice. Theoden had agreed to let the Dunedain come with them to Edoras, and that meant Elladan and Elrohir would ride with them. She got onto Whitewing's back, and together they trotted up to Camille, who was just nearby.
The auburn-haired girl smiled wickedly at her. "Ooh, looks like they couldn't take it, going out and about without you. Elladan must really love you then."
"Shut up Camille," Eli growled, keeping her face pointed on the road ahead of them. But deep inside, her heart was doing all kinds of cartwheels and back flips. Reaching up to her pendant, she felt it through her clothes, clutching it tightly. What am I going to do?!
* * *
Elladan allowed a smile to pierce through his usually calm and unperturbed surface when he saw a blue-caped figure riding ahead of him. Eli… He had long since figured out that blue was the girl's favored color, and it was because of this she was easy to spot. He longed to go to her, to hold her in his arms once more after so many long months of agony without her, but he controlled himself, knowing that he would have more than enough time once they reached the Hornburg, and even more once they got to Meduseld.
^I seem to have forgotten how lovely she is,^ Elladan whispered to his brother as the two of them rode side-by-side.
Elrohir shook his head. ^I have not. I have never forgotten how beautiful she is, but to see her once more, here, on the fields of battle, is like looking upon a person one loves and values after a long war.^
Elladan stared at his brother in surprise. I have never heard him speak such words before. ^Elrohir, what do you mean by those words? I have not heard you speak of such things before. Why would you do so now?^
But Elrohir was silent, and would not say anything more. Knowing that something was troubling his twin and that it was best to leave him alone, Elladan said nothing more, leaving it up to his brother to decide when and where to tell him what was wrong with him.
* * *
Elrohir's heart ached as he gazed at Eli, watching as she whiled away their hours at the Hornburg by chatting with Camille, Legolas, Gimli and Merry. The four had grown very close due to the sore trials they had to endure, but it was good, since their bonds of friendship were now very strong, even between Legolas and Gimli.
What must I do, he asked himself. He was torn between his loyalty to his brother and his love for Eli, and it did not do him any good. On one hand, it was he who had strived to bring the two of them together, but in doing so, he had fallen dangerously in love with the young woman who had captured his brother's heart. He had to admit to himself that she had appealed to him, but it was at first only the appeal of having a friend like her. In the end, that appeal had grown, and had flowered fully into one of love, deep-rooted and strong. But by the time he had sorted out his feelings, it was too late.
Just then, Eli's voice came sailing through the air over to him. "Elrohir, what are you doing there all alone?! Come on over here and join us!"
Elrohir snapped out of his thoughts, and looked up to see Eli waving him over, a cheerful smile on her face. Smiling back at her, he stood up, and walked over to their circle. "And what have you been discussing?"
Eli snickered, and nodded towards Camille and Legolas. "Oh, what I'm going to do once my best friend gets married and leaves me all by my lonesome."
"ELI!" Camille cried as she lightly kicked her best friend's shin. "We're not getting married YET! I'm only SEVENTEEN, for crying out loud!"
"Yeah, but I don't think that really matters here."
Legolas nodded thoughtfully. "I have heard that it is common among mortal females to wed at the age of fifteen."
Camille scowled. "Legolas, you're not helping at all. And it matters to ME! Besides, we still have more important things to deal with, like how to send Sauron screaming out of Mordor."
Eli grinned wickedly. "That's easy! Just stick your face in front of his and go 'BOO'! He'll be so freaked out that he'll go running with his tail between his legs!"
"VERY funny Eli. That was so funny I forgot to laugh,"
Camille said dryly. "And as for the whole wedding thing, yeah, we ARE going to
get married if that's what you want to know, but we plan to wait for a year or
so, if everything goes well. A long engagement, if you will."
Elrohir nodded. "Yes, a long engagement seems proper. In these evil times, things are very uncertain." And even in times of security such as these, my heart is still unsettled, he thought as he looked at Eli.
Camille waved her hand. "Whatever." She grinned then, her eyes holding a mischievous glint. "So tell us what's been going on in Rivendell, Elrohir. Have you found an Elf-maiden who suits your tastes yet?"
"I have not," Elrohir admitted, though it was a struggle to keep his voice even and his face devoid of any hint of a blush. Well, I am telling the truth, for it is not an Elf-maiden who has captured my interests.
Just then, one of the stewards of Theoden approached their group. "My Lords and Ladies," he said, bowing, "may I excuse Master Meriadoc for a moment? The King wishes to speak with him."
Merry smiled broadly, and stood up, bowing to his friends. "If you will excuse me for a moment, I will be back when my business is through." With that he turned, and followed the steward to wherever Theoden was.
Eli laughed softly as she watched Merry walk off. "Seems like the longer he hangs around Legolas, the more he picks up on the politeness department." She looked up with a sudden motion, as if it as only then that something had caught her attention. "Wait a minute. Where's Aragorn?"
"He is up in a high chamber in the Burg," Elrohir answered, "dealing in some secret business with his kinsman, Halbarad."
Eli's face fell into a frown; apparently there was a thought that troubled her. "Really? He's been up there an awful long time… Maybe we should go check up on him."
"I do not think that will be necessary, Eli."
Elrohir did not need to look to know who had arrived. I would recognize Elladan anywhere. He glanced over his shoulder, and noticed Elladan and Halbarad flanking Aragorn, who looked like he had not slept for many long nights.
Camille blinked, shaking her head. "Aragorn, what HAPPENED to you?! I don't mean to offend or anything, but, jeez, you look AWFUL!"
Eli was a little more sardonic about it. "Since when did Halbarad kill and resurrect you, Aragorn? If he did, I don't think he did a good job at it. You look like someone dug you up from a grave."
Aragorn chuckled softly, for he had taken the remarks in good humor. "I know that I do not look my best right now, but what difference does it make to one who has been traveling up and down the roads with very little rest and sleep?"
"I know you looked bad – we all do - but this is different," Camille answered. "Like Eli said, you look dead on your feet. It's a miracle you haven't passed out yet, from the way you look."
Halbarad laughed at that comment. "I doubt if the Heir of Isildur would falter yet, even if he looks 'dead on his feet' as you call it."
Just then, Eomer appeared from the gate. He walked up to them, and bowed. "My Lords and Ladies, the King has said that we shall make ready to ride now. The horses are at the gate."
Aragorn nodded, and walked to follow Eomer to the gate. Elrohir moved to follow him, Elladan walking beside him as he always did. With them walked Halbarad bearing the great staff close-furled in black, and behind him were Legolas, Gimli, Eli and Camille.
Elrohir approached his horse when they exited the gate, and sat on the back of his steed, lost once more in thought. His gaze flitted to Eli as she mounted her horse, her blue cape a startling yet pleasing contrast against the white hide of her mount. What shall I do with this love I have?
* * *
Camille felt her jaw slacken when she heard from Aragorn where exactly they were going after they made a short stopover at Meduseld. The Paths of the WHAT?!?!?! She looked over at Eli, noticing that her best friend had become just a touch paler. Uh oh, not good.
Elladan approached her then, his face looking more than a little worried. "Camille, could you tell me what troubles Eli? She does not seem well."
Camille sighed, and shook her head. "Later Elladan. I need to have a word with Aragorn about this Paths of the Dead thing." Yeah, for the sake of the sanity of my best friend.
After the host of Theoden had ridden off, Camille made a move to ask the question of Aragorn, but Legolas beat her to another one.
"Come!" said Legolas. "Speak and be comforted, and shake off the shadow! What has happened since we came back to this grim place in the gray morning?"
"A struggle somewhat grimmer for my part than the battle of the Hornburg," answered Aragorn. "I have looked into the Stone of Orthanc, my friends."
Camille's eyebrow immediately went into orbit. "You…what?"
"You have looked into that accursed stone of wizardry!" exclaimed Gimli with fear and astonishment in his face. "Did you say aught to – him? Even Gandalf feared that encounter."
"You forget to whom you speak," said Aragorn sternly, and his eyes glinted. "What do you fear that I should say to him? Did I not openly proclaim my title before the doors of Edoras? Nay Gimli," he said in a softer voice, and the grimness left his face, and he looked like one who has labored in sleepless pain for many nights. "Nay my friends, I am the lawful master of the Stone, and I had both the right and the strength to use it, or so I judged. The right cannot be doubted. The strength was enough – barely."
"So what you did was have a staring match with Sauron? As in Aragorn versus the Big Evil Eye Wrapped in Fire?" Camille asked.
"That is an oversimplified version of what I have done, but perhaps you can put it in that manner," Aragorn answered.
Camille nodded, satisfied – more or less – with his answer. "Okay, now that the question as to why you emerged from the tower looking like a zombie has been answered, I want to put my own question on the line."
Aragorn nodded. "Of course."
"Good." She maneuvered Blackwing closer to Roheryn, Aragorn's horse from the North, and whispered, "Aragorn, when you say Paths of the Dead, do you really mean 'dead people', not just as some sort of metaphor or something?"
Aragorn turned to her, his eyes showing that he was somewhat surprised. "It is said that the dead spirits of Men haunt that place still. The people who live near that place fear someone they call the King of the Dead, a dreadful spirit who leads an entire horde of ghost soldiers up and down the Paths. Why do you ask me such a question?"
Camille took a deep breath to steady her voice, and waited until Elladan and Elrohir were in earshot before she answered. "I may have never told you guys this yet, but Eli is sort of…psychic, having what we call in our world the 'third eye' or the 'sixth sense', if you will. Basically, she can see things that most ordinary people can't see, and she can feel things that normal people can't. And that includes the spirit of a person who is dead. And believe me, it isn't a nice talent to have."
"Is that why she seemed so troubled a moment ago?" Elrohir asked anxiously.
"Uh huh. She's told me loads of times before that seeing things others can't see is a very freaky thing. I mean, she sits in a room with a rocking chair in it, and she sees an old lady in the chair. I do the same thing, and I see nothing. That's cause the old lady is dead, and it's her ghost sitting in the chair.
"Another good example of this is what happened at Moria. While we were in the Chamber of Mazarbul, Eli felt all the spirits of the dead Dwarves. The only thing that managed to keep them back was the fact that she had a lot of things on her mind and those Orcs and the troll suddenly attacked us.
"When she heard Aragorn mention 'Paths of the Dead', she figured out immediately that it had something to do with ghosts. Lots of them. When that happens, her senses are going to go into overdrive mode, and she'll start feeling the presence of the ghosts and the spirits."
Elladan looked very concerned. "How does she sense them?"
Camille shrugged. "You know how you can sometimes feel the hairs on the back of your neck start to stand on end when you sense something is nearby? That's how it goes. If there are more ghosts around, the greater the chill, and in an attempt to keep them at bay, she has to expend her energy. And the longer she does that and the more ghosts there are, she eventually wears out her energy store from the inside. If she does it for too long, she folds up, and either the ghosts possess her, or…"
"Or what?" Elrohir asked urgently.
"Or she joins them as another ghost," Camille answered quietly.
Aragorn was silent, contemplating. "What should we do then?" he asked at last. "If we take her with us, we run the risk of losing her to the spirits. But if we leave her in Meduseld, we risk facing her wrath."
Camille sighed. There's only one solution to the entire thing. "There's no way we're going to leave her behind, because if we do that and she finds out… I don't even want to visualize what'll happen to Meduseld. So we're going to have to take her along…but be extra careful. Someone's going to have to keep her from drifting too far, keep her rooted in the present. Either that, or make a special charm to keep all the ghosts away…but that's going to take too much time, and I don't think the materials are here anyway. So that means we're going to use Plan A."
Aragorn sighed. "Then perhaps that is a risk we must take." He closed his eyes momentarily, as if deep in thought. When he opened them again, they seemed rather careworn and troubled. "We shall further discuss this tonight, when we reach Edoras."
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Phew, done. Hehehe, the twins are BAAACK! Let's see what happens to Eli at Meduseld, while Camille and Aragorn discuss how to keep the ghostie-wosties away from her. And for those who are curious, yes, it IS like this for those who have the "sixth sense", as based on the testimony of my friend who has that "gift" (though I hesitate to call it that). Anyway, keep on reading people! Will Elrohir manage to figure out his feelings for Eli? Or will he lose her to his brother? Find that out in the succeeding chapters. See y'all in the next chap!