Author's note: Again, thank-you to pippin-n-legolas and Phoenix Flight for
reviewing. I want to know why everyone else has stopped.
***
The man who was on watch spotted the Ranger just after dawn. The camp was instantly alert. Merry was woken from his drugged sleep by the commotion as the men rushed around, finding weapons.
The Ranger rode close enough to see the camp, and then turned, riding away fast. He obviously didn't feel up to attacking the entire camp by himself. Jaren ran for the horses, grabbing a bow and riding swiftly after the retreating Ranger. Merry wondered if this man would suffer the same fate as Pippin, and felt sorry for the man.
From his position, lying bound, he couldn't see what happened. The men waiting on the edge of the hollow, with weapons drawn. After a few moments they began to murmur among themselves, and Merry dearly wished to know what was happening.
***
Acathon rode hard until he was certain he was out of sight of the camp, before reining his horse to a halt, patting its neck and waiting for his pursuer to catch up with him. After a few moments, Jaren halted beside him, glancing back to make sure no one had come after him.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"New orders." Acathon gave him the letter to read. Once he finished he handed it back and Acathon tucked it away in a hidden pocket.
"I should be able to manage that," Jaren said.
"So, have you found out anything?"
"They have a spy in the citadel. He let them in through a side door, that was how they got the prince out. I don't know who it is though. I don't think Fadell trusts me completely."
"At least that means you don't look like a traitor," Acathon commented.
Jaren grinned, "I guess it does. I should get back before Fadell gets even more suspicious."
"Farewell," Acathon called to Jaren's retreating form. Acathon then turned and left, having his own preparations to make. Acathon was glad he wasn't in Jaren's place. He had a dangerous task to complete, one almost as dangerous as Sal's.
***
Merry watched Jaren return to the camp. He dismounted and went to Fadell, looking rather worried.
"I shot him, but he kept riding. It's possible he will reach the other Rangers in time to get help. We should leave at once."
"You clumsy fool!" Fadell snapped. He looked as though he was about to hit Jaren, and it seemed Jaren expected it too. Then he changed his mind. "Get the prisoners! Keep them bound, and keep them separated, but they need to be able to walk!" Jaren went over to Merry, releasing his legs. He then bent close to Merry's head as he undid the rope that held his bound wrists to the metal peg.
"Strider sends his greetings," he murmured. Merry was amazed. How could Jaren know Strider? And how would he get the message?
He was wondering this as he was hauled roughly to his feet. He almost collapsed again, his legs felt weak from the tight ropes and the beating he had sustained. Fortunately, Jaren grabbed hold of him before he fell, and supported him for a few moments while he struggled to stand.
Jaren stood guard over him, while Ganth dealt with Eldarion. The rest of the men packed up the camp and loaded the horses with packs. It didn't take long for everyone to be ready, and Fadell led the group out of the hollow. Jaren stayed behind Merry, ready to catch him if he stumbled. He whole body still hurt and the sleeping drug hadn't worn off completely. Besides, it was very difficult to keep his balance with his wrists tied behind him.
Eldarion was walking several paces in front of Merry. He was having a worse time, despite his lack of injuries, as the man guarding him was less kind than Jaren. When the man turned round to check on Merry, Merry saw that he wasn't Ganth. He couldn't see Ganth anywhere. Merry wondered vaguely where he was, then he tripped over again, and decided to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other.
The long walk continued into the night, by which time Merry was exhausted and his legs were aching painfully. He was so tired he was barely able to keep his eyes open. He fell, and this time Jaren wasn't able to catch him.
"Fadell!" Merry heard Jaren call.
"If he can't walk, carry him!" Merry felt Jaren pick him up, and then fell asleep in his arms.
***
Halastir was on duty at the gates of Minas Tirith. There were quite a few people coming into the city, as there was a market on. Farmers and tradesmen from the lands around had arrived either the previous night or early this morning. Now people were filtering through the gates to buy, or leaving the city again with their produce.
They were supposed to check everyone who came into the city, but on a day like this it was impossible. They just kept an eye out for anyone who looked suspicious. For example, a man wearing a cloak with a hood covering his face, despite the warm sun.
"You there," the other guard on duty, Marend, called. He'd spotted the cloaked man too.
The man tried to slip through quickly, a clear sign that he had something to hide, but Halastir grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. Marend joined him quickly.
"Who are you?" Halastir demanded. When the man didn't answer, Marend pulled the hood of the cloak down. Halastir recognised the man beneath. He hadn't been in the city for ten years, and with good reason.
"Salafir," Halastir said. "Why did you come back here?" Salafir didn't reply, but tried to pull his arm from Halastir's grip. By now quite a few people were watching them interested.
"You're charged with death if you returned here," Marend said.
Halastir called for the errand boy to run and fetch some more guards from the citadel, since they couldn't leave the gate unguarded. It wasn't long before they came, and Halastir and Marend led Salafir in chains through the gates into the city, leaving the new guards on duty at the gate.
Salafir came along surprisingly quietly for a traitor, and the crowd began to disperse, sensing that the entertainment was over. A smaller figure was able to pass through the gates in the midst of the crowd, unnoticed. He waited until he was out of sight of the gate, and ran towards the citadel.
***
Author's note: Keep reviewing please, and I'll let you know who the mysterious figure is, and where Ganth's disappeared to, and why Sal's returned to Minas Tirith, and why Elessar exiled him, and why. . . To summarise, please review.
***
The man who was on watch spotted the Ranger just after dawn. The camp was instantly alert. Merry was woken from his drugged sleep by the commotion as the men rushed around, finding weapons.
The Ranger rode close enough to see the camp, and then turned, riding away fast. He obviously didn't feel up to attacking the entire camp by himself. Jaren ran for the horses, grabbing a bow and riding swiftly after the retreating Ranger. Merry wondered if this man would suffer the same fate as Pippin, and felt sorry for the man.
From his position, lying bound, he couldn't see what happened. The men waiting on the edge of the hollow, with weapons drawn. After a few moments they began to murmur among themselves, and Merry dearly wished to know what was happening.
***
Acathon rode hard until he was certain he was out of sight of the camp, before reining his horse to a halt, patting its neck and waiting for his pursuer to catch up with him. After a few moments, Jaren halted beside him, glancing back to make sure no one had come after him.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"New orders." Acathon gave him the letter to read. Once he finished he handed it back and Acathon tucked it away in a hidden pocket.
"I should be able to manage that," Jaren said.
"So, have you found out anything?"
"They have a spy in the citadel. He let them in through a side door, that was how they got the prince out. I don't know who it is though. I don't think Fadell trusts me completely."
"At least that means you don't look like a traitor," Acathon commented.
Jaren grinned, "I guess it does. I should get back before Fadell gets even more suspicious."
"Farewell," Acathon called to Jaren's retreating form. Acathon then turned and left, having his own preparations to make. Acathon was glad he wasn't in Jaren's place. He had a dangerous task to complete, one almost as dangerous as Sal's.
***
Merry watched Jaren return to the camp. He dismounted and went to Fadell, looking rather worried.
"I shot him, but he kept riding. It's possible he will reach the other Rangers in time to get help. We should leave at once."
"You clumsy fool!" Fadell snapped. He looked as though he was about to hit Jaren, and it seemed Jaren expected it too. Then he changed his mind. "Get the prisoners! Keep them bound, and keep them separated, but they need to be able to walk!" Jaren went over to Merry, releasing his legs. He then bent close to Merry's head as he undid the rope that held his bound wrists to the metal peg.
"Strider sends his greetings," he murmured. Merry was amazed. How could Jaren know Strider? And how would he get the message?
He was wondering this as he was hauled roughly to his feet. He almost collapsed again, his legs felt weak from the tight ropes and the beating he had sustained. Fortunately, Jaren grabbed hold of him before he fell, and supported him for a few moments while he struggled to stand.
Jaren stood guard over him, while Ganth dealt with Eldarion. The rest of the men packed up the camp and loaded the horses with packs. It didn't take long for everyone to be ready, and Fadell led the group out of the hollow. Jaren stayed behind Merry, ready to catch him if he stumbled. He whole body still hurt and the sleeping drug hadn't worn off completely. Besides, it was very difficult to keep his balance with his wrists tied behind him.
Eldarion was walking several paces in front of Merry. He was having a worse time, despite his lack of injuries, as the man guarding him was less kind than Jaren. When the man turned round to check on Merry, Merry saw that he wasn't Ganth. He couldn't see Ganth anywhere. Merry wondered vaguely where he was, then he tripped over again, and decided to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other.
The long walk continued into the night, by which time Merry was exhausted and his legs were aching painfully. He was so tired he was barely able to keep his eyes open. He fell, and this time Jaren wasn't able to catch him.
"Fadell!" Merry heard Jaren call.
"If he can't walk, carry him!" Merry felt Jaren pick him up, and then fell asleep in his arms.
***
Halastir was on duty at the gates of Minas Tirith. There were quite a few people coming into the city, as there was a market on. Farmers and tradesmen from the lands around had arrived either the previous night or early this morning. Now people were filtering through the gates to buy, or leaving the city again with their produce.
They were supposed to check everyone who came into the city, but on a day like this it was impossible. They just kept an eye out for anyone who looked suspicious. For example, a man wearing a cloak with a hood covering his face, despite the warm sun.
"You there," the other guard on duty, Marend, called. He'd spotted the cloaked man too.
The man tried to slip through quickly, a clear sign that he had something to hide, but Halastir grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. Marend joined him quickly.
"Who are you?" Halastir demanded. When the man didn't answer, Marend pulled the hood of the cloak down. Halastir recognised the man beneath. He hadn't been in the city for ten years, and with good reason.
"Salafir," Halastir said. "Why did you come back here?" Salafir didn't reply, but tried to pull his arm from Halastir's grip. By now quite a few people were watching them interested.
"You're charged with death if you returned here," Marend said.
Halastir called for the errand boy to run and fetch some more guards from the citadel, since they couldn't leave the gate unguarded. It wasn't long before they came, and Halastir and Marend led Salafir in chains through the gates into the city, leaving the new guards on duty at the gate.
Salafir came along surprisingly quietly for a traitor, and the crowd began to disperse, sensing that the entertainment was over. A smaller figure was able to pass through the gates in the midst of the crowd, unnoticed. He waited until he was out of sight of the gate, and ran towards the citadel.
***
Author's note: Keep reviewing please, and I'll let you know who the mysterious figure is, and where Ganth's disappeared to, and why Sal's returned to Minas Tirith, and why Elessar exiled him, and why. . . To summarise, please review.