"Then they are still alive? Oh! Bless the hobbits!" Gimli
cried, happy with the finding.
"I do not know." Aragorn said with uncertainness. "I am not sure," he continued, his voice trailing.
With this finding, hope was renewed in all of them. Though, Aragorn knew this was but a little finding. With his guess, this was thrown upon the ground, at least four days ago; for it was not enough, they were too behind. However, he did not share his thoughts with the other two, he wanted for their hopes and faith to stay up.
Legolas, however, guessed the ranger's thoughts. He wanted to despair, his heart burned of the knowing that Merry and Pippin were facing the darkness alone, maybe. He wanted more than ever to save them from the cruelty of Mordor, though, he could not do it alone. Legolas was afraid. He feared for the hobbits, Frodo and Sam, alone on their journey to the Land of Shadows. He feared for Merry and Pippin, not knowing whether they both still live. And he feared for Aragorn and Gimli. He was afraid he would lose them. On this journey, they had become the best of friends. Especially Gimli. What if he lost him? What if he lost Aragorn? What if they fail? So many questions of doubt began entering Legolas's mind.
Coming upon a hill, Aragorn led them. Suddenly, with no warning, he turned round to them yelling:
"Stay back!"
Aragorn hit the ground, crawling forward on his stomach. Looking ahead of him, he saw what the ground spoke of: horsemen, many horsemen galloping hard on the fields of Rohan. He studied them quickly. Then, he got up and sped to Legolas and Gimli, rounding them up behind a close rock. There they sat, waiting for Aragorn's explanation. Then they heard the hoofs of many horses coming towards them. Suddenly, right beside them they passed. Aragorn looked wide eyed out at the riders, while Legolas and Gimli sat speechless and unmoving. As the last rider passed, Aragorn stood up and walked quickly to the middle of the field where the riders had gone by.
"What news from the North, riders of Rohan?" Aragorn yelled to them.
Immediately, the great horsemen turned in a group to the beckoning of them. Legolas and Gimli quickly joined Aragorn by his side as they waited for the riders to approach. Before they knew it, the horsemen had surrounded them in a small circle; their many bright, sharp spears pointed at them. Aragorn raised his hands up, signaling peace. The tallest of the riders was the first to speak.
"What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in Riddermark?"
There was a quick pause.
"Speak quickly!" the leader demanded, his helm gleaming in the sun.
"We track a band of Uruk-hai, westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friends captive." Aragorn replied.
"Give me your names and why you travel in these lands, strangers." the leader commanded to them, the hair flowing freely from his helm shined golden in the sun.
Gimli's dark eyes flashed to the rider; his hand gripping his axe hooked in his belt.
"Give me your name, horse-master, and I will give you mine, and more besides."
The leader of the horsemen turned a hard, cold glance to Gimli.
"Coming to that," the rider said coldly, "the stranger should declare himself first. Yet, I am Eomer, son of Eomund, and am also known as Third Marshal of Riddermark."
"Well, Eomer, son of Eomund," Gimli replied, "I am Gimli, son of Gloin. And next time you meet unknown people in this land, you should mind your tongue; only little wit can excuse you."
Eomer's eyes blazed with rage at the dwarf's remarks. Jumping off his horse and giving his spear to the closest rider to him, he stood directly in front of Gimli. Looking down upon him, he felt disgusted to be in the presence of such an unruly creature, to him.
"I would cut your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground." Eomer coldly, but proudly replied.
Quick as light, Legolas pulled and arrow from his quiver, setting it upon his bow, and aimed to the men's leader.
"He stands not alone. You would die before your stroke fell." Legolas said, angry with the threat made to his friend.
Eomer froze, but Aragorn quickly put things aside. Holding his hand out to Legolas, he motioned for him to ease his bow; Legolas regrettably lowered his bow. Eomer glared at Legolas, but then his attention was drawn to Aragorn.
"You made the wrong decision coming to Rohan. Now please, tell me all of who you are." Eomer said softly.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dunadan, the heir to Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. This is Legolas from the Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood. And nay, Eomer, son of Eomund. We have a reason for being in Riddermark. As I said before, we are in search of two of our friends that have been taken by a band of Uruk-hai five days ago. We have passed through Emyn Muil on foot to reach Rohan, following their trail."
"You crossed Emyn Muil on foot in five days?" Eomer said, interrupting Aragorn because of astonishment.
Aragorn nodded his head then began again.
"Have you seen the Uruk-hai on your travels across your land?"
"We have. We came upon a group of the foul creatures a night ago. They have been destroyed. All of them."
"Did you see any hobbits with them?" Gimli cried out, forgetting the conversation was between Aragorn and Eomer.
"Hobbits? I do not know what you speak of." Eomer replied confused.
"They would be small children to your eyes."
A pause was for a moment.
"Halflings is what you would you know them as. Were they there?"
Eomer thought for a moment, and then a grim expression came to his face.
"There were no others. Only Uruk-hai and orcs. I saw no halflings. Though, they might have been there, unfortunately. And we did not recognize them. For it was dark and chaos was everywhere."
Fear came into the hearts Aragorn and his companions.
"Are you sure?" Gimli asked sorrowfully, not being able to believe the news from Eomer.
"We left none alive. We piled and burned all who were slain over this hill. Down there!" Eomer pointed to the burning ashes where black smoke rose thick.
Aragorn cast down his eyes.
"I am sorry," Eomer said softly.
No response came from any of the remaining fellowship. For they all could not believe it.
So? I hope you liked the 2nd chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!!! ^_^ Check back for the next chapter COMING REALLY SOON!
"I do not know." Aragorn said with uncertainness. "I am not sure," he continued, his voice trailing.
With this finding, hope was renewed in all of them. Though, Aragorn knew this was but a little finding. With his guess, this was thrown upon the ground, at least four days ago; for it was not enough, they were too behind. However, he did not share his thoughts with the other two, he wanted for their hopes and faith to stay up.
Legolas, however, guessed the ranger's thoughts. He wanted to despair, his heart burned of the knowing that Merry and Pippin were facing the darkness alone, maybe. He wanted more than ever to save them from the cruelty of Mordor, though, he could not do it alone. Legolas was afraid. He feared for the hobbits, Frodo and Sam, alone on their journey to the Land of Shadows. He feared for Merry and Pippin, not knowing whether they both still live. And he feared for Aragorn and Gimli. He was afraid he would lose them. On this journey, they had become the best of friends. Especially Gimli. What if he lost him? What if he lost Aragorn? What if they fail? So many questions of doubt began entering Legolas's mind.
Coming upon a hill, Aragorn led them. Suddenly, with no warning, he turned round to them yelling:
"Stay back!"
Aragorn hit the ground, crawling forward on his stomach. Looking ahead of him, he saw what the ground spoke of: horsemen, many horsemen galloping hard on the fields of Rohan. He studied them quickly. Then, he got up and sped to Legolas and Gimli, rounding them up behind a close rock. There they sat, waiting for Aragorn's explanation. Then they heard the hoofs of many horses coming towards them. Suddenly, right beside them they passed. Aragorn looked wide eyed out at the riders, while Legolas and Gimli sat speechless and unmoving. As the last rider passed, Aragorn stood up and walked quickly to the middle of the field where the riders had gone by.
"What news from the North, riders of Rohan?" Aragorn yelled to them.
Immediately, the great horsemen turned in a group to the beckoning of them. Legolas and Gimli quickly joined Aragorn by his side as they waited for the riders to approach. Before they knew it, the horsemen had surrounded them in a small circle; their many bright, sharp spears pointed at them. Aragorn raised his hands up, signaling peace. The tallest of the riders was the first to speak.
"What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in Riddermark?"
There was a quick pause.
"Speak quickly!" the leader demanded, his helm gleaming in the sun.
"We track a band of Uruk-hai, westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friends captive." Aragorn replied.
"Give me your names and why you travel in these lands, strangers." the leader commanded to them, the hair flowing freely from his helm shined golden in the sun.
Gimli's dark eyes flashed to the rider; his hand gripping his axe hooked in his belt.
"Give me your name, horse-master, and I will give you mine, and more besides."
The leader of the horsemen turned a hard, cold glance to Gimli.
"Coming to that," the rider said coldly, "the stranger should declare himself first. Yet, I am Eomer, son of Eomund, and am also known as Third Marshal of Riddermark."
"Well, Eomer, son of Eomund," Gimli replied, "I am Gimli, son of Gloin. And next time you meet unknown people in this land, you should mind your tongue; only little wit can excuse you."
Eomer's eyes blazed with rage at the dwarf's remarks. Jumping off his horse and giving his spear to the closest rider to him, he stood directly in front of Gimli. Looking down upon him, he felt disgusted to be in the presence of such an unruly creature, to him.
"I would cut your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground." Eomer coldly, but proudly replied.
Quick as light, Legolas pulled and arrow from his quiver, setting it upon his bow, and aimed to the men's leader.
"He stands not alone. You would die before your stroke fell." Legolas said, angry with the threat made to his friend.
Eomer froze, but Aragorn quickly put things aside. Holding his hand out to Legolas, he motioned for him to ease his bow; Legolas regrettably lowered his bow. Eomer glared at Legolas, but then his attention was drawn to Aragorn.
"You made the wrong decision coming to Rohan. Now please, tell me all of who you are." Eomer said softly.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dunadan, the heir to Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. This is Legolas from the Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood. And nay, Eomer, son of Eomund. We have a reason for being in Riddermark. As I said before, we are in search of two of our friends that have been taken by a band of Uruk-hai five days ago. We have passed through Emyn Muil on foot to reach Rohan, following their trail."
"You crossed Emyn Muil on foot in five days?" Eomer said, interrupting Aragorn because of astonishment.
Aragorn nodded his head then began again.
"Have you seen the Uruk-hai on your travels across your land?"
"We have. We came upon a group of the foul creatures a night ago. They have been destroyed. All of them."
"Did you see any hobbits with them?" Gimli cried out, forgetting the conversation was between Aragorn and Eomer.
"Hobbits? I do not know what you speak of." Eomer replied confused.
"They would be small children to your eyes."
A pause was for a moment.
"Halflings is what you would you know them as. Were they there?"
Eomer thought for a moment, and then a grim expression came to his face.
"There were no others. Only Uruk-hai and orcs. I saw no halflings. Though, they might have been there, unfortunately. And we did not recognize them. For it was dark and chaos was everywhere."
Fear came into the hearts Aragorn and his companions.
"Are you sure?" Gimli asked sorrowfully, not being able to believe the news from Eomer.
"We left none alive. We piled and burned all who were slain over this hill. Down there!" Eomer pointed to the burning ashes where black smoke rose thick.
Aragorn cast down his eyes.
"I am sorry," Eomer said softly.
No response came from any of the remaining fellowship. For they all could not believe it.
So? I hope you liked the 2nd chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!!! ^_^ Check back for the next chapter COMING REALLY SOON!