Then a noise, much like the footsteps of a heavy person, began to be heard
in the ears of Gimli the Dwarf. He searched round him, panic coming to his
heart. Suddenly, he stepped forward.
An old man he was, bent over the staff he carried, cloaked in grey. Gimli tried to reach Aragorn to shake him, but found he could not a muscle in his sturdy body.
Aragorn was awaken by the soft, but commanding beckoning of his name by Gimli. As he opened his eyes, he saw the old man, standing close, but far enough away from the fire. Only his eyes could be seen under the tattered cloaks that were wrapped about him.
"Well, father," Aragorn called loudly to the stranger, "what can we do for you?" Aragorn now leapt to his feet, giving a welcoming atmosphere, but still alert at the strange coming of the old man.
"Come and be warm, if you are cold!" As Aragorn strode forward, the old man suddenly stood tall, it seemed even taller than the ranger now.
"A hyn an uben tanatha I faelas (For you shall receive no mercy.)," was the last words of the old man before disappeared into the shadows.
Aragorn's brow creased as he stepped forward but only so that nothing was there. Were his eyes cheating him? But Gimli saw it as well. And Legolas, for he was not noticed until he spoke up the minute he saw what was amiss.
"The horses!" Legolas shouted. "For they are gone!" Aragorn turned around to see that they now had lost the faithful horses of Rohan. Aragorn bowed his head, trying to find answers to his questions. Finally, after moments of thinking, he spoke.
"Alas! what evil has fallen upon us! The horses we shall do without. We started our journey on foot and shall continue the same. However, a riddle has come to my mind. Surely the elder who has visited us was no friend or ally. The words he said.... 'A hyn an uben tanatha I faelas, for you shall receive no mercy.' What misfortune we have had come to us!"
"The answer is clear," Gimli interrupted. "For it was Sauruman. Did not noticed he carried a staff? A staff of a wizard! Why did he not put a spell on us is what I ponder!"
"Indeed." Legolas said quietly, listening to the sounds around him, becoming more aware of every movement, every motion that he saw in the shadow.
"Maybe," Aragorn replied to Gimli. "But, it is not for certain. However, thanks to Gimli's watchful eyes we were saved from maybe even worse than losing our horses."
For the remaining night, none slept; for they built the fire once again up, and waited for the light of dawn.
* * * * * * * * * *
Finally, dawn came with a chill. Now having no steeds to ride, Aragorn and his companions set off into the one place which they dreaded so much: Fangorn Forest.
Throughout the remaining night after the visit of the mysterious old man, they stayed up, talking and sharing fables and stories they had heard of Fangorn Forest. Soon enough, daylight broke and they were packed and ready to enter the dreaded forest.
Stepping lightly, Legolas lead, followed by Aragorn, and then last came Gimli. Legolas stood for a moment, using his blue, elven eyes, searched the dark green trees and brush that surrounded them. Moss hung everywhere that was visible to the eye. The tinkling of the Entwash was becoming more clear. Though, something was out of place to Legolas. It seemed all too quiet. For Fangorn was nothing like the forests of Mirkwood. As they walked, something deep in Legolas's mind grew. He could not describe what this was that burdened his mind. It reminded of darkness. Legolas could sense some darkness that was hidden in the heart of Fangorn. However, a light filled the forest; a new light, a pure light.
Aragorn watched the forest intently. On the ground, the footsteps of the hobbits were still somewhat fresh. Aragorn was right in his guess. Merry and Pippin were being pursued. An orc must have seen them when they were trying to escape. He chased them; chased right into Fangorn Forest. Aragorn was troubled by a single question: Did they escape the clutches of the orc? He could imagine the torment they may have gone through if they had been caught. Though, he did not want to see the image in his head. He knew they both still lived; he just knew it.....or was it hope that lead him to these thoughts.
The only thought that Gimli possessed in head at the moment was: "Why did they HAVE to go into a forest? Especially, Fangorn Forest!"
Looking ahead Legolas sensed something very strong was at hand. He stopped for a moment, observing around him. Aragorn ran to the elf to see what was wrong. Legolas immediately turned to Aragorn.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas! (Something's out there)" he said loudly, alerted now.
"Man cenich? (What do you see?)" Aragorn asked, his heart's pace now beginning to quicken.
I hope you're enjoying it so far! THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE POSTED VERY, VERY SOON! SO LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Thank you! ^_^
An old man he was, bent over the staff he carried, cloaked in grey. Gimli tried to reach Aragorn to shake him, but found he could not a muscle in his sturdy body.
Aragorn was awaken by the soft, but commanding beckoning of his name by Gimli. As he opened his eyes, he saw the old man, standing close, but far enough away from the fire. Only his eyes could be seen under the tattered cloaks that were wrapped about him.
"Well, father," Aragorn called loudly to the stranger, "what can we do for you?" Aragorn now leapt to his feet, giving a welcoming atmosphere, but still alert at the strange coming of the old man.
"Come and be warm, if you are cold!" As Aragorn strode forward, the old man suddenly stood tall, it seemed even taller than the ranger now.
"A hyn an uben tanatha I faelas (For you shall receive no mercy.)," was the last words of the old man before disappeared into the shadows.
Aragorn's brow creased as he stepped forward but only so that nothing was there. Were his eyes cheating him? But Gimli saw it as well. And Legolas, for he was not noticed until he spoke up the minute he saw what was amiss.
"The horses!" Legolas shouted. "For they are gone!" Aragorn turned around to see that they now had lost the faithful horses of Rohan. Aragorn bowed his head, trying to find answers to his questions. Finally, after moments of thinking, he spoke.
"Alas! what evil has fallen upon us! The horses we shall do without. We started our journey on foot and shall continue the same. However, a riddle has come to my mind. Surely the elder who has visited us was no friend or ally. The words he said.... 'A hyn an uben tanatha I faelas, for you shall receive no mercy.' What misfortune we have had come to us!"
"The answer is clear," Gimli interrupted. "For it was Sauruman. Did not noticed he carried a staff? A staff of a wizard! Why did he not put a spell on us is what I ponder!"
"Indeed." Legolas said quietly, listening to the sounds around him, becoming more aware of every movement, every motion that he saw in the shadow.
"Maybe," Aragorn replied to Gimli. "But, it is not for certain. However, thanks to Gimli's watchful eyes we were saved from maybe even worse than losing our horses."
For the remaining night, none slept; for they built the fire once again up, and waited for the light of dawn.
* * * * * * * * * *
Finally, dawn came with a chill. Now having no steeds to ride, Aragorn and his companions set off into the one place which they dreaded so much: Fangorn Forest.
Throughout the remaining night after the visit of the mysterious old man, they stayed up, talking and sharing fables and stories they had heard of Fangorn Forest. Soon enough, daylight broke and they were packed and ready to enter the dreaded forest.
Stepping lightly, Legolas lead, followed by Aragorn, and then last came Gimli. Legolas stood for a moment, using his blue, elven eyes, searched the dark green trees and brush that surrounded them. Moss hung everywhere that was visible to the eye. The tinkling of the Entwash was becoming more clear. Though, something was out of place to Legolas. It seemed all too quiet. For Fangorn was nothing like the forests of Mirkwood. As they walked, something deep in Legolas's mind grew. He could not describe what this was that burdened his mind. It reminded of darkness. Legolas could sense some darkness that was hidden in the heart of Fangorn. However, a light filled the forest; a new light, a pure light.
Aragorn watched the forest intently. On the ground, the footsteps of the hobbits were still somewhat fresh. Aragorn was right in his guess. Merry and Pippin were being pursued. An orc must have seen them when they were trying to escape. He chased them; chased right into Fangorn Forest. Aragorn was troubled by a single question: Did they escape the clutches of the orc? He could imagine the torment they may have gone through if they had been caught. Though, he did not want to see the image in his head. He knew they both still lived; he just knew it.....or was it hope that lead him to these thoughts.
The only thought that Gimli possessed in head at the moment was: "Why did they HAVE to go into a forest? Especially, Fangorn Forest!"
Looking ahead Legolas sensed something very strong was at hand. He stopped for a moment, observing around him. Aragorn ran to the elf to see what was wrong. Legolas immediately turned to Aragorn.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas! (Something's out there)" he said loudly, alerted now.
"Man cenich? (What do you see?)" Aragorn asked, his heart's pace now beginning to quicken.
I hope you're enjoying it so far! THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE POSTED VERY, VERY SOON! SO LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Thank you! ^_^