The Tale of a Warrior Maid
Chapter 9
The dark man strode across the tent as Kesteral quickly translated "The army of the emperor is several hundred strong, orcs, Uruk Hai and men. The officers ride on great oliphants, hundreds of them. They are planning an attack on the southern villages. You can not defeat them head on my lord, not with out at least one hundred thousand brave men," He paused for breath and started to continue.
"Kazantar wait," Elessar interrupted. "Where is this army now? When are they planning this attack?" Kesteral translated for the spy and continued to do so for the entire conversation.
"I do not know, I left the fortress nearly one week ago, they could be any were. I am sorry, but with out the Valar's help you ca not win this war," Kazantar apologized.
"Is there not but one weak link in this army, one place where we might strike?" Éomer pleaded.
"None that I can think of, the army is too strong, the borders too well guarded and the emperor's tyranny too great," the spy replied. "My only advice is this: strike at the roots of this threat, and this calamity may be averted."
"Strike the emperor? Of course, an assassination may work. But that is a coward's way," Éomer pondered.
"It appears too be the only," Elessar responded. "Kazantar, what does Pharazon wear for armor, a leather jerkin?"
"No, no my lord much the opposite, from what I have heard his armor is as strong as the walls of Minas Tirith. It covers his head, torso, and legs. The sleeves of it reach to his fingers. Even the most skilled of archers could not pierce it. One can not even see its scales unless right next to him. The peasants say that the metal for his helm and armor was mined from a volcano. They call it black mithril," Kazantar corrected.
"Then the assassin would need to be able to get close. A position as a soldier may work," Elessar decided.
"The only ones allowed to come within ten meters of the Emperor are his body guards. Strong men whom he has known for many years, and he himself is armed," the spy responded.
"Wouldn't you just love to be his wife," snicker Robie from his post beside Éomer.
"Mr. Fool Underhill, keep quite when wise men are discussing important events. Now pour our guest some wine; he has not come a long way to hear your childish comments," Éomer reprehended the young hobbit who stood with his head bowed and cheeks red. Kesteral did not bother to translate the king, saving the halfing from further embarrassment.
"Does the emperor have a wife?" Elessar asked suddenly.
"No, he does not. I do not see how this is relevant," the spy responded.
"Is he searching for a wife?" the king asked again.
"Yes actually he is. When I left some of the villagers where attempting to hide their daughters in fear that he would choose them," answered Kazantar.
"What is he looking for in a woman, or do you not know?"
"I know, that he desires not only beauty, but also strength of mind," Kazantar told him. "Apparently he wants to be able to put her in charge of Haradwaith when he leads his troops in battle. Do you have a plan my Lord?"
"I believe I do," Elessar consoled him. "If there is nothing else you are excused and may go home. Do not go back south, it is too risky and we have no more need of your scouting."
"Glad to be of service sir. Send a messenger if you need me," the spy said as he turned and left the main tent.
"You three may also go now, I know it's a bit early, but we do not need your services any more today," Elessar told the three hobbits who put down their platters and left the tent. The king of Gondor then turned to Éomer and together they talked quietly.
After several minutes Éomer nodded and the two kings turned back to Kesteral. "I'm afraid we will need to relieve you from your translating duties," Éomer began.
"Did I not meet your standards lord?" she responded worriedly.
"No you did very well, it's just that we need to. relocate you. Ellesar can tell you more."
Elessar picked up where the other king left off. "I have decided on a course of action, it may or may not work, but it is all that we have at the moment. We need you to assassinate Pharazon. I know it is much to ask of a new recruit, but the only one who would be able to get close enough would be his wife. None of the other soldiers are qualified for that position. I will discuss the details with the officers. Meanwhile I would like you to visit Queen Arwen and Lady Éowyn in the castle. Tell them what you have heard and they will prepare you for the task ahead," he stopped and searched her face. "Is something wrong?"
"No my lord, well not really," She paused and searched for the words to explain her feelings. "It's not that. I do not want to serve you, and save Middle earth. It's just that. I am a half-elf. To wed Pharazon would mean to forsake my immortality, to bind myself to him in the eyes of the Valar. I would be forced to live alone after my deed is done. I could do that. I could, but it would not be overly pleasant."
"I understand if you do not wish to take this task, I am only asking you not commanding you," the king replied.
"I will do it, I must do it, I will wed him and then I will remain alone, it is a small sacrifice for the free people and perhaps the Valar may pity me and drop the vows of wedlock," She decided.
"Do not worry; your heart is too strong, too noble to be poisoned by his malice. You will stay true to us I have no doubt of that," the king consoled her.
Chapter 9
The dark man strode across the tent as Kesteral quickly translated "The army of the emperor is several hundred strong, orcs, Uruk Hai and men. The officers ride on great oliphants, hundreds of them. They are planning an attack on the southern villages. You can not defeat them head on my lord, not with out at least one hundred thousand brave men," He paused for breath and started to continue.
"Kazantar wait," Elessar interrupted. "Where is this army now? When are they planning this attack?" Kesteral translated for the spy and continued to do so for the entire conversation.
"I do not know, I left the fortress nearly one week ago, they could be any were. I am sorry, but with out the Valar's help you ca not win this war," Kazantar apologized.
"Is there not but one weak link in this army, one place where we might strike?" Éomer pleaded.
"None that I can think of, the army is too strong, the borders too well guarded and the emperor's tyranny too great," the spy replied. "My only advice is this: strike at the roots of this threat, and this calamity may be averted."
"Strike the emperor? Of course, an assassination may work. But that is a coward's way," Éomer pondered.
"It appears too be the only," Elessar responded. "Kazantar, what does Pharazon wear for armor, a leather jerkin?"
"No, no my lord much the opposite, from what I have heard his armor is as strong as the walls of Minas Tirith. It covers his head, torso, and legs. The sleeves of it reach to his fingers. Even the most skilled of archers could not pierce it. One can not even see its scales unless right next to him. The peasants say that the metal for his helm and armor was mined from a volcano. They call it black mithril," Kazantar corrected.
"Then the assassin would need to be able to get close. A position as a soldier may work," Elessar decided.
"The only ones allowed to come within ten meters of the Emperor are his body guards. Strong men whom he has known for many years, and he himself is armed," the spy responded.
"Wouldn't you just love to be his wife," snicker Robie from his post beside Éomer.
"Mr. Fool Underhill, keep quite when wise men are discussing important events. Now pour our guest some wine; he has not come a long way to hear your childish comments," Éomer reprehended the young hobbit who stood with his head bowed and cheeks red. Kesteral did not bother to translate the king, saving the halfing from further embarrassment.
"Does the emperor have a wife?" Elessar asked suddenly.
"No, he does not. I do not see how this is relevant," the spy responded.
"Is he searching for a wife?" the king asked again.
"Yes actually he is. When I left some of the villagers where attempting to hide their daughters in fear that he would choose them," answered Kazantar.
"What is he looking for in a woman, or do you not know?"
"I know, that he desires not only beauty, but also strength of mind," Kazantar told him. "Apparently he wants to be able to put her in charge of Haradwaith when he leads his troops in battle. Do you have a plan my Lord?"
"I believe I do," Elessar consoled him. "If there is nothing else you are excused and may go home. Do not go back south, it is too risky and we have no more need of your scouting."
"Glad to be of service sir. Send a messenger if you need me," the spy said as he turned and left the main tent.
"You three may also go now, I know it's a bit early, but we do not need your services any more today," Elessar told the three hobbits who put down their platters and left the tent. The king of Gondor then turned to Éomer and together they talked quietly.
After several minutes Éomer nodded and the two kings turned back to Kesteral. "I'm afraid we will need to relieve you from your translating duties," Éomer began.
"Did I not meet your standards lord?" she responded worriedly.
"No you did very well, it's just that we need to. relocate you. Ellesar can tell you more."
Elessar picked up where the other king left off. "I have decided on a course of action, it may or may not work, but it is all that we have at the moment. We need you to assassinate Pharazon. I know it is much to ask of a new recruit, but the only one who would be able to get close enough would be his wife. None of the other soldiers are qualified for that position. I will discuss the details with the officers. Meanwhile I would like you to visit Queen Arwen and Lady Éowyn in the castle. Tell them what you have heard and they will prepare you for the task ahead," he stopped and searched her face. "Is something wrong?"
"No my lord, well not really," She paused and searched for the words to explain her feelings. "It's not that. I do not want to serve you, and save Middle earth. It's just that. I am a half-elf. To wed Pharazon would mean to forsake my immortality, to bind myself to him in the eyes of the Valar. I would be forced to live alone after my deed is done. I could do that. I could, but it would not be overly pleasant."
"I understand if you do not wish to take this task, I am only asking you not commanding you," the king replied.
"I will do it, I must do it, I will wed him and then I will remain alone, it is a small sacrifice for the free people and perhaps the Valar may pity me and drop the vows of wedlock," She decided.
"Do not worry; your heart is too strong, too noble to be poisoned by his malice. You will stay true to us I have no doubt of that," the king consoled her.