Chapter Eight
Affirmations of Love
They lingered at Cordoba for less than a week before coming to the decision that it was necessary to continue their journey along the passage of the Splinter, through the great mountains known to the folk of Haradwraith as the Wall. Aragorn would have preferred to remain longer in order for Eomer to recover his strength before embarking on the arduous journey through the pass, however, a week was as long as they dared to linger whilst the whereabouts of the enemy reinforcements remained a mystery. As far as they knew, the enemy was approaching the Wall with reinforcements from Khand and Rhun. Aragorn could not imagine a better place for the enemy to catch them at a disadvantage other than within the confines of the Splinter. Though the expanse of the pass could hardly be called narrow, in a military situation it was exceedingly dangerous ground.
Unfortunately, there was no alternative for the western army to reach the Sanara Belt other than through the Splinter and to avoid being hemmed, they had to cross that distance before that inevitable confrontation. Eomer understood this and although he was still weak from his injuries, insisted that they do not hesitate on his account. If it required him making the journey through the Splinter in the indignity of a wagon, so be it. The Rohirrim king was too stubborn and too much the soldier to allow them to be placed in a strategically weakened position for his sake.
The day after Cordoba's defeat saw its the survivors to bury their dead, Aragorn stood by Legolas' side as the elf laid to rest the body of Nunaur, Captain of Eden Ardhon and trusted friend of the its lord. His passing was a knife in the hearts of all who stood by and watched his body burned to ash. They could not take Nunaur's body with them and the elves were not disposed to burying it in the realm of the enemy where it could be dug up and despoiled after they were gone. Those who were not injured attended the brief ceremony that was devoid of speeches or eulogies. Grief alone transcended the need for words.
Aragorn stood next to Legolas as the funeral rite continued in its silence and saw the terrible sorrow in his friends' face hidden by the reconstructed mask of elven dignity. All traces of Legolas' deconstruction was no more and it was as if the exchange between them when the elf had unburdened himself in an unabashed display of emotion had never been. Still it was obvious to all that something had changed with Legolas for the jagged edge of vengeance inside him appeared somewhat dull than since his arrival in Haradwraith. While Aragorn could still see the burning desire for vengeance in his eyes, he was grateful that that heat had simmered to far more tolerable levels.
Aragorn was not so deluded into believing Legolas was truly free of his need to make every Haradrim and Easterling pay for what was done at Eden Ardhon. The mechanics of hate were not so easily discarded even in elves and while Legolas had confronted his guilt and his anger, he was far from being free of it. Nunaur's death seemed to deepen his need for vengeance against the Haradrim king, the architect of all this misery. Aragorn had no doubt that Legolas intended to keep him promise to raze the enemy's city about his ears and there was a part of him that feared Legolas making good on that vow. Legolas had taken a step back from disaster when he had seen Nunaur die and realized the darkness he had cloaked himself since Eden Ardhon.
Aragorn feared if he killed the Haradrim king, he would be taking a step towards it again.
Unfortunately, this was death he could not deny Legolas because nothing he could say would justify it. While Aragorn could cry that what happened at Lebethron and Lossarnach was no different from what had happened to Eden Ardhon, he could not say the same of his wife. Arwen was home in the White City with their son, safe and protected by Imrahil's sons who sat in command of the home guard. Melia on the other hand had been violated in the worst way a woman could be and that kind of insult could only be answered with blood.
Following the funeral, Nunaur's ashes were collected and placed in a receptacle so that it could be transported back to Eden Ardhon for the day the elves crossed over the sea. The elves remained stoic about the grief although it was apparent that his loss was felt deeply. In the wake of the proper customs being shown to all of the fallen warriors, being men or elf, the securing of Cordoba continued. There was very little to do in this regard since almost all of the enemy's warriors had been killed during the fighting. What prisoners there were, were left to languish in the city's dungeon and among these survivors was Satarin's son Caifas.
Fortunately, Legolas had been wrong about this being the last generation of Satarin's family, although it appeared the survival of the line would be exclusively Caifas since his brother and father were dead. The new leader of Cordoba spent his imprisonment in silence, refusing to address the Westrons and there was for a time a debate as to whether or not he would be allowed live. However, with Cordoba's capacity to fight any battle well and truly broken, what threat he might have been was a spent force.
In any case, they could not afford to linger too long because it was necessary to begin their journey through the wall.
Like before, the elves led an advance scouting party because their ability to cover more ground than men was unquestionable. They needed less sleep and had greater stamina in the heat exhaustive climate. Although Aragorn was slightly apprehensive about allowing the elf to lead another scouting expedition after what had happened at Axinar, he knew he could not show the slightest hint of distrust or else what progress Legolas had made in his effort to kerb his vengeance would be diminished. In either case, Aragorn was confident that his experience in Cordoba had taught Legolas the price of brutality and it was a lesson that had cut to the bone by Nunuar's death.
Their progress through the Splinter was made with surprising speed despite Eomer's injuries. The passage was a little more than an eroded corridor of stone, no doubt having once been the course of a great waterway in times past. The shaping of the world had thinned the channel into a mere arm of the Sanara River and the wear of water could be seen in the smooth walls of the passage. They followed the banks of the tributary, reveling at the sight of water in this parched and arid landscape. During the journey, Aragorn left Imrahil to lead their army through the passage and spent a good deal of his time with Eomer, who was surely driven to distraction by being forced to make the journey in a wagon.
"Maybe I could attempt to ride a horse," Eomer had asked after five days in the wagon with Aragorn riding along side.
"Maybe you could rip open your wounds and bleed to death," the king of Gondor said without hesitation.
Eomer frowned, "I am stronger than I look. I have suffered worse and still managed to ride a saddle."
"You are not riding Eomer," Aragorn replied, his eyes facing front with a hint of a smile on his lips. This was not the first conversation they had on the subject.
"You worry too much," he grumbled. "I can manage."
"I do not remember your uncle being so stubborn," Aragorn stared at him critically.
"You did not know Theoden in his youth," Eomer pointed out.
"Do not be so certain of that," Aragorn muttered under his breath.
"What?" Eomer stared at him.
"Nothing," Aragorn said quickly and stared at him, "I am not having this discussion with you again. You cannot ride. We need you healed before we face our enemies and for that to happen you need every second of rest. You were seriously injured. Your insides were ripped open and its sheer luck the surgeon was able to sew you back together again…"
"I concede defeat.," Eomer interrupted further before he was provided with further details of his wounds. Easing back against the bedroll in the back of the wagon, the Rohirrim king garnered a sympathetic look from the soldier driving the wagon.
"I am glad," Aragorn said with a smug smile, "I had no wish to take more extreme measures of having you obey your physician."
"Such as?" Eomer stared at him.
"Binding your hands and feet," Aragorn grinned.
"You would not dare…"
"How long have we known each other?" The king of Gondor stared at his Rohirrim counterpart with a brow raised.
"You will have no further argument from me," Eomer muttered, "defeat twice in a day will leave a bitter taste in my mouth."
"You are a wise man indeed," the former Ranger replied and cast his gaze towards the high peaks of the Splinter on either side of them. It was pure fancy of course. There would be no way that Aragorn would be able to sight the elf even if he and his party were close enough to the edge of the cliff, which he was not. No doubt, Legolas would be scouting the surrounding terrain, ensuring they were not waylaid unexpectedly by an enemy attack. Aragorn tried not to feel concern, certain that Legolas was at last free of the savage streak responsible for the carnage at Axinar and the other Haradrim villages.
"I am certain he will keep his head," Eomer remarked, discerning easily the reason for the reflective glimmer in Aragorn's eyes.
"I know he will," Aragorn replied turning away from the line of the cliff's edge. "Cordoba has changed things for him considerably. He wants his revenge even more than ever but at least his hate is directed at the one who inspired it, not the innocents in his path."
"That is good to hear," Eomer said genuinely pleased that the elf was on the mend. It was too disconcerting to see the friend they knew alter so drastically in character to someone they barely recognized. While Eomer understood the rage behind the elf's actions, like the rest of his race Eomer had been conditioned to see the elves as the paragon of virtue and dignity. This darker side to them was something he had no wish to see again in his lifetime.
"Of course, you will have a bit of explaining to do when his lady arrives," Eomer reminded.
Aragorn had not forgotten that he had sent Gimli to summon Melia and truth be told, Aragorn had no idea how Legolas would react to seeing his wife. It was entirely possible that Legolas would be so pleased to see Melia that the circumstances of her arrival may become a detail he was willing to overlook. However, Aragorn suspected Legolas would not be happy at the prospect of facing Melia and giving account of what he had done since his arrival in Haradwraith.
"I know," Aragorn concede that point without contest. "Perhaps she can soothe the remaining fire inside him. He has coped to some extent with his feelings but it still burns hot inside him. The only difference is now, he has fixed it upon the Haradrim king where it ought to be."
"Better the guilty than the innocent," Eomer replied sourly, having no love for the man either. When he thought of how close Edoras had came to falling and what Lothiriel had endured to save the women of that city, he could very well understand Legolas' need to mount the leader's head upon a pike. His wife had been greatly wounded by having to use her powers to kill and it was an ordeal he would preferred her not to experience.
"I wish we had word about Faramir and Pallando," Aragorn added, turning his thoughts to another one of his absent friends whose fate was no less uncertain than Legolas' own.
"I would not worry about Faramir," Eomer said confidently, "if there is one person in all this who can keep his head, it is the lord of Ithilien. When they drew the lots for parental characteristics, it was Faramir who acquired all of Denethor's cunning."
"Do not say that to him unless you wish to pass painfully out of this world," Aragorn warned with a little smile. "As far as Faramir is concerned, he takes after his mother."
"In his dreams," Eomer snorted, remembering Theoden's opinion of Denethor and finding that much of the former Stewards' characteristics had survived in his youngest son.
"Do you remember much of your father?" Aragorn asked, since the talk had fallen to that particular subject for the moment.
Eomer fell silent for a moment and felt his mind turning involuntarily to the past, to the image of his father, Eomund of Eastfold, Marshall of the Mark. The Rohirrim king became silent and his gaze fell away from Aragorn's. "He had a great booming laugh and he always smelled of the saddle. His hands were hard, much the way mine are now. I remember his voice and how he would tell me I would ride with him one day."
There was sadness in his eyes and Aragorn immediately felt badly for bringing up what was obviously a difficult memory for his friend, "I am sorry, I did not wish to upset you."
"You did not," Eomer said softly, "I will always feel a little melancholy when thinking of him. It is the nature of grieving the loss of a loved one. What about you?" Eomer met Aragorn's gaze after a moment; "do you remember your father?"
"No," Aragorn said without hesitation and the sadness that seeped into his eyes was just a profound even if he had no images to look back upon as Eomer did. "I was but a babe when he passed. I have no memory of him. In truth, Elrond was more my father than Arathorn. My mother tried to fill in the gaps of my memory but they were to me just tales of the man. I have no sense of connection to him."
Eomer said nothing but it explained considerably the disconnection Aragorn felt with his heritage, why being king was so hard for him to accept. If Arathorn had lived, most likely he would have prepared his son for what lay ahead but his death had ensured that Aragorn would be linked to his lineage by the barest threads.
"It is your fate and mine that we were shaped by men other than our fathers," Aragorn smiled, "I do not know if it was for the better or worse that I was raised by Elrond and you by Theoden but sometimes I wish…."
"That you had known him as a man?" Eomer asked.
"Yes," Aragorn nodded. "It is why I am determined to end this war one way or another. I do not wish Eldarion's memory of me to be limited to what Arwen tells him."
**************
It was far swifter for the scouting party led by Legolas to cross the Splinter than it was for Aragorn to lead the western army through the narrow passageway of the Wall. The terrain across the mountain peaks were near unforgiving but the loft height provided a panoramic view of the surrounding area that allowed the elves to discern how safe their comrades were from an unexpected attack. After a number of days travelling across the arid mountain scape, Legolas had come to the firm conclusion that there would be no army moving to engage them at the mouth of the Splinter when they finally emerged from the other side.
This disturbed him considerably because he had been in agreement with Aragorn's assessment that the enemy's best bid to launch an attack would be before their emergence from the Splinter. The narrow confines of the corridor would keep them hemmed in and placed in a strategically unfavourable position to defend their position. The absence of the army and the appearance that no attack was forthcoming left Legolas somewhat concerned as to what the Haradrim king was about. Surely, he did not intend to conduct the defence of his country within the fertile lands of the Belt? From what Legolas knew of the Haradrwraith, the lands of the Sanara belt held the crops that fed most of the famine stricken people of the Barrens. Even though Legolas held no love for the Haradrim particularly in light of his recent actions, he had no wish to see the population reduced to starvation.
In truth, the time spent away from the company of his friends and the bulk of his army was very good for Legolas. It allowed him to clear his thoughts of all the emotional turmoil it had been forced to face in recent days. The pain of Nunaur's death still burdened his heart but Legolas knew that he would come to grips with it once the Haradrim king was dead. Once the cause of his pain was removed from this existence, Legolas was confident that he would be able to resume his life once more. He tried to recall the last peaceful moment of his life before everything had gone so terribly wrong and found himself remembering the blissful morning he had shared with Melia in their bed before Miriel's knock on the door had brought the war so prolifically into their lives.
Aragorn was right, he had not spent the time he should have at Melia's side and the guilt ate at him a little but he was certain that she knew what he was doing was for the good of all. The Haradrim and the Easterlings had to be defeated and she had said nothing to stop him from going. Melia of all people would understand his need to go even if she may not entirely condone his actions in Haradwraith. She knew that he had a war to fight and it was necessary to avenge his people after what was done to them and to her. Still, despite his belief in his cause, Legolas did miss her terribly and Aragorn's words had cut to the bone that he had perhaps acted hastily instead of putting her needs before that of his desire to avenge her.
He would make it up to her when he returned to Minas Tirith, he would make her understand that what he had done was necessary. Melia loved him, she would see the truth of his words.
"Legolas," Haldir's voice interrupted his thoughts and tore him away from his thoughts of Melia to the present. It was almost evening and the sun was setting in the horizon. He and Haldir had broken off to patrol on their own and were due to return to the rest of the scouting party once they had surveyed the area.
He and Haldir had travelled eastward, to the very edge of the mountaintop, until there was nowhere to the other side of the mountain. The elves had found a secondary path over the Wall, which would have been impossible for a sizeable army to traverse, though passable for a scouting party of some experience. A traveller wishing to avoid being waylaid by bandits or other dangers may chose to come this way and as Legolas examined the track, discovered it was used but occasionally.
"Look there," Haldir pointed out past the edge of the mountain. At the bottom of the uneven path that led from the top of the mountain to the foothills beneath, Legolas saw three riders making their way to the rocky and difficult trail.
From where they were making their observation, Legolas could tell immediately that they were three men astride the strange animals the western army had first seen in Cordoba. It was difficult to make out their faces for their faces were partially covered to shield their skin from the sand blown wind no doubt. However, in the manner they carried themselves and by their clothing, there could be no mistaking them for anything but men. Still, there was something familiar about them that Legolas could not place.
"This bears investigation," he said to Haldir as he nudged Arod towards the winding path down the mountain track.
"They could merely be travellers," Haldir countered even though he was directing his mount to follow Legolas down the mountainside.
"Travellers would choose the normal way to travel the pass," Legolas said keeping his eyes fixed on the new arrivals in the distance, "to remain close to the water. These people are travelling through this path in order to remain anonymous. I would hear their reason."
Haldir could not disagree with him on that point. As his horse ambled forward, Haldir accompanied the former Prince of Mirkwood towards the three men approaching the track. His elven senses did not warn of trouble and supposed it was part of the reason Legolas had thought nothing of crossing the distance to investigate further. In truth, Haldir was a good deal happier with the prince's disposition since Cordoba although he was saddened that this watershed realisation for Legolas had to come at the cost of Nunaur's life.
As march wardens to Lothlorien and Mirkwood respectively, Haldir and Nunaur had encountered each other on numerous occasions during the past and had developed a healthy respect for one another. It had not surprised Haldir to learn that Nunaur had abandoned his post in order to become Captain of Eden Ardhon, since the elf was always in possession of a pioneering spirit. While they had not shared the great friendship that Nunaur obviously did with Legolas, Haldir mourned his death nonetheless.
The journey down the mountain was hazardous indeed and under the skill of a less accomplished rider, possibly fatal. The trail, such as it was, meandered through the barest hint of a path down the steep incline. Their progress was slower than either would have liked but it cast doubt over the assertion that the travellers were seeking to cross the path anonymously for they made little effort to depart at the sight of the two elves. Instead, they continued at a leisurely pace, their dromas seemingly more suited to the terrain than the horses ridden by the elves. It was not long however, before Haldir was able to ascertain through keen elven eyesight why this was so.
"I think that is Pallando," Legolas replied, squinting in an effort to gain more precision in his observation. The prospect of Pallando's return filled Legolas with relief as it would Aragorn when the king learnt of it. It would mean that Faramir was also returning safely which laid to rest the anxiety they both felt at his mission into enemy territory. "It will please Estel to have Faramir among us again," he added.
"They are not alone," Haldir observed. "I wonder who their companion is."
"We will find out soon enough," Legolas replied, patient enough to wait until their meeting to have that question answered.
The two parties met shortly after Legolas and Haldir cleared the mountain. Seeing their arrival, the trio had broken off their advance to await them. While Faramir did not possess the elven sight to recognise them, Pallando no doubt had some ability to discern who was approaching them. The reunion when it was made was a sedate affair with warm greeting and expressions of relief at the same return of their comrades to the fold once more.
"You have become brown like a native," Legolas declared staring at Faramir who had emerged from beneath the safety of his cloak. The sun was beginning to set and the group decided that it would not be wise to attempt the trek up the mountain in the darkness. It was dangerous enough during the day and the time would allow them to rest and catch up.
"Not all of us have your invulnerable elven skin," Faramir retorted, even though he noticed the flawless luminescence of elven skin had tanned slightly under the hot sun.
"And your guest?" Legolas turned to the third member of Faramir's company who had yet to be introduced in the wake of their reunion. "Is he a native?"
Faramir met Legolas gaze, noticing the hard edge to his voice and the brittle iciness of his blue eyes upon the stranger. His time away had done nothing to lessen Legolas' disdain of the Haradrim it appeared and Faramir hoped that Kirin's revelation did not provide too much of a shock to the elf's sense of dignity and self-righteousness indignation.
"I am sorry," he apologised quickly and noted Pallando's amused gaze as the wizard intended for him to make the introductions. Coward, Faramir thought silently. "I have been remiss in my manners, I should have introduced you immediately. Legolas, this is Kirin. He has joined our cause in an alliance and provided us with some valuable information."
"This Haradrim is turning against his people for us?" Legolas said with obvious scepticism, his gaze attempting to penetrate Kirin's own to discern his intentions.
"I am not Haradrim," Kirin retorted, taking great exception to being labelled as such. He studied the elf, the first of the race that Kirin had ever seen and could tell the deep hatred that was behind his eyes. If it were not for the fact that this loathing had been caused by what was done to Melia, Kirin would have been more vocal about his offence. However, as such, he remained civil because the Lord of Eden Ardhon was his kinsman and Kirin had not deluded himself that this initial meeting would be anything but easy. "Neither am I of the Variags or the Easterlings, though my people have been known as such because folk have no other name for the people of the Sunlands."
"The Sunlands," Haldir's brow flew up in recognition. "Legolas, Melia's people…"
"You are of the Tribe Bors?" Legolas asked before Haldir could finish the question. It made sense. The Bors had been enemies of the Easterlings and the Haradrim for many years according to Melia. Their way of life offended their neighbours whose allegiance had been to Morgoth and Sauron. They felt it an affront that the Bors could deny their master's right to rule over them.
"Yes," Kirin nodded; glad to see that Melia had told her husband something of her people, even if she did feel an outcast among them. "I have come here with Lord Faramir and Pallando to offer the allegiance of the Bors to the armies of the west for the defeat of our mutual enemy, the Haradrim and the Easterlings."
"The Bors are marching," Faramir exlained, "they will arrive on the eastern front of the Sanara belt with an army four thousand strong."
"Four thousand?" Haldir exclaimed, making a mental calculation in his head at how much of an asset this would prove when their own armies finally met the enemy.
"If we help you defeat the Haradrim and the Easterlings, perhaps we can finally know peace," Kirin explained.
Legolas studied the man and there was something about him that seemed familiar and it did not take him long to discern what that was. How many times had he lain next to Melia, tracing the lines of her face, his fingers gliding over the velvet softness of her lips as he gazed into her eyes. He had come to know her body and her face intimately since their marriage and when he saw this man, he could see faint traces of Melia and knew why this man had crossed the desert to help them.
"Who are you?" Legolas asked suddenly, forgetting the business of alliances and war for the moment.
"I am the High Chieftain of the Bors," Kirin answered. "I have come a long way to forge this alliance. Do you still doubt me Lord of Eden Ardhon or do you see all men with dark skin as the enemy?"
"You are Telemar?" Legolas asked. He knew something of Melia's family. He knew her father was younger brother to the High Chieftain and that she had two cousins, the heir of the title, Telemar and his younger brother whom she had loved greatly because he was her friend. He had helped her escape the Sunlands when arrangement of marriage was forced upon her.
The mention of his brother's name surprised Kirin because he did not know how much Melia had told Legolas about her family. "No," he shook his head. "Telemar was my older brother. He was killed many years ago."
"You are Kirin," Legolas stated with a genuine smile.
"She told you," Kirin found himself joining Legolas in one of his own.
"She remembers you fondly," the elf replied.
"As I do her," Kirin answered. "I know what was done to her Lord Legolas and it is part of the reason why I am here. She is still a member of my house and as you are husband, by definition you are my kinsman. I am bound to offer you my personal allegiance."
Legolas did not know what to say. The arrival of the Bors had been an unexpected boon to say the least. An army four thousand strong was nothing to dismiss. However, it was a sobering thing to be confronted by the fact that even in this distant land, honour existed and he wished he could tell Melia that even though she had been unable to live among the Bors, the family she had left behind had not forgotten her.
"Your allegiance is much appreciated," Legolas said with sincere gratitude. "I wish Melia were here because I know she would wish to see you and offer you're her thanks herself."
"If this wars ends, who know?" Kirin remarked, "I have often wanted to see the Western lands."
"If this war ends," Legolas added, "you would be most welcomed to do so."
"In the meantime," Pallando interrupted, "I think we had better tell Legolas what the enemy has planned to defeat us."
"We should conduct this discussion in the presence of the king," Faramir declared, not wishing to make any plans without some input from Aragorn.
"I concur," Legolas agreed with Faramir, "let us leave talk of war for the moment. There has been altogether too much of that for my taste of late. At first light, we will meet with the our forces and we can talk of what is to be done."
It was a fair enough request for those with the knowledge of what was coming did not mind the respite from the situation. It would prey upon their thoughts soon enough and an interlude until dawn was greatly appreciated. Matters would become grim enough when they rejoined the western army and moved towards what could be the final battle in a history of long and bloody warfare between the races of men and elves.
*************
Aragorn was first to greet Gimli when the dwarf finally reached the army moving through Splinter at a brisk pace. When the King of Gondor had heard that the dwarf was within their ranks once more, he was filled with a deep sense of relief because with Melia's arrival, Legolas would finally be on the road to recovery. However, when he learnt that the dwarf had entered the encampment alone, Aragorn was struck with anxiety at what could have happened to the lady. Could it be possible that she actually refused to make the journey? Impossible, Aragorn thought as he made his way to the tent where Gimli was presently occupying to rest and clean up after his long journey. She loved Legolas too much to stay away when he was in such dire need.
Unless she had learnt what he had done in Axinar.
It had always been a possibility that her reaction to the news could garner this result but Aragorn had banked on her love for the elf to override even this situation. Had Aragorn been wrong and if so, what on earth would they tell Legolas when the time came to reveal to him what they had done behind his back? In any case, his speculation came to an abrupt end when he entered the half open flap of Gimli's tent. He knew he probably should have waited but other than hearing about the news of his return without Melia, Aragorn was genuinely eager to see his old friend from the Fellowship.
"Where is she?" Aragorn demanded when he entered and saw Gimli bent over a basin of water, splashing some of it on his face.
"I am happy to see you too," the dwarf remarked as he straightened up and met Aragorn's gaze.
"You know that I am," Aragorn frowned, annoyed that Melia's absence was the first thing out of his mouth instead of a greeting. "I simply did not expect to see you alone."
"I did not expect to be either," Gimli frowned, wiping his face with a clean rag as he came towards Aragorn in the middle of the small tent. "She left me less than three days journey from here and went home."
"Home?" Aragorn crooked a brow in confusion. "To Eden Ardhon?"
"No," Gimli shook his head slowly, anticipating that Aragorn was not going to like the rest of his news. "To the Sunlands."
Of all the responses he expected to hear from Gimli, it was possible that was the answer he least wanted to hear.
"Oh Elbereth," he swore under his breath and was grateful for the tent pole in the middle of the space for he needed to learn against it upon hearing that news.
"She saw what happened at Axinar and decided that she could not see him," Gimli replied. "She gave me a message for him and said that it would make him decide once and for all what was more important to him."
"What message could possibly do that?" Aragorn demanded, understandably angry. Not only had he gambled on Melia being able to salve the rage inside of Legolas, it now appeared that because she had been told of what happened in Haradwraith, she had left the elf entirely. How could Aragorn look Legolas in the eye and explain his part in it?
Gimli told him.
Aragorn was speechless for a moment and had to confess that the lady had a way all of her own in which she conducted herself. "She risks much in this course," he managed to say after a lengthy pause absorbing Gimli's words.
"I believe so but it is one way to cut to the heart of the matter," Gimli remarked. "The question is, how will Legolas see it?"
"If he loves her as much as he says and if the crux of his anger has been what was done to her, it should be a relatively easy answer," Aragorn met his gaze. "However, as I have come to learn in recent weeks, not all of Legolas' rage has to do with his wife. Some of it has to do very much with how he perceives is his due as a hero of the Fellowship."
"Due?" Gimli snorted. "We are alive to tell the tale, that is due enough."
"What we deserve and what we get are two different things," Aragorn replied. "You and I both know that. We are fortunate to not have been beset by what he has so we cannot say for certain that we would not behave in the same fashion. However, Melia may find that his vengeance is more important to him than his love for her."
"She said the same thing," Gimli pointed out, thinking how it should have been an obvious to her until Aragorn had voiced the same concern.
"She is no fool," Aragorn said not at all surprise, "I hope she knows what is doing by this action."
"I hope so too," the dwarf confessed with real worry in his eyes. "I would hate to see them pulled apart by this after everything that has happened."
"As would I," the king agreed with a deep sigh.
"So, that only leaves one other question," Gimli spoke up and drew Aragorn's gaze to him. "Which one of us will tell him?"
***********
The dilemma that faced Aragorn and Gimli regarding Melia was shunted aside for the moment when Legolas returned to their encampment with Faramir, Pallando and Kirin once again, although it was by no means forgotten. Fortunately, the joyful reunion of Faramir's return to the fold distracted both the king of Gondor and the Lord of Aglarond from the unpleasant duty they would soon face when they revealed what had transpired during Melia's journey to Haradwraith. For the time being, their personal business could wait even though ironically enough, Kirin was related to Melia by blood and the alliance that the Bors offered the Ruling Council had come about because of Legolas marriage to the lady.
Aragorn wondered what Kirin would think if he knew that even as they spoke, Melia was on her way to home.
Such business however, was not discussed at the meeting that took place later that evening after all parties were rested. Aragorn was inordinately happy to see Faramir back from his journey into enemy territory unharmed and was rather curious that Faramir seemed reluctant to delve too deeply into his personal exploits but was freely offering his observations about life in the Sanara Belt. Faramir's account of Mahazar and its people made Aragorn wished that they were going there under different circumstances. During his travels, he had never penetrated so far into this territory and now regretted the opportunity to see the Haradrim cities that had their own splendour even under Sauron's oppressive hand.
Legolas, too, was happy to see Gimli returned to them although Aragorn suspected that Legolas was not entirely convinced when Gimli explained his reason for returning home was due to some vague crisis in Aglarond that required his immediate attention. Fortunately, the elf held too great a love for the dwarf to openly challenge that lie and for the time being at least was content to accept Gimli on his word. It was just as well because he would know soon enough the truth behind it all. At the moment, they had more important tasks to occupy their thoughts.
Now that they possessed reasonably accurate intelligence as to what awaited them once they pierced the eye of the Splinter, it was time to decide their next course of action. Aragorn had no intention of campaigning for years in Haradrim territories and wanted a swift and decisive end to this conflict. Their supply lines remained undisrupted and their progress had been brisk and it would only be a matter of days before they had breached the Wall entirely. Now that that they had received a boon in the form of Kirin's unexpected arrival an alliance with the Bors who were willing to fight alongside them, there was no better time than now to end this war once and for all.
Aragorn knew his reason for wishing a swift end to the war were selfish. As king, he should not expect to be delivered from the same sacrifices he asked of his people in the waging of this conflict, but the truth was Aragorn was utterly sick of this war. Of late, his thoughts were too often returning to Minas Tirith, Arwen and their son. It already felt as if he had spent and eternity away from them. He wanted a definitive peace with the peoples of the southern and eastern lands because the war that had spread across the west had marked him and his friends irrevocably on such a personal level. Eomer and Imrahil felt suitably tarnished for their part in this war and the means by which they had fought it, not to mention what had happened to Lothiriel in Edoras. The elves had been delivered a sobering lesson that despite that long existence, they were capable of brutality as any other race.
He himself had not been left unscathed, remembering the terrible spell that had overcome him when the Easterling's shape shifting allies had turned him against Arwen. Aragorn still felt his blood turn cold and his stomach heaving with disgust when he remembered waking up from that terrible cloud of evil and having to face what he had had done to Eowyn during their battle. The lady had held her own in their bout but she could not match him for skill and had paid the price for it. Inwardly, he knew that if given the opportunity, there was every possibility he could have killed Eowyn that day.
And then there was Legolas and Melia.
Both of whom had been wounded so badly whose rage at what had happened to them had swept them away in a tidal of emotion and there was no end in sight, not might there ever be even if the war ended tomorrow. As it was, Aragorn was not looking forward to telling Legolas that by their action of sending for Melia, they had brought her into the heart of his darkness in Haradwraith and forced her to take measures the elf would not take kindly to when he realised what they had done. Melia was playing an uncertain game, gambling that Legolas loved her more than he wanted his vengeance. When Aragorn told Legolas about Melia, that question would be answered irrevocably though not to the conclusion that any of the parties may find acceptable or satisfactory.
It was not just the elf and the lady who had been so injured. There were wounds upon all whom Aragorn called his friends, not merely ones that could be seen with the eye. It would take them all a long time to recover from this war because they had all been marked by as if branded by hot iron. Aragorn knew that he was unrealistic about things returning to the way they were before this had all began but he could not help thinking more and more of that last gathering, when they had all dined and shared stories, the night before the delegation from the Easterling Confederacy had arrived in Minas Tirith and changed everygthng with their hate.
He thought about how happy they had been that night, completely unaware that the world was about to deal them a rather unsettling hand. They had looked upon the coming day of hope, a day to herald a new era of peace not seen since Sauron was vanquished. The irony of where he was now left a bitter taste in his mouth and it was during these moments that Aragorn could almost share Legolas' desire for vengeance because it was a terrible thing to have such faith trampled into the dirt. There were moments when Aragorn wanted the head of the Haradrim leader as much as Legolas for reasons such as personal as Melia's violation and the destruction at Eden Ardhon.
The meeting took place after Faramir, Pallando and their new guest, Kirin, had been given time to rest and freshen themselves after the long journey to the Wall. The ruling Council of Middle earth, Pallando and their new Easterling ally converged in Aragorn's large tent and sat at the table to discuss their war plans and the part the Bors would play in the conquest of the Sanara Belt. The mood was one of anticipation because the familiar dynamic of the war council had been displaced somewhat at the presence of their new ally who unlike them who were all friends, was a stranger.
Kirin seemed uncomfortable by the concept of chairs and sat down gingerly as if he did not trust them as much as he did the padded cushions and mats that were customary for his people. Observing him, Aragorn could see some traces of Melia upon his face. He wondered how some one so young could have risen to the position Kirin now held among his people and then remembered that it was not uncommon since Eomer was a relatively young man and yet he was the undisputed and beloved ruler of Rohan.
"Those of you who have not met our esteemed guest, this is Kirin, High Chieftain of the Tribe Bors and its territories," Aragorn announced up as he open the meeting after everyone had taken their places and were looking to him to begin their talks. There was a fire warming the confines of the tent and its flames bathed the room in an ambient glow as all the attendants faced each other.
Eomer and Imrahil offered the Easterling a nod of acknowledgement while Faramir gave Kirin a look of encouragement. Aragorn was often amazed by Faramir's skill as a diplomat and supposed that it was a family trait he probably acquired from Finduilas' side of the family, since Imrahil no different and was similarly thoughtful in nature. It was Boromir who took after Denethor.
"Thanks to a fortuitous meeting between our comrades and Lord Kirin in the Haradrim capital of Mahazar, we have learnt that our enemy has a name. It was Dallanar, king of the Haradrim who convinced the Easterlings to war against us and Dallanar who orchestrated most of the attacks upon our lands in recent months. While the fervour he engendered in his people to attack is much abated, it appears that Dallanar is marshalling his forces and that of his allies for one final stand against us."
"Do they plan to attack us upon our emergence through the Splinter?" Eomer inquired.
"No," Kirin answered before Aragorn could. "They do not. They have not the resources to fight a battle for so many troops in the Barrens, it must be done as close to the Belt as possible in order to take advantage of the crops and water supply there."
"They mean to take it into the towns and cities?" Imrahil said with some measure of shock. They were all aware of how vulnerable they were to an attack in the Splinter and were certain that the enemy would know of it as well. To think that Dallanar intended to simply disregard this opportunity when they were so exposed was somewhat surprising.
"As far as I know," Kirin nodded. "However, my people are moving fast. I estimate they will arrive at the eastern flank of Mahazar by the time your army reaches the belt."
"We should throw everything we can at them," Imrahil suggested, "draw their attention away from the advancing army of the Bors so that by the time they are aware of it, it will be too late."
"That is a reasonable plan," Aragorn replied. "However, we should not allow them to choose our battlefield for us."
"We need uneven terrain," Legolas added. "The mumakils will come straight through us if we face them on a flat plain."
"I am afraid that Legolas is correct," Kirin added his voice to the discussion, "there are many war oliphants in their possession and should they draw you into the open, they will charge. I believe King Elessar is correct, we should engage them in less advantageous place."
"There are some hills just before the Sanara belt," Faramir remarked, giving Kirin's suggestion some thought. "Pallando and I encountered them whilst we were journeying eastward with a caravan of merchants. The terrain is very uneven, I believed it could have been a mountain that has been worn away by time. There are numerous passages in and out of it cut by the Sanara's flow. It could be useful to us to draw the enemy into this place. It is a perfect place for a trap."
"Conduct our battle there and then circle them in steel once they have lost their advantage with the mumakils," Eomer concluded, finding much merit in Faramir's plan.
"I believe the place you speak of is called Anumet," Kirin replied, recognising it by Faramir's description. "That would be a good place to engage the enemy."
"But how shall we draw them into meeting us there?" Gimli asked, bringing up this rather pertinent question.
There was silence across the table for a few seconds as they debated the question before Legolas spoke up, his eyes bright with excitement at having reached a solution of sorts. "Kirin, how long would you think Dallanar believes us away from the Belt?"
Kirin met the elf's gaze, his brow furrowing, "I believe he thinks you are at least several weeks away."
"That is what I thought," Legolas nodded and turned back to Aragorn. "Aragorn what if we allowed word to reach the enemy that we will be entering the Belt through Anumet? If it is advantages for us to attack them there, it may also be said that their armies can engage us in similar potency if they believed they had the element of surprise."
"Go on," Aragorn stared at the elf, wondering where he was going with this line of thought even though Aragorn's own mind was starting to fill with possibilities.
"If Dallanar is sensible, he will attempt to engage us in a trap at Anumet by lying in wait for us when we arrive there. However, if we could hasten our pace considerably, arrive there days before he and his army believes us capable…"
"We would be the ones setting the trap," Aragorn concluded neatly and saw the ripple of consideration moving across the faces of those assembled, particularly because the plan had merit. If the enemy could be manoeuvred into fighting on their terms, than the victory that they needed to give Kirin's army the opportunity to take Mahazar was more than possible.
"How will we get this information to Dallanar?" Gimli asked, voicing a pertinent concern.
"I can do that," Pallando stated. "However, this time I should prefer to go alone. No offence to Lord Faramir but it is easier for me to do what I must without having to concern myself with the welfare of another or threading lightly."
"And here I thought you were enjoying my company," Faramir joked mildly.
"Then you shall have your wish," Aragorn interrupted the banter between the two, "I will have need of Lord Faramir here if we are to engage the enemy in combat."
"I would suggest that the cavalry ride first," Eomer offered sensibly. "Our riders will be able to reach Anumet far swifter than the rankers and we can take up position and survey the terrain in the instance there are any forces there that could be a threat to us."
"I can show him the way," Pallando offered. "It is on the road to Mahazar and will not take me too far off my course."
"Very well," Aragorn agreed, somewhat gratified by how swiftly the details were coming along now that they had a definite plan of attack.
"Haldir can lead the elven cavalry under your command Eomer," Legolas declared, making eye contact with the Rohirrim king. Eomer was somewhat taken back by the offer as he would have assumed that Legolas would want to be the first into Anumet for such a decisive engagement with the enemy.
"I would be honoured," Eomer said graciously, his surprise still apparent. "I would have thought you would wish to lead them yourself."
"Haldir is capable and I should be with the rest of our forces," Legolas answered, aware that Eomer had cause for scepticism, particularly since his behaviour at Haradwraith was nothing Legolas was overly proud of. In recent weeks, since Nunaur's death, Legolas had thought deeply of his rage and knew that he had strained friendships on all sides with his behaviour. This concession he was making was not only for the best but also to show the others that he was changed by what had happened at Cordoba. "There will be plenty of sport for all once we engage Dallanar and his army."
A silence fell over the table for a brief moment, revealing to Kirin that there was some tension among the allies that he was not privy to The High Chieftain of the Bors made no comment upon this however because it was not his place.
Wishing to propel them past the silence, Aragorn spoke up, directing his words at their new ally. "Lord Kirin, once we have made the necessary preparations, you should return to your army and tell them what is intended. If fortune favours us, when you take Mahazar, the armies of the west will be there to join you."
*************
When the meeting was ended and the others had departed from the room, only Gimli had lingered behind with Aragorn. Legolas was about to take his leave to inform Haldir of their discussions this evening when he sensed that there was something on Estel's mind that the king of Gondor was reluctant to say. He had noticed it during most of the meeting with the War Council by the furtive glances by both Aragorn and Gimli aimed in his direction. Something unsettled him in the pit of his stomach though he could not say what exactly might be the cause and certainly, the reason that Aragorn and Gimli had yet to say preyed heavily upon their minds as well. He could see it in their eyes.
Thus he was hardly surprised when he heard Aragorn bidding him to stay and hoped his two best friends would finally reveal to him what was troubling them so. If it was his behaviour, he knew he had a great deal to make amends for. After all, he had put Gimli and Aragorn through a great deal of torment by his actions and could stand to endure some berating if this was indeed what they wished to see him about.
"You look nervous Estel," Legolas said as his eyes shifted between Aragorn and Gimli who had come to the decision that they would tell him about Melia together, since it was both their decision, even if the idea was originally originated from Haldir.
"I have something to tell you," Aragorn swallowed thickly, not looking forward to this at all.
"We have something to tell you," Gimli added quickly in a show of solidarity with the Gondorian king.
Suddenly Legolas felt something cold snake up his spine and it felt as if the room had suddenly become darker for there were more shadows visible to his eyes, shadows that seemed to loom over his friends.
"What is it?" He asked quietly, wondering if Gimli had brought some terrible news from the west. Was Melia hurt?
"You must understand that you worried us greatly with your behaviour," Aragorn spoke because he was better to articulate what they had done than Gimli even though he was realistic that there would be no softening the delivery of this news. "We feared that you would consume yourself in blind vengeance."
"And?" Legolas demanded, having heard this before. They were on the precipice of something dark, he knew it.
"We thought that perhaps if we sent for Melia she would be able to help you through your difficulties," Gimli replied. "That is why I returned to the west, to retrieve Melia."
Legolas took this rather calmly despite the surge of white hot rage bubbling inside of him. That his friends had gone behind his back and involved the woman that he loved in this ugliness in Haradwraith had not even begin to exert his full power over his psyche. What did concern him was the fact that if Gimli had returned to Minas Tirith for Melia, then why was she not here?
"What have you done?" He asked slowly but the question was unmistakably an accusation.
"She has gone Legolas," Aragorn said after a long pause.
"Gone?" Legolas' heart stopped beating in his chest for a moment. "Gone where?"
"To the Sunlands," Gimli replied. "When she saw what happened in Axinar, she decided she would go home to her people."
"She has left me?" Legolas asked, unable to even imagine this could be true.
"No," Aragorn shook his head, "she still loves you and she does not wish things to end between you both but after seeing what you were driven to do in Axinar because of your love for her, she was determined to halt your self destructive course once and for all."
"And she did this by leaving me," Legolas said sharply, revisited by the memory of Melia's flight after the death of her mother. She had left him in the Grey Mountains without so much as a word and fled to Angmar. It was months before he saw her again, months where he was almost broken with grief at her absence from his life.
"She did not leave you," Gimli said quickly, wishing this point to be clarified above all else. Gimli too remembered those days when Melia had left Legolas and how the elf had suffered his anguish stoically. "She says that if you love her, you will leave the conflict now and find her in the Sunlands."
"So to prove my love to her, yet again, I must leave the army that I have been given command of by my father and by your kinsmen Lord Celeborn and simply ride after her in the Sunlands?" Legolas asked, growing angrier by the moment.
"Legolas, she was trying to help…" Aragorn insisted, seeing the fury in the elf's eyes and knew that it was blinding Legolas to his love for the lady.
"I have had quite enough of everyone attempting to help me," Legolas barked, glaring at both Aragorn and Gimli with eyes like daggers as he spat out those words. "I would thank you to keep your nose out of my affairs, lest there is some other part of my life you should like to dismantle."
"Legolas, you cannot simply leave it like this," Gimli declared, seeing that Legolas was preparing to leave the room. "She's waiting for you."
"Then she can wait until I am finished in Mahazar," Legolas said icily. "I have proven that I love her more than necessary and if she chooses to run as she always does when things become more than she can bear, I will not stop her but I am the commander of the elven army and I cannot simply abandon my people because my wife needs another reaffirmation of my love for her."
"Legolas you know that is not true, she merely wishes to save you from yourself," Aragorn pleaded. "You cannot let her go."
"I did not let her go," Legolas stared at him. "She went of her own accord with no small measure of help from you two, do not think I have forgotten that."
And with that, he stormed out of the tent, leaving them both behind in stunned silence.
"He is a fool," Gimli managed to say after what seemed like hours instead of minutes later. "He would let her go? I thought he loved her! I thought elves loved only once."
"He does love her," Aragorn sighed loudly, "but he wants to kill Dallanar more."
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