~ It's been a while since you saw this, huh? Forgot all about me? He².
Chapter 6: The Leave Taking
We were offered food and drink as refreshments after our long, hard journey. Much happened in those four days. But these past couple months were what I was dreaming for. True, my father, King Thranduil, sent me on missions such as patrolling the Mirkwood border, or aiding Rivendell and Lothlorien in a small battle to straighten a few things out with other elven kingdoms. But I had never actually been on a spectacular, important quest such as this.
I leaned against the stone pillar and stood by the table as Aragorn and Gimli ate and drank. As an elf, I did not need as much nourishment as they did, at least, not yet. I could survive without it for now.
Gandalf had just brought in two small children, and Eowyn tended to them, giving them hot broth and bread. They looked tired and malnourished, and I could sense torment in them, as if they just suffered through a terrible ordeal. Turned out that they did, for their homeland was attacked by Saruman's orcs and Uruk-Hai. They managed to escape, but they were very worried about their other relatives who did not escape with them, especially their mother. The little ones kept asking Eowyn where their mother was, and for once I felt pity towards the little ones.
"They had no warning," Eowyn explained.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," Gandalf added. "All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from the women and children. You must fight."
Aragorn joined in the conversation. "You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak," he said. "Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Of course. Eomer and his band were banished from Rohan. There was no telling where they were now.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now," Theoden argued, getting up from his throne and approached Aragorn. He read exactly what was in my mind. "Eomer cannot help us. I know what is that you want of me. But I would not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you, whether would risk it or not," Aragorn counterargued.
Theoden glared at him. "When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan," he said quietly but venomously. If he were not the king of Rohan, I would have struck him down where he stood.
I then heard a small burp coming from the table. I looked over to see Gimli wiping his mouth with his forearm. I gave him a dirty look; now was not the time for jokes.
Gandalf interfered before the tension between Theoden and Aragorn became worse. "Then what is the king's decision?" he questioned.
From the look on Theoden's face, I could tell his solution is not of violence, but of passiveness. That could only mean one thing. We were leaving.
~ I know the title is supposed to be for the Rivendell elves leaving and sailing to the West. But I thought the title was more appropriate for the Rohan citizens leaving their hometown and fleeing to Helm's Deep. And yes, this was a short chapter. I'll update the next chapter as soon as I can. In the meantime, please review!
Chapter 6: The Leave Taking
We were offered food and drink as refreshments after our long, hard journey. Much happened in those four days. But these past couple months were what I was dreaming for. True, my father, King Thranduil, sent me on missions such as patrolling the Mirkwood border, or aiding Rivendell and Lothlorien in a small battle to straighten a few things out with other elven kingdoms. But I had never actually been on a spectacular, important quest such as this.
I leaned against the stone pillar and stood by the table as Aragorn and Gimli ate and drank. As an elf, I did not need as much nourishment as they did, at least, not yet. I could survive without it for now.
Gandalf had just brought in two small children, and Eowyn tended to them, giving them hot broth and bread. They looked tired and malnourished, and I could sense torment in them, as if they just suffered through a terrible ordeal. Turned out that they did, for their homeland was attacked by Saruman's orcs and Uruk-Hai. They managed to escape, but they were very worried about their other relatives who did not escape with them, especially their mother. The little ones kept asking Eowyn where their mother was, and for once I felt pity towards the little ones.
"They had no warning," Eowyn explained.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," Gandalf added. "All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from the women and children. You must fight."
Aragorn joined in the conversation. "You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak," he said. "Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Of course. Eomer and his band were banished from Rohan. There was no telling where they were now.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now," Theoden argued, getting up from his throne and approached Aragorn. He read exactly what was in my mind. "Eomer cannot help us. I know what is that you want of me. But I would not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you, whether would risk it or not," Aragorn counterargued.
Theoden glared at him. "When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan," he said quietly but venomously. If he were not the king of Rohan, I would have struck him down where he stood.
I then heard a small burp coming from the table. I looked over to see Gimli wiping his mouth with his forearm. I gave him a dirty look; now was not the time for jokes.
Gandalf interfered before the tension between Theoden and Aragorn became worse. "Then what is the king's decision?" he questioned.
From the look on Theoden's face, I could tell his solution is not of violence, but of passiveness. That could only mean one thing. We were leaving.
~ I know the title is supposed to be for the Rivendell elves leaving and sailing to the West. But I thought the title was more appropriate for the Rohan citizens leaving their hometown and fleeing to Helm's Deep. And yes, this was a short chapter. I'll update the next chapter as soon as I can. In the meantime, please review!