Thanks to all the wonderful people who reviewed! May you be showered in
chocolate nuggets! (Mmm.) And to ElfSpinster, YAY! You knew it! As you
wish, I shall creat a picture of Melior for you. I do need your email first
though. (If you write a fanfic, let me know) I'm so happy that someone
actually knew of that series. Everyone needs to go find and read "The
Twelve Treasures" by Rosemary Edghill. The first book is especially good.
(Elf meets New York, you read this and like it, so no arguments.) Well,
that's about it for now. EHAB says "Hey!" (Actually, she says something
long and involving much elvish, but the summary is Hey and Thanks.)
~Pheona~
Chapter 21: Track The Army
"Are we lost?" Jeremie asked suddenly.
"No, we're about a day's journey from the Crossroads," Megan replied easily. "How could we get lost? We're following the tracks of an army."
"Elves don't leave tracks," Joseph pointed out.
"No, but Elendil's troops are human," Erynen spoke up in Megan's defense.
"Excuse me, guys," Jeremie said, "but what are the 'Crossroads'?"
"Did you ever READ The Lord of the Rings?" Megan asked pointedly.
"Yeah, but I don't memorize every detail the way that you and Sivi do."
"Peace, people," Joseph interceded. "The Crossroads are exactly what their name implies: a meeting of two roads so that the traveler can choose to go in one of four directions. We'll head north."
"Why north?" Jeremie inquired.
"We must skirt the Ered Lui and the Ephel Duath," Erynsir explained.
"So -- wait. We're going through the Dead Marshes?" jeremie balked.
"Just the southern tip of them," Megan reassured him.
"The Dead Marshes?" Erynen frowned.
"The wetlands south of the Emyn Muil," Joseph supplied helpfully.
"So, run the entire plan by me one more time, specifics and all," Jeremie requested. "Where are we supposed to catch up with Elendil?"
"Right about the time we hit the marshes," Joseph answered.
"And when we do meet up with him, what happens?"
"We have no idea," Megan laughed.
For some days, they continued thus. Legolas became as accustomed to his much younger father as he possibly could; Sivi and Andrea endeavored to avoid the notice of the Elven-king; and Megan, Jeremie, and Joseph, along with their new friends, made good time and gained much lost ground in their attempt to intercept the kings of the Last Alliance. In this manner, the Crossroads appeared and were left behind, both parties turned north-east and held their course for a time, and nothing very noteworthy took place. Still, no one knew what had become of Sarah and Christina, and we will not pause here to tell you.
When at last the mire and muck of the rancid bog was seen on the dismal horizon, comes it as such a great surprise that none rejoiced? For Joseph, the moment was twice as awful. What now was he to do? How to direct his companions? He had but the night to think it over.
"Jeremie, you and Erynen make a fire. Megan, Erynsir, come with me. We're close enough now to go and at least circle the army before dawn. I'm not sure what good it will do, but it might help to know who's where."
The three of them set about circling the whole of the army's camp. They gave it as wide a berth as they could without defeating their own purpose as scouts, for the majority of the Elves were still awake around their fires. Most of the Men were already snoring hard. (This might have explained why so few of the Elves were asleep.)
After they had slipped silently around over half the army, a light voice hailed them out of the gloom joseph's stomach somersaulted. Then the last person they had expected came forward to meet them. They could not see him very well, since he was enshrouded in the same shadows as they, but it was Legolas.
"What are you doing here?" Megan asked, delighted.
"I was drafted," Legolas explained tiredly. "And you?"
"We're still trying to figure out what to do," Joseph admitted.
"Who is this?" Legolas asked, indicating Erynsir.
"I am Erynsir, son of Amansir. I joined your party at Minas Tirith the day after you were discovered missing, as did Erynen my cousin, who has remained at our camp with your companion Jeremie. Friend Joseph," he added, "your story is here corroborated. Forgive me my hasty tongue and unbelieving heart."
Joseph grinned.
"Sah-right."
"As touching our plans for tomorrow," Legolas spoke up, "you might lead the kings into the marshes -- if you were certain that you could lead them out again."
"We're not certain of much of anything at this point, except that God is both Sovereign and Good," Megan said, "and that Jesus is Lord and will take care of us."
"Amen," answered Joseph. "Knowing that that's true, I say we take the Elves on a wild goose chase."
"I don't think geese could live in that swamp. Maybe a Marshwiggle could," Megan chuckled, "but not a goose."
As one, Erynsir and Legolas asked,
"What is a Marshwiggle?"
~Pheona~
Chapter 21: Track The Army
"Are we lost?" Jeremie asked suddenly.
"No, we're about a day's journey from the Crossroads," Megan replied easily. "How could we get lost? We're following the tracks of an army."
"Elves don't leave tracks," Joseph pointed out.
"No, but Elendil's troops are human," Erynen spoke up in Megan's defense.
"Excuse me, guys," Jeremie said, "but what are the 'Crossroads'?"
"Did you ever READ The Lord of the Rings?" Megan asked pointedly.
"Yeah, but I don't memorize every detail the way that you and Sivi do."
"Peace, people," Joseph interceded. "The Crossroads are exactly what their name implies: a meeting of two roads so that the traveler can choose to go in one of four directions. We'll head north."
"Why north?" Jeremie inquired.
"We must skirt the Ered Lui and the Ephel Duath," Erynsir explained.
"So -- wait. We're going through the Dead Marshes?" jeremie balked.
"Just the southern tip of them," Megan reassured him.
"The Dead Marshes?" Erynen frowned.
"The wetlands south of the Emyn Muil," Joseph supplied helpfully.
"So, run the entire plan by me one more time, specifics and all," Jeremie requested. "Where are we supposed to catch up with Elendil?"
"Right about the time we hit the marshes," Joseph answered.
"And when we do meet up with him, what happens?"
"We have no idea," Megan laughed.
For some days, they continued thus. Legolas became as accustomed to his much younger father as he possibly could; Sivi and Andrea endeavored to avoid the notice of the Elven-king; and Megan, Jeremie, and Joseph, along with their new friends, made good time and gained much lost ground in their attempt to intercept the kings of the Last Alliance. In this manner, the Crossroads appeared and were left behind, both parties turned north-east and held their course for a time, and nothing very noteworthy took place. Still, no one knew what had become of Sarah and Christina, and we will not pause here to tell you.
When at last the mire and muck of the rancid bog was seen on the dismal horizon, comes it as such a great surprise that none rejoiced? For Joseph, the moment was twice as awful. What now was he to do? How to direct his companions? He had but the night to think it over.
"Jeremie, you and Erynen make a fire. Megan, Erynsir, come with me. We're close enough now to go and at least circle the army before dawn. I'm not sure what good it will do, but it might help to know who's where."
The three of them set about circling the whole of the army's camp. They gave it as wide a berth as they could without defeating their own purpose as scouts, for the majority of the Elves were still awake around their fires. Most of the Men were already snoring hard. (This might have explained why so few of the Elves were asleep.)
After they had slipped silently around over half the army, a light voice hailed them out of the gloom joseph's stomach somersaulted. Then the last person they had expected came forward to meet them. They could not see him very well, since he was enshrouded in the same shadows as they, but it was Legolas.
"What are you doing here?" Megan asked, delighted.
"I was drafted," Legolas explained tiredly. "And you?"
"We're still trying to figure out what to do," Joseph admitted.
"Who is this?" Legolas asked, indicating Erynsir.
"I am Erynsir, son of Amansir. I joined your party at Minas Tirith the day after you were discovered missing, as did Erynen my cousin, who has remained at our camp with your companion Jeremie. Friend Joseph," he added, "your story is here corroborated. Forgive me my hasty tongue and unbelieving heart."
Joseph grinned.
"Sah-right."
"As touching our plans for tomorrow," Legolas spoke up, "you might lead the kings into the marshes -- if you were certain that you could lead them out again."
"We're not certain of much of anything at this point, except that God is both Sovereign and Good," Megan said, "and that Jesus is Lord and will take care of us."
"Amen," answered Joseph. "Knowing that that's true, I say we take the Elves on a wild goose chase."
"I don't think geese could live in that swamp. Maybe a Marshwiggle could," Megan chuckled, "but not a goose."
As one, Erynsir and Legolas asked,
"What is a Marshwiggle?"