A/N - I said I wouldn't update, but I caved. I really enjoy feedback
though, hint, hint.
Thank's to everyone who reviews.
The songs in this part a Tolkien's works, not mine.
Samantha.
Part 26.
Several days later they floated past the Argonath, Pillars of Kings. Arwen felt Aragorn's joy as if it were her own as they sailed on past the monuments.
Beyond the monuments Aragorn bade them to listen as spoke of the country surrounding them. "There lies Tol Brandir, and to the left Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw, the Hills of Sight and Hearing."
The three peaks darkened in the twilight, while the Falls of Rauros roared like a great voice.
They landed the boats in a natural inlet, each knowing that they had reached the last part of their River journey, the words of Galadriel ringing in each person's ears.
"This is the lawn of Parth Galen." Aragorn told them, "Let us rest here tonight."
Routinely everyone set about fetching wood for a fire, and clean water to cook with, and wash in. They passed the night without hearing or seeing Gollum, hoping that he had been thrown off their trail.
All rose early the next morning, and sat around the campfire, waiting to hear which path they would take to Mordor from where they sat.
"Now," Aragorn began, "We are facing a parting of the ways. We may go with Boromir, into the West to fight in the war with Gondor, against the Enemy. We may turn into the East and face the Fear and Shadow. Or, we may break our Fellowship and turn which ever way each of us sees fit." His voice was solemn. "We cannot stop here long. Sting and Shalat are already telling that there may yet be Orcs on this side of the River."
A long silence followed, during which no one spoke, or even moved.
"Frodo?" Arwen asked, "This is your decision, you are the Ringbearer appointed by the Council. You alone can choose the path you wish to take."
"I know that haste is needed, but I cannot choose. Give me one hour, and I will speak. For now, let me be alone with my thoughts." Frodo spoke slowly, burdened by the weight of the choice he had yet to make.
"Do not stray too far, or out of our call." Aragorn cautioned him.
Arwen watched as Frodo stood and walked slowly up the slope, each step burdened by both the Ring about his neck, and his choice.
She watched silently from the foot of a large tree, Elessar perched once more on her shoulder as Boromir slipped away silently, unnoticed by any of the others. Her eyes followed him warily as the Man of Gondor re-traced Frodo's trail up the slope.
Arwen said nothing, her mind becoming a swirl of things yet to come, and things that perhaps were not to come. After a long time she spoke, "Frodo has been gone too long."
As she spoke Boromir reappeared, walking through the trees to take his place around the small fire, as though he had never left. "Boromir," Aragorn began, "Where have you been? Have you seen Frodo?"
"Yes I saw Frodo." Boromir told them, "We spoke somewhere up on the hill. I urged him to journey towards Gondor, and not to go East. I became angry and he left me."
Arwen stared at him, her gaze sharp, all seeing. "Are you sure that is all you said to him?"
"How long since you last saw Frodo?" Aragorn asked him, his voice as unforgiving as Arwen's gaze. "Half an hour, maybe an hour. I don't know. After we argued he vanished."
"The Ring." Sam muttered.
"We must find him," Arwen said, her voice giving way to a hint of desperation. She unsheathed Shalat to show the brightening hue of the glowing blue blade. "The Orcs are coming closer."
"Split up." Aragorn ordered, already starting off up the slope.
Arwen sheathed Shalat and joined the others as they dashed up to the slope, in a desperate attempt to find Frodo and the One Ring.
She heard Aragorn shout for Sam to stay with him, but in her heart, Arwen knew that he would go to his Master. She paced herself close behind Legolas and Gimli, as the three ran, they heard the piercing sound of Boromir's Horn of Gondor.
Over the rise of the hill Orcs swarmed upon them, all bearing the symbol of a white hand haphazardly palm printed somewhere on their person.
All drew their weapons, preparing to stand and fight, and fight they did, felling many with the swing of Gimli's ax, and the many arrows of Arwen and Legolas as well as Legolas' Elven hunting knives and Arwen's blue sword Shalat.
Long into their battle the Orcs began to withdraw, finally allowing Legolas, Gimli and Arwen to search once more for their friends.
They ran on swift feet to where Boromir's horn had blown before the beginning of their own battle.
Part 27.
They found Boromir in a clearing, Aragorn standing over him, his head bent in prayer. Orc arrows had pierced Boromir's body, and all knew at a glance that he had passed.
"The hobbits?" Gimli burst out, "Where are the hobbits?"
"I know not." Aragorn told him, his heart heavy. "Before he passed, Boromir told me that the Orcs bound them and carried them off. He did not think that they were dead. I sent him to follow Merry and Pippin, but I didn't ask of Frodo and Sam until it was too late."
"We must tend to his body." Arwen spoke softly. She knew all of what Boromir had told Aragorn in the moments before his passing. She had seen it in a vision.
Aragorn nodded. "We must be quick though."
"We can send him off to Rauros in one of the boats." Gimli told them, "An honorable end I would say."
"I agree with you, Master Dwarf." Legolas said. "Make haste."
Together they built a rough stretcher, and laying their cloaks upon it, carried their fallen companion to the boats, and set Boromir afloat.
Slowly Aragorn began to sing. ##Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows
The West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes.
'What news from the West, o wandering wind, do you bring me tonight?
Have you seen Boromir the Tall by moon or by starlight?'
'I saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and gray;
I saw him walk in empty lands, until he passed away
Into the shadows of the North. I saw him then no more.
The North Wind may have heard the horn of the son of Denethor.'
'O Boromir! From high walls westward I looked afar,
But you came not from empty lands, where no men are.'##
Once he finished Legolas began to sing.
##From the mouths of the Sea the South Wind flies, from the sandhills and the stones;
The wailing of the gulls it bears, and at the gate it moans.
'What news from the South, O sighing wind, do you bring to me at eve?
Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve.'
'Ask not of me where he doth dwell - so many bones there lie
On the white shores and the dark shores until the stormy sky;
So many have passed down Anduin to find the flowing Sea.
Ask of the North Wind news of them the North Wind sends to me!'
'O Boromir! Beyond the gate the seaward road runs south,
But you came not with the wailing gulls from the gray seas mouth.'##
Then Arwen began to sing the next verse.
##From the Gate of Kings the North Wind rides, and past the roaring falls;
And clear and cold about the tower its loud horn calls.
'What news from the North, O mighty wind, do you bring to me today?
What news of Boromir the Bold? For he is long away.' 'Beneath Amon Hen I heard his cry. There many foes he fought.
His cloven shield, his broken sword, they to the water brought.
His head so proud, his face so fair, his limbs they laid to rest;
And Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, bore him upon its breast.'
'O Boromir! The Tower of the Guard shall ever northwards gaze
To Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, until the end of days.##
The remaining four stood silently for a moment, remembering their companion. Slowly they shook themselves out of grief.
"Where is the other boat?" Legolas asked, alarmed.
Aragorn gazed around the camp. Nothing was in disarray. "I know not, there are no footprints here save our own, and those of the hobbits."
"Frodo is gone." Arwen told them gently. "He must have come back here while we were searching for him. He has taken the boat."
"Then the Orcs only have the three they don't need." Gimli nodded, "That's good isn't it, they don't have the Ring."
"The Orcs only have Merry and Pippin, Aragorn." Arwen spoke again. "Sam disappeared from your side, even though you told him to stay with you. In the end Sam's loyalty to his Master won out. He knew Frodo better than any of us. He knew that Frodo would return to the boats. Frodo found it hard to leave Sam behind."
"What should we do? Should we follow Frodo? Or follow the Orcs on foot?" Gimli asked, "There is little hope either way."
"There is always hope." Arwen told him firmly, "Even when you cannot see it." "It is clear that Frodo and Sam are no longer on this side of the river." Aragorn told them. "The Company has played it's part. We cannot forsake Merry and Pippin while we have strength left. We cannot leave them to the Orcs."
Arwen nodded, thinking of her mother. "We cannot abandon them."
"Leave behind all that can be spared." Aragorn told them, "Let's hunt some Orcs."
"It will be a long chase," Legolas said, "They have a long start on us."
Part 28.
The four ran, sure-footed and swift not stopping to eat or rest. Aragorn trained his eyes on the ground as he ran, checking the spoor of their quarry, looking for any sign that might point to Merry's and Pippin's safety.
As he did so, Elessar, Arwen's falcon flew high above them, acting as a lookout. In the times that he needed rest, Arwen tucked him in underneath her cloak, then relying on her and Legolas's eyes to keep lookout for them.
Long after they began, Aragorn paused briefly at the top of one of the hills. "Do you see?" He gestured with his hand.
"It's a large group, moving on foot." Legolas told him.
High above them, Elessar shrieked a message to Arwen. "Elessar says they are about twelve leagues in front of us, maybe less. The flatness of the plain makes it difficult to measure." She told them.
"Let us find a faster path than the one the Orcs took." Gimli growled.
The flattened plains of Rohan seemed to heighten their spirits, allowing them to run more swiftly, and travel all together faster. They ran on through the day, and through the night as well, their way lit only by the stars and by the moon, like hounds on the trail of a fox.
Aragorn halted again several hours later, at one of the Orcs rest stops. He examined the ground carefully for several moments. "Look," He cried, "Over here."
The others raced to join him. "See here the imprint of a hobbit's foot. It's Pippin's I think, he is smaller than Merry. There is this also." He opened his palm to show the broach of an Elven cloak. "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall."
Arwen took the broach in her hands. "This was not dropped, but cast away, a token for us to find." She pinned the broach carefully at the throat of her own cloak, beneath her own.
"We must press on." Aragorn said, before dashing off again, his three companions close on his heels.
On and on they pursued their companions, and party of Orcs who had taken them. As he ran, Gimli could often be heard planning what he would do each Orc, once they had caught up to them.
They raced on and on, for three days and nights, not resting, not sleeping. As they ran the four would eat wafers of the Elvish lembas bread, which refueled their tired bodies, allowing them to race on unchecked.
The night air chilled them, forcing the four companions to move faster so as to escape the cold, while in the mornings they watched the sun rise, and in the dusk they watched it set and the stars rise.
Part 29.
The morning of the fourth day saw the sun rise red. Legolas stopped, pausing to stare up at it. "The sun rises red, blood has been spilled this past night." The trail of the Orcs turned down towards the River Entwash.
Aragorn paused to view the landscape. In the distance he could see a dark, moving blur. "Legolas, Arwen, what do your Elvish eyes see?"
Both Elves looked in the direction he pointed. "Many riders. They are fair in coloring and bright are their spears." Legolas said to Aragorn.
"Lady? Do you see anything else?" Gimli asked, his own eyes unable to see much.
"They are perhaps five leagues distant, heading our way." She told him.
"We shall wait for them," Aragorn decided. "We are weary and our hunt has failed. Besides, we may get news from them."
"Or spears." Gimli muttered, throwing himself down onto the grass.
"There are two empty saddles, but I see no hobbits." Legolas said, his keen eyes still trained on the riders.
The others sat with Gimli, Arwen pulling her cloak around her, trying to ward off the frigid air. Elessar perched on her shoulder. "They approach." She warned, not looking towards the riders.
For several moments it appeared that the riders would pass them completely, until Aragorn stood up and called to them, "What news from the Riddermark, Riders of Rohan?"
Suddenly the men circled their horses around and approached them, forming a circle around the four.
"What business have you in the Riddermark?" The leader asked, using the Common Speech of the West, just as Boromir had.
"I am Strider," Aragorn introduced himself, "I come out of the North. I am hunting Orcs."
The Rider dismounted from his steed, passing his lance to another. "At first I thought you were Orcs, but see that it not true. Have you sprung out of the grass? Are you Elvish folk?"
"Only two of us are Elves, Legolas of the Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood, and Lady Arwen Undomiel of Rivendell in the North-East." Aragorn told him.
The Rider looked over at the others, who had remained silent. "Why do you not speak, silent ones?"
Gimli raised his ax and braced his feet, "Give me your name horse master, and I will give you mine."
"Dwarf," The Rider began, "I would cut off your head if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
"You would be dead before your stroke fell." Legolas told him, nocking an arrow.
At his motion the other riders drew their swords, pointing them all at Legolas and Gimli.
"Enough, Eomer, Third Marshall of the Mark." Arwen spoke softly, though all heard her. "You will not harm us, and we shall not harm you."
"What is an Elven Lady doing with a Man, Dwarf and another Elf?" The Rider asked. "And how is it that you know my name?"
"A party of Orcs kidnapped two of our friends. We only seek to recover them. As for the company I keep, it is my own business. The Elf Legolas is my kin, Strider is the Elf-friend of my family, the two houses of Rivendell and Lothlorien, Gimli, son of Gloin is also a friend to my family, and one of my companions on a long journey." She told him, holding her head high, as un-intimidated by him as she was by Boromir. "For many years I dwelled in the fair woods of Lothlorien, it is no surprise I know your name, Eomer."
"Whom do you serve?" The Rider, Eomer asked.
"We serve none," Aragorn told him, "But the servants of the Dark One we pursue into whatever land they may go."
The Rider stared them. "You travel weapon-less to hunt Orcs?"
Aragorn threw aside his cloak and drew the re-forged blade of Anduril. "I am not un-armed, and neither are my companions. For this is Anduril, the sword that was broken, now re-forged. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, called Elessar the Elfstone and Dunedain, Isildur's heir of Gondor."
The Rider stared at the blade. "I am Eomer of Rohan."
"Eomer of Rohan, have you seen the Orcs that took our friends?" Arwen asked him.
Eomer stared at her, transfixed for a moment. "Yes, we came across the party. We slaughtered them in the night."
"Were there two hobbits with them? Did you see two hobbits?" Gimli asked, his voice desperate.
"Halflings. They would be but children to your eyes." Aragorn told him, clinging to the slightest hope that the hobbits were alive and well.
"We left none alive." Eomer told them, "We piled the carcasses and burned the bodies." He gestured with his hand to where a small plume of smoke drifted above the trees.
"Are you sure?" Arwen asked him. "Is it impossible that they might have escaped?"
"I am sorry."
Arwen lowered her eyes, feeling the grief of the others, but still feeling deep down inside that the hobbits could still be alive, that there was still hope for them.
"Take these two horses." Eomer led them by the reins. "May they bear you to better fortune than their former masters." He passed the reins of the bay horse to Aragorn, "His name is Hausufel," The other horse, a light gray he led to Legolas, "This is Arod."
Arwen allowed Aragorn to help her into Hausufel's saddle, then mounted himself, while Legolas was aided by Eomer in lifting Gimli onto Arod's back. Legolas mounted too, and taking Arod's reins the four moved off once more.
Lost deep in thought Arwen wrapped her arms around Aragorn's waist, holding on tightly and closed her eyes.
"Nin melath, are you all right?" Aragorn asked softly.
"I am only in thought, Aragorn. These events trouble me. There are some things that trouble me about this land." Arwen answered him, laying her head against his shoulder. "Do not worry about me."
Samantha.
Part 26.
Several days later they floated past the Argonath, Pillars of Kings. Arwen felt Aragorn's joy as if it were her own as they sailed on past the monuments.
Beyond the monuments Aragorn bade them to listen as spoke of the country surrounding them. "There lies Tol Brandir, and to the left Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw, the Hills of Sight and Hearing."
The three peaks darkened in the twilight, while the Falls of Rauros roared like a great voice.
They landed the boats in a natural inlet, each knowing that they had reached the last part of their River journey, the words of Galadriel ringing in each person's ears.
"This is the lawn of Parth Galen." Aragorn told them, "Let us rest here tonight."
Routinely everyone set about fetching wood for a fire, and clean water to cook with, and wash in. They passed the night without hearing or seeing Gollum, hoping that he had been thrown off their trail.
All rose early the next morning, and sat around the campfire, waiting to hear which path they would take to Mordor from where they sat.
"Now," Aragorn began, "We are facing a parting of the ways. We may go with Boromir, into the West to fight in the war with Gondor, against the Enemy. We may turn into the East and face the Fear and Shadow. Or, we may break our Fellowship and turn which ever way each of us sees fit." His voice was solemn. "We cannot stop here long. Sting and Shalat are already telling that there may yet be Orcs on this side of the River."
A long silence followed, during which no one spoke, or even moved.
"Frodo?" Arwen asked, "This is your decision, you are the Ringbearer appointed by the Council. You alone can choose the path you wish to take."
"I know that haste is needed, but I cannot choose. Give me one hour, and I will speak. For now, let me be alone with my thoughts." Frodo spoke slowly, burdened by the weight of the choice he had yet to make.
"Do not stray too far, or out of our call." Aragorn cautioned him.
Arwen watched as Frodo stood and walked slowly up the slope, each step burdened by both the Ring about his neck, and his choice.
She watched silently from the foot of a large tree, Elessar perched once more on her shoulder as Boromir slipped away silently, unnoticed by any of the others. Her eyes followed him warily as the Man of Gondor re-traced Frodo's trail up the slope.
Arwen said nothing, her mind becoming a swirl of things yet to come, and things that perhaps were not to come. After a long time she spoke, "Frodo has been gone too long."
As she spoke Boromir reappeared, walking through the trees to take his place around the small fire, as though he had never left. "Boromir," Aragorn began, "Where have you been? Have you seen Frodo?"
"Yes I saw Frodo." Boromir told them, "We spoke somewhere up on the hill. I urged him to journey towards Gondor, and not to go East. I became angry and he left me."
Arwen stared at him, her gaze sharp, all seeing. "Are you sure that is all you said to him?"
"How long since you last saw Frodo?" Aragorn asked him, his voice as unforgiving as Arwen's gaze. "Half an hour, maybe an hour. I don't know. After we argued he vanished."
"The Ring." Sam muttered.
"We must find him," Arwen said, her voice giving way to a hint of desperation. She unsheathed Shalat to show the brightening hue of the glowing blue blade. "The Orcs are coming closer."
"Split up." Aragorn ordered, already starting off up the slope.
Arwen sheathed Shalat and joined the others as they dashed up to the slope, in a desperate attempt to find Frodo and the One Ring.
She heard Aragorn shout for Sam to stay with him, but in her heart, Arwen knew that he would go to his Master. She paced herself close behind Legolas and Gimli, as the three ran, they heard the piercing sound of Boromir's Horn of Gondor.
Over the rise of the hill Orcs swarmed upon them, all bearing the symbol of a white hand haphazardly palm printed somewhere on their person.
All drew their weapons, preparing to stand and fight, and fight they did, felling many with the swing of Gimli's ax, and the many arrows of Arwen and Legolas as well as Legolas' Elven hunting knives and Arwen's blue sword Shalat.
Long into their battle the Orcs began to withdraw, finally allowing Legolas, Gimli and Arwen to search once more for their friends.
They ran on swift feet to where Boromir's horn had blown before the beginning of their own battle.
Part 27.
They found Boromir in a clearing, Aragorn standing over him, his head bent in prayer. Orc arrows had pierced Boromir's body, and all knew at a glance that he had passed.
"The hobbits?" Gimli burst out, "Where are the hobbits?"
"I know not." Aragorn told him, his heart heavy. "Before he passed, Boromir told me that the Orcs bound them and carried them off. He did not think that they were dead. I sent him to follow Merry and Pippin, but I didn't ask of Frodo and Sam until it was too late."
"We must tend to his body." Arwen spoke softly. She knew all of what Boromir had told Aragorn in the moments before his passing. She had seen it in a vision.
Aragorn nodded. "We must be quick though."
"We can send him off to Rauros in one of the boats." Gimli told them, "An honorable end I would say."
"I agree with you, Master Dwarf." Legolas said. "Make haste."
Together they built a rough stretcher, and laying their cloaks upon it, carried their fallen companion to the boats, and set Boromir afloat.
Slowly Aragorn began to sing. ##Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows
The West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes.
'What news from the West, o wandering wind, do you bring me tonight?
Have you seen Boromir the Tall by moon or by starlight?'
'I saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and gray;
I saw him walk in empty lands, until he passed away
Into the shadows of the North. I saw him then no more.
The North Wind may have heard the horn of the son of Denethor.'
'O Boromir! From high walls westward I looked afar,
But you came not from empty lands, where no men are.'##
Once he finished Legolas began to sing.
##From the mouths of the Sea the South Wind flies, from the sandhills and the stones;
The wailing of the gulls it bears, and at the gate it moans.
'What news from the South, O sighing wind, do you bring to me at eve?
Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve.'
'Ask not of me where he doth dwell - so many bones there lie
On the white shores and the dark shores until the stormy sky;
So many have passed down Anduin to find the flowing Sea.
Ask of the North Wind news of them the North Wind sends to me!'
'O Boromir! Beyond the gate the seaward road runs south,
But you came not with the wailing gulls from the gray seas mouth.'##
Then Arwen began to sing the next verse.
##From the Gate of Kings the North Wind rides, and past the roaring falls;
And clear and cold about the tower its loud horn calls.
'What news from the North, O mighty wind, do you bring to me today?
What news of Boromir the Bold? For he is long away.' 'Beneath Amon Hen I heard his cry. There many foes he fought.
His cloven shield, his broken sword, they to the water brought.
His head so proud, his face so fair, his limbs they laid to rest;
And Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, bore him upon its breast.'
'O Boromir! The Tower of the Guard shall ever northwards gaze
To Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, until the end of days.##
The remaining four stood silently for a moment, remembering their companion. Slowly they shook themselves out of grief.
"Where is the other boat?" Legolas asked, alarmed.
Aragorn gazed around the camp. Nothing was in disarray. "I know not, there are no footprints here save our own, and those of the hobbits."
"Frodo is gone." Arwen told them gently. "He must have come back here while we were searching for him. He has taken the boat."
"Then the Orcs only have the three they don't need." Gimli nodded, "That's good isn't it, they don't have the Ring."
"The Orcs only have Merry and Pippin, Aragorn." Arwen spoke again. "Sam disappeared from your side, even though you told him to stay with you. In the end Sam's loyalty to his Master won out. He knew Frodo better than any of us. He knew that Frodo would return to the boats. Frodo found it hard to leave Sam behind."
"What should we do? Should we follow Frodo? Or follow the Orcs on foot?" Gimli asked, "There is little hope either way."
"There is always hope." Arwen told him firmly, "Even when you cannot see it." "It is clear that Frodo and Sam are no longer on this side of the river." Aragorn told them. "The Company has played it's part. We cannot forsake Merry and Pippin while we have strength left. We cannot leave them to the Orcs."
Arwen nodded, thinking of her mother. "We cannot abandon them."
"Leave behind all that can be spared." Aragorn told them, "Let's hunt some Orcs."
"It will be a long chase," Legolas said, "They have a long start on us."
Part 28.
The four ran, sure-footed and swift not stopping to eat or rest. Aragorn trained his eyes on the ground as he ran, checking the spoor of their quarry, looking for any sign that might point to Merry's and Pippin's safety.
As he did so, Elessar, Arwen's falcon flew high above them, acting as a lookout. In the times that he needed rest, Arwen tucked him in underneath her cloak, then relying on her and Legolas's eyes to keep lookout for them.
Long after they began, Aragorn paused briefly at the top of one of the hills. "Do you see?" He gestured with his hand.
"It's a large group, moving on foot." Legolas told him.
High above them, Elessar shrieked a message to Arwen. "Elessar says they are about twelve leagues in front of us, maybe less. The flatness of the plain makes it difficult to measure." She told them.
"Let us find a faster path than the one the Orcs took." Gimli growled.
The flattened plains of Rohan seemed to heighten their spirits, allowing them to run more swiftly, and travel all together faster. They ran on through the day, and through the night as well, their way lit only by the stars and by the moon, like hounds on the trail of a fox.
Aragorn halted again several hours later, at one of the Orcs rest stops. He examined the ground carefully for several moments. "Look," He cried, "Over here."
The others raced to join him. "See here the imprint of a hobbit's foot. It's Pippin's I think, he is smaller than Merry. There is this also." He opened his palm to show the broach of an Elven cloak. "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall."
Arwen took the broach in her hands. "This was not dropped, but cast away, a token for us to find." She pinned the broach carefully at the throat of her own cloak, beneath her own.
"We must press on." Aragorn said, before dashing off again, his three companions close on his heels.
On and on they pursued their companions, and party of Orcs who had taken them. As he ran, Gimli could often be heard planning what he would do each Orc, once they had caught up to them.
They raced on and on, for three days and nights, not resting, not sleeping. As they ran the four would eat wafers of the Elvish lembas bread, which refueled their tired bodies, allowing them to race on unchecked.
The night air chilled them, forcing the four companions to move faster so as to escape the cold, while in the mornings they watched the sun rise, and in the dusk they watched it set and the stars rise.
Part 29.
The morning of the fourth day saw the sun rise red. Legolas stopped, pausing to stare up at it. "The sun rises red, blood has been spilled this past night." The trail of the Orcs turned down towards the River Entwash.
Aragorn paused to view the landscape. In the distance he could see a dark, moving blur. "Legolas, Arwen, what do your Elvish eyes see?"
Both Elves looked in the direction he pointed. "Many riders. They are fair in coloring and bright are their spears." Legolas said to Aragorn.
"Lady? Do you see anything else?" Gimli asked, his own eyes unable to see much.
"They are perhaps five leagues distant, heading our way." She told him.
"We shall wait for them," Aragorn decided. "We are weary and our hunt has failed. Besides, we may get news from them."
"Or spears." Gimli muttered, throwing himself down onto the grass.
"There are two empty saddles, but I see no hobbits." Legolas said, his keen eyes still trained on the riders.
The others sat with Gimli, Arwen pulling her cloak around her, trying to ward off the frigid air. Elessar perched on her shoulder. "They approach." She warned, not looking towards the riders.
For several moments it appeared that the riders would pass them completely, until Aragorn stood up and called to them, "What news from the Riddermark, Riders of Rohan?"
Suddenly the men circled their horses around and approached them, forming a circle around the four.
"What business have you in the Riddermark?" The leader asked, using the Common Speech of the West, just as Boromir had.
"I am Strider," Aragorn introduced himself, "I come out of the North. I am hunting Orcs."
The Rider dismounted from his steed, passing his lance to another. "At first I thought you were Orcs, but see that it not true. Have you sprung out of the grass? Are you Elvish folk?"
"Only two of us are Elves, Legolas of the Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood, and Lady Arwen Undomiel of Rivendell in the North-East." Aragorn told him.
The Rider looked over at the others, who had remained silent. "Why do you not speak, silent ones?"
Gimli raised his ax and braced his feet, "Give me your name horse master, and I will give you mine."
"Dwarf," The Rider began, "I would cut off your head if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
"You would be dead before your stroke fell." Legolas told him, nocking an arrow.
At his motion the other riders drew their swords, pointing them all at Legolas and Gimli.
"Enough, Eomer, Third Marshall of the Mark." Arwen spoke softly, though all heard her. "You will not harm us, and we shall not harm you."
"What is an Elven Lady doing with a Man, Dwarf and another Elf?" The Rider asked. "And how is it that you know my name?"
"A party of Orcs kidnapped two of our friends. We only seek to recover them. As for the company I keep, it is my own business. The Elf Legolas is my kin, Strider is the Elf-friend of my family, the two houses of Rivendell and Lothlorien, Gimli, son of Gloin is also a friend to my family, and one of my companions on a long journey." She told him, holding her head high, as un-intimidated by him as she was by Boromir. "For many years I dwelled in the fair woods of Lothlorien, it is no surprise I know your name, Eomer."
"Whom do you serve?" The Rider, Eomer asked.
"We serve none," Aragorn told him, "But the servants of the Dark One we pursue into whatever land they may go."
The Rider stared them. "You travel weapon-less to hunt Orcs?"
Aragorn threw aside his cloak and drew the re-forged blade of Anduril. "I am not un-armed, and neither are my companions. For this is Anduril, the sword that was broken, now re-forged. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, called Elessar the Elfstone and Dunedain, Isildur's heir of Gondor."
The Rider stared at the blade. "I am Eomer of Rohan."
"Eomer of Rohan, have you seen the Orcs that took our friends?" Arwen asked him.
Eomer stared at her, transfixed for a moment. "Yes, we came across the party. We slaughtered them in the night."
"Were there two hobbits with them? Did you see two hobbits?" Gimli asked, his voice desperate.
"Halflings. They would be but children to your eyes." Aragorn told him, clinging to the slightest hope that the hobbits were alive and well.
"We left none alive." Eomer told them, "We piled the carcasses and burned the bodies." He gestured with his hand to where a small plume of smoke drifted above the trees.
"Are you sure?" Arwen asked him. "Is it impossible that they might have escaped?"
"I am sorry."
Arwen lowered her eyes, feeling the grief of the others, but still feeling deep down inside that the hobbits could still be alive, that there was still hope for them.
"Take these two horses." Eomer led them by the reins. "May they bear you to better fortune than their former masters." He passed the reins of the bay horse to Aragorn, "His name is Hausufel," The other horse, a light gray he led to Legolas, "This is Arod."
Arwen allowed Aragorn to help her into Hausufel's saddle, then mounted himself, while Legolas was aided by Eomer in lifting Gimli onto Arod's back. Legolas mounted too, and taking Arod's reins the four moved off once more.
Lost deep in thought Arwen wrapped her arms around Aragorn's waist, holding on tightly and closed her eyes.
"Nin melath, are you all right?" Aragorn asked softly.
"I am only in thought, Aragorn. These events trouble me. There are some things that trouble me about this land." Arwen answered him, laying her head against his shoulder. "Do not worry about me."