Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo, melloni! EHAB here. This is another bridge
chapter; it's short, I hope it's sweet, and it's to the point to a fault,
but if you don't read it, you'll miss the beginning of an essential plot
thread. Also, I realize that we have said that our posting days are now
Thursdays. However, a conflict has arisen and I can no longer post on
Thursdays. Phe-Chan cannot post on Tuesdays. (We feel kind of like the
people in the "Jack Sprat" nursery rhyme.) Thus, I will be posting the
chapters that I am writing, such as this chapter and chapter six, on
Tuesdays, and Phe-chan will be posting her chapters, like chapter five, on
Thursdays. Therefore, please expect chapter five, not this Thursday, the
23rd, but next Thursday the 30th, and chapter six on Tuesday the 4th ( I
think it's the 4th).
Also, thanks to all the reviewers of chapter three. A couple of you have asked if the new conflicts involve Morniwen. I will say this only: if Galadriel thinks it's worse than Sauron, then it can't be only Morniwen. ACTUALLY, now I think of it, Galadriel did everything but name the evil as a proper noun. She even stated the definition of its name. Now I leave you to wonder and ponder and puzzle and puzz till your puzzler is sore, and maybe think of things you haven't before, because I'm just evil like that. EE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE!
Chapter Four: Vanishing Act
Eowyn sat stiffly in her chair. This was ridiculous. Everyone in the room had questions, and no one had any answers. They hadn't even begun the discussion yet, but she knew already that none of them knew any more than she did on the matter. No one knew anything about it at all, and that was the problem. Aragorn spoke.
"Faramir, Eowyn, welcome. You are the last that we expect, I believe, so we will begin. Faramir, you are losing soldiers in the mountains?"
"Lord Aragorn, we are, and none too few. What takes them, I cannot say, but none who have passed what was the Morgul Vale have returned," Faramir said uneasily.
"Do the warriors of Men disappear as well?" Gimli asked in alarm. "The people of Erebor dwindle, and quickly, though none can say why."
"The Men of Rohan also go and do not return," Eomer added, shaking his head ruefully.
"Where do they go? Where are they bound when you see them last?" Queen Arwen asked concernedly.
"Lady, it matters not," Eomer replied sadly. "A man may vanish if he but venture from the closer to the further side of Edoras."
"Hammer and tongs, we must comprehend the thing, if we are to stop it!" Gimli cried.
"Indeed, but how, if no one sees pr knows what is happening?" Eowyn protested.
"What of my grandmother, the Lady Galadriel?" Arwen suggested. "She sees much."
"An idea, Arwen! Who can make the trek to Lorien?" Aragorn asked, pleased.
"If anyone is to go, why do we not go ourselves?" Eowyn said.
"Who would watch our realms in our absence?" Aragorn inquired of her.
"This menace seems to be spreading and growing just perfectly without our staying to watch it," Eowyn said pointedly. "There is nothing we can do to stop it if we stay, and I would rather the Lady give her judgment to us than to a messenger."
"She is right, lord," Faramir sighed. "We could put Beregond in charge while we are away."
"I have already left one of my captains in charge of Rohan until I return," Eomer added.
"Very well, then," Aragorn nodded. "Let there be no ceremony to alarm the people. All gather their own provisions, and in three days I will before witnesses declare Beregond my regent until I return, and we will set out for Lorien."
Also, thanks to all the reviewers of chapter three. A couple of you have asked if the new conflicts involve Morniwen. I will say this only: if Galadriel thinks it's worse than Sauron, then it can't be only Morniwen. ACTUALLY, now I think of it, Galadriel did everything but name the evil as a proper noun. She even stated the definition of its name. Now I leave you to wonder and ponder and puzzle and puzz till your puzzler is sore, and maybe think of things you haven't before, because I'm just evil like that. EE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE!
Chapter Four: Vanishing Act
Eowyn sat stiffly in her chair. This was ridiculous. Everyone in the room had questions, and no one had any answers. They hadn't even begun the discussion yet, but she knew already that none of them knew any more than she did on the matter. No one knew anything about it at all, and that was the problem. Aragorn spoke.
"Faramir, Eowyn, welcome. You are the last that we expect, I believe, so we will begin. Faramir, you are losing soldiers in the mountains?"
"Lord Aragorn, we are, and none too few. What takes them, I cannot say, but none who have passed what was the Morgul Vale have returned," Faramir said uneasily.
"Do the warriors of Men disappear as well?" Gimli asked in alarm. "The people of Erebor dwindle, and quickly, though none can say why."
"The Men of Rohan also go and do not return," Eomer added, shaking his head ruefully.
"Where do they go? Where are they bound when you see them last?" Queen Arwen asked concernedly.
"Lady, it matters not," Eomer replied sadly. "A man may vanish if he but venture from the closer to the further side of Edoras."
"Hammer and tongs, we must comprehend the thing, if we are to stop it!" Gimli cried.
"Indeed, but how, if no one sees pr knows what is happening?" Eowyn protested.
"What of my grandmother, the Lady Galadriel?" Arwen suggested. "She sees much."
"An idea, Arwen! Who can make the trek to Lorien?" Aragorn asked, pleased.
"If anyone is to go, why do we not go ourselves?" Eowyn said.
"Who would watch our realms in our absence?" Aragorn inquired of her.
"This menace seems to be spreading and growing just perfectly without our staying to watch it," Eowyn said pointedly. "There is nothing we can do to stop it if we stay, and I would rather the Lady give her judgment to us than to a messenger."
"She is right, lord," Faramir sighed. "We could put Beregond in charge while we are away."
"I have already left one of my captains in charge of Rohan until I return," Eomer added.
"Very well, then," Aragorn nodded. "Let there be no ceremony to alarm the people. All gather their own provisions, and in three days I will before witnesses declare Beregond my regent until I return, and we will set out for Lorien."