Chapter 2
Out of the shadows
Legolas carried Frodo back to the small campsite and placed him under the Elven cloaks.
"Let me look at your finger." Frodo lifted his right hand from the bedding so Legolas could inspect it. Carefully he rinsed the stump with cold water and pulled out some dried, crumpled but useable Athelas leaves. Tipping water from his flask onto the leaves to restore their moisture Legolas draped them onto Frodo's finger. Holding both the leaves to the wound and holding Frodo's hand to stop him retracting in reflex Legolas worked as best as he could with little resources and bad light.
"I will have to look at this better in the morning" he replied allowing Frodo's hand to from his grasp. He flashed a brief comforting smile at the pair and ruffled their hair, a habit the company had picked up on since leaving Rivendell. It seemed like an age ago that they left the Elven city on this quest.
"So what do we do now?" Frodo asked rubbing his tired eyes.
"We rest here for the remainder of the night, then in the morning we ride west into Gondor and make for Minas Tirith.," Legolas lifted his gaze onto Arod attempting to graze off the bare soil, "though I feel our route won't be as direct as that. The winds speak of the path past Minas Morgul is closed to us."
Sam tilted his head, "so which way will we go?"
"We will have to go north, through the ruined Black gates, then south, round the marshes and follow the mountain side until we can see the fortress" Legolas pointed roughly the directions. "Please remember" he added, "that I do not know these paths well. I have never had a cause to stray in this direction before" the corner of his lips curved in a small smile, it earned him smile from both Sam and Frodo.
"But don't worry my friends we will be in the company of others soon enough"
"And lots of food!" Sam whispered under his breath.
Legolas smiled deeply, "Indeed. In the mean time we will have to live off what we can find and off our provisions"
"We don't have any left, the Orcs took them" Frodo spoke quietly, massaging his middle. The talk of food made him hungry.
Legolas winked in the half light and smiled again. From a satchel he had tied to is waist when riding he removed a stiff, but eatable loaf of bread and passed around his water bottle once more.
And for the first time in a long time the three friends sat and ate together, chatting, laughing as the shadows of night retreated, chased by the hand of dawn.
Though for the first time in months the sun hazily shone onto the once dark and evil lands of Mordor but it bought no comfort to the trio, for they had many miles of travel before they would be safe in the company of others.
Legolas whistled calling Arod to his side. He neighed softly, nudging his mastered hand obediently.
"Up you go, Frodo" Legolas gently lifted the Hobbit upon the horses back shifting him forwards onto Arod's withers. "Hold onto his mane if you feel unbalanced" Legolas whispered patting his knee, "you next Sam" Legolas lifted Sam up onto Arod placing him further down Arod's back allowing space for himself to jump up between the Hobbits
Sam looked ill at ease sitting upon Arod's back; his chubby hands lay firmly amongst the horse's hair on his back, trying to find a grip.
Gracefully Legolas sprung up behind Frodo and in front of Sam. He pulled Frodo closer, wrapping an arm around his small chest. The other arm stretched behind him pulling Sam closer to his back allowing the Hobbit a grasp under his cloak. Arod stirred, bored of standing still waiting for the command to leave.
Clumsily in a half panic state Sam's small hands tightened their grip on Legolas' tunic as Arod stirred. In front Legolas bared his teeth in pain and adjusted Sam's hands, his wounds stinging.
"Relax Sam, relax. Have you not ridden before?"
"Aye, ponies. Small ponies" Sam added, glancing nervously downwards.
In front Frodo was more relaxed, he had more riding practice then Sam had, but like Sam he had only ridden ponies, much, much smaller ponies then Arod.
"Hold on you two" Legolas called, nudging Arod gently.
Wisely the horse started the journey at a fast walk allowing his riders to acclimatize to the pattern of his strides. Rapidly he increased speed throwing the three riders into a bouncy trot. Behind the others Sam had the urge to stand into rising trot, but suddenly remembered he had no stirrups which would have resulted him falling off.
Legolas tired of trotting quickly, he whispered to his horse. In reply Arod picked up his pace into a rocky canter and gallop leaving the unmoved shadows behind them
With the remains of the Gates in sight Arod suddenly turned tightly. Legolas had to quickly catch the two Hobbits and retain his own balance at the same time.
His steed continued to misbehave; tossing his head, side stepping, pack pedaled upon himself, refusing to move any closer towards the empty, broken gates.
Fearing they would all be unseated Legolas dismounted and swept to Arod's head whispering words to comfort him. The horse wined but calmed as Legolas ran his fingers over his face.
'I know I sense it too my friend'
Above him Frodo hissed, his face slacked and his small from swayed unsteadily.
"Easy, Frodo," Legolas reached out to steady his halfling friend, "there is still evil in these lands" his eyes gazed towards the gates.
"Come Arod" Legolas lead the way calling his steed wishing he had a bridle to tug him with.
Reluctantly Arod stepped over the threshold and quickly his fear fell away. Above Frodo relaxed slightly against the warmth of Legolas' from once he had re-mounted and onwards they traveled.
Frodo's laughter lit up his blue eyes bringing a new sparkle and glitter of life to his wearily face. Behind him both Sam and Legolas smiled, hiding their laughter in the crisp clear air.
"Never before have a seen one more uncomfortable on horseback!" Legolas laughed at the memory of Gimli attempting to ride.
"I just see it now!" Sam chuckled behind, "the amazing Dwarf rider!"
A cross breeze hit the trio as they turned southwards, the mass of marshland behind them. Above the sky began to darken, dusk had past and both Sam and Frodo felt tired.
Legolas slowed Arod to a walk scanning the landscape for any features that would provide them protection from the winds.
"Any Dwarf would be happy here near the rocks of the West. This is not a place for Elves" Legolas whispered his eyes softening at the sight of bare land everywhere.
"We will have to stay in the open, my friends" he sighed dismounting. He was not happy with the decision, but above him Sam and Frodo yawned widely. He lowered each down separately smiling at Sam's relief to have his feet on the ground again.
"I'm hungry again Mr. Frodo" Sam whispered to Frodo.
Legolas smiled broadly patting Arod. "It is well that I did not have Pippin here instead" he joked "we would all stave."
A strong Easterly wind stirred the Elven cloaks that covered the sleeping forms of Sam and Frodo. Legolas stood next to them his eyes focused in to the distant his ears alert picking up the snorts of Arod standing nearby his grey figure dull in the night air. The wind carried the smell of the Marshes towards them. Legolas had dismissed that path long ago not only would it lead them in the wrong direction but he feared they would become lost in the mists; Arod also would struggle in such area. He reacted to the sound of the wind and the sense of danger it carried along with it. His nostrils twitched, something wasn't right. He could smell danger.
When dawn approached the smell and sense of danger did not lift, in fact it had grown. Hurriedly he shook Frodo and Sam awake.
"Too early…" Frodo muttered.
"Wake, we need to move" Legolas pulled Sam to his feet. "Sleep as we ride."
"What's the matter" Sam asked sleepily.
Legolas avoided the question as he called Arod towards him.
"We must hurry," he mounted checking the Hobbit's were safe, "this place is not safe"
North Ithilien lay out in front before them. The nature path between water and mountain were miles wide, though the land shared a mixture of the two aside it. The soil dusty and low in nutrition's and yet supported life. In the near distance Legolas could make out the tree tops of woodland, though many miles still lay between them. Even further to the settlement of Men where they were headed.
He clicked his tongue and Arod responded galloping forward. Sam's sleeping head bumped against Legolas shoulders; in front Frodo's shoulders feel limp in sleep.
Legolas slowed Arod to a walk as the trio entered the shade of the woods, the air was stiff to Legolas' nose and the air dead of life, not even the trees spoken openly. He gazed around many to the trees were either dead or dying, some bearing axe wounds or scorch marks. Through the gloom of the woods he could clearly hear the trickle of running water.
"Where are we?" Frodo asked looking fearfully around.
"North Ithilien," Legolas answered, "though these woods are young they tell many stories and yet they are filled with such anger and pain"
"Why?"
"I do not know. Many bare axe or fire damage" Legolas eyes scanned the area once more.
A large black bird stirred from its perch up a near tree and took flight, its cries cold and empty. Sam jerked out of sleep and took in his new surroundings. He felt uneasy. The woods felt unnaturally close and tight, it lacked all character such as the Woods of Buckland.
Legolas shifted his weight his keen eyes looking into each shadow, he too felt uncomfortable here. Arod regarded each leaf and branch carefully, his head moving from left to right, his body stiffing. Above the large black bird cried and was answered by another of its kind.
Legolas stiffened: "We are being followed"