Chapter Five. Mt. Doom's shadow
The white city stirred to life when the screams of horses traveled to them from over the fields, The guards threw the gates open to allow the small heard inside. Shadowfax stood shoulder to shoulder with the black charger, there were cries from several of the spectators, for they recognized the steward's horse, and Shadowfax was now well known to them as well. "They are fallen! Look! The steeds return alone!!" Arwen and Eowyn joined the group quickly, the horses had not moved, neither had the crowd. "Peace everyone!! Hear me out!" all eyes turned to Eowyn, who stood proud and calm. "Gandalf has departed after the fellowship, and they have taken another form of transport. He informed us before he left, that they would send the steeds back."
There was a muttering, eyes wide with fear narrowed to anger, but then a cry came forth from the back, "Noble she is! And almost gave her life for ours!! Trust her we must!" another cry rang forth. "Gone they have been! The king for almost ten sunsets! The fellowship for eight!!" the muttering grew louder, the groups turning aggressive against each other, fear and tension built up for days without news or sign threatened to spill forth. With a shriek Shadowfax reared and sprang between the two, raising his hoofs and snapping at the air. The crowd grew quiet, confused by the beasts strange behavior. "Everyone please!! I know things seem shaded and since the group has left, shadows have grown on us all! But we must keep ourselves united, neither King nor Steward will want to see us divided when they return."
The steward of Gondor looked down at the great river far bellow them and sighed, two days they had been climbing, resting only on the wider ledges. Provisions they had brought on the dragons back running dangerously short... and still the surface seemed so far out of reach... "Faramir!! How does the path above look?!" he looked down at them, "Still to high." A disappointed sigh reached him. Gandalf did not comment, "Be at peace everyone, I believe that help may be nearby." Gimli turned; he was feeling the wall carefully to make sure the path they went up would not give way beneath them. "Oh? I would be glad to see it!" Gandalf smiled, "And see it you will! When it arrives, which will be... before noon." Gimli shrugged and went back to the task at hand. Legolas looked at Gandalf inquisitively for a moment, then resumed gazing to the sky. Elves were very sensitive to darkness, and Legolas was no exception. The land of Mordor still reeked of the evil taint Sauron had left behind.
And though he had been careful not to let it show, the constant shadow was wearing him badly... thank the Valar that Mithrandir was with them, for to be near his light aura made it almost bearable. Merry and Pippin were deeply engrossed in practicing with their small swords on another ledge, they and Gimli were now the only ones armed as they wished to be. For Legolas had been relieved to find he still had his blades, while Faramir had only a dagger now to serve as protection. Somehow, Gandalf had also held onto his sword and staff, and had offered to lend the sword use to the steward. Faramir had tried the blade, claimed it had a unique feel to it, and had returned it to Gandalf, "If I have need of it, I will take you up on that offer." He had said, and it had not been spoken of since.
"Faramir? Can we have something to eat now?" The steward sighed once more, "No Merry, I'm sorry. We don't have adequate provisions to eat now, can you wait till morning?" The hobbit nodded, and turned his attention back to practicing, but Faramir heard his stomach growl in an unsaid answer. "Be at peace Faramir, all will be well." Gandalf's eyes met his with gentle concern, and Faramir let the gentle light that seemed always with the wizard comfort him. "Yes, it will all be well."
The white city stirred to life when the screams of horses traveled to them from over the fields, The guards threw the gates open to allow the small heard inside. Shadowfax stood shoulder to shoulder with the black charger, there were cries from several of the spectators, for they recognized the steward's horse, and Shadowfax was now well known to them as well. "They are fallen! Look! The steeds return alone!!" Arwen and Eowyn joined the group quickly, the horses had not moved, neither had the crowd. "Peace everyone!! Hear me out!" all eyes turned to Eowyn, who stood proud and calm. "Gandalf has departed after the fellowship, and they have taken another form of transport. He informed us before he left, that they would send the steeds back."
There was a muttering, eyes wide with fear narrowed to anger, but then a cry came forth from the back, "Noble she is! And almost gave her life for ours!! Trust her we must!" another cry rang forth. "Gone they have been! The king for almost ten sunsets! The fellowship for eight!!" the muttering grew louder, the groups turning aggressive against each other, fear and tension built up for days without news or sign threatened to spill forth. With a shriek Shadowfax reared and sprang between the two, raising his hoofs and snapping at the air. The crowd grew quiet, confused by the beasts strange behavior. "Everyone please!! I know things seem shaded and since the group has left, shadows have grown on us all! But we must keep ourselves united, neither King nor Steward will want to see us divided when they return."
The steward of Gondor looked down at the great river far bellow them and sighed, two days they had been climbing, resting only on the wider ledges. Provisions they had brought on the dragons back running dangerously short... and still the surface seemed so far out of reach... "Faramir!! How does the path above look?!" he looked down at them, "Still to high." A disappointed sigh reached him. Gandalf did not comment, "Be at peace everyone, I believe that help may be nearby." Gimli turned; he was feeling the wall carefully to make sure the path they went up would not give way beneath them. "Oh? I would be glad to see it!" Gandalf smiled, "And see it you will! When it arrives, which will be... before noon." Gimli shrugged and went back to the task at hand. Legolas looked at Gandalf inquisitively for a moment, then resumed gazing to the sky. Elves were very sensitive to darkness, and Legolas was no exception. The land of Mordor still reeked of the evil taint Sauron had left behind.
And though he had been careful not to let it show, the constant shadow was wearing him badly... thank the Valar that Mithrandir was with them, for to be near his light aura made it almost bearable. Merry and Pippin were deeply engrossed in practicing with their small swords on another ledge, they and Gimli were now the only ones armed as they wished to be. For Legolas had been relieved to find he still had his blades, while Faramir had only a dagger now to serve as protection. Somehow, Gandalf had also held onto his sword and staff, and had offered to lend the sword use to the steward. Faramir had tried the blade, claimed it had a unique feel to it, and had returned it to Gandalf, "If I have need of it, I will take you up on that offer." He had said, and it had not been spoken of since.
"Faramir? Can we have something to eat now?" The steward sighed once more, "No Merry, I'm sorry. We don't have adequate provisions to eat now, can you wait till morning?" The hobbit nodded, and turned his attention back to practicing, but Faramir heard his stomach growl in an unsaid answer. "Be at peace Faramir, all will be well." Gandalf's eyes met his with gentle concern, and Faramir let the gentle light that seemed always with the wizard comfort him. "Yes, it will all be well."