Chapter Four; The red eye.
(previously in 'The Battle of the Four Kindreds'…)
A creature fell into the firelight. A strange combination of goblin and Southron it seemed to be, dark brown in colour with red eyes and a matted, forked beard. It fell to the ground, a slender arrow imbedded in its back. A clear horn call rang as Mandmar burst into the circle on his horse alone. He wheeled his mount around and raised his sword again to charge…
However, he had no need, for Nafalon erupted from the darkness and as soon as he was within the circle of firelight he turned and neighed defiantly. Another arrow was nocked and loosed from Atùvinel's bow before the horse had stilled.
"Urûka! Urûkans!" She called. The men moved quickly to form a defensive circle, faces and swords outwards. Atùvinel had her bow taunt and ready to fire as she leapt from Nafalon's saddle and she ran to stand before Frodo and Gandalf, who had both drawn their swords. Gandalf had Glamdring ready in his fist, glowing ice blue, Frodo held a borrowed sword from the armoury of Gondor by his side. Bergil was at her side as they scanned the darkness,
"What are they?" Frodo asked
"Urûkans." Atùvinel answered shortly. "Another foul breed of ork that Saruman has made. These he left for a later stage of his plan, they emerged some twelve years ago. His legacy, I imagine, and they spawn like toads." As she spoke a harsh guttural voice spoke from the shadows
"We are the Urûka! Give us the man princess!" Bows were loosed at a single sign from Bergil. Only Atùvinel held her arrow. She bent slightly to the fire, her cloak hood shielding her face from view. Slowly the arrow tip began to catch alight.
"Who speaks?" Her voice rang true and clear through the clearing. A hulking shape stepped forward to the summons. He was man sized and horrifically disfigured. He wore a breastplate and carried a sword and a crude shield.
"Lankûa speaks. Chief of the Urûka!" he leered at the princess even as she drew the burning arrow from the fire, drew the bowstring back to her ear and loosed the arrow in one smooth movement. The ork fell to the ground with the still burning brand imbedded in his throat. Then the rest of the ork army leapt from the cover of the trees and Atùvinel drew her bow again and shot as many arrows as she could before it became too close for shooting and became sword and dagger work. Atùvinel drew Sithelon from the sheath and brought it swiftly around to clash with an ork axe blade. A back slash, then an ork fell. Frodo and Gandalf stood in a circle of flashing silver, Atùvinel, Bergil and Mandmar and one other man guarded the two.
The orks fell swiftly, but not quietly. The charge became a rout as the orks fled. Much to the company's surprise the sound of shrieks and clashing metal rang out from the woods where the orks had fled. As the last sounds failed and died away Bergil walked in the direction of the sounds,
"Who walks in the realm of the King, the fair kingdom of Ithilien?" he challenged.
"It is I." A clear voice answered. That of a man, older than Bergil and that all travellers knew or recalled. All the men lowered their swords as Faramir; Prince of the White tower of Ithilien strode towards them.
"Bergil!" He exclaimed. "Why are you here? You rode with the Lady Atùvinel. Where is she?"
"I am here." Atùvinel entered the clearing. In her hands were an ork blade and a black shield. Disgusted she threw them before the fire "These aren't the white hand they usually bear. They have found themselves a new master it seems. His mark is that of a crossed red eye. I don't know this symbol but my guess is that it belongs to Agaron."
"It does." Faramir answered, "Ride with us now Atùvinel. Did you find those you sought? For Aragorn is very worried about you."
"I did. Merry and Pippin should have reached Minas Tirith by now."
"They have indeed." Faramir interrupted, "They arrived two days ago now. Their news eased the burden on your father's heart."
"We shall ride hard and fast tomorrow to reach the citadel by mid morning. Lord Frodo and Gandalf ride with us now." Faramir exclaimed in delight
"Frodo! Mithrandir!" He strode to the hobbit and wizard and knelt briefly at their feet. As she rose he shook their hands vigorously. For Gandalf, his Mithrandir, had taught him and his brother Boromir, in their youth and he had aided Frodo and his companion Sam on their quest. "It is very good to see you again. Especially you ring bearer, but I fear you have returned to ill times."
"It is good to see you again too Faramir. And nether the less it is good to be back in Middle Earth and among old friends."
Frodo spent the last stage of their journey to Ithilien's white tower in a daze, although he had only travelled this road once before, blindfolded it seemed familiar. They came to the home of Faramir and Éowyn soon. There they were greeted by warmth and food. Atùvinel seemed very familiar with Faramir and Éowyn, but as Bergil had explained she had spent a lot of time here with her brother when she was young, learning, alongside her father, how to hunt, shoot and fight with sword and shield.
The night seemed to pass as soon as Frodo's head hit the pillow. He was roused in the next morning by a man gently shaking his shoulder,
"Master, Little master." He woke quickly and ate the food placed in front of him by a servant of Faramir. "The White Lady waits for you outside." He walked slowly through the corridors of the palace until he came to a terrace overlooking the wood.
"You called for me, Lady of Rohan."
"Only to speak with you. For I am sure there is much you would know."
"Indeed there is Lady. For it seems that many things have changed since the last Age."
"Indeed they have. King Elessar has expanded his lands greatly and rules over them well. Fangorn's forests have stretched, they now fill the valleys between here and Rivendell and local tales tell that they protect the lands from Wargs and Goblins."
"Tell me about the Princess' brother, for Bergil told us a little about Atùvinel on the road."
"Eldarion is her twin in looks. Both favour their mother in hair, although Eldarion has his father's eyes and Atùvinel is as slim as the Elf Queen. Eldarion fights like a warrior of Rohan and hunts well, but Atùvinel bests him in archery.
"They are very similar and love each other dearly; the separation between them these past months has been very hard. Eldarion at home has had no way of knowing how his sister is. At least she knows he is safe at home. Aragorn and Arwen have had no such reassurance, except by the letters she sends. A messenger left the instant you arrived last night, he will have borne the glad news to Minas Tirith. You will find great joy and celebration when you arrive. You will also see and meet Eldarion later, for he will be with the King."
She glanced over the balcony, while they had been talking the company had gathered on the path below. However Gandalf and Atùvinel were not in that number. They could see Faramir approaching with the two, talking earnestly. Each member of the company had been given a new outfit, for the ones they had worn riding had been torn and stained badly. Atùvinel had proved clever with her needle the previous night, when clothes needed to be mended after the fight with the Orks and men needed to be bandaged. Two men had been stabbed, one in the leg, the other in the side, neither wound would scar or last long, but they had needed to be tended swiftly, before infection set in. The hem of Atùvinel's dress had been used for extra padding, after the bandages had been used.
She now wore a white dress; similar to those Galadriel and Arwen wore in Lórien and Rivendell. Her hair was drawn back from her face with jewelled clips resembling butterflies. She wore around her neck a delicate chain, on which hung a green jewel. Gandalf was robed again in white, as he had since his fall in Moria with the Balrog. It seemed they were his clothes, but washed and repaired. Frodo himself wore the usual clothes of the Shire, left here, he suspected by Merry or Pippin, for they were a little too large for him. He also wore his gold mallorn tree leaf brooch from Galadriel, and looking closer he saw that Gandalf too wore his.
Atùvinel was talking seriously with Faramir, but she could not help herself breaking out into smiles whenever Minas Tirith or Gondor was mentioned. As Éowyn stood to greet them Atùvinel hugged first her, then Faramir then, with a smile to Frodo she took up her sword and bow from the floor and went back down the stairs. Frodo and Gandalf bade farewell to Faramir and Éowyn then they to mounted their horses. Atùvinel was at the head of the column, after greeting Bergil and assembling in order she blew a single note on her horn and the column began to leave.
As Frodo looked behind him, he saw Faramir cry to them
"Good speed! And a merry homecoming to you Atùvinel!" She smiled and lifted her voice to call so all the riders could hear her.
"To Minas Tirith!"
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