Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 for full disclaimers. For purposes of scene continuity, I've used a few lines of dialogue from Peter Jackson's film version of "Return of the King."
Diola lle, my friends!
Evenstar Elanor… The Lady of Lyrics liked my song? Happy day!
Utsuri… I am so in love with Sedona!
Kharina… Welcome! Glad you liked the story. If you keep reading, you'll see a note in a later chapter about the name Carly and why I chose it. (PS., It isn't my name or the name of anyone I know personally.)
Mercury Gray… Your favorite yet? Yippee! I hope tech week and the performances went well.
Chapter 7: Gondor Calls for Aid
Carly's heart froze in her chest when she heard Lord Aragorn's words. Gondor calls for aid. She knew what that meant. More war. More death. As he left the Hall, obeying Theoden's orders to muster the Rohirrim, Gamling caught his wife's eye. She hurried out after him.
"Gamling?" There were tears in her voice that she couldn't hide.
"I'm the King's Man, Carly. Even if I weren't, I am one of the Rohirrim, and I would still need to ride." He pulled her in and kissed the top of her head, even as her sad, worried eyes sent a wave of guilt over him.
"But there has been enough war," she said. "You've just barely returned. Your child will be born by the time the moon next waxes full."
The baby. If the tears in Carly's voice broke his heart, the thought that he may never see his child completely shattered it. He looked up and saw Eomer waiting for him. He could delay no longer. Gamling kissed Carly and then resolutely mounted his horse. He reached down and took her hand for a moment.
"I love you, Carly."
Then he put his heels to his horse's sides and thundered out of the gates of Edoras to summon more of the Rohirrim to the King's side. Carly fled back to their home, no longer able to hide her tears.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
The camp was silent as the Rohirrim who were still awake at that late hour watched Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli disappear down the misty road that would bring them to the mountain. Questions shuttled through the men. Aragorn had stood by them at Helm's Deep, why was he leaving now?
"He leaves," said Gamling in a moment of despair, "because there is no hope."
"He leaves because he must," said Theoden firmly as he came to stand in the center of the knot of men.
Gamling turned to look at his King. "Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor."
"No. No, we cannot," said Theoden. Gamling was taken aback for a moment by such a frank statement from the King in front of the men. His eyes widened.
"But," added Theoden, his voice firm with resolve, "we will meet them in battle nonetheless."
Three days later, the Rohirrim looked down on the Pellenor and at the massive army from Mordor. It was enough to blanch the heart of any stout man. Thousands of Orcs and Uruk-Hai clouded the field, a cancerous canker on what should have been a pristine field. Enormous beasts hauled catapults and other devices of war. Massive stones were crumbling the walls of Minis Tirith. Mounted on his horse, Gamling took a deep breath to steady himself, and he wished – selfishly – that his last memory of Carly had been a happy one. Not her in tears. He searched his memory for a happier moment.
He had been away for several weeks with Eomer. They had encountered Orcs several times and every time, Eomer had cursed Grima Wormtongue for each fallen member of his eored. Gamling had been profoundly happy to see the walls of Edoras. As they rode through the gates, Carly had been waiting; waving and smiling.
The night before, one of the boys who tended the horse herds had returned, telling the city that Eomer returned. Carly had spent the morning cooking, knowing that her husband would want a hot meal. She made his favorite: a savory lamb stew with herbs, onions and carrots. When he came in the house, Gamling inhaled deeply and felt his stomach growl.
But it was his wife that attracted his attention most of all. In three quick strides he crossed the room and pulled Carly into a kiss. After, it took Carly a moment to catch her breath and she laughed as she put her hands on Gamling's chest. He picked her up and carried her to their bed.
"Gamling?" She couldn't help but laugh. "Can you not wait until after supper?"
"Nay, Carly, I have spent this past month in the field. We have fought. We've bled. We have spent days in the cold rains of the hills. I don't know if it is battle, blood and death, or the rain that has made me feel numb and cold inside. But I would feel warm and alive again. Nothing else matters to me right now… only being with you." He kissed her again and Carly wrapped her arms around him.
A smile curled the corner of Gamling's mouth at the memory. He had enjoyed the comforts of home more than once that night, and it occurred to him – as he waited for battle among thousands of other Riders – that it may have been that night when Carly became pregnant. How shy and excited she had been when she told him two months later that he was going to be a father.
Gamling's head snapped up as Theoden's voice boomed over the riders. "Gamling! You'll follow the King's banner down the center…"
That was all that the King's Man needed to hear. He had pledged himself to Theoden's service many years before. He would not falter now; he would follow Theoden-King into death and beyond. But, he realized, he would not fulfill his duty without regret for what he left behind.
Well, hope you liked it. I'm almost done with this story so there are probably only a few chapters left. Please read/review and let me know what you think!