Fire and foe
Merry woke in the darkness, the night having no wind or movement, but the trees sighed their song. He sat up, hearing drums in the hills, hoping that he was not the only one to hear it. This put him on edge, and he could no longer sleep. He began debating with himself if he should have come at all.
He truly hoped that Théoden would not know that he had disobeyed him by coming thus far and considered returning home, but silently thanked Dernhelm for allowing him to bear Merry, even if he had been ignored the whole time. But it occurred then to Merry that Dernhelm never spoke to anyone, but was rather silent and lost in thought or too busy considering the road ahead.
Less than a day's ride from the walls of the White City, the army grew anxious. Scouts had been sent onwards, but some had not returned. They were headed for peril, as the road ahead was held in force by the enemy. A great host held camp there, three miles west of Amon Dín with more headed their way.
The hobbit began to notice the men moving around the camp and a tall figure tripped over Merry, cursing tree-roots.
"I am no tree root, sir, nor a hobbit, but now a bruised hobbit. The least you can do in amends is telling me what is happening." Merry said, rubbing his leg where the Marshall Elfhelm had tripped over him.
"We are to prepare ourselves. Orders may come in for a sudden march." The Marshall replied.
"Is the enemy on his way? Are those their drums I heard? I was beginning to think I heard them in my head." Asked Merry.
"The enemy is on the road, not in the hills master hobbit. What you hear is the wild men, who live secretly, haunting the Druadan Forest. Let us just be thankful that they do not hunt us, but they do not ride to war either, even if their serves have been offered for our aid. I must go now and go about my orders. Pack yourself up, Master Bag!" Elfhelm said, than he vanished into the night. He packed up and waited, but soon it became unbearable.
He got up off the ground and walked towards the last lit lantern. He hid amongst the trees and saw that the King and Éomer were sitting under a large tree talking to a man who looked as though he had been made of the very forest with his dry moss beard, gnarled stone composure and stout and crouched shape with only a grass skirt for clothing.
As Merry crept nearer there was silence and then the Wild Man began to speak in a primitive form of the common tongue.
"No, great lord of riding horse, we do not want fight. We hunt gorgûn, orc, we hate orc. You hate them too. We help as we can."
"But our need is for arms in battle. How can you help us if you do not fight with us?" Éomer asked.
"We bring you news. We look out from hills. You wish to come there? Then you must be quick, gorgûn and evil men out of far-away." The man said. "They sit on horse road. There are very many more than horse man."
"How do you know this?" Éomer asked.
"We wild men are free. But not children. I am great head-man, Ghân-buri-Ghân! I count many things: stars in sky, leaves on tree, men in dark. You have score of scores counted ten times and five. They have more. Big fight, and who will win? And more are out there." The wild man said. "Ghân-buri-Ghân know more than one path. He lead you now, where no gorgûn walk, only wild men and beasts. Then you will kill gorgûn and drive away bad dark with bright iron and Wild man can go back to sleep in wild."
Éomer and Théoden spoke together in their native tongue for a while.
"We will reward you greatly; Ghân-buri-Ghân, if you are loyal and you will always have friendship with the Mark." Théoden said.
"If you win big fight, then leave Wild men in forests and hunt them no more! Ghân-buri-Ghân will not lead you to trap, he go too. If Ghân-buri-Ghân lead you wrong then you kill him." Ghân-buri-Ghân said seriously.
"So be it!" the King said.
Little more was said so Merry slipped off to get ready for the summons. The last stage before the battle. His hope faded. Not many would survive the battle, but he hoped that Pippin would and Minas Tirith would stand. He was counting on it.
The day passed and the encampment was guarded by the wild men. At the end of the day they set out, Ghân-buri-Ghân at Théoden's side, leading the way along the uncertain path. They passed silently in groups, each guided by a wood man and it was late into the afternoon when the group leaders had come to wide grey thickets that masked a gap in the line of hills. The leading company stopped in their tracks and all filed out behind. While Merry did not know what further council the King had taken with the wild man, but he departed then as swiftly as he might with his kin, disappearing into the terrain around them.
Still the company of the Rohirrum rode ever on into the night, passing about the periphery of Mindolluin, turning southwards towards the Rammas of Pelennor. But the day for the ridders was far from over.
Short time later great fires were scrutinized by Théoden's scouts and they reported this to their liege.
"The City is all set about with flame, and the field is full of foes my Lord. But all seem drawn off to the assault. As well as we could guess, there are few people left upon the outer wall and they are oblivious, busy in destruction." They informed.
Further council was taken and Théoden sounded the lead.
"Éomer, you lead the éored first and it shall ride behind the king's banner in the centre. Elfhelm, lead your company to the right when we pass over the wall. And Grimbold shall lead his towards the left. Let the other companies follow these three that lead, where chance may take them. Strike wherever the enemy gathers. Forth now! Fear no darkness!" he said.
The company made a swift leave and headed straight into the deep dark. Merry hung on to Dernhelm for dear life as the man rode with the entire fleetness he could muster from his steed. Over and over in his mind, the hobbit questioned his motives for ridding to battle. It was folly, and he knew it. The words of the king stung his mind.
With short time the Rohirrum reached the outer walls, or at least where they had stood. Cries of men echoed in Merry's mind as they were brought towards the clash of arms.
"What indeed have you gotten yourself into this time Meriadoc!" Merry said to himself, not caring if any heard him as he saw a great fire as described burning ahead, a city engulfed in flame, no less than ten miles ahead.
AE: Yeah, I know, I know, another short chapter…but its all working towards my grand plan, you'll just have to be patient to see how it unfolds!
Levanna: Lol, thanks champ, sorry to hear about whats been happening, I hope you get better soon and I'm sure you're boy will come back all buff and stuff (if that's not something to wait for I don't know what is!). I hope you did well in your French test, though I have every confidence that you will be fine. Just keep your chin up, it could always be worse but its not…it will get better, I promise. Thank you very much for your review.
I'd like to thank you for reading this story also. I don't do this for the credit at all, but rather for the enjoyment of people such as yourself. And I hope you are enjoying this story, and liking the way it is unfolding. Please, let me know if you are reading this…and how I can make this story work better, or make it a more enjoyable read. Thanks for reading again.
