Salve! Sorry about the long wait, I've been busy. Evil Skittle has been distracting me with real life so that I cannot concentrate. Sorry.
Reviewer Responses
lindahoyland I hope Aragorn rescues them too
steelelf If you want to see me kill Legoals, read my story 'Prince of Eryn Lasgalen'. Legolas does not actually appear in this story. However, like I said, a main character (or characters) do die.
Voldie on Varsity Track When I read your review the first thing that popped in my mind was "Bring out yer dead! Bring out yer dead" from the best comedy ever, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. Thank you for the smile.
Raksha The Demon To answer: Yah, I know it should be Elessar, but when I started writing this, I was kinda just decided to go with one name so that people who weren't as well versed in LOTR don't get confused. It pained me to do it. I'm not sure Pelatarn is fully human, I never really go into that. He just learns dark magic in some unspecified place. I thought of Rhovanion to Eomer as Latin is to us. In my Latin class, the first thing the boys wanted to know was how to insult someone. If Eomer learned anything, it probably would have been an insult. And as for the water and soap, Faramir is just doing the best he can with what he has. Thank you so much for your questions, I love answering them. (can you tell?)
arwens-light I'm sorry, but it is already written into the story. Thank you so much for your input, I love talking to you.
Elenhin Who knows what Pelatarn will do? (oh yah, I do. But I still can't say.) I have already called on the ghost of Squiggles since your suggestion seemed goodly. He and Elladen are currently concocting a rescue mission. Thank you.
Forever Faramir I can neither confirm nor deny your guess. Please continue reading to find out.
flowerbee1 Darn, I knew I forgot something! Oh wait, there it is. No, that's the ghost of Squiggles. Elladen, what did you do?
emoras Here's your update!
"My King, we cannot do anything until we know what the situation inside Edoras is like. For all we know, everyone in the city is dead!" argued Prince Imrahil at yet another council.
Aragorn sighed in frustration. "I know that, Imrahil, but the spies I send keep ending up with their heads stuck on poles on the city walls. They are caught as soon as they enter the gates! Éowyn says that there is a secret way in, but it is too thin for any man to use."
"Then I will go." The whole group turned their heads towards Lothiriel. "The way may be too thin for a man, but from what Éowyn has said, a woman should have no trouble getting in. Moreso, as a woman, I would not be suspected to be the spy."
Imrahil was already shaking his head. "No, daughter, it is too dangerous."
"So was fighting the Witch King, but Éowyn did that!"
"Lothiriel is right." Éowyn spoke now. "We have talked about it and came to the conclusion that we are the only two who can do this."
Beregond adamantly refused to let Éowyn, the wife of his Prince, go into any danger. "King Elessar, you cannot honestly be thinking of letting them go! Lord Faramir would never allow it."
Aragorn didn't know what to think. His heart protested against sending women into danger, but their plan did make sense. Then Arwen spoke. "Estel, you must admit that this is the only plan that could work. There is one flaw, though."
"What is that?"
"It will have to be night when they enter the city. Night is also when walking around the city will be most dangerous for the enemy will be patrolling and there will be no crowds to hide in. Therefore, I suggest that it would be wise for an elf to accompany them."
Aragorn nodded in approval. "An elf would be thin enough to enter through the secret way." He frowned. "But the nearest elves are in Lothlorien and it would take long for any to reach us."
Arwen smiled at her husband. "But there is one right here in this room."
Aragorn blinked. Understanding dawned on him. "No. You are not going."
"You just said an elf would be perfect."
"Not you!"
"I am the right person for this job, and you know it."
Aragorn looked at each of the three women. "You are all determined to do this, aren't you?" Three identical nods. "And you will go through with this plan whether I give you my blessing or not." Again, the three nodded. Aragorn sighed. "Very well. But if you find the smallest hint that you are suspected by the enemy, you must leave the city, no matter what."
Éowyn, Lothiriel, and Arwen grinned in triumph as Imrahil and Beregond continued in their objections. Aragorn shook his head. 'I hope I haven't just made the biggest mistake in my entire life. And I hope even more that Faramir doesn't kill me when he finds out I let his favorite cousin and his wife walk into an enemy-infested city without any protection other than my own wife. Ai Elbereth.'
Lothiriel silently followed Éowyn to the southwest side of Edoras. Arwen walked next to Éowyn, her footsteps soundless as only an elf could achieve. The three women finally reached the rock wall that went nearly straight up to the top level of the city. It seemed impassible, but Éowyn knew otherwise.
A small crack in the wall hid the secret entrance. When viewed from a distance the crack looked like just that, a small crack. But closer inspection revealed a small crevice in the rock, large enough for the women to squeeze through. Éowyn leading the way, the three women scrambled up the hidden incline to the top of the city, right behind the Golden Hall. "We must make for my friend Hild's house. We will be safe there," Éowyn whispered.
The three women walked as softly as possible in the direction Éowyn had told them. "There it is," hissed Éowyn. But as she started forward, Arwen pushed her and Lothiriel closer into the shadow of a house. Though startled, neither woman spoke, trusting Arwen's eyes and ears above their own. This was fortunate, because a squad of enemy soldiers passed closely by and they would have been spotted had they not stopped. 'Thank goodness for elf senses.' As soon as Arwen gave the all-clear sign, Éowyn motioned them forward.
Taking a deep breath, the White Lady of Ithilien knocked softly on the door using the special knock she and Hild had used as children. No answer. Looking at Lothiriel and Arwen, Éowyn asked with her eyes whether it would be safe to knock louder. Arwen nodded after a moment, as did Lothiriel. 'Please be home and safe Hild.' Éowyn knocked louder. A moment passed, then suddenly the door opened, startling all three of them. "Who is it?" came a soft female whisper.
Éowyn sighed in relief at hearing her friend's voice. "Hild, it is me. I come with two friends."
The door opened wider and a tall woman with long blonde hair stepped out. Looking closely, Hild's eyes visibly widened. "Éowyn? Is it truly you?" Éowyn nodded and Hild's blue eyes filled with tears as she hugged her friend. "We thought you were dead!"
Though Éowyn was happy to see her friend, she knew it was imperative not to stay outside. "May we come in, Hild?"
"Oh! Yes, please, come in." After closing the door behind them, Hild went to the table and lit a candle. The light illuminated the small, two-roomed house. The four women sat down on empty barrels at the small wooden table. "The children are asleep in the other room. It has been hard on them, this captivity, especially with their father... " At this, a sad look appeared of Hild's face.
Éowyn's heart broke for her friend. "Ádhelm is dead then." Hild nodded. "Oh, Hild, I am so sorry."
Like most of the women of Rohan, Hild did not let her grief show. "He fought bravely against the invaders, defending the Hall until the end." Hild then changed the subject, unwilling to break down in front of guests. She had cried enough already. "But tell me, what are you doing here? And who have you brought?"
Éowyn realized that both Lothiriel and Arwen still had their faces covered by their hoods and motioned for them to show themselves. "My cousin by marriage, Lothiriel of Dol Amroth," Lothiriel nodded her greetings. "and Arwen, Queen of Gondor." Hild's eyes widened, not as much from the fact that the Queen of Gondor was sitting on a barrel in her home as the elf's innate beauty. "As to why we are here, we have come to find a way to free Edoras." Éowyn's face drew tight as she thought of her own personal mission. "And to free my husband and brother should they still live."
Hild nodded. "As far as anyone knows, the King and your husband are yet alive, though imprisoned in Meduseld's own dungeon. At least, that is the hope that is held in our hearts."
When Éowyn did not say anything, Lothiriel spoke up. "Can you tell us exactly what happened? We know very little."
"No one saw the army before they were right at the gates. The sentry's had no time to give a warning before we were overrun. Many of the men tried to fight them off, but we were unprepared and... not many survived unscathed. It seemed like only a moment before the city was completely occupied. The leaders, Pelatarn and Mustayo, rode into Meduseld and took the King captive themselves."
"Has there been no word of the King or Faramir?"
Hild shook her head. "None."
Seeing that both of her companions were now deep in thought, Arwen took up the questioning. "How have the people been faring?"
"As I said before, many of the men were injured, some killed. Those left have been placed under house arrest. The rest of us have been harassed in the streets so as we can only walk in groups and the children cannot play outside. But the worst part... the worst part is the enemy soldiers." At this Hild looked sickened.
"What of the soldiers?"
"They...they are dead."
And…..I think I'll just leave it there. Hope you liked.
