Chapter 15 - Return to Middle-earth
"Go back to the ship," Black ordered once the two thieves hit land.
"I think I'll just stay here," Red replied lightly.
"Either you go back to the ship," Black growled, "or I will make sure you do stay here…permanently."
"Permanently?" Red wondered. Black flashed a knife in front of her face. "Oh, right…" Red squeaked. "Look!" she shouted suddenly, pointing over Black's shoulder. "Something dark and evil looking!"
Black's eyes flickered, and Red turned into a raven and flew away. Black huffed triumphantly, and once the small dark spot that was Red disappeared in the distance Black began to smile. There was a discreet gurgling in her throat, and then it grew into a wild, maniacal laugh.
"Free!" Black laughed. "Free!"
And the mothers grabbed their children and the men locked the doors.
Black borrowed a horse from one of the stables in the port and wasted no time in setting out. She was headed toward Mordor, in the general direction the Fellowship would be traveling. She had no wish to see that arrogant pretty-boy Elf again, but she'd just have to deal with it. At least Red wouldn't be there.
She went as fast as the horse could go, and when she came to the next town she traded it for a fresh one. She continued on like this for days, until she reached the Gap of Rohan.
Rohan, she thought, home of the Horse-lords. She stopped in the Westfold only to find it pillaged and burned; not a thatch house standing. Work of the servants of Saruman the Traitor, no doubt. So the woman rode on, until her mount was utterly exhausted, then she let him go to roam the rich grasslands and do as he wished.
The dark woman had a way with horses, so she felt more at home in this land than in any other part of Middle-earth. She also used her abilities to convince a young black stallion to let her ride him. Once she got him to trust her she spurred him toward Anduin and the Falls of Rauros. Before she got very far, however, she ran across a huge host of iron-clad Uruk-hai. They carried long black spears and tattered black flags with the white hand of Saruman painted in the middle. The beasts also had crossbows, ladders, and a battering ram: weapons of war.
Black stood on a rise overlooking the marching host. They were headed in the direction of Helm's Deep. The woman quickly made up her mind and changed directions. She kicked the stallion into a run and flew toward the great fortress of Rohan. As the sight of the Uruks began to disappear behind the knoll, the woman stuck out her hand and sent a jet of fire barreling into the great company.
The dark woman reached the stone fortress just after dusk. Soldiers lined the outer walls, armed and watchful. So war was expected. Black looked closer. Were those elves on the walls?
"Not more bloody fairies," she groaned as she directed her mount forward.
The woman was hidden from sight by the darkness as she approached. Not until she was almost right underneath the wall did one of the elves spot her.
"Aragorn -" called Legolas.
The man that was to be king strode over to his friend from Mirkwood. "What is it?" he asked quietly.
Legolas pointed to a cloaked figure on horseback standing just below them and whispered vehemently. "She has returned."
Black was becoming impatient. Not that she worried about the Uruks arriving while she was still on the ground, she could handle them, it would just be very painful, but she wanted to know exactly what was going on. She scanned the lines of men and elves; it was a sorry sight. Old men and boys and fairies. She scoffed silently.
"That is the woman…" Aragorn began.
"Yes," Legolas hissed.
"What is she doing here?" Aragorn wondered. Legolas wondered too, but his was more the angry bitter kind. That woman made his skin crawl.
The dark woman's impatience soon got the better of her and she decided to make her presence be known.
"Oye!" she called. "You know there's a host of Uruks headed this way, yes?"
The ranks on the walls all began to shift and turn their heads, trying to find the body that went with the voice. The elves soon had all of their eyes upon the dark woman, and she did her best to ignore them.
"Is the one known as Aragorn among you?" she asked. There was no reply. "Is the one known as Aragorn with you?" she repeated more forcefully. There was a shift in the line of elves right above her and a man appeared.
"What are you doing here?" Aragorn questioned.
Black growled. "Do you want my help or not?" she demanded.