Disclaimer: The characters and original story line is, of course, the property of J.R.R Tolkein....a master story teller....I thank him for the many ways his characters have enriched my life and the lives of children around the world. I, will gain nothing from my explorative wanderings with his characters....except a chance to stretch my own paltry imagination!
To all who have read...and continue to hold on to the fragile hope that this story will entertain and become in some way meaningful to you....thank you! This is the third story in a three part series.....the second part is "gift of the Valar"...the first part is being roughed out as "Faces of War" is being concluded ( in other words...it has not yet been started in final draft form here on FF.net) This portion of the story will take Frodo, Aragorn, Sam....the Hobbits...all of the Fellowship and even the AU character Chrysanthemum through some serious angst, questions of purpose and intent.....while they struggle to make some sense of the ultimate 'function' of war in society.....have fun...relate events as you 'see' them, to events of your own lives...or to the happenings of a society that in many ways is not so unlike that of Middle Earth....
Endymion2.....Terren cannot notify the King because he is under pain of banishment from the house of the Steward...which has been in the place of the line of Kings for 26 generations...waiting for the King to return....so his word was LAW....the citizens of Gondor were still uncertain of the heart and intent of the new King and responded with great fear and respect to edicts passed by the ruling house of Stewards. Besides...the citizens of Minas Tirith knew that the Steward was a mite unpredictable.....
Frodo Baggins87...thanks for keeping up with the story...I hope you'll continue to keep up with it....I have many twists and turns for all of the characters of the Fellowship....and I try to portray the characters in the light that they've been given....ie Aragorn as noble and conflicted....Gandalf as wise and yet, not all powerful, Sam as protective, loving, in awe of....and yet not quite ready to believe that his master has the sense he needs to make it through a day unharmed.....enjoy!
Faces of War
Chapter 10: Disguising
As the day wore on, and his fever began to abate, Frodo found himself able to stay awake for longer and longer periods of time. Terren managed to keep him hydrated and even enticed the ailing Hobbit to eat some of their hard earned porridge. Rosetta stared from across the small cave like enclosure to the pale and weak lad who'd saved her at the market. She listened as he spoke with Terren, his soft spoken words and lilting accent strange and wonderful to her ears. She peeked at his fine features and was drawn to the intense sadness that lay behind the wide expanse of summer sky blue that was his eyes. She closed her own eyes and imagined that he was a lost prince from a far away Kingdom and that she would be a Princess to help him find his way home. She sighed, rather loudly to the annoyance of Rumeil who was sitting quietly by her side. She thought he was the most wonderful thing she'd ever seen, so fair and kind, so soft spoken and well mannered. She looked down at her grubby hands and torn frock, felt her plain ears and watched her sandaled feet with disappointment in her eyes. She longed to go be near to him, but Rumeil had asked her to keep to her place...he'd told her that the lad was the 'ringbearer', and while she didn't know what that was exactly, she knew from looking at him that it had to be something important.
Frodo, with some help from Terren, found himself sitting up upon one elbow and drinking yet another infusion when he caught a flash of yellow curls and bright blue eyes looking at him. He cocked his head to one side and asked quietly of the healer "When I am I to be deemed well enough to thank the other members of your camp for all they have done to aid me?" Terren smiled gently, "I never thought ye'd ask sir, they've been wanting to meet ya.".
The still weakened Hobbit could not help but smile, he felt such relief that this child before him, the girl of his vision was unharmed. "Please introduce us Terren, I owe them my thanks" he said quietly. Terren turned to the two children and beckoned that they should come to his side. Rumeil looked back in surprise and hesitated, but Rosetta was there in a flash, staring in wide eyed fascination at the lad lying beside Terren. "Now Rosetta, child, ye must give 'em some room to breathe" he laughed as she wiggled closer and closer to Frodo. Frodo laughed, a small tired laugh, but a laugh that sounded like music to the ears of the orphan children. Terren smiled and continued "this is Sir...er rather Frodo...he's a friend to the King". Frodo looked gently upon the children and was about to speak when Rosetta burst in " Oh Sir Frodo, you are like somethin' outta a tale from around the campfire....are you an elf? I hear the fair folk have yer ears....but yer feet are not as mine...did you have an accident with yer feet Sir Frodo?" Rosetta's words, pent up for so long, came tumbling out. Frodo stared, rather at a loss for words in the midst of all of hers, so she continued "Are you a prince in your country? Rumeil says yer a 'ringbearer'...that sounds important...do you have a Princess of yer own yet?" Terren stared in astonishment at the curly blond head beside him " I'm sorry Sir...er rather Frodo, she's not had much by the way of company and she is a bit excited fer adventures." Frodo looked a little bewildered, but he struggled to sit up more, and with a grimace of pain, succeeded.
" 'Tis all right Terren, I myself have not had such charming company in a long time. I shall answer her questions as best I can." Frodo took a deep breath and looked to the unquenchable
excitement in Rosetta's eyes. " Well, I am not an elf, for I am far too short...in my land we are called 'Hobbits'....and no, I am not a Prince in my land fair one...." He paused to quirk an eyebrow at her "though if I were, I should gladly welcome you as my Princess...for you are as charming and full of light as the lady Arwin herself." Rosetta sighed deeply " The lady Arwin is said ta be the betrothed of the new King....do ya know her Sir Frodo?"
"That I do my Princess, she is as fair as the stars that light the velvet depths of the night sky..." Frodo paused a moment as he recalled the warmth and grace that was Arwin Undomiel.. Rosetta stared, entranced by the words and the vision that Frodo words could bring. She continued her questions "how did she become a Princess? Is she magic? Why are you so like a child and yet ye speak with words as a grown up?". Frodo smiled "one question at a time...well Arwin is a Princess because she is the daughter of the lord of the Elves of Rivendell...yes, she has a special magic...all elves do...and the last question?" Frodo's voice trailed off in uncertainty "Oh yes," he said as he recalled her last query " I am the size of some of the children of Gondor, because this is as big as we get....while I am considered a mite thin for a Hobbit, I am actually rather tall for creatures of my race....and " he finished his last sentence with grin " I speak as an adult because I am one, I am nearly 51 years old ." Frodo had to lean back down on one elbow again as his last discourse had tired him somewhat. He turned his eyes to Rumeil, who'd been listening to the exchange between the ringbearer and his sister with amazement "Thank you Rumeil, for all
you've done to help me" the Hobbit swallowed bravely " I am not always welcome in the way I would wish in the world of men...." his face went a little pale as he recalled his past two days "yet because of you and Terren and the Princess here" he paused to stare with kind eyes to Rosetta " I have faith that there is far more good than evil in your city, thank you lad" Frodo said as he laid his head back down upon his pillow to rest. " Oh Sir, ye've done so much ta help us all....I...I think yer a hero as big as any mighty warrior ...or even the King himself" Rumeil finished bravely. A cloud seemed to pass over Frodo's face...a dark moment of doubt and guilt...but was soon gone and the Hobbit smiled gently, a light shining in his eyes, to the thin boy beside him.
"Heros come in many shapes and sizes Rumeil...but any who have love and a dream can be a hero...you will see" Frodo's voice trailed off and he closed his eyes a moment. Terren was about to wave the children away, when Frodo asked, eyes still closed "What of your brother Kylos? Why is he not here?" Rumeil answered "He works with the slag boys, clearing the debris o' the war from the outer wall o' the city....he earns what we need ta keep us." Frodo opened his eyes and stared intently at Rumeil "Your brother is young for such labor," the tired Hobbit sighed and said quietly " this war has spared no one it would seem." Terren looked to the two children and waved them out of the enclosure, as he set to giving Frodo another infusion of herbs to lessen his discomfort. As Frodo was about to sit up to take the offered draught, he reached to Terren's arm
" I am nearly well enough to travel....I am sorry for the hardships you've suffered here, please let me take you back to the palace, the King will be grateful for my return and will show his gratitude in any way you ask." Frodo's big blue eyes looked with great intensity upon the face of the healer. A frown swiftly passed over Terren's features, a fact not lost upon the sick Hobbit. "Terren, what is wrong?" Frodo asked.
Terren sighed " I am under banishment from the houses of healing, and edict passed by the late Steward prohibits those under banishment from returning g to their former lives....under pain of death" he finished in a whisper. Frodo's eyes opened wide in anger and disbelief " The Steward is no more, the house of Elessar rules now and he is a just King...he will not allow that to occur." Terren nodded, " yes, if he knows of the banishment he may rescind it...if he don't and I return....my life and the wellness of these children may be forfeit. " Terren frowned, a tear in his eye " I care not so much for me....but these children have lost too much and I will not allow them to be hurt again."
Frodo stared, understanding clearly reflected in his thoughtful gaze " then we shall not return until I am certain that I can explain your plight to the King directly." Terren nodded, " thank you Sir..." with a sharp glance from the Hobbit he continued ..er Frodo, thank you Frodo." Terren looked over Frodo's resting form quietly,an uncomfortable silence ensuing until Frodo, sensing he was being watched...asked " Is something wrong Terren?" "Well, no, not exactly...but Sir...er Frodo, well yer clothes, they are a mite bit tattered and not as tidy as they might be...they could do with some washing afore ye return to the palace." Frodo looked to himself in dismay, ripped and torn shirt, mud and blood encrusted breeches...yes he had to agree he was quite filthy. He looked apologetically to the healer " I am sorry for my state Terren, but I do have other clothing at the palace...and I shall feel, more than a little awkward and well quite exposed sitting here with naught but a blanket as my clothing is washed. "
Terren walked to Rumeil's bedding and pulled worn grey trousers, a white broadcloth shirt and blue tunic from beneath the boys pallet. "You shall be as an 8 year old lad Mr. Frodo...then if yer well enough this evening, well we shall feel safer taking ye through the city as a boy than as a halfling" Frodo looked to Terren, not comprehending " the ruffian's may still be about 'ere sir" The healer said softly. Frodo nodded, pale at the thought of another encounter with the thugs of two night ago. "I shall be a Hobbit no more then" he said with a tired smile " I shall be as an 8 year old boy." Terren helped him change and then insisted that Frodo don a pair of leggings and boots that were made for him " 'twill be mighty funny Sir, ta see a boy with such large barefeet" Terren prodded gently. Frodo nodded " yes, you are right I suspect". And so it was that Frodo found himself, by the late afternoon attired in Rumiel's clothing and Terrens boots as they waited for evening to fall....so that he could at long last return to the palace. Frodo had insisted the the elven cloak and the mithril shirt become a part of his clothing as well...he felt he needed the shield of strength and stealth this night, though he did not know why.
Terren and Kylos. Who'd returned from his days labor, took Frodo's things to wash at the edge of the river, whilst they made their plans for Frodo's 'escape' from the camp for later that evening. Rumeil and Rosetta were bade to wait with Frodo and they passed their time listening to tales, encouraging Frodo to rest, or weaving daisy chain crowns for the Princess, her poppet and her 'sir Frodo'.
As the late afternoon shadows blended into the smooth grey shades of the evening, the camp became quiet, children with families found their parents and loved ones....those without found what places of refuge from they could from the evil of the night. The gradually darkening sky was made blacker still by the passing of clouds over the slowly growing moon. Behind a tree, near to the river Anduin, two men waited. "Yer sure Dalmer said we was ta try again tonight?" Thad said. Medal spat impatiently upon the ground at his feet...."aye, we're ta wait fer the signal from Finarian...he's wantin' us ta bring in at least twenty this time....we've orders ta bring in some small ones fer some tight space work Dalmer needs doing." Thad snorted in contempt " the small ones don't last the trip...remember how riled Dalmer 'twas the last time the shipment came in so damaged?". Mendal grunted an assenting reply and focused his eyes upon some activity at the edge of the river. Mendal watched the actions of an elderly man and a young lad as they seemed to be washing some items of clothing upon the rocks by the edge of the river. "Eh, 'taint washin a work 'o th e lasses?" Thad snorted derisively as he caught the actions of the figures by the water. Mendal mumbled "aye, 'tis a sorry time when there 'taint lasses ta do the washin' " and as he was just averting his gaze to scan the camp for possible cargo, something about the items being washed caught his eye. "Eh Thad, 'taint them the breeks 'o the halfling we whumped the other
night?" Thad, his interest suddenly piqued looked to the figures by the water...."Aye, it sure is...now that was somethin' wasn't it?...I wonder where that half high has got ta? " Thad said with an evil gleam in his eyes...."Eh, Mendal...ya suppose he may be near?". Mendal shifted his eyes about the camp, taking in the numerous, though widely dispersed campfires and shelters set up, "it may jest be we get a chance ta reacquaint ourselves with that halfhigh Thad...it may jest be...." Mendal finished with a lustful sneer.
Back at the enclosure where Frodo waited with Rumeil and Rosetta, the night wore on and the Hobbit was beginning to become anxious. He knew how his absence would be wearing upon the members of all of the fellowship, and especially Sam. 'I must return as soon as I am able' thought Frodo 'Aragorn shall have a time of it from Sam if I am not back soon....they all worry so' he thought wistfully. "Rumeil" Frodo said suddenly, breaking from his building of flower crowns with his 'Princess', "Terren has been gone a long while....do you think it might be wise to go and check upon them? I know they were working a plan to get me from the camp quietly...but I grow worried that they are gone so long." He whispered to the frail boy, not wanting to worry his little sister, who was thoroughly engaged in making a daisy crown for her poppet. Rumeil smiled shyly at the ringbearer "I shall go look to their hereabouts right now Sir." "Thank you" Frodo mouthed silently to the thin lad who exited the camp soundlessly. Rosetta, in the meantime was continuing her idle , though all so important chat, with her 'Sir Frodo'. " Ye'll be needin' more flowers fer yer own crown now Sir" she stated with authority. Frodo watched her as she intently wove her flower stems into a crown for her doll, and he felt a deep sadness for the many days of childish pleasures that the many youngest citizens of Gondor had lost. He found himself hoping that the play of children would remain a priority in a world ravaged by the sadistic and insidious evil of the wars of men and wizards.
Frodo was lost to his thoughts of innocence and childhood dreams as he noticed of a sudden the return of Rumeil, a pale and nervous Rumeil. "Rumeil, lad, what is is? Did you find Terren?" Frodo asked anxiously. Rumeil stared wide eyed and replied " I saw 'em Mr. Frodo, there was two men at the river...they were watchin' Terren and Kylos wash yer belongings....and they spoke as if they knew ya." Frodo took a deep breath and asked fearfully "Did you hear by what name they called one another?". Rumeil swallowed hard and looked to his sister, who was trying her daisy crown upon her dolly "aye" he whispered " they called one another Thad and Mendal."
Frodo felt his world close in upon him as the memory of his time with these men surfaced yet again....he shuddered and swallowed hard as he fought his own unreasoning terror. He would not allow the utter evil and shameful acts of these two men to affect the lives of those who had given so much to protect and to save him. He put aside his own terror and said as he stood up " we must find Terren and Kylos...now." Rosetta looked to him, a sudden recognition of her new friend's fear showing in her deep blue eyes. "I won't let them bad men 'art ye again Sir Frodo...I won't" she said as she stomped her small foot upon the ground insistently.. He bent to look into her serious and determined visage " Then we shall have to 'trick' them so they will not know we are here." he said with a smile in his eyes and upon his lips. "Like a game?" She asked...."we shall trick them like they are playing 'lets pretend' with us?". Frodo grabbed her small dirty hand in his and ran his other hand through her dirty blond curls " yes" he said " just like that....we shall play a game that they may not join us in." Frodo looked meaningfully to Rumeil and they exited the enclosure to find, through stealth and dark of night the comfort as Terren and Kylos .