Our soldiers march
In long columns go they their way
To war or death they know not whither
If they'll come home I cannot say.
To war! To war!
My brothers gone
I know not where, I know not why
My soul will weep 'til eternity dies
Or until they come home by-and-by.
Chapter 40
Eve of Battle
Though preparations were almost complete, neither the physical, nor mental energy level decreased as the time for implementation of their plans approached. Aragorn sent runners to the northern and eastern borders of Hoth to watch for the arrival of the other Wainrider Chieftains.
And they came - and kept coming in force - their great war chariots glistening in the colors of each individual Chieftain, banners waving in the gentle breeze, their well-ordered soldiers marching behind - their bowman, their foot soldiers, their mounted soldiers. In great, long lines they came, and to the cadence of the war drums, they marched.
Aragorn had wanted to see the army for himself and now stood in concealment with Legolas at his side, watching as yet another Chieftain entered Hoth.
"Estel?" Legolas said without looking at the human standing beside him.
"Hm." Was his only reply as he continued to watch.
"All this because of a rumor that Harad has turned on them? All this over two slaves?"
Aragorn turned and started walking the long distance back toward the entrance to the tunnels.
"This is but a show of force, Legolas. One big dog is baring its teeth to let the other big dog know that it is willing to fight. If nothing comes of it, the first big dog will stand down and the two dogs will be friends once again until the next occasion when they will once more circle and snap at each other's necks just like this time."
"And you feel that your freedom fighters will have the courage to stand in the middle of this field while 200 chariots charge at them not to mention trained soldiers, some of whom are on horseback?"
The human turned toward the elf and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Have a little more faith in these people, my friend."
He turned and resumed his walk and Legolas lengthened his stride to catch up.
"Estel, I did not mean to sound like I doubted the hearts of these humans - it's just that I don't know if I could stand there and watch hundreds of chariots coming at me without having some kind of doubt about my courage - or my common sense."
Aragorn seemed to be considering his friend's words and walked silently for a time then once more turned to the blonde Prince.
"In truth, Legolas, I have faith that these slaves - these freedom fighters - will hold their ground against the chariots, or the horses, or the soldiers. The Wainriders can send anything or anybody they want at these people and they will neither flinch, nor turn away. They will not wonder whether or not they had the courage to stand there - but will know only that they did - and they will be a proud people because of that. They know that even if they die, they will die as free men and as such will still have won a prize greater than just the ability to go wherever they want to go and do whatever they want to do. They know that whether they live or die, no matter the amount of courage they held in their hearts, they will have done their best with a dignity they had thought long gone and beyond the realm of possibility, and that, Legolas, will be most precious to them."
The young ranger's eyes were snapping and for just a moment, Legolas caught a glimpse of the future and saw his brother as he would one day be – the King of Men. Even as young as he now was, he spoke with fire and conviction and behind his eyes, for just a moment, Legolas could almost imagine that Elendil himself was speaking. Then the glimpse was gone and he once more saw his brother - only a man, but a man ready to lead his people. He smiled at the human.
"In this you are correct, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, for how can you measure the worth of dignity - or freedom? Tomorrow, no matter the outcome, it will have been a good day."
"Aye, my brother, that it will be."
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Rahan and the other three Guards had been summoned by their Commander and now stood silently as she paced up and down in front of them, deep in thought and with a twinkle in her eyes that the Captain was not quite sure he liked. Finally she stopped her pacing and looked at them.
"Tonight is the night that you are going to take out the barracks guards and quarry guards and substitute the slaves. However, I have another assignment for you to carry out this night as well."
She started unrolling a map then sat it on a nearby table. Turning to Greyfell, she motioned him over to where she and her Thurin Tirith stood. For the next hour, the six of them schemed and planned and when they all finally parted, they were smiling.
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There was a great furor in the throne room. Garm sat on the throne rubbing his aching temples while the different Chieftains milled about and debated the present situation loudly and with numerous hand gestures. It seemed that the only thing the Chieftains could agree on was that they were more than willing to fight each other, or anybody else for that matter, and for any reason. Already this day two different fights had been broken up before either Chieftain had seriously hurt or killed the other. Garm had almost pleaded with them saying their energy could be better spent preparing their forces to meet Harad when it arrived.
Throughout the day, Garm had been asked repeatedly if he was sure that Harad was actually going to march on Hoth. It wasn't until he had told them that if Ostara had sent for them then the threat was viable, whatever its source, that they had calmed down a bit – even from beyond the grave, the woman was feared and her opinions respected. After a time the Chieftains had started to settle down, apparently coming to terms with the fact that battle seemed imminent and they would all have a chance to show their qualities, good or bad.
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Elladan and Elrohir had spent the better part of the day creating what they called hindrances - little devices that would irritate, stop, incapacitate or otherwise wreak havoc on the opposing forces. The two seemed to be enjoying themselves far too much as they laughed while they created. To anyone that knew the twins, however, they would well be able to see the underlying sadness.
It wasn't that the two derived great pleasure from creating things that would cause the death of another - it was far from that - for they truly did have respect for life. They were simply trying to keep their minds from dwelling on the death by trying to imagine what their father would say if he knew that hundreds of years worth of pranks were paying off in this fashion.
Anayah had come up to them earlier and told them to save their little exploding devices for the mounted horses for if things went well, the chariots wouldn't be as much of a problem as originally thought. Both twins had agreed that their sister had a mind almost as devious as their own.
The two looked up as Aragorn and Legolas walked into the cavern. Speaking so the others could easily hear him, he called a meeting of all the Battle Captains. He waited until everyone was there and had settled themselves.
"Listen up everybody."
Everybody fell silent.
"I want to go over what we have to do between now and tomorrow. You all know that Legolas is my Second and has the same authority, as do I, to order matters so if anyone has a question and can't find me, seek him out and he will do what he can to assist you. Elladan and Elrohir, you will take your ten fighters and go set up the tents." He winked at the twins. "I am sure that these tents will be set up in a manner that convinces our Hoth spies that Harad is in fact, here. They don't have to know that the tents stand few and empty until the time for battle comes and at that time, knowing the difference will no longer be of consequence. Until then, let them continue to think that the Harad army is trying to sneak in under their noses."
Aragorn looked around until he found Lothur and when he saw the affirmative nod from the big man, he turned back to the others.
"Lothur will take his 30 fighters and will set up my brothers' little hindrances and take the weapons we have created and refurbished out to the battle field. He will be starting as soon as it is full dark so if you go to speak to him and he is not there, you will know where he has gone."
He found Aglarion and laid an arm over the young man's shoulders.
"Master Aglarion will have a most important task to do. He will be our messenger - our runner - and when the time comes he will start at one end of Hoth and will run to the other end. He will wear a black arm band on each arm and when the slaves see him run by, they will quietly leave their jobs, homes and masters and will continue on to the battlefield, carrying with them the remainder of the weapons and other things that they have been hiding for us."
He looked around the cavern until he found Halgar.
"Master Halgar will be our healer and he together with his ten assistants will leave with the twins to set up and order the healer's tents. If there are any injuries, you will seek him out and he will assist you. The healers will all be wearing a red armband on their right arms."
Aragorn found Tathrin.
"Master Tathrin will be in our little tent city and will direct our fighters to the tents where they will be armed according to their capabilities. Any being with the desire to take part in this fight will have some way they can contribute."
Feeling eyes on him, the young man looked up and met the eyes of his sister who winked at him encouragingly.
"The Thurin Tirith Guards are going to go to each slave barracks as well as the quarries and will be taking out the guards after which one of the slaves, dressed as the guard will be substituted in their place. This will happen quickly so tell your people not to become alarmed. The quarry slaves and those slaves housed in the different barracks will quietly slip out of Hoth and go to the battlefield. If a Hoth citizen or soldier happens to pass by, they will see the quarry and barracks guards but will not, at least we hope not, know that the guards they see will actually be slaves. We don't want a mass exodus of slaves tomorrow for that would defeat the whole purpose of trying to get the Hoth soldiers to believe that Harad is here."
He thought a moment in case he had missed anything.
"Well, that is about it for now so anyone that doesn't have an assigned task, go home, eat and rest. Be ready for tomorrow - when Aglarion makes his run, we will know that the time for battle will be at hand."
Everyone began to wander off to their appointed tasks and Aragorn went in search of his sister. He found her sitting in a corner of the cavern fletching arrows for Huan.
"I thought I told you that you couldn't fletch arrows."
The look Anayah gave her brother was withering.
"Don't push your luck brother. I am not so ill that I still can't get up and kick 'your behind.'" Setting down her work she put her arm around her brother's neck and drew him close until they could touch - temple to temple. "Even if I am too wounded to kick your ass, I have four Guards who would be more than willing to do the job in my stead."
The two siblings laughed for a few moments then sat quietly. As she once more picked up her arrow and continued fletching it, Anayah kept glancing at her brother. She could tell that he was unsettled about something.
"Your thoughts, Estel?"
He shrugged his shoulders, and for a moment was just a brother and not the leader of a soon-to-be historic rebellion.
"Ada is going to be so proud of you. Of course he will wait to tell you so until after he gives you the 'What were you thinking' lecture."
Aragorn laughed.
"Anayah if something ... if I don't ... tomorrow… if..." He paused as he saw his sister looking at him with a raised eyebrow."
"What?"
"You can't say it Estel, because you don't believe that it will or even could happen - that you could or will die. You have faith in your skills and faith that these people want to be free so badly that there is no possible way they can lose."
Aragorn looked at his sister and for a moment, there was just a hint of moisture in his eyes.
"Is it wrong to feel fear, Anayah? Is it wrong to doubt?"
She sighed.
"No, Estel, it is not. It is perfectly natural for you to feel some apprehension. But let these emotions be the fire for your determination - do not let them be your master. You will do fine, tomorrow - I have faith in you."
"Anayah?"
The two siblings turned to see Rahan and his three elves dressed in their stealth uniforms.
"We're just about ready to leave. Do you have any last minute instructions?"
Anayah stood then inspected each of them even though it was not necessary but it did help her feel better. She longed to be at their sides for this was the second time she had had to say goodbye to them and that knowledge sat heavy on her heart. Rahan seemed to have read her mind.
"Don't ... little sister ... you have done your part. You wounded the beast so now let the rest of us do what we can." He tapped his heart with his fist. "You will be here in spirit."
"Go."
She almost whispered as she gently pushed Rahan backwards. The other three Guards tapped their hearts as well then they all turned and left the sleeping cavern.
"Momma's babies are leaving without her." Taking a deep shuddering breath, she turned to her brother. "Estel, is there anything left to do that I can help with?"
"No there isn't. However, I must take my leave of you and go see what a devious set of twins are up to. Legolas has been supervising but I am afraid for him - the enthusiasm of my brothers can be quite taxing and I don't want my Second-in-command to wear himself out before the great battle."
They both laughed.
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Later as Anayah was walking through the outer caverns, she saw Lothur sitting with his back to the wall and his eyes closed. She stood frowning in puzzlement then sat next to the big human. After a bit, when she had decided that he was aware of her presence, Anayah leaned her head against his arm.
"I sense that you are getting lost in your memories of the past." She said calmly and softly.
He opened his eyes and for a moment, the look he held was dark but was quickly replaced by a sense of sadness and resignation.
"The past still haunts me, Lady Anayah, for I did much harm to others when I was a soldier in Hoth, whether I willed it differently or had earned a small piece of redemption by later actions, or not."
"But you were a soldier, Lothur, and your will was not always your own. You did your best to help when you could and many slaves will remember this - they will be alive to remember that once, someone did care and someone did make a difference in their lives."
He reached over and briefly hugged her.
"Aye. I must often remind myself of that fact. Perhaps in a small way the work I do here now and will do tomorrow will begin to make up for the ill deeds that still haunt my dreams.
"I wish you peace, Lothur."
Lothur smiled then after rising and helping her to her feet as well, went to start gathering what he needed to take to the battlefield.
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"Miss Anayah?"
Anayah turned to see Halgar standing behind her and knew that the man was upset about something. She quickly walked to his side and put her arm around his shoulders and after taking a deep breath, the young human regained his composure. He remained silent for a few moments and Anayah let the silence stand until he was finally ready to speak. Halgar cleared his throat, his hands absently moving over the top of the box he now held so gently in his lap.
"For over 3,000 years we - my predecessors and I - have guarded the secret of the tomb and what it contained." He looked up at Anayah. "I wish to place this box and what it contains into your keeping, my Lady. It belongs to Isildur's heir and I am hoping that if I do not survive tomorrow that you will see that your brother gets this."
Anayah smoothed the hair out of the young man's eyes and noticed just how young he looked at the moment. She smiled at him then kissed his brow.
"Gladly will I take this charge from your hands, Legend Keeper. May the Valar stand the watch over you with the same diligence that you and those who came before have watched over the token housed inside this box as well as inside the tomb that lies on the border of a small village named Hope. Be at peace that I will guard these treasures until you can once more take them from my hands."
Without another word but with one more glance, the young man stood and after a last smile, turned and walked away.
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The people started to leave and soon the three caverns and the adjacent tunnels were empty. Anayah stood in the darkness, looking around. She picked up bits and pieces of what others had left behind – Estel's water flask; a piece of leftover fletching from the arrows of the Prince of Mirkwood; an extra whetstone that one of the twins had left behind. She held these things in her hand, looking at them and wondering if she would see any of her brothers or extended family again.
She felt something bump her leg and looking down saw Cyrano, Irildë and baby Tinu. She went to her knees then after burying her face on Cyrano's soft shoulder, began to sob.
TBC