The idea for this chapter was suggested by Jay of Lagalen. It overlaps slightly with the idea from the last chapter.
Nienor Niniel: I'm afraid I can't tell you what Galadriel did with the hobbits, because then Celeborn won't be able to blackmail her with it in the future. As for Denethor, the only thing I can suggest is that it was Sauron trying to run because he was possessing Denethor at the time.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for this work. Nor is the author being paid to promote HoME.
Some Missing Dúnedain
Aragorn was getting impatient. Elrond had given him a note from Halbarad to say that the Dúnedain were on their way to him, accompanied by Elladan and Elrohir, but where were they? Time was getting short and he would have to take the Paths of the Dead soon, or he would not be in time to prevent the Corsairs of Umbar from sailing up the river.
Somewhere to the east of the mountains, possibly near Rohan, Halbarad was peering intently at a map of the western regions of Middle-earth. "Are you sure the map is the right way up?" asked Elrohir.
Halbarad glared at him. "Of course it's the right way up. I'm not stupid, you know."
The twins exchanged a sceptical glance. "Then perhaps it is a map from the second age?" suggested Elladan. "Father keeps all the old maps in his library."
"Now you are being stupid," said Halbarad, "Rohan wouldn't be marked on a map from 2885 of the Second Age."
"Oh, for Eru's sake, just let us look at the map," snapped Elrohir, "you must have got us lost, or we would have arrived days ago."
"We wouldn't be temporarily unaware of our exact location if we had travelled with your father!" retorted Halbarad. He held the map out to Elrohir, who snatched it from his hands, tearing one corner.
"I think we're here," said Elrohir, pointing at the area labelled 'West Emnet'
"No," said Elladan, "we can't be, or there would be mountains on two sides, rather than one."
"Let's just keep going," said Elrohir, "I'm sure we will find a landmark soon."
They continued in what they hoped was a south-easterly direction for several hours, until the twins noticed a woodland ahead. "Oh no," groaned Elrohir, "Grandfather will never let us live this down."
"We could pretend that we intended to come here all along," said Elladan.
"It wouldn't work," said Elrohir dolefully, not with Grandmother's mind-reading. She will get the truth out of one of the Dúnedain with a single look. If we turn around now we will get to Rohan and no one will be any the wiser."
"I fear that we must face the humiliation, brother," said Elladan, "we have very little food left and Grandmother is always only too pleased to give us more lembas than we could possibly eat."
"Will you two please tell me what you are talking about," said Halbarad, "you aren't making sense. What do your grandparents have to do with anything?"
"That woodland ahead of us happens to be Lothlórien," said Elladan, "where our grandparents happen to live."
Halbarad quickly found Lothlórien on his map, which he had grabbed back from Elrohir at the first opportunity. "Oh dear," he said, "we are lost."
There were no border guards to greet them at the edge of the Golden Wood, which was most unusual. Celeborn's paranoia about unauthorised Elves - particularly Noldor - Men, Dwarves and other even less welcome visitors entering his realm was legendary. It was useless to remind him that his great-uncle Thingol, who had taken even more extreme measures, was murdered by Dwarves that he had chosen to let in, not the Kinslayers when they invaded five years later. They proceeded to Caras Galadhon, where they found the city almost empty, and Celeborn running around madly. "Thank the Valar you are here!" he cried, "You must help me to defend Lothlórien!"
"I'm sorry, Grandfather, but we can't do that," said Elladan, "we have to go to Rohan to find Aragorn and go with him on the Paths of the Dead. Halbarad here had a message to say that Aragorn needs his kinsmen."
"It's always about Aragorn, isn't it?" said Celeborn, "Well I can assure you that Aragorn has absolutely no need for thirty Dúnedain and you two, because he has my ENTIRE ARMY!"
"What happened?" asked Elrohir, "Was there a mutiny?"
"Don't be ridiculous," said Celeborn, "it was your grandmother's idea. She sent them to Helm's Deep, and none of them have come back, so I assume that they have gone with your precious Aragorn, wherever he is now."
"They might all be dead," observed Halbarad.
Celeborn gave him a frosty look, which he then turned on Galadriel as she appeared. "Elladan! Elrohir! My dear boys, how wonderful to see you!" said Galadriel. "I hope you don't mind me bringing you here, but your grandfather was quite adamant that he needed some replacement troops." she giggled, "You're hardly essential, of course. I can protect Lothlórien if it is attacked, but you know how your grandfather is if he doesn't get his own way."
"We will help, Grandfather," said Elladan, smiling at Celeborn, relieved that they had not, in fact, been lost at all. When Galadriel was involved strange things such as mistaking north for south tended to happen.
"I suppose we can stay," said Halbarad, "If you're quite sure Aragorn doesn't need us."
"What would you like us to do?" asked Elrohir.
"Given that there are so few of us," said Celeborn, "we shall have to confine our force to the city itself," he gathered up the twins and the Dúnedain, and wandered off to point out the strengths and weaknesses of the Caras Galadhon's defences. As Galadriel watched her husband stroll away, she polished Nenya absently on her sleeve. Perhaps she would let a few Orcs in, just to keep Celeborn amused.
At Dunharrow Aragorn realised that he had now run out of time, and he set out along the Paths of the Dead, accompanied only by Legolas and Gimli.