PART 12
The night passed in Rohan quietly. The moon shone up above, lighting the silken grasses into fields of silver. The stars, only a little less bright, cast their light onto the trees and the animals that crept silently through the meadows of peace.
Inside the Golden Halls, all the Company save Elrond lay in sleep. Gandalf slept as he hadn't for days, his cloak closely wrapped about him and his staff close to his side. He hadn't stopped worrying about Zycrah since he had been summoned from his wanderings in the realms near Gondor. Her voice was soft here in this land of peace, but still audible as the old wizard turned and creaked in the light sleep of the old.
Aragorn lay in the same room, the covers on his bed gently draped over his face, his dark hair the only thing visible. Elrond smiled; even in Aragorn's great strength and age as a warrior-king, he still slept as he used to in the wind-perfumed chambers of Rivendell. Elrond's hand touched Aragorn's hair as he whispered a well-wish to Elentari for his Estel's continued health and strength. Aragorn's eyes fluttered gently at the Elf's light touch, but he only sighed and moved a little as the only sign that he perceived. Next to him in the bed one over lay Gimli, snoring gently in the way that Dwarves do, his weary face finally smoothed in rest.
Elrond moved to the next chamber, where the Elves slept. When Elrond had left, not able to rest, his sons had still been awake and Legolas had been out, wandering the grounds of Rohan. Now, when Elrond slipped back in on light feet, he saw that everyone was there. Elladan and Elrohir, mirror images of each other, lay together on the big double bed, their hands entwined in support. Elrond felt a warmth in his heart as he watched his twin sons sleep, much in the way they must have when they lay in his beloved's womb so very long ago. She had since gone to the Grey Havens, but her daughter Arwen had the ability to bring Elrond great joy as she was the image of her mother. Elrond sighed and moved to the window, where Legolas was.
"Still awake, Prince of Mirkwood?" Elrond's voice fell on the air like rain, and Legolas looked up, startled - he had been travelling through the trees of Mirkwood, Elladriel by his side.
"Elrond. You startled me."
"I have noticed that you have not been sleeping. What cares do you carry in your heart?" The great elven-king sat down beside the fair Elf by the open window.
Legolas sighed. Elrond had watched his children grow up long ago, and though he loved them all dearly, he was not as close to his sons or daughter as he had used to be, back in the days when Aragorn was a playful child running through the halls of Rivendell. How would he understand the longing in Legolas' heart? Legolas missed his family with all of his very being; he could not imagine the growth that Ashira was going through while he was off, fighting again. Legolas bent his head, his long hair spilling over his shoulders and tears welling in his bright eyes in spite of himself. When he spoke, it was with a tremble in his voice.
"I long for my home, and for my family. The plains of Rohan stir the perfumes of the winds from all directions, but they do not freshen my forest-loving heart. The grasses play a song that is like no other, but they do not sweeten my ears that long to hear the wind and rain on golden leaves. I pine after the rejuvenating green smell of the trees, the cool light of the sun, filtered through a canopy of shade. But I am missing my baby's growth, and the absence of her sweet laughter in my ears hurts me more than never getting to cross the Seas. My love waits for me to return, but I can feel her grief in my soul. I have ducked two hundred arrows and parried two hundred sword thrusts if I have fought one; but Elladriel's heart sings to me over the leagues and that wounds my own more deeply than the most painful stab of a evil sword." He raised his head, two tears tracing their way down his pale cheeks as his chin quivered.
Elrond did not know what to say; it had been so long since he had felt true love that he no longer worried about it. Elrond was not one to show his feelings readily, and like most Elves, he could be very cold. Yet the tears, so seldom seen on Legolas' brave warrior-face touched his heart, and he drew the younger prince close to him in comfort. They stayed that way as the moon crossed his nightly route, and the sun took his place in the light of day.
*****
After breakfast, the Company was called by Nuhision to a balcony overlooking a sparkling azure pond set in the emerald grasses below. With the Supreme Warrior, there were twenty of the strongest Rohirrim and the two centaurs, their manes and tails rippling in the wind. After all had gotten settled, Nuhision cleared his throat and spoke in his deep, rough voice.
"I have called you here for strategy. I am offering twenty of my Riders, along with Nelumaiel and Telperonwen for Rohan's contribution to this latest threat. They are strong, and will fight hard, especially the centaurs, but they need to be told of the enemy's power and guises."
Gandalf knew his cue; he stood. "The enemy, as I'm sure you all have heard by now, is Zycrah, a creature from the bowels of the ancient world. She controls our enemies with her mind, causing them to be invincible, and immune to any weapon save the Elessar, carried by the one who bears the same name." He smiled at Aragorn and continued. "I have prepared facsimiles of the Elf-stone to set into your bows and swords. With the stones in place, your weapons can pierce Zycrah's spell over her minions and defeat them. And once we get to Mordor, Aragorn will turn the full power of the Elessar on Zycrah and destroy her!"
The Rohan warriors raised their bows and boomed their battle cry at Gandalf's words, startling Gimli, who had not been paying attention. Telperonwen startled too at the battle cry, and whimpered, taking off around the balcony and knocking down a few warriors to stand beside Nuhision, who at first took no notice of her. Elladan and Elrohir now looked as if they questioned Nuhision's choice to send the centaurs with the Company. Even Elrond looked quizzical, and said to Nuhision, "Are you certain that the centaurs are . . . fit enough to withstand such a journey? Their great beauty may be spoiled."
Nuhision's expression did not change as his hand touched Telperonwen's side, slowly calming her. "I am always sure of my decisions, Elrond. They are the best warriors you have seen, a true force to be reckoned with!"
Nelumaiel, who had been watching her sister with anxiety on her beautiful face, relaxed as Telperonwen put a hand on her master's shoulder and smiled, reason crossing her face for the first time. She turned to the elven-king and in a strong clear voice reminiscent of her young days, she said, "Lord Elrond, I will take all the strength of my people and all the bravery that I hold to help your army defeat Zycrah, the enemy." She stared down out of striking dark eyes at Elrond, then as soon as reason had hit her, her face changed back to its dreamy vacancy. However, it was enough for Elrond. He nodded his head and turned away.
"We will prepare to leave tomorrow, and then go out at sunrise on the next day. Enjoy the rest of your day - " - directed at the Company - "for you will not have another to do as you will with until we reach Lothlorien. We are taking a short sidetrip there, as I need to consult with the Lady of the Wood. Fangorn will be a long, hard struggle, so save your strength - there are orcs in the trees." Elrond turned on his heel and left the balcony, most likely to sleep since he had been up with Legolas all night.
The assembly dispersed and each went their separate ways, mentally preparing for the time when their full strength and cunning would be needed.
The night passed in Rohan quietly. The moon shone up above, lighting the silken grasses into fields of silver. The stars, only a little less bright, cast their light onto the trees and the animals that crept silently through the meadows of peace.
Inside the Golden Halls, all the Company save Elrond lay in sleep. Gandalf slept as he hadn't for days, his cloak closely wrapped about him and his staff close to his side. He hadn't stopped worrying about Zycrah since he had been summoned from his wanderings in the realms near Gondor. Her voice was soft here in this land of peace, but still audible as the old wizard turned and creaked in the light sleep of the old.
Aragorn lay in the same room, the covers on his bed gently draped over his face, his dark hair the only thing visible. Elrond smiled; even in Aragorn's great strength and age as a warrior-king, he still slept as he used to in the wind-perfumed chambers of Rivendell. Elrond's hand touched Aragorn's hair as he whispered a well-wish to Elentari for his Estel's continued health and strength. Aragorn's eyes fluttered gently at the Elf's light touch, but he only sighed and moved a little as the only sign that he perceived. Next to him in the bed one over lay Gimli, snoring gently in the way that Dwarves do, his weary face finally smoothed in rest.
Elrond moved to the next chamber, where the Elves slept. When Elrond had left, not able to rest, his sons had still been awake and Legolas had been out, wandering the grounds of Rohan. Now, when Elrond slipped back in on light feet, he saw that everyone was there. Elladan and Elrohir, mirror images of each other, lay together on the big double bed, their hands entwined in support. Elrond felt a warmth in his heart as he watched his twin sons sleep, much in the way they must have when they lay in his beloved's womb so very long ago. She had since gone to the Grey Havens, but her daughter Arwen had the ability to bring Elrond great joy as she was the image of her mother. Elrond sighed and moved to the window, where Legolas was.
"Still awake, Prince of Mirkwood?" Elrond's voice fell on the air like rain, and Legolas looked up, startled - he had been travelling through the trees of Mirkwood, Elladriel by his side.
"Elrond. You startled me."
"I have noticed that you have not been sleeping. What cares do you carry in your heart?" The great elven-king sat down beside the fair Elf by the open window.
Legolas sighed. Elrond had watched his children grow up long ago, and though he loved them all dearly, he was not as close to his sons or daughter as he had used to be, back in the days when Aragorn was a playful child running through the halls of Rivendell. How would he understand the longing in Legolas' heart? Legolas missed his family with all of his very being; he could not imagine the growth that Ashira was going through while he was off, fighting again. Legolas bent his head, his long hair spilling over his shoulders and tears welling in his bright eyes in spite of himself. When he spoke, it was with a tremble in his voice.
"I long for my home, and for my family. The plains of Rohan stir the perfumes of the winds from all directions, but they do not freshen my forest-loving heart. The grasses play a song that is like no other, but they do not sweeten my ears that long to hear the wind and rain on golden leaves. I pine after the rejuvenating green smell of the trees, the cool light of the sun, filtered through a canopy of shade. But I am missing my baby's growth, and the absence of her sweet laughter in my ears hurts me more than never getting to cross the Seas. My love waits for me to return, but I can feel her grief in my soul. I have ducked two hundred arrows and parried two hundred sword thrusts if I have fought one; but Elladriel's heart sings to me over the leagues and that wounds my own more deeply than the most painful stab of a evil sword." He raised his head, two tears tracing their way down his pale cheeks as his chin quivered.
Elrond did not know what to say; it had been so long since he had felt true love that he no longer worried about it. Elrond was not one to show his feelings readily, and like most Elves, he could be very cold. Yet the tears, so seldom seen on Legolas' brave warrior-face touched his heart, and he drew the younger prince close to him in comfort. They stayed that way as the moon crossed his nightly route, and the sun took his place in the light of day.
*****
After breakfast, the Company was called by Nuhision to a balcony overlooking a sparkling azure pond set in the emerald grasses below. With the Supreme Warrior, there were twenty of the strongest Rohirrim and the two centaurs, their manes and tails rippling in the wind. After all had gotten settled, Nuhision cleared his throat and spoke in his deep, rough voice.
"I have called you here for strategy. I am offering twenty of my Riders, along with Nelumaiel and Telperonwen for Rohan's contribution to this latest threat. They are strong, and will fight hard, especially the centaurs, but they need to be told of the enemy's power and guises."
Gandalf knew his cue; he stood. "The enemy, as I'm sure you all have heard by now, is Zycrah, a creature from the bowels of the ancient world. She controls our enemies with her mind, causing them to be invincible, and immune to any weapon save the Elessar, carried by the one who bears the same name." He smiled at Aragorn and continued. "I have prepared facsimiles of the Elf-stone to set into your bows and swords. With the stones in place, your weapons can pierce Zycrah's spell over her minions and defeat them. And once we get to Mordor, Aragorn will turn the full power of the Elessar on Zycrah and destroy her!"
The Rohan warriors raised their bows and boomed their battle cry at Gandalf's words, startling Gimli, who had not been paying attention. Telperonwen startled too at the battle cry, and whimpered, taking off around the balcony and knocking down a few warriors to stand beside Nuhision, who at first took no notice of her. Elladan and Elrohir now looked as if they questioned Nuhision's choice to send the centaurs with the Company. Even Elrond looked quizzical, and said to Nuhision, "Are you certain that the centaurs are . . . fit enough to withstand such a journey? Their great beauty may be spoiled."
Nuhision's expression did not change as his hand touched Telperonwen's side, slowly calming her. "I am always sure of my decisions, Elrond. They are the best warriors you have seen, a true force to be reckoned with!"
Nelumaiel, who had been watching her sister with anxiety on her beautiful face, relaxed as Telperonwen put a hand on her master's shoulder and smiled, reason crossing her face for the first time. She turned to the elven-king and in a strong clear voice reminiscent of her young days, she said, "Lord Elrond, I will take all the strength of my people and all the bravery that I hold to help your army defeat Zycrah, the enemy." She stared down out of striking dark eyes at Elrond, then as soon as reason had hit her, her face changed back to its dreamy vacancy. However, it was enough for Elrond. He nodded his head and turned away.
"We will prepare to leave tomorrow, and then go out at sunrise on the next day. Enjoy the rest of your day - " - directed at the Company - "for you will not have another to do as you will with until we reach Lothlorien. We are taking a short sidetrip there, as I need to consult with the Lady of the Wood. Fangorn will be a long, hard struggle, so save your strength - there are orcs in the trees." Elrond turned on his heel and left the balcony, most likely to sleep since he had been up with Legolas all night.
The assembly dispersed and each went their separate ways, mentally preparing for the time when their full strength and cunning would be needed.