The Two Tower

Chronicle 5

Aragorn lay with his head to the ground & listened intently. "Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent," he told them, "Hurry!"

"Come on, Gimli!" Legolas called back.

Nienna turned to look at the straggling dwarf.

"Three days and night's pursuit," he muttered, "no food, no rest… and no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell."

"We'll find them soon enough," Nienna told him as he caught up with her, "They are near, I can feel it."

"Well, that you may be able to, my lass, but dwarves are not as fast as you young elves."

"I could carry you, if you wish."

Gimli shot her a look that said all.

"Or not, as the case may be."

"You just keep your eyes and ears open for any sign of the young hobbits."

Nienna looked up and saw, with her keen eyes, Aragorn stopping & bending down. "I'll be right back," she muttered before sprinting of ahead to see what was happening.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." Aragorn murmured. Nienna looked at the clip in Aragorn's hand, & gently touched her own.

"They may yet be alive." Legolas said, hopefully.

"Less than a day ahead of us," Aragorn told them, "Come!"

"Come Gimli!" Nienna called back, "We're gaining on them."

"I'm wasted on cross-country," Gimli called to her, "We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances."

"And short heights." Nienna muttered as she passed Aragorn, who smiled.

"Rohan, home of the horse-lords," Aragorn looked out across the plains and, then to Legolas and Nienna who stood side-by-side gazing towards the Uruk-Hai, "There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets it's will against us. Legolas, what do your elf-eyes see?"

Nienna followed the trail. "North-east," she muttered, "Isengard."

"The Uruks have turned North-East," Legolas called back to Aragorn & looked at Nienna, "They are taking the hobbits to Isengard."

As one, the four murmured his name, "Saruman."

"Come," Aragorn started to run, "We must reach them before they get to Isengard."

Nienna looked Legolas and jumped over the rock to the ground below.

Dawn broke the next morning, flooding the land in light. The four continued their pursuit across the land, stopping only for moments breaths. Even when they were running, Nienna knew that something was amiss. She could feel it… in the air… in the earth… it was all around them.

"A red sun rises." Legolas observed, "Blood has been spilt this night."

Nienna stopped and looked at him, filling a shiver running down her back. She knew he was right, she could only hope that they were safe. The sound of horses came to her ears, & Aragorn grabbed her arm, pulling her behind some rocks as the horses passed.

Aragorn leapt out, & the others followed. "Riders of Rohan!" he called out, "What news from the mark?"

The horses rounded towards and Nienna automatically took a defensive stance, not knowing why but feeling it was the right thing to do. She was right; the riders surrounded them and pointed spears at them.

"What business does a man, a dwarf and two elves have in the Riddermark? And a female elf, as one. Speak Quickly!" One of them said.

Legolas placed a hand on Nienna's arm to stop her retorting and Gimli spoke, "Give me your name horse master, and I shall give you mine."

The man climbed off his horse and stood menacingly in front of Gimli, "I would cut your head off, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

Legolas reacted so quickly Nienna didn't even see it happen. Suddenly he had an arrow in his bow, pointed at the man. "You would die before your stroke fell!" he exclaimed.

She moved quickly and pushed the arrow down, "Legolas, be calm."

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Glóin, Legolas, from the woodland realm and Cálena, of Ered Luin." Aragorn informed him, "We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your king."

"Théoden no longer recognises friend from foe," the man removed his helmet, "Not even his own kin."

Nienna cried out, "Éomer…?"

He gave her a puzzled look, as though recognising her, but not being able to place her.

"You do not remember me… we once knew each other." Cálena told him, "My father, Nátulcien, was good friend of your family's. Until the death of your grandfather… but by then the old alliances were dying fast."

Éomer nodded, "I do remember you. But my lady, do not look for welcome in my uncle's court. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

"We are no spies," Aragorn told him, "We track a band of Uruk-Hai westwards across the plains. They have taken two of our friends' captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed." Éomer told them, "We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two hobbits," Gimli cried out, "Did you see two hobbits with them?"

"They will be small, only children to your eyes." Aragorn told him.

Éomer shook his head, "We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them."

Nienna looked past him to where she could see smoke rising off a black mound, "They are dead?"

Éomer placed his hand on her shoulder, "I am sorry." He whistled, "Hasufel! Arod!" Two horses appeared. "May these horses bear you to better fortunes than their former owners. Farewell. Look for your friends, but do not trust a hope… it has forsaken these lands. We ride north!"

Nienna climbed upon the horse behind Aragorn & watched them go before the two horses set off towards the mound.

Nienna slid from the horse and ran to the steaming pile of carcasses.

Gimli pulled something out and stared at the charred remains. "It's one of their little belts," he murmured.

Cálena felt tears prick her eyes and squeezed them shut, listening to Legolas' prayer, "Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath."

"May they find peace in death," Nienna softly translated.

Aragorn yelled and dropped to his knees.

"Aragorn…" Nienna ran to his side and placed her hands on each shoulder, "… don't."

"We failed them." Gimli said.

"No, no, we haven't. Not while Frodo can destroy the ring. Frodo will-" Nienna stopped as Aragorn moved suddenly, looking at the ground.

"A Hobbit lay here and the other… they crawled…" he moved swiftly, following an invisible trail. He lifted a piece of rope, "Their bonds were cut… they ran over here and were followed."

The three followed him, from here to there.

"Tracks lead away from the battle, into…" he stood up straight and the others stood behind him, "… Fangorn Forest."

They gazed up at the majestic trees.

"Fangorn…" Gimli murmured, "What madness drove them in there?"