Hidden Secrets
Disclaimer: I only own Aranwen, Beran, Star, and the plot!
Chapter Twenty: The Four Hunters
T.A. 3019
Aragorn, Aranwen, Legolas, and Gimli headed back to their camp, along with the body of Boromir, where they found one of the boats missing along with Frodo and Sam's packs. The four weary fighters gathered their belongings after they sent Boromir and his belongings down the river in one of the boats.
"Sam's with Frodo," Aranwen remarked. "I can feel it."
"That's good news," said Aragorn. "Can you tell anything about Merry and Pippin? Are they still alive?"
Aranwen closed her eyes and willed herself to have a vision or some feeling about the two Hobbits that she had failed to protect from the Urk-hai. She was just about to give up when she had a vision of them.
Their hands were bound and they hung from the backs of Urks who carried them. Merry had a large gash upon his head but appeared to be okay. Pippin looked frightened. He was franticly trying to wake Merry.
The vision ended and Aranwen opened her eyes and looked right at her father. "They're still alive," she told him. "They're alive, but Merry is injured. Pippin appears to be unhurt."
"We must go after them," Aragorn announced. "While there is still hope for our friends, we must find them! I will journey on, and who will join me?"
"I am with you, Aragorn," said Legolas, placing a hand on his human friend's shoulder.
"Do not think for a second that you will leave me behind again," Aranwen said with a warning tone.
"What about your injuries? Can you travel?" Aragorn asked concerned and Aranwen glared at him.
"Of course I can travel! They're just mere scratches!"
"And what about you, Master Dwarf? Will you be joining us?"
"Why not?" Gimli replied.
"The four hunters we shall be. We shall travel until nightfall," said Aragorn sheathing his dagger. "Let's hunt some Orc!"
Smiles grew upon all four of the hunters faces as they followed Aragorn into the forest, ready to track the Hobbits.
On their third day of traveling all day and all night with little food and almost no rest, they quickened their already grueling pace.
"They have caught our scent! We must hurry!" Aragorn urged the weary hunters after listening to the ground.
Aranwen leapt to her feet from the rock that she had been sitting on and followed her father. Not far behind her was Legolas, who told Gimli, "Come on! We are gaining on them!" Gimli lagged behind the group, complaining. Aranwen could not help but roll her eyes when she heard the Dwarf's complaints. But there was no time to worry about the Dwarf. They were gaining on the Urk-hai who had taken the two Hobbits and whose former leader had slain Boromir and injured her.
Aranwen wanted revenge and her healing arm would soon be able to wield her sword once more. Her arrow wounds were no worse than the one she had received from Beran several months before. If they hurt, she did not care. All she cared about was saving the Hobbits.
Aragorn stopped suddenly and bent down to the ground. He picked up a leaf brooch that had been left behind by one of the Hobbits and remarked, "Not idly do the leaves of Lothlorien fall. It is a sign."
"They are not far ahead," Aranwen said, feeling the Hobbits. They had been there not long ago. She could see them, and they were both awake. She could see Pippin leaving the brooch behind in hopes that they would come across it.
"They are less then a day ahead of us. Come!" Aragorn said and the group took off running again.
"I do not know much longer I can do this cross country! I'm a natural sprinter!" complained Gimli.
"Then just pretend it is one long sprint!" Aranwen hissed at him.
The Dwarf seemed taken aback by her sharp answer and kept his mouth shut. At least for several more minutes, until they stopped atop a large rock formation.
"Welcome to Rohan, home of the Horse-lords," announced Aragorn, resting his left hand upon the hilt of his sword. "There is something strange at work here. Some evil who is against us."
"Magic," Aranwen said. She sensed magic. "Saruman has done something terrible here. It reeks of him. It is he who commands the Urk-hai and urges them on."
Legolas ran ahead and Aragorn called, "What do your Elf eyes see?"
"The Urk-hai are headed northeast. They are headed to Isengard!" exclaimed the Elf, surprised at his own sight.
"It appears you are right, Aranwen. Saruman is in charge here," Aragorn said softly.
"Saruman?" questioned the Dwarf. "Who is that?"
"The ruler of Isengard and the leader of the Istari—a wizard like Gandalf," said Legolas.
"Only the Eye has turned him," said Aranwen.
"Correct."
"Let's go, if we want to save the Hobbits," said Aragorn as he began to run. The others looked at each other and sighed before taking off once more.
Author's Notes:
Another long chapter! This one was also split in two. Look for the next chapter tomorrow!
Reviewers!
IwishChan – Yes it was interesting, but nothing is ever really normal for Aranwen. Glad you like it: )
Jedi Padfoot – Thanks! I really enjoy writing this story and I'm so happy that people enjoy reading it: )
ArwenFairTinuviel – She's okay and her arm will heal just fine. It will take some time for it to heal, but it will be healed before Helm's Deep. I got all of my Elvish from a wonderful LotR website called . They have a lot of Elvish on their site among many other things. Enjoy: )
Fae Black – Thanks! I'm sorry that it felt rushed. The majority of these recent chapters were written one after the other in one afternoon and people kept yelling at me to stop what I was doing. So I was rushing to write them. Sorry: )