Elladan, Elrohir, and Gildor left the pathway on which Estel, Gandalf, and Glorfindel continued to the Last Homely House. As they made their way through the trees they told Gildor that the orc hunt was victorious. Gildor began to head back to his post, but Elrohir pulled him to continue following them, perplexed as he was that they seemed to be doubling back.
"Someone is following them," Elladan said in a low and cautious tone.
"And we mean to intercept them," Elrohir finished.
"When we finished with that orc filth we camped with Estel and Gandalf for the night and moved on with morning. I attempted to leave no trace of our camp, but it made little difference – those orc carcasses obviously didn't get there by themselves. What's more, there were four horses," Elladan said, annoyed that they were leaving such an obvious trail.
"We sent ours on ahead at the borders, but that will not matter," Elrohir said. "Whoever is following them is already close. I heard them that morning when were breaking camp. They are riding heavy-horse, some kind of cavalry, but I do not think they are from Rohan, whoever it is does not seem to have the horse sense that the Rohirrim do. There are many of them, perhaps as many as 50. They sounded to be three days off, but they are making up the distance. When last I heard them they were probably only a couple days ride away."
"They are riding hard, then," Gildor said. "Why do you suppose they are pursuing Estel so relentlessly?"
The twins merely exchanged glances, the same thought running through their minds: whoever was after him was also after Faramir. They would not speak of this aloud, not even to Gildor. Instead, Elladan said, "it does not appear clear to us."
"All we know is that we intend to protect our little brother," Elrohir said in a tone that left no questions in anyone's mind just how far he would go to protect Estel and Faramir.
"Do you plan to ride out and meet them or wait until they get here and block them?" Gildor asked. "You do not yet know what you are facing, and –"
"What we are facing, Gil'," Elladan smirked. "You are on guard tonight as well."
"What do you mean to do?" Gildor continued, attempting to ignore Twin 1.
"We mean to do what we do best, of course," Elrohir said, "frustrate them."
"Well, there you are," Gildor said, sounding as if he had come to an important conclusion. "I am clearly not the Elf for this job. I should have gone back to the House and let Glorfindel come with you two. I am no match for him in the frustrating category."
"Ai, but here you are, and here we are, and somewhere out there, there they are," Elladan said.
"Right. And whoever it is who thinks they can ride roughshod into our home has another think coming. I do not want them to get within the border, so let us make haste! If they have stopped for the night, they should be here by late tomorrow night or early the day after."
"Calm down, 'Ro, they are not orcs," Elladan said, his often cooler head prevailing in these situations. "Actually, I think, diplomatically speaking, the best idea is for someone to fetch Glorfindel and meet us back here. We will wait at the border for them, we do not need to go on the offensive."
Elrohir had never cared much for diplomacy and it was with reservation that he accepted his brother's recommendation. Yet he did agree that they themselves needed a bit of rest, and so Gildor headed off to wait for Glorfindel at the House and bring him back.
ooo
It was early dawn two days later when Glorfindel woke his companions. They had seen the riders approaching in the night, noting that they had not made camp. They could be seen clearly, now only a few miles away. The four Elves took to the trees and waited as patiently as possible. Glorfindel would greet these newcomers first and if they did not comply… the other three were waiting in the limbs above, quivers full and bows strung.
"Black livery," Elladan muttered to Elrohir, "just as we feared."
"How do they dare to wear the image of the White Tree?" Elrohir hissed.
"Estel said that the tree did not bloom this spring," Elladan replied.
"How could it? How could anything flourish so near Mordor?" Elrohir said. "Had Estel left Faramir in that place and I learned about it I would have thrashed him for dereliction."
"Dina!" Glorfindel ordered. Denethor's troops were in shooting range, but Glorfindel bided his time just a little longer. Denethor was only ten feet away from the tree in which Glorfindel was perched when the Balrog-slayer slid off his branch and landed right in front of the heir to the Stewardship's horse. "Daro!" he commanded loudly, and every horse in the company halted, some riders so surprised by the stop that they were nearly posted. "What is your purpose here, Lord of Men?" Glorfindel inquired of Denethor.
Denethor had not thought of what he might say in such a situation, blinded as he was by his desire for what he saw as justice. He was in utterly no mood for playing games as it was, though. "I am here to apprehend the criminal Thorongil, on charges of theft and treason."
"Is that so? And what has this man you speak of stolen, prithee, Lord?" Glorfindel prattled on.
"A child. My child," Denethor responded, his tone low and dangerous.
There were whispers now coursing through Denethor's troop. No one had any idea until now why they had come all this way, and many of them looked at the situation before them and did not like it even remotely. Here they were, stopped at the border of a strange land by an Elf, and suddenly Denethor alleges that his child was stolen when the word was well known throughout the city that Finduilas's second born had not lived, and add to that the fact that Denethor was charging Thorongil. All of them had known and served with the Ranger and they respected him immensely, and they all knew how Denethor detested him. Suddenly this venture seemed very unworthy.
"Silence!" Denethor fairly screamed at his men. "Lead us to him, now, Elf," he growled at Glorfindel.
Anyone who knew Glorfindel knew that no one ordered him to do anything. Drawing up to his full height he took a step toward Denethor, ancient eyes flashing with barely controlled ire. His voice was cold. "I am afraid, Mortal, that i have no direction allowing you passed the borders of Imladris. Business aside, if you are ever again fool enough to take such a tone with me, i assure that you will regret it to the end of your short days." Glorfindel's mad grin unnerved Denethor though he strove to conceal it.
"What is the meaning of this threat? I am Denethor, son of Ecthelion, Steward of Gondor!" Denethor blustered.
"You do not say! I was good friends with your father's namesake... well, more than good friend's really. That was all before that little incident with the Balrog that killed me though." Oh, even when furious, Glorfindel could never resist a chance to show off.
"I do not have time for this idle chatter! Either let us pass or lead me to the criminal," Denethor insisted.
"I have already told you that that is out of the question. If you would like to remain here at the border, under guard of course, until i hear that we are in need of more rats within our hills..."
"How dare you say such -" Denethor gasped and started to draw his sword but was cut short by a arrow shot specifically to just stick in the leather cuirass he wore without breaching it. It was a very serious warning shot, shot by an expert marksman.
"You will come with me at once," Glorfindel said evenly.
"That is more like it," Denethor started to say, but Glorfindel interrupted.
"I am not finished. Leave your horse, your men, and your weapons at the borders. Anything you bring with you will be considered contraband."
Denethor did not seem pleased with these requirements but accepted them, as long as he was taken to his prey directly. He walked with Glorfindel about five steps before the Balrog-slayer took from his belt a length of rope and bound Denethor's hands with such suddenness that the Mortal scarcely registered what was happening. At the same time, the twins and Gildor showed themselves by landing between Denethor and his men, arrows at the ready.
Denethor put up an almighty fight and was anything but silent about his treatment, though Glorfindel was content to sit back and let him tire himself out. It did not take long before he shouted himself hoarse, giving Glorfindel the opportunity to speak. "You will forgive the rather rudimentary method i am forced to employ," he said, not speaking to Denethor but to his men. "You have my word that your Lord will not be harmed, intentionally, within this border. Though i must ask that you all remain here for now. Oh," he turned back to Denethor, "can not forget this." He brought forth a broad strip of leather, causing Denethor's eyes to widen. "Valar! Men are so vulgar! Elves have no such practices as involve whips, calm yourself. I am only going to blindfold you." Naturally, Denethor protested vocally, despite having very little voice to argue with. "Perhaps it would be in your best interests if i were to gag you as well? Your voice needs a rest if you are to plead Lord Elrond for mercy."
This turn of events was really not in their plans, but the twins were willing to go along with it. They trusted Glorfindel in matters of security implicitly and besides, they would not mind having this Man around to frighten for a while.
ooo
linda: Fin's fate is yet to be decided, i can not say how her situation will work out yet. And right about now, Denethor's scary mood isn't going to hold a candle to Glorfindel's :)
Elenhin: Well, it's not a longing to strangle, just an overriding sense of confusion that says, "just nod and smile." Little Bori' is cute and i've been thinking ahead to older Bori'. Wonder how his life will be changed without his little brother.
viggo: Welcome to show. Hope you are enjoying, can't wait to hear from you again!