There Again: A Hobbit's Story
"Frodo, Frodo, Frodooooo…." Sam peered over the edge just in time to see Mr. Frodo dangling from the brink with one hand. He reached out for him only to see him slip and drop in the abyss. "Frodooo!"
Sam Gamgee awoke with a start. Rubbing his sleepy eyes with his hand, he wondered what was going on. Then he heard it again, "Frodooo!" Suddenly, Elanor Gamgee burst into the room, followed by two other small, curly haired imps. The creatures chased each other around the room until they all fell in a heap, a writhing mass of hair and giggles. Rose Gamgee followed them into the room, "All right, enough children! Off to your chores or your father will sic some Orcs on you! The children ran from the room shrieking, though it sounded more like laughter than fear.
"You shouldn't say such things Rose", Sam grumbled as she came and gave him a hug. "Thanks to you, we don't have to worry about such things any more, my love." "Well, the world's still full of danger enough with you inviting it to come our way", he grumbled. "Well it's your fault, you've gone and filled their heads with tales, and now that they're about to actually see some of them in the flesh, they're wound up like grandfather clocks", she chided him.
"Well, I feel like a grandfather at any rate", Sam went on. "Only a week till we're due to leave and I still have a month of unfinished Shire business." Rose laughed and gave him a peck on the check as she left the room. She still couldn't come to grips with the fact that her Sam was such a respectable, grown-up hobbit now, though in reality he had been a leader in the Shire for several years, ever since he came back from his big adventure.
Sam went to his desk and started leafing through his stack of papers, till he gave up and put them down with a sigh. A bill of sale for a hobbit hole, a business license for a Bolger, a marriage license for Mr. and soon to be Missus Honeywise in the Westfarthing. Shire businesses would always be there, but the king only came to the north, well, it had been ages uncounted since there was last a king in the North, and he wasn't going to miss the chance to see his old friend again. Not to mention give his children a tale they would remember for the rest of their lives.
The wagon started off with a creak, accompanied by the sound of Elanor giggling. She was always giggling, and now that they had officially begun their big journey, she was more excitable than ever. The hobbitlings had been buzzing like bees for weeks, but now that they were really on their way they were positively brimming with excitement. Sam smiled, remembering the beginning of his own big adventure, many years ago. If only they knew how boring it was to sit in a cart all day, bouncing up and down like rabbits, they probably would never have come, he thought to himself with a smile.
And the first day did seem long indeed, though the young ones, who had never been north of Hobbiton before, still held out hope for a quick ending to the journey. There wasn't much laughter or smiling by the time they halted their first day of travel outside the hamlet of thimblestick, about a dozen miles north of Hobbiton.
Already the land was rustic and sparsely settled compared to the center of the shire. Indeed wolves and other such creatures were known to occasionally visit the north-farthing. Not that they had much to worry about. In addition to the Gamgee family, two of Rosie's brothers were coming with them, Fredegar Bolger (Fatty) was due to meet them any minute now, and one of the greatest warriors of the shire (if such a thing could be said) was riding with them- Peregrin (Pippin) Took. Sam's eldest daughter Rose had a secret crush on Pippin, and she blushed and giggled whenever she looked out of the wagon to see him riding in his armor.
Samwise was also carrying his magic sword sting, given to him by his master Frodo, and to him from Mr. Bilbo before that. Not that he had any plans to use it, it was for ceremonial purposes that Mayor Gamgee carried Sting now, and he was planning to use it to offer the Shire's allegiance to the Kingdom once more.
They were in good spirits as they started to set up their camp. They had brought plenty of food for the journey, and, this being the very beginning of Autumn, they were likely to have good weather for the remainder of the trip.
They were just getting around to starting dinner when a huge hobbit rode up on the fattest pony the children had ever seen. "Well that figures, you would wait until the food was on the hearth to grace us with your presence" rang out the voice of Peregrin Took. "Don't lecture me Pippin", the Hobbit replied, "I just rode all the way from Scary and I'm exhausted." "More like your pony's exhausted you mean", Pippin exclaimed as he approached the stranger. Then he laughed and startled the other hobbit with a bear hug. So, the party was now complete, and after dinner, and drinks, and much talking, the company slept contentedly under the fall sky.
Pippin awoke early to feel something pawing and pulling at him. He sat up with a start and whipped out his short sword only to see that he wasn't being attacked by Orcs, but being harrassed by a deer who apparently liked the taste of his blanket. He shooed the creature away before putting away his sword to the surprise of Fatty, who was awakened by the commotion. "Next time look before you pull that out, I don't want to get stabbed in the back", he said, and eventually went back to sleep.
They got off to a late start that day, and it looked like they were in for another peaceful ride in the country. Their destination was almost due north from Hobbiton, but because of a line of hills that ran East-West before the lake, they would have to veer to the East somewhat to reach the place they were making for- Annuminas, city of the Kings.
The children were certain there were wild and dangerous creatures behind every tree and bush in this wild land, but their fantastical imaginings didn't come true on this trip. They did see a lot typical wildlife- squirrels, rabbits, deer and birds. Around noon they did experience a wild animal adventure of a sort. The company was travelling around a corner in an oak wood when they heard growls and cries just ahead. Hurrying around the corner they saw two badgers fighting over some unlucky item of prey that had been found or captured in the road.
The animals continued to fight for a moment until, hearing the company approach, one of the beasts glanced back at them and then dropped his meal and ran into the undergrowth. The other badger scurried off with the food so the party never did see what it was, but this was fortunate as they didn't want the children to see the carcass. The children did find the badger fight to be highly exciting, however, and would talk about it for weeks to come.
In the late afternoon of the third day, the landscape began to change. They crested a small line of hills and came out of the wooded lowlands into a higher country of grassy ridges. They could see for miles in every direction and it was at once liberating and unsettling. Liberating because they felt as if they could travel as far as the eye could see in any direction just by taking a leap off the hilltop. Unsettling because, if the land had been sparsely settled before, here it seemed truly wild.
Not a home or hole could they see in any direction, and no sign of any settlement save for the path ahead and one or two trails of wood smoke from unseen chimneys in the distance. The grown hobbits had been in wild corners of the Shire before, but this was different- it felt as if they had left the Shire far behind and were riding in an alien and unknown country.
They continued on and by the time they crested the lower hills further down the sun was already trailing off toward the west. The next day, after they had ridden for some miles, they began to perceive a blue haze on the horizon. "That, children, is the great lake of Evendim", Samwise announced to the company. Everyone looked in awe and apprehension. Wild waters are terrifying to most hobbits, and to the children, who had never seen a body of water bigger than the Bywater pool, the idea of a vast water body of any kind was beyond imagining.
That night, their last in the wild, they had a hint of danger. As they were setting up camp for the night, in the wide fields on the further side of the hills, they heard a baleful, moaning howl in the distance. All the hobbits' ears pricked up at the sound. To the older hobbits, who had all heard it before save Rose, the sound was alarming. To the children, it was positively thrilling, "Daddy!, Daddy! What was that, a monster?" Sam shushed them before listening attentively and scanning the horizon.
After a minute or two with no further howls, Sam turned to them and warned them not to leave the camp that night. After more pestering he finally told them that it was indeed a wolf they had heard, but they heard nothing more that night, and eventually everyone nodded off to sleep.
The next morning there was an air of excitement in the camp as they began to prepare for the last leg of their journey. Everyone was eager to finally reach their destination and leave the days of travelling behind them. They had not ridden long when they begin to hear a low rumbling sound. The rumble seemed to be approaching. They stopped and waited for whatever it was to approach.
Soon the sound grew louder, there was no doubt something was almost upon them. Rose and Fatty looked nervous, but Samwise and Peregrin showed no sign of emotion. Suddenly, they saw a shape burst over a small rise and come thundering towards them. The children gasped to see a creature like their ponies but larger crashing over the ground with a veritable giant on its back. The giant was dressed in black, but they could see the gleam of metal peeking through between his various items of clothing.
The rider rode straight towards them and checked his steed just in time to avoid crashing through them. As the horse stopped a man climbed down from the saddle and turned to the Hobbits. He looked huge and menacing to the halflings and they wondered what he wanted with them. He wore grey and black and they could see now that he wore leather armor and carried a sword on his hip. It seemed huge and deadly to the children.
"Is there a Samwise among you?" the man asked, stopping before them. "I'm Samwise", their father answered him, sounding surprisingly confident. "And who might you be? We usually don't have dealings with men in the Shire." At that the man laughed, "Well now, boldly spoken for one so small." At that Peregrin flinched and started to reach for his sword before Sam stopped him. "I am called Gaeth, and you are no longer in the Shire, Master Samwise, but in the realm of Arnor and under the rule of the King of Gondor. Or have you not heard of the King in the Shire?"
At that Peregrin 's temper shot up and he firmly planted himself in front of the man and put his hands upon his hips, "See here my good man, we not only have heard of the King, but we are friends of his since before ever he was a King, and if you hinder us any more he will be wroth when you hears that you detained us from our planned meeting with him", and Pippin shot him a look of righteous indignation.
The man looked amused. "And you must be master Peregrin. I was not told you were so hot tempered, though I was told you are considered a great warrior of the halflings." Pippin bristled at this condescending description. "Fear not, all is well. I do not wish to put your skill at arms to the test, to see if they measure up against a man of Gondor, though some might find it quite a spectacle", he said with a sidelong glance at Pippin. "I have been told that some halflings from the Shire were seeking to come to the King, and my orders are to find them, and it appears that I have."
"And what orders might those be", said Sam, assertive once again, "to help us or hurt us? I hope it's the first, because we may be too many for the second", and as he said this he tried to appear as strong as possible, though his efforts were not needed. "Stay your wrath Master Samwise, Master Peregrin. I was ordered to bring you before the King, by the King himself, for he awaits you."
Sam visibly relaxed at his words, "If you are sent by the King then tell us, is it still far? for we have travelled long, and are eager to arrive." "Come, it is not far, at least not for the steeds of Gondor. It may seem somewhat far to Shire folk though. Six leagues or more we must journey, before coming to the old city." "Then lead on", ordered Sam, as he climbed back aboard the wagon.
So they travelled on for much of the day, taking only a short stop for lunch. Gaeth seemed always eager to move as if the pace of the little folk was too constraining for him. At last, in the late afternoon, they crested a shallow rise and saw in the distance before them Annuminas- the old city of the Kings. So it was that after nearly a week of travel, as night fell upon them, the hobbits finally found themselves on the doorstep of the only habitation to be found north of the Shire, save for the wild snowmen of the north.
As the hobbits approached the entrance to the city lights began to spring up in front of them, both in the ruins and at the city entrance itself. Gaeth rode ahead of them and called heartily to the entrance. It couldn't really be called a gate anymore, as the walls that once surrounded the city had long since fallen into ruin, but it was guarded all the same and at his approach a man sprang out from the shadows. At a word from Gaeth the man quickly stepped aside and the curious hobbits entered the city.
Apparently the King had arrived at the city just a short time before, but his men had been hard at work already making such repairs as could be effected with limited supplies in a short span of time. To Sam and Pippin, who had been to Edoras, Minas Tirith, and other places of men it seemed a worn out ruin, empty and dark. To Rose, Fredegar and the children, it was a wonder.
Gaeth led them through the gate, forward on a winding route around several obstacles, till they finally came to a large, half ruined building. Gaeth bid them wait outside for a moment and he disappeared inside. A minute later he reappeared and led them inside the stone structure.
They entered through a hole in the wall, passed a few more ruined wall inside, then turned right into a kind of hall. There several torches were lit, and a dozen or so men in armor were gathered at the far end of the hall. The men parted as they went forward and as they did the hobbits could see that there was a kind of platform at the far end with a chair and tables on it. A man arose from an ornate chair and stepped down from the platform to approach them.
"Strider!", Pippin cried out excitedly, and the other men turned to regard him curiously. "My friends!", replied the man, and he stood before them. Sam could see that it was indeed their old friend Aragorn, now King Elessar of Gondor and Arnor before them. He was wearing a dark cloak over several pieces of leather and armor, much as he had done on their adventure so long ago. Aragorn looked sure and relaxed, but he also looked like he had been aged by duty and the worries of command.
Sam walked up and kneeled before the King, offering him his sword. Aragorn laughed and pulled him to his feel. The children blushed with emotion. Pippin stepped forward and Aragorn leaned down and put his arms around his two friends, "No need to bow, it is I, Strider, and Elessar. We are one and the same. But I see that you are wearied by your travels friends. My men will take you to the chambers that have been readied for you, and we will meet again on the morrow."
The hobbits were led to some small buildings a short distance away that had been prepared for them. There were several baths prepared there for them, but all were too tired and flung themselves upon the low beds that were awaiting them.
The next few days were a blur of feasting and relaxing. Even in this far-flung outpost the men of Gondor were able to provide meals that met or exceeded the best Shire fare. The King seemed more content than anyone had seen him since his coronation, and the Hobbits were as pleased with feasting and good company as Hobbits can be.
After a few days they began to take long walks including outside of the city. Though the land was wild, it had a peaceful air about it, and had once been well tended. The city was located on a mound, hard by the shore of the lake, yet sheltered from the prevailing winds by the hills that rose up to the west and north. Much of the land round about was flat and featureless plains, but on the hills grew plants and copses of pine trees here and there that had a foreboding air, creaking in the slight breeze. It was these hillside forests that the young Shirelings were interested in playing in.
One day the King accompanied them on one of their excursions, and while they walked he spoke to them of the history of the city and the surrounding kingdom. This city, so different from the Shire with its tall, cold buildings of stone, crowded together in dense neighborhoods, felt like another country to the young hobbits though it was almost within site of the border of the Shire.
Rose and the other children were still in awe of the tall king, with his retinue of soldiers, but they found it very difficult to concentrate on his words, rather they were taking in the countryside and imagining themselves fighting monsters and dragons. Their attention was suddenly renewed when they heard the king speak the word "cemetery" and then they saw it rise up ahead of them, like a vision from an old tale. A spooky looking cemetery, right on the edge of the biggest forest they had yet seen in the land. Complete with ancient looking, crumbling headstones. The children were enthralled, they barely notice the king speaking the name of the place that was now before them: Parth Morwen- the lawn of the dark lady.
That night the children were whispering together, as if they were conspirators in a deadly plot. The true history of the cemetery, and Its mildly menacing legend paled in comparison to the stories sprouting in the children's minds. "It must be older than the Shire", mused Elanor. "No, older than Middle-earth" added little Sam. "It can't be older than Middle-Earth, it's in Middle-Earth, numbskull!" Elanor retorted. "Quiet, both of you", ordered Rose, who was older, more mature, and more practical than the other two. "It doesn't matter how old it is, we need to make a plan to go there. At night, no, at midnight, and then we'll see goblins and ghosts!" she added, sending a chill through the room.
The next morning the children awoke to find their parents missing from their chambers. A quick search found that a guard had been posted outside their house. He turned out to be a friendly, young soldier named Galdor. Galdor informed the children that their parents had been summoned to meet with the King, so he had been appointed to watch over them to ensure that nothing happened to them, by which he meant that they didn't trust the children not to run off.
The worry proved needless, however, for soon after the children met Galdor, Samwise and Rose appeared again coming from the direction of the central city. It turned out that the King was planning to take a trip and had invited their father to come with him. The children were crestfallen to hear that they were not invited. After pondering over the news for a minute or two, however, Rose got an excited look on her face and called the other two children over to a corner of their main room.
The next morning Sam and Rose were packing and preparing for Sam's trip with the King. The children were nervous, but also excited at the prospect of their father being gone for several days. Fredegar and Pippin would also be going with him. Arrangements had been made for a caretaker to help Rosie watch over them, none other than Galdor, who had watched them previously. The children were divided on whether Galdor would be a fun guardian or not, but they were eager to try out their mischievious plans on him nevertheless.
By mid-day they had finished packing and Samwise called the children over to deliver his instructions. He wasn't very worried that anything terrible could happen to them here in this city, watched over by the knights of Gondor. They were more worried about the children causing mischief and disrupting the soldier duties than anything else. "Now you kids mind Mother, and keep your Hobbit-sense about you", Samwise chastised them. " "And don't you go causing any mischief around here, especially what with being in the King's city and all", he added. The children couldn't focus on the words being spoken to them, they were too excited that they might get the chance to attempt their secret plan.
The young hobbits soon had the chance to plan their escape. It seemed that, while a guard would be stationed near them at all times, they would actually be free to plan their daily activities as they pleased. Rose immediately took it upon herself to take charge of the planning, a move that was not welcomed by the other children. "Why do you always get to be in charge?" demanded young Elanor, with her hands upon her hips. "Yeah, who said you get to boss us all the time?" Frodo put his two cents in. "Mom and Dad, that's who, and you know it" Rose spouted, "I'm the oldest, so it goes without saying that I'm in charge." After some minutes of this the two boys gave in, but Elanor wasn't one to give up so easily, and she maintained her crossed arms and her pout for some time.
They were checked on every few hours and meals brought to them. It was explained that Rosie and the children could venture outside the city if they wanted, but not without alerting the guard in ample time for preparations.
Sam was quiet and pensive as he sat on his pony, outside the "palace". He had been excited at the prospect of setting off on another adventure with his old friend Stider. Now, after contemplating leaving his wife and children, heading off into the blue to strange parts in the chill wind was the last thing he wanted to do this morning.
They were to head to Fornost, the last city of the Northern Kingdom, which was still spoken of in Hobbit legend. After the kingdom fell the city was abandoned, but it lived on in legend and rumor in the north of middle earth, and on a day such as this, the dark tales seemed more likely to be true after all. The way from Annuminas eastward had not been travelled in ages, and the prospect of the unknown road ahead was not making Sam feel any better.
Meanwhile, the children had formulated a rough plan. They didn't have all the details worked out, but they decided to have a picic, near the old cemetery, in the hope that Rosie would doze off after their meal. Then they just needed to find a distraction for the guard, and they would be off.
The braying of trumpets marked the departure of the King's retinue. As they left the city gates, the chill wind seemed to blow harder, and more clouds blew in from the West. Their journey had started, and it looked to be a bleak one. The Dunedain had journeyed to Fornost on occassion from the south, but no one had lived in or travelled to Annuminas for over a millenia, so there were no roads left for them to follow East, only distant memories.
After the companies departure, the children didn't wait long to spring their plan into action. "Mommie, we want to go on a picnic!" they demanded. "In this weather dearies? We'll probably be washed away! Those clouds look to open up any minute now. How about tomorrow then?" The children had no choice but to agree to wait.
Samwise had been riding for two days now, and his mood hadn't changed. He thought it odd that lands so remote and wild should be so quiet and empty. They had seen so signs of life since they left other than some occassional birds flying overhead, and a deer the night before. The only sounds to be heard were the sighing of the wind and an occassional bird. It reminded Sam of the lands around Weathertop, on their journey to Rivendell, long ago.
The weather in the city on the second day was more agreeable than the first, and Rosie had relented to go picnicing with the children. She made them wait for the afternoon, when the sun was higher in the sky, and the children felt that they couldn't bear the wait. Finally Rosie said it was time for them to depart, and led the children outside, a picnic basket in hand that looked almost as big as the children.
When they approached the entrance to the city they were approached by a guard, who told them he has been appointed to accompany them. Soon a very strange looking group was strolling across the fields, the children skipping and giggling, giddy with excitement.
After they had gone some ways, Rose bade them stop on a grassy knoll. The children begged her to keep going, but she said they had gone quite for enough for a picnic and began to arrange things for their luncheon. Pouting, they plopped down on the grass, and waited for their chance to escape.
That afternoon, Sam noticed the terrain began to change. Where before the landscape had been vast, grassy plains punctuated by small rises or clumps of shrubs and scrawny trees, now it appeared that they were on the edge of higher uplands, which ran downward on the left into the distance. Sam thought he could spy a darker region far off in the distance. "That, is your river", intoned a kingly voice behind him. Sam looked back in disbelief. "Yes, that is the Baranduin, many leagues before it passes the East Farthing as the Brandywine."
On the grassy knoll, things were not going to plan. Rose was exasperated- not only had her Mother not fallen asleep, but the two youngest children were on the verge of dozing off. To make matters worse, the guard hadn't eaten anything and remained as vigilant as ever. It appeared they would never get to the cemetery unless a miracle happened.
The royal company had continued as easterly as they could, though they had been obliged to turn north and downslope on several ocassions to make for less steep ground. Aragorn seemed to have some knowledge of the land or he was simply confident in his intuition. He had sent some scouts ahead, and as the afternoon was waning Aragorn called a halt to confer with one of them whom they met returning. They stood a bit apart from the group, and even Sam's sharp Hobbit ears couldn't make out what they were saying, but when Strider turned back to the group he looked worried. "The river should be not far away now," he announced, "let us continue and make camp by his waters." Sam pulled his hood down and spurred his pony forward into the unknown.
Meanwhile, the hobbits' guardian had started acting strangely all of a sudden. He was standing straight as a post, scanning the horizon intently. Rosie notice that something was amiss and quieted the children, gathering them around her. Soon she could see what the guard was observing- brown creatures moving in their direction.
Rosie clutched the children tighter as the brown shapes ran towards them. "What are they?" she asked their guardian. "Boar, half a dozen of them", the soldier answered. The hobbits were scared now. Wild boar were known in the Shire, mostly as nuisances and raiders of crops, but they had been known to occassionally attack livestock or even a Hobbit who got in their way. Out here in the wild, who knew what they would do?
Aragorn led that group forward for another 20 minutes or so then called them to a halt. He dismounted and knelt on the ground. Even Sam could see what he was observing- a mass of footprints heading towards the river. "What are they?", he asked aloud to himself. "Snow deer", answered Aragorn, turning back to the group. "You can easily tell from their large hoof prints. But there is something else mixed in with the prints, something... strange, unless my eyes deceive me. Come, it grows late. We need to find a place to camp, let us continue."
The children could hear them now, snorting and squealing maybe a hundred yards off. "Stay behind me", ordered the guard. Rose was curious and leaned around her mother to get a better look, while the other hobbit children chittered and giggled, oblivious to what was approaching. Suddenly Frodo stopped laughing and stood straight up, craning his head to hear a sound- the sound of hooves galloping towards them. The children suddenly panicked, and Rose ordered Rosie to help shelter and hold them fast. The last thing they needed was one of the little oens panicking and getting run down by wild animals.
The sounds were so loud now they knew that the beasts were nearly upon them, and they hunched down, expecting to be gored at any moment. Suddenly, another sound burst forth- the sound of a horn. The guard was blowing furiously on a small horn they hadn't noticed before. He stood his ground, armed with his shield and the horn and suddenly, at the last moment, the animals wheeled and rushed off to the south. They could hear them thundering, snorting and squealing for a few minutes, then the land was quiet and peaceful again.
Rosie looked at the other children and realized that they would be too fearful now to set foot away from their mother. Her plans were ruined. She would have to do it on her own, or not at all.
The children were sitting on the grass in a circle, talking. Their Mother was watching out for the guard, who had gone to track the boars and determine whether they would pose any more of a threat. Rosie had given up all hope of stealing off to the cemetery on this day, but the absence of the guard had the thought playing in her head once more. This would be an ideal time to steal away, except that the other children would be as likely to raise the alarm as to help her.
Sam looked glum, and felt glummer. Clouds had blown up, and it looked likely to rain. He pulled his cloak tight, trying to keep his warmth inside it, as he watched Fatty and Pippin argue over how to put up the tent. He wondered how the children were getting on, and Rose. "They're probably having the time of their lives, while I'm stuck here in the rain and mud", he thought.
Rose was getting worried when some time had passed and the guard hadn't yet returned. The children were getting restless and she feared they would tire soon and refuse the walk back to the palace. "Rosie, please start back with the children, and mind them carefully. No straying off the path!", her mother ordered her. "Yes, but which path?", Rosie asked herself. This could be the chance she needed.
As they walked back towards the city a debate played in Rose's mind. Finally she decided it was now or never, and reminded the other children of their plan to visit the cemetery. To her surprise, they still wanted to go, all except little Frodo, that is. "It's too scary to go alone", he answered meekly."You won't be alone", Rosie countered, "You'll have us to take care of you." And with that they turned course and started for the cemetery.
Rosie felt nervous- she was both breaking her mother's order and taking her young siblings into the unknown. Then she decided that they couldn't possibly be in any real danger, with Gondor soldiers just a few miles away, so they pressed on. The children were beginning to grumble, and Rosie was starting to question herself when they finally saw it- the grove that marked the location of the cemetery.
Sam didn't feel like eating, and just nibbled at his food. It was dark and gloomy though it was still afternoon, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were in a bad place and that something bad would come of it- "it's an ill wind, as blows no one any good", he remembered the old Gaffer's saying.
The children stood just beyond the old cemetery, staring at it. The only sound to be heard was a faint sighing of the wind through the tombstones. Faint, yet strangely menacing now that they were here alone. Rosie cleared her throat- "Well, we didn't come all this way here for nothing", and she started slowly into the cemetery.
The other Hobbit children held back, in awe of the power of the place. Rosie felt that something was out of place as she stole slowly through the ancient grounds. After a few minutes of walking and looking she realized what was wrong- several of the graves seemed newly dug.
Pondering this mystery in her mind, Rosie didn't notice the other children begin to play at the edge of the cemetery. Her attention was aroused when their little voices suddenly stopped in unison. Turning back towards them, she squinted to see what they were gazing at. Another few steps and she could see it- on the ground before them, an ancient helm. Something or someone had definitely been digging in the cemetery, but who or why was a mystery.
While Rosie, Eleanor, Frodo and little Sam regarded the artifact, they heard a voice calling for them. Looking around, they eventually saw a guard's helm cresting the nearest rise- Galdor had found them. Sensing their visit was being cut short, they gazed around the cemetery once more. Suddenly, Eleanor cried out. The hobbits spun around in time to see what looked like a head, peeking over one of the tombstones.
The younger hobbits ran from the cemetery up to Galdor, who was now running towards them, but not Rosie. She was determined to be a brave adventurer like her father, and ran towards the back of the cemetery where they had seen the figure. Galdor called out to her as she hurried towards the tombstone where they had seen the figure.
She was approaching the tomb now, it seemed much bigger up close, rising up ominously above her. Even as Galdor called out to her again, she gathered her courage and strode around to the back of the tomb- there was nothing there. Relieved, she turned around and had just begun to round the corner of the tomb again, when something grabbed her from behind. Rosie screamed, then everything went black and she remembered no more.
Samwise had trouble falling asleep that night, and when he did finally doze off he tossed and turned and slept uneasily. He awoke in the middle of the night and sat up listening. The night was silent, but it did nothing to assuage his uneasiness. He quickly arose and left the tent, wrapping his cloak around him. Sam stepped outside and gazed around at the camp. He could see torches and watchfires lit, but no sign of any guards about. Samwise took it upon himself to stroll around the perimeter of the camp to look for any signs of trouble.
As he rounded the far end of the camp, Sam thought he saw a couple figures, or shadows of figures, just outside the firelight. With a small cry, Samwise pulled out his old dagger, and rushed to the shadows where he had seen the figures. He arrived on the spot and spun around, looking for an unseen adversary.
He heard a cry from back towards the camp and realized that someone had heard him cry out and trying to locate him. Sam raised his dagger in the air and started to call to the seeker when he suddenly felt something grip him from behind, and clamp his mouth shut, cutting off his shout. Sam fought to get away and had almost succeded when he felt something hit him on the head and he fell down unconcious.
Samwise woke in his tent, late in the morning according to the light. He tried to sit up, but a sudden pain stopped him short. He reached up with his hand and felt bandaging on his scalp. One of the soldiers walked in, verified that he was awake, and strode out immediately. Minutes later, Aragorn appeared.
Aragorn held forth a small item. Rounded it was, and white, it looked rather like something fashioned from antler, and yet it was not antler. "Unless my skill has wholly left me, I believe this is an item of importance in unravelling the mystery of our visitors. I also find it ominous that of everyone in the camp, this was found next to you. I do not like this portent. My soldiers are searching the area now and will be back shortly, but even if we find no present danger here, there may be danger elsewhere. I wonder if we shouldn't return to Evendim." "But why?" asked Sam incredulously. He was surprised to find that he didn't want the journey to end yet, even though it had only brought misery thus far.
"Why should we turn back now, just because some wild man attacked us?" "Because there may be more than one wild man, and they may be in more than one place. We have to think of the others who stayed behind." Sam pondered his words in silence. "I go now to see what signs the earth can tell us of our foes", said Aragorn, then he left Sam to his thoughts.
Sam was alone alone for a little while when the tent flap was thrust open again, and Strider re-entered. "What did you find" asked Sam eagerly. He had always been intrigued by Aragorn's skill with tracking, possibly because he couldn't tell the different between a boar's or a bear's track. "Confusion. The signs are faint, and what I can see seems queer indeed. I would say that there were two foes who waylaid you, but their tracks are strange, not like any others I've seen, and I've seen most of this middle-earth."
"Maybe they were Southrons, like Bill Ferny's friends we saw in Bree", Sam added hopefully. "I should say not", answered Aragorn, "Unless I miss my guess, I would say that these folk came from the North, not from the South." 'The North?" asked Sam incredulously, but Aragorn would reveal no more of his thoughts on the matter.
Strider spent the rest of the afternoon in thought, then Sam was summoned before him, with the rest of the party. "My heart is heavy with misgivings that this attack may portend a threat to our company in Annuminas. Though I think we need not abandon our quest, I should say that the others must be warned. Therefore I purpose that myself, Samwise and a few others should return to the city as soon as possible to make them aware. The rest should continue on to Fornost as before, and record as well as may be the condition of the city. Whatever danger these people may pose, it is not likely that they will be expecting us to return rather than go forward, I don't think we need fear being followed."
Aragorn turned to face Pergegrin and Fredegar, "My friends, do you wish to accompany us, or are you of a mind to visit the old city?" The two hobbits looked at Strider, then looked at Sam and back to the King. Pippin looked down sheepishly, "well if it's all the same to you Stri-, uh Sir, I would rather go to Norbury, but if my countryman needs me I will follow him as far as need be." "Samwise will not, I think, need the protection of the squire Peregrin on this journey, for he will have myself and two of my knights to guard him, and he is no stranger to a blade." So it was settled, Peregrin and Fatty would stay on, while Sam and Strider returned.
They were to set out the next morning, just before the rest of the company. that way, if anyone was watching the camp, they would be drawn to the clamor of the larger party and Aragorn and Sam could slip away. Sam was a bit disappointed, but he trusted Aragorn and decided that his plan was probably for the best. He shouldered his pack as Aragorn and his knights approached, and set off with them to the West. Just then one of the main party let blow a horn to announce their departure.
They had been marching for about an hour when Aragorn started to feel uneasy. Even Sam could tell that he was acting differently than normal, moving his head from side to side as if he expected an orc ambush at any moment. A short time later he raised his hand, signalling for the party to halt. Everyone stopped and looked around with trepidation. Strider moved some length off of the path and started searching around the group in a circle. He had almost circled them fully when he gave a cry and leaped to the head of the party.
There, a few yards in front of them, stood a company of strange, frightful beings. Man or beast, it was hard to say. Though they stood like men, but they were covered with fur and their faces had stripes, like the great cats of the south. They had many fangs and bones hanging from them in various places, and carried what looked like spears or clubs covered with bone and shell. Antlers sprung from their heads seemingly. One of them pointed his weapon toward Aragorn and spoke a few words in a guttural tongue. The others all lifted their weapons after their leader.
Sam felt faint, Aragorn drew Anduril, and its unsheathing shone like a fireburst. Suddenly Aragorn gasped in shock and put down his sword. Sam looked up and saw a strange sight- two of the creatures stood forth and held aloft a carving. It was of two snakes in a circle, one devouring the other- the same sign as Aragorn's ring.
Galdor rushed across the cemetery and leaped around the back of the great tomb where they had last seen Rosie, his spear pointed menacingly in front of him- but there was no one in sight. He turned this way and that as he scanned the area for any sign of the girl, but he saw and heard nothing.
He turned his attention to the ground to see what signs there may be, though he was no Ranger. The ground was mostly grassy, but there was a bare strip right next to the back of the large tomb. Galdor could see several faint tracks in the earth and something else, it looked like a stick had been drug across the ground to conceal the foot tracks, but it hadn't quite succeeded.
These signs were puzzling, he couldn't discern the tracks leaving the vicinity of the tombstone, not even bent blades of grass. Galdor knew he must return to the city to seek help, even though leaving the search might mean grave peril for the girl. With a heavy heart he gathered Eleanor, Frodo and Sam and started the trek back to Annuminas. He responded to their questioning by assuring them that their sister would be found safe and sound, though he himself felt hardly assured of that.
Galdor stood before the sargeant of the guard, the highest ranking soldier of the company remaining in the city. He was being questioned as to all the events of that afternoon. Alandor was his name, and he was puzzled as to how halfing children had eluded one of his guards, and how one of them disappeared. He seemed to be doubtful of Galdor's testimony, and worried how they would recover the missing child if it were true.
At length he responded, "We have no one remaining in the city skilled in tracking. If she has truly disappeared from the old cemetery then it's likely that she left of her own accord and on her own two feet. We must search the surroundings of the cemetery. She wouldn't have wandered far, and probably came back to the grounds after you left. She may be trying to find her way back as we speak. I will that two of the guard be spared from duty to go search the area and bring her back safely. Galdor will stand duty in their stead while they are gone."
Galdor still felt aggrieved hours later when the other guards returned from their search, "We searched everywhere", they informed the sargeant, "but there is no sign of the girl." Rose was seated outside the chamber and rushed in as they were finishing their report, "My girl, where is she? You must find her!" The Sargeant looked at her, and then announced reluctantly, "Lady, we will not rest until she is returned safe and sound." He turned to Galdor and said dismissively, "Galdor, you will return to the site at once and find the child." Galdor bowed minutely to the Sargeant and then deeply to Rose and left the city.
Sam sat unhappily, eyeing the native guards suspiciously. The king had been gone speaking with their chief for far too long, and Sam was sure their intentions were evil, or at least not honorable. His suspicions turned out to be ill founded. Sam jumped to his feet as Aragorn appeared again suddenly, a concerned look on his face.
Sam quickly questioned Aragorn about his state, but he was too hurried to discuss it. "Come Sam, we must make haste to depart." "What did they do", Sam queried, still certain that the strange beings had questionable intentinons at best." "We leave at once. Annuminas must be warned, come Sam." And before he could get another word in edgewise, he found himself rushing to catch up with his master. "No wonder they call him Strider", he grumbled to himself.
The sun was sinking to the horizon when Aragorn called for a halt. The had been briskly marching all day and everyone was weary to the bone. Sam immediately flung himself on the ground without even removing his pack. Sam had not been able to ask Strider what had transpired due to the urgency of their march, and he was falling to sleep when he heard his friend approach him.
Sam half opened an eye as Strider knelt beside him, "Are you all right, Sam?" "Sure, I'm fine, if I don't die from exhaustion." Aragorn smiled, "It would take more than a forced march to kill the hobbits I've known. I am sorry, but I heard news that troubled me, and I do not know what it portends." "What news?", asked the Hobbit. "News that, until now, was only heard in rumor, or old wive's tales his friend replied.
"It has been held as truth for an age that all of the Northern men who served the Witch-King of old were slain, and their line destroyed. For some years though, since I was much younger at the least, some have claimed that some small remnant of the wicked men survived, perhaps hiding in some northern vale, hid from even the eyes of the rangers. How it could be contrived for so long, without any trace of them being found by man, elf or Dwarf I cannot say, and it makes me ill at ease."
"For years now, whenever my people would find some sign or token they couldn't easily explain, it was said that the wicked men had returned. Most held this a mere superstition, or figure of speech. Few indeed truly believed that they could have survived for so many lives of men without being found out."
"Yet now I have received word that tells of both their survival and return to the North Kingdom, and at the very time we come to reclaim it. If there is any truth in this, it seems likely to be a plot of our old enemy, gone from the world or no." "But, Sauron was destroyed, truly destroyed", said Sam adamantly. "Yes, Sauron was destroyed", agreed Strider, but the enemy had many servants, not just the nine who's end we saw that day. Furthermore, he was very cunning, and his plots deeply planned and with many branches. Who's to say that he didn't plan some nasty surprise, in case any should attempt to reclaim the Northern Kingdom? This is what I fear, that our friends and family we left behind could become targets, if there is any truth to this tale."
Sam remained silent, a terrible feeling settling in his mind. Why had he followed Aragorn on this road? Had he put Rose and the children in grave danger? Aragorn seemed to feel his thoughts, "Worry not, Samwise. I think that they are not in any danger, as long as the city is guarded. Not unless a great force assails them." "Or if they are caught outside the city", added Samwise. Aragorn gave no reply.
The sun was setting in the west of Middle-Earth as a small, bent figure trudged across the landscape. Suddenly, the sound of horses galloping came rushing to his ears. The figure stopped and watched as two horsemen came flying down from the north. Soon they spied him and halted their horse just before him. "Greetings Dwarf. You are a Dwarf are you not? You are wanted by the King's council."
"King? We Longbeards have only one King now and that be Nain, son of Dain, King under the mountain" he answered defiantly. "I don't think you horse riders have aught to do with my king, so off with yee, afore I lose my temper." One soldier got angry and was about to draw his sword, but his companion assuaged his wrath and tried to be more civil with the short fellow. "Come Dwarf, let us forget harsh words and reason together." He slowly rode to one side of the dwarf while he spoke, then while the dwarf was eyeing the closer soldier suspiciously the other soldier quietly approached him from the other side...
The next day, the King called a halt after five hours of marching in the partly sunny, fresh morning air. "We are making good speed Sam", remarked Aragorn, sounding pleased with himself. "I would say we should Mark Annuminas by this time tomorrow, if we keep going as we are. We may very well find that there was no cause for alarm and will wish we were with the others at Fornost."
Sam was learning a great deal about the Northlands that he had always thought himself very knowledgable about. Preparing for the journey, and spending time with Aragorn and the soldiers had added a great deal to his knowledge, but he he had the feeling that there was a great deal that was still a mystery to his Hobbit sense.
"How big are these Northlands Strider?", the hafling asked. "Living in the Shire, I had always assumed that there was little outside the four farthings, at least little of any importance. But all this travelling and talk of folk hiding out for centuries makes me wonder if there isn't a lot more than us Hobbits have been told about. And these wild men, or beasts, whatever you call them, beggin' your pardon Sir, where are they from, and have they been hiding from us for the whole of Shire reckoning as well?"
"Well", Aragorn began, "I don't know if anyone had even measured the north in full measure from North to South or East to West, it is a vast land and much of it is little known and less travelled, as you may remember from our journeys. I can say that from the Gulf of Lhun to the House of Elrond, on foot in good weather and with no delays, would take me at least a month. But of course that is not the full breadth of the land, and it is hard to measure in any direction as lands and shorelines do not remain the same but change over time."
"And from north to south?", queried Sam. "That is even harder to measure, due the the wildness of the lands north of here. North of Annuminas and Fornost the lands are vacant and were largely empty even during the reign of the North kingdom. That land is mostly open wastes, but very cold, and the further reaches are covered in snow and ice all the year round, making travel and any certain measurements all but impossible."
"If I had to reckon it, I would guess that from Tharbad to the ice bay of Forochel the distance is at least that of the distance from Lhun to Rivendell, and to the East the land goes ever further north to regions where no men save those of the Witch King have ventured. Of that region there is no certain knowledge, only rumors from the Lossoth, and even they don't venture there."
"Lossoth, what are they?", Sam asked in wonder. " Strider laughed aloud and Sam suddenly felt embarrassed. "Who are they? Master Samwise, you are one of the few people alive to have seen the Snowmen of Forochel, as they are known in the common tongue. Lossoth is the Elvish name for those who live in the far North, where there is snow always, and there they live their lives hidden away from all other people, good or evil. Few have ever had dealings with their race, and even among the Dunedain their name is considered more legend than truth. It is said that they aided the last king of Arnor after the fight against the Witch king, but even their aid couldn't prevent fate from taking his life, if fate it was."
"Oh, I see", said Samwise, though he didn't comprehend much of what Aragorn had told him and felt very small and foolish again. "That'll learn you to go messing in the business of your betters, Samwise Gamgee", he thought regretfully to himself, and ate his lunch in silence.
That night the weather turned and Sam slept fitfully. They set off again the next morning under gray skies, and blasts of wind made him feel cold and miserable. Nevertheless, Aragorn was true to his word- after a few hours walking the land became more open and started ever so slightly to slope down to the west and there, in the distance, they spied the small, walled city of Annuminas.
The King had sent two of his remaining knights ahead in all haste to assure that all was well with the city, while he stayed behind with Samwise and the other par of knights who continued at a more leisurely pace. Aragorn seemed in good spirits to be within site of his Northern Palace again, and was more receptive to speaking with Sam than he had been the last few days.
As they walked he spoke of the history of the north and its peoples. "I don't understand how there could be people in the North for years and years and we Hobbits never knew nothing about 'em", said Sam, shaking his head incredulously. "Like I said", Aragorn replied, "The north is vast, and even in the time of the Northern Kingdom much of it was waste where no men of Arnor ventured. It troubles me too Sam, but it has been many lives of men since any of the Dunedain travelled beyond Fornost, so it is possible that some few of the people of the Witch king survived..."
"But where 'ave they been hiding all this time, I'd like to know", Sam cut in. "I don't know, but even the lands 'round Annuminas have not been travelled since the war, when the North Kingdom was ended long ago. It's possible they have been hiding in the hills north of here, or north of the havens, though likely they would have been found by the Elves of that country."
"They certainly were all driven out of their ancestral lands north of Rivendell, they could not have remained hidden from Elrond's folk, that is for certain. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say they must have come from the mountains round about Angmar. It is a hard land, mountainous and baren and cold, not much lives there but the goats of the mountains, and some few birds, and orcs."
"They mave have fled to the north slopes of the mountains where they turn west towards Angmar, or even further to the North slopes of the Grey mountains, which lie north of Mirkwood, and before one comes to the Withered heath. That is a land uknown to my people, rough and dangerous, full of the servants of the enemy. But, desperate times breed desperate deeds, so they say."
Galdor sat in silence with his back against the tomb, his head in his hands. He was despondent already at the loss of the girl, and a lack of sleep and his Sargeant's open disdain was more than he could bear, strong man of Gondor though he was. How long he thus he knew not, but he was suddenly alerted to the sound of horses approaching.
Pulling himself to his feet, Galdor turned the corner of the tomb in time two see a strange sight-two soldiers of Gondor carrying a short, squatty figure between them, who was cursing and swinging his legs. They dropped the being unceremoniously on the ground, in front of the bewildered guard.
When the King heard what happened to Rose he mounted his horse and rushed to the Parth Morwen, leaving his flustered captain scrambling to assign an escort for him. Samwise shouted after his friend, waving his arms frantically, but no one heeded him.
Aragorn arrived at the scene to find a confrontation brewing between Aragnir the Dwarf, the two soldiers and a bewildered Galdor. Aragorn took stock of the situation and asked them to show him the site where Rose had disppeared.
The ground had been walked on by many searchers' feet and Aragorn, now Strider again, struggled to make sense of the scene. At last, behind the tomb, he noticed a clear sign- "Something heavy was dragged here...", and he stopped short at the back of the tomb, regarding the stone. Everyone was watching Aragorn, even Aragnir. Aragorn turned to face him.
"Master Dwarf, you have my apologies. It was not my command to bring you here. Nevertheless, I have need of your skill. A young child has gone missing and I would find her, for she is dear to me. You would have the goodwill of the King of Gondor, and of the Shire folk, if you help me find her. Something heavy was dragged to this tomb, or from it, as if it were an opening. We need you skill to find it"
Aragnir looked at he King and then looked down, as if he was unsure how to answer. Suddenly he stared at the back of the tomb, walked over to it, and struck it with a small hammer which had been hidden in his tunic. "It's hollow, or I'm a hobbit!" He started tapping again, lightly, up and down the stone, stopping about a foot below the middle. He placed his hand on the same spot and pushed the stone as if it were a lever. To everyone's amazement a line appeared, outlining a door and then it began to swing open!
Where there had been stone before, there was now an opening, dark and drafty. The soldiers stared, dumfounded. Aragorn began to walk into the doorway. "My lord", asked one of the soldiers, "shouldn't we wait for more of your guard?" "I will not wait a moment more while that child is held captive." answered the King. "Who shall come with me to right this wrong?" Galdor stood forth, "I am to blame for the girl's loss. I will go." Aragorn asked the others to return to the city to raise the alarm, then he turned and strode into the darkness.
Rose Cotton was beside herself. Pacing madly in their chambers, she was beside herelf with worry- so much so that she barely even noticed when her other children spoke to her. "Mamma, where's Rosie?", asked little Frodo. "I don't know sweetheart, but I intend to find out", and with that she began to formulate a plan.
Darkness filled his senses as Galdor followed behind Aragorn. At first he could see nothing but blackness, but soon his eyes adjusted and he noticed that he was in an ancient tunnel. Here and there brick walls were visible under dust and cobwebs and it was clear that someone had excavated this tunnel, or at least shaped it.
Araagorn stopped suddenly, "There was a struggle here, I would say that the girl slipped from someone's grasp here, and tried to escape before being picked up again- see, here there is one set of tracks again." The tunnel, which at first had headed downward, now began to rise again, as if it were approaching the surface once more.
Galdor nearly walked into Aragorn before he noticed he had stopped, with his arm raised in the air. Galdor stopped short and listened, he thought maybe he could hear voices. Loosening his sword in his sheath, Aragorn rushed forward and with Galdor behind he ran up to the exit of the tunnel and out into the open air. A strange sight met his eyes.
They had entered a clearing, on a small ridge, overlooking a range of smaller hills stretching northward. A small group of ragged people were gathered there in a semi-circle. A middle aged woman was seated there in the center and beyond her, slumped on the ground, was a small figure- Rosie Gamgee.
Aragorn stared at the scene in front of him, confused. Though it could have been a simple gathering, he had the feeling that they were there for something else- a ritual. The woman in the center of the group looked up at him with a quiet but determined stare, then she looked down at something in her lap. It was a dagger. The King stared back, still surprised. They noticed that the woman was arrayed in strange garments and trappings, and her skin had many unrecognizable markings on it.
Aragorn was still sizing up the situation when a half dozen shapes appeared at the far end of the clearing. The figures approached and Aragorn recognized them as men- tribal men. Some appeared to be unarmed, but others brandished crude weapons. Galdor drew his sword. Aragorn raised his arm to lower Galdor's weapon when suddenly something burst from the tunnel and plowed right into Galdor, throwing him forward with sword still raised. The seated tribesmen scrambled out of Galdor's path while Sam Gamgee saw Rose lying on the ground. "Hoy!" he cried loudly and ran stright toward his daughter though the woman shaman was right in his path.
Just as Samwise reached his daughter, an acrid cloud exploded, filling the the clearing. Galdor, who had rushed in after Samwise, was forced to withdraw, coughing and wheezing from the harsh gasses. Sam just had time to pick up his daughter before his eyes watered like geysers and his throat stung from the foul cloud. He ran back with Rose while the cloud hung between them and the wild people.
Samwise inspected his daughter but could find no signs of her drawing breath. With a pleading look he offered her to the King who examined her for a long minute, before raising his head grimly. "She lives, though for how long I cannot say. It may be that these are her last hours, or she may yet wake and return to you. It appears she was given a fell draught that was more than just herbs, I guess some foul wizardry has touched her."
The smoke was now clearing as Aragorn pondered their next move. There was no sign of the Hillmen. Galdor begged that they should follow them and seek vengeance, but the King knew that the odds were against them. "No my friend, we are only a few and we know not this wood, or what other perils it may conceal. And the girl requires healing and that cannot wait. We will return to the city and from there consider our next course of action."
They returned through the tunnel. As they emerged into the light once more they saw Rosie approaching. She rushed to see her daughter. Aragorn bade Galdor to watch over the others as he took Rosie and her daughter on one of the two horses and galloped back to the city.
Angrim watched them depart and then asked Galdor what had transpired. The Dwarf bristled at the description of the Hillmen's use of magic to subdue Rose and then to cover their escape, "Ah curse the Hillmen and their foul craft. If it's a fight they want, then let me and a dozen of my kinsmen, armored for war, have at them by thunder."
In the end, Aragorn decided to make no move until his soldiers returned from Fornost. Until then, they would scout the region stealthily to determine where the Hillmen had gone. It was the King's belief that they were still in the region not far from the city, "They would not have started their ritual here unless this is where they intended to stay. They will either be close at hand, or they will have given up and left the area for good. We will know soon."
In fact they did know soon. Within a few days scouts reported that they had found activity at caves some dozen miles to the northwest. Other scouts brought news that the expedition was reurning and would be in Annuminas within a few days. Aragorn was certain now he had made the right decision. Angrim had returned to his own people, but had remarked crypticly that they may soon meet again.
When three more days had passed, the king's company made ready to ride to war. Aragorn spoke to the men, and Hobbits, as they assembled. "Today we ride to conflict, though perhaps not to battle. We know not who these these people are or what they want, and I would know that before deciding a final course of action concerning their fate."
Some of the soldiers looked puzzled, but they knew better than to question the King of Gondor. The company set out quietly, a single trumpet heralding their departure as Rose watched them silently.
The way was flat for may miles as they had to bear somewhat West and then north to skirt the hills of Evendim, before drawing near to the cave. As they trotted Pippin seemed merry and talkative, but Samwise was grim and in no mood for light-hearted banter. He was still deeply worrired about young Rosie. Though the men of Gondor were certain she was healing, she still remained as one sleeping, and he trusted no one where the life of his child was concerned.
The early fog from the lake was lifting and the day promised to be fair. After several hours travel Aragon called for a halt. "We draw nigh to the place where we enter the hills to face our adversaries. We would do well to rest and take our afternoon meal before we come too nigh the enemy- both man and beast may have need of strength this day."
After their meal they turned toward the east and all could see the line of hills nearby. Aragorn sent scouts ahead as they slowly approached. His suspicions turned out be be well founded as the scouts soon returned. "My lord, as we came to the foot of the hill we surprised a lookout, one of their men. He fled as soon as he heard the horses. We saw him briefly but couldn't follow him due to the ruggedness of the land. By now they probably know we're here." "Forward!", was the only reply the king gave.
Soon the land began to slope upward and copses of stone began to spring up before them. They could see that it would now be rough going indeed, and quite slow with the horses. The King halted the company once more. He arrayed their forces with the most skilled and seasoned warriors in the front and everyone else behind. The sargeant of the guard and two others he sent ahead as the vanguard.
In this way they made their way up the rugged hillside. After three quarters of an hour the sounds of harsh cries reached their ears. Aragorn spurred his horse and bade the others to make haste.
The King crested a rise into a small valley and saw his captain and the others crouched behind their shields. One man looked wounded, but fortunately the wound was slight- "They ambushed us, half a dozen or so, attacking us from the rise on either side. I took a spear to the shoulder, but luckily it was a glancing blow and the armor took most of it. I'll be all right. They were panicky and soon ran off after we caught one with an arrow."
They proceeded up the vale and, not far from the top, saw blood stains on the sparse grass, "It looks like we had truer aim than they", the captain remarked. "He won't make it far."
True to his reckoning they soon saw pieces of rough, leather armor scattered on the ground, and there were signs that someone had been dragged from the site. "We must be close", the King announced, "Weapons at the ready, but do not attack unless I give the word. We may not need to fight." Sam drew Sting just in case, and spurred on his pony.
Minutes later they approached what appeared to be crude walls or fences running away and back from the path on either side. They heard a guttural cry and soon could spy what appeared to be spears and bows poking above the battlements, though they were not many in number.
Aragorn halted them and sized up the situation. Samwise was tense. He had never liked battles, but awaiting the unknown was far worse for him than seeing your foes rushing toward you. Strider was still, weighing courses of action in his mind. He knew that if they rushed suddenly on horseback most of them could probably pass behind the battlements before the enemy could react, and they may be able to win the battle in a few moments.
He also knew that they didn't truly know the number of men manning the walls, and they had no sure idea of what lay behind them. There could be traps or blockades preventing them from sweeping around, and they would not all be able to pass through at once, decreasing their numbers and leaving those inside vulnerable to attack, especially the horses, which were lightly armored,
They could march in on foot, but that would take longer and give the enemy more time to resond and defend. They would also be lower to the ground on foot, giving the enemy the advantage. Either choice was fraught with danger for everone, if only there was a third way?
Aragorn made his choice. He commanded the captain to sound the horn of the King of Gondor. The captain raised the horn to his lips, and let blow a series of loud blasts- "Oo roo, oo roo, oo roo." The blasts filled the plains and echoed off the hilltops behind. Confusion reigned among the enemy, as Elessar had hoped, they heard the running of feet and cries back and forth. They were confused, now was the time to strike.
The King raised his hand to signal the assault- "Roooooo!", a powerful, low booming was heard. "Roooooo came the bast again, but it came not from before them, but from behind. Wheeling around as the rest of the Gondor knights turned their heads, Aragorn raised his sword in defiance as he peered across the valley. Then he saw, cresting the slope, The silver shining of burnished steel spears and halberds in the sun. These were not the arms of rag-tag hillmen, but of Dwarves, some three dozen strong and with Angmir and Rosie Gamgee at their lead.
Dwarves of the Blue Mountains came striding up the valley. The enemy was in total panic now, yelling and shooting indiscriminately. Aragorn knew that this kind of panic would either end in chaotic bloodshed, or in the enemy fleeing wildly. Unfought and undealt with they would remain a threat to his people.
Aragorn made up his mind. "Master Samwise", the King said gravely, "Gondor has need of your service once more. Will you ride with me?" Sam looked at the walls ahead, and then looked at his friend. He saw the King, arrayed for war, on his proud steed, but then he saw his friend Strider with his travel stained cloak and kindly eyes.
Sam rode beside the King's horse. "Bid the Dwarves to await us here", he ordered the Captain. Elessar had the captain bring the royal standard and pass it to Samwise. "Shouldn't someone more... noble, carry this?", Sam asked sheepishly. "My friend", Aragorn smiled, "There are no folk more noble than Hobbits." Then he and Samwise slowly rode ahead into the unknown.
Aragorn spoke as Strider again to Samwise, "Are you wearing the mithril shirt?" Sam opened the top of his cloak revealing the glittering mail. "Good," Aragorn replied, "just in case they do find a hobbit threatening." They rode a bit further and then saw that the hillmen had taken notice of them.
Strider checked his steed. He cast aside his old cloak, revealing the gleaming Armor of Gondor underneath, and stood up in his stirrups. "Men of the North", he shouted in a firm voice, "Men of the North, lay down your arms, the King of Gondor would speak with you."
For a second there was silence, and then they heard the sound of much speaking and wondering. "Samwise, lift the standard higher", Aragorn whispered. "Men of the North, I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, the Ellesar, King of Arnor and Gondor, and this is Samwise Gamgee, lord of the halflings of the Shire. Will you not let us enter?"
There was a brief silence again, then a harsh sound in some unintelligible language and a crude spear was thrown over the wall in their direction. Samwise's pony reared up and Aragorn wheeled his mount in front, drawing Anduril as he did. He swung at the spear with the sword, Anduril gleaming in the afternoon sun. He managed to strike the midst of the spear, but not enough to deflect it fully. The tip of the spear struck the King's right shoulder, and knocked him off his horse.
Aragorn lay for a moment on the earth, noticing the smell of growing things which calmed the heat of his anger. Then climbed to his feet once more, taking the reins of his horse. "Elendil!" he cried aloud and drew his sword. The King and the Hobbit waited and after a long moment a single figure appeared at the wall's entrance. The cloaked figure beckoned to them with his hand and strode back into the settlement. The two friends followed.
As they entered the settlement Samwise felt a sense of unease settle over him. Aragorn's horse seemed to sense it too as he whinnied and attempted to stop at the same time. The King calmed his mount and started him slowly forward once more. On either side there were several small hovels and ahead, across the field just inside the encircling wall, was a large, low, crude hall.
There was no one to be seen at first, though they had the distinct feeling of being watched. Then they heard a shuffling sound ahead, as of many stealthy soldiers rushing into the hall. The two friends drew to a halt. At that moment Sam noticed a gray figure to their left. Covered with ash and mud, she looked almost as part of the field. At that moment, before Samwise could cry out, she raised her arms and a fell cloud covered him and his lord.
The horses reared up and whinnied in fright while Samwise covered his face with his cloak and desperately tried to hang on. He tumbled to the ground and stumbled, coughing, trying to flee the acrid smoke. Suddenly, as the smoke cleared, Sam saw a line of grim, rugged looking men exit the hall and regard them coldly.
Sam looked around frantically. He saw no sign of Aragorn yet, but he noticed the mysterious woman, still standing on a rise to their left. Samwise felt a surge of anger, and courage, and he ran towards the woman, brandishing Sting in his outstretched hand. Shocked, she stood still as stone for a long moment, unsure of what to do. As the matron and shaman of the tribe, she was unaccustomed to any resistance to her command.
The woman raised her arms high and began to chant darkly just as Samwise reached the top of the rise. He raised Sting again menacingly and shouted at the shaman. The men from the hall raised their crude weapons and also started to shout and they jumped and shook their weapons. At the same moment Aragorn stepped forth from the fading cloud and regarded the Hillmen grimly.
Then something unexpected happened. The dark woman raised her arms higher and started chanting to intimidate the Hobbit, or cast some dark spell on him when suddenly she slipped- and fell on Sting, still held forth in Samwise's hand. Sam jumped back in surprise, pulling Sting from the shocked woman's body as she slumped to the ground. The Hillmen warriors stood still as stones, in shock and disbelief.
Aragorn regarded the scene with alarm, but then quickly regained his composure, he was a son of Gondor after all, with the blood or Numenor in his veins. He quickly assessed the situation and knew that the confusion would soon change to either despair or rage and he must act quickly.
Aragorn strode forth quickly, raising Anduril high in a sign of rulership, he called on the Hillmen- "Men of the North, hear me! I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, King of Gondor and Arnor. Relent now and throw down your arms, and I give my word as King that you shall be spared."
There was total silence for a long moment, then the leader of the clan's warriors made a guttural cry, and raised his axe in defiance. The other barbarians looked at him and then back at Aragorn, a Kingly visage in his armor and with Anduril gleaming in the sun. They hesitated, not wanting to attack the King.
The leader of the Hillmen regarded his kinsmen angrily, and decided to himself that he would act alone if he must- for his tribe, for his honor, as a leader, maybe their only leader now that the Shaman lay on the ground dying. If he could triumph over this small band of southling warriors then it would be a mighty triumph, and great would be his honor. The warrior suddenly charged at Aragorn, with surprising speed, a battle cry sounding from his lips and axe held menacingly in the air.
Suddenly a twang rang out, echoing across the compound, and the Hillmen leader stopped short, clutching his chest, a look of shock on his face. Aragorn and Samwise looked around in disbelief. Then they saw a short figure silhouetted above the compound wall they had ridden through- it was Angmir, a crossbow clutched in his hands.
The clan had been shattered, their Shaman was near death, and their head warrior was gravely wounded. Though he may yet live, he would never be a proud, fierce warrior chieftan again. The rest of the HIllmen threw down their weapons and ran off in dismay, though most of them soon came back when it became clear that the invaders were not going to ravage their camp or their people.
When the smoke had cleared, and the Hillmen returned, the King held an audience with the elders of the tribe. They were given leave to remain in their village and live in peace. The only condition was that they must not enter Annuminas or it's surroundings, including the cemetery. To this the tribe reluctantly assented. With their leaders dead or dying, they had not the strength or the will to opposed the King of Arnor and Gondor.
Little Rosie came to shortly after their return to the city, to the joy and relief of her parents. She could not recall much what had transpired, and all agreed that was for the best. After several days recovering, she was now jesting and playing with her brothers and sisters once more. Her parents looked at each other and smiled.
One week after returning to the city, the Hobbits made ready to depart. Aragorn was loathe to see them leave, but he knew that his friends could not remain with him forever. "Winter will be coming on soon", Samwise had said, "and I've work to do. Busy as a dwarf in a gold mine I'll be when we get back, papers, papers and more papers to attend to, yes sir or I'm not a Hobbit."
Finally, the day to depart had arrived at last. The morning dawned dim and cold, as a proper Autumn morning should. The Hobbits were all astride their ponies, and the children were giggling in the wagon, when King Ellesar finally came forth to bid them farewell. Sam tried to hide the tears welling up in his eyes as Stider approached him. Rose wiped her tears away with a handkerchief. Pippin and Fredegar sat still as stone in their saddles.
"My friends", Aragorn adressed them, "This sad day has come at last, for all things must come to an end in this Middle-Earth, for better or worse, and joy most of all." Pippin and Fatty began to tear up now, while Samwise and Rosie Cotton wept openly. "Fear not, my friends", the King continued, "For though time wears on and all things most end, we may yet meet again. Arwen and I desire to live for a time in this city, once it has been rebuilt, and surely all roads to Annuminas must pass near to the Shire."
They had ridden far over the plane before Annuminas before the Hobbits finished wiping all the tears from their eyes, and looked forward towards the Shire and the long road ahead. Finally, after several uneventfull days of slow plodding, they crested a rise in the late afternoon and beheld the lands round Hobbiton spread out before them. They continued silently until at last they could see the homes and farms of their little land directly ahead. "Well, we're back", said Samwise sadly.