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It sounded much easier than it actually was. Three days and three nights, without a stop on the road. On the third day they found one of the brooches Galadriel gave them as a gift along with the cloaks. The hearts of the four companions were filled with hope.
"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall", noted Aragorn, as he picked up the brooch.
The pace of the group of the Orcs and Uruk Hai had quickened, when they reached Rohan. A kingdom that seemed friendly at the first sight, but a danger was growing, that gave greater strength to their enemies. Ithilwen was haunted by the image she had seen at Galadriel's mirror. She had heard many stories about this mirror, and that many times what was depicted there was not true. However, she should have spoken about this foresight at least with Aragorn, especially since she had sensed a danger approaching when they sailed across Anduin. She focused on their pursuit, and she hoped that she would meet again the little hobbits. They were heading towards Isengard, when on the fourth day, until a red sunrise dawned.
"Blood must have been spilt the night before" said Legolas terrified.
Ithilwen took a breath. Deep inside her she hoped that it wouldn't have been hobbits' blood, otherwise she would blame her for the rest of her days, for not informing the rest of the Fellowship earlier.
Horses were heard approaching and the four companions hid behind a rock. A group of Rohan horsemen appeared. When they saw them, they stepped out.
"Riders of Rohan! What news from the mark?" yelled Aragorn.
The horsemen encircled them.
"What business does a man, two elves, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" asked the horse-master.
"Give me your name, horse-master, and I shall give you mine", replied Gimli and looked arrogantly at the horse lord.
"I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground", said the horse-master in the same tone.
Legolas and Ithilwen immediately drew their arrows and aimed towards the horse-master. The riders at once pointed their spears at the four companions.
"You would die before your stroke fell" said Legolas.
Ithilwen fixed her eyes to her target. His throat would be the perfect point to hit him. A quick, yet gory, death. Of course she would be pierced by a dozen spears second later, but during these seconds this outcome did not matter to her. If only he did not wear this heavy armour and this helmet. Her job would be much easier and less bloody. This helmet. Her trail of thoughts stopped as she looked more carefully at this helmet with the white horsetail as a crest. 'The rider?' she thought. She scowled and lowered a little the aim of her arrow. Aragorn came forward and with his hand signaled to his friends to bring down their bows.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, Legolas of the Woodland Realm and Ithilwen of Lorien. We are friends of Rohan, and Theoden your king."
"Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe", said the horse-master and removed his helmet. The rest of the horsemen raised their spears when they saw that their lord was no longer in danger. "Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the King and claimed lordship over his lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that we are banished. The white wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked, and everywhere his spies slip past our nets."
"We are no spies. We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive. They would be small, only children to your eyes", said Aragorn.
"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them", said Éomer. "I am sorry", he added when he saw the saddened look at the faces of the four companions. "Hasufel, Arod, Brego", whistled Éomer three riderless horses. "May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It is forsaken in these lands. Farewell." The Rohirrim left.
"You look surprised for some reason" said Aragorn to Ithilwen. Her face indeed looked surprised and her eyes were following the horsemen, who rode north.
"It is nothing" said Ithilwen indifferently. Although she did not see the exact image from the vision she had at the mirror seemed, she was now sure that this horse-master indeed existed, and that her vision would maybe come true. "I need to talk to you as soon as possible", she added and looked at Aragorn worried. "Galadriel had asked me to look into her mirror and I had several visions, and I wish to discuss them with you".
Aragorn put his hand on her shoulder. "We shall discuss whatever troubles you my dear friend", he said. "But first let us see if indeed hope has forsaken these lands."
Aragorn, Ithilwen, Legolas and Gimli mounted the horses and rode to the pile of the carcasses. They started looking among the corpses hoping that their friends would not be among the dead. Gimli picked one belt that belonged to one of the hobbits and showed it to the rest. Aragorn kicked one Uruk Hai helmets and left a cry of despair. Ithilwen's eyes were filled with tears. They had failed. She had failed them. If only she had told what she saw in the mirror earlier.
Aragorn stared at the ground. His fingertips touched the dirt. "One hobbit laid here, and another one there" His eyes continued looking for the hobbits' tracks. They followed him. The tracks indicated that hobbits had fended off the battle scene. 'They are alive' thought Ithilwen and her face immediately lightened.
'Their tracks lead to the Fangorn Forest", said Aragorn.
"What madness drove them in there" asked Gimli, and they entered the forest.