Chapter 99

My companions received this news evenly, for they had already guessed what had happened. "No matter" said Elien cheerfully "we shall walk all the way to Amon Sul instead, and I will hope for a pleasant journey in good company". With that we joined the stream of travellers passing out through the west gate and into the darkness, Elien on one arm and Idhrethil on the other. The former Queen of Rhudaur maintained her outwardly cheerful demeanor, but as we passed under the arch where a solitary torch spluttered, I saw that tears were coursing down her cheeks. We all knew that we would never pass that way again and that everything we had known was now lost to us, and I too was filled with sadness thinking of all those I had left behind. My brave father, of whom I remembered so little, and my beautiful mother. Poor Radulf who had been my friend when I had none. Brave and noble Lord Angon, to whom I owed so much, and Sergeant Cenric, who had watched over me as I grew up. The captains I had served under, the dauntless Arahael, the noble Berenion and my true friend Daeron, whom I still loved and mourned despite our latter parting of the ways. Fine men, but all gone, and the land they had loved and striven so hard to defend had fallen into ruin and despair. I mourned for them all, for all that was passing and held both my companions a little tighter for I knew that they were all that remained to me now. Yet for my part I was indeed fated to enter that gate again, but it would be many years later and in very different circumstances.

We followed the road in the darkness for several hours trying to put some distance between us and the city until the grey light of dawn began to creep across the sky and we had more light to see by. By now we were all completely spent, and many of those we had set off with had already abandoned the march, unable to go any further. I suggested to my companions and those that remained with us that we should now leave the road and find somewhere to rest for a few hours, since there was no sign as yet of any pursuit. We entered some birch woods on the south side of the road and found the ruins there of what might once have been a farmstead or hamlet, for there were the remains of walls and piles of stones amongst the trees. It seemed as good a place as any and I found a comfortable enough spot and settled down there with Idhrethil. Thanguron had wanted to post guards, but was overruled, and soon the only sounds that could be heard in the corner where I lay were the birds of the forest greeting the dawn, and the soft breathing of my love as she slept in my arms. Despite my utter weariness I resisted sleep for as long as I could, savouring the moment. Though an arduous and uncertain journey still lay ahead of us we were now free and I was filled at last with a tremendous feeling of peace and hope for the future.

It was Idhrethil who woke me, and the first sight I saw as I opened my bleary eyes was her beautiful face framed by the green leaves and blue sky overhead. The birds still sang around us, and my bleary eyed smile was returned radiantly and followed by a kiss. "Wake up sleepy head, it is time to go. It is near to mid morning and we did not travel as far as we might have hoped last night". Indeed the smoke of the many fires that continued to burn in Lastbridge still seemed perilously close by, so we wasted no time before resuming our journey. It was a perfect summers day, and for a while we forgot our growing hunger and weariness and were happy to walk quietly hand in hand, a little behind the others. We met others on the road as we went, including some of the soldiers who had remained behind the guard the bridge. We found them resting at the side of the road as we had, and they hailed us and rose to join us. Later on as we paused again Thanguron and some of the others gathered round and listened while I told them what I knew of what lay ahead of us in Arthedain. I am sure they were reassured by what I had to tell them of the vigour and splendour of that Kingdom and the wisdom of those who ruled it, and I told them that I was sure that once Amon Sul became aware of our plight that they would send aid, and so indeed it proved.

We resumed our journey in better spirits, although we could not maintain anything like a marching pace I still hoped we might reach Halfway Hill before nightfall the following day and perhaps find food and shelter there if it was held by Cardolan. We were now near the spot where I had been overtaken by the elves on my previous journey west, and been enchanted by their song. I told Idhrethil the tale, and also related what the Prince had told me regarding his own time in Imladris and its half elven lord. She was delighted at this, and professed the hope that she too would one day see elves herself, and perhaps even hear them sing. With that she began to sing herself, just a childish round from the nursery, but I realised I had never heard her do so before, and I wondered at the loveliness of her voice. Hearing her do so Elien, who had been walking just ahead of us turned her head to listen and joined in, laughing, and their sweet voices were soon entwined in the simple harmony. However my delight at what I was hearing was suddenly cut short by a cry from Thanguron, for there was something on the road ahead. As we approached we saw that there were several bodies lying there, travellers like ourselves, and they did not stir as we came near to them. It soon became clear why, for they were all pierced with arrows, and dark blood was pooling around them on the stones of the road. In an instant all my feelings of hope and happiness vanished and were replaced a fear so sharp it almost stopped my breath. It seemed that I alone of that company recognised the provenance of the thick shafts and the crude black fletchings, for I had seen them all too often in the forests of the north. "What is it?" asked Elien, seeing my discomfiture "who did this to these poor folk?" I did my best to regain my composure, but all the while my eyes darted to and fro searching for signs of the enemy, and our surroundings, which only a few moments before had seemed so pleasant and benign were now full of hidden peril. "I fear that this is orc work, and that we find ourselves in grave danger, for we are few in number, poorly armed and far from help. I do not think that they came here by chance, for the malice of the King of Angmar knows no bounds and they have been sent here to harry us. We should leave the road at once, but not stray too far from it, for if any help does come from Arthedain that is where we will find it. Quickly, for I fear an ambush." I grasped Idhrethil's hand, her face suddenly pale and fearful, and we set off as one with our companions towards the cover of the trees on the south side of the road.

But I saw the danger too late, and the trap had been sprung. The sky had clouded over somewhat as the day had waned, covering the sun, and no sooner had we set off than the first arrow whistled over our heads, to be followed by many others, some of which quickly found a mark. Shrieks and screams rent the air but my only thought was to reach the relative cover of the trees. In the corner of my eye I could see orcs pouring across the road behind us, far too many to have any hope of prevailing against, but I thought I could perhaps call some of the soldiers to me to make a stand whilst allowing the women to try and make their escape. We were nearly there when I heard a thud close by and Idhrethil's hand twisted sharply out of my grasp and she tumbled headlong. My first thought was that she had tripped over a root or stone, but when I bent down to help her back up she did not respond and then, as if in a dream I saw that there was something terribly wrong. A thick black feathered shaft stood planted deep in the middle of her back, and crimson blood suddenly gouted from between her beautiful lips. Her eyes were wide open as if in an expression of surprise but they were glassy and I knew at once that she was gone. Kneeling at her side, and now careless as to my own safety I raised my face to the sky and screamed long and loud in anguish before standing, drawing my sword, and charging the oncoming orcs alone. I no longer feared death, and in that moment I would have welcomed it, for it seemed that all reason for living had been taken from me. I fell on them and fought them with an insane ferocity, cleaving helm and limb, but would quickly have been overcome and perished there if Thanguron and many of the others had not seen what was happening and quickly rallied to my side. A number of the young soldiers from the Keep who did so paid a bitter price for their foolhardy courage, for they had never faced orcs before and despite their lack of stature the speed and strength of this new foe was beyond them.

We would all have died there that day, but as our enemy began to overwhelm us we became aware of a new sound and the ground suddenly shook beneath our feet. As if from nowhere a great number of men on horseback came flying through the press at a full gallop, cleaving, trampling and slashing as they went and the orcs began shrieking and fell quickly back into the woods on the north side of the road. Then as quickly as it had started the fight was over. I dropped my sword and staggered back through the charnel to where Idhrethil lay. I knelt down, gently lifted her poor dead body into my arms and wept piteously, rocking her like a child, unable to believe that she was gone. I remained there for a long time, oblivious to all else in the world, tasting the first and fiercest pangs of the grief and loss that has haunted me all my days.