Chance Encounter

Disclaimer: I don't own Balian, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, you get the idea. I'm just borrowing them without permission but with every intention of returning them, savvy?

Chapter 23: Mushrooms and Battles

Balian had recovered enough to join long walks in the gardens and he spent much time studying the strange plants. He had never seen such things before, neither in France nor in the Holy Land, where it was too dry to grow much. It was during one of these walks that Faramir found him on his hands and knees, examining a low growing plant that had leaves like petals.

"That comes from Harad," said Boromir's brother. "I can't remember its name."

"It's a very strange plant," said Balian, straightening himself and dusting off his hands. "I'd thought it was a green rose at a first glance. But enough about plants. How are you feeling?"

"Better than before," said Faramir. "I still get bouts of shivering but not as often. How about you? I heard that you took a bad wound, my young friend, not to mention that whole story about you head-butting an orc who was wearing a helmet."

"I think I'm well on my way to becoming perfectly fine again," said Balian. "I'm bored though. I don't know why they still won't let me out."

"Healers are like that," said Faramir. He looked around to see that they were alone. "I need to talk to you." Before Balian could ask what Faramir wanted to talk about, Faramir resumed speaking. "It's about Lady Éowyn," he said. "I...she..."

Balian smiled as understanding dawned on him. "Are you in love, Faramir?" he asked. The other man nodded. A faint blush tinged his tanned face. "She is a wonderful girl."

"I love her," said Faramir "but she loves Aragorn." Balian admired Faramir's courage. He would never tell someone else about something so private. "Since you've wooed two women, one of which was a princess, I was hoping maybe you could give me some advice."

Balian's face turned an interesting shade of red. He didn't know how to talk about something so intimate and close to his heart. All his life, he had been a man of very few words, preferring actions to speech. "I...I guess...I was honest with them," he said awkwardly.

"How?" asked Faramir.

"I told Jocelyn outright that I loved her and then dashed away before she could say anything..."

Faramir began to laugh. Balian glowered at him, which only served to make him laugh harder. "I was only seventeen," he said defensively.

"And she married you?" gasped Faramir between bouts of laughter.

"Not until I proposed to her in a fitting manner five years later," said Balian.

"What about Sibylla?"

"With Sibylla...I don't know how to explain it...it was love at first sight. She rode into my courtyard the day after I arrived at Jerusalem and demanded a drink of water. Then she stayed at Ibelin and one night she came to me..."

"Yet she still chose power over you," concluded Faramir. "That's what I'm worried about. I think Éowyn isn't really in love with Aragorn. She's in love with the power that he will have as King. For someone as beautiful and noble as the Shieldmaiden to feel that way is just tragic."

"Talk to her, Faramir," suggested Balian. "Tell her how you feel. How will she know that she has someone more suited to her waiting for her if you won't tell her?"

Faramir nodded, nervous at the prospect of speaking to Éowyn in such a blunt manner on such an intimate subject.

Guy had to admit, he liked Minas Tirith. He loved its magnificence and splendour, not to mention all the entertainment that the darker parts of the city had to offer. There had been such establishments in Jerusalem but none had been as exotic and sophisticated as the Gondorian ones.

In fact, Guy was enjoying life so much that he was almost willing to give Balian a few days of reprieve before hatching up new plans to get rid of that Perfect Knight. There was no way he could've gained access to the man, at least, not at the moment. The new King of Gondor had specifically banned Guy from the Houses of Healing. Aragorn had not named his reasons but Guy suspected that the former ranger knew of his intent to kill the blacksmith.

The night was dark and the streets were empty as he hurried back to his quarters on the seventh level. Somewhere, a dog barked and was quickly hushed. Very few lights still shone on the topmost level. Guy crept through dark corridors and opened the door to his room. No light came in through the windows except for the unnatural red light from Mordor. Guy shuddered. It reminded him of the stories of eternal damnation and the unquenchable fires of Hell.

Balian's recovery was nothing short of miraculous. He was ready to be discharged within ten days of receiving his injury. Rumours started spreading about how the man must be protected by the Valar or some divinity. Balian was very pleased when he was told of his 'release'. He was well beyond bored. The Houses of Healing were beautiful but he was not used to such luxury and with the shadow of Mordor encroaching upon Middle Earth, he was eager to give his friends whatever help he could. Aragorn had given him a new tunic of chainmail. It was nowhere near as fine as the other one which had been a gift from the Elves but it was ruined and there was no smith in Gondor skilled enough to repair it.

"Out and about so soon, Laddie?" said Gimli as he came into Balian's chamber, puffing on his borrowed pipe and quickly filling the room with fumes.

"The healers let me go," said Balian, not looking up from polishing his sword. He coughed. "Must you do that in here?" The man indicated the smoky haze. "I have to say, I agree with Legolas. I don't understand why you like to poison yourself."

"One day, Nanny Balian, you will realize that one of the great joys in life is smoking," said Gimli.

At the sound of the much detested nickname, Balian put down his sword and his whetstone and charged at the dwarf. Gimli dashed out of the room with a furious blacksmith on his heels, laughing as he did so.

"Nanny indeed!" shouted Balian as he rounded a corner. He was catching up to Gimli whose short legs were no match for the man's longer limbs. Balian pounced on Gimli and the two of them collided with Pippin who was cradling a bowl of battered, stuffed and fried mushrooms. The hobbit, dwarf and man tumbled to the ground in a heap of tangled arms and legs. The empty bowl clattered on the floor and rolled away down the corridor on its own. Mushrooms rained down upon them; it was the shower which preceded the storm. Pippin clambered out and was sputtering with anger. It had not been easy to coax the cooks into letting him make this rare treat and it had been ruined before he could even savour it.

Éomer's arrival saved Balian and Gimli from being torn apart by the furious little hobbit. "What's going on?" he asked when he saw the man and the dwarf attempting to untangle themselves. Somehow, Gimli had ended up on top of the blacksmith, which was not something that Balian had been hoping to achieve.

"They ruined my mushrooms!" cried Pippin, pointing an accusing finger at the two guilty members of the Fellowship. Balian pushed Gimli off him and stood up, looking apologetic. All the while, he was picking up mushrooms from the folds of his clothes and was handing them back to Pippin.

"I'm sure they'll give you some more in the kitchens," said Éomer quickly before Pippin could spout off more rhetoric about his lost mushrooms. "Balian, Gimli, everyone's looking for you. There's a conference in the throne room about our next plan of action."

Everyone else was waiting in the throne room. Legolas raised his eyebrow at Gimli and Balian as they hurried in late. "Frodo has passed beyond my sight," said Gandalf. "The darkness is deepening."

"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it," said Aragorn.

"It's only a matter of time," said Gandalf in despair. "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor, our enemy is regrouping."

"Then we must be prepared for another attack," said Balian.

"Let him stay there," said Gimli in annoyance around the pipe in his mouth. "Let him rot! Why should we care?"

"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," said Gandalf. "I've sent him to his death."

"I refuse to believe that," said Balian. "Saruman's words were venomous. You should not take them to heart."

Gandalf looked at Balian and gave the man a grateful smile.

"Balian's right," said Aragorn. "There is still hope. He needs time and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

"How?" asked Gimli with a dark expression.

"Draw out Sauron's army," said Aragorn. "Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."

Gimli choked at the thought of their meagre force fighting against the might of Mordor. Aragorn really shouldn't have released the Dead. They would have been useful in such a situation.

"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms," said Éomer, voicing everyone's opinion.

"Not for ourselves," said Aragorn. "We can give Frodo a chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon eyes. Keep him blind to all else that moves."

"A diversion," said Legolas with shining eyes.

Gimli took his pipe from his mouth. "Certainty of death," he said enthusiastically "small chance of success, what are we waiting for?"

Gandalf was not so convinced by Aragorn's plan which was workable, if flawed. "Sauron will suspect a trap," said the wizard. "He will not take the bait."

"Oh, I think he will," said Aragorn with a smile.

'Valar,' thought Legolas. 'What is that foolish human planning?'

Balian was giving his sword a final polish that night when Merry and Pippin burst into his room, looking incensed and desperate. Before the hobbits could say anything, Balian mistook the cause of their anger and raised his hands as if surrendering. "Merry, Pippin, I'm sorry about the mushrooms..." he began.

"It's not about the mushrooms," said Pippin

"You're going to fight without us tomorrow?" demanded Merry

"What did Gandalf and Aragorn say?" said Balian.

"They said we can't come because it will be too dangerous," said Pippin.

"Maybe they're right," said Balian.

"What do you think?" said Merry.

"I think you should follow your heart and do what you think is right," said Balian.

"I think we should fight," said Pippin. "Frodo and Sam are our friends. We want to help them."

"Will you help us convince Aragorn and Gandalf?" said Merry.

"If you're sure that's what you want, then I shall," said Balian. He set down his sword and followed the hobbits out of the room. They hurried down dark corridors, asking passing servants for the location of the King. Aragorn was proving to be a particularly elusive sovereign. No one knew where he was and all their friends were nowhere to be seen.

Balian was about to give out when he heard anxious cry from Legolas. He left Merry and Pippin behind as he raced towards the sound. "I knew you would try something stupid!" Legolas was shouting. "Look at you! You're paler than me!"

The blacksmith skidded to a stop when he saw his friends. Legolas was supporting a traumatized Aragorn while Gandalf looked on with worry. "Arwen," whispered Aragorn.

"Feel with your heart, Estel," said Legolas. "She's waiting for you to become King so you can marry her. There is still hope."

"Maybe you should rest, Aragorn," said Gandalf. "You need to be fully alert tomorrow."

Legolas helped Aragorn to the King's chambers. Balian approached Gandalf. "What happened?" he asked.

"Aragorn looked into the palantir," said the wizard. "He saw someone who is very dear to him dying."

"The palantir, isn't that the stone that we found in...?"

"Yes, that is the one. It's a very dangerous tool. You should never play with one, young man."

Balian decided to do what he had come to do. All this talk about the palantir was spooking him. "Gandalf, Merry and Pippin have approached me..." he began.

"Yes?" said Gandalf.

"They want me to ask you on their behalf to let them accompany the army tomorrow."

"It's too dangerous. You should know that, Balian. Swords and spears are remorseless."

"It's not fair to leave them behind if they want to help Frodo. They have both proven their skill in battle. Merry helped to kill the Witch King and Pippin saved your life."

Gandalf snorted. "I should've known they would use this to support their arguments, but I never would have thought that you would agree with them and that they would go to you of all people."

"It's their choice. It's not within my right to judge it. If they believe that it is right, then I think they should be allowed to come."

Gandalf smiled. "Trust a Took and a Brandybuck to find someone who can persuade me. They can go, but only if you look after them."

Long lines and columns of men in shining silver armour marched or rode out of Minas Tirith like a river of flowing metal, led by their new King. Alongside them were the Rohirrim with their round shields and proud standards with images of horses. Balian rode up at the front with Aragorn. He had been exempted from wearing the Gondorian armour, for which he was most grateful. Legolas and Gimli once again shared a horse, while Pippin rode before Gandalf. Balian shared his saddle with Merry, who looked every bit the esquire of Rohan, dressed in the livery of the Horse lords.

Guy also rode with them, although he had been assigned to the rearguard. Every step they took towards Mordor sent a jolt of fear down his spine. God, he really wasn't ready to die. This felt worse than the march to Hattin. At least he and Saladin had had armies of a similar size. The armies of Mordor would just engulf their feeble force without so much as a pause.

Balian wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic about this either. He could sense the men's anxiety but he could do nothing to assuage their fears. That was Aragorn's responsibility now. The blacksmith had used up every strategy that he had ever thought of. He had never attacked another nation before. All the battles that he had ever fought had been fought for the sake of defence.

The army stopped before the Black Gate. Balian had never seen such a fortress as the one which was Mordor. The gates were so tall that it took four trolls to work the mechanisms which controlled them. They were wrought of a strange black metal and at the top were cruel spikes, which enemy heads were probably stuck on after battles. Sauron's lands were surrounded by natural walls of glossy black rock which could not be breached by any siege engines. Aragorn and the rest of the commanders rode up to the gates. Balian followed them.

"Let the lord of the Black Land come forth!" shouted the King of Gondor. "Let justice be done upon him!"

The gates creaked open a little and a dark figure on a armoured black horse rode out. Balian caught a small glimpse of the barren wasteland which Sauron ruled. It was Hell made flesh. As the rider neared them, he could see that the sharp metal helmet which he wore concealed all his facial features except for a wide mouth with long rotten teeth. He felt repulsed by the creature, but he refused to let his discomfort show.

"My master Sauron the Great bids you welcome," said the creature in a low rumbling voice which grated on Balian's ears. It flashed its teeth in what the blacksmith took to be a grin. "Is there any in this rout with the authority to treat with me?"

'Is it true that all villains are arrogant?' wondered Balian.

"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed," said Gandalf coldly, barely concealing his anger. "Tell you master this. The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."

"Aha," said the Mouth of Sauron. He sneered. "Old Greybeard, I have a token I was bidden to show you."

From within the folds of his dark cloak, he produced a shining garment which contrasted greatly with the rest of the darkness. He tossed it at Gandalf, and Pippin caught the familiar shirt.

"Frodo!" cried Pippin.

"Be silent," said Gandalf.

"No!" cried Merry

"Silence!" said the wizard, throwing Balian a dark look. He knew something like this would happen.

"The Halfling was dear to you, I see," said Sauron's foul ambassador. "Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought that one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf, he did."

'He's lying,' Balian realized. 'Frodo cannot be captured, or else Sauron would have the Ring and he would not have to send this thing out to speak for him.'

"Don't listen to him," he said. "He's lying. They're trying to break our morale."

All eyes turned to him as if they had just registered his presence.

"What is this?" said the Mouth of Sauron in contempt. He bared his teeth. "Ah, a Chosen One, I see. One blessed by the Valar and Iluvatar himself. You are born of the lesser race. Who are you to dismiss my words as lies?"

'A chosen one?' thought Balian as he watched Sauron's ambassador warily. 'Who is Iluvatar?'

The Mouth of Sauron quickly lost interest in Balian as Aragorn rode forward with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Who is this?" said the ambassador of Mordor. "Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a King than a broken elvish blade."

Aragorn did not answer with a retort. Instead, he unsheathed his blade and with a movement almost too quick for their eyes to follow, he sliced the foul head from the ambassador's shoulder. It was not a diplomatic solution but Balian felt a great deal of satisfaction.

"I guess that concludes negotiations," said Gimli, not sounding sorry at all.

"I do not believe it," said Aragorn, turning to his companions. He had no time to say anymore. The Black Gate was opening. They rode back to where the army was just as a flood of orcs oozed out carrying their grisly standards. The men were backing away in fear as the might of Mordor advanced on them.

"Hold your ground!" shouted Aragorn, raising his sword and rallying the troops. "Hold your ground! Stand firm!"

The men stayed their retreat.

"Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!" began Aragorn "I see it in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day! An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight!" He looked the men in their eyes and he could see hope being rekindled in them even as he spoke. "By all that you hold dear, on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"

Balian felt hope rekindled in his heart like the rest of the men. He drew his sword, knowing that he would follow this man, even to his death. Aragorn the ranger had become King Aragorn of Gondor.

The King stood before Mordor. Sauron's burning gaze was fixed on him. For a moment, Aragorn's resolution seemed to falter as he stared at the Eye of his enemy, then he turned to his anxious friends. "For Frodo," he said with a smile, then he ran at the ranks of orcs with his naked sword ready to bite into the orcs' foul flesh. The rest of them watched him in surprise.

They charged.

Stay Tuned...

(Legolas voice over) YOU HAVE SEEN A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IS WANTED OF YOU...

The wooden horse is burning

(Legolas voice over) YOU WERE CHOSEN FROM THE HOUR OF YOUR BIRTH...

Balian turns. His face is solemn, shining with sweat and streaked with blood and dust.

(Legolas voice over) TO BRING JUSTICE...

Balian draws his sword and takes a high guard.

(Legolas voice over) AND TO KEEP IT.

Balian clasps hands with someone.

TRIALS AND TORMENTS...

Balian is forced onto his knees. Someone strikes him hard across the face.

JOYS AND SORROWS...

Balian, Will and Legolas laugh at a private joke.

Balian and Hector speak in urgent whispers.

A TEST OF STRENGTH...

Achilles and Balian's blades meet and clash.

A DESTINY TO FULFIL...

Paris raises the sword of Troy then turns to look at Balian.

From the author of CHANCE ENCOUNTER comes

CHANCE ENCOUNTER: PIRATE KINGDOM OF TROY

COMING SOON TO FF-NET

A/N: Well, I didn't manage to get onto the battle itself. That will be covered in the next chapter. This is one of those fill-in chapters which just have to be written. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Let me know if you did...or didn't.