Author's Note:
It's so great to see that people are reviewing! I'm glad you're enjoying Ithilienesse! I'm really enjoying writing it; I hope I don't get writer's block. It's totally the worst, especially when you have a plot so carefully thought out.
Enjoy!
The route through Pinnath Gelin would certainly have been the most ideal of routes to take, should the decision of their method of transportation been left to Faramir. However, it had been Imrahil's men who had made this discovery and therefore Imrahil's judgment was in power. Aragorn demanded, on behalf of both Faramir and himself, that Éomer join them on this quest. A messenger was sent swiftly ahead to inform the King of the Mark, while the four travelled in the opposite direction to Dol Amroth, and it's fleet of small ships that awaited them.
Upon seeing the shores of Gondor, Legolas felt a strange pang of desire in his heart. The foretelling of the Lady Galadriel rang in his mind: "Legolas Greenleaf long under tree, in joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more."
In this moment, Legolas did not have the greatest of desires to abandon all forests in pursuit of the ocean (he certainly was not one to forgo his duties), but he did feel in his heart that eventually Galadriel's premonition would be true. In times of solitude, the Elf would think about his future: unlike his closest of friends, he would live until the Earth would be spent of time. To live in the absence of friendship would be too great a burden to bear, even for an Elf. Legolas often considered building a Grey Ship to carry him to Valinor; this thought rose to the surface of his mind as he gazed upon the beautiful shores of Dol Amroth.
They received word from Éomer four days later. In his letter, Éomer complied heartily with the idea of taking a journey and wrote most excitedly about travelling to Eryn Vorn. He spoke of the route he and the captain of the Royal Guard, Gamling. He also mentioned in his letter that he requested someone to give his regards to Lothlíriel, Imrahil's daughter. Imrahil stiffly refused.
For the most part, their departure and voyage were peaceful, yet uneventful. Legolas felt that he enjoyed the sailing more than his companions; Faramir spent a great deal of the trip muttering complaints to himself while Imrahil privately gloated. Aragorn pretended not to notice and took the time to simply enjoy this peace. The beautiful ships that bore them away from Dol Amroth were delightfully well-equipped, allowing the company to sail comfortably for days at a time without docking. They only came ashore once in their journey, and that was to meet with Éomer at the mouth of the Isen. From there, the ship from Dol Amroth sailed close to shore, keeping pace with the ground-based King of the Mark and his captain. As Imrahil had promised, the company arrived to their destination a week sooner by boat.
Upon finding a suitable place to anchor the ship, Aragorn, Faramir, Imrahil and Legolas came ashore and joined with Éomer and Gamling. The King of the Mark instructed his captain to watch the horses and guard the ship with the ship's commander while the company continued into the forest by foot. Once discovering the most worn pathway into the forest, the five realized that they had done well to come so armed.
"Eryn Vorn," breathed Faramir. They stood before the edge, gazing upon the hauntingly greyish-green forest. It was just past midday, yet the wood seemed to be unnaturally dark. Mist hung low in the air, dimming the sun.
"Should we wait?" Imrahil asked the company. His voice sounded uneasy.
"What will we be waiting for?" Legolas replied. "It is unlikely we will see a change in these woods. If there are Elves living here, as your men have suggested, then they will have changed little of the forest; is is how Eryn Vorn has always been." The Elf turned his attention to Aragorn, who stood silently before the mouth of the wood. "If we wait any longer we will be sooner caught in darkness."
Aragorn nodded. "We enter." He stepped forward and the light mist of Eryn Vorn engulfed him; Legolas was not far behind, and Faramir was quick to follow. Imrahil drew his sword, but Éomer put a firm hand on his shoulder.
"It would be unwise, sir, to draw sword upon entering this forest," Éomer said, his voice full of mystery. He raised an eyebrow at Imrahil before stepping within the boundaries of Eryn Vorn. He, too, disappeared in the thin veil of mist.
Imrahil stood alone. With a heavy sigh he sheathed his sword and entered the forest. At his brisk pace he was soon caught up with the rest of his company.
The daylight waned as they walked tirelessly for hours. When at last the sun had set and light escaped the wood, Aragorn suggested that they set up a place to camp. Legolas and Faramir departed the group to gather firewood, and the remaining three began to fashion a small clearing to rest in for the night.
"I fear that your men were mistaken," Éomer said to Imrahil, who frowned. He already possessed a dislike for Éomer for so eagerly pursuing his daughter, and this dislike was now forced to grow.
"I have every confidence in my men. I trust their judgment."
Éomer nodded. "I am sure you do. Though, I would hate to have wasted my time scouting through a forest populated by wildlife rather than Elves."
"We cannot be certain of anything we see here," Aragorn put in as Legolas and Faramir returned with armfuls of logs. "Southern Eriador has long been left unchecked. Since the Great Plague, few have come to live here."
"This forest has seen much destruction," Legolas said as he set down his logs. "The Númenóreans took wood for lumber, and the war of Eriador brought on a great fire. Minhiriath was once a vast and beautiful forest." Even by the dim moonlight, the others saw his sad expression.
"It is said that secretive hunters live in these woods," Faramir murmured. "It was my understanding, however, that Men populated Minhiriath. Not Elves." He now had a small fire lit. The scent of burning wood filled the air. The others gathered around it, intent to carry on their discussion.
"This does not feel like a dwelling of Men," Éomer spoke, setting himself against a tree. "This forest, this mist – it can only be a place of the Elves."
"If you are right," Aragorn began, "then it may be safe to assume that we are being watched."
The group grew quiet, as though listening for a sound of somebody nearby to move. They were unsuccessful; the forest was silent. Ghostly mist still hung dense in the air. The moon had risen now, and it's light cast strange shadows on the forest floor. The group's conversation soon resumed, though it was now considerably quieter than before.
One by one the members of the company drifted off to sleep, until only Legolas and Aragorn remained awake. The Elf stood against a tree, gazing out into the darkness ahead of him. Aragorn watched him closely.
"What can you see?" the King asked in a low voice.
"Nothing," was the detached reply. "And I do not know if that is a blessing or a curse."
They were both quiet again, listening intently to the forest. It was strange that nothing made sound; there were no woodland animals, no birds, no wind in this wood. All was silent and still.
"Something strange is at work here," Aragorn spoke.
"I feel it, too," Legolas agreed. "Something dark and terrible." He paused, thinking quickly. "I will keep watch for the remainder of the night. When morning dawns, it would be wise to-" His speech was cut short by the unmistakable sound of an arrow piercing the air. Aragorn and Legolas flattened themselves against their respective trees to avoid being wounded. The arrow struck the King's tree, but far above Aragorn's head – a poor shot.
"Awake!" cried Aragorn as he withdrew his sword. Faramir, Imrahil and Éomer woke immediately and drew their weapons as Legolas reached for his bow and quiver.
Another shot fired. It missed again, striking the tree nearest Éomer. The King of Rohan pulled the arrow from the tree and quickly inspected it.
"Orcs," he informed his companions. He threw the arrow to the ground and readied himself. The other four held their weapons at the ready, prepared for battle.