Chapter Nineteen
Pippin was dozing by the fire when Faramir slipped in. Gandalf was trying to convince Lord Denethor of something. Pippin was startled awake as the door clicked.
"I was wondering if I could talk to Ello." Faramir whispered.
Ello raised her head and nodded, before dropping back onto the pillow. Pippin scampered out of the door, mumbling about going to get something to eat. Faramir stood awkwardly at the door.
"Do you want to know why I am here?" Faramir asked Ello and she stared pointedly at Gandalf's staff that was lying on his bed.
"No. Not because of Gandalf. I came here because it is the only place where I feel that I am openly able to grieve." Ello looked up in surprise. Faramir nodded, and she saw the beginnings of tears in his eyes. "I've lost a brother, too. Boromir was my older brother. I miss him...lots. You have given me strength, and for that I thank you. You are not afraid to yell out in public that you are in mourning; I could not do that. True, it would look bad as a general, but still...I believe that my father wishes that I had died and that Boromir had lived. Boromir was always the stronger son, the better son, the favourite...but even if I had wanted to, I could not spite him...he was so much better than me..." Faramir trailed off, tears choking his voice and seeping from his eyes. He had barely noticed when Ello's eyes had expanded and so he was very shocked when he saw that she was shaking her head.
She pointed at him and then mimed being strong. Then she leaned over and patted his heart.
"I am not strong of heart, little one. How could you possibly-" Faramir watched through narrowed eyes as she drew a ring in the air. She then mimed throwing it away.
"How would that make me strong?"
Ello reached into a pocket and drew out a list of the peoples of Middle Earth; past and present; that she and Jam had made to keep track of all the famous names. She ran her finger down to where it said...
Isildur- ancient king- Did not have the strength to get rid of the ring. Slain...
A single tear dropped from Faramir's eye. "Thank you, Ello. If you helped Frodo as much as you've helped me then he will be fine beyond any doubt.
"No, it is you that helped me, Lord Faramir."
Faramir gave a small jump at her choked murmur, but he kept his face composed.
"You were strong enough to face your men. I was not even able to comfort my brothers. I guess I just lost the ability to act. After seven years of holding it together, I just fell apart. My brother meant the world to me."
Faramir rubbed her shoulder gently. "All will be over soon, in one way or the other."
Ello nodded and wiped her eyes. "I have to get it together. And Faramir, were you told how your brother died? He fell protecting Pippin and Merry from a band of over a dozen orcs. They would have died if he had not fought. He was true to the end."
Faramir nodded, "I must go. I have duties to attend to."
As he rounded a corner, Faramir heard a small voice.
"You fool, Pippin. What good could a hobbit do for a great kingdom?"
Faramir turned again and saw Pippin sadly talking to himself. Faramir noticed Pippin's armour.
"That looks good on you."
Pippin turned quickly, and glanced down at his chainmail. "I didn't think that they'd find anything small enough for me."
"It once belonged to a young boy of the city, a very foolish one, who spent more time slaying dragons than attending his studies." Faramir mused. Pippin recognised the look on his face.
"This was yours?" he asked, smiling widely.
"Yes. My father had it made for me."
"Well, I'm taller than you were then. Except that I'm not likely to grow anymore; save sideways." Pippin and Faramir laughed, although Faramir was half-hearted.
"It never fit me either. Boromir was always the soldier."
"I think you have strength, of a different kind." Pippin stated earnestly, and Faramir smiled.
"If you'll excuse me..."
Pippin sank back down onto the bench. He was scared. More scared than ever. Gel was dead. Ello wasn't talking. Merry was miles, probably leagues away. A tear trailed down Pippin's cheek; he finally understood what was going on, and now that he knew, he didn't want to know.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid fool, Pippin! It's all my fault!" he scolded, and another tear escaped his eye.
"Don't cry Pippin, please."
Pippin jumped to his feet in shock as Ello stepped lightly into full view.
"You're not a fool, Pippin." She continued. "You're just inquisitive, and that doesn't make you a fool. Please don't cry. And what is your fault!"
"If I hadn't of looked at that stupid ball then Isaac wouldn't have been afraid and Gel would still be alive. And it was my fault the first time that Gandalf died."
"No, Pippin. It wasn't your fault. They would have done it to anyone. We were just unlucky." Ello murmured. "Please don't cry Pippin. I'll fall apart again if you do."
Pippin hastily swiped at his eyes. Ello dropped onto the bench next to Pippin. She grasped her knees firmly and stared straight ahead.
"I can't cope, Pippin. I need help."
"What do you want me to do?"
Ello gave Pippin a small smile. "Nothing. I want you to help me, by holding on. If you can, then I know I can, because it's been done."
There was a moment of silence.
"Merry says to be careful. He says to say that he misses you." Ello stared into Pippin's wide eyes and he felt like crying again.
"I just get in Merry's way all the time." Pippin moaned softly.
"No, Pippin. He loves you. You are his brother, or he at least loves you that way. I promise you, Pippin." The sincerity in Ello's eyes was undeniable.
"I'm scared, Ello." Pippin whispered. Ello shook slightly and leaned in and hugged Pippin tightly, whispering in his ear;
"Friend to a friend, Pippin; so am I."
"Now that I'm here, I just want to go back." Frodo murmured, peering into the void-like tunnel.
"NO!" Sméagol screeched. "Can't go back! Only way!"
"I know." With a deep breath catching in his throat, Frodo took a trembling step into the tunnel.
As the darkness enveloped him and he ventured further and further in, Frodo's senses began to tingle.
"Sméagol!" he cried in distress, looking around in the dark.
But when Frodo turned, he could no longer see the entrance. "Sméagol, where are you!"
Silence answered Frodo's waiting ears. Frodo started to run, and in his haste he tripped and fell against a wall, that was covered in a strange, sticking, soft substance. A...web?
"What is that?" he yelled in disgust.
"You will see, master. Yes, you will see."
"Sméagol!" Frodo cried with an ounce of hope. But all that answered him was a raspy laugh. Head racing, Frodo tried to find his way through the tunnels, but the further he delved, the more horror he faced. Soon Frodo was walking on bones, and he could see bodies dangling from the ceiling. With terror striking his heart, Frodo staggered through the endless warrens, but he could find no way to exit.
Frodo began to cry out as the webs clung to his hair and clothes and face. He could hear movement from the other tunnels.
Suddenly Frodo's feet hit something big and he flew into a pile of orc bodies. He scrambled across the floor and flipped onto his back.
With his heart in his throat, Frodo remembered the words of Lady Galadriel. "And to you, Frodo Baggins I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star; may it be a light in dark places when all other lights go out."
Frodo looked at the vial in his hand, and instinct told him what to do. "Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima!"
The vial lit up and shone light a beacon, but as Frodo turned he saw a giant spider (That went by the name of Shelob) towering above him. He yelled in shock and scrambled backwards. Holding the light up forced away the spider, but one small glow was not enough to keep it at bay. Frodo raced through endless tunnels, but he only had two small hobbit legs, and the spider had eight. For a second, Frodo thought that he had lost it, but he could hear it scuttling after him. Frodo ran looking over his shoulder: straight into a web that was woven across the entire corridor. The beast was coming closer, and this time, Frodo could not escape.
"I do not think that we should abandon the outer defences so lightly. Osgiliath must be reclaimed." Denethor ordered.
"Osgiliath is overrun." Faramir said simply. The on looking guards, soldiers and Pippin and Ello watched anxiously as Denethor scowled.
"Is there still a general left brave enough to do his lords bidding," Denethor glared at Faramir.
The heartbreak showed in Faramir's eyes. "You wish now that I had died, and Boromir had lived."
Denethor paused for a moment, and when he did his voice sounded bitter. "Yes. I do wish that."
"Then since you're robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead. If I return, think better of me father." Faramir turned and walked out of the hall.
Ello's jaw dropped as Denethor called after his son. "That will depend on the manner of your return."
Faramir continued to walk, and three visions hit Ello at once. She glared at Denethor and then tapped the back of Pippin's hand. It was a signal that the leiveia had taught the hobbits- back in a minute.
Pippin nodded nervously, though he was unsure of being alone with the steward. Ello ran out of the hall after Faramir. He was giving orders to Gondor's cavalry. They turned around with heavy hearts and Ello pushed through the crowds to Faramir. She tugged hard on his sleeve.
"You can't do this." She said simply.
"Yes I can, and I must." Faramir didn't say anything else, and Ello started to panic. This was a disaster!
"What's this? Master, stuck in a web, soon to be eaten!"
Sméagol's foul singing filled Frodo's ears as Gollum's head poked above a rock. Rage filled Frodo, pain for Sam, and the darkest rage of all for the creature that betrayed him. Sting suddenly felt stronger in his hand and he mustered from nowhere he strength to hack away at the webs that bound him. Sméagol's eyes widened and he whimpered, scurrying backwards.
Breaking free Frodo sauntered towards Sméagol who disappeared into a tiny hole in the rocks. Shelob lunged, and in his fright Frodo dropped Sting and Galadriel's vial. He ran around the corner and found himself out in the open. He took a deep breath only to have it plundered from his chest as Gollum launched at him. For a moment they struggled, but Frodo was soon on top with his hands around Gollum's throat.
"Don't kill us!"" Sméagol snivelled. "It wasn't us! It was the precious! It was the precious!"
Frodo collapsed into a sitting position. "I have to destroy it Sméagol. For both our sakes."
Realisation dawned in Sméagol's eyes as he found out why Frodo had to get to Mordor. With an angry cry he launched at Frodo who reflected him off into the abyss that was the cliff edge.
"I'm sorry Sam. So, so, sorry." As the words left Frodo's parched lips he collapsed onto the floor, and was at last deadly still.
"Can you sing, little hobbit?" Denethor asked.
Pippin looked up in shock. "Well, yes. At least, good enough for my own people. But we have no songs for great halls or dark times."
"And why should your songs be unsuitable for my halls. Come, sing me a song."
Pippin started to sing slowly, thinking about the words.
"Home is behind, the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow, to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade
All shall fade...All shall fade." He gulped deeply and squeezed his eyes shut.
Jam couldn't sleep. Something was worrying him, apart from the obvious. He had been so shocked at Gel's death; he didn't think that he would make it. But Ello, she had just fallen apart. He hoped that Aragorn and Legolas knew what they were doing. Even more than that, he just couldn't shake that feeling...
Jam kicked the blanket off his legs and flew out of bed. He slipped out of the tent and bumped straight into Aragorn.
"Jam- what are you doing?" Aragorn whispered.
Jam smiled sheepishly. "I can't sleep."
"Nightmares?" Aragorn asked, and Jam nodded, surprised.
"How did you-"
"Ello had them too. She used to wake up screaming." Aragorn sighed. "You may as well come with me know. I have a visitor. I know not who- just do as I tell you, understand?"
Jam nodded and walked alongside Aragorn up to Théoden's tent.
As they walked in, Théoden stood up. "I take my leave," he said and he nodded once at Jam and left at once.
The visitor stood up and his robes fell off, it was Elrond.
"My lord," Aragorn fell to his knees and bowed swiftly, and Jam was quick to follow his example.
Elrond raised his eyebrows slightly. "And who, pray, is this?"
"This, my Lord, is Jam. He came here from another world, and his brother was murdered by wraiths not four days ago. He, his seven year old brothers and his fifteen year old sister are all leiveia." Aragorn explained, and Elrond's eyes widened, greedy for knowledge.
"Hello...Jam..." Elrond turned his eyes back to Aragorn. "I have come on behalf of one that I love. Arwen is dying."
Jam's head snapped up to look at Aragorn, but Jam could scarcely look at the man's face. The shocked pain and grief was clear on his features, and he didn't try to hide it. Jam hung his head.
"You are outnumbered, Aragorn. You need more men." Elrond continued plainly.
"There are no more men." Aragorn shook his head to emphasise his point.
Choosing his words carefully, Elrond contradicted Aragorn. "There are those... who dwell in the mountain."
"Cowards," Aragorn whispered, "traitors."
Jam looked from man to elf, and he could feel the tension buzzing between them.
"They answer to no one." Aragorn stated.
"They would answer to the King of Gondor!" Elrond drew out a magnificent sword with a flourish and handed it to Aragorn.
Aragorn whispered quietly. "Anduril,"
Aragorn led Jam back to his tent. "I have to go somewhere. You have to stay here. Listen, your sister saved the life of a young boy named Haleth. If you wish to fight then give the twins to Haleth's mother, Ioreth. She came to cook for the King, and she counts herself as in Ello's debut."
"You can't just...well...Thank you, Aragorn. And be careful. I think I know where you are headed." Jam shuddered and slipped into the tent.
As Aragorn attached the saddlebags to his horse, Éowyn ran up to him.
"You cannot do this. You give the men hope; you cannot leave on the verge of battle!" she hissed angrily.
"I know why you are here." Aragorn muttered, "It is nothing but a coward and a fraud that you love. I cannot give you what you seek."
Realisation dawned in Éowyn's eyes, and she backed away before Aragorn could see the tears that threatened to spill.
Aragorn sighed, and tightened the straps on the saddlebags.
"And just where do you think you're going?" a familiar voice inquired
"Not this time Gimli." Aragorn paused.
"Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of the dwarves?" Legolas smiled, towing the horse he shared with Gimli beside him
"You might as well face it, laddy. We're coming with you." He chuckled, and a small smile played on Aragorn's lips.
"Where is he going?"
"Why does he leave us on the edge of battle?"
The haunted whispered of the riders rebounded from man to man.
"He leaves because he has no hope." Gamling moaned, but Théoden, Jam and the twins had also followed the sound.
Jam stomped his foot. "He leaves because he has to. Not because he has no hope. He's gone to get more."
Gamling stared into the gloomy night. "We are outnumbered. We cannot win. They are too many."
"We will ride out to meet them in battle all the same." Théoden ordered, and Isaac's thumb dropped out of his mouth.
"Did he have to go like Ello?" he whispered to Jam, who gathered Isaac in his arms.
"Yes. He went to try and help. Just like Ello."
"Then why did he leave his new shiny sword?"