CHAPTER 3
GONDOR-BOUND
Elizabeth's POV
It was morning, Leoglas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, Théoden, Sam, and I waited anxiously for Gandalf to come in to tell us the news. Sam was pacing and Boromir's face was serious, slightly pale, and nervous-looking. Then Gandalf came inside, we all listened intently as he spoke.
"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes; a fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring." Sam and I sighed deeply, relieved.
"We've been strangely fortunate. What Pippin saw in the Palantir was a glimpse of our enemy's plan." Gandalf said, turning to Théoden, "Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing;" he truend to Aragorn, "The heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still - strength enough left to challenge him." Color returned to Boromir's face and he seemed to relax a little. "Sauron fears this, he will not risk the people of Middle Earth uniting under one banner. He will raise Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees the return of the King." Gandalf explained. "If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war!"
"Tell me," King Théoden began quietly, "Tell me. Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?" Boromir's eye's narrowed, but he bit back a retort when I lightly set my hand on his shoulder. "What do we owe Gondor?"
"I will go." Aragorn said.
"No," Gandalf replied quickly.
"They must be warned." Was Aragorn's retort.
"They will be. You must come to Minas Tirith by another rode. Follow the river, look to the black ships." Then he said to us, "Understand this . . . things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith, but I won't be going alone, Sam and Pippin will come with me, as well as Boromir. We leave at once. Hurry, meet me at the stables in thirty minutes, do not be late!" He walked briskly out of the hall, Merry and Pippin behind him, Boromir following. However, Sam stood for a moment, looked at me and followed them.
We were inside Samantha's room, and I was helping her pack her things quickly. "I can't believe you're really going." I said.
"I can't believe it either," she admitted, "I had no intentions of going, I don't know why Gandalf signed me up for it, but, hey, what can I do?" She was finishing the last of her packing when she handed me her Android, "Here, hold onto this, I know how much you love to sing." She slipped it in my hand.
"Thanks. Take this." I took my dagger from my belt, "Think of me when you have this."
"But, it's yours,"
"It's yours now," I answered. She took it slowly and put it in her belt. "Thanks."
"Good luck." I said. We hugged each other.
"You too." She slung the knapsack over a shoulder, waved at me, and headed out the door. I took a long look out the door before exciting the room into Boromir's. He was still there, finishing up his packing. He turned and shot me a weak smile before standing up.
"I don't suppose you'll ever return to Edoras." I said sadly, "I'm not really sure I'll ever see you again either."
"Of course you will, Théoden's setting off soon, I assume you'll be riding too." He replied, "In fact, I know you will."
I managed a weak smile and sat on the now-made bed, looking down at the ground, a small tear sliding down my cheek. I heard feet walking towards me and I felt a gentle hand on top of mine and Boromir lifted my chin. I looked up at him through my teary blue eyes. He wiped the tears from my face and smiled, "Don't cry." He said, "We'll meet again, don't worry." I took a deep breath. "I suppose you're right."
He smiled again, helped me of the bed and pulled me into a hug. I laid my head against his chest and sniffled a little. He kissed the top of my head. "You'll be OK, I promise." He said, we stopped hugging and our gazes locked for a moment before he turned, grabbed his knapsack and weapons and headed out the door. I walked over to the window and looked out it, putting on Sam's android onto the windowsill and putting a song on from my iPod.
All along it was a fever
A cold sweat hot-headed believer
I threw my hands in the air and said, "Show me something,"
He said, "If you dare come a little closer."
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take – it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay.
Oh the reason I hold on
Oh cause I need this hole gone
Funny you're the broken one but I'm the only one who needed saving
Cause when you never see the light it's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay, stay.
I want you to stay, oh.
I put my head in my arms on the windowsill and began to cry.
"Elizabeth, there you are." I looked up to see Aragorn standing about a foot behind me, "I've been looking for you." Silence. "Well don't you want to see off your friend?"
I looked at him with hurt in my eyes. I got up from the chair I was sitting on and ran out of the room.
"Elizabeth!" Aragorn exclaimed, following me. I ran through the streets towards the stables. I went inside toward Rayma's stall and opened the stable door, ready to mount but someone caught my arm. It was Aragorn. "You cannot follow them." I turned on him and all at once, emotions exploded from me.
"Do you know what it feels like!?" I exclaimed, "To lose someone that's close to you!? Someone you love!?"
"Elizabeth!" Aragorn exclaimed, taken aback. I ignored him and mounted Rayma. I dug my feet in her sides and she took off through the streets. We ran very fast and tears streamed down my face, blinding my eyes, I cried into her neck. I don't know how long we rode but soon, the sky darkened and it began to rain, turning the Rohan plains muddy and slightly slippery. Rayma lost her footing for a moment, and I was thrown off into the mud. My dress was torn and muddy, my hair tangled, "Rayma!" I exclaimed. She looked down at me with her chocolate brown eyes and nuzzled my face to show that she was sorry. I stroked her nose, "I know Rayma," I sniffed, "I'm sorry too." I stood up and buried my face in her nose. One side of my body was sore from my fall and I was dirty and tattered. I looked around me, I had ridden a good way into Fangorn Forest and the tall trees loomed all around me and it was dark. I didn't know where to go now, so I just sat on a rock and waited. Rayma lay with her legs neatly folded under her at my feet and I stroked her head. "I'm glad I have a horse like you." It was a couple hours later when I heard someone calling my name, "Elizabeth!" the voice called. I stood up and looked around, "I'm here!" I called back. Rayma stood up, me next to her and there appeared Aragorn riding Brego. He dismounted and started towards me. I ran toward him and hugged him, "I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed.
"It's OK, you didn't mean it." He answered. "Now c'mon, I've been looking for you all day, and now that i've found you, let's head back." We mounted again and headed off to Edoras.