Hi all. I apologize for the lack of updates. I've been on holidays and haven't had much time to write. Hopefully this chapter will keep you happy for a while. Thank you for waiting so patiently! (Hopefully)
"We cannot be more then a day behind them now." Alarain informed the hobbit as he played with Fayna's mane in front of her.
They were going at a walk now, letting the mare catch her breath. The forests of Ithilien were far behind them and they had entered the desolate landscape that rested between Gondor and the Black Gates of Mordor. The ground was made up mostly of dirt and rock and there was the occasional boulder here and there.
Merry let out an exaggerated sigh of boredom and spoke. "How long had it been since we left Minas Tirith?"
Alarain thought for a moment, counting the days in her head. "Five days. It was the 18th when we departed, so it must be the 23rd today." She glanced up into the sky to see the sun was just past it's highest point. "If the army camps tonight, we may be able to catch up if we ride in the dark."
"What will we do if we find them?" Merry's voice grew worried. "If we just stroll in, they are still not going to let us go any farther!"
She nodded and gave his arm a comforting pat. "You're right. We'll camp away from them and follow in the morning."
Merry was quiet for a long time after that. Only when the sun began to fall did he speak. "I hope Frodo and Sam are alright." he said in a small voice as he gazed over to the east. The tall black mountains that surrounded Mordor stood there silently, almost as if they were holding their breathe for the coming battle. "I cannot imagine what it's like in there."
"I don't think anyone could." Alarain replied as she too watched the mountains wearily.
"I have not seen a bird for ages." the hobbit complained. "What's so bad about birds that Sauron doesn't have them in Mordor?" Alarain rolled her eyes. She could tell that was not the end of his complaints. "And there are no plants either! There isn't even a blade of grass in sight! What does Sauron have against grass?"
"Maybe grass makes him sneeze."
Merry crossed his arms over his chest in a very childlike manner. "Well, what if rocks make me sneeze? I'm not going to go around destroying them all!"
Alarain sighed. "Rocks can't make someone sneeze, Merry."
"What if they could? Huh? If one rock made you sneeze, would you go around the whole world and destroy them all? Would you?"
Sighing again, she decided to just go along with him. "No."
"No. That's right. You couldn't! It's impossible! Sauron however, thinks that it is. Which is, of course, proof that he's insane."
"Of course, Merry. I couldn't agree more."
"Exactly! So you see my point?"
No. "Yes."
"Good. Because if Sauron did have grass, he wouldn't be how he is now and..."
Alarain's mind began to drift and she soon tuned the hobbit out entirely. He seemed to realize this and quit his ranting. She got Fayna into a canter once more and they rode on in silence. The only sound was that of Fayna's hooves pounding on the hard ground.
Darkness was upon them soon after and Fayna slowed to a trot. They bounced up and down for a while before Alarain caught a glimpse of something in the distance and pulled the horse to a halt. It was the glow of many campfires. She could also make out the shapes of tents here and there with little figures milling about them.
"Merry." she said, shaking him awake. The poor hobbit had fallen asleep sometime earlier and now blinked himself back into reality.
"What is it? I was having a lovely dream about..." He trailed off when his eyes landed on the campsite on the horizon. "The army!" he exclaimed.
"Shhh." Alarain shushed. "The sound travels far out here."
Merry looked back at her sheepishly and whispered, "Should we go back a bit and make camp?"
Nodding, she turned Fayna around and they left at a walk so as not to make so much noise. Alarain spotted a cluster of rocks on a small hill not far off and headed for them. Dismounting, she helped Merry to the ground and watched with a grin as he trotted over to peek out at the fires of the army. She removed Fayna's saddle and saddlebags before going to her head. The horse let out a happy rumble as the bit slid from her mouth.
"Alarain." came Merry's quiet call. "Come look at this."
She rested Fayna's tack down and wandered over. The hobbit pointed and Alarain had to squint to see what he was so excited about. One figure was not so tall as the others and also quiet broad. He was standing with some soldiers and seemed to be laughing as he downed a drink.
"Gimli?" she whispered.
Merry nodded and the two chuckled as they watched him gulp down another mug of what was probably ale. Soon though, Alarain pulled the hobbit from his observing and insisted eat some bread and get some sleep.
"But I'm not tired." Merry said with a yawn. Alarain raised an eyebrow dangerously and he giggled. "Alright. I'll go to bed." Her small companion wandered away and curled up in the nook between two boulders with some food.
Turning back to the dwarf, she was disappointed to see him walking out of sight. Another figure appeared at the entrance to a tent and the soldiers nearby gave him little bows as he passed. He heart jumped when she thought for a moment that it might be Aragorn. Then however, she noticed his long blond hair and sighed. It was Eomer.
"You should get some sleep." Merry whispered, imitating how she had spoken to him.
Alarain rolled her eyes at him and walked over, settling herself close by. With her back on a boulder, she drew her elvish cloak around herself and let her eyelids fall shut.
"Alarain, wake up!" Merry said urgently. She bolted upright as she felt his hands on her arms shaking her.
"What is it?" she asked, worry in her eyes.
The hobbit dashed away and grabbed the saddlebags and bridle. "Get Fayna and the saddle." he instructed.
Jumping up, she glanced over a rock to see a patrol of Rohirrim soldiers on horseback coming their way. Leaping into action, she picked up the heavy saddle with one arm and grabbed onto Fayna's mane. Pulling the horse behind her, she followed Merry to the top of the hill. Behind many large boulders at the highest point, they were completely concealed from all sides.
Quietly putting the horse's bridle on her head, Alarain held on to the reins and motioned for Merry to give her his cloak. He sent her a questioning look before hurrying to do so as she became frantic. When she was handed the piece of cloth, she soothed the confused horse and carefully placed it over her head. Fayna dropped her neck and Alarain covered the horse's ears.
Merry's face grew understanding and he helped to hold his cloak over Fayna's head. If the mare was to hear the Rohirrim's steeds, she was sure to let out a loud greeting. They held their breathe as the distinct sound of horse hooves grew closer. If they were to be discovered, they would surely be forced to stay back.
"I thought you said you saw a horse over here." a man's rough voice grumbled. "Do you see a horse now?"
The hoof beats stopped and another man spoke. "I'm sure I saw something." His voice was confused and Alarain imagined him stroking his beard in thought as his buddies looked on like he was crazy. She almost giggled before clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Come. There is nothing here. You must have imagined it." a third man said kindly.
"Just let me take a quick look around." he said as the sound of hooves on rock came again.
The hoof beats were slow as he walked around the hill, though thankfully, he never came up it. His horse let out a small whinny once, but Fayna stayed quiet. The soldier soon made his way back to his companions and they moved away, voices disappearing into the distance.
Once they were gone, Alarain let out a sigh of relief and Merry sat down with eyes wide. They stared at each other for a moment before Alarain handed him his cloak back and saddled Fayna.
"Get up. We cannot let one close call stop us." she said, lifting him to his feet. He wobbled slightly, but still made his way over to Fayna. Alarain helped him up into the saddle before swinging herself up behind him.
Walking down from the hill, they stood by the edge of the rocks and watched the patrol as it rejoined the army. Not long after, the entire group began to ride away.
"What are we waiting for? They're leaving." Merry blurted.
"Don't worry. We'll follow soon. Keep in mind that if we can still see them, they can still see us."
Merry sighed. "I know. I'm just excited. They're so close, but we can't even talk to them." His shoulders slumped in disappointment and he moved his gaze to the ground. "I miss Pippin." he mumbled.
"I'm sorry, Merry. You'll see him soon. As far as I know, there is only one more night until we reach the Black Gates." Alarain wrapped an arm around him and squeezed gently. He returned her hug and she spoke again. "They're out of view now. Let's go."
Taking up the reins once more, Alarain urged Fayna into a trot and followed their friends. Just like the many times before, the woman and hobbit joined in the silence that resided all around. Merry's head bobbed up and down to Fayna's gait and Alarain frowned. How does such an innocent creature get pulled into all these events? Sauron must be full of a terrible hate to wish harm on these little halflings.
Time passed slowly and the repetitive sound of Fayna's hooves on the ground became agonizing. Alarain's head began to pound and she started to count boulders just to keep her mind on something else. A vulture was soaring many tree lengths up and she watched it suspiciously. The bird circled lower and Alarain let out a low grumble. She didn't trust vultures.
"I'm hungry."
Alarain was startled at the words and jumped slightly before looking down. She was met with an upset looking hobbit staring back at her. Twisting around, she rummaged in the saddlebags and brought out a half eaten chunk of bread.
"That's all the bread we have left." she told him. "There's some cheese and a few apples for tonight."
Merry nodded and took the bread gratefully. He was about to dig in when he paused. Ripping off a piece, the hobbit handed it back to her. "You should eat too. I've not seen you eating nearly as much as you should be." Alarain tried to protest, but he interrupted again. "I know you said that big people don't eat as often as hobbits, but I've been around enough big people now to know that they eat more than you."
She sighed. "I'll only eat it to stop your fussing." Merry grinned and she sent him a glare before taking the bread.
They snacked on their lunch for a while, trying to make it last. It was hard for Alarain to eat. She had not had much of an appetite for days and it did not help that the bread tasted like dirt.
Throughout the day, they would spot the army in the distance and pause for a moment to let them get ahead. Alarain dismounted at one point to feed Fayna an apple. The horse had not eaten anything since they had left the forests of Ithilien. Back in the saddle, they continued on with a depressed feeling hanging in the air.
Alarain had a lot of time to think while they rode, and her thoughts were mostly of Aragorn. She longed to be in his arms again, but there was still doubt in the back of her mind. Often she would try to distract herself, but her mind would always wander back. There was an ache ever present deep in her chest and she kept imagining his arms around her. She closed her eyes and almost felt his voice at her ear, but when she opened them, the sensation was gone.
Lost in thought, Alarain didn't notice the many figures on the horizon. Merry grabbed the reins and pulled Fayna to a stop.
"Alarain?" he asked, looking back at her through worried eyes. "Are you okay?"
Shaking herself mentally, she smiled. "I'm fine. I was just thinking." Taking the reins again, she turned the horse around and they rode off to find a place to camp.
The only cover nearby was a small pile of earth. Settling for that, they climbed down and Alarain relieved Fayna of her load. Her and Merry sat down across from each other and Alarain pulled out the remaining food. She was going to give him more, but he insisted that she divide it equally between them. Sighing, she complied and he smiled in satisfaction. They ate quietly and Alarain began to fidget under Merry's gaze.
"What?" she finally asked.
Merry just watched her for a moment longer before finishing up his meal. "Something is wrong."
Looking about, Alarain spotted nothing out of the ordinary and turned back to him, confusion written plainly on her face. "Care to explain?" she questioned.
"With you. Something is wrong with you." the hobbit clarified, sending her a worried look. "You hardly talk, you hardly eat, and you hardly sleep." Alarain stayed quiet, so he continued. "Also, a few days ago when I mentioned Aragorn, you got all stiff and looked bothered." She still didn't speak. "What's wrong?"
Alarain looked at the ground nervously. What will he do if I tell him I'm not going back? Merry stayed silent while she thought, but shifted curiously. Finally he couldn't take it any longer. "Did you have a fight with him?"
Shaking her head, Alarain frowned. "Not exactly. It's a bit complicated."
Merry let out an exasperated sigh. "You love him and he loves you. What's so complicated?"
Slightly surprised at his bluntness, she looked back up to him. "I'm not going back, Merry."
"What?" he asked, obviously quiet confused. "What do you mean?"
Alarain took a deep breath before she continued. "If we win this war, I'm not going back to Minas Tirith." The hobbit said nothing, but only stared at her with wide eyes. "I can't." she whispered.
"Why not? Is it something to do with Aragorn?" Merry pressed. There was a long pause before Alarain gave him a small nod. "But..." he stuttered before collecting himself. "I don't know much about love, Alarain. But I do know that if you have a problem, you don't run from it." the hobbit said in a determined voice.
Avoiding his eyes, Alarain got up and walked a few paces away before settling down on the ground. "Goodnight." she said dismissively, trying to make it obvious that she didn't wish to speak of it anymore. She had to admit that what he had said sounded like good advice, but the doubt in her mind and the fear in her stomach halted any thoughts of returning to speak with Aragorn.
Merry grumbled something from his spot not far off and lay down, pulling his cloak around himself tightly. Normally, he would have returned the 'goodnight', but that evening, he stayed silent.