Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
04/02/2013
Sorry for initially posting the wrong chapter last time. Thanks to the readers who picked it up.
Professor A. Silvertree: In relation to the cloak – Second Story Spoiler Alert – in a word, 'no'.
Dygen Entreri: I am looking forward to the challenge of playing out the internal and external politics of Rohan and Gondor over the remaining chapters. Prior to his exile in New Mexico, I think Thor's diplomatic response to Eothain would have been similar to the one he gave the Frost Giant who told him, "Run back home, little princess."
Chapter 16 – Revelations at Fangorn
The steeds Eomer had given the Fellowship proved to be a great aid. They allowed their riders to reach the site of the orc massacre in good time. As the Fellowship drew closer to the site, they and their mounts could smell the burning pyre's sickening odour. Upon arrival, they found the orcs' charred remains stacked into a crude mound. The fire Eomer's eored had initially lit to dispose of them was now extinguished. In a show of Rohirric defiance, a spear had been stuck in the ground with an Uruk's squashed head impaled on its tip. There were lots of broken orc weapons scattered over the site, bearing witness to their ineffectualness against Hulk.
As soon as they reached the site, the Fellowship spread out to find clues of their friends. Aragorn had asked the Avengers what Hulk's tracks looked like. Rogers told him they were "Like a man's, but bigger." The only clue of their friends they'd found so far was Banner's broken bonds.
Legolas was a few yards south of the pyre. His back was turned to it as he closely examined the ground in front of him. He looked over his shoulder to where Gimli was. Gimli had his back turned to the Elf while searching the burnt bodies with one of his axes.
Trying to remain serious, Legolas asked, "Have you found anything yet, Gimli?"
Gimli let out a restrained sigh while his eyes rolled skywards. He did not even bother facing Legolas as he grumbled in reply, "I've only just started looking, Elf!"
Gimli would never forget the sight of Rogers speeding past him and Legolas on their horse. Nor would he easily live down the memory of arriving at the site with Rogers waiting for him with folded arms and a smug smile.
"If you'd rode quicker," Gimli muttered to himself in relation to Legolas, "I wouldn't have to be doing this."
With his Elven hearing, Legolas heard every word.
"I shall try harder next time, Master Dwarf," he replied with a smile in his voice.
Thor was westward of the pyre as he came across Grishnakh's remains.
"Eomer's men didn't burn all the remains," the Asgardian loudly advised his companions. "I've found an orc Hulk stepped on."
Captain America was several yards east of Thor
"I've found the legs of one he tore in half," Rogers dryly responded. "Still haven't found the other half."
Rogers had so far found no discernible tracks that could be linked to Merry, Pippin, Banner or the Other Guy. Just like any scene investigation, the best time for the Fellowship to investigate the site of the orcs' demise would have been in the hours just after it happened. Something the Fellowship's other leader was well aware of.
"The ground's heavily disturbed," Aragorn grimly observed. "The tracks of Eomer's eored and their steeds are everywhere."
It was then that the Fellowship found a new clue about their missing companions.
"What's this strange device?" Boromir asked aloud.
Rogers turned around to face Boromir who stood a couple of paces behind him. The small white rectangular object he'd picked up off the ground puzzled Boromir. Rogers walked up to Boromir who passed him the object.
"It's Bruce's phone," Rogers answered.
The face of Banner's iPhone was cracked and shattered. Rogers thought it looked beyond repair even on Earth.
Seeing the baffled look Boromir gave his answer, Rogers said, "I'll tell you what a phone is later. Let's just keep looking for more clues."
No sooner after had Rogers said this, the Fellowship had some instant but confronting fortune.
"Mahal, no!" Gimli gasped in denial.
With the exception of Aragorn, the Fellowship moved and gathered around the Dwarf. Gimli faced them before holding up the charred remains of an intricately crafted wooden sheath that was now ashen in colour.
"It's one of their wee belts," Gimli softly referred to Merry and Pippin's gifts from Galadriel. At Gimli's words, the faces of a number of the Fellowship began to turn the same colour as the belt he held. Gimli gave words to the conclusion that was forming in his mind, "We failed them."
Captain America again displayed his trademark resolve in the face of despair.
"Let's not start mourning for them just yet," Rogers firmly countered. "The Uruks would've disarmed them for starters."
"There could also be another reason," Legolas postulated about the find. "A sadder reason."
"What do you mean?" Rogers asked with a slight frown.
Legolas indirectly voiced a concern a number of the original Fellowship had since Moria. The Other Guy was potentially a very powerful ally. But that still didn't mean they trusted him.
"It was dark," Legolas ambiguously explained. "In the confusion of battle, it would be easy to mistake friend and foe."
Despite his attempts at being politic, the four Fellowship members around him knew what Legolas was referring to.
"Think your words carefully, prince-brother," Thor coolly warned the Elf. "We Avengers consider an attack on one of us to be an attack on all."
Due to a combination of tiredness, worry about missing Fellowship members and his race's characteristic blunt speaking, Gimli ignored what Thor had just said.
"We all saw Hulk in action in Moria!" Gimli exclaimed. "His attacks bordered on the indiscriminate!"
As if to exemplify Thor's statement about the bond that existed between the Avengers, Rogers leapt to Hulk's defence.
"I remind you, Gimli," Rogers chastised him. "When you talk about Hulk, you talk about Bruce! It may surprise you and Legolas, but at heart, Bruce's a pacifist."
Thor noted the very surprised looks that Legolas and Gimli greeted this.
Captain America went from defence to counter-attack. "Bruce didn't choose to take on the Other Guy. He only got him from a terrible accident that by all logic should've killed him. After the accident, Bruce had to go on the run, leaving behind his life and the woman he loved. He had to moving country to country to avoid capture. Some people wanted him like Saruman does while others simply just wanted to kill him!" Rogers was on the verge of shouting in anger as he added, "He's no longer a fugitive. But nearly every day, Bruce still has to prove he's not a threat simply because people can't see him as anything else besides Hulk!"
"Easy, Steve," Boromir gently soothed Rogers.
Rogers took a breath at Boromir's words. He finished his argument to Legolas and Gimli by calmly but bitterly observing, "Once the Other Guy came out, I knew you guys would change your perceptions of Bruce. Obviously I was wrong hoping you'd still give him the benefit of the doubt after it happened."
Hidden north behind the pyre, an exasperated Aragorn called out, "Would all of you please cease your arguing if I told you it's over nothing?!"
An awkward silence fell over the arguing Fellowship members. After exhaling deep breathes Rogers, Gimli and Legolas exchanged a chastened 'sorry' as a form of mutual apology. The trio joined Boromir and Thor in walking towards Aragorn. Aragorn was further north than where Rogers last saw him. The Ranger's back was turned to the eaves of the large forest just behind him. Aragorn delivered his report after his companions gathered in front of him.
"I've news good and ill about our friends," Aragorn prefaced before holding up a small length of rope in each hand. "Merry and Pippin's bonds were cut to enable their escape". He then gestured towards the ground behind him. "Their tracks indicate they escaped from here with Bruce."
His spirits rising like the other Fellowship members, Rogers felt a bit guilty when he asked Aragorn, "So what's the bad news?"
Aragorn worriedly raised his eyebrows. "The three of them escaped into Fangorn Forest."
"Fangorn!" Gimli gasped in concern. "What madness drove them there?"
It being the first time Rogers and Thor had seen Fangorn or even heard its name. Both of them were then baffled by the reactions of the rest of Fellowship.
"I grant this forest has a foreboding look," Thor conceded after having a second look at the dark, twisted trees in front of him. "But what exactly about it troubles you so?"
"Even with our love of the woods," an unsettled Legolas explained, "we Eldar have avoided Fangorn for many a year. It's rumoured to be the dwelling place of strange powers and creatures both wild and strong."
After a nervous pause, Boromir said, "Whether those rumours are true or not, Fangorn's our road if we are to find our friends".
After the events at Amon Hen, Boromir was willing to go into the Void if it meant finding Banner and the two hobbits.
"Boromir's right," Aragorn agreed. "But we shall need to secure our steeds as Fangorn's best traversed on foot."
The Fellowship tied their horses to the trees that marked the edge of Fangorn's southern border. They noticed the four horses shifting and snorting warily on their respective spots as if something about Fangorn had unsettled them too.
"I wonder if our rides have better sense than we do," Gimli commented at the sight of their behaviour.
"Our Fellowship has travelled through one darkened realm before," Thor stonily recalled Moria. "Let's hope our journey into this one has a happier ending.'
After sharing an uneasy silence the memory, the Fellowship penetrated into Fangorn's dark interior.
The further the Fellowship ventured into Fangorn, the more sporadic became the tracks of their three friends. The lack of penetrating sunlight only added to the forest's already dark interior. As the six entered a moderate sized clearing, Aragorn suggested they spread out to investigate it further. Rogers soon halted when he noticed two large and unusual tracks on the ground. The tracks resembled a pair of seven-armed starfish.
"Are these troll tracks, Aragorn?" Rogers asked.
Aragorn walked over and crouched down alongside Rogers. Aragorn's eyes widened at the First Avenger's find.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn observed to Rogers and himself. "Though I can assure you, Steve, they weren't made by any troll."
The other members of the Fellowship stood a few paces away.
"I wouldn't have thought Fangorn to be this humid," Boromir commented to them.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli concurred.
"This forest is old, very old," Legolas observed. The Elf seemed to slip into a similar monologue as he did in Lothlorien when describing the surrounding environment. "Full of memory…and anger…"
Legolas had no sooner said these words than a large wooden groan reverberated around the surrounding trees. Gimli, Boromir and Thor instinctively raised their weapons at the threatening sound.
"The trees are speaking to each other!" Legolas exclaimed before noticing the trio's reaction.
Fangorn's response to its latest intruders had also drawn the attention of Fellowship's Co-Leaders. Like with the Rohirrim, Aragorn felt discretion was the better part of valour. He immediately addressed those of the Fellowship in fighting stance.
"Gentlemen!" Aragorn swiftly grabbed their attention before moving his arm in a downward direction. "Lower your weapons."
As they obeyed Aragorn's command, Legolas further enlightened his companions about the forest around them.
"They have feelings my friends," he referred to the surrounds. "The Elves began it; waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
"I'm sorry, Legolas," a confused Rogers interrupted "How could trees even understand what your people said to them let alone learn how to talk?"
Rogers's fellow Avenger was far less unsettled about Fangorn being sentient.
"You should not think all trees to be like Midgard's, Rogers," Thor instructed him. "One of our most sacred beliefs in Asgard is that the Nine Realms are connected and supported by Yggdrasill, the world tree. We all perceive Yggdrasill in the universe around us."
Boromir picked up on the theme by pointing to the symbol embossed on one of the pair of leather vambraces he wore. "In Gondor, we're proud that our national emblem is the White Tree of Numenor - just like the five pointed star appears to be for America."
"I guess I can see your point," Rogers conceded after absorbing this.
"I myself cannot," Gimli stubbornly insisted. "What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings?"
The Fellowship exchanged a short chuckle at Gimli's remark before Rogers continued discussing national symbols.
"America has stars on its flag," he began correcting Boromir's assumption. "But a star isn't our national emblem."
"What is it then?" a curious Boromir asked.
Before Rogers could answer, Legolas hurriedly spoke in Sindarin to Aragorn with a worried tone in his voice. Aragorn whispered in Sindarin in response.
"What do the pair of you speak of?" Thor asked both confused and concerned.
Legolas did not even turn to face Thor as he replied in the Common Tongue, "The White Wizard approaches…"
"Saruman!" Boromir exclaimed in quiet alarm.
"Don't let him know we've seen him," Rogers told the Fellowship. "Where is he, Legolas?"
"Behind that large boulder just to our right," the Elf replied.
The six began to surreptitiously draw their weapons in response. Rogers decided not to pull down his mask so as not to alert the White Wizard that he was getting ready to fight him.
"Do not let him speak," Aragorn warned the group. "Or he will put a spell on us."
"He can try," Thor claimed in proud defiance. "But it will take more than a spell to hinder me."
"The rest of us don't have that luxury, Thor," Boromir edgily pointed out.
"We must be quick," Aragorn insisted.
"On your mark, Aragorn," Rogers said.
After a couple of seconds, the Fellowship members followed Aragorn's loud cry and attacked the White Wizard. As they turned to face him, they saw their foe standing atop the boulder. Th wizard was surrounded in a blinding white light that made it impossible to see his appearance. However, they could make out the wizard seemed to be leaning on a staff that he held in his left hand.
An arrow that Legolas shot at the wizard burst into flames before disintegrating. The wizard effortlessly swatted away both one of Gimli's throwing axes and Rogers' thrown shield. Aragorn and Boromir involuntarily dropped their swords as they both felt a searing heat on the hilts they respectively grasped. That left Thor as the only one holding a weapon as he still gripped Mjolnir comfortably. Thor released a determined cry as he leapt up to smite the wizard. Thor seemingly hit an invisible barrier of some kind that violently threw him back towards the rest of the Fellowship. The Asgardian landed roughly on his backside.
"You are tracking the footsteps of an Avenger and two young hobbits," the White Wizard said matter-of-fact in a deep baritone voice.
All in the Fellowship were unnerved their friends were now in Saruman's keeping. Particularly given his likely interest in Banner.
"Where are they?" Aragorn desperately wanted to know.
"They passed this way recently," the wizard replied.
Maybe he was mishearing things, but Rogers was sure the sound of the wizard's voice was changing.
'Saruman' seemed to have an almost cheerful demeanour as he further advised, "They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you"?
Rogers's eyes widened when he realised why the voice seemed so familiar.
That's impossible! Rogers thought before rationalising it as a trick of Saruman's.
"If you want to comfort us, Saruman, then speak where our friends are!" Boromir firmly demanded.
Through the blinding white light, the wizard seemed to give a knowing smile in response to Boromir.
"Who are you?" Aragorn asked.
Still smarting at how he'd been bested a few moments ago, Thor angrily threatened, "Reveal yourself, wizard! Or I swear by the All-Father I will make you!"
The wizard passed his staff from his left to right hand, an action that dispelled the light surrounding him. The Fellowship finally beheld the White Wizard's face and appearance and they were shocked by what they saw.
Aragorn spoke for the whole group gasping, "It cannot be!"
The White Wizard revealed to the Fellowship that, despite the seeming impossibility, he was none other than Gandalf himself! It was not the Gandalf they remembered though. This Gandalf wore a spotless robe, the purest white in colour. His head and facial hairs were this colour also. The smooth, white pointed staff he held was in stark contrast to the knotted wooden one he previously possessed. Just about the only thing that Gandalf had from when they last saw him was his kindly grey-blue eyes as well as Glamdring neatly hanging in a fine scabbard on his left side.
"Forgive me," Legolas contritely spoke to Gandalf before kneeling towards him. "I mistook you for Saruman."
Thor believed that even the God of Thunder had to show some deference to benevolent beings with powers potentially greater than his own.
"As did I," Thor added before he and Gimli copied Legolas' gesture.
"I am Saruman," was Gandalf's reply in the comforting voice that Rogers identified just moments ago. "Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
The three Men present remained rooted in shock. Galadriel was right about describing Rogers as a 'man of faith'. Rogers sincerely believed that only one person had ever been truly resurrected from the dead. Captain America became the second Avenger after Thor to conclude that Gandalf could not just be a wise old man who knew a lot about lore and magic.
Like the guy from Nazareth, Rogers thought. Maybe Gandalf's a manifestation of a higher power.
"We thought you were slain during your fight with the Balrog," stated Boromir who, until now, thought the Other Guy was the most astonishing thing he had ever seen.
"You fell," an equally astonished Aragorn insisted.
Gandalf eyes focused on the darkness of Fangorn behind the Fellowship as he recounted to them what happened when he fell from the Bridge of Khazad-dum.
"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside.
"Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again."
As if to demonstrate, Gandalf hopped down from the boulder and nimbly landed a few feet in front of the Fellowship. Gimli, Legolas and Thor rose to their feet and joined the others in walking right up to Gandalf with barely restrained joy. Gandalf seemed unaware of all this as he gazed at the ground.
"I've been sent back, until my task is done," he told the Fellowship why he again stood among them.
"Gandalf?" Aragorn whispered in half delight.
Hearing his name brought Gandalf out of the trance he seemingly was in.
"Gandalf?" he repeated before recalling with a smile. "Yes... That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Your return is a joy no matter your colour," Thor replied with a grin that split his face.
"Well, I am Gandalf the White," Gandalf revealed with his eyebrows raised. "And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
"'Turn of the tide' my foot," Rogers scoffed in good humour. "More like a tidal wave!"
Gandalf and the other Fellowship members had a good laugh at Rogers's observation.
"However you want to call my return, Captain America, we must now leave this place," Gandalf said with a smile.
He turned to get a grey cloak that he had hidden behind the boulder. As Gandalf put it over his white robes, the Fellowship saw it was identical to the one that the Galadhrim had given them before they had left Lothlorien. They concluded the Fellowship weren't the first people that Gandalf had been in contact with since his return as the White Wizard.
"What do you mean, Gandalf?" queried Gimli about his suggestion.
"It means, Master Dwarf," Gandalf explained, "that one stage of your journey is over, another begins. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras?" Gimli repeated in surprise. "That is no short distance!"
"We hear of trouble in Rohan," Aragorn told Gandalf. "It goes ill with the king."
Gandalf grimly agreed. "Yes, and it will not be easily cured".
A perplexed Rogers saw that Gandalf, Aragorn and Legolas were beginning to walk southwards in the direction of the Fellowship's mounts.
"Whoa, wait a minute!" he sharply told them.
Seeing the trio had stopped and was now giving him their attention, Rogers sort to focus their attention on what he considered should be the Fellowship's priority.
"Words can't describe how happy I am you're back, Gandalf," Rogers prefaced. "But we originally entered Fangorn to find Merry, Pippin and Bruce."
"We still don't know their whereabouts or their welfare," Thor added.
Gandalf gave a soft smile before reassuring the pair of Avengers; "The three of them are quite safe. I left them in the care of an old friend of mine who lives in Fangorn."
Boromir did not doubt this, but still had a nagging doubt that needed resolving. "When I last saw Bruce, he'd been badly injured. How is –"
"Bruce is recovering well, Boromir," Gandalf soothed the Gondorian's conscience. The White Wizard then gave Thor and Rogers a strange look before enigmatically saying; "In fact, I think Master Banner shall be soon back to full health in more ways than one."
Aragorn leaned towards Gandalf and observed to him, "In one thing you have not changed, dear friend."
"Mm?"
"You still speak in riddles!"
After the pair shared a quiet but knowing laugh, Gandalf told the whole group; "It was more than mere chance that brought Merry, Pippin and Bruce to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. Our friends' coming will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."
"It goes without saying Hulk can start an avalanche of his own," Thor wryly observed that bought further grins to the Fellowship.
"Something is going to happen that has not happened since the Elder days as well as never before in Arda's history," Gandalf continued with an ineffable air around his words. "Hulk and the Ents are going to fully waken…and find they are strong."
"I am both puzzled and troubled that Hulk can get any stronger," Boromir dryly speculated.
"Trust me, Boromir," Rogers advised him. "Once you see the Other Guy in full flight, you'll completely change your definition of 'strong'."
Gandalf gently lectured while pointing a finger at Rogers. "In that case, Steve, you should cease your fretting. Our friends are quite safe." As Gandalf turned to resume the Fellowship's journey, he remembered, "Oh, I almost forgot!" The wizard walked up to Rogers and said, "I was asked to give you a message, Captain America."
Aragorn sensed that what Gandalf wanted to tell Rogers was meant for his Co-leader's ears only. He turned to the other Fellowship members and commanded them, "Come on the rest of you."
Thor, Boromir, Gimli and Legolas joined Aragorn in walking towards their horses. Gandalf re-commenced speaking now that he and Rogers were alone.
"I was not exaggerating as to how I perceived things when darkness took me," Gandalf seriously intoned. "I saw many strange wonders that continue to defy explanation." After saying this, Gandalf's tone became more light "However, some things I would describe as 'curious' more than anything. One of them was an interesting young man who said his name was 'Bucky'." Noting how Rogers's jaw dropped at this name, Gandalf continued, "He asked me to tell you that things are 'okay' between the both of you and for you to give Sauron 'hell', whatever those two words mean."
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Rogers let out a stream of rapid-fire questions. "What did he look like? Where was he? Was anyone else wi-"
"Stop, Steve!" Gandalf halted him following a mirthful chuckle. "As the White Wizard, I may now be more powerful than when I was the Grey. But that doesn't mean I can answer questions more than one at a time!" After Rogers gave an embarrassed look Gandalf calmly told him, "I've told you all I can remember. Perhaps you should not read too much into it, as it could have simply been my mind playing tricks. However, I am glad that it obviously means something to you."
Rogers had not told anyone from Middle-earth, even Boromir, about Bucky due to the pain caused by the memory of his closest friend's death. That said, Rogers refused to accept what Gandalf had told him was a delusion or even coincidence. Captain America smiled as a guilt that he had carried, consciously and unconsciously, for more than seven decades began to lift.
"In answer to your earlier question, Gandalf," Rogers happily replied. "You've comforted me a great deal!"
When Rogers and Gandalf had joined the rest of the Fellowship by their horses, Aragorn offered the later, "You may ride with me if you desire, Gandalf."
"No thank you, Son of Arathorn." Gandalf politely declined before enigmatically adding, "But I shall not be walking as time is pressing."
Gandalf released a piercing but melodious whistle. A moment later, the Fellowship heard horse's whinny to their left. Unlike Eomer's eored, this whinny indicated the arrival of just one horse. But this one horse was unlike any other. Seemingly from nowhere a magnificent white stallion galloped towards where Gandalf stood. The horse wasn't fitted with any bridle or stirrups. The stallion also seemed to possess an aura of strength and nobility. Rogers noted that the Fellowship's still-tied horses prancing up and down on the spot, as if they wanted to charge out to greet this stallion.
"That is one of the Mearas," nless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas observed, referring to one of the most exceptional breeds of horses existing in Middle-earth. "Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"His name is Shadowfax and he's the lord of all horses," Gandalf revealed his mount's identity as he softly petted him.
"The only equally magnificent steed I've seen is my father's mount Sleipnir," an admiring Thor thought aloud.
"Is Sleipnir the same colour?" a curious Gimli wanted to know.
The Asgardian shook his head.
"Sleipnir's as black as Shadowfax is white." Thor described before adding, "Sleipnir's also eight-legged."
As the only one who was not thrown by Thor's description of Odin's legendary horse, Gandalf replied, "Like Sleipnir's been for your father, Thor. Shadowfax has been my friend through many dangers."
Shadowfax released an impatient snort that Gandalf understood perfectly.
"Of course you may talk with your kin," the White Wizard told his mount.
Shadowfax trotted to where the other horses were. While the Fellowship's rides shared group greetings, Gandalf then spoke to Rogers and Thor.
"By now, both Saruman and Sauron know about Avengers that have joined the struggle against them," Gandalf advised. "One of our few advantages is that both of them do not know the full extent of each of your powers. They do not know, for example, that both of you are capable of running at speeds at distance that even Shadowfax cannot match. With our enemies having spies in Rohan, I suggest the both of you keep that ability hidden for the time being at least."
"We also need to win the Rohirrim's if our quest is to be successful," Aragorn more said. "Having been current victims of Saruman's sorcery, it goes without saying their suspicions shall be great of any man who's able to outrun the fastest of their beloved steeds."
After giving an understanding sigh, Rogers turned to Boromir and said, "It looks like I'll be riding with you after all, Boromir."
"Yes," Legolas agreed with a twinkle in his eye. "An outcome that shall be of great relief to Gimli."
The Dwarf grumbled as the Fellowship members shared an understanding laugh at the indirect joke made at his expense.
"How long to Edoras?" Thor asked.
"If we're not hindered, hopefully we'll be there by late afternoon tomorrow," Gandalf advised.
As the Fellowship headed to their respective steeds, Boromir told Rogers, "I must say, Steve. I was surprised when you said that you have never ridden a horse before. Does not America's army have cavalry?"
Rogers explained with an awkward smile, "We do have cavalry but it's not comprised of horses."
As he settled in his horse's saddle, Boromir was now even more puzzled.
"That's a contradiction, Steve," he argued in a friendly fashion. "You cannot have cavalry without horses."
Despite having never ridden a horse before, Rogers effortlessly jumped behind Boromir.
As he gripped Boromir's waist from behind, Rogers told him "I'll explain it to you – as well as what a phone is."
The rest of the Fellowship followed in Gandalf and Shadowfax's wake as they rode southwards to Edoras. Boromir and Rogers had a very interesting conversation that lasted the length of the Fellowship's travel that day.
I know Bruce, Merry and Pippin were not in this chapter but I promise they shall return in the next one. Their appearances might be a bit fleeting in the next couple of chapters as a try to move events along in Rohan.
[RD: A number of reviewers queried the reference to Bucky in light of what was known about the plot of The Winter Soldier at the time. I address such questions at the start of the next chapter].