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.
21/02/2013
elmoisemo6: LOL! [Author stands and applauds your wit]
majorbee: Having previously read and enjoyed some of your stories I am honoured by your praise.
Lunatic Pandora1: Throughout Marvel's history, a few characters besides Thor have been worthy to wield Mjolnir – Cap being one of them.
vincent1875: Yours is a thought that I have had as well.
Chapter 18 – Intelligence Gathering
It was dusk the day after the Fellowship had arrived at Edoras. Rogers was walking down Edoras's main road towards the city's gatehouse. He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt and brown breeches the Rohirrim had leant him while his uniform was being washed. Rogers was taking an evening walk to clear his mind given it had been quite a day.
Theodred's funeral was held that morning. He was buried in the funerary mound that had been set aside for Theoden. Although he did not understand the language, Rogers easily detected the grief in Eowyn's voice as she sang a lament while her cousin was laid to rest. Rogers had never been to the funeral of a national leader before. Captain America had been in frozen for seven decades prior to being revived by SHIELD. One of Rogers's personal priorities was catching up on events that took place during the period. He was sad to learn that President Roosevelt had died a few weeks prior to the defeat of the Nazis in World War Two. In the couple of times he met FDR, Rogers was so in awe of the man felt like the shy kid from Brooklyn again. When watching the footage of the President's funeral, Captain America found himself forcing down a sorrowful lump in his throat more than once.
Rogers reached the gatehouse where a sentry stood in front of the stairs that led up to its lookout. It was same sentry the Avenger passed the banner to yesterday afternoon.
Rogers gestured at the stairs while asking the sentry, "Mind if I go up and take a look?"
"As you returned our banner and helped free the king," the sentry graciously replied, "you're doubly welcome to do so, milord."
Rogers climbed the stairs until he reached the top where he was greeted by a couple of sentries. Rogers walked to the parapets of the gatehouse and for a brief moment looked to the northern horizon. Theoden and Gandalf, who were by Theodred's burial mound, captured his attention. Rogers couldn't hear the pair's conversation even with his Super-Soldier hearing. Not that he really needed to. It wasn't hard to guess what was being discussed after Theoden sunk to his knees, his body racked by sobs. Rogers's heart went out to Theoden. During Theodred's funeral, Theoden presented a facade of strength and calm as if to reassure his people. But today's funeral was also about a father burying his son. Like so many of Rogers's fallen SSR comrades, Theodred's life had been stolen away in its prime.
After Gandalf appeared to have offered some words of comfort to Theoden, Rogers noticed to the east a horse carrying a young girl and boy. As soon as the boy fell from the saddle, Rogers vaulted over the gatehouse ignoring the surprised reactions of the sentries. Roger started sprinting towards the two children as soon as his feet hit the ground. He understood why Gandalf and Aragorn had asked the Avengers keep their abilities under wraps. But as far as Rogers was concerned, saving the lives of innocent children was much more important.
As soon as Rogers reached the children, he immediately checked on the fallen boy. He guessed the boy was around twelve or thirteen years old and the girl about ten or eleven. Rogers felt the boy still had a regular pulse and had presumably fallen off the horse due to exhaustion. Rogers gently lifted the boy from the ground. He noticed the girl had begun sobbing at the boy's plight.
"Don't worry sweetie, he'll be alright," Rogers moved to reassure her.
The girl said through her tears, "Mama sent us."
"Why did your Mom send you?" Rogers asked, silently concluding that the pair had to be siblings.
Rogers was surprised to see the boy open his eyes.
"Orcs…" the boy quietly croaked. "Have come to kill us…"
Evening had now come and Rogers sat on a table bench in the Golden Hall. He sat directly facing the brother and sister whose names were Eothain (Rogers thought that maybe it was a common male Rohirrim name) and Freda. The children were eating a meal of hot vegetable soup and bread. It was the same meal the Fellowship had for supper that, much to the delight of Thor and Gimli, also included a cup of mead. Gimli sat on a table bench behind Rogers with his back to him. Aragorn and Boromir sat on the same table bench but faced towards Rogers and the Golden Hall dais. Legolas and Thor stood directly behind the two Men. Gandalf sat in Grima's old seat next to Theoden who had returned to his throne. Hama and Gamling stood to the King's left.
Rogers and Eowyn had spoken to Eothain and Freda earlier. They had come from a village in the Westfold of Rohan that had been raided by Uruk-hai and Wild-Men about two days before. Their mother had got them onto their family's horse to ride to Edoras to raise the alarm about the attack. Rogers wondered if Rohan had any medals or decorations for civilian bravery, as these two kids surely deserved one. Eowyn was relating the pair's story to Theoden, Hama, Gamling and the Fellowship.
"They had no warning," Eowyn referred to the children's village. "They were unarmed. Now the Wild-Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree."
"Where's mama?" Freda asked with a young child's concern about a parent's absence they could not understand.
"Freda, I promise I'll do everything to help find her," Rogers gently told her. "Right now, we've just got to be quiet so the grown-ups can talk."
Freda slowly nodded her head in understanding as Eowyn placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. The King's left hand was across his forehead as he pondered how quickly Rohan's defences appeared to be crumbling. Taking Rogers remark as a cue, Gandalf lifted his left hand up towards the children.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," the Wizard soberly informed Theoden. "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron."
Gandalf privately thought his former friend was also likely driven by fear of the Avengers. Saruman's plan to capture Banner was in large part about controlling that fear. Whatever the case, only one option existed if Isengard was to be stopped.
"Ride out and meet him head on," Gandalf counselled Theoden. "Draw him away from your women and children. As if to emphasise the point, Gandalf leaned forward and gently placed his right hand on the arm of Theoden's throne. "You must fight."
Aragorn continued the theme. "You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king".
Theoden sprang up from his throne and began walking towards Aragorn. As far as the King was concerned, the Fellowship was overlooking something important.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now," Theoden brusquely concluded. "Eomer cannot help us."
"But our company crossed paths with Eomer not more than three days ago, sire," Boromir politely countered. "You only need one good rider to find him."
Despite their testy exchanges, Thor did not doubt the loyalty of Eomer's company to their lord and land.
"Despite their banishment," Thor added, "Eomer and his men haven't neglected the defence of Rohan. They take the fight to the White Hand as we speak. The only thing they desire is doing so under your banner, milord."
After releasing a sigh, Theoden firmly stated, "I know what it is that you all want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
Thor and Legolas exchanged a look at Theoden's remark. The King of Rohan seemed to be in denial of the danger faced by his country. Maybe it was from guilt over Saruman's manipulation and blaming himself for the death of so many of subjects, including his own son. Aragorn took it upon himself to point out cold reality to Theoden.
"Open war is upon you," he said matter-of-fact. "Whether you would risk it or not."
By the way Eowyn looked at Aragorn, Rogers guessed his Co-leader had crossed a big line in terms of royal etiquette.
Theoden coldly responded, "When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn was King of Rohan."
Rogers rolled his eyes when he heard Gimli give a small burp from the mead he was drinking. Gandalf got up out of his chair and approached Theoden.
"Then what is the king's decision?" the Wizard firmly asked to force the issue.
Theoden looked at his trusted Captain of the Royal Guard.
"Hama," he ordered him, "tomorrow morn I want you and other heralds to speak at every public square in Edoras. With the exception of a handful of sentries, the whole city is to evacuate to Helm's Deep the day after tomorrow". Theoden then looked at Gandalf. "Gandalf, my old friend. Please find Eomer and ask him and his riders to meet us there."
Gandalf remembered Frodo's decision at Caradhras before softly replying, "So be it."
Theoden looked at the Fellowship before excusing himself. "I must take my leave, my lords. There are matters I need to discuss with my court."
Rogers, Aragorn and Boromir stood in their places as a sign of respect as Theoden exited the hall with Hama and Gamling following him. Eowyn then spoke to Freda and Eothain.
"Come, you two," she told them. "I'll take you to your room as you must be feeling exhausted."
Much to Rogers's surprise, Freda got up and walked over to him. The girl firmly hugged the Avenger who'd looked after her and her brother.
"Good night, milord," she said him.
"Sleep tight, Freda," Rogers replied after returning her hug.
After Eowyn had exited with the children, the Fellowship began planning its next move. Recent events meant some promises more complex to keep.
"Boromir," Aragorn began addressing him, "I promised we'd head to Minas Tirith after rescuing our friends."
"Indeed you did." Boromir stonily replied before gently adding, "I also swore to follow you as my Captain and King. If your path is to Helm's Deep, so is mine."
After noticing a smile curl on Gandalf's lips at Boromir's remark, Rogers sought clarification on something important.
"At the risk of sounding a complete idiot, what's Helm's Deep?" he self-deprecatingly asked.
"It's the great fortress of Rohan, Steve," Gandalf answered. "Named after King Helm Hammerhand. It's a good three days walk west from here."
Legolas indirectly spelt out the corollary and why Theoden's decision troubled many in the Fellowship.
"Meaning an exposed march," Legolas uneasily pointed out. "A large column of civilians thinly protected at best."
Rogers didn't disagree with the assessment in itself. However, the Fellowship's preferred strategy in dealing with Saruman's forces carried significant risks to civilians as well.
"I share the concern," Rogers agreed. "By the same token, I can see where Theoden's coming from."
"What do you mean, Steve?" Gandalf asked.
"No offence, Gandalf," Rogers prefaced his explanation. "But you haven't engaged any Uruks in battle. If a large force of them come knocking on Edoras' front door, it won't hold. Particularly given its number of defenders."
"No offence taken, Steve," Gandalf responded with a twinkle in his eye. "As yours is a good argument."
Captain America was the Avenger's leader. However, the God of Thunder's grasp of strategy and tactics was no less accomplished. That included the ability to assess the military situation both quickly and accurately.
"By hiding behind walls," Thor confidently argued, "the Rohirrim deprive themselves of their greatest advantage. Fighting as cavalry. You know that, Rogers."
"I grant that," Rogers conceded. "But Theoden also has to worry about the safety of his subjects. Most of them are non-combatants. At Helm's Deep, civilians can find refuge while he waits for reinforcements before going on the offensive." Rogers dryly concluded, "It's not as though the Uruk-hai carry explosives..."
As morning broke on Edoras, Hama and several heralds followed the King's orders by publicly advising its residents to begin preparations to evacuate the city. Gandalf was walking to the Royal Stables followed by the rest of the Fellowship. Edoras was a flurry of activity. Residents were loading wagons and carts with supplies prior to tomorrow's journey to Helm's Deep. The Fellowship was still debating the merits of the evacuation order.
"They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight!" Gimli argued in reference to the Rohirrim. "Who will defend them if not their king?"
Gimli's shoulder received a light backhander from Thor. The Asgardian liked Gimli's blunt speaking manner. Nonetheless, one did not publicly denigrate a king of who you are guests. Especially not in front of the king's subjects when he wasn't present to defend himself.
"Steve's right," Aragorn recalled arguments the previous night. "Theoden's only doing what he thinks is best."
"Helm's Deep has never been breached before," Boromir added in support.
As the Fellowship entered the stables, Gandalf warned them, "There is no way out of that ravine. Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre."
In a rarity, Thor felt compelled to contest a prediction of Gandalf's.
"If there is to be a massacre, it won't be us," the Asgardian resolutely vowed.
The White Wizard wasn't offended. He hoped Thor's spirit would rub off on Theoden and the rest of the Rohirrim. However, not even the God of Thunder could afford to be complacent about the threat from Isengard.
"Saruman's hordes may yet test the strength of an Avenger, Odinson," Gandalf counselled him. "Let's hope you'll regain more of your powers in time for the battle that lies ahead."
The group reached the stall where Shadowfax was held. Aragorn and Rogers were right behind Gandalf as he entered the stall. Gandalf quietly spoke to both men.
"Theoden has a strong will but I fear for him," he revealed. "I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need both of you before the end, Aragorn and Steve. The people of Rohan will need you. The defences have to hold."
After a pause, Aragorn confirmed, "They will hold".
"Still, Gandalf," Rogers said with a wry smile. "Don't take your time in coming back with Eomer."
Gandalf replied with raised eyebrows. "Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim. That's what they used to call me, Steve. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time." Rogers mentally tried calculating Gandalf's age as the wizard mounted Shadowfax. Gandalf spoke to the Fellowship a final time before departing. "With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."
"We await your return at the appointed hour," Thor answered in farewell.
Aragorn opened the stall gates and simply said to Gandalf, "Go."
At this, Shadowfax bolted out of the stall galloping almost at full pace. The remaining Fellowship didn't even bother following the Lord of the Mearas as he carried Gandalf out of Edoras. The group's gaze was on the opened doors of the stable.
"We thought we'd lost Mithrandir in Moria only for him to return a few days ago," Legolas reflected to those present. "Now he leaves us once again."
Boromir grimly remarked, "For Rohan's sake, let's hope Gandalf's second return not take as long as his first."
Eowyn had been busying herself in the Golden Hall overseeing the packing of some of the royal effects to be taken to Helm's Deep. In one chest she found a sword in its scabbard. With a glint in her eye she pulled out the sword and ran her hand along the flat of its blade. Her thoughts were interrupted by a polite cough behind her. She turned around to see it was Rogers who was back in his uniform.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am," Rogers apologised. "I just seeing if there's anything you need a hand with here?"
Eowyn smiled at Rogers before replying, "Yours is a most kind offer, Captain Rogers. But all is in hand within the Golden Hall."
"Steve, please," Rogers humbly offered before nodding at what Eowyn was holding. "Is that your sword, ma'am?"
Eowyn shook her head. "No, Steve. It's merely a decorative one we have within the Golden Hall."
She then noticed Rogers had his shield on his back. It had two straps that allowed him to carry it like a pack.
"I must say, Steve," the Shield-maiden began. "I've never seen a shield the likes of yours."
Rogers took off his shield and handed it over to her. The shield was a metal. However, but it felt so much lighter than the standard wooden ones used by many Rohirrim. In Eowyn's mind, only one race in Middle-earth could make such a shield.
"Is it of Elven-make?" Eowyn asked as she looked at the shield's star emblem.
"No, ma'am," Rogers politely corrected her. "Like me, the shield's proudly made in America. That's the country I'm from."
"Oh," Eowyn simply acknowledged.
She had never heard of a land called 'America' before. It was something she would like Rogers to educate her on. The American's shield was still of greater interest.
"I assume this shield's just for light skirmishing?" Eowyn asked as she handed it back to Rogers. "It doesn't seem heavy enough for fighting in close quarters."
Rogers gave a nervous smile before offering, "If it's not a breach of royal protocol." He nodded at the sword in Eowyn's hand. "Would the, er, Shield-maiden care to test it?"
Eowyn's eyes lit up like two tiny suns. Normally, she had to beg her uncle to allow her to have a sparring session with some of the Royal Guard. Yet here was an undoubtedly skilled warrior offering her a chance to test her martial prowess. She quickly took up position before releasing a downward strike on the shield.
The sound of Eowyn's sword hitting Rogers' shield grabbed the attention of the servants within the Golden Hall. Rogers barely worked up a sweat in blocking Eowyn's attacks, allowing her to remain on the front foot. Rogers thought that Eowyn would be more than capable of holding her own against any of the Orcs he'd previously encountered. Obviously, as Rohan appeared to be a feudal society, the idea of women in combat still went against the grain of its male rulers. Even Rogers was still getting used to women serving on the frontline in modern American forces. Rogers nonetheless thought that Rohan, by not allowing its shield-maidens a more active role in combat, was depriving itself of some skilled soldiers.
Noticing that he and Eowyn had the full attention of the Golden Hall, Rogers thought it might be best to end their sparring session quickly. He did not want Eowyn to get in trouble with her uncle any more than she might be already from having this mock duel. As Eowyn followed through with a rising cut from a back guard stance, Rogers rapidly lowered the edge of his shield. The shield firmly struck the sword's blade causing it to clatter out of Eowyn's hands. With the sparring session over, the servants within the Golden Hall resumed their packing duties.
"Your follow through needs some work, ma'am." Rogers said to Eowyn before complimenting her. "But aside from that, I'm impressed."
"Steve's right, milady," another voice agreed. "You have some skill with a blade."
Rogers and Eowyn turned to see it was Aragorn had spoken these words.
Rogers noticed that Eowyn's voice got noticeably colder.
"Women of this country learned long ago," she replied while sheathing the sword. "Those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain".
Rogers and Aragorn exchanged a look at Eowyn's remark before the latter asked her "What do you fear, milady?"
"A cage," Eowyn stated as she looked straight at Aragorn. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valour has gone beyond recall or desire."
Rogers roughly translated Eowyn was saying she wanted to test her mettle on the battlefield. Given her training and patriotism this was more understandable. However, Rogers thought that Sherman's observation of "All war is hell" applied just as much in Middle-earth. He wondered how to put this to Eowyn without being condescending. Fortunately, Aragorn knew the right response to her words.
"You are a daughter of kings, a shield-maiden of Rohan," he reassured her. "I do not think that would be your fate."
Eowyn silently pondered these words a moment before Rogers broke the silence.
"Sorry, Aragorn," he prefaced. "Was there something you needed to ask us?"
"Yes, Steve," Aragorn confirmed bringing his attention back to the here and now. "I wanted to know if you would prefer to ride or walk to Helm's Deep."
"I don't think it'll surprise you if I say I'll walk." Rogers replied before adding, "Though Gimli's complaining about travelling again after only a couple of days break."
As the Fellowship's Co-leaders shared a quick chuckle, Eowyn offered to them, "Master Gimli can travel on my steed if he wishes. I haven't had the pleasure of conversing with a Dwarf before and it would help pass the time on the journey." Eowyn then said to Rogers, "You'd be welcome to join us, Steve. I'd very much like to know about your America."
Rogers accepted with a nod. "It'd be a pleasure, ma'am."
Aragorn had also come to the Golden Hall to collect Rogers for something else.
"If you will excuse us, milady," Aragorn began. "There's other matters Steve and I need to discuss with the rest of our Fellowship."
Eowyn nodded in understanding. Just before the pair left, Eowyn asked, "Steve?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Please call me Eowyn."
Within the Tower of Orthanc, Saruman paced the floor within his chamber. He was seething at how Theoden had been freed from his spell.
"Gandalf the White!" Saruman hissed about his former friend. "Gandalf the Fool! Does he seek to humble me with his newfound piety?"
Saruman's rage was also twinged with fear given that Gandalf now seemed to be his equal in power. He was interrupted by familiar voice at the chamber door.
"There were six who followed the wizard," Grima reported on recent events "An Elf, a Dwarf and four Men."
After lightly sniffing the air, Saruman disdainfully replied, "You stink of horse."
Getting the hint, Grima stood back in the chamber as far from Saruman as possible. Saurman's sentries had told him that Grima had arrived at the Orthanc. In some ways, Saruman had hoped his spy would've been killed after Theoden's restoration. While Grima was in his service, Saruman despised him as much as any of the Rohirrim. Saruman had found it pathetically easy to recruit Grima as an agent. Grima was promised he'd been given the Lady Eowyn with whom he was infatuated. The Chief Counsellor had previously asked if a spell could make Eowyn fall in love with him. Saruman cruelly replied that there existed no magic that powerful. For now, the former White Wizard refrained from killing Grima. Saruman was keen to obtain more information about Gandalf's travelling companions.
"Tell me about the Men," he ordered Grima.
Wormtongue wiped his still bleeding lip with a cloth before replying, "One was Lord Boromir from Gondor. Another was one of the Dunedain Rangers, I thought. His cloth was poor. And yet he bore a strange ring, two serpents with emerald eyes. One devouring, the other crowned with golden flowers."
At this, Saruman walked over to a bookshelf and pulled out a green, leather bound book. He flicked through its pages until he found a sketch of the ring that Grima described.
"The Ring of Barahir," Saruman remarked to himself. "So Gandalf Greyhame thinks he has found Isildur's heir. The lost King of Gondor. He is a fool. The line was broken years ago." He closed the book with a loud snap that startled Grima somewhat. As he placed the book back into its place, Saruman told Grima to resume with a cold; "Go on."
"The other two were tall, possessing strength and reflex the likes of which I've never seen," Grima continued. "One resembled a Rohirrim even though his clothing indicated he was not. The other had a brightly coloured uniform and spoke with a strange accent."
Saruman sat down in a chair to ponder the information. After a few moments had passed by, Grima prodded him, "Milord?"
"Quiet, worm, I'm thinking," Saruman coolly commanded.
Saruman recalled the images he'd earlier seen in his palantir. The tall pair of men had to be the ones respectively armed with a hammer and shield. However, it would appear that Gandalf wasn't accompanied by any Hobbits. Neither was the short man that could turn into the indestructible green monster. Saruman had learned from other sources that the three Men called themselves 'Avengers'. Saruman's scouts had also reported that the orcs sent to attack the Fellowship had been destroyed near Fangorn. However, no trace of their hostages could be found. If the hostages were in Sauron's hands, Saruman knew he would be one the first to know about it. The obvious conclusion was that the One Ring had to be somewhere in Fangorn or the Riddermark.
However, now that Theoden was free of his control, Saruman could no longer discount that Rohan may now try to resist him. Not that the Rohirrim posed much of a military threat. But with Gandalf's leadership, they could soon mobilise enough to fend off Isengard's current incursions into their lands. All things considered, Saruman thought his best option was to eliminate Rohan. His search for the One Ring could then resume unhindered. As could that for the Avenger who could radically alter the shape of battles in Middle-earth.
"I must step up my plans," Saruman eventually remarked. "Rohan must fall. It will begin at Edoras."
Much to Saruman's chagrin, Wormtongue still had his uses.
"Theoden will not stay at Edoras," Grima advised. "It's vulnerable, he knows this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road to take through the mountains. They will be slow. They will have women and children with them."
Saruman's raised his eyebrows at this as a thought took shape in his mind. He rose from his seat grabbing his staff before walking out of the chamber.
"Follow me, worm," he ordered without even a backward glance.
Before too long, Saruman and Grima were within the caverns of Orthanc. They approached an Orc chieftain from the Misty Mountains named 'Sharku' that Saruman had recruited into his service. Sharku sat on a rock overlooking a deep pit where wolf-like snarls and shadows emanated from.
Saruman gave a bone-chilling smile as he ordered Sharku, "Send out your warg riders!"
I thought Saruman's appearance in an earlier chapter was going to be the only one until events in The Return of the King. I guess I had fun writing his thoughts the first time that I had to do it again.
I have a feeling that Steve might begin thinking he is a jinx in relation to Isengard's forces.