Chapter 23
Dark clouds covered the sun as they rode to Dunharrow. Soldiers were already there, setting up camp. Tents were scattered on the cliff, and an ominous mountain pass stood at the far end. Shadows hung everywhere, and the gloomy sky made everyone's uneasy mood even worse. Eradrin sighed. The day had been long and uneventful, and she wanted to do nothing more than curl up in her own bed back home and fall asleep.
She trotted up the zig-zagged path, and once safely on the high cliff, chose two elm trees, away from the others, to set up camp. The elf took out a long, thick, waterproof white blanket. Then she propped it up with two boards. The tent was completely set up in less than five minutes. Lugging her belongings behind her, she spread out a mat on the ground and laid a blanket on top. Eradrin thrust her pillow on top, set down her pack, and walked outside. The sky had grown darker, announcing the arrival of night.
She turned around and walked up to the tree, and placed a boot and hands on the bark. Hauling herself up in the elm, Eradrin perched in the uppermost branches and kept watch.
A sharp crackle awoke Eradrin, and she abruptly sat up, staring into the darkness. I must have dozed off. A twig broke, and leaves rustled. She peered into its direction. Aragorn was walking into the king's tent. Almost as soon as he parted the opening, King Theoden marched out and muttered something to Aragorn. Aragorn paused, then slowly walked in. Weird...
Eradrin slid down the tree, landed on the ground, and took off at a quick but silent pace. Coming up behind the tent, she pressed against it, and heard quiet voices. She listened hard, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Hmm...
The entrance soon opened, and Aragorn stepped out, looking a bit flushed, and stomped away. There was a bit of rustling in the tent, and after a few minutes, a tall, dark haired elf quietly stepped out. Eradrin gasped in surprise. "Elrond!" She cried, and cannoned into him. Startled, he lost his balance and leaned leaned to the side. Straightening himself up, Elrond blinked a few times, and then glanced over to her. Delight crossed his face.
"Eradrin!" Elrond greeted, "Sut naa lle umien (How are you doing)?" Eradrin smiled, the first in a long time. "Well enough. How about you?"
Elrond said, "Great. Thanks for asking." He glanced from side to side. "Where is Alluean?" He asked. Eradrin bit her lip, feeling a fresh wave of tears threaten to spill over.
"Come with me." She whispered. Leading him into a cave on the far wide of the cliff, she brushed back some ivy that blocked the entrance. Fresh mounds of overturned dirt had been patted down in the center, and a gravestone stood at the head. Elrond cautiously scooted around the edge, and knelt beside the grave. Reading the name, he gave a cry of grief and shock, and flung himself next to the dirt, sobbing. Alluean's grave. Eradrin bowed her head. His other daughter was dead. She slowly backed out of the cave, giving him mourning time.
Eradrin sighed, and walked down to the center of camp. Aragorn had just finished saddling a horse, then started leading it by a rope to the ominous mountain pass. Curios, she followed him, only to stop short as Legolas appeared from around a boulder with another horse, also following Aragorn. They exchanged a quick word, then mounted their horses. Gimli sprinted up from behind a tent, and sprang on the back of Legolas's horse. Then they trotted off.
Eradrin, confused, raced up to Legolas. Glancing at her, he called to Aragorn, "Wait, I have to do something." and hopped off his horse. Gimli sat in it, looking bored. Legolas walked up to Eradrin, taking her hand.
"You're not leaving again, are you?" She asked. He nodded. "In afraid so. I am going to help Aragorn get more men." Legolas explained.
"Can I come?" Eradrin begged, trying to make puppy dog eyes. Legolas giggled in amusement. "Begging eyes don't work, do they." She said. Legolas shook his head.
"I'm sorry, you cannot come this time." More quietly, he whispered, "Look for us on the day you go to battle." Eradrin nodded, then pressed up against him.
"Quel marth (Good luck)." She softly whispered. Legolas smiled. "Thank you. Namaarie Eradrin." About to say goodbye, a gruff voice interrupted,
"Oh, enough of this sappy stuff. We've got to go!" Gimli huffed. Eradrin rolled her eyes, then said, "Namaarie." And gave him one, final squeeze before letting go. He hopped up on his horse, then rode off with his companions into the pass. Squinting down it, Eradrin thought she saw a dark, misty figure, but quickly dismissed the thought. Marching back to her tent, she hopped inside it and fell asleep instantly.