Chapter Twenty-Eight - Maedeth

Maedeth stared up at the golden sky, focusing on the steady rhythm of Elladan's paddle strokes through the flowing Anduin as she lay curled up in the back of the boat. Black swans danced far above her. What time had she fallen asleep?

She did not sit up. Her cloak and pack swaddled her amidst the elven wood. They'd ridden the river for nearly two weeks; summer storms forced them to the shore frequently to seek shelter. This golden sky was a welcome change.

The five black swans became a dozen as more took off from the nearby reeds. Maedeth counted each breath. In and out. She let the golden morning fill her with warmth as the boat carried on.

She would take a turn on the oars soon. Elladan needed sleep. He insisted on paddling until he practically fell over in exhaustion. It wasn't fair to him. But they had a need, and she knew he too would do whatever it took to bring their message to Gondor in time.

Sleep tugged at her eyes again. The sunlight cascaded around them but their travels had sapped her of energy like nothing else in her life. And yet when they reached the river's end she would need to be ready for the fight of her life.

Elladan, Elrohir, Aranarth all fought on the battlefield. She fought in court. Her battles were ones of words and wit. Exhaustion would be as deadly to her cause as it would be to soldiers in war.

"How you find the boat comfortable enough to sleep in, I will never understand," Elladan said.

Maedeth sighed, not responding or even looking at him. She just followed the disappearing black swans off in the distance. Her dreams had been filled with swans, too. White ones, soaring through star-studded black skies and over bright blue waves. Others lay dead on white beaches, the sand stained a deep crimson as storms rocked the shore. And still more were black as night, screaming at the sun like dark ghosts.

She sat up, uncurling herself. Her body ached. Elladan watched her carefully, his gaze following each tensing muscle and cracking joint. Then he made eye contact with her and forced a smile.

"You're exhausted," Maedeth said.

He shrugged, not pausing in his paddling. "And you are not? There is much to do and little time, but I don't need to remind you of this."

"No," she agreed.

Maedeth stared left. Brown, dead land beyond sandy banks stretched endlessly and had for many days. She saw wooden battlements in the distance flying the flag of Gondor. How many men still manned the Undeeps, she did not know. King Ondoher had defeated the Wainriders at great cost. If the encampments stood any closer to the river she may have suggested they stop and greet the Gondorians.

But they weren't close to the river. Time raced against them, and so she turned away from the Brown Lands to the shallow waters around them. In her dreams she had heard again the harp music that had accompanied her by water since her childhood. With the golden light of dawn it faded from her mind and she frowned.

"I should like to meet an ent someday."

Maedeth turned back to Elladan. He did not have his eyes on the decaying lands to the East. He had turned West, towards the green fields of Calenardhon and further still the forest of Fangorn. She smiled. At least one of them still had eyes on hope.

"You believe the stories?" she said.

Elladan nodded. "My mother told us stories of Fangorn when we were children who wished to run amok in the Trollshaws. She asked us to look for ents close to home, not far away, for they would only be found where light and life still remained."

Maedeth couldn't help but laugh. "You do not think that she said such things simply to keep you close to Rivendell? It could mean nothing."

"Oh I know you are correct," he said, smirking. Elladan stopped paddling, resting for a moment as they drifted downstream. "But ents are real. I know it. And if they remain anywhere still, it is in Fangorn Forest."

Elladan yawned. Maedeth smiled and held out her hand. "Let me take another turn, Elladan. Rest. You are no use to this quest dead on your feet."

For a moment, it seemed he would protest. But he passed the oars. Maedeth set them in place near her end of the boat and took a deep breath. Only a few more days, if the weather held, and they would reach the Argonath.

The weather did hold. Gone were the summer storms, replaced by brilliant blue skies and a firm breeze that kept them cool despite the heat as they traveled south. They reached the Portage Way around the rapids of Sarn Gebir in the early evening. Elladan carried the boat and she the supplies as they picked their way over the overgrown path. Flat lands had turned into foothills of the mountains as the Emyn Muil reared up on either side.

Maedeth listened to the tree branches dancing overhead. The green leaves waved in the wind as the sun began to sink towards the horizon. Maedeth couldn't get the image of the towering stone kings out of her mind. She had seen the Argonath twice before but many long years had passed.

"Where should we seek for the Gondorians?" Elladan asked her, setting down the boat on the other side of the rapids. "Do they stay only at Amon Hen, or do they have settlements closer to the river?"

Maedeth frowned. She looked around, dropping their packs inside the boat. Years before, they'd had a few men posted along the river. But in these days, with the threat of the Wainriders no longer present, she did not know if King Earnil bothered much with manning the forts near Amon Hen.

"It is my hope that our presence will be noticed," she said. "If it is not, we should leave the boat and head towards the Seat of Seeing. There we are sure to find guards."

They took the boat a bit further down river. She remembered a green lawn, Parth Galen, that sat at the foot of Amon Hen. There, she hoped to contact the guardsmen.

Sunlight faded as they reached Parth Galen. As Elladan splashed into the water to pull their boat onto the shore, Maedeth took a deep breath. By nightfall she would have to convince soldiers of Gondor that they were allies.

"Halt!"

Or perhaps sooner than nightfall. Maedeth froze in the boat and Elladan on the shore. He left a hand on his sword hilt as he turned towards the voice. Four men stood on the edge of the trees. On each helm had been engraved a silver star. Two had arrows nocked.

"In the name of King Earnil of Gondor, declare if you be friend or foe!"

Elladan glanced at her. Maedeth nodded. She raised her hands, still sitting in the boat. "Good soldiers of Gondor, I am Lady Maedeth, emissary of King Arvedui of Arthedain. The North Kingdom calls for aid, and I am its messenger." She took a deep breath as the sunset deepend into twilight. "This is Lord Elladan, my protector. May we come ashore?"

She heard them murmuring but could not make out the words. Finally, the man who had spoken stepped forward. He sheathed his sword. Moments later, the others followed suit.

"Strange tidings indeed," he said. "But if they are true, I do not dare deny you passage. I am Berenor of Pelargir. I command the garrison of Amon Hen."

"Well met." Maedeth accepted Elladan's hand as she exited the boat onto dry land. She offered him a quick smile before turning back to Berenor. She bowed. "Our need for haste is great. But we cannot go further tonight. Is there room for us here at Amon Hen?"

Berenor nodded, returning her bow with his own. He gestured for them to follow as his soldiers carried their boat and supplies. "Of course my lady. We would be honored for two of elven kind to stay with us even for a single night." He paused and looked out into the trees. Then he turned back. "Forgive me for my impertinence, but I did not know that elves bowed to kings of men in the North."

She smiled. "Few do. And indeed, Lord Elladan is not a servant of King Arvedui, but is a dear companion of mine for many years. I myself have served the Kings of Arthedain for five hundred years, and do not plan to stop any time soon. I love the mortal blood in my veins as much as the elven."

The others looked at her with wide eyes. In the dying light of day they guided Elladan and Maedeth up winding mountain paths to a worn, but still operating, guard tower. Six men sat outside around a campfire laughing and swapping stories. Upon their arrival, they straightened up and then stood.

"Sir!"

Berenor waved them off. "At ease. But do not gorge yourselves. We must feed two more." He stood aside and gestured to them. "This is Lady Maedeth, Emissary of Arthedain, and her protector Lord Elladan. They will remain with us for tonight. Tomorrow we shall guide them to the base of the falls and speed them on their way."

"Well met, soldiers of Gondor," she said, bowing. "It is an honor to spend time among such as you."

They stared at her in wonder. The mirth that had filled the air moments before had dissipated. Maedeth felt the tension in the air. Whether from fear or doom or wonderment, she did not know, but it could not be avoided. So she smiled and took a step forward.

"Is there food we could share," she asked. "We do not need much. But perhaps as it is prepared we could share stories of our two kingdoms?"

Several of them brightened up at the suggestion. Before long, Elladan had fallen into quiet conversation with Berenor regarding supplies and the morning's travels while Maedeth turned her focus to the soldiers. They brought out a wooden chair for her from the guard tower and began to put together a plate for her.

"How many share the blood of elves and men in Arthedain?" asked a young man, with golden hair and a clean-shaven face.

Maedeth smiled. "Few, if any," she said. "Elladan and I are Peredhil, as are our brothers. But beyond our two families I know of none."

"This is good," said another. He had dark hair and a well-trimmed beard. "Gondor has seen enough kinstrife to know mixing heritages is dangerous."

The first man, barely a boy, scoffed. "You know I share blood with the Northmen, Ferior. The Éothéod are Gondor's greatest ally."

"Now, it is true," Ferior said. "But do not forget, Tuilinher, that the decision to wed a woman of the North led to Gondor's decline."

Maedeth frowned. She remembered it well. The Kin-strife had raged in her youth, when she came of age alongside King Araphor of Arthedain. He had trusted her with much. After King Eldacar of Gondor regained his throne, Araphor had tasked her with trying to mend relations with Gondor. She had succeeded but only for a few years. Neither kingdom had managed to maintain their relationship.

"I remember the burnt ruins of the Dome of Stars in Osgiliath," she said, trying not to picture the blackened stones and the stench of burning books that somehow still lingered even months after the inferno. "The loss of the Palantir and the great knowledge stored in the Capital was tragic. But King Eldacar, half Northman though he was, ruled with strength and justice like any pure blooded Numenorean before him."

"You remember it?" Tuilinher asked.

Maedeth nodded. "Indeed. I have been an emissary for Arthedain for over five centuries. In that time I have seen much. But I fear this may be my greatest task."

She fell silent. Maedeth felt Elladan sit beside her, finished with Berenor and resuming her post by her side. She could hear the men around her asking questions but she could not bring herself to answer. A weight settled on her chest in the darkness. A coldness ran down her spine. Not even the heat of the campfire could warm her.

"It is late," Elladan said. "We are deeply grateful for your assistance and fellowship, men of Gondor. But we have been traveling many weeks through danger into danger. My lady requires rest. Where may we seek it?"

Ferior rose from the campfire and showed them into the guard tower. Twelve beds were arranged haphazardly around the first floor, made of simple wood with barely a cot to rest on. But she was grateful for anything besides an elven boat or bare earth.

The soldiers put them in two beds next to one another. As Maedeth laid herself down, she saw Elladan ease into his own bed but remained sitting up against the wall. She yawned. Laying her cloak atop the old, scraggly pillow she just shook her head.

"You need sleep as well, Elladan."

He nodded, looking down at her with a tiny smile. "I will rest, I assure you."

Maedeth wasn't sure she believed him. But in the darkness, as candles were extinguished and the firelight outside died down, she felt sleep overcoming her. He would have to look after himself. Maedeth could no longer open her eyes. As her mind fell into dreaming, she smelled burning books and incense and heard music of harps unseen.