[maikafanawen]

Morning came in a brilliant hue of red: storm weather. The rapids were swift and dark clouds were rolling in the distance, a foreboding sign of disaster. The wind hadn’t begun to roar when they were gathered at the edge of the Anduin trying to decide how to get the horses over.

“Well, we do have one boat. We could take ‘em over one at a time,” suggested one ranger. Islist shook his head.

“That would take too long. The storm will be upon us within the next hour or so.” Ideas were exchanged and shot down for a while before Dûrvagor knew what to do. Two years ago when he was visiting his parents’ at their ranch back in Gondor, there was a disastrous flood and the stables were washed away. They had to take the horses to their neighbor’s stables to keep them safe from hungry wargs. Dûrvagor now remembered how they did it successfully.

“I’ve got it,” he said coming up beside Islist and Elleraden. “We’re going to need lots of strong rope though and a few rangers willing to get a bit wet, but it should get us all across before the storm comes.”

“What’s your idea Dûrvagor?” asked Elleraden.

“We can tie ropes to connecting their bridals, putting them in a sort of line, then one person uses Frodo's boat to lead them across and a few others secure the ends of the lines that will come back around in a sort of circle pully, moving the horses across the river though still keeping their heads above water as they swim. I think it would work very nicely. I hope we have enough rope,” he said scratching his chin. “Then we take the boat back and forth bringing over the tack and other supplies as well as us rangers...unless we would like to swim the rapids…”

“No, no,” said Islist jovially, “we’ll use the boats. Well let’s get to work before the storm comes. We don’t want to be stuck in the river when it begins to thunder.” Dûrvagor told Sorlas and Herevion to collect all the rope they could from the rangers. They got plenty and began tying the lengths to the horses’ bridles.

Pernolë gave them a bit of trouble. The lead rope went on fine and the other end was connected to Islist’s horse in front of him, but the white stallion would simply not step into the deeper water.

“Come on you stupid animal,” shouted Dûrvagor as he tried to push him into the water. He stripped off his shirt and jerkin and waded in around to Pernolë’s front. “Come on boy, it’s just water see?” He dipped under water quickly and re-emerged shaking the water from his face. “Come on...” he swam backwards trying to get Pernolë to follow him.

“Apple?” Sorlas called from the shore. Dûrvagor looked and saw all the rangers lined up, watching his pitiful progress with his horse. He laughed in spite of it all.

“Why not!” he yelled. Sorlas tossed him the fruit and Dûrvagor held it in front of him, waving it before Pernolë. The horse’s ears pricked up and he moved forward slightly to take the fruit just as Dûrvagor moved backwards. “Ah...come on...that’s it...” Finally Pernolë was towards the center of the river, swimming on his own accord with Herevion‘s, Sorlas‘, and Rinoas’ horses behind him. The ranger swam back to the shore, pulling himself up on the ropes so as not to be swept over by the quickening rapids. He got to shore and dried up a bit before setting his things in the first boat to be taken over.

The sky was growing dark and only Elleraden’s horse had reached the other end and Tarannon’s horse, Morroch, hadn’t even been put on the ropes yet.

“We’ve got to hurry,” whispered Dûrvagor to Elleraden when he too emerged from the river after checking the ropes: they had begun to fray. He nodded and Tarannon’s horse was ushered into the rapids.

The first thunder crack sounded across the valley, ricocheting off the canyon walls up river. The rangers froze for a second and looked into the river. The horses were neighing frantically. Both Elleraden and Dûrvagor jumped into the water trying their best to steady them.

“Whoa boy! Whoa!” said Elleraden as he reached Tarannon’s first. “Keep their heads above water!” he yelled to Dûravgor. Aravir swam past on the opposite side to help Islist bring them in on the other shore.

It began to rain.

The rapids doubled in speed and the ropes were taut and scrapping along the tree where they were tied.

“Don’t let them snap!” shouted Dûrvagor to Rinoas and Tarannon on their side of the river. The two rangers held onto the ropes as Elleraden’s horse was pulled ashore soon followed by Pernolë. There were still four horses to go and the lightening continued to streak across the sky in angry bursts.

Disaster struck: the ropes between Tarannon’s and Rinoas’ horses snapped. Luckily, Morroch hadn’t gone far and was able to be pulled ashore. The rapids had become so fast that Rinoas was soon dragged down river towards the falls dragging Dûrvagor and Elleraden with them.

Aravir was on it immediately. He ran down the length of his shore, diving into the water just at the place where Rinoas’ horse caught and held fast to Dûrvagor’s wrist.

“Bring them on now!!” he shouted back to Islist through the roaring wind. Each horse was then guided to the bank and led into the trees where they were coaxed into calmness by the four who were on that side. Across the river, Tarannon, Sorlas and Herevion still stood with Tarannon’s horse.

“What should we do?” Dûrvagor asked Islist as they peered through the sheets of rain to the opposite bank.

“We have to wait until the storms over and try to get him across when it subsides. It’s not up for discussion,” he cut in, stopping Dûrvagor from arguing. “It’s the safest route.”

The rain came in torrential amounts well into the afternoon and the rapids swelled. The sun had begun its evening decent by the time the rain stopped enough for them to get Morroch and the three rangers across. To everyone’s astonishment and gratuity, Tarannon’s horse didn’t give them any trouble and was easily led across by his master.

Loading the two boats with supplies they ferried over the other rangers and all the gear. Once everyone was on the western shore it was very dark and it had begun to rain again. Taking shelter in an outcropping of rock, the rangers waited out the rest of the storm, thanking Eru their lives, as well as their horses‘, had been spared.

[ July 09, 2003: Message edited by: maikafanawen ]