[Mithadan]

Chapter XXI

THE CAVALRY OF ERIADOR

The sharp ears of Madrigal Brandybuck were not deceived and she indeed heard from afar the horn of Eorl, blown long and strong by her grandsire Meriadoc the Magnificent, riding together with his old friend Thain Peregrin Took. The old hobbits could not be denied and they rode proudly on their fine ponies following the vanguard of the Cavalry of Eriador.

With the clean sound of that enchanted horn rising high above the other calls of other horns and above the growing thunder of hundreds of hooves, the rangers and elves who still lived in the battered outpost took heart and once again dared to look above its ruined walls. Madrigal ran out of the chambers of the keep to the wreck of the fortress gate where Turgon and Fingon Took stood with Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, and Gimli the Renowned, son of Gloin. She brushed her brown mane of curls out of her face and shaded her eyes to look upon the Rangers of Eriador and the Elves of Rivendell riding hard from the south.

Outpacing them all was a rider whose mighty steed gleamed almost as golden as the sun running in her own course high above. His horse was a steed sired by the descendants of the great Shadowfax and had been handpicked as a gift by King Eomer of the Rohirrim. The rider looked much as any of the other hard-riding Rangers, but he was Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Chieftain of the Dunedain, Lord of Arnor and Gondor, King Elessar Telcontar, who held forward and aloft in his strong hand, Anduril, Flame of the West, brilliant with a fierce and terrible wrath. A verdant jewel flashed upon his brow in the bright sun. "Estel!" whispered Madrigal, almost to herself. "What?" asked Furry. "Hope!" she translated. "That is what the Queen calls him!"

Their hope drew nearer but the wizard was not idle. He, too, heard the horn cry and the thunder of the great cavalry, whirled around with his fine robes billowing in the morning sun, and cursed them with a piercing voice. As the king rode nearer, the old man had the giant grasp a large stone as he chanted terrible words over it.

The giant waited for Aragorn to ride nearer and then he heaved the small boulder. The wizard's finger followed the flight of the stone until it was almost near the king. Madrigal watched in horror as the wizard waited for an awful moment to speak the word that would blast the rock into a lethal explosion of sharp fragments to kill King Elessar and end all hope.

The bow of Lorien sang again that day, and Legolas shot a last desperate arrow from afar, piercing the wizard's outstretched hand before the spell was complete! The wicked old man shrieked in pain and surprise. The rock fell harmlessly behind Aragorn, who rode straight up to the wizard and would have severed his head from his neck with the great sword Anduril, if the chief of the giants had not stepped between them.

With giants and wolves roaring and howling and rushing to the fight, there was King Strider, alone upon his golden horse, with his great sword flashing in the brilliant sun over the mountains. And there was also the chief of the giants, towering high above the Chieftain of the Rangers with immeasurable strength, and with speed and cunning greater than the usual giant possessed. Aragorn turned his noble steed about and galloped full at the giant, with Anduril held upraised above his kingly head.

The giant chieftain gathered a handful of rocks, mere pebbles to him, but fist sized to you and me, and hurled them at the king. Even with no magic spell upon them, anything hurled by a giant might do great harm. But Aragorn was watching for this, and feinted with his steed first to the left, and then to the right, and back again almost faster than the eye could follow. The giant's throw went awry and then Aragorn was upon him! Again, the agile steed feinted as the old ranger ducked right under the giant's sweeping fist. Anduril flashed in a great swinging arc, but it seemed nothing had happened.

Aragorn wheeled his steed about for a second pass and the giant turned to meet him. At least, he tried to. As the monstrous creature turned, his great legs gave way beneath him, suddenly gushing dark red torrents of blood from behind his knees. He began to fall and before he struck the ground, Anduril flashed again and his misshapen head was sent rolling down the mountainside.

Other giants rushed to the aid of their chieftain, and not even Aragorn, on the great steed of Rohan, could have defended himself against so many. But now the cavalry from Rivendell had reached the battle! From horseback, running in close and turning fast, mounted archers stung the remaining giants and wolves with innumerable arrows. The fell beasts and giants soon retreated back up into the mountains, harried by stinging arrows, until they reached the high passes where no horse could follow.

The king wasted no time, seeing the cavalry close at hand. Aragorn spurred his mighty steed up the slope to the outpost, sending wolves flying and dying with every sweep of Anduril, so fierce was the wrath that wielded it. He did not stop until he had passed through the ruined doors of the small fortress. There, he dismounted and ran straight back to the shelter. There, the hobbit-maiden Elediriel stepped forward with Eldarion in her arms and held the babe up to his noble father. Splattered with the blood of wolf and giant, covered with the dust of pursuit, the King took the Heir in his arms and kissed him. Ellie saw a single tear of joy trickle down his weathered cheek.

***

The king could not linger over the happy moment. Even as Argorn was reunited with Eldarion, his cavalry pursued the fleeing giants eastward into their haunts in the Misty Mountains, and the wolves northward into the forests on the mountain's slopes. He smiled upon Elediriel as the other hobbits drew near and said, "We shall never forget what you have done, and whatever you ask, I will grant. But now, keep him for me a moment more, until his mother comes for him." He handed the infant back to the little hobbit lass and looked kindly upon her.

"Now, I must away!" he cried, and sprang lightly upon the back of his great golden steed. With a leap, the mighty horse cleared the ruined fortress gates again as well as the giants who were slain upon that spot, and then the king was gone. Madrigal, Turgon and Fingon crowded around Ellie, who stood looking down at the happy infant in her arms as if she found herself in a dream.

"The king seems hardly injured at all," observed Furry.

"He'll feel it later in the day, I'm sure," said Turry.

"What are you going to ask for, Ellie?" asked Maddie, with Turry and Furry pressing in as well.

"I don't know," said Ellie. "I really have no idea! All I want is to see Queen Arwen and get a hot bath, a hot breakfast, and a good long sleep!" The hobbits laughed together amid the carnage

"Ho! Enough of that!" cried the voice of Gimli the dwarf. "Come here you hobbits! There is grim work to be done."

The hobbits felt suddenly that their laughter was out of place and they realized that there were wounded who needed help, dying who needed comfort, and the dead who required honor for their sacrifice. Madrigal's face burned a bright red and she was angry with herself. She ran to find bandages and water. Turry and Furry lost their happy demeanor and followed the dwarf to help with the grave tasks at hand.

Soon enough, there was other help, as members of the cavalry returned. They found that Gimli and the Took Twins had laid out the slain in the center of the courtyard of the fort, with their hands folded over their breasts, and their weapons laid nearby. Several elves of Rivendell, and not a few rangers also, lay cold and unsmiling in the afternoon sun and never knew in that life that their sacrifices had not been vain.

The rangers began the work of digging a grave so that two mounds could be raised the next day near the fortress in honor of the slain. They chose for this a spot high on the slopes overlooking the fort and the plain beyond, from whence came help in the time that their lives had purchased. The mounds were raised to the north and the south of the path the giants had chosen for their assault. Under the southern mound, nearest Rivendell, were buried the elves of that fair valley, and under the northern mound, the rangers whose vigilance never waned. The bodies of the slain giants and the wolves were taken high into the mountains, and were burned together that night beside that same path. It was said among the rangers that the great blackened bones remained there for many years as a warning of the wrath of the King of Arnor.

The elves of Rivendell took up the task of tending the wounded and setting the fortress and the camp of the host in order. By evening, not only was the cavalry encamped, but so also was a host of troops, mustered for they knew not what, since clearly the Heir had been recovered. With the Host of Rivendell, came Queen Arwen Undomiel upon a palfrey borne proudly on a noble silver steed. She dismounted in the courtyard of the fortress and looked upon the slain. Her breast rose with a shuddering breath and she deeply mourned their loss, having known some of their faces for an age and more under the sun and stars.

She then saw the hobbits and Gimli the dwarf looking on. Coming to them, she took from Elediriel Cotton her child, Eldarion Telcontar, Heir of Elendil, son of Aragorn. The beautiful queen gravely thanked the hobbit lass. She wept freely and silently at the return of her infant son amid the present reminders of the sacrifices of her loyal subjects. Her love for them, and for the living who remained, was suddenly sharp and keen. It seemed to Ellie that the Queen looked long upon the faces of the slain. Arwen held Eldarion in her arms and chanted quiet elvish words to him of love and of bravery and of sacrifice as she stood before each man and elf, so that the Heir would never take for granted the lives he was one day destined to rule. At last, she turned again to the young hobbits and the old dwarf.

"All of you have done so much, and have earned our gratitude for as long as we shall reign. But I should like very much," Arwen said, "if you would serve me further, Elediriel. You have only to name any gift I could give, and it would be yours. But I would come to know you better, for it has been years since one from the Shire has been my handmaiden. You would do us honor, and I would have Eldarion know you and learn from the Shire in his early years, if you would stay by me in my service."

"But, but," Ellie stammered. "Oh my Queen! I am not worthy! I have done a terrible thing!"

The Queen looked kindly upon the hobbit lass, with only a hint of amusement in her wise and ageless eyes. "And what terrible thing could you have done, Elediriel Cotton?"

"I-I-I... I gave the Prince miruvor to keep him quiet in the forest!" she blurted. "I'm so sorry! I know babies aren't supposed to have... but I didn't know what else... I didn't have anything else and... and..." And the hobbit girl burst into unhappy tears and seemed inconsolable. Maddie and Turry and Furry looked on in disbelief at Ellie, not knowing what the Queen might say.

The laughter of Arwen Undomiel was like flowing waters on a silver fountain. Soon the hobbits were smiling and grinning broadly and Ellie dried her tears and dared to smile herself. "My dear young Elediriel," said Arwen through her laughter, "my own mother, Celebrian, would give a drop or two of miruvor to my brothers Elladan and Elrohir when they were ill or ill tempered! Or so she told me, once upon a time. Perhaps that explains their fondness for the cordial to this day! I shall give Eldarion something better now. But let us not make a habit of such things!" Her smile was as bright as moonlight and her eyes gleamed like kindly stars.

Queen Arwen turned and left the hobbits, walking with light steps past the slain, stopping and gracefully doing a courtesy before them as if she were a common elven maiden honoring the highest nobility. Then, servants of her household helped her remount her silver steed and she went on to her tents, pitched in the plain at the base of the hill, guarded by many soldiers of Rivendell.

Gimli the Renowned, dwarf of many years and of long memory, wiped a tear from his own eyes and spoke first, "She reminds me of the Lady. So fair and noble, yet not haughty or prideful in the least. Alas, that there are not more of their like in this world!" And with that, the old dwarf breathed a deep sigh, then shook his head, clapped his hands and rubbed them vigorously together. "Come!" he cried, "You hobbits can find us something to eat! I am hungry as I have not been in many a year!"

In truth, the young hobbits had little more idea than the dwarf about where supper was to be found, but campfires were already burning down in the encampment, and surely, food was for the finding down there. They walked down the hill, and thinking of supper, they also suddenly found the excitement and the exertions of the day had left them quite weary and hungry themselves. Fortunately, they did not have to go very far before they were met by none other than old Merry and Pippin, come looking for them.

"The Queen herself has sent us to find you! She bids you come and rest yourselves and take supper!" shouted Pippin, as the young Tooks happily rushed their old grandsire.

"Grandfather!" cried Madrigal, wrapping her little arms about Merry's vast stomach and letting him hold her tightly. The old hobbit looked up and saw Ellie looking on, so he reached out and grabbed her as well. The hobbit girl never felt so happy and loved since her father, Odo, had died when she was just a wee thing.

While they did not actually eat with Queen Arwen, for she was tired herself and had to tend her son privately, she had ordered set for them a meal fit for the hungry hobbits (and for their friends and relations!) who had saved the Heir of Elendil. Pippin remarked, "I don't know how they manage such things, whether wandering in the forest, or campaigning in the field, the elves set a table better than the finest party in the Shire!"

"You said a mouthful," said Merry, with his mouth full. It was then that Legolas returned from the hunt and joined them at the welcoming fire.

"Ho! Legolas!" cried Gimli. "What news?"

"None better than you have seen yourselves," said the elf wearily. "The wizard escaped us. Never have I felt so weary in the pursuit since you and I, Master Dwarf, and the King himself, ran after these old rascals here."

"You might have run faster with the whips of orcs at your heels!" said Pippin cheerfully. "I don't believe I ever ran faster, even though my hands were tied!"

"It was not the orcs behind you, but the wizard before us," growled the dwarf. "Never was my heart so heavy and my will so burdened. Yet we ran all the same!"

"So it was this time!" cried Legolas. "I marked how the wizard ran, clutching his wounded hand, when he saw that he could not win."

"Aye! Now there was a long shot well aimed!" laughed Gimli. "Was ever a wizard so surprised?"

"That I cannot say. But it was as much good luck, if luck there be, as my aim, and as much the lingering enchantment of Lorien on this bow as any strength in my arm," said the elf. "Be that as it may, the old man took to his heels and called in the growling tongue of the Wargs. A wolf larger and fiercer than the rest came at his call and let the wizard climb upon his back as the goblins are accustomed to do. The old man was borne away upon the back of the great wolf faster than even an elf could run through the trackless woods. I know, for I gave chase, and so swiftly did the warg run that I would have been hard pressed to keep him in sight, even had not the will of the wizard been set to slow my feet and steal my wind."

And with that, the wood elf hung his head in shame. Madrigal came to him and gave him a hug about his shoulders and told him she was proud of him anyway. Legolas Greenleaf looked up then and laughed merrily once more.

"You give me cheer, hobbit lass," said the elf. "We have done much to foil the schemes of a wicked wizard at large, have we not?"

"Aye!" cried Gimli again. "Aye! Much has been done! Mistress Ellie here has saved the Heir! These Tooks here have rescued her from the wilderness! And we have rescued them all from wolves and giants!"

"And I helped!" said Cairmir. The younger son of Cairduin had not spoken much since the rescue, but had been happy to be there among so many great and renowned folk.

"That you did!" cried Furry. "There are many stories here, and I want to hear them all around this campfire tonight!"

"There walks another story," said Turry, pointing at a tall form striding past them in the darkness. Even as the young hobbit spoke, the kingly figure paused and turned toward them. The flickering light of the fire revealed the lean and weary features of Aragorn. He smiled and saluted them, then strode toward the tents of Queen Arwen.

"He looks so tired," said Ellie.

"We are none of us young as we once were," said Gimli. "And this was a day of great labour for even a young man. And he was sore injured, too. Tomorrow, no doubt, will bring counsel beyond the tales of friends around a campfire."

"You can be sure of that," said Legolas. "I doubt even now that the labours of the King are ended. But ours are, so let us be merry while we may. Now, young people, tell me all that has happened..."

Elediriel's story was wanted first, and she told it simply, and there was much wonder and concern about the actions of the wizard and questions that Ellie could not answer. Madrigal told of Rondramehir, the Lord of the Eagles, and Ellie was glad to hear he was in the care of the elves. Turry told of his happiness to find Ellie, and there was a special gleam in his eyes for her when she looked into them.

After that, she did not listen quite as intently to the stories that the others told. Her mind drifted ever and again to Turgon Took, who must have thought similar things for he often returned her shy gaze. Her eyes also were cast toward the tents of the Queen, where the Heir now rested in the safety of his mother's arms. But an eerie flickering light could be seen through the silken walls of the tents as the night deepened.




Chapter XXII

THE COUNCIL OF ELESSAR

Turgon Took, and his brother Fingon, awoke early (for hobbits) and went about the camp to see if they couldn't find an early breakfast. Turry and Furry had stayed awake as late as they could, talking with Legolas and Gimli. Elediriel and Madrigal bade the boys good night only a little earlier, and neither as yet had stirred from their tent, set for them not far from Queen Arwen's pavilion. The Took Twins slept under the stars near the campfire while Legolas and the rangers continued to talk. Young Cairmir had long since fallen asleep and his father Cairduin had covered him with a blanket and let him sleep there as the adults continued their tales and remembrances. Gimli, proud old dwarf that he was, refused to lie down, but nodded where he sat, determined to stay awake (or at least erect!) with the elf and the younger men until they themselves rested.

The rangers and the dwarf were asleep by the low fire and Legolas was nowhere about. Awaking hungry (as hobbits often do), the twins quietly set out for the kitchen area of the camp. There, elves and Big Folk were already working together to prepare meals for an army, as the dawn broke above the Misty Mountains and lit the lands of ancient Rhudaur.

Turry and Furry were soon rewarded with a bite of early breakfast, really just cold leftovers from the suppers of the night before. Still, even the elven bread of the night before, cold roast chicken, and strong hot tea were mighty tasty to the hobbit lads. As soon as they felt a little less hungry, they filled a rather large basket with more victuals and carried it carefully between them back to their part of the camp. Now the rangers and young Cairmir were gone, but Gimli still snored by the coals of the fire.

Ellie was standing in front of a tent, looking about sleepily. Madrigal sat nearby, looking at her reflection on a dwarven mirror hung on a pole as she brushed her mane of curly brown hair.

"Oh, look Maddie!" cried Ellie. "The boys have brought us some breakfast!"

"That's why I keep them around," said the saucy hobbit lass. "They suffice for hauling things and for serving their betters. Please set my breakfast down just there," she said, pointing nearby with her brush.

"And good morning to the two of you, too!" said Furry, laughing. "We have better things to do, you know. If you weren't so completely helpless, we could do them!"

"Helpless!" cried Madrigal. "Why, Fingon Took, if it wouldn't embarrass you for the rest of your life and make you the laughing stock of the Shire, I'd pin the tips of your ears together behind your head!"

"You and what army?"

"This one!" she said waving her brush about at the camp around them. "But don't worry, I shall only need them to witness your humiliation. Now, pour my tea!"

"Yes, O Great Mistress!" said Furry obsequiously, bowing low before the beauty. "Would you like it with cream and honey?"

While the other two tweenagers bantered, Turry and Ellie only quietly said "Good morning!" to each other, gazing into one another's eyes and not paying the slightest attention to Maddie and Furry. After a few moments like this, they both seemed to realize that the other two had gone quiet and were watching them in great amusement.

"Bwah ha!" laughed Furry, digging out the bread and chicken. "It's too early in the morning for that! You two love birds come here and help us finish off these birds!"

The tips of Ellie's ears turned hot and red, poking notoriously out of her straight blonde hair. She glanced shyly back at Turry, who bit his smiling lip. But his ears were red, too! She noticed (hopefully!) that the handsome young Took did not deny the accusation!

Madrigal just laughed and winked at Ellie, who said nothing. But all four of the young hobbits were soon quiet, making short work of their cold breakfast. They were just finishing up when old Meriadoc and Peregrin strolled over.

"Here now!" cried Merry. "Any of that left for an old campaigner?"

"I'm thinking they've forgotten all about their elders," said Pippin.

"Who could forget the racket you hobbits make!" said Gimli. The old dwarf was rubbing his eyes and stumbling blearily toward the hobbits. "But where there're hobbits, there's bound to be something to eat!"

***

The entire camp was awake before the dwarf and the hobbits finished eating. News stirred throughout the host that they might not return to Rivendell right away. More troops were set to work on the repair of the fortress. Soldiers who had ridden or fought or marched in haste the day before, now worked to repair armour and shields, sharpen blades and points, and check their horses and equipment. A herald made his way through the host, finding this one and that, and bidding them come to the Council of Elessar that night.

The hobbits found themselves among the mighty and the wise bidden to attend this meeting of the king. Clearly, King Elessar had news of great importance and no one knew what might happen next.

The day grew cloudy and dim and seemed to pass very slowly for the young hobbits. The rangers had not returned, nor had Legolas. Men and elves who were gravely wounded the day before, were tended, but some had died in the night and were buried with their comrades in mounds that were raised upon the slopes. Their burial was held that afternoon and this was the only time that day that the King and Queen were seen. To the eyes of his old friends, Aragorn seemed grey and tired. After the service, he returned to his tent. Some whispered that he was grown old and needed rest. Others said that he returned to wrestle in spirit with the wicked wizard, who had fled. Perhaps this was so, for as darkness fell again upon the camp, the eerie light that flickered from within his tent had resumed, just as it had been seen the entire night before.

***

The appointed hour finally came and those who had been invited awaited the King and Queen within the walls of the fortress. The walls were high and strong again, though work on the battlements would continue the next day. The wreckage of the gate had been cleared away, and sentries stood before the gaping opening and the temporary barricade behind it. No chances were being taken with the safety of the Queen and the Heir. A wolf howled very far away, but no other enemies came near.

Poles had been erected in a large circle in the center of the courtyard. Upon these were hung lanterns and within this circle sat a number of great and important people, and the hobbits as well, for testimony was required of the tweens, and the elder hobbits were summoned in their official capacities. Benches had been made and these were arrayed so that everyone around the circle could see who stood to talk. King Strider stood first and beside him was a tall stand wrought of iron, as if for a lamp. The top of it was round and covered with a black cloth embroidered in silvery needlework with the White Tree and Seven Stars of the house of Elendil.

"We are met tonight," said Aragorn, "to learn all that we know of the situation which now confronts us. My attention for many years had been upon the lingering threats of the South and the East. Eomer King of Rohan and I fought a long fight together with many brave men against the remnants of Sauron's assembled malice. A great victory was won before the Black Gate, but much evil remained. At long last, we deemed that we had vanquished the lingering threat of Mordor for our time, and I returned to Arnor.

"I have long been suspicious of the quiet years in the North, and it seemed that I had neglected the land of my birth long enough. In these last years, we have rebuilt much of what was of old and now begin the resettlement of the abandoned realms of the northern Dunedain.

"I thought us strong again, and prepared for any challenge. The time had come for a new Heir to be born to the line of Elendil, for we have now been at peace or truce with our enemies for many years and have at last begun the renewal of the united kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.

"And yet, threads thought lost, woven long ago into the tapestry of ages of opposition to the Darkness, threaten to unravel all that has been done.

"Into the heart of Rivendell the evil dared to come, through my negligence and pride. I did not heed the warnings of Thranduil and Thorin, and so the darkness came and laid low that sanctuary. Now, others shall tell that tale in full." Aragorn motioned for the ranger Aradhel to pick up the story.

"We first came upon the wizard, who called himself Pallando the Blue, when we passed near the ruins of Dol Goldur. He was dressed in rags and seemed to be examining the fallen walls of the ancient fortress."

"It is a place," said Lord Celeborn, "that may yet have some attraction for evil things. It has been a lifetime of men since I led a host from Lothlorien to the rout of Dol Goldur. When we had killed every creature that served Sauron there, Galadriel laid low its battlements and cast down its walls with songs such as none have heard since the Elder Days. The People of the Golden Wood who did not come to tarry with me in Rivendell passed that way when they sought their cousins in Greenwood the Great, which was called Mirkwood in the days when Sauron dwelt there, whom we called the Necromancer in our ignorance."

"Aye," agreed Legolas. "And naught of evil has dared to raise its head there since that day, for my people and yours have made the woods wholesome and have kept watch upon the ruins of Dol Goldur. In part, this was why I urged we take that road."

"Perhaps it will be shown to be for the best that you did," said Celeborn. The tall silver-haired Lord of the Elves looked at each of the travelers, particularly the rangers, as he said this. Each of them looking into the eyes of the elf felt their piercing gaze, a regard that searched them through, measured them with an ancient wisdom, and found them blameless. At the last, his attention was fixed on the eyes of Aragorn himself and he said, "Had this wizard not been found, by chance as it seems, we cannot say what dangers we may have come to face."

"We have faced more than we might have, even so," said Aragorn, evenly meeting the eyes of the elven lord. "While none of these can be blamed if they fell to the power of the wizard's lies, I should have been more vigilant, as were Thorin of the Dwarves and Thranduil of the Elves. A King of Men might have followed their wise example."

"Say not so!" cried Legolas, son of Thranduil. His voice betrayed a certain bitterness. Suddenly, Elediriel realized that the events of the last days meant that Legolas was forever banished from his father's kingdom. "Say rather," continued the green-clad wood elf with an edge to his voice, "that they are kings accustomed to hiding in closed realms and it is less their regard for security than their distrust of outsiders that vaunts itself as wisdom. Let not the King of Men make his people prisoners of mistrust. Better the open trust that is your nature."

"Legolas speaks rightly," agreed Gimli. "You may look upon the realms of Mountain and Wood when you visit, thinking them wonderful indeed, and you would not be wrong. But it would not be right for Men to live as Elves or even as Dwarves."

"Nor should you take upon yourself a burden that I may claim as well," said Celeborn. "For I am liege of Rivendell, and its security is more my responsibility than yours."

"But I am father of my child and husband of my wife and any cotholder could show greater vigilance for his family than did Aragorn, son of Arathorn," said the king. "But that has little bearing on the matter before us."

"Yet we will ponder these words, and learn from their wisdom," said Queen Arwen. "My husband is hard on himself, yet a great king must be so. But neither wife nor queen blames him or any of these whose valour has returned my son to me and your heir to his destiny. I would hear less of who would blame themselves for the evil this wizard has chosen and more of what has happened."

And so Aradhel continued his part of the tale. The ranger told of how the wizard's mind and conversation seemed little by little to improve on the road to the caverns of Thranduil until even the great elven king was overshadowed by his presence.

The ranger summarized for the Council the story the wizard told there, of the treachery of Alatar the Black, of an age of icy darkness for Pallando the Blue, and of the duel that transfixed them both in a frozen tomb of tumbled stone until they were uncovered by workers salvaging the ancient stones.

Legolas spoke again and said, "Perhaps that there was much truth to this tale, for it seemed true even to my father, who listened with a wary ear. In this, the wizard showed his cunning, for an outright lie would not have fooled the vigilance of Thranduil. Alatar wrapped his lie in the truth, I think."

Around the circle, there was a murmur of agreement, for it explained much. Cairduin then picked up the tale and told of how, on the whole long road to the Lonely Mountain and back to Rivendell, the wizard seemed interested in every detail of what had happened since the War of the Ring. At this, Gimli cried out.

"Aye, and too much did I tell the old man of the defenses of Erebor! How proudly did I tell him of our vigilance, and describe to him the work of the dwarves! Alas for my folly! May that wizard get what he deserves!"

"We all talked over much," said Cairduin with a dour voice. "But the wizard talked as well, and many things seem plainer to me now."

"Aye," said Legolas. "He spoke many words to the birds, prattling as if he were not far from mad. What things they told him when he was alone, I cannot say, for they did not answer him when I was about. The things he said to them in my hearing made no sense, but clearly he was using them to summon fell creatures along the way."

"The orcs and wolves!" said Furry.

"And that giant vulture!" said Turry.

"And the giants, too!" said Maddie.

Aradhel said, "From the start he took on the role of Pallando the Blue, I think, perhaps seeing our party as we approached the ruins of Dol Goldur. It was no great matter for him to mascarade as his old friend, guessing rightly that we would receive such a one and take him withersoever he wished. He learned of us that Arnor was rebuilding and that an Heir would be born in Rivendell with great celebration on Mid-Year's Day. I think that along the way, the mind of Alatar the Black conceived a great mischief."

"Much more than mischief," said Aragorn. "My heart tells me that it is war he plans one day."

"One such as this black wizard might plan for an age," said Celeborn. "Men tend to think of the day at hand, and elves tend to think of the days that have been. But one of his order may do both, seeing the paths of the future as well with more clarity than men or elves. Perhaps the wizard took chance with both hands, while he was out searching for Pallando the Blue. Still, it has begun to seem to me that there is something brewing in the North."

"Aye," said Elrohir. "We have been abroad many years, my brother and I, visiting the elves of the Grey Havens, as well as the Kingdom of Thranduil, and searching out the few wandering bands of our kindred who still travel the wilds. We have heard somewhat of the rumours of the land, and these have been quiet until most recently."

"Too quiet, as it seemed to us," said Elladan. The sons of Elrond were ever distrustful of orcs, never forgetting the torment of Celebrien, their mother and Arwen's. "Whatever they have been doing, it is a great secret and is unlike their usual activity, such as it has always been."

"Except when a great one rises among them," said Aragorn. "Or when one such as Saruman of old would bring them into submission unto himself. I think that in the months since he has escaped imprisonment, Alatar has been very busy. Say you that Alatar may have been searching for Pallando? I think rather that the hunter was actually the hunted. I do not know with certainty. But since I have turned my gaze North, following these wizards, I have learned that indeed war is afoot. As I regarded the north, I looked afar to the ancient stronghold of the Longbeards, taken bitterly from them by the goblins an age and more ago. Mount Gundabad has been quiet indeed for a lifetime of men. But now it is teeming with orcs as a mound of ants.

"I cannot yet say how great the involvement of Alatar the Black may be. But he is not ready. I deem that their great numbers are insufficient to overrun all of the north. Yet, they could become a sword in our back, if one day war were raised again from the East. I think he saw what may have been his only opportunity to kidnap Eldarion, hoping perhaps to hold him hostage against our conduct and thus prevent our strength from being raised against his schemes. But like the Dark Lord he once served, he did not reckon on hobbits." The king turned with a kindly eye to Elediriel, and said, "It is time now that we hear from one to whom we shall forever owe the greatest gratitude, and learn of this other wizard, the one I deem the true Pallando the Blue.

With that, Ellie told them of the strange old man she met in the forest, fleeing the false blue wizard with the heir in her arms, and of how he rescued them from wolves. She could not repeat the unusual words he spoke, but she was able to explain how soothing and calming they were to her. Then she described how he threw a stone into the air before he left, making it flare with a lovely brilliance and a most musical sound.

"....it was like a dream that I once had. But even more beautiful." she finished.

"It was like fireworks and flowers," agreed Turry. "It led us right to her. If it hadn't been for that, we would have ridden right past her and never been the wiser."

"I do not like these wizards who throw exploding stones! They seem too much alike!" said Gimli.

"They are very much alike," said Ellie. "But as different as night and day. Or black and blue. That's what he was like! Like a clear blue sky. The other one was always like a black fog or a clouded sky at midnight. I never liked him!"

"Alike or not," said Legolas, "I will not judge the one by the other. There has been too much of that in this world. But what of these wizards? They both seem to have vanished without a trace."

"For most of this day and last night I have been examining that matter, and have learned much," said Aragorn. "They have both headed north. I have seen them. When each of them perceived me, he became shrouded to my view, and would not permit me to observe where they did go, even until this hour."

"The eyes of the King of Gondor and Arnor are keener than the eyes of Elves!" said Legolas. The wood elf looked with a knowing expression upon his old friend. "Your eyes have indeed grown sharp since the days we hunted orcs across Rohan."

"Aye!" said Gimli. "For I remember that your ears were sharper than your eyes, and could hear the rumours of horses through the ground, while Legolas was counting spearheads! Can the ears of a ranger hear the tread of two old men, many leagues away? Or the foul feet of the orcs beyond the mountains all the way to Gundabad? The dwarves have not forgotten the sacred vault where Durin breathed his first. Nor have we forgotten our debt to the goblins, though it began long ago. Yet it is far from here!"

"For a moment, I almost thought the memory of dwarves faded with time," said the king, with a smile flickering across his tired face. "Or have you forgotten....this." Aragorn drew the black cloth from the iron stand beside him, revealing a black globe, perhaps a foot across. It seemed to glow softly from some immeasurable distance within, as if it were an immensely deep well lit from the bottom with only a single candle, but one as bright as day. So it seemed to each around the circle, from whatever their vantage: a warm light very far away. It captured the eye and pulled it ever towards its depths. Alone around the circle, the old Thain of the Shire, Peregrin Took, turned his face away and would not look upon it.

"This is the Palantir of Orthanc," said Aragorn. "With it, I have seen much. None of it comforts me. For many years, I have used it to great advantage against our enemies to the East and South, who rest now in uneasy truce, but are ever ready for revenge and are ever apt to the plans of Darkness. But for all that I have learned in the last day, there is something that gives me great unease. I think we have laid bare the strategy of Alatar the Black. He prepares the orcs of the North for war, perhaps years from now. Perhaps sooner. He thought to stay our hand with a royal hostage, rather than wait for our frontiers to become repopulated, strong, and vigilant. But Gundabad holds something else."

He told the council around him that he had surveyed the Palantir until he found the wizard Alatar, in the company of mountain goblins, riding wolves in a speeding retreat ever farther north. The wizard Pallando followed slowly on foot. Once each had perceived the king's surveillance, they shrouded themselves from view.

"Wizards, even good ones, or even mad ones, I suppose," said Aragorn, "prefer that their affairs be conducted without meddling. So since I could not follow them with my sight, I thought to look ahead. Pallando followed Alatar. Alatar rode with orcs and wargs. Their trail led north. The last great stronghold of the orcs lies in that direction, at the end of the Misty Mountains. The black wizard will reach it before even our cavalry could intercept him."

And there, the king told them, he saw a mountain carved out within from peak to root with great caverns and small, connected with many tunnels and chambers, filled with the twinkling lights of torches to provide such light as orcs needed. There were many of these creatures, thousands upon thousands spawning in the mountain far from their enemies and yet not far enough. Too many to stay put, but too few to avail against the gathering strength of Arnor to the west, and of Dale and Erebor to the east. Though a problem to be dealt with, this was not what gave the great king the most concern.

"When your enemy is known, you may form your plans and you may understand what plans he may make against you. I surveyed the extent of the stronghold of the orcs and of the population within. These, I think, we may deal with in time, and make an end of them. But at the base of the mountain, there is a blackness that I cannot pierce. It is more than unlit by torch or lantern, it is as surely shrouded from my view as the two wizards who head that way.

"I do not know what secret lies hidden in the heart of Mount Gundabad. But we must find out. My heart tells me that there is a greater danger hidden there in the darkness than presented by any kidnapping or raising of armies.

"We must lay siege to Gundabad, discover what lies shrouded in darkness there, and destroy it if we can, lest Alatar the Black use it with all the renewed strength of orcs from the Misty Mountains and with whatever hosts he may bring under his hand from afar."