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The Road to Edoras  by Dreamflower

CHAPTER 26

Danulf and Adrahil made themselves as presentable as they possibly could before setting out. They did not want to frighten any possible cotholders with the sight of what might appear to be brigands or ruffians.

Adrahil bore a small pouch with a goodly amount of coin, silver and coppers mainly, for a small holder would have little use for gold.

“Shall we scout to the north or the south?” asked Danulf.

“To the south, I think,” said Adrahil. “It seems it would be well if we could find someplace that will be in the direction which the company will travel.”

Danulf nodded. That seemed reasonable to him as well.

“It is good that young Bergil is getting better,” he said.

“Yes, I was fearful last night, when his fever was raging, and we could hear his cries of terror from his fever dreams. I have known him, all we of the Third Company, have known him since he was but a babe of two years. I cannot begin to say how the thought of seeing his father should we have lost him unmanned me.” Adrahil gave a shudder.

“It would indeed have been a tragedy. But the worst is past. And we must find some provisions, or we shall have a camp full of hungry hobbits. The thought of *that* unmans *me*.”

Adrahil laughed, and the two Men picked up their paces.

_______________________________________________

Legolas had kept a keen eye on his students, and when they began to tire and get chilled, he brought them from the water. He was pleased with their progress. Both Poppy and Viola had overcome their trepidation at being in the water, and at one point, Viola had remarked that it was pleasant to be in cool water on a hot day, and that perhaps there was something to be said for swimming after all. Poppy had said little, but had concentrated on doing each exercise Legolas gave them. By the time they seemed tired out, even Poppy was beginning to relax.

The two hobbitesses went behind the blanket screen, to dry off and change into dry clothing. When they emerged, Legolas had donned his own tunic. “You did very well,” he said pleasantly. “But I think perhaps at least one more lesson tomorrow is in order.”

As the three were heading back to the encampment, their paths crossed with Berilac, Mosco and Jolly.

“We’re foraging,” Beri explained. “We found a bush of brambleberries, and look--” he held out a sack, and both Poppy’s and Viola’s eyes grew wide.

“Oh, my!” said Viola.

“Those are lovely!” added Poppy.

“Yes,” said Mosco. “We found Penny Buns, Summer Truffles, and Dwarve’s Ears!”*

Legolas suppressed a chuckle. Hobbits and mushrooms--they made the greed of Dwarves for gold a pale and dim thing in comparison.

Poppy looked up at Legolas, her weariness a thing of the past. “Master Legolas, you may go on to the camp without us. I think that we shall join these lads. They could probably use some extra hands.”

Legolas nodded politely. “Very well, Mistress Poppy, Miss Viola! I will see you later.”

____________________________________________________

Since Danulf and Adrahil had gone to scout for provisions, it had left the Men short handed. The prisoners found themselves once again having a rare moment alone and unobserved.

“We might not get another chance like this. They are stuck here for a few days while the child is sick, and they are short of Men until this time tomorrow at least.” Dago was emphatic.

“Can we get free and slip out, though, is the question?” said Clovis avidly.

“What’s the use?” asked Clodio. “We have been marked. We can’t go home. We’re out in the middle of the Wild. You heard what happened to Sandyman! There’s no place to go where we won’t be in danger!”

Dago nodded. “It’s true, there is a good deal more danger than I had expected. But I’ve been giving this some thought. If we can get away to some populated area in the South, and disguise *these*--” he held out his hand, with its telltale tattoo, “--we can play upon being hobbits. You’ve heard the stories. The people gave the Travellers anything they wanted. As long as we avoid the City of the King, we could play up you being related to Peregrin Took. That’s not even a lie! We would just have to stay ahead of any stories of hobbits that have been banished.”

Clovis looked at the Bracegirdle with admiration. What a splendid idea! And it would be even more delicious knowing that in a way, they would be putting one over on Pippin.

Clodio shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. We don’t even know how far we’d have to go to find a place where that would work.”

“Father, I think we should take the chance while we’ve got it.”

Cado had said nothing. He noticed his brother staring at him, willing him to go along, as he always had. He shook his head. “No. I am not going with you. I won’t give you away if you make a break for it, but I’m not coming along. I find myself highly suspicious of *any* idea that you think is a good one.” He gave a bitter snort. “Or don’t you recall just how well your *last* good idea ended up?”

Clovis’ face turned red with fury. “Why you! If I weren’t tied, I’d make you eat those words!”

“Sshh.” Dago shushed them frantically, as Artamir approached.

“Is there a problem, gentlemen?” he asked.

“Not at all,” Cado replied smoothly, giving his brother a smirk, and feeling tempted to stick out his tongue. The Man standing over him made him refrain. But he meant it. His days of following his brother blindly were over.

________________________________________________________

The afternoon was drawing in, and though they had been riding slowly, keeping their eyes open for any signs that a habitation might be nearby, the two Men had still gone a number of miles, and were beginning to be a bit discouraged. So far, they had seen no sign that any small hamlet or homestead was anywhere to be found.

And then Danulf pulled up.

“Look!” he said, pointing towards the verge on the East side of the Road.

Adrahil looked, and after a moment realized that he was seeing a track, as of a cart or waggon passing that way on a regular basis. He stared off in that direction, squinting.

“I think I detect some smoke, as from a chimney, perhaps.”

Encouraged, they grinned at one another, and turned aside.

___________________________________________________________

Aednoth was hoeing the row of vegetables when his younger son came running up.

“Father! Father! There are two Men coming up the track! They look to be armed!”

Aednoth flung the hoe down and raced back towards his house.

_____________________________________________________________

Danulf and Adrahil topped a small rise, and could see the place now. Danulf grinned at the sight. Three small wooden houses, built of logs in the Rohirric style, a couple of very small outbuildings, and one larger building that appeared to be a stable.

“We should approach cautiously,” he told Adrahil. “We do not wish to be taken for brigands.”

Adrahil nodded, and they made their way down. As they drew closer, they saw four Men. Two of them were older, and one bore a sword, the other a pitchfork. There were two younger Men, one of them a mere beardless youth, the other appeared to be in his mid-twenties. The youth held a scythe, the other also bore a sword.

Danulf and Adrahil stopped about twenty feet away.

“Greetings!” called Adrahil. “We are emissaries of the High King, and of the King of Rohan! We mean you no harm!”

The older Man sheathed his sword, and made a gesture to the other Men to stand their ground. He walked forward to speak to them.

“Greetings,” he said in heavily accented Westron. “I am Beorhthelm, Beorhtnoth’s son. What do you here?”

________________________________________________________

* This is a most useful site for what kinds of mushrooms are available in the wild in the UK, and when. For obvious reasons I changed the name of one type:

  http://www.gigaflop.demon.co.uk/mushcook/tables.htm

 





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