44: Questions of Risk

The month called Frery slowly made its way towards Solmath. A continuous watch was kept on both Upbourn and Edoras but there was little to report. The initial flurry of exchanges between the capital and Upbourn ceased about mid-month, just in time for two snowstorms that inundated the area and made travel anywhere impossible. Thengel kept his people busy though with preparing as best they could with the resources they had for the retaking of Edoras. When the snows were not hampering them, the éored was out drilling. Even the civilians were engaged in checking and repairing weapons, armor and tack, as well as more mundane tasks, such as preparing bandages and such for the inevitable injuries that follow any battle.

The Elves stayed out of everyone’s way, barely seen by any except Aragorn, Gilhael and Thengel. That suited most people just fine, for these Firstborn, unfailingly polite and helpful though they were, made many of the common folk uneasy and, in some cases, feel inferior. Thandir, being aware of this, gave orders to the others that they were not to volunteer to do the work that the Mortals were quite capable of doing themselves.

"We may see them as children," he told the other Elves, "and in many ways they are, but in more important ways they are not. They are no less capable than we. The Edain have always been resourceful and we should allow them to express that particular gift which Ilúvatar has given them."

The one thing they did do was to keep a close eye on Lady Morwen. Elladan and Elrohir went with Aragorn to Thengel and told them of their concerns for the queen’s health.

"She has made no complaint to me," he said with some chagrin, "yet I can see the shadows under her eyes and she tires more easily than she did when she carried the others."

"The privations she has suffered these last months have not helped either," Elrohir said. "Yet, we sense that the babe is strong and healthy and eager to be born." He smiled at that and Thengel couldn’t help smiling back.

"We just want to make sure that both mother and child survive the ordeal of the birthing," Elladan added. "Yet we hesitate to offer our services without your permission, Thengel King."

Thengel nodded. "You did well to come to me first. I will speak with Morwen. She is from Gondor of the line of Númenóreans. I do not think she will object to your leechcraft. She has already accepted Thorongil as her healer-in-residence."

"Thorongil is a Mortal, as is she, so her acceptance of him is understandable, but she may not feel the same way towards us and we would not wish to cause her any more distress at such a time with our presence if it is unwanted."

"I understand, and I thank you for your consideration," Thengel acknowledged. "I have no objections myself, but then, I’m not the one who will be giving birth." He gave them a deprecating smile and there were nods of understanding all around.

In the end, though, there was no need for concern, for when Thengel broached the subject to Morwen, she gave her heartfelt consent and began pestering all the Elves to tell her if the babe would truly be another daughter as Thorongil had said, but they merely laughed and told her "Wait and see" and with that she had to be content.

Thereafter, the Elves could be seen spending their time with Morwen, singing songs and telling tales. Some frowned at this, but many who saw how much stronger their queen seemed, and noticed that her eyes were no longer dimmed with fatigue, but bright once more, rejoiced, for they loved their queen, foreign-born though she be, and were grieved that her health was so poor of late.

Thengel, meanwhile, was busy with certain plans, plans that involved Aragorn and Gilhael. On a blustery morning towards the end of Frery, he called the two Dúnedain, along with Ragnawulf and Wídfara, into Alric’s office where maps were strewn across the good captain’s desk. One of them was a layout of Upbourn. Thengel was tapping a finger idly upon it when the four men entered.

"Before we can take Edoras, we need to deal with Upbourn," he stated without preamble. "I need information."

"What are you thinking, my lord?" Aragorn asked.

Thengel gave them all a shrewd look, lingering the longest on Ragnawulf. "I want Isenwulf," he finally said. "There are some questions I would ask him."

Ragnawulf paled. "Our last report has him in Edoras...."

Thengel nodded. "But he returns to Upbourn on a regular basis. I want you there when he does, or rather I want Thorongil and Gilhael."

"Us! Why us?" Aragorn exclaimed. Gilhael looked equally surprised by Thengel’s words.

"You managed to infiltrate my mother’s encampment and rescue my son right under their noses...."

"Just barely...."

"Yet it was more than anyone else managed to do," Thengel retorted. "Two of my men tried... and failed."

There was a pause as the ramifications of what the king was saying hit home. "Nevertheless," Gilhael started to say, "I still don’t see how...."

"I spent many years among the Rangers of Ithilien," Thengel interrupted. "I learned many tricks of infiltration and extrication during my time with them. I suspect you two have similar skills." He gave the two Dúnedain a shrewd look. Neither attempted to deny his words.

"What about me, lord?" Wídfara asked, unable to contain his curiosity. "Why am I here?" He understood, and agreed with Thengel, as to why Thorongil and Gilhael were the best choice for sneaking into Upbourn and bringing the traitor Isenwulf out, and Ragnawulf, of course, would know about his uncle’s habits, so he would be valuable for that reason, but he was at a loss as to why he was at the meeting, for he knew nothing about sneaking in and out of any place and even less about Isenwulf of Upbourn.

Thengel gave him an indulgent smile. "You are here, young Wídfara, because while Thorongil and Gilhael are dealing with Isenwulf of Upbourn for me, I need you to ride swiftly by the hidden paths to Helm’s Deep with a message to my sister-son. It is time to bring in reinforcements."

"Alone?" Aragorn asked with some concern.

Wídfara looked somewhat affronted and crushed at the same time and Aragorn realized he might have overstepped his bounds.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply...."

"Nor do I think so," Thengel said, placing a hand on Wídfara’s shoulder, "even if Wídfara believes otherwise, for you are correct. I do not mean for you to journey alone." He said this last to the young Rider, who gave Thengel a surprised look. The king shook his head, giving Wídfara a fatherly smile. "Ragnawulf will go with you after he has given Thorongil and Gilhael all the information he has on his uncle and Upbourn. The times are too dangerous to risk a lone Rider."

Now it was Ragnawulf’s turn to scowl but he did not contradict Thengel. Wídfara looked a bit less upset and nodded in acquiescence.

"Good," Thengel said in wry satisfaction. "Now that we’ve cleared that up, let us speak about how to get you two into and out of Upbourn without getting caught or killed."

The king pulled the map of Upbourn closer so all could see. "My spies have been marking the watches on the walls of the town and they tell me that the good people of Upbourn cannot be bothered keeping watch on the river side."

Ragnawulf snorted, shaking his head. "No one ever expects an attack from the Snowbourn."

"More fool they," rejoined Gilhael with a sneer.

"We have had no enemies in a long time," Thengel said mildly, casting the Dúnadan ranger a wry grin.

"Until now," Gilhael retorted, then instantly regretted his words and looked apologetic.

Thengel merely nodded, not at all upset. "Until now," he repeated.

"I’m sorry, my lord...."

Thengel held up his hand. "Do not apologize Lord Gilhael. We indeed do have enemies, and unfortunately, we have lived so long without any except for the Dunlendings that I fear some have become... careless." His expression went cold and Aragorn found himself shivering slightly, glad that he was not Thengel’s enemy. "That... mistake will cost Upbourn."

For a moment, no one else spoke, then Ragnawulf cleared his throat. "If Thorongil and Gilhael were to use the Snowbourn to reach Upbourn they could do so virtually unseen. The moon grows dark again in another week...."

Thengel nodded, clapping a hand on the Rider’s shoulder in approval. "Good, Ragnawulf, good. Work out the details with Thorongil and Gilhael. They will need a raft of some kind, cleverly disguised just in case. Hmm... I think I’ll put some of our refugees to work."

"There is a young lad, an apprentice cooper, who could perhaps help. His name is Aldred son of Aldwine," Aragorn volunteered, remembering the young man who had wondered how he could be of help in retaking Edoras for his king. "His sister, Ashlind, helps in the kitchens, I believe."

Thengel nodded. "Excellent! Thank you. I will certainly have this young cooper assist in the making of the raft."

With that, they turned their attention to other details and Thengel also spoke to Ragnawulf and Wídfara about the message he wished to send to Hilderic at Helm’s Deep.

****

"Ithil will be completely dark in three days and will set early in the evening so you should not have any light betraying you when you leave," Thandir said to Aragorn and Gilhael as they were taking the evening air after the night meal. The three of them were wandering towards the Stairs of the Hold, stopping to gaze out across the valley of Harrowdale northward. It was the middle of the first week of Solmath and already the month was living up to its name. The weather had turned mild and there was a definite thaw, though they were all weather-wise enough to know it was a temporary thing and soon the cold would return as winter gave them a final gasp before giving way to spring.

"The raft is finished and all our supplies are ready," Gilhael said. "All that remains is for us to execute the plot."

"A dangerous gamble about which I am not sanguine," Thandir said.

The two Dúnedain snorted in amusement at that. To say that the ancient Elf was not sanguine when he heard of Thengel’s plans was putting it mildly....

****

"He wants you to do what?" Thandir demanded in disbelief.

"You heard correctly, Thandir," Aragorn said, refusing to get into an argument.

"Is Thengel insane, or are you?"

Gilhael scowled. "It’s no more insane than some of the schemes you’ve hatched over the years, my friend. Remember the time we wanted to..."

"Yes, yes," Thandir interrupted impatiently, "but we’re not talking about me, we’re talking about Estel."

"I thought we were talking about Upbourn," Aragorn said stiffly, beginning to understand why Wídfara had taken umbrage at his words earlier. Really! Would these Elves never let him grow up?

Thandir gave him a cold look. "You are the Heir of Isildur, Estel. You are the last hope of your people. Risking your life this way...."

"Risking my life?" Aragorn demanded angrily. "When am I not risking my life, Thandir? If I were not here in Rohan do you honestly think I would be safe at home in Imladris? I am indeed Isildur’s Heir. I am also Chieftain of the Dúnedain and, the Valar willing, perhaps one day I may claim the winged crown of Gondor and the Scepter of Annúminas. Whether here or in Eriador I risk my life. The Enemy hunts me even now. Why do you think I walk under the skies using an assumed name? Do not speak to me of risk, Thandir. I know the risks."

For a long moment there was a tense silence between the two. The other Elves and Gilhael who were witnesses to the conversation remained quiet, though Gilhael idly noticed the silent communication going on between Elladan and Elrohir, eyeing their ‘little’ brother in a different light.

"If Elrond were ever to find out...."

"What! You mean you haven’t told him yet?" Aragorn retorted with a disgusted scowl. "You’re slipping in your duties as my nanny, Thandir." With that he turned away and strode out of the room, no longer interested in listening to yet another diatribe from some damn Elf about how young he was. He heard Gilhael call after him, but ignored it, striding purposefully towards the doors leading outside, suddenly in need of fresh air.

It was several hours later before he saw the others again. By then, his mood had lightened, though he had no intention of backing down from his position. He had pledged himself to Thengel King for as long as he was needed and he would do as the king asked, no less than any other liegeman. How could he expect others to serve him if he were not willing to do the same? He would apologize though, he had decided. Thandir did not deserve his umbrage and even in his anger he had noticed the shock and hurt on the Elf’s face at his last words.

He tracked Thandir down in the room set aside for the Elves. He was alone, sitting cross-legged on a cot, oiling one of his bone-handled knives. Thandir looked up at Aragorn’s entrance, his expression unreadable.

"Goheno nîn," Aragorn said softly, "I should never have...."

Thandir shook his head, laying the knife aside and rising gracefully to go to the young Man, placing his hands on Aragorn’s shoulders. "Nay, it is I who should apologize." He gave a heavy sigh and then grinned wryly. "You are no longer the young Estel who pestered me for a whole summer for tales of the First Age."

"That’s what happens when you go away," Aragorn couldn’t resist saying with a teasing grin.

"I suppose so," the Elf conceded with a nod, then he gave the Dúnadan a glare. "And I am not your nanny. That’s Gilhael’s role."

Aragorn merely laughed. "Nay, Gilhael is my naneth."

Thandir joined him in laughter. When the two came to the night meal together jesting with one another, more than one person in the hall breathed a sigh of relief....

****

"You will watch over Lady Morwen, while I am away?" Aragorn asked Thandir as they continued looking out over Harrowdale, now lost in darkness.

The Elf nodded. "Though I suspect you’ll be back before anything happens. The babe has yet to turn."

"I know, but I’ve been uneasy about this pregnancy since I became aware of it," Aragorn stated. "It would ease my mind knowing that you and my brothers will be here for her if I am delayed."

"How long do you expect this to take?" Thandir asked.

Aragorn and Gilhael both shrugged. "It depends on how long it is before Isenwulf returns to Upbourn," the older Ranger answered. "If he holds to his previous habit, he will leave Edoras tomorrow and will remain in Upbourn for at least a week or two."

"Then the sooner you are able to take him, the better," Thandir said. The two Men nodded. Thandir sighed. "I’m still not sanguine about this."

Aragorn and Gilhael exchanged exasperated looks but wisely made no comments.

****

A runner came the next night informing them that Isenwulf of Upbourn had left Edoras and was now back in Upbourn. Thengel gave Aragorn and Gilhael permission to carry out their assignment and so on the first night of what the Elves tended to call Ithilvorn the two made their way down the Stairs of the Hold towards the Snowbourn where a raft, cleverly disguised as flotsam, awaited them. Ragnawulf and Wídfara accompanied them, for their own journey to Helm’s Deep would begin as well, using the moonless night as cover. They would cross the Snowbourn at the ford a couple of leagues north of Upbourn and make their way along the hidden paths that meandered through the forests that hugged the mountain slopes.

The four made their farewells to one another and then Aragorn and Gilhael climbed aboard the raft, pulling tree branches over them as cover. Wídfara undid the moorings and Ragnawulf pushed the raft away with a well-placed foot. "Béma be with you," he called out. If there was a reply, the two on shore never heard it as the raft was borne swiftly away. When it was finally lost to their sight, the older Rider turned to the younger. "Come. We have a way to go ourselves."

Wídfara nodded and in minutes the two were mounted and heading downdale, each hoping their two Dúnedain friends would fare well and their mission would be successful.

****

Frery: January; derived from Old English fréorig: freezing, frozen, chilly, cold, as well as sad, mournful. The Anglo-Saxons (and Hobbits) called the month Æfterra Geola or ‘Afteryule’. Frery is the name given to the month by the Breelanders, according to Tolkien. See Appendix D.

Solmath: February; derived from Old English Solmonaþ, literally ‘mud-month’.

Goheno nîn: (Sindarin) ‘Forgive me’.

Ithilvorn: (Sindarin) Moon-dark; the time of the new moon when it is invisible.