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Stirrings of Shadow  by Fiondil

48: War Plans

"You did what?" Thengel fairly shouted as Aragorn, Gilhael and the Peredhil stood before him in the main hall of the keep. Isenwulf was also there, though Reinhild and Isenhild were not. They were with the children in the kitchen where food was being provided for them. Morwen was overseeing the allocation of rooms for them all.

Aragorn flinched at Thengel’s tone and Gilhael’s eyes darkened in disapproval. Elladan and Elrohir merely looked bored. Thandir and the other two elven scouts stood to one side. Their expressions were completely unreadable.

"Burning down my city was not part of your mission," Thengel snarled, glaring at them all.

"Your city is still intact, Thengel," Elladan said with a sniff, eschewing giving the Mortal the honorific due him. "My brother and I are not fools. We fired certain areas of Edoras to create as much smoke and confusion as possible. If your people were quick enough, any damage by fire would be minimal."

"Nevertheless...."

"Nevertheless, you have what you wanted, Thengel King. Be satisfied with that," Elrohir stated categorically, his expression cold and his tone glacial. More than one Mortal in the hall shivered involuntarily. He turned to Thandir, deliberately speaking Sindarin. "I think we’ve outlived our welcome here. Elladan and I still have our mission to Círdan to complete. We will leave tomorrow before dawn."

Aragorn turned to his brothers. "You promised to stay and help me with Lady Morwen," he said, also speaking Sindarin. "Her time of confinement is nearing and I fear I do not have the skills to see her and the babe safely through the ordeal."

Thengel’s expression changed to one of deep concern. "Is it true?" he asked, speaking Sindarin as well. "Is Morwen in danger...."

"Her pregnancy has been difficult, my lord," Aragorn said, "and there is some concern about the babe surviving the labor. It is why I welcomed Lord Elrond’s sons to help with the delivery, for their healing knowledge is greater than my own."

Thengel actually paled and Isenwulf did not hesitate to go to his king’s side and steady him, issuing orders that wine be brought. Aragorn also was at his side, solicitous and concerned, ordering him to sit and drink the wine. When he was sufficiently recovered, Thengel looked almost pleadingly at the twins.

"I beg of you, do not let my initial anger send you from my halls at this time. Morwen..." He could not continue and all there were nothing but sympathetic towards the king.

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances and some kind of communication passed between them, punctuated by a raised eyebrow on Elladan’s part and the pursing of lips on Elrohir’s. Then they turned as one to face Thengel again.

"We will remain at least until the babe is born," Elladan said softly and the look of relief, both on Thengel’s face and Aragorn’s, did not go unnoticed by any in the hall.

"Thank you," Thengel said with all sincerity and the two Peredhil bowed.

"I think you should rest, my lord," Aragorn suggested, "or at least go to your wife and spend an hour with her and your children. Whatever needs to be done can be done by others and Lord Isenwulf is not going anywhere. Time enough later to speak with him." Isenwulf nodded in agreement.

"Wise words, Thengel King," Thandir said suddenly and everyone looked at the Elf in surprise, for he had not spoken a word since being summoned to the hall. Thandir naturally ignored the stares. "Tomorrow will be soon enough for a council of war. I would hope that Mithrandir would make an appearance before then, for his wisdom would greatly enhance whatever decisions are made concerning the upcoming siege."

"Was there no sign of him?" Thengel asked and the others shook their heads.

"Nor was there any pursuit from Upbourn," Elrohir said, "which I find even more disturbing, odd though that may sound."

"The silence from Upbourn is very disturbing," Isenwulf said with a nod. "I, too, feel uneasy about it all and wish we could have spoken to Gandalf."

"I will order the sentries to keep an eye out for him," Thengel said. "It is not wise to meddle too closely in the affairs of Wizards, I have been told." He gave them a weak smile which was reciprocated by the Elves and the Dúnedain. "But in this case," he continued, "I would welcome him gladly to my councils." Then the king stood, shaking off the assistance of Isenwulf and Aragorn. "I will go to my family. Tomorrow, after we break fast, we will meet in council." Then he was gone.

Aragorn glanced around as the crowd of Rohirrim drifted away, leaving him alone with his cousin and the Elves. "Do you think there’s time before the evening meal for a bath?" he asked, looking innocent.

The Elves smiled and Gilhael rolled his eyes. "Only if you don’t take all the hot water," Elladan said. "We want one as well." Elrohir and Gilhael both nodded.

Thandir gestured for them to follow him. "Give me credit for some foresight. I’ve already made arrangements for tubs of hot water to be filled in the bathing room off the kitchen. Go gather your things and have fun."

None of them had to be told twice.

****

Gandalf did not make an appearance that night nor was there any sign of him in the morning. Aragorn felt saddened, for he missed the Wizard and had looked forward to seeing him again. Something about him made the Dúnadan feel... well not safe, but certainly more hopeful in outlook. He tried to explain it to his cousin as the two were dressing and Gilhael nodded.

"Mithrandir has a way of brightening any darkness and offering, not as you say, security, but at least hope that things will turn out well," Gilhael stated as he belted his tunic, "or at least that things will not turn out as badly as we fear."

"I wish he were here, though," Aragorn said somewhat forlornly, shoving a foot into a boot. "I would like to have spoken to him some more."

Gilhael shook his head. "I learned long ago to expect the unexpected when it comes to Wizards. Mithrandir will come if he feels he is truly needed. I have the feeling that he likes to see us come to decisions on our own instead of handing them to us on a silver platter."

Aragorn nodded and gave his cousin a wry smile. "Less cause for resentment if anything goes wrong."

Gilhael chuckled and the two made their way towards the central hall where breakfast was waiting.

****

They were not the only ones disappointed that Gandalf had not as yet made an appearance, but Thengel decided that they could not wait for the Wizard, for they needed to finalize their plans for the retaking of Edoras. Solmath was almost gone and Rethe would soon be there. Already the heavy snows of winter were fading, turning brown with mud. Soon, the rains would stop and the ground would become drier, making it easier to maneuver the horses down the dale.

"Upbourn is our first concern," Thengel told them as the council began. Besides Hildebrand and Hildered as his chief advisors, Isenwulf was in attendance. Alric, as captain of the garrison was there as well, and several of the king’s Witan who had managed to escape from Edoras sat there. Aragorn, Gilhael, and the Elves sat to one side. "Isenwulf has informed me of the situation. We both feel that with the hostages safely away, the people of Upbourn will be more willing to join us against the rebels, but we need to know for sure."

"I can go back...." Isenwulf began, but Thengel shook his head.

"No. That would prove too dangerous for you and if all is not well in Upbourn you could very well die. I need you here." He sighed, running a hand through his greying locks. "I will not risk anyone’s life that way. I will set a watch on the town. We will see what sort of commerce there is between Edoras and Upbourn, if any."

"What of the garrison at Helm’s Deep?" Hildebrand asked. "Do you intend for my son to lead them here or meet us before Edoras?"

Thengel gave his First Marshal a small grin. "That remains to be seen. I gave Wídfara and Ragnawulf certain instructions. Hilderic will follow them as circumstances dictate."

"Aldburg is firmly in our hands, is it not, my lord?" Beornwine asked Thengel.

"Erkenbard sent me his latest report just two days ago," Thengel said with a nod. "All is well there."

"Can we expect other aid?" Beornwine insisted. He was Thengel’s chief councillor among the Witan, or what constituted it in this hideaway and was wont to be more direct than the others. Thengel did not mind and in fact welcomed Beornwine’s forthright manner. He never cared for the fawning sycophants surrounding Turgon in Minas Tirith.

"As to that, there is no way to say. We must make our plans accordingly. I will not depend on help that may not come."

With that they set about discussing their options. Thengel had already decided that the retaking of Edoras would occur no later than the spring equinox. "I want this over with as quickly as possible," he told them. "I am hoping that the loss of the hostages will have demoralized the rebels somewhat, knowing that we were able to infiltrate the city so easily."

There were nods all around though not everyone appeared hopeful. Aragorn exchanged glances with Gilhael and Thandir but their own expressions gave nothing away of what they were thinking.

"If we can be sure that Upbourn is ours," Thengel continued, "we will have the advantage. The rebels made a mistake in burning Underharrow."

"It may not have been the rebels who ordered the burning," Aragorn said and proceeded to tell them what his brothers had discovered. The faces of the Rohirrim were grim.

Thengel sighed, looking weary. "Guthláf of Gálmódingsdæl. He was ever a thorn in our side. My father’s desire for gold over justice was what drove me away. It seems I must finish what he refused to start."

"Then let us finish it," Hildebrand declared as he stood. "Let us put an end to this farce once and for all. You are our king, Thengel son of Fengel. We want no other. Rohan needs no other."

The Rohirrim stood at those words. "Westu, Thengel, hál!" they all shouted as the king sat there, his expression unreadable. Only the two Dúnedain and the Elves did not join in the acclamation.





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