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Stirrings of Shadow  by Fiondil

52: What Happened in Upbourn

Warning: Certain scenes in this chapter may prove upsetting to some readers.

****

"Dead?" Thengel demanded. "What do you mean dead?"

Wídfara flinched slightly at the king’s tone but stood his ground. "They do not move, lord. I stood well inside bow range and none of them so much as looked at me. There was no movement at all, as if they were statues or... dead."

The others exchanged wary glances. Finally, Thengel nodded. "Thank you, Wídfara. You were very brave to do what you did." He paused at the look of pleasure that stole across the young Riders face. "You were also very foolish and we will discuss this at a later time, assuming we both survive the upcoming battles." Thengel almost smiled at the deflated look Wídfara gave him as he turned to the others. "We need to get into the town. I need to know what is afoot."

"We can enter the same way as before," Aragorn suggested, nodding to Gilhael as he spoke. "If indeed these guards are only statues or... dead, we should find no resistance."

"It could be a trap, though," Hildered suggested. "There could be an entire army behind those walls."

"But why?" Wídfara asked in confusion. "We have the town surrounded. We could simply starve them out."

"He has a point, my lord," Isenwulf said to Thengel. "The captain of the garrison here is not a fool, whatever else he might be. None of this makes any sense."

Thengel thought for a moment before nodding. "Thorongil’s suggestion has merit. If some of us can enter the town without mishap they can open the gates for the rest of us." He turned to Aragorn and Gilhael. "Very well, we will try your way in, Thorongil."

"Um... we, my lord?" Aragorn asked with some trepidation.

Thengel smiled, even as he dismounted. "Yes, we, and Wídfara may join us. Young and rash though he is, he has shown much bravery and I think he deserves a look at these... statues close up."

At once there was great protest among Thengel’s advisors. Hildebrand, especially, was quite vocal in his dispute, but Thengel would not back down. "Enough!" he commanded in ringing tones that silenced everyone. "King I may be, but I was a Ranger in Ithilien for many years. Indeed, were my life my own, I would still be there. As it is, I want to see for myself what lies behind these walls and I will not wait for others to open the gate for me. Hildebrand, the Rohirrim are yours. Thorongil, Gilhael, lead the way. Wídfara, stay with me." He gave them all a sardonic look. "You can be my bodyguard. That should satisfy everyone."

It actually satisfied no one, but all were acquainted enough with Thengel as their king to keep silent, though there were many scowls and muttered oaths among them as the four men moved off, heading due south to keep out of range of arrows. "In case those statues decide to come alive," Aragorn muttered to Gilhael, who only nodded.

It did not take them long to reach the southwest corner of the walls, but what they found there gave them a shock. Lounging by the boulder were the twin sons of Elrond.

"About time you showed up," Elladan whispered with a grin.

"What are you two doing here?" Aragorn hissed.

"Thandir sensed something was amiss inside the town walls," Elrohir answered. "We were sent to find out what it is."

"The guards at the gate do not move," Thengel said with a nod. "They are either statues or dead men. We’re going to see which."

The twins both raised eyebrows at that. Then, Elladan gestured upward at the rock. "Who gets to climb first?"

"You do," Aragorn said before Thengel could reply. "Elrohir can take the rearguard."

The Peredhil nodded and without waiting for permission Elladan started climbing effortlessly up.

Thengel cast an amused expression at Aragorn. "Any particular reason why Lord Elladan gets to go first?"

Aragorn gave him a sly grin. "He’s the oldest and you know what they say: age before beauty."

"I heard that," came the amused whisper from above them.

Thengel’s own amusement deepened. "And why does Lord Elrohir take the rearguard, then?"

"I’m the prettiest," Elrohir supplied with a straight face, though all could see the humor in his eyes.

"I heard that, too," Elladan retorted and the Mortals were hard-pressed not to laugh out loud.

Once Elladan had gained the top of the wall and ascertained that the way was clear the others began climbing. Aragorn went next along with Thengel with Gilhael and Wídfara behind them.

Wídfara glanced up at the rock in wonder as his turn to climb came. Coming from the Eastfold, he had never been to Upbourn and so was not familiar with it. "Do you think the Powers put this here on purpose, lord?" he whispered.

"Anything is possible, young Wídfara," Elrohir whispered as he followed the young Rider up the rockface. "Including knowing we would need this manner of entrance at this time."

Wídfara shuddered at that. Soon all of them were standing on the wall. Elladan gestured to Thengel. "My brother and I will go to the northwest corner," he whispered, "and signal for Hilderic to approach the postern gates."

"Do you sense anything?" Aragorn asked.

Both peredhil shook their heads. "As I said, Thandir sensed something was wrong, as did we. There is no life within these walls but our own," Elrohir answered.

The Mortals exchanged worried looks but then Thengel nodded. "Let’s get our people inside and then we’ll look for answers."

So Elladan and Elrohir slipped silently away as the four Mortals made their way to the southeast corner. Thengel had drawn his sword and the others followed suit, all of them crouching to keep themselves hidden from anyone who might actually see them. The two Rohirrim were not sure about what the Peredhil had told them. The thought that only the dead inhabited the town did not sit well with either of them. Aragorn and Gilhael were more used to the ways of the Elves and if the sons of Elrond said that none lived inside the walls, then they believed them, though admittedly neither one of them felt comfortable with the idea any more than their two companions did.

It took only minutes to reach the southeast tower and then they stopped to sight along the wall to where they could see several figures who were not so much standing as leaning against it. Nothing moved save the flapping of cloaks in the early morning breeze. Thengel turned to the two Dúnedain. "What do your eyes tell you?" he whispered.

Both Men shook their heads. "We cannot tell if they are true men or statues, lord," Gilhael answered. "We would need to get closer."

Before anyone could respond, Aragorn stood up and sheathed his sword, pulling his hood over his head to hide his features and strode out of the tower towards the gate. Gilhael attempted to pull him back but was too late. Thengel gave him a wry look. "These youngsters are so rash, are they not?" he commented quietly.

Gilhael grimaced. "If he ends up dead because of this, I’ll kill him."

Thengel’s smile broadened but he made no further comment, merely glancing at Wídfara who was attempting to look innocent without much success. Then his attention was drawn back to where Aragorn was now approaching the guards.

"Fair morning to you," he heard the Ranger say, but the guards never moved. Aragorn stopped a mere foot from the first guard, then tentatively reached out, but at the slight touch of his hand on the guard’s arm, the guard slumped to the floor of the parapet. Almost as if that were the signal, the other guards also slid into boneless heaps. The three watching all gasped and then Aragorn was gesturing for them to approach even as he knelt down beside the first guard and examined him.

He looked up as the other three reached him, his expression dark. "They are indeed dead, my lord," he said, turning the body over. "It has been cold enough especially at night that they have only just begun to decompose, which is why we did not smell any putrefaction."

"How long, can you tell?" Thengel asked, looking grim.

Aragorn shook his head. "Days, perhaps, but I would guess not more than a week else Gilhael and I would have seen even from the tower that they were indeed dead."

Thengel sighed in frustration. "I need answers. Who were these men? Were they loyal to me or to my mother?"

"How did they die?" Wídfara asked, trying not to be sick.

Aragorn turned to Gilhael. "Check the ones over there. I’ll check these here."

The older Dúnadan nodded and stepped carefully over the fallen dead to kneel by one of them. A quick examination of three of them convinced him that they had all died in the same manner. "They were garrotted," he said.

Aragorn nodded. "Yes. These as well. In fact, from the looks of it, they all were. These men were executed, not just killed in a fight."

For a moment silence stretched between them as they considered the implications of Aragorn’s words. Then Thengel shook himself, grimacing. "Wídfara, let us go open the gates while Thorongil and Gilhael bring these bodies down to the street."

They did as Thengel commanded and in a short while the gates were opened and Hildebrand was leading the Rohirrim into the benighted town, staring in wonder as they saw Aragorn and Gilhael carry down the corpses, laying them out along one side of the gatehouse. Wídfara was now helping them.

"What does this mean, Uncle?" Hildebrand asked as he dismounted. "What happened here?"

"That is what I mean to find out," Thengel answered. "Isenwulf, do you recognize these men?" He gestured to the bodies and the old warrior walked over to view them. He shook his head.

"Nay, I do not, but I did not know the faces of all the men at the garrison."

Thengel nodded, turning to his troops. "I want every house searched," he ordered. "Hildered, take you some of the men and head for the postern gates on the river side. Lords Elladan and Elrohir will be there to let your brother and his men in. I want you and Hilderic to have your men start searching in that part of the town. If you discover anything, you will find me at the feast hall. Thorongil, Gilhael, go with him. Wídfara stay by me. You will be my secretary for the nonce."

Everyone scattered to obey the king’s commands. Wídfara sighed as he watched his sword-brother move off. Thengel clapped the younger Rider on his shoulder, giving him a brief smile. "Come. We will go to the feast hall and wait and while we wait I will tell you what happened to me when I was about your age and did something almost as rash as what you did."

Wídfara simply nodded and followed his king meekly enough down the main street leading to the feast hall.

****

Aragorn and Gilhael joined with Hildered as he and his éored made their way swiftly towards the west wall. The Rider gave them a puzzled look. "I thought the Elves were leaving us," he said.

Aragorn noddded. "So did I but when we got to the southwest tower we found them waiting for us. Apparently Thandir sensed something amiss and sent them to investigate. They should be letting your brother and his troops into the town by now."

And so it proved. Even as they found themselves at the northern-most postern gate, they found Elladan and Elrohir, along with the other three Elves, talking to Hilderic as the rest of Hilderic’s éored filed through the gate, spreading out along the wall.

"What is happening, brother?" Hilderic asked, giving his twin a hard look as Hildered and the others approached. "What says the king?"

"We’re to search every house," Hildered answered. "Uncle is even now making his way to the feast hall. If we find anything, or even if we do not, we will report to him there."

Hilderic nodded and quickly gave the orders. His men swiftly moved away, heading towards the side streets. Soon only the Elves, Hildered, Hilderic, Aragorn and Gilhael were left. Aragorn was filling the others in with what they had discovered at the main gate.

"They were all hung by their necks and then propped up against the parapet wall to seem as if they were guards," Aragorn concluded. "Lord Isenwulf was not able to identify them, though, so we still do not know if they had sided with the rebels or not."

Thandir shook his head. "This mystery grows ever deeper. I wish I knew if Mithrandir had anything to do with this."

Gilhael frowned. "I do not think he would have countenanced these executions even if richly deserved."

"No, in that you are correct," Thandir replied. "I still wonder what happened after you left him, though."

"Why don’t we check Lord Isenwulf’s house?" Gilhael suggested. "That is the last place we saw him."

Hildered spoke then. "Go. My brother and I will supervise the search from here."

The Elves and the Dúnedain nodded and set off with Elladan and Elrohir taking point. It did not escape Aragorn’s notice that the Elves in fact were keeping the two Mortals in the middle of their group. The said Mortals exchanged grimaces but otherwise did not object. It did not matter anyway, for at no time did they come upon anyone except for other Riders checking houses. In fact, they came upon Isenwulf’s house just as the old lord was stepping out, a sheet of parchment in his hand, staring at it with great puzzlement.

"What is it Lord Isenwulf?" Aragorn asked.

For an answer the Man thrust the parchment into Aragorn’s hands. Taking a quick look he gasped and realized why Isenwulf had seemed so puzzled. He looked up at his companions. "Come. We need to see Thengel immediately."

With that, he set off, not giving any of them a chance to ask questions. With no other choice the others followed, mystified.

****

They found Thengel in the feast hall, surrounded by scrolls and books as he sat at a trestle table. Wídfara was leafing through a ledger, reading something out loud while Thengel was taking notes. The two looked up when Aragorn and the others burst in.

"What is it? What did you find?" Thengel demanded as he remained seated.

For an answer Aragorn handed the piece of parchment to him. Thengel took a moment to read what was written there, his eyebrows rising in disbelief. Then he looked up, his expression one of surprise. "He’s taken them to Helm’s Deep?"

"Who? Who’s taken them to Helm’s Deep?" Isenwulf demanded in frustration. "I found that on the table in my house but I cannot read it."

"That is because it is written in Sindarin," Aragorn answered. "Gandalf wanted to make sure that if an enemy found it, they would be unable to read what was written."

"You’re saying Mithrandir took the entire population of Upbourn to Helm’s Deep?" Thandir asked in disbelief. Thengel handed him the parchment for him to read for himself. The other Elves looked over his shoulder to read as well.

"So it would seem," Thengel said musingly, staring at nothing in particular.

"He did not take everyone."

They all looked up to see Hildebrand striding into the hall, looking grim. His two sons were with him, both looking pale and sick.

"What do you mean?" Thengel demanded.

Hildebrand’s expression darkened even more. "We found what’s left of the garrison." He paused, giving his sons sympathetic looks before turning back to Thengel. "They’re dead and they did not die easily."

For a moment there was just stunned silence. Thengel rose from his seat. "Show me," he commanded and then they were all following Hildebrand and the king out of the hall.

It took them only about five minutes to reach the barracks. Riders were ranged around the building looking grim. Hildebrand paused at the doorway and turned to Thengel. "It isn’t pretty."

Thengel nodded. "Let me see."

Hildebrand then flung open the door. The others could see that it had been barred from the outside with planks that now lay broken and splintered. It was only then that they noticed that the two front windows on either side were similarly barred, though no one had bothered to remove the planks yet. Therefore the interior was darker than normal and several oil lamps smoked fitfully as they hung from the rafters.

"In here," Hildebrand said as he motioned them past the two front rooms, officer quarters as it turned out, leading them further into the barracks. As their eyes adjusted to the dimmer light there were gasps of dismay all around, even from the Elves, and there was much gagging at the sickly smell that greeted them.

Aragorn shuddered and closed his eyes at the sight. Several of the cots were occupied, the men lying in them tied to the bedposts. They were obviously dead, surrounded by their own excrement.

"The Valar help us," he whispered in horror.

****

Author’s note: For those of you trying to figure out the time frame, two weeks have passed since Aragorn first entered Upbourn. Most people can survive without water for up to ten days and without food for longer, so it is plausible that these men would be dead if they were left as they were shortly after news reached Upbourn of the release of the hostages and the citizens revolted against the garrison. Chances are, though, given the time of year, and with no available heat source, these men probably died of exposure long before they would have died of thirst.





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