The Mail Shirt

It started in his chest – the trembling - as soon as Gandalf subdued him to silence. His urge to call out and run forward; to stab his sword into that foul messenger, so great, that impeding it set his whole body shuddering with anger and loathing.

 “Hold!” Prince Imrahil whispered fiercely, as he caught his arm. Steadying him after the wizard’s abrupt thwarting of his action. Encased in his own misery, eyes fixed on the mithril-mail, Pippin barely heard the words of mockery that uttered from so foul a mouth.

 But without warning Gandalf moved, from his raised hand came a blade of pure white light, “These we will take,” he cried, and snatched, coat, cloak and sword.

LBJ