Beyond the Fords of Isen

Ill Tidings

Calm silence was around the group, and a blue sky draped overhead, as the sun rose higher into the sky. Some distance away, in the sky, a writhing cloud was spotted. It was gray and black, and seemed to be moving towards their direction. Legolas was the first to notice, a look of worry appearing on his face. He nudged Gimli and pointed upwards.

Everyone else had caught on and turned their eyes skyward. "Into the wood and lie still." The Elf prince ordered. The party obliged and did what they were told, and hid themselves among the brush. Adalmaer had taken refuge with the Hobbits. Their smaller bodies were easily hidden within the tall bushes.

The once blue sky was now darkened as the cloud swept over. It was crows and the like. They screeched and croaked as they flew over. The birds flew swiftly and disappeared from view, the sound of their wings growing faint. Aragorn rose, his dark eyes scanning the area.

When he deemed it clear, the others got up, Merry being the first to stand. The lot of them migrated to Aragorn, looking at him for an answer or something similar. He met each of their gaze before walking over to Gandalf, his mind occupied by what just happened.

Samwise, who was near Bill, spoke to Frodo. Adalmaer turned her attention towards the Hobbits, listening to their conversation. "What do you make of those foul birds, Mister Frodo?" He asked, his eyes glancing up. Frodo shrugged his shoulders, his voice low as he answered, "I don't know, Sam."

Throughout the rest of the day, the company stayed as hidden as they could while they rested and tended to their things. They couldn't move on, not when the sky was guarded by regiments of evil bearing birds. Come late afternoon, the flock vanished from the sky.

It was dusk by the time the party set off. They moved slowly through the forest, the air around them tense and uneasy. The light grew dim, and trees looked high overhead. The path was narrow, and they had to walk two abreast. Adalmaer found herself next to the Elf prince.

Legolas and Adalmaer had a comfortable silence between them. His head turned towards the woman, a curious look in his eye. She turned her head too and caught his gaze, "Yes?"

"You're a shield maiden, aren't you? A warrior like the men of Rohan.."

"What gave it away?"

"Well, your clothes for one thing. They aren't normal for.. a woman.. You also carry yourself like a warrior, and not like a maiden."

The Elf was spot on. Her armor, the way she carried herself. She wasn't just an ordinary woman. To call her a shield maiden though.. That term was old and archaic. It wasn't used often these days, but it was fitting. She didn't argue the fact and accepted the title, bowing her head slightly.

The further they walked, the darker it became. The stars could be seen, glinting and glittering high above. There wasn't need for lanterns or torches, the moon provided ample light. Earlier in the day when they were hiding and resting, Aragorn and Gandalf had talked about the routes to take.

Neither one was safe: Redhorn or Hollis, for the birds seemed to settle in the surrounding forests. Ultimately, Gandalf decided they would take Caradhras Pass, a path that would lead them through the mountains. It would be treacherous to be certain, but it was the lesser of two evils.

And so, through the night, the company walked onward. No one spoke, and the only sounds that could be heard were the crackling of leaves underfoot and the wind rustling through the branches. It wasn't until the sun had begun to rise that they stopped.

"Let's stop and collect ourselves before we start going up. The path isn't paved nor smooth, and it will take some time to reach the top. The mountain is treacherous at the best of times, and now we have the snow to contend with. Let us prepare ourselves now, for I know not when we will rest after this."

The others took their time to check their belongings and tend to Bill. The pony was tied to a nearby tree and given a few apples for the hard work he has been doing. Merry and Pippin were eating, Frodo and Sam were talking quietly, and Gimli was goading Legolas. Boromir left Aragorn and Gandalf to talk, his legs carrying him over to Adalmaer.