With Hope and Without Hope

Chapter 1: Decision

'Yes,' said Aragorn, 'we shall all need the endurance of Dwarves. But come! With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies. And woe to them, if we prove the swifter! We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!'

As the three remaining members of the Fellowship scrambled over rocky slopes, Aragorn set aside the fresh pain of Boromir's loss and forced his thoughts to those he might yet save. Upon finding a boat missing from their camp, Aragorn was certain Frodo had gone on with his task and that Sam was with him. Once they had seen Boromir over the Falls of Rauros, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli had taken only the daggers and arrows they had found and then had turned their hunt to Merry and Pippin in the hope that they still lived. Upon the winking of the first stars, the three had covered much rough terrain, climbing stony slopes only then to descend the sharp cliffs of the Emyn Muil.

They followed the orcs' wide trail through land of dry rock and short turf all the next day. As the sun made its leisurely passage overhead, Aragorn related to Legolas and Gimli how he had failed to recognize all the orcs they had slain. Some he knew to be of Mordor, some from the north, but others were strange to him. The three together concluded that these were likely sent by Saruman at Isengard. If this were so, the wizard knew then of their journey and purpose, and possibly much that had befallen them. They would need to take care on their path.

Long after the sun had slipped behind the spires of the Misty Mountains, the wide plains of Rohan flattened out before them. Earlier the grass had glinted silver with moonlight; now the setting moon stole even that last color from the land. Having run since the afternoon of the previous day, they halted their march to consider a choice: continue once more through the night or take much needed rest.

"My own thoughts on the matter conflict. For I deem that you guess rightly," Gimli said. "The easiest way may be the orcs' own trail, yet we cannot overtake them by following their path. And we need rest if we are to continue this chase."

"Agreed," Aragorn said. "Unless we can match their speed, we cannot hope to reach them by following their steps, but my concern is that while we rest, their lead grows."

"If we find a shorter path and continue through the night, we may have a true chance to overtake them," Legolas said as he stared out over the cliffs into the gloom. "Is there another way that would have our paths cross sooner?"

Aragorn was silent for a time as his eyes passed over the grey plains rolling west. "The orcs travel west towards the Entwash. My guess is that they will follow that river as it bends northward and then west to meet Fangorn Forest where they can find more shelter from the eyes of Rohan. If we travel more northwest, we shall save us some miles in the chase."

"But those saved miles are lost again if we rest," said Legolas.

"Or else those saved miles allow us the rest we need to continue," Gimli countered. "Then we do not lose so much time tomorrow."

"Nor do we gain any. We have agreed we cannot reach them if we continue thus."

"Do you forget the brooch? Not even you would have seen that in the darkness. What else might we miss?"

"Such a thing will not happen twice," Legolas said quietly. "They will be more vigilant now in their watches. Indeed they may have increased their pace."

"You both speak rightly. I know not the best way here," Aragorn said with a sigh. "I think that no longer am I best suited to make such hard choices. My decisions have gone ill in recent days."

"Yet we will follow your decision, as it will be the best we can do. I for one still trust your judgment," Legolas said.

"As do I," Gimli added. "You have not failed us yet."

Aragorn closed his eyes. The weight of this choice bore down on him, seeking to stoop his shoulders, slow his feet, and bring despair into his heart. Already they had felt an ill power delay their steps even as it gave speed to their enemies. Was this indecision more of that work?

If so, he would not succumb to it. He would not allow Saruman to keep them from their friends. And Saruman must not have the hobbits. He closed his eyes and felt his cloak billow as the wind passed over him, taking with it his indecision. "We must do all we may, as long as we may, for our friends. Things will turn foul if the hobbits fall into the hands of Saruman. I believe there is a chance we may catch them, if we change our path. But I fear rest will counter what we gain. And so my decision is to continue. We will lay our hopes with our lembas and the Valar for the strength to continue."

"For the hobbits, then," Gimli said, nodding, "I continue as long as I have strength." He rummaged into his pack for lembas, which he now surely needed, "If that is to be our path, let us go!"