30.

            Legolas lead the vanguard past the new walls of the Rammas Echor while the sky grew ever brighter and white clouds streaked the deep autumn blue.  As they rode westward the great tip of Mindolluin gleamed like polished silver against the darker peaks of Ered Nimrais, piercing the mists that lay upon its lustrous head and shadowing its scored and pitted surface.  They passed empty farmsteads, mournfully settled in sere fields with cold chimneys; nor poult nor kine nor voice of man could be heard in the deserted pastures.  But behind them the sun shone warm and bright, casting their shadows long and distended upon the meads before them, and throughout the battalion fair voices were raised in song.  The Elvish knights sang in Westron in deference to their mortal partners; it was a gay and lighthearted tune, and by the second chorus the men sang as well, hearts lifting despite the ominous silence about them.  So the file progressed, with thudding of trotting hoof and jingling of harness, until they reached the north curve of the Great West Road as it crossed the Pelennor.  Here the Green Knight lifted his hand for a halt, and his knights drew in a circle about him.  He removed his helm and urged Hatchet into the circle to address them, and Galás stood by him bearing his standard.

            “In an hour’s time we come to the Stonewain,” he said to them.  “We shall proceed upon that course for four leagues, then cut north through the Grey Wood and climb an outer spur of Amon Din.  By the time we descend the spur we shall have espied our enemies.  Listen well, all of you!  Knights and esquires of Gondor, there are amongst these traitors men whom perchance you know, for they are men of your own lands despite their treacherous ways.  Should you find your sword arm weakened upon our employment through the sight of some well-known face, do not let your heart fail you, nor let the whispers of doubt assail you!  Turn instead to one of your Elvish brothers, for whom the enemy of their Lord is their enemy as well, and disclose unto them your doubts; they will do what your heart might tell you to refrain from doing.  And you Elvish knights, my people of the North, look you well upon the faces of the men with whom you are riding!  One mortal may indeed look much the same to you as another, and bear in mind these turncoats will be wearing the armour of the soldiers of Gondor.  Should any uncertainty beset you turn you also unto your mortal neighbors for guidance, for I shall not have it said friend slew friend upon the field of battle.

            “Remember you also the women and children held hostage by these conspirators!  They shall be overcome with fear and grief, and may not at once realize we come to rescue them and not to harm them.  Do them no injury, even should they contest you.  Protect and release them as best you may, and I need not tell you that should any find a man using a woman or child as a shield against you, you should hesitate not to slay the coward immediately and with ferocity.  These are the mothers and offspring of Gondor, betrayed and impoverished by an army of bullies and turncoats; what else have good knights and warriors to desire but to defend and safeguard the blameless prey of such base and violent beasts?  Our highest object for now is to bring these innocents back to Osgiliath where they may live out the winter in warmth, safety and wellbeing under the protection of Lord Faramir and King Elessar.  We know not whether there be ample food and shelter for them here, so if needs must we shall bring them to the keep at Amon Din, where Lord Aldamir’s seneschal will welcome them for the night.  Knights shall give up their horses to the weak and injured to make easy the road for them, whether to Amon Din this eve, or to Osgiliath on the morrow.

            “My Lord’s scout Himbaláth has informed me the army we shall be facing is ill-equipped and ill-prepared.  They have few spears and fewer bows, no cavalry at all save a few riding horses, and they yet know not our ranks have been swelled by the Elvish warriors.  We shall come upon them in their confusion and mow them down as a scythe in late summer.  Yet I tell you this – should any beg indulgence from you, casting down their arms and pleading for mercy, you shall give it them.  For we are not as they are, ignoble, corrupt, and avaricious; we are knights of Gondor, knights of Ithilien, and as such have before us a higher measure than they.  Disarm and bind them; trust them not but treat them with decency, remembering that when their trial is concluded before the King they shall be hung as traitors, which is their just due.  Give them not the satisfaction of being slain in the glory of battle!  They are not worthy of that honor.

            “Look!  Already the sun ascends her sapphire stair!  When she is at her height we descend the wooded hills to Amon Din.  At noon spears and lances shall be placed in their rests; swords drawn from their hilts, shields and escutcheons bound upon our manifers.  The enemies of the King know not their doom is at hand, and that doom is this regiment encircled about me.  You are fell, my brother knights; fell and fair, and the light shall flash from helm to cuirass and strike as lightning into the eyes of our foes!  They shall flee before us in dismay, and we shall crush them beneath our hooves, for they have slain the guiltless and plundered the helpless, and through our swords and spears shall freedom and deliverance be brought to our people.  Ride, then!  Follow the Green Knight from the valley to the forest that we may descend upon our foes like the blow of a hammer.  For Elessar and Gondor!”

            “For Gondor!” cried the knights, clashing their spears and lances upon their shields.  “The Green Knight for Gondor!”  The circle broke and Legolas and Galás rode out from among them, leading them west to the Stonewain.  When that goal they had achieved they turned east into the Grey Wood and left behind them the silent and sun-drenched fields, disappearing beneath the darkness of the trees.

            Slowly rose the sun in her course, coyly veiling her face betimes with white wispy cloud, yet casting down upon the meads of Ithilien her warm bright rays, which flashed and glinted upon the cuirasses and arms of the men who marched their steady way westward.  At the vanguard rode the Lord of Emyn Arnen, behind whom were arrayed his Rangers, and beside him was Thranduil of Mirkwood upon his dark charger, leading his archers.  Through the sea of summer-burnt grasses billowing against the wind came the foot-soldiers of Ithilien and the deadly marksmen of Eryn Lasgalen, cloaks stirring about their feet, their voices lifted in song.  They had taken turns teaching tunes from one group to the other, the Elves singing songs of Dale and in turn learning the odes of the Southern Rangers.  They were then in full cry, hoping to draw out the scouts of the enemy, caroling a Westron tune of war; Faramir sitting silent upon his destrier’s back heard to his amusement the Elven King humming carelessly along.

            There was the sound of hoofbeats then, and the song faltered; it was but Kaimelas however returning from a point patrol.  He galloped up to Lord Faramir and King Thranduil, his dark hair streaming behind him; in his hand he held some small object, which Faramir could not quite descry.  Saluting them both Kaimelas gestured to Baranil, Beregond, and Gimli, who urged their mounts forward.

            “Meivel and I came upon some men in the detritus of a farmstead there,” he said, pointing over the down they were approaching.  “They had secured for themselves a barrel of ale, and in their careless carousing fell easily to our arrows, but not before we pressed them for information.  Our enemy knows not of our proximity but believes any retaliation to be some weeks hence.  So far as we can tell our way is clear, for though you shame the birds with your singing no scouts have been flushed.”

            “Excellent!” said Gimli.  “I hope the Lion enjoys his surprise.”

            “You slew them then?” asked Faramir, disappointed.

            “We did not wish to at first, my Lord,” said Kaimelas.  “But as we prepared ourselves to bind and bring them they made an attempt to flee westward, so we shot them, not wanting our foes to be in any way alerted to our coming.  It was a pity, as we had hoped to glean yet more knowledge of them.”

            “What is that you are holding, my Kaimelas?” asked Thranduil.

            “I found this by the burned house,” said the Elf.  “It looks as though it were dropped in flight.”  He held out his hand and gave the small bundle to his King.  It was a child’s doll, made of wood and wrapped carefully in a scrap of wool; a face was painstakingly marked with ink upon its well-worn head.  It looked slightly singed on one side but was otherwise unharmed.  The Elven King turned it over in his hands, frowning; when he handed it to Faramir his eyes were alight with anger.

            “Whatever lord guides these soldiers has much to answer for,” he said.  “To meet warrior against warrior in battle is one thing; it is another entirely to waylay and abduct the innocent.”

            “Why did you take it?” asked Beregond of the Elf.

            “I wish to return it to its owner, if that be possible,” said Kaimelas.

            “Do so then,” said Lord Faramir, giving him the doll, “with all the blessings of the Lord of Emyn Arnen, good Kaimelas.  Have you any else to report?”

            “Meivel is prowling the verge of the Road,” said Kaimelas.  “So far it is clear.  He will signal us if it is safe to cross.”

            “Very well, we shall march to the foot of the last down and await his signal,” said Faramir.  Kaimelas tucked the doll in his tunic and turned his horse about.  The van watched him as he rode, skirting the approaching hillock and disappearing into the shadows on the other side.

            When they reached the low down Faramir and Thranduil called a halt.  They rested their troops while awaiting the signal from the Elvish scouts.  When Meivel’s whistle proclaimed the Road safe they marched once again, cresting the down and looking upon the dusty yellow track of the Great West Road.  It stretched from northwest to southeast at that point, winding about the rippling hillocks, settled upon the lower tracks like a ribbon carelessly thrown down upon the earth.  They could just see the darkness of the woods as a dark line before them.  On the opposite side of the road were Meivel and Kaimelas, sitting astride their great dark destriers.  Faramir and the Elven King led their people across the road to the fields beyond.  They could see arising from several of the folds of the meads light gray smoke, as of campfires, but the fields were empty save for a few birds watching them from their perches upon low gorse brushes, or startled hares dashing out from underfoot, tails flashing whitely at them. 

            They could now see Amon Din rising before them, its watchtower a small square dot against the bright sky; its dark slopes fell sharply down into the Grey Wood, which marched nearly to its peak.  The smell of smoke grew, and presently all could see the great haze of it rising in twisting columns, gathering in a low cloud and shuddering off to their left.  Thranduil shook his head and said to Faramir:  “Legolas will not like that!  See, it is blowing directly at him.  It will be all the more difficult for him to see where they should descend.”

            “It will also make it all the more difficult for our enemies to see him approach,” said Baranil.

            “I hope he comes in time,” said Faramir.

            “What, my Lord, do you fear for the outcome of the battle should Legolas be delayed?” asked Thranduil.

            “Nay, your Majesty!” said Faramir.  “I would simply not like him to miss anything.  Besides I do not want this Lion to run to the forest and try to hide there – it will be problematical enough to flush him out from among his men; I do not want to spend the next few days hunting for him in Aldamir’s woods.”

            “Elves are quite good at finding people in woods,” laughed Gimli.  “If you doubt me you have but to ask my father, and he will tell you!”

            Thranduil laughed as well, but ruefully.  “Well, Lord Faramir, should your Lion escape we shall indeed send out many scouts to bring him back to you,” he said.  “And I doubt not your Rangers are every bit as good at finding enemies in forests.”

            At once they saw two horsemen riding at a gallop towards them; Baranil cried out, “It is Meivel and Kaimelas!  They must have espied our enemies.”  Sure enough the two Elves dashed up to the vanguard, their horses’ flanks streaked with sweat.  They were both laughing, and Kaimelas was holding his bow; Faramir saw the quiver was empty.  “You are nearly upon them!” smiled Meivel.  “They have set up border guards but no scouts; they have no trenches, nor towers, nor any patrols at all!  The greater part of them is encamped in the next valley; there is a tent therein, and some few horses, heavily guarded; we are sure that is where their captain hides himself.   The soldiers appear to be unaware of anything untoward – they have cast aside their armaments, and are sleeping, or playing with dice, or quarrelling.  Save a few company commanders near the tent there appears to be little leadership or discipline.”

            “How were you able to get past the border guards to discern all of this?” asked Beregond.

            “Ah!  I fear the border guards are lax in their duties,” said Kaimelas, brandishing his bow.  “All of them have the appearance of deep sleep, though it cannot be very comfortable to so slumber with my fletching protruding from their heads and chests.”

            “Excellent!” said Faramir.  “Run through the ranks and tell our men we shall charge from the top of the hill.  Beregond, sound the trumpet when we are arranged at the crest.  Is there any sign of Aldamir or Legolas?”

            “Nay, my Lord,” said Kaimelas, checking himself before going into the troops.  “All is quite quiet and serene; our enemies have no thought of battle.”

            “Let us finish them then,” said Faramir, and drew his sword.

            Legolas held up his hand and the file paused.  He gestured to Himbaláth and Galás and they dismounted and crept down the hill.  They had climbed the spur of Amon Din steadily beneath the dark shadow of the trees, silent save for the jingling of armour and the thudding of hooves; all had been quiet and without incident.  But as soon as they had crested the spur all the Elves had lifted their heads, sampling the air and frowning; when their mortal neighbors questioned them they only said:  “Smoke.”  Soon it was thick enough for even those lacking Elvish senses to descry it, and it swirled densely about them, bleaching color and blurring sight. As they descended the smoke thickened; it hung heavy about the boles of the trees, obscuring the high branches and the further wood.  But though Legolas sent scouts forward no sign of the enemy had been sighted.

            After a moment the two Elves came back to the van.  “There is naught on the slope, my Lord, save rocks and trees,” said Himbaláth.  “But we will not be able to descend swiftly lest our horses stumble and fall, until we reach a gentle slope to the valley below; there the trees have been cleared and the rocks fail somewhat.  But still it will be a hard gallop after a slow and careful descent.”

            “Do you see the enemy?”

            “Nay, my Lord!” said Galás; “the smoke quite shrouds us still.  Though we hear them, and also the voices of women and children.  They are below us some four leagues.”

            “Then we must be silent,” said Legolas, “so that we may hear when Lord Faramir and King Thranduil engage them.  That will give us adequate time to descend this slope.  Tell the file to ride as quietly as possible, and when we reach the cleared area we will pause to form a line.  When I give the word you, Galás, shall sound the trumpet and we attack.”

            “We will tell them,” said Galás, and he and Himbaláth rode back to the file.  While Legolas waited he turned to Hallas, who was biting his lip and drumming his fingers upon the saddle horn.  Behind his visor Legolas could see his face was very white, for Hallas was a young man and as yet untried in true battle.   “Hallas of Lossarnach,” he said quietly, “no one would think any worse of you should you choose to ride further to the rear of the file; you are injured and unable to ride well.  There is no reason for you to remain at my side.”

            “I have honor to regain,” said Hallas looking at him, his jaw tightening.  “Already have I lost too much.”

            “You will gain little pleasure from your honor if it slay you,” said Araval from Legolas’ other flank.

            “I will gain no pleasure at all from dishonor if I live,” said Hallas.

            When Galás and Himbaláth returned to the van Legolas moved them forward again.  The horses descended slowly and carefully, their hooves slipping upon the steep terrain and stumbling over the rocks embedded in the earth.  When they reached the cleared area they could see little, for the smoke was blowing into their faces; however they could hear voices below them.  Once again Galás and Himbaláth crept forward on foot, their forms vanishing into the thick fog of smoke.  Then after a few moments they came running back.

            “We descend from the smoke in a hundred paces,” panted Himbaláth; “then you will see the encampment below us.  To our left are the prisoners, the women and children; to our right a great company of men.  They are foolish to set so little guard upon their flanks, for we from our height can see the Lord of Emyn Arnen and the Elven King approaching, though they are hidden from our enemies by a great fold in the earth.”

            “Then we are just in time,” said Legolas.  “Have everyone form the line.”

            “How nice to not be late for such an important engagement!” said Galás cheerfully as he turned to the knights.  “Of all social niceties punctuality is my favorite.”  After the line had been formed they waited again; then there was the sound of a horn from below them and to the east.  “That is Faramir’s horn,” said Legolas, loosening his sword in its sheath.  The men beneath them had begun shouting, and they could hear the tumult of orders being given and armour being hurriedly affixed.  Then Legolas cried out, “Lances!” and all the knights set their lances in their lance rests.  Galás set the horn to his lips and blew a great blast, and with a cry the Green Knight led the charge.

            As they swept down the grassy slope they could hear another horn blowing ahead of them; Araval cried out:  “Aldamir!”  Then suddenly they descended from beneath the blanket of smoke and they saw the valley before them, choked with men running in all directions like ants, scrambling for swords or safety.  From their vantage point they could see Aldamir’s red banner at the other head of the valley, where his knights were sweeping down upon their enemies; they could also see the archers send up a great rain of arrows into the midst of the oncoming company, which melted beneath the onslaught.

            Legolas led his knights west around the back of the encampment towards the prisoners, whom they could see staring with frightened eyes from behind the high pen walls; the soldiers guarding the pen looked about wildly at the approaching line, crying aloud in fear at the sight, for the Green Knight outgalloped his men upon his terrible warhorse, which bellowed and screamed at them; the high helm was crowned with flaring wings and his bright armour flashed.  The enemy soldiers tried to stand, but wavered, then broke and ran.  It was however to no avail, for Legolas and his knights pursued them, running them down with lances and striking at them with swords until all the guards were slain.  Then Legolas ordered a small company to defend the hapless prisoners, and turned east into the fray.

            He set his line against the rear of the enemy’s soldiers, pressing in toward the central tents which housed the officers, not wanting any to escape; however there the resistance was fiercest, and the soldiers all the better armed.  Legolas shattered his lance upon a great bawling captain, then swept his sword from its sheath and struck left and right as Hatchet with a loud squeal plunged into the mass of men.  His destrier kicked and pawed at the soldiers, striking at them with his great fullered hooves, and the Green Knight’s ancient and formidable sword cut a great swath through his enemies, beating a path to the tents.

            Then he heard a great cry of dismay, and looking round saw the red banner of Amon Din had fallen; calling to Galás to sound the horn again he shouted:  “To Aldamir!  The Green Knight for Amon Din!”  At once a company of twenty knights clustered round him, among whom were Araval and Hallas; when Galás had raised the brown and green standard of Lasgalen of Dale they fought their way north to Aldamir’s aid.

            Hearing his son’s horn a second time, King Thranduil looked to see the green banner cut through the throng of soldiers and realized Aldamir’s standard had fallen.  Calling to his archers they sent a great barrage of arrows to clear the way for the rescue party, and soon enough he could hear Legolas’ voice crying to his knights to raise the red standard again.  He turned to Baranil at his side and said:  “Tell the archers to draw swords!  We must needs go to the aid of the Red Knight; that is where the fighting is fiercest.  Faramir and Legolas’ other knights are holding it well enough here.”  Baranil nodded and sounded upon the horn, and soon Thranduil slashed through the pack of panicked soldiers, diminishing their numbers greatly and beating a path to the red standard of Amon Din.  There he saw Aldamir himself, upright still upon his horse but wounded in the arm, and his standard bearer had been slain; Himbaláth was holding aloft the red ensign and Hallas sat lashed upon his horse beside them.

            “Where is the Green Knight?” asked the Elven King.

            “He has gone back to the tents, your Majesty,” said Hallas.  “When we broke away from the rest of our group a large party emerged from the tents and fought their way through the line to the northwest.  Four of them were on horseback and broke through the knights, galloping to the forest.  Lord Legolas has gone in pursuit.”

            From the east there was a sudden loud cheer; they turned and saw that Faramir’s white banner was planted firmly in the center of the valley, and all about him were enemies slain or taken prisoner.  Beregond rode up to them, his sword dripping blood.  “My Lord asks me to tell you the greater part of the soldiers appear to have either been killed or have given themselves up,” he said.  “We need now to find some way to bind them, that they will not run off to the woods to perpetrate yet more trouble at a later date.”

            “Legolas suggested the walled enclosure there,” said Himbaláth, pointing back to where the prisoners were held.  “We may exchange women and children for insurgents.”

            “Galás would no doubt say that was an unfair trade,” said Gimli coming up to them.  His axe was notched but his eyes were bright and he was unharmed.  “Look!  Here comes Cirien; he seems as though he has all things well taken care of over by the tents.  At least I see no more enemies standing; that is a good sign.”

            The Yellow Knight cantered up to them, his standard bearer beside him.  “Hail, lords!” he cried.  “This was a short battle, was it not?  Hardly an hour has passed and nearly all our enemies are slain.”

            “And some of our own folk too, alas!” said Thranduil.  “But we have won the field and that is the principal thing.  What have you done with the surviving enemy soldiers?”

            “The few who fell not upon their own swords, cheating the hangman, are disarmed and lying upon the ground over there,” said Cirien, pointing back to the tents.  “I have five good knights guarding them.  There is yet a small pocket of resistance to the north, and I bethought me ‘twould be a great pleasure to fight there beside the Elven King, so securing my place in history.  Shall we dispatch them, you and I, your Majesty?”

            “It would be a great pleasure for myself as well, Lord Cirien,” said Thranduil, and he and Cirien with a company of knights and archers marched off.  After a time Faramir rode up.

            “Hail and well met, Aldamir of Amon Din!” he cried.  “This was an easy battle; if all our foes fell so quickly we would be fortunate indeed.  But my victory shall be incomplete until I have before me the Lion.  Has aught been seen of any lords or captains?  Has anyone espied Orodreth or his niece, or Eradan?  What has become of them?”

            “Perchance they are in the enclosure with the women and children,” suggested Hallas.  “Shall I go to see, my Lord?”  Upon his face was a look of hope and consternation mingled at the thought of seeing Dirhael again.

            “Very well,” said Faramir.  “Hador, do you go with Hallas to see; and tell the knights about the enclosure to free the prisoners and place the enemy soldiers therein.  Should either of those two lords be present bring them back here.  We yet have to determine who it was led this uprising.  Have no soldiers of rank been captured alive?”

            “Knowing the noose awaits them in Minas Tirith has no doubt encouraged them to die cleanly upon their own swords,” said Gimli.

            “Where is Legolas?” asked Faramir.

            “He went in pursuit of a small company that broke through the line,” said Gimli.  “Perhaps the Lion is at last being hunted by the goat.”

            “I hope so,” said Faramir.  “This charade has gone on long enough and I weary of it.”

            In an hour’s time all pockets of resistance had been crushed, and the few remaining soldiers stripped of armour and weaponry and set face down upon the trampled earth.  Beregond and Baranil walked with guards up and down the rows of soldiers but none questioned could answer who their captain or lord had been, save for a few minor captains already slain.  It appeared the orders for decampment and deployment had been sent by messenger and none had actually seen the face of the mind behind the matter.  And one of the captains questioned had been quite astounded at being caught so off-guard; apparently their leader had told them pursuit would be delayed, and all had been expecting reinforcements to come to their aid up the Anduin.

            “The Haradrim you mean?” Faramir asked the man, who knelt before him, trembling and grey-faced with fear.

            “I do not know, my Lord,” said the captain; “we were told only that allies from the South would swell our ranks and make our victory sure.”

            “Well, your allies were defeated by King Elessar,” said Faramir grimly, “and all these plans for insurrection brought to naught by his might and through the love of his friends.  You have sold your honor for nothing.”  The defeated captain hung his head at these words.  “How is it we came upon you so unprepared?  Any captain or lord worth his weight ought to have had you to set camp upon a hill, so that you would see any enemies approaching; also you have spent much time and effort upon the palisade about your poor prisoners and none upon your defense.”

            “We had not the time for that, my Lord,” confessed the unhappy captain.  “And there was great division in the tents of our leaders.  Some urged us to march upon Amon Din and take the keep for ourselves; others desired to wait until our allies could find us and strengthen our position here.  Then yesterday a group of men in rich robes with many soldiers came up, and the lords and the lady went into the tent – “

            “What lady?  Which lords?  Did you recognize them?” demanded Faramir.
            “I know not, my Lord,” said the captain.  “I did not see them; I was told this by another.  But he did tell me this:  that one of the men and the young lady were afraid, and the lady was weeping.  I do not think all came willingly here.”

            “Very well,” said Faramir.  “Take him away; he can tell us nothing more of import.”  When a Ranger had removed the prisoner Faramir turned to Aldamir.  “The lady must be Dirhael Orodreth’s charge,” he said.  “When Hallas returns we shall know whether they are with the prisoners, or were in the knot of horsemen the Green Knight hunts.  Well, I am sure someone shall find them, so it appears the greater part of our work here is done.  You ought now to send messengers to your seneschal, telling him of the deeds that have transpired here, for if nothing else it will ease his mind of this burden of worry, and what people who have taken refuge in your keep may feel appeased.”

            “There does not seem to be any reason to bring the women and children to Amon Din, however,” said Aldamir; “I have spoken to Meivel and he has told me there is a great stockpiling of foodstuff and fodder, kine and goods near the palisade, so we can set up camp here this evening in safety and comfort.  These miscreants carried all the good things away from the farmsteads after they had slain the men.”

            At that moment Hallas and Hador returned.  “The Lords Orodreth and Eradan were not with the prisoners,” said Hallas disconsolately.  “There were therein only the poor housewives with their offspring.  The rest of the knights have freed them and the Elves are making sure they are comforted and kept warm and fed; otherwise I do not think they have been greatly harmed.”

            Hard on their heels came the Elven King and the Yellow Knight; they both dismounted and approached.  “Has aught been seen of the Green Knight?” asked Thranduil, wiping the blood from his sword.  “I have spoken with some of his knights and none seem to know whither he has gone.  Galás also is missing, and some diverse others as well.”

            “They were last seen pursuing a small company of mounted men into the woods behind the palisade,” said Hador.  “Kaimelas, Mardil, and Malbeth were with them.”

            “It concerns me they have not yet resurfaced,” said Faramir; “they have been gone some time.”

            “It is not so easy to track enemies in thick woods,” said Baranil.  “Nor is it easy to fight them.  Besides these men they are pursuing are perchance the principal leaders of this insurrection; capture will mean public disgrace and execution.  Their fear will give them wings.  But fear not!  Legolas at least is master at such things; I have no doubt he will deliver these men up to you, either whole and hale, or perhaps just their heads should they refuse to yield.”

            “All the same I should feel more content if others were set in pursuit of the pursuers,” said Faramir.  “Who will go to Legolas’ aid?  Cirien?  Aldamir?”

            “You need not even ask,” said the Yellow Knight.  “We would ask your leave to ride with him regardless, my Lord.”

            “I wish to go too,” said Araval.  “Hador and I will ride with you once again.”

            “My Lord,” said Hallas, “I beg you to let me ride with them as well.”

            “You do not slip upon the cruppers then?” asked Faramir.

            “Nay, my Lord!  Ornendil did his work well,” said Hallas.  “And I am as yet uninjured and desire greatly to see to Lady Dirhael’s wellbeing.  Should she be with this company being pursued by the Green Knight I would rescue her.”

            “Would you indeed!” smiled the Lord of Emyn Arnen.  “Ride, then, and with all strength of heart and mind.”

            “With your permission, Lord Araval,” said Gimli, “and of course with your esquire’s, may I ride again with you?  If I do not see to Legolas’ safe return Bandy shall never forgive me.”

            “Ride with me, friend Dwarf,” said Baranil, “for I go as well, with my Lord’s consent; as Bandobras of the Shire would chivvy you for Prince Legolas’ welfare so would my Lady implore me.  And my horse is far stouter than good Hador’s little hackney; we shall ride all the swifter.”

            “Very well, then!” said Faramir.  “Ride and good luck to you; should any further aide be needed send back for it.”

            “We will!” said Cirien, and he and the others rode off, leaving behind the smoking battlefield.