chapter - 4

The prince slowly opened his eyes. He looked about. Elves were busy in preparation. Men were feasting. Elladan and Elrohir seemed to be nowhere. The prince got up. His head still ached. He stood. He gathered his weapons. A man seeing him get up bought him food. There were berries,red meat,roasted bacon,some fruits and a glass of wine.
"Hmmm. A Feast".
"Yes my lord a feast for our victory. elves brought a lot of food with them. But the meat we had to hunt. And that was not so difficult. There is lots of game around here and we have hunters skills as we would. Take this and eat it my lord. You nedd some strength ere we embark upon our road."
"We?"
"Yes We. We place ourselves under your command as our late leader wished. We are proud to fight alongside you once more. We made allegiance with your ancestors once upon a time and it is time now that we honour the same allegiance. We offer our swords to you. Take it or leave it as you wish."
"It is also a honour for me that you have shown me such respect and friendship not to mention kindliness. I accept your allegiance. You all ride with me henceforth. "
The prince took the plate from the man and other men cheered.
The prince was hungry. He wiped off everything from the plate. At that time elladan and elrohir were seen coming from the forest.
"A Glutton you seem to be for our food.It has been five hours since you slept. Come now we must ride."
"Yes we must but where did you both go?"
"To gather herbs. We need them for healing. There is a lake nearby where we gathered much since the forest has burned under the dragons' wrath."
"This is a help unlooked for"
"Well we were sent to look for you. It is a year and a more since we hunted you and now we found you. We were warned of your ill fortune by a secret we will keep to ourselves. So we set forth from rivendell with a host of elves at our command. we are weak now very weak since our kindred departed to the west.But now we must take you to the west.We know you were heading back westwards.We shall take you west."

"I first need to find the white city."
"The white city?Yes Minas Tirith. The city of the tree. They are our allies and we will go there first as you wish. But it is a long way and with these rangers at your following it will take a year maybe to reach there. And we have to take a way round about.So we need to have strength and rest ere we start."
"And what about the goblins. We are not safe here. The evil will come after me as soon as he learns about his defeat."
"Goblins?There were goblins in this fight too?"
"Yes there were.They fled eastwards when i slaughtered their captain."
"That makes our stay here perilous enough. We should hunt for the goblins.Come prince. If you are well we may as well follow them and hunt them.They should not reach the dark city."
"I am well.But what about the people?"
"They will stay here. We take with us only a few for we do not do open battle. We just resort to secrecy and speed."
"The goblins are now few. Only a handful of men are enough."
"As you say prince. I will order a company of ten besides us.Elves will hunt with men together once more."

With this Elladan sent Elrohir to instruct the elves.Soon a company came ready with their bows.
"Elladan We must speed Though they may not have gone far. It will be some leagues ."
"Yes We must rush. Come men Come. Stay aside your fear and come."

The company set out. They found their prints not far from the mountain. They followed them with a great speed. Two hours later they found them camping besides a stream dirtying it as they would.The elves took to the trees while men hid behind them.All strung their arrows to their bows.
In a whisper
"Fire."
The arrows were fired.Many goblins died. The remaining fled east. But the prince was not with the company. He had silently taken away and formed another plan. While the goblins were fleeing the prince came from their front and slaughtered them.Not one escaped east. All who were in sight of the prince were dead. The prince came back.
"You do us ill my friend.You shouldnt have taken away without us.The deed was perilous."

"The deed was perilous. Yes. But It was fruitful. If i had remained with you the goblins would have escaped and the news would have reached our enemy. Come now we must rush back to camp and not stay in this land for now. We must head westwards towards the light."

"Yes we must. Come men Head back to camp. Head west."

The company now headed back towards their camp. Soon the westward road would be taken,.

The wind was blowing strong.It was the west wind driving away the foul fumes of the east.The huge company of elves and men had to stay.They could not move any further while the wind lasted.They were tired.For six long hours they were marching west without food or water or any shelter. The land was barren and devoid of trees. Only shrubs grew and they too were scarce. It was like a desert. The sun was relentless. The clouds were being driven away. The west wind was also hot. There was no moisture. In that dry land many feets faltered. Leagues still lay before them. There was no sight good for them. They wished they had taken another road. But the elves were sure of this road. For this road would take them faster to their destinations. But Luck was hard and bad. It was ill fortune that the west wind came dry.The wind was not from the sea. The elves respected the west wind but this time the west wind did not hold hope. IT was the first time that the west wind was dry and not from the sea.Now even the elves detested it. Elladan and Elrohir thought it best to rest now and continue forward next morning hoping the weather would give way.They were hoping against hope that they would take to the road faster.

"It is still some leagues away.The green forest of Cuvienen." said Elladan.
"Cuivienen??Is that not the place where the elves were born in the morning of the world when there was no sun and no moon and there were only stars?"
"You are learnt in history my dear friend. Yes that is the very place i am talking about. Cuivienen. Ever my heart desires to see that place. The land is green. It reminds me of a far green country. There is a huge lake in the center. There are lots of animals in there that are our friends. Would that we reach that place soon?"
"We will reach there brother. and soon that will be. And we will rest there a while. Yes we will enjoy the cool weather and the chirping birds and the peaceful forests and the rippling lake. But it is two days from here if luck is with us.but tonight we stay here."

Night came swiftly. The wind still blew but it was less than that of the day. Men and Elves prepared food. They lit a fire. They had found a shelter under a mountain which was large enough to accomodate them. Ah The Caves of Old. These caves were the very caves that men when they awoke lingered.That was in the morning of the world. While some went towards the light in the west. some stayed here. But As Time went by the path of men was ever laid towards the west. Seldom did their feet took them to the eastern lands of middle earth. Memories brought back of the old world. These caves were just caves.No carvings or any admirable paintings were there. For when men lived here they were unlearned. Most of the men learnt from elves or dwarves or by experience.

At last food was prepared. There was just little meat and food to eat mostly being berries picked up before and some fruits. Though it was not satisfying the entire company. they had to go along with the food. They had no other option.

Elladan-"Its poor fare my friend. Should you reach our halls in the west you would be treated better."
Then said Elrohir " You could eat in Cuiveinen. There is lot of food to be had there. Wait till we reach there."
"And what after Cuivienen" asked Elladan "Its still many leagues from there to Minas tirith."
"There are the lands. Men there might help us. There are many cities and villages along our road."
"Not all men are good brother. Some may wish evil to us. They hold us responsible for their doom. They hold the West responsible."
"That they do.We have to cross the eastern marches of Harad and then northwards to Khand and then take west and follow the shores of the inland sea of rhun and by many long leagues we reach north ithilien and pass the Argonath upon the great river.but it is still a long way.IT may take a year to get there."

"A Year. Then our supplies run low" said the prince. "Men will be hungry and some may die."

"Keep hope friend.There is lot of food there and not every land is a desert."

"Elladan You forgot There is one more desert we have to cross.that one is bigger than this and more barren."
"Keep quiet Elrohir. Your comments may dampen their spirits. We do not want them to lose hope and courage. We want them to be brave. We want them encouraged. And That desert you are speaking about is still leagues away. One land at a time.For now let us think of Cuivienen and sleep."
"Sleep. Yes Even i could sleep."
"Sleep then. May you dream sweet."
"Sweet indeed."

Everyone started preparing their beds. One by one everyone slept.Only a few were to keep watch on the surround and take turns in the night.