Chapter Nine, The Long Pursuit

"Here Gimli." Calén said handing over his water skin to the panting dwarf who gratefully gulped down several gulps of water before handing it back smacking his lips happily. "Thank you Laddie." Gimli thanked before he started grumbling to himself. "No food. No rest and no sign of our quart what bare rock can tell!"

It was a few hours later when they ran down a hill and Aragorn found the leaf Lorien that had been torn off one of Merry's or Pippin's cloaks they had been gifted from his mother no doubt left as a trail for them to find. "They're no more than a day ahead of us!" Calén said happily to Aragorn who nodded in agreement as he took of in the lead with Boromir.
"Come on Gimli we're gaining on them!" Legolas shouted to the Dwarf before running off to the others as Gimli fell down the hill. Calén quickly raced over and helped the Dwarf to his feet. "Thank you Laddie. We dwarves are wasted across cross country we're very dangerous over short distances." Gimli informed him as they joined the others in chasing down the Urks.

Calén agreed graciously as to be honest he didn't know anything about Dwarves as Gimli was the first time he's ever seen a Dwarf, the same with the Hobbits and with Boromir and Aragorn they were the first he's seen of the world if men but Aragorn was a dunedain and Boromir had distant dunedain blood but he doubted they would be much difference between them and the normal race of men. Once again a few hours later Aragorn places his ear to the rock from where they stood upon a hillside. "Their pace has quickened." Aragorn informed them.
"Something gives speed to these creatures sets their will against us!" Boromir muttered as Legolas and Calén raced forward to the edge and spotted the Urks running in the distance with their enhanced sight. "Legolas, mîr-nîn! What do your Elf eyes see?" Aragorn shouted from behind them.

"The Urks turn North-East!" Calén calls back keeping his eyes on the horizon.
"Their taking the Hobbits to Isengard!"
Legolas shouting his eyes widening as he realised who was behind this.
"Saruman!" Boromir realised as they set off again trying to close the distance between them and the Urks running right through the night. As the sun rose the next morning it was a red sun and they realised what it meant; blood had been spilt that night. As they came upon an opening in the hills and rocks onto a grassy plain Aragorn and Boromir realised where they were. "Rohan, home of the horse Lords." They said in sync. They suddenly heard the sound of hooves pounding against the earth heading in their direction. "Take cover!" Boromir hissed as they dived for cover in the rocky hillside.

Aragorn holding Calén close to him as the riders rode past causing Boromir and Aragorn to recognise the riders. "Riders of Rohan!" Aragorn shouted stepping out of the rocky crevice leaving the others hidden as the column of riders turned towards them. "What news from the Mark?" Aragorn asked as the others joined them and they were soon surrounded by the riders in every direction. "What business does two Men, two Elves, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" A blonde man snapped riding forward. As he came closer he noticed that the black haired Elf who looked like he was dressed like he came from Lothlorien, seemed to be sick which he thought was strange as he knew Elves hardly ever got sick. He looked from the Elf to the man who had spoken and realised the man's protective stance in front of the Elf and realised why he appeared to be sick. He'd chosen a Mortal life.

"Give me your name horse master and I shall give you mine!" Gimli sassed not liking how he was looking at Calén. The blonde man turned to the Dwarf with a smear upon his face. "I would cut off your head Dwarf!" He spat. "If it stood a little higher off the ground!"
"You'll die before your stroke fell!" Calén snapped uncharacteristically an arrow notched at the man. 'No one threatens my friends!' He thought as all the spears now were pointing at them and he could see Legolas out of the corner of his eye had an arrow also pointing at the man in front of them while Gimli looked surprised that the Elves protected him, well he was more surprised about Legolas than Calén as he had been looking after him during their pursuit giving some water and Lambass bread to nibble on.

Aragorn pushes Calén and Legolas' bows down as he addressed the man. "I'm Aragorn son of Arathorn. That's Boromir son of Denethor, Gimli son of Gloin, Caléndir son of Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien and that's Legolas of the Woodland Realm. We're friends friends of Rohan and of Theoden your King." Aragorn informed them.
"Theoden no longer recognises friend from foe not even his own Kin." The man said removing his helmet revealing he is Eomer the nephew to the King. "We are loyal to Rohan and so we are banished."
"We were tracking some Urks east they have taken two of our friends captive." Boromir explained.
"The Urks are dead we slaughtered them in the night." Eomer told them.
"But there were two Hobbits with them!" Gimli cried alarmed. "Did you see two Hobbits with them?"

"They would be small only children to your eyes." Aragorn informed upon seeing his confused look. Eomer sighed sadly dreading what he had to tell them.
"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them." He stated apologetically as he pointed to where the smoke was coming from before calling three horses forward and gifted them to the Fellowship. "Look for your friends but do not dare to hope! It has forsaken these lands!" Eomer told the Fellowship as he climbed back onto his horse turning to his men he shouted, "We ride North!" And with that they left the Fellowship alone to search for their two missing friends all fearing the worse but hoping they were alive.