The SONGS of SPRING

AT GREYFORD BRIDGE

Chapter 4

'Is everything set?' Raen whispered to Beren. The two walked side by side outside of the Grey Ford Tower blending with the scantly folks heading to the busying early morn-routines. Raen was holding a basket wrought in vines with one hand and her new bo on the other, while Beren trudging with a wooden cart laden with vegetables - carrots and cabbages, and the Sun was about to peek from behind the fir-cladded hills before them. 'The Elves are on their way, I wager they'd be here before the Sun comes out of hiding.'

'I doubt not, Brunn is waiting for the signal,' he said under his breath. 'All is set but I do not like the stillness of the air, it is as dry as dust. Raen, I'm not certain about this, taking the bridge is just too drastic.'

'Nothing is drastic than the coming of Elves in Grey Wood, much more to Draudan. I would blast a castle and die with it if Elves take Draudan Forest. It is our home, Beren, our only home. Never forget that,' she grudged.

Raen tightened her grip on the basket's handle. Beren's eyes seemed to have lost its lustre, from grey it has turned dark as he reckons old days when he was still a lad in Pelennor - Beren son of Bergil son of Beregond.

He hastened beside Raen. The act was very well played for no one would suspect a common-folk selling vegestables early in the morn. But beneath Raen's long brown skirt were two knives hidden on each of her leather boots and beneath her lovely white and blue upper clothes was a tight leather vest, Beren looked more of a stable boy than a husbandman on his weather-stained white tunic and brown trousers, his shoulder-length dark hair was neatly tied up to a small bun.

'We could have ambushed them at Osgiliath by the ruined bridge.'

'Now is not the time to change plans. Can't you see? If we destroy the bridge it'll seal the North for a few months, Elves won't be as much interested if there's no bridge to pass through.'

'I don't know, it felt so w----' Beren cocked his head upon hearing the signal, a man's voice shouting cabbages! 'They're here!' he whispered.

They halted and both turn their heads, hearts racing hard. 'Signal Brunn and make haste.' Raen was first to draw her eyes away and moved on. Beren pushed the cart more swiftly and with all the voice he got shouted, 'Carrots!' Fresh carrots!'

'That was your signal?' Raen looked at him on rounded lips. 'Someone's got to tell me how to cook a stew!' then she went ahead with eyes fixed on the bridge before them. She counted her steps as she paced to the paved pathway down the ford.

One, she counted every sixty beat of her pulse, and the air fell crisp and heavy. The Sun had shown half of itself and the once grey surroundings slowly gained color. Down the riverside stood two grey tall concrete pillars bearing a roadway accross the river, they were wide asunder - twenty feet it was above the water and fifteen feet was its breadth. Southwards rolled tree-cladden hills and beyond was Mindolluin brown-grey at the distance.

From behind Beren bellowed the same word, Raen paced looking back growing more anxious. There she saw faint shapes of horses approaching. She thrust her bo on the ground then dashed under the bridge, trudged few steps away into the river-water and drew a matchbox.

'Two', she told herself and she was right under the bridge. By the time she counts ten the fire would have reached the explosives. She looked and traced the brown string connected to the fire balls that hung underneath the roadway at the middle, she could see them all clinging by the rock.

Three, on her last mark she lit a matchstick and ignited the string then off she sprung off the water and hurried back to Beren.

Beren was trudging faster still pushing the wooden cart towards her.

'They're here!' Raen whispered. Beren understood the words by the movement of her lips then the two met again as if nothing happened.

Too soon five Elves were on sight, galloping and sweeping dust on the road towards the doomed bridge. They were all clad in three shades of green and brown for their light shoes and gauntlets save the one leading the company, Legolas, his raiment was white as mithril brighter than the mane of his mare. Raen was quick to twist on her heels to avoid their eyes. Still, water was dripping from the edging of her skirt and the ground was watered from where she had ascended. They stepped aside the road as the sound of the hooves grew louder behind them.

Four, Raen thought and she halted as if something restrained her feet. The Elves were fast drawing near the bridge. Beren stood nearby, pretending to be weary and tired he wiped the imaginary sweat on his brows. His grey eyes gleamed as he stared at Raen.

'Would you care for some carrots, my lady!' he said in a fair tone and smiled.

'Five!' she fleered unbelieving the man could still throw jests amid their mission. And she lifted her eyes to him returning his smile. She turned sideways and bent to pick a handful when the company past by them, sending a quick tremble and more dust to the air. Raen's felt her heart sinking and rising as the Elflord rode past behind her and she was tempted to steal a glance. Yet, quick to dart her eyes back to Beren's vegetables when suddenly the company skidded to a halt.

Six. Raen knew delays would fail their mission, her innards churned and she daren't move. For whatever reasons the Elves had pulled the reigns and steadied there horses as Legolas drew back. He spurred his mare towards them in a great speed and halted right behind Raen.

She bent some more, hiding her face to the cover of her long black hair as cold slowly crept all over her skin.

'You there!' the Elflord said. Raen felt a squeezing in her chest as she counted seven. "What on Arda does this Elflord wants?" she thought and in slow pace she straightened up like a cornered prey. And just before she turned up her face the Elflord spoke again. 'How much is a dozen?'

'Oh, fair day Master Elf,' Beren said merrily. 'three coins for a bundle, I'll give you one free cabbage if you buy two!' And the man grabbed a bundle and handed it over to him.

'Nay, just a bundle, we do not need so much carrots for a short journey. I've never seen such healthy looking roots in years - they look very fresh indeed.' Another Elf came and took the carrots in exchange of coins. 'And to whom shall I address my thanks for this bounty?' he added.

'Beren is his name,' and Beren smiled warmly as Raen stood stone still between them.

'Thank you Beren, may I pass by the road where your cart rolls along and I should buy more bundles of your harvests.' Legolas clicked his tongue, urged his mare back to the course and rode off just as quick as he have come.

Only then Raen stirred and stole another glance at the Elves but she only saw their backs and their streaming locks. There was a strange quickening in her heart and she lost her count. 'Any moment now...' she gasped. Elves trotted on the bridge. Inch by inch they drew near the middle and as they watch in anticipation. Time suddenly went slow and Elves were midway, past midway and farther off but no blast came. Raen waited grimly but not even smoke showed that day, and so the Elves have crossed the river without misfortunes.

'It didn't work! Why didn't it work?! Raen fumed.

A/N
And this chapter should really be titled "Saved by the Carrots". What did you think? Please consider voting if you liked this chapter. :)