The standard bearer (Elrond x oc)

17. The west road

(Most of the text is on the side I can't turn it back to normal 🧑‍🦯)

Lord Gil-galad's headquarters were more than usually busy when Gildinwen
entered them. Dispatches had arrived from Minas Ithil, and the room was
filled with both messengers and members of the war council.

"Good morning, my lords." She bowed to Gil-galad and Círdan.

"Ah, Gildinwen." The Elven King's voice was pleased, "The very person! Lord
Anárion has just been asking me about you."

She turned to see the friendly face of the man in question, the habitual
smile on his face and a bundle of letters in his hand, "Good morning." he
grinned.

"My Lord." She returned his bow.

"I was just asking Lord Gil-galad how you'd been getting on with young
Mardil, now that he's been with you a few weeks." He wandered over to the
table where she had some maps laid out.

Her smile was genuine, "He's an excellent lad, my Lord. Helpful, friendly,
hard-working and very clever."

"And he's enjoying the work?"

"I certainly believe so."

His face grew concerned, "How is his foot bearing up?"

"Much better, due in large part to the fact that we have little marching to
do these days."

"Good!" he replied, "I'm very pleased to hear that you suit each other." He
drew her aside into a corner, and dropped his voice. "I wonder if I may be
so bold as to ask yet another favour of you?"

"I shall be pleased to help you if I can, my lord."

He looked worried, "It's Isildur."

"The same ah...trouble as before?"

He nodded, and sifted through the handful of letters in his hand. Holding
up a fat one, "From my wife," a sunny smile lit his face. Then a cloud
covered it as he lifted a much thinner one, "The Lady Varadil."

"I see." She looked down, "To be honest, my lord, I don't know what help I
can be."

"He might talk to you. Neither Father nor myself can get anything out of
him on the matter."

"If it is what you wish, then I shall try."

"Thank you." He placed a hand on her shoulder, "This siege is a hard fight
and we need him with us." He drew his letters from the bundle and thrust
the rest at her, "Here, take these as an excuse for going."

It would be a good three miles to Isildur's camp, situated in the higher
ground to the South East of the Fortress. Most of it through the awkward
twisting trench city, so she decided to leave Mardil behind.

"But, my lady." He protested, "It's not safe. I should be with you."

"Don't fuss, Mardil," she laughed, "Lord Anárion is sending two soldiers to
accompany me, and I shall be behind our lines the whole time."

He looked sceptical, "You have to cross the Road."

This was true. In order to cross the West Road the Alliance had bridged the
fiery chasms on either side, building up protective barriers over both them
and the highway. Despite this it was still a notorious killing ground, both
bridges and barriers attacked daily, if not hourly, and often destroyed.

"I promise to be very careful, and besides which," she laid a heavy satchel
on the table, "you've got plenty of work to do while I'm gone."

The boy's face lit up when he saw the new messages. He had been studiously
learning the ciphers and was keen to try them out.