Part 17
Legolas grasped Aradors wrists and hauled and, for a
split second, the young man hung in mid-air, his feet kicking.
Then his head was through the hole and, as his hands were scrabbling
to find purchase on the slates, the Elf grasped the back of
his belt and pulled him out onto the roof, and he lay there,
gasping for air.
Legolas hopped up onto the roof ridge.
Has my father arrived? asked Arador, trying to
crawl up the roof, to get a better view.
Quickly, replied Legolas, coming down again.
Without giving himself any time to think about it, Arador launched
himself across the slates, grabbed the edge of the roof, andgrazing
his hands and knees as he wenthalf climbed, half tumbled
to the ground.
He got down relatively unharmeda split-second, it seemed,
after Legolas landed beside himpicked himself up
and, limping slightly, ran across the yard, following the Elf.
...
I said, stop this nonsense! Ma roared.
Eowyns hand closed around the hilt of her sword. Though
she had come to Eryn Hollen with the Reeve, determined to rescue
Arador by force if need be, she couldnt help feeling protective
towards Ma. She knew that Belecthor was also torn, and she said
to him, softly, Go to your comrades, but the young
man did not move.
The twins were behind their mother and, to Eowyns surprise,
the workers she had assumed were captives were also flocking
to Mas side, brandishing spades, and hammers, and stirring
rods.
The scene was set for a short and unnecessarily bloody battle.
Stop this now, Baranor son of Barathor,
shouted Ma, or Ill tan your hide for you!
...
Arador raced towards his father, wondering what he could possibly
say to stop himwondering whether his father would even
recognise him when he approached.
Arador was under no illusions. He might be his fathers
only son and heir, but he was also a disappointment, and he
knew that his fathers actions had little to do with him
and his captivity. There was something going on between his
father and Ma, some agreement that had been broken when the
twins had caught him taking water samples from the stream.
Main her cryptic wayhad hinted as much.
But, despite all his best effortsprobing her whilst she
had been trying to persuade him to help herhe had
been unable to learn what that agreement might be.
Arador raised his hands above his head, and shouted, Father!
Do as Ma says! STOP!
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