*THE FIRST SIX CHAPTERS NOW REVISED* - Nothing major, just a few words here and there that I wasn't happy with. The two chapters that were just 'Author's Notes' were also removed.

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Disclaimer: Believe it or not, I'm actually not Tolkien! *gasp* *faint*! And as far as I know, I'm not his long-lost granddaughter, either. Therefore I don't own any of his characters or places blah blah blah. I do own Meryon and Dencor, so please don't steal 'em.

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Of Riderless Horses and Hidden Messages

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Meryon was rubbing down her favourite horse, a mare called Ferna, when she heard the sound of approaching hooves. She put the brush down and headed out of the stables, wiping her grimy hands on her tunic. The Head Stableman, Dencor, was drawing near, leading two horses.

"Mornin' to ye, Meryon," Dencor called, his wrinkled and weather-beaten face grinning as usual.

"And to you, sir," Meryon replied, casting her eyes over the horses. There was a magnificent black stallion and a tall, elegant roan mare. Dencor noticed her studying them.

"Arrived just nigh an hour ago, both of 'em riderless," he said. "Bit o' a mystery, eh?"

"They have the look of Rohan about them," Meryon said thoughtfully. "Top quality horses. No one would leave them wandering in the wilderness without a good reason."

"Aye, that's what I were thinkin'," said Dencor, "And the King were thinkin' it as well, 'cos he sent out a search party as soon as they came wanderin' in, maybe hopin' to find their riders. Ye want to take 'em in and get 'em fed? I must be off, got to have a word with that blockhead stableman, Jeb. He's late for work again, he is. Should've been here an hour ago, helpin' ye out."

"Yes, sir," said Meryon. "Sorry for delaying you." She took the halters of the horses.

"Ye're a good lass Meryon," said Dencor. "A better stablehand than any lad I've ever known. I'll see the King's councillor about getting' ye a bit o' a pay rise, mark my words. Ye work hard an' what with that sick ma of yours ye'll be needin' a few more pennies." Meryon curtsied low, not knowing quite what to say, but blushing at the compliment.

"I'll be seein' ye later, lass," Dencor said gently.

"Yes sir. Thank you." For a moment she watched the kind old stableman stride up the path back to the main part of the City, then she turned and led the horses into the stables. She guided them into separate stalls, poured them some fresh water from the pump and filled their troughs with hay and grain. They both drank thirstily and ate with enthusiasm.

"Where is your rider, fine sir?" she murmured to the stallion, gently rubbing his muscled neck as he munched a mouthful of hay. All of the horses were in good condition, she noted, so they couldn't have been wandering for long. She walked over to the roan mare, who was delicately crunching grain. The mare gazed at her with bright eyes, and snorted gently when Meryon scratched her mane. Meryon's fingers felt something strange entwined in the thick, wiry hair. She leant further into the stall and worked the object free. Her hand came away holding a thin strip of parchment, which had been wrapped around a small tuft of the mane with a length of string. The tuft had been hidden beneath the rest of the glossy hair, so wouldn't have been easily seen at a glance. Meryon, heart thumping, carefully unrolled the parchment. It read:

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~ ELESSAR: We have been captured by many Orcs; they speak of a vast underground hideout and a plot to destroy the White City. Prepare immediately to defend Minas Tirith, and DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESCUE US. I pray that Seraf delivers this note to you in time ~

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The writing was extremely untidy, barely comprehensible, as if whoever had written it was in a considerable hurry. Meryon gasped. She stood frozen for a moment, then her brain kicked in. She stuffed the note into her tunic pocket and sprinted out of the stables, towards the King's palace in the midst of the great walled city.

By the time she reached the white-marble stairs leading up to the King's palace, Meryon was gasping for air and her lungs ached. It was a long way from the stables, and she had run as fast as she could. She clambered up the stairs, running through in her mind what she would say to the king, but the great door was blocked by two guards dressed in the regalia of the stewards of Gondor.

"What is your business here, stable-maid?" one of them demanded.

Meryon couldn't speak for a moment through a mixture of breathlessness and awe, but the importance of her errand gave her courage.

"Please, sir, I m-must s-s-peak with the king," she panted. The guards glanced at each other. One of them raised an eyebrow.

"Orcs are plotting to destroy the City," she continued, fumbling in her pocket and handing them the note. "I really must speak with the king."

"Look, child," said the guard, his voice sharp with anger, "we do not have time for immature pranks. Run along before-"

The guard was interrupted mid-sentence when the doors to the palace swung open. All three jumped back in surprise, and the guards quickly stood to attention when the king himself emerged with Arwen Evenstar at his side, at the head of a small party of ten or so. The King nodded to them as he passed, but stopped when he caught sight of Meryon. She curtsied so low that the hem of her tunic touched the ground, speechless at the sight of the King Elessar in his royal robes with a magnificent stone upon his brow.

"Apologies, my Lord," one guards said smoothly, firmly laying a hand on Meryon's shoulder. "We were just about to remove her from-"

"My Lord, I have urgent news," Meryon interrupted, gathering all her courage and looking directly into the king's eyes. They were deep and grey and full of wisdom, and Meryon felt new bravery bloom in her heart. The guard to her right tried to pull her away, but Arwen raised a slender hand.

"Let the young lady speak," she said, her voice sweet and cool. "I see truth in her eyes."

"There is danger, my Lord. Orcs are plotting to destroy the City. I discovered this note entwined in one of the riderless horse's manes," she swiped the note from the steward and passed it to the King. The King's companions were exchanging glances of shocked incredulity. Aragorn scanned the note and his eyes widened. He flipped the strip of parchment over and saw something written on the back that Meryon had missed- two names: Legolas and Gimli.

Aragorn went pale.

*Ooohhhh cliffhanger already! Please review; I'd love some constructive criticism!*