Chapter nineteen:

Chapter nineteen:

“They’re gone! They’re gone!” came a cry. Hector stood from his place by the window and went out onto the balcony which gave him a view of the palace courtyard. There a soldier dismounted from his horse, people had gathered around him, all demanding to know the truth. Rushing out of his room Hector descended to the courtyard. He noticed he wasn’t the first one, his father and several of his advisors were already there, together with Gandalf and the Hobbits.

“Milord, the Greeks, they’re gone!” the man said.

“What do you mean, the Greeks are gone?” demanded Hector, he was quite sceptic about the Greeks’ sudden departure.

“ Just that, milord, they are gone, the beach is empty except for a wooden horse.”

“ A wooden horse? What does a wooden horse have to do on a beach?” Boromir asked, he had caught the man’s last words and was extremely confused.

“I say we go take a look.” Ordered the King. Hector made to protest but a look from his father silenced him.

They slowly walked towards the beach, Legolas had already caught a small glimpse of the horse but still couldn’t fathom what it meant. When they finally reached their destination all stood in awe at the horse, it was nearly the size of a temple yet seemed to be made only out of wood. It was an extraordinary feat.

“It is a gift to the gods, my King. The Greeks left this horse as a gift to Poseidon, they are hoping for a safe return home. We should take it to the temple.” The King’s High Priest said. Aragorn felt Legolas stiffen beside him, looking at the Elf he noticed there was a look of concentration on the Elf’s face, as if he tried to see something.

“What is it, mellon nin?” he gently asked the Elf.

“ That horse is evil! I can feel it.” He whispered. “We should destroy it!” he told the others. Shocked eyes from the King and Priest met his.

“Milord you wouldn’t think of doing that, it is a gift to the gods, we cannot destroy it.”

“It is a trap!” the Elf all but shouted, yet neither the King not his advisors wanted to hear from it. Several ropes were attached to the horse and with the help of several soldiers the horse was hauled into the city.

The Fellowship and the two Princes watched in despair as the wooden horse was placed in the middle of the market square. Paris and Hector had agreed with Legolas, they couldn’t believe the Greeks would just leave like that. As for the Fellowship, they knew better than to doubt their Elven companion.

For the rest of the day, the King had organised great festivities to celebrate the Trojan’s victory on the Greeks. People were laughing, finally after all that time they had the feeling they could live freely again. The Hobbits had merrily joined the festivities though they knew it wouldn’t last as long as they wanted. They were standing on wooden tables, placed in the square for the occasion, and were singing and dancing with mugs of ale in their hands, Gimli had found himself an opponent for a drinking contest and was happily immersing himself in the game.

Legolas was leaning against a pillar watching the horse. He tried to discern even the slightest little default, a detail that could prove that it was a trap. Suddenly, he blinked. He thought he had seen a slight movement in the horse’s belly. ‘Could it be?’ he thought ‘ Would there really be men in that thing?’ Making his decision he made his way over to the terrace where the rest were overlooking the festivities.

“It is a trap! I am certain of it” he told them, they looked at him in astonishment.

“How do you know it’s a trap?” The youngest of the Trojan Princes asked him.

“ I saw movement in the horse, I think there are Greeks in it.”

“ Greeks! But what is the meaning of it?” Boromir asked in astonishment, the horse in itself was strange enough, but having men in it was totally absurd!

“ There must be a way for them to get out, or maybe they’ll use it as some kind of catapult.” The Elf responded.

“What is a catapult?” Hector asked then, the members of the Fellowship looked at each other for a moment.

“You mean you don’t know what a catapult is?” asked Aragorn.

“No.”

“ Well then that takes away that possibility.” Boromir said

“I say, we should do something against it, if we don’t they’ll win this war!” Legolas told them, the rest nodded in approval.

“There is only one problem…” Hector began, all looked at him expectantly “…Father” he finished lamely.

“father” Paris sighed, Hector was right they could not go against the King’s wishes.

“We’ll have to think of something then.” Aragorn finished.

They all nodded and turned their attention back towards the festivities, the people of Troy who thought the war was over, but most importantly their attention was directed at the giant wooden horse in the middle of the square. They all had the distinct feeling the horse was mocking them, knowing they were defeated.

Well, we’re nearing the end! One or two more chapters to go!