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Mellondu waited for Ædegard's response, but the Rider seemed lost in thought, and the rythm of hoofbeats caused his own thoughts to wander. He let his gaze rove over the plains.
Behind him Mellonin sang softly.
Agony,
Can you cleanse this misery?
For never again will I breathe,
The air of home…
"Could you sing something more cheerful?" Mellondu said irritably.
"I like it. It's pretty, " she replied, with a tone of finality in her voice.
Usually he yeilded to that tone. But not today. "Please sing something else, " he said.
"Why?"
"I am not in the mood for that song right now."
"All right, " she said, annoyed. And for a while, she sang something else; but invariably, she wandered back to Bella's song.
The rolling sea breaks my revenge.
With each whisper – a thousand waves...
"So, " said Mellondu, turning to the young Wayfarer lass, "have you ever seen the White City?"
She shook her head, and muttered something inaudible.
The sun set, and they prepared camp. However Mellondu tried, he could not get Bella's song out of his head. He lay sleepless most of the night, glaring at the stars. When morning came he was exhausted. As he mounted and swung towards the White City, he muttered, "Once I find my old bed, I'm not leaving it. I will not leave the Pelennor walls!"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tharonwe smiling, and he muttered again. "I'll be glad to leave that murderous rogue behind."
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