Disclaimer: The characters and settings alluded to or used directly in this story are the sole property and claim of JRR Tolkien's estate. No profit is made from these stories and no claim of ownership is made by the author.
Summary: Largely inspired by the scene depicting Aragorn's coronation in the film adaptation of The Return of the King, Eowyn thinks back on all the events between her arrival in the Houses of Healing and the wedding of Arwen and Aragorn.
Author's Note: This could be considered a sequel to my first story, Eastern Horizon, as the events in this story occur after, but it is really intended as more of a tie-in. It will be multi-chapter and be rather Eowyn-centric, with a little Faramir, Aragorn, Arwen, and Eomer thrown in. Since the events after the War of the Ring are only mentioned in the appendices of The Return of the King, this story will be a mix of book verse, movie verse and author speculation. It is told as if it had been passed down for many a year through generations of storytellers. Oh, and lest I forget, much thanks is due the Encyclopedia of Arda http/ for providing some quick reference. Enjoy.
The white city was awash with sunlight. In midsummer the sun was warm, and the intense heat was made even more so by the throngs that had come from all levels of the city. They stood, sat, perched, and generally fought for a vantage point in the shadow of the white tree. Everyone from the lowliest peasant to the noble dignitaries of other realms had gathered to witness an even that none had dared hoped for in the years of shadow. Not only had the heir of Isildur returned and restored the line of kings to the Tower of Guard, but he was about to take a wife. A better cause for festivity could not have been wished for!
The newly crowned Elessar Telcontar, a ranger of the north, stood at the head of the crowd, facing his lady, Arwen Undomiel of the elves and called the Evenstar of that people. The prospect of an elf queen may have awoken prejudice in some citizens of Minas Tirith, but for most any such negativity was overshadowed by the prospect of a Royal Wedding, (which many fervently hoped would man a day free from labor as well). It was an unprecedented day of celebration and joy in a city that had been falling into ruin as the threat of Mordor moved ever closer and its late Steward, Denethor of the house of Hurin, 26th of his kind, gave into madness. But the war of the ring had been a victory for the free peoples of Middle Earth, and on this day in Midsummer, a new age was dawning. Though the king had come back after so long an absence, the role of Steward had not been absolved. Faramir, the second son of Denethor had become the 27th in that line, by the goodness of the King. The king's goodness also earned him the respect of those who had been loyal to Faramir's house and so the ranger-king was met with less hostility than he might have been.
It was for this reason, among others, that the people gathered in the great city, man and elf, dwarf and hobbit, watched with rapt attention as the King of Gondor sealed his wedding vows with a kiss for his bride. Near the dais on which the king stood with his new queen, a noble lady, pale and beautiful as a winter sun, stood watching the proceedings with a small smile. Standing beside her was the tall and noble Faramir. This noble lady was Eowyn, a hero of the Ring War and sister to Eomer King of Rohan. She was called also the White Lady of Rohan and the slayer of the Witch King. She looked upon the future of Middle Earth as her thoughts drew her back to her first days in the white city and to how the Steward came to stand beside her.
To be continued...