Title: 'The Return to Torech Ungol'
Chapter One: 'An Expected Party'
Author: Anna Rousseau
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating: PG
Set: 1426 - six years after the fall of Sauron
Summary: The Shadow has passed, but great and terrible things existed before the Dark Lord, and now they outlive him even in the New Age of King Elessar.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the Estate of JRR Tolkien. You *know* I don't own these guys, you *know* I'm not making a single euro out of this, you *know* I don't have the money for a law suit - so please don't sue, I'm still in school and I don't have a job.
Middle-earth Disclaimer: The story is set after Book Six: The End of the Third Age. It complies with the history of Middle-earth, as is accurate with dates and places and events and so forth, though the adventure told in this story was never chronicled in the Red Book nor other books of lore of Gondor. If I have made a mistake vis-a-vis details, please tell me so that I can correct myself. Oh and if anyone can help me out with my Elvish, then that would be appreciated.
'THE RETURN TO TORECH UNGOL'
=============================
Chapter One - An Expected Party
--------------------------------
It was approaching dusk as the two hobbits, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took reached the mithril and steel wrought Gate of Minas Tirith. The crimson light of the summer's sunset poured across the green lands of Gondor, and stained Mount Mindolluin, as if fields of red flowers were springing up from the ground. Emyn Arnen stood proudly next to the Anduin as it flowed like river made of molten mithril through the lands of Lebennin and South Ithilien, sparkling in the failing light.
Above them, stars shined brighter than they had in the Shire, blessed as the City of Kings was by the grace of the Lady Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her race. For a moment they gazed at the great white walls of Minas Tirith as if they were seeing it for the first time. Six years seemed to them a long time, an age since they had first been in the city.
The changing of the guards was taking place at that moment, and it wasn't long before they both heard the sound of trumpets and horns sounding from the battlements. Out of the gates of Minas Tirith, which were left open until the setting of the sun, came seven riders on horseback, all clad in the uniform of the Guard of the Citadel. Riding in front of them was a man, taller than the rest, his head held high and a star on his brow. He wore a cloak woven by the Lady of the Golden Wood of Lothlórien and on his shoulder was pinned a green gem which shone brightly in the twilight, the Elf-stone.
It was then that Merry and Pippin beheld Aragorn son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur, the King Elessar of Gondor for the first time since they had returned to the Shire. He seemed not to have aged in the six years that had passed, for he appeared to be in the full bloom of his youth, his eyes wise and knowledgeable, full of valour and nobility. His face was the least troubled they had ever seen, for the worries of the Ranger of the North which had lined his noble face had disappeared, and the years had melted away from him leaving a man changed, yet the same.
The Guards of the Citadel were holding the banners on which the standard of the Dúnadan was emblazoned a White Tree flowering against a field of black, with Seven Stars about it and above them the high crown of Elendil. Another peal was issued by the heralds on the battlements and they announced the arrival of Peregrin and Meriadoc, the Princes of the Halflings who had slain the Lord of the Nazgul and fought bravely with Gondor at the Black Gate.
Ernil i Pheriannath, they cried. Cuio i Pheriain anann! Eglerio!
Thus Merry and Pippin, hobbits of the Shire, were welcomed to the City of Men. In front of the Gate, looking over the fields of the Pelennor, Aragorn rode over to them on Hasufel, the horse bestowed upon him by the Lord of the Mark. The hobbits bowed their heads in reverence of the King, who in turn touched his brow then his lips then his breast respectfully, for these halflings were as brave as any hero told of in legends of old.
"Has it been six years since we last bid each other farewell," asked Aragorn, a smile forming across his mouth as he drew alongside them.
"The calendar would have us believe so, though I reckon it has been longer, my Lord," answered Pippin, blushing slightly as the Guard of the Citadel saluted him with their gleaming swords.
Aragorn turned Hasufel in the direction of the City and started to ride forward with them. "Since I received word of your coming from Rohan, the summer days have seemed longer than any I have endured, so long have I waited to see folk of the Shire again. Tell me, how is Éomer King."
Merry urged forward his steed and remembered a message he had been bidden to deliver. "He sends his greetings and has entrusted me with a message for you. I shall give you it as soon as we have et, as we have ridden far and fast to get here before the end of the day, and we are weary and hungry hobbits."
Aragorn laughed, and to the hobbits he seemed more content than he had ever been before. "If you had told me otherwise, I should have been worried, for I have never forgotten that the appetites of the hobbits equal, if not surpass those of the strongest Man. In this knowledge, a great feast has been prepared in the Citadel, where you shall sit alongside the King Elessar and the Queen Undómiel as guests of Gondor."
He looked sideways at Pippin, his mail gleaming in the starlight, bearing his Guard's shield proudly. "Though first, you have six years worth of watches to complete, Master Pippin."
Suddenly Pippin's heart sunk: surely he was not to be treated in such a heartless way by a benevolent king, sent to do his duty as guard, weary as he was after riding from the Shire, and empty as his stomach was at the end of the day.
However, he saw the friendly light in Aragorn's eyes as he looked onto the face of a dismayed hobbit, and Pippin laughed. "Do not jest in such a way with a hobbit who hasn't eaten since luncheon. It is unkind and cruel."
Aragorn smiled at his friend. "Then I shall not, for I do not wish to be either cruel or unkind."
They rode through the Gate and onto the paved street where many people of Gondor lined the streets to see and greet the Princes of the Halflings. As they rode in procession to the Citadel through the winding streets, cheers welcomed the hobbits and the boughs of trees which Legolas the Elf had brought to the city flowered above their heads, their blossoms dropping petals onto their hair and the cobbles, as if they were riding through snow a pale shade of pink. Suddenly, Hasufel quickened his step at the command of Aragorn and he said to his companions: "Do not tarry, my friends. There are those waiting in the Hall of Feasts whom you should be glad to greet."
***
"Why, if it isn't Master Merry and Master Pippin," cried a dwarf as the two hobbits took their place at the head of the banquet table.
They were overjoyed to hear the sound of Gimli's voice, one they had become so accustomed to over the duration of their journey from Rivendell.
"Gimil!" they chorused, running over to their friend and receiving a heavy clap on the back from the bearded dwarf.
After they had talked about their journeys to Minas Tirith, and Gimli had explained how he had brought more dwarves to create marvellous works of masonry in the newly re-built City of Osgiliath, they sat down at the table and ate a feast such as they had never eaten before.
The hobbits and the dwarf sat at either side of the King and Queen in the Hall of Feasts, and Pippin was reminded of the Lady Arwen's fairness and beauty which seemed to have increased triple fold since he had first laid eyes on her in the Last Homely House of Elrond in Rivendell.
Tales were told of the Shire, and of the wedding of Samwise Gamgee to Rose Cotton and the birth of their daughter Elanor. Stories were heard of the Realm of Gondor and the lands of Ithilien and Lebennin. Songs were sung of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Devotion of Master Samwise, the Ring-bearers. Food was eaten, fine wine was drunk, and music was heard late into the night.
When the blue summer's night sky was at its deepest, they left the table and wandered into the Court of the Fountain, where they sat on the green beside the flowing fountain, under the blossoms of the White Tree which had flourished, it's blooms even rivalling those of the mellorn tree in Hobbiton where once stood the Party Tree under which Bilbo Baggins had made his notorious speech.
The Lady Arwen and Aragorn sat together at the edge of the fountain, their fingers entwined and their eyes shining as they reflected the bright stars in the heavens. Gimli told Merry and Pippin of the restoration of Moria by the Mountain Dwarves. They had been talking long when Merry interrupted with a question.
"And what of Legolas the Elf, has he returned to Mirkwood as I presumed."
"That he did," replied Gimli, smiling warmly. "And he brought a number of his fair-folk to the realm of Gondor where they now dwell, by the King's leave in the gardens of Ithilien."
"I should very much like to see him again after all these years," commented Pippin.
Aragorn smiled, "The call of the sea has not beckoned him yet, and as you wish we shall ride there ere four days hence after you have rested well in the chambers of the Citadel from your long journey."
"There you shall also find the Prince of Ithilien, Lord Faramir and the Princess of the Rohirrim, his Lady Éowyn, where they dwell in the newly built tower of Minas Estel," Arwen said, smiling gently. "That land is now truly is the Garden of Gondor and it has been a year since I have seen it in its summer splendour. I shall ride with you and my husband and we shall see Gondor at its most beauteous."
A few moments later they were bidden goodnight by the Lord and Lady, and were led to their chambers in the Tower of the City for a night of deep sleep filled with wondrous dreams.
In the Court of the Fountain remained Aragorn and his Evenstar, their heads together in loving thought as they sat under the boughs of the White Tree, snow-white flowers in their hair as the gentle breeze swayed its branches, the King and Queen of Gondor.
***
TBC
Chapter Two: The Ride to Minas Estel
Okay, so this is super-short and it was a bit of a scene setting. It will liven up (I promise), but since this was my first LotR fic I thought this chapter would get me into Tolkien's style (warm up the lexical flow, per say). So, next time we can get into the *real* plot.
Please, flame me gently, I don't want to end up burnt so I can't type.
Feedback also to annadelamico@yahoo.co.uk
----
Language Notes:
Ernil i Pheriannath. Cuio i Pheriain anann! Eglerio! translated as Hail the Prince of the Halflings. Praise the halflings, praise. Well, that's the general gist of it - I don't know much about the Elven tongue.
Minas Estel should translate as the Tower of Hope, and I made that up.
----
***
Chapter One: 'An Expected Party'
Author: Anna Rousseau
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating: PG
Set: 1426 - six years after the fall of Sauron
Summary: The Shadow has passed, but great and terrible things existed before the Dark Lord, and now they outlive him even in the New Age of King Elessar.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the Estate of JRR Tolkien. You *know* I don't own these guys, you *know* I'm not making a single euro out of this, you *know* I don't have the money for a law suit - so please don't sue, I'm still in school and I don't have a job.
Middle-earth Disclaimer: The story is set after Book Six: The End of the Third Age. It complies with the history of Middle-earth, as is accurate with dates and places and events and so forth, though the adventure told in this story was never chronicled in the Red Book nor other books of lore of Gondor. If I have made a mistake vis-a-vis details, please tell me so that I can correct myself. Oh and if anyone can help me out with my Elvish, then that would be appreciated.
'THE RETURN TO TORECH UNGOL'
=============================
Chapter One - An Expected Party
--------------------------------
It was approaching dusk as the two hobbits, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took reached the mithril and steel wrought Gate of Minas Tirith. The crimson light of the summer's sunset poured across the green lands of Gondor, and stained Mount Mindolluin, as if fields of red flowers were springing up from the ground. Emyn Arnen stood proudly next to the Anduin as it flowed like river made of molten mithril through the lands of Lebennin and South Ithilien, sparkling in the failing light.
Above them, stars shined brighter than they had in the Shire, blessed as the City of Kings was by the grace of the Lady Arwen Undómiel, Evenstar of her race. For a moment they gazed at the great white walls of Minas Tirith as if they were seeing it for the first time. Six years seemed to them a long time, an age since they had first been in the city.
The changing of the guards was taking place at that moment, and it wasn't long before they both heard the sound of trumpets and horns sounding from the battlements. Out of the gates of Minas Tirith, which were left open until the setting of the sun, came seven riders on horseback, all clad in the uniform of the Guard of the Citadel. Riding in front of them was a man, taller than the rest, his head held high and a star on his brow. He wore a cloak woven by the Lady of the Golden Wood of Lothlórien and on his shoulder was pinned a green gem which shone brightly in the twilight, the Elf-stone.
It was then that Merry and Pippin beheld Aragorn son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur, the King Elessar of Gondor for the first time since they had returned to the Shire. He seemed not to have aged in the six years that had passed, for he appeared to be in the full bloom of his youth, his eyes wise and knowledgeable, full of valour and nobility. His face was the least troubled they had ever seen, for the worries of the Ranger of the North which had lined his noble face had disappeared, and the years had melted away from him leaving a man changed, yet the same.
The Guards of the Citadel were holding the banners on which the standard of the Dúnadan was emblazoned a White Tree flowering against a field of black, with Seven Stars about it and above them the high crown of Elendil. Another peal was issued by the heralds on the battlements and they announced the arrival of Peregrin and Meriadoc, the Princes of the Halflings who had slain the Lord of the Nazgul and fought bravely with Gondor at the Black Gate.
Ernil i Pheriannath, they cried. Cuio i Pheriain anann! Eglerio!
Thus Merry and Pippin, hobbits of the Shire, were welcomed to the City of Men. In front of the Gate, looking over the fields of the Pelennor, Aragorn rode over to them on Hasufel, the horse bestowed upon him by the Lord of the Mark. The hobbits bowed their heads in reverence of the King, who in turn touched his brow then his lips then his breast respectfully, for these halflings were as brave as any hero told of in legends of old.
"Has it been six years since we last bid each other farewell," asked Aragorn, a smile forming across his mouth as he drew alongside them.
"The calendar would have us believe so, though I reckon it has been longer, my Lord," answered Pippin, blushing slightly as the Guard of the Citadel saluted him with their gleaming swords.
Aragorn turned Hasufel in the direction of the City and started to ride forward with them. "Since I received word of your coming from Rohan, the summer days have seemed longer than any I have endured, so long have I waited to see folk of the Shire again. Tell me, how is Éomer King."
Merry urged forward his steed and remembered a message he had been bidden to deliver. "He sends his greetings and has entrusted me with a message for you. I shall give you it as soon as we have et, as we have ridden far and fast to get here before the end of the day, and we are weary and hungry hobbits."
Aragorn laughed, and to the hobbits he seemed more content than he had ever been before. "If you had told me otherwise, I should have been worried, for I have never forgotten that the appetites of the hobbits equal, if not surpass those of the strongest Man. In this knowledge, a great feast has been prepared in the Citadel, where you shall sit alongside the King Elessar and the Queen Undómiel as guests of Gondor."
He looked sideways at Pippin, his mail gleaming in the starlight, bearing his Guard's shield proudly. "Though first, you have six years worth of watches to complete, Master Pippin."
Suddenly Pippin's heart sunk: surely he was not to be treated in such a heartless way by a benevolent king, sent to do his duty as guard, weary as he was after riding from the Shire, and empty as his stomach was at the end of the day.
However, he saw the friendly light in Aragorn's eyes as he looked onto the face of a dismayed hobbit, and Pippin laughed. "Do not jest in such a way with a hobbit who hasn't eaten since luncheon. It is unkind and cruel."
Aragorn smiled at his friend. "Then I shall not, for I do not wish to be either cruel or unkind."
They rode through the Gate and onto the paved street where many people of Gondor lined the streets to see and greet the Princes of the Halflings. As they rode in procession to the Citadel through the winding streets, cheers welcomed the hobbits and the boughs of trees which Legolas the Elf had brought to the city flowered above their heads, their blossoms dropping petals onto their hair and the cobbles, as if they were riding through snow a pale shade of pink. Suddenly, Hasufel quickened his step at the command of Aragorn and he said to his companions: "Do not tarry, my friends. There are those waiting in the Hall of Feasts whom you should be glad to greet."
***
"Why, if it isn't Master Merry and Master Pippin," cried a dwarf as the two hobbits took their place at the head of the banquet table.
They were overjoyed to hear the sound of Gimli's voice, one they had become so accustomed to over the duration of their journey from Rivendell.
"Gimil!" they chorused, running over to their friend and receiving a heavy clap on the back from the bearded dwarf.
After they had talked about their journeys to Minas Tirith, and Gimli had explained how he had brought more dwarves to create marvellous works of masonry in the newly re-built City of Osgiliath, they sat down at the table and ate a feast such as they had never eaten before.
The hobbits and the dwarf sat at either side of the King and Queen in the Hall of Feasts, and Pippin was reminded of the Lady Arwen's fairness and beauty which seemed to have increased triple fold since he had first laid eyes on her in the Last Homely House of Elrond in Rivendell.
Tales were told of the Shire, and of the wedding of Samwise Gamgee to Rose Cotton and the birth of their daughter Elanor. Stories were heard of the Realm of Gondor and the lands of Ithilien and Lebennin. Songs were sung of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Devotion of Master Samwise, the Ring-bearers. Food was eaten, fine wine was drunk, and music was heard late into the night.
When the blue summer's night sky was at its deepest, they left the table and wandered into the Court of the Fountain, where they sat on the green beside the flowing fountain, under the blossoms of the White Tree which had flourished, it's blooms even rivalling those of the mellorn tree in Hobbiton where once stood the Party Tree under which Bilbo Baggins had made his notorious speech.
The Lady Arwen and Aragorn sat together at the edge of the fountain, their fingers entwined and their eyes shining as they reflected the bright stars in the heavens. Gimli told Merry and Pippin of the restoration of Moria by the Mountain Dwarves. They had been talking long when Merry interrupted with a question.
"And what of Legolas the Elf, has he returned to Mirkwood as I presumed."
"That he did," replied Gimli, smiling warmly. "And he brought a number of his fair-folk to the realm of Gondor where they now dwell, by the King's leave in the gardens of Ithilien."
"I should very much like to see him again after all these years," commented Pippin.
Aragorn smiled, "The call of the sea has not beckoned him yet, and as you wish we shall ride there ere four days hence after you have rested well in the chambers of the Citadel from your long journey."
"There you shall also find the Prince of Ithilien, Lord Faramir and the Princess of the Rohirrim, his Lady Éowyn, where they dwell in the newly built tower of Minas Estel," Arwen said, smiling gently. "That land is now truly is the Garden of Gondor and it has been a year since I have seen it in its summer splendour. I shall ride with you and my husband and we shall see Gondor at its most beauteous."
A few moments later they were bidden goodnight by the Lord and Lady, and were led to their chambers in the Tower of the City for a night of deep sleep filled with wondrous dreams.
In the Court of the Fountain remained Aragorn and his Evenstar, their heads together in loving thought as they sat under the boughs of the White Tree, snow-white flowers in their hair as the gentle breeze swayed its branches, the King and Queen of Gondor.
***
TBC
Chapter Two: The Ride to Minas Estel
Okay, so this is super-short and it was a bit of a scene setting. It will liven up (I promise), but since this was my first LotR fic I thought this chapter would get me into Tolkien's style (warm up the lexical flow, per say). So, next time we can get into the *real* plot.
Please, flame me gently, I don't want to end up burnt so I can't type.
Feedback also to annadelamico@yahoo.co.uk
----
Language Notes:
Ernil i Pheriannath. Cuio i Pheriain anann! Eglerio! translated as Hail the Prince of the Halflings. Praise the halflings, praise. Well, that's the general gist of it - I don't know much about the Elven tongue.
Minas Estel should translate as the Tower of Hope, and I made that up.
----
***
