((I don't own any of the characters that are mentioned in Tolkiens work
(including the appendices). All other characters are my own invention,
although I have tried to keep them true to their parentage. Now that we've
finished with the legal stuff, on with the fic!))
Lake Evendim glowed faintly under the cloud filled sky. Dappled with moonlight that intermittently broke through the cloud cover, it appeared to be a haven of peace and tranquillity.
One figure sat alone at the edge of the lake, bare feet trailing in the misty waters, her stormy grey eyes staring out over the calm surface.
Behind her, in a grove of trees could be vaguely seen the figure of a tall man, a dark shadow against the dark green of the trees. His cloak was pulled around him for warmth, his hand rested on his sword hilt, and his eyes were ever watchful.
The figure beside the lake rose, black hair falling forward into her eyes, to be pushed back by a casual hand. She turned, and made her way up the bank, pausing to look over the encampment that had spread out on the shore.
The King had returned to the north, to dispense his justice and solve any disputes, as his father had done before him. And it was in memory of her father's father that the woman stood on the shores of the lake now, thinking about what the future held.
A light misty rain began to fall, and the woman tilted her head up to the sky, feeling the light rain tingle on her cheeks. Cursing, the guard in the trees shivered closer under his cloak, trying to keep warm and dry, wondering why the Princess didn't go back into cover. But it was his duty to watch over the royal family, and so he would, despite the weather.
The rain started to fall heavier now, large droplets splashing into the lake, and sending ripples out in concretic rings.
"And I wonder what ripples will be created from my actions." the woman wondered aloud, before she gathered herself and moved to the largest building, made out of stone and slate, and vanished inside.
Gilraen shook the water from her grey cloak as she stepped inside, slicking the rain from her wet hair in the process. The building was quiet, most having long sought their beds. But the glow of a candle from the room her father had designated his study told her that he was still up. Moving on silent feet, she paced across to the door, and knocked.
A muffled sound bade her enter, and she pushed the door open, smiling as her father turned.
Eldarion Telcontar was a bear of a man, standing six feet tall, with broad shoulders, and a chest like a blacksmiths. His arms were powerfully muscled, but despite his appearance, he was a gentle man and father, considerate of his family, and the people he ruled over.
"What calls you out of your bed so late Gilraen?" he asked, his deep voice rumbling.
"Thoughts father." Gilraen answered frankly. "Thoughts about grandfather, and the past."
Eldarion nodded. "Not a day doesn't go by when I don't think of father," he admitted. "But what brings him to your thoughts?"
"Being here, here in the North. It almost feels like I'm following in his footsteps." "There's something else though." It was a statement, not a question, and Gilraen nodded.
"The War of the Ring." she admitted. "And grandfathers role in it. The places that he travelled to, the people he met. All know of the events that Aragorn played in the War."
Eldarion did not speak, merely nodded his head. Gilraen took a deep breath, composing her thoughts into coherence.
"It is 150 years since the War of the Ring, and 55 years since grandfather died. I would like to.. it might be fitting.. in his memory, and in the memory of the others of the fellowship, to follow the route that they took, even into Mordor." she explained, the words starting to flow more easily. "This I would like to do in their memory. To follow the route of the hobbits through the Shire, to Bree where they met grandfather, to Imladris, and then to Moria. To stand at the entrance to the Mines, and then on to Lothlorien. Down to Anduin to the Argonath, where Isildur and Anarion stand eternal sentinel. And then to the green meadow of Amon Hen." She fell silent now, her face alight with the images that her words had conjured in her mind.
"And would you travel alone?" her father asked. Gilraen tried to read his face to gain some inkling of what he was thinking, but it was impossible.
"No, I would not travel alone. Though these are peaceful times, dangers still lurk along the route I would take, and while I have been taught to use the sword and bow, it would be foolish." "And after you reach Amon Hen? Where then will you go? The path of the fellowship sundered there. The Ringbearer and his companion Samwise Gamgee crossed the Emyn Muil, and Elessar entered Rohan."
"I.. we would follow the route of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli into Rohan, to Fangorn, to Edoras. Then to Helms Deep to see the glittering caves beneath, and then to the Treegarth of Orthanc. To Erech, and then to Pelargir and the sight of the sea. Then to Minas Tirith, and beyond, to Osgiliath and the Crossroads. And finally to Cirith Gorgor and the Black Gate, within sight of the Mountain of Doom."
Eldarion nodded slowly, his eyes unfocused as he considered.
Gilraen waited, her mind afire with thoughts and plans for the things that must be done before she could leave. She had entered with only vague ideas, shadow thoughts, but now they had ignited into a bonfire.
"Let me think about this Gilraen." Eldarion said eventually, slowly.
"As you wish father," she said, before moving to the door. As it closed behind her, she let her happiness briefly show as she danced across the floor to the room that was hers.
Hidden in the shadows, the guard smiled and shook his head.
Lake Evendim glowed faintly under the cloud filled sky. Dappled with moonlight that intermittently broke through the cloud cover, it appeared to be a haven of peace and tranquillity.
One figure sat alone at the edge of the lake, bare feet trailing in the misty waters, her stormy grey eyes staring out over the calm surface.
Behind her, in a grove of trees could be vaguely seen the figure of a tall man, a dark shadow against the dark green of the trees. His cloak was pulled around him for warmth, his hand rested on his sword hilt, and his eyes were ever watchful.
The figure beside the lake rose, black hair falling forward into her eyes, to be pushed back by a casual hand. She turned, and made her way up the bank, pausing to look over the encampment that had spread out on the shore.
The King had returned to the north, to dispense his justice and solve any disputes, as his father had done before him. And it was in memory of her father's father that the woman stood on the shores of the lake now, thinking about what the future held.
A light misty rain began to fall, and the woman tilted her head up to the sky, feeling the light rain tingle on her cheeks. Cursing, the guard in the trees shivered closer under his cloak, trying to keep warm and dry, wondering why the Princess didn't go back into cover. But it was his duty to watch over the royal family, and so he would, despite the weather.
The rain started to fall heavier now, large droplets splashing into the lake, and sending ripples out in concretic rings.
"And I wonder what ripples will be created from my actions." the woman wondered aloud, before she gathered herself and moved to the largest building, made out of stone and slate, and vanished inside.
Gilraen shook the water from her grey cloak as she stepped inside, slicking the rain from her wet hair in the process. The building was quiet, most having long sought their beds. But the glow of a candle from the room her father had designated his study told her that he was still up. Moving on silent feet, she paced across to the door, and knocked.
A muffled sound bade her enter, and she pushed the door open, smiling as her father turned.
Eldarion Telcontar was a bear of a man, standing six feet tall, with broad shoulders, and a chest like a blacksmiths. His arms were powerfully muscled, but despite his appearance, he was a gentle man and father, considerate of his family, and the people he ruled over.
"What calls you out of your bed so late Gilraen?" he asked, his deep voice rumbling.
"Thoughts father." Gilraen answered frankly. "Thoughts about grandfather, and the past."
Eldarion nodded. "Not a day doesn't go by when I don't think of father," he admitted. "But what brings him to your thoughts?"
"Being here, here in the North. It almost feels like I'm following in his footsteps." "There's something else though." It was a statement, not a question, and Gilraen nodded.
"The War of the Ring." she admitted. "And grandfathers role in it. The places that he travelled to, the people he met. All know of the events that Aragorn played in the War."
Eldarion did not speak, merely nodded his head. Gilraen took a deep breath, composing her thoughts into coherence.
"It is 150 years since the War of the Ring, and 55 years since grandfather died. I would like to.. it might be fitting.. in his memory, and in the memory of the others of the fellowship, to follow the route that they took, even into Mordor." she explained, the words starting to flow more easily. "This I would like to do in their memory. To follow the route of the hobbits through the Shire, to Bree where they met grandfather, to Imladris, and then to Moria. To stand at the entrance to the Mines, and then on to Lothlorien. Down to Anduin to the Argonath, where Isildur and Anarion stand eternal sentinel. And then to the green meadow of Amon Hen." She fell silent now, her face alight with the images that her words had conjured in her mind.
"And would you travel alone?" her father asked. Gilraen tried to read his face to gain some inkling of what he was thinking, but it was impossible.
"No, I would not travel alone. Though these are peaceful times, dangers still lurk along the route I would take, and while I have been taught to use the sword and bow, it would be foolish." "And after you reach Amon Hen? Where then will you go? The path of the fellowship sundered there. The Ringbearer and his companion Samwise Gamgee crossed the Emyn Muil, and Elessar entered Rohan."
"I.. we would follow the route of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli into Rohan, to Fangorn, to Edoras. Then to Helms Deep to see the glittering caves beneath, and then to the Treegarth of Orthanc. To Erech, and then to Pelargir and the sight of the sea. Then to Minas Tirith, and beyond, to Osgiliath and the Crossroads. And finally to Cirith Gorgor and the Black Gate, within sight of the Mountain of Doom."
Eldarion nodded slowly, his eyes unfocused as he considered.
Gilraen waited, her mind afire with thoughts and plans for the things that must be done before she could leave. She had entered with only vague ideas, shadow thoughts, but now they had ignited into a bonfire.
"Let me think about this Gilraen." Eldarion said eventually, slowly.
"As you wish father," she said, before moving to the door. As it closed behind her, she let her happiness briefly show as she danced across the floor to the room that was hers.
Hidden in the shadows, the guard smiled and shook his head.