Well I decided to redo this story, making a few adjustments to it in order to make it a bit better, hopefully. I really do enjoy this brand of sword-swinging fantasy adventure like LOTR is at its core. And this was the first attempt I made at it, so I decided to give this one another shot after a long time leaving it alone. With some luck, I can turn this into one of the stories I can look at with pride and feel that I made it a helluva story with good characters and good settings and great action. Let's see what a few years of additional experience has done for that.
Also, I know I haven't updated A Brutal Reality in some time, I burned myself out on that story and I'm taking a break so that I'm not churning out content for it because I have to. That story deserves better, I need a fresh mind when working on it, for that I am shaking things up with this and my current favorite, Soldiers of the Republic.
As usual for some of my stories I have people whom I base the looks off for my characters.
Eldarion: Richard Madden (I loved him as Robb Stark and I think he never was able to do that character the justice he deserved due to the plot)
Eolyn: Chloe Grace Moretz (She's got the right kind of spunk a princess of Rohan would have, plus she and William Moseley could be cast together as siblings.)
Eoden: William Moseley (He was great in Narnia, and has the right look to be a prince of Rohan.)
Borothir: Kit Harrington (He's Jon Snow, need I say more? Also, he is (GoT SPOILER ALERT!) the nephew of a character played by Sean Bean in GoT, it makes sense for him to be the son of Faramir and nephew of Boromir)
Chapter 1
Minas Tirith, Capital City of Gondor
Minas Tirith, White City of Gondor, the City of Kings, it was known by many names. But each name was for the same majestic and powerful city that stood overlooking Pellenor Fields and the rebuilt and flourishing city of Osgiliath. From here, the great king of the Reunited Kingdom, Elessar, ruled over both Gondor and Arnor. Under Aragorn's rule the Kingdom of Gondor had risen once more into prominence, the Harad of the South had been defeated, the Corsairs of Umbar had been conquered, the province of Enedwaith had been restored to Gondor and thus Gondor's borders had been restored to their once great stretches. Ithilien had once more returned to its once great self with the evils of Sauron gone and his Orc armies wiped out and had greatly rebuilt. The Steward of Gondor, Faramir son of Denethor, was granted the Princedom of Ithilien and he ruled from Emyn Arnen at a great estate where he had settled with his wife, Eowyn, colloquially known as the White Lady of Ithilien and Shield Maiden of Pellenor Fields. She had maintained her own hereditary title as a Shield Maiden of Rohan and no one dared questioned her on it, after all she had been the one to kill the feared Witch King of Angmar.
The lands of Gondor had welcomed back peace and had prospered. Great fleets of merchant ships sailed North to Arnor and Lindor had brought vast wealth to Gondor while the mighty Hulks of Gondor's Navy watched over them and their precious cargoes. The city of Pelargir flourished with this newfound wealth from trade now free from the menace of the Corsairs of Umbar.
The prosperity of Gondor's lands and peoples were not the only growth the kingdom saw. A new growth of the royal house of Telcontar had seen its king and queen become father and mother. The first-born of Aragorn's children, Eldarion, had grown into a handsome crown prince, and three daughters had inherited the legendary beauty of their Elven mother. The family was happy and thriving in the conditions of prosperity that peace had set forth for them. And so was all Middle Earth.
Gondor's prosperity was not the only such case to be had among the Kingdoms of Men. Rohan, under the rule of its new king, Eomer son of Eomund, had reaped the harvest of an uninterrupted peace by rebuilding its villages and towns and by farming the fertile soil of the Riddermark. Trade with the newly resettled Dwarves of Moria and the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor had brought a new city into being where Isengard once stood as a menace but reborn as a symbol of progress, naming it Northmark. The fortress of Rohan, Helm's Deep had gone through its own unique transformation with the settling of a colony of Dwarves led by Gimli, son of Gloin. Great wealth poured from the Glittering Caves and fine craftsmen gifted Minas Tirith with a new steel gate, and a new great stone wall for Edoras. Fine goods, tools, weapons, and armor were forged there, and sold or traded across Middle Earth going as far as Erebor and the men of the Kingdom of Dale.
In the middle of all this was the Shire, land of the Hobbits, home of the famed Ring bearers. This small land had hardly changed since the War of the Ring had ended. The Hobbits lived as care free as ever, with Peregrin Took leading them as Thain of the Shire. The Hobbits still didn't have any army, no dreams of glory in battle or adventure, and no intention of changing the way they lived day in day out. But the Great War had taught their leader that not even the faraway Shire was immune to the evils of war. The Hobbits still maintained that they had no intention of becoming a warrior people and fought Pippin every step of the way as he encouraged the Hobbits to be better prepared for conflict. The Shire had been invaded by a group of Ruffians led by Saruman after he'd escaped Isengard and was only taken back through force of arms. To keep this from ever happening again Pippin tried making a part time force of militia, called the Guards of the Shire. Although all they were was a poorly trained militia with fine armor and weapons made in the forges of Moria and the Glittering Caves.
Yet, through all this prosperity, one date brought the people of Middle Earth together every year in celebration, the Anniversary of the End of the War of the Ring. This annual celebration was a constant reminder of the triumph over evil by the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. On every occasion Minas Tirith became the greatest concentration of royalty and lordship in all Middle Earth. The Kings of Gondor, Rohan, Erebor, the Iron Hills, Moria, Dale, the Mirkwood, and the Thain of the Hobbits all gathered to celebrate and remember old times. There were Men, Dwarves, a few Hobbits, and even a few of the last Elves to remain in Middle Earth gathered in the Merethrond to commemorate this historic day. The sound of music echoed from the great hall as all present enjoyed themselves.
Within the fine hall of polished marble, gold and silver décor and black floor emblazoned with seal of Gondor was Aragorn seated at his table as he watched the party. Around the hall stood, walked, or danced the several dozen noble and royal guests present at the celebration. At each of the thirty marble pillars stood at rigid attention a fully armored Guard of the Citadel, with spear and shield in hand. These men were the elite of Gondor's Army, and had taken individual oaths of loyalty to the king sitting at the table in the very front of the great hall beside his wife and queen. His hair had not yet begun to gray, his face still retained the strength that had made him the greatest king of Gondor since Elendil who founded the great kingdom. Beside him sat his Elven wife and Queen, Arwen, who had literally not changed at all in her appearance aside from the trappings of a Queen. She wore the delicate silver and gold crown on her head as she watched their guests, and their son, Eldarion.
"He has taken to looking much like his father," a familiar voice called out from Aragorn's left.
Aragorn calmly turned and saw the blonde hair and goatee and royal robes of Eomer. In his hand he held a glass cup of wine. He wasn't wearing his crown like most of the royalty in the room, including Aragorn.
"Yes so everyone tells me," Aragorn replied, smiling at his friend, "Eoden too has taken to looking like his father."
"No, I think that my son takes more from his grandfather," Eomer replied, "And Eolyn takes more from her mother. Alas, I think that I may need another son, I can't have these good looks go without someone to carry them on."
"Indeed, at least we have sons to carry on our names to lead our people once we are gone," Aragorn said tactfully.
"Yes, our bloodlines are secure. But, neither of our sons has yet to see combat, much less lead men into battle. It is something of a concern."
"Hopefully they never have to," Aragorn calmly and wisely stated, patting his friend on the shoulder.
"Of course," Eomer nodded, knowing full well that he didn't want his son to experience what he had experienced during his own youth fighting the evils of Sauron and Saruman. After knocking back the last of his wine he turned to Aragorn and quietly spoke, "I take it we will be announcing the engagement of Eldarion and Eolyn soon?"
"Yes, once the feast has begun. First I believe we should try and further acquaint my son and your daughter. It may not strike their fancy unless they know one another a bit better."
"I agree, knowing my daughter she will either hate me for all time or be elated. I have heard her chamber maids speak of Eldarion to her before and she has heard her brother's stories of his and Eldarion's adventures in Ithilien and the Riddermark with Borothir."
"I don't know how my son shall react, he has always been rather independent. So an arranged marriage may not sit well with him. But I do believe he will not protest openly," Aragorn stated.
"It does not sit well with me either my love," Arwen interjected, "I do not see the need for an arranged marriage. It will be unfair to the children, we married for love, as did you King Eomer. What message will that send to them?"
"My love, it is what is best for our kingdoms. A marriage with a Prince of Gondor and a Princess of Rohan will forever seal the bond of friendship between us."
"Is it worth it that your son will not marry one whom he has loved? Is it fair to your daughter?"
"Your highness," Eomer quietly responded, "This is not a decision that was reached overnight. I did not agree to this for myself, I did it for my country."
"And I did it for mine," Aragorn said as well, "Besides, who are we to say that they will not love one another? For all we know it is destiny that this could bring about their love for one another."
"What if it isn't?"
Aragorn and Eomer stood in silence as they thought about it. This was something that was not easy for them as fathers. Nor was it easy for them to deal with their wives and thus the mothers of the soon to be betrothed about this delicate situation. But their decision was made, and there was no turning back.
"I think we should introduce them to each other now, plant the seed and hope it grows," Eomer said.
"Yes, I will bring Eldarion to go the Courtyard. Why don't you bring Eolyn and I can have my son give your daughter a tour of the Citadel. If there is one thing I know about him it's that he will take her everywhere, which gives them time to talk."
"Very well, let us have them meet in five minutes, and from there, hope for the best."
Eomer nodded as he stepped out to find his young daughter and try and put their plan into action to soften the blow of what an arranged marriage was going to be like. Aragorn made straight for his one and only son, Prince Eldarion. His son was, as Eomer commented, a near spitting image of himself even at only twenty years old. His dark brown hair was long and he had allowed himself to grow a thin goatee that wasn't completely filled in just yet. His eyes were blue as the seas, like his Elven mother. He was already near Aragorn's size, and had, according to his mother and her chamber maids grown into one of the most handsome men in Gondor. The thing about that particular fact was that he knew it. He would ride or walk through Minas Tirith or ride to Osgiliath, just to get out and the ladies and girls would simply melt under his confident smile and handsome charm. This had gotten him into a bit of trouble with some of the nobles of Gondor who didn't like their daughters swooning over the young Prince but being royalty, he was free from any real punishment from even the nobles. However, he was still susceptible to the judgment of his father, who was not the most popular with the more powerful nobles who had seen quite a lot of loss of power and influence with his crowning and leadership.
As a young Prince he had felt cheated out of glory in battle during his father's several military campaigns in which he had been old enough to partake but had been barred from doing so. He had of course been trained with sword, shield, and bow by his father throughout his life, but never once used them in anger. He wore the sword given to him by his father, the same sword that Aragorn had wielded through the Battles of Amon Hen and Helm's Deep, and had gifted it to him on his fifteenth birthday. It had come to be known as "Strider" the Sword of the Prince. It had taken his father's old name as a Ranger, a reminder of the humble beginnings of Aragorn's reconstituted house. He wore it wherever he went, as was the case now as the group of nobles and several generals he was talking to parted to make way for their king who had come up behind Eldarion.
"Eldarion," Arargorn spoke, his voice filled with the purpose that he felt was warranted by this situation.
"Father," Eldarion responded, turning and bowing his head respectfully.
"What was this?" Aragorn asked, knowing that he had to pay a portion of interest to the conversation of his son and these important men.
"A debate your grace, on the merits of expanded ranger companies on the frontier," replied the general who commanded Gondor's Army, General Sirion.
"I believe rangers as far east as the Sea of Rhun would go a long way to securing our claim to the territory," Eldarion responded, "The good lords here disagree, citing the expense of such posts."
"The lack of settlements means that roads to the posts would need to be established, supplies would have to be carted all the way," Aragorn responded.
"Yes but the Rangers would have their own camp followers who would create settlements that would eventually make their posts self-sufficient," Eldarion protested.
"Rangers cannot be tied down my son, camp followers of that scale would not make them true Rangers."
"I understand Father."
"I'm sorry my friends, I need to speak with my son on a separate matter."
"That is quite alright your majesty," the eldest of the nobles replied.
"Come," Aragorn calmly beckoned, patting his son on the shoulder.
"If it is something I said there I do apologize," Eldarion said calmly as he was led towards the door.
"You are not in trouble this time Eldarion. I have something to ask of you," Aragorn said as the two of them walked to the door as a pair of Guards of the Citadel opened them at the King's approach.
The two of them walked out into the crisp cool air of the spring night. The sounds of music, talking and spat of laughter still reached their ears. Before them was the courtyard of the Citadel, where the White Tree of Gondor stood proudly with new blossoms sprouting from its limbs. There were numerous guards here, their tall spears and shining armor glinting under the moonlight as they stood vigilantly. The White Tower stood above them, cast in a cool blue in the moonlight as it watched over the land and people, standing as a symbol of power and prestige.
"So what is it you would have me do?" Eldarion asked curiously.
"You will see," Aragorn said as he heard the footsteps of two people come up from behind them from the doors.
"Aragorn," Eomer said pleasantly, "Eldarion."
"Your highness," Eldarion said respectfully to the King of Rohan. However his eyes flitted over to the young lady by his side, "Princess Eolyn."
"Your grace," the young blonde girl said, bowing slightly.
Princess Eolyn was the youngest of Eomer's two children and his sole daughter. She was said to be one of the fairest of ladies of the land yet Eldarion himself hadn't met her but once in childhood. Her wavy hair was as golden as the sun with light blue eyes that were as if the sky of Rohan had gifted its pristine self into them. Her evenly tanned face was smooth and innocent, free of any freckles or faults. She was sixteen, a year younger than her brother and a full two years younger than Eldarion. She had blossomed wonderfully, any man was able to tell that. But behind the trappings of the royal green and gold gown she wore and the beautiful blue eyes lay a hidden fire that no one besides those closest to her knew existed. She studied Eldarion carefully, studying him and noting the handsome face that she had heard of and taking in the other aspects that she could see.
"I do believe that you two have not yet been acquainted with one another," Aragorn said, stepping forward, "Princess Eolyn I would like introduce my son, Prince Eldarion."
"A pleasure to meet the Golden Princess of Rohan," Eldarion said, courteously taking her hand and planting a gentle kiss on the smooth skin, "Your beauty is spoken of far and wide."
"It too is a pleasure to meet the Prince of Gondor, my chamber maids have spoken of you with great praise," she responded, feigning her trained manners, so the compliment was more of a scripted than genuine response.
"Eldarion, perhaps you could show Eolyn around the Citadel, I do believe this is the first time Eolyn has been to our humble city," Aragorn suggested, but really, it was more of an order.
"Oh I would be honored," Eldarion said, slightly taken off guard, but was quite suspicious of the off-the-wall order.
"Daughter?" Eomer said, turning to his daughter expectantly.
"It would be a pleasure your highness," she said after a flash of suspicion flashed across her face. She was no fool, she knew that she was now becoming of age to marry and that Eldarion was not yet married himself. She could very easily see that this was an attempt to set them up and did not like it, but as the daughter of the king she couldn't say no.
"Excellent, Eldarion, stay within the upper level," Aragorn ordered.
"Yes father," he replied with a firm nod and then turned to Eolyn, "Milady."
Eldarion held out his arm courteously and Eolyn hesitated as she turned to her father who nodded quietly. She then swallowed a bit of nervousness creeping up her gut and cautiously took his hand and proceeded to walk out down the stone path leaving the two kings to watch as they walked off.
"Well, so far so good," Aragorn said calmly, "We should probably return. We're probably missed."
"Very well," Eomer said sternly as he watched his daughter and Eldarion stop at the White Tree and the Fountain it stood over.
Aragorn took one last look, and hoped that he had made the right choice doing all of this and then went back into his hall and rejoined the party with the doors closing loudly behind him.
"So this is the White Tree of Gondor?" Eolyn was the first to speak as the two of them stopped in front of the famous tree. It was quite large, stretching upwards in a cone like an evergreen but with smooth unwrinkled white bark and broad leaves that were dark green above and smooth silver on their undersides. White blossoms were showered over much of the tree and a few fell into the pristine fountain below hardly disturbing the crystal clear water.
"Yes, planted by my father after he found a seedling high on the mountain above us," Eldarion said with pride, "It is the fourth tree Gondor has had, and is said to be the most spectacular."
"It is intriguing. But we know that this is rather strange, our fathers suddenly having us alone," Eolyn said as the two of them continued to the throne room.
"My thought was that perhaps they are trying to acquaint us in the hopes I may be taken with you," Eldarion responded as the guards opened the large doors for them.
"Taken by me?" Eolyn responded with a cocked eye brow.
"We are both of marrying age. We are both royalty, it is politically advantageous and seemingly possible for us to like one another," Eldarion nonchalantly responded.
"Oh really? So confident," Eolyn rolled her eyes.
"I am, I am the Crown Prince, what isn't there to stop me?"
"Then what's it like, being a Prince of Gondor?"
"Well, I guess it isn't all that dissimilar from you. I have no real responsibilities except to my father and mother's authority," Eldarion replied.
"And to your country," Eolyn replied, finishing off what he should have said.
They had both entered the center of the throne room, with the throne standing cold and empty over them both.
"That goes without saying. But it's nice, I get to do just about anything I want, and now that I'm older I can go just about anywhere I want on top of that. Plus I have been trained and taught by many of the finest tutors and warriors in the realm."
"I envy that," Eolyn responded.
"You envy me? You're a princess of Rohan, the horse lords. You can ride upon the finest of horses and see miles in all directions and go there."
"I can't leave Edoras without an escort and permission from my father or mother. Even then everything is handed to me and I can't really feel the kind of freedom that you seem to experience at your whim."
"Well I'm sure that your father only has your safety in mind. He wouldn't let Eoden and I go out on our own until we were sixteen," Eldarion shrugged.
"I just don't want to be treated like something to be protected. I can handle myself you know, all the women of Rohan can. I was trained with sword and bow from my infancy, same as you."
"Well, you are a princess. I can understand why you need protecting."
"I don't need anyone to protect me," Eolyn snapped, "I can handle myself."
"If you say so," Eldarion chuckled, "But someone as important as a princess can't be left to her own devices."
"You think my ability to defend myself is a joke? Is that it?" Eolyn growled, not appreciating the patronizing she was getting from Eldarion.
"Well you are a princess, no insult meant it's just that there's a difference between what a prince and princess should be. Like your brother and I, we're supposed to become Kings, someone to rule and lead our armies into battle and fight alongside them. And princesses…not so much."
Eolyn just glared at him through narrowed eyes as she started to boil over at what Eldarion had said to her, "And who says so Prince? My aunt, Eowyn did what no one thought a woman could do. She was the one who slayed the Witch King of Angmar, she rode with the Rohirrim into the greatest battle of our time. For someone who was so confident in your ability to woo me you are not making progress."
"The greatest battle of our parents' time. Ours has not yet seen such vast battles with the fate of Middle Earth hanging in the balance," Eldarion corrected.
"There has not yet been a dark lord for us to do battle against. Sauron is gone, and even Saruman was slain by the Hobbits of the Shire after the end of the war. Only the Harad and Easterlings remain," Eolyn responded bitterly, "And they are no threat to us anymore."
"Not yet, if there is anything that I know is that there will always be conflict, there are still evil things out there, Orcs, Trolls, Wargs, and I have heard one of the Nazgul is said to be still alive," said Eldarion, getting a roll of the eyes from Eolyn.
"Please, don't bother trying to frighten me with your tales of the Ring-Wraiths. They were all killed, each of their cloaks is on display in your Citadel, I have seen them, and the rest of your great palace."
"Wait, you have gone through the Citadel before? Then why did our fathers ask me to show you around?" Eldarion stopped and questioned her, clearly confused.
"I'm a princess, I'm not supposed to question my father's will remember?" Eolyn coolly responded, walking towards the open doors that led them back to the courtyard.
"Oh what happened to breaking out of your cage mighty shield maiden?" Eldarion mocked.
At that slight taunt Eolyn finally spun around and marched towards Eldarion and stood mere feet from him, looking up slightly into his eyes with a burning anger that could have boiled over at any moment into something more physically painful for the young prince.
"I could break you if I wanted to," she hissed.
"Oh really?" Eldarion chuckled casually brushing past her as he made it back into the courtyard and the cool night air. The pair of Citadel Guards returned rigidly to attention, tucking their spears and shields tightly to their sides as the now fuming princess and entertained prince walked out and listened to the argument.
"Do you wish to see? Or would the Prince of Gondor not take kindly to being beaten by a princess?"
"I do not fight girls," Eldarion replied.
"Is that so? So you can choose to be gentleman in an effort to avoid a fight. Bravo good prince, bravo."
Eldarion watched her sarcastically walk past him and began to feel his own anger starting to rise to the surface, "What are you saying? Are you calling me a coward?"
"Oh no, I am simply saying you are afraid of me."
"If you were not a-," Eldarion began, jabbing his finger at her as he stalked towards her, but was interrupted by footsteps coming from the direction of the great hall. A servant dressed in a black and silver shirt and pants stood before them bearing all the high class and was perfectly unaware of how heated the argument between the two had gotten.
"Your highness, King Elessar asks for you and Princess Eolyn to join for the toast and the feast."
"Thank you, milady?" Eldarion said half through his teeth as he held out his arm in a now purely formal gesture.
The two of them walked back several paces behind the man sent to get them and reentered the party. And as soon as they made inside the hall they parted ways, not taking a second glance at one another. The argument between the two of them was still quite fresh within their minds. Eldarion immediately made his way to where he was always supposed to sit for feasts and toasts, at his father's right-hand side. As he sat down beside his father he tried pushing the argument with Eolyn out of his mind so to carry on with the celebration.
However, Eolyn was doing the exact opposite. She held onto the spat with Eldarion and fumed silently to herself as she wondered why her father had made her do that. Almost instantly she thought that it was an attempt at getting the two of them together and in the best of circumstances, romantically involved. But things don't always work out that way, and for her all she could really think of was how things might have gone any better, perhaps she could have been a bit cooler headed, or maybe she could have not tried to openly challenge him. She knew better by now than to let her anger get in the way of her head. As a girl with an older brother she had always been a fighter. As a young girl she would always play fight or fight for real against her older brother whenever things got testy between them which happened often. It continued until Eoden had gotten to the age where he had begun to see women differently and began to come of age as a man now that he was seventeen. She had by now in her seventeenth year begun to learn from her mother how to be a proper lady as was her royal duty. But she still had another dream as a Shield Maiden of Rohan. She would grow up listening to bed time stories of the great Eowyn who rode into battle dressed as a man and fought in Pellenor Fields against the armies of Sauron, the Legions of Harad, and the most dangerous of all, the Nazgul Witch-King of Angmar. These stories emboldened her to do some of the great things like her aunt had done. So needless to say, an attempt at courting her didn't usually end well. This time just seemed to be an addition to that list of attempts, save for the oddity of Eldarion being equally willing to engage in a heated exchange.
"You don't seem happy," a familiar voice said from Eolyn's left hand side. She turned to see her brother, Eoden, the heir to the throne of Rohan. He was very much like Eomer in appearance. He had the same long straight blonde hair same eyes and very similar facial features. He was slightly shorter than Eomer, but was still every bit the prince. The eighteen-year old wore a dark green and gold shirt and black pants, and had his faithful sword with him as well. He didn't have a beard yet, and was clean shaven which made him look younger than he was. Eoden was however no child. As a Prince of Rohan he was a master horseman, a proficient swordsman, and a decent archer, especially on horseback. Eomer himself taught him how to handle himself in a fight from a young age, most of the time with Eolyn right there next to her brother as she was now in the Hall of the King of Gondor.
"No," Eolyn simply replied.
"And why is that?" Eoden responded.
"Your friend Eldarion is why."
"Oh, what happened?" Eoden asked.
"Father and King Aragorn had him show me around the Citadel. Apparently, he thinks that I don't have what it takes to take care of myself."
"You tried to fight, didn't you?"
"No!" Eolyn responded testily looking right at him. Eoden arched his eyebrows knowingly, drawing the truth from her, "Okay I challenged him I didn't strike him."
"Good, you could have a started a war like that."
"Oh very funny," Eolyn mocked as King Aragorn stood up.
"Friends," the voice of Aragorn called out, "Friends. It has many years since the fall of the Dark Lord and the start of the greatest reign of prosperity in the history of men. For the sacrifices of those who stood against the forces of the dark have not been in vain, so let us not forget their honor, their nobility, and their courage. Let us aspire to the same virtues that brought about this new age," Aragorn said as he held his glass of wine up high, "Hail to the sacrifices of those we've lost."
"Hail!" the crowd cheered loudly holding their glasses high and then downing them only to be surprised as servants promptly refilled them.
"Before you proceed to empty my humble hall of its food I have another announcement," Aragorn said calmly with a smile as several of the guests had a good chuckle at his sarcasm, "Eldarion, my son, rise," he motioned to his son.
Eldarion rose to his feet with a surprised look on his face. He remembered many of these celebrations and the only time he had been told to rise was when he had first been allowed at such an occasion and accidentally sat in the wrong seat. But this was the first time his father had told him to rise in the middle of a toast. He instantly thought that perhaps he was going to be anointed the Captain of the Guard of the Citadel, as was customary for the Prince and heir to the throne according to tradition. However, he also knew that was probably not going to happen. But then he began to very quickly figure out when he saw, out of the corner of his eye, Eomer walk forward with his very nervous daughter Eolyn right to them. She and Eldarion then realized what was coming, and tried to hold their panic back and remain calm.
"It has come time for Gondor and Rohan to show our friendship and loyalty to one another not only by bond of battle. But by bond of marriage. I give you Prince Eldarion, my son, and heir to the throne of Gondor. And I give you Princess Eolyn, daughter of Eomer, the Golden Lady of Medusel. You are to be wed to one another upon the first full moon when the spring awakens."
Eolyn and Eldarion were carefully maneuvered to stand in front of each other, and as Aragorn stood in between them he took their hands and placed them within one another's grasp. Eldarion was stunned at what he was doing, and Eolyn looked to be completely dumb struck as Aragorn finished his speech.
"May your lives be filled with more love and peace than your fathers and mothers," he soothingly said to the two young newly betrothed, as he looked with soft eyes into those of Eldarion and Eolyn.
A loud cheer went up from the crowd and the food was quickly brought forth from the entrance to the kitchen on plates of silver and gold. Pork, beef, fish, and mutton cooked by some of the finest chefs in Gondor sizzled and steamed filling the hall with a wafting scent that was sure to awaken the hunger of anyone. Great bowls of fresh fruits, loafs of freshly baked bread, ales, wines, and salads all streamed onto the tables as Eolyn and Eldarion both were smothered by the guests wishing them happiness, asking how many children they planned to have, and what their plans for the wedding were.
However, the parents of the newly betrothed couple did not go to their son or daughter. Eomer walked over to his table, his face a subtle mask of concern and slight regret. But before he even made it to the table he was surprised when Eoden stepped in his way, his own face trembling with anger.
"Eoden," he simply acknowledged.
"How could you do that to Eolyn? An arranged marriage without so much as a warning or an acknowledgement? And on top of that she's to marry my best friend?!" Eoden hissed quietly, knowing better than to raise his voice at his father in company.
"One day you will be king, and you'll understand," he said as he walked past Eoden.
"When I am king I will not betray my children's trust."
"Do you think I take joy in this course of action?!" Eomer growled as he whirled around at him, "This is not something I truly wanted to do."
"So why do it? Why rob Eolyn of being able to choose who to give her heart to?" Eoden asked.
"It was what will ensure the continued friendship of Gondor and Rohan. A marriage of your sister and Eldarion creates that bond."
"But Rohan came to the aid of Gondor in the war, if it were not for the Rohirrim the White City would have fallen."
"There is more to being king than fighting battles my son, you'd best remember that before making your judgments."
Eoden gritted his teeth and held his tongue, which Eomer took to mean that the argument was over. Father and son let each other pass as Eoden looked at his sister, easily able to see the hurt conveyed in her eyes as she stood uncomfortably by the equally distraught Eldarion. As he stood there he felt a presence walk up from the side and didn't even have to turn to see his only other relative, Borothir, son of Faramir and Eowyn, his cousin. Borothir was older than Eoden, but still younger than Eldarion, and was the best of friends between the two. He had equal loyalty to Rohan and Gondor as the son of Faramir and Eowyn and was how Eldarion and Eoden had met each other. He was the same size as both princes, with light brown hair like his father with gray eyes. His face was slightly broader than his father's making him look a bit more like Faramir's passed brother, Boromir, whom he was named in honor of. He had grown a slight goatee that was thinly visible in the same color as his long hair. Borothir was the only son of Faramir and the oldest out of three children with the other two being twin sisters of six years old. He was the most free out of the three friends, being able to go out with Faramir's Ithilien Rangers and hunt, fish, and learn to be in the outdoors. As fitted the son of a Ranger, he'd even gotten to make his own longbow in the Ithilien way and was by far the best archer among them.
"You can see it too?" Borothir asked, as he stood next to his cousin.
"My father arranged this with King Aragorn. Apparently, it's to ensure the friendship of our kingdoms past the time of our fathers."
"Well, I suppose as the children of kings that's what you must expect," Borothir shrugged as he drank from his pint of ale, "Marriage tends to be more political than romantic."
"An arranged marriage is something no one should have to go through, from the lowest peasant to the highest royalty. It's not right."
"Hey, it's done, and who knows, maybe they'll fall in love. Perhaps this is just the push towards each other that they needed to see it. Give it some time," Borothir said clapping his cousin on the shoulder.
"Hmph, you always did know how to make the worst of situations seem just a bit better," Eoden chuckled, nodding appreciatively at Borothir who nodded back.
"I know, but I'm not sure how even I'd be able to help those two with this," Borothir pointed at the two, "Look at them, they're about to explode."
"I don't think I want to be here when they do."
"Neither do I. Like you said, give 'em some time."
As the party began to settle Aragorn saw his oldest friends, Legolas and Gimli looking at him in a way that they knew meant, 'we need to talk.' So he carefully stood up and walked over to them as they stood by a side door. The three of them walked without a word into an adjacent hall devoid of anyone that might overhear. As soon as Aragorn turned to close the door completely he felt the hard snap of the wooden cane Gimli held smack against his head. He knew what it was for, and gathered himself as he turned to talk to them.
"I deserved that," Aragorn stated plainly.
"Aye, I think your lad and the little lass would agree with ye," Gimli grumbled, "You're lucky old Gandalf isn't here, he'd be giving you a piece of his considerable mind."
"I thought you wouldn't be too pleased with my decision," Aragorn said calmly as he looked at Legolas whose face was about as calm and serene as ever.
"And yet you did it Aragorn?" Legolas calmly responded, "Why? Isn't the chance to love someone of your choosing something you hold most dear to your heart? Why take that choice from Eldarion and Eolyn?"
"There are some things that I have had to do as king that I do not like. This is the worst of them all. It's a complex world, the royal court. Eldarion's choice of wife one way or another would have long-standing implications, Eolyn was the best of the many I had to choose from. All I can do is hope for them to see in each other what Arwen and I saw in each other. If not, all I can do is hope for their forgiveness."
"Their forgiveness?!" Gimli snorted, "You've paired them up like you pair a couple of horses you want to breed. What makes you think you'll even get it?"
Legolas gave Gimli a good shove at the harsh manner of the way he said that, "Aragorn, whatever happens, I think you should always remember what it is that matters to you. There was a time when you put nothing in front of the love of your friends and family. Have you lost sight of that?"
"I believe I have," Aragorn nodded solemnly.
"Go then lad, go speak with them," Gimli calmly said, putting a hand on Aragorn's arm.
"After the party," Aragorn stated, "When I can speak openly with them and they with me."
"You'd better, or I'll remind you of it," Gimli stated sternly, tapping Aragorn's chest with his cane.
"Don't let your crown cover your heart Aragorn," Legolas spoke to him, this time in the Elven language.
"I won't my friend, thank you."
The celebration had ended slowly around midnight, to allow for most of the guests to get some sleep for their return journey home, if they planned on going home the day after the celebration. But there was to be no rest for Princess Eolyn of Rohan. She had come from the party and instantly went to a balcony where she knew that she could be alone. It had been a rough night, that was a tentative way of putting it. She had been promised to the Prince of Gondor as his wife, on top of that she hadn't even known that was going to happen beforehand.
The entire night after that announcement was a blur. Her mind was, even as she stood at the balcony, struggling to come to terms. She had been asked such innocent yet troubling things as names for children, marriage plans, and honeymoon destinations. But the worst was when the Thain of the Shire, the leader of the Hobbits, Peregrin Took, asked how they'd come to love each other and she had to completely avoid the question to keep from blowing up in front of everyone. Her anger at her father, at Aragorn, at Eldarion, and the fates themselves, continued to build throughout the hours of celebration and feasting. So she was especially thankful when she was able to slip away to somewhere quiet to vent and calm down and think.
And thinking was something she was doing a great deal of as she sat calmly on a stone railing and leaned against the carved stone pillar. She looked out over the city of Minas Tirith below her, and at Osgiliath out in the distance as it sparkled with lights from lanterns in the streets and shimmered with lights from its own more raucous party being held in its own town square. She let the cooling breeze flow over her face and let wisps of her hair flutter slightly as she just let herself think about what life was going to mean for her now that she was engaged. She couldn't help but feel betrayed by her father for promising her away as if she were but a pawn to be played in some grand game. She then remembered the look on Aragorn's face when he'd announced it. She'd only seen him a handful of times, but she'd always seen him erect in posture, and confident in himself. But when she'd looked into his eyes she was able to see a new emotion for him. He was troubled, as if he didn't really know how this was going to work out. But when she thought of it she also remembered seeing some of the very same emotions on Eldarion's face. He seemed conflicted, like he didn't even have the slightest inkling as to the existence of this pact. She couldn't help but be surprised by that. Eolyn had thought that someone like Eldarion would be more than pleased to have her as a wife, to be his. She knew that she was highly sought after for her great beauty and royal blood. But it seemed that he didn't think that way, which gave her some hope.
As continued to look out she remembered one other horrible thing about being wedded. The great Pellenor Fields instantly brought the stories of her aunt Eowyn flooding into her mind. The glory of adventure had come to Eowyn that day before the great walls of this city. She could practically see it, the fires of the city illuminating the great hordes of orcs besieging the White City. The black rolling mass of evil creatures come to destroy the last great city of Gondor, surprised by the arrival of the Rohirrim riding to the rescue from the North. All six thousand riders seeing this great unstoppable tide and not turning away rode into the mouth of death and delivered such a great victory that it would be spoken of for all time. And in the center of it all was a shield maiden, Eowyn, who stood against the mightiest of Sauron's servants and won. It was everything Eolyn hoped to see and experience, and now with this promise to marriage she was robbed of it.
However, she realized that there was one way, one chance to live out her own adventure before the time came to accept her destiny. And without really realizing it she stood and looked out over the great land of Gondor and turned with her new mission in mind and heart. She walked into her room and carefully threw open her chest and changed from her fine dress into a pair of old black pants, a green shirt and then a short-sleeved leather vest over that. She then carefully dug out a hidden item that she was taught to always have with her. It was a studded leather belt with a Rohan style short sword and a dagger given to her by her brother on her tenth birthday. She tied this around her waist and then finished it all off with a dark green colored hooded cloak that she pulled on and was about to throw the hood over her head when she saw a small stack of paper and a bottle of ink and a small white quill standing unused next to it on a table.
So sitting down at the table she penned her farewell letter to her family and then placed it gently on her pillow. She also took a small bag and stuffed it with a few other items of her own like a spare change of clothes, some needle and thread for patching up any holes, and then crammed in a few apples and other fruits from a bowl in the corner that came with the room. So with that done she gently closed her door and walked out to the royal stables where the horses that they had ridden to Minas Tirith were being kept. This included her own horse, Ruby, a red and white colored mare given to her as a gift the day she began learning to ride as a filly. She'd raised that horse, and was her favorite possession and her dearest friend. Looking around and avoiding the guards and some stable boys walking away after a day of work she quietly walked into the stables and shut the door behind her, leaving only the dim light of a few lanterns to see by. As she turned around she was not at all surprised to see Ruby looking at her with ears upright and alert and eyes eagerly looking from her to her saddle straddled across the wooden fence in her pen.
Eolyn carefully walked to her horse, and let Ruby nuzzle her slightly as she got near, "It's time to ride Ruby, but we must be quiet. Do you understand?" Eolyn asked, getting an eager grunt from the red mare who pawed at the ground with built up energy, "Good, the rest of you, go back to sleep."
She pointed at the other horses in their pens who all just continued to stare at her or simply turned away to return to their sleep or do whatever it was horses did. She breathed a sigh of relief that none of the horses was making any suspicious noise and proceeded to get her own horse saddled up. Eolyn tossed the light green blanket over Ruby's back, and then fastened her saddle over them. She checked her saddle bags to be sure that she had the survival gear that she was required to keep in her bags such as a fire-starting kit, a mirror for signaling, a water bladder, a blanket, hooks and line for fishing, a tent with the tools needed to set it up, and a decent-sized sack of coins. Once that was finished she led Ruby out her stall and opened the door to be sure the coast was clear. After that she got her horse out and grimaced the horse shoes clicked against the stone ground and carefully pulled herself up into the saddle and urged her horse forward.
She passed through the several gates from level to level without incident, going unnoticed as she trotted past unlit houses where families slept quietly and peacefully. There was the occasional man or woman or couple walking down the streets and even the rare soldier on patrol to keep the peace in this fine city. But then she made it to the largest and last gate in Minas Tirith and made it to the half open gate without being challenged by the guards who were all too tired and bored to care about one lone rider leaving the city. But as she got to the very threshold of the gate she heard something she did not want to hear.
"Hold it there!" a guard called out and began walking up behind her.
Eolyn began to fear that she had been discovered, and that her adventure was over before it even began. She dared not look at the man afraid that she would be recognized and stopped. The sounds of heavy boots and the rattling of the heavy full-bodied armor that the guard wore came up from behind her until she felt the presence within feet of her. The light of a lantern he held in his hand illuminated the area around her and she could just hear her father reprimanding her for this course of action.
"You dropped this," the voice said politely and she looked down to see a guard open her saddle bag and place her bag of spare clothes and food into her saddle bags.
"Oh, thank you," she said in gratitude but immediately regretted having spoken as the guard looked up and the light of his lantern illuminated her face.
"Wait, you're the Princess of Rohan. Why are you-," he began but was stopped as Eolyn snapped under the pressure.
"Hah!" she yelled, urging the Ruby forward and took off into the night. She covered ground quickly, but was still able to hear the man yell out.
"Sound the alarm! Sound the alarm!"
A second later a horn began bellowing and she was able to hear the mixed yelling of many soldiers and people as she rode hard north, away from the towering city. The sounds of the hoof beats on the hard grassy ground echoed in Eolyn's mind as adrenaline coursed through her veins and she rode all the way to the hill that looked out over the Fields, Osgiliath, and Minas Tirith. She stopped there, and looked back to see what she had left and saw no one chasing her and took a second to look up at the citadel and maybe see if her father, or brother, or mother was looking down to see what the commotion was about. But from this distance she couldn't tell. As she sat there upon Ruby she felt a sense of dread rise from her heart at what she knew she must have been putting her parents through. Her mother would not cease fretting until she was in her arms again, her father was more than likely to ride after her himself with the entire royal guard. And her brother would do the same thing and would be joined by Borothir, her cousin. A small tear glided down her face, and she sniffled a bit as she wiped it away and thought to herself that now was not the time for tears, tonight she would begin a great adventure and see all there was to see, no more tears.
The horn of Gondor surprised Aragorn as he prepared for bed and on instinct ran to the nearest window to see what the alarm was for. He looked out and saw no traces of smoke from perhaps a house fire which was not at all uncommon, nor did he see signs of an attack, but from where he was standing he was not able to see many things thanks to how high the Citadel was. So he left his chambers with Arwen coming out of her own bathroom with hair brush in hand.
"What is it?" she asked, quite concerned.
"I do not know," Aragorn said, "But I plan to find out."
He threw on a simple leather vest and grabbed his sword Anduril and began to tie it around his waist as he left his room and was greeted immediately by the Captain of Guard in full armor with another pair of spear and shield toting guards right behind him.
"My king, the alarm," he stated.
"I know, any word on what the meaning of it is?" Aragorn asked as he walked outside to where he would be able to look and see what the commotion was about. Guards ran about in their dozens, rushing to their stations. The royal guard of Rohan stood in front of the door to where their king and royal family was staying looking about for any sign of danger as they should have been. Aragorn also saw a pair of Dwarf guards carrying large double headed axes rush to their side from the door.
"Nothing as of yet my liege, but I do know it was sounded at the gate."
"It could be anything then," Aragorn stated grimly.
"My king, a rider approaches!" a guard called out as a horseman galloped into the courtyard and stopped as the horse eagerly pawed and circled, making it a bit difficult to grab the reigns and calm the animal. The rider jumped off, his armor rattling as he ran to Aragorn and the Captain. He bowed out of instinct and rose again to make his report.
"Your majesty, the alarm was sounded at the gate when a lone rider broke from the city when challenged."
"A lone rider?" Aragorn asked.
"Yes sire, but it was no man. I recognized the rider, it was Princess Eolyn, of Rohan."
"What?! Are you sure?" Aragorn asked intently.
"As clear as I see you sire," he responded.
"Very well, return to your post and sound the all clear. No need to mobilize the entire garrison for this matter."
"Sire," the soldier responded, bowing and then returned to his horse and rode off.
Aragorn pursed his lips, knowing this would not be easy to explain to Eomer and that if Gimli found out then he'd probably give Aragorn more than a swat with a cane. He walked to the doors and the two Rohan guards opened them for him and was not surprised to see Eomer walking to the door.
"Aragorn, what's happening?" Eomer demanded as he walked up him. Aragorn saw from around the corner Eomer's wife Lothiriel, and his own son Eoden.
"It's Eolyn," he said calmly getting a strange, confused look from Eomer who looked back at the door he knew to be where his daughter had been sleeping.
Lothiriel ran to the door and threw it open and instantly her hands flew up to cover a gasp from the queen. Eomer walked over to the door and in his heart he knew what he was going to see. He looked into the room and saw an empty bed and a letter placed upon the pillow at its head. He walked in past his now weeping wife who was now in the arms of Eoden who looked at the empty room with sadness and confusion in his eyes. Eomer picked up the letter and turned around as he read it.
"Dear Mother, Father, and Brother. I have not run away to spite you or refuse your wishes. I have simply decided to venture out on my own one last time to see and explore and live freely before I am to be married. I do not wish for you to suffer from guilt at my leaving, for do not fear, I shall return once my quest is done. I do not know where I shall go or how I shall I get there. But I will return to home to you. Your loving daughter, Eolyn," he read out loud as he held it down away from him. He stood in thought at this new consequence of his own making and decided how to right this, "Eoden," he said firmly, "Take ten men and ride hard and track your sister down and find her."
"Father I-," Eoden spoke.
"Do not question me!" Eomer snapped at him loudly.
"I should go alone," Eoden continued, getting a look of intrigue from Eomer, "If I take a unit of the royal guard every scoundrel, thief, and rebel from here to Fangorn will be alerted and looking for her as a way to get a great ransom. If I go alone then I can find her quickly and quietly without arousing anymore suspicion than is needed."
"I will not let both my children venture out there alone!" Eomer said firmly.
"He won't be alone," a new voice said, the owner of said voice coming out from around the corner. It was Eldarion, come to see what was going on, "He'll have me to watch his back."
"Eldarion-," Aragorn said calmly.
"Father, he is my friend, and well, that's also my future wife so if she and I are going to make this work venturing out to protect her is a good way to start."
Eomer looked at Eldarion and nodded, "Very well, go."
Eoden bowed and walked quickly to his room to dress in the appropriate attire for this journey and then Eldarion did the same, walking off to get his own stuff set and ready for this new adventure. Eoden was the first to be ready, having the shortest distance to go before being able to go to the stables. He had put on a pair of tough pants with leather on the inside for riding and had put on a long sleeved gray shirt with a short sleeved green tunic and a brown leather vest. On his wrists he'd placed a pair of guards that were trimmed with thin pieces of metal for firming up the protective pieces. On his waist he had his own sword decorated with silver horse emblems and a green jeweled hilt. He had also brought along his own three-foot diameter shield with a golden emblem of a horse on a dark green background held in place by steel nails and bracing. He carried a curved elven dagger given to him by Legolas as a gift several years ago, and on his back he had a quiver of twenty-five arrows and his own short bow. He had a cloak on colored a light green almost turned brown from how often it was used. After he'd gotten all of that on he'd pulled on a pair of dark gloves.
He began to check the saddle of his horse Yarrow, as Eldarion walked in wearing a black cloak over his own dark blue shirt and black leather vest. He had a pair of tough black pants on which he had his belt with his own Longsword and a dagger that his father had used during the War. He had his wrists protected the same way as Eoden, but his were etched with the standard of Gondor, the White Tree and a crown of stars over the tree. On his shoulder he also had a small piece of leather for protection like a pad of sorts. He'd also cut the fingers off a pair of black gloves for better grip on his reigns and sword for the journey. He had a long bow and a quiver of twenty-six arrows in his hands as he walked in to see that his horse was ready. Another thing that surprised both of them was that they were not alone, their mutual friend Borothir was waiting for them by his own horse.
He wore a dark gray cloak and had his sword, straight dagger, and long bow and a much larger quiver of thirty-nine arrows hanging by his waist in easy reach. He had a leather vest with the standard of Gondor emblazoned on it with a black shirt on under that. On his left hand he held a wrist protector for his bow and a pair of fingerless gloves on both hands. He had on a pair of tough dark pants and had a tear drop shaped shield about three feet tall and two and a half feet wide already strapped onto his horse along with his other gear. It was painted black with the same standard of Gondor that his vest had on it.
"So you two thought you could get away with running off on this adventure without me eh?" Borothir asked mockingly as the two of them checked their saddles and saddlebags to be sure they made sure they had everything they needed.
"Well we thought about it, but you would have slowed us down," Eoden chuckled at his cousin.
"Oh really? And who would do the dirty work for you two princes?"
"Well thanks for volunteering Borothir," Eldarion said smartly.
"Always a pleasure to be of service."
Each of their saddlebags was packed with the essentials, food, bowl, spoon and fork, water bladder, spare clothes, a sack of coins, a map, fire starting kit, a tent, a blanket, and some medical supplies. They were all ready, and each knew what they were off to do.
"We ready?" Eldarion asked.
"Let's ride," Eoden nodded, and began to lead his horse out to where they saw that they were being awaited.
There waiting was Aragorn, Eomer, and Faramir, their fathers. Each of them wore a face of grim concern but as they saw the three of them walk out leading their horses they couldn't help but beam in pride at the quest the three had taken upon themselves. Each of them walked up to their respective son and took a moment to speak with them.
"My son, remember your duty. Eldarion is the Prince, and as a Steward, your oath, your loyalty is to him and his family. Right now, that family is your family, Eolyn is both your cousin and Eldarion's future wife. Bring her home," Faramir said, "And bring yourself home to us. You are my son, make us proud."
"I will," Borothir nodded, and was slightly surprised to be taken into an embrace by Faramir, who usually was not so emotional.
"Farewell Borothir."
With Eoden he saw just how much this situation was taking its toll on his father. Eomer was clearly not very happy. But as he saw Eoden standing before him, ready to ride out and find his sister he felt more at ease, knowing he'd taught him well.
"Bring her home Eoden," he said putting both hand on his shoulders, "Swear this to me."
"I swear father, I won't fail you."
"I know, go ride hard my son."
Eldarion watched the good byes as his father watched beside him.
"Keep an eye on them Eldarion, and return with Eolyn. There was something I hadn't gotten the chance to tell you two. I had wanted to tell you tomorrow morning but it seems that will have to wait. Remember what I've taught you, be strong and honest. You must lead them, bring all of you home to us."
"I will," he replied with a nod, and turned to mount his horse.
"Eldarion," Aragorn called out and walked over and held out a ring. It was made of white mithril, with a black onyx stone with the symbol of Gondor held within it, "Take it, it will bring you luck."
"Thank you."
Eoden and Borothir mounted their horses and settled into their saddles. The horses paced about, ready to go as they knew that they would soon be off.
"Let's ride my friends!" Eldarion called out and spurred his horse forward. The clicking the three horses' hooves echoed through the square as the three young men rode off to find their runaway Princess.
As they rode out of the city gates they rode into a world that was just beginning to change. Darkness was in the air, and none could have foreseen this coming storm from the beauty and peace that had ruled this night. But this coming conflict would shake the balance in Middle Earth, for the source of this disturbance was not anything that anyone had seen before.
Well I think I redid this as well as I could've. Most of it was fixing grammar and breaking up some of the monotony of it all and elaborating on some of the characters and their introductions. Hopefully I did it right. Let me know how close I was in the reviews, I'm in need of some feedback to be sure I'm on the right track.
Next Chapter Preview: On their quests, and encountering their first dangers.