Chapter 1 – Troubling Tidings
The king sat silently in his throne, his proud grey eyes staring into the distance. The high windows of the great courtroom in which he sat admitted the ghostly, ethereal light of the dawn. The light bounced idly off the many statues of the fair kings of old. One day he too would have a marble likeness cast in this great hall.
He bowed his head in thought, his mind wandering in the vast fields of his past. King Aragorn, son of Arathorn had just received some troubling news. It had been late the previous evening when two messengers had given him the dark tidings. The messengers had been sent by King Eomer, Lord of the Mark in Rohan.
Eomer had sent news that Saruman was rising once again, gathering an army of fell beasts in the ruins of Isengard. This was not the worst of it, however. The messengers had also told that fair Eowyn, Princess of Rohan and her husband Faramir had been captured by Saruman's lieutenant. The identity of the lieutenant was yet unknown, though many had glimpsed him and described him as fell and terrible.
Aragorn frowned, unsure of the motive for this capture. He was weary in mind and spirit after spending the night awake, pondering over the matter. He was much grieved by the tidings, as he was very fond of the fair couple. Since the War of the Ring a strong allegiance had been forged between Rohan and Gonder; often did messengers and delegations visit back and forth.
Part of Aragorn's heart yearned to cast down his kingship for a while and become Strider. He could ride off into the wilderness without raising notice and rescue the captives. However, no longer was he Strider. He could not run off like times of old. He was the king of a mighty but still recovering kingdom. He was also a husband to Arwen Evenstar and a father to Eldarion, the heir to throne of Gondor. He could not desert them for some quest.
He thought back to the Fellowship of the Ring. How he missed his companions. He was happy with his role as king, husband and father but still he wished to see his companions once more. He knew that Frodo and Sam still dwelt in the Shire, while Merry had returned to Rohan and was now squire to Eomer. Pippin was a guard of the Citadel in Gondor, so Aragorn was able to see him often.
Legolas and Gimli had spent the years since the War of the Ring traveling throughout Middle Earth, but it had been long since they had sent word to Gondor. Gandalf, however, had not been seen nor heard of.
Aragorn was disturbed from his contemplations by the gentle slap of soft soled boots on the marble floor. He lifted his eyes and watched as Arwen Undomniel strode toward him. Her silken black hair fell about her shoulders, framing her beautiful face, which remained untouched by age despite the countless years of her life.
"Aragorn, what is troubling you?" She questioned him with gentle concern. "You did not come to bed last night and you have not spoken since the messengers of Rohan left. What terrible tidings did they deliver?"
She moved to his side, taking his hand. She was shocked by how cold it felt against her slender fingers. Aragorn gazed up into her eyes, finding understanding and love.
"Lady Eowyn and Lord Faramir have been taken hostage by the Lieutenant of Saruman. King Eomer has called for my aid but I am unsure of what to do."
"These are grave tidings indeed," Arwen said as she tightened her grip on Aragorn's hand in an offer of comfort.
"Very grave, but I am not sure that sending even my finest company of knights will be of any assistance to them. It would take an army greater than any reckoning of the men of the West to lay siege on Orthanc. The walls of that mighty tower were beyond even the power of your father ere he passed over the sea."
"What does your heart tell you?" Arwen questioned him.
"My heart wishes that I could become Strider once more. Strider could enter unnoticed into Isengard and perhaps even Orthanc and rescue the captives. Aragorn, I'm afraid, cannot."
Arwen glanced for a moment toward the ever brightening light that streamed through the high windows before turning her gaze back to Aragorn.
"Perhaps it is time for Aragorn to put his crown aside for awhile and become Strider again. I believe that this is a task for the Fellowship of the Ring." Arwen's eyes blazed with the thought of adventure.
"The Fellowship is scattered and broken. Who of them would now answer my summons? They have moved on in their lives and have found new paths to tread, just as I have."
"Do not be so rash to judge their allegiance to you. I believe that they would come if they were only called." Arwen reassured him.
"What of Gandalf? He has long since vanished into distant memory. I believe he has passed from Middle Earth."
"Aragorn, these years of presiding in this hall have dimmed your eyes and narrowed your mind. A great king of legend you have become but you have hidden Strider for too long. Your friends remain loyal too you. They love you. I think it will do you good to go into the wilderness once more. Too dark have been your dreams of late." Arwen seized both of Aragorn's hands and pulled him to his feet.
"You would counsel me to go, to leave my kingdom?" he asked her, puzzled by her mood. "What of my people?"
"I am not queen? Can I not rule in your stead for but a short while? You have aged before your time. You need this adventure to calm your mind and stretched your restless limbs."
"Yes." Aragorn was convinced. His grey eyes blazed with the light of adventure as he stood tall in his throne hall. "You are wise and fair, my love, and you are also right. I myself will go to Eomer's aid and I will be accompanied once more by those of the Fellowship who wish to follow me."
A new light seemed to glow upon Aragorn's brow as though the weariness of many hard years had been lifted from his shoulders. He drew Arwen to him, kissing her tenderly.