Summary: Princess Anna Valerious stepped through the portal that was to lead her to her fate-little did she know she would set foot in a world unlike any other and come face to face with Boromir of Minas Tirith, nor could she have imagined what would happen after their paths became intertwined. A tale derived from a series of tumblr roleplays that explores the hearts and minds of Gondor's finest and Transylvania's bravest.
All content belongs to their rightful owners: Lord of the Rings to J. R. R. Tolkien and Van Helsing to Stephen Sommers. All role play content is posted with the role players' permission and consent.
Role players featured in this chapter: king-aragorn-of-gondor and princessannavalerious
Prologue
The memory was fresh in his mind. Each muted shadow matched with the soft glow from the Elven city, each word of the lament sung around them crisp and clear, each sorrowful face of the Company around him lined with pain that ran deep. And there before him, the man he had come to call friend and now would have liked to call brother, shoulders tense as he stared out over the darkened woods all around.
"Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The White Tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?" Boromir had asked, his face softening from its pained expression to one of pure happiness, his lips curling up slightly at the memory of his beloved city. In his mind, Aragorn had pictured it, the shining city darting out from the surrounding white-capped mountains like a white dagger. It was a vision to behold, bright and brilliant as it stood before the gloom and darkness of Mordor. It was a beacon of hope, and, as the man before him recalled his home, the ranger let the image fill his mind. They needed hope.
"I have seen the White City, long ago." Aragorn had answered softly. His destiny lay there, among those high banners and white walls. He, the heir of Isuldur-he, Elessar, the Elf-stone, the heir to the throne of Gondor. Their journey had still laid before them, however. Boromir turned, a smile parting his lips and the elder man could see the hope that had nearly been stripped of him moments before return.
"One day, our paths will lead us there and the tower guard will take up the call: The Lords of Gondor have returned. " The captain had clapped his hand against Aragorn's shoulder and the ranger gave a short nod, allowing a smile of his own to form. The Lords of Gondor, returning triumphant from their quest, Sauron defeated. The prospect, at the time, was daunting and the road ahead dangerous. Still, Aragorn knew that they had to hold on to what little hope they had.
"You are eager to return home," he had remarked. Boromir had smiled at that, nodding as he turned his grey eyes to look back out over Lorien.
"Yes. I have been gone for far too long; I know I am missed."
"Your father and brother will be glad to have you return," Aragorn had supplied, seeing the look of adoration that passed over the warrior's face. Eyes glittering, Boromir turned again, his smile widening.
"Yes, and there is another..."
Now, months later, Aragorn-crowned Elessar-looked up from the path in the gardens, seeing the other Boromir spoke of; Anna. She stood still, admiring the beauty of the freshly planted flowers as the king himself had been doing just moments before. He had only caught mere glimpses of the foreign princess since his arrival in the city. Aragorn had allowed her to stay, not only in the citadel, but in the palace itself, where she had resided with the former Steward's family before the war. He approached her quietly, stopping a few feet away from her. Boromir had spoken of her during the quest and his description of her beauty rang true. Still, the king knew little else about her and, as he studied her for a moment, he wished to ask her to tell the tale of how she came to this land and all the stories that followed.
"Greetings, my lady," Aragorn began pleasantly. "How do you fare this afternoon?"