Field of Cormallen, Ithilien, Gondor
In the Field of Cormallen in Ithilien, a region of Gondor, the remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring along with the other men and elves who had taken part in the battle for Middle-earth were celebrating the fall of the enemy and honoring Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, two courageous little hobbits unknown to the world before all this and who had traveled far from their home to bring the One Ring to Mordor.
Tents had been assembled into groups, the Gondorians, the Rohirrim and the Dunedain each having their own section on the field, although all the knights, soldiers and rangers were intermingled within the camp. Fires had been lit, skilled hunters had caught little animals to roast, and barrels of ale had been brought from Minas Tirith.
On a beautiful, star-lit evening, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin along with recovered Frodo and Sam were resting around a camp fire with each a mug of ale, enjoying each other's company.
"This is indeed a joyful time for the people of Middle-earth.", Aragorn said, sitting on a log with his elbows resting on his knees, staring deep into the flames of the burning fire. "We will finally be able to prosper in our lands and live in peace. The women and children have suffered long enough. It is our duty now to ensure their safety and provide them with a blissful future."
"Well said, ranger, well said.", Gimli's gruff voice was heard, sitting on the ground near Aragorn.
"Ithilien is a beautiful place.", Legolas remarked, standing graciously beside his new dwarf friend and looking around. The field was wide and green, surrounded by golden-red trees, and a glimmering stream flowed from a beautiful waterfall. "But the trees of the forests and the flowers of the gardens are in need of restoration. With my father's consent, I might settle here with my kin."
"Aye, you should.", Gimli agreed, looking up at Legolas. "But not before you have accompanied me to the Glittering Caves as you promised, my dear friend.", he smirked.
"Yes, of course.", Legolas replied, grinning, still staring at the fire. "And then you will accompany me to Fangorn Forest, so I can learn the language of the trees.", he said further, looking down at Gimli.
Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo, who were sharing a log across the fire from Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn and listening silently to the conversation, chuckled at this as they knew Gimli was not particularly fond of trees, especially not the talking and walking kind of Fangorn Forest.
"Humph… If you say so.", Gimli grumbled under his beard. "As a compromise, for I have no desire to set foot in that forest once again.", he said further, making Legolas and Aragorn grin.
"Well, as for myself,", Sam interrupted, almost to himself and not taking his eyes off the fire. "I can't wait to get back to the Shire and feast my eyes on that pretty Rosie Cotton again. I swear I'll ask her to dance the next time I see her." He paused. "Well, provided there's some music playing, of course.", he continued, looking up at his hobbit friends who were chuckling.
"Ah, the pretty lasses of the Shire.", Merry murmured.
"Any particular one that caught your eye?", Frodo asked his hobbit companion.
"Ah, well," Merry cleared his throat. "maybe." He looked up into the clear night sky, the stars shining like diamonds on a long black veil, having been concealed by Mordor's evil for far too long. "Estella Bolger."
"Hm-mm. Yes, yes. Good choice, Merry.", Pippin agreed. "As for myself, I've been quite fond of Diamond of Long Cleeve.", he continued, starry-eyed.
"Oh, yes. Very pretty lass she is indeed.", Sam approved. "And, I've seen you glance her way more than once back at the Green Dragon.", he said mischievously, a smile on his face.
"And when we get back to the Shire, you just tell her that you're a Knight of Gondor, and she'll melt in your hands.", Frodo added, smirking.
And, if possible, for the very first time Pippin's cheeks grew pink and he felt the heat rise up to his face. It was not gone unnoticed by the others, and they all shared a good laugh.
"And you, Aragorn, now that you're to be King of the Reunited Kingdom,", Pippin said very quickly, hoping to divert from the subject. "you'll need to make Arwen your queen!"
Merry, sitting beside him, quickly elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ow! Merry! What did you do that for?", Pippin asked, rubbing his side and frowning at his cousin.
"Pip! Aragorn doesn't even know if he'll ever see his lovely Arwen.", Merry answered, keeping his voice low.
"Oh." He paused. "Right." Pippin turned to Aragorn, and, his eyes low, apologized. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking, as usual."
Aragorn looked Pippin in the eyes, and smiled.
"It is quite all right, my dear hobbit friend.", he assured Pippin. "I have made my peace with the sad fact that I may never see her again, and my heart rejoices at the thought of her leaving these shores with her people and sail into the West to the Undying Lands to live forever."
As he said that, the companions fell into a comfortable silence, only the sounds of the crackling fires and the voices of other men heard around them.
A tall figure approached them, and, through the dim light of the fire, they recognized the new leader of the Rohirrim. Eomer greeted them with a slight bow of the head, and they all responded in the same manner.
"Eomer. Come and join us.", Aragorn said, gesturing to the young king.
Eomer grabbed a nearby log and sat on it, accepting a mug of ale from Merry whom Eomer had recently made Knight of the Riddermark after he learned the brave hobbit had helped his sister, Lady Eowyn, slay the Witch-king of Angmar, the Lord of the Nazgul. Eowyn had sent word to Eomer by Merry that she was to stay in the Houses of Healing in Minas Tirith during the celebrations to recover fully.
"Thank you.", he said to Merry, and, looking throughout the camp and glancing up at the night sky, he continued. "It is quite a peaceful night."
"It certainly is.", Aragorn agreed. "And how do your soldiers fare this evening?"
"Very well, thank you.", he answered. "We are truly grateful for your hospitality, Aragorn. My men are very much enjoying the celebrations."
"Think nothing of it, my friend.", Aragorn replied. "Your help in rebuilding my kingdom is greatly appreciated. You will always be welcomed here.", and Eomer nodded.
Still thinking of his pretty hobbit lass back at the Shire, Pippin contemplated on asking the new Rohan King about his plans for the future.
"Eomer, now that you're to be King of Rohan, a young and quite handsome one I may add.", and, as he said that, all eyes around the fire turned to look at Pippin, awaiting what was to come next. "Well, I was wondering. Will you look for a queen?"
Eomer was so taken aback by this question that he nearly choked on a mouthful of ale he had just taken, and Aragorn had to reach over and give him a hard slap on the back to make the liquid go down, all the while having a huge smile on his face. After coughing a bit, Eomer looked at Pippin with raised eyebrows.
"I beg your pardon?", he asked.
"Well. We were just talking about Arwen and the pretty lasses at the Shire, so, I was just wondering. Will you search for a wife?", Pippin simply replied.
"Well." Eomer cleared his throat. "To be honest, I have not put any thought into that. Yet.", he admitted.
"Ah. Yet.", Pippin replied, cocking his head on one side, encouraging Eomer to explain further.
"What I meant was that it is not one of my priorities. There are a few things that need to be taken care of in Rohan, especially in Edoras. The people there will have to get used to the change in kingship. And the war has left some villages burnt to the ground, their fields destroyed, and many livestock dead.", he explained clearly. "When Rohan becomes prosperous once again, which I will do everything in my power to make it so, then I promise you, Master Took, that I will try to find myself a good wife and queen for my land."
"Fair enough.", Pippin retorted, satisfied of Eomer's answer.
"Well then.", Aragorn interrupted. "If I may say so, Rohan has quite a bright future for having quite a bright young king such as yourself."
"Indeed.", Gimli agreed, and Legolas nodded.
"Thank you, my friends.", Eomer replied. "I welcome the encouragement. Being made the new king upon my uncle's death was not something I chose nor planned. I was brought up to serve under Theoden King and then Theodred after his death, and now I carry on my shoulders the burden of living up to Theoden's greatness and the expectations the people have from their king.", Eomer said, a bit somberly and overwhelmed.
"My friend.", Aragorn said, reassuringly putting a hand on the young king's shoulder. "Know that you will never be alone. We will rule our lands together and help each other. This I promise you."
"I will keep you to that promise. And the same goes for myself.", Eomer replied. "Rohan will forever be loyal to Gondor, and we will come to your aid whenever you need it."
"Well then.", Aragorn continued. "There we have it. We will travel to Halifirien together where I will renew the Gift of Cirion granting the land of Calenardhon to the Rohirrim, and you will renew the Oath of Eorl, pledging friendship between our two realms."
Eomer nodded and the two kings shook hands, sealing their bonds of friendship and loyalty to one another and to their lands.