Disclaimer: All recognizable events, places, and characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and possibly New Line Cinema. I am not profiting from this fanfiction, it is written purely for my own enjoyment and that of any who read it.
A/N: I mentioned in the last chapter's author's notes that this would be the last chapter. I'm pleased to announce that I have changed my mind. I'm not completely sure just how many more chapters there will be, but there will certainly not be more than ten, because I set a time restraint for myself in the first chapter when Aragorn mentioned they would only stay for two nights and two full days. I could simply extend the length of the visit, but I set that time frame because, while examining the pull-out map in the back of my copy of Fellowship, I realized that it is a very, very long way from Minas Tirith to the Shire, as Rosie will point out shortly. I could not let Aragorn's reunion last very long, because he and his guard had to travel six or seven hundred miles one way as the eagle flies, not to mention the mountain ranges and difficult terrain. Because of this, I am making each chapter essentially cover a 12-hour period of the stay in the Shire, even though each only offers about a 1-4 hour long glimpse of that time. If I continue with this plan, there will be five chapters.
I am toying with the idea of tacking on a sixth chapter, which would include "deleted scenes" of various antics of Eldarion's that I have written, but could not find places for. They would be from the journey to Hobbiton, as well as possibly the passing through Bree and stay/departure from the Shire. I don't know how that would be received, though, so if you have an opinion either way, please let me know via review or PM.
Thanks are once again in order. :) Thank you to Chapter 2's reviewers, iccle fairy and jg, to Reading-Girl56, who added "Leaves of Hope" to her alert list, to demeter d, who added "Leaves of Hope" to their alert list, as well as adding me to their favorite author and author alert lists, and finally to ananova, who added this story to her community. Thanks a lot, guys!
I have written a novel of a note, and now I'll let you read the actual chapter.
Please read and review!
---
"You know, halflings are supposed to be pure and innocent, but that little fellow we met back at the inn had an interesting manipulative streak in him," Daurin, the Captain of the King's guard muttered to the soldier who walked beside him. He threw a suspicious glance back at The Green Dragon, which was quickly receding from view.
"What do you mean, sir? The halfling did not convince his employer to let him keep his job on his own. The Prince told him what to say, and the King also contributed his piece. I've heard that he was quite the troublemaker in his childhood." the young soldier added, looking quite pleased that he had known something his superior had not.
"Ah. Well, then, I would appreciate it if you did not mention this conversation to anyone." Daurin said hastily, lowering his voice slightly. "Do I have your word, Caradic?"
The green soldier jumped at this clear opportunity to possibly advance his position. "Of course, sir - but I would greatly appreciate it if, in return, you would put in a good word or two about me to the King. I save your career, you further mine." he finished with a satisfied smile, knowing that his Captain would not refuse him at the risk of losing his hard-earned rank.
The Captain halted for a moment in disbelief, then laughed softly. "I suppose I deserve that. Very well, I will speak to Elessar King during my next report. Do not expect any sort of promotion until you have proven your worth in battle, though, young one."
"Of course not, sir. Thank you."
Several paces ahead of the oblivious, plotting soldiers, Arwen smiled conspiratorially. She leaned slightly toward Aragorn, and whispered into his ear. "As your wife and Queen, I feel obligated to inform you that two of your soldiers, one of which is Captain Daurin, are making arrangements to boost their careers in your service. Daurin unknowingly insulted you, and in payment for the younger soldier, Caradic's, silence the Captain will tell you that Caradic's service is invaluable. Does it give you unrest, my lord, to know that your guards extort each other?"
Aragorn chuckled as he received the news. "No, my lady, it certainly does not. During my days as Thorongil, I learned that extortion and bribery are quite popular practices. I also learned, however, that they rarely come to anything of merit. There is usually someone with a mind to alert the King, and the offending party must still earn his keep, like every other soldier."
Little footsteps soon reached his ears, and Aragorn looked up sharply at the new arrival. Eldarion was sprinting up the hill from Bag End, followed closely by Sam's daughter, who, although only a year younger than his son, looked in height to be three or four years his junior. Three of the royal guard trailed a few steps behind the pair, watching the children in undisguised amusement.
"Ada, Nana! I told Sam and Rosie that you were coming, like you said to. Nana, Ellie wants to ask you something." The little boy turned to his new friend. "Go on, El'nor."
The tiny child's eyes became impossibly wide as she realized she had been put under the spotlight.
"I...um." She swallowed hard, then drew herself up to her full height. "I've never met an Elf before, m'lady, and I was wond'ring if...if I could see your ears." Her newfound courage seemed to fade as quickly as it had come, and by the time she had finished her request, her little voice had faltered almost beyond the hearing of Men, and her words had run together in her anxiety.
Arwen laughed, swept her loose hair aside, and knelt to give the child a better view.
Elanor gasped, and reached out with a shaky hand as if to touch her pointed ears.
"Oh, you're so pretty!" she whispered in wonder. Arwen smiled.
"And so are you, fair Elanor. So are you." she assured the hobbit lass.
______________________________
The click of glasses upon the smooth tables and of forks upon full plates punctuated the lively atmosphere, and the sounds could be clearly heard even over the many conversations taking part at the overcrowded table. Rosie had insisted upon feeding not only Arwen, Eldarion, and Aragorn, but the dozen members of his guard, as well, and seven hobbit-sized tables had been placed together in order to accommodate everyone.
Little Frodo had fallen asleep halfway through the meal, his face dangerously near to landing in his mashed potatoes. Sam had excused himself and taken his son to bed, returning just in time to hear his wife ask the very question that had been on his mind since receiving the messenger's tidings several days ago.
"King Elessar, may I ask what you are doing all the way in Hobbiton? Sam has told me that it's quite a long journey from Minas Tirith, and I can't imagine that you would make the trip just for pleasure's sake."
Silence fell. Rosie began to look worried, but then several poorly concealed sniggers and coughs came from the end of the makeshift table, where the soldiers sat. The corners of Rosie's mouth lifted as she realized that the silence had been caused by their valiant efforts to withhold their mirth. Aragorn sent them a warning glance, and they quieted immediately.
"The folk of Bree have had much trouble believing that Strider - the filthy Ranger who did nothing but frighten their children and drink all the good ale - was now the King of the West." Aragorn's grey eyes glittered with amusement, and Eldarion giggled at his father's self-portrayal. "The few who believed the tales that Samwise and his friends gave upon their passage through Bree several years ago were outnumbered, and word reached my ears a year ago that riots had broken out.
"Faramir, my Steward, offered to make the journey himself, but I felt that if the people doubted that the King had come, what better proof than to see him with one's own eyes? I had to leave quickly, because, as you said, the trek is a long one, and I had no wish to prolong the unrest of a town I had frequented for many years."
He paused for a moment, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Eldarion, being the stubborn child that he is, would not be left behind, but we were not two days into our journey when he wanted to turn back."
The "stubborn child" looked up from his napkin, which he appeared to be teaching Elanor to fold into a canvas eagle, with an indignant expression. "Ada! I did not!" he cried, flushing in embarrassment.
A soldier snorted softly, and smiled at Eldarion innocently when the boy turned his wrath upon this convenient new target. "With all due respect, my Prince, I was directly in front of you when you asked the Lady Arwen to take you home. Not, of course, that you would wish to go home now. You are much more seasoned in the trials of prolonged adventures than you were a year past."
Eldarion muttered something in Elvish under his breath that Aragorn did not catch, but Arwen heard it clearly. "Eldarion!" she scolded him. "That is no way to speak to one of the senior officers of the guard." The little boy sighed, but looked up at the soldier obediently. "I am sorry, Mabon. I did not mean to hurt you."
Aragorn whispered, too low for any of those present to hear except Arwen, "What did he say?"
The elleth's mouth twitched. "Auta miqula yrch."
"Oh, Eru." the King groaned, suddenly more glad than ever that no one at the table outside of his family had much of a grasp on Sindarin. "Who has been teaching you such insults?" he asked curiously.
Eldarion grinned. "Leg'las."
"Ah, Legolas. I will need to have a very long talk with him when he visits next. First, he tries to teach you to talk to trees, and now he's been teaching you that? But I digress; enough of Legolas and Sindarin. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, Eldarion tagged along, and probably picked up some new Westron insults from the citizens of Bree." He paused to wink at his son.
"But I believe we accomplished our aspiration, and so we decided to visit you fine people before starting back to Gondor. We were able to replenish our supplies in Bree before moving on. That is where our tale ends, however. How has the Shire been faring?"
Rosie smiled, and gestured to the window to her left. "See for yourself. The Lady Galadriel's gift has worked miracles upon the Shire. After all the business with Saruman, I thought it would take a dozen generations before anything grew again. He had corrupted many of the hobbits, and forced many more to work for him. He even recruited several Big People from neighboring towns. But now, thanks to Sam and his friends, everything is just as beautiful as it ever was. Perhaps more so."
Arwen stiffened suddenly at Aragorn's side, and he looked over at her in alarm, and then followed her gaze to the chair where Eldarion sat - or rather, had sat. The chair now stood empty, as did the smaller one next to it.
"Man sad nan Eldarion?" she whispered, and as she looked to Aragorn, fear blossomed over her fair features.
---
Auta miqula yrch - Go kiss an Orc.
Man sad nan Eldarion? - Where is Eldarion?
A/N: Ooh, snap. The poor little children have disappeared! Wherever will I get my humor from now? This is quite the dilemma, ladies and gentlemen. So sorry about the cliffhanger, but at least there's another chapter for y'all. I would end this by assuring you that the next chapter will be published within a week, but I've done that for the two previous chapters, and on both it's only taken me two days to finish and upload the new chapter. This time, I won't make any promises, and we'll see how that affects my timing.
Please remember to review and tell me what you think! ;) I could use some ideas for new Eldarionisms in future chapters.
Anonymous Review Response(s):
JG: Thank you for reviewing and reading my monster of an author's note, and thank you so much for pointing out that Eldarion's full name is Eldarion Telcontar. I can't believe that slipped my mind, especially because I've had ROTK sitting right in front of me throughout all the writing for this story. But thank you, because now I can make Eldarion the victim of a full parental lecture, and watch him quiver (with laughter) in his boots! :) I hope you stick around.