Celridel: I have to thank you again for your interest in this story :) Hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well.

It took forever to update, but it's July and I was away pretty much every weekend and during the week I was too tired to be productive. But it's all over now, I've got free time again.

I must admit that when I wrote the 1st chapter, I thought it'd be a short story about Fíriel adjusting to life in the North and I was not even planning on making it last to their wedding. But it turns out there's a lot more to say about this alliance than just Fíriel having a hard time in Fornost… which is nice I think :)

Chapter 4 - An Unexpected Talk

By the end of November, things had started to settle down for Fíriel and the presence of Meldis did much to help the princess adjust to her new home. Everything seemed easier now that she could rely on her friend, thus Fíriel finally regained some of her usual confidence – she was being less like a little fragile thing and it felt good.

The first improvements were small, but significant: she did not bother anymore to sit all afternoon with the other ladies, sewing and embroidering. She felt no more the need to pretend she had any interest in this kind of domestic activities, neither in the gossips the ladies shared, and instead she roamed around the King's halls with Meldis. As both of them were yet unfamiliar with the palace, every little discovery had its importance and it was quite exciting to enter all these vast rooms that had been abandoned decades and decades ago – the population of Arthedain had been slowly yet steadily decreasing ever since Arnor had been split into three kingdoms and it had had some repercussions on the occupancy of the King's halls.

Fíriel and Meldis did not limit themselves to the palace, however. With the men of Gondor, they oft took strolls in Fornost, and sometimes outside the fortress's walls too. The Gondorians, Fíriel included, were curious about fall and winter in the Northern regions and the day the first snow fell, on the first day of December, they spent hours in the fields around Fornost, running and playing like little kids. Prince Arvedui himself had even showed up and although he had thrown no snowball, he and Beregond, the oldest of the Gondorians, had had a lengthy talk on the type of shoes a horse should wear during winter – these two were getting along very well.

Yet what really pleased Fíriel, were the greenhouses. They stood in a forgotten corner of the King's halls, their glass covered with dirt, their insides full of plants who had too long enjoyed a chaotic freedom. Gardeners had given up on them a while ago even though, according to some of the oldest servants, they had once been exotic green oases, full of rare flowers and trees brought from Númenor by Elendil himself. Yet time had passed by and as the shadows of Angmar grew stronger, less time had been devoted to the lore of plants and the greenhouses had come on the verge of decay.

"What a wonderful place!" Fíriel had exclaimed, the day she had made this discovery.

"Really? Isn't it a bit shabby?" had wondered Meldis, who was convinced tons of terrible insects must be crawling inside these greenhouses.

"Obviously, no one has been around for years, decades even, yet they're sturdy construction. Perhaps with some cleaning, one could restore these greenhouses to their former glory."

"Are you fond of botany, princess?" Meldis had agreed not to be call Fíriel "My Lady" anymore, but she liked to say "princess" instead.

"I am," admitted Fíriel, grinning.

She had found one of the door, whose handle had gotten rusty, and she tried to push it, mustering all her strength. It barely shifted and she realized she needed a key and some mighty help to enter these greenhouses.

"Perhaps you could ask permission to use them," suggested Meldis. "I daresay Arvedui would happily agree to this."

Fíriel gave her friend an uneasy smile. "I find it to speak freely around him, yet I shall gather some courage and have a word with."

"Oh, princess, he won't bite you," said Meldis, giggling.

However, she could guess Fíriel would probably not dare ask Arvedui about the greenhouses – good she was there, she was not afraid of the prince.

The Queen had received tidings from the King and he was not to return to Fornost before the beginning of February. Bands of Orcs had been sighted in the North and there had been a few skirmishes in Rhudaur, thus he deemed it safer to spend Winter out with his troops. Queen Gilwen had been expecting such words and she was ready to face the next months without her husband – it had happened often before. Arvedui, on the other hand, seemed to grow restless upon reading these news and he started spending an increasing amount of time in the barracks, training with his men. And although she did not know him well, Fíriel could guess he was upset his father had insisted he should stay in Fornost instead of joining him in the field. Sometimes, she did think it was quite useless for him to be there, for the Queen was used to handle current affairs, and he did little to get better acquainted with her. He could have as well been away, it would not have changed anything – or so it seemed at first.

What Fíriel could not guess, however, was that Arvedui and his father had a rather strained relationship. Before her arrival, they had argued often on the matter of the betrothal and they still disagreed on many things concerning the alliance with Gondor. And while Arvedui had no particular objections regarding his wedding with Fíriel, he shared not his father's views on marriage. The King of Arthedain wanted a low-profile daughter-in-law, a pawn he could use, yet his son wished Fíriel would be more involved in their affairs and more assertive in general.

He really did wish it, especially after having read his father's counsels, in his last letter.

"Do remember, my son, that Gondor is a powerful kingdom. It has declined, yet nearly not as much as Arnor has, and its people outnumber us by far, and its cities still stand tall. Thus, even though this alliance is a great chance for Arthedain, we should be on our guard and protect our independence. I believe the princess herself is unaware of what her father and brothers might plan regarding her new status, but I fear they might seize this opportunity to meddle in our affairs and I shall never allow this.

Arvedui, make sure she adjusts well to Fornost (I do not doubt your mother has already done a great job at welcoming her). However, keep your distance for the time being. I would not want this soft heart of yours to develop any tender feelings towards the princess, you shall need to be firm and defend your kingdom against Gondor – of that, I am sure."

Unlike his father, Arvedui was not convinced Gondorians would try to claim dominion over Arthedain – or over Rhudaur and Cardolan, for that matter. But King Araphant thought Gondor was a possible threat to his kingdom, a threat as tangible as Angmar, even though it was quite an odd idea.

Arvedui kept an eye on the princess from afar – anyhow, his mother and Meldis would tell him anything of importance concerning her –, but no more. It was partly because it was in his character to do so and partly because he was not yet sure she would be tough enough for what his father was preparing.

Arvedui was standing in the cloister, leaning against a pillar. He was gazing at the snow slowly falling on the ground, seemingly unaware of her presence, and for once his expression was peaceful – perhaps he did really like winter.

He stirred out of his thoughts when Fíriel came near him and as he slowly turned his head towards her, he inquired "Are you on your way to the greenhouses?"

"I am, my Lord," she replied, standing a few feet away from him.

"Call me Arvedui, please."

She nodded, but said nothing.

There was something like nostalgia gleaming in Arvedui's grey eyes and his attention focused once more on the snow. "Winter can be quite impressing in these lands, yet one can also enjoy it greatly, if well prepared."

"The Queen made sure I would not lack warm clothes and furs," said Fíriel, who wore a magnificent fox fur on her shoulders – something Northerners had not taken out of their trunks yet. "However, I must admit, it is a comfort to know I can always go to the greenhouses, where Spring never ends."

"They must be in bad shape, must they not? They were neglected for years…"

"These greenhouses have strong bones, but plants of all sorts have proliferated inside. I am still in the process of sorting everything that has been growing in there… If that is alright."

"Do as you wish, they are all yours."

Silence fell between them. He was probably expecting her to leave, but there was something Fíriel wished to tell him, though she was hesitating.

"Thank you, Arvedui," she finally whispered.

"What for?" he asked, surprised.

"The greenhouses, I know it was your doing." Or, truth be told, she had guessed Meldis had mentioned her love of botany to him and he, in turn, had had a word with his mother about it. Anyhow, she had been given the keys a week ago and two gardeners had become her assistants – they were the ones who had been strong enough to open the doors.

Arvedui raised his eyebrows, for this sudden thankfulness caught him off guard. "I did not do much really, I merely suggested you should be given the keys and my mother did the rest," he said, grudgingly admitting he was keeping an eye on her.

"I appreciate the thought, nonetheless," Fíriel told him, smiling.

And she was about to go when his hand touched her arm, lightly. He too had something to say and it was no coincidence he had been daydreaming in the cloister, right on the way to the greenhouses.

"Fíriel, I was about to use the palantír and… it occurred to me that you might wish to join me, since I will be communicating with your father."

The princess's eyes widened, her face becoming white. "Could I… could I be allowed to talk to him as well?"

"Yes, I thought perhaps you could be allowed access to the palantír whenever you feel the need to speak to your family. My father shall be the one formally granting you this permission, yet till he is back in Fornost, consider yourself free to use the stone."

Fíriel blinked, processing what Arvedui had just said. She knew the king of Arthedain possessed palantíri, however she would never have dared to request using them herself, for the access to these stones was strictly regulated. Even a princess like her rarely had the occasion to see them, it was even less likely she'd ever use them.

"Are you certain your father would agree to this?" she wondered, slightly worried.

"You are a princess of Gondor and my wife-to-be, surely you can be trusted with the Stone, cannot you? It is a privilege given to few, yet I deem you deserve it," he explained and although he did his best to sound pragmatic, it was strange to pronounce those words, wife-to-be, while speaking to Fíriel.

"Once again, it seems I should thank you, Arvedui."

"Do not, Fíriel. It is but the bare minimum to let you dispose of the palantír."

"I told you already, I appreciate the thought," she insisted.

This time Arvedui smiled and briefly his face lighted up, revealing a beauty Fíriel had not suspected – it was a brief image of Westernesse, like the memory of the old Kings.

There were hundreds of steps for them to climb to reach the top of the tower, where the palantír was stored, and during the ascension, Arvedui was strangely aware of Fíriel's presence, right behind him. It had been a pleasant surprise to hear her thank him and it had also felt rewarding, which was something he had not expected at all – he could not quite get the image of her beaming off his head. What had really unsettled him, however, was his own name, the way she had said it, softly and nicely, and it sounded no more like she was talking to a stranger.

When they entered the room where the Stone was kept, Arvedui exchanged a few words with the deputy who was on duty and soon the man left, leaving the prince and the princess alone. Fíriel's gaze had instantly fallen on the palantír and she felt drawn to it – set in a depression made of marble, it glowed eerily. Its size was surprising, for it was big and a single man, however strong, would have been unable to lift it without help.

"This one had been placed in Amon Sûl, but the tower was destroyed by Angmar, centuries ago, and since then the Stone has been here… The stone of Annúminas is also stored in Fornost and it is also used, although rarely to communicate with Gondor. This one is more powerful, as you can guess," Arvedui explained. "Do you know how to proceed?"

"I oft saw my father using the Stone, it ever seemed simple… However, I must admit I do not know how to proceed. Should I stand in front of it and concentrate?" inquired Fíriel glancing at him, unsure.

"The best spot is three feet away from it, facing South… Right here," he said, gesturing her to move.

"And?"

"Think of your father, it should be enough for you to connect with the other Stone." And stepping back, he went to stand in a corner, wishing to give Fíriel some privacy – anyhow, he would be unable to intercept her conversation with her father, for the King of Gondor would not allow it and Arvedui could not yet match his skills at using the palantír.

For a few long minutes, Fíriel stayed still, staring at the palantír, and she thought she looked silly. At first the orb looked cold and unwilling to interact with the princess and it crossed her mind she perhaps did not possess the power to use it. Yet as minutes passed by, the palantír's smooth surface slowly changed: black turned into grey and what appeared to be clouds swirled around the sphere, eventually dissolving. By then, Fíriel could not take her eyes off the Stone, enthralled by the sceneries that were unraveling before her – she recognized the green plains of Emnet, the silver waves of Anduin, high white peaks of Ered Nimrais. And gleaming under the Sun, there it was, Minas Anor, its seven walls, its citadel, its White Tree…

Tears rolled down her cheeks as the palantír showed her the familiar silhouette of the corridors of the palace, where she had lived her whole life, and when at last it zoomed into the room where the palantír was kept, she exclaimed "Father!"

"There is no need to speak out loud, the Stone will convey your thoughts," Arvedui told her in a whisper and that Fíriel already knew.

"I could not help it…" she muttered, her cheeks reddening.

Yet the man standing in front of the stone was not the King, but the scholar appointed to the palantír.

Princess! Princess Fíriel, what a marvel to see you!

Is… is my father in Minas Anor perchance?

He is, my Lady. He came back from Pelargir yesterday. I shall go inform him immediately that you wish to speak to him. And before going away, he stopped and asked, Is everything alright, my Lady?

Yes, everything is perfectly fine.

She quickly wiped away her tears, straightening.

Father!

She had suppressed a little scream when King Ondoher's face had appeared in the palantír and it did require her great effort not to start crying.

Fíriel, my dear little girl! We received news of your arrival through the Stone, yet I had not hoped to see you myself… I… I thought I should not be too intrusive, even though your mother insisted on checking on you daily.

It was much like his father to blame his mother for being too protective, as if he had not been overly worried himself.

There is no need for that, Father. You and Mother should not worry, I am quite fine.

I do not doubt the people of Arthedain welcomed you warmly, however I wished you would have spent Winter here. You escort would have been more important, had you departed in Spring, as planned.

It is only a few months before they all come here and Winter is harsher in these lands, it is better I get accustomed to it as fast as possible.

Of course… Fíriel, how are you?

I am well, Father.

She found it was much more difficult to conceal her feelings when communicating through the palantír, but hopefully Fíriel was having an excellent day so far.

I do miss home. I miss you, I miss Mother, and Artamir, and Faramir. But I am doing well here, the Queen is very good to me and makes sure I lack nothing.

You could have said no, you know that, do you not?

There was no denying Gondor would benefit this alliance – perhaps it was a little less advantageous for South than it was for the North – yet King Ondoher still thought sending his daughter away was a high price to pay. And truth was, had she not so bravely agreed to the wedding, he would have gladly found another way to seal the pact between Gondor and Arthedain.

Was it now about time the line of Isildur and the line of Anarion reunited?

Surely our two kingdoms needed to mend their disagreements, yet we could have succeeded without you marrying King Araphant's son.

No ties are stronger that those of family, Father.

Indeed… You are brave, Fíriel, do remember this. You are as brave as can be your brothers.

She nodded, biting her lip not to tear up, and decided she would not waste this precious time with her father whining about Fornost, Arthedain or the new alliance. She wanted to hear about her mother, her brothers and all her friends of Gondor, and so King Ondoher engaged in detailed account of the events that had followed her departure.

In his corner, Arvedui glanced from time to time at Fíriel and he did so discreetly – he had given up on using the palantír himself that day. In the Stone, he could see the face of King Ondoher, with whom he had talked often over the last year, yet never had the King looked so concerned before. It was obvious he loved his daughter dearly and this made Arvedui glad of his decision to let the princess use the palantír, even though he knew his father would not approve of it. He had sort of lied about this, when talking to the princess, but he would take care of it later.

Hours later, as Fíriel bade King Ondoher goodbye, sending him kisses with her hands in a tender gesture, Arvedui promised himself to allow her free access to the Stone during all Winter. And when his father would be back in Fornost, he'd consider sneaking her in the room, in secret, if that was what she needed to be happy.

I did read about palantíri, but I don't know if I depicted this realistically (if I may say!). But since it was most likelly how Arthedain and Gondor came up with the alliance, I see no reason why Fíriel could not use the Stone to talk to her family...