During supper that evening, Arwen noticed that Eldarion and Eldaria both had something on their mind.
"Eldaria, Eldarion, what's the matter? You seem distracted." She asked, clearly concerned.
Eldaria opened her mouth to speak, then looked at Eldarion, willing him to speak.
"Eldaria and I spoke about traveling farther during our trip next week. Do we have your consent to travel beyond Minas Tirith and Ithillien, Father?"
Aragorn saw the hopeful looks on their faces, and had not the heart to turn them down. "Very well, my children. Have you chosen a guard to take with you? I cannot let you go that far without someone the guard you."
Eldaria spoke up. "Eldarion and I thought to bring Imrathon, as he is the most likely to have traveled about. He told us last night that he hasn't been in his homeland for 60 years. Any objections Father?"
Aragorn caught Eldarion's eye, and his son shrugged, not knowing why Aragorn was questioning Eldaria's judgement.
"I trust all of my guards," began Aragorn. "I do not know Imrathon as well as some of them, but Faramir had a very high opinion of him, so yes, if that is your wish, he may go as your guard."
Eldaria smiled. "Thank you Father. I will ask him to come tonight."
Aragorn looked confused. "Tonight?"
"I told him I would join him for a while tonight when he's on watch."
Eldarion looked up. "I will go with you, Eldaria." He turned to his Father. "May I be excused?"
Aragorn nodded his consent. "Now, do not press Imrathon into coming with you. He is new here, and might not want to leave so soon."
The twins agreed, and hurried towards the watch tower.
Arwen looked at her husband. "It seems like yesterday when they were born!"
Aragorn grinned. "I wish they would stop growing! It's hard to believe that the are 40 already!"
"I wish I could say the same. Eldaria is obviously a woman now. Every time I see her, I am surprised how much she looks like my mother. If she had blonde hair, Eldaria would look nearly identical to my mother."
Aragorn stood up, running his hand through his greying hair. "I have a stack of papers waiting to be read. I guess I'll have to do some work."
"Welcome to being a king!" Laughed Arwen, kissing her husband's cheek.
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Eldaria pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, the night was rather cold. She glanced at the sky, and took in the lovely view of stars.
Aragorn had told his children of the days when no stars could be seen from Minas Tirith. Eldaria had always been glad that she had been born after the War. She had always supposed her love of stars came from her Elvish side.
Eldarion reached her side, begging her to hurry up. "You will run into something if you keep staring at the sky like that."
Eldaria pretended to roll her eyes. "I think not. I never run into things!"
Eldarion stepped in front of her. I think, dear sister, that you did just run into something."
Pushing her brother aside, Eldaria sped up, and raced her brother to the tower.
Imrathon heard steps on the stairs, then a feminine laugh. 'Eldaria said she would join, me didn't she!' Imrathon thought.
He turned, and saw Eldaria and Eldarion hurrying towards him.
"There you are, mellon nin!" Eldarion grinned.
Eldaria reached Imrathon's side, staring up at the sky.
"Oh, how beautiful!" She gasped, looking up at the sky. Eldaria had forgotten how beautiful the stars looked from the watch tower.
Imrathon looked down at her, seeing the light in her eyes. Now he understood her love of the stars, for now he knew of her lineage, and that she was part Elven.
Eldaria noticed his look, and quickly turned away the hide her flushed face. She gestured for Eldarion to speak.
"Imrathon, next in a few days, we will be traveling to the surrounding cities and lands. Eldaria and I go on a trip alone every spring, but this year we want to go farther, and Father wants us to bring a guard along. Would you come with us?"
Imrathon nodded. "If you want me to, I will go with you."
"It is your choice." Eldaria spoke up. "Father is adamant that we don't force you into coming."
"No, you are not forcing me." Imrathon smiled at her. "I do miss being able to wander through the woods, but that isn't part of a guards job. My brother and I used-" He stopped.
"Are you sure?" Eldarion asked. A mischievous grin spread over his face. "My sister isn't the most pleasant traveling companion. She is always complaining about the cold, the insects..." he grinned at her.
Imrathon tried not to laugh at the look on Eldaria's face, but couldn't help it.
"I don't complain. I enjoy being out of doors." Replied Eldaria calmly. "As I recall, it was Eldarion who was complaining last time."
It was Eldarion's turn to sputter, and this time, Imrathon turned away with a pained look on his face. Eldaria grabbed his arm. "Are you alright?" She asked.
With great difficulty, Imrathon pushed the painful memories to the back of him mind. "I'm fine."
Eldaria realized that he was thinking about his brother. He obviously didn't want to talk about it.
"Well, then, we are leaving in two days." Eldarion announced. Eldaria stared at him.
"What? We are leaving in seven days."
Eldarion grinned. "Father said that we should leave early in order to be back by May. Of course, it our choice, but depending on where we go, we might be gone all of April. Is that alright with you, Imrathon?"
"I can leave whenever you are ready, my Lord."
Eldarion grinned. "Just call me Eldarion. I have a hard time recognizing my name when it has a 'lord' attached to it."
Imrathon looked doubtful. "I'm a guard, are you sure that's proper?"
"All the guards call me by my plain name, the same with Eldaria."
Imrathon nodded slowly. "I will be ready to leave in two days then. Thank you for asking me to come. I think I will enjoy a trip."
He glanced at Eldaria, who said. "Meet us at the stables on the morn after next."
Imrathon smiled in return, and turned back to his post. A strange feeling tugged at his heart as he watched the twins hurry down the tower. 'Why do they make an effort to be kind to me?' He wondered.
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Eldarion lay awake in bed well past the first watch of the night. He had noticed concern in his sister's eyes as she asked Imrathon is he was alright. He had also noticed affection in Imrathon's eyes as he looked at Eldaria.
"Just my imagination." Muttered Eldarion. He resolved not to say anything to anyone about his suspicions, for, as he thought about it, neither his sister or his friend seemed aware of their feelings for each other. Yet.
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Again, I'm not sure how this chapter will be received. It was approved by a few friends already, but then, we do not all have the same opinion.
Part of the reason I'm speeding the story up a bit, I'm trying the capture people's interest, not just have entire chapters of the twins practicing archery. I've got to keep it interesting! So this particular chapter is for a sped up edition of this story ;)
So don't kill me for putting (hidden) romance in it!
THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEW AND READ! It means so much to me :)
-Legolin :)
