Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR and am making no money
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"El-hir! El-hir!"
"Estel, calm down," Aragorn ordered as his daughter nearly threw herself out of his arms. In the distance he could see the lone rider racing to catch up with the party. Tightening his grip he stopped Roheryn, he did not trust Estel not to try to run across the horses as she did across the trees in her desire to get to Elrohir.
The toddler bounced anxiously. When the elven twin caught up with them she threw herself into his waiting arms. "El-hir!"
The elf's smile was as wide as hers. "Greetings, Estel."
A dust cloud in the distance caught Aragorn's attention and he pulled his attention to the front. "Eowyn," he asked, without turning from the rapidly approaching party. "Did your brother say anything about sending out a welcoming party?"
Elrohir, with Estel settled contentedly in front of him, rode up beside him. "They bear the Rohan standard," he commented.
Eowyn pulled up to ride on his other side. "He did not say anything," her voice was puzzled. "I do not think he would send riders with no warning, but-" she trailed off uncertainly.
A chill ran up Aragorn's spine as the rider's grew closer. Something was not right. Years alone in the wild had taught him to trust his instincts. Trouble. "Guards," he called without further thought. "Assume defensive positions. Eowyn, take Theorond with you. Elrohir-"
He got no more than the name out of his mouth before Elrohir spoke up. "I have Estel."
"Be ready to ride hard," Aragorn ordered as he surreptiously loosened Anduril in its scabbard and shifted so his bow and arrows were more easily accessible. "If something happens get them to Edoras. Do not look back," he ordered the guards. He met Eowyn's worried eyes. "Do not stop."
Despite her obvious fear for him she nodded and tightened her arms around Theorond. Gondor's heir must be kept safe at all costs. Her heart in her throat she watched as her husband rode to the front of the party. If this was an actual welcoming party it would be expected and it was better not to tip their hand that they suspected something was up. Around her she could see the tenseness of the guards and the weapons readily available. She spared a quick glance to her left to see Estel perched in front of Elrohir.
A cry of pain pulled her attention to the front. The approaching party had opened fire! Immediately she urged her mare into a gallop aware of both Theorond and her guards forming a double layer protective ring around them. As they rode she spared a quick glance over at Aragorn. He too was in the midst of his protective guard, but he was firing arrows rapidly and accurately at the raiders, who surprisingly did not seem to be targeting Gondor's beloved king nor were they attempting to pursue Theorond and herself. A sudden fearful thought caused her to turn. All of Estel's guard were down and Elrohir was racing away from the rest of the party. A good half the raiders were in pursuit. All at once she understood. The remaining raiders were a distraction. They were targeting Estel! Desperately she wanted to turn, but she had to protect Theorond. Looking again at her husband she saw that he and his guard were trying to break through the remaining twenty plus raiders. But more than half of his guard were down. His shoulders slumping he turned and followed his guards command to head to Edoras. Her own flight not slowing Eowyn looked back, but she could not longer see her daughter, her sole protector, or those who sought Estel's life. This was not happening!
It was a very subdued and worried party that reached Edoras two hours later. Aragorn had refused to send a group back to look for Elrohir and Estel. Eowyn had been ready to yell at him when she saw the deep sorrow and fear in his eyes. It was worse than what she had seen in his eyes when his brothers had told him that Arwen had truly sailed to Valinor. Swallowing hard he had met her eyes. "Elrohir will leave no tracks to follow and would not take the logical course for fear of being followed." He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly before reaching to pull a fearfully quiet Theorond into his arms, needing to feel his son. "My brother will allow nothing to happen to our daughter. Eomer can send out a party when we reach Edoras. I just wish we had been able to capture one alive."
Eomer had been waiting for them at the door and had immediately known something was wrong, before he even noticed that his niece was not present. Immediately he went and embraced his sister. "What happened?'
"We were attacked by raiders bearing Rohan's standard," Aragorn stated, his tone held no malice or anger, but did contain a deep seated worry and fear. "I would like to request you send out riders with what remains of my guard to the area the attack took place."
His eyes blazing in fury Eomer only nodded. He turned to Hallas, his door keeper. "See it is done." He looked down at his sister. "Estel?" he asked hesitantly.
Unable to hold back any longer Eowyn buried her face in her brother's tunic, silent sobs shaking her. "We do not know," Aragorn answered softly, his arms tightening around Theorond who had yet to look up from his father's shoulder. "She and Elrohir were deliberately seperated from us." Taking a step forward he laid a comforting on Eowyn's shoulder. She quickly shifted to his arms, one arm wrapping around Theorond. Aragorn turned to Hallas. "I want one alive if at all possible." His tone left no room for questions.
Hallas only nodded. "It will be done."
The next two days drifted by like a nightmare that would not end. Eowyn endlessly paced halls of Meduseld, fears for her daughter rampaging through her. She kept getting images of her trampled and dead in the mud or bound and gagged in a dark room. In many of those she had been beaten as well. The horrors her mind kept coming up with were much worse than anything Wormtongue had ever implied, even at the height of his power.
Only with the greatest effort was she able to turn her attention to matters of state that could not be ignored. Aragorn, on the other hand, had thrown himself into the details to distract himself. His fear was as suffocating as Eowyn's, but he refused to give up the hope that his daughter and brother were alive. He refused to believe otherwise until he had incontrovertible truth. The hardest thing for him was not riding out in pursuit. But he knew it would be useless, Elrohir would not allow himself to be tracked. And it could actually work against them. The plains of Rohan left little way for a horse and rider to hide his tracks if he was tailed from the beginning. He would not chance placing Estel and Elrohir in further danger by embarking on a journey that was almost guarunteed to be pointless. But it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.
Finally the Rohirrim search party returned. Elrohir and Estel were not with them, but they did have a prisoner. Aragorn accompanied Eomer to the dungeon while Eowyn reluctantly stayed with Theorond. The youngster did not want to be without at least one of his parents in sight. This made it easier on his parents, who were loathe to have him our of their sight. Not bothering with niceties Aragorn strode right up to the chained prisoner. "Why did you attack my family?"
The young man, whose clothing was relatively clean and well tended looked up at the king. To everyone present's surprise he bowed his head respectfully to Aragorn. "We did not attack your family, my King. Our target was the outsider. The girl is not human and should not be royalty."
His eyes narrowing dangerously Aragorn stated, "she is the daughter of your king and queen, that makes her royalty."
"No. She is a danger and a threat," he insisted. "She is third in line to the throne. No elf will rule Gondor, ever."
Carefully folding his arms behind his back and grateful he had not come armed to this interview Aragorn took one step closer to the man. "Are there many who feel this way? Do not lie to me," he ordered when the man's eyes shifted away from his.
"Some," he answered reluctantly. "But I will tell you no more. In your misguided attempt to protect the betrayor you see as your daughter you will destroy those who only want what is best for your kingdom."
Aragorn looked at him. "I do not need or want your assistance. You would see Gondor destroyed." Turning he walked to the door. Once there he turned around. "The one you see as a betrayer is a three year old child. You are the worst of cowards to see her as a threat." When he got out the door he looked to his brother-in-law.
"My men will find out details. I think we perhaps need a new prisoner to share his cell. Perhaps one who does not like elves," the Rohirrim king commented.
All Aragorn managed in response was a weak grin. "Thank you. I had best get back to Eowyn."
"They what?" Eowyn demanded when he returned to their quarters and told her of the interview. The only reason she did not shout was because she did not want to wake Theorond asleep in the next room. "She is a child. I should never have decided to take the children on this trip."
Caught completely off-guard by the self-loathing in Eowyn's tone Aragorn rushed to embrace her. "It is not your fault. We can not cage our children in the White City any more than we can be caged there permanently."
She looked up at him. "They are still so young."
Not sure how to comfort her Aragorn just held her tighter. "I have already sent word to Faramir to see what he can find out about this group. I think it is time for a royal visit to Arnor. You and the children should remain in Rohan and I will return to Gondor to set things in order for a longer stewardship."
"Aragorn," Eowyn made herself say. "We do not even know if Estel is still alive."
The eyes that met hers held no doubts. "She lives. And she will not return to the White City until this immediate threat to her life is destroyed. I will not send her away to be fostered over this. She is our daughter and has every right to the title of princess."
"I'm so afraid we will never see her again."
Lightly Aragorn brushed her hair back. "We have to have hope."
Swallowing hard Eowyn overrode him. "If she was taken or they want to cover their tracks she may never be found."
Aragorn shook his head decisively. "No. She is with Elrohir." He placed a finger over her lips to stop her protest. "I know my brother is not invincible but if anything were to happen to him Elladan would know instantly and nothing would keep him from getting to us as fast as possible. And as long as Elrohir is alive and well he will keep Estel that way too."
Pushing herself back so she could look in his eyes she asked again, "what is there between them?"
This time Aragorn swallowed hard and looked away before answering. "I am not completely sure. My foresight is not completely clear and my memories of the healing trance are skimpy. I have my guess but I do not know anything for sure and I will not risk their future on a guess. I just know that the familial relationship, however distant, between the two should not be emphasized or noted."
"Thank you." She buried herself back in his arms and felt his almost frantic grip on her back showing the fear he would not allow himself to acknowledge. "I am just so scared."
"Me too."
Before Eowyn could reply the door burst open and a familiar blur darted toward them. "Ada! Mommy! Ada! Mommy!" Estel threw herself into her parents arms.
Too stunned to do anything more than catch her Aragorn and Eowyn held their daughter close. Aragorn looked up to see his brother wearily leaning on the doorframe. He was more rumpled and filthy than Aragorn had ever seen him before. "Thank you," he whispered.
"I would not have allowed anything to happen to her," he calmly stated.
Eowyn looked over at him as well. "Thank you." She held her daughter closer to her as her husband held them both close.
A/N: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter but it was not the intended next chapter. It actually was originally not planned at all. So there will still probably be one more chapter before they leave Rohan.
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"El-hir! El-hir!"
"Estel, calm down," Aragorn ordered as his daughter nearly threw herself out of his arms. In the distance he could see the lone rider racing to catch up with the party. Tightening his grip he stopped Roheryn, he did not trust Estel not to try to run across the horses as she did across the trees in her desire to get to Elrohir.
The toddler bounced anxiously. When the elven twin caught up with them she threw herself into his waiting arms. "El-hir!"
The elf's smile was as wide as hers. "Greetings, Estel."
A dust cloud in the distance caught Aragorn's attention and he pulled his attention to the front. "Eowyn," he asked, without turning from the rapidly approaching party. "Did your brother say anything about sending out a welcoming party?"
Elrohir, with Estel settled contentedly in front of him, rode up beside him. "They bear the Rohan standard," he commented.
Eowyn pulled up to ride on his other side. "He did not say anything," her voice was puzzled. "I do not think he would send riders with no warning, but-" she trailed off uncertainly.
A chill ran up Aragorn's spine as the rider's grew closer. Something was not right. Years alone in the wild had taught him to trust his instincts. Trouble. "Guards," he called without further thought. "Assume defensive positions. Eowyn, take Theorond with you. Elrohir-"
He got no more than the name out of his mouth before Elrohir spoke up. "I have Estel."
"Be ready to ride hard," Aragorn ordered as he surreptiously loosened Anduril in its scabbard and shifted so his bow and arrows were more easily accessible. "If something happens get them to Edoras. Do not look back," he ordered the guards. He met Eowyn's worried eyes. "Do not stop."
Despite her obvious fear for him she nodded and tightened her arms around Theorond. Gondor's heir must be kept safe at all costs. Her heart in her throat she watched as her husband rode to the front of the party. If this was an actual welcoming party it would be expected and it was better not to tip their hand that they suspected something was up. Around her she could see the tenseness of the guards and the weapons readily available. She spared a quick glance to her left to see Estel perched in front of Elrohir.
A cry of pain pulled her attention to the front. The approaching party had opened fire! Immediately she urged her mare into a gallop aware of both Theorond and her guards forming a double layer protective ring around them. As they rode she spared a quick glance over at Aragorn. He too was in the midst of his protective guard, but he was firing arrows rapidly and accurately at the raiders, who surprisingly did not seem to be targeting Gondor's beloved king nor were they attempting to pursue Theorond and herself. A sudden fearful thought caused her to turn. All of Estel's guard were down and Elrohir was racing away from the rest of the party. A good half the raiders were in pursuit. All at once she understood. The remaining raiders were a distraction. They were targeting Estel! Desperately she wanted to turn, but she had to protect Theorond. Looking again at her husband she saw that he and his guard were trying to break through the remaining twenty plus raiders. But more than half of his guard were down. His shoulders slumping he turned and followed his guards command to head to Edoras. Her own flight not slowing Eowyn looked back, but she could not longer see her daughter, her sole protector, or those who sought Estel's life. This was not happening!
It was a very subdued and worried party that reached Edoras two hours later. Aragorn had refused to send a group back to look for Elrohir and Estel. Eowyn had been ready to yell at him when she saw the deep sorrow and fear in his eyes. It was worse than what she had seen in his eyes when his brothers had told him that Arwen had truly sailed to Valinor. Swallowing hard he had met her eyes. "Elrohir will leave no tracks to follow and would not take the logical course for fear of being followed." He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly before reaching to pull a fearfully quiet Theorond into his arms, needing to feel his son. "My brother will allow nothing to happen to our daughter. Eomer can send out a party when we reach Edoras. I just wish we had been able to capture one alive."
Eomer had been waiting for them at the door and had immediately known something was wrong, before he even noticed that his niece was not present. Immediately he went and embraced his sister. "What happened?'
"We were attacked by raiders bearing Rohan's standard," Aragorn stated, his tone held no malice or anger, but did contain a deep seated worry and fear. "I would like to request you send out riders with what remains of my guard to the area the attack took place."
His eyes blazing in fury Eomer only nodded. He turned to Hallas, his door keeper. "See it is done." He looked down at his sister. "Estel?" he asked hesitantly.
Unable to hold back any longer Eowyn buried her face in her brother's tunic, silent sobs shaking her. "We do not know," Aragorn answered softly, his arms tightening around Theorond who had yet to look up from his father's shoulder. "She and Elrohir were deliberately seperated from us." Taking a step forward he laid a comforting on Eowyn's shoulder. She quickly shifted to his arms, one arm wrapping around Theorond. Aragorn turned to Hallas. "I want one alive if at all possible." His tone left no room for questions.
Hallas only nodded. "It will be done."
The next two days drifted by like a nightmare that would not end. Eowyn endlessly paced halls of Meduseld, fears for her daughter rampaging through her. She kept getting images of her trampled and dead in the mud or bound and gagged in a dark room. In many of those she had been beaten as well. The horrors her mind kept coming up with were much worse than anything Wormtongue had ever implied, even at the height of his power.
Only with the greatest effort was she able to turn her attention to matters of state that could not be ignored. Aragorn, on the other hand, had thrown himself into the details to distract himself. His fear was as suffocating as Eowyn's, but he refused to give up the hope that his daughter and brother were alive. He refused to believe otherwise until he had incontrovertible truth. The hardest thing for him was not riding out in pursuit. But he knew it would be useless, Elrohir would not allow himself to be tracked. And it could actually work against them. The plains of Rohan left little way for a horse and rider to hide his tracks if he was tailed from the beginning. He would not chance placing Estel and Elrohir in further danger by embarking on a journey that was almost guarunteed to be pointless. But it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.
Finally the Rohirrim search party returned. Elrohir and Estel were not with them, but they did have a prisoner. Aragorn accompanied Eomer to the dungeon while Eowyn reluctantly stayed with Theorond. The youngster did not want to be without at least one of his parents in sight. This made it easier on his parents, who were loathe to have him our of their sight. Not bothering with niceties Aragorn strode right up to the chained prisoner. "Why did you attack my family?"
The young man, whose clothing was relatively clean and well tended looked up at the king. To everyone present's surprise he bowed his head respectfully to Aragorn. "We did not attack your family, my King. Our target was the outsider. The girl is not human and should not be royalty."
His eyes narrowing dangerously Aragorn stated, "she is the daughter of your king and queen, that makes her royalty."
"No. She is a danger and a threat," he insisted. "She is third in line to the throne. No elf will rule Gondor, ever."
Carefully folding his arms behind his back and grateful he had not come armed to this interview Aragorn took one step closer to the man. "Are there many who feel this way? Do not lie to me," he ordered when the man's eyes shifted away from his.
"Some," he answered reluctantly. "But I will tell you no more. In your misguided attempt to protect the betrayor you see as your daughter you will destroy those who only want what is best for your kingdom."
Aragorn looked at him. "I do not need or want your assistance. You would see Gondor destroyed." Turning he walked to the door. Once there he turned around. "The one you see as a betrayer is a three year old child. You are the worst of cowards to see her as a threat." When he got out the door he looked to his brother-in-law.
"My men will find out details. I think we perhaps need a new prisoner to share his cell. Perhaps one who does not like elves," the Rohirrim king commented.
All Aragorn managed in response was a weak grin. "Thank you. I had best get back to Eowyn."
"They what?" Eowyn demanded when he returned to their quarters and told her of the interview. The only reason she did not shout was because she did not want to wake Theorond asleep in the next room. "She is a child. I should never have decided to take the children on this trip."
Caught completely off-guard by the self-loathing in Eowyn's tone Aragorn rushed to embrace her. "It is not your fault. We can not cage our children in the White City any more than we can be caged there permanently."
She looked up at him. "They are still so young."
Not sure how to comfort her Aragorn just held her tighter. "I have already sent word to Faramir to see what he can find out about this group. I think it is time for a royal visit to Arnor. You and the children should remain in Rohan and I will return to Gondor to set things in order for a longer stewardship."
"Aragorn," Eowyn made herself say. "We do not even know if Estel is still alive."
The eyes that met hers held no doubts. "She lives. And she will not return to the White City until this immediate threat to her life is destroyed. I will not send her away to be fostered over this. She is our daughter and has every right to the title of princess."
"I'm so afraid we will never see her again."
Lightly Aragorn brushed her hair back. "We have to have hope."
Swallowing hard Eowyn overrode him. "If she was taken or they want to cover their tracks she may never be found."
Aragorn shook his head decisively. "No. She is with Elrohir." He placed a finger over her lips to stop her protest. "I know my brother is not invincible but if anything were to happen to him Elladan would know instantly and nothing would keep him from getting to us as fast as possible. And as long as Elrohir is alive and well he will keep Estel that way too."
Pushing herself back so she could look in his eyes she asked again, "what is there between them?"
This time Aragorn swallowed hard and looked away before answering. "I am not completely sure. My foresight is not completely clear and my memories of the healing trance are skimpy. I have my guess but I do not know anything for sure and I will not risk their future on a guess. I just know that the familial relationship, however distant, between the two should not be emphasized or noted."
"Thank you." She buried herself back in his arms and felt his almost frantic grip on her back showing the fear he would not allow himself to acknowledge. "I am just so scared."
"Me too."
Before Eowyn could reply the door burst open and a familiar blur darted toward them. "Ada! Mommy! Ada! Mommy!" Estel threw herself into her parents arms.
Too stunned to do anything more than catch her Aragorn and Eowyn held their daughter close. Aragorn looked up to see his brother wearily leaning on the doorframe. He was more rumpled and filthy than Aragorn had ever seen him before. "Thank you," he whispered.
"I would not have allowed anything to happen to her," he calmly stated.
Eowyn looked over at him as well. "Thank you." She held her daughter closer to her as her husband held them both close.
A/N: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter but it was not the intended next chapter. It actually was originally not planned at all. So there will still probably be one more chapter before they leave Rohan.