Chapter Ten: Farewell to Minas Tirith

Aranee left Arwen's room with her eyes solely on the couple currently embracing each other in comfort to counteract the pain they both felt. Aranee did not know what it felt like to lose a child, but she imagined it would feel like losing a piece of you. You feed and nurture the little being inside you, hoping and wishing that all goes well, and then it suddenly ends. Aranee had no likeness to the aftershock of that loss. But she could envision the initial pain it caused. At the very second that everything is lost. She could feel that distinctly. Like a great harsh ripping and tearing in someone's soul. The pain wouldn't last, but the hole inside you would. Aranee just hoped that Aragorn, her brother, and Arwen could forget this loss and continue to renew those once bright hopes.

She leaned against the closed door and wiped her face with both hands, a sign of exhaustion. There was a point of exhaustion that Aranee had reached during the war when she no longer felt the things that were important. She wouldn't feel refreshed when she drank water; or replenished when she had a few hours sleep. She had been so far beyond exhaustion that it had taken a month to get back into a regular pattern again. She felt on the verge of feeling that again. Chaos and fatigue had taken over her life. She needed to get away. She needed to go somewhere where she could sleep and relax and there wouldn't be any distractions.

She looked over to see Legolas speaking with Faramir. Faramir noticed her but Legolas had his back to her. As much as she needed his strength, she admitted to herself that a romantic entanglement would just add to her problems right now. The kiss they had shared was the last straw; she wouldn't risk a friendship with the elf knowing that she might not be willing to reciprocate his obvious feelings for her. So she slightly nodded at Faramir and slipped away down the opposite end of the hallway. She made her way through the castle in search of the one person who might be able to help her.

The Fields of the Pelennor were vast and the grasses on the large plains were growing back slowly, but they neither resembled nor held a candle to the fields of her homeland. Éowyn missed the Riddermark and the hills and rocks that made up the landscape of Rohan. She sat on the Fields of Pelennor now, thinking wistfully of those times in her childhood when she and Éomer would ride out as fast as the winds could carry them. Their childhood had been short-lived but was glorious while it lasted.

She turned then to look back at the castle. The glimmering White City was majestic in the afternoon sun, but still she held herself out for the familiarity of Edoras. Her heart longed for home no matter how much she wished to stay. There were members of the Minas Tirith court that Éowyn would miss very much.

A figure was swaying towards her just then. They had exited the gates of the city and started walking towards her. Her heart quickened momentarily, thinking it might be Faramir, but slowed again when she recognized Aranee. She rose and started walking towards her friend.

"Éowyn," Aranee greeted, her hands outstretched to grasp Éowyn's. "How are you this afternoon?"

Éowyn took the offered hands and side-by-side the two started walked aimlessly along the fields. "In truth, I am very homesick. But I am not nearly as important as some. You look so tired. This business with Aragorn is very troubling. You do not look as though you slept at all last night."

"I'm sure I did, but I cannot seem to feel it. My bones ache. It is a strange feeling for one so young I must admit. But I have an idea."

"An idea? Do tell, please."

"You long for home? I am sure there are responsibilities there that you and your brother must tend to. Would you consider taking me with you?"

"To Edoras?" Éowyn gawked. "That is an odd request."

"Does that mean you wouldn't have me?"

"No! Not at all, that means I don't entirely understand it. But we would love to have you, no doubt." She paused. "Would you be able to postpone your duties here, as a healer I mean? What with Aragorn injured and Arwen having lost her..." She couldn't bring herself to say the words.

Thankfully, Éowyn understood when Aranee suddenly looked away. She reached out to pat her friend's hand. "I understand. You need rest, and being here is not going to bring you that. I wonder though..."

She paused. Aranee frowned. "What do you wonder? Please tell me?"

"I wonder what objections Éomer would raise, if any? He is taken with you, but he is upset. I'm sure you have noticed."

Aranee sighed. Though she had been too busy to think about his attitude, she had noticed Éomer's standoffish and rather cold behaviour and now it worried her. What Éowyn said was true, and Aranee didn't want to go into a territory she was unfamiliar with while Éomer was upset with her. She had no place to escape here, but if she went to Edoras she would have even fewer places to escape to with no acquaintances and no occupation to keep her time.

She looked back up into Éowyn's eyes and found instead of apprehension, understanding and sympathy. "It doesn't matter what Éomer thinks," she told Aranee, "because you are welcome anytime at Edoras. Éomer will not think of denying it anyway, he is far too noble and hospitable to turn you away."

Aranee had doubts, but she was sure all this was true. She needed air to breath and out on the plains of Rohan, she would have that. "Thank you, I greatly appreciate this."

"Please, do not mention it. It is my pleasure to see you back to yourself once again. You have been different since Aragorn's attack, and many have noticed it."

Taken aback, Aranee's head snapped up with a start. "Have they really?" She had meant to say it with surprise but instead it came out a groan. She hadn't realized it was that noticeable. She thought it was just her who could see and feel it. "I'm slipping, Éowyn, and I'm so scared."

Éowyn nodded, taking Aranee's hand into her own. "I know, Aranee. The attack was not something you were prepared for. This hardship was not something you expected on top of discovering Aragorn is your brother. You have things to work through and need a quiet place free of confusion to do so. Let me help; let me give you that quiet place and that time to reaffirm yourself."

Aranee gave her friend a small smile. No one had ever offered her anything like that before. It meant a lot to her. She nodded and reached out to embrace Éowyn. She would go to Edoras and fix all that had been broken.

Aranee wandered back to Minis Tirith sometime later and found herself moving in the direction of Faramir's room. It was one of the only ways to get back to her room, but she had no desire at the moment to be so removed, especially considering the situation. She wanted to be around these people for a little bit longer, and then she would go to Edoras with Éowyn and Éomer and their party. She would stay there for as long as she needed.

Faramir's door was propped open, something not uncommon for him because he knew Aranee would go through at any hour if need be. He was currently sitting at a desk in the corner, pen poised, scribbling something down on a piece of parchment. She moved through silently, shutting the door behind her, and came to stand behind him. She felt worn and thin, and perhaps even as pale as that parchment. She put both hands on Faramir's shoulders and he stopped writing. He didn't jump or jolt away. He knew her touch far better than anyone's.

"I feel transparent Faramir," Aranee whispered. "If you looked at me sideways, I'd probably disappear and blend right into my surroundings."

His hand dropped his pen and snaked around to grab one of hers. He pulled her around and pushed his chair out so she stood slightly to his side. Then he pulled her down into his lap, as a father would to comfort his child. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her forehead against his. "You need time, 'Nee, that's all. You feel thin and transparent because you've been working yourself into a weary state. No one can continue like this, not even you who has the strength of Kings."

"I certainly don't feel like I have the strength of Kings. I could have killed the King because of my stupidity. I even took away their heir. How can I forgive myself for that?"

His hands cupped her face and made her look directly into his eyes. "Because you must. You said so yourself, in order to save the King something else needed to be given to the darkness in return. You saved your brother, 'Nee because you knew that his life in this world was the most important. There is nothing that could have been done otherwise. The darkness you felt had to be appeased and that is what happened."

Aranee stared back at him, her eyes swimming with tears. She had cried a lot in the past couple of days, something she had not known for a very long time. In fact she had never cried in her life as much as she had in the past few days. She inhaled and then exhaled, closing her eyes finally, refusing to let another tear pass. "I'm leaving, Faramir. I am going to Edoras with Éowyn and Éomer."

She opened her eyes to see the surprise written on Faramir's face. "This is unexpected 'Nee, are you certain what you are doing?"

She nodded, "I need the time away. I need to gather my thoughts and to put things back to the way they were. Between this war that has raged and the secrets that have been unearthed and Aragorn's assassination attempt, I am worn thin and ragged. I cannot function like this any longer."

Faramir nodded then, "I understand. I will be sad to see you go. There hasn't ever been a time when you did not live on the top of the mountain, my Lady of the Mountain." He smiled the tiniest of smiles, hoping to encourage her.

His smile warmed her. "I won't stay away forever Faramir. I must be alone with my thoughts though."

"I know. How long do you think you will stay away?"

Aranee shook her head, "Who can tell how much time is enough to heal. It won't be less than six months, perhaps as long as a year."

"That is a long time to be away. Is it wise to leave, knowing Aragorn…" he did not complete the thought, just as Éowyn had not earlier. "Aragorn will be well looked after, as will Arwen. I am certain Ninia has the skill to maintain them just as well as you."

"Yes. I cannot help them anymore. I need to remove myself from the situation and clear my thoughts. Perhaps when I return things will be better."

"Perhaps when you return you might find the courage to tell Aragorn all that needs to be said?" Faramir countered.

Her eyes met his again and she smiled. It would be a great relief to her to have that weight removed from her shoulders. She was not ready for that life yet though. The bowing and scraping and waving, and being targeted as Aragorn had, it was a life that Aranee had tried to avoid for as long as she could remember. "Perhaps."

Faramir smiled his approval and held her closer to him. "I will miss you, 'Nee. You being gone as well as Éowyn, means my life will suddenly get very lonely."

Aranee nearly shed her tears thinking about leaving her dear childhood friend. She couldn't bear to think on it however and merely wrapped her arms around his neck again and held him tight. "I will miss you as well, Faramir. I am sure that in the time I am gone however, you will find many things to keep yourself busy. You are the Steward of the King of Gondor. The city is in repair and while six months seems like a long time, there is so much to be done. I believe it will pass you in the blink of an eye."

She released his neck to look back into his face. His eyes were shimmering with unshed tears threatening to fall. She took her hand and placed it on his cheek, letting him look into her eyes once again. "And as for Éowyn, she and I will take care of one another. Before long she too will return. You know she returns for her Uncle's funeral and the coronation of Éomer, as well as she longs for the sights of her home. It is not because she does not wish to be with you."

"I understand that. I do hope the time will pass quickly and soon enough the women I love so dearly will return to me."

"I will always return to you, Faramir."

Éomer was walking around his chamber looking for him belongings when he came across the sword. He had been carrying his own around of late and had completely forgotten about his uncle's. It would be buried with him when they returned to Edoras. He laid it flat on his bed and then took out his own sword to exam the similarities and differences. His uncle's sword had seen years more wear than his own, but still both had seen this last battle that had raged this earth. He had hoped to live through to see the days of peace, but he had been content to die for something he believed so deeply in. He was certain that Théoden had thought the same.

Becoming a king was not something Éomer had thought about in his lifetime. Not even in the time he had been here, knowing he would have to return and be crowned as such. Thèodred had been a strong and brave man and would have been a great king. Éomer would have served him honourably. He'd loved Thèodred like a brother and knew that under his rule the lands of Rohan would have prospered.

Now faced with the prospect of stepping into his cousins' boots and fill his empty space in the halls of Meduseld that his family had presided over for centuries, Éomer was terrified. Not only would he have to fill the boots of his cousin, but also those of his uncle, Théoden. He had his doubts but he also had a strong belief in honour and pride and loyalty to his people. He would protect them and fight alongside them if ever there was a need again, though he hoped it would not arise for some time.

His sister would also be there to look after the hall. He had yet to find a wife, and he knew that there would be pressure from his people to take a wife and bear heirs to the House of Eorl. This is where is life got more complicated than he would like it to be. Éomer knew how to take up a sword to any foe, and yet he could not woo a woman to save his life. His instincts, which served him so well on the battlefield, were useless when judging a woman's feelings for him. This he had discovered when he'd taken his sister's advice and tried to woo Aranee. Yet she was resilient and Éomer didn't know how it had happened.

Then after the attack of Aragorn and Arwen having lost her baby, Aranee had been so weary and pale that he had thought it might be heartless of him to bring up her resistance. His sister had acknowledged that this choice had been the right one, which gave Éomer a small sense of accomplishment, but that did not resolve the matter. He was so taken with Aranee that the thought of leaving her here in Minas Tirith was almost painful to him.

There was a knock at the door and he crossed to open it. It was his sister. "Éowyn? Please come in," he moved aside to let her in.

"Thank you, Éomer. I have news." She moved to sit on his bed. She must have noticed the two swords lay out there and immediately her hand was drawn to their uncle's. "Herugrim," she spoke the name of the sword. "It is fitting that his sword should be set to rest with him. It has seen long years and more blood than it should have." Her hand then moved to Éomer's sword, Gúthwinë. "It is also fitting that your 'battle-friend' should be in the hands of our new king." She gripped the sword and rose to pass it to Éomer. "You'll make a find king, Éomer. You bear the weight of ages but also have the wisdom of such as well."

Éomer took the sword from his sister. It was good to hear her faith in him had not faltered. "Thank you Éowyn. Now," he sheathed his weapon and set it by his belongings, "the news you brought?"

"Oh yes, this you will be pleased to hear. Aranee has requested we take her with us to Edoras."

Éomer could not have kept the surprise and joy from his face even should he have wished it. "She has? Why?"

"Her mind is cluttered and her soul is weary," Éowyn replied. "She needs a quiet space and a change of scenery in order to regain her strength and she asked to join us."

Éomer smiled to himself. He was sure within such close quarters in Edoras he would find the courage and knowledge to somehow woo the lovely Aranee. "She knows that we shan't return to Minas Tirith for some time?"

Éowyn nodded. "She knows. This is one of the reasons she wished to accompany us. She isn't expecting to return to Minas Tirith for at least six months, possibly a year." Her smile then waivered and her mouth tightened into a long straight line. "Éomer, you must promise me something?"

"Anything sister," he replied automatically.

"Aranee does not want romantic entanglements. She does not want someone chasing her, hoping that she will make them a good wife. This includes you. You will have duties and things to attend to as King and I know exactly what is going through that mind of yours. On your free time you'll attempt to entice her still. I would advise you against it. She is weak and ill and is in no position to be propositioned for marriage. And, as much as I love you brother, I have a feeling should you woo her successfully, she will never agree to marry you."

Éomer frowned then, his anger tweaked by Éowyn's words. "And why do you say this?"

Éowyn sighed heavily. "A number of things really; she lives high above the city, she requests anyone who calls her 'lady' to cease and call her simply 'Aranee', she avoids the dining hall for meals, and she is not above doing things that would pain her. She does not want a royal life. It is something she has avoided her whole life."

"Her whole life? How can she have avoided it all her life? Is her lineage of royal birth?"

Éowyn shook her head, "You're missing the point Éomer! Do not pursue her. It will only lead to heartache, for the both of you."

Aragorn's judgment and prosecution of the assassin Ramirez was swift and just according to his advisors. It was not a public display of his power, but rather a quiet blow and the rumours were quickly spread through the city that he had executed the assassin who had tried to claim his life. He hoped that these whispers would drive fear into the hearts of those who opposed him. He was a fair King and would like his people to trust and believe that he would do what was right by them.

Aranee heard the news as she returned down to the dining hall one evening following the day she had asked Éowyn to go to Edoras. She had already spoken to Ninia about the safe-care and healing of both Arwen and Aragorn. Ninia had assured her that everything would be well-looked after and that Aranee's decision to go away was a wise one. They were leaving on the first of the new month, in five days time.

Aranee now approached the dining hall, hoping to find Aragorn and Arwen present, having rested themselves sufficiently for the past ten days, but upon entering the hall she did not see them. She considered turning from the hall and retreating to seek out the king and queen, but it was too late. Legolas and Gimli had seen her and were beckoning her forward. She plastered a weary smile on her face; for it was the only smile she could manage in her state, and moved to greet them.

"Mistress of the Mountain," Gimli greeted her, reaching out to take her hand. "We have long missed you at sup. Are you to join us for the evening?" he took her hand and kissed the back of it graciously.

"Aye, Master Dwarf," she returned. "I will dine with you this night."

"Are you feeling much like yourself again?" Legolas inquired, pulling out a seat for her to sit at. Aranee had not seen Legolas in the few days since speaking to Éowyn. He had been dealing with the trial of Ramirez and Aragorn's healing as well as several other little errands in the city and at Osgiliath across the Plains. Aranee also admitted to herself that she had been avoiding him. The intimacy they'd shared was like a web that wanted to trap her and at the moment she needed to be free.

"I am feeling fractionally better, Master Elf. I have plans in motion that should help me further however, never you fear." She did not wish to be cruel. She would confess to him in private that this decision was not borne out of a desire to escape him, more so to escape her life there in Minas Tirith. He would understand her decision though because he knew what it was like to want to be free.

His eyes could read her, and she knew that at another time he would come to her and ask for an explanation, but right then was neither the time nor place.

The conversation was steady and soon Éomer, Éowyn and Faramir joined the table. Laughter was light and airy and Aranee let it lift her spirits for the night, knowing it would do her much good.

The night was coming to a close and Aranee wanted to rise and find Aragorn before it was too late. Éowyn had pointed out to her that she would need to ask Aragorn's permission to leave court, just as the rest of those staying as guests of the king would need to do. She didn't relish the idea of speaking to him, knowing the pain it brought her, but she had to admit that seeing him would also bring her much joy and continue in her thoughts over the next months she was away.

She left the great hall, saying her farewells to all and went directly to the Kings Quarters. As she approached a door opened and closed. A knot tightly and quickly wove itself in her stomach as Aranee recognized the king. He was still fretfully pale but he was walking on his own and this in itself showed great improvement.

"My Lord," she spoke as she neared him.

He turned and peered at her, recognition flashing across his face and the harsh lines smoothing out. "My Lady Aranee," his smile lit up his face considerably, "I am glad to see you. Are you well?"

Aranee dropped her head, "No, my lord, I am quite unwell." She met his eyes and continued. "I would ask for your permission to leave court. I am accompanying Éowyn and her brother back to Rohan for a time."

Aragorn was surprised. "For a time? How long?"

"It is my understanding that they will not return to Minas Tirith for some months, perhaps a year or more."

"And you are willing to stay away for this length?" Aragorn frowned.

"I am. I…I need the time to gather myself and repair the damage that has been done to my soul." She stared deep into the king's eyes, knowing that these were the eyes of her brother; her brother that she had saved from death's door. She found some semblance in those eyes and hoped that in return he would see all that she needed.

Slowly he nodded. "You have the king's permission, my lady. I wish you well on your endeavours and hope to someday see you healed and to your old and strong self once again."

Aranee smiled then, and not a weary smile as she had done before, but an honest smile. She did not hear the king's wishes in those words, but her brother's, though he had no knowledge of it. "It is also my wish for you, my lord."

Aragorn reached forward to take her hand and she took a step forward. "I also wish to thank you, Aranee," he said, "for you have done more for my wife and I than I could ever had asked a Healer to do. Your pain is in direct correlation to my own and were I strong enough I would heal you myself."

"My hurt is not that can be cured by any man's hands, and this is why I am leaving. Only time can heal these scars."

"Then go with peace and I hope you can someday return to these halls and not feel the weight and burden you feel now."

"These are my hopes as well…Aragorn," she replied softly. She reached her hand up and brushed his cheek in farewell. Something sparked between them and while Aranee knew all too well what it was, Aragorn was a little shocked. He did not jerk but his eyes flashed over her face once more. She was so familiar to him and yet he had never known her before these past months at Minas Tirith. He shook the feeling, thinking his mind only recognized her because she had saved his passing soul in the Otherworld.

Aranee retreated slowly then from his arms. Aragorn then nodded his head low in respect, having said all that could be said, turned and walked in the other direction. Aranee watched his receding form. Things were so different now.

From the first time she'd set her eyes on him, from the first moment she'd known he was her brother; her world had twisted upside down. Now she would regain what power and confidence she had lost and come back to this, her home, brand new. This time was needed, not just because of the events that had occurred with Aragorn, but also because of the events that had occurred because of the war. Aranee knew she might be quite content to remain away from the blood soaked streets of Minas Tirith and the Fields of Pelennor for the rest of her life for she had seen too much blood. But Minas Tirith had been her home for as long as she could remember. And now it was home to the rest of her family. She would come back with courage enough to tell Aragorn the truth and the confidence in herself to continue healing.

Aranee watched as Aragorn turned the corner and disappeared from sight. "Farewell Brother, may we meet again in the not too distant future and know each other better."

To be continued...

Watch for Return of the King's Sister Part II - Coming Soon!