A/N: It's MONDAY!

Chapter Ten

Sorcery and Sudden Sunshine

Elerína returned to the citadel after Thorongil rode off on his second adventure to Mordor. That day and the next she spent working with Amdirien on her speech, as well as getting to know many of the nobles who came to the palace. At morning on the third day a messenger came to the palace. He was Eänur, of Anders' company, and he brought news both good and ill. He was taken straight to the throne room, where Elerína happened to be.

"Your Majesty," began Eänur kneeling before the throne, "I bring a report from Captain Anders."

"Proceed, Lieutenant," said the King.

"We engaged the enemy on the morning after we departed, sir. We took the castle with little difficulty, save an armored troll which Thorongil slew. We sent back our wounded - only three sir, plus an escort of seven - and proceeded to advance into Mordor. We reached a crossroads, and sent five each north and east to scout. I was on the eastern patrol. My men and I came across a great force of orcs marching towards us along the road - I reckon two hundred and fifty strong at least - and retreated before them. At Captain Anders' orders I led the company back while he went after the northern scouting party. Thorongil went with him also. My men remain under the command of the garrison commander at Minas Ithil, in case the orcs march against them."

Elerína left the Palace of the King and went to sit near the Fountain Court and the White Tree. Later that day Amdirien asked her father where her new friend might be found.

"She sits by the fountain," sighed Aragorn. "Her husband is missing in Mordor with six of our rangers."

Amdirien went outside and sat beside Elerína.

"Do you desire my company?" Amdirien asked.

"I should have gone with him," Elerína muttered. She stared absentmindedly Eastward - or so the mortal princess believed. The long leagues from Minas Tirith to Mordor and the Mountains of Shadow could not keep her husband from her sight.

"I sometimes think the same of my brother, who is long away," said the princess, sitting down next to the maia and putting her hand on her shoulder. "But I know that both he and I are better served with me here. If the stories I hear are true, I think it is Mordor that should be worried about your husband being trapped there, not you."

Elerína blushed. There was more truth to the lady's words than she knew.

"I leave for Dol Amroth this evening," she continued. "Will you come with me?"

"I don't feel like celebrating," moaned Elerína.

"Surely you want to hear your speech?"

Elerína laughed and nodded. "This is true. I suppose it may be weeks before my husband returns, and there is nothing I can do for him here. I'll gather my things. I will travel separately, if you don't mind. Best not to be seen riding with your entourage."

"Afraid of looking like a servant?" teased the Princess.

"Yes, but not in the way you think," Elerína replied. "My husband is worried about appearing neutral among the major powers of Middle Earth. Also, I would rather not have everyone wondering who I am."

Down on the first level of Minas Tirith Eddil and his friends were preparing to journey to the same festival.

"It was nice of captain Miller to let you take leave," said Eddil to Caranel.

"He didn't 'let' me, he made me," she replied. "They still can't believe I could possibly be healthy enough to travel, let alone battle ready."

"Have you ever been to the winter festival?" asked Aldamir.

"Of course I have," she answered. "I met Eddil there four years ago!"

"Have you been to Dol Amroth, Gram?" inquired Timothy.

"No," he answered. "But I am glad we are going. My grandfather used to tell me stories of Prince Imrahil and his knights. He fought beside them on the Pelennor, and at the Black Gate."

"There is usually a parade," said Eddil, "so perhaps you can see the knights as they are today."

"Would you mind if I travel with you?" asked Elerína, joining them at their table.

"Of course not!" exclaimed Caranel. The others added their agreement.

"Is Thorongil coming?" asked Timothy.

"Thorongil is in Mordor," Elerína replied. "He and six of your rangers are trapped behind an orc host."

"I hope my heroic rescuer doesn't need a rescue," laughed Caranel.

"Hey, it was a team effort," objected Eddil. Aldamir also voiced an objection.

"No, I quite clearly recall that all the rescuing was done by Thorongil," said Caranel matter-of-factly. "What you did is called being rescued."

"Well your new dashing hero is already taken," laughed Gram, nodding to Elerína. "So a trip to the festival with Eddil will have to do."

"Do you by chance know the names of the rangers trapped with him?" asked Caranel, ignoring their teasing.

"Captain Anders leads them," answered Elerína.

"If anyone can lead them home, it's Anders," said Caranel. "He is the finest man I ever served with, and he would rather die than leave a single man behind."

"He, by the way, is not taken," she added with a wink to Eddil.

The journey to Dol Amroth took a week. Hundreds of men, women, and children travelled together. Amdirien rode at the head of the company with a handmaiden on either side. Around them rode twelve Guards of the Citadel in sea blue cloaks, made only for the Princess's guard. Behind the royal guard came a few noble families, and behind them rode Elerína and her friends along with the rest of the common folk.

They arrived at the gates of Dol Amroth the night before the festivities were to begin. Elerína made her way up to the Prince of Dol Amroth's palace and joined Amdirien in time for dinner. Elphir, the current prince of the coastal city, hosted the royal party.

"Where is Alphros?" Amdirien asked the Prince.

"Preparing for the festival, I am sure," said Elphir. "With the Prince and his company gone he thinks he can win this year. I shall send for him at once..."

"Do not disturb her on my account," said Amdirien.

"Who is your companion?" he asked, looking to Elerína.

"She is an honored guest of my Father," the Princess replied. "She came to us from the Grey Havens by way of Thranduil's folk."

That night Elerína slept in a small guest room in the Prince's palace. It was not so nicely furnished as her room in Minas Tirith, but the architectural style of Dol Amroth was heavily influenced by the city's elven heritage. She slept easily, looking forward to the Princess's speech scheduled for the next morning.

The sun had hardly risen when she was woken by Amdirien.

"M'lady?" she said. "M'lady, please wake up."

"What is it, child?" mumbled the maia, barely awake.

"Child?" laughed Amdirien. "Even by the reckoning of the Dunedain I am not a child."

Elerína sat up and saw that they were alone. "I'm older than mankind, Amdirien."

"Well in all those years did you learn how to stop a rainstorm?" asked the Princess.

Elerína suddenly noticed the loud noise of rain buffeting her window. It was quite a storm.

Elerína rubbed her eyes. "I really should not."

"A downpour on the first day of the festival - the people will be so disappointed," pleaded Amdirien.

"Yes indeed, one in particular," laughed Elerína. "One with a speech scheduled for about two hours from now."

The Princess laughed. "I'm people too!"

"What makes you think I can help you?"

"Two mysterious visitors from Valinor arrive on our doorstep, and one goes off and drives away the great spider with lightning from his hand," said Amdirien dramatically. "I wager his proud and beautiful wife has powers of her own."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," replied Elerína with a roll of her eyes - but a bit of a blush.

"It can't hurt," Amdirien sighed. "It certainly works on me."

Elerína felt some pity for Amdirien. In Valinor it never rained on her own public appearances - so much so that 'it never rains on her parades' had become a common expression. She saw something of herself in the young Princess of Gondor: a natural born leader with no throne to take, assuming Prince Eldarion returned from the east.

"If I succeed you must tell no one of it - especially my husband," said Elerína. "He would not understand the importance."

"Thank you so much!" exclaimed Amdirien.

"Keep your voice down, and don't thank me yet," replied Elerína. "If this were Ilmarin or Tirion it would be easy, but the winds of Middle Earth are strange to me."

Amdirien left Elerína to do her work, feeling even more certain that she was one of the Ainur - immortal spirits of power such as Gandalf or Sauron. Even the lesser among them had powers that mortal men called magic.

An hour before Amdirien's speech was scheduled to occur a great wind came from the north and pushed the storm out to sea. Those visiting Dol Amroth shouted praises to the heavens - mostly thanking Uinen, Manwë or Ulmo - that their drinking and feasting would start on time. A few noted that this also meant they could attend the Princess's appearance, but for most this was decidedly an afterthought.

The speech itself was a great success. It was succinct, uplifting, and praised Dol Amroth generously. Most importantly it was short, which those eagerly awaiting the opening of the festivities appreciated. After her speech Amdirien spent hours mingling with the nobility of the city and visitors from every corner of Gondor. Elerína was impressed by Amdirien's charisma, but had no time to tell her that morning. She went and stood alone on a balcony of the palace, watching carefully to ensure the storm she had sent south did not harm mariners at sea.