Disclaimer: Although I am responsible for any twists and turns in the road of this story, I do not own the Lord of the Rings. Warning: Character death soon.

MorniëGalad

Chapter Eleven: Et Earello From the Great Sea

For a moment, four pairs of eyes looked at Elrond. Before anyone Elven or human could say a word, there was a radiant flash of light. It lasted for an instant only, but in that brief moment, the company was blinded and struck with fear. Aragorn gripped both Arwen and Èowyn's hands tighter. Elrond and Gandalf were mountains, but Èolas just stared. Slowly, the light faded and before them was . . .

"Lord Mandos," Gandalf murmured, sinking to his knees, a mirror of Elrond. Èolas was motionless. Aragorn took his eyes off the Vala for a moment to glance at her, wondering what sort of child this was.

"You have discovered the truth," Mandos said, his voice unlike the breeze Numëstel had heard the previous night. His voice now roared like the thunder. "This is Numëstel, hope of the West, the youngest heir of Isildur, and the only heir of Aragorn Elessar." Èolas walked to Mandos and the Vala put a blessed hand on her head.

"How can this be?" Aragorn asked after a moment. His voice quavered, still in shock.

"We became concerned for the future of Gondor, and indeed all of Middle Earth. If you were to have been killed, Aragorn, the hope of Numenor would die with you, since you had no heir. Therefore, we placed you into a deep sleep and from your life a child was born of Nienna. For uncounted years she dwelt with us in Valinor, but then the time came for her to be sent here to fulfill her purpose as your daughter. We sent her to Rohan, for we knew you were destined to arrive here during your quest. She was born to mortal Rohirrim parents and we watched her closely, though Eru prevented us from sparing her some pains of mortal life."

"Like my parents' death," Èolas Numëstel reflected. Mandos nodded slowly.

"So she is part Vala?" Èowyn asked.

"In a sense, she is fully Vala, yet fully Aragorn's heir. We will be watching you, Numëstel." With that, Mandos disappeared in another blinding flash of light.

Èolas Numëstel approached Aragorn. "Adar?" she questioned, her voice the first spring breeze. With tears in his eyes, Aragorn held out his arms and embraced his young daughter. Now, seeing them beside each other, all were astonished at how alike they looked. They had the same, wise, blue eyes and wavy dark hair. Identical smiles lit their faces and the tears in their eyes were the same. As rain that formed a rainbow, droplets of love spilled from the Ranger's eyes as he clung to his child, overwhelmed by what he had been told.

Unnoticed by anyone, King Théoden had arrived when he had heard Lord Mandos' thundering voice. He stood at the top of the stairs, silent, absorbing the sight. So astonished was he that this child, whom he had thought was no more than blessed by the Valar to be alive, was indeed one of the Valar. His people, too, were overcome, for they also had heard Lord Mandos' proclamation and were gathered around the stairs of Meduseld. None of their eyes moved from Èolas Numëstel and Aragorn. Descending upon them was the darkness of night, though none of the people seemed to heed this. The rosy sun had set and the stars emerged, Eärendil himself resting above Meduseld. Yet, the Rohirrim remained until late in the night, when Aragorn had fallen asleep upon his bed with his daughternearby, asleep on the lawn. Èowyn and Arwen slept as well, heedless of the turmoil that lay ahead of them.

Nearly a week had passed and Aragorn's health was deteriorating. He and Numëstel were seldom seen apart. Arwen and Èowyn scarcely left his bedside, either, for they knew all too well that their final day with Aragorn was drawing near. His voice had lost all its intensity and was now little more than a whisper. He could no longer move and constantly was on the watch for Lord Mandos.

As the sun set on the seventh day since Legolas' departure for Lòthlòrien, Elessar stirred. Arwen, Èowyn and Numëstel were all near to him, as were Gandalf and Elrond, his foster father of old. King Théoden sat atop the stairs not far away, so Aragorn whispered for him to come nearer. The king came and stood by his niece.

"Adar, will you fetch Anduril, please?" Elrond nodded. Now he knew the time had nearly come. "I do not see Lord Mandos, but I can feel myself fading. Do you see him, Numëstel?"

"No, ada," she replied, but she too could sense that her father was right. His time to leave this earth had nearly come. As tears filled her eyes, they were mirrored in her dear father's.

"Arwen, Èowyn, will you look after Numëstel, please? I know she is like a younger sister to you, Èowyn."

"She will be a daughter and sister to me,"the Elf maiden whispered. Èowyn nodded and put her arm around Èolas Numëstel. The women took hold of Aragorn's hands, gently. Elrond returned, Anduril in his hands.

"Arwen, take the ring of Barahir from my hand and give it to Numëstel." Arwen slipped the ring from Aragorn's trembling forefinger, tears freely flowing from her immortal blue eyes. Èolas Numëstel extended her own shaking finger to the Elf maiden and soon the ring of Barahir, the ancient heirloom that had been passed down since Barahir himself, rested on her finger.

"The Evenstar belongs to you, Arwen." Undomiel shook her head.

"Give it to your daughter. It is a symbol of love and should remain such." Èowyn tenderly lifted Aragorn's head as Arwen unfastened the jewel. Soon it glimmered around Numëstel's neck.

"These arm guards belonged to Boromir, son of the steward of Gondor. I swore to him that I would not let the White City, Minas Tirith, fall. That duty now rests upon you, my beloved daughter." Numëstel Èolas felt the oath fasten securely on her arms. Next Aragorn would have given her the cloak of Lòthlòrien, but it had been badly ripped from the arrow wound and was essentially ruined. Finally, Elrond placed Anduril on Aragorn's chest.

"No, Anduril shall not die with me. The flame of the west must accompany the hope of the west to victory," Elessar whispered. "Take it, Numëstel." She hesitated, but obeyed. Even in the fading light, each person could see Aragorn Elessar smiling. His arm moved to surround his daughter as Èowyn and Arwen each held one of his hands.

"I love you all," he whispered, barely audible. Numëstel searched the darkness briefly for any sign of Lord Mandos, but saw him not. Her father seemed to hold her tighter. "It is finished." Then Aragorn Elessar, the Elfstone, Dunedain, breathed his last and went to rest with his ancestors. At that moment, a light sprinkle began mingling with the tears upon the faces of those who stood outside Meduseld. Then a shriek pierced the night, but it was not a shriek that instilled terror, for through the steaks of rain, Numëstel Èolas could see a great eagle. No, there were many eagles, crying aloud. They glided down and perched on the hill beside the Golden Hall. Gandalf stirred, his hair and beard dripping.

"Come, my friends. We must make for Lòthlòrien. We will float Aragorn's body down the River Snowborne where it shall join the great Anduin. Théoden King, will you be gracious enough to provide us with a boat." Théoden nodded. "His body will eventually reach the sea after it passes therealm of Gondor." Théoden soon found a boat. They bore Aragorn's body in his deathbed until they came to the river. The body was then placed in the boat, which was placed in the water by Numëstel Èolas and the White Wizard. Slowly, reverently, the river sent the small boat on its last dreamy voyage.

"Namarië, mellon nin," Gandalf whispered.

"Namarië, adar," Numëstel cried silently as the mist of the spray of the Snowborne River veiled him from sight.

Author's Note: How did I do? Just a note, Èolas and Numëstel are the same person. From hence on, she will be called by either name, mostly Numëstel, though. Either one is her. Reviews are very helpful, but please, no flames. This chapter was a risk for me and not an easy one towrite, but I had to do it. Hannon lle,

MorniëGalad

P.S. This is not the end of the story.

MorniëGalad