A knock sounded on Eldaria's door. Quickly, she rose and went to answer it.
Imrathon smiled at her. "You wanted to see the stars from the highest tower in the reunited realm. Do you still want to come?"
Eldaria sighed. "Elboron will be upset."
"You still care about whether Elboron would be upset? You clearly told him that you couldn't marry him."
To his surprise, Eldaria laughed. "You are right, my friend." She grabbed her cloak from a hook on the wall and followed him across the courtyard.
"Annuminas. What is it like?" Imrathon broke the silence.
Eldaria smiled at the fond memories. "It's lovely. It's somewhat like Minas Tirith, but smaller and there are ever so many more gardens. It's near the Shire - the land of the halflings. My friend Elanor lives there, and though I cannot enter the Shire, Elanor and her brood of young hobbits come to visit in the palace."
"I have heard that the king did not allow "Big Folk" to enter the Shire, but I did not know if it was true."
"It is true. I sometimes wish Father would allow us to enter the Shire, but he is adamant that we follow the same laws that our subjects follow." She stumbled over the next step.
Imrathon grabbed her arm to keep her from falling down a step. "Careful. The steps are rather steep."
Eldaria's eyes met his for a moment, and she whispered, "Thank you."
Imrathon inclined his head, and continued up the steps. By the time the they reached the top, Eldaria was out of breath.
"Are you alright?" Imrathon asked.
"Yes, but oh! Those stairs are hard to climb, especially at night."
Imrathon helped her up, gesturing to the sky. Eldaria stood as still as a statue, staring up at the clear night sky.
"Oh...Imrathon!" She gasped.
"Yes?"
"It's lovely...I have never seen the like."
He smiled. "The stars are memory...yet they reflect the best memories, not that sad ones."
Eldaria drew closer to him. "My mother has always said the same. She misses her mother and father so much...but she'll never see them again."
Imrathon was silent, fighting the memories that threatened to overcome him with grief.
Eldaria looked up at him. "Are you alright?"
Imrathon sat down on a bench, motioning for her to sit beside him. "My brother...we were so close. For awhile after he died I could not look at the stars, because they were memory of everything I had lost."
Eldaria realized that this was something he rarely mentioned. "What happened? Your brother...?"
"He was killed...during one of the assaults on the Woodland Realm. Landion and I always dreamed of fighting side-by-side in battle...our father was killed during the Battle of Five Armies-" He broke off suddenly.
Eldaria's eyes filled with tears of compassion. "How did you bear it? I-If i ever lost Eldarion like that..."
"It was - still is hard. I could have saved him...if I had swung my sword a moment faster he would have moved and..." Imrathon bowed his head in grief...not wanting to say more, but needing to.
Eldaria looked at the ground, then into his eyes. "It isn't your fault. You would have died if you had swung your sword the other way." Her eyes willed him to continue with his story.
"We weren't allowed to fight in the Battle of Five armies. Landion could have, but Mother begged him to stay. Father died, and after that, Landion wanted to avenge his death. He fought so valiantly...and then was killed, by a stray orc arrow. I left after my wound healed...I couldn't think of Landion without pain."
"Your Mother. Where is she?"
Imrathon sighed. "In the Woodland Realm. She writes to me...and before I left, she made me promise to bring her to my new home when I found one."
Narylfiel hugged her only living child. "Be careful, Imrathon. I-I can't lose you too."
"I will, Mother."
Narylfiel tried to hide her tears of worry. "When you find a wife, you must return for me even before you say anything to her family. Do you promise?"
Imrathon though it was a pointless promise, but did so anyway. "I will return, but only if you come back with me. That is, if I even marry."
Narylfiel laughed through her tears and hugged her son one last time.
"What is your mother's name?" Eldaria asked.
"Narylfiel. Everyone always laughed, for Father's name was UrĂºvion."
Eldaria's laugh rang out. "Fire-Brand and Fiery. It's a wonder they didn't name you and Landion something that had to do with Fire!"
Imrathon smiled. "No, I was named Imrathon because I was born in a valley...Mother and Father were traveling to Imladris, and I decided to come early. Landion was a large baby, that's where his name comes from."
"I see. Will you ever bring your mother to Gondor?"
Imrathon paused, realizing that Eldaria had no idea what she had just asked. "I don't know." He said with a sigh. "I'd like to bring her...but it's a four month journey, and I do not know if I should ask the King to give me leave."
"Father would give you leave. He understands about having a mother waiting for you far away."
Imrathon smiled. "Maybe." Eldaria stood up, realizing that it was late.
"I'd better go...it's rather late."
Imrathon nodded, and followed her down the flights of stairs.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Short chapter...sorry :)
Imrathon...who likes him and who doesn't? I'd like to know so I can build on his character.
Btw, Imrathon means "Valley" and Landion means "Broad" :)
THANKS TO ALL WHO R&R!
-Legolin
