Lianna walked behind Boromir and Aragorn and beside Gimli as the funeral procession descended from the Halls of Meduseld. She could see Legolas behind her from the corner of her eye, if she cared to look back, but for the most part her eyes were fixed upon Théoden and his niece. She recognised their grief and her hand continuously twirled the ring upon her finger – the ring of her mother- as they made their way sombrely to the heir of Rohan's final resting place.
They stopped outside the vaults and she watched as a brave Éowyn tried to contain her sobs as she placed a flower on her cousin's chest. Lianna stared at the corpse of the man. There was something about him...she felt strange, standing there, looking at him...
Men of Rohan lifted his corpse and began to carry him into the vaults of his forefather as Eowyn's voice rang out in song – sung in a language Lianna did not know. The words only intensified Lianna's need to approach the dead son of Théoden. She walked forwards, aware that everyone was staring at her and yet needing to follow her gift as it led her onwards...
"Stop," called Gandalf to the bearers of the body, "Let the Seer do what she must."
"Gandalf," protested Théoden, "Can I not...?"
"At the end," she whispered, walking to the head of the dead man and allowing her mind to drift, "He was brave. Afraid, yes – very afraid, but he did not back down. He protected his men as best he could and tried with all his might to make you proud." Lianna paused before smiling slightly and murmuring, "Do you remember when he was a boy and you used to teach him to wield a sword – upon that very hill" She pointed to a mound of grass to her right before continuing, "In truth a guardsman or Captain should have taken the task but you taught your only child the greatest skill a King can have...how to hold a sword strong and true in the face of anything." She looked up to Théoden and whispered, "He loved you to the end. He loves you still and waits for your joining him in the world beyond that in which we mere mortals live. He will wait for you in the Halls of your forefather- and you will see him again."
Théoden approached her slowly.
"You see all this? Despite him no longer breathing you see it all?"
"A man's essence never dies – the memory this place holds helps but Théodred will never be far from you..." She placed her hand over the King's heart, "For you were his greatest bond to this life. He loved you more than any son ever loved his father and his greatest wish now is that you continue onwards and keep his home safe...as he is not able to do so." There was a pause before the King murmured,
"Thank you." Lianna nodded and took her place beside Boromir once again. Her fingers were upon mother's ring, twisting it ceaselessly, until she felt the hands of another take one of her fidgeting hands in their own. She smiled at the Captain as he squeezed her hand tightly – the only one who was there when her mother and brother were upon the pyre – the only one who could understand her pain...Boromir.
She watched as Gandalf stood beside the King whilst he outpoured his grief. After the ceremony was over everyone had returned to the Halls yet Lianna had lingered. She wished to breathe in the air whilst it was still free from the taste of blood and smoke. She saw Théoden sink to his knees and begin to sob and Gandalf turn to look as a horse bearing two children rode into sight. Lianna tilted her head to the side. What fresh sorrow did those children bear?
"They had no warning," Éowyn insisted, "They were unarmed...now the Wild Men are roving through the Westfold burning as they go." Lianna frowned, stood from her place at the table and walked over to the children who were eating hurriedly from bowls filled with broth – provided by Éowyn.
"Your mother," she whispered. The girl instantly looked up at her with hope.
"Where is mother?" she cried. Lianna reached out and stroked the girl's hair.
"Your mother is no longer of this world, child, she has moved on." Lianna felt tears in her own eyes as the girl gazed at her in confusion and the boy buried his head in his hands.
"Can I go with her?" Lianna smiled.
"Not for many years yet," she replied, "However one day you shall see her again."
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." broke in Gandalf, seated beside Théoden, "All the more potent for he is now driven by fear of Saruman. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak," interjected Aragorn, "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King." Théoden stood quickly and replied,
"They will be three thousand leagues from here by now! Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me," Théoden added, turning to Gandalf as he spoke, "But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you," exclaimed Aragorn, "Whether you would risk it or not!"
"Doing nothing," murmured Lianna, still stroking the girl child's hair as she ate, "Will bring just as much blood as acting now – if not more. Rohan's future is steeped in blood – the future of everyone and everything of Middle Earth is so." Silence followed her announcement.
"When last I looked," the King finally said, "Théoden was King of Rohan – no other."
"I do not look to take your position, Théoden King, I merely wish to give you the only thing I can – the aid of my Sight. You may take it or not but it is here for your use all the same." There was further silence in which Lianna looked to Boromir who was being strangely quiet.
"What is the King's decision?" asked Gandalf.
"I must go to my father," Boromir said as they walked to the stables. Gandalf was leaving to search for Éomer and his men in order to help Rohan fight off the army which they all knew approached.
"Helm's Deep," Gandalf grumbled, "He thinks he is leading them to safety but he only walks into a trap – there is no escape from that rocky ravine!"
"He believes he helps his people as Helm's Deep has been a safe haven before – why not again?" countered Aragorn, "He is doing what he thinks is best.
Gandalf reached his horse and gestured to Boromir to take one of those Éomer had given the members of the Fellowship when they had met.
"Lianna I have thought further upon what happened in the throne room. You told me that Galadriel gave you a necklace...?" Lianna nodded and, fishing around in a pocket, pulled it out.
"Wear it, always," Gandalf insisted, "I think Galadriel knew what your powers could do and she gave you this to help. Wear it until you need to See things...and only then remove it." Lianna nodded and hurriedly clasped the beautiful jewellery round her neck.
"I shall ensure the city is safe and then I hope to bring aid from Gondor..." added Boromir.
"...if your father will permit aid to be given." finished Aragorn, "We all know the Steward and we know that in his eyes Minas Tirith comes first and all else thereafter." Boromir nodded tersely. He turned to her and murmured,
"Goodbye Lianna, until we meet again." She smiled and tried to break the nagging feeling that something was amiss. Goodbye to him felt worse than any feeling she had ever encountered – excluding her mother and brother's death.
"Goodbye," she replied, at a loss as to what else to say. He paused as if looking for something more from her before mounting the horse indicated and waiting for Gandalf to finish speaking with Aragorn. Once the Wizard had done so both he and the Captain forced their mounts in a soft trot out of the stables. Lianna and Aragorn looked after them. At the last minute Lianna could hold herself back no longer.
"Boromir!" he turned in the saddle to look back and she moved forwards. "Get down from there, just for a moment." She said hurriedly. He looked to Gandalf who smiled and watched as Lianna hesitated whilst Boromir climbed from the saddle. She then suddenly pulled her mother's ring from her finger.
"I want you to look after this for me," she murmured, painfully aware of Aragorn and Gandalf watching them both smilingly, "Until we see one another again." He looked at her for a moment before replying,
"Lianna that is your mother's..."
"I know!" she exclaimed, "It is all I have left of her other than memories...I would trust it to no other than you. It is a promise. A promise that we shall..." she paused, unsure as to what else to say. She had never been adept with words. He gently wrapped his fingers round her wrist and took the ring from her palm with his other hand before closing his fingers tightly around it.
"I shall guard it well," he murmured, his fingers still round her wrist.
"We might...that is to say...if I do not..."
"Hush do not say such things," he breathed, "All shall be well." She nodded, half believing his words – so much conviction did he place in them.
"I must go," he said finally, releasing her wrist and backing away a little, "May good fortune be yours, Lianna, and my thoughts shall be with you." She nodded, feeling tears mount. As little as she wanted to admit it this could be the last time she saw him. He was about to turn to mount his horse once again when she moved quickly, closing the space between them and hurriedly kissed him on the cheek The contact lasted only for a second and it was, in fact, more of a bumping of faces than an actual kiss. She instantly felt a blush creep up her cheeks and tried to step away...only for his hands to clutch her waist and stay the movement.
He gently leaned forwards and pressed a tender kiss to her temple before leaning back again and smiling. She offered him a shaky smile in return, her heart beating quickly and her arms, without meaning to, going around his neck, hugging his close.
"Promise you'll come back," she whispered into his ear, "Promise."
"I swear." He replied before letting her go and quickly mounting his horse. She moved back to stand beside Aragorn, trying not to let the tears, which threatened to spill, free reign. Gandalf and Boromir rode off – they intended to begin their journey together before going their separate ways, and she watched, Aragorn at her side, until they men were simply spots in the far off distance.
"He will return," Aragorn reassured her, "Do not worry for him – he shall care for himself."
"I hope so," she replied before following the Ranger back to the Halls. There was much to be done before they could leave Edoras and head for somewhere which gave Lianna much consternation – Helm's Deep.
