Book Seven The End of All Things
ii Good conversation and mirth
Eären's eyelids did not flutter open again until late the following day, shortly before noon. She woke to a strange feeling of lightness – of the absence of a shadow that she had carried for long in her heart. Looking about her, she saw that she was in a bright bedchamber, lying upon a snowy white pillow, and that beside her was a bowl of flowers that cast their golden heads, redolent of spring sunshine, on to the floor of the room. For a wild moment, she thought she was in Elrond's bed, in Imladris, and she turned her head in joy to look for him, only to find that the bed was empty. Her heart sank in disappointment.
"Eären My dearest friend!" said a familiar voice, now, from the other side of the bed, and turning her head the other way, she saw Elladan, son of Elrond, sitting beside her bed, where he had watched, in interchange with all her dear friends, ever since she collapsed the night before. "How are you today?" he asked eagerly.
Slightly bewildered, she tried to rise on one elbow and look around, though this proved more difficult than she expected, for she felt a sharp, painful tug at her back when she tried to move her torso. Looking down, she saw that it was swathed in tight strapping across her chest, beneath her gown.
"Elladan!" she said, forced to sink back into the bed. She ran a hand through her hair in bewilderment, thankful to see a familiar face, at any rate. "Where is everybody? And what day is it?"
"It is noon on the 16th of March," said Elladan cheerfully. "And the Pelennor Field is cleansed. No orc or wild man or Southron or Easterling or any of those fell creatures we fought yesterday remains within the Rammas. It is said, indeed, that very few have managed to crawl back to Mordor alive. They are burning the dead even now and though there is naturally much disarray, the City is secure. Is that not cause for rejoicing, dear friend?"
She smiled, as the flood of memory gradually returned, and all that had transpired during the last few days back came to her. Then she said, "But Faramir?" remembering the pale, feverish face of her beloved brother the evening before.
"Faramir sleeps," said the handsome Elladan, soothingly, "and is better. He will stay in the Healing Houses for some time yet, I fear, for his wound was deep, but he will recover. The old wives of the House fuss over him as though he were Lord Oromë himself, for it is clear to me that they love him greatly."
He raised an elegant eyebrow, and asked cheerily, "Now what of you, my lady, for you gave us all a fright yesterday? So great is your strength and composure in time of distress that I think we began to take you for granted. Aragorn has reproached us severely for this error, and we are all suitably downcast by it!"
Yet he threw back his dark head and laughed heartily, and she could not imagine anyone less downcast than he.
"That reproach was little deserved, my dear friend," Eären said, a little crossly, feeling that Aragorn should not yet take over her world without her leave! "It was not your fault that I was wounded. No one could have had kinder or more courageous friends than I through these days."
"Aye, I think so too," said Elladan confidingly, his expression a delightful mixture of self-mockery, sympathy for her suffering and amusement at the vagaries of the world of men. "But we must try to bear with Aragorn's wrath, you and I, for he was ever inclined to be anxious where you are concerned. It was so even in Imladris, I dare say. Next to my father, I do not know of anyone so high minded who can so change in a twinkling into a fussy old midwife, where your welfare is at issue! Though next to Aragorn in solicitude, I would place Mithrandir, I think," he added, thoughtfully, evidently weighing these placings with thorough enjoyment of the fine judgement involved.
Eären thought, with a flash of the insight that was sometimes now given to her, of how like the hobbits Elrond's sons could be, in some respects. Though the sons were of far greater age, and far greater wisdom and power, they still shared an innocence, a lack of reverence for self-importance and an appreciation of the foibles of those around them that was balm to a sore heart, she thought. Yet she would never have accused them of failing to take seriously that which was serious. Perhaps it said something about their father, she found herself thinking, that they were as they were.
She made a wry face, however, and said merely, "Now what says Hallas concerning my wound?" looking enquiringly at her bandages.
"Here is Hallas, my lady, to speak for himself," said the Warden, entering then, following a tap they had not heard at the door. "And he wishes to see how your wound fares at once. Bless me, but I am glad to see you looking so well! I think a long sleep was much of what you needed, and so said the Lord Aragorn, when he had looked at your wound."
"Aragorn looked at my wound?" asked Eären, somewhat discomfited, for she had forgotten, until then, how she had fallen into a foolish heap on top of him, and the thought of that incident, and of his touching her unawares, was a little unnerving to her.
"Aye - and dressed and bound it with his own hands," said Elladan, performing this task with perfect mimicry in mid-air before her nose, all the while assuming Aragorn's normally serious, slightly grim expression. "And none were allowed to come near until he had satisfied himself that it was not deep or poisoned. But where did you obtain it, think you?"
"It was but an unlucky spear thrust, which I caught on the field at the second or third hour after noon," she said, feeling embarassed. "From a fleeing Easterling, I think, with not much valour left in his spear arm. He was more frightened than wrathful. Luckily, the Lord Elrond's mail shirt saved me from receiving a deeper wound. It felt more like a painful bruising of my lower ribs, I thought, than a wound, and I did not think I was bleeding. But I had not had time to remove my shirt and look. Perhaps I should have taken it off when we went to the Washing Room - but it would not have been entirely delicate to do so, I fear!"
"It was even as you describe," said Hallas now, sitting on her bed a moment. "The skin is broken and there has been some small bleeding, and the whole area is black and blue with terrible bruising, but it is fortunately not a desperate wound. It has been cleansed and dressed with cooling herbs, and I think with a good rest you will be good as new. More overwhelming to your brave spirit, dear lady, was the whole painful and grief-ridden day, on top of what I am told was a heroic race from the north to be on the field in time. The whole City is talking of it! For all these reasons, the Lord Aragorn wishes you to remain in the Healing Houses today."
"Does he so?" asked Eären, coolly, beginning to feel irked, and she and Elladan exchanged meaningful glances. The latter's eyes sparkled, sensing some fun here.
"I think, Lord Hallas," said Elladan, "that the lady will decide for herself what she is to do!"
Turning back to Eären, however, he added tactfully, "Yet I think another day's rest might be wise, my friend, do not you? For surely there is nothing left for you to prove – now that your deeds of great valour, on the field and before it, are widely known. Your rest has surely been well earned?"
"We shall see," said Eären, for though she hated being told what she would do, the truth was that she did not feel much like exerting herself either. The long stress of the journey and the two hard battles she had fought now began to catch up with her, and she felt her weariness to the bone.
Having assured himself of her well-being, Elladan left them, so that Hallas's helpers could re-dress her wound. But before this, the Warden gave her leave to take her first bath in a very long time, which was pure, unadulterated joy to her. Especially she enjoyed the long overdue washing of her bronze-gold hair and its dressing with perfumed oils, performed by her maid Frea, for she learned thankfully that Hallas had sent for her from the Steward's House.
When she had returned to her room, her wound redressed and made comfortable, a knock came softly to her door, and on receiving her response, a slight young man entered, tousle-haired and not very tall, but wearing the silver and sable of the House of the Stewards.
"Excuse me, Lady Eären," he said somewhat nervously, "but I heard that you were here, and I was so anxious to see you again. May I come in?"
"Pippin!" she said, overjoyed to see him looking much like his old self, and yet astonished at the livery he wore. "My dear hobbit How delightful it is to see you once more. Come here at once and tell me everything of what has happened to you since we met!"
Pippin, who had been feeling rather low and unimportant after all the excitement of yesterday in the City, was highly thankful for this enthusiastic welcome. He had grown rather fond of the Lady of Gondor during their acquaintance in Imladris, just as he had later become deeply fond of her brother Boromir. The strength, stature and dignity of these Gondoreans awed and delighted him, for he had had little acquaintance with such people in the north. Now therefore he came forward gratefully, and perched upon her bed, and they talked for a long time, chattering like old friends, despite their great differences - for war is wont to make strange comrades, as Elrond had often remarked in her hearing.
Eären was delighted and touched to hear that he had offered his service to her father, when he first arrived in the City, "which," Pippin added seriously, "is now due to your brother Faramir, I know, since the Lord Denethor is here no more. Pray do not think I have overlooked that."
He was now able to give her a full account of the last hours of Denethor, which was both terrifying and somehow satisfying, Eären thought, for he had none of the sophistication of the wise and great, and for that reason, the heartfelt truth of his tale was a balm to her.
"I am sorry," she said, gently, at the end, "that you had to face so much pain and distress in my father's service. Yet you discharged your duties as well as any could, who had had much longer training, I think."
"Do you really think so, my lady?" asked Pippin gratefully. "For Mithrandir said that my offer of service had touched Denethor's heart, and pleased him, and I was glad of that. After all, I felt I owed it to your family, you know, for Lord Boromir died defending us – Merry and me. What a great man he was, and how I miss him! Yet I have been terribly worried that I let your father down at the end, you know. I did desperately want to do the right thing, but could I leave Lord Faramir to die?"
Eären saw that he was troubled in heart about his part in the fearful events of yesterday.
"Hear me, Peregrin, son of Paladin," she said now, taking his hand seriously, and speaking with the unconscious authority of the daughter of the High Steward. "The law of the Citadel is that those who guard it must always use their own wits in times of difficulty. For blind loyalty is easy to come by - as my father knew only too well in better days, when he saw more clearly Therefore, they who wear the Tower livery are required to hold themselves ready to take responsibility, and make difficult choices in time of need - and that you did, without doubt. Indeed, you did far better than many who are twice your age, and have far greater seniority in the Lord's service."
Pippin looked very relieved indeed by this assessment and he was the more inclined to believe it because of who she was who gave it.
"And you do not blame me, then, dear lady, for not saving the Lord Denethor?" he asked now. "For I know how much you loved him, and he was after all your father."
Eären sighed, and tears came unbidden to her violet eyes at this last remark, for though it was said artlessly by the young man, it seemed to sum up so much about her relationship to the haughty, proud, yet noble Denethor.
"Aye - after all, he was my father," she repeated, sadly, "and I did love him, with all his faults. You say truly, Pippin. Nay, no one was to blame for his death but the Enemy whose host we fought on the field. All these evils came about because of the rapacious greed and lust for power of Sauron, the Great Deceiver! He tests and corrupts any who fall into his thrall. And - my dear father must bear his share of the responsibility, also, for he failed at the test, I think. Yet I cannot think too evil of him, though many in the City will. For those who have not born the Stewardship of this land will never truly understand how much it tries the mettle of the best of men."
"Well said - a judgement I fully agree with," said a familiar voice from the door, and this time it was Mithrandir who strode into the room, looking serene and hale. He took the chair that Elladan had vacated.
"I am glad to see you looking so much better, dear lady. I see that Pippin has been entertaining you – and perhaps you have been able to reassure him a little, for which I am grateful. All the hobbits have been through a great deal, I fear, but have acquitted themselves remarkably well. I am thankful that I was able to carry the day with Elrond, with regard to their coming, for we should have had far worse difficulties ahead of us without them."
Pippin looked pleased by this rare compliment from the Wizard he knew as Gandalf, but he listened in silence, respectfully, to their conversation. Mithrandir smiled warmly at Eären, who replied, "I do not doubt it, Mithrandir. Now tell me how things stand, for you mentioned a Council that would meet today."
"I do not think," said Mithrandir severely, "that either you or Peregrin Took should be worrying about such matters in your present state of health. However, since you will both no doubt be pestering me if I do not divulge it, the answer is that we have had our Council this morning, in Aragorn's tents, and I come from there even now. We have decided to march against Mordor, as soon as we are able to muster a large enough contingent."
"March against Mordor!" cried both his hearers in unison, causing Mithrandir's eyes to twinkle.
"But that is wonderful, Mithrandir!" said Eären now, sitting up and hugging her knees, and then remembering her wound, as the tug of her arms disturbed her back, so that she had to let them fall. "Yet I did not think we had sufficient forces for such a challenge?"
"We do not," said Mithrandir bluntly.
He sighed deeply, now, looking less confident than he had a moment ago. He lowered his voice.
"Eären, you know as well as I that we cannot win this war by force. Everything now depends upon Frodo and Sam. If they are successful in their quest to destroy the ring, then we shall overcome, and if they fail, then we all fail, finally, and we must face the end of all things. Yet, one piece of information of great importance that I did not have until recently came from Faramir, after he returned from the destruction of the Causeway Forts. It concerns Frodo. Before he left Henneth Annûn, it seems that Faramir met two hobbits wandering in Ithilien . . . "
Eären was shocked by this.
"But I do not understand," she said, puzzled. "I thought they had gone from Parth Galen to the Eastern Shore, and then directly to Mordor from the north?"
"So we all did," said Mithrandir, his bright eyes thoughtful. "Yet it seems not so For according to Faramir, Gollum had taken up with them at some stage, and was guiding them himself to Mordor. Gollum - can you believe it? Moreover, Gollum was leading them to Cirith Ungol, of all places. It is a place you will know, Eären, of fearfully ill repute, but if they came there, they would approach Mordor from the west, even from the Fords of Osgiliath. Faramir tried his best to dissuade them, knowing what he knew of that place, but Frodo, he said, was resolute that they would go that way."
Eären frowned, trying hard to picture the complex events by which such a strange situation might have come about.
"Well," she said finally, "we knew that Gollum had tracked the hobbits as far as Parth Galen, when the fellowship was broken, for we heard so in Imladris. My fear was that the wretched Gollum intended to wait until the hobbits were alone in the wild, and then attack them! However, perhaps not so. Who knows why he would take their quest to himself – unless he does not know what they bear? But that seems unlikely."
She thought a moment, and then added, "My heart tells me that Gollum knows Frodo bears the One Ring, has known from the beginning. And he offers his help, in the belief that if he sticks close to the bearer, sooner or later he will be able to obtain it for himself, either by fair means or foul."
Mithrandir grunted, saying with satisfaction, "How welcome is your intelligence, my dear lady, and your foresight! I have sorely missed such company of late, of those that can see beyond the obvious. I see that the Lord Elrond has taught you much concerning the Ring, since we last met."
At that moment, it was on the tip of Eären's tongue to confess all to Mithrandir - everything that had happened in Imladris, including her love for Elrond. Mithrandir would have been an easy person to confide in, for she had often done so in her youth, when there were few others trustworthy enough to talk to. If Pippin had not been present, she might have. Yet somehow, it sat ill with her, to speak of these things before the innocent hobbit, who had enough to worry about.
So the moment passed, and she said nothing. Instead, she said, "So you place your faith in Frodo and even in Gollum. For what choice do we have?"
"None at all," said Mithrandir, with quiet conviction. "Yet we must do all we can to pretend that we pursue another, quite different strategy! Therefore, the Captains of the West will muster as many arms as they can, and march openly against Sauron within the next few days. The Eye of Sauron must be drawn away from Cirith Ungol at all costs Therefore, we have agreed to march towards the Morannon Gate, where we hope to draw Sauron's armies out to meet us. It will prove the final great conflict of this war. On its outcome will depend everything we have known and valued in Middle-earth!"
A heavy silence fell for a moment, broken by the hobbit they had temporarily forgotten.
"Cirith Ungol!" said Pippin, wide-eyed. "The very name sounds dreadful Do you know that place, Lady Eären?"
"Aye," said Eären calmly, but determined that he should not be unduly distressed by it. "It is a loathsome place. Yet, if I were Frodo and Sam, I would rather assail Mordor through Cirith Ungol than at the Morannon Gate. For at least there are places to hide there."
Mithrandir smiled, evidently relieved by her positive response, and said to Pippin, "Run along, Pippin and see if Merry is awake And if he is, and feels better, bring him along here later, for a while, for no doubt he would like to meet the Lady Eären again also."
Pippin happily departed with a mission, and she said now, soberly, to Mithrandir, when the door had closed behind him, "You know the reputation of that evil place, Mithrandir. Is there any hope at all that the hobbits may pass unscathed into Mordor?"
"There is always hope," said Mithrandir, evenly. "And perhaps a little more today that yesterday. For to reach Cirith Ungol, they must pass through the Vale of Minas Mogul, as you know well, which has been for long the home of the Lord of the Nazgûl. Yet he is now no more, and the world is cleansed by his passing. I calculate that Frodo and Sam would have reached the Vale at just about the time of the setting forth of the host from Mordor. However, if the hobbits had been taken then, I rather think that Sauron would not have wasted his finest army on the Pelennor Field!"
She saw his point. He shrugged thoughtfully.
"No – somehow, in ways I cannot guess, they have eluded capture so far. Therefore, there is hope still. I do not know why they went that way – only that they did. Let us, therefore, pursue the strategy the Captains have agreed, for that is what Sauron expects of us. Lord Aragorn has already shown himself to Sauron in the Palantir of Isengard. Sauron will now be every day expecting him to come forth and challenge him, seeking to wrest from him his power and might. For after all, that is what he would have done, if he had been in our position!"
The strategy they had now adopted thus followed Elrond's mind almost exactly, and she saw and admired its bravery. It would, she feared, prove a last desperate throw by the best and bravest of the west!
Nevertheless, she said quietly, "If it fails, Mithrandir, then the Morannon is the grimmest possible place to assail Mordor with an unequal host, however valiant. For there is no cover there at all. Be prepared for your armies to be exposed to the full might of the Dark Land. It is as good as walking into a trap with your eyes wide open!"
Mithrandir looked grey and weary a moment, and his shoulders seemed to shrink. Then he lifted his head and shrugged, almost philosophically, saying, "If we are to die, then it may as well be at the Morannon as anywhere else."
She smiled too, then, saying, "Even so And I will ride with you all, and so will the Eärendili, I doubt not!"
Mithrandir looked dubious, saying, "I do not know whether that is wise, my lady. For your wound deserves better tending. There are hands enough to this task – do not risk yourself again, needlessly, but stay here with Faramir and the Lady Eowyn, for they will need you, ere the end - if the end comes."
Eären, however, who had already thought this question over in her own moments of quiet, looked into his eyes with great resolution, and said now, "Ever you have befriended me, Mithrandir, and ever have I tried to be heedful of your advice. Yet this time, I think, I must make my own decision. How is it is safer to lie in a bed in the Healing Houses, than stand before the Black Gate? For if the hosts of the West fail, the first place to be overrun will be this City, with its defenceless, ruined Gates. No – I had rather die with my sword in my hand, defending the country I love to the end, than sit here and pine – and come to the same end anyway!"
"How like the Lord Denethor you are!" said Mithrandir spontaneously, his eyes sparkling with something like admiration. "And why did I never see this before?"
She was startled, and a little troubled by this remark, saying, "So said Théoden King, at our last meeting. Yet, surely you do not think me as proud and self-willed as my father was? For I knew well what manner of man my father was, Mithrandir. Who could know better? For did I not feel the sharp edge of his will and authority many times in my youth? Yet I have not been self-willed purely for the sake of self-will, I believe, and that is the difference. When Elrond decided that I could not go with the Fellowship, I accepted his will. Only when he asked me to make one of the Eärendili, did I agree to join them and that after some anxious thought. The Master of Imladris gave me a task, which I must fulfil. Therefore, this one time do I reserve the right to decide my own end! Is this, too, be interpreted as self-will?"
For she felt at that moment that this was as close as she could come to saying what was truly in her heart, namely, that she had promised Elrond to return to the north in the event of the war going against them – and hideous though the Black Gate was, it was some leagues further north than the City! Therefore, armed with the knowledge of what had transpired at the Morannon, she would be able to set forth on her homeward journey to Imladris at once, and lose no time.
"Nay, Lady Eären, I meant no such charge!" protested Mithrandir, however. "I thought rather of your great strength and self-possession, and your courage in time of trouble. I know well how often you and Faramir have been forced to submit to the will of others, alas too often, in circumstances where your judgement and worth were superior to those around you. Did I not see this but three days ago, when Faramir came home from the Causeway Forts, and despite his great courage before the foe, his father even then would not accept his judgement concerning Frodo and the One Ring? Your very agreement to go with Boromir to Imladris was one such submission – how much that cost you, I know better than any. Yet – it seems to me that your stay in Imladris was not wholly a worthless experience, in the end?"
And he looked hard at her, now, sharp-eyed, and searchingly, and she felt, uncomfortable, as though his capacity to read her innermost thoughts was very powerful - even more powerful than it had been before. It was like being searched by the mind of Elrond, she thought.
Nonetheless, Eären ignored the question, and remained steadfast, looking back at him as calmly as she had ever done.
"I am not the Lord Denethor," she said finally. "But I am Denethor's daughter! And until Faramir is fit to command, I will make my own decision!"
He sighed, then, but could not but smile ruefully at her choice of words.
"Then ride with us, and welcome, if that is your decision," he said. "I did not deny the hobbits, when they wished to join the quest, and I do not see how I can now deny you. However, I confess that I look forward with interest to your next meeting with Lord Aragorn!"
Before she could ask what he meant, Elladan reappeared, accompanied by Elrohir, and Glorfindel, the latter looking as bright-eyed and refreshed as though he had slept a week, his golden hair fresh and flowing about his shoulders.
"Now I see where everyone has gone to!" her elf comrade said, positioning himself happily at the end of her bed, since there were few chairs in the room. "And here you are, my friend, wide awake, and looking as good as new, for I was mightily worried yesterday, when I saw that you were wounded and spoke not of it."
"It was foolish – forgive me, comrade," she said – for they had long fallen into the easy commerce of the battlefield. "I had in part forgotten about it in the anguish of coming into the City, I think. My back is a little sore, but really, it is a slight wound indeed, compared with many of those I have seen around me. Nevertheless, I shall stay in the Healing House tonight, and so be sure that I am fit when the host rides to the Morannon. And, yes, Glorfindel, I will wear my scarf, and I will stay close beside you and Lord Haldir, and anything else you require of me - except stay behind!"
Glorfindel looked into her face now, and saw there something that had decided her in this, and that it was more powerful than anything he might say.
"Be iest lin," he said simply.
Eären, in truth, saw that she might be misunderstood in this decision. Yet now, if the world indeed faced its end, even her love for Faramir no longer seemed overriding to her, though she was mindful of what Mithrandir had said, of his need for her. And still she knew with an absolute certainty, deep within, that no matter what happened, she must get back to Elrond, for it was unthinkable to her that she might not see him again in Middle-earth!
"Did you find a pleasant room made ready for you in the Steward's House?" she asked Glorfindel now, and he laughed merrily, saying, "Pleasant would be not the word I would choose, Eären. Vast, yes, magnificent, yes! For I think ten elves could have slept in the bed they gave me and had room to spare! And we had embroidered towels, and linen sheets, and a breakfast so large that it almost compared with the Lord Elrond's Hall!"
This occasioned much laughter, and while they laughed Pippin and Merry slipped back into the room, happy to hear the sound of merriment after enduring, as they had, many long and dark days past. They soon fell to making it a gay gathering indeed. Meriadoc, Eären saw, was pale, and his arm was heavily bandaged, but it was surprising how little hurt he had taken, overall, and he was in high spirits.
Eären, having made up her mind about what was dearest to her, now felt relieved and optimistic, even in the face of all their gloom. Therefore, she sent a message to Lord Hallas, requesting wine and refreshments for her visitors. He supplied them liberally, though he also came along himself to say resignedly, "Friends, your company is evidently the tonic my patient needs! Yet bear in mind that she must rest again soon."
However, he was evidently not going to make a fuss, she saw, for after all there had been few occasions for mirth in the City, or the House, in long enough – and Eären was a particular favourite of his from childhood. It was evident, too, that Eären grew more animated as each moment passed, glad to be surrounded thus by her friends, and full of an unquenchable good humour at the last, that even the worst days of her life had not entirely been able to crush.
Soon after Hallas had departed came Eomer of the Mark, who had been sitting with his sister, whom he reported to be a good deal better under Aragorn's ministrations, though unfit to leave her bed yet. He was, as Eären quickly saw, relieved beyond measure that one of his family, at least, had survived the recent events, and she understood and shared that feeling a thousand fold. They had much to talk of. And soon after him, to Eären's particular delight, came her valued comrades Findegalad, Haldir and Damrod, who, having buried their dead, and accounted for all who rode or sailed with the Eärendili, were eager to see that their lady was recovering. She was overjoyed to see their faces after that bitter battle, and she was especially overjoyed when she saw that Findegalad brought with him none other than the famed Prince Legolas of Mirkwood.
The latter bowed low before her, saying, "We meet again, my lady, and I am glad to see you well. I have heard much of your deeds since we left Imladris. Did you know that on the field they are calling you 'the jewel lady of the Eärendili' - Eärendilimir?" he translated into elvish. They laughed together at the absurdity of this, and felt well indeed for that time. Legolas was the same tall and enchanting elf she remembered from their archery practices in the Fair Valley, his exquisite golden-brown complexion made ruddier by the sun of Gondor, his thick swathe of golden brown hair sweeping about his shoulders like a horse's mane. His beauty, valour and artistic prowess were of the highest order, and she had heard him spoken of with respect everywhere. She could not but admire him, and the gentle courtesy of his attention to her could not but be pleasing. She was glad to be able to convey his father's greetings to him, and to say how delighted he would be to hear of Legolas's battle count, which seemed a phenomenon, by all who spoke of it.
More and more callers seemed to come to Eären's door now, having heard, as often happens, that a gay crowd assembled within, and wishing to join it. For apart from her comrades of the field, many among her old friends of the people of the City wished to see for themselves that their lady was well and here with them once more. However, even while she basked in the enjoyment of their company, Gimli son of Gloin appeared nervously at the door. The room he saw before him was now bristling with people, fair folk and strong folk, ruddy and hearty men of Rohan, tall, fair-haired men of Gondor with impeccable manners, small, playful hobbits, tall and beautifully apparelled elves, and last but by no means least a wizard he knew called Gandalf.
"I beg your pardon, my lady," he said now, stroking his long reddish brown beard nervously, having been caught before he fled and drawn to the bedside by a playful Elrohir, "but it seems this is the merriest company in the City, and I should like to join it!"
"Welcome, Gimli, son of Gloin!" she said now, smiling, and offered him a glass of good Gondorean wine, saying that she had heard much of his contribution to the fight, whereupon a discussion erupted at once between him and Legolas, as to who had the better count after the Pelennor Field. Eventually she interrupted their argument, saying in protest, "Peace, Legolas and Gimli! I am persuaded beyond doubt that no orc in Middle-earth is safe while you two are about! Let that be enough."
Good conversation and mirth now rose all around her, as though this brief respite from the Shadow was a welcome and needed interlude by all. Eventually, having played the good host for a while, and sitting back against her pillows to rest and observe a moment, Eären saw with great satisfaction, for that time at least, that everyone had managed to forget their cares.
Eomer, seeing her sit back for a moment, came to her during a lull in the conversation, and sat on the edge of her bed, saying pleasantly, "You have the gift of hospitality and mirth, my lady! One day you will make a fine wife for some fortunate man of Gondor or Rohan. I know that my uncle hoped you might look with favour upon his son Théodred, one day. I am sad that Rohan will not now been able to welcome you to its hall, for you are a rare shield maiden and a lady of beauty and valour!"
She was much moved by this generous speech, not only for its genuine kindness to her, but because it sharply reminded her of all the losses she had experienced. There was the loss of those who had died thus far – and not all that reckoning had yet been told her, she sensed, for fear of worsening her condition – and there was the loss of those who lived, and who could not be here to share this brief moment of leisure before the next great task that fell to this mighty company.
"You speak of the future with hope, at least, Eomer," she said, nevertheless. " With your leadership and that of the captains of the West, I believe I shall not fear the morning. What will be will be, and I am ready to face it. For the moment, let us be glad we have this goodly company to rejoice with, and look no further."
"Aye," said Eomer then, looking round about him wistfully. "But three are missing from this company, lady, with whom I much wished to rejoice once more, before we draw sword again! Two are wounded and cannot rise from their beds – my sister Eowyn, and your brother Faramir. The third is Aragorn. It is a pity he is not here to share this moment of joy with us, before the morning dawns."
She saw that his mind tended in the same direction as hers. She had known Eomer long, and ever she had found, in her short life, that he would name something of great importance to her heart, which she had not until that moment been aware of. Where was Aragorn, she wondered now, for surely now that he had, perforce, already entered the City on a healing mission, he might have bent his stern ruling, and come to visit her?
"I miss Faramir," she said spontaneously, looking around, and pain touched her heart once more at her brother's suffering. She thought how much her dear brother would have graced a gathering like this. Truly, he was accomplished in many more directions than Boromir had been, and that she had always known. This was probably why Mithrandir had always liked him. And why Denethor had pointedly disliked him at times! She thought, painfully, of all that Faramir might have been, had their father lived. He would have made a fine Steward of the City if only the opportunity had been given to him – perhaps a greater than Denethor himself.
Then she added, somewhat to her own surprise, "I miss Aragorn too. Perhaps he will . . ." but she did not complete the sentence, for somehow she knew that Aragorn would not come.
"Nay, lady, he will not come into the City," said Eomer, guessing her thought before she spoke it. "And I honour him for it. At first, I thought him too scrupulous, but now I see that he is wise indeed. Aragorn tells me he will not come until the last battle has been won, and he is invited by the Steward of the City himself to enter here!"
Eären sighed, feeling saddened by this news, though to tell truth it was irreproachable in its courtesy to her and her family. Yet it seemed wrong, her heart protested, that Aragorn did not have battle honours heaped upon him. For both Helm's Deep and the Pelennor had been his victories, in great measure. Their two lands owed him a debt that was immeasurable.
"Then," she said resolutely, making up her mind, "if Aragorn will not come to the City, the City must go to Aragorn!"
Eomer looked at her with some interest, wondering what was in her mind. Though he had known Denethor's family for long, he was still unused to the peculiar intelligence, foresight, strength and - above all - self-sufficiency of the Steward's line. 'The men of Gondor are a law unto themselves!' was a rueful saying often heard in the Golden Hall of Meduseld. He thought, now, that it might as justly apply to their women too, for Eären had doubtless many similar characteristics to Eowyn, his sister - and yet she was not the same. The difference between them was indefinable – and yet it was a whole world.
Eären, meanwhile, tried to turn her thoughts elsewhere, feeling that there was little to be gained by speculating about the future. Whenever she so indulged herself, she was only left with a desperate yearning to see Elrond once more, so great that it took all her heart for speech. First, therefore, she kept her mind on the fact that they would soon confront the whole host of Mordor - in all its terrible might.
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