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Chapter 37
I woke up with a groan and sat up, head swimming. I stretched. I, along with a troop of soldiers and my brother Legolas are at the north part of Gondor. The plan, you remember.
Legolas wanted to go with me. Some brother-sister bonding fighting, so to speak. Elves are like that, you know. Haha. Sarcasm.
We had run into several orc packs and destroyed them all. We'd lost one man, but the rest who were only injured weren't too hard to heal. By Muindor and I, of course.
The soldiers were rather nice to talk to despite their awe of us elves, once you convinced them to get over it. It was a little extra difficult for Legolas and I because of several things. One, we were elven royalty. Two, we were not 'normal elves' so to speak because of our, ahem, looks. Three- I don't think there is a three. Never mind.
"Onònë." Legolas' voice cut across my cot on the floor, his own cot in the same tent as mine.
"Good morning." I replied dryly. "Drago?" I asked the wolf in the tent.
"What?" He grumbled.
"Get off of me, you big oaf. I've been nearly suffocated before several times, and you are not helping the number of those incidents to go down." I replied, winded. His head and paws were crushing my chest.
He moved off with a huff to which Legolas laughed. "I'm telling you, Oromë loves me." I said, sarcasm oozing from my tone. "He gives me an awesomely humble and docile wolf." I snorted.
Drago mock-snarled and batted a paw at my head. I dodged it and got up, still in my angel-clothes. "Alright, don't loose your dignity, Draggy." I teased. He groaned and Legolas snickered. I grinned and kissed his cheek and the top of Drago's head.
"If you need me then I will be looking over the map, Eggo." I told my brother, moving out of the tent flap. He nodded absently and went to wash his face.
Today is the last day of the patrol. After this, we can go back to Gondor and have a measure of peace for a while. The most pressing threats will be taken care of and we can breathe relatively easier.
After talking about it, everyone had decided what to do. Adar would go back to Mirkwood and make sure that his people made it safely to the harbor to go to Valinor. Aragorn had drafted (okay actually we volunteered) Legolas and I to help him rebuild certain parts of Minias Tirith. Once that was finished, the rest of the elves who had chosen not to go to the undying lands were welcome to make their home in Gondor if they wished.
Adar had asked the rest of his people what they wished, and they chose to remain in Greenwood. Now that the darkness was almost over, the woods would become safe once more. Adar was happy, so it was well. Times would be peaceful, and Legolas and I wouldn't be needed too much in Mirkwood.
Haldir, sending word to Lady Galadriel, had received a message in reply that most of the elves of Lothlòrien, including herself and Lord Celeborn had decided to go across the sea. Those elves who didn't want to were few and would make their home in Imladris.
For Lord Elrond, grateful to me that his daughter would not fade away, had decided to stay for her sake, as did her brothers, until Aragorn and Arwen decided to go to Valinor. For Aragorn could not rule forever, and his son would most likely take over. And so on and so forth from generation to generation, each one coming to Valinor once they chose.
Therefore, Imladris was open to any elves who wanted to remain in Arda. Many of the Rivendell elves had decided to go, though some stayed. There were a few elves who had accepted the invitation to stay in Minias Tirith, however.
Haldir and I, for example. Actually, we accepted a small home in the palace grounds to stay in when we stayed in Minias Tirith. We had decided together that we would travel around quite a bit, from Mirkwood to occasionally Rivendell as the queen's escort when she visited her home and family.
Legolas, I, Haldir, Drago, and Gimli had already made plans to travel together around Arda as soon as possible. In the meantime, though, Gimli would go back to Erebor.
The hobbits wanted to go back to the Shire. Frodo because it had been a long time, Sam because of Rosie (I had become a confidante of sorts), and Merry and Pippin because they wanted to show off their status to other hobbits. They would leave soon.
Rumil and Orophin would stay in Arda, and Mirkwood in particular, since the Sindar and the Noldor are more closely related. So all was settled.
Haldir and I decided to be wed one week after Faramir and Eowyn. Which was in one month. Our ceremony would be quiet, just family and close friends, not big or fancy. The way we both wanted it to be. I still felt nervous every time I thought about it.
Mithrandir would still move between Rivendell and Minias Tirith and other places of course, giving counsel to Aragorn and also making sure that all was as it should be.
"Eruanna?" My reverie was interrupted by my brother appearing next to me. Unexpectedly, I looked up at him and asked a question.
"Muindor? Are you planning to wed one day?" I asked simply. He turned red and stuttered, to my amusement.
"Well- I- I don't know- if I find my feä mate like you and Haldir, I suppose." He stammered. I laughed and placed a hand on his arm.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you, Muindor. I was just asking." I grinned. He smiled a bit bashfully. Drago joined us as we stood on the small knoll in silent camaraderie. The camp stirred. We exchanged looks and went down to organize them for the rest of the patrol.
...
It was over. My hand slicked through bloodied hair and my coronet jostled haphazardly on my head as we went back to Minias Tirith. There had been two more battles that were easily won and not too bad.
I sighed and rolled my shoulders. "Need a brush?" Legolas teased. I rolled my eyes at him while Drago snickered.
"Thank you, no." I replied dryly. "I dare say a few people will probably be asking me for one, though." I snorted. He chuckled.
We filed tiredly and ready for rest into the gates of the white city. Many people were there and greeted us, waving and some tossing flowers. I walked next to a prancing Arod, wanting to give my wings a rest under my cloak.
The soldiers went to their own homes and Legolas, Drago and I went to the palace, unloading Arod and stabling him before being greeted by Faramir and Boromir, the latter having just got back from his patrol as well. Haldir had also come back. All unscathed and well. Eowyn came out on the stone steps, and I swept a curtesy with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes at me and made sure that all of us were safe and well. Haldir was not there, but cleaning up, and so were the rest of us planning to do. Rumil and Orophin, making themselves useful by guarding the citadel, came to welcome us back.
"You guys can go rest while Boromir and I go take our reports to Estel." I said wearily, stretching with a smile at them. They smiled in reply and we scattered. We would meet again for supper.
"How many encounters?" I asked Boromir as we trudged to the throne room. He sighed.
"Five too many." He replied. I nodded.
"Yep. Six too many here too. Two this morn." He shook his head, and we nodded to the guards at the throne room door. They bowed and opened the door.
We entered and bowed before the throne. I nodded slightly to Boromir. "My lord, our patrol met and disposed of five orc packs at the borders. There was nothing more." He reported. Aragorn nodded.
"Thank you, Boromir. You have done well. Now go rest!" He waved Boromir away with a smile.
"Six orc packs my lord, nothing more. One casualty and no more. Several wounded but healed." I smiled wanly.
"Thank you, Eruanna. Go rest, sister. You need it." He replied. I nodded.
"Thank you, Estel. See you at dinner, Gwador, Arwen!" I called, waving and moving out the door. They smiled and waved in reply.
...
The dinner hall was full. This time, I was seated next to Aragorn and Ada. I raised my eyebrow and toasted my spoon to Gwador. He flashed me a smirk in reply and lifted his spoon with a minuscule tilt of his head.
"Eruanna." Thranduil turned to me.
I swallowed and set my spoon down. "Û, Adar?" I asked, meeting his leafy-green eyes. His mouth twitched a little fondly.
"Did the patrol go well?" He asked a little blandly. I nodded.
"Aye, Ada. It went well." I replied with a slight frown. He glanced at me.
"I leave tomorrow at noon." He said. I sighed.
"Û, Ada. I will miss you." I replied mournfully, looking down into my cup. He chuckled lightly and then settled a hand on my knee under the table.
"I ask you to come to Greenwood within a week's time, if King Elasaar will allow it." He continued, as Aragorn shifted, hearing his name. "I will need you there for a few days." He said vaguely.
I frowned. "Of course, Ada, if Arân nîn will allow it." I said, glancing to said man, ahem, immortal. He raised an eyebrow.
"You are not explicitly bound to me, Eruanna." He said, lifting his cup. "Your first duties lie with your kingdom as a princess." He took a sip, eying me. I pursed my lips, but then smiled.
"That may be so in any other case, Elasaar, but you forget that I pledged my allegiances to you and became your vassal before I became princess of Greenwood." I replied with a smile and lifting my own cup.
He choked slightly on his drink. "I suppose so." He replied in a strangled voice, recovering himself. "In truth, I had forgotten..."
I laughed lightly. "Then I will take it that I have your permission." I grinned. He rolled his eyes at me.
"Would you rather I pulled rank and not let you go?" He teased. I smirked at him in reply.
"Rank? My dear Estel, you forget who I am! I outrank you to the skies!" I teased back.
"You are but a princess! I am the king!" He retorted, pointedly ignoring the implication.
We laughed heartily, while Adar shook his head at me. "I thought you were better than that." He sighed.
I pouted. "You do not think me fit to be a princess?" I asked sourly. He chuckled.
"I said nothing of the sort." He brushed it off airily.
"Oh, well then, let's see what you think when you don't have me." I said darkly, but eyes sparkling in jest above the rim of my cup. His lips twitched in reply.
"I see." Was his noncommittal reply. I pouted while Aragorn smirked at me. After all, when someone gets the last word, you know they've won.
"Just because you're a King." I shook my head warningly. Both kings chuckled.
"Don't make me have my parents turn you into something terrible at my request." I threatened. But I was smiling. Total bluff, and they knew it.
The rest of dinner went quite well, except for the fact that I could feel Haldir's gaze scorching through me. It made me self-conscious, and hard to concentrate on anything.
...
I was wearing a pale blue dress lined with silver embroidery, and currently sitting with Arwen in her room, sewing a tapestry with her. As usual, my coronet was on my head and my hair was braided up. Arwen was wearing a green dress and silver coronet as well.
"So?" She asked me.
"Eh? What?" I asked, baffled.
She rolled her eyes. "The avoidance plan?" She reminded me.
"Oh, that. It worked. Though it still ended me up in quite a situation." I said with a slight scowl. She laughed. "You?" I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Same." She sighed. I smirked.
"I'll answer for Eowyn and say 'same.'" I finished. She grinned.
There was a knock at the door. "Enter!" Arwen called, both of us turning back to the tapestry. The door opened.
"I thought I would find you here." Aragorn said, sighing and sitting down in a chair.
"Bad day?" I sympathized.
"Yes." He replied wearily. I left the tapestry and went over to him, placing a hand on his cheek. He looked up at me with a weary smile, and his clear green eyes held doubt. I sighed and moved my hand up to his forehead, brushing an errant strand away from his face.
"Aragorn." I whispered. "Why do you doubt yourself, now above all times? You have proven yourself a great King. You have provided for the safety of your people. Have faith in yourself!" I pleaded.
"How? Have you heard what the people say of me?" He replied warily.
"I have heard them in the streets. I wander about, cloaked, and I listen. The women sing your praises. The men praise your valor. The children fantasize about becoming a man like you! Yes, there is murmurings against you. It is in all lands! Yes, there are doubts. Do you think you can be perfect? Everyone makes mistakes!" I cried softly, gesturing with me hand to the window.
He abruptly stood. "What do you know? I do not remember you making a mistake. I do not remember you having a duty like mine. Who are you to judge what I think of myself? How can I have faith in myself when the people look to me for guidance?" He hissed.
I stumbled backwards, eyes stinging with hurt. His eyes suddenly realized what they had done, but the arrow had already struck my heart. "I have made many mistakes! I almost let you die at the black gates! Your safety called out to me, and I could not help you! I was not there for Gimli when he was trapped underneath two wargs and an orc. It can be said that I made a mistake in coming to Arda and choosing to become an elf because I grew to love you and Legolas and Boromir and Haldir! I am a princess of my people, and I am the daughter of the Valar! My mistakes reflect them. You need faith in yourself because the people look up to you, just as you say! Can you not see? If you have faith, so will they." I choked, tears streaming down my cheeks.
He reached out to me. "Eruanna-" I jerked away.
"I don't regret it. I still love you, Gwador, and I'm sorry if I have offended you. Forgive me." I rushed out of the room, ignoring his cries behind me. How could he have said such a thing?
I ran blindly through the hallways to a small garden I had seen before, and collapsed at the roots of a tree, burying my face in my hands. His words had been a barb to me, and even now they were stinging with pain as they drew out of my mind. My shoulders shook with muffled sobs.
"My lady?" Asked a familiar voice. I looked up to see Lord Faramir standing there, looking concerned. I stood, leaning against the tree for support.
"Lord Faramir." I hitched. "Forgive me-"
"There is nothing to forgive my lady. Please, I am just Faramir to you. What troubles you?" He asked, touching my hands lightly. I hung my head and took a shuddering breath, then gave him a half-hearted, watery smile.
"Comforting others can be a hard thing, I find." I replied, voice shaking. "You can hurt yourself in the process." I said, sinking to the ground wearily. He sat next to me, looking out at the sky.
I leaned my head against the tree like he did, looking out at the darkening sky, and the stars that shone in the deep blue depths.
"The stars, I find, give me comfort." Faramir mused. "They are always there, shining brightly for all to see and take comfort in that they will not move or leave." He said.
Tears dried on my cheeks. "That one there." I pointed to the constellation of the archer. "I've been there. I was on top of his shoulder. To the elves, he is known as Menelmacar." I said thoughtfully.
I felt his head turn to me. "You were there?" He sounded surprised. I turned and smiled.
"Have you not heard my story?" I asked.
"I have, but I didn't know you had been there." He replied. I nodded.
"The stars are warm. Eärendil sails the skies tonight, see?" I asked, pointing to a bright star sparkling in the sky. "His Silmaril gleams bright." I murmured, waving to the star. It flashed brightly in recognition, as though he had turned his head to look at me. Faramir breathed, awe-struck.
"My Morningstar was a gift from him to me." I remembered. "And it became my gift to give to whom I pleased."
"To Haldir." He clarified. I nodded.
"I have heard your story." I turned my head to him. "Sam always speaks fondly of you, as does Boromir. I always thought I knew you like I knew them, so much have I heard of you. I hope my description did you justice." I smiled slightly.
He smiled back. "It was overdone, my lady. Boromir tends to exaggerate." He shrugged. I laughed.
"But Sam does not." I replied. "And I am just Eruanna to you, or Ren, if you are like the hobbits." I grinned. He smiled back.
"Sam is a good hobbit." He replied. I nodded, eyes softening.
"Aye, he is. I will miss him when he leaves for the Shire. I hope to visit them there one day." I sighed.
"I do as well. Ithilien is to be rebuilt." He suddenly changed the subject. I nodded.
"Yes. Lord- I and my brother Legolas are to help." I replied, heart throbbing at the mention of Gwador. If he noticed, he didn't reply, but ignored it, to my gratitude.
"I thank you, Eruanna. You have given me some comfort that I needed. The death of my father has weighed on my mind as of late." He suddenly said. I frowned at him.
"Both you and the white lady of Rohan have much hurt. Talk to each other. You will find that you will heal together, and be all the closer for it. Nothing will be hidden between you, and nothing will stand in the way of a happy life together." I advised, patting his hand gently.
He grasped it, smiling. "Thank you. I will take your advice as it being Valar-sent." He replied.
"Thank you, Faramir. You have also helped me." I said softly. We stood, hands falling away, and my wings snapped open in the cool breeze. I flew up lightly, glancing one last time over my shoulder at the skies.
I turned to Faramir and took his head gently in my hands. "Be blessed, son of Gondor. Your worth is great, and your heart is kind." I murmured, and pressed a light kiss to his temple. Then I left, going back to my room for rest and the company of Drago.