...
~ The Citadel ~
Gandalf introduced Elraen after Pippin as among those who'd been with Boromir in his final moments. Elraen stood listening to the questioning of the young hobbit, having carefully wrapped her Elf cloak over her armor and weaponry. "No help came. Only more Orcs. Save the young lady here," Pippin gestured toward her, "but she was subdued and captured also," he said as he gave his story to the Steward.
After the hobbit offered his sword, the Steward turned his attention to her. "And you, girl?" he asked, though his tone had now softened somewhat, "Why is it that you live and my son did not? How did you survive a poisoned dart? Whom do you serve?"
The young princess took less offense to the implication of the questions than did the hobbit, her thoughts consumed with her last memory of Boromir during Pippin's telling of the story. A pained and grieved look fell over her face, which the Steward noticed readily. "It was not poisoned, Sir," she replied softly. "it was laden with a sleeping spell of Saruman's. Our captors were under orders to deliver me alive," she answered. "But Saruman could not sway me into his employ, and so then calculated some value in releasing me, I could not say why, for I serve only," she said, then after a quick pause, "the Lords of the West."
He glanced thoughtfully at the wizard then back at her. "Ah," he said, "one of the faithful. I envy your devotion. Would that some of our ancestors had as much." He watched her face carefully, seeing it too melancholy to let through much resentment, and she held his gaze calmly. Then curiously the stern questioning seemed to meet an abrupt end.
Elraen then remembered the pendant, and reached into her pocket, relieved he did not ask further about why she was captured and grateful for the opportunity to change the subject. "Lord Steward, ere we were parted, Boromir your son handed me this," she said, pulling the medallion out and presenting it to him. "I think he meant for me to return it to his family."
The stoic Steward could not suppress his surprise, and a wave of softness passed over him. Even Gandalf was surprised, for it was the first he'd heard of it.
"Keep that for now, child," he struggled to say after gazing at it a long moment, "you may present it to my younger son in his grief." Then he gave his first order to Pippin for more storytelling. For herself Elraen was spared much of the questioning, being but a young maid who, like his remaining son, the Steward correctly perceived, was a faithful student of the wizard.
She was given quarters near to those for Pippin and Gandalf. "Take a few hours for such rest and refreshment as you can find," said Gandalf, "but I may have need of you soon."
Elraen washed up and laid down for an overdue rest in a real bed, but slept only a few hours when the air of fear fell upon the city from some distant height. Her eyes shot open and she sprung out of bed, but then it passed. She let out a sigh and her shoulders relaxed, but she could find no further sleep. She was splashing some water on her face when there was a knock on the door.
"Please, if you will, go down to Osgiliath and search for Faramir," said Gandalf when she answered it. "If you find him, please tell him my counsel to return to the city as soon as possible. The skies in the East are churning in an angry hurry; a great assault will likely be unleashed sooner than later, I think, and he will be more needed here." Gandalf stepped away but then turned and added, "If he cannot be persuaded to return, then remain with him and have a mind for his safety."
Twenty minutes later Sunstreak was crossing the Pelennor Fields, and when Pippin went again to visit Shadowfax he found the horse's lone stable companion no longer there.
As she rode along Elraen thought of the wizard's words about the brewing battle, and wondered if he had seen the same battle scene in the Lady's mirror that she had.
She reached Osgiliath late into the evening but could find no news of Faramir. "Mithrandir has returned," Elraen said to the curious guards after introducing herself. "He asked me to come in search of Captain Faramir."
The guards looked at her, wondering at such a young girl so strangely riding about alone. Just then soldiers came riding out of the north and she got her answer. Faramir had sent them hither and headed for the city. "And back we go, Sunstreak!"
