The Strangers in Middle Earth

I own nothing but my OC's

AN: So it has been brought to my attention that I made a pretty big mistake in this chapter. This is the corrected version. Woops.

Chapter Twenty Three

Knights of the Golden Cross

Cast adrift in an ocean of shadows I drifted for what felt like a hundred thousand years. All was pain and suffering, the faces of Thomas Fendrel, Oswald, my mother, my father, all looking at me as I felt pain. There was Sunniva sitting alone, sorrow written across her beautiful face. It was as if I was trapped in a dungeon with no escape, all turning to darkness and cold. I was so cold.

Only then was I at rest. The cold began to drift away from me, replaced by a gentle heat, and I was at peace at last. Eventually I managed to open my eyes, only to shut them again because of the bright light. Nervously I opened them again, able to see at last where I was, a small, comfortable room with a bed I was on, a desk, a wardrobe and a fireplace, the small fire within burning happily. Carefully sitting up, I thought about what happened. The Wraith. My cousins, where were they? I had to find out. However, the moment I began to move I noticed the man sitting in the chair at the desk, who had previously been looking over some paper. He saw me move and sighed in relief.

'You're awake. Please get back in bed.'

'Where am I?'

'Minas Tirith, at the Houses of Healing.'

'What about the others?'

'On the way back. Mithrandir flew you and a pair of Halflings back here on one of the giant eagles, the most amazing thing I've ever seen.'

'He did?'

'He did. Now, wait here. Your uncle asked that he be told as soon as you awoke.'

'How long was I asleep?'

'Since yesterday. Just wait here.'

He left and I remained in bed, thinking about everyone who hadn't made it back. Robert had died, I'd seen him being half decapitated. After only a few minutes the door opened and my uncle, his face filled with worry, rushed through, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

'John you're alive!' he shouted and staggered towards me, catching me in a heavy hug.

My uncle had never been one for acting like that so I was surprised for a moment until I embraced him too.

'We lost a lot of men,' I told him. 'Robert's dead.'

'Gandalf told me. Oh John, when Gandalf brought you here I thought you were dead. You didn't even look alive. Just to see you safe, oh I've never been so grateful in all my years. I promised your father I'd keep you safe.'

'I'm happy too, I survived, so did Richard and Marcus. We're all alive.'

'And I'm happy you did. If you hadn't survived,' he stopped and shook his head. 'Let's not think of that.'

'What happened to me, uncle? I was fighting, I think I defeated a Ring Wraith and then, and then everything went dark.'

'Gandalf called it the Black Breath, it's the same cursed weapon which left Lady Eowyn almost dead. You're lucky John. Aragorn treated you personally and then Gandalf brought you and the Hobbits back here on giant eagles.'

'The tower,' I suddenly remembered. 'I saw the tower fall.'

'The Hobbits did it. They managed to destroy that damnable ring, but it took a lot out of them.'

'So the fighting's over.'

'It's over. The war is over. The war is won,' he smiled and looked at me one last time. 'I'm just glad you're alright. Are you hungry?'

'Starving.'

'I'll have someone send food up to you. I was in a meeting when I was told you were awake, I'll have to get back to it.'

'I understand uncle.'

'I'll see you again later.'

When he reached the door he stopped for a moment and nodded at someone outside before he walked off. A second later Sunniva walked into the room and as soon as she saw me, she ran up to my side and kissed me. Of course, I was happy to see her, and I held close to me as we kissed until at last the need to breath forced our kiss to break.

'I thought you were going to die,' she said and then we kissed again.

'I was always going to come back,' I promised in another break in our kissing.

'John, you fought a Ring Wraith and survived. Not many survive that.'

We kissed yet again and when that ended she just looked at me and smiled.

'Didn't you say you'd hit me if I did anything heroic.'

'I'd rather kiss you.'

I of course obliged her.

The next day I sat alone in the gardens, Alaric at my side, looking towards Mordor. The clouds over that land were diminishing and the view eastwards was actually becoming pleasant to look at. Sunniva was with Lady Eowyn at that time, and in truth I was glad I could be alone to think. I had seen so many men die over the course of my life, the first time I'd seen death, the first time I'd taken a life, was in a tournament in a jousting accident. The poor man I killed was in his first proper joust, his family understood it was an accident, but I still remember it. In battle I'd killed many men, I'd seen many men die, but the War of the Ring had been like nothing I'd ever seen before.

Now it was all over, now it was a time of peace.

My melancholy was then interrupted when I realised I was no longer alone. Looking over my shoulder I saw Gandalf looking at me.

'Sir,' I said to him. 'How are the Hobbits?'

'They'll recover,' he answered. 'Samwise will be allowed to leave his room this afternoon. Frodo, he may be asleep for days.'

'So they did it. They cast the Ring into Mount Doom.'

'They did,' the wizard said as he sat on the bench next to me. 'What they did, it will stay with them until the end of their days. How do you feel?'

'A bit tired to be honest, but I'm too restless to stay in bed.'

'I understand. Aragorn himself saw to your affliction on the battlefield.'

'He did?' I asked, surprised.

'Yes. He brought with him a weed called Kingsfoil, useful for dealing with the Black Breath.'

'I will thank him when he returns. When will the army get back?'

'Three days, maybe four. Congratulations on your own victory, to defeat one of them in battle, to kill one, is no small feat.'

'Thank you Gandalf.'

'I saw the Black Rider fall from the sky and I tried to help you but the fighting was so thick around me that I couldn't fight my way through.'

'I understand. All of us knew what we were getting into, going into battle there. We knew we wouldn't all come back from it, but we lost Robert, we lost Sir Andrew, so many men gone.'

'The eternal price of war.'

'How did I do it?'

'Defeat the Ring Wraith? I can't be sure but allow me to see your sword.'

I unsheathed Alaric and handed it to the wizard who studied the blade, looking at the ivory unicorns head at the pommel with interest.

'Well?'

'It is a fine sword, John, a fine sword indeed, but I feel nothing in it except the metal and leather of a sword. Many of your friends, they said that they saw this sword glowing, as if it was freshly pulled from a forge as you slew the Dark Marshal.'

'But how? I went to the forge this blade was made in, I knew the smith and he was a normal man.'

'Extraordinary things happen my friend during the heat of battle, and miracles affect us all. Perhaps there was something special about the forge or the castle it was made itself, or perhaps in your bloodline.'

'I doubt it. I can trace my family for the past four centuries, we were soldiers serving our King William the First, awarded Widford for service in war.'

'I know, your grandfather told me of this heritage as well, but I wonder. Your uncle and your grandfather have both been called Erucaunion by many people of great knowledge. I wonder.'

'What is it Gandalf?'

'I don't know, perhaps all will be known in time, perhaps all will be revealed one day. If I were you John, I would not worry about the reasons for this, for your victory. Be grateful you still live and enjoy your life from this day on.'

I passed the next few days recovering my strength, mostly alone. My uncle busied himself with working, handling mostly matters involving clearing the rubble, collecting discarded weapons and rebuilding destroyed property. Lord Faramir on the other hand was responsible for food, organising the medical treatment of the wounded and the morale of the city's people. My uncle even rode out to Osgiliath on one day, against the advice of the Healer who was tearing his hair out on the matter, to inspect the repairs to the cities eastern walls. However, the trip left him exhausted afterwards, his leg still hadn't healed, and he remained in bed for the entirety of the next day. My uncle's work however made it so he didn't have much time to come and see me, but I didn't mind, enjoying the solitude and being able to think.

My main companion in those days, waiting for the return of the army, was Sunniva, and we had lunch together frequently. The main topic of our conversations was what it meant to be a Christian, though at the time she didn't reveal the existence of Father Harold's Bible. On the fourth day, the day the army returned, we were having a meal in my room.

'I'm still rather confused about the part over not killing,' she said before taking a sip of her juice. 'I mean, on principle it's a good thing, but surely history has shown that killing in war is right and execution is the right punishment for some crimes.'

'I'm not sure. I don't think God would find any problems with slaying Orcs but killing other men, I'm not sure. One priest I talked to said that killing in war may be right if the cause is just.'

'Fighting Sauron was certainly a just cause.'

'Certainly.'

Just then there was a knock on the door.

'Come in,' I said and my uncle entered the room, nodding at Sunniva before addressing me.

'They're back,' he told us. 'The army's just crossed the river. They'll reach Minas Tirith in an hour.'

'Excellent,' I said and stood up, ready to see my cousins again. 'Shall we go and meet them?'

'Not with my leg the way it is. Gandalf and Lord Beregond have agreed to ride out and meet them. You, me and Lord Faramir will wait for them at the steps to the throne room. We will welcome them back as conquering heroes.'

'I'll be honoured to stand with you.'

'Excellent. Lady Sunniva, I'd like Lady Eowyn to be there as well, go and tell her that we expect her if she's finished inspecting Lord Faramir's tonsils.'

And with that, and laughing to himself, he left us and I looked at Sunniva whose face was quickly draining of colour.

'What did he mean by that?' I asked her.

'Oh nothing,' Sunniva said and started to hurry off to find Lady Eowyn.

After I moment I realised what my uncle meant, and I too started laughing.

Later, dressed in my best clothes, I stood on the steps of the throne room behind my uncle. The front rank of those of us on the steps was my uncle, Faramir, the leading members of the city council, including Lord Cylcoth, Lady Eowyn and the Hobbit Samwise. Behind them, sharing a step with me, were their attendants, sons and daughters, meaning I was standing next to Lady Sunniva. The courtyard was lined with soldiers dressed in their best armour and cloaks, as well as most of the leading lords and freemen of the city. Soldiers had lined the entire road from the gates up to the citadel itself, the people of the city welcoming the heroes back. We could hear cheering getting louder and louder as they approached until at last the heroes of the war emerged onto the courtyard. Aragorn led them, as did Beregond and Gandalf, following them came Eomer, Imrahil, Merry, Pippin and Gimli and Legolas. After them came our companies leaders, Harold, Edmund and Jason with my cousins who both smiled as soon as they saw me, Marcus had his right arm in a sling and the deep wound on Richard's face was stitched shut, giving him a slightly pulled look on his face. He was alive though, that's all I cared about.

They dismounted their horses and approached the steps, all of us bowing to the knee, except for my uncle he leaned over forwards, supported by his cane.

'Rise my friends,' Aragorn announced. 'We have returned triumphant, and let this day mark the end of chaos and war. I will a hold a meeting of the council at once, King Eomer has agreed to attend, Baron, you and your companies leaders are invited as well.'

'I will be delighted to attend, my king,' my uncle answered.

That afternoon I waited in the yard outside of the throne room, looking at the white tree, blossoms beginning to grow across its branches. Marcus, Richard and Sunniva were with me, leaning against the wall and looking down at the city below which was still singing in celebration.

'Gandalf said that across the world, the word is spreading. He said that soon all will know that Sauron is dead and the world is at peace,' Marcus said with a smile.

'I'll need a new hobby,' Richard said and leaned far back against the wall.

'Sewing perhaps?' suggested Sunniva.

'Not these hands. Not delicate enough.'

'Why aren't you in there?' I asked Marcus.

'I think the king said something about surprising us all,' he answered. 'It's odd, I'm used to being with my father in meetings. How do you two pass the time?'

'We spar,' I said. 'We drink. I stop Richard drinking too much. I usually fail and drag out of the tavern then throw him in a barrel of cold water to get him back in shape before your father realises.'

'I should be surprised,' the oldest of us laughed.

'How long will your arm be in the sling?'

'About a month, my armour protected me form most of the damage from the Wraith's blow but he still broke my collar bone.'

'How's Cenric?' I asked my cousins and Sunniva who had talked to him.

'Still forlorn,' Sunniva answered. 'He's still dealing with the loss of our father.'

'He'll need time,' I told her.

'I know but he's my little brother. It's my job to protect him.'

'I know the feeling,' Marcus noted.

'So, what will we do next?' I asked them all. 'We're at peace and my cousins, we are landless nobles.'

'Hopefully not for long,' said Marcus. 'When wars happen and lords die, someone needs to take over their estates. If Ithilien is to be retaken, perhaps we will be given land there.'

Just then the doors of the citadel were opened and a large number of people proceeded out. First we saw Faramir and Eowyn walking out hand in hand, followed by Imrahil who was speaking with Eomer.

'Will you need to tend to Lady Eowyn?' I asked Sunniva.

'I think she'll want some privacy for a minute.'

'Only a minute?' asked Richard. 'Poor Eowyn.'

'Shut up,' Marcus laughed, as did the rest of us.

My uncle was one of those who left the throne room, followed by Jason, Edmund and Harold. They approached us and we headed towards them, meeting near the White Tree.

'What's the news?' Marcus asked his father.

'The king has been generous in handing out titles and awards to his loyal followers, he's made Faramir Prince of Ithilien and that's just a start. The king will be crowned on the first of May,' he told us. 'After that, I am to officially receive my reward.'

'And that is?' I asked.

'Go ahead,' Jason said, a broad smile on his face. 'Tell them my Lord.'

'I am to keep the honorary title of Castellan, though with none of the powers of the official role, and I am allowed to wear a scarlet cloak as a mark of that.'

'And the rest,' insisted Jason like a child on the eve of a celebration.

'Calm down Jason, I'm enjoying this. I have been granted in exchange for my efforts, and for my wounds, the title of Lord of Osgiliath.'

'The city?' asked Richard.

'Yes. It will be my duty to see to its rebuilding, its repopulation and its return to prosperity, and is to be in my line from now on. My sons, my nephew, we have a title again.'

The three of us cheered and my cousins embraced their father while I stood back, smiling and happy.

'I got a reward as well,' said Jason. 'The king knew I didn't want a castle or anything but he insisted on giving me the deed to a large farm in Ithilien, well, it used to be a farm, overgrown now. I'll let someone who knows what they're doing rent it. Your uncle's offered me to be his new Master at Arms, and I've agreed.'

'Good to know we'll still have you around,' I said to Jason and I shook his hand.

'I was offered the same,' said Edmund, 'and I accepted, though I'll do the same that Jason's done. I prefer the cities over the countryside.'

'He's offered the same to all the men of our company,' my uncle explained. 'It's been offered to many of the other veterans of the war as well as a way of paying them for their service.'

'I on the other hand have a lot of work to do,' our priest spoke up.

'How so, Father?' asked Sunniva, bowing her head to him in a gesture of respect.

'The king has agreed to allow me to rebuild the church in this land and has agreed to let me use the title of Archbishop of Minas Tirith.'

'Congratulations,' I said to him and shook his hand, as did my cousins and Sunniva.

'Thank you. Now, I'm going to see a tailor and find out if anyone in this world has any idea what a mitre is.'

'I'll see the three of you in the barracks in an hour,' my uncle said to Edmund, Jason and Harold who agreed and left us. My uncle looked at us and smiled. 'Aragorn has sent riders and carrier birds out across Middle Earth to spread the word of our victory, and invitations to his coronation. The Great Eagle's volunteered to bring the message to Erebor, and I sent a letter with them to my father.'

'What did you say?' I asked him.

'That I am alive and we are here. I told him about Daniel and of you all. Once the king is crowned formally, I will travel north to Erebor and see him again.'

He kept his voice at a steady tone, but I could see his eyes watering.

'All these years I thought he was dead. I need to speak with the king but I expect to see you boys at the barracks in an hour. Lady Sunniva, always a pleasure to see you.'

'You as well my lord.'

My uncle went back to the throne room and I bid farewell to Sunniva, kissing her on the cheek before I and my cousins went down into the city and then to the barracks.

Later that afternoon, all of us who were left alive gathered in the mess hall of the barracks given to our company when my uncle first arrived in Minas Tirith. I looked around us at all the men who had survived the fighting, at all the men who had not fallen in the defence of justice, and then imagined the faces of those we had lost. Of the hundred of us who first came from Enfland, only fifty two of us were left alive, including the squires too young to fight. I was sitting with Marcus, Richard, Mathew Fendrel and Heinrich. I looked over to my uncle sitting at the head table with Jason, Edmund and Father Harold, and then over at Tancred with a few of his friends in a corner of the room. His father had never supported fighting in this war had had paid the ultimate price in it.

At last my uncle stood up and cleared his throat, winning the attention of everyone.

'My friends, this war has been hard on us, on all of us, and we have all paid the price of victory. All of us together have lost our friends and kinsmen. We have all suffered, and there may not be a way to return to England. As many of you know, I have been offered lordship of Osgiliath, and I have accepted it, but I do not wish to bare that burden of leadership alone. With the permission of the king, I will form an order of knights to protect Osgiliath and myself, the Knights of the Golden Cross. I invite you, my friends, to become the first members of this order, so that we may make Osgiliath the jewel of Gondor together. Not just that though, when we first met, we were strangers, renegades and fugitives fleeing a disaster. Through battles, through this war, we are now something else. We are a brotherhood who have fought in a war harder than any we could have imagined. I look at you and see brothers in blood, it would be wrong to go our separate ways forever but let us be united for the rest of our days, together. Will anyone join?'

After a few moments passed, Marcus was of course the first to stand up, and then did Jason.

'Just so you all know,' Jason spoke up, 'there's no vows of chastity involved or else I wouldn't be signing up.'

Earning a slight laugh at that I stood up, as did many others, one at a time, the last to stand being Tancred.

'Then are we together in this my friends. Now, let us look to the future together, in the name of King Aragorn Elessar! For God and Gondor!'

'For God and Gondor!' we all echoed him, holding up our mugs, Father Harold smiling as he looked on and my uncle with an expression of relief.

And so we were the first members of the Knights of the Golden Cross.

That night, as many of us were asleep, Father Harold sat in a quiet tavern in the upper levels of the city in a private room with Gandalf as they discussed many matters.

'I will not lie, when I saw what you did to Theoden I began to suspect that you were more than just a man who knows magic,' the new Archbishop said to the wizard.

'Indeed. With what you know now, what will you do?'

'The Valar, they are an interesting thing aren't they? Powerful being created by this, Eru Illuvitar.'

'Yes. What do you think of them, and of Illuvitar. All in Middle Earth believe in him, though not all pray to him.'

'God has been known by many names for a long time. By the way you have described him, of his wrath against Númenor, it seems that Eru is just the name he is called by here. These Valar though, they shall be he first beings of this world to be declared Saints.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes, for what else could they. Varda and the Virgin Mary shall stand shoulder to shoulder in reverence, as Oromë shall stand with Saint Michael, and let Morgoth be hated as but another face, another name of Lucifer. But as for you Gandalf, if what you have said of what you are is true, then you should also be revered.'

'No my friend, no. I have never desired reverence, only to protect the people in my charge.'

'Very well, but if not our reverence, at least our respect.'

'That I will accept.'

'I swear, this time, we will do it right.'

AN: This chapter was admittedly just a chance for our characters to catch a breath now that the war is over. I felt that James Harris deserved a good reward for his service and being made Lord of Osgiliath I think fits the bill for him.