Elladan grabbed a few more sugared almonds and adjusted his robes. He would discuss his vision with Elrohir later, but for now he had breakfast to attend. As he stepped out of the room and onto the corridor a familiar voice called out to him.
"Lord Elladan!" Aragorn was bowing as he extended the formal greeting of Gondor to his elven brother. "Allow me to accompany you to the Meeting Hall."
Fighting the urge to smirk at the display, Elladan could not help but comment. Keeping his voice low enough that they would not be overheard he whispered cheerily: "A bit of formality suits you well, brother. I could get used to it."
From the way Aragorn did not reply, Elladan guessed his little brother was fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
"This way" he said instead, indicating the direction they would have to take. The Meeting Hall was a formal chamber on the third floor of Ecthelion's white tower, with grand windows allowing for a stunning view over the terraces of Minas Tirith and the planes in front of the city. As the windows faced southeast, morning sunlight flooded the chamber, bright and clear, yet not blindingly so. It made the room an excellent venue for formal breakfasts.
Ecthelion and Denethor had already arrived. Ecthelion sitting at the head of the table, with his son on his right hand side. He indicated for Elladan to sit to his left, a place that would otherwise have been Aragorn's – no, Thorongil's - he corrected himself. His younger brother took the seat beside him. There were a few other nobles and dignitaries invited and Elladan greeted them formally, when Ecthelion introduced them in turn.
"I trust your night has been restful?"
"Yes, lord Ecthelion." Elladan lied fluently, "The rooms you have provided have been a welcome change after the long journey." He made a point of looking across the room, taking in the details of the room's layout and decorations. "I recognize the work of the Dunedain architects in the tower – you have rebuilt according to the original plans?"
Ecthelion's eyes lit up at the question. The rebuilding of the White Tower was one of his more well-known accomplishments and clearly the one he himself deemed the most interesting. Encouraged by Elladan's questions, Ecthelion detailed the entire process from uncovering the original construction plans and finding building masters still skilled in working the white stone of Minas Tirith, to making select changes and improvements.
"I only wish I could see more of it." Elladan said wistfully.
It was at this moment that Aragorn spoke up, just as they had rehearsed. "My lord," he addressed Ecthelion, "I have no pressing matters to attend to while we search for further information about the strength of Umbar – it would be my pleasure to show Lord Elladan the tower and the citadel. With your leave."
The old steward was clearly pleased. "Excellent. Yes, good Thorongil, please show our guest around." He turned back to Elladan, clearly pleased, "And should you have further questions, I can arrange for the son of the building master to answer them."
Servants came to take the first course of their breakfast away, replacing the empty plates with skillfully woven baskets that held steaming white bread. The centre of the table was soon filled with golden butter, sweet honey and jams and a variety of fruit from all corners of Gondor's vast realm. Ecthelion continued to regale them with stories about the tower's architecture before moving on to discuss the walls of Pelargir, which had also been reinforced and strengthened on his orders, albeit with less interest in skill and beauty and more the necessity of a strong defense. It was from there that the discussion around the table turned to grimmer matters: Gondor's need for defense, the raids of the corsairs of Umbar, and the rising shadow in the East.
Throughout the meal, through the harmless pleasantries, the dry discussions of Gondorian marble, and the very real threat of Umbarian raids, Elladan was uncomfortably aware of Denethor staring at him. What exactly the steward's heir was thinking was impossible to tell, but he seemed to be deeply suspicious, weighing his every word. Despite himself he felt a shiver of discomfort at the continued scrutiny. What did Denethor know? What did he suspect? Spies were in common use in Gondor and though he had been careful when sneaking out of the palace last night there was always a chance that he had been observed, had been followed to Aragorn's quarters.
At length the breakfast banquet ended and with exaggerated formality, Thorongil declared that they should start their tour immediately. Everything had gone to plan and still he could not fight a sense of unease that had settled in his stomach, an echo of his vision and of Denethor's unwelcome attention. As they left the hall, Elladan glanced furtively around them, but they were for the most part alone. A woman he recognised as the chambermaid who had shown him to his room yesterday was looking at them closely, but probably out of curiosity rather than ill intent.
"Oh my," Aragorn commented lightly, confirming his thoughts, "I think Hwithen is rather taken with you. She's blushing." Turning towards him with a teasing grin, Aragorn continued, "I don't think she'll forget about you quite as quickly as Elrohir suggested."
Elladan ignored him even as his brother fought hard to suppress his laughter. "Let's get that idle twin of mine - he has an architectural marvel to inspect."
This had been the plan that they'd devised yesterday evening. They would get Ecthelion's permission to investigate the tower in private during the daylight hours. Instead of Elladan, Elrohir would be the one to go on the tour with Aragorn, gaining important insight into which areas and which guards to avoid. It would be a vital advantage for when Elrohir would be exploring the tower alone this night while most occupants should be at the feast Ecthelion had called for in Elladan's honour.
Elladan's thoughts turned to his twin. Elrohir had been eager to find the source of the evil that they had felt yesterday, and equally eager to leave the city once they did. Elladan had felt the turmoil in his twin that had been caused by their encounter with the strange dark force; he had seen and heard the signs of an all-too familiar nightmare haunting his twin last night. Perhaps it would be for the best if they found what they had come to uncover quickly, then leave the city behind.
"Captain Thorongil!" A man was running up to them, breathing heavily, startling Elladan from his thoughts.
"Egrahil."
"Captain, a messenger has arrived from Pelargir. He demands to speak with Ecthelion immediately. Captain – Pelargir has been attacked. By corsairs!"
Aragorn covered his surprise at the words quickly, and a look of determination settled over his features. He turned towards him apologetic, but Elladan spoke before he could say anything. "With your leave, Captain Thorongil, I would like to hear what the messenger has to report. My path will also lead me to Pelargir in the coming days."
His younger brother nodded, relief flashing in his eyes briefly. Elladan understood the dilemma his human brother faced, he had a duty to Gondor, a duty to protect her and heed her every call to arms. That had to come before the desire to aid his brothers.
Aragorn gestured for Egrahil to lead the way, then fell in step beside him.
"With my leave..." Aragorn whispered for his ears only, a note of mirth in his voice despite the grim news, " A bit of formality does make a lot of difference, I could get used to it as well."
Elladan snorted in amusement but his own merriment did not last. Pelargir, Gondor's large harbour on the Anduin river dominated his thoughts. Unbidden he recalled the heaving waves, the black-sailed ships from his vision and the fire that rained down on the city and his youngest brother. Whatever events the report from Pelargir would set in motion - they did not bode well.
-o0o-
"The corsairs came upon us with the midday sun behind them, hiding their approach. Their weapons rained death and destruction on our port. You must help us, my lord!" The messenger's words were grim, and his face hard as he made the demand. He must have ridden all of yesterday and most of the night to have made the journey in less than a day.
And so he and his men would need to do as well, Aragorn thought. If they were to come to Pelargir's aid in time, they had to leave at once, would have to try and reach the harbor city before nightfall. Otherwise their whole ride would be useless. They would be too late once more, too late to do more than quench the flames of burning homes and console the survivors of another raid.
He knew what he had to do.
"My lord," he bowed low as he addressed Ecthelion. "I can have a small force assembled within the hour. We can reach Pelargir by nightfall, I am sure of it."
The steward did not hesitate. He nodded. "So be it! Leave at once." Turning to the messenger he added in a more soothing voice, "Help will come to your city. You have done well to warn us of this peril. Rest this night in the rooms of Minas Tirith's citadel." He dismissed the assembled men with a wave of his hand. Aragorn turned to leave, but surprisingly, Elladan stepped forward.
"Lord Ecthelion," he began and continued once Ecthelion gave him leave to speak, "I would accompany the force you send to Pelargir. My horse is more than a match for theirs and I will not slow them down, but I would see the threat of the corsairs for myself."
Aragorn did not even pay attention to Ecthelion's response, too startled by his brother's sudden words. This would jeopardize or at least delay the twins' mission in Minas Tirith. What was Elladan thinking?
He was dimly aware of Ecthelion agreeing to Elladan's request before dismissing them once more. As if on autopilot he sent Egrahil to assemble twenty of his men, volunteers if they could be found, for their ride to Pelargir. Then he hurried from the room, Elladan behind him, heading for his chambers.
They did not even make it that far. He waited only until they were alone, before confronting his brother. "What of Elrohir and your mission?"
Elladan raised his hands in a sign of peace and replied: "Elrohir is well able to search the White Tower by himself. Adar sent us to investigate the strength of Mordor and his allies as well. It is as I told Ecthelion, I want to see the danger the corsairs pose."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes, studying his seemingly sincere brother. There was something more to it than that, he was certain of it, it was not like Elladan to let Elrohir face possible danger alone. But where Elrohir was a terrible liar, Elladan was much more adept at hiding the truth if he so chose.
A bitter thought came to him all of a sudden.
"Elrohir is able to look after himself but I am not, is that what you are saying?" He had thought that he had left that worry behind, but something about his brothers' presence and Elladan's words now rekindled the old insecurities that came from a life spent growing up a human among elves. Always protected, always inferior. The old bitterness surprised himself.
Elladan sighed, seeming troubled. "No," he said, then stopped, uncharacteristically lost for words and Aragorn knew that at least he had gotten through to him.
Aragorn gave his brother the time he needed to collect his thoughts and eventually Elladan sighed again. "I have seen … something - a vision of burning ships." He looked up at Aragorn, nothing but sincerity in his gaze now. "Estel, I need to be in Pelargir."
Aragorn weighed his brother's words, grateful for Elladan's honesty, for being told what truly bothered him, but his own concerns remained. "What of Elrohir?"
-o0o-
"You should go with Estel," Elrohir affirmed his twin's opinion without hesitation. "I will find whatever device of evil this city holds."
When they had returned to his own quarters, Aragorn and Elladan had found Elrohir pacing, awaiting their return. He had been wearing the same robes that Elladan had chosen for the day, and in the twilit chambers it was striking just how identical they looked. Their plan, at least the reconnaissance of the tower, it would have worked, Aragorn knew, and it troubled him that now it would be all for naught. Even more he could not help but worry at the increased risk. Before, Elrohir could have pretended to be his brother, to be an honoured guest of the steward, if he had been found snooping where he did not belong. Now, with Aragorn and Elladan gone from the city, he would no longer have that option. Somewhere deep inside Aragorn foreboding stirred and it left him ill at ease.
Yet the younger twin had not hesitated when they had relayed to him what had happened. He had only exchanged one look with his twin and had arrived at the same conclusion, the same plan forward. Elrohir had not questioned Elladan's motivation nor his need to be in Pelargir. Sometimes their uncanny ability to have a whole conversation of their own in the blink of an eye was beyond frustrating. Neither of them seemed to consider the risks.
Aragorn sighed, "Elrohir," he began, but his brother interrupted him.
"None of our missions can be delayed – and, beyond that, I would rather not climb Mount Mindolluin another time."
His try at levity fell short of the mark. Aragorn was in no mood to have his very real concerns for Elrohir's safety be so simply disregarded. Some of his thoughts must have shown on his face, for his brother continued more sincerely.
"Estel," he began, his voice soft but determined. "I have infiltrated orc-infested caverns two thousand years before any of the men in this city were born. You need not worry for my safety"
Aragorn had to concede that point, though he did so uneasily. It wasn't often that his brothers reminded him of just how much older they were than him and he had to admit that Elrohir had accumulated more experience in his life than any man could ever hope to match.
And yet, he felt a deep unease. He could not name the reason for his misgivings, but his heart warned him of impending doom. Rationally he knew that his brother was more than qualified to pursue this task, that this was hardly the first time the twins had split up and that they were accomplished fighters.
Maybe it was some of the foreboding that Elladan had described that was colouring his own thoughts and fears. He shook his head in an effort to shake the feeling and find his usual optimism instead. Perhaps the shadow that lay upon Minas Tirith affected him more than he had realized.
Whatever the cause for his own uncertainty, his brothers had made up their minds and there was little he could do now to sway them. He had to go to Pelargir and Elladan was determined to come.
"Elladan will need to change for your trip," Elrohir interrupted his musings, "perhaps you could tell me about the citadel while you get ready yourself."
Aragorn recognized the peace offering for what it was and nodded his head, surprisingly weary now that he had had to admit defeat. Out of the corner of his eyes he caught Elladan exchanging another look with his twin before the older peredhel twin turned and left.
"Estel," Elrohir was still using his childhood name, clearly not happy with the disagreement that still hung between them. Ever the peacemaker, Elrohir would not be happy to let him leave for Pelargir until the issue was resolved. Aragorn sighed, admitting to himself that he was being irrational, his fears and forebodings should not outweigh the trust he had in his brothers.
"Forgive me, Elrohir. I did not mean to doubt your abilities, and I do not. The suddenness of the attack, of our plan crumbling, it has me more rattled than I thought."
Elrohir clasped his shoulder and gave it a brief squeeze, forgiving his doubts in an instant. Suddenly, a sly smile lit up his face.
"I have something for you that just might brighten your thoughts."
He turned around and walked to his pack. Taking out another set of grey, more tailored clothes that he doubtlessly meant to use for the infiltration of the tower, he searched for something else deeper within the knapsack. Eventually he drew forth a simple letter.
"She asked me to keep it secret." Elrohir explained in a whisper, adding with a slight laugh, "not even Elladan knows."
He handed the letter over and Aragorn felt his pulse quicken, his legs weaken. He recognized the elegant handwriting immediately, though he had known who would have given Elrohir a secret letter to give to him anyway. It was from Arwen.
Just the thought of her took his breath away. It had been long since he had seen her, too long by mortal years and he rarely even allowed himself to think of her in the stark loneliness of Minas Tirith. What he would have given to be able to see her again, hold her hand in his and breathe the scent of her perfect raven hair.
At times, when the unfeeling stone that surrounded him here felt especially cold, he had wondered whether he was deluding himself with youthful fancy. Their time together had been short and though there was no doubt in his heart about how he felt, he had sometimes let himself question whether she truly felt the same - whether he could ask of her the prize she would have to pay if she did. Could he force the woman he loved to choose spending a mortal life with him, to forever be sundered from her family?
He looked up from the letter he still held unopened in his hands. Elrohir was Arwen's brother. He, too would lose his sister, be parted from her beyond the circles of the world. Did he hold the same despair that he had felt in Elrond when his adoptive father had revealed to him the doom that was laid upon his children, and the choice, the sacrifice that Arwen would have to make?
"She misses you, Aragorn." Elrohir said when Aragorn met his eyes, and there was no shadow of bitterness in the elf's eyes, only compassion. "Not a day goes by, I think, that she does not ask the Valar to bring you back to her unharmed."
Aragorn found that he did not know what to say, could not even speak despite trying to open his mouth. Too many thoughts were vying for attention in his mind all at once. But he knew that Elrohir's words, offered so freely, were a balm on his aching heart, healing some of the hurts that his doubts had caused. The letter in his hand did not need to be a reminder of Arwen's doom but a message of love penned by the most perfect woman in all of Arda. To him. It gave him strength as he looked at it again, letting the thought of her fill his senses and sooth his worries.
Elrohir's hurried voice broke into his reverie: "I think Elladan is returning."
Aragorn looked up, for some reason feeling like a little boy stealing away from Erestor's lessons to watch the warriors train. He hid the letter in the inside pocket of his tunic, hurried but gentle, careful not to bend the precious paper. He wished that he would have the time to read her words now, to let them strengthen and guide him on his journey to come. But there was no time.
-o0o-
tbc...
As things are finally in motion, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has read, favourited or followed this story and a special shout out to KVeronicaP, DaisyMall13 and Elrohirim for leaving reviews - you really made my day! I hope you enjoyed this next chapter and our dive into impending action