News of the King's upcoming wedding had spread like wildfire throughout all of Dale. The city's population was growing with the return of more and more citizens from Erebor daily. Meaning the amount of work being done was growing as well and now work on a long ruined part of the city was beginning. The paths of Tent Town were now made of stone as well and life was getting better for the people there but Kal's life was getting harder.
Despite all the good that was coming about the elders now wished to elect a new representative. It was no surprise to any of them. Yet who that would be had not been determined and she was still in control until the election was held. Her wedding would not happen until after that. She was sad of course, yet she began to really believe she could and would still be able to serve her people from the position of the Queen and many of her people believed that too.
Strong-Nor had gone strangely quiet and he had not opposed anything she had been suggesting. He was playing along and she had a feeling she knew why.
Brand was walking on air. It seemed no matter the problem they were becoming better able to fix it and do so quicker. The more that was rebuilt the more people returned and the more work was done.
Even the first of the crops were being harvested and more planted in their place. The first round of fresh vegetables did not last long but within a few weeks more would be harvested. Soon the stores would be holding food again and the prospect of the long cold winter ahead began to seem less likely to be miserable.
The land was alive again. In a way it had not been in years. He saw it in the way life sprang from every nook and cranny. Vines of Morning Glories began to stretch across stone faced buildings and small wild daisies drew in the dirt collected at the corners of the walk ways. When he meandered through his own garden, something he had not had the chance to do in some time, it felt, He began to notice just how lovely it was.
Rows of fragrant herbs, mingled with rows of green, red, yellow and purple vegetables. Planted so that the herbs repelled the bugs from the vegetables. Lavender beds dotted the garden and long dead roses had been removed and replaced with small trees that would bear fruit in a few years.
Hope had returned to the very land they dwelled upon and he was thankful for every bit of it. The sound of childrens laughter soon pulled him from his peaceful moment and he couldn't help but smile like a sap when he saw them playing. The laughter of children had returned to Dale.
"My Lord,"
He jumped having not heard anyone approaching and he turned to see Haldir with furrowed brows.
"Goheno nin (I'm sorry) I did not mean to startle you. I have some information about Strong-nor."
Brand arched a brow and motioned with his head towards the path that led towards the back of the garden. As they strolled along Haldir began to speak, he looked a bit troubled from the start. "Those in Tent Town say 2 things, either he is an odd but wonderful guy, if not rough around the edges or he is the worst type of living thing and should be killed with fire."
Brand sighed then Haldir continued. "It was when we tried to find out a bit of background that things began to get odd. There was no history known beyond about 10 years ago when he started showing up in towns with his traveling show. It was in the details though. I did learn of someone using the name Gadhir with the same show but 30 years ago in Umbar. I personally remembered something about that. They were performing at one of the river towns near Lorien. Some of us went." Brand looked at him and narrowed his eyes. "Let's just say I was curious." Haldir explained.
"There was one particular performer that night that caught my eye. She was a beautiful human girl that danced with fire. I followed her around all night as she walked the streets doing her dance and earning coins as she told people where to see the show. I memorized her face in detail, Brand."
He pulled out an old leather bound sketchbook. The page turned to the picture of a lovely faced girl dancing with a flaming fan. "This scene was the moment I first saw her. I think of that moment and I see it in my mind as if it is an oil painting. Every little detail of that moment." He explained how his memory worked. Elves had many gifts and his was perfect memory of certain moments. Moments that were important to him.
"I drew this that night as I stayed at the inn. You see the man behind her?" Brand eyed the image hard. His lip trembled and he looked up to Haldir as the face began to look very familiar.
"That's Strong-Nor. He would have to be in his 60's now, He does not look 60."
"No and he does not look elvish either." Haldir whispered.
"Dunedain?"
"I don't think so, he would have still aged some in 30 years."
"What is he?" Brand felt a lump forming in this throat.
"I don't know."
He had done his best to avoid these gates in the last 10 years or so. Having only come to Minas Tirith when he absolutely had to. Usually to see the blacksmith. Now he and Undómë were passing the gates and making their way through the first market. He passed by unnoticed, he was just another traveler with business in the city.
The black smoke rose from the tall chimney ahead. That meant who he was there to see was indeed there. Undómë let out a snort and began to perk up the closer they got. He was practically prancing at the door to the stable and when he heard Charlie's voice he let out a loud call.
"Oy, who is here?" Charlie called out as they came into view. A smile broadened upon his lips and he called out suddenly. "Gaveth we have customers." He comes out into the light and pulls a carrot from his pocket. "Mae g'ovannen, Moravar. Mae g'ovannen, Undómë." Charlie spoke as the meara happily ate the carrot from his hand.
"Mae l'ovannen, Charlie." He was lowering himself down from the back of the now totally thrilled meara.
A sweat covered Gaveth soon appeared, obviously in the middle of something. He still smiled for his old friend. "Get Undómë tended to Charlie." He said softly. "I am on it already." He said as he led the meara into the stable.
"Undómë needs foot work and what else?" Gaveth asked with a smile.
"I need you to look at my sword," he sighed, "let's go have a drink and a talk."
Gaveth nodded and they walked into the stable and through it. Heading towards the small slightly sooty office. Moravar collapsed into a chair and took the goblet of cheap wine offered to him. "I get the feeling I am in store for an interesting tale." Gaveth lowered down into the seat across from him.
Moravar began to tell him about Julian and Selwyn. He listened very closely, being familiar with Julian and his scams. He too knew the story of the human woman and the girls Julian loved as his own. Gaveth leaned forward and lifted a hand to quiet Moravar. "Yes?" He said softly. Gaveth inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "It was his brother? Strong-Nor is Julian's brother?" Gaveth began to cough and choke on his wine.
"Why is this girl so important to him?" Gaveth coughed out. Then took a large swallow of the wine.
"She is heir to the throne of Gondor, more so than Elessar."
Gaveth sneered a bit. "Does she wish.." he began but was cut off. "No, she does not. She wants nothing to do with any of it. Yet she could be used to do it, mellon. Taken to wife she would be subject to her husband's whims and if he chooses to push it then..." Moravar just let the words fall off then, leaving Gaveth to his thoughts.
"We can't let that happen." Gaveth said after several long moments of silence.
"No we can not, yet here we are taking her right to him. I am not sure if Julian has lost all reason or if he is a genius. He is right mellon, using her is the only way to get close to him and either he or I are the only ones present that can do the deed. He had grown too powerful over time. He has abandoned all that is good and decent, to wallow in the dark depravity of dark arts. Selwyn is naively going along with it and because of that I am stuck seeing it through. You know Julian he will not stop."
"I will help you as much as I can, mellon, you know that. Tell me what to do." Gaveth said gently.
"Undómë needs foot work," he said with a smile, "and I was hoping you could fix this." He pulled a sheath from his belt and handed it out to the blacksmith. He pulled the dirk free and arched a brow. "Do I even want to know what you did to crack this?"
"No."
"Oh, well you're right it would probably piss me off to see how you treat my work anyway." He grumbled.
"I am going to give it to Selwyn and I am going to teach her how to use it. It's the right size for her."
"I see and I feel there is something more Moravar."
"Yes well," he paused and rubbed the back of his neck. "I need an audience with the queen."
Gaveth almost dropped the dirk. "Why?"
"I need her help."
Charlie stood beside the wagon. It was laden with bags of grain and oats, as well as a good portion of sweet smelling hay. Undómë seemed quite fond of it and had his own pile to munch.
"Good luck mellon." Gaveth said as his hand rested on Moravar's shoulder. He nodded and pulled himself up and buried himself against the bags and under the hay. The sun still lingered in the sky. Casting hues of pink and purple through the spotted dots of clouds. Charlie drove the wagon slowly through the streets that were now fairly clear of people. Darkness would soon be upon them and the life of the city either was settling for the night or moving on to different districts.
"You know I always liked this time of day. It's a bit more peaceful yet you still get to see people." Charlie spoke and waved to someone he knew. Moravar could see the back of his head from where he lay. "What type of Queen am I to meet tonight, Charlie?" Moravar asked softly.
"Lady Arwen is the most kind, most generous and most wise queen. Not to mention beautiful." Charlie's voice drifted off a bit and this made Moravar chuckle softly. Charlie was growing up and had a crush on the queen the way he spoke about her and the tone of his voice. Even the way he spoke told Moravar his secret.
"Well then I will count myself doubly lucky tonight."
"You better, this was a bit more difficult to arrange." Charlie said gruffly.
The sound of the wagon wheels on the stone streets and the gentle sound of Charlie humming was the song he listened to all the way to the top tier. The better part of an hour the slow journey took at a steady grade. "We're here." He heard the faint whisper. So soft no mortal ears could hear. "Oy, mate how is yer night." Charlie said brightly. "Boring so far," there was a pause. "Grain and oats. She does love her animals. Alright Charlie, off to the stables with you."
The wagon began to move again and Moravar began to breathe once more. It took a few minutes before the wagon stopped then slowly rolled into a large stable. "Good evening my lady." Charlie said gently. Moravar felt his heart begin to race and his chest began to hurt. His hand grasped at his tunic and he struggled to calm himself.
"It is always good to see you dear Charlie. I suspect the special package is in the wagon?" That voice was so beautiful. It was as if he were listening to Yavanna singing to her trees. "uh huh." He heard Charlie answer then that voice again. "Well, why not show yourself." She beckoned to him. For a moment he was frozen. His heart would not slow down. He pushed himself up slowly rising from the hay and as he turned to face her he reached up and pulled the cowl from his head.
He looked on a face so fair he made tears begin to form in his old eyes. Her expression began to shift to one of utter shock and her lips parted with a soft gasp. "What famial light is this I see?" She whispered and pulled herself out of that moment and she placed her arm around Charlie's shoulders and stooped down to smile and looked at him. "There are warm cakes in the kitchen and one of them is for you."
Charlie thanked her and ran from the stable. Then she lifted and her gaze began to bore through him. His lips began to tremble as he pulled his gaze away and climbed down from the wagon and stood before her. "I am Moravar," he began and she shook her head and cut him off. "What is your real name?"
Moravar felt the tear as it fell down his cheek and he was silent for what felt like an eternity. The words caught in his throat and formed spikes there. "My father called me Arafinwë," her gaze widened and he swallowed harder. "My mother called me, Ingoldo," His brows began to furrow as more tears began to fall. "I am best known as Finarfin."
She trembled and then moved towards him quickly. Her arms around him holding herself against him in a hard embrace. He returned it and finally the racing of his heart began to ease and the spikes in his throat began to disappear.
"How is this possible?" She asked and lifted her head to look up at him. His face, his eyes were just like her grandmothers. Even the color of his hair was like hers. "It is a long story." He whispered and pulled her back in close. "You are supposed to be the high king of our people in Valinor." She pushed herself away from him and her face became very stern. "Explain it all to me."
He found himself within the palace. He was seated in a rather comfortable chair in a study light with a few lamps. In his hand, a goblet of Dorwinion. She sat across from him waiting for him to speak. "I had not been happy in a very long time. I had not been unhappy either. I am not even really sure when I realized I was not feeling much at all. That discovery made me begin to feel something again. It was the desire to go somewhere else. To do different things. No matter where I went in Valinor, I was never happy there." He inhaled deeply and took a drink of the wine.
"Then one day I was called before Manwe, he wished to know how I felt about my kin after all this time. How I felt about my brother and his sons. There was then and still now no love lost between Feanor and I but his children, I have no ill will with. Afterall I can understand a son's desire to have the love and respect of their father. It can make one do reckless things."
He looked down in his goblet and watched the light dance on the surface of the wine. Manwe explained to me that the kin slayers were going to be given a second chance but not in aman. They were to be returned to Middle Earth so they may make up for their wrongs. Would I protest it?" He looked up to her then and sighed. "I said no."
She had already heard of the returned elves in the letters from Elessar. She was not privy to much else. "I knew that there were kin slayers amongst the returned but I did not know it was Feanor and his sons."
He pulled his gaze back down and nodded a bit. "So the halls of Mandos' began to empty and great ships were built on the western shores of Aman. I began to feel it. This pull to the west. That pull grew more and more intense. Manwe granted me permission to leave for the shores of Middle Earth but only if my heir took the throne and my wife agreed."
Arwen was very quiet and now she hung on every word. "I had more children once I became king. My son, Ingalaurë would assume the throne but Eärwen did not desire to go. Nor did she have any desire to keep me from going. We still loved each other very much but the nature of that love changed over time. Many who would return had spouses that did not wish to go so their bonds were severed as was mine."
Arwen looked horrified. "You just ended your relationship like that? Just over and done?"
"If you think it was easy it wasn't and staying would have done neither of us any good. She wanted her freedom to pursue other avenues and I wanted adventure."
"I need a moment." She rose from her seat and walked to the table to pour herself a drink of water. She stood with her back to him for several silent moments. She turned to look at him with shimmering sad eyes. "You have not been to see my grandmother have you."
"I am a coward, it would break my heart to have her think any less of me than she does now." Moravar rose and approached her slowly. "Arwen, I do not seek anything for myself by coming here. Feel free to hate me, to tell her what I have done. Anything you feel is needed but please, hear why I am here first."
She nodded gently and Moravar took a deep breath. "I am traveling with a young girl. A very special girl. One who is your kin on both sides of your family." Her expression began to change as Moravar began to tell her Selwyn's story.
In the middle of it Arwen had found her seat once more and Moravar his. He had paused to allow her a moment to really take in what he was saying when there was a knock at the door. Moravar sat back in his seat as Arwen beckoned them to enter. A young woman entered the room with a baby in her arms. Moravar sat still as stone. Only his eyes moved as he followed the movements on the woman.
The baby was fussing as he was laid in his mothers arms and the woman left the room. "This is Eldarion, he is your great great grandson." Moravar was silent and frozen. "He is also hungry. She adjusted the baby within her robes and his fussing soon ended. His lips trembled and he struggled to find words. "He is the greatest light I have ever seen."
Arwen smiled a bit and looked from her son to her great grandfather. "So you come on behalf of the heir to the throne of Gondor?"
Moravar forced himself to get back to why he was there in the first place. "She has no desire to rule anything beyond the door of her own home. Arwen, she could be used to challenge the throne. She may not wish it but who is to say a nefarious husband would not use it. She is already well on her way to Dale, the task she must do can not fail and I must see that it doesn't but her grandfather lives. He is very old but not done yet. Please send someone you trust to fetch him and his caretaker Calvin. Bring them to Gondor. Maybe give them an apartment and Calvin a job. They could just blend in here but at least they can be watched here and kept safe. He is perhaps the oldest Dunedain and he is your kin as well."
"This Strong-Nor is that dangerous? So dangerous she is willing to risk her life to see that he is destroyed?"
"Yes."
"So you have come here on their behalf and desire nothing for yourself."
"Nothing. I deserve nothing."
She began to adjust the baby as he began to fuss again. She moved him to the other breast. Her robes kept it all from view. "That is always the problem with the males of any race. You are always deciding what you do and do not deserve without ever asking those who are affected what they believe."
Moravar felt his jaw drop as she just grinned a bit. "You will go see my grandmother when this is all done with. I think you perhaps need something that you are denying yourself. Go see her and make up the time you have chosen to toss away." She looked him right in the eye. "I do not hate you, Finarfin. Even as we sit here right now I feel the familial bond growing between us. I think you might be surprised by her."
He had no words; he had just been put in his place by his grandchild. "Yes my lady." He finally said. "I will help Selwyn as well and I know just who to send." She smiled gently as she called the woman back in. "Maddie, I know the hour is late but would you please send for Lord Faramir? I would like him here first thing in the morning."
Moravar watched the woman hurry off and finally the baby seemed to have fallen asleep in Arwen's arms. He watched her swaddle the baby. "I certainly understand if you say no but, may I hold him?"
She rose up and walked towards him. Her warm light blended within his as she lowered a bit to lay the baby in the crook of his arm. He was overcome with emotion as he looked down into the precious face of this child. One he desired to know and to watch grow. "Tonight you will stay here and in the morning you will leave by the front gate alongside Charlie, it will be the last time you need his services to see me. Next time just come to the door and knock."
Selwyn looked up at the sign over the door of the establishment that Julian chose. "The ruh rusty, nail." Patsy stood beside her and nodded. "That's what it says, You're getting better at reading." He complimented her.
Julian slid his arm over Patsy's shoulder. Having walked up on them from the livery across the way. "Would you be a dear and carry my bags." He smiled widely as Patsy now shrugged his arm away, His steps carried him to Selwyn, his arm offered out to the veiled woman. "Let's see what I can do, with what we have." He sounded almost cheerful as he led Selwyn inside. Patsy rumbled and grumbled as he lifted up Julian's bag straps and slung them over his shoulders. Laden and weighed down he shuffled into the building.
As they entered they stopped right at the counter. The sound of laughter and clinking dishes filtered into the foyer. A man with a young face turned around to greet them and as soon as he lay eyes on Julian his smile dropped. "We don't have any rooms." He spoke immediately. "Try down by the docks, The Holey Bucket has plenty of rooms for your ilk."
"Oh, seriously Dan, I know you are not full. The Holey Bucket? Dan, Dan, You still can't be holding that last thing against me. I was barely involved." Julian's voice took on a slightly whiny tone. "Besides," he frowned a bit. "Moravar told me to get a room here."
"Moravar? Where is he?"
"He went to Minas Tirith and will be meeting us in a day or so. Please Dan, he will be furious if he comes here and we aren't here."
"You're full of it Julian Moravar would not team up with you unless he has gone stupid or is that desperate and I don't think he could every be that desperate or stupid." Dan now leveled his narrow gaze upon Julian.
Julian seemed at a loss for words. Selwyn rolled her eyes and pushed past Julian and looked to the innkeeper. "Your name is Dan right." She said and smiled behind her veils making her eyes brighten. "Yeah Danduin and you are?" She leaned against the tall counter and said softly. "I'm Selwyn, I can assure you that Moravar is meeting us here in a day or two. He would not break his promise to me."
Julian now just stared at her profile, it was the first he had heard of this promise.
Dan's brows lifted, "Oh?"
"Yes it is a very special promise and he would never break it." She looked off as she spoke. If Julian didn't know her better he would say she was embarrassed.
"Well his usual room is open."
Julian perked right up. "Oh lovely, it has a private bath."
Dan glared at Julian then turned his now softening expression back to her. "It only has 2 beds though."
"That's fine. Julian can share with Patsy." She said brightly, Patsy lifted his head and smiled. "That would be me." Julian scowled and gave in. "Fine Fine can we just get on to the room payment part?"
"2 silver coins a day. Moravar shows up and I will give you back one of those perday."
Julian was about to open his mouth in protest when Selwyn stepped on his toe making him cry out in pain. "We will take it for 2 days at least." She then elbowed Julian in the ribs making him gasp and flinch. "Pay the good man Julian. Come on Patsy, let's get settled in." She held her hand out for the key.
Julian grumbled and growled as he fished four silver coins from his purse. "I like her." Dan said with a grin. "Moravar has good taste." He added. Julian slammed the coins down on the counter. Then stormed off to the stairs that he could hear Selwyn and Pasty taking.
Julian caught up with the giggling pair half way down the hall. "What Promise?" He asked Selwyn. "Huh? Oh that, it got us a room didn't it?"
"What promise?" He asked again.
Selwyn just rolled her eyes at Julian and opened the door to their room. "That is none of your business."
She walked into the room and Patsy looked up at Julian with a grin and shrugged. Julian was seething at the moment, "Oh shut up." He said to Patsy and entered the room. "but I, oh nevermind." Patsy muttered as he drug the bags into the room.
Hilda paced back and forth, her breathing was hard and she grit her teeth together. Haldir watched her for several moments. He had expected this reaction somewhat but not this intense. She stopped in the middle of the room and looked to the door. "Where is Brand?" She finally asked and slowly turned to look at Haldir.
"Hilda," he said gently as he approached her much like he would approach an angry horse. Calmly and slowly. His hand rested upon the curve of her shoulder gently. "Who else should go? Callon? Oh I know let's send Edgar. Though we would need to send him with many pairs of glasses, he breaks them almost as quickly as they can be fashioned." That made Hilda laugh a little.
He drew her into his embrace as she began to calm down. "Gimli is going with me, does that not ease your mind?" This made her laugh even more. "Oh yes that makes me feel better about the whole thing." She said and pushed away to drop down on the edge of the bed and sigh. Her hands massaging her swelling belly.
"You will be gone for weeks Haldir, maybe a month or more. When was the last time you were in the east? When was the last time you went to Dorwinion?"
"I know I am not so well traveled as of late, but I have traveled melleth. I am not some new baby going out into the wild. Like it would be with Callon and Borgil. This is something that must be done and done very quietly."
"Then why are you taking Gimli?"
Haldir looked at her for several moments and pursed his lips together and fought back the laughter that threatened to burst free. Hilda eyed him and finally he laughed and so did she. "He is the best choice, He is strong and loyal. He is also a great diversion should I need one."
"You better come back Haldir." She looked down and said lowly.
"I will melleth." He approached again and bent to place a kiss on her forehead