Chapter 30
For a long time, Elandra and I stand under the stars, holding each other. I am reluctant to move, but we must, for we have to see the King.
'Ellie, we must go, for the King will be growing impatient'.
'I know', she says, 'but first, I have something else to say to you.' She reaches up and strokes my face with her fingers, 'When we get back from the Harad, I will marry you, and I care not who does not approve that I take an elf as my husband'.
My arms tighten around her, and as I kiss her, I notice her sweet lips melting against mine, her body pressed against me. How everything has changed in such a short time, now all I sense from my lady is that she is as happy as me.
Reluctantly I cease to kiss her, 'We really must go, love, before we are looked for again.' She smiles her agreement, and we go to Aragorn's council chambers.
'Shall we tell my brother of our betrothal tonight?' she asks me. She senses that I am speechless, and turns to me, her hand once again going to my face, 'I have agreed to be your wife, Haldir, so should we keep it secret?'
'No love, of course not! I am not thinking clearly, for your acceptance of my proposal has frozen my wits!' I answer.
She laughs, and kisses me, the first time ever that she has. 'Come, my archer, we must go,' she says taking my hand, and leading me indoors.
Elandra knocks on the council chamber room, and we enter, and take seats as indicated.
'Where have you two been?' Aragorn asks.
Elandra laughs, and says 'outside brother, and as a result, we have an announcement.'
All eyes turn to me, as such a thing is my place to say, 'My Lord Elessar, your sister, the Princess Elandra, has agreed to be my wife'. A smile fit to crack his face appeared on the face of Gondor's King, as he stood and toasted our future happiness.
'Do you wish to make the announcement formal before you go to the Harad?' one of the councillors asked.
I glance at Elandra, who is giving me a big, happy smile, 'Yes, I think so, it will give the people of Gondor time to adjust to the fact that now the Princess will be marrying an elf.'
'Tomorrow afternoon then, just before you leave, there will be a brief formal betrothal ceremony', Aragorn says.
Elandra smiles happily at me, and at her brother. I am still in shock that what I have so desperately wanted has come to pass, and all I can do is look into her blue eyes.
She tears her gaze from mine, and speaks to her brother, 'what about horses? We really shouldn't take very good ones, but we need something that can handle a hard trip.'
'All taken care of sister. Elladan and Elrohir have spent the last two days seeking suitable animals'.
She nods, satisfied that if the twins have chosen them, then the horses will be quite suitable.
'And clothing, and food, my Lord?' I ask Aragorn.
'All taken care of. And money, maps, extra weapons, and anything I can think of from my trips south in my youth. The only thing that remains is for you and Elandra to check the gear, and add anything personal you may wish to take with you'.
'Very good, my lord', I answer.
Aragorn now dismisses his councillors, and Elandra and I are alone with Gondor's King. He pours three glasses of wine and hands one to each of us.
'Now, Elandra has been to the Harad before,' Aragorn said, unfolding a map, 'you will ride southeast to the trading town of Tyre. There you will exchange your horses for camels, and ride on further to the Oasis of Aswan', he continued, his finger tracing the route we were to take, 'you will wait no longer than eight days there. If your contact, a man called Tefnakht, who is missing his left eye does not contact you, you will continue alone to here, the Wells of Seremna, and there wait for the seasonal arrival of the nomadic desert tribe called the Otoku.' Aragorn's deep grey eyes burned into Elandra's blue eyes, 'and from there, sister, their shaman knows how to proceed'.
'Haldir, your job is be Elandra's private escort. It is be preferred if you keep hidden that you are an elf, and, once linked with the Otoku tribe you may reveal that you are her betrothed.' He is staring as intently at me as he had been at Elandra a moment ago, 'Kinsman to be, you will find this the hardest journey of your immortal life. The desert is harsh, and the sight of nothing but sand, scrub and herds of goats is likely to drive you half out of your mind. You will need all your elvish powers of mind, but I would not be allowing you to accompany Elandra if I thought you could not cope. I have one piece of advice, all your survival skills that you have learned here with be of no use to you. Listen to Elandra when she speaks of desert survival, she knows much, and if you encounter difficulties she has enough knowledge to probably keep you both alive.'
Suddenly the enormity of what Elandra and I are doing hits me, the potential danger of our mission is greater than I had thought, and dry mouthed I find it hard to speak as I answer Aragorn, 'yes, my lord', I manage to say.
'Haldir, in private you may call me Aragorn, or Elessar, as you wish. You don't have to be so formal all the time.' he says
Elandra is giggling at us both, as she asks a question, 'But, Aragorn, we can hardly ride into the Harad, and use our own names',
'True, and that is why you will use the name 'Abilah' has you did when you and I went there 30 years ago, and Haldir will travel in guise of a professional escort called Tranan, you will not use your real names until you have made contact with the shaman of the Otoku tribe. Is this quite clear?' he asks us both.
'Yes', we both say together.
'Good, now you are both dismissed until morning. Be at the Stables mid morning, to check your gear, and we will plan the rest of the day from there. You will be leaving Gondor 5 hours after sunset, it will be late enough and a dark enough night to mask your leaving by then'.
'You expect us to be followed, then?' I ask Aragorn.
'Yes, nothing you can't cope with, but I hope some of the Rangers may take care of that problem before it becomes of any concern to you'.
We bid good evening to Aragorn, and as soon as we are alone, I question Elandra.
'Why is it that only you or Aragorn can do what ever it is that is going to happen? And what does a Shaman have to do with it?
She smiles, 'It is because I was there with Aragorn years ago, the Shaman will be able to determine that I tell the truth about being Gondor's messanger from my being his sister, the ritual is conducted by the Shaman to prove this'. She knows I am worried and tries to reassure me, 'Don't worry, I have experienced the ritual before, with Aragorn and know what to expect, all will be well'.
'And after this primitive ritual, what then?' I ask
'We negotiate on Gondor's behalf for a treaty between us, and the tribes of the Harad'.
'How will this work?' We will be speaking to one tribe, not all.'
'Yes, but this is the ruling tribe. What they agree to, so will the others'.
'I find this confusing, but I bow to your greater experience of these people', I answer. 'Where will you spend what is left of the night, my love.'
'I don't know, any suggestions?' she says, leaning against a carved doorway.
'You could stay in my room?' I ask her, hesitantly. 'I promise to behave, we are both tired, and could use some sleep'.
'Oh, a change from earlier this evening. Why?'
'Now you are promised to me, I can wait for a better time for our relationship to become more intimate, but I would like to sleep next to you this night.'
'I think that sounds a very good idea. I know I will sleep better with my archer to protect me from my bad dreams', she says taking my hand as we walk in the direction of my private quarters.
For a long time, Elandra and I stand under the stars, holding each other. I am reluctant to move, but we must, for we have to see the King.
'Ellie, we must go, for the King will be growing impatient'.
'I know', she says, 'but first, I have something else to say to you.' She reaches up and strokes my face with her fingers, 'When we get back from the Harad, I will marry you, and I care not who does not approve that I take an elf as my husband'.
My arms tighten around her, and as I kiss her, I notice her sweet lips melting against mine, her body pressed against me. How everything has changed in such a short time, now all I sense from my lady is that she is as happy as me.
Reluctantly I cease to kiss her, 'We really must go, love, before we are looked for again.' She smiles her agreement, and we go to Aragorn's council chambers.
'Shall we tell my brother of our betrothal tonight?' she asks me. She senses that I am speechless, and turns to me, her hand once again going to my face, 'I have agreed to be your wife, Haldir, so should we keep it secret?'
'No love, of course not! I am not thinking clearly, for your acceptance of my proposal has frozen my wits!' I answer.
She laughs, and kisses me, the first time ever that she has. 'Come, my archer, we must go,' she says taking my hand, and leading me indoors.
Elandra knocks on the council chamber room, and we enter, and take seats as indicated.
'Where have you two been?' Aragorn asks.
Elandra laughs, and says 'outside brother, and as a result, we have an announcement.'
All eyes turn to me, as such a thing is my place to say, 'My Lord Elessar, your sister, the Princess Elandra, has agreed to be my wife'. A smile fit to crack his face appeared on the face of Gondor's King, as he stood and toasted our future happiness.
'Do you wish to make the announcement formal before you go to the Harad?' one of the councillors asked.
I glance at Elandra, who is giving me a big, happy smile, 'Yes, I think so, it will give the people of Gondor time to adjust to the fact that now the Princess will be marrying an elf.'
'Tomorrow afternoon then, just before you leave, there will be a brief formal betrothal ceremony', Aragorn says.
Elandra smiles happily at me, and at her brother. I am still in shock that what I have so desperately wanted has come to pass, and all I can do is look into her blue eyes.
She tears her gaze from mine, and speaks to her brother, 'what about horses? We really shouldn't take very good ones, but we need something that can handle a hard trip.'
'All taken care of sister. Elladan and Elrohir have spent the last two days seeking suitable animals'.
She nods, satisfied that if the twins have chosen them, then the horses will be quite suitable.
'And clothing, and food, my Lord?' I ask Aragorn.
'All taken care of. And money, maps, extra weapons, and anything I can think of from my trips south in my youth. The only thing that remains is for you and Elandra to check the gear, and add anything personal you may wish to take with you'.
'Very good, my lord', I answer.
Aragorn now dismisses his councillors, and Elandra and I are alone with Gondor's King. He pours three glasses of wine and hands one to each of us.
'Now, Elandra has been to the Harad before,' Aragorn said, unfolding a map, 'you will ride southeast to the trading town of Tyre. There you will exchange your horses for camels, and ride on further to the Oasis of Aswan', he continued, his finger tracing the route we were to take, 'you will wait no longer than eight days there. If your contact, a man called Tefnakht, who is missing his left eye does not contact you, you will continue alone to here, the Wells of Seremna, and there wait for the seasonal arrival of the nomadic desert tribe called the Otoku.' Aragorn's deep grey eyes burned into Elandra's blue eyes, 'and from there, sister, their shaman knows how to proceed'.
'Haldir, your job is be Elandra's private escort. It is be preferred if you keep hidden that you are an elf, and, once linked with the Otoku tribe you may reveal that you are her betrothed.' He is staring as intently at me as he had been at Elandra a moment ago, 'Kinsman to be, you will find this the hardest journey of your immortal life. The desert is harsh, and the sight of nothing but sand, scrub and herds of goats is likely to drive you half out of your mind. You will need all your elvish powers of mind, but I would not be allowing you to accompany Elandra if I thought you could not cope. I have one piece of advice, all your survival skills that you have learned here with be of no use to you. Listen to Elandra when she speaks of desert survival, she knows much, and if you encounter difficulties she has enough knowledge to probably keep you both alive.'
Suddenly the enormity of what Elandra and I are doing hits me, the potential danger of our mission is greater than I had thought, and dry mouthed I find it hard to speak as I answer Aragorn, 'yes, my lord', I manage to say.
'Haldir, in private you may call me Aragorn, or Elessar, as you wish. You don't have to be so formal all the time.' he says
Elandra is giggling at us both, as she asks a question, 'But, Aragorn, we can hardly ride into the Harad, and use our own names',
'True, and that is why you will use the name 'Abilah' has you did when you and I went there 30 years ago, and Haldir will travel in guise of a professional escort called Tranan, you will not use your real names until you have made contact with the shaman of the Otoku tribe. Is this quite clear?' he asks us both.
'Yes', we both say together.
'Good, now you are both dismissed until morning. Be at the Stables mid morning, to check your gear, and we will plan the rest of the day from there. You will be leaving Gondor 5 hours after sunset, it will be late enough and a dark enough night to mask your leaving by then'.
'You expect us to be followed, then?' I ask Aragorn.
'Yes, nothing you can't cope with, but I hope some of the Rangers may take care of that problem before it becomes of any concern to you'.
We bid good evening to Aragorn, and as soon as we are alone, I question Elandra.
'Why is it that only you or Aragorn can do what ever it is that is going to happen? And what does a Shaman have to do with it?
She smiles, 'It is because I was there with Aragorn years ago, the Shaman will be able to determine that I tell the truth about being Gondor's messanger from my being his sister, the ritual is conducted by the Shaman to prove this'. She knows I am worried and tries to reassure me, 'Don't worry, I have experienced the ritual before, with Aragorn and know what to expect, all will be well'.
'And after this primitive ritual, what then?' I ask
'We negotiate on Gondor's behalf for a treaty between us, and the tribes of the Harad'.
'How will this work?' We will be speaking to one tribe, not all.'
'Yes, but this is the ruling tribe. What they agree to, so will the others'.
'I find this confusing, but I bow to your greater experience of these people', I answer. 'Where will you spend what is left of the night, my love.'
'I don't know, any suggestions?' she says, leaning against a carved doorway.
'You could stay in my room?' I ask her, hesitantly. 'I promise to behave, we are both tired, and could use some sleep'.
'Oh, a change from earlier this evening. Why?'
'Now you are promised to me, I can wait for a better time for our relationship to become more intimate, but I would like to sleep next to you this night.'
'I think that sounds a very good idea. I know I will sleep better with my archer to protect me from my bad dreams', she says taking my hand as we walk in the direction of my private quarters.