Ariel sat under the White Tree in the Court of the Fountain waiting for her
father's council to end. Unfortunately for her it was a long wait. She had
walked with Mardon and the messenger towards the King's hall but had
stopped in the courtyard, as she knew that she would not to attend the
council. Now she was sitting by herself longing to hear the outcome.
Finally the council ended and Mardon walked with Galimir and the others that had attended the council outside. He saw Ariel sitting under the White Tree and quickly looked away. He did not wish to give her the news, he knew that she would be told but he did not want to be the one to tell her.
Ariel watched the men walk past and looked at Mardon's face as he walked past and knew the result of the council. The men were followed by Eldarion soon after and Ariel stood up to greet him. His face was grim and seemed to sadden when he saw his sister. "What's wrong?" Ariel asked as he drew closer.
Eldarion sat down under the tree and Ariel sat beside him. "Our father is sending a company of men to Ithilien to assist with a new battle," He told her and Ariel was silent for a moment. "Will you be going also?" She asked. "Yes, I shall be going, and as our father is remaining here he has put me in charge."
"When will you be leaving?" Ariel asked, knowing that it would be soon. "Tomorrow morning," He told her. "As long as everything can be arranged this afternoon. We will be leaving early so we can travel for longer, we are hoping to reach the camp in Ithilien by nightfall," Eldarion said.
Ariel was then silent and asked no more questions, her face was full of thought and sadness. Her brother placed his hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry, I will lead our people to victory just as our father did fifty years ago. And I shall return," He said. "There are many things that need to be done," Eldarion rose and turned to face his sister. She stood also and they embraced each other.
As Ariel watched her brother's retreating figure she remembered her sister's words. 'You have a gift, perhaps there is some reason why you have learnt to wield a sword.' Ariel then turned and walked towards the doors of her father's hall. "I wish to see my father," She told the doorwarden.
Finally the council ended and Mardon walked with Galimir and the others that had attended the council outside. He saw Ariel sitting under the White Tree and quickly looked away. He did not wish to give her the news, he knew that she would be told but he did not want to be the one to tell her.
Ariel watched the men walk past and looked at Mardon's face as he walked past and knew the result of the council. The men were followed by Eldarion soon after and Ariel stood up to greet him. His face was grim and seemed to sadden when he saw his sister. "What's wrong?" Ariel asked as he drew closer.
Eldarion sat down under the tree and Ariel sat beside him. "Our father is sending a company of men to Ithilien to assist with a new battle," He told her and Ariel was silent for a moment. "Will you be going also?" She asked. "Yes, I shall be going, and as our father is remaining here he has put me in charge."
"When will you be leaving?" Ariel asked, knowing that it would be soon. "Tomorrow morning," He told her. "As long as everything can be arranged this afternoon. We will be leaving early so we can travel for longer, we are hoping to reach the camp in Ithilien by nightfall," Eldarion said.
Ariel was then silent and asked no more questions, her face was full of thought and sadness. Her brother placed his hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry, I will lead our people to victory just as our father did fifty years ago. And I shall return," He said. "There are many things that need to be done," Eldarion rose and turned to face his sister. She stood also and they embraced each other.
As Ariel watched her brother's retreating figure she remembered her sister's words. 'You have a gift, perhaps there is some reason why you have learnt to wield a sword.' Ariel then turned and walked towards the doors of her father's hall. "I wish to see my father," She told the doorwarden.
