A/N: Sorry this took forever! Well, you all know I own only Niliwen, and
any original characters in this chapter. So review, enjoy and keep your
fingers crossed for the next chapter!
Pipeweed and Athelas Just Don't Mix
Summer was rather uneventful in Ithilien, but October brought a few surprises and discoveries. For one thing, Masters Meriadoc and Peregrin rode to Gondor, along with King Éomer and Queen Lothíriel of Rohan. Well, that visit was enough to bring some variety back to life in Ithilien. After several archery lessons over the summer, I was wishing for something else to do other than finding my lost arrows. As of now, I'm still struggling with my aim, though my arrows go really far.
I forgot to mention one thing. I discovered that my old friends Elaniwel and Tonigil were working in the Houses of Healing. More on that point later.
But I digress as usual. I was walking back to Emyn Arnen one nice cool day in October, when a breeze blew my cloak away. I ran after it, and I found it lying on the path not far from where I was. As I ran to get it, I heard a horse neigh and stop, kicking up a cloud of dust in my direction. When the dust cleared, I saw the King of Rohan atop his horse, in front of me.
"Excuse me miss, but is this the way to the Steward's house in Emyn Arnen?" he asked me. Honestly, he scared me. He's so tall, and I'm pretty short. No, I'm not hobbit-blooded! And I was praying he didn't remember my little scrapes during his wedding!
"Oh.umm.ah.Good afternoon your majesty. It's a lovely day isn't it? Umm.you're on the right track actually. I can take you there if you want your majesty" I stammered.
"King Éomer! Who are you talking to?" I heard an unfamiliar male voice call.
"An attendant of the Lord and Lady of Ithilien" the King said. I cringed. Perhaps he did remember.
Then, I saw Queen Lothíriel and two hobbits ride up to where we were. After greeting them, I learned that the two hobbits were no other than Masters Meriadoc and Peregrin of the Shire. (Meriadoc was also called Master Holdwine of the Mark).
When the guests arrived at the house, of course Faramir and Éowyn were glad to see them. I was praying that as a host and not a guest, I would behave better. I didn't have to speak Rohirric this time around.
The first few days of the visit were great, but on the fourth day, that was when I found myself in hot water again. Beregond admitted once that when I'm on my best behavior, I'm great to have around, but when I'm klutzy, then I'm very dangerous.
It was about breakfast time when this happened. I found some of Meriadoc's pipeweed lying on a side table on my way to the dining room. Perhaps curiosity did get the better of me this time around, considering the fact that I found Peregrin's pipe too.
Anyway, I took the pipe and the weed out to the back garden, where I'd found a great patch of athelas not far from the wall yesterday. Nobody knew about this yet, but since Éowyn and I were planning to go to the Houses of Healing, I decided to break my news today. But first, a minor experiment was top on my to-do list after my chores were done.
Sometimes, it pays to have wet sticks and hands incapable of producing sparks. No sooner had I mixed some athelas and pipeweed together, a spark came from a stick and set the mixture alight. Now athelas smells good, so does pipeweed, but they're not exactly fragrant when mixed and burned. Gagging and retching, I dropped the pipe and ran straight into the house---right smack into Masters Merry and Pippin. (I learned their nicknames eventually)
"Have you seen my pipe?" Pippin asked me.
"Umm, I was using it for a minor experiment" I said sheepishly.
"Does that explain why my pipeweed is missing?" Merry asked.
"What in the blazes is that?" I heard Éomer yell from the dining room.
"Right, I need some water or something" I said as I dashed into the kitchen to find some water to put out the pipe.
But by the time I left the kitchen, Merry and Pippin had found the pipe and brought it into the house with its contents still smoldering. Double uh-oh.
"Does that answer your question, brother?" Faramir said.
"What's in that thing?" Lothíriel asked asked.
"Galenas and asea aranion" I said, a blush creeping along my cheeks.
"Why are you smoking that stuff?" Pippin looked up at me.
"I wasn't smoking!" I exclaimed.
'Reminds me about the time Pip here tried to smoke carrot leaves and pipeweed" Merry snickered.
"Well, you're on the right track, but I repeat, I don't smoke" I said.
"Did you mention athelas a while ago?" I heard Éowyn ask from the stairway behind me.
"I did. And I found it in the backyard" I said as I turned to look at her. She seemed to be a bit paler than usual, and she looked as if she'd been throwing up the whole morning.
"Are you alright?" Faramir asked her concernedly. That's when I figured something was up.
Éowyn shrugged as she went downstairs to join us. After a while, she ran upstairs again, much to everybody else's surprise (except perhaps for Faramir, Éomer and Lothíriel, who looked rather worried).
"Has she been that ill for sometime?" I finally asked, speaking to nobody in particular.
"Unfortunately, yes. But she refuses to admit anything's wrong with her" Faramir said before he went upstairs too.
"I can go to the City and find a healer" I said.
"Perhaps this time you're right Niliwen" Pippin said as he waved his hand in the air as if to ward off the smoke.
"I don't know what would my sister think of calling the healer. But I suggest you at least tell Faramir what you're going to do" Éomer said.
After breakfast, I picked a few more leaves of athelas and on my way out, I made sure to go upstairs just to tell where I was going. As luck would have it, I met Éowyn while I was walking through the hallway.
"Where are you going?" she asked me.
"To the Houses of Healing, just to drop off this bag of athelas" I said, holding up the pouch I had on my belt.
"You aren't going to tell them I'm sick, will you?" she asked me.
"Éowyn, if that's what I think it is, you're not going to be able to hide it any longer" I said calmly.
She looked at me in horror, as if a secret was out. I just tapped my foot nonchalantly while waiting for her to recover her composure.
"And I thought only Faramir knew. How did you know?" she asked.
"It makes perfect sense really. I noticed you haven't been quite yourself for sometime. Look, it's not a bad thing to have a child" I said.
"We were hoping to keep this secret till sometime around next week or so," Éowyn said severely.
"You may as well tell your brother then while he's here. I swear, I won't breathe a word to Ioreth or anybody till you say I can" I said.
Éowyn thought a while. "I'll have to ask Faramir about that matter. I wonder how did you figure it out. It took me sometime to," she said as a smile began to spread across her pale face.
I laughed. This was my friend speaking, not a patient as I'd begun to see her under these circumstances. It was good to see the Lady of Ithilien showing her old mettle "It takes some time in the Houses of Healing to learn things" I said. I decided to save my congratulations for later.
A while later, I was walking down the road to Minas Tirith, thinking about the new circumstances in Emyn Arnen. Now this was an urgent call for me to grow up. I wanted to be looked at as a big sister, not as an aunt. I didn't want to grow up that fast. But then again, probably I'd end up getting called Aunt Niliwen. I had a few more years to worry about that at least.
I was so deep into thought that I crashed into a familiar figure as I walked into the sixth circle of the City.
"Niliwen, you klutz!' a male voice said to me.
"Sorry Tonigil" I snapped at my friend.
"Dear Valar, what were you thinking about?" Tonigil complained.
"Shut up, and I have errands to run," I said.
"Is there a scuffle going on here?" I heard Ioreth ask.
"Nothing Ioreth. I came here to drop off this bag of athelas, freshly picked," I said as I untied my pouch from my belt.
"So how are things in Ithilien?" Elaniwel asked.
"Fine" I said, remembering what I'd sworn back in the hallway.
"Oh come on, is there anything new?" Tonigil asked.
"No, and if there was, you shouldn't ask me" I said. It was half the truth.
"No way. Ithilien is always changing, I hear' Ioreth said.
"I heard people talking, and everyone's wondering when will there be heirs to the throne.." Tonigil said and Elaniwel jabbed him in the ribs.
"Only time will tell," I said stiffly.
"I have a feeling Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn will be the first to have kids. Isn't that right Niliwen, they'll be the first?" Elaniwel gabbed on.
"Only Eru knows," I said.
Elaniwel looked at me. I forgot that by some quirk of nature, she also had the gift of perception. No, she was not related in anyway to a royal house, but I guess some pure blood of the Edain still ran in her. Then the much-dreaded light of discovery went to her face.
"I'll go tell the King Elessar then. I have to go to the Citadel," she said.
"Elaniwel! I promised Lady Éowyn I wouldn't tell!" I yelled.
"Tell what? I could hear you four from the Citadel windows" I heard Queen Arwen say near us.
"Umm, your majesty! Good morning!" I said courteously.
"Wow, Niliwen has manners" Tonigil sniggered.
"Shut up" I hissed.
"You don't need to tell me anymore. I figured it out just by looking at you, Niliwen and by your conversation" the Queen said. "Give the Lord and Lady of Ithilien our best wishes and congratulations" she said happily.
My jaw dropped as she walked away. When Queen Arwen Undómiel knew of something, soon King Elessar would find out. I guess they never held secrets from each other. I knew Queen Arwen was really happy for her friend. I knew she never held anything against Éowyn anyway. I suspected that after telling her brother and her husband's family, Éowyn would probably tell Queen Arwen next.
But for now, I knew that the news would spread like wildfire, unless the Queen also knew what Éowyn and Faramir wished to do: keep it a secret for sometime. In that case, perhaps the King would know by the end of the day, but certainly not the whole city. But then, the very fact that there was now an heir/heiress to the Stewardship was good news. So probably Queen Arwen wouldn't keep it a secret. All I could do now was run back to Emyn Arnen and await the inevitable, whether it would be next week or by sundown.
I finally arrived at Emyn Arnen, rather out of breath. Much to my surprise, Faramir and Éowyn were sitting on the front porch conversing. I came to a screeching halt in the front yard, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"So how was your errand, Niliwen?" Faramir asked me after the dust settled.
"No problem, but I should tell you.." I began.
"Did you tell anybody?" Éowyn asked me.
"Actually, let's say a certain royal elf did the guesswork after my "friends" and Ioreth pressed me to reveal my secret when we were talking about city gossip" I said.
Faramir shook his head. "I was hoping to tell the King the next time my brother-in-law wanted to visit the city" he sighed.
"What difference does a few days make anyway?" Lothíriel asked as she joined her cousin and her sister-in-law.
"Nothing. People will find out anyway" Éomer said as he joined them.
I left these four to the discussion of affairs in Gondor and Rohan as I went inside to find the hobbits and take them over to Bergil's. I found Pippin and Merry eating their "second breakfast" in the dining room.
"Come on, do you want to go to Beregond's house?" I asked.
"After second breakfast" Pippin said.
"I thought we're going to the City" Merry said.
"I just came from there, but for all we know, we night end up going there in the afternoon" I said.
"Did the news leak out yet?" Pippin asked.
"Faster than the crow flies" I joked as I reached for a roll.
A/N: Well, a bit out of season but it will do fine. I needed to post this chapter quick! So have a heart, review this and give me your input on whether the kid should be a boy or a girl and any possible names. See you again soon! Namarie!
Pipeweed and Athelas Just Don't Mix
Summer was rather uneventful in Ithilien, but October brought a few surprises and discoveries. For one thing, Masters Meriadoc and Peregrin rode to Gondor, along with King Éomer and Queen Lothíriel of Rohan. Well, that visit was enough to bring some variety back to life in Ithilien. After several archery lessons over the summer, I was wishing for something else to do other than finding my lost arrows. As of now, I'm still struggling with my aim, though my arrows go really far.
I forgot to mention one thing. I discovered that my old friends Elaniwel and Tonigil were working in the Houses of Healing. More on that point later.
But I digress as usual. I was walking back to Emyn Arnen one nice cool day in October, when a breeze blew my cloak away. I ran after it, and I found it lying on the path not far from where I was. As I ran to get it, I heard a horse neigh and stop, kicking up a cloud of dust in my direction. When the dust cleared, I saw the King of Rohan atop his horse, in front of me.
"Excuse me miss, but is this the way to the Steward's house in Emyn Arnen?" he asked me. Honestly, he scared me. He's so tall, and I'm pretty short. No, I'm not hobbit-blooded! And I was praying he didn't remember my little scrapes during his wedding!
"Oh.umm.ah.Good afternoon your majesty. It's a lovely day isn't it? Umm.you're on the right track actually. I can take you there if you want your majesty" I stammered.
"King Éomer! Who are you talking to?" I heard an unfamiliar male voice call.
"An attendant of the Lord and Lady of Ithilien" the King said. I cringed. Perhaps he did remember.
Then, I saw Queen Lothíriel and two hobbits ride up to where we were. After greeting them, I learned that the two hobbits were no other than Masters Meriadoc and Peregrin of the Shire. (Meriadoc was also called Master Holdwine of the Mark).
When the guests arrived at the house, of course Faramir and Éowyn were glad to see them. I was praying that as a host and not a guest, I would behave better. I didn't have to speak Rohirric this time around.
The first few days of the visit were great, but on the fourth day, that was when I found myself in hot water again. Beregond admitted once that when I'm on my best behavior, I'm great to have around, but when I'm klutzy, then I'm very dangerous.
It was about breakfast time when this happened. I found some of Meriadoc's pipeweed lying on a side table on my way to the dining room. Perhaps curiosity did get the better of me this time around, considering the fact that I found Peregrin's pipe too.
Anyway, I took the pipe and the weed out to the back garden, where I'd found a great patch of athelas not far from the wall yesterday. Nobody knew about this yet, but since Éowyn and I were planning to go to the Houses of Healing, I decided to break my news today. But first, a minor experiment was top on my to-do list after my chores were done.
Sometimes, it pays to have wet sticks and hands incapable of producing sparks. No sooner had I mixed some athelas and pipeweed together, a spark came from a stick and set the mixture alight. Now athelas smells good, so does pipeweed, but they're not exactly fragrant when mixed and burned. Gagging and retching, I dropped the pipe and ran straight into the house---right smack into Masters Merry and Pippin. (I learned their nicknames eventually)
"Have you seen my pipe?" Pippin asked me.
"Umm, I was using it for a minor experiment" I said sheepishly.
"Does that explain why my pipeweed is missing?" Merry asked.
"What in the blazes is that?" I heard Éomer yell from the dining room.
"Right, I need some water or something" I said as I dashed into the kitchen to find some water to put out the pipe.
But by the time I left the kitchen, Merry and Pippin had found the pipe and brought it into the house with its contents still smoldering. Double uh-oh.
"Does that answer your question, brother?" Faramir said.
"What's in that thing?" Lothíriel asked asked.
"Galenas and asea aranion" I said, a blush creeping along my cheeks.
"Why are you smoking that stuff?" Pippin looked up at me.
"I wasn't smoking!" I exclaimed.
'Reminds me about the time Pip here tried to smoke carrot leaves and pipeweed" Merry snickered.
"Well, you're on the right track, but I repeat, I don't smoke" I said.
"Did you mention athelas a while ago?" I heard Éowyn ask from the stairway behind me.
"I did. And I found it in the backyard" I said as I turned to look at her. She seemed to be a bit paler than usual, and she looked as if she'd been throwing up the whole morning.
"Are you alright?" Faramir asked her concernedly. That's when I figured something was up.
Éowyn shrugged as she went downstairs to join us. After a while, she ran upstairs again, much to everybody else's surprise (except perhaps for Faramir, Éomer and Lothíriel, who looked rather worried).
"Has she been that ill for sometime?" I finally asked, speaking to nobody in particular.
"Unfortunately, yes. But she refuses to admit anything's wrong with her" Faramir said before he went upstairs too.
"I can go to the City and find a healer" I said.
"Perhaps this time you're right Niliwen" Pippin said as he waved his hand in the air as if to ward off the smoke.
"I don't know what would my sister think of calling the healer. But I suggest you at least tell Faramir what you're going to do" Éomer said.
After breakfast, I picked a few more leaves of athelas and on my way out, I made sure to go upstairs just to tell where I was going. As luck would have it, I met Éowyn while I was walking through the hallway.
"Where are you going?" she asked me.
"To the Houses of Healing, just to drop off this bag of athelas" I said, holding up the pouch I had on my belt.
"You aren't going to tell them I'm sick, will you?" she asked me.
"Éowyn, if that's what I think it is, you're not going to be able to hide it any longer" I said calmly.
She looked at me in horror, as if a secret was out. I just tapped my foot nonchalantly while waiting for her to recover her composure.
"And I thought only Faramir knew. How did you know?" she asked.
"It makes perfect sense really. I noticed you haven't been quite yourself for sometime. Look, it's not a bad thing to have a child" I said.
"We were hoping to keep this secret till sometime around next week or so," Éowyn said severely.
"You may as well tell your brother then while he's here. I swear, I won't breathe a word to Ioreth or anybody till you say I can" I said.
Éowyn thought a while. "I'll have to ask Faramir about that matter. I wonder how did you figure it out. It took me sometime to," she said as a smile began to spread across her pale face.
I laughed. This was my friend speaking, not a patient as I'd begun to see her under these circumstances. It was good to see the Lady of Ithilien showing her old mettle "It takes some time in the Houses of Healing to learn things" I said. I decided to save my congratulations for later.
A while later, I was walking down the road to Minas Tirith, thinking about the new circumstances in Emyn Arnen. Now this was an urgent call for me to grow up. I wanted to be looked at as a big sister, not as an aunt. I didn't want to grow up that fast. But then again, probably I'd end up getting called Aunt Niliwen. I had a few more years to worry about that at least.
I was so deep into thought that I crashed into a familiar figure as I walked into the sixth circle of the City.
"Niliwen, you klutz!' a male voice said to me.
"Sorry Tonigil" I snapped at my friend.
"Dear Valar, what were you thinking about?" Tonigil complained.
"Shut up, and I have errands to run," I said.
"Is there a scuffle going on here?" I heard Ioreth ask.
"Nothing Ioreth. I came here to drop off this bag of athelas, freshly picked," I said as I untied my pouch from my belt.
"So how are things in Ithilien?" Elaniwel asked.
"Fine" I said, remembering what I'd sworn back in the hallway.
"Oh come on, is there anything new?" Tonigil asked.
"No, and if there was, you shouldn't ask me" I said. It was half the truth.
"No way. Ithilien is always changing, I hear' Ioreth said.
"I heard people talking, and everyone's wondering when will there be heirs to the throne.." Tonigil said and Elaniwel jabbed him in the ribs.
"Only time will tell," I said stiffly.
"I have a feeling Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn will be the first to have kids. Isn't that right Niliwen, they'll be the first?" Elaniwel gabbed on.
"Only Eru knows," I said.
Elaniwel looked at me. I forgot that by some quirk of nature, she also had the gift of perception. No, she was not related in anyway to a royal house, but I guess some pure blood of the Edain still ran in her. Then the much-dreaded light of discovery went to her face.
"I'll go tell the King Elessar then. I have to go to the Citadel," she said.
"Elaniwel! I promised Lady Éowyn I wouldn't tell!" I yelled.
"Tell what? I could hear you four from the Citadel windows" I heard Queen Arwen say near us.
"Umm, your majesty! Good morning!" I said courteously.
"Wow, Niliwen has manners" Tonigil sniggered.
"Shut up" I hissed.
"You don't need to tell me anymore. I figured it out just by looking at you, Niliwen and by your conversation" the Queen said. "Give the Lord and Lady of Ithilien our best wishes and congratulations" she said happily.
My jaw dropped as she walked away. When Queen Arwen Undómiel knew of something, soon King Elessar would find out. I guess they never held secrets from each other. I knew Queen Arwen was really happy for her friend. I knew she never held anything against Éowyn anyway. I suspected that after telling her brother and her husband's family, Éowyn would probably tell Queen Arwen next.
But for now, I knew that the news would spread like wildfire, unless the Queen also knew what Éowyn and Faramir wished to do: keep it a secret for sometime. In that case, perhaps the King would know by the end of the day, but certainly not the whole city. But then, the very fact that there was now an heir/heiress to the Stewardship was good news. So probably Queen Arwen wouldn't keep it a secret. All I could do now was run back to Emyn Arnen and await the inevitable, whether it would be next week or by sundown.
I finally arrived at Emyn Arnen, rather out of breath. Much to my surprise, Faramir and Éowyn were sitting on the front porch conversing. I came to a screeching halt in the front yard, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"So how was your errand, Niliwen?" Faramir asked me after the dust settled.
"No problem, but I should tell you.." I began.
"Did you tell anybody?" Éowyn asked me.
"Actually, let's say a certain royal elf did the guesswork after my "friends" and Ioreth pressed me to reveal my secret when we were talking about city gossip" I said.
Faramir shook his head. "I was hoping to tell the King the next time my brother-in-law wanted to visit the city" he sighed.
"What difference does a few days make anyway?" Lothíriel asked as she joined her cousin and her sister-in-law.
"Nothing. People will find out anyway" Éomer said as he joined them.
I left these four to the discussion of affairs in Gondor and Rohan as I went inside to find the hobbits and take them over to Bergil's. I found Pippin and Merry eating their "second breakfast" in the dining room.
"Come on, do you want to go to Beregond's house?" I asked.
"After second breakfast" Pippin said.
"I thought we're going to the City" Merry said.
"I just came from there, but for all we know, we night end up going there in the afternoon" I said.
"Did the news leak out yet?" Pippin asked.
"Faster than the crow flies" I joked as I reached for a roll.
A/N: Well, a bit out of season but it will do fine. I needed to post this chapter quick! So have a heart, review this and give me your input on whether the kid should be a boy or a girl and any possible names. See you again soon! Namarie!