Chapter 8

October 26, 3037

Eryn fell asleep sitting in Eldarions room as he paced. It was painful to her, seeing him to anxious about leaving. Eldarion looked at her as the sun began to rise. She seemed tiny and angelic as the first rays of sun crept through his window.

In his mind, Eldarion battled with himself whether to wake her or not before he left. She had gotten so little sleep in the past few days, and when he left she probably not find it again, or at least she wouldn't if she loved him the way he loved her.

In the end Eldarion decided to carry Eryn back to her own room and let her sleep. He lifted her gently and cradled her to his chest as he did, Barahir fell loosely from the inside of her dress. Eldarion swallowed hard thinking about how his father would see this, Eldarion loving the one person he was supposed not to.

Eldarion was glad he found no one in the passages as he carried her in the dawn hours to her chambers. It would surely arouse suspicion if he was found carrying her sleeping to her chambers, after she not being there for the night. The other reason he was glad was that there was no one to see him cry.

Nothing in her life could've prepared Eryn for the pain she felt the next morning as she awoke in her own room, the sun past the time that he would have left. Eryn leapt out of her bed and ran all the way downstairs, knowing that he would leave her without a good bye.

She ran out of the main doorway and saw them from afar, a band of horses and a small crowd, biding them farewell. Eryn knew that it would be vain to run to them, and she began to weep. She'd never be there in time to say bid her love farewell.

"My lady," she heard a smooth, pitying voice behind her. Eryn turned and saw Legolas, looking at her sadly. He held the reigns to his horse, Haloisi. He looked her over for a moment before holding the reigns out to her. " You will miss him if you do not hurry," he said quietly. Eryn just stared at him for a moment; his fair elven hair, flowing in the wind, and his blue eyes glistening in the sun. He took another step closer to her and spoke in rapt elvish to his horse. Then he turned back to her,

" You do wish to see him don't you?"

" Legolas, I thought…" she paused, seeing her favorite uncle again.

" You must hurry, we can speak later if you wish." He took her hand and thrust the reigns into it. Then he set his arms around her waist and lifted her onto the horse. Eryn just stared, she'd never have expected this.

" Thank you," she whispered.

" Asca!" (Hurry!) he shouted and slapped the hind quarters of his horse, it sprang away with Eryn riding it. Eryn looked back to where Legolas stood, but he remained motionless and as still as a statue, watching her ride away.

When the horse finally arrived just outside the city to where Elessar and Eldarion was just beginning to say their finally good byes. Eldarion went forward to his father and embraced him. Eowyn and Faramir saw in Eldarion the same man that they had seen when Aragorn had first revealed himself in the War of the Ring, Boromir's Vambraces and all.

Eryn rode through the small crowd. Eldarion looked up at her with shock and sadness. He walked over to her, despite the bewildered looks from their parents. Faramir's eyes widened as he saw Eryn there. Eldarion took no hesitation to sweep her up in his arms and embrace her firmly.

Elessar and Faramir exchanged glances. They looked at them with a soft sadness ebbing at them, another tax onto Eryn's heart. Faramir wondered how much more Eryn would be able to take before it drove her mad.

Elessar instead had the thought of their love for each other ebbing at him. They could not wed, it would break the line of the Kings. Or worse, if Eldarion did not return from this, would Eryn be prepared to act as Steward? Would she even take the responsibility of it when she was so sad.

"I love you," Eldarion whispered to her.

"And I, you," she replied so that no one could hear. "Remember what we talked about?"

"I will return." He said with confidence, but hoarsely.

" Be sure that you do…I will wait for you,"

"What if I do not return and your birthday comes…?" he asked softly.

"I will wait for you, and turn it down." She whispered, they still held their tight embrace and Eryn knew it would be time for him to leave so she pulled back before he could argue.

He took a short bow of respect to her, and she inclined her neck to return it. Tears began to threaten to roll down her cheeks, but she couldn't show how much she cared in front of the King, not in front of Faramir.

Eldarion held her gaze for as long as he dared, then turned to his father.

"When the Orcs are gone, I will return." He said in a kingly voice; a voice that reflected his true heritage rather the ragtag ranger that he grew up as.

" May the blessings of Men go with you, my son…" he said. Eryn saw the sadness in his eyes, but he would not show it. Arwen cried softly behind him. Eryn felt a hand on her shoulder and looked back at Eowyn. Eryn turned and watched as Eldarion mounted his horse and rode to the front of the armies then rode out the front gates commanding them.

Eryn could take it no longer, she allowed the tears to flow, but she did not sob. She wiped her eyes hastily and looked over at Aragorn. One single tear fell down his cheek as he watched his one and only son ride into battle.