Author's Note--More thanks to all who have reviewed and e-mailed to offer encouragement and advice! If this chapter seems somewhat unlikely, I refer you to the Bardings of Esgaroth, in the Hobbit.
The next morning the wind was from the North, a reminder that winter had not quite losed its grip upon us. I was of a mind to stay within doors, but returning to my rooms after breakfast, I passed Faramir and Eowyn going out for their usual morning walk. Eowyn, who had not been well supplied of clothing on her arrival, was wearing a new cloak, dark blue and very beautiful, with stars about the hem and neck in silver. It suited her golden fairness.
"Good morrow, my lady, my lord," I greeted them with a casual wave.
"Will you not come out this morning, Hethlin?" inquired Eowyn.
"Nay, my lady. For it is cold! I have an appointment to keep with my hearth and a couple of good books."
"And you call yourself a Ranger!" jested Faramir.
"Indeed I do, my lord. And willingly, when on duty, will I brave all manner of discomforts and weathers for the good of Gondor. But when off duty, I will seek my comforts, that I may better appreciate exactly what it is I'm defending!"
"How curious! Merry said much the same thing to me this morning!" laughed Eowyn. Look close, my lord--does she seem shorter than yesterday?"
Faramir eyed me appraisingly. "Perhaps she does. This sudden love of comfort is suspicious! I must consult with my loremasters--this could be the explanation for the origin of the Halflings!"
I gave Faramir a dry look. "Did I mention that, along with the weather, I must also suffer the abuse of my superiors?" He grinned, and I shook my head.
"Enjoy your walk, you two."
"We thought to go up on the wall," said Faramir, drawing Eowyn away.
"By all means!" I called after him. "There's all sorts of clean, crisp air out there--and you'll feel it all on the wall!" They laughed, and I returned to my hearth, poked up my fire, pulled off my boots, and curled up back in bed with my clothes on, and the blue book of Dol Amroth. But I found myself unable to concentrate, or indeed rest easily. I laid the Elvish aside, and picked up one of the books Faramir had lent me, but that was no better. There was a heaviness in the air, a louring, and I was uneasy. Suddenly, my bed covers seemed too entangling, almost clutching at me, and I struggled out from underneath them, cursing my ribs and shoulder.
Out might be better than in after all. I threw the tabard of the Tower guard on over my jerkin, and slung my stained and faded Ranger cloak on over that. For no good reason that I could tell, other than it made me feel better, I buckled on my father's sword. Then I left the Houses of Healing, but not to go into the gardens. For the first time in a long time, I went out into the City.
Overhead, clouds scudded by, grey and drear. There was something wrong about the very quality of the light, and the City was unusually quiet. The second circle, where many of the houses of the wealthy were, was never very noisy, but I slowly made my way down as far as the fifth, and the silence was everywhere. People were in the streets, going about their business, but they did it slowly, and looking over their shoulders. Knots of them gathered upon street corners, talking amongst themselves, but quietly. There were no arguments, no sounds of children laughing, no street vendors hawking their wares. The City Guard were uneasy as well, standing with their hands upon their sword hilts, responding unconsciously to the feeling in the air. One of them saw me, and waved me over.
"You came from the upper circles," he said. "Has there been any news? We have not seen a courier in days, but I thought one might have gone up a back way, and we missed him."
"Nay. I was with the Steward himself but a short time ago, and he said naught."
"The army would have had time to reach the Black Gate by now, would they not?" His eyes were constantly roaming, looking for threats.
"Aye, if they met no resistance along the way, they should be there right now, Valar save them."
"Valar save them," he responded automatically. Then he looked at me sadly. "An ill thing it would be, to gain a king at last and lose him so quickly."
I looked upward, to the second circle, and could dimly discern a blue and gold shape upon the walls, a black-clad one close by.
"Aye. An ill thing indeed. Many would be saddened by such a loss." And I saluted him, and departed, and began the long, slow trudge back upward. For a feeling was upon me that I should seek high ground.
In time, I passed the second circle and came to the Citadel itself, though I had to rest a couple of times, for it was uphill, and I had not walked so far in a long while. My ribs were paining me, but I ignored them, and gave the password to the gate guards, and so gained entrance to the Citadel ramparts, the highest point in the city save the tower of Ecthelion, to which I did not have access.
I went to the eastmost point of the wall, and from there, I looked further east still, to the Mountains of Shadow. I thought about my friends, and what they were doing at this moment, for I knew in my heart that battle had been joined at last.
It was said that the land before the Black Gate was bare and ruined, pocked with pits and crevasses. There was no good high ground, and nothing to fortify. As few in number as they were, they would have to form a shield wall to be effective, which meant that the Rohirrim and the Swan Knights would have had to send their beloved horses to the rear, and fight on foot. The Rangers would be in the second rank, shooting over the heads of the first, picking their targets, and making each arrow count, Mablung cursing anyone who shot too quickly without taking proper aim. The Grey Company? I imagined they would be with their Chieftain and King, Mithrandir too--he had been a great sponsor of Aragorn's. Elladan and Elrohir would stand with him as well, as his foster kinsmen, bringing war to Sauron even as had their father in ages past. I could almost see Elrohir's devilish grin, defiant in the face of certain doom. And poor little sweet-faced Pippin--hopefully Mithrandir would keep him close, since he'd been so lost to reason as to let the halfling ride with them. I knew that Merry missed him sorely.
How the Rohirrim and Swan Knights would be deployed, I did not know. Perhaps on either flank, with the men of Gondor in the middle. I sent a special prayer forth on behalf of the Prince Imrahil, who was so dear to Faramir, and so important to his well-being. And another on behalf of King Eomer, who I did not know, for Eowyn's sake. There were enough of us kin-wrecked by this war already--she did not need to be another. The third, and last, was for my friends the Rangers--Mablung, Anborn, Damrod and all the others. Please preserve them, I asked the Valar, and bring them safely home. Please.
No sooner had I done so when the wind that had blown so strongly all that morn suddenly failed, all the color seemed to leach out of everything, and a vast silence fell. I thought at first that I might have fallen into a waking vision, as I had done when Faramir questioned me about the Witch-King. Then I looked down and saw that all the people in the City were standing absolutely still and waiting for they knew not what. A great darkness began to rise above the mountains in the East, and it swelled enormously and seemed to loom over us, and there was lightning in it. And I felt the very walls of the City beneath me, walls that were founded by men who remembered the lost arts of Westernesse, I felt those walls tremble on their foundations, and a vast sigh rise up from the very land itself.
I was wondering if the City itself was mourning, if even now the man who would be king of Gondor was falling beneath his standard, when suddenly the wind rose again, and blew the cloud wrack away, and the Sun came out. I looked down at the second circle, and saw that Faramir and Eowyn had drawn close together--was he kissing her?--but that didn't even matter, for suddenly, my heart was filled with joy, and I knew that something wonderful had happened. And I turned my face up to the Sun, and cried out in gladness, and below me in the City, people were doing the same, and many of them were singing, and the few boys left in the City were dashing about and whooping with glee.
I was still on the wall, basking in the Sun, when the Eagle came with his great news of the overthrow of Sauron, and the return of the King. And I heard his words, but scarce noted them, for at the very sight of him, a light blossomed in my heart and my mind, and I seemed to know him, and how the wind felt beneath his wings, and how the world looked unfurling so far below. He gave his great news, and I loved the look of him soaring high in the sky, then he turned to fly eastward once more, and I was filled with sorrow at losing something so precious to me that I'd never known I was missing. And I held out my hand in entreaty, and called out, something wordless but forlorn.
And lo! the Eagle's wing dipped, and he came about, and to my wonder and delight flew straight back towards me. The guards cried out in alarm, and scattered to give him room as he backwinged in to land upon the ramparts. His great claws grated upon the stone as he turned his head and regarded me with one huge, molten gold eye.
"You are far from your eyries in the North, nestling."
I bowed very low. "I was fledged in the South, Windlord." Something prompted me to add, "My kill is yours." The Eagle dipped his head in acknowledgment.
"And my kill is yours, nestling. Are there others of your house here?"
"Nay, Windlord. Hethlin daughter of Halaran am I, but my father and family were slain three years ago."
"So your nest is now empty. My sorrow to you." I bowed once more, in acknowledgment of his courtesy, and he continued. "I did not ever speak to Halaran, but I knew of him. My brother Landroval bespoke him more than once, and will be grieved to hear of his death. You should get you North, nestling, and find a mate and build a new nest, that the House of the Eagle not end."
Much as I loved and admired the Eagle, I was not prepared to discuss my dynastic prospects with him. "Perhaps I shall, Windlord. Can you give me news of certain Lords who rode forth? The Swan Lord, and the King of Rohan--do they still live? And the sons of Elrond? And how fared the Captain of the Ithilien Rangers?"
He gave a cawing sort of chuckle. "Keen my eyes are, but they do not mark every man in an army! Are you certain there are not one or two more you would know of?" I blushed, but persisted.
"Well, now that you mention it, the halfling, Pippin. I had forgotten him." The Eagle blinked, and cocked his head so that he was looking at me from the other eye.
"The little one is somewhat hurt. A troll fell upon him. But the King will heal him, it is hoped." I was grieved, for though I'd never even spoken to Pippin, he was one of my favorite people by virtue of his service to Faramir. I wondered again what had possessed the wizard to include him in the army.
"As to the others--the Swan Lord and the King of Rohan are unscathed, as are the sons of Elrond. Though one of those could do with a bit of scathing, if you ask me!" I pondered the possible sorts of mayhem Elrohir could have done to the Eagle, and grimaced sympathetically. "The Captain of the Rangers....hmmm, would he be a somewhat broad man, clad in green and brown, with an interesting command of your human tongue?" I smiled happily.
"Aye, that's Mablung."
"He took an orc arrow in the arm, late in the battle. His language became even more interesting after that. But I do not believe it was poisoned, and he took no further wound, though he was most wroth that he could no longer shoot."
"My thanks to you for the news, Windlord."
"It is my pleasure, daughter of the House of the Eagle. Should you come North to build your nest, we would be glad. But now, I must return to the Armies--it has been a busy morning, and there may be somewhat more that Mithrandir wants me to do." He dipped his head politely, and I bowed again, and once more words came unbidden to me.
"Fair air and good hunting, Windlord."
"And to you, nestling." And he turned about on the wall, spread his wings, fell forward into the air, and soared off. Leaving me with a warm feeling beneath my breastbone, news both happy and sad to impart to others--and a number of extremely amazed guards, who cleared out of my way in a hurry as I made my way back downstairs. I could feel many eyes upon me as I passed through the courtyard and out the gate of the Citadel, but I heeded them not, and walked with my head high, for I was Hethlin of the House of the Eagle, and if a Windlord deigned to have speech with me, well, that was all in a day's work.
Returning to the Houses of Healing, I found that Faramir and Eowyn were in the gardens once more, sitting together, and he had her hands in his and looked very happy. And despite her assertions about the Lord Aragorn yesterday, she did not seem to mind his attentions. Faramir greeted me as I came up.
"Finally decided to brave the weather, did you, Heth?"
"I've been out for quite a while, my lord. I went down to the fifth circle earlier, then up to the Citadel. And I have news."
"Better news than that which we already have?" Perhaps his happiness was not all due to the Lady of Rohan. Beyond all expectation the war was over, and he must have been feeling as giddy as a man who had had a death sentence commuted.
"Not better, but more specific. I was on the Citadel ramparts, and bespoke the Eagle, and thought to ask him for news of your kin. And yours as well, Lady," I turned to Eowyn.
"The Eagle spoke to you?" Faramir asked, amazed.
"Well, he was speaking to everyone in the City, wasn't he? It wasn't as if he couldn't talk! Yes, he spoke to me. Apparently, his brother knew my father, or something like that. Just add it to the evergrowing list of things my father never told me."
"What did he tell you?"
"That I should return to the North, and build a nest." Eowyn's eyes widened, and she hid her mouth behind her hand. Faramir just raised his eyebrows. "But as concerns your business--Prince Imrahil and King Eomer are both alive and well, or were when he left them this morning."
Faramir sighed deeply, and his shoulders slumped a little, a lessening of tension that told me he must have been worried indeed for his uncle's safety. Eowyn sighed as well, and her eyes were suspiciously bright, but she kept her composure.
"Oh, these are glad tidings indeed, Hethlin! Thank you for bringing them!" she exclaimed.
"I would that all my news were as good. The halfling, Pippin, is injured. Not deathly so, I think, from the way the Eagle was talking, but seriously enough. Apparently, a troll fell upon him. The King was going to heal him. My lady, would you be so kind as to tell Merry? I don't know him all that well, and such news always comes better from a friend."
"Of course. I will seek him out presently."
"My lord, I forgot your cousin Elphir was with your uncle. I did not think to ask after him."
"That's all right, Hethlin. I expect you had a few things on your mind. Speaking to Eagles!" he chuckled. "Did you ask about Mablung?"
"Aye. He took an arrow in the arm, late in the battle, and couldn't shoot anymore. But he's not too sorely injured."
"Then they were probably wishing he'd been hurt worse before the end. He's always most inclined to tell others how to conduct their business when he can't fight himself."
"My lord, with the king returning, does this mean you're out of a job?"
Faramir looked thoughtful. "I don't know, Heth. I don't think so--kings need stewards to take care of the little day-to-day matters of running a kingdom. My family were stewards before they became the Ruling Stewards, after all. I suppose it is possible that the Lord Aragorn might prefer someone else, perhaps one of his Northern kindred, to be his steward. If that were the case, I am sure he would allow me to serve him in some capacity--the house of Mardil has only been keeping his throne for him for several hundred years now!"
"The Lord Aragorn is an honorable man," declared Eowyn, "and I am sure he will reward you most appropriately for your service to Gondor, my lord." He gave her hands a gentle squeeze, and smiled, then turned back to me.
"If it's your captaincy you're worried about, Heth, all I can say is that I will do all I can to see that you get it. In Ithilien now, of course--you'll be getting a new roster when the Rangers return. I'm sorry you and Lorend had to do so much work forming the old company!"
"That's quite all right, my lord, we needed the practice. And I much prefer a company patrolling Ithilien to a doomed fight on the City walls with no hope of victory! Do you really think the King will confirm my appointment?"
"We will hope that he will acknowledge that I have the best understanding of the area and the situation, and will let my recommendations stand. Which are for two Ranger garrisons in Ithilien, in the north and the south. I want you for the north, at Henneth Annun, and I want Mablung for South Ithilien. North Ithilien will be the easier of the two, I think, with such a well established base of operations, and that's why you're going there, since you do not have the experience Mablung has." I nodded my agreement.
"That would be the best. Though now that things are different, are you sure you would not rather make me a lieutenant instead?"
"What is this, Heth? Cold feet? No, captain you are, captain you will remain."
"But Damrod, and Anborn....they know far more of such things than I."
"If Damrod and Anborn both live, they will be lieutenants. Mablung will have Damrod for his second. Anborn has no desire to command--he has told me so on any number of occaisions. I'll let him decide where he wants to serve."
"Captain Hethlin, might I compliment you on the becoming modesty you have discovered since yesterday?" Eowyn twitted me with a grin. I got somewhat pink. "To be so willing to give up the rank you were so ardently defending but a day ago! It shows great depth of character!" Faramir looked at her, puzzled. I shook my head, and got pinker still.
"Don't even ask," I told him, but Eowyn continued on, anyway. She had an instinct for the jugular, that was for sure.
"Oh, it was my fault, really. I expressed my disbelief that she could be qualified to be a captain, and she presented me with many forceful arguments as to why she was, and in the end I was convinced."
Faramir looked somewhat worriedly at the both of us for a moment, perhaps sensing past trouble, but was reassured by the lack of animosity between us. "Well then, it seems we must convince her to present those same arguments to herself, and maybe then there will be an end to all this waffling." I went from pink to red.
"Sir!
Eowyn laughed, but it was a kindly laugh. "Do not tell me you never had doubts as a new commander, my lord! You must give her at the very least the time you were given to adjust to your exalted position!" Faramir smiled at her, and conceeded.
"Very well then, Heth--I won't tease you any more about it."
"Thank you, my lord, I would appreciate that. But while we are on the subject, I had a thought." Actually, I was desperate to talk of something else, anything else. "There is little enough Lorend and I can do about the garrison till the Captains return, or we are fit enough to travel. But while I don't think I could ride to Henneth-Annun right now, I could certainly ride a desk. With your permission, I would like to offer my services to Lord Hurin for the time being. I write a fair hand, and I am tired of sitting about here idly." Eowyn unconsciously nodded agreement at that. "It may be that there is some clerk work I could do that would free up one of his able-bodied men to serve in some other capacity."
Faramir considered this, and nodded. "That is well thought of, Heth, and I give my permission, and will speak to Hurin today. Come to think of it, there is much I need to be doing myself! The King is returning! I shall have to consult with the loremasters, and determine and prepare the proper ceremonies, and there is all the damage done to the City that must be repaired, or at least begun to be so. All the people will be returning, and many others will undoubtedly come for the coronation! We must see that they are all housed, and fed, and that order is kept in the City. I fear, my fair lady," and this was addressed to Eowyn, "that business may keep me from spending the time with you that you deserve, or that I would wish."
Eowyn smiled graciously. "So long as you do not forget me entirely, my lord, I will be content. You need not explain to me about the responsibilities of rule! If I may aid you in any capacity, please tell me, for I too am somewhat restless and would have useful work to do."
"My lady, you have done work enough! By your valor was the Captain of our Enemy slain, and in no small way did you contribute to the survival of our City. You are still not well, and I would not wish to face your brother's wrath, should he return here and find you less than rested and in good health. So rest, and heal--that is your job, and your duty."
Eowyn looked somewhat disconsolate. Without thinking about what I was doing, I said, "My lord, the lady speaks and writes our tongue as well as any of us. Let her aid you in some way." She smiled upon me in surprised gratitude, but Faramir did not notice.
"What, and have the King of Rohan come and find I've turned his sister into my clerk? It would not be appropriate, Heth! But I have had another thought. There is no use in you going to Hurin, when he would just have to supply me with staff. You know my habits, so it makes more sense for you to assist me directly, and Lorend too, if he is able. The two of you report to me at the Citadel tomorrow morning at the second hour past dawn. The time is past when I should have been up and about my duty." That was plainly dismissal, so I bowed to him, and to Eowyn, and left to return to my hearth and books at last, a somewhat surprised victor in a battle of a war whose rules I was still trying to understand.
The next morning the wind was from the North, a reminder that winter had not quite losed its grip upon us. I was of a mind to stay within doors, but returning to my rooms after breakfast, I passed Faramir and Eowyn going out for their usual morning walk. Eowyn, who had not been well supplied of clothing on her arrival, was wearing a new cloak, dark blue and very beautiful, with stars about the hem and neck in silver. It suited her golden fairness.
"Good morrow, my lady, my lord," I greeted them with a casual wave.
"Will you not come out this morning, Hethlin?" inquired Eowyn.
"Nay, my lady. For it is cold! I have an appointment to keep with my hearth and a couple of good books."
"And you call yourself a Ranger!" jested Faramir.
"Indeed I do, my lord. And willingly, when on duty, will I brave all manner of discomforts and weathers for the good of Gondor. But when off duty, I will seek my comforts, that I may better appreciate exactly what it is I'm defending!"
"How curious! Merry said much the same thing to me this morning!" laughed Eowyn. Look close, my lord--does she seem shorter than yesterday?"
Faramir eyed me appraisingly. "Perhaps she does. This sudden love of comfort is suspicious! I must consult with my loremasters--this could be the explanation for the origin of the Halflings!"
I gave Faramir a dry look. "Did I mention that, along with the weather, I must also suffer the abuse of my superiors?" He grinned, and I shook my head.
"Enjoy your walk, you two."
"We thought to go up on the wall," said Faramir, drawing Eowyn away.
"By all means!" I called after him. "There's all sorts of clean, crisp air out there--and you'll feel it all on the wall!" They laughed, and I returned to my hearth, poked up my fire, pulled off my boots, and curled up back in bed with my clothes on, and the blue book of Dol Amroth. But I found myself unable to concentrate, or indeed rest easily. I laid the Elvish aside, and picked up one of the books Faramir had lent me, but that was no better. There was a heaviness in the air, a louring, and I was uneasy. Suddenly, my bed covers seemed too entangling, almost clutching at me, and I struggled out from underneath them, cursing my ribs and shoulder.
Out might be better than in after all. I threw the tabard of the Tower guard on over my jerkin, and slung my stained and faded Ranger cloak on over that. For no good reason that I could tell, other than it made me feel better, I buckled on my father's sword. Then I left the Houses of Healing, but not to go into the gardens. For the first time in a long time, I went out into the City.
Overhead, clouds scudded by, grey and drear. There was something wrong about the very quality of the light, and the City was unusually quiet. The second circle, where many of the houses of the wealthy were, was never very noisy, but I slowly made my way down as far as the fifth, and the silence was everywhere. People were in the streets, going about their business, but they did it slowly, and looking over their shoulders. Knots of them gathered upon street corners, talking amongst themselves, but quietly. There were no arguments, no sounds of children laughing, no street vendors hawking their wares. The City Guard were uneasy as well, standing with their hands upon their sword hilts, responding unconsciously to the feeling in the air. One of them saw me, and waved me over.
"You came from the upper circles," he said. "Has there been any news? We have not seen a courier in days, but I thought one might have gone up a back way, and we missed him."
"Nay. I was with the Steward himself but a short time ago, and he said naught."
"The army would have had time to reach the Black Gate by now, would they not?" His eyes were constantly roaming, looking for threats.
"Aye, if they met no resistance along the way, they should be there right now, Valar save them."
"Valar save them," he responded automatically. Then he looked at me sadly. "An ill thing it would be, to gain a king at last and lose him so quickly."
I looked upward, to the second circle, and could dimly discern a blue and gold shape upon the walls, a black-clad one close by.
"Aye. An ill thing indeed. Many would be saddened by such a loss." And I saluted him, and departed, and began the long, slow trudge back upward. For a feeling was upon me that I should seek high ground.
In time, I passed the second circle and came to the Citadel itself, though I had to rest a couple of times, for it was uphill, and I had not walked so far in a long while. My ribs were paining me, but I ignored them, and gave the password to the gate guards, and so gained entrance to the Citadel ramparts, the highest point in the city save the tower of Ecthelion, to which I did not have access.
I went to the eastmost point of the wall, and from there, I looked further east still, to the Mountains of Shadow. I thought about my friends, and what they were doing at this moment, for I knew in my heart that battle had been joined at last.
It was said that the land before the Black Gate was bare and ruined, pocked with pits and crevasses. There was no good high ground, and nothing to fortify. As few in number as they were, they would have to form a shield wall to be effective, which meant that the Rohirrim and the Swan Knights would have had to send their beloved horses to the rear, and fight on foot. The Rangers would be in the second rank, shooting over the heads of the first, picking their targets, and making each arrow count, Mablung cursing anyone who shot too quickly without taking proper aim. The Grey Company? I imagined they would be with their Chieftain and King, Mithrandir too--he had been a great sponsor of Aragorn's. Elladan and Elrohir would stand with him as well, as his foster kinsmen, bringing war to Sauron even as had their father in ages past. I could almost see Elrohir's devilish grin, defiant in the face of certain doom. And poor little sweet-faced Pippin--hopefully Mithrandir would keep him close, since he'd been so lost to reason as to let the halfling ride with them. I knew that Merry missed him sorely.
How the Rohirrim and Swan Knights would be deployed, I did not know. Perhaps on either flank, with the men of Gondor in the middle. I sent a special prayer forth on behalf of the Prince Imrahil, who was so dear to Faramir, and so important to his well-being. And another on behalf of King Eomer, who I did not know, for Eowyn's sake. There were enough of us kin-wrecked by this war already--she did not need to be another. The third, and last, was for my friends the Rangers--Mablung, Anborn, Damrod and all the others. Please preserve them, I asked the Valar, and bring them safely home. Please.
No sooner had I done so when the wind that had blown so strongly all that morn suddenly failed, all the color seemed to leach out of everything, and a vast silence fell. I thought at first that I might have fallen into a waking vision, as I had done when Faramir questioned me about the Witch-King. Then I looked down and saw that all the people in the City were standing absolutely still and waiting for they knew not what. A great darkness began to rise above the mountains in the East, and it swelled enormously and seemed to loom over us, and there was lightning in it. And I felt the very walls of the City beneath me, walls that were founded by men who remembered the lost arts of Westernesse, I felt those walls tremble on their foundations, and a vast sigh rise up from the very land itself.
I was wondering if the City itself was mourning, if even now the man who would be king of Gondor was falling beneath his standard, when suddenly the wind rose again, and blew the cloud wrack away, and the Sun came out. I looked down at the second circle, and saw that Faramir and Eowyn had drawn close together--was he kissing her?--but that didn't even matter, for suddenly, my heart was filled with joy, and I knew that something wonderful had happened. And I turned my face up to the Sun, and cried out in gladness, and below me in the City, people were doing the same, and many of them were singing, and the few boys left in the City were dashing about and whooping with glee.
I was still on the wall, basking in the Sun, when the Eagle came with his great news of the overthrow of Sauron, and the return of the King. And I heard his words, but scarce noted them, for at the very sight of him, a light blossomed in my heart and my mind, and I seemed to know him, and how the wind felt beneath his wings, and how the world looked unfurling so far below. He gave his great news, and I loved the look of him soaring high in the sky, then he turned to fly eastward once more, and I was filled with sorrow at losing something so precious to me that I'd never known I was missing. And I held out my hand in entreaty, and called out, something wordless but forlorn.
And lo! the Eagle's wing dipped, and he came about, and to my wonder and delight flew straight back towards me. The guards cried out in alarm, and scattered to give him room as he backwinged in to land upon the ramparts. His great claws grated upon the stone as he turned his head and regarded me with one huge, molten gold eye.
"You are far from your eyries in the North, nestling."
I bowed very low. "I was fledged in the South, Windlord." Something prompted me to add, "My kill is yours." The Eagle dipped his head in acknowledgment.
"And my kill is yours, nestling. Are there others of your house here?"
"Nay, Windlord. Hethlin daughter of Halaran am I, but my father and family were slain three years ago."
"So your nest is now empty. My sorrow to you." I bowed once more, in acknowledgment of his courtesy, and he continued. "I did not ever speak to Halaran, but I knew of him. My brother Landroval bespoke him more than once, and will be grieved to hear of his death. You should get you North, nestling, and find a mate and build a new nest, that the House of the Eagle not end."
Much as I loved and admired the Eagle, I was not prepared to discuss my dynastic prospects with him. "Perhaps I shall, Windlord. Can you give me news of certain Lords who rode forth? The Swan Lord, and the King of Rohan--do they still live? And the sons of Elrond? And how fared the Captain of the Ithilien Rangers?"
He gave a cawing sort of chuckle. "Keen my eyes are, but they do not mark every man in an army! Are you certain there are not one or two more you would know of?" I blushed, but persisted.
"Well, now that you mention it, the halfling, Pippin. I had forgotten him." The Eagle blinked, and cocked his head so that he was looking at me from the other eye.
"The little one is somewhat hurt. A troll fell upon him. But the King will heal him, it is hoped." I was grieved, for though I'd never even spoken to Pippin, he was one of my favorite people by virtue of his service to Faramir. I wondered again what had possessed the wizard to include him in the army.
"As to the others--the Swan Lord and the King of Rohan are unscathed, as are the sons of Elrond. Though one of those could do with a bit of scathing, if you ask me!" I pondered the possible sorts of mayhem Elrohir could have done to the Eagle, and grimaced sympathetically. "The Captain of the Rangers....hmmm, would he be a somewhat broad man, clad in green and brown, with an interesting command of your human tongue?" I smiled happily.
"Aye, that's Mablung."
"He took an orc arrow in the arm, late in the battle. His language became even more interesting after that. But I do not believe it was poisoned, and he took no further wound, though he was most wroth that he could no longer shoot."
"My thanks to you for the news, Windlord."
"It is my pleasure, daughter of the House of the Eagle. Should you come North to build your nest, we would be glad. But now, I must return to the Armies--it has been a busy morning, and there may be somewhat more that Mithrandir wants me to do." He dipped his head politely, and I bowed again, and once more words came unbidden to me.
"Fair air and good hunting, Windlord."
"And to you, nestling." And he turned about on the wall, spread his wings, fell forward into the air, and soared off. Leaving me with a warm feeling beneath my breastbone, news both happy and sad to impart to others--and a number of extremely amazed guards, who cleared out of my way in a hurry as I made my way back downstairs. I could feel many eyes upon me as I passed through the courtyard and out the gate of the Citadel, but I heeded them not, and walked with my head high, for I was Hethlin of the House of the Eagle, and if a Windlord deigned to have speech with me, well, that was all in a day's work.
Returning to the Houses of Healing, I found that Faramir and Eowyn were in the gardens once more, sitting together, and he had her hands in his and looked very happy. And despite her assertions about the Lord Aragorn yesterday, she did not seem to mind his attentions. Faramir greeted me as I came up.
"Finally decided to brave the weather, did you, Heth?"
"I've been out for quite a while, my lord. I went down to the fifth circle earlier, then up to the Citadel. And I have news."
"Better news than that which we already have?" Perhaps his happiness was not all due to the Lady of Rohan. Beyond all expectation the war was over, and he must have been feeling as giddy as a man who had had a death sentence commuted.
"Not better, but more specific. I was on the Citadel ramparts, and bespoke the Eagle, and thought to ask him for news of your kin. And yours as well, Lady," I turned to Eowyn.
"The Eagle spoke to you?" Faramir asked, amazed.
"Well, he was speaking to everyone in the City, wasn't he? It wasn't as if he couldn't talk! Yes, he spoke to me. Apparently, his brother knew my father, or something like that. Just add it to the evergrowing list of things my father never told me."
"What did he tell you?"
"That I should return to the North, and build a nest." Eowyn's eyes widened, and she hid her mouth behind her hand. Faramir just raised his eyebrows. "But as concerns your business--Prince Imrahil and King Eomer are both alive and well, or were when he left them this morning."
Faramir sighed deeply, and his shoulders slumped a little, a lessening of tension that told me he must have been worried indeed for his uncle's safety. Eowyn sighed as well, and her eyes were suspiciously bright, but she kept her composure.
"Oh, these are glad tidings indeed, Hethlin! Thank you for bringing them!" she exclaimed.
"I would that all my news were as good. The halfling, Pippin, is injured. Not deathly so, I think, from the way the Eagle was talking, but seriously enough. Apparently, a troll fell upon him. The King was going to heal him. My lady, would you be so kind as to tell Merry? I don't know him all that well, and such news always comes better from a friend."
"Of course. I will seek him out presently."
"My lord, I forgot your cousin Elphir was with your uncle. I did not think to ask after him."
"That's all right, Hethlin. I expect you had a few things on your mind. Speaking to Eagles!" he chuckled. "Did you ask about Mablung?"
"Aye. He took an arrow in the arm, late in the battle, and couldn't shoot anymore. But he's not too sorely injured."
"Then they were probably wishing he'd been hurt worse before the end. He's always most inclined to tell others how to conduct their business when he can't fight himself."
"My lord, with the king returning, does this mean you're out of a job?"
Faramir looked thoughtful. "I don't know, Heth. I don't think so--kings need stewards to take care of the little day-to-day matters of running a kingdom. My family were stewards before they became the Ruling Stewards, after all. I suppose it is possible that the Lord Aragorn might prefer someone else, perhaps one of his Northern kindred, to be his steward. If that were the case, I am sure he would allow me to serve him in some capacity--the house of Mardil has only been keeping his throne for him for several hundred years now!"
"The Lord Aragorn is an honorable man," declared Eowyn, "and I am sure he will reward you most appropriately for your service to Gondor, my lord." He gave her hands a gentle squeeze, and smiled, then turned back to me.
"If it's your captaincy you're worried about, Heth, all I can say is that I will do all I can to see that you get it. In Ithilien now, of course--you'll be getting a new roster when the Rangers return. I'm sorry you and Lorend had to do so much work forming the old company!"
"That's quite all right, my lord, we needed the practice. And I much prefer a company patrolling Ithilien to a doomed fight on the City walls with no hope of victory! Do you really think the King will confirm my appointment?"
"We will hope that he will acknowledge that I have the best understanding of the area and the situation, and will let my recommendations stand. Which are for two Ranger garrisons in Ithilien, in the north and the south. I want you for the north, at Henneth Annun, and I want Mablung for South Ithilien. North Ithilien will be the easier of the two, I think, with such a well established base of operations, and that's why you're going there, since you do not have the experience Mablung has." I nodded my agreement.
"That would be the best. Though now that things are different, are you sure you would not rather make me a lieutenant instead?"
"What is this, Heth? Cold feet? No, captain you are, captain you will remain."
"But Damrod, and Anborn....they know far more of such things than I."
"If Damrod and Anborn both live, they will be lieutenants. Mablung will have Damrod for his second. Anborn has no desire to command--he has told me so on any number of occaisions. I'll let him decide where he wants to serve."
"Captain Hethlin, might I compliment you on the becoming modesty you have discovered since yesterday?" Eowyn twitted me with a grin. I got somewhat pink. "To be so willing to give up the rank you were so ardently defending but a day ago! It shows great depth of character!" Faramir looked at her, puzzled. I shook my head, and got pinker still.
"Don't even ask," I told him, but Eowyn continued on, anyway. She had an instinct for the jugular, that was for sure.
"Oh, it was my fault, really. I expressed my disbelief that she could be qualified to be a captain, and she presented me with many forceful arguments as to why she was, and in the end I was convinced."
Faramir looked somewhat worriedly at the both of us for a moment, perhaps sensing past trouble, but was reassured by the lack of animosity between us. "Well then, it seems we must convince her to present those same arguments to herself, and maybe then there will be an end to all this waffling." I went from pink to red.
"Sir!
Eowyn laughed, but it was a kindly laugh. "Do not tell me you never had doubts as a new commander, my lord! You must give her at the very least the time you were given to adjust to your exalted position!" Faramir smiled at her, and conceeded.
"Very well then, Heth--I won't tease you any more about it."
"Thank you, my lord, I would appreciate that. But while we are on the subject, I had a thought." Actually, I was desperate to talk of something else, anything else. "There is little enough Lorend and I can do about the garrison till the Captains return, or we are fit enough to travel. But while I don't think I could ride to Henneth-Annun right now, I could certainly ride a desk. With your permission, I would like to offer my services to Lord Hurin for the time being. I write a fair hand, and I am tired of sitting about here idly." Eowyn unconsciously nodded agreement at that. "It may be that there is some clerk work I could do that would free up one of his able-bodied men to serve in some other capacity."
Faramir considered this, and nodded. "That is well thought of, Heth, and I give my permission, and will speak to Hurin today. Come to think of it, there is much I need to be doing myself! The King is returning! I shall have to consult with the loremasters, and determine and prepare the proper ceremonies, and there is all the damage done to the City that must be repaired, or at least begun to be so. All the people will be returning, and many others will undoubtedly come for the coronation! We must see that they are all housed, and fed, and that order is kept in the City. I fear, my fair lady," and this was addressed to Eowyn, "that business may keep me from spending the time with you that you deserve, or that I would wish."
Eowyn smiled graciously. "So long as you do not forget me entirely, my lord, I will be content. You need not explain to me about the responsibilities of rule! If I may aid you in any capacity, please tell me, for I too am somewhat restless and would have useful work to do."
"My lady, you have done work enough! By your valor was the Captain of our Enemy slain, and in no small way did you contribute to the survival of our City. You are still not well, and I would not wish to face your brother's wrath, should he return here and find you less than rested and in good health. So rest, and heal--that is your job, and your duty."
Eowyn looked somewhat disconsolate. Without thinking about what I was doing, I said, "My lord, the lady speaks and writes our tongue as well as any of us. Let her aid you in some way." She smiled upon me in surprised gratitude, but Faramir did not notice.
"What, and have the King of Rohan come and find I've turned his sister into my clerk? It would not be appropriate, Heth! But I have had another thought. There is no use in you going to Hurin, when he would just have to supply me with staff. You know my habits, so it makes more sense for you to assist me directly, and Lorend too, if he is able. The two of you report to me at the Citadel tomorrow morning at the second hour past dawn. The time is past when I should have been up and about my duty." That was plainly dismissal, so I bowed to him, and to Eowyn, and left to return to my hearth and books at last, a somewhat surprised victor in a battle of a war whose rules I was still trying to understand.