There! I'm finally getting to update this chapter. Sorry for the long wait! Please review though.

Coronation Surprise Chapter 3

I woke up to find sunlight streaming in through my window, coming to rest on my head. I had fallen asleep last night at the window. My eyes were red and burning, and I washed my face with cold water from the jug sitting on the table where my head had rested that night. I stood, and looked out the window.

The view was breathtaking. Minas Tirith, the white city, shone in all her splendor, and the people below where busy at work, preparing for the festivities of the day: the Coronation of the New King.

Today, these people would be my people. In taking up the throne of my ancestors, I was also taking up the responsibility to protect these people. They trust me. I only hope that I am equal to the role. It is seems hard to believe that this day is here. More than sixty years ago now I was told that I was the Heir of Elendil, and that this was my path.

The next day, I met Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar of her People. I saw her walking in the woods, and it seemed to me that I was walking in a dream, and that I beheld the figure of Lúthien Tinúviel. It was not that maiden of legend – but another. Never in all my life have I beheld a fairer lady… I doubt that even Lúthien could match her in her beauty.

The feeling that Arwen was so tantalizingly close still lingered about me, but in the daylight, I did not feel the wrenching, drowning sorrow that I had felt the night before – only a sad dullness, a resignation to my fate, though Gandalf's words still haunted my ears. Elrond had told me that I was worthy of Arwen and his blessings only if I became King of Gondor and Anor. Now, I was king, but Arwen was gone.

A knock on the door brought me out of my unpleasant musings, and a young boy came in, carrying my breakfast on a silver plate. He bowed deeply, so deeply that I feared I would have to dive for my breakfast, and then placed the tray in front of me. "My lord," he spoke, "I hope you slept well. Your garments for today have been laid out" – pointing over at a chair covered in fine cloth – " and Gandalf the White Wizard asks that you remain in your chambers until the ceremony this afternoon." The boy looked positively faint after having delivered such an important message.

"Thank you," I simply said, and smiled at the boy; I was glad that I would have at least this morning to myself. I was sure Gandalf had something to do with it.

After the boy had left, I glanced at my breakfast. Though I had no appetite, my instincts told to me eat when I could, and so I did. The food was good, a lightly prepared meal consisting of mostly fruit. After I had eaten as much as I could, I rose and paced the chambers, exploring the room one more time. I had looked most everywhere, but I felt that there was still some secret that it bore.

I ran my hand along the wall, and over the tapestry that covered it. It was an intricate weaving done by someone who was obviously very talented – though perhaps not as talented as the elves. The scene depicted the forging of the Silmarilli by Fëanor. Looking at it I felt a stab – it depicted the lands of Valinor, where Arwen would roam for all eternity.

I traced the jewels that had been sown into the fabric, and suddenly I felt that there was some sort of an indentation or impression in the wall, and I pulled back the tapestry to get a closer look.

I found myself looking at an ornate door. It appeared to be made of very light wood; I would not be surprised if it was elfin-made. I gently pulled the latch string – for it had no doorknob – and the noise that it made when I opened the door showed that it had not been opened for many ages. I stepped into the room, and immediately a cloud of dust set upon me. I coughed and covered my mouth with my sleeve, and peered through the dust into the eerie twilight of the room.

There were faint beams of sun coming through faded though heavy curtains, and the air smelled of strange and exhilarating scents of long-ago ages. It seemed like the solemnity that filled the room now was foreign to it, that it was meant to be a place of joy and laughter. I strode across the floor feelingly, almost reverently, and slowly drew back the heavy curtains, letting full sunlight into the room for what was probably the first time in ages.

I inhaled sharply as I took in the features of the room. There was a very old fashioned little cradle, with a faded white covering on one end. The floor was made of gleaming marble, as everything else in the castle was, but there were soft, thick woven rugs covering it.  A little, elfin-made rocking horse stood in one corner, and there were shelves filled with toys and books, most of which where inlaid with jewels and decorated in shining mithril. A tapestry with the bejeweled Tree of Gondor hung on one side of the wall, and there was a comfortable, sturdy looking rocking chair in the corner by the window across from me. The chamber was wide and airy, and looked as though it was made for sunlight and a fresh breeze. I drew the rest of the curtain back and fully opened the window, and let the room breathe.

I wandered over to the little crib. There were branches and leaves carved into it, and little flowers with tiny gems. Inside the crib there was a soft and downy blanket made for soft little heads, though now only dust rested there. I ran my hand along the carvings in a sense of wonder. I wandered around the rest of the room. On one shelf, I found a bejeweled sword that was light as air and blunt as water; it seemed to have been intended for tiny warriors. And on another shelf, there was a little doll with a regal but friendly face, dressed in the most exquisite and most outdated clothes I had ever seen on anyone. The books in the shelves where filled with beautiful illustrations of legends and stories – some I knew, and others I did not.

I wandered around the room in amazement, as though in a spell. This room was made for the royal children, and the toys must have been gifts from the Kings and Queens of old; their worth I did not even dare to guess at. I had seen treasures such as these in the House of Elrond. When one King after another died childless, this room must have been sealed up and forgotten about.

I felt lucky that I had found it.

There! That's done… another one in the works… please review! I