Title: When in Rohan
Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Prequel to 'Luthien's flute' The family visit Eomer in Rohan, only to meet the fret of the army of Ohtarba
Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Lord of the rings' the whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien
Chapter 10
Farewell to the fallen
Emotions ran high in the days that followed the great battle, children had lost their fathers, women had lost their husbands. As Arwen walked amongst the wounded, in the healing wing, she felt unbelievable guilt for feeling such contentment at have her family still with her, all healthy and strong. Aragorn was still confined to his bed, extremely irritated by all the fuss that was being made of him. Of course Galadwen and Legolas were the heroes of the hour, and were praised by all they passed.
Ithiliwen sat beside an old woman's bed, tears streaking her cold face. She held her hand in silence, too frightened to let go. Arwen walked over to the young Princess and rested her hand on her shoulder.
"She has passed?"
Ithiliwen looked up at the Elven Queen in awe, as always, and nodded. Arwen knelt beside the girl and hugged her to her side, causing her to let go of the woman's hand.
"She was our cook Nella, she has been with us since the days of my great uncle Theoden. They broke through and then moments later they all fell, but it was too late." She wiped her tears on the back of her sleeve, holding on to Arwen for comfort.
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Aragorn puffed on his pipe, content and comfortable for the first time in a long time. Legolas and Gimli were sat around his bed, all recounting their own stories of the battle.
"Of course this isn't the first time I have had to come to your rescue Aragorn." The Dwarf tore in to a chicken leg, the grease running down his chin, making the Elf turn away in revolution.
Aragorn's eyebrows rose. "Is that right."
"At the battle of Helms Deep, the wall was blown apart and you plummeted to the ground. A rabble of Uruks were upon you and I came to you rescue."
Aragorn and Legolas shared a subtle look before turning away.
"You would have certainly met your death had I not risked my own life by leaping from the wall." Gimli chuckled and tossed the bare bones of his chicken on to the floor.
Aragorn tried to smile and be the bigger man but the Dwarf needed to be taken down to his 'actual height'.
"I have never saved your life? Eomer would have decapitated you had I not stepped in as peacemaker during your first meeting." He puffed some more on his pipe, not quite so relaxed as he was.
Gimli tried to rise in his seat, to make himself taller. "Which one of us was too stupid to let go of the Warg, thus plummeting to his death?"
Legolas tried not to smile, but failed miserably, for a brief moment he considered escaping before it got out of hand. "I think I will go and check on Galadwen, make sure her arm is healing well."
Aragorn and Gimli ignored the Elf and continued to bicker.
"I did not plummet to my death, im hear now aren't I?" Even Aragorn couldn't believe this, it was usually Legolas that failed to rise above the Dwarf's remarks.
"Who slowed us down in our chase of the Uruk-hai over the plains of Rohan?" Aragorn sat up a little more in his bed and placed his pipe on the side table.
Legolas decided to try and slip away once more. "I said I think I will go and see how-"
"Whose idea was it to enter Fangorn forest?" Gimli eyed the King, looking not so noble.
Aragorn pushed himself right up in bed and, clutching his wound, and scowled. "Who was too short to jump from the ledge to the walk way at Helms Deep, thus needing me to toss him?"
Gimli took in a deep breath of shock, he looked at his old friend in disbelief.
"Gimli I am sorry I shouldn't have said that." Aragorn realised he had broken his friends confidence and felt extremely bad. Legolas, on the other hand, broke in to a huge smile. He turned to face Gimli, a smugness playing on his face, words were not needed to rub it in.
Gimli got off his chair, his head held high, and started to walk to the door. He turned back and looked at Aragon. "You took it too far Aragorn." He left the room and slammed the door shut. For a moment Aragorn and Legolas looked down in silence and shame at hurting their friend's feelings. Aragorn make the mistake of looking over at the Elf and catching his eye. They both burst out laughing, knowing that Gimli would not stay angry for very long.
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The wind blew fireclay along the plain, as though sensing the sorrow that hung in the air. The Gondorians and the Rohirrim, dressed smartly in their uniforms, were stood either side of the burials. Aragorn and his family, along with Eomer and his, were stood in front of the tombs. The villages, families of the fallen soldiers, were weeping as they watched their loved ones being placed on their graves.
Eomer nodded to Ithiliwen, who to Eldarion now stood as and an old woman blessed with beauty and youth. The weight of what she had seen in the past few weeks had clearly changed her, her soul would forever be a little heavier.
She composed herself and stepped forward, meeting Galadwen by the side of the graves. The two Princess stood side by side, ambassadors for their people. They were to bless the soldiers passing, a tribute from both man and Elf, they stood tall and proud of their heritage as they readied to sing the men in to their final sleep. Ithiliwen was to sing the song of the Rohirrim first.
"Where now the horse and rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harp string, and the red fire glowing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone in the West behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the sea returning?"
Galadwen smiled at Ithiliwen sadly and stepped forward to give a farewell from the Elves.
"mori i ndor tuup
wanwa i talant
e lumbule autron sii
oira ron kaima
astald other lye en luume
esta e talar i
winya me'a sil en estel
winya re anoron"
*Darkness covers the land
And lost are the fallen.
In to shadow they now go
Eternal shall be their sleep
Brave warriors of our time
Rest in the grounds embrace
A new light of hope shall shine
A new day shall dawn*
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"I have news." Faramir found Aragorn later that day in the hall. "Peregrin Took is to visit from the Shire. He should arrive in minas Tirith soon after we." Faramir looked at the King, smiling through painful memories of the night Pippin saved him from the hand of his own father, before glancing around at the golden hall, making sure his brother in law was no where to be found.
"Besides the sooner we leave here the better. Years have passed now and he still looks upon me as though I have corrupted his little sister. You would think I had dishonoured her in some way, the was he acts."
Aragorn laughed and nodded. "Yes I think we are all eager to see home."