A/N) Hopefully the story is getting interesting. The elves will soon re-enter the story (not this chapter – sorry) – and go to war. The Fellowship are getting closer to their goal and Morgoth is growing in strength. I think that sums everything up. Enjoy!

(The song in this chapter is May It Be from the FOTR soundtrack. I just think it's perfect for a scene in this chapter to warrant being in this fic. I do not own it either.)

~Chapter 9~

~Setting the Sails~

As the sun dawned over Minas Tirith, the Lady Éowyn escorted Queen Arwen to her youngest daughter's playroom. The last few days had been tough on them both. Éowyn was worried for Faramir, but Arwen had hardly eaten or spoken to anyone save Éowyn. It pained the Rohan woman of the Queen's discomfort. It was terrible to think of your husband in such grave peril as Aragorn was.

Eowulia sat in the centre of the room with the nanny. The child's short hair was shining a brilliant dark brown in the morning sun that blazed through the windows. She wore a small dress that sparkled with small diamonds around the rim. The nanny held up small blocks of wood that had the various letters that Eowulia needed to identify, but on an opposite side of the blocks was the elvish equivalent. Each child of Aragorn and Arwen was to learn the ancient language of the elves. It was supposed to show their high lineage.

The nanny looked up from what she was doing as the Queen and the Lady entered. She smiled and stood, bowing to the Queen. "What may I do for you, my Queen and Lady?"

As Arwen spoke, the nanny could identify the sadness and the loneliness in the elven voice. The nanny's heart seemed to rip in two as she remembered hearing the dreadful news of what had befallen the King.

"I wish to be with my daughter alone. So I can remember times of happiness and wonder."

The nanny nodded and with Éowyn left the nursery.

Arwen collected Eowulia from the floor and walked towards the window, holding her securely in her arms, humming. As the Queen stood at the window and looked out at the city of Minas Tirith, memories came floating back to Arwen of the time of Eldarion's childhood.

//The sun was shining on a beautiful winter's morning. The Pelennor Fields was covered with white particles, covering the land in a startling colour of white. On this cold day the streets were filled with laughing children and young men and woman as they made and threw snowballs at each other.

Inside the White Tower Arwen stood holding the hand of a small, brown-haired boy. The boy's face was chubby and a smile was playing across his features. The boy was Eldarion, just one and a half years old. Able to walk and talk the boy had been fascinated with the snow falling in the city.

Not allowed to go out the boy and his mother watched out from the tallest tower into the white world. Holding him in her arms, Arwen leaned forward a bit so that the child could touch the snow with his tiny hands. She held Eldarion tightly.

The small fingers crunched around the cold material and smothered the boy's hands with small white particles.

"Are you all right my love?" she asked bouncing him up and down.

"Yeth Mama." The boy replied. Eldarion's speech at that time had not been that good, mainly because he was teething.

Arwen smiled, kissing the boy's head. Movement from behind caught her attention and she looked over her shoulder. Standing in the doorway was Aragorn with their daughter Ancalimé born a few months ago. He held the tiny child in his arms and was humming an elvish tune to her, making the tiny one sleep.

"Who said you could take Ancalimé away from the nursery?" she asked teasingly.

"I did." Aragorn replied, walking over to Arwen and kissing her on the cheek. As he did, Arwen trembled beneath his touch.

They stood there in silence staring out at the city, and finally they put Eldarion and Ancalimé to sleep. Watching them sleep Arwen felt love pouring from her soul.

"I want another one, my Queen." Aragorn murmured.

Arwen glanced at her husband. "So do I."//

As the memory faded Arwen felt tears sliding down her face. She remembered the blissful night she and Aragorn had had that night. Yet they failed to conceive a child. It was not until another four years had passed that she and Aragorn discovered that she was expecting twins. Anawiel and Tiniwiel had been born eight months later.

As memories of the past assaulted her mind, Arwen felt her mind breaking and her spirit falling. And out of the darkness of her heart she heard a voice calling her name: Arwen. Help me.

She let out a shout: "Estel!" that caused Eowulia to start crying, and Éowyn and the nanny rushed into the room. The nanny took the wailing baby from her arms while Éowyn helped calm her.

As Arwen was comforted, her thoughts resided upon Aragorn and what was being done to him.

*****

The Fellowship travelled light for most of the day covering much ground. As always with Eldarion his thoughts were mostly focused upon his father and what was being done to him. He was sure at the moment that his father was fine as Frodo was in no pain at all. The hobbit looked tired and weary of the journey though they had only been the road for just over a week.

The chatter was low. Most thoughts were focused on the battle ahead and what it meant for the Fellowship. They all knew what would happen if they failed. Darkness would roam the lands once more, and no one would be able to survive the onslaught that Morgoth would launch upon Middle-Earth.

Everything rested on the shoulders of those in the Fellowship, but most of all the burden of choices for Eldarion. Already he was on the road to success yet he did not know it. He was travelling the path meant for him, and that included many difficult and terrible choices; some of which he would never have dreamed of doing.

Beside them the river flowed elegantly. The sun's rays reflected from the top and if one looked closely enough you could see the many fishes below. Far off on the horizon laid the sea, and from there was Numenor and Valinor.

The trees were slowly becoming more and more smaller as they descended towards the mouth of the River. Here Gandalf hoped Cirdan would be waiting for them with a boat able to carry them across the sea.

As night came upon them Gandalf made an announcement.

"We should reach the mouth tomorrow. My friend Cirdan should be there. If not we will make camp and await his coming."

The Fellowship settled down for the night. Eldarion sat apart from everyone else. Gimli, Legolas and Faramir spoke quietly to each other. Merry and Pippin pulled out their pipes and began smoking, while Sam and Frodo sat together and Frodo began telling them of the beauty of Valinor.

His words spoke true and rang well within the company. He spoke of the green fields and the many houses made of stone and beautifully crafted. He spoke of the food and water that they could have, but most of all he spoke of the songs he had heard.

Eldarion half-listened to the talk; his thoughts more thoroughly concerned with the well fare of his father. Sitting there beneath the trees he thought about the road he was taking and whether it was the right one or the wrong one. "It's all wrong." He murmured.

The sharp hearing of Legolas caught the boy's words and he glanced up, concern lighting through the blue eyes of the elven Prince. "What's all wrong?"

"Everything that we're doing," he replied. By now all chatter had ceased and everyone's mind was focused on Eldarion. "It should never have happened. I should still be in Minas Tirith with my mother and sisters and father, yet I am out here, far from home, and on a road that I know I'm never going to achieve anything upon. What binds me to this?"

Then a soft voice began to sing. Frodo stood from where he sat and he began to sing. His voice was low and soft, yet the song was sad but comforting to all those around.

May it be an evening star

Shines down upon you

May it be when darkness falls

Your heart will be true

You walk a lonely road

Oh! How are you are from home

Mornie utúlië

Believe and you will find your way

Mornie alantië

A promise lives within you now

May it be shadows call

Will fly away

May it be your journey on

To light the day

When the night is overcome

You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utúlië

Believe and you will find your way

Mornie alantië

A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now

The song ended and Eldarion held Frodo with his eyes. "Where did you learn that?"

"On Valinor. The elves taught it to me. It was to remind me that there is always a road, always a path that we can take. As long as we believe in it, it has a chance of succeeding. I was bound to the Ring, promised to destroy it; you Eldarion are bound to the fate of Morgoth. You have promised to save your father and in that endeavor you mean to destroy the enemy as well."

"I do not think so." The boy replied. "I cannot see myself doing that!" he laughed out loud at the prospect of the idea.

"I thought the same," Frodo remembered, "my task was impossible yet I succeeded with the help of a loyal friend. Sam helped me reach Mount Doom. When I was in the Shire I could not see myself travelling that far, yet when it came to it I knew I was the only one capable of carrying the Ring. We are your friends Eldarion and we will help you all the way on the road that you wish to follow."

"Maybe you are right, maybe you are wrong. We will see when my fate finally arrives at me feet." Eldarion said, gazing upwards into the stars and thinking longingly of the White City shining elegantly on the Fields of the Pelennor.

All was silent in the small camp and eventually the hobbits dozed off to sleep as the stars twinkled above them in the evening sky.

*****

The sun was shining high in the sky when Eldarion woke from his slumber. He looked around before noticing the others all beginning to rise. The sun was beating down on the trees they rested beneath, and the hot air caused the men, the hobbits and the dwarf to sweat. Legolas and Gandalf were unaffected by this.

"I thought we were only to rest a few hours?" Eldarion said.

"We were," Gandalf explained, "yet we are all tired and needed the rest. Besides the boats going to Numenor need to be ahead of us. We cannot hope to save Aragorn if he has not reached Numenor when we get there."

Within half-an-hour the company was ready for departure. Gandalf led them to the waterside and looked up and down the river. A small smile spread across his features. "They have passed us. That is good news. We cannot overtake them at the pace we are going. By the end of today the boats will have begun the journey across the sea."

Eldarion shook his head. First the wizard had said it was important to rescue Aragorn, the next was that they should wait until Numenor! //Gandalf knows something//

"How long will it take us to get to Cirdan?" Pippin asked as the company moved on forward following the flow of the River towards the sea.

"Nearly a whole day if we keep at the pace we are going. We cannot afford to stop for rest. One of the main reasons why you were allowed to sleep in this morning instead of being woken. Last night may very well have been your last sleep in Middle-Earth."

"We're going to leave it today?" Sam asked.

"Yes. We are losing time."

Gandalf pushed the company onward for most of the day, the mouth of the river drawing ever closer. As the sun descended the sea came into view. As it was still light Gandalf steered them towards the glittering beach, which seemed to sparkle everywhere. No one save Gandalf and Frodo had ever seen the beaches of Valinor.

Then as they strode across the beach Gandalf pointed to the horizon to a black spot which rose high. "That is Numenor." Not far off they could see the shapes of the enemy boats fading into the West.

"That is our destination." Frodo said. "The land of the enemy." He sighed and thoughts of Mordor came to his mind. "It reminds me of Mordor."

"It shouldn't do. Mordor was a barren wasteland. Numenor was a land full of great statue workings and the beauty of men could be seen in them. The land was well cared for. Morgoth does not need Numenor apart from where he can launch his assault upon Valinor." Gandalf said. "Come we are not far from where Cirdan should be meeting us."

The company now trod on swishing their feet through the crystal sand and sending particles flying into the air. The sea breeze ruffled Legolas' hair sending it upwards. The elf laughed as Gimli tried unsuccessfully to keep the elf's hair down.

"Let the wind take it."

"It's in my way!" Gimli complained.

"Stand in front of me." Legolas commanded, pushing the dwarf in front of him.

At last a bay came into view and sitting at the man-made dock was a beautifully crafted elven ship. Its sails were floating in the wind. The wood was fine and shined in the sun.

Standing beside the boat was Cirdan. He embraced Gandalf as the wizard stood next to him. Briefly Gandalf spoke of what had occurred and that they needed to set sail at once. Cirdan nodded and finally conceded to allow them to leave the shores.

The shipwright blessed them all before stepping aside to allow them access to the boat. Legolas was the first to step aboard and as he did he felt a longing in his heart for the shores of his real home: Valinor. His heart yearned to be reunited with his family, yet he knew that it was not yet the time for it. He was honour bound to Eldarion and until he was killed or the bond broken then Legolas was bound to where the Prince went.

"Now don't get any funny ideas elf." Gimli mocked as he noticed the peaceful, serene face of the elf. "I don't want you leaving me just yet!"

"Don't worry I won't," the elf smiled back, "I have so much still left in Middle-Earth. Why would I leave it? Besides Gimli I would prefer to remain with you then waste our friendship through my leaving."

"That is very thoughtful my friend." The dwarf murmured, quite surprised by the elf's reply.

"Yes mellon-nin I will remain for our friendship. I will not disappear during your lifetime, neither in Aragorn's."

"That's if we all survive this."

Once everyone was ready Cirdan untied each mooring. With the aid of the sea wind and the help of the Fellowship, the boat soon pushed off from the harbour. Cirdan watched them leave wishing fervently that none of this had happened. He now had a long journey to the Grey Havens.

The ship that Frodo christened: The White Gulls took little time in reaching the main sea. Numenor rose on the horizon. Eldarion watched as the sea went by and Middle-Earth faded from sight.

The boats ahead were coming closer. The Prince of Gondor realised that as they crossed the sea, his destiny was coming closer and faster then ever before. Unlike Frodo, Eldarion had no idea what he had to do and how he needed to achieve it. All he knew was that his goal was to rescue his father, but in what way he had no clue.

"How long Mithrandir?" Legolas asked, "Till we arrive at Numenor?"

"Hopefully tomorrow morning we should come in sight of Numenor. We should arrive there during the day tomorrow. By then Aragorn will be there."

"Are the elves coming to help?" Faramir asked suddenly.

"They should do," Frodo answered, "they are tied to Morgoth's fate. Didn't you send a signal to Valinor, Gandalf?"

"I did. If they got it then they should be getting ready for battle. This now comes to the next part in this war. I will be leaving you once we get to Numenor. I must join the elves and lead them. Eldarion will lead you from there into the heart of the enemy's realm. Frodo, you have seen a map of Numenor, you should be able to lead them if they steer on the wrong path."

"I will. I won't fail you." The hobbit replied.

The news had an astounding effect on the boy and he sat alone quietly as the sea whooshed by rocking the boat gently as it glided silently against the wind.

TBC

What did you think? I hope you liked the flashback! Update is next Saturday!