Staring into the semi-abyss, Èowyn didn't seem to notice a small, but dark shadow crawl its way toward her, but she moved before it could reach her.
Slowly floating, the shadow searched for a place to perch itself. It saw all around from the pedestal of Narsil. Legolas watched this shadow, although it had not seemed to notice his presence.
Slowly walking to the two kings and the Queen, Legolas stepped behind the pedestal and studied the way it moved. The blob of darkness noticed a presence and then dissipated.
Aragorn turned and looked at Legolas. "What's wrong, Legolas?"
"He's returned," was all he said.
Everyone looked at him with a look of confusion on their faces. Aragorn trusted him but this was something that hadn't happened in 15 to 20 years.
"Legolas, what are you talking about?"
"The Great Eye, as Boromir once put it, has returned, but not as an eye. His spirit has found a body," he said.
Èowyn looked into Faramir's eyes with panic as he held her close. 'It'll be all right,' he reassured her and she gave a small sigh of relief.
Aragorn, on the other hand, was very alarmed at this.
"If he has returned, that would only mean that he will choose to reforge the Great Ring of Power and destroy all of Middle Earth," he said, looking as though he was contemplating some sort of plan for action.
"I agree, Aragorn, but what are we to do? The Fellowship is missing three members. Are we to go back to Hobbiton and find Peregrin, Meriadoc, and Samwise for the next chapter in the long forgotten adventure?"
Aragorn laughed at his companion. "I am quite sure that they are in need of a good adventure, Legolas. Sam was always good at protecting Frodo and Pip and Merry were good at playing a lot, but they did accomplish that which they chose to do," Aragorn said as he looked at Faramir and Èowyn and smiled.
The two were wondering what their dear friend had in his mind that had anything to do with them. They started becoming afraid, but their fear was allayed when Aragorn laughed.
"Do not fear, Lord Faramir and Lady Èowyn. I only think of things that I am sure of. With the courageous bloodline you descend from, Faramir and Eòwyn, this adventure will be of no struggle. I am sure you do remember of the battle on Pelennor Fields, although you were not there. That battle was treacherous, but this might be fiercer. However, you both are skilled with a blade and do not give in so easily," Aragorn said, continuing almost as though there were not an end of his speech, but stopped when he saw everyone looking at him with eyebrows cocked and a strange look of suspicion upon Legolas' face.
"King, you speak much, but do you listen? There is a storm brewing and we had best find a small shelter." Èowyn spoke, but withdrew her face as she felt oddly overwhelmed by everything that she had heard and saw in the Great Hall of Narsil.
Faramir smiled at her and laughed. "Do not hide your presence, milady. A quick stop was much appreciated. I, myself, thought you were going to die from lack of wind," he said, smiling at Aragorn.
Aragorn ended up laughing and agreeing with Faramir. "Yes, we should all have a laugh once in a while. We must find shelter from this storm. We should try the Hidden Halls. I can lead you to them," he said as they left the Hall of Narsil and started the search for the Hidden Halls.
They went all throughout the premises. Quick run throughs and small stops proved to be a very daunting task. Aragorn had stopped suddenly in the largest corridor and puzzled something. He must have been gone for far too long. These halls and doorways had changed. But how? Someone had to be playing a trick on Aragorn, but who would do such a thing.
Legolas had caught Aragorn by the collar.
"In here," he said as he led Faramir and Èowyn to the hidden door that Aragorn had been standing right in front of without even knowing.
The four had stepped behind the wall quickly as they heard the thunder and the rain falling. Èowyn grabbed onto Faramir's arm and looked into his eyes. He caressed her hair and smiled, relieving any doubt that his Queen had in her mind and heart.
"King Elessar will keep us safe, my dear," he said as she sighed happily.
Legolas stared at them. He smiled seeing a feminine light in this short time made him remember his own Queen. He touched Aragorn's arm and directed his sight over to the two. He watched them and smiled as well. '
"Well deserved happiness, Legolas," he whispered to his Elf.
"King Faramir, regale us with the tale of how you became King," Legolas spoke loudly and smiling.
Faramir looked at Èowyn and smiled. He tried to keep her from crying, which he did pretty well.
"Well. It's really nothing to speak of. King Èomer called us to a battle in which he had to fight because of some Wargs were still alive and running wild in the Plains of Rohan. Unfortune took King Èomer and his heir took to the throne, but he never passed his 12th year of age. The only left of that line was indeed his sister. Èowyn and I took to the throne and ever since we've been in rule over the peoples of Rohan. I might go into detail sometime later, but let us get through this storm first before I choose to speak any more of this ill will that has almost utterly snipped the Country of Rohan's Royal Family to naught."
Legolas nodded as he looked up and saw a small box-like hole in the ceiling.
"The storm is waning. I am not sure if it is safe to venture outside, but we must risk it. Come. We must see what has brought us to this place and if it holds any significance to the revival of Sauron."
Slowly opening the wall that they were behind, Legolas led the way and he cautiously brought them to the Meeting Place where they had held the Council of Elrond. He looked at the sad sight of the chairs. Once lovely and fair, the beautiful chairs in which he and the companions of the Fellowship of the Ring had become completely grown over with long fingered ivy and bright white flowers.
"Simbelmynë. How could Evermind find it's way here? I thought it exists only in Rohan!"
Èowyn looked at Faramir in horror. Well, not total horror, but she was scared.
"Fear not, milady. Evermind is just for a reminder. 'Forget not the ones who had come before for they will always be watching you and waiting for you to come and they will be glad with you at the chance meeting.' So, Simbelmynë is a good thing. Remember where everyone sat. That's not too hard, Lady Èowyn," King Elessar spoke in a softened tone.
Lady Èowyn smiled and nodded. Even though he had told her what she needed to hear years earlier, she still had a small light of love for her King. Lord Faramir had said nothing, but stood watching and looking at the sight of the white flowers over everything.
"King Elessar, what would cause Simbelmynë to grow here?" Faramir asked as he saw the brightness of Èowyn's eyes as she stepped to all the seats.
Being intrigued by the intricate choice of each design, Èowyn walks around and touches the chairs and studies them closely. At one point, she stops and stands. She points to the chair she was standing in front of.
"This was where Lord Boromir must have been sitting," she stated.
This caught Faramir's attention. How had she known his brother?
"Yes, Lady Èowyn, Lord Boromir did sit there. How did you know about the Council of Elrond?"
She smiled at Legolas. "Milord. I have not a clue. But something just tells me that this was where he was sitting. Call it a hunch or just a present of Fortune."
She steps away from that chair and walks around the circle again and heads toward the small pedestal that was in the middle of the round. She stood at the table and looked in the roundness of the balcony. She walks a little more and stops at a chair with a high back. She stoops to look at the designs on it.
"This must have belonged to Lord Elrond. He was very important. Not important only to the Elves, but to all who he had called to his Councils. A friend to Gondor, he was. I only wish I could have met him."
Faramir chuckles and so did Legolas and Aragorn.
"Oh, Milady. You have met Lord Elrond. He was at the coronation of King Elessar. He and his escort with the former Queen of Gondor," Legolas stated as he continued with his laughter.
"My apologies. He was a very revered man to many. I could guess that from his hardened face," Èowyn stated as she too started to laugh.