Within a gleaming room in the citadel sat all those who were involved in the earlier argument as well as Prince Imrahil, Elladan, Elrohir, and Gimli. The room was lofty and all in a pale grey marble. The breeze flowed freely through the high arches along the outer walls. Stately and finely carved where the appointments of the rather simply furnished room.
As Aragorn entered and closed the doors Eomer stood to address him.
"Please remain seated, Lord Eomer, for now at least," Aragorn requested effectively.
"You realize of course, Lord Aragorn, that there are three here who have no interest in this discussion."
"Interest is a strange thing," Elladan said in a voice which mirrored Elrond's.
"All who are here i have requested to be here, Eomer, that there may be no secrets or misunderstandings between allies and friends. All have agreed to that and that such is the best course." Aragorn was amazed that already weighty issues between kingdoms were his as king to sort out. He was, in that time, more than thankful for his years in Rivendell learning from his foster father.
"Now," he continued, "let me be sure that i understand this matter correctly," a phrase that he had heard Elrond utter more times than were countable.
"At the heart of this matter is Vaneldur, son of Cirlon of Dol Amroth," he said nodding toward the young man who was still kept close between two guards of Rohan. Vaneldur remained impassive but nodded to the King in respect.
"Also involved, by association, are Eomer, King of Rohan, Faramir, Steward of Gondor, and the Lady Lómëmir, most recently of Mirkwood," he said, nodding to each as they did in return.
"Very well, then we have established the key players. Let us begin act one. Vaneldur, if you will, tell us of how you know each of the other three. Neither myself nor anyone else will interrupt you with comment or question, and i do bid you to speak freely. As i said, there can be no secrets or lies among those who would be friends."
"I would not speak untruth to you, my sovereign and king," Vaneldur said sincerely. Aragorn nodded and Vaneldur resumed his disclosure. "I know the Lady Lómëmir of Mirkwood because, although Dol Amroth is my home and the swan my Prince-standard, in my youth my father was called to service in Northern Ithilien. He took my brothers and me to our northern borders and instructed us to go to Laketown where my father's brother made his home. My uncle had dealings with the folk of the Great Wood and many times i accompanied him at his request. Such was how i came to know the lady, she abode in the forest among an elven home."
Aragorn turned his gaze to Lómëmir as Vaneldur finished. "You can verify that, Lómëmir?" he asked her gently.
"I can and do, my lord," she said with resolve.
"Please carry on, Vaneldur," Aragorn requested.
"When i heard from my father's messages of the Shadow lengthening, war coming so near to my people, and the treason of Isengard, i left my brothers and rode southward, as i would have gone to Dol Amroth to fight for my Prince," he said regarding Imrahil.
"On the way there i was intercepted near edge of Fangorn by men of the Rohirrim. I was taken to Edoras to declare before the king my intention of destination. In Meduseld, however, no matter how i pled my case that i was returning to my home in Dol Amroth, it was believed that i was an agent of Saruman. The king's own counselor went so far as to accuse me of stealing a horse of the Mark. I refused these charges time and again fervently until i was imprisoned by this ill-spoken counselor for saying that it was not King Theoden who ruled Rohan, which was called speaking treason. If the Lady Lómëmir had not ridden after me i might still be imprisoned. As i understand it, the riders of the Rohirrim were sent away and so less guard was put to prisoners of the kingdom."
Here Vaneldur again paused, sensing that Aragorn would wish to confirm that with Eomer. Aragorn took the opportunity to do so.
"All of that is true to my knowledge, Lord Aragorn, with the exception of the reason for his imprisonment. At the time that that occurred i was bringing my cousin home to his deathbed, but i had been told that the reason for his imprisonment was that he actually struck with force against my uncle the king." Eomer said, half disbelieving Vaneldur's words, yet now wondering himself why he actually believed anything that was the doing of Gríma.
Aragorn nodded to Vaneldur to continue.
"Lastly, my Lord, i came to serve in the company of the Rangers of Ithilien, under the command of Captain Faramir, after my release," he said with a glance to Lómëmir. "I went to Ithilien to find my father and warn him that the rule of Rohan was precarious at best. At my insistence, the lady took my horse and rode back to the shelter of Mirkwood. I found Captain Faramir and his men near Henneth Annûn. It was then that i learned of my father's death and then that i pledged to Faramir that i would take up his place."
"Thank you, Vaneldur," said Aragorn. "Faramir?"
Faramir nodded. "That is all truth as i know it to be, my liege."
"Our one matter of dispute, then, is the grounds on which Vaneldur is considered prisoner of Rohan." Aragorn turned to Eomer. "I must tell you though, that in as much as this is in doubt because of the involvement of Gríma, i am rather hesitant to accept it as a valid argument."
"I understand that, Aragorn," Eomer rejoined quickly. "But the fact is that Theoden is dead and can no longer tell us what did transpire. I trust Wormtongue less than any here, but in my mind there is slightest chance that for once he spoke in veracity."
"I doubt it very much that Theoden would have been able to shed light on this matter even if he had lived, Eomer," Gandalf said. "I further doubt that by that time Wormtongue had the ability to speak truth unless it was to aid Saruman in the fall of Rohan."
"Aragorn, my lord," Faramir began, "if i may speak for the character of Vaneldur."
"I will listen to all, Faramir. Please do," the King answered.
"As i told Lady Lómëmir this evening, Vaneldur has been one of the finest warriors i have ever had the honor to stand beside. Not only is his skill unmatched, but he brings a sense of knowledge and a sense that ours is the fight for the good of all Middle-earth. He is most worthy in every way that i have known him. In fact, it was my intention to name Vaneldur my second in command when the rank was in need of replacement."
Aragorn considered this. "Why did you not confer that honor upon him, Faramir?"
Faramir forced his face to remain emotionless. "Denethor overrode my decision. His reason was that Vaneldur was not enough like my brother to be allowed such a place of duty."
"Denethor's mind was far from right, especially after Boromir's death," Gandalf said to Aragorn, yet also to Faramir in a comforting way that none other perceived.
"Vaneldur, tell me what transpired from the time you joined Faramir's men, if you will," Aragorn called for.
Vaneldur nodded. "Yes, of course, my king. Almost immediately after pledging my weapons to Faramir there was a band of Easterlings in Ithilien which we brought down, we then pulled back to the...-"
Vaneldur paused before giving the location of their keep, he looked to Faramir to allow him to disclose such. Faramir simply nodded his approval.
"To the cave beyond the falls. Some men ahead of myself had taken two small people, Hobbits if i am not mistaken. I know little of what became of them, though, as i had a number of other duties to perform then. When we left Ithilien we returned to Minas Tirith and were set upon by winged Nazgul. We reached the city but before long we were sent out again to Osgiliath. Two days after, Captain Faramir was wounded and we retreated, those of us who were left. That next day the city was besieged and we fought through night under the direction of Gandalf. It was during that fighting that i received a wound that rendered me unable to wield a weapon, thus useless to our cause, and was sent to the Houses of Healing. I was tended there and able to leave shortly, but by then victory was ours. I heard then of the intent to ride to the Morannan and i had all intent to stay with my comrades and make the northward march. When you permitted leave to men on the sixth day's march, i departed. It was not born of fear of Mordor, i would have slain every orc in the Gorgoroth if such was in my power. Rather, i left there because i had heard that there had been attacks from the forces of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, and fear for fate of Lómëmir was too terrible in my heart for me to bear without some action."
Vaneldur looked at her and saw in her eyes that the same fear he bore for her she had born for him. His gaze lowered then as he again addressed his monarch. "Please know, most merciful king, that i would never have deserted your ranks if you had not given men leave to do so."
"Think not lowly of yourself, Vaneldur," said Aragorn, "but rather highly. Any aid you have given to the Woodland Realm in Gondor's name is to be shown great gratitude."
Legolas allowed a trace of a smile to cross his features in agreement with Aragorn. "I will tell my lord of your assistance, Vaneldur. I am sure that he will be deeply appreciative."
"Lords of the West," Eomer said with a somewhat haughty sigh, "this narrative is all very interesting. We could all sit here through the night and tell of our own ways through the last months, but are we not here to establish one thing only?"
Aragorn's hand found itself at his temples which had begun to throb dully. "Gandalf, Faramir, Eomer, Imrahil, please come with me." Aragorn rose and lead them out of the lofty chamber into a smaller room, he closed the door and none of the words spoken thereafter could be heard, even by the elves assembled.