As the chief captains left and all were silent, Lómëmir rose soundlessly and moved toward Vaneldur. He too stood and stepped closer to her. Vaneldur reached for her hands but the two were pulled apart by Vaneldur's guardians.
Legolas instinctively drew forth his bow and instantaneously notched an arrow. "Lay hands on the Lady again and you will regret it," he said lowly.
"Loose that arrow and you will regret it, elf," retorted one soldier.
"Have any less respect for the Eldar, let alone the Prince of Mirkwood, and you will both regret it," said Elrohir addressing the two soldiers he as stepped up to Legolas's side. He was closely followed by Elladan, whose grey eyes, like his brother's, flashed passionately .
Gimli was already standing stubbornly beside his Sindarin friend, wielding an axe and a glare that would scare an orc.
Within the closed room tempers were restrained little better than without. The moment the door was closed Eomer advanced on Aragorn. "You really plan to leave it at that?" he asked in a tone louder than the Dúnadan was willing to put up with.
"Eomer, this is all a matter of pride with you. You personally have no evidence of anything done by that man. You said yourself that all you know is what Gríma told you. I will not accept the word of one allied with Saruman as testimony against one of Gondor's people. I know further that this all stems from a desire you have to see all avenged of your uncle and cousin's deaths. While i am sorry for your losses, the Valar know we have all suffered as much, some of us more. The reason Numenor failed was that men feared death. They came to distrust in what is set ahead for us afterward, and they came to distrust the immortal. I will not brook those same divisions in my kingdom. It was Sauron's counsel that ruined Numenor, and now together we have seen Sauron ruined. I would see the real glory of Numenor return if but a little here."
At that Eomer fell silent, Aragorn's wisdom and knowledge of things that most had long forgotten was something he had not the ability to riposte.
"Aragorn, that is a great matter to take to hand," Gandalf said slowly.
Aragorn smiled slightly. "Im iston, mellon-nin," he said, perhaps purposely using the tongue of the elves to prove his oneness with them. "Now, Eomer, i do indeed plan to leave the matter of Vaneldur's fate in your hands. I do so because i know you and i have faith that you are a man, a king, of justice and not irrational pride. If you seek to do your uncle honor, than choose for yourself the paths of right. Pride goeth before a fall, Eomer, as you may have noticed of late."
None rose to leave then until Eomer did so.
"Eothain, Halbéarn, release the prisoner," Eomer commanded walking into the grey hall before leaving. They complied and followed their king out.
Relief washed over Vaneldur in a way that seemed as beneficial as a long sleep would have been to the much-traveled mortal. Immediately he humbly knelt before Aragorn in thanks for his fairness, mercy, and sound judgment. Elladan and Elrohir both caught the flicker of sadness in their foster brother's eyes.
Aragorn rested a hand on Vaneldur's shoulder. "Rise, son of Gondor, you need not kneel to me here," he said, his voice filled with understanding. "You have already proven your loyalty."
Faramir stood beside Vaneldur then. "Since it seems that my finest fighter is free again to be called such, with your permission my lord, i would like to confer the title i mentioned earlier."
Aragorn smiled. "Consider it done, Faramir. Though it is not my permission you must ask though, but Vaneldur's."
Faramir turned to fair man. "What say you, Vaneldur?"
"Must i say at once, Lord Faramir?" he asked, feeling somewhat weary.
Faramir smiled understandingly. "Of course not. Give it a few days. In fact, you should first of all pay a visit to old Ioreth. You've a few scratches that could be taken care of." The wink he threw in Aragorn's direction was caught by the King.
"Vaneldur, if you do go to the Houses of Healing, please escort the lady Lómëmir there as well. I treated her wounds in Ithilien, but i would rest better knowing that Ioreth had a chance to look them over as well." Aragorn tried to conceal the glint of their conspiracy in his eyes.
Vaneldur nodded to Faramir and bowed to Aragorn, pressing his hand to his chest. He crossed the room then and wordlessly offered Lómëmir his arm, his eyes doing all the speaking for him. Hers reciprocated and together they left for the level one lower.
It didnt take an elf to perceive that the moment they exited the room and closed the door behind them, they shared a long awaited kiss.
"How many more such pardonings will i go through in only the next few days? Do you see now," Aragorn said to Legolas, "why i have so avoided this day for the last 70 years? "
The Sindarin elf smiled to his long time friend. "How long have i eluded the title i was born to?"
"That hardly counts, Legolas," Elrohir teased. "Everyone knows Thranduil will never give up his crown and so you have nothing to worry about."
Elrohir's comment even managed to coax a smile from the white wizard.
"And to think that tales of the elder days always tell how kingdoms and lordships were so vied for!" added Gimli, highly amused.
"As of this morning the elder days are no more, Gimli. An age of mortals is coming to pass," Gandalf mused.
"Aye, and one we shall lay the stonework for. You might remember that to your successors!" Gimli said to Aragorn rather purposely.
While Legolas simply shook his head, slight trace of a grin to be found mostly in his eyes, Aragorn could not contain his smile. "You have my word, Gimli, that the dwarves will absolutely not become a forgotten people. Not until the end of days, while my line remains."
Gimli seemed satisfied with that answer.
Elladan's features alone of all remained grim. "What troubles you, gwador?" Aragorn asked.
Elladan ignored his foster brother and instead spoke to his blood brother. "She is not Peredhil, is she?"
Elrohir shook his head. "She has not our choice, my brother."They spoke quietly and only to each other. Neither Faramir, Imrahil, nor Gimli could make out their conversation, but Legolas, Aragorn, and Gandalf could well enough.
There was a sorrow in the eyes of the five who understood what those words meant. It was something they had not considered in the heat of the arguments that had ensued.
"Aragorn, perhaps you should speak to them," said Elladan heavy-heartedly.
"No, gwador. Believe me, they already know. They are not in need of me telling them that which is surely already painful enough for them."
"Aragorn is right, El'," Legolas said, not actually knowing to which twin he was speaking. "They should be allowed this happiness will it still may be."