When celebrations had died down to a dull roar, Faramir raised mention with Aragorn the judgment of Morion. Though loathe to have to make such a grave ruling so soon after his wedding, he knew the issue had to be put to rest before they left Gondor for the funeral march of Theoden. Calling together to the Hall of Kings high councilors of Gondor, as well as visiting dignitaries from Lothlorien and Imladris, Aragorn objectively explained to all present the circumstances. A few details were filled in by Vaneldur and Gandalf, and Elrond sat staring in disbelief that these things had befallen his cousin, who, like Morion, was not present at that stage of the trial. He understood now the sorrow in her that he had never seen before, but he corrected himself angrily remembering where he had seen that same sorrow before - in his own wife.

Some of Gondor's councilors grumbled in annoyance when Aragorn had a guard fetch Lómëmir and Morion, as they had hoped to break for lunch before getting involved in testimonies. In contrast to the Elves assembled, the Gondorians were pleasantly surprised when Morion, characteristically, spoke but little. They had been expecting a long-drawn-out self-defense such as they were used to hearing at trials.

When Morion was brought in in chains while Lómëmir was kindly escorted in, Aragorn told him that the facts of the incident had already been told, and that the foreign King was only brought in to speak on his own behalf.

Morion stood before the gathered and replied to Aragorn with what little was left to him of his pride. "I have naught to say, Lord Aragorn. If you and the good people gathered here already know what took place, then judge me as you shall. I shall not protest."

"Very well," Aragorn said, then asked the guard to lead Morion aside. He then turned to Lómëmir, asking her if she wished to say aught regarding the matter.

"Yes, i do," she said in her gentle voice. "What happened to us at Rhûn should not be placed on Lord Morion, for he too suffered because of it. I only ask that you and those your council with be lenient and merciful. Morion may have done wrong, but he never did so with any harmful intention. Must we not be tolerant of those who do not understand how the ways of our world have so changed?"

Many then were moved by Lómëmir's capacity for forgiveness and compassion. Morion looked from where he was chained, captive and guarded, at the jewel that was Lómëmir, and at once he loved her all the more and hated himself all the more.

Aragorn sat silently considering her words for a moment as Elrond looked with wonder at the gentleness of his cousin. "Lómëmir," Aragorn spoke at length, "may i speak the charge against him?" He asked her permission not as a matter of Gondorian protocol, but as a courtesy to her.

Lómëmir nodded, drawing herself up where she sat, prepared for the secret she had managed to keep for years uncounted to be spoken.

Aragorn rose from where he sat on the long-neglected throne of the King of Gondor and Arnor. He accepted from Faramir the formal scroll on which was written the charges against Morion. "I wish to make plain that this trial is conducted in Minas Tirith for the sole reason that both Morion and Lómëmir were my guests at the time that the transgression occurred. After these charges are read, i shall take council with officials of Gondor as well as Lord Elrond, his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, Glorfindel, Seneschal of Imladris, Erestor, Chief Councilor to Lord Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien, Haldir, and Marchwarden of Lorien, in as much as these noble people are peers to Morion and in this way may good justice be seen done.

"That being said," Aragorn said, unfurling the parchment, "Lord Morion, King of the land of Taure-Forambalar, you are hereby charged with high treason against the Lady Lómëmir, titular Queen of the lost land of Doriath."

There were several predictable gasps as Aragorn re-rolled the paper, returned it to Faramir's keeping, and exited the hall, followed by those councilors he had named as well as Faramir and Gandalf. After all had exited Lómëmir rose silently and she too exited. She stood silently on a balcony looking south along the Anduin, waiting for Vaneldur to come to her, wanting to know if what Aragorn said was true.

Sure enough, it was only a few minutes before she heard his steps. "Lómëmir," he said, but got no further before she turned, her eyes glistening.

"I know how you must feel," she said. "Likely as not you think i am naught but an impostor and you probably feel as though you no longer know me. I would hold it against you not if you are angry with me."

Vaneldur stepped closer to her, holding her gaze with his as he took hold her shoulders, pulling her to him as he kissed her, proving beyond a doubt that he was anything but angry with her. "Lómëmir, i care not what title you hold, and neither do i care that you did not tell me. Your reasons are your own. It matters not at all to me, the only thing i care about is that you care about me as much as i do you and that you are happy. Why would i ever be angry with you or love you less, especially when i saw the depth of your compassion just then? You are an amazing woman."

As Vaneldur stood holding his belovéd, a guard approached, unwilling to interrupt, yet more unwilling to keep the King waiting. He asked that they follow him to Aragorn's meeting chamber. As they drew near, raised voices could be heard and the guard tapped gently as not to infuriate anyone further, but firmly enough, he hoped, to be heard over the shouting.

The guard who had the unfortunate duty of standing in on the meeting opened the door to admit them. The shouts fell silent as they entered, but just long enough for everyone to acknowledge Lómëmir.

"The laws of Gondor are very clear on this matter!" a man of Gondor continued to belabor his point to Glorfindel, whose opinion differed greatly from Elladan and Elrohir's. Elrond remained quiet for the time being, but he sided with his seneschal.

"Laws of Gondor...," Faramir muttered reproachfully. He remembered all too clearly what some of the laws of Gondor would have had him do, and what would be done to him lest they be contravened.

"You disagree then, Steward?" asked the tall elder man in black robe with tree of white insignia.

"I disagree," Faramir said forcefully. "Those laws were not written with such a situation as this in mind! Extenuating circumstances rest solely in the judgment of the King."

"It seems," said the Gondorian councilor, "that the Steward has disagreed with many of Gondor's laws. Including one written by his own father's hand not but a few months before war came upon us." The councilor turned to a page in a law book he was always seen with, ready to cite the slightest infraction. "Here it is, the trespassers law...."

Faramir slammed a fist against the desk he stood beside in rage. "Damn you man! My father was a paranoid madman when he declared that and you know it!"

"The law is the law, Steward," came the sneering retort. "Perhaps we should be conducting more than one trial this day."

Things nearly came to blows between the two Men before Aragorn stepped in. The King's head had begun to throb dully and did not promise to get better soon. "Sidh, Faramir, havo dad," he said calmly, laying a hand to the younger man's shoulder.

Faramir nodded in acceptance and complied. "Be iest lîn, aran-nîn," he said respectfully.

"As for you, Hador," Aragorn said more firmly to the councilor, "i ask that you remember that old business of our council was dispensed with in our first meeting after the coronation. If you had wished to raise some complaint you should have done so at that time. As it is, laws written by previous Stewards are under my jurisdiction and i do not acknowledge your so-called Trespassers Law. All are welcome in my Gondor. Now, if we may return to our point at hand?"

Hador nodded silently, too discomfited to speak. Aragorn politely returned the nod. "Adar," he said to Elrond, "i have certainly heard my brothers' opinions about the issue, as i have Glor's. What have you to say?"

Elrond sighed, the Man he considered his son sitting beside him attentively. "I agree with Glorfindel. I believe that Morion is responsible for what happened to Lómëmir, but that is not what is on trial here, and further, if the Lady can find forgiveness in her heart, who are we to condemn?"

"Adar!" the twins cried as one.

"We may differ in opinion, my sons, but do not lose sight of that which is most important," Elrond said almost cryptically. The two brothers seemed to understand what he meant, though, as they sighed and glanced at each other.

Aragorn leaned forward to look at the heretofore silent Erestor. "What say you, good advisor," Aragorn said looking serious enough, but with the tiniest edge of taunting that Elrond often used on his high councilor who typically rarely spoke at all during meetings.

Erestor smirked in acknowledgement before his countenance fell back to solemnity. "I can not, nor will i, pass judgment or say what i think should be Morion's fate. However, i do not believe that the Dark Elf will accept your mercy, should you see fit to bestow it, Estel."

The twins smirked, considering this a point in their favor, while Glorfindel glowered and Elrond's brow creased slightly in consideration of this. "Why do you say that, Erestor?" Elrond asked curiously.

"Did you not watch him when Lómëmir spoke of leniency? He does not want it. He feels guilty and does not want anyone's mercy. He does not think he deserves it. The Avari are notoriously and extremely proud Elves." Erestor turned to Glorfindel, "you remember Eöl, i am sure?"

Glorfindel's frown vanished. "Erestor is right," he said resignedly. The Balrog-slayer had not wished to acknowledge to himself that this was indeed the same situation, even though he had said many times since arriving in Minas Tirith that the place reminded him greatly of Gondolin.

Aragorn silently considered these things before turning to the Lorien faction. Celeborn sided with Elrond, believing Aragorn should extend mercy, but Galadriel certainly disagreed. Though she and Lómëmir did not get along well at all, the situation reminded her too much of what her own daughter had endured. Haldir agreed with the Lady he served. A minor argument broke out between Elrond and Galadriel regarding respect for Celebrian, one that even Aragorn did not want to mediate. Fortunately his brothers quieted them both, not wanting to have those things brought up at such a time.

As they settled their argument for the time being, Aragorn turned to Gandalf, seeking his word on the matter lastly. The White Wizard only shook his head. "Like Erestor, i shall not pass any sort of judgment nor speak any sentence, for Morion and i have our own disagreement which does not enter in to these proceedings. However, i also agree with Erestor that Morion would not graciously accept your boundless compassion, Aragorn."

Aragorn nodded and sat back quietly, tuning out all the muttered bickering going on all about him. It was some time before he spoke again. "Vaneldur? Anything to add?" he asked, sounding pathetically weary.

"No, my liege," Vaneldur said quietly. "I put my full faith into your wisdom."

"Thank you, Vaneldur," Aragorn said, truly grateful that he did not have to listen to another arguing opinion. Rising, he extended his hand and asked, "Lómëmir, will you come with me?"

She nodded, rose, accepted Aragorn's hand and exited into another room with him. "Please, be seated, híril-nin," Aragorn said courteously.

"I already know what you will ask, Lord Aragorn," she said, a slight ironic smile tracing her lips.

"I suppose you would, not a deaf dwarf could not miss that uproar," he said, a hand massaging his throbbing temples and reminding Lómëmir much of her cousin.

"I ask that you give him a choice, Aragorn. Allow him to choose his own fate, it would be for the best for all involved, and in that way, none can feel either right or wrong."

Aragorn nodded and spoke very sincerely. "I thank you immensely for your wisdom, Lómëmir. I do hope that you are comfortable here and that you might stay with us for a while."

Lómëmir returned his accepting gesture and told him that she was very happy with her suite and it's appointments, indeed all of the city, and though she would make no promise of a length of stay, she did hope to spend much time in Gondor.

---

sidh - peace

havo dad - sit down

Be iest lin, aran-nin - According to your wish, my king

Makes up for the last one? We shall find out in the next chapter what fate Morion chooses. Where would you have come in on the debate that poor Aragorn had to mediate? Does he deserve mercy?