Chapter Eight; The Silver host.
When the host was ready to leave, Aragorn and his son still hesitated, Atùvinel had remained in her chambers for the rest of the night, not answering any of their calls. It was now mid morning and they must ride to meet with the riders of Rohan or the forces of Agaron would be upon them. Aragorn dismounted to bid a fond farewell to his Queen, while Eldarion sat on his horse, too upright and stiff for anyone not to notice his discomfort. He clutched the reins tightly, this was his first experience of war and he was not looking forward to it without his twin by his side.
As the King swung himself up into the saddle, a murmur ran through the troops. They all knew their Princess' feelings about being left behind. And they separated, like the sea, Atùvinel walked down the path left between them. Eldarion quickly dismounted and the two of them embraced tightly.
"I do not begrudge you the chance." She spoke softly and for his ears only. "Come back swiftly brother."
"I will." He kissed her cheek.
"I'm sorry father." She bowed her head. "I will stay here and guard our people and our city."
He laid his hand on the top of her head, then raised her.
"I know you will do your duty Atùvinel, as we must do ours."
Her voice was still clear, ringing like a bell for all the ears of the host,
"Ride well Father, to a glad homecoming."
"We will do so Daughter, but now we ride!" The men raised their spears in the air,
"Gondor! And the white tree!" With a noise like thunder, the men urged their horses into a trot, then a canter until they were finally galloping. Aragorn, Eldarion and Gandalf were at the head, under the banner of the Kings.
Atùvinel stood, her dress whipping around her in the wind, as the men rode around her, she did not flinch at how close some of the horses came to her, but patted their withers. One stopped above her and she looked up to see Legolas and Gimli.
"Namárië Princess Narya. Do not mourn our leaving, do not wait for us to return for we will be back. Do what your country expects of you." the Mirkwood elf counselled her in a soothing voice.
"Too long have I done what my country expects of me." She exploded at last. "I want to do what I expect of me, and to be free from duty." She turned on her heel, ignoring her mother's outstretched arm and ran to the stables.
"Narya indeed Master Elf." The gravely voice of Gimli came from behind Legolas. "But we must take our leave fair Queen."
Arwen bowed her head slightly.
"I will look for my daughter, while you must ride hard now to rejoin the host."
"Indeed we must, Lady Arwen, but we are up for the challenge." His horse, golden in the sunlight, sprang up from stillness and galloped along the track to battle.
Arwen walked slowly to the stables, giving her daughter time to compose herself. Despite her fierce words Atùvinel would never surrender her duty, she was too loyal and understood too well what that duty meant to others. With a smile filled with memories, the Elf queen passed under the stone archway, Atùvinel was much like she herself had been as a child.
She found her hugging Nafalon's neck, and the horse was whickering softly, rubbing his head against her hair. Nafalon too longed to be out in the field, he was a war horse and wanted to run beside his brother Atalna, who Eldarion rode.
"I want to be out there." Atùvinel said, when she saw her mother, "Not sitting uselessly here."
"I know. But your father must think of Gondor's future if both he and Eldarion would die. You would be ruler of the West."
"So why couldn't Eldarion stay behind and I ride to battle?"
"Men would not follow a King who did not lead his troops in battle."
"Will they follow a Queen who doesn't fight?"
"They may." Arwen allowed. "Lady Éowyn has changed much, but she can be discounted as one lady who can fight among millions. Yours is a hard path my daughter, but only you can tread it."
"Where is Prince Elfwine? I did not see him among the company." Atùvinel diverted the conversation from her,
"He rode last night to Rohan, where he will join his father in battle as well."
"How much easier it would have been if I was a boy." She said wistfully.
"Easier for you." Arwen said, "But what about the girls in the city? And those who watch you from afar in the outlands? You carry all their hopes. You, who can show men that women can not only be equal to men, but who can surpass many in arms."
Atùvinel sighed,
"Too much is laid upon me. What if I fail?"
"Then you fail. But do not think of that, aim for the Heavens and you may reach them. You can do much that is barred for the rest of the people. You have crossed to the Havens and returned, no one has done that before, you are Gondor's Lady Narya, and you must strive to open the door for others to come after you."
Atùvinel laughed slightly,
"So you have heard."
"About your title?" Arwen asked "Yes, and so I have something for you, from the Prince of Rohan." She pulled from her belt pouch a chain. Hanging on the end of that chain was a red crystal, lapped with streaks of gold. Atùvinel took the jewel in awe,
"He gave this for me?"
"Yes," the Queen fastened it around her child's neck, "And he bid me tell you, 'Happy Homecoming'." Atùvinel blushed as she examined the necklace and Arwen looked on with a knowing smile on her face, which only deepened the colour in her daughter's cheeks.