Rediscovery
Aragorn sat in his library, struggling with quill in hand to find words to describe his rise to his inheritance. He did not like such intangible struggles, preferring to do something. He did not consider himself unintellectual, but the creation of flowing words that would leave an impression through all the ages was not his gift. He would not even be doing it, save that his Steward insisted that the words of the Elfstone would be a source of fascination for generations to come. And his Steward was not a man to be crossed in matters such as these, Aragorn thought shaking his head slightly.
The door of the library opened slowly, and Éowyn entered shaking her wrist, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like, "Blasted oak." She jumped a little to see him, but did not turn back, a fact he found comforting. She had been in the palace a fortnight. She had come to stay with her betrothed, for it was near six months since he had returned from Edoras, and they had not seen each other since. For the last few days she had seemed at a loose end, for Faramir had been obliged to scout Ithilien, to see what supplies would be needed to rebuild it, and though there was no longer any enmity between her and Arwen, they were not yet truly friends.
She smiled at him, and he leaned back in his seat, grateful for an opportunity to speak with someone, and neglect his task. She moved a little behind him and scanned the shelves. He could not help but ask, "What are you looking for?" She turned to him and said, "Books on flowers and gardens", she moved to sit beside him, "Legolas promised to bring elven plants from his father's kingdom, and I would ensure their survival in Ithilien". He merely looked at her questioningly, and she said, "I would make a garden, fairer than any have thought possible, if I could."
She leaned over and looked at his sadly mistreated parchment. He felt the need to explain, and said, "The memoirs your betrothed is forcing me to write." She laughed and looked at him in mock pity, and then something caught her eye. She scanned the page, and then looked up at him. Her eyes were wide, and she seemed amazed, but she said nothing. Uncomfortable under her gaze he said, "What is it Éowyn?" She reached out and touched a lock of his hair, and whispered, "Thorongil?"
For a moment he did not understand, but as comprehension dawned she said, "You are Thorongil?" He nodded, and a moment of silence yawned between them, and she asked, "Why did you not tell me?" Her tone was not accusatory, and yet he shifted in his seat. Finally he said, "I did not think you would remember."
She looked him full in the eyes, and said, "I did not, at first. But, your eyes, they seemed familiar somehow. Yet then I thought that it could not possibly.. How old are you?". He smirked and said, "Older than I look". She laughed as his arrogance, and stated gravely "I do not know my lord. You are very aged compared to say, Faramir".
He laughed out loud, and then silence reigned once more. She looked him in the eyes and speaking softly, said, "So it seems that I am twice in your debt my King. I thank you." He could not speak, but kissed her hand.
A clatter of a servant dropping something broke the silence. Looking at her books he said, "I wonder that you will have time to build your garden my Lady, surely your other duties will fill your time." Curious eyes met his, and she said, "What other duties my lord?
And Aragorn cursed himself - he had forgotten to tell her. He had wanted to be the one to inform her of her new offices, but in the flurry of her arrival, and the departure of the White Company, and the spring celebrations, it had slipped his mind. He took her hand and said, "On your wedding day, Lady of Rohan, you shall be named Princess of Ithilien, and Stewardess of Gondor".
She gasped, and said, "But why?" And he looked deeply into her eyes, and said, "I know, that you could never be content to simply be a symbol, my lady. You need a task." She smiled at him, and tears were swimming in her eyes, and for a moment he feared he had upset her. But she whispered, "Thank You", and embraced him. He held her briefly, and she drew back and said, sniffing to clear her nose, "You smell of athelas, just like before." And they smiled, and she picked up her books, and said, "I shall leave you to your task now my King". He attempted a plaintive look, but she waved a finger at him and said, "Faramir would never forgive me if I distracted you".
And as she walked towards the door, he spoke involuntarily, "Thank you", she turned and looked at him, "For helping Arwen at Edoras". In truth he did not know exactly what had passed between them, but he was glad she had soothed his wife. She curtsied, and said, "I was happy to my King."
And she left, and though Aragorn was forced to complete his task, from that day forth things ran easy between the King of Gondor, and the Princess of Ithilien, and their friendship was deep and true, and there was little that one could not tell the other. And each was glad to have secured such a friend, for they were akin to brother and sister, though no blood tie bound them.
Aragorn sat in his library, struggling with quill in hand to find words to describe his rise to his inheritance. He did not like such intangible struggles, preferring to do something. He did not consider himself unintellectual, but the creation of flowing words that would leave an impression through all the ages was not his gift. He would not even be doing it, save that his Steward insisted that the words of the Elfstone would be a source of fascination for generations to come. And his Steward was not a man to be crossed in matters such as these, Aragorn thought shaking his head slightly.
The door of the library opened slowly, and Éowyn entered shaking her wrist, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like, "Blasted oak." She jumped a little to see him, but did not turn back, a fact he found comforting. She had been in the palace a fortnight. She had come to stay with her betrothed, for it was near six months since he had returned from Edoras, and they had not seen each other since. For the last few days she had seemed at a loose end, for Faramir had been obliged to scout Ithilien, to see what supplies would be needed to rebuild it, and though there was no longer any enmity between her and Arwen, they were not yet truly friends.
She smiled at him, and he leaned back in his seat, grateful for an opportunity to speak with someone, and neglect his task. She moved a little behind him and scanned the shelves. He could not help but ask, "What are you looking for?" She turned to him and said, "Books on flowers and gardens", she moved to sit beside him, "Legolas promised to bring elven plants from his father's kingdom, and I would ensure their survival in Ithilien". He merely looked at her questioningly, and she said, "I would make a garden, fairer than any have thought possible, if I could."
She leaned over and looked at his sadly mistreated parchment. He felt the need to explain, and said, "The memoirs your betrothed is forcing me to write." She laughed and looked at him in mock pity, and then something caught her eye. She scanned the page, and then looked up at him. Her eyes were wide, and she seemed amazed, but she said nothing. Uncomfortable under her gaze he said, "What is it Éowyn?" She reached out and touched a lock of his hair, and whispered, "Thorongil?"
For a moment he did not understand, but as comprehension dawned she said, "You are Thorongil?" He nodded, and a moment of silence yawned between them, and she asked, "Why did you not tell me?" Her tone was not accusatory, and yet he shifted in his seat. Finally he said, "I did not think you would remember."
She looked him full in the eyes, and said, "I did not, at first. But, your eyes, they seemed familiar somehow. Yet then I thought that it could not possibly.. How old are you?". He smirked and said, "Older than I look". She laughed as his arrogance, and stated gravely "I do not know my lord. You are very aged compared to say, Faramir".
He laughed out loud, and then silence reigned once more. She looked him in the eyes and speaking softly, said, "So it seems that I am twice in your debt my King. I thank you." He could not speak, but kissed her hand.
A clatter of a servant dropping something broke the silence. Looking at her books he said, "I wonder that you will have time to build your garden my Lady, surely your other duties will fill your time." Curious eyes met his, and she said, "What other duties my lord?
And Aragorn cursed himself - he had forgotten to tell her. He had wanted to be the one to inform her of her new offices, but in the flurry of her arrival, and the departure of the White Company, and the spring celebrations, it had slipped his mind. He took her hand and said, "On your wedding day, Lady of Rohan, you shall be named Princess of Ithilien, and Stewardess of Gondor".
She gasped, and said, "But why?" And he looked deeply into her eyes, and said, "I know, that you could never be content to simply be a symbol, my lady. You need a task." She smiled at him, and tears were swimming in her eyes, and for a moment he feared he had upset her. But she whispered, "Thank You", and embraced him. He held her briefly, and she drew back and said, sniffing to clear her nose, "You smell of athelas, just like before." And they smiled, and she picked up her books, and said, "I shall leave you to your task now my King". He attempted a plaintive look, but she waved a finger at him and said, "Faramir would never forgive me if I distracted you".
And as she walked towards the door, he spoke involuntarily, "Thank you", she turned and looked at him, "For helping Arwen at Edoras". In truth he did not know exactly what had passed between them, but he was glad she had soothed his wife. She curtsied, and said, "I was happy to my King."
And she left, and though Aragorn was forced to complete his task, from that day forth things ran easy between the King of Gondor, and the Princess of Ithilien, and their friendship was deep and true, and there was little that one could not tell the other. And each was glad to have secured such a friend, for they were akin to brother and sister, though no blood tie bound them.