The Third Age had begun seven years before, a peaceful reign in
Middle Earth. The great King of Gondor, Aragorn son of Arathorn, proved a
good king and ruler, and his wife Arwen, daughter of Elrond, was a fair
queen. Their son Eldarion, born two years after the destruction of the
Ring, was an intelligent boy full of vigor and goodness, and so much like
his father all who saw him were reminded of their King. The boy's favorite
playmate was the daughter of Faramir, son of Denethor, and Eowyn, daughter
of Eomund, called Theodwyn in memory of Eowyn's dead mother, and often in
the palace at Minas Tirith they played, and loved each other dearly.
And so it was that Eowyn daughter of Eomund came to befriend the queen Arwen. Seeing their children play, they sat in the courtyard, sharing the tales of their children and their husbands, and as their children aged they loved each other more and more, for their bond was great. The King Aragorn was pleased, for he knew that Eowyn had once loved him, and knew now that she had placed her bitter feelings behind her. He saw Theodwyn and Eldarion chasing one another in the courtyard, hiding behind the White Tree of his ancestors, and felt a swell of pride at the sight of them. So when Arwen, his wife and the Queen, came to him asking to take Eldarion and Eowyn to Imladris, the home of her people, he consented, advising her to take the safest road to avoid the rebel Orcs that still plagued some of their borders.
"Take some of the men with you, and guard yourself at all times," Aragorn warned her over the supper. "Do not stay long at Imladris; it is deserted, and we do not know who has taken it over. And besides, Master Samwise is to arrive in a month."
"I will not stay long, my lord, but it is my wish for my son to see the land of his fathers. And the Lady Eowyn, for she has never known the beauty of the elven lands." Eowyn looked up gratefully from her place at the table, and looked at Faramir, smiling.
"You have my blessing. When shall you depart?"
"As soon as I may, my lord," Arwen replied. "I am most happy to be going back. Though my father has left to the land across the sea, part of him still remains in Rivendell, and it is my wish to visit the part of him that still is there."
"Then we will have all assembled tomorrow."
"Thank you, my lord."
Eowyn looked up from her place across the table. "I will have a restless night, Queen, if the promise of Rivendell haunts my thoughts!"
"Are you sure Theodwyn should stay here?"
"She is too young. Eldarion is a full year her senior, and I do not think Theodwyn will fully appreciate Rivendell," Eowyn responded. "And she is disobedient; I am unwilling to bring her on a trip. She will stay here."
Arwen looked to Aragorn, smiling. "So it is settled, then? We will leave tomorrow and be back in a fortnight."
For some reason, Aragorn felt troubled, but said nothing. He was restless about his wife going into the world alone...the rebel Orcs were not entirely under control yet, as all efforts had gone to rebuilding Osgiliath in its disrepair. He had also been planning expeditions to Mordor, to make sure that nothing was going awry, and he felt that his concentration had drifted from the borders of his land. Kind Eomer of the Riddermark had said that the Orcs had not disturbed Rohan, so perhaps Aragorn was just being overly protective. He was wrenched from his thoughts when Eldarion bounded into the room and demanded in an angry voice, "Where's Théodwyn?"
Arwen laughed merrily and stood, and took Eldarion by the hand and led him towards the exit of the Hall. "She's asleep, Eldarion," Aragorn heard her say to the boy. "Now let's go upstairs and follow her example. Elanor...could you put him into bed..."
Faramir stood. "King, excuse us, we must retire," he said, and reached down for Eowyn's hand. She took it, and stood up beside him.
"I will see you in the morning," Aragorn replied, smiling, and rose. Eowyn bowed her head toward him, as did Faramir, and they left the Hall hand in hand. Aragorn looked to the door, where Arwen stood, watching him with a smile.
"Come to bed, my lord, you are weary with the Osgiliath plans..."
He walked towards her and kissed her. "I could never be happier, my Queen. These are truly the best days any man could ever know."
And so it was that Eowyn daughter of Eomund came to befriend the queen Arwen. Seeing their children play, they sat in the courtyard, sharing the tales of their children and their husbands, and as their children aged they loved each other more and more, for their bond was great. The King Aragorn was pleased, for he knew that Eowyn had once loved him, and knew now that she had placed her bitter feelings behind her. He saw Theodwyn and Eldarion chasing one another in the courtyard, hiding behind the White Tree of his ancestors, and felt a swell of pride at the sight of them. So when Arwen, his wife and the Queen, came to him asking to take Eldarion and Eowyn to Imladris, the home of her people, he consented, advising her to take the safest road to avoid the rebel Orcs that still plagued some of their borders.
"Take some of the men with you, and guard yourself at all times," Aragorn warned her over the supper. "Do not stay long at Imladris; it is deserted, and we do not know who has taken it over. And besides, Master Samwise is to arrive in a month."
"I will not stay long, my lord, but it is my wish for my son to see the land of his fathers. And the Lady Eowyn, for she has never known the beauty of the elven lands." Eowyn looked up gratefully from her place at the table, and looked at Faramir, smiling.
"You have my blessing. When shall you depart?"
"As soon as I may, my lord," Arwen replied. "I am most happy to be going back. Though my father has left to the land across the sea, part of him still remains in Rivendell, and it is my wish to visit the part of him that still is there."
"Then we will have all assembled tomorrow."
"Thank you, my lord."
Eowyn looked up from her place across the table. "I will have a restless night, Queen, if the promise of Rivendell haunts my thoughts!"
"Are you sure Theodwyn should stay here?"
"She is too young. Eldarion is a full year her senior, and I do not think Theodwyn will fully appreciate Rivendell," Eowyn responded. "And she is disobedient; I am unwilling to bring her on a trip. She will stay here."
Arwen looked to Aragorn, smiling. "So it is settled, then? We will leave tomorrow and be back in a fortnight."
For some reason, Aragorn felt troubled, but said nothing. He was restless about his wife going into the world alone...the rebel Orcs were not entirely under control yet, as all efforts had gone to rebuilding Osgiliath in its disrepair. He had also been planning expeditions to Mordor, to make sure that nothing was going awry, and he felt that his concentration had drifted from the borders of his land. Kind Eomer of the Riddermark had said that the Orcs had not disturbed Rohan, so perhaps Aragorn was just being overly protective. He was wrenched from his thoughts when Eldarion bounded into the room and demanded in an angry voice, "Where's Théodwyn?"
Arwen laughed merrily and stood, and took Eldarion by the hand and led him towards the exit of the Hall. "She's asleep, Eldarion," Aragorn heard her say to the boy. "Now let's go upstairs and follow her example. Elanor...could you put him into bed..."
Faramir stood. "King, excuse us, we must retire," he said, and reached down for Eowyn's hand. She took it, and stood up beside him.
"I will see you in the morning," Aragorn replied, smiling, and rose. Eowyn bowed her head toward him, as did Faramir, and they left the Hall hand in hand. Aragorn looked to the door, where Arwen stood, watching him with a smile.
"Come to bed, my lord, you are weary with the Osgiliath plans..."
He walked towards her and kissed her. "I could never be happier, my Queen. These are truly the best days any man could ever know."