Chapter Two: The Truth Revealed

A/N: I was so excited about getting two reviews in two hours I decided to post the second chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own LOTR or anything of Tolkien. However the OCs that I have created I do own.

Finduyn stared at the man before her. "Has your mind gone daft?! What you speak is madness!" she cried. "I am Finduyn daughter of Faramir and Éowyn of Rohan!"

"No, Finduyn," Éowyn said gently. "He speaks the truth. He is your father."

Her eyes widened in shock. "So, I am not the daughter of the Queen of Rohan, but instead the daughter of a mere soldier from Gondor?"

"He is no mere soldier," Faramir said sharply. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, King Elessar of Gondor. You would do well to treat him as such."

This was too much for the ten year old. She sank into the nearest chair, trying to comprehend the overwhelming news. "This...cannot be," she whispered. But in her heart she knew it was. Now everything made sense. Now she understood why she stood out so much from everything and everyone in Rohan. But why did her father arrive now, of times?

A vision formed before her eyes. She saw Aragorn place a babe in Éowyn's arms. The babe was herself, she knew it. Suddenly she saw a male-child tottering on wobbly legs toward Aragorn. Who was the child? Aragorn picked up the boy in his strong arms and she realized at last who he was. He was her brother. She could sense him.

The vision faded and she directed her senses toward Aragorn. She sensed grief, pain, loss. "There is grief behind the meaning of your visit," she said. She no longer sensed her brother. "You came because my brother is dead."

Her surrogate parents gasped in surprise, but Aragorn nodded knowingly. "The gift of foresight runs strong in your veins. You are correct. My son, my heir, Arathen, is dead."

For a long time no one spoke; they were just beginning to understand the calamity. At last Éowyn asked, "What do you wish to do, Lord Aragorn?"

"I wish to return my daughter to her rightful place, as my heir to the throne of Gondor." He looked at Finduyn. "I wish to be your father once more."

Anger swept through Finduyn. "You expect me to give up everything I've ever known, everything I've ever loved, and return to Gondor with you?! You, the person who gave up all claims to me?!" She turned to her foster parents. "And why did you take me from the place of my birth in the first place? Can you not have children of your own, that you have to take from others?'

Faramir's face drained and Éowyn looked like she would begin to weep. Finduyn hated herself for saying that, but she was so angry and now was the time she learned the truth. "Finduyn," Éowyn said, "I cannot bear children of my own. I cannot conceive because a curse was placed upon me. It's the Witch-King's curse. True, I slew him, but in the end it's he who laughs last. We do not know how to break the curse. That is why Aragorn gave you to us. In an act of kindness and love he followed a long forgotten tradition gave us his second child, so I could have a child and Rohan could have an heir." She sighed. "But tragedy has befallen Gondor. Now it is time you returned to your rightful place."

"But if my rightful place is here?" Finduyn protested. "What if I do not wish to rule Gondor? And you would still be without an heir."

"The child has a point," Faramir said. "But she is but a child; she could not possibly make a wise decision now."

Aragorn stood thoughtfully for a moment. "This does present a problem. But let us deal with it when the time approaches. For now, let her live in Gondor for ten years and let her decide then. That way she can have an understanding of both countries before deciding which one to rule."

Everyone but Finduyn nodded in agreement. Livid, she went to her room, knowing full that one way or another, they would force her to go to Rohan against her will. Unwillingly, she began to pack for her journey.

Well, how was it?

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Does this answer your question?

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