Chapter Four: The Funeral

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update. I've bee VERY busy. Also, this chapter was particularly difficult to write. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR or the funeral song I use in this chapter. For those of you who have the extended TTT, it's Éowyn's funeral song. I just replaced Meduseld with Minas Tirith. BUT I DON"T OWN IT!!!!

Andúmîr was relieved when they were safely inside the Royal House. All the up the city she could feel the cold stares of the people. At the door, the guard bowed and said, "Welcome, King Elessar. The Queen awaits you."

They went inside, and to Andúmîr's surprise, it was strangely peaceful. A woman was waiting in the common room, and when she saw Aragorn, ran into his arms crying, "Estel! Estel, you have returned at last!" Andúmîr noticed that she was not a woman, but a female elf. The elf turned to the bewildered child. "Estel, you have brought with you a beautiful jewel."

King Elessar turned to his daughter. "Andúmîr this is Queen Evenstar, Arwen Undómiel," he said. "This is your mother." Andúmîr gasped. This beautiful being was her mother?! For a moment she didn't think it was possible, until she saw that they had similar features. This really was her mother.

Andúmîr repeated the words her father had taught her to say. "Gil síla erin lû e-govaded vín." [A star shines on the hour of our meeting].

Arwen was amazed. "Na vedui! At Last, my daughter has returned to me."

"Ada is teaching me the language of your people, Naneth." Tears formed in Arwen's eyes. The loss of her son was still fresh in her heart. "Please call me Amme," Arwen said. "I always preferred the word mother in the High Elven tongue." The truth was that Arathen had called her Naneth, and she didn't want a constant reminder.

Her daughter saw her tears, and wished to comfort her. "Don't cry, Amme. Was it something I said?"

"No, sell nîn. I shed tears of joy because my daughter has finally returned home."

Andúmîr felt her throat close. If she was truly home, then why did she feel like a stranger?

The next day was Arathen's funeral. Despite her pleadings, Andúmîr was forced to wear a new dress, a Gondorian dress. And oh how she hated it. Everyday more and more of herself was taken away in an effort to make her a presentable heir of Gondor. Even her hairstyle had to be sacrificed; it was braided in elvish fashion by her mother.

At the beginning of the funeral, the royal family began a procession to Tombs of the Dead. Behind them, four soldiers bearing the body of the fallen prince followed. Elessar, Undómiel, and Andúmîr stood at the entrance and let the soldiers place the body in the prepared tomb.

Arwen began to weep. The sight of her only son on a funeral pyre was too much for her. Her daughter slipped her hand in hers, hoping to give her some comfort as her mother said her final goodbye.

Aragorn began to sing a song of lament and was joined by everyone; everyone except a certain princess who did not know the words. When they were finished, Aragorn whispered in her ear, "Will you sing something also? I know you do not know any Gondorian laments, but you should sing something out of respect for your brother."

She stared at him for a long moment. Finally began a funeral song her mother taught her:

Bealocwelm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended

Giedd sculan singon gléomenn sorgiende

On Minas Tirith þæt he ma no wære

His dryhtne dyrest and mæga deorost.

Bealoc….

King Elessar stared at his daughter. "That was the only thing you could think of? Couldn't think of one in the Common Speech at least?" he whispered.

"No."

"Will speak of this later," he said. Then he led her before the crowd of people. "Citizens of Gondor," he began, "We have suffered a terrible tragedy. Your prince has been taken from you before his time. But do not despair. Your princess, who has been residing in Rohan, has returned to us in our time of need. Look to her as the heir to the throne now. She is the Crown Princess of Gondor."

A cheer went up from the crowd. "You speak as though I will surely be ruler of Gondor," the princess whispered to her father.

"That is because I am sure you will," Aragorn answered.

Andúmîr looked out into the distance sadly. Gondor's first welcome was her last farewell to Rohan.

Well, how was it? You know, Andúmîr Tindómiel was the first name I thought up, and I thought no one else had ever thought of it. Well I was looking at Elros's family tree and his daughter was named Tindómiel! I was so mad!

Reviews:

Keindra Andúmîr's relationship with Aragorn "stands upon the edge of a knife." It's very delicate and fragile at this point.

Haldir's Heart and Soul: How right you are.

Varsity on Track: No you're not bothering me. I understand if you're confused. Eldarion, Elboron, and Elfwine will all come into the story at some point. I just have written that far ahead yet.

Lady Alionae: Thank you for your review.

Thank you all for your replies. May an Evenstar shine upon you.
P.S. Sorry it's so short.

This chapter was written in memory of my cousin Sp. Jonathan Kephart. You served your country well. "Hail the Victorious Dead!"- King Théoden from ROTK.