Chapter 5

"The kingdom has been doing rather well, and some semblance of peace has returned to the ravaged lands of Gondor," Aragorn said proudly, gazing across the lands of his country. Éomer and Haldir exchanged smiles, after all, it had been quite some time since the battle of Pelennor Fields, and the coronation of the King of Gondor. Éowyn steadfastly refused to meet Aragorn's stare, while a light flush coloured her cheeks as she faltered under his gaze. As they walked through Gondor, Aragorn stopped abruptly.

"Tell me about his treachery and how he entered the country," he said simply.

Éomer shook his head. "We do not know how he entered, and from where he came. However, it is clear that his intention was to take over the throne of Rohan," he said contemptuously. "He might enter Gondor through Ithilien, or take the path past Dol Amroth into Minas Tirith," Éomer noted, "or he might also be on his way directly from Rohan, taking the path along the Great River down into the city,"

Aragorn nodded cautiously. "We shall have guards to secure the castle walls and to ensure that we are safe and that the people will be protected. We must not allow him an easy path to entering the castle,"

Éowyn spoke up suddenly. "Forget not the power that Saruman wields. He can use any form of his evil magic to make his foul plots work,"

Éomer acknowledged the statement with a nod. "Saruman has proven time and time again that he has powers that we ought not fail to register. They can topple Minas Tirith should he wish to do so,"

Aragorn shook his head. "That is where you are wrong, my friends. I do not think that he would want to destroy the city when it is secure and fortified. Instead, he will observe from afar. He would then take over without war, and would not have to rebuild. With Minas Tirith at his disposal, he will achieve far more than if the city was damaged,"

All of them pondered his statements deeply for a moment. As they did so, one of the sentries came up to them.

"Your Majesty," he said, kneeling towards Aragorn, 'the Prince of Ithilien has arrived,"

Aragorn nodded. "Thank you. My friends, I have sent for the Prince of Ithilien – Faramir – when I heard from you. I had wished that we could all come up with a satisfactory solution to this problem…" He turned to the sentry. "Show him here." The sentry bowed, and exited hastily, returning shortly with a man.

"Prince Faramir of Ithilien," Aragorn said. "May I present Éomer, King of Rohan, his sister Éowyn, and her husband, Haldir, March Warden of Lothlorien,"

Faramir returned the courtesy, and as he bowed to each of them in turn, he felt his gaze lingering on Éowyn momentarily. Ridiculous, he told himself. After all, she is married, to an elf, no less.

"We are going to prepare for an imminent attack, one which makes use of stealth instead of brute force," Aragorn informed Faramir.

He looked thoughtful for a moment, before replying, "Stealth is right. It is unlikely that he would show his face here after what happened in Rohan,"

Éowyn stared at him. "Well, he had been exiled once when – when my uncle was still alive, but that did not stop him from returning," she said, a tinge of sadness creeping into her voice when Theoden was mentioned. Haldir gave her a quick smile of encouragement, and she accepted it gratefully, albeit wearily. She glanced around, and noticed that Faramir was watching her closely. She immediately assumed a regal and icy expression, and glared at him coldly. He looked away immediately, and she relaxed. She detested the feeling of being intensely watched and under scrutiny, and shrank away from the conversation temporarily. Haldir sensed her discomfort, and mouthed to the rest, "I'll take her back up, she's not feeling well…"

"Éowyn, are you all right?" he asked. He realized that he was extremely worried, and hoped that she was fine, and he didn't want anything to happen to the baby.

She shook her head slowly. "I just get these cold flashes, and all the time…I'm scared and uncertain. I ought to have stayed in Rohan. I don't know, I'm nervous about everything now…traveling, especially with the child…"

Haldir understood her worries perfectly. "Perhaps you ought to get some rest, you might be tired after a long day,"

Éowyn nodded slightly, but what she felt she really needed was some quiet time alone, to disappear from all this talk of plots and treachery and of spies. She entered the room, and kissed Haldir goodbye. She paced around the room after he was gone. Perhaps she ought to take a little walk around Minas Tirith – on her own.

Slipping out of the room, she padded down the hallway and out of the confinements of the room. Glancing around, she saw lush greenery amongst the gleaming white towers. The residents were at peace, the joy of young children was around her…the city seemed calm. Could Saruman and Grima Wormtongue really come and wreck the idyllic bliss that these people enjoyed? She knew the answer – they could, and would. Shaking her head, she realized that none of these civilians knew what possibly awaited them. As she strolled along, she noticed that Éomer and Haldir were heading her way again.

"Éowyn, shouldn't you be indoors, resting?" Éomer asked her with the usual brotherly concern.

"I was feeling slightly claustrophobic indoors, but a little walk seems to have cleared my mind," she said, waving her hand in the air.

"Well, here's the good news: Aragorn and the Queen, that is, Arwen, say that we are allowed to say here, under their protection," Haldir chipped in.

"Well, so if it isn't just like old times again – all of us back together."

A/n: Thanks for all your reviews. You may have to wait a little while for the next chapter, will be away for the whole week, yes. Enjoy!