Closing the book and checking up on Elboron who was still sleeping peacefully (Valar be praised!), Faramir snuffed out the candle at his bedside and lay down to try to sleep, pondering just how much weight his brother bore and for how long. Faramir had known that Boromir was feeling strained by the time Osgiliath was attacked just before Boromir was sent to Imladris, but Faramir was not aware that it had been building for years and for so many reasons.
That night Aragorn had not gotten much sleep either and was beginning to wonder if he could ever get a decent night's rest in Rohan. Instead of sleep, Aragorn had found a conversation with Glorfindel under the stars.
"Have you seen Gandalf?" Glorfindel enquired without turning to look at the former Ranger.
"Now that you mention it, i have not. Not since this morning," Aragorn replied, drawing on his pipe tiredly. He glanced over at Glorfindel apologetically and started to put out his pipe again, but the golden-haired Elf stayed his hand.
"I am not Elrond, it does not bother me that much. I've dealt with worse," Glorfindel said with a slight grin.
"Hannon le," Aragorn said with a slight, subconscious dip of the head.
Glorfindel sighed. "The Hunter is leaving," he noted, looking skyward.
"I can not say that i shall miss him. Yet by autumn i shall be glad of his return... as it is every year," Aragorn said, allowing himself a moment of levity by blowing a smoke ring.
Glorfindel laughed suddenly. "You speak as though you grow weary, you child!"
"My weariness can not be cured by getting on a ship," Aragorn said with just a tinge of bite to his tone.
"You will come to Imladris with us. I daresay that will help you as it always has," Glorfindel said intently.
"When do you plan on going?" Aragorn asked.
"In a couple of months, hopefully. That should give you time to get everything settled before we go and enough time to be back before you are officially a father." Glorfindel then was silent for a few moments before speaking again, more mutedly. "Erestor wants to go home."
"And you do not?" Aragorn said curiously. Glorfindel had never exactly displayed any interest in Minas Tirith other than the fact that that was where Erestor was and until the dark one was ready to leave, Glorfindel would be there as well. The change over the last year between those two was staggering, even by Mortal time standards.
"No, Estel, i mean home... Eldamar. He thinks that when Elrond goes, he, too, shall lay down his quill and leave the care of Imladris to another." There was no small amount of sadness in Glorfindel's voice.
"You are not ready for that?" As ever, Aragorn preferred to ask the questions.
"I only just got back! There is so much life left in me... that is the trouble of being reawakened. I still feel like an Elfling at times, and you can not believe how maddening that is... to be the great and glorious Glorfindel, Balrog-slayer, and be expected to be high and noble and dignified, when all you want to do is go charging off after the next adventure."
"I can not believe it, oh?" Aragorn said meaningfully. "Gandalf will be going with Elrond, and he was reincarnated just over a year ago," he pointed out.
"Istari are inadmissible as evidence in any argument. You know that, Estel," Glor' grinned.
"And you shall be pained to be parted from Erestor... after all this time," Aragorn said with just a slight barb in reference to all the centuries the two Elves had spent at one another's throats.
Glorfindel just nodded sheepishly.
Aragorn yawned and slapped the Elf's back encouragingly. "Well, look on the bright side... at least you have forever. I, myself, need some rest. I think we should look to the return trip upon the sunrise after next."
---
"Your Majesty," panted a guardsman of the Citadel, going swiftly to one knee when he saw Arwen emerge from behind a blossoming lilac hedge.
"What is the trouble, Rathling?" Arwen asked calmly. She always made it a point to call everyone she came in contact with by name. She wanted them to know how much she appreciated their support of her and Aragorn.
"The Rangers of Ithilien have returned from Pelargir, my Lady. They bring with them a prisoner," Rathling said. "What shall i have done, my Lady? Should he be shown to the dungeon until King Elessar and Steward Faramir return?"
Arwen looked to be in thought, but then Rathling considered that all Elves always look to be in thought. "They may not yet return for another two weeks or more," she said. "I shall parley with him."
"My Lady, you should not, not in your condition. The prisoner could be dangerous," Rathling said in concern. "Perhaps i shall fetch Lord Erestor?"
Arwen nodded, wearing a little graceful smile. "Yes, you may also inform him... however, i shall still treat with the prisoner. I only intend to talk with him, and surely if the man is a threat he will be restrained already." Arwen knew a lot about diplomacy, almost as much as Erestor, and she knew together they could likely find an agreeable resolution to whatever trouble this prisoner had caused. Arwen also knew how extraordinarily careful most Rangers who had been stationed at Ithilien could be, and she knew that it was rather possible that the prisoner in question was no more than a traveler. It had happened before.
And yet she also knew well enough to make sure that Erestor was with her during any interrogations. For all his quiet, bookish appearance, Erestor was deadly swift with a weapon no one would have known he carried in his robes. He preferred to never get into any manner of physical altercation, but when need arose, he was an extraordinarily capable Elf. Arwen was glad indeed that her friend had stayed to help her.
Arwen waited for Erestor to come to the garden, then they both went to Tower Hall. Two Rangers stood before the dais holding a man securely between them. Neither bowed to Arwen, simply because it would have put them at a momentary weakness and it was not expected of them in such circumstances.
The prisoner looked like he would have spat at the two Elves, had there not been a rope still tied round his neck. Arwen's gentleness was difficult for even the stalwart prisoner to resist when she asked his name.
He choose to shade his response as a brag rather than submission. "I am Calimehtar of Harad. The one who devised the poison that killed your husband's Steward's wife."
---
My apologies for the length of time this took me to update (five whole days!). I've been tired/lazy all week. Really, since Christmas.
Elenhin: Eomer would definitely not be pleased with the barn comment, especially after Saruman's similar description. However, considering that it came from Glorfindel... well, i don't think even Eomer is dumb enough to try to take him on. I think the younger Faramir has a good future ahead of him.
More to come....