Replies to reviewers:

Tracey – It kind of got buried in my opening Author's Note for Chapter 1, so it isn't surprising you missed it – Eldarion is 16, Elfwine 15 and Dariel 14. The story isn't really from any one perspective since that means I can let you know what everyone is thinking (if I want to!). If I do it only from a single perspective, then you only get to know what that one person sees/hears/knows. There will be times it reflects what Dariel is thinking, times when it is Elfwine and times when it is someone else.

Jazzcat – Thanks for the kind words! Glad you are enjoying this. I didn't think Elfwine was all that sullen – he just had his feelings hurt, is all. He'll be more affable later on. Enjoy your vacation!

Second Thoughts

Chapter 2

Edoras was nothing like Dariel had envisioned it, and she found herself trying to take everything in at once. It was very different than Minas Tirith, that was certain. Emblems of horses were everywhere, and seemingly on everything. The people appeared to be simple and honest and, though at first she thought of them as peasants, she began to see they had a quiet dignity about them and it humbled her.

She was surprised when Eldarion rode up alongside her. He had spent most of his time with Elfwine or the men during the trip. He noticed her curious look and explained, "Elfwine and the men had to ride on ahead and prepare to receive us." He was quiet a moment, then asked, "So, how does it go with Elfwine? Has he forgiven you yet?"

"I cannot be sure. Sometimes I think he has and sometimes I am not at all certain about it. And I truly wish Mother and Father would say something to me about it and get it over with. I cannot believe they do not know about what I said and will not punish me."

"Or perhaps they feel you are grown enough to correct your own mistakes. Maybe they have seen you seeking to make amends and are trusting you to continue to do so until the matter is resolved."

She blinked at him in surprise. The thought had never occurred to her that her parents might be allowing her to rectify this mistake instead of forcing her into it. At once, she felt a flood of pleasure and pride that they might do so. She did not want to disappoint them. Eldarion noted the brighter smile on her face and concealed his own grin. He didn't mention to her that he had suggested this course of action to his parents, making them aware how remorseful she was at having hurt Elfwine with her remarks.

A few moments later, they reached the bottom of the steps up to Meduseld. Though far less grand than the stone halls of the Citadel at Minas Tirith, the Golden Hall was unmistakably stately in its own way. Dariel found it a bit startling to climb the steps toward the royal family at the top. Elfwine stood with his parents, mimicing his father's stance. She had known he was the Prince of Rohan and heir to the throne, but somehow not until she saw him thus did it really sink in. She supposed it was similar to never thinking of her brother in that way either. He was just her brother, and Elfwine was just Elfwine, a boy from Rohan.

Her parents and Elfwine's went through some formal rigamarole that she always found boring, so she let her gaze wander about her. The view from Meduseld's terrace was breathtaking. All of Rohan was spread below, and her eyes swept over it while the wind whipped her hair about her face. Suddenly she was aware of someone in front of her and realized she had not been paying attention. Elfwine had his arm extended to her and was looking at her questioningly. Apparently, he was escorting her somewhere and she had failed to notice. Blushing slightly, she ducked her head and took his arm, allowing him to lead her wherever they were headed.

He ushered her into a long hall that obviously was the main throne hall of Meduseld. There was a large hearth in the center, and there were tall wooden columns and numerous tapestries. She did not recognize any of the stories that seemed to be depicted in them, but again everything appeared to involve horses in some fashion.

They followed her parents out into a corridor that ran adjacent to the main hall and walked for some distance to the living quarters. Her parents were shown into one room and Elfwine opened a door for her on the one next to it. "I hope you will be comfortable here, my lady. I will send a servant to check on you shortly and find out if there is anything you need."

She nodded silently, caught off-guard by his formality. He bowed and left, closing the door behind him, and she went to be seated on the bed. Everything in the room was carved with horses, and animal skins covered the floor. It was a simple room, but struck her as very snug. Too often rooms in Minas Tirith were cold and stark.

A knock sounded at the door and she opened it to find servants with her belongings. They carried them in and departed, one girl remaining. "Shall I put your things away for you, my lady?"

She nodded shyly. The girl seemed little older than she, and it was strange to see her working at so young an age.

"My name is Tamwen, my lady. I will be assisting you while you are here. Anything you need, just ask me," the girl chattered, as she opened trunks and tucked things in drawers and the wardrobe.

Dariel felt awkward watching her work, and finally began helping her, laying out her hairbrush and hair ties on the dresser. She hadn't been sure what to pack for this trip, and she had a feeling she had brought far too much. She began hanging her dresses in the wardrobe, running her hand down one with a sigh. The women of the town had been dressed much more simply than this. She would be embarrassed going around town in her finery. On the other hand, Queen Lothiriel wore fine dresses, so she supposed she would need them at least some of the time.

As Tamwen put the last few things away, and set her trunks outside the door for storage elsewhere, she asked, "What happens now? Is there somewhere I am supposed to go?"

Tamwen shook her head. "I do not know, miss, but I will find out. Supper will be shortly. Perhaps you would like to rest until then? I will go ask and then come let you know."

Dariel nodded as she left the room, then moved to look out the window. There was a fine vista of mountains and plains from her window, and she could not deny Rohan's beauty. While much different than Gondor, this wild, untamed land had great appeal.

Tamwen soon returned saying there was nowhere she needed to be, and encouraged her to rest after the long day's travel. When Dariel nodded, she again departed, and Dariel stood wondering what to do. She did not really feel like napping, and wondered if it would be rude for her to explore her surroundings. Feeling too restless to stay put, she decided to risk it and moved out the door.

Once in the hall, however, her mind suddenly went blank, and she realized she had paid no attention to how she got to the room in the first place. Was the main hall left or right? She considered a moment, then took a deep breath and turned right. The corridor seemed to go on forever, turning every so often, and the doors all looked alike. At last she came to a stop, thoroughly confused. Nothing looked even remotely familiar, so she decided to return to her room, but then she realized she didn't know which one it was. She had walked quite a ways, but how many doors, and how was she to recognize it?

Then, to her embarrassment, Elfwine came up some stairs to her left and stopped abruptly at the sight of her. "Dariel? What are you doing here?"

She tried to be humorous, to ease her discomfort. "Visiting Rohan – remember?"

"In the servants area?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She blushed and admitted, "All right, then, I am lost. I was trying to go back to the main hall and explore a little, but I did not remember how to get there."

He gave her his usual half smile and politely offered, "Then let me show you the way. What did you wish to see on your exploration?"

She shrugged as she walked beside him back the way she had come. "It does not matter. I was just too restless to stay in my room until supper. Not to mention, I do not think I could even find my room again. I do not know which door it is. They all look alike."

He grinned. "It is right there." He pointed to the third door ahead of them on their left. "See the horse above it?"

"Elfwine, they all have horses above them!"

He gave her a puzzled look. "But each horse is different. The one over your door is a mare. It depicts one of the Mearas."

She was a little annoyed with him. "I am sorry. Maybe that means something to you, but to me it is just a horse head, like all the other ones over all the other doors."

Apparently he recognized that she was showing her frustration rather than being rude, and he pondered a moment. "Give me one of the ribbons from your hair," he said suddenly.

"Why?"

"You will see. Just do it."

She eyed him suspiciously, but did as he bid her. He disappeared into her room and returned with a chair. Climbing upon it, he tied the ribbon around the horse's head, then hopped down with a flourishing bow. "Now does your door look different?"

She let out a laugh, "Very much so! Thank you!" He returned her grin, and replaced the chair in her room.

"So, that only leaves exploring. Inside or outside?"

She shrugged again, "I do not know. I do not know what there is to be seen."

He gazed off down the hall, lost in thought, then suggested, "I have an idea. Come with me."

Elfwine continued down the hall, in the direction they had been going, and a few moments later they were back in the Golden Hall. He crossed it quickly, and she had to hurry to keep up with his long strides. Reaching the other side, they went through another door, down a narrow corridor and out a side door. Suddenly she found herself in the middle of a garden, and gave a gasp.

"Where was this? I did not see it when we rode up."

"It is behind Meduseld and not readily seen from the main entrance, to keep it private. It was here a long time, but a bit on the sparse side until my mother married my father. She loves to garden and nearly doubled its size over the years. Father says he fell in love with her in a garden."

Elfwine abruptly stopped speaking, and flushed slightly at the personal information he had imparted, but Dariel was too busy looking around to notice. "This is wonderful! There are many beautiful gardens in Minas Tirith, but I think I like this one best of all. What is this white flower? I do not recognize it, but there was a great deal of it growing outside the city gates on those large mounds."

He moved over beside her and plucked a blossom. "It is simbelmyne. It is native to Rohan and blooms all year. It grows on all our burial mounds," he answered quietly.

"Oh," was all she could think to say. "Then those mounds are..."

"The burial place of our kings; my ancestors. And some day I will join them." He seemed lost in thought, as though the realization of what he was saying had just struck him.

"It seems funny to think of you and Eldarion as being kings one day," she mused.

"You do not think we will make good kings?" he asked.

"Oh, no, not that. It is just...well, it is even that way with my father. Kings are supposed to be people who are very much removed from you. Not people you sit down to dinner with, or have them tease you – or have them tie ribbons around horse heads for you."

"They are just men, with a heavy responsibility. But mostly they are just men who do the best they know how," he answered quietly.

She wasn't sure what to make of his reflective mood. This topic seemed to be something he had thought about a great deal, but she was hesitant to question him about it. At least he was talking to her, and appeared to have put the past behind them.

Before she could respond, they were joined by Queen Lothiriel. "Ah, visitors to my garden. I did not expect to find anyone here."

"Dariel wanted to explore, and since I knew supper would be soon, I thought this might satisfy her for now," Elfwine explained to his mother.

"And how do you like my garden?" Lothiriel asked.

"It is wonderful! There is something...comfortable about it. Too many of the gardens in Minas Tirith are formal and stiff," Dariel enthused.

Lothiriel smiled at the girl and suggested, "You are welcome to visit whenever you like while you are here. In the meantime, however, will you help me collect some flowers for the table?"

Dariel nodded eagerly, and Lothiriel handed her a basket before moving to the first flower she wanted. Elfwine bowed slightly. "If you will excuse me, I will see you both at supper."

"All right, dearest," his mother said.

"Thank you," Dariel added.