Author: Mirrordance
Title: Love, War
Summary: The War brought them together, but the peace will tear them apart. How much is a man willing to pay to keep a friendship, and how much is a friend willing to lose for revenge? Slash.
TIMELINE: the story happens about a year or two after Return of the King— the exact year is immaterial really, just as long as certain future events operate as a given: one, peace is yet to be attained with the Eastern tribes of Middle-Earth. Two, Ithilien is already restored and Legolas lords over the elven colony there, just as Gimli is lord of the Glittering Caves. Three, Eomer is already engaged, as is Eowyn and Faramir. Four, that Elrond and Galadriel have already sailed away to Valinor. The fic is generally faithful to the book and the movie with respect to the major events, although some factors about it may be considered as an AU; the irrepressible Haldir, for instance, is very much alive in this piece.
ORIGINAL CHARACTER GUIDE:
The Sang-age Tribe: a tribe name created from Latin roots which means 'belong to blood.' They a creation of the author and is supposed to be one of the multitude of Easterling tribes, not particularly powerful but also influential. excuse any possible inconsistencies haha.
King Nathaniel: the King of the Sang-age tribe.
Lilian: Legolas' murdered betrothed. An elf from Lothlorien.
Adriano: Nicolo's impulsive young aide and valet.
PART TWO: Possibilities
Chapter Thirteen: Belong to Blood
The Rohan Front
After a careful review and a few more negotiations and revisions, history was created by five rulers – that of the Kings of Gondor and Arnor, Rohan, and of a little-known but undoubtedly powerful Eastern tribe, a Lord of Imladris, and the Lord of the Glittering Caves – when they signed a treaty that could eventually unite the entirety of Middle-Earth in peace.
Nathaniel of the Sang-age stared at his signature and the wax seal of his Royal house, alongside those of Eomer's, Aragorn's, Elrohir's and Gimli's. "There is one thing missing," he declared.
Aragorn's brows rose. "What would that be, my lord?"
"Sang-age," said Nathaniel contemplatively, "It means that we are people who belong to blood. There is blood in birth, and then in death. It is the life force that courses through your veins. And so we bear its name and we wear its colors in pride."
The two other Kings listened in earnest. Nathaniel had a weathered, interesting face and an engrossing way with storytelling. His tone felt like it belonged to an older world, and his textured voice reminded on of sun, and sand, and intoxicating heat. It was an experience listening to him speak, and it was undoubtedly wise to heed his counsel. But tales of the rich, mysterious Eastern cultures were interesting on their own, even without the considerable presence of Nathaniel or the imparting of his wisdom.
"But such devotion actually stems more from one of our oldest legends," said Nathaniel, "rather than the relationship of blood to the body. An immortal god who ruled the waters was named Darat, and he fell in love with Marin, the most beautiful mortal woman who had ever lived. The other gods convened in counsel and forbade the union; such things only promised tragedy, ultimate parting." He glanced at Aragorn, knowing the history of this King shared in some aspects of the legend. "Even the humans did not approve; the gods were respected and looked upon with awe, but also with greater fear and suspicion- the gods did what they willed, they gave but they also took.
"Now, neither Darat nor Marin listened to any of them," continued Nathaniel, "The love was too great to ignore, too entrenched to forget. The other gods coordinated with the humans, and the lovers were systematically parted. But they've always been fighters. Darat drew his knife and spilled his sacred blood into a vial. It was the first time the blood of the gods have been released into the world. It was filled with magic and enchantment, and all the longing of his love. If Marin drank it, she would share in his immortality and then they'd never have their tragedy; everyone should ultimately approve. He sent a loyal messenger named Uron on a sacred mission to get the vial to her with all haste.
"But as I said earlier," Nathaniel reminded them, "Marin was the most beautiful mortal anyone could ever lay their eyes on. Many a mortal man loved her too, and decided that the gods had everything in the world they could want, they must not take her too. The messenger Uron was a stranger in the land, it was not hard to spot him. The men killed him, but he hid the magic vial of Darat's blood before they could succeed, and no one's ever found it. Now Darat, the god of the water, waited for Marin to come to him, now turned immortal with his blood. He waited and he waited, and the gods were always patient for they lived forever. The years flew past him, and he is so intent on the wait that he forgets to bring the rain, forgets to give us the water. And so we live in a dessert. And our ancestors, once having known the land before it was acrid, went in search of the blood of Darat wherever Uron the Messenger may have hidden it: the land where the Sang-age ultimately settled and turned into their country. Marin has long been dead, but to find the blood and to return it… perhaps he'd remember us and bless us again. Or perhaps, we can offer up to him our own most beautiful mortal, to be his immortal bride in Marin's place."
Aragorn smiled at Nathaniel a little, appreciating the tale. "The Sang-age still searches for the Blood of Darat?"
Nathaniel smiled back and shrugged. "It is a child's tale, so we do not seek the vial in earnest. But we do commemorate the death of Marin with a feast each year. A feast that comes in a few weeks, as a matter of fact. But though its been relegated as fiction, all our bonds have been sealed in blood for as long as we can recall, a symbol of how our god once wished to share his own with a mortal out of love and respect, and sincere desire for union."
"I understand now what it is you ask of us," Eomer said, drawing his dagger, "To sign in blood as well."
"That is the short of it," Nathaniel said apologetically, "Forgive me. Old Kings speak more than they should. It is your misfortune."
"The tale is a fascinating one," said Elrohir soothingly, unsheathing his own dagger, "We are lucky to have heard it, especially from you, King Nathaniel."
"Our elven allies appreciate the whimsy," said Gimli, "And I must admit I was just as arrested."
The five rulers followed the practice of Nathaniel with great respect, and so their written names and wax seals were thereafter accompanied by blood prints taken from their arms. A considerable space was left in the sheafs of papers for the sign, seal and blood of Legolas for Ithilien, and Thranduil for Eryn Lasgalen. Nathaniel frowned at these empty spaces.
"You are certain your Prince will not change his mind?" he asked.
"He's never broken his word," Aragorn guaranteed, "And in the interest of time, he's gone straight to his father the King to make arrangements, rather than be here for revisions and further discussions. He will wed your daughter, make no mistake. He's even arranged for a wedding party to fetch your daughter from the East for the first of the wedding feasts to be held in his Kingdoms. He will abide by the treaty."
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes in thought, but nodded in acceptance. He studied the papers again. They made several copies, signed all of them, to ensure each had a copy and there were spare ones for records and to send out to the other tribes. The King of the Sang-age knew that at the onset, his old Eastern allies won't be too pleased with him.
"If this fails," said Nathaniel, "It will be perceived that I've completely allied myself with enemies of the East. You understand what this means, do you not?"
The occupants of the room understood that of them all, it was Nathaniel with the most to lose. If the other Eastern tribes did not follow suit, Nathaniel was a traitor to them. His lands, his people, would be deemed as enemies. Pillaged, enslaved, killed… The risks were enormous, the massacre unimaginable.
"This will work," Eomer said tightly, thinking, if only because it has to.
Elrohir watched Aragorn, Eomer and Nathaniel ride South toward Gondor along with their respective entourages. He breathed a prayer wishing them luck. The odds were with them, he reflected, the Easterlings had to play this smart. Peace while retaining their properties, averting more killing, especially with their weakened forces, was a greater concession than anyone could possibly hope for.
"Master elf," said Gimli, "You don't think Aragorn is getting sick of me, is he?"
Elrohir smiled down at the dwarf. Once again, his request to ride with Aragorn was politely declined. "I'm sure that is not the case, Master dwarf. He sees the best use of you elsewhere, and to Aragorn, in matters of life and country, his pleasures are sacrificed for the better of all. Including the pleasure of your company. Besides," Elrohir smirked, glancing up at the impervious Lothlorien Marchwarden who was standing with them, "We are to go into the Far East toward greater danger, and your spirit and ingenuity are unparalleled so we have greater need of you. Not to mention the fact that you're comfortable traveling with elves."
"Well yes," said Gimli, thumbing in Haldir's direction, "But not with that one."
Elrohir shook his head in amusement. Well that mix in particular won't be the strangest one. He, Haldir and Gimli were heading a party of five Easterling soldiers and the young Adriano, and then six Gondorian soldiers also traveling with them. The mix was probably volatile, but Elrohir decided he's always lived a charmed life, so he'd try his luck here too.
To be continued…
HEY GUYS! thanks so much once again to those who read and especially to those who review and help keep the fic alive. double post again; i know this chapter is short and i'd hate for you to feel short-changed in that you waited for something so long and it's so inadequate. anyway, have fun and watch out for the next few chapters. we'll be following Elrohir's treaty to the East, and more of what happens between Legolas and Aragorn too. so stay tuned, haha. Thanks so much and 'TIL THE NEXT POST!