A/N: Thanks for all who have reviewed the story! More stories by me will come up soon. I promise. God bless :-)
Wherein the Beginning Ends and the Ending Begins
The Coronation:
I was required to wear the black-and-silver of the Tower Guard. Still, it was better than the heavy armor some men were commanded to wear. I stood next to Raya. She looked beautiful. Her hair was in a wispy knot that grew wispier by the minute. Throughout the ceremony, she had to keep making sure it was in it's place.
Faramir wore a light blue damask shirt, a dark blue cloak, and his usual black breeches and boots. He was beaming. Lady Eowyn was beautiful, I admitt. She wore a dress of pale yellow silk. A circlet of gold rested upon her brow.
I could not see Lord Aragorn's face but I could see his figure kneeling infront of Faramir. Faramir placed the crown of old on Lord Aragorn's head. The crowd fell silent. After a minute, King Aragorn stood up. The crowd cheered and whooped. Raya was beaming. Her hair slipped out of the knot again. She heaved a weary sigh. I leaned over to her and whispered, "Don't worry. You look much prettier like that."
She looked into my face and kissed my nose. And then King Aragorn took off the crown and said :
Et Earello Endorenna utulien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!
And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came up out of the Sea on the wings of the wind: "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-Earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world."
King Aragorn handed the crown back to Faramir. He said, "By the labour and the valour of many I have come into my inheritence. In token of this I would have the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my brow, if he will."
The crowd fell silent. How could King Aragorn do this? It was tradition that the steward be the one to crown the new king, though Faramir had not taken his place up in the city. Frodo Baggins and Mithrandir walked up the stairs to where King Aragorn stood, looking high and mighty. Faramir handed the crown to Frodo. He smiled as Frodo passed the crown onto Mithrandir. Mithrandir placed the crowd upon King Aragorn's head with great ceremony. The crowd cheered louder than the first time. I took Raya's hand in mine and kissed her hand. All was back in order in Middle-Earth, like the days of old.
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King Aragorn:
We were alone in the hall with King Aragorn, Queen Arwen, and King Eomer of Rohan. The king and queen of Gondor were smiling broadly at us. Faramir and I bowed so far I feared we would have toppled over if King Aragorn had not said, "Rise."
We did as he bade us.
"Captain Faramir," King Aragorn said. "You shall take your place up in the city as Steward of Gondor, as tradition requires, but now that the king has returned, your desecendants shall not be steward. And right now, I shall make thee Prince of Ithilien as a reward for your bravery."
Faramir was surprised. Very surprised.
"Are you not pleased with it?" the king asked.
Faramir shook his head. "Nay m'lord. I have always dreamed of residing of Ithilien. Thank you m'lord." He bowed. King Aragorn turned his gaze to me.
"My queen," he said to Queen Arwen. "What gift shall we give this lad Eorl who is filled with loyalty and friendship? What gift is worthy enough? Tell me, Eorl. What are your desires?"
I said without hesitation, "To be a true soldier of Gondor and to loyal to m'lord Faramir till the world's ending."
"Ah. Then I shall make you Prince Faramir's advisor and caretaker of his estate. Does that suit you, Prince Faramir?" King Aragorn asked. I could tell from Faramir's expression that he was unaccustomed to being called 'prince'. Finally, Faramir nodded and said, "It suits me well. More than I could ask for, m'lord."
"You are dismissed."
Faramir and I turned and we walked out of the hall when Faramir stopped halfway. "One more thing, my king, King Eomer," Faramir said. King Eomer's eyebrows climbed when Faramir adressed him. "I greatly desire to have permission to wed the beautiful Lady Eowyn."
Queen Arwen gave a small and knowing smile. She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her left ear.
King Aragorn turned to King Eomer. King Eomer squinted at Faramir, as if considering. Then, he raised his hand and said, "Permission granted."
Faramir smiled as we walked out of the door. The guards bowed as we bowed. Prince Faramir was smiling and a faraway look filled his eyes. "Faramir," said I.
"Yes, my friend?"
"Does that mean I have to call you 'prince' from now on?"
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Where we come to the end of the story:
So began the Fourth Age of this world.
Pippin was dancing on a table with Merry. The men clapped and cheered. I walked onto the veranda and surveyed the merry-makers. Faramir, the happy groom, wore a black velvet shirt with gold stiching on the high collar. Over that, he wore a silver breastplate and shoulder-guards. I could tell he was dying for a scratch. Lady Eowyn, the happy bride, wore white silk. A thin veil covered her golden hair. I don't think I have seen Faramir this happy before.
Frodo and Sam were laughing and smiling. Sam looked thinner and more weary. Frodo had his third finger missing. King Aragorn declared that scar a medal of gallantry "better than any I could bestow".
Sam told me the reason why Frodo lost his finger. The creature Gollum had bitten it off.
I turned around and rested my elbows on the stone rail of the wall. Minas Tirith was quiet, but it was not the deep breath before the plunge. It was peace. Real peace thatmost Gondorians have never experienced.The surviving orcs will be flushed out and killed in time, Minas Tirith would be rebuilt, and the wounded soldiers would be healed in time. Not just physically but mentally too.I could not remember a time in Minas Tirith where men were not riding out to fight against foul orcs.
"Lord Eorl," said a voice next to me. I turned and saw Raya. She had her hair down. Raya wore a dark blue gown of damask. She took my hand in hers. "Lord Eorl," she repeated as if she could not believe it. She was smiling. Her blue eyes sparkled in the lamplight.
"Well Raya," I said, smiling back. "Would you care to be my lady then?"
Raya looked surprised. She curtsied low and said, "That would please me greatly, m'lord."
I pulled her into my arms. I looked into her velvet-eyes and kissed her hard...
... high above us, Elthoniel-tinuvai shone brighter than ever.
THE END
(And they all lived happily every after)