AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally!! Sorry everyone! I meant to put this up sooner but I have been busy during the weekend. I do have a life besides writing :). lindahoyland: thank you very much for your lovely reviews. I am glad to read them and know what you like specifically :). luv24Alias: yes, you will get more!! I am very glad you like the story so much. Valia-Elf: thank you :). Always happy to write fluff and all things beautiful. viviana: thanks a bunch! I am glad you are enjoying it :). Ahh!! So many people!! Enjoy ch. 26!
Aragorn did meet with the Elves who had come to Minas Tirith later that day. Legolas was among them. They all stood fair and proud with shining faces, so different from the mortals they passed in the streets, and long hair glistening golden, shadowy, or pale in the sun falling upon the lands of Gondor in shimmering shafts. They were with the new King in the presence of the White Tree glimmering pale and crystal droplets of water falling from the low branches where the fountain touched the white petals.
Legolas stood before his former companion. "You honour us with your presence, noble King of the West," he said bowing low with a hand on his breast. The others did the same with admiration and awe in their eyes.
Aragorn reached out his hands to them. "Please! Please stand my friends," he said with a grateful smile. "You should not have to bow to me."
Another of the Elves spoke in his melodious voice and stepped forward. "Yet we wish to honour you as we can for you are the mightiest of all Men in this age. Your are an Elf-friend like those of old."
"You faced the darkness and struck where it was greatest. With this mighty blow, it was destroyed. It takes astonishing courage to do what you did," said another with golden hair and brilliant blue eyes. "Even as it is accounted among the Elves. We are leaving these lands more rapidly each day, and so you are given Middle-earth's care."
"And I shall keep it well for the sake of your people and those who remain here, but most of all for those who will come after us," said Aragorn.
The Elves smiled and knew that Elessar Telcontar was more kingly than all those before him. Legolas clasped his friend's forearm with shining eyes of blue.
"We also have a gift to give to the King of Gondor and Arnor," he said. "Your city is fair, and yet we bring the beauty of our lands to yours for even greater it will be with trees of the wood and green things of the valleys. The gardens of Minas Tirith were once renowned for cities of Men, though now," he motioned to the Elessar glimmering green upon Aragorn's breast, "it shall have a blessing of the Elves and become more lush and beautiful than ever before so that it will rival even the wild forests."
Aragorn looked down into the six levels below and was content. "The thanks of all the people and myself I give to you. It is a priceless gift. What can I give in return to such friends of Gondor?"
The Elf who had spoken after Legolas spoke again. "Only to grant us leave to make our dwellings for some of our Elven-kindred in Ithilien where the Shadow of the Enemy could not fully destroy. It will be made clean and beautiful as it once was."
"Then I shall gladly grant you this," said Aragorn. "It would be a glorious thing to have Elves return to this land. You are most welcome."
1. "Anar kuluva tielyanna," said the Elf, "ar eleni calaor ostolla."
2. "Ar or lieolla," Aragorn said bowing slightly.
Legolas and the Elves began to plant trees in all the places they could in Minas Tirith the following day. Aragorn was sometimes among them. The people rejoiced to see Fair Folk in their proud, white walls. The Elves sang softly as they put the seeds or saplings in the brown earth.
The Dwarves aided in the placement of the new gates along with strong men of Gondor. The city was buzzing with excitement and busy with labour for all were working to restore the city after the great battle that had ended the Third Age. Stone was rebuilt with as much skill as in the Elder Days, walls replaced, and large banners of Gondor flown high against the brilliant blue sky. Common men and women found their King among them clothed only slightly different with the White Tree and Seven Stars emblazoned on his breast and nothing upon his head. Everyone who was able aided in the rebuilding and refurbishing of Minas Tirith.
Aragorn was exceedingly busy in all this time, as it is seen, yet there was no lack in his time spent with his new and glorious Queen. No passion was stronger for they had endured such trials of their love like no other since Beren and Lúthien so long ago.
When Aragorn was finished commanding the masons of the city, Arwen came to him where he stood beside a young tree sapling planted by the hands of Legolas himself. He was lightly fingering the Elessar that was pinned upon his breast, catching and reflecting the sunlight falling in golden beams upon the gleaming city.
She drew up beside him and a soft smile appeared on his lips.
"It is good to know that both Legolas and Gimli will be so near. I already wish that the dear hobbits would not have gone," he said.
Arwen laid her hand in his. "Some you shall see again but not Frodo. He will soon pass over the Sea with our beloved Mithrandir and...others we have cherished." She no longer spoke of her father after their last parting in Edoras where her heart had been torn in two. Aragorn knew not to broach the subject and not for some time or until she spoke of her burden. He had seen his beloved weep only once, and it had been enough to rent his spirit and churn his stomach for he could not bear to see her broken or suffering.
Aragorn drew her to him as he saw the pain in the depths of her grey eyes. "Do not despair, beloved, for all shadow has passed and perhaps there will be some end Ilúvatar has yet to reveal to us where the ones we have lost will reunite with us once again after passing to a place we cannot go. There are many Elves I would wish to see, yet I have parted forever from them."
Arwen lifted her head to look into his eyes. "As long as I have you...all will be well."
Now, Sauron had been defeated along with many of his wicked hordes, yet not all who were allied with him were destroyed or rooted out. There were also evil things that had not been united with the Dark Lord still concealed in Middle-earth. Many corrupt creatures were slain while wicked Men plotted secretly to gain Gondor once again and to defy the new King that had arisen.
King Elessar knew of all that was happening, so he called the counsellors to him to discuss the matter. When he looked around at them, he recalled such meetings he had had with his companions: dear Gandalf who was now gone, Legolas who was among his woodland kin again, Gimli who was with his people also in Erebor, and Éomer who was now king of Rohan. He missed their insight somewhat as he stood among the wise of Minas Tirith. There were not many of them, yet he felt crowded by their presence.
"You may already know why we are here," he said. "I have called you here to discuss the scheming of wicked Men in the far East and South. Not all of our enemies were destroyed in the War of the Ring. You might even say it is still continuing for it will take time to root out all evil in men's hearts."
"My lord," said a tall, lean man of grey hair, "you wish to attack the Men of Khand and Rhûn?"
"If they do not surrender to the King of Gondor, then they shall pay the price," said Aragorn in a voice that tolerated no argument. It was the same tone that the men had shuddered from in Helm's Deep as he stood upon the wall to watch the sun rise. "Men are weary of war—I know it for I too am weary—yet for peace to settle in all the lands of Men...we must strike our lingering enemies hidden away in the far lands. To gain peace is to gain it through war."
"Then let it be done!" cried another man who only had streaks of grey in his hair. Aragorn had been in his presence before and had found the man bold and gallant. He would be one that Aragorn listened to more closely perhaps than the others. His blue eyes burned with passion. "We will follow our King wherever he may lead us whether it be to more war or to the ends of the earth!"
Aragorn smiled slightly and nodded. "Send emissaries to King Éomer for he will not wish to miss this chance to draw his sword once again. We shall need all of the aid we can gain."
King Éomer sat on the throne in Meduseld waiting for the messenger of Gondor that had been sighted to arrive in the great hall where little time ago councils and debates had taken place with noble folk of the highest and after these many of the Fair Folk had walked and feasted. He recalled King Elessar sitting at meat at his side, his eyes bright and his bearing proud. The thought of his staid companion in kingship and battle brought a soft smile to his lips: the messenger was most assuredly bearing word from him.
The man was admitted, and Èomer rose to his feet. The man of Gondor bowed low before approaching the king with a letter in hand.
"The King Elessar bids you well, King of the Mark! Yet he brings urgent word also."
"Thank you," said Èomer grasping the message. "You are welcome to abide here tonight if you wish and take rest from your journey."
"Thank you, my lord, I shall."
As the messenger was led away to staying quarters, he broke the seal to swiftly read the strong, flowing script. As he did so, a smile crept upon his lips and his eyes began to shine.
"So it has not completely ended..."
The messenger of the King Elessar carried a reply at his belt as he urged his horse forward over the Fields of Pelennor and to the gates of Minas Tirith. He went into the city making his way swiftly to the seventh level where he passed the Court of the Fountain and finally to the Hall of Kings where the King sat upon the high throne.
"My lord, King Èomer sends word." He knelt before his King.
Aragorn stood to receive it then gave the man leave to go, yet thought better of it. "Wait," he said holding up a hand, "for I may have word for you to carry, thought not to Èomer." He read he letter as the man waited eagerly to hear the reply. The King nodded slowly and looked up from the message. "You must bear word to the hosts of Gondor..."
Word spread through Minas Tirith of the King's decision. They were to bring war upon those who still opposed the Men of the West. Sauron was destroyed forever, yet the seed of his malice had taken root in many lands and in many hearts; particularly those who had served him before such as the men of Khand. The Easterlings had surrendered to King Elessar after seeing him command the dead and sweep away the evil hordes on the Fields of the Pelennor to shift the battle, and peace was sought between Gondor and the people of Harad. So the opposing forces had been greatly lessened thought the enemy was still many.
Rohan's enemies, or threats, were practically none. The Dunlendings realised heir their mistake of attacking the horse lords and were willing to have peace among them. The Wild Men were not wholly peaceful, yet they had been utterly defeated never again to trouble Middle-earth.
Èomer gathered his riders of Edoras, Helm's Deep, Snowbourn, and other villages to ride to Gondor before the entire host set out on a journey into the barren lands in the East beyond Mordor.
When they arrived in Minas Tirith, King Elessar greeted his friend with a shining smile.
"Èomer! How good it is to see you again! Even under the circumstances..."
"Yes, my friend, but I understand your reasons and that is why I am here. Did you think I would pass the chance to draw my sword with the King of Gondor?" His eyes lighted with a smile.
Aragorn's laugh was rich and deep. "I am honoured to have you at my side once again, Èomer. My heart has never been so light."
The Riders of Rohan abided in Minas Tirith for two days only as the armies of the city joined them. The meeting was as brothers reuniting as men clasped arms and greeted each other with raucous shouts of joy. The two forces mingled together as one and waited with thrilled anticipation as the time drew near to set out for the far lands of Khand where the Variags sat in evil brooding. They had been present in the Battle of the Fields of Pelennor and had not surrendered as the Easterlings had done.
Faramir arrived in those days after receiving a message from Aragorn for he would rule the city during the King's absence. Aragorn and Èomer were waiting for him in the Hall of Kings.
"Prince Faramir!" King Elessar called. "Join us, my friend!"
Three mighty men of great wisdom and valour stood together in that grand hall. Golden light poured in through the windows upon them and their eyes glittered like mithril under starlight.
The following day the councils were concluded and the great company of Rohirrim and Gondorians set out with their kings at the head. There was a rumble of hooves and feet moving swiftly over the lands to challenge those who opposed the King and his allies. Banners of the white horse on green and the White Tree on black rippled in the wind as they were carried on the journey.
Faramir had been left in Minas Tirith, but there also was the Queen for Aragorn did not wish her to accompany them to battle. She had wished to go, yet knew it was not her place. She would wait for her beloved to return safely.
Andúril glittered with a silver sheen as it was drawn forth. Aragorn's eyes blazed as he rode forward with his men close behind. They had come upon a city of Khand without warning and the Variags fled at their wrath as they plunged into its streets. They were a stubborn people and none surrendered to the flying standard of the King of Gondor who swept through them in a burst of glory and wrath. Some quailed at the presence of the mighty men invading their city whether on foot or mounted on great beasts of war.
Aragorn himself found their leader and rode forward to meet him for he had slain a Rohirrim man to gain his horse. His eyes were red with fury as he saw his men cut down like wheat by gleaming swords and glinting spears, yet it grew the greater when he saw their Captain charging towards him. They met in a clash of steel and Aragorn threw the man from the beast to the earth where he landed on the hard ground with a great shout. He dismounted and slew him before he rose again. The city was taken without difficulty and few had been slain of his forces.
He found a man, his skin swarthy and his eyes like coal, who was cowering in an alley.
"Tell your people that if they do not surrender to the King of Gondor and Arnor...they will surely fall as your men have this night. Take word of your own account and be swift!"
The man trembled as he stood and ran with all his strength out of the city and on to the nearest dwelling place of his kin. Aragorn watched him go and drew a deep breath of the warm air. It will not be long now...My heart will rejoice when I can return home...
1. May the sun shine upon your path, and the may the stars shine on your city.
2. And on your people.