CHAPTER SEVEN
The next two weeks passed relatively quickly, and quietly considering the lack of raucous activity from the Eldarion and Elboron. Other than their lessons (during which Eldarion had come very close to beating Halhigil on more than one occasion, only to be held back by Elboron and the impending trip to Lórien and Imladris) a majority of their time was spent with either Éowyn, Arwen and Faerveren or Haldir. Neither boy really minded and Faerveren was positively delighted. She adored her brother and his friend but rarely spent longer than an hour or two with them a day. The Princes in return loved Faerveren dearly and found spending time with her an agreeable substitute to running rampage.
Rather than careering around the Citadel, the boys were either engaged in knife lessons with Haldir and Legolas along with Elfwine and a couple of the Princes' classmates, the Elves having seen the appalling tutelage they received from the city's 'expert', or in the library or family room.
Eldarion had taken it upon himself to teach Elboron more Sindarin, something that the older Prince was eager to do. Éowyn even tried to pick up a few phrases and taught the Gondorian royals some Rohirric in return. This had then led to an argument over which was the better language and it was one that no one was objective enough to settle – Éowyn, Éomer and Elfwine all native Rohirric speakers while Arwen, Haldir, Legolas and Aragorn were all native Sindarin. Glorfindel of course still preferred Quenya to either language and wasn't much help to either side. Merry was a Rohirric guard and sided with his King, Pippin was an Gondorian Tower Guard and agreed with his King, Gimli was Legolas' best friend while Faramir and Lothíriel both had a spouse who was Rohirric. Eldarion himself, despite being raised speaking Westron, the language of the Gondorian Court, had native Sindarin parents and was fluent in the Elven language. Elboron was stuck in the middle. While he too had been raised speaking Westron, Eldarion had taught him a little Sindarin and he picked up the occasional Rohirric phrase from his mother.
"Why don't we just agree to disagree?" suggested Aragorn one evening at dinner.
"Here, here," agreed Éomer, taking a sip of wine.
"Now turning to more important matters," stated Aragorn and he turned to face Eldarion and Elboron who both looked ever-so-slightly nervous. "I am proud to say that you two have excelled yourselves over the past two weeks! May be I should forbid you from pleasure pursuits more often…"
"Ada!" exclaimed Eldarion in horror. Elboron wore a similar expression and looked pleading at his own father. Both men chuckled.
"…However, the Citadel doesn't seem quite right without your yells echoing through her halls and I am convinced the healers are getting withdrawal symptoms from not have to deal with at least one of you once a week. The librarian is becoming convinced that you two are sickening for something, the number of times he has seen you in the library. As of tomorrow, your full privileges are reinstated." Eldarion and Elboron cheered.
"The healers will be in even more withdrawal by the time we get back from Lórien and Imladris," giggled Eldarion.
"And our healers will be wondering what on earth they did to deserve you two," smiled Haldir. Glorfindel nodded in agreement. "How did the Council take the news that they would be running Gondor for three months?"
"Rather well actually," replied Aragorn. "Lord Arodon was ready to force me out of the door the minute I informed them. My only hope is that I have a Kingdom to come back to in three months."
"Don't worry, Aragorn. Uncle will be more than capable to handling anything which is thrown at him. He's been ruling Dol Amroth prosperously for the past fifty years. And he knows where to contact us if anything serious happens," assured Faramir. Lothíriel nodded in agreement.
Eldarion and Elboron turned their attention to Haldir and Glorfindel and began to bombard both Elves with questions about their respective homelands, so quickly that the two Elves barely had time to answer. Eventually, when Eldarion's head began to droop slightly, Aragorn called a halt to the proceedings.
"I think it is time for you two to go to bed. We have an early start tomorrow," he said, looking at Eldarion and Elboron. Both Princes nodded and after bidding goodnight to those gathered around the table, they made their way out of the hall.
"Elfwine, if you intend to say farewell to them tomorrow, I would recommend you go to bed as well," suggested Éomer.
"Father I'm not…" he yawned widely, hastily covering his mouth as Lothíriel glanced at him sharply. "…tired."
"Bed, young man," stated Éomer with a smile. Begrudgingly, Elfwine slid from his seat and bidding goodnight to those still gathered around the table, he followed his friend and cousin from the Hall.
The following morning, Eldarion and Elboron were up, literally, at the crack of dawn. They had hardly slept at all the night before but had a surprising amount of energy considering. Unable to sit still for a period of time longer than five minutes, the boys had made their way to the kitchens where breakfast was being prepared. The kitchen staff were a little surprised by the visit, though not completely. The two Princes were regular visitors to the kitchens though generally not so early in the morning. However, the two boys had done nothing but talk about their planned trip to Imladris and Lórien for the past two weeks. Knowing that today was the day that they were starting off, it came as little surprise that they appeared at the crack of dawn.
"Did you two get any sleep last night?" asked the head cook as she deposited a bag of flour on the bench in front of her.
"A little," replied Eldarion with a grin. "Can we help?"
"You really should getting ready. When do you leave?" replied Istwen
"In about five hours," replied Elboron. "And we packed yesterday."
Istwen smiled. "Anyone would think that you were eager to leave the city!"
"We are going to Lórien and Imladris!" exclaimed Eldarion. "The two most beautiful places in Middle-Earth!"
"And how would you know that when you have never travelled further than Dol Amroth or Edoras?" smiled Istwen
"Queen Arwen told us stories. And Haldir and Glorfindel told us about them last night," replied Elboron.
"Well you would not catch me being so eager to leave Gondor," replied Istwen. "Since you are here, you may as well having something to do. Go roll up your selves, wash your hands and knead this dough."
"It is not natural to be up this early," grumbled Elfwine two hours later, as he plonked himself down in his chair at the breakfast table. Éomer sat on his left and also looked as though he would enjoy another few hours in bed. Aragorn and his family looked decidedly more chipper than the Rohirrim. Haldir, now that he had healed properly, was wide awake, despite having the least amount of sleep.
"How did you survive the War?" teased Aragorn.
"Necessity," replied Éomer, combing his hair away from his face with his hands. "Next time you want us to see you off, chose a more suitable hour alright?" Aragorn simply smiled.
At that moment Eldarion and Elboron came dashing into the great hall, followed by Istwen who was carrying a tray of fresh bread. Behind her came a couple of other kitchen staff carrying other foods for breakfast.
"You have too much energy!" groaned Elfwine.
"Not a morning person, cousin?" grinned Elboron as he sat down.
"No sane person has that much energy in the mornings," grumbled Elfwine.
"Dislike for the morning must run in the males of the House of Eorl," said Éowyn as way of greeting.
"Obviously missed Théo and Elboron," yawned Éomer. Aragorn laughed and handed his friend a bowl containing some porridge.
"Here, this will help wake you up." Éomer mumbled his thanks and began to eat his food.
"Looks like we're just in time," piped Pippin as he and Merry scrambled into their chairs. The two hobbits were setting out with Aragorn's company and travelling with them as far as Rauros before splitting from the company to continue their journey homeward. They had been invited to join the Gondorians to Lórien but both had declined, claiming that duties in The Shire pressed them to return home.
"I swear you think with your stomach, Pip," smiled Faramir.
"I am a hobbit!" replied Pippin, in the same manner as you would use to explain to a hyperactive toddler that one and one made two, whilst spooning porridge into a bowl for himself and Merry.
An hour later, the two ruling families of Gondor along with Haldir, Glorfindel and the two hobbits, were standing at the Main Gate, bidding farewell to Éomer and his family. Éomer was still fighting back the occasional yawn but looked a great deal better than he had at the breakfast table. Elfwine seemed to have recovered completely and was currently talking to Elboron and Eldarion, giving them instructions on how to cause the most mischief possible. The three boys giggled as the two Gondorians were lifted into their saddles by their respective fathers.
"Namárië," smiled Eldarion as Elboron grinned. Clicking Brego into trot, Aragorn led the way out of the gate, Arwen at his side, Faerveren in the saddle before him. farewell
"If you try any of what Elfwine suggested, Rúmil will have you out on a limb," muttered Haldir as he rode beside Eldarion.
"Not planning on," replied Eldarion and it was the truth. Rúmil wasn't the only one who would have something to say. If anything happened whilst they were away, Aragorn would more than likely cancel the trip and the punishment they received upon return to Gondor would be worse than the one they had just served.
Turning to Elboron, Eldarion's face split into a huge grin which caused his silver eyes to dance. Elboron returned the grin. They were finally off.
I am not entirely happy with this chapter. I needed something to span the fortnight between Haldir's collapse and their leaving for Lórien and this is what got produced. How does that saying go? Things can only get better? I hope so. Anywho;
Response to reviewers;
IwishChan; That was the impression I was trying to give of Glorfindel. More Eldarion/Haldir moments to come, with a dash of Elboron and Rúmil.
Haldir's Heart and Soul; (grins) I could hardly kill him! I have enough people in Eldarion's life to kill without Haldir as well.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur; Here ya go sweetie.
The Lady of Light; Here ya go. Yes, Eldarion and Haldir are sweet together. It's good to know that Haldir is not a stuck-up prat and Eldarion is so easy to write, but could have something to do with the fact that I have cousins who are his age.