CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The years past and life continued at a relatively slow pace in Gondor. The February of 13, saw the Telcontar House welcomed another daughter with fair skin, raven-hair and grey-eyes. She was named Imlosiel, which meant 'maiden within the snow'. The name came from the unusually cold-snap that Gondor experienced when she was born. Thankfully Faerveren did not begin to suffer from 'middle-child syndrome' due to the fact Eldarion spent every free minute he had with her, and she was also occupied with her own lessons.
The bond between Eldarion and Elboron also matured gradually until it resulted in an unforeseen side-effect which led to the pair having to take regular sessions in meditation so that the walls they were trying to build would strengthen. When he turned fifteen, Elboron dutifully became an esquire to one of the Lords of the Gondorian Court. Due to some incredibly bad planning, Elboron had been assigned to the same Lord as Halhigil. Halhigil was of course superior to Elboron owing to the fact he had two years experience under his belt. Halhigil therefore found great amusement in telling Elboron what to do. He also found it highly amusing to riel Elboron up with comments about Eldarion, his own family, Aragorn and the rest of the Gondorian royals. After four months Elboron had eventually snapped and had ended up in a fist fight with Halhigil.
Elboron had been concentrating on inflicting as much damage as possible to Halhigil, that his barriers had fallen. Eldarion, despite being fifty-miles away, had 'fazed out' of his lessons as he fought to maintain his own. This had greatly displeased his tutor so when he had began to lecture Eldarion on the standards he expected in his classroom, Eldarion had lost his temper. He slammed shut his heavy book and stormed out of the classroom until he reached the training fields, whereupon he began to attack a punch bag, used in the instruction of hand-to-hand combat, with such force that he actually split the skin on his knuckles and left definite indentations in the leather. In punishment for storming out of his lessons, Eldarion had been forced to work in the library for a week. The library in Minas Tirith being nearly twice the size of the one in Imladris, Eldarion was exhausted by the end of the week.
Aragorn and Arwen had been completely confused as to Eldarion's sudden outburst but when news reached them that Halhigil and Elboron had been in a fight on the same day, things began to fall into place in rather quick succession.
"Do you think Eldarion felt Elboron's temper and acted it out?" asked Arwen.
"It is the only thing that makes any sense," replied Aragorn. "That must mean their barriers fell."
"Maybe we should ask Eldarion," suggested Arwen.
And that is exactly what had happened. Eldarion, through a bout of convulsive sneezing (the books he had been shifting that day had not been touched since Denethor was Steward and were covered in at least an inch of dust), recounted the day in question. Aragorn smiled with relief having solved the mystery that had been plaguing his thoughts for the past week.
"I don't understand Ada," said Eldarion. "Elboron is in Belfalas. I shouldn't be able to feel him should I?"
"It is obvious that in the past four years, your bond has matured in more than one way. I will write to Lord Gílorn and appraise him of the situation," replied Aragorn. Eldarion's eyes widened.
"But Ada, you have told me and Elboron since the bond developed that we were to keep it a secret!" he protested.
"I know. I will not tell Lord Gílorn the complete details but I with ask that he allow Elboron to have some time on his own each night so that he can clear his head," said Aragorn. "You are going to do the same, that way you can hopefully strengthen the walls between your minds so that we don't have a repeat of this incident."
Gondor, September, FA15
"I am so glad to be back," said Elboron as he flopped ungracefully on to Eldarion's bed, completely ignoring the fact that it would be polite to bathe first. The younger Prince giggled and crawled down from his pillows to lay beside Elboron.
"You stink," he commented, depositing a kiss on Elboron's forehead. "But I'm glad that you are back as well, but it's not going to be for long," said Eldarion as he settled himself.
"I love you too," laughed Elboron. "And I know that I will be leaving again soon after your Birth Day."
"That is not what I meant," said Eldarion. "We are leaving Minas Tirith."
"What!" exclaimed Elboron sitting bolt upright to stare at Eldarion. "When? Why?"
"Ada has decided that it is time that he saw how things where doing in Arnor. We leave the day after your Birth Day."
"How long will you be away?" asked Elboron, standing up and moving over to the window where the Sun was beginning its descent behind the mountains.
"I don't know," said Eldarion. "I don't think Ada's planned that far in advance."
"I….I need to think about this," said Elboron.
"Alright. I'll see you at dinner." Elboron gave a none committal shrug and Eldarion let himself out of the room. Before closing the door he turned back. "I really am glad that you are back, Elboron."
"Eldarion?" asked Arwen as she found her son wandering listlessly around the gardens. Eldarion's slight turn of the head in her direction was the only indication that he knew of his mother's appearance. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"I told him," said Eldarion, slumping down on to a bench. "I don't understand why I have to go as well!"
"You are only thirteen Eldarion. You cannot stay here on your own," reasoned Arwen. Eldarion's eyes darkened.
"So I have to abandon everything I know simply because Ada wants to return to the north!" he yelled, causing a handful of birds to vacate a nearby tree.
"Do not raise your voice to me," warned Arwen. "Eldarion, I know this is hard for you but you have to understand that being a Prince you have to make sacrifices for the needs of your people."
"I never asked for this life," replied Eldarion. "What I want is to stay in my home. These are my people. Minas Tirith is where I belong!"
"As is Annuminas," replied Arwen. Eldarion glared at her before storming off. "Where are you going?"
"To visit Lady Alphwen," replied Eldarion marching away.
Dinner was a rather more subdued affair than anyone had anticipated with Eldarion and Elboron back under the same roof. The pair weren't even sitting side by side, Eldarion preferring to sit between Faerveren and Imlosiel while Elboron was sandwiched between Faramir and Lord Arodon.
"What has happened between you two?" asked Aragorn, rather concerned about the latest development between the pair.
"I told him that we would be leaving Minas Tirith, indefinitely, the day after he turns sixteen," replied Eldarion, pushing his food around his plate rather than actually eating anything.
"Ah," was the only answer Aragorn could come up with.
A similar line of conversation was being traced at the other end of the table where an equally listless Elboron was mashing his potatoes and carrots into an unrecognisable pulp.
"You are not helping him or yourself by refusing to even acknowledge his presence," said Faramir, staying his son's hand as the fork began to scrape the surface of his plate.
"He is leaving me!" hissed Elboron turning fiery eye on his father.
"He doesn't have a choice, Elboron. He is only thirteen and the law demands that he be cared for by an adult," replied Faramir.
"Then why don't you offer to take care of him?" asked Elboron.
"He is not my son," replied Faramir. "And as enticing as the idea sounds, it would be unfair on his own family if such was to occur."
A sudden commotion at the other end of the table stopped any response that Elboron was going to issue. Eldarion had dropped his cutlery and stood abruptly from the table. Inclining his head to the gathered company he all but sprinted from the Hall. Elboron stared after his friend's retreating back and stood also.
"My Lord, may I be excused?" he asked, looking directly at Aragorn. Aragorn nodded and Elboron followed Eldarion at an equally speedy pace.
"Eldarion wait!" yelled Elboron. Eldarion had broken into a sprint as soon as he had cleared the steps to the Citadel and was running towards the gardens. He gave no indication that he had heard Elboron's shout, forcing the older Prince to follow at the same rapid pace.
"Eldarion!" yelled Elboron again, thankful that his training had at least increased his fitness.
Eldarion scrambled up the young birch tree which took pride of place in the garden. Reaching a suitable limb of the tree, Eldarion rested against the trunk, wrapping his knees to his chest, burying his face in his arms. He simply did not understand what he had done to cause Elboron to withdraw his friendship. So lost in his own thoughts as he tried valiantly to recall exactly what happened since Elboron had returned that afternoon, that he failed to notice Elboron had clambered up beside him until he felt a hand on the side of his head.
"What?" snarled Eldarion, glaring at Elboron
"Why did you run?" asked Elboron, as he positioned himself in a more stable position on the limb.
"Because I was beginning to feel oppressed," said Eldarion. "I have been counting the days until your return but to then have you ignore…."
"I'm here now Eldarion. What I said earlier was that I needed some time to think. I had just come back from Belfalas delighted that I would be spending a month back in your company only to find that you are leaving in a week's time. How exactly did you expect me to react?"
"A simple 'I will miss you' would have sufficed," replied Eldarion. "You got up and looked out the window rather than at me Elboron. To me that means a dismissal!"
"Ai!" offered Elboron with a gently smile.
"Yes Ai!" said Eldarion. "We have a week left together. Please let's not fight any more."
"I whole heartedly agree with that notion," replied Elboron and opened his arms to his younger companion. Eldarion immediately pulled Elboron to him and balanced their weight on the limb, resting against the trunk.
The following week the Citadel was in chaos as Aragorn set the Council up to run in his absence, passing a majority of his powers to Faramir. At the same time Arwen and Éowyn were trying to arrange some form of celebration for Elboron's sixteenth Birth Day. The day before the celebration saw the arrival of varying guests to Minas Tirith including Glorfindel and the twins along with Haldir and Rúmil. Prince Imrahil arrived from Dol Amroth with his sons Erchirion and Amrothos. Éomer and his family arrived from Rohan whereupon Elfwine was immediately roped into helping by Eldarion and Elboron. Legolas arrived from Ithilien but unfortunately, Gimli and the hobbits had sent their apologies. Rosie was expecting her ninth child whilst Merry and Pippin were busy organising things to greet Aragorn when he arrived in Annuminas. Gimli had become involved in some building project in the Lonely Mountain.
"Perhaps you can explain how we celebrate your Birth Day without you being at the celebration," said Elfwine as he leant in the doorway of his cousin's room. Elboron chuckled as he slid a knife into his boot, a habit he had picked up while in Belfalas.
"Quite easily. You go down to the Hall, sit at the table, eat and drink until you are fit to burst and then dance until you swear your feet are about to drop off or you collapse, which ever occurs first," replied Elboron.
"You sound like you have had a lot of practice," said Elfwine as Elboron walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"Not as such. Lord Gílorn wouldn't allow me to partake in celebrations is such a manner but plenty of his men did. Every day seemed to be a celebration of something or other," said Elboron as he slung an arm around Elfwine's shoulders.
"That is just your Gondorian soldiers of you," smiled Elfwine, earning him a sharp tap on the head.
"And I supposed the Rohirrim are graceful. That I find hard to believe considering Uncle Éomer supplies the ale which is used to toast everything from the sunrise to some old dear's ninetieth Birth Day." This comment earned Elboron a dig in his ribs from Elfwine.
"Hey, no injuring the guest of honour!" griped Elboron, batting Elfwine's hand away.
"You are not the guest of honour until you enter the Main Hall," replied Elfwine.