This chapter is going to involve some fast forwarding and disappearance of time but I need to get Eldarion back to Annúminas for the start of the next chapter. Please bare with me.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Eldarion gradually regained his strength, though he was forbidden from leaving his bed for anything more than to answer the call of nature. Such a rule was driving him crazy as he was unable to perform his daily ritual of greeting the sun. Even though he did have a room whose window was east facing, from his bed there was little he could do but watch as the rays slowly crept into the room.
It also meant that he could not fight with his people.
Elboron and Elfwine had been drawn into battle twice more, though Eledher flatly refused to re-enter battle until Eldarion was up and about under his volition and completely free of his bandages. Díorn had led Eldarion's company into battle, relying on his brother heavily as Elboron and Elfwine took up the yolk of watching each others back.
Three weeks after he had woken, four days after he was finally allowed to leave his bed and two after Éomer claimed victory over the Dunlendings, Eldarion received three more visitors in the shape of Arwen, Hinluin and Culas. The three had met Haldir in the doors to Edoras and the elder Elf had guided them to through the streets to the Golden Hall where Eldarion sat beside the fire playing chess with Eledher under the guise of teaching the younger man tactile skills of battle. Elfwine and Elboron had instantly labelled the activity as skiving. The pair were aided and abetted by Díorn and Rosruin who were supposed to be writing field reports. Elfwine and Elboron sat at the table writing said reports while Éomer sat with Gamling studying those that were already written and taking stock of the latest damage inflicted upon their country.
As the large doors to the Hall were opened to admit Haldir and his followers, eight heads turned from their respective tasks and all, save Eldarion and Éomer stood and bowed in greeting. Arwen, Hinluin and Culas curtsied and bowed to Éomer and his sons as etiquette required before Arwen gathering her riding skirts about her and hurrying to Eldarion's side. Hinluin was quickly behind her and wrapped his arms around Eldarion's neck as soon as he reached him. The raven Prince had been sitting in a state of shock at seeing his mother and friends for what was the first time in seven years and as such did not react until Hinluin sent him flying backwards.
"Hinluin!" he gasped as his chest protested at the collision. Hinluin pulled away just as sharply and kneeling before Eldarion gesticulated something in the direction of Eledher. Eledher looked completely confused by the signs but Eldarion wasn't. Sharply, he clipped Hinluin around the back of the head.
"No. It was his first time in battle and everyone is entitled to make mistakes," chastised Eldarion. Hinluin stared at him wide-eyed but Eldarion was defiant.
"Hinluin, why does Alam have a scar running from hip to shoulder blade?" asked Eldarion folding his arms. Hinluin scowled at the Gondorian.
Balrant and Hinluin had become a double act within the Rangers of the North, as had Túnír and Alam, effective battle partners, each being the strength to the other's weakness but on one of their early excursions, Hinluin had eaten something which didn't agree with him and had become ill. On their back to Annúminas, the four companions had run into a group of Men who were less than willing to allow the four pass and a fight had ensued. Hinluin had tried to fight but had collapsed under the addition strain on his already overworked body. While defending his unconscious brother, Alam had been struck with a spinning blade which tore up his back leaving a scar from left hip to right shoulder blade.
"That is not the same thing!" protested Hinluin.
"It is exactly the same thing. We were both injured to protect those who are weaker than ourselves," he said. Hinluin and Eledher both yelped in protest at being called weak which caused Eldarion to laugh before glancing up at Díorn. The albino nodded at the silent request and applied pressure to Eledher's shoulder while Eldarion nudged Hinluin towards Rosruin. Taking the hint, the two youths allowed themselves to be steered towards the table. Haldir remained away from mother and son while Culas hovered in the shadow, his main task in Rohan to make sure that his Queen was safe. Eldarion turned to his mother and released a choked breath.
'Naneth!' he whispered, his right arm moving of its own volition around the Queen's back.
'You are alright,' whispered Arwen, pulling away and cupping Eldarion's cheek. Eldarion nodded, biting his lip. His emotions were currently all over the place and conflicting with one another. He was delighted to see his mother again, though he had to admit the circumstances were less than favourable, but at the same time he was upset at having caused so much distress. Those in Edoras were still to recovering, how were his friends and family coping back in Annúminas?
Over at the table, Rosruin rested a hand on Elboron's shoulder as the tawny worked on strengthening the walls between his mind and Eldarion's. What Eldarion was feeling was none of his business and it was important to him to block Eldarion's unvoiced emotions from his mind.
'I am so sorry, mother,' whispered Eldarion his voice becoming choked as his emotions fought desperately for release. 'I did not think.'
'You were in battle,' replied Arwen, who appeared to have a better grip on her emotions. 'And I would have better luck asking the Sun to stop moving than to ask you to stand back and allow harm to befall one of those you love.'
'How much do you know?' asked Eldarion. He suspected that Arwen knew exactly what had happened and he did not feel up to defending his actions yet again!
'I know that you were in battle. And that you fell defending Eledher,' replied Arwen. Eldarion nodded.
'Please don't hold it against him mother. I made my own decision,' he pleaded. Arwen smiled and rested her forehead against Eldarion's. Eldarion gripped the wrist that was still near his face.
'I hold no grudge. I saw what such loathing did to my brothers and those close to them once, I do not wish to see it happen again, least of all to my son. If you can forgive Eledher, then I will do so as well,' replied Arwen. Eldarion smiled and hugged her again as best he could considering the angle they were at.
"You are hiding something," commented Elboron as he deposited himself beside Eldarion, while Díorn sat cross-legged before his captain. Eldarion cocked his head.
"What makes you say that?" he asked.
"Apart from the nagging feeling in the back of my mind, your eyes show that you have a secret," replied Elboron with a smile. "What is it?"
"I am going back to Annúminas," replied Eldarion. Elboron blinked and Díorn stared.
"You're what?" exclaimed Elboron.
"After Fætthyge has declared that I no longer need to take his medications, I will be returning to the north," replied Eldarion.
"Willingly!" said Elboron.
"In part," replied Eldarion tossing Elboron the missive he had been debating over for the past couple of days. "I am not in any position to fight with the slayer of the Witch-King!"
"For how long?" asked Díorn.
"At least a year," replied Eldarion. "Until I am properly healed, I don't want to risk the three week trip between Minas Tirith and Annúminas."
"But you will risk the two week's travel to the north?"
"They have a right to know that I am well," replied Eldarion. Elboron sat a stared at his companion for a few minutes.
"What about your people in Gondor? They have as much right to see how you fair."
"It was your father who suggested it," said Eldarion "Díorn, I will be taking half our men as guard for my mother. Can I count you within that half?"
"Count me within the whole," replied Díorn. "None of the men will leave willingly for Gondor when they know you are headed north relatively unprotected." Eldarion chuckled.
"What about Rosruin and your parents?"
"I haven't been to Dol Amroth since Prince Imrahil's," replied Díorn with a shrug. "A few extra months will not matter."
"And Rosruin?"
"Is coming with us," decided Elboron. Eldarion cocked his head in question.
"He is?"
"Where else would you expect my Adjutant to go?" asked Elboron folding his arms. "I am going to Annúminas with you, therefore so will my red-headed shadow."
After a further five days, during which a memorial in honour of the dead had been held, along with a 'retiring' celebration for Gamling – who had decided that he had had enough fighting to last more than a dozen lifetimes – Eldarion's company sat saddled and ready before the steps of Meduseld awaiting their Captains and Queen.
"Now I mean it your Majesty, I expect to receive a missive for your father detailing your condition upon your arrival in Annúminas," Fætthyge was saying as he followed Eldarion from the Hall, Elboron on one side and Arwen on the other. Haldir, Culas and Hinluin followed behind in a guard. Éomer, Elfwine and Eledher were standing at the bottom of the steps with Díorn and Rosruin at their sides, holding the bridles of their horses.
"Yes Fætthyge, I will tell him, now please stop worrying!" said Eldarion, turning to the healer. Fætthyge seemed satisfied and stuffed his hands into his sleeves and bowed to the Prince.
Eldarion clasped his right hand to Fætthyge shoulder. "Thank you," he said applying pressure.
"My duty to serve my Lord," replied Fætthyge.
"Thank you," reiterated Eldarion before offering his arm to Arwen, leading her down the steps and helping her into her saddle, before turning to the Rohirric family.
"Thank you Eldarion," said Éomer, holding out his hand. "Thanks to you my people can live in peace again."
"I didn't do much Sire," replied Eldarion. "I have spent most of my time here abed."
"But you brought the warriors we needed and your injury gave your people, and mine, a reason to fight," replied Éomer.
"And try and follow me," replied Eldarion turning to Elboron who refused to hang his head in shame. Eldarion held out his hand out to Elfwine.
"You are not a bad commander," he said. Elfwine stared. "Your brother has a habit of letting his tongue run away with him," explained Eldarion. Eledher shrugged.
"He asked me how you were," he said. Eldarion smiled.
"Unless you need help within the next year, do not hesitate to ask," he said before Elboron helped him into the saddle. Elfwine and Eledher smiled up at the Prince.
"The same could be said for Gondor," said Éomer.
"Are we going before the sun reaches noon?" asked Díorn.
"We're coming!" exclaimed Eldarion as he manipulated his left hand around the reigns of Suldal's bridle, once again cursing his lack of muscle tone. "Díorn ready the company."
"Yes Captain," saluted Díorn before barking out a series of orders to the gathered men.
"As I told your father over twenty years ago; make your next trip because of a pleasant excuse!" said Éomer. Eldarion saluted the Rohirric royals before steering Suldal to the head on the column, Elboron at his side with Arwen four ranks behind, Díorn and Rosruin acting a body guard and Hinluin and Culas ahead as scouts, all hoping that their skills should not be needed.