WARNING; I find it extremely difficult to write romance and make it seem realistic. Please bear with me, and if any of you consider yourselves experts on the subject then PLEASE give me advice.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Eldarion's recovery from Túnír's untimely death was slow but his family had expected nothing different. Eldarion didn't do 'half-emotions'. He loved unconditionally and hated just as passionately, so when he emotionally collapsed he fell further and faster than those around him. Most of the time, Eldarion was able to cope but there were days when Elboron was convinced that they were back to square one. It wasn't until Arwen took him aside one evening in early June that Eldarion began to make a substantial improvement.
'Naneth, what are we doing out here?' asked Eldarion, as Arwen led him up a mountain path.
'There is a new star in the heavens,' said Arwen as she reached their desired destination. Eldarion raised an eyebrow in question.
'Why do you tell me this?' he asked.
'It appeared a few weeks ago. It was not until last night that I understood its meaning,' replied Arwen. 'Look to the star to the right of the North Star.'
Eldarion did as he was bid. This was not the first time he had been shown the stars and indeed each person, mainly Elves, who had shown him a particular light seemed to attach a different meaning to them. Eldarion had never understood why they attached such significance to the varying stars, simply accepting what he was told. As his eyes fell on the shining orb, Eldarion felt his knees collide with the solid ground on the mountain shelf.
'Túnír?' he whispered, one hand going to his heart, before he turned to face his mother. Arwen smiled gently at Eldarion and nodded.
'He swore to protect the House of Telcontar and the Valar obviously do not see his task as complete,' she said, reaching out and wiping away a stray tear from the corner of Eldarion's eye. 'Speak to him the way you do Haldir and Aurél, and he is not truly gone.'
Eldarion leant into his mother's caress and smiled gently. 'Hannon le, Naneth,' he whispered before turning back to open plain before him, the new star twinkling gently in the ink-blue canvas that was the twilight sky. Thank you mother
Despite his turbulent emotions, it was during his time of grief that Eldarion found love. Such a revelation had varying family members on alert immediately, each desperate to protect Eldarion from further heartbreak. The Council, who were unanimously delighted to hear that Eldarion had finally found a prospective bride were divided upon their feelings when they found that it was not a noble maid that Eldarion had fallen for. Despite his turbulent emotions, it was during his time of grief that Eldarion found love. Such a revelation had varying family members on alert immediately, each desperate to protect Eldarion from further heartbreak. The Council, who were unanimously delighted to hear that Eldarion had found a prospective bride were divided upon their feelings when they found that it was not a noble maid that Eldarion had fallen for.
With his father returned, Eldarion was no longer tied to the Citadel the same way as when he was Regent. While he completed his duties as heir to Gondor and Captain General with the utmost diligence, Eldarion also became a regular feature in the farmsteads that surrounded Minas Tirith, the freer atmosphere allowing his soul to heal better than any number of official condolences. He had always helped out with the harvest, as did several of the younger lords, but that was only at the end of one season. Now he was to be found in the community at least once a week, helping to sort the equipment, check the crops and tend the animals. He was eagerly accepted, his willingness to muck in and do what was necessary making it a lot easier for him to be seen as another worker rather than 'Lord Eldarion, son of the King'.
It was in the farmstead which primarily supplied Cair Andros with flour, meat and dairy, that Eldarion had lost his heart.
The maiden in question, was the middle child of Beldír, the arable farmer. Her name was Thélithil and being in between two brothers, she had had to fight for her father's attention growing up. To begin with, she had disliked Eldarion, seeing him first as just another noble descending from on high to mingle with the commoners so as to make them believe that they mattered. Then, when she could no longer back up that claim (it is a little difficult to hold such a belief after witnessing someone be covered from head to foot in mud, only to laugh it off and politely ask for a rag so as to wipe the stuff out of their eyes! And then to have them return two days later prepared to get equally grubby) she began to see Eldarion as someone else who would take her father's attention away from her.
Much to her family's embarrassment, Thélithil was far from polite to Eldarion. She sparked arguments with him continually, usually over the most trivial of things, and on one memorable occasion, pushed him into the water trough as he stood rinsing his hands, causing him to lacerate his forehead as it struck the sharp edge. Elboron and Díorn had been furious when they had found out about that and it was all Eldarion could do to prevent himself being barred from the community by his over-protective companions. Thélithil's fiery nature however, far from forcing Eldarion away from the farmstead, only encouraged him to return.
Slowly, while they still bickered and one or both of them repeatedly ended up returning home worse for wear, a playful teasing entered the equation. To a casual observer it was nothing but the teasing between fellow workers but to those who knew both Thélithil and Eldarion, it was obvious that there was something more developing steadily between them. Upon noticing the change, Silivegil and Palanél had confronted Eldarion and demanded to know exactly what his intentions were concerning their sister.
"Nothing but honourable," Eldarion had replied. "But it is a little early to suggest our newly formed friendship will deepen."
But deepen it did and come the spring of 46 it was obvious to all that Eldarion and Thélithil were in love.
Gondor, Midsummer's eve, FA46
"You are nervous, meleth nîn," whispered Eldarion as he took Thélithil's hand in his and gently running his thumb over her knuckles. It was the eve of midsummer, and apart from being Aragorn and Arwen's forty-eighth wedding anniversary, it was also the first time that Thélithil was to be formally introduced to the Court of Gondor. my love
"So would you be in my position!" retorted Thélithil. Eldarion raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed the palm.
"It will be alright. I will be at your side. Besides it is only my family," he said reassuringly.
"You seem to be forgetting that your father just so happens to be the King!" replied Thélithil. "Your mother is the most beautiful lady in the world and your sisters have all inherited her exotic looks! Exactly how does a plain farm girl fit into that scenario and not look out of place?"
"Don't force yourself to fit into the mould designed by others," said Eldarion, kissing her gently. "It was not a court maid that captured my heart."
At the end of the feasting, Aragorn stood from him place at the table and the gathered crowd fell quiet.
"Now that we are all satisfied, I would like to thank you for attending what has been a glorious feast in honour of my marriage," the guests broke into applause and Aragorn bowed his head in acknowledgement before holding up his hand for silence.
"And speaking of marriage, I have some joyous news. After what has been undoubtedly the hardest year of his life, Prince Eldarion has finally found love."
A murmur went through those assembled and Thélithil looked as though she simply wanted to disappear into her chair. It was only Eldarion's reassuring grip on her hand that stopped her bolting from the Hall.
"Eldarion, would you please stand? I am not going to make this announcement with you hiding behind the wine carafe," said Aragorn, smiling at Eldarion. Eldarion did as he was bid and cajoled Thélithil into standing as well. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Thélithil, daughter of Beldír. As you are no doubt aware, since my return last spring, Eldarion has been spending an increasing amount of time in the farmsteads of Gondor and it was in one of these communities that he lost his heart. To Thélithil. One week ago, Eldarion approached both myself and Beldír beseeching our blessing to marry. Upon its receipt, he asked Thélithil for her hand. I now have the joyous task of informing you that she accepted."
Many of the guests, particularly those who belonged to Eldarion's peer group, burst into riotous applause at the news. Elboron and Díorn, both of whom had kept a close eye on Thélithil over the past few months just to make sure that she had no intention of hurting Eldarion, whistled in appreciation, causing Eldarion to chuckle and Thélithil to flush a delicate ruby and hide her face in Eldarion's shoulder. However, there were those – Rodwen, Carnir and Thiad to name but three – who were not as impressed with the announcement. They withheld their protests but neither did they add their congratulations to the din.
The Council meeting two days later was awkward. Faramir, Pilimór, Cúnír and Arodon were among those who offered yet another round of congratulations to Eldarion while Carnir and Thiad made it quite obvious that they disapproved of Eldarion's choice of bride. From what Eldarion could decipher, it was because Thélithil was not of high class status.
"You are the ones who wanted me to marry. Who dared to use the death of a close friend as a reason as to why I should settle down," said Eldarion. "And now that I have found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, you are objecting!"
"You were worried about Courtiers wanting to marry you for your title yet you are willing to settle with a common farmer's daughter who has nothing to bring such a union," said Carnir.
"Nothing to bring?" echoed Eldarion. "Marriage is not supposed to be about politics or money. It is about love and commitment. I do not want a wife who will agree with everything I say, who will fawn over me, who will politely simper away at Court functions because that is what she has been trained to do. I want someone who I can talk to, even argue with on occasion. Who understands that I need some form of personal space. Who is not frightened to exert their independence and is not afraid to speak their mind regardless of who is on the receiving end. When you first broached this subject seven years ago, I made a deal with Faramir; I would not marry unless I fell in love. Thélithil has touched my heart better than any of the maidens you have pushed in my direction over the past seven years."
"Your bloodline is already weak, why do you insist on tainting it further with inferior blood?" asked Thiad. Eldarion stood sharply, his chair making a screech of protest as it was forced across the marble floor.
"I have bowed to your request gentlemen, and though it is not to the woman you would approve as your wife, it is not you who is marrying Thélithil. I love her more than I ever thought possible and I will defy anyone who says she is not worthy to be my bride. Father, permission to be excused."
Aragorn, who so far had taken an observer position, nodded his consent before leaning forward and turning his disparaging gaze on to his Council while Eldarion escaped through the door which led to the family apartments.
Thélithil, despite her initial worries and unease, was readily accepted into the machine that was the Telcontar household. Arwen was delighted at having another daughter, especially one who made Eldarion so happy, while Imlosiel took great joy in simply talking to Thélithil about anything and everything. At the moment, they were swapping wedding plans, Imlosiel having formally accepted a troth from a Belfalas Sea Captain the previous winter. To Gwenel and Alphwen, Thélithil was someone they could tell their deepest secrets that the maiden was convinced they should be telling their mother.
She also recognised that there was something more to the relationship between Eldarion and Elboron than met the eye. She knew that when both in Minas Tirith, the pair were rarely separated and there were several occasions where one of them was to be found in the other's bed, the pair wrapped together in what could only be described as an intimate position, but the true extend of their feelings for each other was something of which Thélithil was unsure. Rather than confront Eldarion with her thoughts, which ran the risk of accusing him of being unfaithful, Thélithil raised it in conversation with Imlosiel as they compared notes on dress fabric.
"They've always been together," said Imlosiel. "Their souls are twins."
Thélithil stared. "Then how can Eldarion claim to be in love with me?" she asked.
"Because it is true," replied Eldarion as he arrived. "Imlosiel, can you give us a minute?"
"Of course," smiled Imlosiel, gathering up the fabrics she and Thélithil had been discussing and departing the garden.
"Do you not trust me?" asked Thélithil. Eldarion cocked his head as he sat before her.
"Of course I trust you!"
"Then why did you not tell me that Lord Elboron is the other half of your soul? I would not have objected, nor would I have been surprised, I know how close the two of you are. Is our marriage nothing but a pretence?" she asked.
"Elboron is not the other half of my soul. He is its twin. You are my mate. Thélithil, I do not make light of emotions, least of all love. I would not have asked you to be my wife if I did not love you with all my heart and was not prepared to spend the rest of my life with you," replied Eldarion.
"But the love between you is palpable. How can you love both of us with the same intensity?" asked Thélithil taking hold of Eldarion's hand, needing the comfort that the contact offered.
"A wise lady once told me that love has many faces," said Eldarion, covering Thélithil's hand in his. "Yes I love Elboron. He is my best friend and I have no memory of him not being there for me, even when I was in Annúminas. But you? You set my soul on fire. I never thought I could love someone with the same passion as I love you."
"So he does not object to you marrying me?" asked Thélithil,
"Why would he? It has been his life's goal to see me happy, regardless of how that happens," replied Eldarion. "You heard him, and Díorn, the night our engagement was announced. They do not lie about their emotions either, especially when it concerns me."
"So how many people have you upset?" asked Thélithil as she allowed Eldarion to pull her to.
"I've upset a few Councillors but other than that, I have been bombarded with nothing but congratulations," said Eldarion.
"So Councillors are not people?" asked Thélithil, turning to kiss Eldarion's cheek. Eldarion chuckled.
"Yes, but the ones I upset are never happy unless things go their way so they don't count," he said, returning the kiss. Thélithil giggled and turned in Eldarion's lap. As she tucked his hair behind his ear, she suddenly turned sober.
"Eldarion, would we have found each other if Túnír hadn't died?" she asked. Eldarion smiled gently.
"Yes," he whispered. "It might have taken us longer to get here, and everyday do I wish that we had been forced to walk a different path, but we would have reached this end eventually."
"Then I suppose I should thank him," said Thélithil resting her head on Eldarion's shoulder and twisted her neck so that she was facing Eldarion. "For helping bring us together sooner." Eldarion "hmmed" gently in agreement and wrapping his arms tightly around Thélithil, bent to meet her lips in a gentle kiss.