Rohan
Aragorn had been keeping close to the Entwash for the last four days rather than riding the Great West Road as the priority was keeping near a water supply. For the first time since leaving Imladris Aragorn seemed to really care about cleanliness, granted, it was still less about his own than his son's, but it was still a step in the right direction.
Up ahead in the distance could be seen the edge of a stand of trees, that meant that the Snowbourne was not far off, and Edoras not far from there. Aragorn was thankful that there was not much farther to go. He had been fortunate in that most villages he passed there were new mothers more than happy to feed his little one and so he only had to use the small supply given him by Indis between villages. Instinctively Aragorn felt that Faramir should have only nursed from Finduilas, but his little one never seemed to mind as long as he was being fed.
Faramir had an amazing disposition, sometimes while they road along Aragorn would catch him staring up at his father with the most curious and thoughtful, yet peaceful, eyes. Aragorn loved his son more every single day and knew that had he left this child behind in Minas Tirith he would have regretted it for the rest of his life. He figured they were faring well enough and so had allowed himself to stop berating himself about allowing Finduilas to talk him into this.
Aragorn was pulled out of his thoughts by an approaching éored. The thunderous sound did not set well with Faramir, though Aragorn took care to cover his tiny ears as best he could.
"Who goes there?" shouted their captain. It was a voice Aragorn recognized well.
"Éomund? It is i, Thorongil," Aragorn called back.
Éomund signaled for his man to stay as he rode ahead. "Thorongil? Béma! It is you! How do you fare, man? What brings you here again?"
"One question at a time, Éo'. It eases my greatly heart to see you. I am on my way north, trying to get to Eriador. And i fare well enough, we have made it this far, at any rate," Aragorn said.
Éomund looked a little curious as he saw no one else about. Perhaps Thorongil meant the horse... naturally. "Well," he said, "what news of the wide world of the Ranger? It has been years since our paths last crossed."
Aragorn shrugged. "There is little to report, all the usual. But tell me, would i still have the welcome of the Golden Hall? We are in need of respite and it was my dearest hope to find it at Edoras."
Éomund smiled. "Of course you are welcome! The great Thorongil, in our halls again. It is a cause for celebration. Alas that i can not join you but we are headed eastward."
Aragorn nodded, he needed no escort, these lands were known well enough to him. "How fares the Marshal?" he asked, referring to Éomund's father.
"I fare well enough to keep me upright, my friend," Éomund said cheerlessly.
"Ah, i am sorry, Éomund. He was a good man," Aragorn said.
Éomund nodded. "Much has changed since you have been here last, Thorongil. I ought to bring you up to date. Most particularly we buried Thengel three years ago. Théoden is now King of Rohan. He has a son, Théodred, who is five, but the Lady Elfhild did not survive the delivery. I myself am i married man, and i was to be a father, but it did not survive. There has been much sorrow mixed with the pleasure in Rohan, Thorongil. My suspicion is that it has something to do with the sorcery at Isengard."
Aragorn wondered about that, it seemed a valid point to him. Always had there been some suspicion in Gandalf's tone when he mentioned Saruman, when he mentioned him at all. But he decided to change the subject as they rode back toward the éored. "And who is your lady wife?" he asked, though he felt rather sure he knew.
"The King's sister, Théodwyn," Éomund answered, his love for her all too evident.
Aragorn grinned. "Just as i thought. Oh, the way you used to look at her... and she at you!"
Éomund took the ribbing and was about to turn the tables on his friend when Faramir decided he'd had quite enough of being left out of the conversation and decided to make himself known. Éomund's eyes widened. "Oh! This is what you meant by "we" - i thought you were referring to your mount!"
Aragorn had to laugh. He had never traveled with anyone who couldn't introduce himself before and so never really thought of it until Faramir reminded him. "Éomund, this is my son, Faramir," he said, pulling back his cloak.
"Greetings of the Mark, youngling," Éomund said with all seriousness before looking back up at Aragorn. "He is so small!"
Aragorn nodded. "He only just celebrated his first week in the world. It's been a little difficult for the both of us."
"Gods, Thorongil! Where is his mother?" Éomund gasped in shock.
Aragorn said nothing, but only held Faramir closer. He hated lying, especially to friends, but these were clearly extenuating circumstances. He hoped that Éomund would simply get the idea that he did not wish to discuss that topic, as in fact he did.
"I truly wish i could stay and see you back to the Hall, but we must be going. Get you and your little one to the Hall. I am sure Théodwyn will be happy to help feed your son. May the gods look well upon you, Thorongil," Éomund called as they parted.
"And you, Éomund, you and yours!" Aragorn called back and continued heading for Edoras, where they arrived after another two days journey.
Entering the Golden Hall, Thorongil, nee Aragorn, was warmly received and Faramir was instantly the darling of the court with the King's sisters. Everyone at Edoras remembered Thorongil well and they were delighted to have him stay with them for as long as he liked. Aragorn was very tempted to make the stay long enough that Faramir could feed regularly without him relying on strangers, but his instinct was to get to Imladris as soon as he could. Still, a week's rest surely would not hurt anyone. Aragorn was extraordinarily thankful for their hospitality and gave his word that it would be repaid in kind one day.
As it happened, at the end of that week another visitor suddenly turned up in Edoras, one who was slightly less graciously received, but nevertheless revered. It made Aragorn wonder just how Gandalf always turned up when most needed and least expected. His old friend convinced him to stay on for another week more and during that week, as usual, Mithrandir mysteriously disappeared again. But right on schedule he showed up again and told Aragorn that he would be more than happy to accompany him on the north way to Rivendell. Aragorn couldn't help but think this had been in the wily old wizard's plans all along.
ooo
The road between Edoras and Imladris was a long and lonely one, a hard enough journey for a grown man. It would take at least a month and Aragorn really did not know how he was going to feed Faramir for more than a few days. By their third day out from Edoras already the supply of milk from Théodwyn was dangerously low. Aragorn was frustrated with this constant scenario of not being able to feed his infant son, he was sick of living like a homeless beggar, and above all he was absolutely furious with himself for endangering his own child so.
That night as they took a meagerdinner by theircampfire Aragorn made up his mind. "I am going back in the morning. I never should have done this," he said regretfully.
Gandalf nearly choked to hear that. "Going back where, Estel?" he said gruffly and somewhat derisively.
"Edoras," Aragorn said blankly. "This is foolishness, my son can not survive this journey. I will go back and serve Théoden as i may until Faramir is old enough to make this journey with me in some relative safety."
Gandalf was at least a little relieved to hear that, his first thought was that Aragorn intended to go back to Minas Tirith. Still, he did not consider Edoras an option either for the same reasons he'd advised Aragorn to leave Gondor several years ago. And he was really rather disappointed that his long time friend apparently did not trust his help on this journey. "Estel, settle yourself. You are going nowhere but north where you belong," Gandalf said patiently.
"This is not about me, Gandalf, this is about Faramir. I will not endanger him more than i already have. And i would thank you to cease telling me what to do," he said bristling a bit.
"It would be especially unwise of you to spend more time in Rohan right now, Estel. Please trust me," Gandalf said a little more emphatically.
"How many times do i have to say, this has nothing to do with me anymore. I no longer matter," Aragorn said, raising his voice also.
"Ask your son if he agrees with that," Gandalf grunted almost under his breath. "Did you really think i would bring you out here if i knew of no way to get both you and Faramir safely to your haven?"
Aragorn was beginning to wonder why Gandalf was so insistent about this, not to mention why he kept calling him Estel. He was not generally known by that name outside of Rivendell, and years ago had introduced himself to Gandalf as Aragorn. And why did Gandalf say "your haven" instead of simply "Rivendell?" He decided not to ask, if the old Wizard was being secretive it was for a reason, and not likely one he would drag out of him any time soon. Instead Aragorn questioned how he proposed to keep his son healthy and fed.
That Gandalf did answer. "We are coming upon Dunland. There are little 'villages' all over this land and more than likely you will find help, enough if not plenty."
"Dunland!" Aragorn shouted in disbelief. "Are you mad, Gandalf? Dunland? May i suggest you hold back on the galenas. That is out of the question. Absolutely not."
"May i ask why?" Gandalf said calmly.
"Gandalf! They are blood-enemies of the Rohirrim!" Aragorn said in shock of this idea.
"Well, my boy, you are not Rohirric, are you? Estel, you are going to have to be a little less choosy about the methods you employ to see to it that you and Faramir both survive," the Wizard replied, lighting his pipe.
"Gandalf, i would rather fall on my sword than see my baby hurt," Aragorn said desperately. "I have to go back to Edoras, i have no choice."
"Did you mark the odd man in Théoden's court, Estel?" Gandalf said, still perfectly calm and appearing to switch gears rather suddenly.
It took Aragorn a moment to catch up with Gandalf on that one and his rationale was still unclear. "The pale man in dark robes? What of him?"
"Spy," was all that Gandalf said.
"What? For whom? How do you know this?" Aragorn asked incredulously. Yes, he thought the sniveling little man rather odd, even a little weird, but a spy? He didn't look like he had the wits to spy, he certainly lacked the wits to bathe.
Gandalf laughed curtly. "Some things can not be spoken of so openly, Estel. The situation in Rohan is going to turn precarious before long. I would not see you and Faramir in the middle of it."
Aragorn shook his head. He was sick of not getting any straight answers. "I do not know, Gandalf... i-"
Gandalf sighed, exasperated. "Must i spell it out for you? That worm is a spy for a certain member of my order, who, unless i am quite mistaken, is in possession of a seeing stone... like the one that used to be housed in Minas Ithil and the one currently housed in Minas Tirith. The alignment of those three stones spells incredible danger for you and your heir."
The resigned look on Aragorn's face said all Gandalf needed. "Good, finally i have found a way to get through your thick skull. If i were you i would get some sleep tonight. You are going to have to do some traveling on your own tomorrow. No, do not worry, i will catch up to you by sundown. It will be like that off and on for a while so resign yourself to that as well. If you just trust me i can get us to Imladris in less than a month. I would ask you to appreciate the road we travel at least to Celebdil. It will actually grow difficult from there."
ooo
sidhe: I know, it is sad for poor Finduilas. We will have to catch up on things in Minas Tirith again soon.
Elenhin: I see one little flaw in the cutest kid contest... we've left out poor, sweet little Elboron. Obviously not in the context of this story, but over all. Still, though, poor Aragorn won't be losing his title any time soon. It's a good thing he has Gandalf around. As for dying my hair green, i doubt it'd work for me. My hair is red, really red, true red, from the roots out. And i can't promise that the twins will be impersonating snakes anymore in Shadows, but they certainly have a few schemes they're working on.
linda: Oh... how long will Denethor be fooled, indeed. And what happens when he finds out? I think i'll just go hide under the bed for a while...