Chapter 3

See These Walls Again

He never thought he would be here again. Not ever. The spires on the seventh reached into the clouds. So these were the famous new gates, a combination of mannish and Dwarvish craft. They stayed open during the day as a constant stream of merchants, travelers and soldiers came and went. Was anyone he knew still inside?

Nag Kath would seek everyone in their turn but the royal invitation came first – after a stop to get his bearings. On the third level he knocked on the door of a modest row-house south of the prow. A stout gray-haired woman answered. She had a youngster clinging to her skirt peering around her hip. Nag Kath waved and he smiled. Then he said, "I am looking for Mr. Tallazh. I remember he lived here long ago."

She smiled and curtseyed, "He still does. If you will come in, I will see if he is receiving." He had never been inside the home. It was very nice with sketches and painting on most walls and a full bookshelf, a luxury even here in the capital. He scanned the titles while waiting.

A few minutes later Mr. Tallazh walked into the main room and clapped his hands together in delight. He was fit and spry with the same wise eyes and said, "I did not know if we would ever see you. Welcome back!"

"Thank you, Mr. Tallazh. It has been quite a journey."

"I am sure it has, and please, Amiedes. I think we are past mister. Have a seat."

Nag Kath smiled, "I will try." Tea was served. It was the same smell he remembered both from Quastille's and Mr. Juguesh in Trum Dreng. That was lucky tea. It was too hot to sip just yet so Nag Kath asked, "Please, tell me of your life. I must have missed so much."

"You are the one with adventures but yes, I will begin. After you left, the King asked my humble advice on matters of trade outside the old borders. Once a month, a man-cart takes me up the hill with other old fellows who talk more than listen. We still get things done occasionally."

Nag Kath told him about Orthanc and the Huntsman and Elvish places. He talked about Dale and love and loss. Mr. Tallazh knew that by heart. And of all things; the Elf actually spoke a little Elvish! After half an hour, Nag Kath asked, "Amiedes, I hope you got my letter from Dunland."

"Oh yes, forgive me. I should have mentioned that first. Yes I got it with the messengers too. They arrived safe and sound. The ladies stayed with me for a week and then found an apartment on the other side of the prow. Mrs. Skilleth died a few years ago but I still see Talereth. She married well and has two children. His name is Toroldinar, officer of foot." Mr. Tallazh took a piece of elegant notepaper from his side table and wrote her address. "It is next to a bright blue building on the fourth level, north-side."

Nag Kath leaned forward, "And now Mis … Amiedes, I need a little advice" He went into how he was discovered in Gondor and that tomorrow he was to present himself to the King to discuss, among other things, the possibility of an aqueduct from Minas Morgul to Osgiliath. "I have experience in design and building work and have some good ideas, but this will be a project not seen since the last great kings. It seems a noble cause and I have time. You know the moving parts. Do you have any recommendations on how I state my case?"

Tallazh paused for quite a while and asked, "Are those sketches in your folio?"

Nat Kath unrolled the same ones he showed Prince Faramir. The elderly advisor studied them carefully with a pair of half spectacles. Folding the specs back into his pocket he said, "The main job will be organizing who will help. Be prepared to require, not ask, that good people be made available. And say you want nothing to do with the money. They have to provide that. All the surveying work should not be too expensive, give them time to count coppers for moving all those rocks.

"Now, and this is important, you need to discover if the King or the Prince is driving the cart."

Nag Kath said, "I think I know. The Prince has seen this already and is enthusiastic. I suspect the King will make sure it is built. I will let both know that I am not the door-mat as subtly as I can."

Tallazh sat back in his chair and put his palms on his thighs. "I cannot help but marvel at you, Nag Kath. When you left you could barely speak a sentence. And now … you have done well. I am proud of you. I know you have things to do. When you have more time, come by and have tea with your old friend. And please visit Talereth. I know that was a hard parting but she landed on her feet and I am sure she would like to see you."

Nag Kath found an inn near the prow. Dinner was not appealing so he walked along the rail until he found a bench looking at the river and sat down for several hours to breath-in the air of his first real home. It seemed natural but also surreal. He thought he would be in Belfalas. Now he was waiting for the King of Gondor.

.

The next morning Nag Kath reported at eight with the other supplicants at the main hall. He had only been to the palace under arrest. A throng of folk waited for adjudication. Except for dismissing known complainers, their pleas would be heard by administrative staff with very few making it to higher or highest ears. After leaving his name he sat in the same place where the fat gaoler had slept against him a generation before. An hour later, an attendant walked to him and quietly said the King would see him at five that afternoon. With time to kill, Nag Kath went back to his room to change and strolled the city. Minas Tirith was up in the world. The rubble and debris had been cleared away. Every level had been promoted a notch in status, even the humble first with fresh paint and sober soldiers.

Nearing five he was shown directly to the King's study and made comfortable in the same chair Mrs. Skilleth used. The office looked over the north-side gardens in full bloom. Not long after, King Elessar arrived and dismissed the guard. Nag Kath stood and bowed. They sat down and Aragorn said, "I did not know if we would see you here again."

"I doubted that myself, Sire."

"I met the two ladies from Dunland and got a letter from Gandalf before he left. But I have not heard since. Have you been well?"

Nag Kath nodded, "I have. I fought my way to the Elven Kingdom and stayed a while there and then lived in Dale for eighteen very good years. I married and spent considerable time designing works for the city."

"Did your wife accompany you here?"

"I fear not, My Lord. Eniece died last year. That was my call to go forth as Gandalf advised to understand my gifts."

Aragorn said more gravely, "I heard about those gifts. Wargs?"

That story would not die. "I have healing skills too. On my way here I stopped to see Radagast and visited both Rivendell and the Elven Kingdom now that I can read Sindarin."

The King shook his head and said, "Those must be lonely places now."

"I only saw three Elves in Imladris but I had a grand time with the Elf-keepers. There were seven plus their wives and a youngster who was probably a thousand years old. We sang songs and told tales. I learned much more from them than the books. I think they are gnomes, though none admitted as much."

Aragorn had heard of the creatures that keep hallowed Elvish places against their return. He asked, "And Thranduil's Halls; are those empty?"

"Nay, Sire. The Nandor Elves remain in their thousands."

That was unexpected. The worker Elves? Aragorn supposed they were welcome to it and Lorien too. "Did they say why?"

"In no uncertain terms, My Lord. They did not look forward to serving those they called the High Elves in a new place. They would stay in their beloved home and resist the call of Valinor, though it may mean diminution and mortal lives. Fearnold said they will meet Mandos on their own terms."

Nag Kath leaned forward in his chair, "Speaking of terms; am I truly welcome in your realm King Elessar?"

"Yes, and I am sorry it took so long for you to learn."

"Please, Sire. Do not trouble yourself. I have led a fulfilling life. I have two splendid children and was welcome in Dale. I will visit them again."

"I keep up with my brother King Bard. Those lands are much like Gondor."

The Nag Kath grin, "He has even better stories about me. As it happens, my daughter is his sister. It is an entertaining tale best told over Dorwinion wine." As the King smiled, the Elf changed the subject, "I told Lord Faramir about the aqueduct. He seemed interested but has concerns over my credentials."

"Leave that with me. His Lady wife is sister to King Éomer. You caused quite a sensation up there."

"I met her, Sire." Nibbling at the subject, "Other noble ladies were concerned as well."

Now it was the King's turn to grin, "I think Gandalf put those to rest. She even let me put our picture in the study. And speaking of pictures, let us have a look."

Nag Kath opened his satchel and pulled the main sketches of the collection pool and noodlings of bridges and ditches borrowed from the north. As the King looked the Elf said, "This is not the Argonath, but it will certainly be the largest construction since the days of your kingly ancestors. The surveying and preparation work will take two years. If Architect Finenbrad is right, some of those folk will have to be trained. Property will have to be acquired. I have Dwarf friends in Erebor to consult on all those rocks"

Remembering Tallazh's recommendation, "And Sire, I need to know the relationship between you and Prince Faramir so I do not step on Lordly toes."

"We speak as one. Most of the money will come from here."

The King was not expecting what came next. Nag Kath said matter-of-factly, "Since there will be so much preliminary work, I will provide the first hundred Florin myself. When that runs low, the Purse can manage from there."

The King started to protest but Nag Kath kept talking, "Please, Sire. I think that will let everyone know that whatever they have heard, which is mostly true, that I am to be taken seriously. And I do not want to be cap-in-hand for niggling expenses when I should be working."

Aragorn nodded. He would have required the same thing before taking on a project of this magnitude. "Very well, what do you need from me?"

With his least Elvish grin of the day, "I need you to throw a party."