Chapter nine: An End to the Darkness And A Safe Return

"I am still unsure of why it is that you have picked me, Aragorn," Faramir restated from his place in a cushioned chair opposite the king.

The steward seemed to be totally unaware of his own greatness and having been the less favoured of Denethor's sons had not improved his opinion. Aragorn, however, believed that he was as great a man as his fallen brother, perhaps greater, and wished the younger man to see it as well. Faramir would leave at early the next morning with the Rangers of Ithilien who had lingered in Gondor for the winter to help repair damages and keep guard after the great loss of the Battle of Pelannor Fields. They had been content for the winter but now were all anxious to be free from the walls of stone with the first signs of spring. He understood their longing quite well for he himself felt the wilderness calling him, having never dwelt in one place for long and certainly never in a great city of stone.

He longed for the company of the elves. He was unused to men although he had dwelt among them for some time as Thorongil; he had never been restricted to the city. He longed to see his brothers and father again but he felt he could not face them. He blamed himself for Arwen's fading and knew also that if they knew of his behaviour since her death they would think much less of him and he could not bear it. He would not be so completely alone, he mused, if he had not chased off Legolas and Gimli; a feat which he knew had taken great neglect, for both were stubborn.

He would miss Faramir in the coming weeks for he had become a great friend in the short time since the shadow had passed from him. He would not be left alone though; Saeorii would remain. He still found it strange how her very presence brought him comfort and ease although he did not allow himself that pleasure often for he knew his presence brought her only fear. He sighed deeply and returned his attention to Faramir, realizing that he had left the stewards question unanswered.

"I am sending you to the council because I believe that you are best suited to go. You have a respect for the elves that is painfully absent among those of my kingdom and for the most part those of my council." He reached over and laid his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "I trust you to act in the interests of Gondor and that you will not betray me in the process."

Aragorn watched as the weight of his words brought a frown to the Gondorians face, obviously fearing that he would disappoint him or fail in his task altogether.

"Besides, it would do you good to see Rivendell and learn more of the elves. Legolas told me that you sought to learn much about them from him while he was here."

"Have you spoken to him since," Faramir politely left his question unfinished and Aragorn sighed deeply.

"Nay, I know not if he is even aware of what has transpired here since his leaving. I would not blame him if he did not care."

"He cares, my lord. Many letters have I received from him, asking of your well being." Aragorn looked up, startled by this revelation. "I have said little and have not written since the Foreign Council," Faramir quietly continued, kindly omitting the raising of the king's hand against his queen, "he knows only that you have married. I did not even tell him that she was elvish. I thought it not my place to tell your friend of things that are your own to tell."

"Thank you, my friend," Aragorn whispered quietly as he gazed out the window, noticing the first grey light of dawn. They had talked the entire night.


She woke in a cold sweat, choking back a sob so that she would not wake the king. Her heart raced, but she sensed that no one lay beside her and so she sat up. The blankets pooled around her and she let them fall for the night was warm. She wrapped her arms around her knees and allowed herself the freedom of heaving sobs that tore deep in her chest. There was no one there to hear her. No one there to comfort her; she could not let them.

She knew if she asked him he would hold her until her tears were spent. She knew if she wished that he would listen as she told the horrors of her past. She knew if she let him he would take her to him and kiss away her tears. She felt such guilt that she could not react to his gentle kindness with anything other than fear. She wished she could let him touch her without remembering what they had done and pulling away. She shrank from his touch as if his hands would burn her like the hot irons that had seared her tender skin in years past.

Her past loomed suddenly out of the darkness and she shook with fear as she leapt unsteadily from her bed and drew back the thick drapes, wishing for even the smallest bit of light to chase away the night. She clung to the velvet fabric so she would not fall and felt her fears subside as she saw the waning moon sliding towards the black earth. She released the curtain and stood shaking as she leaned against the cool pane of glass that separated her from the world outside. She lifted her hand to trace one of the patterns in the glass and reminded herself dismally that she had lost her elvish light; for all she knew it would never return.

Truly, she should have died in that moment when her first master took her for himself, using her body for his pleasure. She could still remember how she had begun to slip away, towards the peace of Aman. If not for her promise to Cirdan.

The great and wise elf had not just offered her sanctuary in Mithlond, but welcomed her into his house and treated her as his daughter. Her first remembrances were of him and his realm, so quiet and safe, nestled next to the great and mighty sea that had thrown her upon the shores of Middle-earth. He only asked one thing of her: that she dwell in Middle-earth until the time came when he could sail to Valinor. She doubted that at the time he had known any more than she what a grievous thing it was that he asked and how much she would suffer in order to keep her promise, but she had kept it. Only now she was afraid to see him. Afraid of what he would think of her. Afraid that he would see it in her eyes; the terrible things they had done to her. Afraid that he would dismiss her, blame her, look down on her in disgust and shame; the thought brought back the tears and she slid slowly towards the floor, feeling as if all her strength were gone.


"My lady, are you alright?" Aragorn questioned as he moved towards her quickly as he dared, afraid that she was hurt or ill.

She looked up at him startled, obviously not having heard him enter, and in the second before she realized who he was and looked down at the floor once more, he saw it all. The raw pain, the fear, the guilt, the shame, the loneliness, and the longing despite her fears to be comforted. He now stood beside her in the dim morning light and watched as she trembled and hugged her knees to her chest. Slowly he knelt beside her; her dark hair fell around her hiding her face from him but his chest ached with tenderness towards this frightened lady.

He knew no words to convey what he wished to say to her. He knew not how to tell her that he loved her more than any other. He knew not how to tell her that her gentle presence was more crucial to his existence than the very air he breathed. He knew not how to tell her that he wanted to share her pain. He knew not how to tell her that he wished to teach her what it meant to live again. To smile and to laugh again, as he knew she must have. To love again. He would give his entire kingdom if only she could look at him and return even a small amount of what he felt for her.

There were no words and so silently he reached out to touch her pale face.


She felt her body seize with fear as he cupped her face tenderly in his rough hands. Her heart raced as he moved closer and closer to her but she could not move. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt him gently kiss her forehead, lingering only long enough for her to remember the feeling for as long as she lived, before pulling away again. His hands did not leave her face and after a few moments she ventured to look up at him and could not fathom what she saw; tears coursed unchecked down his tanned cheeks as he looked at her with emotions and feelings that no words could express.

For a moment her terror vanished as she looked without fear into his piercing silver eyes that shone bright with tears. Tears for her and her pain. She let him take her into his strong arms and she did not shake with fear but revelled in his warmth. She laid her head against his broad chest and listened to his strong heartbeat. She felt his every breath and slowed her breathing so that it matched his own. She would have thought that time had ceased to flow for all but them were it not for the brightness of the ever rising sun as it cast its warm rays down on the dwellers of Middle-earth, promising an end to the darkness of the night.


The sun still shone brightly later that morning upon the empty city as she rode silently beside him. Her knuckles were white as she clung to the saddle beneath her knowing that soon the eyes of all the people of Gondor would be upon her. She longed to feel a horse beneath her and ride in the fashion of elves but had not had the courage to ask it of the king. She would ride out with the king, as was custom, to bid the Rangers farewell. He was silent but she sensed his presence and drew some comfort from that. The sound of the horses step was hollow on the stones as they reached the gate and the two guards that rode ahead of them stopped to open it.

"Do not fear, my lady," he spoke to her quietly in Sindarin, "you shall not be made to leave my side."

She knew he realized that no amount of words could overcome a fear that had haunted her for years but somehow they comforted her; perhaps because it was he who spoke them. She took a deep breath as she heard him urge his mount into a trot and nudged hers to follow. A wall of guards was all that separated them from the unending sea of bodies and created a path towards where Faramir stood with his Rangers mounted behind him, ready to follow wherever he would lead them.


Faramir had looked up at the sound of the opening of the gates and watched as the king and queen rode forward, those bearing the flags of the white tree a short distance behind. He heard the murmur of the citizens of his city; this was the first many had seen of their fair elven queen for only the highest class had been present at her coronation. He watched the king dismount with the ease of one who has done so for years and then turn to offer his hand to the queen. Faramir noticed that her hands trembled like the last leaves of fall as she landed soundlessly next to the king.

Everyone else had already bowed as the pair passed and he did so only now as they approached him, her frail form staying close that of the king. He marvelled, as he had the time that he first met Legolas, at elves ability to appear calm when strong emotions raged within them. He and the king were the only ones who understood what a great thing it was that she was here among them on this day.

"Rise Lord Steward, and Prince of Ithilien," Aragorn announced loudly, and paused while his friend complied. "Today you lead these men as Captain and I say that you leave the city with my blessing. I trust you to keep the White City well protected and will look for your safe return."

He stepped forward and gripped Faramir's arm in the embrace of warriors, looking deeply into the young mans eyes. He smiled at him, losing the serious expression that befit the ceremony and embraced him fully, much to the surprise of those who looked on.

"May Eru bless you, and the Valar watch over you, my brother," he spoke quietly before pulling away.

Faramir felt his throat tighten at Aragorn's words and knew there were tears in his eyes as he looked at the king, unable to move or speak. He was surprised further when the queen stepped towards him, taking his steady hand in her trembling one and pressing something cold and smooth in his palm. He looked up at her questioningly and was moved to see that she met his gaze, even if only for a moment. Faramir looked at what had been placed in his hand. A stone as smooth as glass, the colour of a starless night and on it was an elvish rune he didn't recognise.

"What does it mean?" he asked quietly, his voice betraying his depth of feeling.

"There is no exact translation into your tongue," the queen answered quietly and Faramir realized how few times he had heard her speak, "but in essence it wishes you strength when you might falter, speed when you might slow, courage when you might fear and that you will return safely no matter how far you must travel."

Faramir looked at Aragorn and saw how much his friend now treasured his wife and felt that he need not fear for her safety.

"Thank you, my queen," he said as he bowed and turned to his horse.

He mounted and paused for a moment, fastening the chain from the stone around his neck before turning to his Rangers, who had been silent. He raised his hand and urged his horse forward, hearing the roar of his men and the thunderous voices of the people of Gondor that echoed over Pelannor fields as it had the last time a battle was fought and won here. His mind however was not on where he was leading them although he made for Ithilien without any thought. His mind lingered on the stone that hung about his neck and the beautiful elleth that had given it to him. His heart was touched that she had thought of him when her own pain was so deep that she flinched at the sound of his voice or that of any other man, save only perhaps the king. He smiled and rode on, the gentle wind brushing away his stray tear and he was glad that his men could not see him, for they would think their captain weak. The stone kept him well and he wore it until the end of his days.

To Be Continued...

Kaone Evertree: Most definately and I agree that it is about time! The others from the fellowship will be in future chapters although I can say that it will be at least a few more before they show up. Sorry, but at least you know that they are coming! Thank you for your reviews, I love hearing from you, you are so enthusiastic!

viggomaniac: I am honored to be added to your list and thanks for all your reviews. I am glad that you are enjoying the slow pace, I was afraid that maybe it was too slow, but I want to develop the relationship between Aragorn and Saeorii before I take another time jump(which is coming althogh it won't be years or anything) anyway, thanks so much for your reviews and look forward to hearing from you in the furture!

Estel-Ara: I really liked the scene with the family too. I put it in to show a little bit how Aragorn's changed and there will be future scenes with others from Gondor as well just to help develop the plot and show the changes.Anyway, thanks for reviewing!

Elariel Erestorian: Yes, I was aware that raping an elleth would kill her. Neglegence on my part for not including that in my story so far and so I added it a litte bit here and will develop the idea in some later chapters. Thank you so much for bringing that to my attention though. I love it when people can help improve my story without totally bashing it for no reason. Thank you so much, I hope that my inaccuracy won't turn you off and that you will continue to read and review. I would love to hear from you again!

Amelia: That's alright and I am glad that you are still enjoying my stories. Thanks!

Tadriendra of Mirkwood: Thank you so much, I'm flattered! Saeorii is beginning to see how much Aragorn cares for her, but after all that has happened it will take time. I think Arwen would understand as well, its not as if Aragorn just lef ther or anything and as much as she is hown to love him, giving up her immortality and all I think that she would want him to be happy above all. Anyway, thank you so much for reviewing and hope to hear from you again!

Good Work: Short answer to a short but encouraging and welcome review. Thanks!