A/N: Hey guys, thank you so much for your continued support of this story! I have reached over 200 reviews, 119 favorites and 206 following, I cannot thank you enough and tell how much it means to me as a writer!

So, we come now to the first war of the 4th age, what do you guys think will happen now that the King has marched to Harad, what do you think Evelyn plans? What would you as my followers like to see happen in the coming chapters? Please let me know! I look forward to hearing from each of you =]

Chapter 22

A knock sounded on her door, a tentative voice following, "My lady?" Ceilin called.

Evelyn sat at her table, looking out over the city of Minas Tirith, her tea long gone. "Come in."

As the door knob turned and the heavy oak door squeaked open, Evelyn turned to look at her handmaid and longtime friend. Her eyes took in the wrinkled and weathered face, the tough hands that pulled her through so many hard times and dark days, she looked at her hair now grey and pulled tightly back into a neat bun, a piece of fabric covering her head in the fashion of many maids her in the city. The maid's eyes were as clear as the day she met her, heir depths filled with knowledge and wisdom past her years. Those clear eyes now brimmed with unshed tears.

"I have you a new hot cup of tea." She told her lady, voice quivering. Ceilin slowly made her way over, carefully setting the cup down, her hands shaking.

"Thank you mellon nín," She clasped the woman's hands, "For all the years of service and friendship you have shown me. There are not many who would have picked up and left their home to serve another. You are a strong woman Ceilin."

Evelyn gave the older woman a small sad smile, "I have spoken with Arwen, she is in need of a new housekeeper. Someone who can be responsible for her female staff and the furnishing of the royal wing. I told her I believed you would be good for the position, should you wish it. If not, it can be arranged for you to return to Imladris should you wish or there is enough left to you, should you be ready to retire. I wish there was more I could offer you, you deserve so much more."

"None of the options are ones I would have chosen for myself. I pledged my services to you my lady and it to you they still belong. But you go where I know I cannot follow. I am an old woman now, I know, but I cannot retire. I have more vigor and strength than most my age thanks to the elves and yourself, but neither can I return to them. If I can no longer serve you, I will serve your friends and family in whatever means I am able, I will work for the Queen."

Evelyn brought her hand to the other woman's cheek, wiping away the silent tears. "I wish I traveled where once again you could be my companion, but this is a journey I must make alone."

"Wil the others not come?" Ceilin asked, worry lacing her words, and her brow creasing at Evelyn's sigh.

"I fear not, no reply was received from the letters, and the fortnight has passed, there is no more time to waste. Every day that passes, more and more lives are lost and the enemy grows. I have made many mistakes and bad choices since coming to Middle Earth, but this decision is what the Valar wanted me to choose, it is why I was brought here and the right thing I am sure. There is very little I have been surer of my friend."

She turned her gaze back to the empty streets, taking a long sip of the hot herb tea. Since the troops left, the atmosphere was thick with fear and loneliness. Few people walked the market streets, and no children played. And worse was to come if this threat in the south continued to thrive. She could not allow that to happen.

Eyes still upon the horizon, she watched the white dove fly over the city. It came to rest on her balcony, and she smiled at its beauty and purity. There was still hope for Middle Earth, and for peace. As Aragorn said, there is always hope.

It was sometime soon after she heard Ceilin leave, though she barely noticed as her mind drifted to the task before her. Self-doubt and fear tickling the back of her mind, wanting her to crumble, wanting her to fail. Closing her eyes, Evelyn took in a deep cleansing breath, such negative thoughts would get her nowhere. She pushed them away into the little box she made to hide away Legolas. Never would she be alone, the Valar would be with her, they would see her through until the end.

Pushing up from the chair, she looked around her room. This room had become her home the last few years while she lived in Gondor. She looked upon the chairs and table, picturing all the times they sat around the table, fire roaring, playing with a young Eldarion and telling stories on times long past. The balcony she saw herself with Arwen there many evenings, wine in hand, speaking of more topics than she could remember. Walking past, she ran her hand over each piece of furniture, working to memorize every detail and flaw they bore, soaking up the stories they told of her time here. All she would take with her, to give her hope and joy on the journey, for there will be little to find on the road.

Singing quietly as the Lament of the Evenstar come to mind, she walked back to the veranda, once again looking out over the land, not knowing when she would lay eyes upon it again.

Ne minuial tôl lû
Ir tirich er-'îl gelair awarthannen
Ir in-elenath gwennin.
I 'îl thinna, i amar ú-dhartha.

At starfade a time comes
When you see one brilliant star left behind
When the starry host has departed.
The star fades, the world does not wait.

Am man darthon a linnon
Nu galad hen fireb?

Why do I linger and sing
Under this fading/mortal light?

I-'îl gelair fîr.
Si e gwanna Menel.

Si gwannathon i amar
Garel lass vi cammen.

The brilliant star is fading
Now it departs the heavens
Now I will depart the world
Holding a leaf in my hand.

Soon another knock sounded upon her bedroom door. There was only one other person it could be, Arwen. Evelyn walked away from the railing and went to open the door, she greeted her friends and Queen with a bleak smile.

Arwen returned the smile with one of her own, turning she beckoned the maid behind her to bring in the packages. "I have your garments."

Two very large packages were deposited on the bed and the maids bid to leave. "Come, let us get you into these things." Arwen motioned Evelyn forward. Neither wanting to proceed, the clothing and armor, making the journey all too real. Evelyn sighed, and walked forward, no longer able to postpone the inevitable.

She pulled on the dark grey breeches, they were thick but moved easily with her, and trimmed in silver needlework. Next, they worked to bound her chest before sliding the under tunic over her head. The outer tunic was made of the same soft and thick material as the breeches, with silver embroidery, and intricate elvish designs sewn upon the front. The neck line was high, offering some protection and coverage, but open enough to allow for generous movement.

"The armor is only leather, with such short notice it is all the armorer could finish," Arwen replied, pulling out the armor.

Evelyn reached foreword, grabbing a vambrace from the pile. It was gorgeous. The leather was dyed black, with silver engravings matching the clothing and dark blue scaling was on the ends, offering protection to the bottom of her arm where the laces were. "Arwen, this is more than enough, it is lovely. Plus, I do not plan to get close enough to the enemy to need steel armor."

"Even so," the Queen sighed, "You need protection, and this will offer some."

With the vambraces in place, Arwen held up the corset as Evelyn slide her arms into the piece, marveling at how well it fit her. It covered her chest and all vital organs. The embroidery she noted now was in the style of Lórien and her heart twisted, it was a remembrance to the place they both held dear in their hearts. Attached to the corset was leg armor. From her hips the armor sported dark blue scaling and embroidered leather that covered her thighs down to her knees. Evelyn walked around, and practice a few yoga moves, noting how the armor moved with her, without hindering any movements, she smile slightly.

"This I will need to put over your head. These spaulders will help protect your shoulders and upper arms, as well as your neck." Arwen stated flatly, deftly moving the piece in place. Her fingers easily hooked the silver buckle in the front, hidden behind an elvish designed buckle, and attached it to the corset with hidden leather straps. Next, she buckled the straps around her arms and straightened the blue scaling down her arms. Evelyn finished by pulling on the matching leather boots that reached to her knees. Her eyes darted to the mirror and she was startled to see her appearance in the armor. She had not been sure what to expect, but it was not this. A knot formed in her stomach as the self-doubt once again began trying to bubble to the surface. With her attire she looked the part, but could she truly pull this off, could she truly do what needed to be done to defeat their enemy. Evelyn shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had failed before, but this time she would not, no matter the cost, she would do what needed to be done, this time she would not fail.

Evelyn grew quiet as Arwen worked her hair into intricate braids. Taking hair from the top, she worked a thin braid from each side of her head, adding hair from the bottom with each pass, until they met at the center of Evelyn's head. From there she took small sections of her white hair from under each braid she had created and started two new braids that would reach to the end of her hair. At the top, she added in the loose hair from the previous two braids, joining them together, and effectively keeping the hair from Evelyn's face. Arwen then wrapped the loose braids around the leftover hair, and secured it with a tie, ensuring the long hair would keep in place and not cause issues with her friend's vision.

Arwen stood back and looked at the woman before her, her friend. Her heart clenched and she raised a hand to her chest, willing the pain away. She was sending her friend, her husband fellowship companion to war alone. She could have refused, regarded her husband's wishes and kept Evelyn here and safe from harm, but she was not. Evelyn had told her it was the only way, that she must follow them, that she had some part yet to play, and she believed her. Though she helped her friend because it is what she wanted, part of her helped for a more selfish reason. She had chosen a mortal life, chosen a life to spend with Aragorn and their children, she knew she would outlive him, but she was not ready to say goodbye. They deserved so many more years together, more children. If Evelyn could keep her husband safe, make sure he returned to her and Eldarion, she would do what it took to help Evelyn make it ensue. She could not help but think of what type of person she must be, sending her friend off, not knowing if she will survive, to help guarantee Aragorn came back to her. It was hard to hold back the tears that pooled in her eyes from the guilt rising in her throat and the rush of bile.

Evelyn sensed the unease in Arwen and grasped her hand, standing to look her friend in the eyes, noting the unshed tears. "Do not grieve and feel torn. No one can know the outcome of war, but I promise you, with or without your help and blessing I would have left. I feel better knowing I am going with your blessing Arwen."

"It does not feel right sending my friend off alone, I wish the elves of my home had answered our call." She pulled away from Evelyn and walked to the balcony.

"The time of the elves is over, those that remain, do so out of loyalty to you brothers and grandfather. They have walked this earth many years and their hearts are weary from its sorrow and pain, you cannot blame them for not wanting to face this evil." Evelyn replied, moving to stand beside her. "Come, I must ready Granat, keep me company a little while longer?"

"Aye," Arwen smiled and took Evelyn's arm as they made their way to the royal stables.

Having cleaned the stallion the day before, he only needed a light brushing, which Evelyn let Arwen do, it brought a slight peace to her friend to have something to do, as she readied his armor. Luckily there was left over steel horse armor not used as the army marched out and she was able to find some that fit the horse rather well. She wanted her friend to have as much protection as possible. Unlike Zenith, Granat had not been in battle before, though she knew he would not falter, neither was he prepared for the stench of blood, the agonizing screams of the dying, and the clash of swords and chaos that would reign around them.

When Arwen moved to his mane and tail, Evelyn placed the large blue sheet over him, covering all the areas the armor would hit, to prevent the steel rubbing him raw. Over it she laid the thick chain mail that covered the back of his shoulders, rump, and hindquarters. Over it she placed another pad that would serve as her saddle and hooked it under his belly and to the sheet he wore. The white stallion swung his head around, looking at her questioningly, rarely did he ever wear tack.

"Easy my friend, you will need this where we go." She spoke to him in Sindarin, trying to ease any nerves he may have.

The next pieces where more difficult to place and hook together. Slowly she was able to put on the face shield and neck protection after a few protests from Granat. The breast plate and rump cover were much easier as she just had a few places to hook them to keep them in place. Evelyn stepped back. They were ready.

"It is time," She spoke to herself as well as to Arwen in her elvish tongue.

She made to embrace Arwen when a horn sounded from outside the city walls. Both women froze and stared at one another for a long moment, finally the Queen spoke, "That is the horn of my father, the horn of Rivendell." She exclaimed and raced from the stable, Evelyn following close behind, leading Granat behind her.

They raced to the ramparts, shielding their eyes from the glare of the morning sun as the guards were scrambling at the sound of the horn. In the distance, the rays of sun lit up the western hill, shimmering off the armor and weapons of horses and riders that stood atop it.

"I don't believe it," Evelyn breathed, "They answered our call."

"What are you waiting for?" Arwen admonished the gate keepers, "Answer their call and open the gates!"

Evelyn jumped onto Granat's back and helped Arwen up behind her, pushing the stallion into a canter, urging him to go as fast as was possible down the stone levels to meet the new arrivals at the main gate. Her heart leaped in her chest. Maybe she would not have to find the Gondor army on her own after all, maybe, just maybe, they would see fit to ride with her. She had not mentioned to Arwen her disappointment when they had not shown earlier in the week, she kept it to herself, knowing they had no right to involve them any more than they already had.

As the gates opened fully, they were greeted by the elves of Rivendell pulling up at the entrance, dressed in their finest armor and riding their best steeds. The ellon at the head dismounted and pulled off his helm, dark hair spilling forth and grey eyes assessing the women before him.

"I apologize for our delay, long has it been since the elves of Imladris rode forth to war, we had much to locate and assemble. I do hope we have not arrived too late."

"Lindir! It is good to see you and I wish on better terms. I am heartened to see you here!" Arwen stated, walking forth to greet her father's old friend. "You arrived right on time."

"I am glad to hear it," The wizened elf smiled, "Evelyn,"

"Mae govannen, Lindir." Evelyn greeted, a hand upon her breast and a slight bow to the elf before her.

"Dire news indeed is that to which you wrote us. Two hundred of us have ridden to answer your call." He looked to Evelyn again, "But tell me, why is it you are here and not with our lords?"

It was Arwen who answered for her, "Much has Evelyn been through since coming to Middle Earth, Aragorn saw her suffering and hardships, he wished to spare her, keep her safe."

"Aye," Evelyn agreed, "However, this enemy is beyond any of them, whether they wish it or not, this, I believe is why the Valar brought me here, why they let me come back after my capture by the Easterlings. I must go after them and bring what support I can. I fear their numbers are not enough to break the enemy lines, not without aid."

"Well then, I believe I need to deliver you to the King, though I do hope you protect me from the twins' wrath." His eyes twinkled, though she could see the serious set of his eyes as he prepared himself for what was to come.

"Hannon le."

Evelyn turned to Arwen then and embraced her friend with a fierce hug. She felt Arwen's tears warm her cheek, though she uttered not a sound and her voice remained strong, "Stay safe my friend, come back."

"I will, and I will do all in my power to keep Aragorn and your brothers from harm. Until we meet again.

With that she turned and accepted Lindir's hand to mount her white stallion. He mounted up after her and with Evelyn by his side he led his host back through the gates of Minas Tirith and took off toward the south, towards the war awaiting them. Evelyn took one last look over her shoulder at the white city, watching as it slowly disappeared in the distance.