Thank you all so much for your reviews! I am really sorry, that it took me so long to post this, but this meeting was so hard to write and I wanted it to be 'realistic'... well, in character at least. I really hope I'll be able to post the next apter sooner, but this turn out to be quite hard to write... and I really want to get everything right. But I will definitly continue writing.
5. Meeting
Aragorn rode up to the waiting Spartans. He stopped in front of their leader, at a polite distance.
"Greetings, strangers. I do not know who you might be, but I thank you for your aid in this battle."
Leonidas regarded the dark haired man with a steady gaze. Then he nodded slowly.
"It has been a pleasure fighting against these Persian creatures. I am King Leonidas of Sparta."
"Sparta?" Éomer asked. "I have not heard of this place."
Aragorn beckoned him to be silent.
"I am Aragorn, Isildur's heir of Gondor. I welcome you and your warriors and offer you hospitality, he said, somewhat weary of these men. He also had not heard of this place called Sparta before, but they seemed friendly and had aided them in battle.
Leonidas accepted and after further introductions, the Spartans followed Aragorn to the Gates of the White City.
A temporary camp, a small tent city, had been erected in front of the Gates. The Spartans made their own camp on the fringes of the larger one.
While they had done this, evening had fallen and they gathered around a small fire. Aragorn had been true to his promise of hospitality and provided them with food and drink.
The Spartans were now celebrating their victory, with Dilios recounting parts of the battle – only one was silent. Leonidas did not join his men, he sat slightly apart from them and gazed into the flames.
There were so many questions he wanted to ask. Where exactly were they? He had not recognized the name Gondor and the land seemed completely unfamiliar to him. And, more important, how had they come here?