Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own this noble people. I do not. I just love them from afar. Sob.
Seyyada : Èowyn is not the most likely next choice. She is merely the only next choice that we knew about. If you think about it the next best choice would probably have been Imrahil's daughter. You know, the one who married Eomer? As for just anyone marrying Faramir? Well, Faramir exactly married down when he married Èowyn. Because the family of steward's was considered more noble even then Théoden even though he was a king. Sorry if you didn't like the fast forward but I didn't want to drag through years when the plotline didn't call for it.
IwishChanI want to see it too. He is way cool. I hope you keep reading and reviewing. Let me know how you like the girl, she appears in this chapter.
faerie-goddess1012No, she not, But please keep reading!
Coolio02I hope you like this one as much. Please review again.
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Chapter Three
My crown is but a mocking guise
In my search for the girl with hazel eyes
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"I have not found myself in Lamedon since the War." Elessar thought. He smiled down and the young woman in his arms. They moved fluidly together in a delicate dance, she was totally unaware that the king's thoughts were far away.
"This people has changed with the war. Everything is different now." he thought. He kissed the hand of the young woman as the dance ended and gallantly led her back to her chair at the top of the room. Her family had come all the way from Langstrand for the King's visit.
The shore land of Langstrand was too small to host the company of the king. The area was so sparsely populated that they had nothing more then villages and no cities. But Elessar knew that it would be a mistake to think that the people of Langstrand were in anyway uneducated or noble then the inhabitants of Minas Tirith.
"A ducat for your thoughts my lord." the young woman….Olwen? Laughed up at him, "I hope you were not thinking of my dancing?"
"Not at all Lady Olwen. I was allaying my thoughts to wander to my last visit to this country."
She cocked her head to the side, "When was that my lord?"
"During the war. You may have been away because of the corsairs." Elessar explained kindly, "It was hardly the place for women and children at the time."
"I see." she looked down the rows of new dancers and said, "Do you think often of the war? It seems so far away now."
"It is always present in my mind. It was what brought me back into Gondor, I may not be here if not for the war." Elessar answered. But he saw that Olwen did not wish to discuss war. Just as well, she was too young to care for more beyond her newest frock or lap dog.
Elessar sighed within himself, the task of finding a wife was more difficult then he had imagined it to be. Through the evening amid the meetings of nobles and their families Elessar searched each face for some sign that this young lady or that one, was the next queen of Gondor. They were all suitable to one degree or another, but none that really seemed to fit.
He danced with every young woman in the room, even Olwen's little sisters of which there seemed to be a million and all were too shy to look him in the eye. All the young women of Lamedon and Langstrand had the same shade of brown hair and he never noticed much difference between them.
So it was with relief that Elessar made his way to his rooms in the wee hours of the morning. The squire wordlessly helped him remove all the heavy trappings of the elaborate garb of the evening. The weighty velvet and ermine were removed and replaced by the light linen garments that he preferred. Sometimes, Elessar wished he could slip into the old ranger uniform from his youth, but only sometimes.
A quiet knock on his door heralded the arrival of his friends Halbarad and Faramir. Both looked exhausted by the night's festivities, but each was willing to convey the news they had gathered over the night. Over the last few weeks of the tour it had become clear that the Dúnedain and the Gondorian had very different ideas of what made the perfect queen.
Elessar couldn't help but smile at the thought of their arguments on the meanings of nobility in a woman. They were exactly alike in character and therefore disliked each other completely.
"Sire, I trust you had a useful evening?" Faramir said formally.
"I know I've worn myself out." Halbarad said sighed, "I think I shall not wake up in the morning," he looked out into the lighting sky, "Or what's left of it."
"I would not blame you my friend. Faramir, I heard that you had news from Eowyn today? How are they?" Elessar encouraged.
Faramir beamed, "Well, my lord. Very well, indeed. In fact, she says that Elboron rolled over by himself for the first time."
Faramir stated this information as if Elboron had recited the entire history of Gondor from memory. Halbarad tried not to smile to mockingly and Elessar just nodded pleasantly.
"Good, I hope we won't keep you from them much longer."
Both men brightened up, this was encouraging. Had Elessar made a choice? They leaned forward just a bit as if to better catch the next bit of news.
"Now do you gentleman wish to tell me of your encounters with the young women of the court?" Elessar went on. He smiled inwardly at their disappointment, he knew they wished him to pick the women himself.
Well," Faramir cleared his throat, "I found Lady Olwen to be the finest of the ladies present being both sweet of personality and quite intelligent of the ways of government. I believe she rather fancied you as well."
Halbarad looked disgusted, "She's too immature Lord Faramir. Did you not see how she brushed off the king when he spoke of the war?"
"No." Faramir replied heavily, "I did not. But I think that we can hardly blame her. She is rather young and might have much memory of it. She was sent to Lossarnach with her sisters and they hardly saw any battle there."
"Still." Halbarad insisted, "she should have had some clue that the king would be close to the subject given his involvement."
"Gentleman, please." Elessar held up his hands, "Please, I hardly consider lady Olwen's involvement in the war or lack thereof to be important. Thank you Faramir, now Halbarad?"
Halbarad nodded, and mentally began to go through his mental list of young women, " I believe that Lady Jireth is the most likely candidate."
"I wish we wouldn't use that term." Elessar said, "It's so cold."
"Very well," Halbarad was unperturbed, "I found Lady Jireth to be a lovely girl and I think you should consider her."
Faramir and Elessar both looked confused, "Who is she?" Faramir finally asked, "I don't remember meeting her."
"Neither do I." Elessar said, "And I'm sure that I was introduced to all of the young ladies."
Halbarad looked smug, "I thought not. She was the tall dark haired…"
"Now that doesn't help." Faramir interjected, "They're all dark haired."
'Let me finish." Halbarad said patiently, "She is also the niece of our dear departed friends Forlong and I think she is more the amiable. She had to leave early because of her mother. The woman does not believe in allowing young ladies to spend the evening in dancing!"
Halbarad said this as if that was the most longed for quality. Elessar rubbed his forehead and stifled a chuckle as Faramir began to berate Halbarad. The squire in the corner yawned over a smiled and Aragorn realized how tired he was of these discussions. Maybe it was time to go home.
"Halbarad, Faramir. Thank you for your time, but I think we'll just return to Minas Tirith at the end of the month. We have seen all the regions and their people and if I feel any need to return and claim a wife I will do so some other time. Right now I am tired and want both of you out of here."
They immediately snapped to attention and left still grumbling at each other under their breath. Elessar dismissed the sleepy squire and stretched his long frame upon the cool linen sheet of the bed. Laying with his arms under his head Aragorn once again tried to sleep.
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The next morning came with the sweet yellow light of autumn and the crisp snap to the wind. Aragorn found himself wandering the city, his identity carefully concealed under his dark green cloak. It was old and worn, but familiar and warm, the last gift of Galadriel. The small leaf pin rested at his throat and the cold metal felt reassuring.
The city was in wonderful condition considering the beatings it had taken at the hands of the corsairs. Empty lands were quickly filling with the young couples and families that seemed so numerous these days. Elessar found himself smiling at the children that ran passed him to the well. They returned the greeting happily, one little girl stopping to give him a single daisy.
"Thank you mistress." he thanked her. The child blushed and ran away with her companions. Elessar went on his way the tiny flower clasped between his fingers. The grounds of the great house were beautiful but soon Elessar made his way back toward the main buildings, coming through the cover of the grove to reach it.
Inside the grove was a tiny stone chapel. It was simple building, small and unaffected in structure and making. Elessar stepped into the cool darkness of the chapel and saw the outline of wooden benches and a small alter lined with flowers. Kneeing before the alter was a young woman, her sleeves rolled to her elbows, fastening more flowers to the chain that already draped over the first four sides.
Absorbed in her work she didn't notice the presence of the cloaked man who slipped into the last bench. She hummed under her breath as her fingers twisted the ribbon and flower stems together. The basket on the ground next to her was filled with vines and flowers like the one Elessar held in his hands.
Elessar watched her work, content for a moment to observe another human being without being seen himself. There was great liberty in being unseen, it gave the impression that you did not have to be someone or something. It gave him the chance to pretend that he was no more then a ranger.
Leaves are now turning from green to gold
The girl's song came to him slightly muffled because her back was to him, but Elessar heard every word. It was simply meaning the changing of the season but to Aragorn it brought back all kinds of thoughts of a valley that was stay locked in autumn. In his mind it never changed.
"Excuse me. I didn't see you there. May I help you?"
The girl's voice brought Elessar out of his reverie. The girl stood before him a questioning smile on her face, her hands pressed against her apron the fingers lightly stained green. Her face was clear, youthful with soft hazel eyes and neat, practicable braids of brown hair wound around her head.
"May I help you sir?"
Elessar stood and pulled the hood of his cloak back, he didn't wish to seem menacing to the poor thing.
"I sorry if I disturbed you miss. I was just passing and I came in to see the chapel. It's very lovely." he said.
"Thank you. Father built it for Mother when she came from Langstrand. She has always been very devote to worship and when she became homesick he made to." she smiled, "To make her feel more at home."
"How romantic." Elessar smiled, "Your Lady Olwen's sister then?"
"Yes," but how did you know?" the girl asked confusedly.
"Well, I am king Elessar." he admitted.
'My lord, forgive me! I didn't recognize you from last night. Oh please forgive me if I have not treated you properly." the girl gasped and quickly lower her eyes from his face and curtsied.
For some reason this annoyed Elessar more then usual, "Please miss, don't worry. I hardly consider this a formal visit. Please continue with your work, I won't take you away from it for the world."
He began to turn away when she called out, "If you wish to stay you may. I don't want to drive you away if you wanted some peace and quiet."
To his own surprise Elessar laughed, the sound echoing around the small building. The idea of this slip of a girl giving him permission for anything seemed slightly absurd. After all he owned all of Gondor and it's lands by birth.
He turned to the young girl and smiled sincerely, 'Then I will stay. If you wouldn't mind my company."
She nodded and smiled back before looking away. "Very well then. Welcome to my chapel sire."
So Elessar found himself spending the morning in the company of a young girl of Lamedon. She continued her work but now Elessar helped her when the flowers needed to be placed out of reach of her own height. They did not talk but worked silently and comfortably together and then separated to go about their own business when the morning ended.
It was only later in a council meeting that Elessar realized he had forgotten to ask her, her name.