Chapter Five
She must have been beautiful.
Leaves are now turning from green to gold
And the sun is fading…
Halbarad and Faramir stared at Elessar, their mouths slightly open and eyes expressing their shock. The king had summoned them into his chambers on the night before they left and informed them that he was intending on marrying the middle daughter of Lord Oren.
"So quickly my lord? Faramir asked, "You only met her last night."
Elessar shot his Steward a glance and said, "Do you not think that I am capable of making such a choice Prince Faramir?"
"Of course, my lord, you misunderstand me." Faramir said, "I merely meant that…"
"That it's frightfully quick and are you sure that she is the prefect woman for the queen of Gondor?" Halbarad butted in. His eyes were fairly bulging from their sockets and he could barely contain his excitement.
Elessar sighed and stood. He began to pace the room with his hands behind his back as he told them, in brief, of his real meeting with and friendship with Lady Beryl. Halbarad was disappointed because he was quite ready to claim the role of matchmaker for his dear friend. Faramir was listening but thinking all the time what a huge change this would mean to the entire country. He also thought that he would soon be returning to his wife and son and that thrilled him more then anything else.
"Therefore, having seen her character as gentle and her birth noble I have determined to seek her hand in marriage." Elessar finished and faced his advisers.
"Well, Your Majesty." Faramir said, "May I wish you every happiness. From what I know of the young woman she is kind and will not doubt make a good queen. Only..."
"Yes?" Elessar prompted.
"She was not raised in a high court. It would be a vast change for her to go to Minas Tirth from the Lamedon court." Faramir said.
Elessar thought of Beryl's gentle ways and slightly country manner. He had thought it was quite suitable and right for her, but the Steward was correct. Elessar turned to Faramir and asked, "What do you suggest?"
"Bring her to the court for a time. Let her learn the ways of the court and the people in the city. That way she will learn of the people and they of her and when she is quite settled than announce the marriage." Faramir said.
"Don't you think it will seem a trifle strange for a young woman to suddenly come to the court, which has never been there before, and suddenly be announced as queen?" Halbarad said, "You can't expect the Lords and Ladies of the court to be so oblivious."
"Not do I expect them to be." Elessar said, "I will make it known that I intend to wed her. I will make no secret of her position in my kingdom and household. Faramir, if she is to come I will have all of her sisters as well. That way she will not be without companions and each girl will have the chance of seeing court life and perhaps even making a match themselves."
Halbarad and Faramir traded glances and Halbarad shrugged his broad shoulders, "There it would seem everything is arranged."
"Not quite." Elessar said, "I must still speak with Lord Oren."
Lord Oren stared at the king before him. Elessar sat with his hands on his knees and leaning slightly forward in his chair in Lord Oren's library. Elessar, the King of Gondor, had just asked the Lord of Lamedon to marry his daughter.
"Beryl? Are you quite sure you mean Beryl?" Oren asked again. It had to be the third time the poor man had asked the question.
"Quite sure my lord." Elessar replied calmly, "Do I have your permission?"
"I…well, that is to say that I…" Oren suddenly looked hard at the king, "Forgive me, my lord, but do you love Beryl?"
There was a tense moment as the man looked into each other's eyes. Minutes ticked by and finally Elessar answered the lord with another question.
"You know that I was raised among the elves or Rivendell do you not?"
"I would be a poorly informed subject if I did not." Oren said, "You were the foster son of Elrond Halfelven."
"Yes," Elessar answered, "But what is not commonly known is that I loved the daughter of Lord Elrond as well."
"Lady Undomiel," Oren breathed, "The Evenstar of the elves, even we have heard songs of her beauty."
Elessar continued, but each word was forced and he did not allow himself the luxury of holding back anything that might be important for Lord Oren to hear.
"For a time the Lady Arwen and myself were betrothed to wed when I came into the kingship of Gondor. But as the shadow of Sauron grew, her strength waned. I released her from our betrothal and she departed for the Undying lands. And when she left, she took my heart with her."
Lord Oren nodded, "But a King needs an heir?"
Elessar couldn't help the anger that flared in his chest, "I do not look upon your daughter as the crass means of obtaining a child."
It was Oren's turn to rely angrily, 'Neither would I allow your marriage if I thought that was your object alone, your majesty. I would not give my daughter in to such a marriage for all the magic of elves and wealth of dwarves. But it is a fact, is it not, that you do not love my daughter?"
"I respect her," Elessar said, "I am fond of her."
"I see," Oren said, "What would she be as your consort?"
"She would receive the honor of my wife and live in every happiness I could give her."
"But not your love?"
"I cannot give what is gone forever." Elessar said, "I will honor your daughter all my life and never do anything to harm her."
Oren sighed and sat back in his chair, "My king you leave me a great burden. I am loathed to give my daughter to you, she is more precious to me then you can ever know."
"Perhaps I can." Elessar answered.
"You have never been a father," Oren said, "Forgive me, but you cannot understand. But listen; if Beryl loves you then I will consent to your union. Only if she loves you."
"You will tell her of my request?" the king asked tensely.
"Yes, tonight. Tomorrow before you leave I would have you speak to her yourself." Oren said, "And if she loves you then I will give her into your care as wife."
'Thank you, Lord Oren." Elessar stood and bowed low, "For everything you have said. You are a noble man and I hope that if I should ever have children that I should be half the father to them that you are to yours."
The next morning the King's traveling company was in full readiness to depart for the White City in Gondor. Horses tramped and stamped their hooves, their breath going in white puffs with the cold of the autumn morning. Faramir and Halbarad were assembling the last of the company and all the people of Lamedon appeared to Farwell the King on his journey.
Yet, of all the people of the royal caravan that was looked for the most important was no where to be seen. King Elessar was missing from the company. The king was in fact trying to find the Lady Beryl. He had gone to the chapel and then the house, the garden and then the shore, but nowhere was the young woman to be found. Just as Elessar was beginning to think that she did not wish to marry him a message came.
"Beryl took out her horse and rode to the sea cliffs." Oren explained.
"Nothing to worry about I trust?" Elessar asked, alarmed.
Oren smiled at this little display of worry, but shook his grey head, "Not at all. Beryl rides there whenever she wants to be alone. Go to her Your Majesty, speak to her."
Elessar sent for his horse, Brego the II, son of the horse that had carried him to battle during the Great War. With a last word with Lord Oren Elessar rode over the gentle shore sands toward the majestic cliffs that faced out across the wild autumn sea. The sky was the deep blue that only comes with the first cool wind of the changing year, and white clouds, like columns of smoke upheld the sky.
As he rode, Elessar felt the sharp sea breeze against his face and drew it deep into his lungs as he urged Brego into a gallop. The sand flew behind them as they charged across the shore and Elessar tried to pull his mind away from the memories that threatened to surface.
"This belongs to you."
"It was a gift. Keep it. Remember me…"
Elessar closed his eyes and forced away the tears that rose in his throat trying to choke him. He drew more air into his lungs and allowed the wind to whip his hair against his eyes, hiding the telltale signs of tears. Brego, sure footed and swift carried his rider up the paths to the cliffs and it was easy to see in the distance the single figure, waiting, it seemed for them.
Beryl did not look around as Elessar came to her side and swung down from the saddle. But she held her horse's reins tightly in her fingers.
"I love the sea in autumn. It's like a wild thing fighting against itself for some unknown reason. Instead of flowing together it struggles and tosses back and forth as though trying to sooth some pain." She said.
"Trying to reconcile itself to being tore apart and yet one." He replied.
Beryl looked at him briefly and back to the sea, "Yes. Like some people I believe."
"Beryl, I..."
"No. No, I know what you would say, but do not"
Beryl's voice was shaking or was it the wind? She walked a few feet away from him and turned allowing the wind to play with the few loose hairs that had escaped her braids. Her cheeks were pink with the wind but her eyes were calm and looked back into his.
"Tell me, what shall I call you now? It wouldn't be right for the wife of the king to call her husband by his title always."
Elessar went to her and took her hands in his, remembering how small and slight they were in his own. He knelt before her and said, "If you will be my wife, I will be forever honored."
Beryl pulled one hand away from his grasp and reaching out touched the Evenstar that nestled at his throat. He waited as she looked upon it.
"She must have been beautiful." She whispered.
Elessar's eyes dropped and he again fought the tears that threatened to surface, "Yes, she was very beautiful."
Beryl knelt in front of Elessar and placed both of her hands in his, her eyes filled with tears and her voice shook openly with her emotions, "Then I shall never try to take her place in your heart, my king."
Elessar pulled her to him and buried his face in her hair and wept the tears that had been hiding so long. She trembled in his embrace but she up held him and comforted as much as she could. Grief shared is an easier load then grief carried alone and this was something Beryl understood well.
Finally, Elessar took her hand and raised her to her feet. They stood for a time looking out to sea, but together if only by two joined hands. It could be said that Beryl's heart was singing and Elessar had found the comfort he needed, but love had not found its way into Elessar's heart. But Beryl's heart was given fully and freely and the king was sensible of this.
"Beryl," She blushed when he spoke her given name, "Beryl, my given name was Aragorn. If you wish to call me by this name I would be pleased."
"Then I shall." Beryl smiled, "Go now. No doubt your company has itching heels to be off."
"Will you not come with me?" He asked.
"No, I need some time alone yet. I hope you understand." Beryl smiled again and withdrew her hands from his, "You may tell the people if you wish but my time for celebration will come soon enough. Indeed, no doubt it will come within the hour."
Elessar bowed low and placed a small kiss on her hand, "Then I leave my lady. Soon, you and your family must come to Minas Tirth. The court will no doubt wish to see their future queen as soon as possible."
"I shall look forward to it with a whole heart my lord. May your journey be safe and swift." Beryl said.
When the announcement was made the people went wild with joy and pride that the next queen of Gondor should come from their village. As speedily as possible the king's company rode out of Lamedon, but they were followed long by well wishers and those eager to farewell the King.
IwishChanYou're not strange. I want him to fall in love with her too. Please keep reviewing, I love knowing what you think.
Laurenke1I'm glad you like it. I hope that you will continue to be intrigued and will also continue to write nice reviews!
EnyamorntuilrI'm glad that you're involved in the story. The very fact that then are no good Aragorn/OC stories, expect the kind you mentioned, is the one that pushed me to write this. That and the very beautiful Arwen's Song from the houses of healing scene in ROTK. Thank you!
AlmostinsaneThank you for the review, I hope you do so again!