Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own this noble people. I do not. I just love them from afar. Sob And I beg the grace to use a passage from Lord Byron's "She Walks In Beauty."

IwishSanThanks again for your review. I hope you like this chapter as well.

MarietteThis is actually a good story? From that comment I assume that you were expecting a real flop. I would hardly have Aragorn forget his Evenstar as quickly as that. Besides, Beryl isn't the kind of girl to inspire that can of swift change in feeling. I hope you keep reviewing and let me know of any more suggestions that you might have.

ZuzkaI love Lord Oren. He's just one of those man that are born noble and perfect. I also wanted to show that he really loves his daughters. In every land there are those who respect the king but don't kowtow to them blindly. Thanks for reviewing!

Laurenke1Sorry this isn't very quick, but I like to take my time. Join!

EruntaleofRohanI'm glad that you liked it so well! How's Rohan doing by the way?

Nemi JadeGives hankercheif))) I'm glad you joined it. I hope you keep reviewing too!

Dunarwen : Thank you. I hate coming across a Aragorn/Oc where he forgets Arwen in the blink of an eye. Aragorn was unique for men in that he valued love in the same light as the elves. I hope you keep reading!

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Chapter Six

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent

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And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

The city had gone wild with happiness when the news was announced that His Majesty, King Elessar was going to wed. Music and parties erupted all over the levels of the city in little knots of color and happy people. The air was infectious with delight and it almost tingled on the tongue, and the words flew from person to person.

The King is going to marry! A day of Lamedon, just think a queen and heirs!

And the news spread around the country and nations nearest it as well. The most powerful nation in the world was going to have the long awaited queen. But what was on everyone woman and girl's mind in Gondor was what the new queen would be like. She was from Lamedom, and although this was a respectable enough area it was not remarked for its grandeur.

But that was not the thing that was causing Èowyn to look displeased.

Faramir, lying on the floor with Elboron balanced on his stomach, didn't notice her expression right away. Elboron was busy trying to dig his fingers into his father's eyes.

"Well," she finally said.

'What's that dear?" Faramir asked, he tickled the baby and Elboron wiggled trying to get away.

"Nothing. I just said well." Èowyn replied. Faramir scooped Elboron up and sat halfway up. He had noticed 'that' tone in her voice and wondered what the cause of it has been. Her eyes had 'that' light and Faramir hid his face behind his son's hair a moment to repress the smile that threatened.

With a tiny shrug Faramir sat the baby on the floor and went to sit his wife's side. As Elboron made a beeline for a horse with wheels, Faramir lounged in a lazy manner beside his wife and began to play with her hair. The Lord Prince of Ithilien had discovered, we won't say how, that this soothed Èowyn when, as Eomer put it, "Her feathers were ruffled."

"What is making you so silent love?" Faramir asked, stroking her yellow hair gently.

But she pushed his hands away and said, "Do not fuss over me like a child, Faramir. It is a dreadful nuisance. Please!"

She stood and stomped over to the window and crossed her arms and sullenly stared out over the beautiful groves. Yet the lovely trees and buildings did nothing to calm her. Faramir ran a finger along his lip a moment and drummed his other fingers on the back of the chair before he assumed a particularly soppy expression. He only ever used this expression when Èowyn was being difficult and beginning to shut out the people around her.

He fairly oozed out of the chair and moved across to her and said contritely, "I am sorry if anything I did offended you my love. But it worries me to see you upset about something and I am unable to share it with you."

Her shoulders instantly stiffened, "Nothing is wrong Faramir. I just …well."

"Uhm?" he said encouragingly.

Èowyn whirled and said, "It just isn't right Faramir! It isn't right!" to Faramir's surprise there were tears standing in his wife's eyes. Elboron looked up from his play and looked from his mother to his father. Even he could sense the tension.

He took her by the shoulders, "Darling what is it? What isn't right?"

She shook her head, "That poor, poor girl! She cannot possibly know what she is doing! And Aragorn should be ashamed of himself for doing it to her!"

Faramir's face grew grim and he demanded, "What do you mean Èowyn? Beryl made this choice herself and you should know better then to think the king would force his attentions upon any woman."

Èowyn rubbed her forehead with her hands and breathed deeply. When she spoke her voice was again calm and steady, "I know, but Faramir, she is so young and inexperienced."

"But darling," Faramir said, "You haven't even met her yet and already you presume to know her? What confidence you women have in your own sex."

"I mean that she was raised in a small village." Èowyn continued, "In all likelihood she was raised to live and marry in that village and never leave it. She might be a very nice sort of girl and is very honorable, but the court in Minas Tirith is not a very giving one. I am afraid that…"

"That she will be ridiculed? Èowyn, anyone that the king chooses will be. It comes with the position, and I am sure Beryl knows that. "Faramir said, his voice dropped, "But they were hard on you were they not?"

"It is not that," Èowyn said softly, "I was at the very least a princess in their eyes, rough and unmannerly perhaps, but I was royalty. Beryl is very young for the king and she is barely a noble and I fear for what they may do to her. She will be queen, but the trials that she must pass through are so great …that I fear for her."

Elboron had waddled his way over to his parents and now tugged upon his mother's skirt asking to be held. Faramir lifted him and said, "I see. You think her spirit will be crushed?"

"She is so young," Èowyn repeated.

"You were not even eighteen when we married Èowyn," Faramir reminded her, "And you bore everything like a true queen would."

"But Beryl?" Èowyn asked.

At that moment Elboron clapped his hands and cried, "Nuisance!"

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"What a quaint country goose she is!" one voice whispered.

"What with hair parted like a common milkmaid's!" a second voice added in a titter, "Imagine the future queen of Gondor looking so to foreign dignitaries!"

"I wonder what on earth made his Majesty chose such a girl. How she does stare about her so!' the first voice replied.

"Very unseemly," sniffed the second voice, the lady adjusted her dress and feigned a smile to a passing courtier, "Even if she's never been to Minas Tirith I would have expected a measure of proper control over her reaction.

"But then again, she is very young is she not?" the first asked in low tones.

"She's not yet twenty. Nowhere near suited for a man of the king's age, noble though he is. But we know what men are like about young women."

They laughed quietly into their fans as the king greeted Lady Beryl and her father and officially welcomed the family to Minas Tirith. A long line of Gondor's nobles were lined up waiting to meet the future queen. Certainly this was a day that every lord and lady, duke and dame had show out in full force to survey the King's betrothed.

As the two ladies of the court watched the King introducing each noble to his fair lady he attended to every courtesy that a Beryl may have had.

"You know," the first woman said, "I don't think that it's a marriage of convenience. I think he might really love her."

"My dear girl," the second lady said, "He doesn't have to love her to gain an heir."

It is a sorry thing to say that the general conversation of the court ran along these lines. Beryl was aware that she was being judged by every man and woman of the court. She also knew that behind many a bright smile a cool opinion was being made and calculated.

Elessar touched her hand gently with his own, "Are you well?"

"Yes, thank you. I was just wandering in my thoughts," she smiled, "I never knew that there were quite so many lords of Gondor."

Elessar smiled faintly, "My dear this is just the beginning. You have yet to meet all those from Dol Amroth and the far reaching regions. If you become tired please feel free to postpone the rest of the reception for tomorrow."

"No, I couldn't do that." Beryl said, "I am quite myself."

Elessar studied her face a moment and noted the tension in her features and the underlying stress that the event was causing. Still, if she was going to be the queen this would be part of her duties. Perhaps it was better that she learn all of that now.

The week had been a tiring one. First there was the arrival of the party from Lamedon and riding out to meet them. Then numberless parties and feasts were held to welcome the Lady to Gondor and meet some of the closest friends and advisors of the city. Of course, there had been fittings for new gowns for Beryl and her sisters and teas beyond number that Elessar had only heard about.

The women of the city seemed to be very anxious to see what Beryl looked like and how she was dressed. There seemed very little concern for her character or personality. As he watched Beryl graciously receive each Lady and Lord he could not help but compare them.

Beside the profusion of powdered faces and elaborate braids of the courts ladies Beryl was fresh faced and simple. He smiled at the memory of her insistence at simple gowns and few jewels, she said she didn't wish to look like she was trying to be something other then what she was.

"I am still only a lady from Lamedon," she said, "I am not the Queen of Gondor as yet. I would rather be thought too plain then too got up."

In the back of his mind Elessar made the mental note that he would see her properly robed and jeweled as the queen before too many days had passed. A great ball was being planned and he knew that if there was a time for Beryl to be splendid then it was that night.

He knew, as she did not, that the court could easily change from being a close confiding friend to a whispering crowd of strangers in a moment. Elessar knew how to handle the people, he had been trained for it all of his life. But Beryl…he knew that he would have to teach her slowly. You could not long live in the court before you learned to know its moods well.

The afternoon waned and finally the tedious business of greeting the court was ended. As they all took their places again Elessar stood forward and said, "My dear friends, I thank you all for this attention to my lady."

A quiet clapping flowed over the crowd and Elessar held up a hand for silence, "Before the day of our marriage, my Lady Beryl and I wish for all of you to come a grand ball in the citadel itself. We hope that you will come and join in a feast with us. In a forte night from this even we will welcome you all to dance and feast the joy of our coming marriage."

A general cheer went up and already the ladies were whispering about what they should be wearing for the ball. Elessar offered his arm to Beryl and taking it gratefully they exited from the large over heated hall into the cool dim light of the adjoining corridor and garden.

"I had no idea just how weary one could grow from greeting people," Beryl said, "I was worried that I would run out of things to say to each of them."

"If you had said the same polite phrase to each of them I do not think they would have noted it," Elessar said.

"Oh, for you perhaps not. But you know that everything I said was being heard and kept for gossip later," Beryl laughed, 'If I had repeated the same thing twice then I would be marked as not having proper courtly manners."

"You are right of course," Elessar said, "I suppose in the years since my coronation that I have forgotten all the fears that first come from the rather formidable meetings with endless lines of dukes and lords."

"Or their ladies and daughters." she added.

They came to a low seat and sat, reclining in the cool shadow of the ivy trellis. Once they had been seated Aragorn had carefully removed his arm from her own, but in such a way that no would have noticed if they hadn't been watching. But Beryl noticed it.

Yet she said nothing. Instead, she asked about the ball and who would be there?

"One of my dearest friends," Aragorn replied, "Prince Legolas of Mirkwood will be coming for the ball. He travels with Prince Faramir and the Lady Èowyn. I should dearly like you and he to become friends."

"He is one of the fair folk is he not?" Beryl asked. And Aragorn noticed that her voice held a little nervous tremor to it.

"He is that indeed," he answered, "But what it this Beryl? You look pale."

Beryl offered a weak smile, "You must understand Aragorn. In Lamedon we have rarely had encounters with that noble people. I must confess that I have never seen an elf in all of my life."

Aragorn struggled to keep the shock off his face. He did not wish to embarrass Beryl as she seemed to already feel it enough.

"They are, as you say, most noble." he said slowly, "Believe me when I say that you have nothing to fear from them."

Beryl looked surprised at this and said, "I am not afraid of them. No, indeed. Granted many strange tales of them have been told to me over the years, but fear them," she shook her dark head, "No."

"It is only that they look up to you and respect you as no other human being in the world," she stopped him as he tried to interrupt, "Nay, deny it not my lord. You are too modest. It is noised abroad that when the queen of the Golden Woods leaves that the kingship of elves will fall to you."

"But what does this cause such trepidation in you to meeting one of them? Aragorn asked.

Beryl blushed slightly and looked away over to the slashing fountain. The air was growing cooler as the sun began to set in the West. Its light cast green shades over the garden where they sat.

Beryl said quietly, "You are most noble Aragorn. Your face and bearing breath all that is great and goodly. Men and elves cannot but looking your eyes and see a king. But I fear that they will wonder why you have…such as me for a wife."

When you are king Estel, shall I be known as the Queen? Or as Elessar's wife?" Arwen's gentle teasing tone and snapping eyes asked.

"You shall be known as both and neither," he had replied, "For you shall win the hearts of all the country when once they see you. You shall be known as Lady Undomiel, Star of Gondor. I dare say that people will forget they have a king when they see your fair face."

"Aragorn?" Beryl's voice breaking into his thoughts.

He blinked and said, "I am sorry Beryl. I seem to be more wearied by the reception then I had thought."

"Shall I send for someone?" she asked anxiously.

"Nay, I.." he saw a page enter and stood.

The young boy bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the company from Ithilien was sighted on the horizon. Shall we saddle your horse to meet them?"

Aragorn nodded and sent the boy away, "Shall you join me?"

"I suppose that I should," Beryl replied, "If you would give me a moment to change into something more suitable."

"Certainly, I shall await you by the stable yard." he kissed her hand and she left the garden.

Aragorn sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he went to change into his own riding clothes. With the arrival of the Prince and his family brought a different kind of trouble.

Lady Èowyn.

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