Due to stress and extra time you get more chapters.

Chapter II: My Fair Lady

Finduilas waited by the stables of the city. Thorongil had promised a picnic lunch away from the oppressive walls of stone, but he was late. Thorongil was not one to be late. She began to wonder if something happened to him, which was silly because Thorongil was fully capable of handling himself. Still, she had to wonder.

"Perhaps he changed his mind, my lady, and forgot to send word," her handmaid waiting with her suggested. Perhaps that was so, but she waited and looked on.

A soldier entered the stables and bowed. "I am Berglos. Thorongil sends his regards, but he cannot make it today. He has asked me to accompany you in his stead, if it be pleasing to you."

"No, that will not be necessary," she replied sadly, "I no longer wish to go today." She curtsied and the soldier saluted as she walked back towards the lodgings of her family, a fine house with a courtyard on the sixth circle. Her handmaiden followed along behind in silence. Her mistress was deep in thought. Here encased in stone, far away from the sea with the gulls crying her mistress ever seemed to wilt as a flower without sun. Yet Finduilas had found a ray of sun on her last visit to the city seven years ago- the same year Denethor also began to call on her whenever he could. She always perked up and seemed more herself when Thorongil was around, as if she caught a glimpse of the sea and wafts of the breeze off the quays. Denethor on the other hand was as cold as the stone in comparison to the warmth of Thorongil. And though he had no lineage to their knowledge, the handmaiden hoped her mistress would choose this stranger over the future steward. Of course the Steward's son would be the smarter match, Finduilas would have to live here in the city but she feared her mistress would wither and die and her mistress and The Eagle if the Star and made such a lovely couple. After all, he doted on her so with a dress now and then and the occasional piece of jewelry. Thorongil had such good taste in clothing. And Adrahil of Dol Amroth was not against the match. He also was not against the match with Denethor either, she frowned.

Like the handmaiden of Finduilas many thought she and Thorongil were in love but this was not so. She may have once desired it upon their first meeting, for he reminded her of the great sea kings from the old tales her people tell. He reminded her of the sea and when she was with him, she forgot about the stone walls that towered above her and of the shadow in the east. Thorongil read her thoughts and felt great sorrow for her and saw her fate. She would marry the Son of Ecthelion and wither away in the city ere long. But she had a kind heart and had found a companion to whom he could confide (to an extent) with when Gandalf was not around. He desired to remove the shadow the hung over her, but alas, he could not. All he could do was lighten it for a time. Thus, he sent her gifts, spoke with her often, and took her on outings outside the city.

Finduilas' handmaiden was dreaming of caring for children begotten by her mistress and Thorongil, such handsome children they would be. The wedding would be seaside or even on a fine proud ship. Her dreaming ceased and her frown was renewed when she saw that Denethor was waiting in the courtyard. Finduilas and Denethor greeted one another and he kissed her hand.

"I have come to call upon the fair lady who resides here," he smiled as he straightened.

"Had it not been for a change in plans I'm afraid you would have been waiting a long while," she offered a brief smile of her own.

"Plans, my lady?" He held her hand still and he stroked it a little. Finduilas withdrew her hand and went to sit on a bench in the yard.

"I was to go riding and have a picnic lunch with Thorongil, but he could not go."

"How fortunate," Denethor mused to himself.

"Beg pardon?"

"How unfortunate," he cleared his throat, "If you would still care to go, I could take you. I am free until the evening."

Finduilas thought it over. Denethor loved her she saw- in his own way, of course. He certainly was no romantic like Thorongil. He was trying hard today and it was not very flattering. However, her heart had moved towards him. She could be very happy with Denethor and besides, she stood up from the bench, she had nothing else to do at the moment, "I would be delighted." She took his arm and dismissed her handmaiden for she did not need her (after she had been sent for a basket with lunch inside it). As Denethor led her back to the stables with basket in hand he they chatted about this and that.

They rode down the levels of the city, stopping only twice. Once, so Denethor could buy a bottle of wine and then to let some citizens pass by. Once out of the city, she spurred her horse into a gallop for a short distance. They came to a lone tree in a field of grass on a small hill seven miles from the gates. She consented to let Denethor unpack the basket while she gazed out at the plain. She saw Osgiliath to the northeast. The road to it was not far from where they sat. The river glittered in the afternoon sun; the great river that lead to the sea near her home. She looked at it wistfully until Denethor handed her a glass of wine and offered her to sit beside him under the tree. "To Gondor!" he raised his glass in a toast. She raised her glass and drank then picked up a leg of chicken. She ate in silence deep in thought and remembering a poem Thorongil had recited to her about the sea until Denethor asked her if anything was wrong. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "It's nothing. I was just thinking."

"About Thorongil?" he grunted.

"About a poem he recited to me about the sea."

He threw a bone across the plain, "I am sick of hearing about Thorongil. All day long it is 'Thorongil this' and 'Thorongil that'."

"I'm sorry, I did not mean-"

"For once I would like to go a day without without hearing his name, but while we are on the subject: I have heard rumors that he has asked you to marry him. Have you accepted? Are you going to marry that nameless dog?"

She laughed merrily, "Marry Thorongil! My Denethor, Thorongil and I are just friends. We always have been. There never was anything between us, believe me." She put her hand on his arm, "You mustn't believe rumors."

"He was telling the truth then," he muttered.

She smiled kindly at him, "he does that."

"Yet he cannot tell us anything about his past. Not even his name."

"He has his reasons."

"What has he told you?"

"Well," she looked away across the plain but her eyes drifted towards the city, "I am not sure if I can tell you Denethor." He snorted. "He told me in confidence I'm sure and you must respect that."

He crossed his arms, "I don't trust him and I won't until I know about him."

"He has not told me much, mind you," she sighed and conceded. "I will tell you what he has told me, but he must never know I told you." Denethor nodded. "All I know is that his father died when he was young and he was raised in the north in his uncle's* house who has two sons that he loves as brothers. They nicknamed him Estel and taught him everything he knows."

"His father's brother?"

"I do not know. I know he has given his heart to a fair maiden whom he thinks of everyday and the rest is simply what I know of his character, which is honest and true. Is that enough for you to trust him?"

"We shall see."

"Is your father going to fight the Corsairs?"

"They are not a threat, lady."

"Are you sure? While I have not seen anything, a shadow has been growing in heart of late. I fear some great evil arising in the south."

oOo

This new information did not deny or confirm anything Denethor knew about Thorongil, but he did feel like he owed him an apology regarding Finduilas, which was a blow to his pride. He was also considering what Finduilas had told him as he paced back and forth in chamber. She too feared the Corsairs uprising. Is it possible Thorongil put her to it? No, he did not think so. The fear in her eyes looked too real. If they started now, they could build some ships and Adrahil may be willing to allow the use of his ships. And they could always…he swore and strode from his room.

Thorongil was sparring with new soldiers. Many lacked instruction and he had been ordered there to teach them for his skill with the blade was well known. They were just finishing when Denethor entered the training grounds. Thorongil sheathed his sword before getting a drink of water. He was aware of the approach of Denethor behind him as he splashed water on his face. "What did you have in mind?" asked Denethor.

"Regarding?"

"The Corsairs," when Thorongil looked at him questioningly Denethor explained himself, "Finduilas fears it too and do not want to see her hurt so I am going to go along with it. I pray you are wrong about them."

"As do I."

"I also offer my apologies regarding-"

Thorongil waved his hand, "There is no need. I know the rumors and it is easy for others to gossip about matters they do not know." He clasped Denethor's shoulders, "Let's discuss this over a pint. I know a good place."

"Two of your best, Falma!" cried Thorongil once they entered the King's Fountain. He then led Denethor to his usual table.

"This doesn't change anything between us Thorongil." He stated matter-of-factly as he seated himself across from Thorongil.

"That does not mean we cannot enjoy a drink while conversing." He took out the pipe Gandalf had leant to him and tapped it on the table leg before filling it with some pipeweed, also from Gandalf.

"I did not know you smoked," remarked Denethor masking his surprise.

"I didn't until a few weeks ago."

After a few sips of his drink and some puffs on his pipe, Thorongil engaged Denethor with his plan. They would not need many ships. Just a few would do. Build them and paint them in the fashion of the Corsairs then proceed down the Anduin and come upon them in the night and go aboard the enemy ships and set them ablaze. There would be little to no losses if all went well. Once all the ships are on fire, they would sail back to Gondor as quick as they could.

As they finished discussing details and the last if their drinks, Denethor said, "I shall speak with my father about it. However he has already made up his mind regarding the matter."

The year faded and a new year began. Ecthelion would not allow any strife with the Corsairs until there was proof. However, he had consented to the building of the ships. Much to the chagrin of her handmaiden, Finduilas married Denethor in the spring of 2976. Thorongil gave Finduilas a deep blue mantle with silver stars. To Denethor he gave a cloak lined with fur. Two more years passed. Thorongil had not seen or heard from Gandalf since that day in the tavern.

~Greetings! Well, chapter 2 is done, finally.

*Elrond's brother Elros was the first king of Númenor of whom Aragorn is descended.