Chapter 43
Minas Tirith, May the 25th, 3020
Ealith studiously avoided Amrothos' gaze.
They had been on the road for more than a month already and she couldn't remember a happier time in her whole life. Just like he had promised her, they had travelled off the beaten path and other than the general intention of journeying southwards, they had forced no schedule upon themselves. They mounted their horses in the morning with no insight where the day would lead. Many a time they had camped in the wilderness, either in the modest shelter provided by their tent or, more often than not, choosing to sleep under a vault of faraway stars. They had entered Gondor a couple of weeks earlier, crossing the Mering Stream several leagues East of the Great West Road. On the same day, they had found an abandoned village hidden deep within the wooded hills just across the border and spent hours exploring it, daring to invade what decades of abandon had transformed into a haven for wildlife. They had spent three wild days there, staying often up all night and completely foregoing wearing clothes, for they were just a nuisance when you spend half of your time fixing the damage you caused the last time you tore them off each other.
At times, Ealith still struggled to grasp the intensity of their intimacy. All it took was one look, and they were lost for hours. It was heady, intoxicating, and made her feel oh so alive!
In many ways, Amrothos was so unlike her. Where she had always been the judicious daughter, the one who had known since she was a little girl what future held in store for her and lived her life accordingly, he had instead grown in the shade of two older brothers to become the family's wild card.
Her path had always been oppressively clear. His frantically uncertain.
Until life had happened and whether by fate or chance, they now walked their journey together, so intimately wrapped around each other that there could never be walls standing between them. They knew the good and the ugly of one another, and they each loved with a vengeance the former and cared tenderly to the latter.
That day, Ealith feared it was the not so pretty side of her Amrothos would have to deal with. Earlier that morning, they had re-joined the Great West Road and under a clear blue sky, they were now catching their first glimpse of the White City. A place she had sworn never to set eyes upon again and yet there she was, spurring her horse into a fast trot, suddenly feeling like she needed to be there, she needed to do this.
She passed the Rammas Echor and dismounted some hundred yards from the city. It looked so different than she remembered. The breaches in the wall had been repaired and the Pelennor Fields were once again just that: fields. Gone were the evil armies of Mordor, gone was the death and destruction they had rained upon the men of the West.
The wind carried the laughter of a party of travellers headed for the city.
"It's like it never happened", she whispered, dropping on one knee to brush a hand on the barren soil. She had a memory of falling, of having the thick leather of her gloves pierced by a metal shard, of drops of blood joining the dark pool that soaked the ground where a horse had fallen; it had been still alive, a spear protruding from its chest, one of its rear legs bent at an unnatural angle.
Amrothos stood next to her, his knuckles brushing her cheek. Almost casually. Unintentionally. "You fought here?".
"I don't know. I thought I would remember but now that I'm here, I'm not sure. The city looked so distant that day, our foes like a black tide that pushed us relentlessly back. In my mind, I have re-lived that day a thousand times - like a part of me never left the battlefield and was condemned to linger in the grief and terror of those hours. I knew the world would move on, and yet to see it today with my own eyes makes me… I don't even know what it makes me", she confessed.
"Hurt?".
"Yes. And bitter, angry and relieved all at once. Like I want to bawl my outrage for a loss that cannot be so easily forgotten, and also cheer for how people have succeeded at putting it behind them". She stood and leaned onto him, the firm hold of his arms bringing her soul such comfort, "Where were you that day, Amrothos? I never asked".
"My father and I fought on the city walls. After Théoden King fell, we decided to launch a counterattack. We sortied from the gate and attempted to reach Éomer, but were outmatched by the Haradrim. Me and other Swan Knights were separated from the main host and pushed southwards, towards the heart of the massacre we had witnessed from the walls just moments earlier. I was right here, Ealith. The ground was a sea of green cloaks, so few of you were left standing".
"We fought side by side?".
"We may have, yes".
His body radiated a burning fury that she sought instinctively to sooth, cradling his face to her and stroking his hair.
"We could have lost so much more that day, Ealith, and wouldn't have even known to grieve for the happiness that had been stolen from us".
She swallowed the hard lump that had risen in her throat and rocked him gently. "We have spent enough time living in the past, Amrothos. Let us not dwell on what could have been and move on. Come, there's a city that awaits us".
He managed a thin smile and kissed her tenderly. "Will you ride with me, shieldmaiden?".
"Always, Swan Prince".
She let him lift her onto his saddle and leaned back, her head resting on his shoulder. For all his laid-back personality, Amrothos actually cared more than he dared to admit about chivalry and she surely wasn't one to deny his courteousness. As they made their way towards the upper levels of the city, he pointed here and there the main landmarks, surprising her with little snippets of the history of Minas Tirith – the house where a famed war hero was born a thousand years before, the dome that had been stripped of its bronze outer layers so the metal could be melted and used to craft some of the sculptures that still to this day adorned the Tower of Echtelion. "I didn't know you were a scholar!", she teased him.
"I am not", he laughed, "but on my behalf of poor old Edethor, who was given the ungrateful task of being my history tutor, I shall thank you for your compliment. To tell you the truth, lately I find myself regretting not having paid more attention to his teachings: I adore it when you lose yourself in the old tales of Rohan and drag me along with you, and I'd love to be able to do the same for you".
"You're doing just fine, trust me".
He pulled his horse in front of an elegant three storey palace. A garden stretched around it, with fruit trees and well-tended flowerbeds, some of which looked beautifully exotic. Ealith hadn't expected anything less from the residence of the Prince of Dol Amroth and immediately, she felt her nerves rattle. "You sure no one's home?".
"For the hundredth time: yes, I am sure. Father's in Dol Amroth playing grandfather; Elphir will hardly leave his wife so soon after she gave birth; and as commander of our fleet, Erchirion is rarely in Minas Tirith. We'll have the entire palace for ourselves and -".
Amrothos stopped mid-sentence. Ealith's eyes had gone wide and a faint flush coloured her cheeks. "Are you unwell?".
No sooner than he had finished speaking, he caught the crunching sound of approaching footsteps and he just knew it.
"Lady Ealith, it is an honour to welcome you to Minas Tirith!", father walked right past him to greet her, arms outstretched and a large smile on his face, "I was with the King when I spotted you approaching the city and decided to come meet you. I knew you'd be here any day now! How was your journey?".
Amrothos just couldn't help it: "What are you doing here?", he demanded to know in a vaguely high-pitched tone.
Ealith turned several shades darker. If looks could kill, he'd have died a thousand horrible deaths by now.
"Do I need permission to be in my own home?", father laughed good-naturedly. "Your cousin's busy in Ithilien and I was asked to relieve him of some of his duties. Does this satisfy your curiosity, son? Will you let me greet you now?".
Still in the process of recovering from the shock of the unexpected encounter, he stood unmoving and unspeaking in his embrace. His father didn't miss a beat however, and easily filled in for the one-sided conversation. "The staff has readied your room already and I took the liberty of asking for a little refreshment to be arranged in your quarters, just in case you are hungry but too tired to go eat elsewhere".
Amrothos didn't need to look at Ealith to know what her preferred option was. "I think we'll be happy with eating in my room".
He offered her his arm, but she took a step back. "You have not seen each other in over half year and I don't want my weariness to keep you from catching up. If someone can show me the way, I'd be happy to wait for you in your room".
Her voice was laced with confidence and thoughtfulness, but he was hardly fooled: Ealith had been fretting over meeting his family for weeks now, and likely needed a moment to pull herself together. He called for one of the maids and only dared a polite kiss of her hand before sending her on her way.
"She's going to have my head for this", he groaned after she had left.
"Is it that terrible that I'm here?".
Amrothos cast his father a guilty look: for all his shenanigans and despite the fact he had not been the easiest son to raise, his love for him had always been one of the very few certainties of his existence. He was happy to be there and didn't want him to think otherwise: "Of course not. I apologize for the awkwardness. Finding you here is an unexpected turn of events. But a most joyful one, without any doubt".
Having rarely been one to speak so candidly and affectionately, his father was understandably taken aback by his words. "You and your lady are most welcome".
"So, will you tell me who ratted me out? Was it my dear sister?".
"Don't be mad at her. She didn't tell me much, only that you and Lady Ealith would be visiting Gondor. Also, I may be mistaken, but hidden in between the lines of her letter I perceived the promise of ruthless retaliation, should I not welcome her with open arms. As if I'd ever do otherwise…".
Amrothos flung his head back and laughed. "Knowing my sister, I'm surprised she didn't make the threat explicit!".
"That's how effective she has become. She doesn't even need to say the words, that already we are cowering! Can you believe she's the same timid girl who spent her days chasing Bathor around the palace, for she found the company of a cat more agreeable than that of her peers?".
"I do, actually. You all speak of her as if she has become another person, but she has not. The timid girl is still in there and whenever she surfaces, she is all the more endearing". He let out a deep breath and turned to look at him, "The last time you met Ealith, she was betrothed to another man. She fears what you'll think of her, even though I have spent the past month trying to convince her there's nothing to worry about. Was I right to do so, father?".
"She loves him and brings him happiness. That's what your sister wrote. And while I won't deny your circumstances are… unusual, that's all I need to know. Any aspiration I had of playing matchmaker for my children, I laid it down when I almost ruined Lothíriel's chances of a happy marriage. So, to answer your question: yes, you were right, there's nothing for you to worry about. Ealith is a beautiful, intelligent, young woman, and it is a privilege to welcome her in our family".
Amrothos grasped his hand in a firm grip, the last ripples of tension leaving his body. "Thank you".
"You know, I have the distinct feeling I have lost another child to Rohan", father said, his tone wistful but joyful at the same time.
"Ealith and I haven't made any plan yet. I don't know where I'll be a year from now, only that I'll be with her".
"You'll figure it out when the time is right. Until then, may I interest you in having lunch together, or are you too eager to return to your lady to humour me any longer?".
"I'd be happy to eat with you. Besides, I think Ealith will appreciate having a moment for herself".
They walked together to the dining room, where a luncheon consisting of cold leftovers had been arranged. Amrothos was about to help himself to a trencher, when a hesitant knock had them both looking up from their plates to find Ealith standing in the doorway. She had obviously dropped the pretence that she could handle the situation with ease and was fidgeting nervously. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Lord. I just thought the way I left was inexcusably rude: I haven't even thanked you for your hospitality, nor properly greeted you".
In the time it took her to curtsy, father had already stood and closed the distance between them: "I shall forgive you at one condition", he announced with a sly grin. "That you will join us for lunch".
"I'd be honoured, Lord", Ealith gracefully accepted, taking a step towards one of the empty chairs around the table.
"You don't expect me to welcome you with such measly meal, do you? It would do for Amrothos and I, but you? I don't think so. Tell me, Lady Ealith, have you ever eaten crab?", father asked as he captured her hand and spun her out of the room, leaving her little choice but to follow him.
"There are freshwater crabs in Rohan, but they are not very big. I've tried them a few times and liked them very much".
"What about spices? The place we are going to is famous for their spicy crabs – a true delicacy!".
"Which type of spices? Pepper?".
Their voices grew progressively faint and with a chuckle, Amrothos leaped on his feet and rushed after them: with no effort whatsoever, father had managed to engage Ealith in a lively discussion about imported spices, so much she hadn't even noticed they had left him behind! He was well acquainted with the tavern he was taking her to, but then again: when it came to food and drinks, he was well-acquainted with a lot of places! This one had changed name many times during the years and last time he checked, it went as Spicy Crab – obviously, the owners lacked in imagination. It would normally be difficult to find a table at lunch time but with the day already slipping away into the early afternoon, they were promptly seated.
"How is Lord Haleth?", father inquired after one of the serving girls had taken their order.
"He is well. He won't ever admit it, but he enjoys sitting in the Council, as difficult as it can be. Peace has also brought a wealth of opportunities and we are looking into investing in new ventures".
Perceiving she wasn't willing to disclose further details and much to Amrothos' chagrin, father let the topic drop. These non-better-defined new ventures had been the one subject Ealith had maintained a great deal of secrecy about and he couldn't help but feeling mildly peeved about being left in the dark!
The arrival of the food distracted him, and he could hardly contain a laughter at the way her eyes widened when the three large crabs were placed in front of them.
"These are huge! I had no idea crabs could be this big!".
"Don't let the size fool you, Lady Ealith. They look big but there is very little meat to eat. Not only that, but you will have to work hard to get it out!", father explained, handling her a mallet and a pair of small nippers. "There's no clean way to do this, so prepare yourself to see us all covered in sauce".
With a determined expression on her face, she took the tools and set out to work, cracking the claws of her crab easier than any lady normally would. "What?", she asked when she realized he was smirking at her, "Was I supposed to ask for help to do that?".
"Most ladies would, but you are not most ladies, obviously", he teased with an unrepentant smile.
In another situation, Ealith would have had some withering words to say to him, but she could hardly scold him in front of his father. She settled for retrieving the nippers and proceeded to crush the rest of the crab in a little too brutal fashion, occasionally glancing at him through narrowed eyes. Once she was satisfied, she took a small piece of meat and dipped it cautiously in the sauce. She chewed slowly on it, then repeated the motion but this time, she went for a much more generous amount of sauce: "This is good", she convened, her cheeks quickly turning a lovely shade of pink.
"It isn't too spicy for you?".
"No, it burns only a little. I find that it adds to the taste of the crab rather than killing it".
"Excellent!", father rejoiced, starting to work on his own portion.
Amrothos was about to do the same, when he noticed Ealith had committed a terrible mistake at not pinning her hair and was now struggling to keep the strands out of her plate, without actually being able to touch them because her hands were dripping sauce. He slid out of his chair and pulled them back for her, holding them at the nape of her neck: "Do you have a band or something I can use to fix them?".
"I have some hairpins in my right pocket. Would you mind trying to get the strands at the front fixed?".
He obliged her and while the result wasn't going to go down the annals of Gondor's prettiest hairstyles, it served its purpose well and allowed Ealith to enjoy her meal without having to contend with her hair. Amrothos tried to act casual as he returned to his seat, but it was hard not to notice the blunt stares many of the other patrons were giving her, now that her scars were fully exposed.
"Ignore them". Her voice was soft, but he knew an order when he heard one.
"Somebody should teach them some manners".
"Perhaps, but that somebody is certainly not going to be you. My scars will always set me apart, Amrothos. They will always make heads turn. For most people, it's just a normal reaction. If I have made peace with it, so can you". As she spoke, she stretched a leg under the table and stroked his shin in a soothing motion.
It did not work, not one bit!
He couldn't help it; it drove him mental! He hadn't even noticed the effect Ealith's scars had on people until they had left Edoras. When he had first met her, she had been home for many weeks already and he guessed people had gotten used to her appearance. But as soon as they had stepped out of the capital, things had drastically changed: every traveller they met, every tavern they entered, blunt stares and hushed words always followed close by. The absolute worst were those who felt entitled to go as far as approaching her to offer pitiful words of encouragement. The nerve, the arrogance! The only reason he hadn't acted upon his anger, was that he knew Ealith didn't need saving. But that hardly made things more tolerable!
Amrothos scowled at the food in his plate for a moment too long and the gentle touch of her feet upon his leg turned into a sharp kick. The table jolted and there was no mistake the smile tugging at the corners of father's mouth. "I shall enjoy this", he whispered, almost too low to be heard.
Ealith's gaze moved to some of the patrons whose eyes were still lingering brazenly on her. She did not frown, nor did she smile. Her expression was carefully neutral, one eyebrow slightly arched. "May I help you, gentlemen?".
Three heads dropped hastily, eyes glued to the food in front of them.
Yes, Amrothos thought: Ealith definitely didn't need a knight in shining armour to look after her! It astounded him how much her attitude had changed in a matter of few months. Before leaving for the Eastemnet, she had been almost desperate to hide her scars. She often wore some form of headgear and if not, her hair would be braided in a way that concealed the right side of her face. Now, she no longer cared. Actually, no, that was not true: she cared; he could see it in the way she often checked herself in the mirror; or when, almost unconsciously, she started twirling a strand of hair so that her hand would cover the worse damaged areas of her face. She did it especially when in the presence of children, whose bold stares could not be blamed on rudeness even though they were just as uncomfortable for her to endure.
But for the most part, she wore her scars with pride and no longer cowered when subjected to inappropriate perusals.
Amrothos drew a deep breath and cleaned his hands. He slipped one under the table and started massaging her feet. Sitting across from him, Ealith winked at him - her way of letting him know they were all right.
"How long are you planning to stay in Minas Tirith?", father asked.
"A few days. I must arrange some meetings on behalf of Éomer King and as soon as that is taken care of, we are riding for Dol Amroth. We will be returning to Minas Tirith for Faramir's wedding, of course. Speaking of which, someone – not me, needs a dress for the occasion".
Ealith rolled her eyes and removed her feet from his grasp - at least she didn't kick him this time!
"I'm afraid there's not enough time for a custom-tailored dress", father pointed out the obvious, "but Lothíriel has left dozens of gowns in Dol Amroth. Why don't you take a look at them, Lady Ealith, and see if there's something you fancy?".
"No, I couldn't!", she hurried to say, looking so horrified it was almost comical.
Father's brows drew together. "Why not?".
"Well, because they are the Queen's dresses! Even though she left them in Dol Amroth, it doesn't mean I can go and help myself. No, Lord, it would be inappropriate".
"I've tried to reason with her before, to no avail", Amrothos answered his father's puzzled gaze.
"The only inappropriate thing is to let all those beautiful gowns collect dust, my dear. Both Gliril and Míririen are too petite to fit them – even with the intervention of a seamstress. But they would fit you perfectly and trust me, it wouldn't upset my daughter to see you wearing one of her dresses at Faramir and Éowyn's wedding".
"The Queen is taller than me".
"Of an inch. Maybe less than that. Nothing a seamstress cannot fix", father tried to reason with her.
But Ealith held her ground stubbornly. "She may want to wear them again in the future. She won't be able to do so, if someone trims the skirt!".
At that, Amrothos let out a loud snort and said what his father dared not. "The Queen no longer fits in those dresses".
His statement was met with an outraged gasp. "Amrothos!".
"What?".
"You can't say that of the Queen!".
"Perhaps. But I can say that of my sister. Besides, it was you who assumed I was calling her chubby when it was never what I had intended to say. In fact, I think the weight she's gained these past two years becomes her and that she has never looked better".
Father nodded in agreement.
"Are you calling me scrawny then?".
Amrothos' hand stopped halfway to his mouth, the mug in his hand forgotten. Good grief, why did he always manage to land himself in such sticky situations? Why had he not minded his own business and let father do the talk?
A ringing laughter startled him out of his inner monologue. "Oh my, you should see your face! I swear you just turned several shades paler!", Ealith giggled.
He looked at her, bewildered. As for his father, he once again didn't miss a beat and his expression went from slight worry to confident ease in the blink of an eye. "It's because you are in inch shorter, remember? So, even though you are roughly the same weight Lothíriel was, you are not scrawny. Nor chubby".
"Just perfect", he pitched in, eager to dig himself out of the pit he had sunk in just moments earlier.
"Ah, finally I see from whom Amrothos has inherited his charm", Ealith humoured his father.
He leaned forward and took her hand. "The charm and the good looks. Everything else – flaws specifically, I have nothing to do with".
True to their plan, Ealith and Amrothos only stayed in Minas Tirith for three days before taking the road to Pelargir and, from there, head West towards Dol Amroth. They did not rush but did not tarry either, and after a ten days' ride in the pleasant late spring weather, they entered the city from the Eastern Gate.
Just like the White City, Dol Amroth was considerably larger than Edoras. But where Minas Tirith had felt oppressive, with its narrow roads and the towering palaces perched one on top of the other, the coastal city had more of an airy vibe – something Ealith appreciated immensely. It was also stunningly beautiful, and she spent the first two days of their stay exploring its streets, inquiring about its history and pestering Amrothos with hundreds of questions.
Finally, on the third day, she capitulated to the combined effort of the entire Amrothian family and, under the watchful supervision of the royal seamstress, she tried on some of the gowns that had belonged to the Queen. She liked every single one of them, but that was hardly a surprise - Lothíriel Queen had good taste and she had luckily always shun the frilly style many Gondorian ladies seemed to appreciate.
It was Míririen who proposed she tried a dark indigo gown with a golden embroidered corset and from the very first moment she looked at her reflection in the mirror, Ealith knew she had found it: save for the skirt, which needed to be shortened, the dress hugged her figure perfectly and the colour suited her complexion.
Amrothos - who had endured the long fitting session without showing any of the signs of impatience she'd have expected from a man in his position, stood from his armchair and walked to her. He adjusted the shoulder of the dress and gave her a look of appreciation: "Just in case you'd like to have my opinion, I will say you are a vision in this dress, my dear. You'll be the envy of every lady attending the wedding. But then again: you'd easily achieve that even in dressed in dirty rags".
He gave her his most charming smile and kissed the crook of her neck, causing a wave of giggles from the maids present in the room.
Ealith would have smacked him, had she not been too busy trying to return her face to a less purple colour! She smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her skirt and at long last, she surrendered: "Fine, I will wear it".
"Splendid!", Amrothos rejoiced, "Do you mind if I leave the rest to you, ladies? I promised Elphir I'd accompany him to the harbour and it's getting late already".
"I think we can manage without his majesty's presence", Míririen commented drily. She pushed him out of the way and managed to keep a straight face while she waved him idly good-bye, only to burst into laughter once he had left the room. "Who knew Amrothos had a romantic streak!".
"He's the most gallant man I've ever met and yes, he comes with a hefty dose of spontaneous romanticism with which he likes to embarrass me at every occasion".
Míririen stepped away and let the seamstress and her two assistants do their job. It didn't take long, leaving them enjoying the rest of the afternoon in the solar, pampered by a broad selection of pastries and tea. Already during her short visit to Rohan, Ealith had come to like Erchirion's wife: she was lively and with just enough sass to keep things entertaining. She told her about calling off her wedding, she told her about her time with the herdsmen. She even told her about her return to Edoras and, most salacious details removed, what had happened between her and Amrothos.
It wasn't long until Ealith felt she was completely monopolizing the discussion. She hated to do that and so she tried to inquire Míririen about her new life in Dol Amroth, but the other woman kept dodging her questions with more of her own.
Not for the first time since she had arrived in Dol Amroth, Ealith thought something was not right with her. At first, she had tried to ignore the little concern that had taken root in her heart. After all, she didn't know Míririen well enough to judge her supposedly strange behaviour. But the more time she spent with her, the more she sensed something was off and looking at her now, she also thought she seemed to have lost weight compared to the last time they had met. After the umpteenth avoided question, Ealith decided to take the risk of passing for the nosey one: "Please don't take this the wrong way and if I'm being inopportune, then tell me as much and I won't ever speak of it again. But I have to ask: are you well?".
Míririen froze, her eyes darting quickly to the window. "Is it that obvious?", she asked after an uncomfortable silence.
"A little".
"Let's just say getting used to life as a member of the Amrothian family has proven… challenging", she admitted, sadness tarnishing her voice.
"How so?", Ealith encouraged her to continue.
"You know my family history; you know I was not born into nobility. It's true that for the most part of my life I enjoyed a comfortable way of living. But I've also always worked hard to afford it. Even before my father and my brother passed away, I helped running the family business. I'm used to being busy, to do something that is, even if only from my modest perspective, meaningful. But what am I here? And please, don't think I'm being ungrateful or that I'm regretting marrying Erchirion, for I love him with all my heart. I just feel adrift, Ealith. I spend every days caring for my mother and I feel awful for saying this, but it's eating at my every last bit of sanity".
Seeing the look of confusion on her face, Míririen clarified, "My mother is sick - has been for years now. An ailment of the mind. Her condition has worsened considerably in the last six months, to the point she no longer recognizes me. She places events that happened in the past in the present, she remembers places that don't exist. She's alive but she's not. My mother as I knew her, is gone".
Ealith fought a losing battle with the lump lodged in her throat. There were no adequate words to say and she knew it. "I'm sorry, Míririen. I did not know".
Another long, heavy silence stretched between them. Moving her chair closer, Ealith covered Míririen's hand with hers. "There would be nothing to be ashamed of, if you were to spend some of your time doing something other than tending to your mother. She wouldn't be neglected, and you would still see her every day. I'm sure she wouldn't want to see you like this either".
"And what should I do?".
"While you were in Rohan, you told us Prince Imrahil had asked you to help him dealing with the local guild".
"I tried, Ealith. I tagged along to so many meetings, and Prince Imrahil tried so hard to get me to contribute to the discussion in any way. But the people he deals with are not like those I was used to. I sat there, the eyes of all these mighty men fixed on me, waiting like vultures for the moment I'd say or do something wrong".
"You want to tell me you've never been underestimated or overlooked before?".
"I have – more times than I can count. But in the past, even if I screwed things, what was the worst thing that could happen? That I looked like an idiot? Fine, I can take that. It happened often enough. But now I feel that as Erchirion's wife, I'm speaking for this family - the Amrothian family, and I don't want to embarrass them by saying something stupid. So, I always chose to remain silent, my contribution practically null, and eventually Prince Imrahil stopped asking me to join his meetings. I can't blame him, really. He tried harder than I would have in his place. Erchirion too, but I just shut him out".
"And so, you went back to caring for your mother".
"Yes. I even…", she drew a shaky breath, "…I even talked with Erchirion about having children. He was ecstatic of course and we've been trying for months now but it just doesn't want to happen!", she shrieked – something she sensed was very unusual for her.
Ealith treaded her next words carefully. "A few months is hardly a long time, Míririen, do not despair or think it will never happen just because you haven't been successful until now. Rather, think that maybe, it is for the best".
"How so?".
"Why do you want a child?".
"Because I want something joyful to feel my days". A flash of guilt clouded Míririen's eyes. "I do wish to be a mother, Ealith. I adore spending time with Alphros and whenever I see Erchirion holding Erthriel, I just wish to give us the same joy, the same fulfilment. But I understand what you are trying to say: I should first try to find my place here, instead of hoping a child will give me that".
"Yes. Don't make the same mistake that I did: I almost married the wrong man because I refused facing the truth of my problems and somehow convinced myself they might just go away once I delivered my vows. In my blind foolishness, I've hurt people I care for and I can only hope they will forgive me one day".
"Perhaps you are right", Míririen conceded, but there was little conviction in her tone. Like she meant the words, but had no faith she'd manage to unravel her predicament.
Ealith decided some cheering up was in order and leaning closer, she whispered conspiratorially, "You know, the other day we were in Pelargir and Amrothos was haggling for a beautiful glass goblet he wanted to gift his aunt. The mighty Prince misheard the starting price the merchant proposed, reason why his counteroffer was quite a few silvers above it. You should have seen how proud he was by the end of it, for paying for a glass goblet… twice as much as initially asked!".
Míririen burst out laughing. "Why did you not tell him?".
"Because I wanted to haggle myself, but he refused and gave me the whole this is Gondor and I have to show you how things are done here speech. I'm telling you this so that when it will happen that you make yourself look like a fool, you'll just think of that happy merchant in Pelargir who will go around telling everybody how he ripped off an Amrothian Prince without him even realizing it!".
"When? Not if?".
"It's normal to make mistakes, especially at the beginning. Don't let it discourage you and remember that those in front you have likely done worse in their early days".
"I will try to keep that in mind", she promised, with more conviction this time. "I'm glad you're here, Ealith. Mayhap your stay will be longer than you had initially planned? I daresay… permanent?".
Knowing where the conversation might be headed, Ealith answered in a tone that was kind, but also brooked no argument. "I promise I will visit Dol Amroth again, but my place is in Rohan".
"Then I shall visit you. I'd love to travel to Edoras again and spend time with the Queen. Until then, may I interest you in a different kind of adventure?".
"Adventure? I'm all ears!".
"Every first day of the week, I take Alphros sailing. Care to join us tomorrow?".
"Am I expected to do any of the sailing part?".
"No. Just to sit and enjoy our little sea escapade".
"Well then, count me in!".
Dawn broke on a clear sky the following day, and with a strong gale battering the ships docked in the port. Ealith had thought the conditions wouldn't allow for safe sailing – especially considering they'd have a child on board, but when she had broached the subject during breakfast, everyone had assured her the wind would soon calm down. Time proved them right and already by mid-morning, the waters of the Bay of Belfalas appeared smoother and much more appealing.
After a light lunch, Míririen led her and Alphros down a steep tunnel that, much to Ealith's surprise, emerged at a small rocky beach some hundred feet beneath the palace. Moored to a narrow dock was a sleek skiff that, even to her inexpert eyes, held the promise of a fast ride. Míririen instructed them to sit at the bow and with quick, practiced movements, she released the moorings and set them sailing. They gained speed fast, cold sprays of water dampening the back of her tunic and causing an involuntary shiver.
"Don't be afraid, Lady Ealith", Alphros reassured her holding her hand, "I won't let you fall overboard!".
Adorable. The child was just adorable! "Thank you, Alphros. I feel much safer knowing you are watching over me".
He gave her a toothy grin, one that reminded her of Amrothos in his cheekiest moments. "Is it all right for you if we go faster?".
"Only if you promise you'll stay by my side".
"I will", he vowed with a solemn nod, his unruly black hair fluttering wildly around his head. Turning to Míririen, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Faster, captain!".
"Full sails ahead!", she shot back and soon they were all but flying across the bay on an imaginary winding road. Left and right, left and right, Míririen kept the rhythm, until both her passengers were laughing almost hysterically.
This is so much fun!, Ealith thought, when all of a sudden something caught her eye. She leaned fast overboard and shrieked in surprise: "Look! Are those…".
"Dolphins!", Alphros howled.
Ealith stared at them in childish wonder. There must have been at least five of them, swimming fast just below the skiff and occasionally surfacing at the sides. "What are they doing?".
"Right now, they are just being playful. With fishboats, they like to snatch a fish or two out of their nets", Míririen explained.
"Do you often encounter them?".
"Sometimes. It's the first time this year, so you should consider yourself lucky!".
"They are so beautiful, so graceful! Are they dangerous?".
"Dolphins? No. In fact, last year Erchirion and I got to swim amongst them".
"Really? Where?".
"Off the coast of a small island, about two hours' sail from here. We did not see them until we jumped in the water. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid at first. But Erchirion assured me it was perfectly safe and it turned into the experience of a lifetime!".
Ealith was tempted to ask whether she could take a swim herself, but with Alphros on board she didn't know if it was a wise idea. He'd likely ask to follow her, and she wasn't too confident about letting him swim in such deep waters – and with dolphins around to boot. But she'd ask Amrothos – no, she'd demand he take her swimming with them! Actually, she was first going to lecture him for failing to inform her such thing was even possible in the first place! Unforgivable, really.
Just then one of the dolphins jumped out of the water and made a full turn in the air, pulling a startled gasp out of her. "Did you see that?".
It did it again, only this time instead of flipping, it twirled and splashed back. The show continued for several minutes and Ealith was unable to contain her excitement: she clapped and laughed, even tried several times to stretch an arm in the water but no dolphin ever came within touching distance.
After the last one had eventually swum away, Míririen struck the sails, letting them float peacefully over waters of the deepest blue.
"What other animals are here?", Ealith inquired, "Sharks?".
"Yes, though I've never seen them this close to the shore".
"What else?".
"Erchirion has seen whales a few times".
"And father saw a killer whale once!", Alphros declared pridefully.
"What's a killer whale?".
"Like a very big shark, but black and white".
"Actually, they're more similar to dolphins", Míririen corrected him gently, "like them they have a blowhole and they are akin in shape, though killer whales have shorter beaks. But Alphros is right in that like sharks, killer whales are formidable hunters. I've actually heard of fishermen who witnessed them killing sharks, but I don't know if it's true. We have books in the library with beautiful drawings of marine animals. I can show them to you when we get back, if you'd like".
"I'd love to", she spoke sincerely.
Míririen provided them with a flask of water and a slice of apple pie, which they eagerly wolfed down. Ealith wouldn't have minded taking a little nap lulled by the waves of the bay, but Alphros was restless and insisted they sail some more. "All right", his aunt conceded, "we'll sail a little further. But only until those cliffs. You know we're not allowed to get out of sight of your father's watchmen".
She raised the sails and returned to her seat, gesturing for them to do the same. Just as she was turning them around, a booming sound had them looking back towards the palace. Some thousand feet behind them, two large ships had collided in a burst of crooked wood and failing masts. How they had managed, Ealith could not say: there weren't that many vessels in that part of the bay and in broad daylight, it should have been easy enough to avoid one another! Even more disconcerting was the thick black smoke that was rising fast from the shipwreck, the wind nudging it towards the palace until it was completely engulfed. She tightened her hold on Alphros and turned to look at Míririen, only to find her as shocked as she was.
The silence stretched, until the young Prince had the good sense of suggesting, "Shouldn't we return home?".
"I think you are right", Ealith agreed, "please take us back, Míririen". When no answer came, she looked at the other woman and found her staring in a completely different direction, a frown marring her features. She followed her gaze to a third ship, smaller than the other two, with a tapered haul and full brown sails. "Míririen?".
"I-I… yes, yes we should go back".
"What is it?", she asked, an unpleasant feeling making the hairs at the nape of her neck stand up.
"I'm not sure".
"Why are you staring at that ship?".
"It's just… it was sailing southwards but as soon as the smoke rose high enough, I noticed it veering sharply towards us. And that type of ship, there aren't many like it. I though they all belonged to the Amrothian fleet, but this one clearly doesn't".
Ealith studied it attentively. It was closing in fast and had manoeuvred itself in a way that it now stood between them and the palace, effectively cutting their retreat. She had no idea what the sea law said but she was fairly sure that in such circumstances, nearby vessels are expected to go to the aid of those in distress and not sprint the other way. In her arms, Alphros was clenching and unclenching her tunic.
"What do your guts tell you?", she asked Míririen.
"That it is not right. That ships don't just collide and burst into flames. That that one, shouldn't be coming at us".
Ealith could see she was scared and tried to coax her into action: "How can we keep it from coming too close?".
Míririen turned northwards, her eyes darting back and forth between the cliffs and the quickly approaching vessel. "The watchmen will be distracted, and the smoke is likely making it impossible for them to see us. I can't get us back, but north of here the coast is ragged: miles and miles of cliffs and sharp stones lying just beneath the surface. We are small, light, our keel is barely a dent in the water: I can sail us around the rocks, while the other ship won't be able to follow us. But that will only buy us some time".
"Hopefully enough for the people at the palace to notice we are missing and send out a search party. Do it, Míririen". Looking at the young Prince, she tried to sound calm but also firm at the same time: "I want you to lie down and do exactly as we say. Can you do that for me, Alphros?".
He gave her a little nod and curled at her feet. Despite being scared by the unexpected turn of events, he was pulling a brave face.
Míririen set them sailing at full speed away from the palace. Their pursuers were still gaining on them, but not rapidly enough to catch them before they reached the cliffs. "You think he is the target?".
"It seems the most reasonable explanation why someone would go to so much trouble. Was your sailing schedule a regular one?".
"Yes".
"And you have never noticed anything strange before?".
"No. I never venture far when Alphros is with me".
The stretch of coast Míririen had spoken of lied just across the bay. While the cliffs on which the palace of Dol Amroth had been built were made of white stone, here the predominant colour was a dull brown. The submerged rocks were not so easily spotted and seeing the maze stretching in front of them, Ealith could only hope her friend knew what she was doing. More than once she found herself gripping tight the gunwale and expecting the skiff to be knocked at any moment, but Míririen was proving her skills and managed to keep them on a safe path. Her eyes never strayed from the water though, and her forehead was beaded with sweat, proof of how challenging the task at hand was.
Behind them, the other ship had been forced to circumnavigate the most perilous stretch of coast and was now sailing some thousand feet to their left, their bows almost aligned. "How large crew does such ship require?".
"Fifteen at least. Likely more".
Ealith bit back a curse and glanced behind them. The palace was still embroiled in smoke and soon, they'd be completely out of sight. "Can you turn us around and sail back and forth without taking us too far?".
"There isn't enough space here, the rocks are just too close!". Míririen's voice was quivering, panic slowly creeping up on her.
"What happens if we stop and wait? Can they get to us somehow?".
"Yes, they surely have a small rowboat".
"We go ahead then. Until we keep moving, we are safe". She stressed the last word and tried to sound encouraging, because if Míririen lost her nerve, they were doomed.
Over the course of the following hours, very little changed. Their perilous sailing continued; the stranger ship kept up the chase; and the sea behind them remained disturbingly empty. The only thing that differed as the sun dived into the horizon, was the light. And with it, their chances to keep their pursuers at bay. "What can we do once night falls?".
"We'll have to stop. Not doing so would be suicide".
A rock had already nipped the side of their skiff some time earlier, giving Ealith just an idea of how dangerous it would be to bump straight ahead into a larger one. They could not sail but they could not stop either, which left them with only one possibility: "We need to land and return to Dol Amroth on foot".
"We're at least a day away, what chances do we have?".
"Slim, but still better than staying here and wait for them to come get us. And won't it be difficult for them to land anyway?".
"Difficult but not impossible".
"Then we take our chances and run. Sail for as long as you can before you take us to the beach, Míririen. Fleeing in the dark is difficult. But reading tracks is even worse".
For the first time in hours, Alphros stirred at her feet. "Can I see where we are, Lady Ealith?".
"Let him", Míririen hurried to say before she could deny him, "he has sailed many times along this coast together with his father. He knows it better than I do".
Ealith reluctantly agreed and allowed him to take a peek. He was silent at first, brow furrowed in deep concentration. The light was quickly fading and there were no landmarks or settlements. And yet, unexpectedly, he jolted and pointed a finger ahead: "I recognize that river! It's called Malartham Rill!".
She squeezed her eyes and sure enough, there was a streamlet flowing into the sea not too far ahead. Alphros seemed to sense her scepticism and grabbed her hand, started shaking it vigorously: "I am sure, Lady Ealith! I recognize those hills, I told father they looked like a sleeping giant: look, there is the head, and there is the belly!".
She didn't know whether it was because she wanted to trust the hope, but she did really see the giant! "Are there settlements nearby?".
"No. But there's an outpost!".
Míririen jumped on her feet, but Ealith waved her to sit back. They needed to think this through. "Tell me about this outpost, Alphros".
"They built it last autumn, father said they called it Malartham Stockade because it's built along the river, under the sleeping giant".
Ealith tried to judge the distance between the shore and the hills. Ten miles? Probably less. It was a hard call to make, to trust the memory of a child or risk the way to Dol Amroth. "What do you think, Míririen?".
"I don't know of this place, but it is true that after the war, many outposts were built. And Alphros has good memory, he's proved it to me countless times while sailing together and his tutors would agree too. If he says there's an outpost, I think we should heed his words".
What a bloody mess, Amrothos cursed. He had been helping to put out the flames for the past two hours and while the situation showed signs of improvement, it was far from contained. A load of resin and quicklime – which he knew was expected to arrive at the harbour any day now, was pretty much the only thing that could explain that raging inferno. By a twist of fate, not only a most unlikely accident had happened, but the two ships involved hadn't sunk after the collision. They were damaged beyond repair but stayed tenaciously afloat, allowing the fire to continue and forcing them to a monumental effort against it.
At least it appeared there hadn't been any casualty, which in itself was a small miracle!
Above the sizzling and snapping sounds of the flames, loud cracks could occasionally be heard, keeping their hopes high that one of the ships would finally collapse and drag the other at the bottom of the sea. Finally, and just when Amrothos was starting to think it would ever happen, the foremast of the larger of the two vessels came crashing down, cutting through the charred wood of the haul and causing a breach large enough to doom the wrecks.
After hours of battling, the end was surprisingly quick, leaving behind five exhausted crews and a tide of debris as far as the eye could see.
With the situation now finally under control, Amrothos ordered his ship to return to the harbour's main peer. There, he was joined by Elphir and Erchirion, who had been aboard another ship. They were all in filthy conditions, their faces coated in a thick layer of soot. "Quite the day", he commented as they headed towards the palace.
Erchirion answered with a grunt. Elphir did not answer at all, his mind likely racing on what he should do next. He was probably going to interrogate the crews and try to find out what had happened.
As they entered the palace and started heading each his own way, the door that led to his eldest brother's private apartments banged open and a frantic Gliril barged in: "I can't find Alphros!", she cried, visibly agitated, "I just returned from visiting my sister and I can't find him!".
"He went sailing with Míririen and Ealith, but they came back a while ago already. He probably dragged them somewhere to see the ships burning", Elphir reasoned.
"Your squire told me the same thing. I sent him to the palace docks to check and he just returned, saying there's a skiff moored there but it isn't Míririen's. It's similar, but it's not hers. I think they never returned!".
In the silence that followed, you could have heard a pin drop. A moment later, they were all running in different directions. Amrothos rushed to his room, checked the ensuite privy, then dropped by the stables to find Ealith's stallion grazing on fresh fodder. He returned to the hall at the same time his brothers did and knew right away their search had not been fruitful either. "Who told you they had returned?", he pressed Elphir.
"The two watchmen on duty".
"Your squire said the skiffs would look alike from a distance", Gliril insisted and suddenly, the eventuality that the unlikely accident that had taken place in front of the palace was, in fact, no accident at all, became a cumbersome thought looming heavily over their heads.
With a roar, Elphir took off towards the House of Healing, where the crews of the two involved vessels, all of whom had reported minor injuries, had been taken to. But upon arriving, they were greeted with an unwelcome surprise: "What do you mean they are gone?".
Confronted with his brother's wrath, the master healer shrunk. "My Lord, the men only reported superficial bruises. We gave them some ointments and when they asked to be dismissed, we saw no reason to hold them here".
"When did they leave? Can you describe them to us?".
"They left almost as soon as they brought them here, three hours ago at least. There were four of them. Two were brothers, I believe. The other…".
"Four men? I thought both crews had been brought here?".
"They have, Lord", his brother's second in command pitched in, "I received reports from two of our ships about rescuing men, but none specified how many. Only that they had confirmed all their crewmates had managed to escape and that they needed the attention of a healer".
"Four people manoeuvring two ships of that size? Impossible".
"No, it's not", Amrothos dissented, a sick feeling rising in his throat, "one ship was likely anchored and empty. The other was manned with four men, which is not enough for proper sailing, but still plenty to set it at full speed against a stationary target. They jumped overboard before the collision and, in the chaos that followed, nobody noticed we hadn't rescued enough men to account for two full crews. Meanwhile, someone sailed a skiff to our docks to make it look like Ealith, Alphros and Míririen were back. The whole accident was naught but a sophisticated diversion…".
One they had all fell for, he thought bitterly.
Their eyes turned to the sea. The summer solstice was just around the corner, the days had gotten long and the nights short. They still had time until sunset, but it was woefully clear that whoever had taken their beloved ones was hours ahead of them, and they had no leads as to where they were taking them.
Amrothos touched the leather bracer Ealith had given him, a silent scream ricocheting inside of him. If something were to happen to her, he…
No, he thought, and gave himself a mental shake. Nothing was going to happen to Ealith, Míririen and Alphros. Nothing was going to happen, because they were going to find them if it was the last thing they did. And until then, Ealith would fight like a damn lioness to keep everyone safe!
Alphros sniffled quietly over her shoulder and for the hundredth time in the past hour or so, Ealith cursed herself for being so inattentive. She had been so taken with abandoning the skiff and covering their tracks, that she hadn't noticed he wore no shoes until he had started limping, the soles of his feet covered in blisters and small cuts. And still he had refused complaining, still he had insisted he could walk on his own, in the end crying not because he was hurt, but out of fear that he was slowing them down.
"I'm a big girl, you know? I can barely feel your weight", she reassured him. They were exhausted and famished. Plenty of adults would have whined in his place, yet Alphros just clung on her back, quiet as a mouse.
"Let me carry him for a while, Ealith", Míririen offered. She was shivering, her light clothes inadequate for the night cold.
"There's no need, really. Besides, he's keeping my back nicely warm", she tried to lighten the mood. Which really was pointless, if not inappropriate, given their predicament.
After they had landed and before the woods had closed in around them, they had seen their pursuers first coming to halt, and then raise their sails to cruise fast southwards. Míririen had speculated there may have been something akin a natural barrier of half-submerged rocks that made it impossible for even a smaller boat to reach land safely, thus forcing them to go look for a better place to disembark their men. In all likelihood, they had also assumed they would be trying to flee back towards Dol Amroth and hoped in this way to intercept them.
With some luck, it would take them long enough to realize they were headed elsewhere.
The way to the outpost was more difficult than she had anticipated. She had hoped they'd come across a trail that would make their advance easier and reassure them there was indeed a garrison ahead of them, but this part of Gondor was as wild as it got. With the stream being their only guidance and unwilling to risk lighting a torch out of fear of being spotted, pushing forward was a strenuous exercise of stepping blindly from one slippery stone to the next.
Don't fall. Don't twist your uncle. Don't make any loud noises. Hear out for any signs of approaching pursuers.
Ealith's mind drifted to Amrothos. Their absence had surely been noted by now. But if no one had reached them in time, then it could only mean one thing: the watchmen had not seen them sailing North and they had no idea where to search for them. Her Prince was going to be sick with worry. Angry. And at some point, he was going to find a way to blame himself for letting such thing happen in the first place.
He could be so hard on himself at times.
Ahead of her, Míririen stopped to catch her breath. "If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would have happened, Ealith", she said with a forlorn sigh. "Actually, I do know: I'd have watched the ship approaching and done nothing, despite knowing something was wrong".
"Then we make a good team because if I had been alone, I wouldn't have known how to get us away".
"That's hardly the same thing. You were raised on horses, not ships. No one expects you to know how to sail. Me on the other hand, if I feel responsible enough to take Alphros sailing with me, then I should also be able to… to… to think! To think and act!".
"You are a fighter but not a soldier, Míririen. You never had to learn to keep your mind sharp under even the most urgent circumstances, for your life depends upon it. I'd consider it a good thing, if I were you".
"You were always a shieldmaiden, Lady Ealith? Also before the war?", Alphros asked.
"Aye, I've trained as one since I was a little girl. I was never on regular duty, nor was I ever part of an Eored. But whenever my father joined a patrol, I'd always go with him. It didn't happen too often though, for he was the King's Doorward and his place was in Meduseld".
"Is he there now? With uncle Éomer?".
"No, Alphros. Sadly, he died during the war".
"Oh, I'm sorry, Lady Ealith". He leveraged on his legs to press a little peck on her cheek.
It got a smile out of her and Míririen. Silently, they resumed their walk. Passing clouds occasionally hid the moon, making it impossible to gauge how far they had made it, and how distant the hills ahead lay. A sense of urgency quickened their steps, like the more time passed by, the more distinctly they could feel their pursuers' breath rasp their necks.
Had they found their tracks? Did they know about the outpost? Were they converging there? How far behind them were they?
When she heard Míririen gasping, Ealith braced herself for the worse, for facing more foes than she could hold off, alone and unarmed. She scanned the ground in search of a weapon – a stick, a stone. Anything! She gripped Alphros legs, secured them more firmly around her waist, and…
"Look, we made it!".
She snapped around, eyes wide, almost not believing what she could see just across the river. Lights. Soldiers bearing the Amrothian colours. Horses. An outpost! Much smaller than she had expected it to be and still largely under construction, but an outpost nonetheless!
Míririen grasped her hand, her eyes teary, a bright smile on her face. "We made it!", she cried again.
But as they waded the Malartham shallow waters, Ealith couldn't help but glancing often over her shoulder, an unwelcome, grave foreboding growing in her chest. We made it!, she told herself, over and over again.
And yet, in her heart, she refused to trust those sweet, sweet words.
Author's notes: since the chapter sort of ended in a cliff-hanger, I think I'd rather keep the notes to myself :)
Rho67: awww thank you! Lol I don't know why you picture him blond, I assure you he has raven hair in my head!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: thank you!
Catspector: very true! It seemed unlikely to me that Ealith would go to Amrothos right after calling off her wedding, but eventually the feelings they had for one another pulled them back together. As for Éomer, he's likely in for a long battle with his advisors!
pzacharatos: thank you!