The ponies trod on steadily. They were not as fast as horses, but they seemed to tire less and could go on for quite a distance. Not that they ever tested this, since they would stop regularly to give the children and Lola a rest!
And on the occasions when Thorongil or Dwalin took a rest in the wagon, she would take the reins. This meant that their progress was still slower.
This morning was one of those mornings.
But the sun was certainly out, and the road was not so bumpy, which made it quite pleasant really.
"My lady, we can stop for lunch in a few hours..." Thorongil quietly stepped to the front to take a seat beside her.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Everyone else is asleep in there. Your steering is most smooth," he chuckled.
"Oh well, the trick is to go at just a smidge over snails pace- I could tech you?" She laughed out loud before glancing over her shoulder and realizing the problem.
Dwalin was in a deep sleep and snoring away. In fact Thorongil often volunteered to keep watch when Dwalin slept for that very reason, even if it meant taking an extra watch!
They carried on in silence for some time before she found he turned to her apparently about to ask a question, and then seemed to remain silent instead.
"You must think I am mad, putting my children through all this difficulty and danger..." She sighed.
He remained quiet for a few moments thinking and then spoke.
"I think you feel compelled to make this journey, and no mother would leave her children when they are this young," he offered. "I do not believe you have a choice in this..."
They rode on silently again for a while.
"But I wish to know where your land is?" He finally asked.
She had not made it clear about this when she had spoken about her intentions. In fact she was still not sure that Balin or Dwalin entirely believed her, despite having spoken about it with Thorin so many times.
"It is a land far beyond these shores..." She attempted, giving him a sidelong glance. He was her only hope of convincing the steward of Gondor to allow her to the pool as well as getting her there safely - the last thing she needed was to convince him that she was entirely mad!
"And yet you know my true identify..." He met her sidelong glance with his own. "A secret that has been guarded by only my closest kin. And you are no elf..."
He leant back in his seat, with a rather majestic smugness, that even seemed to elude the most majestic male that she had met in Middle Earth!
"I am not sure whether I should feel insulted by that?!" She grinned at the road ahead silently again.
"And you have told me so many times to fight for the lady I love... And yet that is a secret even to her at the moment!"
"Wow! I thought that you had already done that!" She tutted at him. "So did you tell her that you thought she was as beautiful as Luthien...?"
This time he seemed to stiffen and his jaw dropped.
"This is some sort of enchantment...or sorcery that you are casting!"
She turned to glance at him again, as his face appeared to have heated up into a more reddish hue.
"Aw! You literally met her for second time while we were just in Lorien?!" She almost squealed excited. Apparently her involvement was indeed shaping their love story, since it took him there to cross paths with her! And then another glance at his face told her more. "You finally spoke to her..."
Thorongil nodded quietly with a faraway look in his eyes.
"But you evade the question my lady! How is it that you know so much...?" He pressed again.
She thought for a little again.
"If I tell you everything..." She replied at last, determined to be cautious about how much she would share about the future. "There is a chance that you will think I have lost my sanity..."
"Just as I have pledged an oath to protect you and your family. I shall give you my word on this also," he reassured solemnly.
"Well...I guess let's start at the beginning about how I met Thorin..." She sighed, feeling the sting of her own words at the mention of the love that she had left behind. "And I should warn you that this will sound unbelievable..."
They had plod on while she explained how she met Thorin, and how she had the Hobbit and attempted to use this knowledge to save the line of Durin. To her surprise he had listened with much curiosity and little scepticism. She had also told him of the valar and their intervention, and finally of Ulmo and Arun. Eventually she had confessed that her secret about Arun and Ulmo had led to Thorin distancing himself from her.
He fell into silent thought for a while, as she braced herself for judgement.
"But you were not on love with the Vala?"
"Well...I initially didn't even believe it until Arun began to show signs of his gifts...after all I would only ever meet him in my dreams." She explained quietly. "But I think perhaps I may have now fallen in love with him..."
"I can understand Thorins jealousy, although you did nothing wrong," he gave a slight knowing smile. "In fact I fear for the repercussions should we ever meet him now on our travels, for he would surely believe that I had encouraged you to run away with me."
"Do you think he is even that worried?" She wondered out loud what she had been thinking all along. It was something of a mixed blessing if he did not care, since it would vindicate her decision to return home.
"He would not have become angered at the possibility that you might have developed feelings for King of the Seas," he looked out into the distance along the road. "Unfortunately we male folk are not so good at saying the words we wish to say..."
The admission and its relevance to a certain other elven beauty made her chuckle.
"But now you have fallen in love with the god, you have a greater problem..."
"Maybe, but I am focussed on getting home."
"Even though you said that Sauron returns?" He was quieter with his words this time, as though even the wind might be listening.
"Yes...about that..." She wanted to tell him so much, but it was his journey to take. "In about forty years from now, his one ring is found again...and many great leaders will be called upon to help destroy it."
"When Isildur should have destroyed it long ago -" his words were wracked with guilt.
"You do not carry any of his guilt. And you have no bearing to him," she patted his arm. He had seemed so lost when she met him some months ago. "Trust your heart, and your instincts. The attack by the wild men - I am sure Saruman has something to do with it. And he will keep you all busy while he searches for it himself. I know Gandalf wants nothing to do with what I say, but you had your own suspicions."
She glanced over to find him lost in thought again. He was clearly fighting his self doubt, and needed time to come to terms with this.
"Please believe me because I don't know whether I will live that long even if I stay. But you will take your rightful place on the throne of Gondor again - as Aragorn Elessar...You just have to believe in yourself."
He didn't reply to her words, but there was a clear change in his demeanor. Of course nothing she said to him would turn him into the Aragorn to come in five minutes. But this was a start.
"Your home land, must have knowledge of foresight...? For you know these things to come with such conviction..." He seemed to deduce himself. "Did the valar bring you here to aid in things to come...?"
"I don't know. But I think I have done what I needed to. And honestly, unlike Thorin, you will succeed, so long as you believe in yourself to do the right thing."
He nodded in silence, as though they were the words he had been waiting to hear all along.
The silence did seem rather odd in that moment, filled only by the quiet plodding of the ponies. Strangely it was almost as though even the birdsong had stopped.
And then he suddenly looked around him, as if he was noticing something. But rather than it making a milestone along their journey as he had done in the past, it seemed to put him on edge.
"My lady, we have now crossed into Gondor..."
...
The final journey through Anorien, towards Minas Tririth had been eerie. It was not quite the 'land of free men' as she expected.
She could also see in the distance the looming and dark Mountains of Shadow that formed the boundary of Mordor. While apparently they had enjoyed peace for some time, the landscape still remained an ominous reminder of what had gone on in the past and what was to come. It was also frighteningly close to Minas Tirith.
Thorongil had taken the reins and instructed that she wake up Dwalin and Lola, and everyone was to be armed immediately and remain vigilant now until they reached the white city.
He had also gone on to instruct her, Lola and Dwalin regarding what they might reveal and speak of during their audience with Ecthelion, the Steward of Gondor.
Finally, after a hard day's ride they had reached the great gates of the White City - although it was less impressive towards the close of the day.
The guards that had stood in front seemed to wave them through without hesitation.
And finally Thorongil had brought the caravan to a halt a little further in.
"My Lord Thorongil, Lord Ecthelion is expecting you..." He turned and saluted her and the other as they all got down from the wagon carefully. "And we welcome the Queen Consort of Erebor and your family. I am Captain Dior, I shall escort you up to the Citadel..."
Captain Dior was a tall man. Perhaps not as tall as Thorongil. He had warm brown eyes and chestnut hair with a short cropped beard and a muscular build which could only come from years of fighting with heavy armour. It made her wonder what threats Gondor continued to face, even when there was none active from Mordor.
He didn't wear any armour but he appeared to be wearing chain mail beneath his rich velvet overcoat, like many of the male folk seemed to.
The children gathered around her, the boys standing in front, proudly with their hands resting on the pommels of their sheathed swords which reminded her of Thorin. She picked up Seraeya into her arms, the little girl shyly smiling at the Knight, who flashed her a genuine smile, apparently unable to resist her charms!
"It is late, so we have arranged for supper, and we will then take you to your rooms to rest. Lord Ecthelion will check on you himself at supper, for he is keen to meet you all," Dior smiled. "But we still have a slight journey up to the Citadel."
He gestured up. And as they all followed his gaze they could see walk after wall further up the mountain with all the many smaller buildings and walls, now all lit up with various lamps and torches in tiers, almost like an enormous Christmas tree!
What's more they were starting to gather a crowd of people who were watching eagerly. Some faces were openly smiling at them while others were simply curious.
"It is a short ride. But do not worry, we will take you up on our horses, and carefully," he smiled again looking at the children, and giving Seraeya a little wink before lowering his voice. "You will also have to forgive our people, your majesty, it is not every day that we have a visit from royalty...and there have been many stories that have reached us about you..."
She was surprised by this, having entirely expected to be very much anonymous on her arrival.
"And not to worry we will have your cases brought up also, and the ponies will be taken to the stables for food and rest."
"Thank you, Captain Dior, we are very grateful."
It was all she could manage to say as she followed him, with Thorongil, Lola and Dwalin close behind.
...
Lana leant on Thorins chest and tiptoed up to kiss him. Her soft lips touching his for the briefest time.
In that moment, all he could see was HER face and think of HER lips and it made him feel utter disgust towards this poor dam. He did wonder momentarily whether kissing Lana would dispel the ghost of his One from haunting him forever.
But instead he pulled his face away.
It didn't matter, he had no feelings for Lana other than pity now. And it only made him more determined now that he would find her.
"I am sorry if at any time I offered you false hope. But I cannot give you what you seek," he held her arms to steady her and stepped away completely.
She blinked up at him, initially surprised by his reaction.
"Is this why Aida behaved as she had...?" He asked her gently, still not letting go of her arms, so that she was forced to keep looking at him but at the same time aware that she would not be subject to reprisal. He had spent a lifetime navigating various plots and schemes to entrap him into marriages and affairs. "Lana...?"
But she didn't speak. Instead she pulled herself out of his grip, her face contorting into something more stern.
"You, invite me into your study, Sire, unclothed and late in the evening...after sending your Consort and family away," she sounded angered. "It is frankly most improper behaviour for a King!"
"And yet you barge in here without asking for my permission, interrupting my work, and casting allegations," he stepped back, his warnings were stern enough to make her step back. "Do you know it is a punishable offence to seek an audience with the King under the Mountain without proper conduct. It is fortunate for you that I am far more merciful than my grandfather who would have summoned the guards to have you escorted to the dungeons by now..."
Lana's face was now completely reddened with anger. She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it, taking several steps back towards the door.
"And what about justice for Lady Aida?! And the harm that has come to her!" Lana attempted again, still fuming. She had been certain that she had gained his confidence and sympathetic ear over the last few weeks with his wife out of the way.
Thorin who had returned to his desk with the hopes of looking for a spare tunic, turned back to look at her for a moment. His face was calm despite the irritation he felt.
Moving away from his desk he began to walk towards her again.
"You can tell Aida that if she wishes for justice, I can arrange for her to drink tea with water hemlock, just as she attempted with my wife?" He moved closer to her. "You can also let her know that I shall arrange for a caravan to take her back to the Iron Hills, where she will feel better taken care of. And should I hear that you have been attempting to trouble my nephews or any of my advisors hereafter, I shall make sure that you find yourself on an escorted journey back yourself."
He moved past her, now very much shocked, and opened the door for her, gesturing for her exit and leaving her with only one option.
She was clearly a dam that was well versed with dramatic exits, as true to form she turned on her heels and stormed off in a flurry of swishy material!
The guards outside looked at him questioningly, apparently they took had been expecting him to bed her in his study that evening.
The lady came by earlier demanding to know where you were, Sire. Although I wouldn't call her a Lady. The younger guard signed at him.
She not pretty enough Sire..? Course she ain't the Queen but still not bad looking... The older guard signed at him.
Thorin suppressed a wry smile. He had known his guards for many years now, and they all had a rather excellent sense of humor. It was a character that she had particularly loved about them.
Not interested. But follow her and let me know who she visits tonight?
The younger guard nodded, slipping away quietly.
...