Chapter 16: Unexpected Visitors

"You are free to stay in the barracks for as long as you require. If you wish to relocate to a tent or construct a permanent residence, Tindómëon or Ontamo can assist you." Galadriel looked around at the small group of refugees as she completed the familiar instructions. This was the fourth group that had arrived from Pelargir since the flood. The men settled themselves onto nearby beds, as stony in their gratitude as they had been in every situation since she'd met them. She sighed heavily as she left the building.

The slowly warming wind picked up strands of her hair as Galadriel walked back across the grass to the palace. Over two dozen men and women of Pelargir now made their homes alongside the Southlanders. They were courteous guests, to a point, but their distaste for living among Southlanders was apparent in every spurned overture.

Back inside the palace, Halbrand was settled at his table, a large map of the surrounding region spread before him. He glanced up when she entered. "Are they settled in?"

"So far as they are willing."

Halbrand grimaced. "Of course. Have any of them confirmed the plans for Pelargir? Will the city be rebuilt in full or are they planning to start a new settlement?"

Galadriel groaned. "I assumed they were more likely to speak with me since the men of Pelargir are known elf-friends among the Númenóreans, but they have not breathed a word beyond affirmations of understanding and the odd expression of reluctant gratitude. If these are the handful who were willing to accept aid, I do not believe we can consider the people of Pelargir friendly, much less potential allies."

Halbrand sighed and dropped his pen, leaning back in his chair instead. "I had hoped this experience would soften their stance toward us. That perhaps we might live and work in community with one another. Unless something changes, I do not think we can maintain that optimism."

"So you will encourage them to settle further away from us? Along the coast to the south perhaps?"

Halbrand hummed thoughtfully, eyes still fixed on the rafters above him. "I don't know, but I don't believe we'll be able to reason with them without firm news from the west."

Galadriel settled in the seat beside him. "With the small fleet at Pelargir destroyed in the harbor, it may be some time yet before we have any information at all."

Another tortured sigh was the only response.

The next morning, Arondir strode into the palace early with Bronwyn at his side while Galadriel and Halbrand broke their fast. "Lord Halbrand, General Galadriel, the southern watchmen report another band coming up from the south. This one appears larger than the last."

Galadriel looked at them quizzically. "Another? We usually get only one group a week and the last arrived yesterday."

Arondir was impassive. "I thought it was odd, so I came to report. We will not know more until they arrive."

Halbrand nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. Thank you for the warning, and let the watchmen know to bring them straight here once they arrive."

"Will you both be joining us? There is plenty of bread to share."

Bronwyn squeezed Arondir's hand before stepping forward. "No, my lady. We already ate and were headed out to look for herbs at the riverbank when we spoke to the watchmen. I wanted to pass the message to you both first. We must be off before it grows too warm."

Halbrand dismissed them and Galadriel smiled as she watched them depart. There was silence for a moment before Galadriel turned back to her companion. "Do you have any ideas?"

Halbrand glanced at her before turning back to his meal. "Several, but I am not nearly confident enough to raise them. We must ensure there are beds and food for what may be another full dozen refugees. Besides that, all we can do is wait."

So passed the remainder of the morning. Preparations were completed and gave way to waiting. Her curiosity roused, Galadriel eschewed her other usual activities and sat in the palace, working through city logistics with Halbrand.

When the door finally swung open, Galadriel shot to her feet, dizzy with relief at the sight before her.

Elendil strode into the room, back straight despite the air of weariness about him and his companions. Galadriel cut a quick glance at Halbrand who nodded at her, smiling, before she rushed forward to greet her friend.

"Thank the Valar, you live. What has happened? We have theories, but there was no news, and the flood was so sudden."

Elendil grimaced. "Unfortunately, my lady, I have no answers for you, though I too have theories. We left the port at Armenolos two moons ago in the dead of night. Pharazôn was nigh possessed. His paranoia had grown profound, and he was breaking from every remaining stricture of the Valar. He erected a new temple where he built fires and burned offerings to names unknown, and he amassed a great navy, though I cannot be sure of its purpose. However, when we learned that he intended to destroy the white tree, we knew we could not stay.

"My lady, I remembered your words, that my son had made a home here among the Southlanders, and I decided we should come to Pelargir. If we were unable to stay in that city, I believed we would be able to find refuge with you or perhaps with your kin to the north. So, we stole the fruit of the tree and escaped in the night."

Eyes bright, Elendil reached into the bag at his hip and pulled from it a single golden fruit still attached to a silvery bow lined with pale pearlescent leaves. Galadriel, even with her back to the Southlanders, could feel how the attention of all in the room was drawn to it, a relic of another world.

After a long moment, Elendil returned his prize to the bag and sighed. "There were enough who we trusted and who wanted to flee that we faced no difficulty in our escape. However, once we'd been on the sea just over a fortnight, the waves turned against us. We struggled, making little headway for another week until a great wave came up from behind us and swept us off course.

"Our ship was tossed upon the sea like driftwood, and we took heavy damage, but eventually the waters calmed, and we were able to chart our course. The new moon had waxed and waned nearly to naught by the time we managed to limp into the ruins Pelargir's harbor. Several of our number stayed there to aid them however they could while the rest of us turned north to seek your aid."

"Although I grieve for the trials you faced on your journey, I am glad to welcome you, Elendil." Halbrand said firmly. "You and yours will always have a place among us should you desire it."

Elendil bowed his head. "I thank you for your hospitality, my lord, and we may stay here for a time. However, I would like to aid the men of Pelargir in establishing a new city, away from the destruction wrought by the flood. I will dwell amongst my kin, though those with me may make such choices for themselves."

Galadriel glanced back at Halbrand, but he seemed unbothered by the refusal. Smiling, she turned back to Elendil. "The white mountains to the west of here would support prolific quarries and are surrounded by the same fertile grasslands that reach here to the Anduin. We are but few in number and are unlikely to expand westward when our only outpost is so far to the east. Perhaps you would wish to settle in the shelter of the mountains in our stead?"

Elendil nodded thoughtfully, exchanging considering looks with his companions. "Thank you for your recommendation, my lady. We will certainly consider the location. In the meantime, though, I would like to request a place where we may rest."

"Of course," Galadriel said at once. "I will bring you to the barracks where the other refugees are staying. There are plenty of beds for everyone. If you would prefer a tent, I will have one brought for you."

Before Elendil could respond, Halbrand spoke from behind them. "Ah, one question, if you would not mind, before you take your leave. You said that Pharazôn had amassed a great navy, but you did not know for certain its purpose. I believe you have a guess as to his intention. What is it?"

Elendil stared past Galadriel at Halbrand, who still sat, looking deceptively calm. They watched each other in silence for a long moment as Galadriel felt the anticipation choking her. Finally, a young man from further back in the company broke the tense silence.

"My father made ready to sail west."

All eyes turned to the man who shrunk back at the attention, gripping tightly to the hand of the girl by his side. Halbrand stood and walked forward to stand before them.

"Your father? You are Pharazôn's son?"

"I am," he said, voice trembling, before hurriedly adding, "your majesty."

"I see," Halbrand mused, considering the others in the company, before turning back and smiling at the man. "What is your name then, son of Pharazôn?"

"I am Kemen."

"And why are you here, so far to the east, if your father prepared to sail west?"

Kemen paused, his eyes dropping to where he still clutched his companion's hand. "I would not leave Eärien, even if my father's belief proves true and the secret of immortality lies over the western seas. What is immortality if endured alone?"

A complicated jumble of emotions flitted across the sliver of Halbrand's face Galadriel could see, but they were quickly replaced by a thinly painted on smile. "We do a great many things we would not have expected for the sake of love, do we not? Regardless, you believe your father sailed west after your departure?"

Kemen nodded slowly, but the girl next to him, Eärien, interrupted. "I know he did. I saw it."

Halbrand and Galadriel both turned to look at her and she shied back. Kemen whispered something to her before she straightened again and met Halbrand's gaze. "After Tar-Palantir passed, I took up his seeing stone. It didn't work for anyone else, and Miriel bade me keep it hidden once she returned. I do not always know the meaning of the visions I see, but I saw the fleet sailing into the sunset and a great wave break upon our city. It was the same vision Miriel saw."

Halbrand looked back at Galadriel, brow lowered over sympathetic eyes. She sighed heavily, letting her eyes fall shut as she remembered the roar of waves and the horrible echo of the fracturing of the foundations of the earth. When her eyes flickered open, she strode forward and laid a gentle hand on Eärien's shoulder.

"You are, I believe, correct. I too knew of Miriel's vision and feared the destruction in Pelargir may have been but the faintest aftershock of the wave she had seen overwhelm Númenor. Your news only reinforces that theory. Regardless, thank you for sharing it with me."

"Indeed," Halbrand said, drawing their attention back to himself. "Your report answers many questions and will help us lay our next steps. While Númenor yet remained, there was little I felt I could ask of or offer the men of Pelargir. Elendil, I know many will never consent to be governed by one not of your kin, so I ask that you speak to the refugees of your intentions as soon as possible. You may reside here for as long as you desire, but the knowledge that they go with you in the end should ease their spirits."

"I will, my lord. And I am most grateful for your hospitality, both to myself and my kinsmen. I ask that we might take our leave now. Weariness lays heavy upon an old man, and I am not so youthful as your lordship."

Halbrand smiled. "Of course. Galadriel will show you to the barracks where there are plenty of beds. Your women may stay with your family or, if you prefer, we can fetch a tent for their privacy."

Eärien shook her head firmly. "That will not be necessary. I will stay with my father."

Halbrand inclined his head before dismissing them. Galadriel turned back to Elendil and gestured for the party to follow her. Falling into step with her friend, she fought a smile as she glanced at his stoic expression. "You have not asked for news yet. I am impressed."

He met her eyes quickly and looked away. Galadriel felt her lips quirk. "It did not seem an appropriate time considering the gravity of our discussion."

"Ah, I suppose not. Well, if you prefer to wait for a more appropriate time…"

A younger man behind them snorted then tried to cover the sound with a cough. He looked older than most of his companions but still much younger than Elendil. In fact, his age and bearing reminded Galadriel somewhat of Isildur.

Elendil glared at him, which only made the man laugh harder. "Alright, my lady. I know when I am beaten. What news of my son?"

Galadriel grinned. "Isildur is stationed in our second city, a defensive fort at the base of the Black Mountains to our east. He guards a pass from the land beyond to ensure no orcs may sneak into our lands. Halbrand was so impressed with his work there, that he appointed Isildur lord of the city."

The younger man squawked indignantly. "Izzy, a lord? Are you sure it is he and not some changeling taken my brother's place?"

"Peace, Anárion." Elendil sighed.

Galadriel chuckled and opened the barracks doors for them. "Ontamo has never shown any doubt of Isildur's identity, so I think we may disregard your changeling theory. However, I think it best you go to visit in the coming days and judge for yourself. Besides, I believe it is long past the hour for you to meet your sister."

Anárion, who was just settling himself on the edge of a bunk, hit the floor with another squawk.

AN: I love writing siblings. It's a shame that Isildur is not the focus of my story so we get limited scope for sibling banter. I think I'm getting close to the point writing where I'll be able to predict the final chapter count. I will let you all know as soon as I know for sure. Thank you as always for reading. I am humbled by the amazing readers who have stuck with this story for so long. I started this story for myself, but you all make it easy to keep writing it.