In Aragorn's Safekeeping: Life in the King's House

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters; I am only borrowing them for fun for a little while. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.

Many thanks to Marsha for beta reading this chapter!

Author’s Note: Forgive me for the very long delay while I got sidetracked to Rohan to write my young Éomer and Éowyn stories! I really enjoyed writing those and was pulled away from this story for far longer then I intended to be. This is a fairly long chapter which I hope will help make up for my absence. I have about two more chapters planned for this story, but I’ve learned that my plans and my characters’ plans are not always the same!

Chapter 7 – Separated

Thomas was not surprised to find the stables empty when he and Eradan returned there after he had spoken with Rebecca. He thanked the stable hand before quickly leading Baldor out into the yard and swinging up into the saddle. He watched impatiently as Eradan checked his horse’s bridle and saddle before he mounted the horse with the ease of a man who has done it countless times.

“They’ll wait for us,” Eradan commented as they rode out of the stable yard and headed down the street.

“I know, but I’ve already kept them waiting a long time now,” Thomas replied with a sidelong glance at the Ranger as they passed through the fifth level gate. He carefully guided his horse around a man who was trundling a cart loaded with small crates toward the market area that would be opening in a few hours.

“You had a good reason.”

Thomas gave Eradan a sharp look wondering if he had overheard what he and Rebecca had been discussing. But he couldn’t have, the Ranger had easily been standing fifty yards away.

Eradan chuckled. “No, I didn’t hear you and Lady Rebecca, Thomas. But I’ve been married for more than fifty years and I recognize the signs of a… disagreement when I see one.”

“Oh,” was all Thomas could think to say as his face reddened slightly beneath his beard. He was relieved that it was still early enough in the morning that not many people had been around during his discussion with Rebecca. He hadn’t thought it had been that obvious to others.

“In the absence of your father may I give you counsel?”

Thomas studied him for a moment. Eradan’s expression was serious but his eyes were merry. The two of them had never spoken of anything of a private or serious nature, but Thomas knew that Aragorn valued the Ranger’s counsel and he finally gave a hesitant nod. He reined his horse to a halt on the side of the road hoping this would not take long. Eradan wasted no time and began speaking in a low voice.

“I’ve had enough arguments with my wife over the years to tell you it’s best not to ride away when you’re angry... or when she is,” Eradan said with a cheeky grin. “We’re not going to be gone very long, but when I was first married I made the mistake of leaving my wife when she was upset and I didn’t return for six months. She was glad to see me… at first, but then she picked up the argument right where we’d left off.” He sighed, shaking his head and giving Thomas a rueful smile. “Her temper hadn’t improved even after six months… it had gotten worse.”

“What happened?”

Eradan shrugged. “I don’t remember. Oh, you don’t mean what we were arguing about, do you?”

Thomas shook his head. “No. What did you do to make it better… so she wasn’t so angry with you?”

“We talked.” He shrugged again as he urged his horse forward. Thomas followed, with a puzzled expression.

“That’s all?”

Eradan snorted with amusement. “Yes, we talked. What did you think we would do?”

“I don’t know…”

“What did you just do?”

“Talk,” Thomas admitted sheepishly. “I thought maybe I should’ve done something else, though. Something more, I guess.”

“Well, perhaps, but that is something you and Lady Rebecca will have to work out between yourselves. People are different,” he shrugged, “so, of course, every marriage… every argument is different too.” He fell silent then and they rode without speaking down through the city.

“Thank you,” said Thomas as they neared the gate. He could see the others gathered on the Pelennor through the wide opening where Gimli was still looking things over.

Eradan grinned. “Counsel is easy to give, Lord Thomas. The hard part is yet before you.”

“I’m beginning to see that,” said Thomas with a wry smile and Eradan chuckled as they joined the others.

0-0-0-0-0

As she stared down at the Pelennor and watched Thomas ride away Rebecca was so lost in thought that she neither heard nor saw Arwen approaching. She jumped at the sound of her voice.

"It is difficult to watch those you love ride away," commented Arwen as she joined Rebecca in watching the party heading toward Osgiliath. "Even though I had watched my brothers and, occasionally, my father riding off to face uncertainty and danger many times over the long years of my life, it was much more difficult when it came to Aragorn. That I did not see him often nor for long periods of time made each parting that much harder, I think.”

“I don’t know how you did it,” said Rebecca, frowning. “To watch him leave all those times… for all those years. Didn’t you want to go with him?”

“Yes, at times,” Arwen admitted with a slow smile. “Of course we were not married, but even if we had been, I know that my presence would have distracted him from his duty. He would have been concerned about my safety and comfort above all else and I would not be the cause of that. The destruction of the Dark Lord was too important for either of our personal desires.”

“Did you ever… argue?”

“Not about him leaving,” said Arwen, shaking her head. “We very seldom had disagreements during those years and never about duty. Our time together was too precious to waste on foolish arguments.” A sparkle of amusement lit the depths of her eyes as she looked at Rebecca. “Now, of course, we do have disagreements… every married couple has them.”

“I’ve never heard you and Adar arguing,” Rebecca said after a brief pause.

Arwen nodded. “Because of who we are and the guards and the servants that surround us, we try to confine our disagreements to our chambers… not in a place where we might be overheard – like the garden.”

Rebecca’s blushed. “You heard us?”

“Yes, one of our doors was open last evening. Did the two of you speak again?” she asked gently.

“We did. He came and talked to me right before he rode off.”

Smiling, Arwen glanced over the wall before she spoke. “I am glad that you did, it would have been a difficult time for you otherwise.”

“I know.”

“Do you have plans for the day?”

Blinking in surprise at the abrupt change of subject, Rebecca shook her head. “No. Well, just my lessons with Master Dolgaran this morning. But I don’t work in the Houses of Healing this afternoon. Why?”

“I am going down to the orphanage today to meet with the warden and to meet some of the children. I would like you to come with me.”

“You haven’t met with the families yet, have you?” “No, although Faramir has been making some discreet inquiries with some of the village leaders and they are pleased with the idea. But we need to first speak with those in the orphanages to see who they thought would be suitable for such a life.”

“When are you going? Master Dolgaran might let me leave early or skip my lessons altogether,” Rebecca said, her face lighting up. She enjoyed her lessons but a chance to do something different was always welcome.

Arwen laughed lightly. “After lunch will be soon enough, I do not want you to miss your lessons. I am sure that Master Dolgaran has already prepared them for you.”

“I suppose you’re right, but I’m sure I could do them tomorrow,” said Rebecca with only the tiniest sigh of resignation.

“Perhaps if you study hard, you will be done early,” was Arwen’s reply and Rebecca shrugged. “Now, I believe that it is time for breakfast.”

Rebecca nodded, and after one last look out over the Pelennor, she followed Arwen across the courtyard toward home.

0-0-0

Rebecca had never been inside the orphanage of Minas Tirith. It was a large two story building on the fourth level of the city and had remained almost unscathed during the war. Fading black scorch marks on the white sides of the stone building were a silent reminder of how fortunate the orphanage had been. No fireballs had come up to the forth level, but the fires on the lower levels had caused occasional bursts of hot ash to shoot up into the air which had rained down on the orphanage and other buildings near by. But the buildings were made of stone and had not ignited. Only the black marks remained.

Following Arwen into the orphanage, Rebecca looked around curiously. For some reason she had expected it to be dark and dreary, something out of ‘Oliver Twist’ or some other book. But the entryway at least was bright and cheerful with wall hangings and pictures of children and animals.

The orphanage warden was a very thin woman of only average height for one who was obviously of Dúnedain heritage. Dark hair framed her tightly drawn face and her sharp grey eyes revealed wariness as she greeted Arwen and Rebecca. She curtseyed, her plain brown dress, with her badge of office on her left breast, dusting the floor.

“Welcome, Queen Arwen, Lady Rebecca. Please, let me show you to my office where we can discuss the reason for your visit.” The warden glanced meaningfully at some of the children who had gathered in the entryway.

Arwen gazed at the warden for a moment with slightly narrowed eyes and then she shook her head. “Lady Rebecca and I would like to see the orphanage first, Mistress Inthan, and then we will discuss the purpose of our visit with you in private.” She gave the warden a kind smile.

A look of dismay that was quickly masked crossed the woman’s face as she nodded. “Of course, my lady. Please, come this way.”

Rebecca mostly listened as Mistress Inthan led her and Arwen through the various parts of the orphanage. There were large rooms with dozens of beds for the older children, while the younger children were housed in smaller rooms with only ten beds and an adult to care for them. There was also a nursery for the toddlers and babies. A large dining hall served the more than four hundred children that lived in the orphanage. It also appeared to be used as a classroom as one end of the room had a shelf holding books and stacks of paper; a small map of Gondor was pinned to the wall.

In contrast to the cheerful entryway, none of the rooms within the building had any sort of decoration on the walls. They were painted a drab off-white color and over the years large pieces had flecked off and been repainted, leaving almost a patchwork effect in some areas with different shades of paint having been applied. But the rooms were clean and neat and while the bedding in the rooms wasn’t fancy, it did appear to be serviceable.

There was a large yard in the center of the orphanage – it separated the boys and girls wings – and it was here that they found the children. There were large trees in the yard and while there were a few patches of scraggly grass here and there, the ground was mostly bare, packed down dirt. The youngest children were gathered in small groups, laughing and talking excitedly as they played with rocks that had been smoothed into small balls, wooden blocks, ropes they were using for jumping games, and both wooden and cloth dolls. The oldest boys and girls stood or sat on benches scattered around the edges talking and laughing. Some of the caretakers, who were generally older women, wandered the yard speaking to the children and providing supervision.

But the oldest child there appeared to be no more than thirteen or fourteen and Rebecca wondered at that. From her discussions with Arwen and Aragorn she knew that some of the orphans were sixteen and seventeen. She watched, smiling, as many of the youngest children gathered around Arwen talking animatedly with her. The older children came near but mostly just listened and stared at their queen - until she gently drew them into the conversation.

The visit with the children ended all too soon and Rebecca and Arwen followed Mistress Inthan back to her office. It was a large office, but as plain as the rooms in the rest of the orphanage and they were soon seated on hard, uncomfortable chairs near the unlit hearth. Tea was offered and accepted and the three of them sat for a moment sipping at it while waiting for someone to speak. Arwen broke the silence.

“Where are the rest of the children, Mistress Inthan?” She smiled as she spoke but there was a look in her eyes that compelled the warden to answer.

“I… they have… they are working, my Lady Queen.” Her voice trembled slightly, but she met the gaze of her queen squarely.

“Working? Working where?” Rebecca asked, appalled. Her thoughts instantly flew to every story she’d ever read where orphaned children were used as slave labor.

“Peace,” said Arwen as she laid her hand on Rebecca’s arm. “Why are they working? If you do not have sufficient funds to run the orphanage then you should speak to the Council or to my husband. The children should not be working.”

“We have enough money for our needs. The money the children earn doesn’t go to the orphanage; it’s set aside for them. I want them to have some money when they leave here and begin their new lives and this is the only way I could think of,” said Mistress Inthan, picking up her cup of tea. “Their lives will be difficult enough once they leave us,” she added, almost under her breath.

A tiny furrow creased Arwen’s brow as she studied the warden. Mistress Inthan met the queen’s gaze without blinking, though she shifted once in her chair and a soft sigh escaped her lips when Arwen briefly glanced away.

“I imagine their lives are difficult,” Arwen finally said, a note of deep compassion in her voice. “It is for that very reason that I would like to see many of them placed with families, either here in the city or in one of the villages on the Pelennor.”

“We do give them training before they leave here and most of them go on and have good lives,” Mistress Inthan hurriedly explained. “It’s just that right now there are so many children. The war…” her voice trailed off. “Still, we have been able to keep up the lessons for the younger children and making sure the older ones have the skills they’ll need once they leave us.”

“Mistress Inthan, why are you so hesitant to place the children in homes?” asked Arwen. Rebecca glanced at her from the corner of her eye having wondered the same thing. The warden seemed to genuinely care for the children so it did not make any sense to Rebecca.

Mistress Inthan stared down into her now empty teacup for several moments and when she spoke she did not look up. “You must understand that I care deeply for these children, Queen Arwen. I’ve been the warden for ten years but I was a caretaker for eight years before that. I’ve watched some of these children grow up here, and I don’t want to see them hurt.” She raised her head and looked pleadingly at Arwen.

“I’m afraid for the children that you want to place with families on the Pelennor. How do you know they won’t just be used to work on the farms there? I’m especially worried about the older children that you want to send away from me.” Both Arwen and Rebecca raised eyebrows at that comment. “I think they’d be better off to stay here with us.”

“It is usual for children to help their families with chores or other work around their homes,” Arwen reminded the warden softly. “I do not intend to place any child in a home where they are not loved and wanted only for themselves. However,” she forestalled Mistress Inthan’s question with a raised hand, “there are many widows on the Pelennor that need help and I do intend to ask some of your oldest boys, the ones who are gone right now, if they would be willing to go and work for them.”

Mistress Inthan, who had looked somewhat relieved at Arwen’s promise to not place children in homes where they would not be loved, frowned at this.

“Why? Why should they go there and work when they can stay here where they already have jobs?”

Rebecca finally spoke up; this was something she and Arwen had discussed with Aragorn. “It’s not just that the widows need the help with the work, Mistress Inthan, it’s that these boys need homes too. Most are too old to easily accept being taken in as wards, though that’s what they need. They need some sort of family in their lives, and living and working with a widow, whether she has other children or not, will hopefully allow these boys to build some sort of bond with them. It may not work with all of them, but I… we think it’s worth a try.” She glanced quickly at Arwen who smiled.

“And, if not, the widow gets the help she needs to continue living on her farm,” continued Arwen who placed her hand on Rebecca’s arm as she spoke. “Lady Rebecca well knows the importance of having a family even if you are orphaned when you are very near to adulthood.”

“I never knew the reason why you were the ward of the King and Queen, Lady Rebecca. I’m sorry to hear of your loss.” Rebecca nodded once. Mistress Inthan looked back at Arwen and took a deep breath. “Then I think we must try and place the boys there. But what about the girls that are that age?”

“It may be a little more difficult to find homes for them, but we will see that they are not put in an unsafe situation. Lord Faramir has told me that there are some couples whose children have grown that may be willing to take in older girls. We will not split up siblings,” Arwen said firmly. “They will stay together here in the orphanage before I allow them to be separated from one another.”

“Are there going to be any children left here?” Mistress Inthan asked worriedly when Arwen finished.

“Don’t you want the children to have homes?” asked Rebecca with a puzzled frown. Why would the woman want any children to stay in an orphanage?

“M-my caretakers and cooks… they have families to feed and…”

“And you love the children.” The Warden nodded as Arwen gave her a sad smile. “Unfortunately, Mistress Inthan, we will most likely be able to place fewer than one hundred children at this time. Lord Faramir is speaking with the leaders of the various villages and the leaders are making inquires among their people. What Lady Rebecca and I want to do today is go through a list of the children with you and see who seems suitable for such a life. Then we want to meet those children which means you may need to get them from their jobs.” She gave the woman a stern look.

The Warden’s mouth dropped open and then she hastily snapped it shut as she nodded. “Yes, of course, my lady. I’ll send someone; I should have had them here.”

“Yes, you should have,” agreed Arwen. “Now, if you have the list of children we can start.”

Mistress Inthan took a large brown leather book off the shelf near her desk and the three of them set to work.

0-0-0-0-0

Sighing softly as he watched Legolas disappear up into the branches of another tree, Thomas wondered what made this clearing different from the one they had ridden through earlier in the morning. Or, the one they had passed through the evening before without stopping. They had stopped at many meadows and clearings and streams the past week and waited while Legolas poked around, but he was still uncertain as to what exactly the elf was looking for. Thomas didn’t think Legolas was intentionally being vague, he just wasn’t sure that a mortal could ever fully understand what an elf was thinking – at least in regards to their home. Perhaps if he could speak with the trees that would help, he thought with amusement. He watched Legolas leap nimbly from one limb to another and shook his head; he didn’t think he’d ever get used to watching elves do that.

“You should see the elves in Mirk… Eryn Lasgalen, lad,” Gimli said nudging Thomas in the back. The dwarf had taken to riding with him because Legolas was on and off his horse so frequently and he did not want to sit alone on Arod. Thomas glanced over his shoulder.

“What’d you mean?”

“They’re in the trees as much as they walk on the ground, both the adults and the children. They have flets in the trees,” he snorted, “like they do in Lothlórien and there are cottages on the ground, but they move quickly through the trees. As fast, if not faster, than on the ground.”

Thomas twisted around in his saddle. “Children? They have children in Eryn Lasgalen?” he asked, surprised.

Gimli nodded with a questioning look in his eyes and Faramir, who was sitting on his horse next to them, asked, “Is that unusual?”

“Well, there were no elf children in Lothlórien and so I thought maybe elves didn’t have them anymore,” Thomas replied with a shrug.

“They have them in Eryn Lasgalen,” was Gimli’s only response.

“What do we have in Eryn Lasgalen?” Legolas asked as he dropped from a tree and landed lightly in front of them, spooking the horses who danced nervously away from the elf. Gimli yelled something in dwarvish as he latched onto Thomas’s tunic. Thomas and Faramir quickly soothed the horses.

“Don’t do that!” exclaimed Thomas when he had Baldor back under control. Faramir said nothing but he nodded his agreement.

“Forgive me,” said Legolas with a small bow and twinkling eyes. Gimli grumbled under his breath as he stared down at the elf. “This is not the place,” the elf announced as he gracefully jumped onto Arod. “But it is very beautiful,” he added glancing around at the trees.

“Everywhere we’ve stopped has been beautiful,” Thomas pointed out as they rode on, following after Captain Beregond and several other members of Faramir’s White Company.

“Yes, but I will know the place when we come to it,” Legolas said with a serene smile.

“Some of the areas that I think are the most beautiful are several days ride away, Legolas,” Faramir commented. “Closer to Henneth Annûn.”

Legolas brought Arod to a stop and gave Faramir an appraising look. “You have a good eye for land and a soul that sees beauty, Faramir,” he said. “Have your Rangers lead us there directly and most likely one of those areas will be a land fit for my people.”

“You might miss someplace around here that you would like better,” Faramir said with a faint protest as he gestured around them.

Legolas gave a graceful shrug. “If the area you are speaking of is not right then we will be coming back this way and so no time is lost. I would like to see Henneth Annûn, if it is allowed?”

Faramir hesitated, glancing around at the company before his gaze rested back on Legolas. “While it is still a hidden refuge, I do not believe the king will disapprove of my taking you there,” he said, slowly. “After all, you, my lord prince, will be living nearby and may have need of it in the future.” He gave Gimli a thoughtful look and then nodded. “And Gimli should certainly see the caves if only to tell us how they might be improved. But, Thomas,” a crease furrowed his brow as he looked at the younger man, “I am not sure I can allow you to see the refuge… there is no reason you need to see it.”

Thomas missed the amused gleam in Faramir’s eyes as he stared at him, shocked, and he simply nodded knowing that if he spoke his words would convey his deep disappointment. He knew how important it was to keep the refuge hidden, though he was surprised that Faramir felt the need to keep it hidden from him. Still, he was not going to argue with the Steward of Gondor. And, perhaps it was for the best; it was a cave after all and even though he had heard that quite a bit of light filtered in through the waterfall, it might be difficult for him. But he really did want to see it even if it made him uncomfortable for a short time. It took a hard poke in his back from Gimli and the light laughter of Legolas for Thomas to realize that Faramir was teasing him.

“I do suppose the king would allow me to also make an exception in your case, Thomas,” said Faramir with a small smile lighting his face briefly.

Thomas grinned. “I think he would, my lord.”

Faramir urged his horse forward once again. “I will enjoy showing it to you. Come, we should ride on before Captain Beregond decides to send someone back to see what is keeping us.” The four of them rode on with the rest of their company trailing behind.

0-0-0

Three leagues south of Henneth Annûn, Legolas finally found what would become his new home. Faramir led the company to one of the areas he had mentioned that was a league west of the road they had been following, the road that led to the Morannon. Legolas’s eyes lit from within as he gazed at the mix of beech and oak trees that surrounded what was only a small meadow. A sparkling stream meandered through it, making a merry sound on the warm spring afternoon. Only a few flowers were blooming this early in the year, but an abundance of flowering plants suggested that soon the area would be dotted with color.

Thomas could tell immediately that this was the place. While Legolas didn’t jump into the trees as quickly as he had done at other places, there was a look, perhaps a stillness about him that told Thomas that he’d found what he’d had been looking for. It had taken far longer than he thought it would, almost two weeks had passed since they’d left Minas Tirith. He found himself missing Rebecca more and more each day, just to be with her and to speak with her. They normally spent so much time with each and he realized how much he took her for granted when he found himself longing to speak with her about things that happened during their search for Legolas’s new home. Thomas pushed his longings aside and kept on eye on Legolas as he dismounted. Gimli jumped down beside him.

“I will return in time for breakfast,” announced Legolas before slipping off into the trees.

“Breakfast?” Faramir asked, looking into the woods where the elf had disappeared.

Thomas shrugged and Gimli answered the question. “He’ll spend the night communing with the trees and the land to make sure it’s the right place.”

“He doesn’t need to sleep much anyway,” Thomas added as he stripped the tack from Baldor. “But,” he glanced down at Gimli, “I think this is it. Finally,” he added under his breath. Gimli heard him and chuckled.

“Aye, lad, it’s taken some time. Do you wish you’d stayed home?” Gimli’s deep brown eyes glinted with amusement.

“No… no, of course not.” Thomas’s reply was a little too hesitant and neither Gimli nor Faramir were fooled. Gimli snorted his amusement and walked off toward the fire that the men were building. Faramir was much more understanding and patted Thomas on the back before walking away. Thomas sighed and began brushing Baldor.

0-0-0

True to his word, Legolas showed up just as breakfast was being served. The men were gathered around several small fires eating and talking when the elf suddenly appeared in the midst of them. Faramir and the men of the White Company were startled, but Gimli, Thomas, and the three Northern Rangers barely looked up from their meals. Legolas crouched down between Faramir and Thomas and took the food Gimli handed him with a nod of thanks.

“This is the right place,” Legolas said quietly. “My people will find joy and peace here. All that we need can be found nearby but this shall be our center, our gathering place. The trees are large enough for flets and are willing, even anxious, to have elves living amongst them.” He looked at Faramir and gave him a slight bow. “Thank you, Faramir.”

Faramir inclined his head briefly. “I believe that if I were not the Prince of Ithilien and could choose to live where I truly wished, then I would build a home for Éowyn here.”

“Legolas should count himself fortunate that you are the prince, then,” Gimli said with a gruff laugh. Legolas and Thomas laughed, as did several of the other men around the fire. Faramir simply stared at the dwarf for a moment before a small smile graced his lips.

“Emyn Arnen has its own beauty,” said Faramir between bites of bread, “and it’s close to the city. But I know the land around here very well. And, while I have many unsettling memories of my time here fighting the enemy, I also have good memories of my time here as a Ranger.” He glanced across the fire at the two members of his White Company who were sharing their fire. “We did not spend all of our time fighting.” The two men shook their heads.

“As you do know the land so well, I would like your help in exploring the area and planning the settlement,” Legolas said. “I do not think it will take more than a week, perhaps ten days.” He glanced sidelong at Thomas.

However, Thomas was not taken in. He’d been around Legolas long enough to know when the elf was teasing him and so he shrugged, smiling. “You may take as long as you like, Prince Legolas.” He gestured to his guards at one of the other fires. “I’m able to return to Minas Tirith without you if I need to and I would like to be back very soon.”

“Why is that?”

Thomas looked at Gimli and sighed softly, mumbling under his breath. “Because I sort of promised Rebecca,” he finally answered.

“I thought as much,” said Gimli, grinning while both Legolas and Faramir chuckled. Thomas had noticed that Faramir had grown much more comfortable around Legolas and Gimli during the last few weeks, even to the point where he spoke to them in a much less formal manner than he had in Minas Tirith.

“It will only take me a few days, Thomas,” promised Legolas as he stood, his gaze sweeping around the clearing.

“Do you wish to go to Henneth Annûn today or wait until we are ready to return to Minas Tirith, Legolas?” Faramir asked as he and the others stood. “It is a little less than an hour ride away.”

“When I am finished here will be soon enough.” Legolas did not look at Faramir; his eyes were fixed on the other end of the meadow. Faramir, Gimli, and Thomas exchanged amused glances as they watched him walk away.

0-0-0

Thomas spent much of the next two days drawing. There was little he could do help Legolas so instead he would find a quiet spot and draw the beauty that was all around him. It was something he normally had little time for and something he greatly enjoyed, but instead he was frustrated. He was mostly frustrated by his lack of skill. As hard as he tried, he never came close to capturing the beauty of the trees or the stream or the flowers. He so wanted to show Rebecca what he’d seen but knew that what he drew wouldn’t allow her to see it. Thomas knew that only years of practice would give him the skills he needed, but still it was frustrating and for the first time in a long time he wished he had something from his own time – a camera.

He was also extremely frustrated with his guards. Thomas had grown accustomed to either Haloth or Sírdhim trailing him around Minas Tirith as he went about his daily life. He often forgot they were there unless he was with Rebecca; having two guards made it hard to overlook. But the three Rangers that Aragorn had assigned were much more… invasive. Eradan was in charge of the group of guards - both the Rangers and his two regular guards - and he seemed to believe that Thomas couldn’t be let out of their sight for a moment.

When they’d been traveling it hadn’t been difficult because the guards were just part of the company, but now that they were spending time in camp it was hard for Thomas to take. There were armed members of the White Company in a large perimeter protecting the camp. Beyond that there was the extra protection of the Ithilien Rangers who patrolled the area and who had visited their camp several times. He did not think it was unreasonable to be allowed to sit by himself near the stream or among the trees to draw. While all of the men were quiet, having two men within sixty feet of him at all times was wearing. Thomas assumed that the other three men were somewhere nearby, though he never saw them. The fact that Faramir also had two personal guards did not make him feel any better; he was the Steward of Gondor and the Prince of Ithilien.

Speaking with Eradan had done no good. The Ranger had listened courteously and then replied that the king had charged him with Thomas’s safety and he would not fail in that duty. Thomas had given up at that point and simply vowed to speak with Aragorn when they returned to the city. But the morning they left for Henneth Annûn he heaved a big sigh of relief, glad to be traveling once again and glad to be on the way home, even if they were taking a slight detour first.

All of the White Company men that were accompanying Faramir on this trip had served him in the Ithilien Rangers, leaving Captain Beregond as the only man of that group who did not know the way to Henneth Annûn. One of the lieutenants led the way to the hidden refuge where they set up camp within a half hour walk of the entrance, though none of the newcomers to the area had any idea where it was. Trouble broke out as they started to leave the camp and Eradan and Balrant followed Thomas as a matter of course. Faramir stopped and looked back at them.

“You will have to remain in camp. You need not fear for Thomas’s safety while he is with me and my men.” Faramir gestured to the small group of White Company men surrounding them. Thomas suppressed a sigh as he wondered who was going to win this battle. He gave the edge to Eradan. The Ranger was wily and could draw on Aragorn’s name if he needed to.

“Forgive me, my lord,” Eradan said with a slight bow as he moved closer to Faramir. “But my men and I are charged with Lord Thomas’s safety and must accompany him wherever he goes.”

“The refuge is hidden for a reason and I cannot allow you entrance,” said Faramir firmly.

Eradan’s head cocked slightly and his eyes hardened even though his voice remained mild. “Are you saying that you don’t trust me? That after serving with my Lord King Elessar for seventy years I’m not to be trusted?”

Faramir’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “Of course I trust you. That is not in question, but I too have a responsibility to King Elessar and that is to keep Henneth Annûn hidden unless he gives me leave.”

Thomas wondered if it would be better if he stayed in camp. Aragorn would come to visit the refuge some day and he could just as easily see it then. He glanced at Legolas and Gimli who were watching the two men with barely concealed amusement. But there was no time to make his offer because, as he’d expected, Eradan won the battle by pointing out the obvious.

“King Elessar did not give you specific leave to let any of these,” Eradan gestured to Gimli, Legolas, and Thomas, “see Henneth Annûn, and yet you are allowing them entrance. You do have sufficient authority to give us leave to go with you and to guard Lord Thomas as we’ve been asked to.”

Faramir stared at Eradan and slowly began shaking his head and a small wry smile curled the corner of his mouth briefly. “Long years of keeping its location hidden is not easily set aside.”

“Nor should you set it aside.” Eradan’s response was immediate. “It should remain hidden from all but your most trusted people and those that need to go there, my lord.”

“Oh, I have no intention of making it generally known, Eradan. However, you have convinced me,” he cleared his throat, “that there are times I may need to make exceptions.”

Eradan bowed. “Thank you, Prince Faramir.” Gimli spoke up then.

“May we go now? I’d like to see this cave before it grows too dark to see anything.”

“This way,” Faramir said and they continued their interrupted journey. Thomas looked at Eradan for a moment wondering if he should speak to him, but the Ranger just motioned him to walk and with a small nod Thomas followed Legolas.

The small party moved quietly through the woods; and though Thomas didn’t see any of the Ithilien Rangers he sensed their presence. The sound of the river grew louder and he was unsurprised when they walked out from among the trees and stood on the banks of a good-sized river. He had once spoken very briefly with Sam and Frodo about their time in Henneth Annûn but neither had seemed comfortable and he’d soon changed the subject.

Thomas felt a momentary sense of panic when he saw the men in front of him suddenly disappearing into the darkness of the cave. He swallowed hard. And he almost jumped at the hand that lightly touched his shoulder.

“I am right here, mellon nín,” Legolas soft voice came from behind him. “It will not be so dark inside the cave.” Thomas nodded and the hand fell away.

There were a few flickering torches to light the way into the cave; but to Thomas’s surprise he first had to descend down a long flight of steps cut into the rock passageway. It was narrow and the steps were slippery forcing him to move cautiously. Finally, he reached the bottom where he turned a corner to find himself in a large, low-ceilinged cave. But he ignored the room and moved to the rushing waterfall that was separated from the room by a small archway. He could see nothing through the waterfall which faced to the west, but it was still more beautiful than he had imagined. Thomas glanced at Legolas as the elf came alongside him.

“I have never seen anything like this before,” Legolas said, his voice just barely loud enough to be heard over the sound of the rushing water.

Thomas narrowed his eyes as he thought about that for a moment. “In your whole, long life, you’ve never stood behind a waterfall before?”

Legolas smiled. “No, I have not. I have stood underneath smaller… much smaller ones before. But this, this is truly unique.”

“It is. I wish Rebecca could see it.” He wished he’d brought his drawing supplies with him but just as quickly realized he’d never be able to capture the majesty of what he was seeing.

“There will be other times for her to see it, mellon nín. I imagine you will be coming to visit me from time to time,” a small smile crossed his lips and Thomas grinned, “and you will bring her then.”

“Yes, of course,” he replied without looking at Legolas. He wasn’t sure how to explain that that was not quite the same as having her here with him now, to have both of them see the cave for the first time together. But, it mattered little since he could not change it.

Legolas glanced behind him and let out a small sigh. “I think we should go and rescue Faramir from Gimli or we shall never get you back to Rebecca in time for your wedding.” His eyes sparkled merrily and Thomas chuckled as he followed the elf further back into the cave, though his thoughts were far away.

0-0-0-0-0

Aragorn strode quickly across the courtyard heading for the training yard where he assumed he would find Rebecca practicing her archery. The sun had barely risen above the mountains to the east and already the day was pressing on him. He had not realized how much he relied on Faramir until the Steward had been gone these last few weeks. Rebecca was not the only one looking forward to having Legolas and his party return to the city, Aragorn thought wryly.

Pausing at the entrance to the yard, Aragorn watched as Rebecca shot several arrows. It had been some time since he had a chance to observe her and he noticed that she seemed to have corrected the tiny mistake she’d been making when releasing her arrow. It was something that many new archers started doing once they began feeling confident with their bow – they started dropping their anchor point a fraction which threw off the arrow. As he watched her, Aragorn began to regret not bringing his bow. While he practiced with his sword almost daily, he seldom had time to practice his archery and for a brief moment he considered sending one of his guards for it. But he sighed inwardly as he remembered the pile of paperwork on his desk and the meeting with the Council that was scheduled after lunch. He would have to wait.

As Rebecca finished the arrows in her quiver, Aragorn cleared his throat. Clearly startled, she turned, a smile lighting up her face when she saw who was there.

“Adar! Did you come to shoot with me?” She ignored the arrows in the target and went to Aragorn, her bow swinging loosely from her hand.

Aragorn shook his head. “No, I cannot. However,” he continued at her disappointed expression, “I thought I would join you in the morning.”

Rebecca smiled again. “Good, it’s been a long time since we shot together and it’s more fun when I have someone to shoot with.”

“Thomas will be back soon.”

The smile left Rebecca’s face and she sighed. “I hope so; he’s been gone a long time.” She sighed again and then shrugged. “But he doesn’t always come and shoot with me either, he’d rather work with you on his sword skills,” she pointed out.

Aragorn smiled. “I think Thomas has decided that the sword is much more to his liking and he only keeps working with his bow because he knows he really should try to master it. If only so that when he goes hunting with us he can have a reasonable chance to kill a deer.” He gestured toward a bench along the wall and the two of them crossed to it and sat down.

“Hmmm, yes, I’ve noticed the competition that you have with Halbarad and Eradan and now Thomas wants to be included in that?” Rebecca shook her head slightly in amusement. She remembered some of her uncles and cousins going ice fishing and the competition they always had over who would catch the most fish. It seemed some things never changed.

“I believe it will take Thomas a year or two before he is actually able to bring down a deer,” said Aragorn, his eyes twinkling. “But he is learning to track and about the habits of deer and other animals and I think he enjoys that more than the hunting.”

“I’m sure it will, I’ve seen him shoot,” said Rebecca, laughing. There was a wistful note in her voice even through her laughter and Aragorn clearly heard it.

“Perhaps after your wedding you and Thomas can go hunting.”

Rebecca just stared at Aragorn for a moment before she spoke. “But I thought women didn’t do such things here.”

“It is unusual,” he admitted, “especially in Gondor. But no more so than you practicing archery and wearing leggings and tunics.” Aragorn indicated the Lothlórien outfit she was wearing. “If you and Thomas were to go away for a time like Arwen and I did, there is no one to disapprove or to know what you did.” He frowned. “Not that I think you should hide the fact that you were hunting.”

Rebecca grinned. “I think I’d better wait until he learns how to hunt, though. Or else you should teach me; we’d probably end up shooting each other if we went out anytime soon.”

Aragorn laughed and patted her knee. “Perhaps,” is all he said, shaking his head. He glanced up at the sun, grimacing. “I need to leave, but I came to give you this.” Aragorn held up a sealed parchment and Rebecca’s eyes lit up.

“Is it from Thomas?” she asked as she eagerly reached for it.

“No, from Éowyn. One of my Rangers from Arnor arrived late last night and he stopped in Edoras on his way here. Éomer sent messages to me and this was sent to you.”

“Oh.” Rebecca gave Aragorn a forced smile as she slumped back against the bench. “It’ll be nice to read this too.”

“Éomer said that they will be arriving in two weeks.”

Rebecca sat up. “That’s two weeks before the wedding! Why are they coming so early, Adar? Not that I’m upset, just surprised.”

“Éomer and I have things to discuss. Prince Imrahil will be arriving about then…”

“With Lothiriel? No wonder Éomer is arriving then,” said Rebecca, grinning.

“That thought crossed my mind as well.” He returned her grin as he stood.

Rebecca stood and they began walking back toward the courtyard. “Will Thomas and the others be back by then? Faramir won’t want to miss spending time with Éowyn.”

“They will be back. You know the last message we received said they would be back within ten days and that arrived three days ago.” Aragorn gave her an appraising look, though he did not stop moving. “I know it has been difficult for you having Thomas gone these last weeks, but you seem to be doing well.”

“That’s because I’ve been busy – wedding plans, my lessons, working at the Houses of Healing, but mostly the things Arwen and I have been doing with the children at the orphanage.”

Aragorn nodded, he well knew the benefits of being busy when you were missing someone you loved. “We can only hope that the two of you will not have to be separated often.” He did not mention how unlikely that was. Already there were rumors of unrest in the East and Éomer and Imrahil were arriving early so that they would have time to discuss what they might need to do should war arise with the Easterling’s. But that information could keep until after the wedding.

“I know you’ll both have to go off to war, Adar.” Rebecca didn’t look at him as she spoke; she kept her eyes fixed on the Mountains of Shadow in the East. She’d heard enough talk over the last year to know that not all the enemy had been subdued.

“Yes,” he sighed softly, “but perhaps not often.” Aragorn stopped at the door into the House and gazed down at Rebecca, his eyes showing both his sorrow and his acceptance of what the future held. “Since I became a man and left the House of Elrond, this past year has been the longest period in my life that I have been at peace and rest. And while it will grieve me to leave Arwen and you, I will do so. I want this peace to continue for all of our people and I am willing to go and battle those remnants of the enemy that remain to ensure that.”

Rebecca shivered slightly at the stern, warrior tone that had crept into his voice. She hadn’t heard it often in the last year and hearing it made what he was saying more real.

“Forgive me, Rebecca,” Aragorn said softly, putting his hands on her shoulders. He waited until she looked at him before continuing. “I did not mean to frighten you.”

“You didn’t frighten me, just made me realize how very real it is,” said Rebecca with a sad smile. “And, it makes me realize that Thomas needs to be here instead of in Ithilien; he’ll be gone soon enough.” She sighed and shook her head. “But he and I already had that discussion and he won’t do something like this again.”

Aragorn chuckled. Knowing Thomas as he did, he had his doubts about that. But he did not share those doubts with Rebecca; it was something the two of them would have to work out between themselves.

“I must go; there is a Council meeting this afternoon to prepare for,” Aragorn said with a small grimace. “Enjoy your day. Arwen told me you are going to escort the first of the orphans to their new homes.”

Rebecca smiled. “Yes, and I’m looking forward to that! I visited the children yesterday and they’re very nervous but very excited. I should go get cleaned up.” She looked down at her leggings and tunic and realized she needed to hurry if she was to be ready in time. “Good-bye, Adar,” she said and gave him a quick hug before heading inside.

Aragorn watched her go with a small amused smile before turning and heading for his office in the Tower.

0-0-0-0-0

To be continued…