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Finduilas laughed gaily. 'Yes, friend. I should.' After a sip, she wrinkled her nose and handed it back to him. 'But not that.' A sniff of his own cup made him agree. It was a sweet punch of strange fruit juices and a strong spirit favored by coastal folk near the Ethir Anduin and southwards. It was cloying and left on... |
'Come,' he said. They wove through the wedding feast guests to a table holding things to drink. Cups of water in hand, they retreated to a relatively quiet spot near the now-empty dais. The Great Hall of Linhir blazed with light. It was smaller than Merethrond, but was more gaily painted and had large windows of colore... |
She grinned and gave him a light kiss. 'I like it better, too. I'm neither drunk nor sick.' |
Denethor smiled in return and brushed her cheek with a fingertip. 'For which I am very glad.' It was true. Finduilas had not coughed or been ill since Thorongil's northern medicines had cured her of the black breath almost two months past. There was just the tiniest wheeze at the end of her breath as she slept. Perhaps... |
'Mother would, so we need to stay longer, at least until Ivriniel and Angbor leave,' she answered with a sigh. Finduilas sipped her water, then said, 'I am very happy for Ivriniel, but I am even more happy that this is over.' |
'I do not recall you demanding so much of her help last year.' |
'You were gone much of that time,' Finduilas replied, 'so you did not see all that Ivriniel did for me. Do not forget that I also had Wren, Beregar, Aiavalë and Borondir to help me!' |
'I suppose,' he said with some doubt. |
Denethor saw Morvorin coming towards them, a woman on his arm. Finduilas waved at the two, and greeted each with an embrace and a kiss. 'Moraen, it is wonderful to see you! And you as well, Morvorin,' she cheerily said. Denethor nodded to each amiably, not certain who the woman was. The two women chattered at each othe... |
Denethor saw Thorongil not far off and stared at the man until he turned around. The captain hastened over when Denethor caught his eye. 'My lords, my ladies,' the captain greeted them with a polite bow. Denethor had not inquired as to the outcome of the ridiculous argument over Thorongil's clothes, content that the ma... |
'If you will forgive me for speaking of serious things on such a festive day, Lord Denethor,' Morvorin said, 'the road between Calembel and Ethring has rarely been in better repair, though I would not have believed it would be done, given the footpads you sent to do the work.' |
'Good. And what of the footpads?' |
'Most departed when their sentence was done, but some remained and are now honest men,' Morvorin replied. 'A few have a talent for road building. I think they would be good foremen for future work gangs.' |
'There is more work to be done on the road?' asked Thorongil. |
Morvorin shook his head. 'Not the Calembel road, captain. That was finished this summer. What lies at either end, though, that could use work.' |
Thorongil looked at Denethor. 'That will take hands…' |
'…but they cannot be neglected, and the work cannot be left to…' |
'…criminals, no,' Thorongil agreed, 'So, how to fix these stretches quickly…' |
'…without tying down the men we need on the marches?' Denethor finished. |
Morvorin stared at them, disconcerted at the swift exchange, then gathered his wits. 'Yes, exactly, my lords. It is more swift to travel by a barge than a horse from Ethring to Edhellond, and the road to Linhir can be impassable if there is heavy rain. Would that the roads in the west were as well-paved as those betwee... |
'Then you must come,' Finduilas interjected, 'both you and Moraen. You denied me your sister's companionship this past summer and I shall not allow it again.' Though Finduilas said the last in a teasing tone, Denethor did not doubt that she meant it. |
Moraen smiled and seized her brother's hand. 'Do say we shall, Morvorin! I wish to see the City again.' |
'Yes, and soon!' Finduilas encouraged. 'In fact, will you let Moraen return with me this month? She will stay as my guest.' Denethor was intrigued at Finduilas's insistence on this; he suspected there was more to the invitation than he understood. While the two women cajoled Morvorin to make him agree, Thorongil lightl... |
After Seeing Finduilas, the greatest pleasure of this journey had been Adrahil's genial company. Denethor doubted that the Prince had completely returned to the trust they had shared before his humiliation over Osgiliath and the ill-fortuned betrothal, but it was more than Denethor had expected. He sometimes caught Adr... |
'Now, Warden,' Angrist mock scolded, 'no holding a council without the rest of us!' |
'Please join in, my lords, for our talk concerns you,' Denethor answered. 'It will be a matter for the Southern Council.' |
'When does the Steward convene the Great Council?' Adrahil asked. |
'Tomorrow. The Steward's guidance will be sent the next day. We can expect it by the fifth, and shall hold our council on the sixth.' Following Finduilas's wisdom, Denethor had conceded the formal supremacy of the Great Council and had required all of the southern lords to deliver their reports to him in time to be sen... |
'And what concerns us now?' Angrist pressed. |
Denethor nodded at Thorongil, indicating the captain should answer. 'Repairing roads. Lord Morvorin told us of the success of the work between Ethring and Calembel, and noted that other roads need mending.' |
'But the roads are always mended,' protested Angrist, with a smile. 'Next you will be telling us that cows need feeding and corn needs reaping!' |
'The roads should not need mending, at least not so much' Morvorin argued. 'Once, all the main roads were paved, as now only the road from Minas Tirith to Pelargir is maintained. Now there are broken places and leagues where the stone has been removed, making a mire.' |
'Are you proposing that we repave all the old ways?' questioned Adrahil, his face showing he thought it a questionable proposal. |
'Yes,' was Morvorin's stout reply. 'The bridge of Osgiliath was rebuilt. Why not the roads of Gondor?' |
'The labor it would take…' Angrist began, shaking his head. |
'…is well worth the reward,' Denethor said. 'Instead of rebuilding dirt tracks every spring, we can relay the roads that will last for centuries.' |
'To do any less is to admit defeat.' Thorongil's quiet assertion pulled all eyes to him. There was a light in his own, and his expression was proud and commanding. 'We must not fear or rue what may be on the morrow, nor turn from great tasks because our immediate will is thwarted.' Something in Denethor's heart rejoice... |
'Is this your way of telling us, Thorongil, that we shall have war on our doorstep this coming year?' Adrahil said, looking at the man with suspicion. |
'No, for we all know that there will be no more years without war,' was the captain's even reply. 'It is what we need to do to protect us on land. If the western reaches of Gondor are not to be cut off from the eastern lands, then there must be ways to move swiftly across the realm, regardless of the time of year.' |
Out of the corner of his eye, Denethor saw Duinmir walking towards them. The choice of Duinmir to officiate at the wedding mystified Denethor; he had not thought Dol Amroth and Morthond to be so close, for Finduilas had never said that there was any great affection or trust between the Prince and the Lord of Morthond. ... |
'The swiftest route from east to west is the Sea,' Adrahil countered. |
'Only if key ports are free and we command Anduin,' answered Thorongil, making the Prince scowl. |
'It is not a choice between them! A swift ship may outrun a horse, but not all men live upon a river or a coast,' Morvorin protested. He turned to Angrist, 'Do you not think it for the best that the road between Linhir and Ethring be as sound and strong as that between Pelargir and Minas Tirith? Ox carts and peddlers' ... |
'I am not objecting to good roads, my lords,' Angrist said with a laugh, 'and I think all know that I wish for safe port as well.' |
'What wise man would argue against good roads?' Duinmir sounded puzzled. His eyes came to rest on Thorongil. 'But a wise lord will always ask why his people are being called away to war, and wonder why the roads are allowed to languish until then.' |
'Because we do not think of trying times until they arrive, Duinmir,' Angrist replied, eyeing the other sharply. |
The Morthond lord did not cease looking at Thorongil. 'Of course. But I am confused. Three years ago, I heard speak of the great threat from the south. Is that threat now gone so that we should be eager to send our men away east and north?' To Denethor's concern, Adrahil nodded agreement with Duinmir and turned a sharp... |
'And for Gondor, as all of us are!' Morvorin insisted. 'We are men of Gondor!' |
'Some of us.' Duinmir's eyes glinted and an unkind smile came to his lips. 'Not all.' Thorongil did not look away nor did his calm expression change, but some red began to appear on his cheeks. 'And a wise lord thinks of his own people first.' |
'For there lies the greatest fortress, beside which stone is mere sand,' Finduilas answered, 'and the people will always look to the wisest lord, the one who can lead and unite them in dire times. There is no wisdom in division.' Duinmir finally looked away from the captain. He could not meet Finduilas's eyes for more ... |
'Nor is there wisdom in ignoring a threat. Umbar remains the same threat that it was three years ago.' Denethor allowed some contempt to creep into his voice. 'If you have arrived at a solution for defeating them, Duinmir, we all wish to hear it. Until then, the waters can protect us or become highways for our foes. Th... |
Finduilas smiled at Denethor at these words and placed her hand on his arm. 'And so they shall remain.' Adrahil's expression remained doubtful. |
'There are more lands than those, my lady,' Duinmir said, though he would not look upon Finduilas fully, 'and the mountains are also in search of a fortress that will last. Our stone hills are more than sand.' |
'So said the hill-lords of Rhudaur before they fell to Angmar,' Thorongil said quietly, eyes downcast, as though speaking to himself. His gaze snapped upwards, eyes fierce, catching Duinmir so suddenly the other man stepped back a pace. 'Their towers, aye, those remain. Naught else.' |
'I say we argue over shadows,' Morvorin interrupted. 'Arnor was laid low by its divisions. That must not happen here. What we need are good roads to unite us, from Erech to Linhir and on to Minas Tirith.' For a moment, Denethor had a vision of stone, a ribbon running across Gondor like a river across a plain, and those... |
Duinmir found his tongue once more. 'But will the Anduin fiefs come to our defense? For three years, now, we send our men away east for others to command.' |
Denethor tired of this querulous lord. 'Yes, they will, even as Steward Beren sent Beregond to drive back the invaders from Umbar and Harad who overran the falas but two-hundred and twenty years past. Had the roads been better, it probably would not have taken all the winter to do. Morvorin is right. When there is a ne... |
'Please, gentlemen, enough!' Finduilas dug her nails into Denethor's wrist, warning him to be quiet. 'This is a wedding, and you will have your war council in but a few days.' She shook a finger at them all, but smiled to take away the sting. 'The new Lady of Linhir would be most upset to know you are arguing and not c... |
Adrahil gave Denethor a stern look. 'Warden, though the capital and the coast have struck a certain bargain, there is more than some truth to the mountain's contention that not much has been done about Umbar in three years. The thoughts of the Steward have not changed in that time, and Gondor's strength has been lent t... |
'Our strength has gone to where we have been attacked, Prince. The coast has been spared.' |
'That is due to accident, not plan, Denethor, at least no plan of ours.' |
'And I repeat what I said to you three years ago: How shall we take the battle to their coast? In the absence of that, we can have no plan save to sit and wait. We can meet their ships in ones and twos as we always have, but a fleet? Could Seabird contest with an ocean of black sails? If we have no way to meet them upo... |
The prince scrubbed at his close-sheared hair and sighed, shaking his head. 'I know. I know this better than you, Denethor. Did you not charge me to consider how we would have more than a simple raiding fleet?' |
'I still need you to do that, Adrahil.' |
'Yes.' Adrahil sighed again, then grinned, eyes twinkling. 'But not now. It is a wedding, and I shall have three ladies very upset with me if I do not celebrate.' |
Angrist laughed and clapped Adrahil on the shoulder. 'Nay, five, for you now have my two to scold you. Farewell, Warden! More will wait for the Council.' |
Denethor watched the two lords walk off, once more arm in arm, before turning his attention to Morvorin. 'Roads, you think?' |
'Yes, Warden. Roads.' |
'You will need to return to Minas Tirith with me after the council.' |
Morvorin smiled. 'Gladly. The time for contest between the fiefs is over.' |
'And you are not daunted by this task?' |
'You will spend little time among your own people.' |
The young lord shrugged. 'Ethring and the Ringló are my particular charges, but I am Gondorian.' |
'We ride the second morning after the Southern Council. Be sure you and Lady Moraen are ready.' Denethor nodded a dismissal to Morvorin and went in search of Finduilas. She had rid herself of Duinmir and was dancing with Thorongil. The two were smiling and talking, obviously enjoying each other's company. Denethor stoo... |
Denethor joined in the loud cheers to send the two off for the night, then turned to Finduilas. 'Now, may we go?' All of the other guests were also departing, but Beregar was quickly present with their cloaks and a lantern to light their way home. Finduilas was yawning widely by the time they reached the house and lean... |
Linhir, 2 January, 2978 T.A. |
Denethor cast a surreptitious glance at the wooden box holding his birthday present, then sighed and returned his attention to a report Marlong had sent just before mettarë. He would have preferred to fiddle with the contraption. It was a perfect present, the mystery of what it was no less marvelous than what it might ... |
You should put that into a trunk and leave it there. Finduilas would be angry if she came across it or knew he had it upon him while they were in a civilized place. She is the one who bade me keep it when I would fain have returned it to its maker, so she should not be cross if I have it near! Even as the rebellious th... |
A month had passed and he still did not know what to make of the mariner's touch. He was torn between anger at the creature's trespass upon Finduilas and elation that the mariner had pulled aside the veil that kept them from seeing each other. Or perhaps it was our Sight that allowed him to approach? Then I have left h... |
Something caught his attention. Denethor cocked his head, listening, but could discern nothing unusual. It was more like a gladdening of his heart. A small smile came to his lips and he sat very quietly, waiting. It was not long before he heard the front door open and close. The sound of women's voices preceded them th... |
There was a tap at the study door, then Finduilas opened it and peeked around the edge. 'Am I disturbing you, friend?' |
'No.' He gladly set aside the report and rose to greet her. 'It is pleasant to have my wife back.' |
'I was not gone that long!' |
'Today, no, but before, a great deal.' |
'I fear I will be gone again tomorrow. Mother wishes for me.' |
'Then I shall pine for you until you return,' he said with an exaggerated sigh which made her giggle. Denethor leaned down and nuzzled her neck. 'I miss you already.' |
'Oh no, you don't!' Finduilas gave him a small slap on the shoulder and stepped out of his embrace, but she was laughing. 'You may save your honeyed words for later, husband! I shan't be distracted by you. I am tired of being pent up in this watery town, however hospitable its people. The day is nice and I intend to vi... |
This sounded much more interesting than reports. In less than a half-hour, they walked to the stables near the Pelargir road. Beregar led the way and a pair of Queen's Men followed, warding people off with a look. Nothing could keep the children away. Whenever they passed a knot of them in the street, the urchins would... |
While the main squares and streets were hung with the banners of the of the city's ruling house – a black bridge on a blue field – the lesser lanes showed the flag of the Lady. Denethor pondered this. It had always been the policy of the Stewards that their banner flew nowhere save above Minas Tirith. The army always m... |
Gull and Gaerhûl greeted them loudly. Finduilas insisted on saddling the mare herself, offering apologies to Gull for having ignored her for so long. The mare accepted them with good grace. Gaerhûl, on the other hand, was his usual bad-tempered self. Denethor suggested that they ride west across the northernmost bridge... |
Once out of Linhir, Denethor had to give up his serious thoughts for a time. Finduilas and Gull delighted in the open land and wished to run. Several times he and Gaerhûl had to admit defeat as their beauties effortlessly sprinted away. Eventually they had their fill, and Denethor could turn his attention to the road. ... |
Through all of this, Finduilas patiently rode beside him, leaving Denethor to his thoughts. They stopped for dinner in a comfortable, ancient inn three leagues north of Linhir. The innkeeper, an old slender woman with dignified bearing, placed them in a warm nook in the taproom where the other patrons could see them an... |
'Can it be done?' Finduilas asked after taking a few bites of dinner. |
'Restoring the roads? Certainly, but not without cost and effort. It is a shame upon the Stewards that they were allowed to deteriorate.' |
'A shame to be shared. Few lords have cared to keep them in repair.' He nodded, mouth full of food. Finduilas's expression became thoughtful. 'You intend for Morvorin to oversee putting them together?' |
'Mm-huh.' Denethor hastily washed down his food with a swig of ale. 'He wishes it done, and he will not mind all the riding. Morvorin likes traveling.' |
'You will have him often in Minas Tirith, though, yes?' |
'And your real reason for this?' |
'I have spent too much time on the shores. It is time to attend to the mountains.' |
'And?' Her gaze was keen. |
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