Author’s Note: I felt a little romantically inclined this week so I wrote a little more romance into this chapter. Actually, I think love is a wonderful thing and I like writing about it. ***blushes**

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Note: In the Custom of the Eldar, an elf can tell if another elf is attached by the look in their eyes.
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Over the next three months the companions began to settle into their new lives. Within a fortnight after their arrival in Minas Tirith, Arwen completed the ordering of her household. She was anxious to commence her official duties so it was agreed between Aredhel and herself that Aredhel would oversee the management of the royal household. In preparation for that momentous occasion, Aragorn had dispensed orders for the arrangement of a suite of rooms in the opposite wing of the Citadel. It was long since the city of Gondor was graced with the leadership of a Queen and he desired a smooth launch in the establishment of her reign. Together, they intended to create an impressive legacy for any children that they might one day have.

By the time Arwen was fully settled into the demands of her new position, Aragorn had already apprised her of the current state of their affairs. Jointly they had exhausted many hours pouring over numerous records with the objective of ascertaining the best ways in which to proceed toward the achievement of their goals. Between them, they decided to split various areas of responsibility. While Aragorn focused his attentions on the governance of their greater realms, Arwen would concentrate on the realm of Gondor and its people. They would, however, continue to exchange thoughts on their separate projects and keep each other abreast of the progression of each otherÂ’s plans.

For his purposes, Aragorn had ordered the establishment of a special courier service to receive tidings from the Northern realm of Arnor. Reconstruction was scheduled to begin in a few months and he had appointed Meneldur, AmandilÂ’s older brother, with the task of managing the restoration. Recently, he had received word from Meneldur detailing all that was already accomplished. He had been successful in his efforts to gather their scattered people and many had willingly pledged their services in re-building the lost kingdom. The couple welcomed this propitious news since it was one less issue for them to address. They expected a project life of several years before construction was entirely completed in Arnor.

Since the funding for the restoration project was not readily available, they were forced to appropriate a portion of GondorÂ’s treasury fund to that particular cause. Aragorn and Amandil had labored long in compiling a preliminary estimate of costs to be incurred during the first year of the project life. Consequently, the king had a reasonable assessment of their residual finances after the proposed administration of ArnorÂ’s special fund. However, though in law the couple held a peremptory rule, they had judiciously solicited the blessing of their council members who had promptly approved since they were quite enraptured by the prospect of fully re-establishing the magnificent union of the old kingdoms.

Only for the first few years of the project life did the couple intend to fund the reconstruction through the treasury fund of Gondor. They intended to work together to devise other means of funding the continuation of the project. The sooner they found a solution the earlier they would implement it. Fortunately for them, Lord Denethor had rigidly adhered to the practice of economy during his leadership of the city. Even though the population within the city and its surrounding realms had diminished, the former steward was still able to maintain a considerable surplus in the treasury of Gondor. Perhaps it most accurately explained the reason for the yearly decay of Gondor during his years of reign.

Another area of concern was the improvements to be rendered in Gondor itself. The king had received word from Gimli reasserting his promise to enhance the infrastructure of the city. With his note he had included a detailed list of material requirements for Aragorn to procure before his arrival. Surprisingly, Gimli was able to persuade his kinsmen to accompany him to the south to offer their services to the king. In truth it was an admirable feat since they were not keen on removing to the south for an interminable period of time. Aragorn they knew and respected but it was not in their nature to be self-sacrificing to others who were not of their race. Nevertheless, they had grudgingly submitted to GimliÂ’s request but only after he had enticed them with the promised satisfaction of a secret desire they shared.

Through his concern for active vigilance, Aragorn routinely received biweekly reports regarding the stability of his outer realms. SauronÂ’s reign had only ended a couple months before and he was wary of covert plots by those who had been the servants of the MaiarÂ’s evil. It was now his official duty to ensure that his lands and peoples were kept safe. Hence, as a measure of security, he commanded the stealthy surveillance of those free peoples he had recently pardoned. It was a pragmatic decision. He was realistic enough to know that, for some, the road to goodly restoration would not occur swiftly. The armies of Gondor were invariably poised to act whenever it became necessary. Though admittedly, he was not eager to ride to war anytime soon. Of late, his life had become more valuable to him now that he had definitively bounded himself to another.

For her part, Arwen was equipped for the challenges that lied ahead. Faramir worked most often with her and the first task that they mutually tackled was the project of GondorÂ’s infrastructure. With a worthy staff in place, the two set about laying the groundwork for the initial stage of the project. Faramir had spent several weeks interviewing Gondorians who had answered their announcement for employment for when the project was ready to begin. At the end, he had a varied assortment of able-bodied and skilled men. These were informed that they would be summoned as soon as work was scheduled to begin. In the meantime, the compiled list that had exacted so many hours of his time was safely secured in the files of the Citadel until further notice.

ArwenÂ’s role was in the procurement of the raw materials for the project. She was resolute in her decision to procure the raw materials from a variety of sources with the goal of boosting commerce on a wider scale. Fortunately, the research garnered by her staff favored her plans. There were indeed merchants in the surrounding realms who could manufacture the raw materials and more propitiously, with negligible variation in quality standards. She had her staff immediately dispatch word to the merchants requesting their presence before her to discuss her expectations. Within a few days after the missive was sent, acceptances for her proposal slowly began to trickle in.

On the day of the meeting, a small representation of manufacturers was assembled in the hall of the Citadel. Soon after their arrival the discussions commenced. The subject of prices, transportation, quality, storage, and other relevant factors were canvassed. For the meeting Arwen had expediently employed the services of a cognoscente skilled in the construction of urban infrastructures. He spoke astutely with the group of manufacturers and was able to convey perfectly the requirements that Gimli had stipulated in his correspondence. In terms of prices and quotas, his expertise was also beneficial. Providentially, Arwen had acquainted herself with the research collected by her staff and with the aide of the expert she was entirely prepared to negotiate fair prices with each manufacturer with the objective of benefiting both sides. Each manufacturer had circumstances that were unique to him and she intended to incorporate those factors into her negotiation process. She had also invited Aragorn to join their meeting to avoid a complete repetition of matters that were discussed. However, he had only participated in the monetary discussions in the latter part of the meeting since it was his primary concern.

The time spent on negotiations was shorter than anticipated and was mostly attributable to the manufactures’ alacrity and gratitude for the surety of future income. Over the recent years there had been an abeyance in all their business activities. Times had been difficult and they were forced to subsist on other means of income. But now, with the promise of a steady flow of income from this colossal project, they would be able to re-hire men whom they were compelled to release from their services during the recent years. Families would be fed once more and business would prosper. Before the end of the meeting they were informed that agreements would be redacted in the coming weeks and word would be dispatched to them specifying the appointed time range in which they could initiate production. Many of them exited the city of Minas Tirith that day exalting the kindness of the royal couple: “May the Valar bless the King and Queen.”

Another worthy cause to which the queen focused her attentions, was the employing of Gondorians who were permanently injured in the war. Long ago during a time of peace, men of skills had been plentiful in Gondor. It was to that time that her mind was drawn. Those men who suffered irreversible injuries from the war now needed another means of occupation. Some had already succumbed to profound despair but Arwen was determined to find a way for them to lead a fairly decent existence. There were some, she knew, who were beyond her assistance. These were the men whose bodies had suffered a trauma too damaging to overcome. In those cases, she had a secondary plan in mind. She had discussed it thoroughly with Aragorn and they had both agreed that it was feasible for the long term. However, with regards to those men who were suitable for employment, with the assistance of Faramir, she launched a general plea to city merchants to aide in their objective. At first, the response was moderate. Merchants apparently had little need for further assistance. Their complaints ranged from stagnant business sales to full staff capacity. Arwen and Faramir were partly frustrated but fully understood the grievances of the merchants. Their arguments were irrefragable. The city of Gondor and its economy had indeed been falling into decay with the expiration of each year. Nevertheless, the QueenÂ’s will was inexorable and Faramir was encouraged by her resolution. The royal couple had already employed some of those same men to assist with the work demanded by their new projects. But, as long as there were more hands to be engaged and more mouths to feed, Arwen and Faramir refused to surrender to defeat.

For those men whose services would forever be useless as a direct result of a ruinous injury sustained during the war, the royal couple focused on the subsequent breadwinner. In the cases where a woman now became the sole breadwinner, there was an immediate chance to learn a skill. Melian, Aredhel, Arwen and their maidens volunteered their services to the attainment of this goal. As usual, FaramirÂ’s services proved invaluable. He had managed to secure a suitable place for them to congregate for their desired purpose. Under their instruction, many Gondorian women were distinguished by their direct tutorship. Soon, after several weeks had passed, those Gondorian women who excelled in creativity were asked to assist in tutoring new comers. It is true that in the equal balance of nature, there were some who supremely surpassed expectations and others who completely lacked the talent for such creativity. Hence, there were some women who were successful in generating income from their newly acquired skill and some who were forced to seek an alternate means of existence.

In other matters of social interest, Arwen once again solicited FaramirÂ’s services. Thus far he had proven very resourceful in all her plans and she valued his opinions greatly. This time, however, instead of actively participating in her goal, he brought before her a Gondorian woman by the name of Ioreth. It did not take her long to decipher FaramirÂ’s choice. Ioreth was a wealth of knowledge in social affairs. From dignitaries to the average man, she was prodigiously schooled in their affairs. At times Arwen was compelled to curtail her rhetoric in consideration of time. Nevertheless, the queen concluded that she would indeed prove useful to the speedy execution of her plans. From that time onward, she amusingly thanked Faramir for his excellent choice.

In the weeks ahead, Ioreth surpassed ArwenÂ’s original expectations. There was a list that served a dual purpose for tax collection and social relief that, without IorethÂ’s contribution, would have consumed a significant portion of her time in perusing for her intended purpose. In addition, with IorethÂ’s assistance she became more intimately familiar with the dire condition of the sick, elderly and impoverished. More advantageous still to the furtherance of her cause, was the information provided by Ioreth regarding a group of noble women who worked diligently to administer relief to the poor and suffering. The group was comprised of women who utilized their spare time to the benefit of human kind. For the most part, they were the wives of dignitaries and they were anxious to marshal the influence of the Queen through their worthy friend, Ioreth. Not for a moment did Arwen hesitate in meeting with these women. In fact, so aligned were their goals with hers that they sagaciously decided to work together toward the achievement of their common goals.

A more long-term goal that the couple labored long in devising was the restoration of GondorÂ’s acclaim for an educated society. True, there was some who had escaped the waning in knowledge, but there were plenty for whom education had become secondary in times of conflict. Men of war largely outnumbered men of skill. For them, the couple intended to formulate a plan, but their concern was largely focused on designing an educational plan for the youth of the time: the children who was in essence the future of Gondor. After weeks of searching for an appropriate building, the couple decided upon a large spacious hall that was abandoned by its original owners of whom they knew nothing. Repairs, of course, would have to be rendered to the building but for the most part it had remained inviolate through the years. As soon as time afforded it, they hoped to launch the beginning of their program to educate the youth of Gondor.

With all these goals simultaneously exacting the coupleÂ’s attention, it was no small wonder that they still found time for themselves. However, rather than eroding the affection that they shared for each other, the long hours spent in the Citadel served to further cement the intimacy between the two. Theirs was a labor of love and they both enjoyed each otherÂ’s company through all the frustrations, anxieties, and successes of their plans. Their romantic sensibilities continued to flourish. At times at the end of an arduous day, Aragorn would sweep his wife away for a leisurely afternoon ride. Most often they would utilize the field just beyond the stables instead of exiting the city to roam the Fields of Pelennor. During those times, he would begrudgingly entrust the stable grooms with the exquisite burden of his wife as they raised her to sit sidesaddle in front of him. She was never adorned in riding garments unless she intended to go horseback riding. Hence, he was always forced to suffer the few seconds during which another manÂ’s hands would be firmly set upon his wifeÂ’s graceful waist. After that uncomfortable moment was passed, they were free to enjoy the privacy of their mutual company. Normally Aragorn would nudge the horse into a gentle trot while firmly but tenderly securing his beloved wife to him. There they would wile away the aging afternoon engrossed in their own intimate world until the beautiful sunset with its accompanying alpenglow signaled it was time for them return.

Other times on a cool and sunny afternoon, they would stroll the fine gardens in the rear of the royal residence where the atmosphere permeated with a floral fragrance that was mildly intoxicating to the senses. Most times during their walks they shared affectionate conversations regarding their hopes for the future. Sometimes they would return to the canopied shelter of the tall ancient trees where a book of poetry and a blanket awaited their delectation. There, Arwen would read to the man that she so wholly and passionately loved while combing her slender fingers through his thick black hair, as his head lay comfortably pillowed in her lap. His lids were often partially closed revealing only a hint of his light grey eyes and his ears would listen sedulously to the melodious tone of his belovedÂ’s voice. That voice, he acknowledged, was capable of thrilling every fiber of his being. The owner, he venerated and ardently worshipped.

It is true that there were times when even the servants marveled at the actions of their master. A few nights by necessity, he was forced to solicit their discretionary aid during his romantic escapades. He loved to carry his wife from the gardens to the royal suites and prudently did so via the service stairs for the sake of privacy. The servants would hold the doors open for him while he whisked his precious burden up the plentiful stairs as they quietly whispered endearments to each other. During those few minutes the servants saw nothing and heard nothing but as soon as it was certain that the royal couple was gone, their placid facades would dissolve into good-natured amusement. For some, the coupleÂ’s infectious spirits and mutual affection evoked memories of happier days past.

For all that Arwen had accomplished over the past few months, Melian had been a significant part of that effort. She worked jointly with Arwen and Faramir to perfect the plans for implementation. There was little else to engage her interest so she welcomed the challenges of this new realm. She thoroughly enjoyed her acquaintances with the Gondorian women and was pleased to contribute her expertise to the benefit of their improvement. Under their instruction, a few had already realized even a modicum of success: a small feat but also a promising one. In that small way, their instruction had already served to influence a part of GondorÂ’s economy. Some might even consider it as only a small ripple in the grand ocean of things but there was also the hope of its later evolvement into large waves of achievement. In this belief she was fully ascribed. She had witnessed the determination in the eyes of many who were now given the opportunity to shape their lives and improve their circumstances. There was no doubt that some would fail but for the most part, she truly believed that many would succeed.

As to her internal sensibilities, there was no one on Arda who was privy to those thoughts. They were masterfully hidden under her semblance of insouciance. Only in the solitude of her room did her mood turn to one of serious contemplation. She was disquieted by the sentiments she experienced with regards to the Prince of Mirkwood. In all her years of being, she had never experienced the emotion of love in an intimate way. That he was unattached, she was fairly certain since it was clearly revealed in his eyes. However, it did little to efface her doubts. Many a night she pondered her uneasiness and always concluded with the answer that her fears were unwarranted. Legolas was almost faultless in every matter she considered and after much deliberation and lengthy reasoning, she finally allowed herself to surrender to her wonderful new feelings. Though, caution, she could not wholly abandon and she rarely allowed herself to indulge in thoughts of a future with him. He had been encouraging during their time shared together but less overt than she would have liked in order to gauge a confirmation of the return of his feelings.

Although she veritably craved to solicit ArwenÂ’s opinion, she was hindered by her fears of appearing silly. But on further thought, would Arwen understand the initial reservations she entertained? Arwen who seemed to be eternally locked in a passionate love affair? Will she be objective in matters of the heart? Melian, who was a novice in the affairs of the heart, was uncertain. However, It was later acknowledged that had she trusted in Arwen as her heart desired, it would have spared her the agony of enduring her uncertainty in solitude.

Nessa, for her part, was superbly adjusting to the environs of her new home. After the initial obstacle of language barrier, she was able to fall in comfortably as one of the household. Aredhel had taken her under her loving wing and began to teach her many things commencing with the learning of Sindarin. It was difficult at first for Nessa, but she never wavered under AredhelÂ’s unrelenting support. In those few months her lessons were grueling. There was so much to learn about her people and their history. The large library on the first floor was a constant source for her advancement. In there she spent most of the morning hours pouring over books, which held her fascination. She had never known in full just how great GondorÂ’s glory had been before the wars and kin strife. Now she voraciously consumed all there was to know on the history and past skill of her people. It also satisfied her pride that she could now hold an intellectual conversation with the other members of the household. The king, whom she saw only at dinnertime, was fond of hearing all that she had learned of their history. In the beginning, she had invariably felt as though he was testing her but now her confidence was so strong that she no longer dreaded his spontaneous inquisition, which he usually ended with a disarming smile.

At nights, she scarcely partook in the nocturnal activities in the music room. She was always so exhausted from the studies of the day that her nightly routine became dinner and shortly thereafter, retirement with a book. Sometimes she would sit on the terrace enjoying the night air until she felt the approach of somnolence. Then she would be forced to retire to her inviting bed leaving the terrace doors open for her contentment.

The enhancement in NessaÂ’s physical appearance grew steadily with the improvement in her mind. Her black hair now rested on her shoulders and the confinement indoors had worked wonders for her complexion. She was little exposed to the sun since her outdoor activities were limited to the late afternoons. There was now a delicacy in her features and an increased bloom on her face. With little pressure, Aredhel had enticed her to try on a dress. Part of the attraction was the beauty of the dress that Aredhel had her maidens design particularly for her. Nessa was gratified with the gesture and graciously succumbed to the temptation. From that day forward she was adorned in dresses all contrived by AredhelÂ’s favor. Arwen and Melian had vaguely complimented her on her appearance while striving to avoid the evocation of distress. They knew that she was still uncomfortable accepting compliments so they rarely spoke to her about her appearance.

MelianÂ’s preoccupation did not escape NessaÂ’s attention. She had noticed an alteration in her friendÂ’s behavior although it was scarcely a significant change. Melian was still affable and the perfect conversationalist, but there was sometimes a look of deep thought within the depths of her eyes. She was fairly certain that her observation was correct since she had accidentally overheard Arwen expressing her concern to Aragorn.

As to the other members of that fine household, there was one personage who at a distant time before curiously held her interest. That he was handsome, she had already acknowledged since that very first time when she beheld him. However, even though they were now domiciled under the same roofing, she knew as little of him as she did then. His reticence left little room for engaging him in a conversation and she was certain that she lacked the courage to initiate a conversation with him. He always seemed so distant, so aloof except when the others succeeded in enticing him to partake in their social activities. Then she would have the pleasure of observing him with the goal of understanding his personality. But there is only so much that can keep a mind and heart engaged in an occupation that offered minimal reward. To her he soon became as a tasteful piece of artwork, a pleasure to observe and admire, and all thoughts of deeper interest were gradually relinquished.

After two months had passed with hardly a word spoken between them beyond a courteous greeting, there chanced to be a time during which their first conversation occurred. One evening she had gone to the library on the first floor to retrieve a book that Aredhel had recommended. At first when she entered the room she was unconscious of his presence. The room was comparably dark with a glimpse of the descending sun through the window draperies. Her eyes had only begun to adjust to the darkness when she was abruptly startled by a faint creaking sound. Alarmed, she had swiftly turned around to see him reclined in an armchair with a closed book on his lap.

“Forgive me if I startled you,” he had said apologetically though with a touch of amusement.

She had only nodded in response to his statement before proceeding to the windows to let in additional light. She had no wish to injure herself by bumping into the dark pieces of furniture that were tastefully arranged in the room. Fortunately for her, Aredhel had informed her as to the exact location of the book, which effectively reduced the time needed to search for it. With a zeal born out of her anxiety, she rapidly proceeded to fulfill her errand. She recognized the small stepladder in a distant corner of the room and quickly went around to retrieve it. All the while she felt sure that AmandilÂ’s eyes traced her every movement; those intensely blue and piercing eyes. She could have sworn that she saw their immense color in the heavy gloom of the room. Or, maybe it was just her imagination. She was a nervous wreck by the time she had reached the ladder when suddenly she felt its weight being eased from her hand.

“Forgive me,” he said when his long, slender fingers accidentally brushed her hand. “Where would you like me to place this?”

NessaÂ’s agitation had dramatically increased by his close proximity. She feebly indicated the location in question while hoping to steady the racing beat of her heart. Her eyes followed him as in a few lengthy strides he covered the distance to the place she had indicated. In her quiet disbelief, she still stood rooted to the place where the ladder had been. It was only when he stared inquiringly at her that she finally made a vigorous attempt to shed her temporary bout of insensibility.

“If you provide the name of the book, I would be happy to retrieve it for you. I would rather risk my own limb in this gloomy darkness. I should have summoned for the provision of light an hour ago but, I confess, in my indolence I lapsed in the matter.” He smiled then and Nessa was entirely captivated. More than ever she was now certain that he was capable of social discourse but still wondered the reason for his aloofness. But all this would have to be pondered later in the privacy of her chamber since she was still seriously rattled by his very near presence. In fact, she was almost certain that he could hear the violent beating of her heart during those disconcerting yet delicious few minutes.

She saw that he awaited her answer and promptly gave him the title for the book. In a minute he handed the book to her and she quickly expressed her gratitude before quitting the room in celerity. It had taken her a long stroll in the gardens to cool her racing senses. Since then she had chided herself for her abrupt departure from the library while hoping for an opportunity to redeem herself from her fatuous behavior. The chance, however, had not revealed itself and from what she had heard indirectly from Melian it was not likely to do so anytime soon. His entire days were spent working with the king on his projects and at nights, according to MelianÂ’s information, he usually retired to the privacy of his chamber directly after dinner.

Three months was now past and Nessa and Aredhel were taking a late afternoon stroll through the gardens, when the distant sound of clashing steel greeted them over the height of the flower trees. Aragorn and Amandil were obviously practicing sword fighting, as was their custom since they returned from Rohan. Nessa had observed them on numerous occasions and was quite impressed. Even to her amateur eyes it was clear that both men were proficiently skilled in the art of combat.

“They are such good swordsmen,” she told Aredhel as they retraced their footsteps in the direction from whence they came. Aredhel only smiled. “There was a time when I gloried in the skills of a warrior,” she diffidently told Aredhel with a hint of regret.

“Has that changed?” Aredhel asked her directly.

Nessa thought for a moment. She wanted to search her soul in order to answer honestly. “I fear I would be dishonest if I answered at this moment. In the serenity of these past few months, I cannot really be sure if my views have altered.”

Aredhel nodded. They walked on for a bit before she turned to Nessa saying, “Aragorn and Amandil fight because it is their duty. There is no glory in battle for those who are wise since there is also remorse for the taking of lives. There is gratitude for victory when battles are won but never glory in the battle itself.”

Nessa had listened to Aredhel attentively. She had sensed that there was a latent passion underlying the tone of her speech. There was some sadness that was carefully concealed, some experience that invoked that trace of passion. “But certainly vile creatures like Orcs deserve death for the atrocities they inflict upon those who are innocent.”

“Certainly, but I do not speak of those creatures who were breed for the singular purpose of perpetrating heinous acts against the children of Iluvatar. I speak of men who were deceived and even threatened by the power of Sauron. There is never really a clear distinction between those who are good and evil when we place ourselves in the position of either side. War is never that unfettered from the grievances of either side.” She had spoken so vehemently that Nessa’s curiosity was instantly peaked. But Aredhel smiled apologetically before saying, “I believe King Elessar feels as I do since his compassion was promptly extended to those who were newly liberated from Sauron’s enslavement over their minds.”

Nessa was silent in a pensive way. “I confess I have never really given thought to the lives of our former enemies. I only saw them as evil men who deserved nothing less than death.”

“Yet, in their eyes we deserved the same for conquering their lands and enforcing our customs upon them in years past. In that, we have fostered, perhaps forever, a feeling of enmity within their hearts that will never truly dissipate. Unless there is hope in the innocence of their children.”

Nessa grew silent once more. In that brief discussion, Aredhel had made an indelible impression upon her mind. It taught her to consider matters in its entirety before she formed an opinion.

Their stroll now drew them closer to the area where Aragorn and Amandil still persisted in their sword fighting. The hair on both their heads was damp with perspiration as they skirted back and forth with perfect form. Intermittently, a short laugh was uttered when the other managed an advantageous strike. Nessa and Aredhel watched admiringly as their feet moved with rapidity on the short manicured grass. The clashing of blades escalated as the two men became more engrossed in the intensity of the fight. To Aredhel and Nessa, it seemed that the men were uncharacteristically indefatigable. They had been practicing for the past hour without a single repose yet their energy seemed unwavering.

Arwen, Melian, and Faramir, who had ventured outdoors to enjoy a leisurely drink at a table that was set for them, soon joined the two spectators in observing the two men. Faramir normally joined them around dinnertime but on that particular night he was early. He had clutched in his hand a secret that he fiercely protected. It was the preliminary design for the fair house that he intended to construct in the hills of Emyn Arnen. He was a good sport when Arwen and Melian teased him about the priceless parchment that seemed invariably glued to the firm grip of his hands. Their antics diverted him at times even though he knew that they did it only for the sake of jest. They genuinely respected his privacy and were disinterested, for the most part, in anything that was independent of their concerns. Once Arwen had shown him a design for a dress that she had alleged to be EowynÂ’s wedding dress. She had amusingly scrutinized his reaction before confessing to him that there was no way he would ever see it until that fortunate day next year. Faramir had laughed heartily then but not before threatening to wheedle it out of one of her maidens. Arwen had responded by addressing the futility of that attempt since her maidens primarily kept to themselves except when partaking in the weekly instruction of fine needlework.

“You did well my friends,” Faramir called to Aragorn and Amandil who had finally completed their sword match. They were now approaching the others who had retired to the outdoor table to satiate their thirst from the afternoon heat. “I understand you have been fighting for over an hour now.”

Aragorn nodded. He and Amandil were now standing around the table where Aredhel pressed a glass of cold beverage into both their weary hands. It was not far from dinnertime so the two men did not linger to palaver. Instead they hastened to their respective bedchambers to refresh themselves. The ladies remained outdoors in FaramirÂ’s company until Aragorn and Amandil rejoined them. They were truly a jovial and contented group who thoroughly enjoyed each otherÂ’s company. The bonds of friendship between them had strengthened over the past three months and an increased closeness was distinctly noticeable. Soon afterward they were summoned to dinner where for its entire duration the servants in the outside halls shook their heads at the constant laughter that continually greeted them down the brightly lit halls.