Restless

Chapter 9

“Day 59”

Aragorn glanced at his Chamberlain as the horses walked along the King’s Road – renamed and rebuilt just as the City toward which they were traveling. The man had acquired a smile for the first time in weeks, ever since they left the Shire, and Aragorn had no need to guess why. The man was clearly grateful to be away from Hobbiton and the little creatures that inhabited the holes dug deep into the rolling hillsides.

Aragorn sighed quietly. He was going to have to speak to his Chamberlain if the man was going to continue in his service. His superior attitude was the first thing that would need to change. His opinion of the Hobbits, and now, even comments made in passing about the rebuilding of Arnor, sounded far too prejudiced to suit the Chieftain of the Rangers and the King of the Reunited Kingdom. Aragorn was all too well aware the opinion many of Gondor’s citizens held toward the people of the North. Denethor, Boromir’s father, and Steward of Gondor before he died, had held a similar contempt for the people who Aragorn led for more than sixty years.

What they did not know was but a small piece in a very large puzzle that had kept the Rangers and those they protected, safe from the evils of Angmar.

Aragorn knew that the Chamberlain’s opinion of the Arnorian people was that they were cowards. Hiding in the forests while a great evil grew in the east and besieged all that stood in its way – including its once powerful sister city of Gondor. They did not realize that the Rangers, direct descendents of the Numenorean Kings, were too few to protect any but their own borders. And they had a greater duty – to teach and protect the line of Isildur.

They were not far now from Annuminas – the once great Capitol of the Kingdom of Arnor. Aragorn contained his excitement at seeing his people, his friends, again. It had been far too long. Even now, to his Ranger’s trained eye, Aragorn could see the Arnorian sentries well-hidden within the surrounding trees.

They had been following Lake Nenuial for several hours, the very lake in which the old City of Annuminas had been built. Ruins still protruded from the ground, testament to the decay and desertion that had befallen the once great city.

Aragorn had chosen to rebuild the Capitol of the West a bit further from the Lake and into the ancient, towering hills of Evendim. Much more difficult would it be to lay siege to a city backed into the base of these hills.

Legolas trotted beside Aragorn and tossed a glance at the King. “We are being followed.”

Aragorn shot his friend a wide smile. “Of course re, re, my friend. The Rangers of Arnor let no one wander their hills without first determining if they are friend or foe.”

“Indeed,” The Chamberlain overheard the conversation and began to watch the forest very carefully. He saw nothing, which both worried and reassured him.

“You will not find them unless they wish to be found,” Aragorn grinned, tossing a wink into one of the trees where he could see a well-armed Ranger concealed from view. “Arnorian Rangers have elven blood and as such are nearly as good as pure-blood elves at concealing their whereabouts.”

The Chamberlain huffed in disgust, and it appeared to Aragorn that the man apparently shared the opinion of many Gondorian people on the subject of elves as well. The man settled himself in his saddle, looking expectantly down the road as the excitement of seeing the rebuilt city grew.

Legolas raised an amused eyebrow at Aragorn’s comment, realizing that the King had mentioned the Rangers being as proficient as the elves so as to disgust the Chamberlain. Legolas knew full well that Aragorn would never presume that his people were as good as the elves at anything.

They rode on in silence, Aragorn and Arwen in the lead. Several hours passed with no activity until the caravan crested a small hill. Asfaloth and Roheryn stopped and those following quietly behind, glided to a quick halt.

Arwen’s audible gasp rippled down the column of soldiers who served as royal escort. Her full lips parted and her eyes widened as she was among the first to see the rebuilt Kingdom of Arnor in the return to its former glory.

Towers spiraled into the air within solid stone castle walls that disappeared into the surrounding hillside. Large watchtowers stood far above the City, nestled into the hills much like the old watchtower of Amon Sul. It’s chief tower, annun, sat atop the great hillside of Evendim, and like its name, faced toward the sea - west.

The City, to those familiar with Gondor, was a striking difference. The outside walls were dark, therefore blending into the natural surroundings with ease. Large, ornate gates were book-ended by large trees that obscured the casual observer from seeing the sentries posted at the top of the great wall. Indeed, it appeared if the Rebuilt Kingdom had been raised out of the mountain and the forest itself.

Inside the outermost walls were four rings, much like the seven rings that comprised the walls inside of Gondor. Aragorn had employed Dwarven smiths to construct these walls, and Elvin engravers to etch the elaborate and distinct design into each ring.

As King of the Reunited Kingdom, Aragorn had plans drawn up almost immediately for the rebuilding of Annuminas. As he had reunited the twce gce great kingdoms, so he wanted to show a unity between the peoples of Middle Earth. Each ornate and distinctly carved ring within the City had been created with the people whom they represented in mind.

The first gate, facing due south, was a homage to the little people – Halflings – Hobbits – who played such a large roll in the destruction of the Ring of Power. Their simple, peaceful way of life was depicted in the images of sprawling hillsides, fields of crops and hobbit holes, etched beautifully into the polished wooden gate.

The second gate - or ring- represented the Dwarves. It’s distinct difference from the peaceful and serene depictions of life etched into the Hobbit’s gate, provided aho pho passed, a representation of how even the most different of creatures can unite for a common goal. The gate was made of solid mithril, mined from the deepest caves, and given as a gift to the King Elessar. Upon it were etched the designs of dwarven life –and the entrance to into this ring was a reproduction of the gate into the great Mine of Moria.

The third gate was polished and pristine, wrought with precious metal mined from the unknown places where only the fairest creatures of the world walked. It stood facing the West, toward the Sea. And from atop it, you could see the crystal blue waves kissing the shore miles away. This gate stood for the elves, wisest and fairest of all creatures in Middle Earth.

The final and tallest ring stood as a homage to all that had come before – Numenor. The designs etched into the precious metal depicted life as it was known on the lost Isle. Intricate scrollwork and design covered the walls that faced toward the East – the seat of power from where the current King ruled – Gondor.

Aragorn smiled as he looked on in silence – and slight awe, for he had not seen the City in its completion. Arwen slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gently, realizing what it meant to him to see the great City re-built once again.

“How different it looks,” Aragorn said quietly, a hint of wonder in his voice. “Such a change in six years.”

From where they sat, it was possible to see over the castle walls and into the first ring – where cattle and farmers had taken up residence. Aragorn smiled as he located a particular set of ruins – the pieces were all that remained of the former fallen City of Annuminas. The new City had been built around them and they had remained untouched – Aragorn’s only mandate when construction had begun.

"It is a sight to behold," Gimli smiled, recognizing the work of the dwarven smiths he had sent to Arnor years before.

"Yes, Gimli," Aragorn turned an appreciative eye on his friend. "Your people are to be commended. It is beautiful."

"Nearly rivals the beauty of Gondor." Legolas chimed in from where he had steered Arod beside Arwen.

The Chamberlain huffed indignantly. "It is impossible to match the beauty and the splendor of the White City."

Legolas turned toward the Chamberlain and smiled slightly, “Only elven cities could match such beauty.”

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Arwen smiled politely as she reached over and squeezed her husband's hand in an effort to calm teacteaction she knew was bubbling just under the surface. "Beauty is in the eye of the individual. Gondor has an old and ancient beauty. It is wrought with the history of Kings.” She cast a sidelong glance at her husband who gave a small smile at her words. “Arnor is in many ways, a forgotten city. The once great and powerful northern Kingdom ruled from afar by Numenorean Kings. It should be different, yet similar. Aragorn’s designs have assured that the similarities between the Kingdoms will remain.”

“Yet this place, to those who have lived and defended its borders, is filled with a more painful and destructive history than even Gondor.” Aragorn said to no one in particular. “I lived here and defended these borders for much of my adult life. There is a history here that is as ancient as the oldest city in middle earth.”

The Chamberlain listened quietly, unwilling to question his King’s comments. It was apparent to all who listened, that Aragorn spoke from a deeply embedded sense of loyalty to this former great kingdom.

“Come, let us enter the City.” Aragorn shook himself from the memories and cleared his mind. “I have old friends that I am eager to see again.”

“My Lord,” It was the Chamberlain’s chance to finally interrupt as he urged his steed before the King. “Your herald is duty-bound to announce your arrival. He has been far underused this journey.”

Aragorn sighed and nodded to the clearly excited man. There was no way he could come up with a reason for a quiet entrance into the rebuilt kingdom so instead drew himself up in his saddle and smiled at Arwen.

The Chamberlain nodded to the standard-bearers as they raised their arms and unfurled the King’s banner. The herald joined the Chamberlain in the front of the company and the two men smiled at one another before continuing on toward the city.

The Queen straightened and released her husband’s hand with a wry smile. Side by side they rode down the path that would lead them to the magnificent hidden gates of the rebuilt city of Annuminas.


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Work stopped as the heavy gates swung open to admit the King’s Company. A horn sounded from the top of the watchtower, alerting those inside the walls that an important visitor had arrived.

Work stopped inside the walls as farmers looked up from their herds and women and children stopped where they stood, holding their baskets tightly. Children tugged on their mother’s skirts, asking in hushed whispers who was coming.

Arnorian soldiers saluted and bowed low, recognizing Aragorn for who he was, even if the people did not immediately understand. Frantic whispers rippled among the commoners and soon everyone was on their knees, bowing to their King as he passed.

Each closed ring opened to admit the company, the guards that stood at each magnificent work of art, saluting and falling to their knees in utmost respect. The gates remained open hat hat the people working in the outer rings could follow the King’s company to the castle gate.

Large pillars, carved in the likeness of Elros and Isildur, the first King of Numenor and the Last King of the Reunited Kingdom, stood at the entrance to the castle itself.

Soldiers, clad in suits of leather with a white tree emblazoned upon their chests and a single star – a symbol of the long lost Isle of Numenor - lined the steps leading into the great entrance of the King’s castle.

Rangers of Arnor stood beside the soldiers, smiling widely as they watched their friend, now King, ride through the fourth gate

Aldamir, the acting Regent of Arnor, stood at the base of the stone steps waiting patiently for the Royal company to reach him. In his hands, he held a coronet of polished mithril with a perfectly oval diamond embedded into the center, the symbol of the Kings of Arnor. Aragorn retained the scepter of Annuminas in Gondor, but the coronet, long thought missing, had been returned to Annuminas’ when Aragorn and Gimli had found it among Saruman's possessions in the tower of Orthanc. It had a duplicate, which Aragorn retained in Gondor for the more formal occasions. Very few knew that the coronet in Gondor was not the true Elendilmir.

Aragorn had spirited it away from Gondor with the newly appointed Regent as a symbol of his rule in the rebuilt Kingdom. The rumor that the diamond in the center of the coronet contained some unknown power, had been lost over the generations. It was a secret Elendil had taken to his grave. There was no one left who could tell the King of the rumored power contained within the diamond. And the High King of the Reunited Kingdom did not have enough curiosity or time to investigate. The only knowledge he had of such rumors were stories told in his childhood, most, long forgotten over the years.

The royal herald, having had very little to do on this trip, since the Chamberlain had deemed Bree unimportant enough to use his skills, trotted forward and cleared his throat. The company glided to a halt before Aldamir and the herald raised his hands as well as his voice.

“Behold! My lords & ladies, all you folk of Arnor, make way for their Royal Majesties, Elessar & Arwen, king & queen of the Reunited Lands of Arnor & Gondor. Pay honor to the Captain of the Host of the West, he who can command the Legions of the Dead, he who has vanquished the Dark Enemy.”

Aragorn winced and forced himself toain ain still and quiet. Arwen reached out and slid her hand into his and squeezed it gently; a small gesture of support for a custom that would remain a part of his reign.

The herald went on, and on, listing titles and accomplishments, until Aragorn felt as if he would die from boredom.

“Kneel before your most noble lord: Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor - Aragorn son of Arathorn, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, chieftain of the Dunedain.” The herald finally finished and Arwen smiled – until the herald’s last words reached her ears.

“Pay homage to your queen: Arwen daughter of Elrond, child of the line of Lúthien & Beren, Undómiel of the Elven folk, fairest lady of all these lands. Pay honor to she who is the Evenstar, who inspires your King."

Aragorn held back a stifled laugh at the surprised look she quickly masked under guise of a wide smile. He gave her own hand a reassuring squeeze, comforted to know that he did not have to bear the repeating of such flattering titles, accomplishments and lineage history alone.

Soldiers and commoners alike fell to their knees in respect and trumpets called out the King’s arrival to the four corners of the castle walls and beyond.

The Chamberlain wrinkled his nose at the relatively short proclamation and visibly sighed. This would have gone for twice as long had they been in Gondor and the King would have received the proper respect, and much more.

Aldamir smiled at Aragorn as the King dismounted, and then dropped to one knee out of respect for his friend and King. “Welcome, my Liege.”

“Aldamir,” Aragorn smiled widely and motioned for his friend to rise. “It is good to see you again.”

Aldamir gained his feet and held up the coronet. “Please receive this crown as an affirmation of your status as our Lord and King, and wear it proudly.”

Aragorn nodded and allowed Aldamir to place the coronet across his brow. The afternoon sun glinted off the mithril circlet, bng Ang Aragorn’s head in a halo of light. “My thanks to you. It will again remain after I have gone, as a symbol of my rule.” Aragorn moved to Asfaloth’s side and raised his hand.

Arwen smiled and slid her fingers into her husband’s hand and allowed him to help her from Asfaloth’s back. In truth, it was not needed, as she was a more expert rider than he, but she properly allowed her King to assist her from her mount.

Ald bow bowed low to Arwen as the horses were removed to the livery by the stable-boys. “Welcome to Annuminas, My Lady. The City is honored by your visit.”

“Thank you, Lord Regent.” Arwen gazed at him with kind eyes, smiling at his likeness to Aragorn. “The City is beautiful. You and your men are to be commended for the exquisite workmanship.”

“My Lady, That is indeed a compliment coming from one used to seeing such exquisite elven workmanship. My thanks.” Aldamir led the King and Queen up the steps and then turned to face the crowd thatheathered around to hear the King speak.

Aragorn smiled at the people, many of whom he knew personally, many who had married and settled with their families while the city was being rebuilt.

“Thank you for your toil and dedication to the rebuilding of this City. It is my hope that more will settle in the North, now that the threat of Angmar is all but diminished.” Aragorn bowed to the assembly and smiled. “Thank you for not loosing hope and for standing beside me in our hour of most desperate need.”

With those final words, he bowed deeply to his people and turned to follow Aldamir into the castle that would serve as his home for the next several weeks.