His Corrupted Mind [Witch-King x OC]

Chapter IV : An Unexpected Meeting

"The ideal meeting... Once upon a time... Unexpectedly." -Helen Oyeyemi

Second Age, 3017

In quick time, Sverundr arrived at the massive gates of Minas Tirith and Inconnu heard a guard cry out, "Open the gates!" It was a few minutes before they swung open and in that time Inconnu dismounted and entered. As the gates closed, a few guards approached her and greeted her. "Hail rider! What brings you to Minas Tirith with such haste?"

Inconnu loosed the tension from her shoulders. "I bring grave news of Osgiliath from Faramir son of Denethor."

The guards gave each other worried looks before saying, "Come with us. Denethor would want to hear this in person." Without protest and further conversation Inconnu let Sverundr be taken by a stable boy, who had followed closely behind the guards, and she followed the guards through Minas Tirith. She had only been in Minas Tirith once before and never thought she would return. A lot of things she thought weren't possible, or wouldn't happen, were becoming very true in reality.

Considering the overall trek to the throne room, Minas Tirith was a massive, winding staircase. Once at the end of such a journey, the guards who were positioned to protect the room itself admitted Inconnu and her escort, the opened doors revealing a mostly empty room and an empty throne. The room demanded a solemn respect, a feeling that did not last long though as her gaze drifted to a seat adjacent and below the throne, and in it sat an older man with ragged grey hair. This man could only be Denethor the Second. His dark eyes narrowed faintly, slight in his suspicions though it seemed he would not voice them. The dark blond-haired man standing next to him, clad in full Gondorian armor and she assumed to be the Captain of Gondor. It was he that greeted Inconnu first.

"Welcome to the halls of Minas Tirith!"

Inconnu then remembered her manners and got down on one knee, showing respect however late it might have been. Her tone was neutral in her reply. "I apologize for not being able to come under better circumstances. I also ask for forgiveness for my delayed actions, as it has been a long time since I was last in the presence of ruling authority." Silence met her words. It permeated the atmosphere and Inconnu was seriously thinking she did something wrong. It had been a very, very long time since she had met a ruling figure. Maybe the customs changed, and obviously I wouldn't know about that kind of thing...

Quiet chuckles, and when Inconnu looked up slightly she was surprised. Denethor was the source of the sound, and the nearly fully armored man seemed surprised as well. This went on for some moments before Denethor said, "I can tell, and though you may be a stranger to my sons I am not so unfamiliar with you." Inconnu's eyes widened slightly as he continued. "My ancestor, Mardil Voronwë, the first Ruling Steward of Gondor, told the story of the Fall of Minas Ithil and the death of King Eärnur I. That has been a tale that has been passed down for generations along the line of the House of Húrin, but the story of a certain young woman saddened with grief yet full of power also made its way from father to son."

Denethor's hand jerked upwards. "Rise, Wanderer of the Mists, for you are no stranger here in Minas Tirith." At this, Inconnu rose with a faint smile, and the dark blond-haired man spoke to Denethor is a tone that conveyed his disbelief.

"Father, I knew the stories to be true but this... That woman existed over a thousand years ago, and powerful or not only few are able to live so long-"

"I can answer your questions easily," Interrupted Inconnu. "But we have yet to be properly introduced to each other. You me already, but you are..." She also held out her hand, and the man recognized the offer quickly filled in the blank she purposely left while taking her arm in a warriors clasp.