Dreams of Power [ Lord of the Rings x Silmarillion ]

The Deal is Struck

Elboron did not like Harad. It wasn't the people, he liked them well enough. But the inescapable heat which turned into freezing nights, the coarse sand, it all annoyed him endlessly. Nevertheless, he was on a mission for his King and his Prince, and he would perform his duty with the best of his ability. Even if that meant learning and living the culture of the Haradrim.

At least I have Fëalas here to keep me company. He sipped a cup of herbal tea quietly.

Fëalas, one of the redheaded nieces of King Elessar, sat next to him. She was chatting up the eldest son of Chief Saleem, Amir. Amir seemed highly amused by the endless chatter of Fëalas. Fortunately for them, Westron was a well know tongue in Harad these days. Elboron wasn't sure Fëalas could've handled being forced to speak through a translator. She was too fast.

Currently they sat in the Great House of the Chief, at a long table to the side of the main hall. Down the center ran more tables, all leading to the end where a great throne sat. It was made of stone and glass tiles. Blues, reds, and golds adorned the seat. Mosaic tiling was popular in the city, especially among the scholars and royalty. Now that trade with Harad was a regular occurrence, knowledge was shared between the various groups and with the Reunited Kingdom. Not all of Harad's settlements remained on good terms with King Elessar, but many did, including this settlement of Hidor.

Fëalas was just saying something about her parents' first trip into Harad, in what became the first mission of peace, when a young girl ran into the house, giggling and laughing her head off. The girl had dark hair like the great majority of Haradrim, but hers was especially done up. Gold jewelry adorned her neck and ears and head.

"Malika!" An irritated voice called, before adding something in Southron that neither Fëalas nor Elboron understood. But, they were quite certain it was out of exasperation.

Elboron chuckled as the child dodged her maidservant's attempt at catching her. Malika was the youngest daughter of Chief Saleem, and she was to accompany them North as well to learn from the court of the Reunited Kingdom. Secretly Elboron hoped it would give Sídhil, Aragorn's youngest, a playmate other than Eldarion and his cousin Aderthon. He knew the cousins didn't mind playing with the young Sídhil, but she needed girls her age.

"When are we leaving for Gondor, Master Elboron?" Malika begged him for the answer as she stopped in front of him. "I would like to go now!"

With a chuckle, Elboron replied. "We shall leave once your sister is ready, and not a moment before."

"And not before you bathe, Malika!" Chieftess Jadyra, Malika's mother, said furiously as she stormed into the room. "You must be presentable for the Court! Now go!" She spoke in Southron to the servant before turning back to the Gondorians. "My apologies for her reckless behavior."

"It is no problem, Madame Jadyra." Fëalas shook her head. "I was much the same as a young girl."

"You still are," Elboron muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

Fëalas laughed. "Indeed, though my forty-four years have tamed me some."

"It still amazes me," Amir spoke up, "how you can look so young and fair and yet be almost my parents' age."

"Truly it causes great confusion with those I meet." Fëalas chuckled.

The chieftess spoke up. "I am sending two servants with you. Jamila is Malika's maid, and Mahmud is our most trusted servant and guide. For though the roads are much better marked than when I was a child, it can still be a treacherous journey to Near Harad and beyond."

"I have ranger scouts along the route as well, which will hopefully ward off any bandits or vagabonds who wish to see this mission fail," Fëalas told the woman. "Any idea when Lady Adira will want to leave?"

"First thing in the morning," nodded Chief Saleem who entered the room. "My daughter snuck in while we were dining and went to pack."

"Wonderful!" Elboron nodded quickly. "This is good news indeed, lord."

"Yes, truly it is," smiled the chieftain. "I look forward to a new era in which our two nations come together, be that through Adira, or through Malika."

The chieftain knew his eldest daughter was not guaranteed the Prince's hand in marriage. This was another reason to send Malika to the Reunited Kingdom's court. It would strengthen ties across the nations. The people of Gondor, now more used to the dark skinned Haradrim than ever before, still often did not see them as equals. But King Elessar hoped to change that.

"The Reunited Kingdom is honored that you are entrusting your daughters to us," Elboron stood and bowed.

Madame Jadyra nodded her thanks. "We have faith that they will be well taken care of."

"Indeed," Chief Saleem nodded. "Now, it is time to retire to bed. The night is already much spent."

Fëalas stood to match Elboron and together, escorted by a young serving boy, were taken to their rooms in a guest house adjacent to the Great Hall of the Chief. Fëalas saw her several ranger escorts lounging about inside eating their small meals. They each stood at attention when their captain walked inside.

"At ease, or you might break something," Fëalas chuckled. "Especially you, Sarnor."

The youngest of the rangers nodded and relaxed as ordered. He was only just twenty, and this trip to Harad was his first major assignment. He had been training with the Southern Dunédain for nearly five years. Unlike some of the eldest rangers who still didn't like that a woman was their captain, Sarnor earnestly looked up to Fëalas and her sister, Círeth.

"We leave in the morning," Fëalas told her company. "Make sure everything is packed before you go to sleep tonight." She looked at them sidelong as she walked up the stairs. "And tonight, actually rest. No tavern time."

"Yes ma'am," the men chuckled.

She nodded and smiled at them. "Good night!"