There were many tears shed that day. Aragorn, as King and friend, immediately sent a messenger to retrieve Faramir and Eowyn in Ithilien. The message was simple: Barahir, their son, had been found dead in Rhûn. With his body recovered, he was to be given a full send off.
His second job was much harder, for the time being. For Elboron had to be told as well.
“Eldarion,” Aragorn nodded to his son as the two of them looked out over the Pelennor, the morning fully alive and well into day. “Find Elboron.”
Eldarion saw the pain in his father’s eyes. Aragorn felt the loss heavily, as he knew not whether to hold Tar-Mëonis responsible and risk open war with Rhûn, or accept the probable lie that Halion was the sole reason for Barahir’s death. He turned to go find his friend, his own heart troubled.
He had traveled and fought beside the younger son of Faramir many years before, and he knew his cousin Círeth had been even closer with him. The two had worked together in recent years. But Elboron, Elboron was his brother. That bond was completely different.
Rapping on the front door of Elboron and Lothuial's house, it was his wife that came to the door. Her belly bulged from her pregnancy, but she smiled happily back. He did not return the greeting.
“You received news, didn't you?” The beautiful dark haired woman sighed. She placed a hand on her abdomen. “Barahir?”
“Ever as observant as your husband.” Eldarion felt tears stinging his eyes, but tried to stay strong as he nodded. “Is Elboron home?”
“Upstairs.” Lothuial took Eldarion’s hand for a moment and gave it a squeeze. “I'll fetch him. Come inside.”
Eldarion found himself reluctant to do so. Lothuial, insisting, all but pulled the prince into their living room. He sat on a couch that faced an outward window. The woman disappeared up the stairs, taking each one at a time as she struggled under the weight of the unborn child. The prince hard muffled voices upstairs before Elboron slowly came down, helping his wife. His face was as pale as the blossoming White Tree.
“What news, Eldarion?” He demanded this as soon as he saw Lothuial safely down the staircase.
Eldarion stood and walked over to them. “Your brother’s body has been recovered.” He tried to stay strong as he watched Elboron’s heart shatter like broken glass.
“Let me see him,” was all Elboron said as Lothuial held his arm. His voice cracked.
His wife, too, was deeply troubled. For since their marriage, Barahir had ever joked with her, and befriended Lothuial first before all others. For though she wasn't of the commoners, she was not royalty like the others. Now, of course, Eldarion and Aderthon were her companions, but not like Barahir.
When the three reached the Circle of the White Tree, they found Barahir’s body on a pyre, dressed in finest robes. He looked peaceful, and instantly Elboron grew furious with the fire his mother always had.
“How?” He looked at Aragorn in anger.
A woman answered, appearing seemingly out of nowhere from behind some Easterling guards he had not noticed. “My predecessor, Halion, took his life.” She walked gently over to him, her shining, wavy, raven black hair tossed in the wind.
“Leave us be, Tar-Mëonis, we beg you,” Eldarion sighed. “Let us mourn our dead in peace.”
She stiffened but nodded. “As you wish, Prince. We must prepare for our journey anyway.” Turning to Elboron she dipped her head. “My condolences.” With a quick turn, she and her Easterlings left the Circle of the White Tree and walked back inside the citadel.
Elboron was confused. Once she was out of earshot, he turned to Aragorn. “Who is she?”
Aragorn grimaced. “That is the Queen of Rhûn. She brought the bodies of your brother and Halion.”
“So he is dead then?” Lothuial asked hopefully. She had heard stories of the menacing Red Hand.
“Indeed, very dead.” Aragorn looked at Elboron. “I know you have questions, and all will be answered. But let us do this dark deed and then speak in private.”
Elboron agreed wholeheartedly. As he was about to say something, they all turned to see his a set of horsemen riding up into the Circle. An old woman was helped down from the one, and an old man from another.
“Mother, father,” Elboron cried out, suddenly turning into a little boy again.
Eowyn looked cold. Her eyes were hard, her face sickly. The news that the Lady of Ithilien had fallen ill had not prepared Eldarion for the sight that she was. Still, nothing was going to prevent Eowyn of Rohan from seeing her dead son one last time. She embraced Elboron and he noted how frail she felt.
“He is dead then,” Faramir said, sadness written on his face as he and Elboron guided Eowyn forward towards the pyre.
Aragorn nearly cried as he saw Eowyn. She had refused visitors since her illness, seeing none but her immediate family. Éomer had visited once, and that was how he knew things were dire. For indeed, the Lady of Ithilien was dying.
Suddenly Aderthon appeared beside Eldarion, and Arwen came out to meet the visitors. Círeth and Fëalas too. As everyone settled for the ceremony, after some time of allowing the family members of Barahir to grieve, Aragorn spoke. His voice was solemn.
“I feel I do this far too often.” The King straightened up. “Yet friends, here we are once more, grieving for the loss of one of our own.”
Eldarion watched Elboron’s pale face. Lothuial was the only thing keeping him grounded, this was obvious. He turned back to his father.
“We stand here today in honor of Barahir, son of Faramir. He gave his life in service of the Reunited Kingdom.” Aragorn felt tears on his cheeks. “It is not something I take lightly.”
The King took a torch from a servant. He whispered something only a few closest to him caught. “Forgive me.”
Slowly he lit the pyre that stood in the Circle. All the guards around them straightened up even further. Círeth, Fëalas, Eldarion, and Aderthon, the four present currently in military service to the Reunited Kingdom, saluted their fallen brother with their swords.
“Farewell,” Elboron whispered as he watched the flames engulf his only brother.
He wished Finduilas, his sister, could've been there. But she had, long ago, left the Reunited Kingdom and gone into service for Éomer of Rohan, her uncle, with Aragorn’s blessing. There she had mentored Elfwine, and now helped care for their youngest.
Elboron looked up, and noticed his cousin Elfwine had come as well. The man’s face was dark, no doubt remembering days past and the death of his sister Edeva in Arnor. Elboron was not surprised he had made himself hard to find.
Aragorn dismissed them once the body had burned fully. Elboron went to go with his family, but suddenly Lothuial shouted in pain.
“Ai!” she fell to her knees but Elboron caught her.
“What is wrong?” Elboron asked her with care. “My love?”
Lothuial looked frightened. “The baby! I think it is coming!”
Elboron looked more scared than Eldarion and Aderthon ever had known him to be. Together they helped the couple to the Houses of Healing.
YOU ARE READING
Dreams of Power [ Lord of the Rings x Silmarillion ]
FanfictionFourth Installment in the Fëanoriel Chronicles. It is Year 50 of the Fourth Age of Middle Earth. The Reunited Kingdom prospers, having mostly recovered from the Battle for Arnor fifteen years prior. Relations are being fostered between their neighbo...