Journey to the North (Sequel to Rangers of the North)

Chapter One: Preparations

The woman hiked up her dress as she descended the first  staircase, watching her feet but moving fast. When she reached the bottom, she ran for the next staircase leading to the next lowest level of the city. She ducked into a corridor between a few buildings, entering one of the passageways that the guards used, turned a corner, and descended more stairs, emerging out into the fifth level of the city. The crowd parted and people looked on with frowns on their faces, shaking their heads as they watched their queen run past them without a word.

Averael finally reached the bottom level, but she didn't stop there. She ran for the royal stables where her horse, Ramir, was waiting. The dark-haired stallion lifted his head calmly as she rushed in, saddled him as fast as she could, mounted, and kicked him into motion. 

Once out of the city gates she rode out to the approaching party. There were five men on horseback, all of them wearing dark cloaks and bearing travel bags and carrying bows or swords strapped to their sides. The party slowed as she rode near, and the lead rider hopped off of his horse. Averael stopped Ramir and swung her leg over, hopping down as well. 

He reached her before she could get her footing underneath her enough to begin moving again. Eros lifted her up in a huge embrace, practically crushing her under his muscled arms. She hugged back, frustrated that she couldn't hug him as tight as he could hug her, as if she couldn't love him enough.

She had been watching from the top level of Minas Tirith for the approaching horses. Five days earlier she had received a letter from a courier from her step-brother, informing her that he would be in the city within the week. Since then she had watched the surrounding lands of the city like a hawk, eager to see her brother. She had intended to see him much sooner than this- four years earlier, in fact. She smiled to herself, thinking of what had stopped her. After successfully helping the brave hobbits Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee destroy the Ring of Power, she had attended the king's coronation while making plans to return home and catch up with Eros. She had been so homesick over the entire journey, and though her heart ached for home, she couldn't be happier where she was. The new king, Aragorn, had proposed to her and she hadn't had a chance to return home since the return of the king. Eros had evidently decided to take matters into his own hands, visiting her in her new home of Minas Tirith, the capital city of the realm of Gondor where she now ruled with Aragorn. 

Eros set her down after a moment and she looked up at him, eyes gleaming. "Eros," she smiled, still catching her breath. "It's been too long."

"I'd say," Eros laughed. "I leave you for a couple of years and you run off and find some kingdom to rule!" He reached up, fixing the thin chain she wore in her hair back to the center of her forehead. She had a larger crown that she was technically supposed to wear, but she hated the thing, so she instead opted to wear a thin chain of silver adorned with a single ruby as a sign of her position in the kingdom as often as she could. 

"Come," Averael said, gesturing to the city. "I want you to meet Aragorn." 

***

"Eros, it's good to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you from Averael." Aragorn smiled as he clapped Eros on the shoulder, greeting him warmly. He directed a servant to show Eros' companions to a guest room. The four men were also rangers, but according to Eros, they had only come to return south, and wouldn't stay long. 

"All good things, I trust," Eros laughed, giving Averael a pointed look. She stuck her tongue out at him and stepped over to Aragorn, wrapping her hands around his arm fondly. They stood in the topmost level of the seven-layered city, in a white marble meeting room. 

Aragorn and Averael's quarters were also on the top level, as well as a few other important buildings. The sixth and fifth levels contained mostly markets and other services, and the bottom four levels were reserved for homes and workshops for the population of Minas Tirith. The population had grown in the years following Aragorn's coronation, multiplying by almost ten times, amounting to about 500,000 people. The lands surrounding the city was mostly farmland. 

The door to the hall opened, and the three turned to see a leather-clad man stride in with a golden-haired woman at his side. Faramir was light haired and light eyed, characteristic of the Rangers of Ithillien in Gondor, contrary to the brown hair and eyes of the Dunedain of Arnor. His wife Eowyn was the sister of Rohan's current king, Eomer, who had taken his uncle's place on the throne after his death in the battle of Pelennor fields. The couple had been living in Gondor the past few years, but were leaving for Rohan soon.

Aragorn smiled as the pair approached, introduced them to Eros, and then took Averael to the side to talk privately. She frowned, confused, but followed.

"I was going to mention it at dinner tonight, but I think I should tell you first." He started. 

"Tell me what?" Averael asked.

"I feel it's time to reestablish the city of Annuminas in Arnor." Aragon said. Averael's eyes widened. 

"You mean-"

"Home. Yes." Aragorn smiled at her. "Now that Eros is here, he can travel with us. I didn't want to go alone." He stopped abruptly, trying to gauge her reaction. She stood for a moment, trying to process it, then looked up at him with a grin.

"Let's do it." She said, nodding quickly. "I can't wait. I need to get some travel clothes made, I'm not riding in a dress, of course. And my sword needs sharpening, I haven't used it since-" She paused.

"Averael?" Aragorn asked.

"Since the Battle at the Black Gate. Aragorn, Angmar is near Arnor. Do you think it's safe?" She asked, worried now. Angmar was where the wraiths resided before the War. 

"I'm sure it's safe now." Aragorn said comfortingly. "The rangers up there need guidance. It's my duty to reunite the kingdom." 

Averael nodded. "And I'll come with you." She decided. 

"I'm glad," Aragorn smiled, pulling her into a quick hug. "I plan on leaving the city in the charge of Ciranor. He will act as regent in our absence." Ciranor was a trusted friend and commander in Gondor's army. 

"Will he be joining us for dinner?" Averael asked. Aragorn nodded. She smiled, and they walked back to Faramir, Eowyn, and Eros.

*** 

Ciranor joined them for dinner in the meeting hall. Aragorn didn't arrange the feasting hall to be prepared, but instead had a table and chairs brought to the marble room. Aragorn sat at the head of the table, Averael on his right, and Ciranor on his left. Next to Averael was Eros, at the other end of the table Faramir, and Eowyn sat between Faramir and Ciranor. They conversed for a bit, Aragorn speaking with Ciranor, and Averael engrossed in catching up with Eros. He didn't talk much about himself, but asked Averael about her adventure four years prior and how her time in Gondor had been. 

"I've never been more homesick. I love it here, but it's been too long. I'm so excited to-" she stopped herself before she said any more.

"To what?" Eros prodded. She felt funny in her stomach, trying to keep it a surprise.

"Nothing." She said, filling her mouth with food. Eros eyed her, and took a bite himself. Aragorn cleared his throat then, gathering everyone's attention. 

"As you all know," he started, grabbing Averael's hand and squeezing, "The realm of Arnor in the north was once a part of this kingdom. The time has come to reestablish Anuminas and unite the two regions once more. Ciranor, you will be in charge in Averael's and my absence." He said, turning to the soldier at his left. Ciranor's face was marked by a few scars, representing his time in battle. His face was framed by locks of brown, and his pale blue eyes looked surprised at the news. 

"It would be an honor, my Lord." Ciranor said, bowing his head. Aragorn nodded, then turned to the others.

"We will depart in a months's time, with Faramir and Eowyn. I hope you won't mind if we travel with you until we reach Rohan."

"Of course not," Faramir smiled. As a ranger of the southern lands of Ithillien, he was probably glad to hear that the two groups of rangers would soon be united.

"A month should give us enough time to prepare and to show Eros around before he travels home with us," Averael finished, smiling fondly at her brother.

"That sounds wonderful, Ave." Eros beamed at her. 

Aragorn squeezed her hand again, and she smiled at him, feeling the excitement of finally being able to go home grow within her chest.