The Blacksmith

The speed with which you rode was unlike anything you'd experienced up until this point. It seemed that the few days rest your horse had received had done wonders. He galloped so quickly and so gracefully that it seemed almost implausible, like he was fuelled by a power that could not be quantified. Somehow your steed understood the importance of the task at hand. It wouldn't be much longer now at all before Pelargir was reached.

The sight you had seen in your sleep kept replaying over and over in your mind. Your soul was stricken with it. Galadriel had never appeared to you while you dreamt, and you were so confused as to how you should feel about her presence now. There were however two things you were sure of, that it was indeed a warning, and that Halbrand had not planted it. You remembered what he had told you about your mother and the unknown power her spirit seemed to possess. How she had tried to save you from Sauron. You wondered now if she knew of Halbrand's path to redemption and the reasons why you cannot leave him. This suddenly made you question your certainty. Was her warning a message to run from Galadriel? Or was there something else to her silent gesture? Was she trying to warn you not to go south? A sharp pain emanated from your stomach as you remembered the feeling of the she-elf's weapon inside you. This was enough to convince you that your instincts to flee were right.

There was also something else about Galadriel in this vision that filled you with unshakeable confusion. It seems a desire for her had been brewing within, unbeknownst to your conscious thought. Casting your mind back to how taken you were with her upon your first meeting, this revelation wasn't exactly shocking. However you did not expect any feelings for her to ever manifest. You loved Halbrand, you craved his touch. You only ever wanted his body twined with your own. And yet...

Within hours of leaving the inn and your companions behind, the horizon changed, giving way to a view that seemed to cleanse your heart in relief: Pelargir. You had finally arrived. Giving Halbrand a loving squeeze, you couldn't help but call out, "We made it!" Your love laughed happily at you, unable to contain his joy either it seemed. After all this time, the tragedy, the struggle, you had both reached your sanctuary. It would be here where the beginning of something great would take place. Your chance to truly start anew, to fulfil your destiny, and remain bathed in the light. However, the time for rejoicing might have come too soon, for your arrival couldn't help but be a test, a moment of truth. Were you too late? Did words travel faster than the hooves of your horse?

As you reached the city limits, Halbrand slowed the pace of your steed to a walk, not desiring to draw too many eyes. He let one of his hands come to rest over your own, fingers interlocking. This place was just as you remembered it, it had not changed in the years since your last fateful stay. It was not as resplendent as Eregion or as spectacular as Armenelos, though in it's own humble way it was mighty. There were many examples of Númenor's exemplary architecture, just on a smaller scale, the buildings a mixture of stone and wood, some streets were paved, and some were of dirt. The further into the citadel you moved, the Anduin river showed itself, reminding you of when last you sailed up it, and just how much had changed in the weeks since.

"We must find Bronwyn," announced Halbrand, "Surely there is a great hall of some kind she might be housed in. Given her status amongst the Southlanders."
You thought on his words a moment, and decided you disagreed. "No. We must find the healing house. I have no doubt that is where Bronwyn will be. Although, I cannot remember where it is."
Halbrand wasted no time, immediately grabbing the attention of a pair of men who were sat on the side of the road, one of whom was smoking a pipe. "Excuse me, sirs. May we ask the location of your healers?"
The two men stared up at you both on the horse, their mouths slowly becoming agape. One of them spoke, unable to contain the shock and excitement in his voice. "K-king Halbrand? I cannot believe it! We all thought you dead!"

It seems you had been fortunate enough to stumble upon two Southlanders. And the fortune did not stop there. Not only was it clear that Halbrand's people did not know the truth of his identity, nor about the foul deeds you had both committed, but in fact they had received no word of anything at all. Halbrand looked at you from over his shoulder, grinning, his eyes filled with hope. "I am very glad to prove to you otherwise." he said, gazing back down at his subjects.

"Why do you need a healer though? Are you alright, my lord?" spoke up the man with the pipe, smoke billowing from his mouth.
"We only seek a meeting with Bronwyn, and my lady here believes that is where we will find her."
"Right you are, my lady, right you are! She's there more than her own home, she is. Please, let us take you."
"Thank you." you acknowledged, pleased with yourself, before dismounting your horse, the two of you thankful for the stretching of legs. Your escorts lead the way, with you following close behind. Halbrand held with one hand the reins of the horse, and your hand with the other. The further along you walked, the more people began to recognise their king. It seems many of the surviving Southlanders had settled in Pelargir, and soon a crowd began to follow you along the path to the healing house. You could hear many of them explaining passionately to the clueless residents exactly who you both were, and exclaiming things like "He's alive!" "Our king has returned!" "And with our queen too!" and "Now we have a chance!"

Now we have a chance.

After a few minutes, you reached your destination with what felt like the entire city behind you. Halbrand fastened the horse next to a row of others, all different shades of brown in colour, giving him a quick pat before you both followed your guides inside. The crowd did not want to miss this moment, with as many of them as possible filing into the building behind you. The elation in the air was palpable and contagious, you could not wipe the smile off your face. The two men sprinted off ahead as fast as they could given they were not so young, beds of the ill lining their path, calling furiously for Bronwyn as they did so. You turned to Halbrand then, wishing to take in the look on his face, to grasp how he was feeling. He was not grinning now as you were, but you could see a glimmer of happiness in his eyes. You believed he was attempting to portray a sense of regality, perhaps waiting until after meeting with Bronwyn to let himself feel it all more authentically. You gave his hand a squeeze, causing his eyes to lock with your own. Then stopping you both in your tracks, he placed a lingering and loving kiss on your lips, which caused a few of the people around you to rejoice.

The air of the healing house was soon filled with chatter, though the loud footsteps of the men as they ran back to you could be heard over the tumult. Breaking through the crowd, and out of breath they announced, "King Halbrand... may we present to you... our lady Bronwyn." Barely a second later, she came into view, the crowd parting for her as she drew closer. Bronwyn stood before you both now, a stunned look etched across her face, quickly followed by her beloved Arondir. "I am lost for words." she spoke, breaking into a smile, a laugh of disbelief overcoming her. "It is wonderful to see you well, Lord Halbrand, and you too my lady." She and the elf bowed their heads, and you returned the gesture in kind. "I am pleased to see the healing powers of my race at work." stated Arondir, offering his arm in greeting to Halbrand, which he received without hesitation.

"As am I. Lady Bronwyn, how many of our people live?"
"Our numbers are not many, but the citizens here have welcomed us better than expected. We are one people now."
"That's wonderful to hear." you spoke, beaming at her.
"All we need now is our king and queen." Hearing Bronwyn speak these words filled you with such a sense of purpose, of belonging, a certainty of the path you and Halbrand had taken being the correct one. You and your love exchanged knowing glances, smiling. Just then, another familiar face appeared. It was the young boy from the Númenórean camp, the one you had seen with Galadriel's sword, who had lead the chant amongst the survivors. "We must have a coronation!" he exclaimed. Bronwyn wrapped a loving arm around him, smiling warmly. She carried the same spark in her eyes as the boy, which meant they could only be mother and son. "You're absolutely right, Theo. We must make it official. A celebration for the start of a new era for our people."

The rapturous cheering that broke out amongst the crowd signified it was what your people wanted, what they wished for. Halbrand turned you to face him, taking both your hands within his own. Staring deeply into your eyes, a small smile crept onto his visage as a realisation seemed to dawn on him. "No... not a coronation. A wedding." You smiled so broadly your cheeks began to ache. Halbrand continued, "I want you to be more than just my queen. I want you to be my wife. And I want all of our people to bear witness... and know just how much I love you." The happiness overflowed from within you, into the tears that were spilling forth from your eyes. "How do you feel about th-"
You refused to let Halbrand finish his question, crashing your lips into his, not caring at all about how many pairs of eyes were upon you. He was the only one you truly saw. He was your world. Everything else was inconsequential. Words could not adequately express this, only the feeling of your lips against his.

The cheering grew instantly in volume at your action, everyone screaming and clapping, the joy that rushed through all of you was a magic all its own, a power all its own. And as you passionately kissed the love of your life, for the first time ever you felt invincible. It felt just as Halbrand had said, "...once my people are behind me, there will be nothing we cannot do." When the kiss finally ended, your love took you in his arms in the sweetest of embraces. The roar of the room started to subside, but not enough to prevent Bronwyn from having to yell above the commotion. "It's settled then! A wedding it will be for our King and Queen!" More cries echoed out upon her words. You couldn't believe this was happening. You had approached Pelargir expecting the worst of scenarios, with even part of you feeling you deserved the retribution you were certainly owed. But this... this was the furthest thing from your mind. It was almost too good to be true.

And if that wasn't enough, following what happened next, you had to check if you were awake or dreaming. You could hear two men shouting your name in the distance, a distance that shrank as their calls grew louder. The voices were familiar but you were convinced you were imagining them. No... surely not, you thought, I have lost what remains of my mind. It wasn't until they came into view that you started to believe in what you were hearing, what you were now seeing. Your two older brothers had pushed their way through the crowd, which had now started to disperse, and were standing before you, the biggest of grins on both their faces. "Azrahin! Târikun!" you screamed, jumping straight into their arms instantly. The three of you hugged each other so tightly, you were afraid that if you let go they might vanish from sight.

Breathing in their scents, your head was suddenly swimming with thoughts of home. Closing your eyes, it was almost as if you were back there, a child again, completely clueless to the darkness around you, and ahead. The image of your father appeared, and the bliss you had been feeling started to fade. You knew that he had died, but could you tell them? Could you tell them that it was by the hand of the being stood barely three feet away? The being you were now to marry?

You didn't wish to lie to them, but you decided it best approached one truth at a time. Plus knowing Azrahin, he'd figure it out sooner rather than later. Releasing them, you took a step back, unable to conceal the grave expression etched on your face. "I... I know... about father. I am sorry I was not there."
Târikun bowed his head, the grief still somewhat fresh. "It's alright. We found him not long after we discovered you had left Númenor... in fact that was the reason we..." His voice trailed off, but he needed not finish his thought. "But how do you know?"

You sighed, your heart heavy. "When the time is right, I will explain everything." Remembering Halbrand, and feeling his eyes on the back of your head, you smiled at your kin as you held your hand out for your love to take. As he joined you at your side, you lived a moment you thought you would never experience. "Brothers, this is Halbrand. My king and now my soon to be husband." you spoke, your voice brimming with pride as the gentlemen clasped hands politely. "Halbrand, these are my two older brothers, Azrahin and Târikun."
"This is an honour." spoke your love humbly.
"No the honour is truly ours!" admitted Azrahin. "We had begun to lose all hope that our sister would ever find a husband!"
"Oi!" you chastised him, landing a playful tap on his arm.
"It is true, you know." chimed in Târikun, turning to your love. "Lord Halbrand, we owe you a great debt." His words caused Azrahin to snicker loudly.
"You men should be thankful your wives are not here." you said, glaring at them. Halbrand chuckled, amused at the sight before him. "Speaking of people who are not here... where is our baby brother? And why are the two of you here?" you questioned them, desperate to change the subject before your cheeks reddened any further.

"Well, speaking of our wives, Zimra is looking after that rascal. We thought it best he should stay at home, given what is unfolding in the lands not too far from here." spoke Azrahin. "We came to Middle-earth upon the burial of father. We came to find you." His words threatened your tears to appear once more, but instead you let go of Halbrand's hand, falling back into the arms of your family. You had convinced yourself that your brothers had chosen to stay away from you, but perhaps it was father that they had chosen to be parted from. Though the three of you had certainly drifted in recent years, now you felt incredible relief as the knowledge of their concern for you sunk in your mind. They cared for you after all.

"I don't know about you, little sister, but I am starving!" announced Târikun, the embrace ending. "We're staying at the old inn we used to as kids. And their food is still as tasty as ever. Come join us!" You genuinely hesitated a moment. They were housed in the same building where your mother had experienced her last slumber, her last dreams. You weren't sure if you would be able to go back there, confused as to why your brothers thought nothing of it, seeing only the childhood nostalgia of a journey long ago. Looking at Halbrand, you sighed. "Shall we go?"

Bronwyn interjected then. "Actually, I was wondering if I might have a word with Lord Halbrand regarding the ceremonies. The sooner they commence, the better."
"Why do you say that?" you asked, puzzled.
Arondir breathed in deeply, his expression grim. "Orcs have been sighted not too far from Pelargir's borders. We need to be ready for a fight."
"Perhaps we should wait, my love, just in case?" you suggested, taking Halbrand's hand again, giving it a squeeze. Your king however was resolute, his mind unphased by the potential for catastrophe. "No, it has to be now. While we have the chance. We cannot let any threat stand in our way. I will not have it."

You disagreed with him a little, but decided not to show it, because as much as the people should be prepared in case of an attack, he wasn't exactly wrong. We shouldn't not live just because we might die. We must love in the face of fear, and thrive in spite of it. Nodding, you gave Halbrand a small smile, which he returned. "Go and be with your family. I'll find you later."
"Don't be too long." you urged him, letting your lips meet his. Then the two of you turned to face the people needing your attention, and you parted ways, hands breaking contact at the last possible second.