The One Ring to Rule them All

[Arwen]

Arwen walked outside of the palace early in the morning. The sun was beginning to rise near the White City. There were some people who were already starting to walk through the streets. Arwen spied the guards on the tower and waved a greeting to them. She looked around for someone to talk to.

[Menethrandial]

Menethrandial of Mirkwood was in a daze. She was hardly aware she had entered Minas Tirith. Her alburn horse slowed it's pace as they began to rise into the levels of the city. As she began to come out of her daze, she spotted the Queen Arwen. Queen seemed like such an appropriate title for her, Mene always knew one day it would come. Being a fellow elf, Mene had grown up knowing about Elrond's daughter, though Mene had only talked with her a few times.

But this was an emergency. Arwen would be happy to help, or so Mene hoped.

She stopped her horse a distance away, but could not maintain her gracful approach. Mene was in sort of a run as she reached the Queen.

"My Queen Arwen," Mene began with a short bow, "My brother and I have been separated. I do not know what his fate might be, and my friend Aramel of Gondor is he here? If not, I do not want to guess his fate." Mene was very frightened and was trying her best to maintain her posture, but oh how difficult it was.

[Arwen]

Arwen immediately recognized Mene. So long had it been though! She remembered her having a brother...

"I have not seen, nor heard, of your brother in many years," Arwen said quietly. "As for Aramel..." She let her voice travel off. "I have not heard of him either lately. I last saw him leaving with you many years ago." Arwen looked around her. There was a messenger running up to her.

"Queen Arwen," he spoke, bowing. "I have a message for you from the king of Rohan. He has had five Gondorian soldiers in his house for a week. They were in danger, and he took them in. They should be arriving any day now."

"What danger is this we speak of?" Arwen asked.

"Evil creatures lurking, from Mordor I presume. Orcs re-made," he said. "Some say the fires of Orodruin will spark some day in the near future." Arwen gazed over to the Black Land. It had since looked nicer, but no more hospitable to anyone. But there had been no more problems. Until now. "There were only a group of ten of them," he continued. "And in the style of the Rohirram, they killed, then burned the group. Our group will be traveling back here, to greet those at the palace."

Arwen nodded at the soldier to dismiss him. "Thank you greatly," she said. She turned to Mene. "I hope Aramel or your brother is with them." She put a hand on Mene's shoulder. "Come, we must wait for now."

[Menethrandial]

"I hope so as well." Mene replied.

"What are we to do while we wait? Are the creatures near the city? I can fight my lady, if needs be." Mene's only worry was Armel and her brother, it was hard to concentrate on anything else.

[Arwen]

A loud horn rang from the fields.

"A man has been spotted!" a guard cried, running up to them. "He is not too far away. He seems very tired. He is lone, whether from our group of missing soldier, we do not know. He could be coming in ahead of the others..." His voice trailed off.

Arwen smiled at the man, thanking him. He ran off towards the fifth gate, where his station was. "We shall go down to the first gate," she said to Mene. She started down. "We must greet the man as he arrives!"

[Menethrandial]

Mene followed Arwen down the stairs.

"Aramel, Elberen?" She said under her breath. If it was either of the two she would be pleased. She'd know at least one hadn't fallen.

Arwen and Aragorn's love often reminded her of her own Ranger, Aramel. Though they'd never spoken and affectionatly to each other, Mene sensed it was there.

[Arwen]

Arwen put her hand on Mene's shoulder for comfort. They had traveled all the way down to the first gate, which was opening. The traveler was in decent view, traveling quite slowly. But he was still getting there, and soon he would reach the gate. Arwen looked nervously at this man, but he was still too far away to recognize...

[Menethrandial]

Mene gave Arwen a thankful look. She strained her eyes for a good look at the rider.

"Could it be?" She thought. The horse, his cloak. Was it Aramel?

[Arwen]

The rider eventually got to the gate. The helm of Gondor could be recognized atop his head now so at least he wasn't a stranger.

Arwen heard Mene gasp. "It's Aramel," Arwen whispered. She hadn't seem him in such a long time! He had changed greatly, but to her, he was still recognizable. And he was hurt. He appeared as though he was about to fall from his horse.

And that he almost did. Some of the guards pulled him down to safety and began to carry him instead, for he had been riding awkwardly. They rushed him to the main medical facility by the palace. Mene rushed in with him. Arwen stayed right outside of the door, once again in the street outside the palace, in order to give him space as he regained his senses.

[Menethrandial]

Mene tried not to ask him so many questions, for he looked weary and burdened. But she did touch his hand, just to let him know she was there.

The healers discovered the reason of his slouch, a deep gash had come across his right side and they were working gently and swiftly to fix it.

[Arwen]

Arwen walked up beside Mene, who had backed up a little so the healers could have more room to work on Aramel.

"He's...changed," Arwen said quietly. "Looks more...wise...and tired of his earthly life." Arwen sighed. "He is becoming older, I suppose. Like Aragorn," she added. She glanced towards the door and wondered where he was. Surely he would come see Aramel in respect of the Gondorian soldier. She put a hand on Mene's shoulder, reassuringly. "He will be alright."

[Menethrandial]

"Yes, I supose he does have a certain age to him, but still young in a sense. He's only walked 33 years upon this Earth, it's far to short a time for him to pass." Mene said not leting her gaze fall fom Aramel.

She put her hand on Arwen's.

Where is Aragorn? She wondered.

[Aramel Of Gondor]

Aramel could not remember where he had lost his senses, but as they slowly began to come back, he noticed Mene and Queen Arwen by his side, as well as many healers.

He felt their medicines rinsing his wound, it stung.

He was trying to remember why he had come to The White City, and why he was injured, but he settled for opening his eyes a little wider to see the room.

He got comfort from, his friend, his love, Mene.

[Arwen]

Arwen watched silently as Aramel began to look around. She smiled when his gaze briefly landed on her. Then he watched as he looked for Mene. Arwen knew how she must be feeling. Mene reached forward towards him and Arwen remembered seeing Aragorn, going off to the battle of the Ring...

Arwen shook away the memory. Those had been bad times. And though, sometimes, she still looked towards Mordor with a suspcious eye, things were all right, at least for now.

[Aragorn]

Aragorn comes out looking kingly indeed, but also tired, having just woken up. "Welcome back soldier." he says. "And who is this?" He said, spotting Arwen's friend. "I don't believe we've been introduced."