When Rowan left Faramir's room, she met Prince Imrahil headed for the throne room. The handsome man nodded in greeting and requested her to join him. He told her Aragorn had asked him to bring her for discussion of the next step.
They entered the impressive throne room through a side door—on the right side of the thrones—not down the long aisle lined by statues of past kings in white marble. The king of Gondor's throne was also made of white marble, but sitting at the top of a flight of steps; at its base, and off-set, was the throne of the Steward, made of black marble. A large golden crown hung above the king's throne.
Nearly all were gathered when Rowan and Prince Imrahil arrived. Gandalf and Aragorn were in a quiet discussion away from everyone else; Elladan and Elrohir spoke with Legolas in the Elven-tongue; and Gimli sat on the Steward's throne, smoking.
Imrahil huffed. "I am acting-Steward, master dwarf, and I detest pipe-weed."
"After Pelennor Fields and delving into the Paths of the Dead for an undead army, I need this." The dwarf blew out a puff of smoke. "Do you want your seat?"
She shook her head ruefully. Gimli practically said, 'So?'
Echoing footsteps made her turn to Éomer coming down the hallway she and Imrahil came through; Gamling and Grimbold walked with their new king of Rohan. His eyes sparkled on seeing her and stopped beside her.
"Am I to address you as King Éomer from now on?" she asked.
He gave a soft chuckle. "No. Never from you. I am still Éomer, son of Éomund, previous Third Marshal of the Riddermark."
Rowan smiled—His way of saying his new title changed nothing. "I know you are."
Done with whatever they spoke of, Aragorn and Gandalf turned to those in the throne room.
"Listen to the words of the Steward of Gondor before he died: You may triumph on the fields of Pelennor for a day, but against the Power that has now arisen, there is no victory," Gandalf began. "I bid you not to despair, as he did, but ponder the truth in these words."
He nodded toward Aragorn. "As I suspected, Denethor used a Palantír. We discovered the Seeing Stone. Through it, Sauron showed the Steward great forces within Mordor."
"Perhaps Lord Denethor was deceived..." Prince Imrahil suggested. The news of another massive army worried him.
"No," the White Wizard said. "The Seeing Stones do not lie, and the Lord of Barad-dûr cannot make them do so. What he perceived as truth, is. But it is not as hopeless as he deemed. It is now time you all learned of the quest conceived in Imladris."
Gandalf went on relaying the discovery of the Ring of Power in the Shire, the formation of the Fellowship, and the task appointed to Frodo Baggins in destroying it. When he was done, Éomer looked at her, probably for confirmation; Rowan nodded.
"How great is this army, Lady Rowan?" Gamling asked.
She swallowed. "Larger than the force which assailed Minas Tirith."
The Rohirrim captains and Prince Imrahil paled; the sons of Elrond exchanged nervous glances, and Gimli almost dropped his pipe.
"Victory cannot be achieved by arms," Éomer stated.
"Perhaps we would, if Aragorn hadn't released the Army of the Dead," the dwarf grumbled, shooting daggers at the Ranger.
Aragorn shook his head. "No, they had fulfilled their oath. I could ask no more of them." He looked at the king of Rohan. "And no, not for us. But by arms we can give Frodo a chance."
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Hinder
Fanfiction'Things unforeseen may hinder' Even though devastated by Boromir's death, Rowan Reed tries to focus on finishing the Quest of the Ring. Knowing The Lord of the Rings story will change-in some aspects-because of her, certain developments still catch...
