Thorongil and his six adventurers were brought before Aragorn.  Eddil couldn't kneel, so he stood leaning on a cane. Astra was given a chair to sit on, and was attended to by one of the healers in service to the king.  Thorongil, of course, stood as well - on account of his refusal to kneel to anyone on this side of the sea. Elerína stood off to the side of Aragorn’s throne - every week she seemed to move her customary place in the court a little closer to the King.

Aldamir and Thorongil told the tale of their adventure in full.  Aragorn was very grateful for their service and impressed that the six mortals had been able to defeat Ingacarca.

“I assume that last vial of plague has been dealt with?” he asked.  The vials brought to the city by Gwethien had been cleansed by Elerína that morning.

“Actually no,” laughed Thorongil.  “Here.”

He took the vial from his pocket and tossed it to his wife.  Everyone else in the room cringed or gasped for fear that it might break.  Elerína caught if and put it in a pouch on her belt to deal with later.

“Well now that we are all wide awake,” continued the King, taking a deep breath, “I presume you would like some reward.  You have in all likelihood saved countless Gondorian lives - how can the crown repay you?”

“I just want Elerína to heal Astra,” replied Aldamir.

“That is not within my power to grant,” replied Aragorn quickly, beating Thorongil’s objection.

“You're slowing down,” he quipped to the maia.

“Aldamir son of Toldor, I name you a Knight of Gondor and the North,” declared Aragorn.  “That is what you have wanted, is it not?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” replied Aldamir.

“Then I grant you that title, with all the rights and responsibilities forthwith,” said the King.  “You are now an officer in all branches of my army, may shelter in our fortresses, have the backing of the crown in your business, and have the right to be tried only by the royal family or their designee.”

He gave the proper answer.  “The honor is to serve.”

Caranel answered next.  “I know we are at war, Your Majesty, but I would ask for a leave of absence to be with Eddil while he recovers.”

“I think the Rangers can probably survive a few months without you,” nodded the King.

Eddil then had a suggestion.  “Can we go back to that cottage in Ithilien?”

Aragorn had lent them use of one of his private residences in Ithilien for their honeymoon after their last adventure.

“I'll have to ask the Queen; I think it can be arranged” he answered.

Timothy didn't know what he wanted this time around, but he came up with something.  “I don't actually own any property in this city. I'm sure the newly knighted Sir Aldamir wouldn't mind me moving out of his guest room.”

“We'll find something for you,” smiled Aragorn.

Mirumor was next.  “I want everything you took from me after I surrendered to you.”

“Thorongil will have to decide what it is safe to give you,” replied the King.

Astra sat silent.  She had no ideas. The Huntress was broken, struggling to imagine any future after her injuries.

Having seen many great warriors wounded over the years, Aragorn had an idea.  “Would you like a statue? ‘The Huntress’ with her Black Arrow? I shall commission the finest sculptor in Gondor.”

Astra meekly nodded.  “Alright.”

At last Aragorn came to the maia.  “And for you, Thorongil?”

“I'm sure my wife will need something from you eventually,” he replied.

As soon as they had left the throne room Aldamir begged and pleaded with Elerína.

“Patience, child,” she replied.  “She will heal.”

Aldamir was not satisfied.  “Soon?”

“Soon enough” was all the answer he could get.

“If I might humbly suggest,” said Thorongil, “why don't we leave Elerína to help Astra, while you and I go sell the pile of First and Second Age weaponry I brought back.”

Astra nodded her approval, so the merchant and the maia got to work.  Mirumor helped as well - she wanted to keep her own count of how much they had made.  They made a fortune.

Over the next few days Thorongil brought gifts to each of his friends.  Eddil and Caranel received swords from the among those Thorongil took from the orcs.  He enchanted them in much the same way as Aldamir’s blade. Having nothing special to give Aldamir, Thorongil gave him half of his own share of the profits of their adventure.  For Astra he had the skull of her final prey exquisitely mounted.

Timothy’s gift was last of all, and it was by far the most personal.  Elerína invited Timothy to the Citadel and left him on a bench in the royal gardens.  Thorongil came out to join him.

“I've been asking myself, what can I give a scholar?” said Thorongil.  “I think I have an answer. I've seen a lot of history, and as you know from Astra’s vision from the Black Arrow, I can show it to people if I saw it, or if I have something connected to the event.  So tell me, Timothy: what do you want to see.”

“There's no rule that says I can only ever see one thing, right?” asked Timothy, horribly nervous about picking something good.  He went through all of history in his mind, thinking of countless moments he would love to see.

“What would you pick?” asked Timothy, deep into his deliberations.

“Perhaps Ilmarin,” answered Thorongil.  “Or Tirion. Or if you want to see an event, not a place you could…”

“Can you show me my father?” interrupted Timothy, suddenly realizing the only good answer.  His father had died when he was barely a year old.

Thorongil looked more nervous than he had facing the orc army.  “Let me see…”

Thorongil closed his eyes for a moment.  “Yes, I can. If you think that is a good idea.”

“Good idea or no, it's what I want,” answered Timothy.

Thorongil took Tim’s sigil and the light within it immediately sprang to life.

“I can show you your birth,” said Thorongil.

Timothy nodded and took back the stone.  The vision lasted only a few minutes, but he wept through all of it, seeing the love in his parents eyes.

Tim spent a long time in the garden trying to process what he saw.  Elerína came out to see what was taking so long, and was surprised to see him weeping.

“What did you show him?” she exclaimed.

“He asked to see his parents,” replied Thorongil.

Elerína understood.  “You can go, I'll take care of him.”

“Thank you Thorongil,” whispered Timothy as Thorongil returned to the palace.

THE END

************

EPILOGUE

Not long after Thorongil and company returned from Mordor, word came to Minas Tirith that the situation in Umbar was continuing to deteriorate.  The King’s regent requested a considerable number of troops be sent to reinforce the city, not against an external threat but rather to help keep order.  It was unclear why the city would be in such condition; they paid less taxes than most Gondorian provinces specifically to try to win over public sentiment.  The royal family, together with a few of their advisers, discussed their response.

“Losing Umbar would be unacceptable,” argued Eldarion.

“No one is disputing that,” replied Aragorn.

“Then send me or Aderthon,” suggested the Prince.  “I can take an army drawn from Dol Amroth and Pelargir.”

“I question whether sending more soldiers will help,” said Queen Arwen.  “That might only destabilize a delicate situation.”

“Then send me,” interrupted Amdirien.  “This sounds like the work of words, not swords.”

“I can negotiate too!” objected Eldarion.  “And it’s too dangerous.”

“Sure you can, brother,” laughed the Princess.  “You just never have … ever.”

“Based on Fëalas’s report, I don't think I want you anywhere near Umbar,” answered Aragorn.

“I’ll take Thorongil with me,” suggested Amdirien.

“Oh will you!” laughed Aragorn.  “He doesn’t take orders from us mere mortals.”

“He will from me,” she boldly boasted.

“If he will go with you, you should go,” Arwen decided.  Aragorn trusted his wife’s judgement.

Amdirien spent a few hours thinking about how to convince Thorongil to join her.  This wasn't likely to be a particularly exciting mission. In the end, she decided to ask Thorongil directly before going to Elerína.

That evening Amdirien came to the training room in the Citadel’s barracks just as her brothers and the maia were finishing up.  Thorongil and Eldarion frequently trained together, as there was rarely anyone else in the city either would find a challenge. Amdirien felt lucky to see that Thorongil was wearing the armor she had given him.

Amdirien went over her plan one last time in her head.  ‘First, remind him of the armor. Second, it's a favor to me, not the crown.  Finally, play off his love of adventure and hope he takes pity on those who have seen none.’

She took a deep breath, swept back her hair, and went to work.  “Hello Captain! How would you like a chance to put that armor to use?”

Thorongil looked at her with considerable suspicion.  “What do you want, Amdirien?”

“The situation in Umbar is deteriorating rapidly.  My parents need someone to go restore order and prevent a revolt.  They say that can be me… but only if you come as well.”

“I've made it clear to your father…”

“It was my idea, not his,” said Amdirien.  “He thinks you won't do it.”

“What does Elerína think?”

“I haven't asked her.”

“Really?” asked Thorongil.  “You thought I would be easier to convince?  Or when I say no, you’'ll go ask her...”

The Princess smiled.  “To quote the greatest general in history: always have a contingency plan!”

Thorongil rolled his eyes.  “You sound more and more like my wife every day.”

“Please?  I don't usually get to go on exciting missions like this.”

“If Elerína approves, fine,” sighed Thorongil.  Who was he to stand in the way of her adventure?

Walking with Thorongil to find his wife, Amdirien felt very pleased with herself.  A little strategy and flattery went a long way. The maiar were not half as mysterious as they liked to believe.

Elerína wasn't happy about her husband leaving for an extended period, but she didn't want to stand between Amdirien and this task.  What was the point of teaching her if she never got to put her talent to the test?

A few weeks later Thorongil and Amdirien were boarding the Tar-Minyatur in the harbor at Pelargir.  Arwen bid her daughter farewell on the pier.

“Bring my daughter home safely!” she said to Thorongil.  “And be careful. I am not sending her because it is safe, I am sending her because I do not think anyone else will succeed.”