Chapter Text
[Start Chapter 5]
[Aragorn POV, Long Gallery in the King's House in the Citadel of Minas Tirith]
Although most of the crowds who had thronged into the Great Hall for the naming of the King's grandson and the Heir to the Prince of Ithilien had thankfully departed, an intimate family party continued in the long gallery of the King's House far into the evening. Cheerful voices rang off the rafters of the long, wooden room, decorated with branches of fragrant pine and bright holly.
"Would you like to hold your grandson again, Adar?" Faramir asked, baby Prince Elboron cradled in his arms.
"Surely I would, ion-nin." Aragorn answered, thinking that he would never tire of hearing the question, nor of holding his small grandson. Nor, for that matter, would he ever tire of hearing Faramir call him "father," instead of "Elessar" or "Aragorn" or "My King."
Faramir carefully settled his precious baby son into his father's arms. The small, serious face stared evenly back at Aragorn's own. The King reflected that Elboron had Faramir's gray eyes, his own eyes. How glad Aragorn was to be able to acknowledge the child!
Faramir looked exhausted.
"Sit down, ion-nin." Aragorn commanded. The ceremony earlier that day had been draining for all of them, even with Arwen having minimized the time that little Elboron would be exposed to the crowds and the air of the drafty great hall.
"You have infants sitting in state for twelve hours, and yet you wonder why baby humans have a higher mortality rate than elflings!" The Queen had fumed. Lady Vonild had agreed, and Faramir and Eowyn had then insisted on cutting the full-day pageantry into a relatively short ceremony in the mid-afternoon. Their family, official and unofficial, had all been present, as had the Lords of Gondor , as well as a delegation from Eowyn's native Rohan. The largest number of guests had been citizens of the city, chosen by lottery from each level of the city to attend the Naming Ceremony.
Elboron seemed the least tired of any of them by the day's events, perhaps because he had wisely slept through most of them. Now he was entranced by the silver embroidery on Aragorn's tunic, reaching out for it with chubby little hands. Arwen smiled and handed him a rattle covered in dark blue velvet, which Elboron seemed to accept as a reasonable alternative to his grandfather's tunic.
Holding the babe, Aragorn reflected on the events of earlier that day. Despite the floor being heated by underground pipes bringing hot water from the springs under Minas Tirith, and numerous decorative hangings, the Hall of Kings was still rather drafty at this time of year. Despite the chill, the tapestries and paintings showing the Numenoreans and elves celebrating Mettare in Beleriand, Numenor, and the exile Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor had lent color and pageantry to the occasion, as did the banners celebrating the heritage of the babe to be named. White stars on midnight blue for the King and Queen, forest green and sea blue for Ithilien, the white horse on dark green for Rohan, and the white swan ship of Dol Amroth on light blue.
Aragorn and Arwen sat upon the thrones which had for so long been empty, Aragorn wearing the winged mithril crown of the Kings of Gondor. The Steward's chair was notably vacant, since Faramir and Eowyn were both to present the child. They made a handsome picture, the Steward's red-gold hair and Eowyn's palest gold, with the dark haired baby in her arms. It seemed that the child had inherited Aragorn's dark tresses, or perhaps Eomer's brown-gold, it was still too early to tell.
As they reached the dais upon which sat the thrones, Eowyn handed her husband the dark-haired, grey-eyed child.
Faramir knelt, the baby cradled safely in his arms, as Aragorn rose to his feet.
"Adar," Faramir began, his eyes tender as his gaze moved between father and son, "Be known to your grandson, whom we have named Elboron." Elboron, meaning faithful star.
For a moment, Aragorn's throat seized with joy and he could not speak. From the first rank of friends and family, he saw Legolas give him and Faramir a proud smile, and then cheekily mouth the words, 'Sounds like?'
It wouldn't have meant anything to anyone but Aragorn, who had once shared lessons with the elven Prince. But to the King, it gave him the needed push to accept little Elboron from Faramir, to hold him and say the ceremonial words welcoming this baby born at the end of this, the first full year free of the Enemy's threat.
And to add, "He pleases me greatly, ion-nin." Aragorn's eyes caught Faramir's, and he added silently, 'As do you.'
"The name is well-chosen." The King continued aloud, "And does honor to the elves who fostered me and fought beside us, and to your brother who fell defending the Ringbearer's companions." As Boromir had done, in the end, and the rest of the story wasn't really worth going into.
The moments of high emotion passed in a fleeting blink of the eye, and then Aragorn found himself and Arwen in a smaller, warmer antechamber. For several hours, they stood beside Faramir and Eowyn, accepting well-wishes and gifts in the name of baby Elboron. The guest of honor spent that time sleeping in a snug cradle under a cloth of state. There had only been a few awkward moments throughout that time. Even young Lord Asgaron was on his best behavior, on the arm of his sister, the war widow of a knight from Lamedon.
Thinking of Asgaron caused the King's eyes to flicker with amused fondness to his oldest friend, the Prince of the Greenwood. Legolas stood beside Gimli. The dwarf said something which caused Legolas to smile with shy pleasure. Aragorn complimented himself that bringing the two of them together had really been one of his better ideas, even driven by necessity as it had been. He resolved to spend more time with the both of them. They had endured many hardships together, and he still found much joy in their company. He owed them many debts, one of which being that Aragorn might not even know that Faramir was his son if not for Legolas and Gimli. They had become Faramir's friends as well as Aragorn's, and both had needed the support of that friendship. It had been Legolas, Aragorn knew, who had encouraged Faramir to accept his father into his life, and Legolas who had encouraged - and at times even badgered - Faramir to call Aragorn by the term "father." And Aragorn knew that Legolas was proud of Faramir, for finally doing so.
Aragorn was proud, too. It had been a brave thing to do, particularly in front of such a crowd. It was the normal term of address for a son to a father upon the birth of a new babe in the family, but Aragorn had expected Faramir to choose the path of formality. Nor would it have been improper for Faramir to have done so, Steward as he was and King as Aragorn was. Even as clever a politician and skilled a diplomat as his son was, Aragorn did think that Faramir had taken the politics of the matter into account whatsoever. If the King had to guess, it had been a last minute decision on Faramir's part, to address him as "my father" rather than "my King."
But despite not having been a planned political gambit, that one word difference had made the naming ceremony and Faramir's acknowledgement seem more a private family matter, a matter of the heart, than a political power play. It seemed to have assuaged the concerns of those who feared that the Prince of Ithilien having an heir meant he was trying to establish his own dynasty in place of the King's. Aragorn himself had no such concerns, and in fact pitied anyone who might approach Faramir with such an offer. It would be impossible to convince Faramir to do something which he thought was wrong. Aragorn had found more than enough trouble getting his son to do something which Faramir merely did not want to do. he conflict over whether or not the young man would be accompanied by the King's guards, for instance, which might still be ongoing if it were not for Prince Imrahil.
Keeping that in mind, Aragorn handed baby Elboron into the waiting arms of his great-uncle the Prince of Dol Amroth, even though he was reluctant to surrender the now-slumbering princeling. Imrahil grinned at him, making Aragorn remember his young second officer in the battle against the corsairs, the year before Faramir's birth.
With Imrahil in Minas Tirith, willing and able to assume some of the duties of the Steward, it meant that Faramir could spend time with his wife and new son while Aragorn did likewise, and maybe spent some time hunting with Legolas. The cold did not bother elf nor King, and Imrahil was much less likely than Faramir to insist that the King do some of his own paperwork. Although even Faramir would almost certainly have let Aragorn off the hook if the reason was to go and spend time with their friend of the Greenwood, or Gimli, or any of the other members of the fellowship, for that matter. Legolas and Gimli could be Aragorn's excuse for any number of hours spent away from his Kingly duties. Aragorn regarded them and smiled.
Legolas smiled back at him, game but uncertain. Gimli gave them both a curious look.
His friend had found the whole occasion more trying than Elboron. With so many watching him Legolas had been on his best behavior and had upheld the dignity of Eryn Lasgalen as only a son Thranduil could, but he knew that the formalities and ‘stuffiness’ of the customs here in Gondor irritated the elven prince. Still it had been amusing to watch Legolas attempting to avoid the attentions of the matrons and maidens of court and to watch his expression as various gifts were proffered to Faramir and Eowyn for their son.
Some of the gifts were Aragorn acknowledged quite ridiculous, what any infant might want with a cut glass candelabra that was so heavy it took three servitors to carry it in he had no idea, Legolas’ opinion was clear to see from his disgusted expression and Aragorn had feared the elf might have commented but a sharp elbow in the ribs from Lady Vonild had stilled his tongue at least until the unfortunate merchant who had presented the gift was beyond earshot.
Fortunately other gifts had met with his approval, the beautiful miniature swan ship from Dol Amroth had fascinated Legolas and Aragorn had felt a momentary frisson of disquiet as the elf peered at it, he knew Legolas had heard the call of the sea but had fought against it and he hoped he would long continue to do so.
But then Legolas’ attention was caught by two beautiful saddles sent by Eomer King, and Aragorn had heard Eowyn explain they were specially designed so that she and Faramir could carry Elboron safely when they rode out in Ithilien and on looking more closely Aragorn had seen the clever straps and panniers that had been added. He made a mental note to himself to ask Eomer for similar saddles for himself and Arwen for when they had their first child.
Legolas had presented his own gifts of course, just as the others had done, and his had been peculiarly elven in choice, three beech saplings from Eryn Lasgalen which the prince had explained was the traditional way the elves of Thranduil’s realm marked marriage and child birth by planting the trees together so that they grew and thrived as one.
He had surprised Aragorn however by giving a second gift; one which Aragorn was quite sure had not been made by the elves but by the skilled hands of Gimli Gloinson for Gimli was a craftsman of no little talent and had already presented Elboron with a mithril rattle, the handle of which was in the shape of a horse’s head, while the rattle itself was etched with horses, ships and the white tree the beauty and artistry had taken everyone’s breath away and Gimli had turned quite red at the reaction to what he had called a simple gift.
Legolas’ second gift was also crafted from mithril and from gold, and was a tiny linked bracelet, made up of ivy leaves, and the prince had shyly explained that it could be added to each year so that the bracelet would grow with Elboron, it is something from the elves of Ithilien’ he had added ‘in honor of our place in your fiefdom which we hope will be a long and happy one.’
Aragorn hoped that would be the case too, for now he watched as Legolas accompanied by his dwarven guardian avoided being caught by one of the more determined ladies in waiting and slipped through into a quiet corner where Vonild was sitting. How fortunate it had been that Vonild had been prepared to remain in the White City until the birth, her skill and calm assurance had worked wonderfully on Eowyn and on his son. He must make sure he thanked her properly, aye and see to it that she now enjoyed the season of Mettarë here in Gondor just as he must see to the needs of all his guests …
The soft conversation between Imrahil and Faramir reclaimed the King's attention, just in time for Elboron to wake with a start. Instead of crying, as would be common to many a baby so young, he solemnly regarded his father's only uncle. There was, Aragorn just had time to note, something of Imrahil's peacefulness about the babe Elboron. Then, the baby was spirited off by Elladan and Elrohir.
Having been inspired to overcome their distrust of Faramir by Legolas' lecture, Aragorn's elder twin foster brothers were now now proclaiming themselves great-uncles to little Elboron. Faramir seemed bemused but gratified, willing to take their about-face in good part, and eager to resume the friendship which they had begun just after the war, before anyone knew the truth of Faramir's parentage. No doubt that Faramir intellectually understood that if the twins were great-uncles to Faramir's son, that made them in their own eyes just as much Faramir's own uncles as was Imrahil of Dol Amroth.
Faramir did not, Aragorn thought, yet have any idea what that might mean. As Elladan lectured Faramir over taking care of himself in addition to little Elboron, Aragorn met Legolas' eyes again. Legolas DID know what the twins' new interest in Faramir might mean for the young Steward, and the elven prince shook his head in rueful sympathy. The twins were far more likely than Aragorn to feel that a loved one's behavior merited correction, and they were not shy with a few firm swats to explain their point of view. Or more than a few, if they felt it needful.
Perhaps, the King thought to himself, it might be a good idea to suggest to Elladan and Elrohir that they join Faramir's patrols of Ithilien, come the spring. That would give the twins a chance to get to know him better, give Faramir two guards whom Aragorn trusted, and also make it possible for the twins as well as Faramir to be frequent visitors to Ithilien-en-Edhil, in case Legolas needed them. Provided, of course, that the twins continued to be kind to his son.
"I think you're overwhelming my baby." Eowyn told Elladan and Elrohir levelly, apparently not yet having forgiven them for their earlier treatment of her husband. Eowyn collected Elboron, and retreated with him to the other side of the room. Faramir, still beside his father, watched his wife and son with shining eyes.
"Perhaps I should..." Faramir began, moving to join them.
Aragorn chuckled, and threw an arm around his son's shoulders. "Stay with me. Eowyn has this under control. Conserve your strength, You may need it later, if she loses her temper entirely."
Faramir sighed and leaned back against his father with a nod. Eowyn's moods were still uncertain, but that was common for new mothers from what Aragorn understood.
Eowyn seemed to have regained her equilibrium, and was now coaxing a reluctant Legolas to hold baby Elboron. The graceful Prince of the Greenwood appeared almost awkward for a moment, although Aragorn did not fear he'd drop the baby. After a few moments, Legolas' nervous unease melted into a hesitant smile. Aragorn should have known that his oldest friend could never resist a baby animal of any species. No surprise that it should be the same for a baby human. Then Elboron's little hand reached out to grasp a bright jeweled bead on Legolas' braids. For half a moment, Aragorn hoped that the unusually calm babe might have just wanted to hold it, but then he tugged.
"Ouch!"
Aragorn stifled a chuckle. It would not do to laugh at Legolas, who was after all suffering pain at his grandson's little hands. Or hand, rather.
Gimli didn't bother to stifle his mirth. Aragorn saw Legolas narrow his eyes at the dwarf, before settling Elboron in Gimli's arms. "See?" Legolas said, twitching the end of part of Gimli's braided beard for the young babe, while Gimli tried to make him stop that behavior without dropping Elboron, or making the babe feel insecure. "You see, Elboron?" Legolas continued in an innocent tone of voice, "Gimli's braids are entirely more distinguished, and much more worthy of your attention."
Eowyn dimpled unhelpfully beside them, as her son decided that Legolas must be right. Elboron reached out with both small hands to pull on Gimli's braided beard firmly.
"Ach, stop that, wee laddie!" Gimli protested. Elboron evidently had no interest in letting go of such a fascinating new toy.
"Males!" Lady Vonild exclaimed in exasperation, reaching out to offer the baby a brightly colored cloth [ball] in exchange for her son's fine red beard.
Aragorn couldn't help but grin, glad to have his old family and his new family together, as the old year ended and the new year began.