Title: Common Cause
Author: Mcguffan
anne_robbins@yahoo.com
Rating: NC 17
Pairing: Aragorn/Halbarad
Summary: Someone wants to kill Isildur’s Heir in Rohan and Halbarad is 
not about to put up with that.
Archive: Please ask before archiving this.
Notes: This takes place after Helm’s Deep and before the Grey Company 
walks the Paths of the Dead.  I have extended the timeline to make this 
about a two-week period and made a few other tiny changes to canon.  
Please review, I really want to know what people think.  Thangail nin- My 
shield wall (Thanks to Sulien for help with Sindarin.)


*
I had no idea what time it was when I awoke, still pressed to Aragorn’s 
side.  The fire had long since burned itself out and light streamed through 
the cracks in the wooden shutters.  No one had come to wake us so I 
surmised that it was yet morning.  I had agreed to meet Eowyn and start 
ferreting through the archives today and I was of half a mind to rise and be 
about that business, but I knew that if I attempted to leave the bed Aragorn 
would wake.  He needed as much sleep as his rigorously conditioned body 
would allow him to have so I remained where I was.

In truth, it was no great hardship.  The mattress ticking was of fresh, sweet 
smelling straw and the sheets were soft.  Best of all, however, was the 
chance to lean back into Aragorn’s broad chest with no thought at all 
except to enjoy his closeness.  If, like Ryn, I was to start putting together a 
fantasy of the future then it must include spending my mornings lolling in 
bed next to my beloved captain.  I savored the privilege of sharing these 
moments of intimacy and I secretly hoped that Aragorn might sleep the 
day through.  Of course, that was not to be.  Not too long after I had first 
wakened Aragorn stirred beside me, shifting according to his training from 
sleep to full wakefulness without lingering anywhere in between.

“Did you sleep well, my love?”  I asked, watching his face for signs of 
fatigue.

“I have rarely slept as well as I did last night and throughout this morning, 
too, if I judge aright.”  Aragorn replied peering at the sunlight illuminating 
the room as though irritated with himself.  Then he kissed the top of my 
head and patted my thigh.  “And did you spend a restful night, thangail 
nin?”

“Aye, though I would not be grieved for us both to sleep through to the 
afternoon as well.”

“I doubt we will find today too strenuous even should we rise from bed.”  
Aragorn commented as I draped my arms about him and fell to kissing at 
the corners of his mouth.  

“I think there will be little enough business today.  The scribes will be 
copying Theoden’s call to arms and supply lines will have to be planned 
and the number of troops expected will have to be ascertained but the real 
work won’t begin until the soldiers begin arriving.  I think we will even 
have some time for some pleasant conversation, Halbarad.”  Aragorn said, 
kissing me firmly before getting out of bed with a smile.

My heart sank.  I would have dearly loved to spend the day pleasantly 
trailing after Aragorn and Eomer, stealing the occasional quiet moment 
with my captain.  I thought I could easily become friends with Eomer and 
the three of us could be companionable together, with the elves and dwarf 
participating to the extent they wished, but I could not indulge myself so.  
Aragorn was still in danger and my only thought had to be to eliminate 
that danger as quickly as possible.

“I have made arrangements to look through the archives today or else I 
would happily join you.”

“So diligent, my love.  Your example urges me to keep my own duty at 
the forefront of my attention.”  Aragorn replied, sounding a little wistful as 
he pulled his tunic over his head.

“You do that regardless, my lord.”  I said, embracing him from behind and 
laying my head on the back of his shoulder a moment before going to 
gather my own clothing.  “It grieves me, as ever, to be parted from you but 
I have given Ryn and the others the strictest instructions to keep you 
safely guarded at all times.”  A certain fierceness was creeping into my 
tone.  I felt a visceral hatred for Aragorn’s enemies.  It gave me a 
reputation for viciousness in certain quarters, which I could not have 
earned otherwise.  “My hope is to find quick evidence of the malice 
plotted here and once the assassin scum have been dealt with then I shall 
be able to return to your side and guard you as I should.”

Aragorn regarded me quizzically.  He usually indulged my protective 
moods but as he watched me a flicker of hurt kindled within his eyes and 
it twisted my insides to see it.  “That it is not the only reason why I seek 
your company, Halbarad.  Nor do I believe I am utterly helpless on my 
own.  It occurs to me, in fact, that I have taken care of myself with 
sufficient skill that I might be trusted in the halls of an ally without a 
minder.”

Dropping the shirt I had been about to put on, I went to Aragorn and sank 
down upon my knees before him.  “Get up, Halbarad.  This is silly.  I am 
not truly vexed, nor do I plan to elude my faithful Dunedain for spite.”  
My captain was slightly alarmed by the dramatic nature of my gesture but 
I felt it was warranted.  I could not allow him to think that I felt no more 
for him than the duty to protect him, nor could I let him think that I had 
anything but the greatest respect for his abilities and self-sufficiency.

Ignoring his protests, I remained on my knees.  “Aragorn, I love you.  
Perhaps I worry to excess but I beg you not to understand this worry as a 
lack of faith in you.  You are so important to me that the thought of harm 
coming to you is like a poison in my blood that will destroy my reason if 
left unchecked.  Whatever foolishness I may say in the throes of my 
anxiety, however, do not doubt I love you.”

“I love you, too, thangail nin.  Now get up, please, I beg you.”  I rose to 
my feet and Aragorn embraced me.  

“Honestly Halbarad, do not react so.”  Aragorn said after releasing me.  
“People will think I beat you if you behave like that every time I become 
tetchy or sullen.”  I laughed for I doubted very much anyone would ever 
think anything of the kind.

“It is your own fault for being so habitually even-tempered.  If you did 
what was normal and flew off into a rage now and then people wouldn’t 
be so surprised by the occasional flare of testiness.”  I remarked, smiling.  
Aragorn smiled, too, but it seemed a bit rueful.  “I am not even the least 
little bit afraid of you, if that is any comfort.”

“Infinitely comforting, my love.”  Aragorn responded, and I felt he was 
not being entirely facetious.
*
After leaving Aragorn, I went in search of Eowyn.  Theoden, Eomud and 
many of the older generation were still in bed, and though it was the 
middle of the morning the fortress seemed very quiet.  I eventually found 
Eowyn in the kitchens.  She greeted me and invited me to have breakfast 
while she finished speaking with the cooks.  When I had finished eating 
and Eowyn was ready she led me through to a large suite of rooms 
containing stacks of books and roll upon roll of parchment.

“Where shall we start?”  Eowyn asked as I surveyed the mountains of 
records.

“I suppose I should begin looking at the amount of taxes paid to Edoras 
for the last ten years or so.  Does Rohan tax by family or by region?”

“By family but the records are organized by region.  It can be a little 
confusing because the crown occasionally must redistrict according to the 
population movement so a town that was in one region one year might be 
in another region the next.  Also, if a family sells its holdings and takes up 
new territory it can be difficult to trace.”  Eowyn replied and I tried not to 
sigh.  “What should I do?”

“I though you might help familiarize me with the forms and the 
organizational system.”  Eowyn nodded.  

“Then what?”

“If you would be so good as to read through all the edicts that have been 
issued under Wormtongue’s influence and note if anyone has been 
consistently profiting.  Look for patterns rather than for a single 
outstanding instance.”  I replied.  I had not thought Eowyn meant to 
actually help me comb through the records but I would be glad of her 
assistance.

For the first hour or so of our research, Eowyn had to stay almost 
constantly at my shoulder, explaining notation, interpreting abbreviations 
and the like.  Eventually, I learned enough to allow her to start her own 
work and we sat together at a large table in companionable silence with 
only the rustle of paper and the scratch of chalk on slate to interrupt the 
quiet.

“The archives in Edoras contain notes on all the council sessions as well 
as a better system of organization.”  Eowyn commented, looking up from 
what she had been reading.

“Yes, but there is enough here to demonstrate the direction of 
Wormtongue's favors.”  I responded, wondering if the lady was already 
bored.

“Mm, you are fortunate you came to me Halbarad,” Eowyn continued.  
She had earlier insisted we dispense with the formalities.  “I don’t believe 
Eomer even knows where to find the archives in Helm’s Deep.  I’ve been 
keeping the household accounts though for several years and I have 
familiarized myself with the financial condition of the various regions so I 
will know when a merchant is lying to my face.”

“That gives me confidence in my judgment, Eowyn, for I asked your help 
feeling that you would not only be trustworthy but also competent.”  It 
was little more than the truth but Eowyn blushed deeply with pride.  
Again, we both turned to our work.

“Halbarad?”

“Yes, ma’am.”  I answered a little absent-mindedly.  I was trying to make 
sense of a table of numbers and consequently I did not give her my full 
attention.

“What gift did you bring the lord Aragorn from the elf lady?”

I froze, the table of numbers dropped from my hand, as memory overtook 
me:  

I was thrilled to have finally received Elrond’s word that it was time to 
follow after Aragorn.  I stood with the lord of Imladris himself and his two 
sons.  The audience was over and I was preparing to take my leave when 
elf lord halted me.  ‘A moment, captain, my daughter would entrust you 
with a gift for her betrothed.’  Smiling the male elves left the room and 
Arwen entered.  She was also smiling but it was not the smile her family 
had worn.

‘Hello Halbarad.’  Her voice was cool and deep, her gown a diaphanous 
mist of lavender silk.

‘My lady.’  My voice was higher than usual and one did not need to be an 
elf to hear the apprehension in it.

‘As seems to happen so often, you will see Estel before I do.  If I did not 
understand the situation so thoroughly I might grow jealous.’  She 
approached and I retreated at the same rate until my back was to the wall.  
A light burned in her eye that made me want to run away.

‘I do understand, though, and jealousy would be foolish since you are so 
obviously just a stand-in, a convenient body when no better is available.’  
The words were said gently almost kindly.  I tried to pull myself together.  
The unexpectedness of her appearance had helped to unnerve me and in 
this as in most things if I could conceal my emotions she would take less 
pleasure from taunting me.

We stood very close for she had continued her approach after my retreat 
had been blocked.  I could smell her now.  She had a faint sent of flowers, 
of lavender and lilac.  She was nearly my own height and her eyes were 
bright with merriment and mischief, which was how cruelty displayed 
itself in the countenances of elves, her skin was flawless cream.  I had 
never been attracted to women.  They had never moved me, but lady 
Arwen was undeniably beautiful, lovely in a way that transcended gender 
like a sunset or the surface of a lake ruffled by the breeze.

‘I would have you give my husband this token of my great love for him.’  
Taking a final step toward me, she closed her mouth over mine.  The kiss 
began softly but always with the threat of greater force behind it.  I 
struggled to turn my face away but her hands came up to trap my head 
with slim supple fingers.  I might have taken hold of her wrists and pushed 
her from me but I could not lay hands on her.  Perhaps she might have 
gained some measure of respect for me if I had but I was not able to 
defend myself.  She would be my queen, after all.  My duty was to protect 
her, never to show her violence.

The kiss deepened and Arwen pressed closer.  The piece of me that was 
part and slave of nature responded to her but the human side of myself 
cringed.  She was skillful, though.  I had no doubt she would be a 
consummate lover, but this wasn’t meant to be a seduction.  Arwen 
intended to make it clear how much more desirable she was than I could 
ever be.  I would have conceded the point without the demonstration but 
that would not have been so satisfying to her.

‘Give him that.’  She breathed, finally stepping back.  ‘If you can.’  She 
turned her back on me and I hoped desperately she was done but she 
gestured to a corner of the room where a tall poll wrapped in silks was 
propped.

‘There is the banner of the White Tree and Gondor restored.  I have spent 
the long hours of our separation creating it.  When the time comes I would 
like him to take it into battle.  Please see that he gets it.’  Arwen still stood 
with her back to me but her voice had changed.  She sounded very sad.  
There was the littlest slump in her shoulders and if I had seen her face it 
would not have surprised me to see her eyes bright with tears.  My anger 
and trepidation left me at once.  I knew she missed Aragorn, how could I 
do anything but sympathize with a pain I myself knew so intimately.

‘I will see it done, my lady.’  I replied in something approaching my 
normal tone.  She nodded without turning and left.

“It is his banner, isn’t?  The banner of Gondor’s king.  He means to march 
beneath the White Tree and reclaim his own, doesn’t he?”  Eowyn had not 
noticed my reaction; she was so intent upon the image she was creating.  
“You can tell me, Halbarad.  I am able to keep a secret.”

“So am I, my lady.”  I responded, quickly returning to the present.  I 
wondered if it had been Merry or Eomer who Eowyn had interrogated for 
intelligence of the grey company’s meeting with the Rohirrim.  It was not 
much of a secret; of course, the package I had carried from Rivendell 
could hardly contain anything but a furled banner.  Still it was the 
principle of the thing.  Eowyn gave me a hard look and returned her gaze 
to her book.

The next interruption came in the form of a gentle tap on the door.  
Looking up I saw Ryn, who had been assigned to remain with Aragorn, 
enter and bow to me and Eowyn in greeting.  Feeling my skin prickle 
unpleasantly I stood up.  “What news?”  I demanded rather harshly.

“There has been an incident and though no one was injured we thought 
you should be informed.”

“What sort of ‘incident’?”   I asked striding over to Ryn, Eowyn right 
behind me.

“Some of the Rohirrim were sparring in the courtyard.  The lord Eomer 
invited our lord to trade a few passes and he agreed-”

“Wait.”  I interrupted Ryn.  “Take me to our captain.  You can tell me the 
story as we go.”

“He was in no way injured.”

“I heard you the first time.”  I snapped and then instantly regretted it.  
“Please show me where he is.  It will help me to see him myself.”  I added 
a bit more gently.  Nodding his agreement Ryn turned to lead the way.  I 
noticed but did not comment upon the fact the Eowyn followed close 
behind.

“As I was saying,” The ranger resumed as we moved quickly through the 
corridors.  “Aragorn agreed to spar.  They were both using practice swords 
and their blades did not even clash for the first minute or so.  Then lord 
Eomer struck an overhand blow that undeflected would have sundered an 
enemy’s skull.  Of Course, Aragorn raised his own sword in defense but 
upon contact with Eomer’s blade his sword shattered.  Eomer had seen 
that Aragorn was going to deflect him and so, perhaps as a test of strength 
he had committed himself fully to his downswing.”  At this information I 
increased my pace until the three of us were nearly jogging.

“Aragorn tried to throw all his weight backward though he had no time to 
escape the attack.  He would surely have been hurt, even with the practice 
sword but Legolas who happened to be nearest and swiftest of those 
present stepped in and parried much of the stroke.  I say again, Halbarad, 
Aragorn was not hurt.  Now slow down, people are starting to stare.”  It 
was true.  The inhabitants of the fortress were staring at us in some 
apprehension and I slowed a little though I continued at a brisk walk.

“What happened, then?”  I wanted to get the whole story before I started 
speculating.

“Nothing much.  Aragorn tried to laugh it off but Eomer was unnerved.  
He kept repeating that there was no way such a thing could have 
happened.  Before I left Aragorn had started sparring with another of the 
Rohirrim.  I suppose he wanted to dispel any sort of feeling of ill-omen 
that might have been starting among the soldiers.”

The practice yard was now in sight and I could see Aragorn at a little 
distance.  Momentarily fighting down the urge to go to him.  I turned to 
Ryn:  “Where did Aragorn come by the sword that shattered?”

Ryn shifted his feet but he did not hesitate.  “It was offered to him by the 
man Eomer had just been fighting, Captain Aille.”  The man wilted 
beneath my look and added apologetically.  “Aille was using that sword 
against Eomer and there was nothing wrong with it.  He parried several 
heavy blows.  If we had not seen the sword in use before we never would 
have let Aragorn take it.”  I was too angry to answer so I turned away and 
stalked across the field.  The sound of swishing skirts informed that 
Eowyn was still hard on my heels but she said nothing and I was busy 
with my own thoughts.

I found Aragorn in mid duel.  I could not put a name to his opponent but I 
had seen him here and there.  A small crowd had gathered to watch.  
Among them I saw several nervous looking Dunedain.  A few other 
practice duels were being conducted at the same time.  Some of these, for 
example, that between Legolas and Gimli and another between Elrohir and 
another of the Rohirrim had also drawn an audience.  Aragorn caught my 
eye not long after I came upon the practice field and after a few more 
passes concluded his duel with a few words of praise and encouragement 
for his opponent.

“I am all right, Halbarad.  You need not have come.”  He said coming 
close so none could overhear his words.  For a moment I worried Eowyn 
might be too near but then I realized that the lady had disappeared.  
Eventually I saw her beside her brother so I banished her from my mind to 
concentrate on studying my captain.  I had already looked him up and 
down several times but I did so again just to be sure before finally nodding 
my provisional agreement that he was all right.

“I don’t suppose you will consent to come indoors and leave the Rohirrim 
to themselves a while?”  I asked taking his arm for a moment in what I 
hoped seemed a friendly gesture of greeting.

“No.”  Aragorn replied returning my gesture.  I nodded having expected 
that answer.  “Theoden and much of the older generation has been long 
abed and thus we have had a bit of swordplay but I doubt the king can 
sleep much longer and then we shall all calmly and safely discuss the 
orders Eomer, with my advice, issued this morning.  I will be careful, 
Halbarad.  Don’t fret so.”

I nodded again and turned to stand shoulder to shoulder with my captain 
as though we were both watching Legolas gracefully evade the mighty 
swing of Gimli’s axe.  Aragorn was not the least fazed by danger to 
himself but he wanted to reassure me.  I tried to smile to show my 
appreciation but it was difficult to ignore the helplessness I felt.  My heart 
bade me abandon the dusty and headache inducing archives and hover 
near Aragorn for the rest of the day but I knew that was a short-term 
solution to a long-term problem.  My captain would be safer if I found the 
source of the danger than he would be if I were there to parry each 
individual sally the enemy decided to make.

I looked around feeling frustrated and unhappy.  It cheered me a little to 
see that an unobtrusive cordon of Dunedain had surrounded me and 
Aragorn and that Legolas, Gimli and the twins spared him a look every 
minute or so despite their mock battles.  He would be well guarded 
without me, had been well guarded without me.  I would gather what other 
information I could about this latest incident then return to the archives.  
Now the decision had been made all I had to do was say farewell to my 
captain and be about my plan but I didn’t move.

“Aragorn!”

“Lord Eomer.”  My captain responded straightening his posture.  
Theoden’s nephew still looked a little unsettled and I thought he might 
start some sort of apology but I was wrong.

“Would you like to try another bout?”  The horse lord asked trying to 
sound cheerful and nonchalant.

“I would indeed, sir.”  Aragorn responded, pleased.  With a parting clasp 
on my shoulder Aragorn joined Eomer and was handed a practice sword 
that Ryn had just thoroughly inspected.  I was pleased Eomer had 
sufficiently recovered himself to propose the second contest.  Soldiers 
were a superstitious lot and the breaking of a sword was not the sort of 
thing they needed to remember.  One way to make sure everyone 
remembered it, however, was for Eomer to get shy of a friendly sparring 
session with his greatest ally.

The two circled each other a few times.  Then Aragorn made an 
experimental thrust which Eomer dodged.  Soon it became clear that the 
horse lord was holding back but Aragorn was patient.  He never pressed 
his advantage and eventually Eomer was drawn into the contest.  The two 
were still going back and forth fifteen minutes later when a page 
announced Theoden was ready to hold council.  Both combatants tried to 
concede the bout to the other without success and there was a good feeling 
among the crowd of spectators as Aragorn and Eomer washed off the 
worst of the sweat before walking back to the fortress together.

I watched Aragorn go feeling a little better than I had.  Eomer, I was sure, 
had been an unwitting participant in the earlier incident.  Even aside from 
my personal assessment of the man, Eomer had much more direct ways of 
harming Aragorn if he intended to.  What was more, Aragorn and Eomer 
were becoming friends and I doubted the horse lord was so good an actor 
as to gain my captain’s trust if he meant him ill.

“Halbarad?”  Ryn’s voice broke me from my thoughts.

“Report.”  I ordered curtly.

“We collected the shards of the broken sword and it seems clear that the 
blade had been filed very thin in the middle.  Aille must have switched 
weapons between the time of his own duel with Eomer and giving the 
sword to Aragorn.”

“How much time did he have to do that?”

“Less than a minute the second event happened hard upon the first.”

“And no one saw him?”  I demanded.  The cheek of the man was 
appalling.  Five trained Dunedain, who had been warned he was under 
suspicion, surround him and he switches swords right in front of them.  
And no one noticed!

“All eyes were on our captain.”  Ryn replied and seeing passed the fog of 
my own emotions I knew he and the others were utterly miserable about 
the situation.  In fairness, they had done as well as anyone had a right to 
expect yet I found it difficult to be fair.

“All right, I suppose it could have been worse.”  I relented.

“Halbarad, I fear it is somewhat worse.  We have also examined Eomer’s 
practice sword as well as some of the others that had been returned to the 
armory.  Several of the weapons, Eomer’s among them, were heavier and 
sharper than they should have been.  Not so much that anyone who was 
just reaching for a weapon would notice but the difference could easily 
have been lethal.”

“So what are you thinking?”  I asked, not liking the course of my own 
thoughts.

“Aille or a conspirator exchanged a number of practice swords for deadlier 
weapons.  Then Aille himself engaged one of the men who had happened 
to pick up one of the sharper blades in combat, in this case Eomer.  Next, 
Aille would have sewn the suggestion of a combat with Aragorn in 
Eomer’s mind, so that when Aragorn eventually happened by Eomer 
would challenge him and Aille could offer him the damaged sword which 
he must have kept in his second scabbard.  Some of the Rohirrim who had 
accidentally taken up the heavier weapons injured their opponent more 
severely than expected.  This gave us the idea to check Eomer’s sword, 
too.”  Ryn finished.  It seemed plausible to me and it was all the more 
frustrating for the theory could not be proved since an objective observer 
would find the evidence circumstantial and easy to fake.

“Just for the sake of being thorough see if anyone remembers Aille being 
particularly anxious to go out on the practice field this morning.”  I 
instructed.  Ryn nodded acknowledging he had heard the order.

“What of your own search?  Have you found anything useful?”

“I’ve found damn all.  Wormtongue’s only strategy appeared to have been 
to bankrupt Rohan as quickly as he thought he could get away with it.  
Still, I have not been at it long.  These things take time.”  I sighed 
dejectedly.  “I suppose I should get back to it now.”

“Oh and Ryn,” I called for the man had taken these last words as dismissal 
and he was moving back into the fortress.  At my call though, he stopped 
and turned.  “Don’t forget to watch Aille.”

“Yes, sir.”  Came the quick reply before Ryn turned sharply on his heel 
and marched off, perhaps unconsciously, adopting a soldier’s gate rather 
than the wary glide of a ranger.
*
I really did mean to get back to the archives but I happened to see Legolas 
and Gimli still in the practice yard.  The elf was setting up an archery 
target while the dwarf supervised.  This reminded me of a chore I could 
easily accomplish now so I put off the books for a little longer to offer 
Legolas my sincere gratitude for his quick action.  The elf seemed amused 
by my thanks and the dwarf teased him a little.  I did not entirely 
understand either creature but it had been necessary for me to speak my 
peace how ever it was interpreted.

Leaving the pair to their play I was nearly inside the fortress when Eowyn 
materialized beside me:  “My lady, you should never sneak up on a sneak.  
It’s bad form.”  I commented for I had truly not noticed her until she was 
quite close.

“I’ve been waiting for you.  I would have joined you sooner but you were 
speaking to that elf and I have nothing to say to him- even if he did do us 
all a good turn this morning.  Are we going into the council now?”

“I don’t think so.”  I replied, curious as to why she would think we might 
be.

“Don’t you dare.”  Eowyn said halting suddenly, her eyes going fierce and 
her fists clenching at her sides.  “Don’t you dare try to keep me out.  You 
asked for my help so don’t try to get rid of me just because it’s getting 
dangerous.  Someone tried to harm the lord Aragorn this morning and 
used my brother as the means.  I won’t stand for that.  The lord Aragorn 
needs protection and I’m not letting you push me aside.”

I raised my hands in an attempt to stem the tirade.  “My lady, I had no 
thought of forsaking your assistance.  I am not going to join the council 
rather I am returning to the archives where, if you are willing, I would be 
glad of your aid.”  Eowyn’s anger left her making her look like the child 
she very nearly was.

“I’m sorry, I thought. . . I thought that the lord Aragorn would need to be 
guarded and that you would take this task yourself.  I didn’t expect that 
you would continue with this morning’s work after what happened.  I’m 
sorry.”  Eowyn sounded sad and confused and it was all I could do not 
take her in my arms as though she were one of my sisters.

“It is understandable.  The Dunedain will guard Aragorn and while I 
perform a less glorious task I hope it will be no less useful.”  I was doing 
my best to be sympathetic but I must have struck a nerve for a little of 
Eowyn’s old anger rekindled.

“Do you mock me because I would be more than a household drudge?”

“Indeed, no.  In fact, I was under the impression I was addressing my own 
situation.  I was hoping to explain a decision some might regard as 
cowardly for it would pain me, Eowyn, if you did not believe that 
protecting Aragorn was everything to me.  If I do not remain at his side it 
is because I believe I will serve him better elsewhere.”  Again the lady 
seemed to deflate and she turned from me to hide the start of tears.

“Once more, I apologize.  You don’t understand what it’s like to. . . to be 
ignored all the time.”  Eowyn’s words caught and I heard her trying to 
take deep calming breaths.  I did not really think it would require the great 
effort of imagination she seemed to think for me to understand what it was 
to be overlooked but this was about her feelings now.

“Perhaps it is not so black as it seems.  Your brother heeds you, does he 
not.  I guess it was your suggestion that brought him from his gloom to 
challenge Aragorn again and reassure the watchers that the earlier incident 
meant nothing.”

“How did you. . .  Yes, it was my advice.  Eomer is kind to me.”

“Kind to himself as well, for I doubt not your counsel is sound and he is 
wise to credit it.  Come, my lady, I still have need of your help if you 
would give it.  Let us leave such talk and remember our purpose.”

Eowyn stood for another moment, composing herself with her back to me.  
Then she turned stoically and led the way back into the fortress toward the 
archives.
*
Eowyn was very conscientious the next few hours.  She worked without 
speaking and I knew her earlier outburst still embarrassed her.  When 
afternoon faded toward evening I suggested the lady might wish to go and 
preside over dinner.  Her only response was that her presence was not 
required to cut ham.  I had no reply for this so we continued our work in 
silence.

An hour later there was another knock on the door.  I tensed and rose 
instantly to my feet, a thousand paranoid thoughts racing through my 
brain.  As the door opened, however, I did not see Ryn’s grim countenance 
as I had expected but rather the shy smile of a red headed serving maid 
carrying a large tray with two covered dishes and two mugs of ale.

“Good evening, milady, sir.”  She bobbed a curtsy and I sat down again 
greatly relieved.  “My lord Eomer thought as you might be getting hungry 
and could likely do with supper.”  So saying she looked about her and 
moved toward one of the empty tables.

“This room could do with a bit of dusting.”  The woman observed looking 
askance at the scholarly ambiance.

“This is a library, Hilda.  People can’t come in to clean.  Everything here 
has been organized very carefully.”  Eowyn replied, moving over to the 
plates with a look of keen interest.

“I expect you know best, milady.  Now, is there anything else your 
ladyship would like, or you, sir?”

“No thank you, Hilda.  It was very kind of you to take the trouble.”  
Eowyn said as she revealed a large slice of glazed ham, asparagus and a 
twice-baked potato beneath the lid of the plate.  Hilda bobbed another 
curtsy and departed.

“I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.”  Eowyn apologized as she sat down 
at her plate and started cutting the ham.  “Please, you won’t let me eat 
alone.”   I was not one to be ungallant and in obedience to her gesture I 
uncovered my own plate and began eating.

“Halbarad?”  Eowyn asked when the ham and much of the asparagus had 
been consumed and the pace of our eating had decreased to something that 
was nearly polite.

“Yes?”  I answered just a little nervously.  The lady’s tone made me think 
that she was about to ask a question I might not be comfortable answering.

“How long have you known the lord Aragorn?”

“Stars, it must be sixty years now, more.”  I answered.  Perhaps the 
reminder of just how much older Aragorn was than Eowyn might grant the 
lady some perspective.

“Oh yes, I had forgotten the blood of Numenor must be very strong in 
him.”  To my chagrin Eowyn seemed impressed more than anything else.  
On second thought, I do not know why I should be surprised.  I knew 
many a mortal woman fantasized about elves and they were as old as taxes 
and older than death.

“Were you always friends, from the very beginning?”  Eowyn asked, 
leaning forward as though my answer was somehow very important to her.

“Well, it seems to me true friendship must take a long time to develop but 
for my part I was always eager to encourage friendship between us.”  I 
could not help but smile faintly at the memory of that time in my life.  I 
had been so young and insecure, so desperate to prove myself- to everyone 
but most especially to the god-like lord Aragorn.  I was so caught up in my 
own needs that I had not recognized that Aragorn was plagued by similar 
worries though for him it was worse for he had the greater responsibility 
as well as a heavy burden of loneliness.  We could not truly be friends 
until I was able to see passed myself to Aragorn’s feelings.

“And were you always. . .  I mean how did you become. . .”  I raised an 
eyebrow.  Would she have the courage to ask?  Would I have the courage 
to answer?  “Nevermind.”  And it was just as well.

“Now that we have done full justice to your brother’s kindness in sending 
us supper, perhaps we should return to work.”  I suggested for Eowyn was 
blushing.

“Yes, I suppose so.  I don’t doubt you know what you’re doing but I have 
found nothing.  I don’t even know how to tell if I find something.”  Eowyn 
replied getting over her embarrassment and putting the remains of our 
dinner on the tray.

“You’ll know it when you see it.  People don’t just decide to commit 
treason.  They need a reason and most reasons involve money or property 
or titles.  Be patient.”

Despite my reassurances to Eowyn I was not immune to frustration.  For 
obvious reasons I had been concentrating my attention on Aille but not 
only was he receiving no benefit from Wormtongue the records showed he 
had been punished.  Aille’s holdings were on the western frontier of 
Rohan where he wouldn’t have much contact with Sauron or Saruman 
either to be bribed or threatened.  Like much of Rohan his principle 
business was horse breeding and some farming.  Unlike many 
communities, however, Aille made sure that his lands produced enough 
staples and necessary goods to be able to survive without trade.  He did 
not trade at all with any outside Rohan and most of the trade with the rest 
of Rohan was for luxury goods.  This self-sufficiency made it even less 
likely he would have cause to ally with the dark lord.

I could not guess at the man’s motives.  What could he be offered to make 
him turn against his country, especially since everything in his history 
showed him to be utterly willing to make any sacrifice on Rohan’s behalf.  
I couldn’t even guess what I was missing.  There had to be some 
explanation somewhere.  I would simply have to continue as I was until I 
found something that would convince Theoden or even Eomer.  Research 
like this might easily take weeks, even months and I didn’t have that kind 
of time.  If I could not find evidence of Aille’s treachery before we had to 
travel the Paths of the Dead I would have to come up with a more drastic 
plan for neutralizing the rogue horse lord.

My attention was divided between these unpleasant matters and the 
material before me such that my distraction kept me from registering the 
sound of the opening door.  The first I knew that we had visitors was the 
sound of Eomer’s cheerful voice.

“There, I told you it was one of these rooms.  Here they are.”  The horse 
lord announced triumphantly leading Aragorn into the room.  Eowyn 
jumped to her feet and bowed, rather than curtseying, to the newcomers.  I 
followed suit.

“Hello sister, captain.  So this is where you’ve been tucked away.”  Eomer 
said jovially going over to give Eowyn a peck on the cheek.  Aragorn said 
nothing but inclined his head to each of us.

“Have you made much progress?  I confess I’m sorry it didn’t occur to me 
that there might be another traitor besides Wormtongue.  I’m so grateful, 
Aragorn, for you and your men.  I don’t know what would become of us 
here in Rohan without the benefit of your aid.”

“All things come with experience, Eomer.  Provided middle-earth can be 
made secure, I have no fear for the future of Rohan.”  Aragorn replied, 
touching Eomer’s shoulder.

“We are gathering background information now, my lords.  It is perfectly 
possible that Wormtongue was the only one seduced into treachery.”  I 
said, answering Eomer’s first question.  I did not want to seem as though I 
were too eager to find another traitor.  “Lady Eowyn has been an 
indispensable help to me and I believe if anything significant is found the 
credit will belong to her.”  Eowyn positively beamed and I realized that 
she was overjoyed to have been praised before Aragorn.

“Eowyn is wonderful.  I don’t know what we would have done without 
her.”  Eomer said gazing at his sister with a mixture of pride and sadness 
for Eowyn had born the largest share of tending to her uncle in his illness.

There was quiet for a moment but then Eowyn seemed to remember 
something and she looked slyly at her brother.  “And you, too, are quite 
wonderful, my dear, to remember your sister and the noble captain slaving 
away in the archives and sending us food.”

“Sister, I did notice your absence at dinner but the next moment my 
attention was taken up by some trifle or another and I did forget but you 
are wrong to chide me before our friends.”  Eomer said, looking slightly 
hurt but then he noticed the tray containing the remains of our food.  “Ah, 
but you have no cause for complaint for I see you were well able to 
provide for yourselves.”

Eowyn looked even more cunning and her eyes shifted toward Aragorn 
who looked faintly abashed.  “I beg your pardon, Eomer.  I made a request 
in your name that something be brought to Halbarad and the lady for I did 
not wish to appear to be giving orders on my own initiative.”  Aragorn 
confessed.  Eomer laughed and clapped him on the back but Eowyn 
looked positively radiant to have been the object of Aragorn’s 
consideration.  I do not know how she guessed the true source of the food, 
except perhaps that she knew her brother well.

“Now, you shall make me look like a thoughtless cad in front of my sister, 
my lord.”  Eomer said smiling.  “And I must seem even more the 
demanding ogre, Eowyn, for Aragorn and I shall ride through the eastern 
villages to help organize the militia and you will be needed to help our 
uncle.”

“How do you mean to be accompanied, my lord?”  I demanded becoming 
wary.

“You’re not going to leave so soon?”  Eowyn pleaded at the same instant, 
sounding plaintive.  There was a short silence following our simultaneous 
outbursts, just enough time for Eowyn’s face to flush.

“It seems best to ensure that as least a few of the village musters are 
personally supervised.  Eomer will take his own private guard and the 
elves and Gimli have also volunteered to join us.”  Aragorn answered us 
both, no doubt having anticipated, at least, my question and probably 
Eowyn’s as well.

“As well as a score of Dunedain, perhaps.”  I suggested in a tone of 
determined respect.

“Not so many as that, I think, but ten will not over-encumber us, if you 
insist, thangail nin.”  Aragorn was smiling at me tenderly while I smiled 
back in some relief.  Eowyn, however, was scrutinizing Aragorn’s 
expression intensely.  I saw her lips soundlessly mouth the words ‘thangail 
nin’ as though she meant to memorize them and repeat them often to 
herself.

Aragorn caught something of Eowyn’s mesmerized countenance and his 
smile quickly disappeared.  “I have instructions for you to carry out in my 
absence, Halbarad.”  My captain informed me in a very business like tone.  
“Eomer, I shall see you early tomorrow?”

“Yes, I look forward to it.”  Eomer replied bowing courteously.  “Good 
night to you both.”

“Good night, lord Eomer, good night, lady.”  Aragorn responded.  I bowed 
my farewells quickly sensing my captain’s urgent desire to leave.

“Rest well, my lord Aragorn.”  Eowyn said, just a little breathlessly as 
Aragorn took my arm and began moving us speedily toward the door.  
When we had reached the end of the corridor Aragorn sighed quietly but 
he said no word concerning Eowyn.
*
Safely ensconced in our own rooms with the door firmly shut Aragorn 
opened his arms to me and we embraced.  For a long moment we simply 
held each other but at length Aragorn released me and went over to the 
table to pour himself a glass of water.

“Do you truly have instructions for me, my lord?”  I asked, starting to feel 
the satisfaction of being with Aragorn overcome the frustrations of the 
day.

Shaking his head in the negative my captain took a seat on the cushioned 
bench beneath the window.  “No, you know what you are about.  I cannot 
help but be even more impressed with your perspicacity in light of the 
events of this morning.  I do take all your warnings seriously, thangail nin, 
but I allowed myself to hope you might have been wrong this time.  I 
should know better.”

“I wish I had been wrong.”  I replied sitting down beside Aragorn and 
putting an arm about him.  There followed a few moments where we both 
moved about a little and adjusted ourselves until we were quite 
comfortable and quite close.  

“I fear I must task you with the responsibility of investigating.  Theoden is 
not fully recovered, but he feels he must not only do everything expected 
of a king but also make up for his illness.  In consequence, his behavior is 
occasionally erratic.  Add to this the fact that, from time to time, he 
becomes absent minded.  I have encouraged Eomer to take more of the 
decision-making upon himself but he feels ill prepared for such duties.  
Rohan must send aid to Gondor, however, and I must see that they are able 
to do so before the grey company leaves for the Stone of Erech.”

“It is only proper that you should, first and foremost, concern yourself 
with the duties of leadership and leave the police work to me.  If I had not 
enough reason already to hate the enemy I would add that these plots and 
intrigues keep me from being better help to you, which is a great grief to 
me.  This expedition tomorrow, you say only our own people and Eomer’s 
personal guard will be going?”

“Yes, we shouldn’t be gone more than two days.  Don’t think, Halbarad, 
that I do not detect your hand behind the twins’ sudden eagerness to tour 
the villages of Rohan.  As soon as Eomer and I agreed on the expedition I 
found myself inundated with volunteers.”  As Aragorn said this he stroked 
my hair behind my ear and I found myself smiling smugly instead of 
looking innocently surprised, as I had intended.

“Your brothers and your companions love you and desire your safety 
without any interference from me, Aragorn.”

“Yet you inject a certain steel and single minded determination to the 
desire to protect me that cannot be mistaken.”  Aragorn said amused.  
“Are you content, then, thangail nin?  Do you approve the outing?”

I thought for a moment.  Aragorn meant to go.  I had no veto power over 
his decisions but he respected my opinions and if he could satisfy my 
concerns while still accomplishing his own goals he would do so.  
Compromise, however, would not be necessary in this instance.  In truth, I 
was pleased that Aragorn would be out of Aille’s presence surrounded by 
his own followers and the hand picked followers of Eomer.

“I do not object to the arrangements, though selfishly I would go with you 
if I could.”  I answered trying to move closer than we already were.  
Turning my head slightly, I started pressing small kisses to the base of 
Aragorn’s neck all the way up behind his ear.  I wanted him to understand 
just how much I would miss his presence.

Aragorn’s hand ran up and down my back as I felt him relax beneath my 
kisses.  After several moments I tried to shift positions so I could more 
thoroughly pay homage to the lovely, sun browned column of my lord’s 
throat but gentle hands prevented me upon my shoulders.  In obedience to 
the slight pressure I leaned back a bit and regarded Aragorn curiously.

“I did have one thing that I wanted to discuss with you, Halbarad.”  My 
captain’s expression was grave but it was habitually grave.  “Do you recall 
last night,” I started to smile for I recalled last night vividly and I had 
something of a similar nature in mind right now.  My smile, however, 
disappeared with his next words.  “I said that the Palantir showed me 
many things, too many for me to remember?”

“Yes, my lord.”  I answered.  My levity was forgotten as I rearranged 
myself into a position that would allow me more freedom of movement.

“Several of the speeches given in Theoden’s council chamber this 
afternoon were somewhat less than riveting.  Despite my best intentions, I 
confess my mind was not always fixed exclusively upon the speaker.  
During these times, I would occasionally remember more of what I saw 
yesterday.  Many of these images and scenes revealed information already 
known or suspected.  Some of the images were entirely trivial.  Yet, I did 
remember something- just a flicker really- that, well that causes me some 
concern.”

“What did the Palantir show you?”  I asked quietly as Aragorn bit his lip 
apparently trying to marshal his thoughts.

“I am not entirely certain it showed me anything really.  I can recall 
nothing but a single image.  While there is nothing unusual about the 
image exactly, I find myself unsettled, as though I were missing 
something obvious.”

“Do you want to describe this fragment to me?  You know I will do 
anything I can to help.”

“I know, thangail nin.  Part of my unease stems, however, from a sense 
that I am intruding upon a private moment.  Still, you have been very 
patient.  I will stop dancing around.”  Aragorn smiled and I knew he was 
trying to cover his feelings of awkwardness.  “I saw an image of the 
orchard in Rivendell.  You were standing against one of the trees and 
Arwen was a few paces from you wearing her gown of deep forest green.”  
Aragorn forced a little laugh and I went very cold.

“You will say I have spent too much time with Gandalf and now I must 
see omens and forbidding shadows in even the most commonplace of 
scenes.  I cannot help but think, though, that there was something in your 
expressions.  As though you had both heard some terrible news or no.  
That’s not right.  It was as though you were arguing or it was as though 
you were both angry and sad and hurt.  I know the position I have put both 
you and Arwen in.  Since neither of you have complained though, I let 
myself believe everything was well.  I should have been more ready to 
listen to how angry you both have a right to be with me.  So, if that is it, 
Halbarad, I want to start making what amends I can to both of you.  I don’t 
want either one of you to suffer.  It breaks my heart to think how I have 
given you both common cause to hate me.”  Aragorn stopped talking and 
looked at me.  The love in his grey eyes made my heart quail at the great 
favor fate had bestowed upon me in allowing me Aragorn’s love.

“You are quite mistaken.”  I said as I tortured my lips into a smile.  My 
voice sounded impossibly ugly in my own ears.  “I do not remember the 
scene in question but I swear I love you and there is no possible complaint 
I could have against you nor have I ever heard the lady speak of you 
except in terms of love.”  I swallowed hard.  I was speaking the literal 
true.  I always tried to forget my encounters with Arwen and I truly didn’t 
know what was said in that orchard but I could guess well enough.  “The 
lady Arwen and I have conversed from time to time and the world being 
what it is the subject matter was not always cheerful.  It may be the 
Palantir showed you our images as we discussed the rising shadow in the 
east or. . . or something like that.”  I tried not to wince.  The lie seemed 
incredibly feeble but Aragorn’s countenance had lightened considerably.

Though it shames me to admit it, it was more than concern for Aragorn’s 
feelings, though this was a large factor, that kept me from telling him how 
it was between Arwen and myself.  Aragorn would find a situation where 
one of his lovers tormented the other while the other tamely lay down 
beneath the harsh words completely untenable.  He would try to put a stop 
to it and if he couldn’t put a stop to it he would have to make a choice.  
With the idea that he was being kind Aragorn would alter the nature of his 
relationship with me or the lady, perhaps even both of us.  Neither Arwen 
nor myself was prepared to risk his choice.

“Are you certain, Halbarad?  I don’t want to pry into your private 
conversations but, stars, you both mean so much to me.”  Aragorn said 
emphatically, taking my hand and squeezing it.

“Banish all your worries on this subject entirely from your mind.  I love 
you.  Arwen loves you.  I love you.”  I repeated, voice faltering.  My 
beloved lord had so many worries and concerns it was unacceptable that 
he should lose sleep over something like this.  I felt guilt begin to gnaw at 
me.  The more so because I knew Aragorn had asked me for the truth and I 
had only given him part of it but also because I felt so entirely inadequate 
to give all the reassurances I wanted to.  I just wasn’t able to properly 
express what I felt for him.  I trembled to think what would happen if 
Aragorn remembered more of what the Palantir revealed.  He would be so 
angry and so hurt and I would have done so little to help soften it for him. 

“Halbarad.”  Aragorn embraced me and I buried my face against his 
shoulder fighting tears.  I pressed against him with all my strength and he 
held me with equal force.  He had accepted my words, which filled me 
with relief but also guilt.  I hated not to tell him the whole truth but what 
could I have said:  ‘the lady you love is a bully and I accept her bullying 
rather than risk losing you.’  No, I could not do that.  I could only spout 
my feeble evasions and cling to him   It could only have been that he 
trusted me greatly to allow himself to be lulled by the weak and 
unconvincing way I had delivered my explanation.

Before I was ready, Aragorn loosened his grip upon me and I followed his 
lead.  I knew he would have continued to hold me for as long as I wanted 
but it was supposed to me who was comforting him.  Holding me at arm’s 
length Aragorn looked into my eyes. Having recovered somewhat from 
the surprise of what Aragorn had revealed to me about the vision in the 
Palantir and how he had interpreted it I was able to meet his eyes with all 
the sincere love in my heart.

“I shall miss you while I am away, my love.”  Aragorn said softly, using 
just the tips of his fingers to touch my face, my hair, my neck.  “I am set 
aflame looking at you now.”  His fingertips now brushed my shoulders, 
over my chest and gently grazed my belly, the light touch causing my 
muscles to contract even through my shirt.  “I should like to keep the sight 
of you, the smell of you, the taste of you fresh in my memory.”  He moved 
closer, and bent his head to take in a deep breath through his nose.  
Meanwhile, his fingertips had started to lightly trace the growing swelling 
in the front of my trousers.

My breathing was already quick and my mouth dry but I tried to move 
slowly as I took a half step nearer my captain so that we were almost 
touching.  “How is it I can feel your littlest touch as a searing brand, 
instilling a burning that only more and more of your touches can ever 
quench even as they add fuel to the fire.”  I pressed my palms against his 
hips moving them in slow hard circles, trying to satisfy my need to touch 
without grasping him.  “I am so empty until you fill me.  I am so thirsty 
but the littlest sip of you and I become drunk with pleasure.”  The slow 
sensuality of our movements, of our whispered words had long since sent 
a sweet ache through my body.  I moved my hand to his groin, meaning 
just to hold him gently, squeeze lightly but I was suddenly overcome with 
desperate urgency.  Breaking the unhurried rhythm of our caresses I flung 
my arms about his neck and kissed him savagely, sucking his tongue 
harshly into my mouth.

Aragorn was surprised for only a moment before he began to pushing his 
lips firmly against mine and returned the kiss with equal intensity.  
Gasping for air I turned my face slightly but even as I struggled to fill my 
lungs I started to move down Aragorn’s body until I was on the floor 
pressing fevered kisses to his stomach fumbling to thrust his shirt aside 
and find bare flesh.  I heard him moan above me as I flicked my tongue 
into his navel.  At the sound my own eyes squeezed shut as I rode through 
the throb of my balls tightening.  Looking up at Aragorn I moved my face 
closer to my captain’s groin.  I watched to make sure he saw as I moved 
my hand to the lacings of his trousers to free the straining bulge within.

Within another gasping moan Aragorn caught my hand and bent down to 
join me on the floor.  Once again face to face he kissed me hungrily.  “I 
can see we both desire the same thing.”  Aragorn breathed throatily when 
the kiss ended.  I nodded, licking my lips as I stared at his lap.  His own 
hand was rubbing lightly against my erection and the need to devour him 
was becoming a necessity.

“Since that is so, my love, let us go together, side by side and not one 
before the other.”  So saying he took my hand and pulled me the few paces 
toward the soft animal skins by the fire.  It was a long time before we 
retired to the bed and a longer time still before we went to sleep.
*
The next day dawned cloudy and there was a chill in the air as I stood in 
the courtyard to see Aragorn and Eomer off.  Eowyn came also with 
Eomud.  Theoden was not present and, thinking to spare the Rohirrim 
having to come up with a dignified explanation, I did not ask.  There was 
one there, though, who I had not expected.  Merry, dressed in the livery of 
a page, stood beside Eowyn wishing his friends a safe and speedy journey.

When the convoy had departed I turned to the hobbit:  “Well, master 
Merry, I am a trifle surprised to see you awake so early and in such 
raiment.”

“Yes, I have officially entered the service of Rohan and Theoden king.”  
The hobbit replied, cheeks coloring slightly.

“That was well done.”  I told Merry earnestly.  I could not help but be 
impressed by the sentiments of gratitude and the need to be useful that 
must have motivated the hobbit.  “Are you here, then, in your official 
capacity?”

“Oh, no.  I asked Eowyn to wake me so I could say good-bye to Legolas, 
Gimli and Strider.  Theoden doesn’t have much use for me until the 
evenings.”

“Well then, how do you spend your time master sword-thain?”  I asked 
genuinely interested in how the hobbit was faring in his strange new 
environment.

“I had been spending time with Legolas and Gimli.  Now, of course, 
they’ve gone off.  I was wondering, actually, if I might stay near you and 
Eowyn.  I’ll stay out of your way and I can do any errands you might need 
done.”  Merry spoke in a rush and I glanced toward Eowyn who was 
standing close by.

“You are most certainly welcome in the archives, although, I do not know 
if lady Eowyn will have the time to spare today.”

“My morning is free and I will happily dedicate it to research.”  Eowyn 
replied, looking as though she did not particularly relish whatever duties 
would be hers in the afternoon.  “I’m afraid, though we spend most of the 
time reading, Merry.  I would not want you to be bored.”

“I’ve never been as fond of reading as Frodo but believe me I could do 
with a bit of boring.”  Merry replied earnestly earning smiles from me and 
Eowyn.

“Shall we go then?”  Eowyn suggested and nodding we left the courtyard 
together.

I was not surprised Merry wished to join us.  His companions in the 
fellowship had just left and his new lord was indisposed.  He simply 
wanted familiar company.  I was pleased to be able to provide it of course, 
but there was another reason why I would be glad of the hobbit’s 
presence:  Eowyn had been on the verge of asking me questions I was 
fairly certain I did not want to answer and the little one’s presence would 
almost certainly help her curb her curiosity.
*
“Do you know what would help, Halbarad?”  Eowyn demanded after we 
had spent several hours at the books.  Merry, who had been sitting by the 
window, roused himself from his daydreams to listen and I put down my 
chalk and slate.

“No, what would help?”  I asked willing to give her the benefit of the 
doubt.

“If you tell me the names of the people you suspect.  That way I could 
narrow my search and I wouldn’t have to worry about unlikely 
possibilities.”  She informed me triumphantly.

“I don’t want to influence you with my prejudices, Eowyn.  I also do not 
want to offend you by maligning your countrymen with my suspicions, 
which I freely admit are not based on hard evidence.”

“I won’t get offended.  It will save time if you tell me, really it will.  I 
know you don’t have proof.  That’s why we’re here, after all.”

I bit my lip considering.  I would have liked very much to hear Eowyn’s 
opinion on Aille but I still doubted how she might react to my accusation 
once it was spoken.  “What think you of Eomud?”  I, finally, asked 
choosing the name almost at random.  I did not want to let the lady know I 
had only one suspect.  I also wanted to test her resolve not to be offended.

“Please.”  Eowyn, scoffed.  “You’re not serious.  Eomud’s a good man but 
he doesn’t have a great deal of initiative.  He hates politics.  He likes his 
horses and his family and the occasional military campaign.  He has made 
no bargain with the shadow.”  I shrugged.  This mirrored my own 
assessment fairly well.

“And Captain Aille?”  I asked, trying to sound casual.

Eowyn made a face.  “It wouldn’t displease me if it were him, but I can’t 
see it.  He’s too loyal.  Everything he does is for Rohan.”

“Why wouldn’t you be displeased to learn Aille was a traitor?”  I asked, 
leaning forward.  I was very interested in her response for all the reports I 
had received claimed that Aille was fairly popular.

“Well, I suppose it’s petty, really.”  Eowyn said suddenly shy of revealing 
the source of her antagonism.

“My lady, I would very much like to know, regardless of how petty you 
think it seems.”

Eowyn stared at her hands folded in her lap for a moment then lifted her 
eyes to me:  “You know I had great cause to hate Grima Wormtongue?”  I 
nodded, trying to control my eagerness.

“Well Aille hated him, too.  From the very beginning, he resented 
Wormtongue’s influence with my uncle.  He saw the contemptible little 
toad for what he was.  Aille constantly spoke out against him.  They 
couldn’t pass each other in the corridor without exchanging snide words.  
As Grima became more powerful, however, it became dangerous for Aille 
always to be fighting with him.  He feared he would lose what little 
influence with the king that he still had if he was always abusing 
Theoden’s favorite.  Thus, Aille stayed away from court lest he be 
provoked to violence.”

“Aille still didn’t recognize the precise nature of Wormtongue’s hold on 
the king, none of us did, and he thought he could eventually make 
Theoden see reason.  Theodred was his great ally in this hope.  Since Aille 
still wanted to involve himself in court politics while being at court as 
little as possible he needed help staying abreast of all the goings on.  I was 
his principle source of information at the time.  I told him about all of 
Wormtongue’s machinations, all his little plots and power plays.  Grima 
liked to speak with me, to brag about his plans and I would listen and then 
report everything he said.”

“I hated Wormtongue.  I still do.  I suppose I should be grateful to Aille 
because he continued to fight against Grima’s influence when most others 
had given up but he will never be a friend to me because of the way he 
treated me.”  Eowyn was becoming visibly upset and I reached out to take 
her hand in reassurance.  “I brought Aille information.  I endured the 
snake’s attention to learn anything that might be useful and he acted as 
though I were a loose-tongued serving-wench gossiping about her master 
for a bit of gold.”

“Before I realized he was only interested in stories of Theoden and 
Wormtongue I would occasionally try to speak to him of other matters that 
concerned me.  I needed a friend so much.  Eomer and Theodred were so 
often gone and it was just me all alone and uncle kept getting sicker and 
sicker.  Whenever I confided something not directly related to his interests 
he would grow bored and say. . . and say:  ‘silly girl, can’t you stay on the 
subject.’”  Eowyn was crying now and she had a death grip on my hands.  
I wanted to soothe her but she was speaking in one long burst as though 
she needed to get it all out as soon as possible and I did not want to 
interrupt her.

“What was the worst though, what still makes me angry is that he didn’t 
even notice how much he hurt me.  I suspect that if you asked him he 
would tell you in all sincerity that we were great friends.  Oh, I can’t even 
tell you the things he said the few times I lost my temper with him.  He 
thought I was. . . was just being emotional and I wasn’t truly angry 
because I kept coming back with new information, but what else could I 
do?  We were bound by our hated of Wormtongue.”  Furiously Eowyn 
used her free hand to press her palm hard into her face, blotting the tears.  
“You see?”  She tried to laugh as the tears still flowed.  “Petty.”

“No, not petty, Eowyn.”  She sobbed a little as I spoke and I kept holding 
her hand.  “You did a noble thing for Rohan and you were entitled to his 
respect.”  For a while Eowyn cried.  I wrestled with myself about what 
was the best thing to do until finally I caught Merry’s eyes.  The hobbit 
was obviously distressed to see the lady Eowyn so unhappy and my slight 
nod of encouragement was all he needed to jump from his seat and go over 
and put his small arms around Eowyn.

Soon Eowyn released my hand and gave Merry a quick hug.  She cleared 
her throat several times and I saw that the tears had stopped.  “Well, there 
he may not be a gentleman but he is a patriot and no tool of Sauron.”  Her 
voice was ragged with her recent tears and she cleared her throat again 
trying to make it clear she had recovered and wanted to pretend nothing 
had happened.  I completely understood this wish and went to a pour her a 
glass of water from the decanter.  I kept my back to her longer than 
necessary so that she could collect herself and I heard Merry quietly offer 
his handkerchief.

“I have not yet entirely abandoned the idea that he is a traitor as well as a 
blackguard.”  I answered taking the water to her.  She accepted with 
murmured thanks and drank deeply.

“I would like for it to be so, but I tell you his devotion to Rohan is 
sincere.”  Eowyn said the water having helped her recovery.  “I heard him 
say very soon before he left to join Eomer in exile.  ‘With the king as he is 
we are beset on all sides.  I foresee that a death in battle against our 
enemies is a man’s best hope, now.’  There were tears in his eyes.  Those 
are not the words of a man who would betray his country.”

Throughout Eowyn’s story, she had occasionally used the word ‘king’ 
when referring to her uncle.  In my mind I always substituted the name 
‘Theoden’ or the ‘king of Rohan’ when she did this.  Aragorn was the one 
I associated with the title ‘king’.  The translation took no time at all, the 
merest fraction of a second.  Still, when Eowyn quoted Aille’s words I 
first thought of Aragorn and this sparked a thought.  I tried to concentrate.  
I felt so near understanding something important.

“Do you suppose Aille might have been speaking literally?”  I asked, my 
voice sounding distant in my ears.

“I beg your pardon?”  Eowyn asked, surprised by my question.  She had 
returned Merry’s handkerchief and she seemed herself again except that 
she permitted the hobbit to rub slow comforting circles around on her 
back.

“When he said ‘beset in all directions’ do you suppose he could have been 
speaking literally.” I repeated, thoughts were coming to me slowly but 
with gathering speed.

“I am still not sure what you mean.”

“Isengard, to the north.  Sauron, to the east.  Harad and the Southrons, to 
the south.  And Gondor to the west.”  I said as I began to gain confidence.

“Gondor is no enemy, Halbarad.”  Eowyn explained carefully as though 
she was afraid I had suddenly lost my reason.

“No,  Gondor and Rohan have always been friends.  After all, Rohan was 
once Gondor’s province, was it not?  Edoras looks to Minas Tirith for 
direction and guidance.  Each new king of Rohan binds himself by a 
solemn oath to come at Gondor’s summons.  These are strong bonds.”  
Eowyn colored a little as I spoke and I felt her mind was following the 
tracks of my thoughts with growing speed.

“Of course, under the stewards’ rule, Gondor has been leaving Rohan 
more and more to its own devices.  The strong ties have been loosening.  
The shadow in the east claims Gondor’s attention and when not brooding 
about Sauron Gondor looks to itself.  Rohan has enjoyed unparalleled 
independence.  Of course, if Mordor were thrown down, if a charismatic 
king came to the throne in Minas Tirith ending the conservative era of the 
stewards, well things would change, wouldn’t they.  Rohan would become 
little better than a client kingdom humbly attending upon the triumphant 
and reenergized Gondor.”

“I don’t understand.”  Merry said sounding a little frightened for my voice 
had begun to take on a hard and dangerous edge.  

“By far the best strategy would be for Rohan to retire to the sidelines.”  I 
was speaking mainly to Eowyn and to organize my own ideas so I did not 
immediately address the hobbit’s concern.  “Let Gondor and Mordor fight 
to a stalemate.  When a long bitter war has drained both nations, the 
steward and the dark lord will each return to his tower and lick his wounds 
while a comparatively whole and healthy Rohan will be free to do as it 
would and grow in strength without any interference from anyone.  This 
could be so easily arranged, too, if the flame of the west were quenched.  
If Aragorn were not around to whisper poison in Eomer’s ear as Grima 
whispered poison into Theoden’s.  If no king came to the white tower but 
the armies of Gondor went to war under the competent but not stellar 
generalship of Denethor.  Well then, all problems would be solved.  What 
think you, lady?”

Eowyn was still of high color and I could tell excitement bubbled just 
beneath a thin layer of calm.  “You could be right, Halbarad.  I think you 
are.  By the Meara, he is so wrong but it can be made to sound so very 
convincing.  He thinks he serves Rohan, he really believes it, but he is 
selling us all to the shadow.  How could he wish harm to the lord 
Aragorn?  Can he not see that he is our only hope?!  We must stop him.”  
Comprehension was also dawning in Merry’s eyes and we all looked at 
one another, filled with a sense of grim triumph for finally understanding 
the man we must now hunt.

“I have been a fool and confined my research to the time when Grima was 
influential.  If I go back further, I feel certain I will find Aille’s name on 
every edict raising tariffs or imposing new import duties.  It would not 
surprise me if I found the records showed that foreign merchants and 
wagon trains were particularly susceptible to attack while in Aille’s 
territories.”

“That is before my time, Halbarad, but you must be right.  Forgive me, but 
I cannot be still another moment or I fear my heart will beat from my 
breast.  I must go riding or I think I will go to Aille and kill him myself.”  
Eowyn stood and paced about the room in nervous excitement.  “What is 
your plan, though, Halbarad?  You must have one.  How will we get this 
man?”  She asked stopping her pacing for a moment to look at me.

“Go riding, my lady.  I must think, but if you would return I feel almost 
certain I shall have a great favor to ask of you.”  I replied, my own 
excitement mounting.

“Yes, oh yes.  Whatever needs to be done, Halbarad, shall be done.  Rely 
on me.”  Eowyn was out the door in a flurry.  I was beginning to form a 
plan but I needed Eowyn to be calm so I was happy to see her leave to 
dissipate her excitement.

“What of me?  You told me that ‘there is always work for those who are 
willing.’  I am very willing.”  The hobbit was looking at me earnestly and 
I knew he expected to be rejected.  Reaching out to take his shoulder I 
gave him a grin.

“Be so good as to find a Dunadan and ask him to come here.  Then, my 
dear master sword-thain if you would do me the kindness to arrange for 
lunch to be brought I think I may have an important use for you in our 
enterprise.”  Smiling broadly Merry nodded and followed Eowyn out the 
door.

When the door closed behind him and I was left alone.  I had to restrain 
myself from imitating Eowyn and pacing the room.  I was closer to Aille 
than I had ever been and soon, oh so soon I would see him hanged by the 
orders of his own king.
*
I had allowed my eyes to drift shut as I tried to concentrate my mind on 
what I needed to do next.  At the sound of a quick knock on the door, 
however, my eyes flew open and I was on my feet to greet Glathe as he 
entered.  “You have orders, Halbarad?”  The man asked as he followed my 
gesture and took a seat at the table.  Aside from, Ryn- who had gone with 
Aragorn, Glathe would best be able to counsel me on strategy and I smiled 
to myself.

“Orders, yes, but first let me tell you what progress I have made.”  So 
saying I related all my conjectures concerning Aille and Eowyn’s approval 
of them.  When I was done, Glathe looked off into the distance and I knew 
he was thinking.

“Idealistic assassins are the worst bloody kind.”  He said, finally.  “There 
is no paper trail because they’re not bribed and they feel justified so they 
don’t act guilty.  What is more, there tends to be a lot of sympathy for 
their feelings even among those who would never go to their extremes so 
they get help from decent folk.”

“I have something in mind that would not only demonstrate Aille’s guilt 
conclusively but also reveal his nearest sympathizers.”  I said looking 
forward to Glathe’s insight.  The man raised his eyebrow and I continued.  
“I shall join him and he shall confide in me.”

“How do you mean to gain his acceptance?”  Glathe asked rubbing his 
chin in what I couldn’t help but feel was a skeptical manner.

“So far what have the Dunedain been revealing to the Rohirrim in our 
quest for information?”  I asked.  I couldn’t entirely blame Glathe for 
being cautious.  It did sound like a remarkable proposition but I had 
confidence in my scheme.

“A little of our history, nothing very personal.  They are a friendly people 
and many have expressed interest but for the most part we just talk about 
all the foreign lands we have visited.”  Glathe answered.  Always the 
Dunedain tried to get more information than they gave but some 
reciprocity was necessary.  I could not help but look forward to the day 
where we could share a mug of ale with another man with no thought for 
anything but pleasure in the company of another.  I consoled myself by 
thinking that day would be all the nearer when Aille was safely dealt with.

“Good, but now I think it is time to be a little more forthcoming.  It’s time 
that it became common gossip among the Rohirrim that I am dissatisfied 
with my lord and master.  I chafe somewhat at his authority.  Perhaps I am 
even a little jealous but mostly I resent being dragged from my happy 
home in the North for this pipe dream of a restored Gondor.”  I hoped to 
give myself a motive for hating Aragorn somewhat similar to Aille’s.  
With luck that would make it easier for him to believe me.

“Naturally, we’ll get started on that right away, but your behavior up until 
this point has not been that of a potential traitor.  It will take a while to 
reform your character in Aille’s mind.  It could takes weeks before he’s 
ready to approach you.”

“I will approach him.  I don’t think Aille will have paid me any mind so 
far.  I’ve been told he ignores people who are not immediately useful to 
him.”  I told Glathe thinking of Eowyn’s story.  “From now on, I think I 
should keep my distance from the Grey Company.  I’m supposed to be 
stewing, after all.  We should communicate through Eowyn and Merry, 
otherwise, I’m not to be trusted since everything I do and say now, with 
others present, will be calculated to win favor with Aille.”

Glathe was quiet a long moment, considering.  “Don’t take this as 
criticism but you are not the most qualified among us to take this 
assignment.  You don’t have the experience of carrying on such a 
deception at close quarters.  Moreover, Halbarad, I do not think you can 
keep the murder out of your eyes when Aille speaks of Aragorn.”

“I can do it if it means I catch him.”  I replied.  I would be a fine actor.  I 
would school my features into a reflection of Aille’s own.  “I know I have 
not the most experience but I have been spending time with lady Eowyn 
and Aille will trust her when she tells him what sort of man I am.”

“She has agreed to do this?”

“I have not asked her yet, but I think she will agree.  Believe me, Glathe, I 
am quite as clear-headed as any of us can be expected to be.  I’m not 
going to start hissing at him as soon as he begins to disclose his feelings 
toward Aragorn.”  I could have just given Glathe my orders but his 
concerns were valid and I respected them.

“I did not mean to imply you would.”  Glathe said, smiling a little.  “When 
will you go to Aille?”

“Tomorrow.  I know that is early,” I said, raising a hand to forestall 
Glathe’s objection.  “But we don’t have a lot of time.  Besides, I want to 
talk to him before Aragorn returns.  It looks more like I’m sneaking 
behind his back that way.”

“All right, all right, but at least let me bore you with some advice.  It will 
make me feel better.”

“By all means, bore me.”  I invited, smiling happily to have won Glathe’s 
assent.  The other rangers, I knew, would more comfortably follow his 
lead when they saw he had been genuinely convinced.

“Don’t be too eager to agree with Aille.  If he’s being an obvious ass, tell 
him.  If he thinks you’ll lick his boots whatever he says he’ll get 
suspicious.  If he’s heard a rumor that doesn’t fit with what you tell him 
don’t backtrack or try to correct your story.  Rail against stupid ill-
informed gossip, instead. . ..”  The lecture went on.  I was grateful for the 
benefit of Glathe’s experience and also it was simply good to feel like I 
had support in this endeavor.

I was beginning to wonder if Glathe was going to go on all day when 
Merry knocked on the door, then backed in bringing lunch.  I had no idea 
how such a small hobbit could carry quite so much food and I immediately 
jumped up to help.  Panting a little from his efforts Merry regarded the 
room.

“I’m sorry, are you still talking?  Should I go?”  He offered.

“Not at all, Master Brandybuck, I was just leaving.”  Glathe said, smiling 
at Merry.  Then he turned to me and offered his hand.  “Good luck, 
Halbarad.”  Taking his hand, I thanked him sincerely.

“Will you make sure Ryn and the others who are gone are informed of 
what is going on before they return?”  I asked, and though I said Ryn I 
was actually more worried about Aragorn.  From now on I would need to 
behave as though I felt coldly disposed toward my captain in public and I 
needed to make sure Aragorn was aware of the scheme.

“I’ll see that someone meets them on their way back.”  Glathe agreed.  
Then he nodded to Merry and left.  By this evening, I expected that the 
entire fortress would be alive with stories of my disaffection.
*
“I hope there is enough, I just grabbed what looked good.”  Merry 
apologized as I surveyed a lunch large enough to feed a family of five.

“It looks excellent.  Thank you.”  I replied, picking up a roll.  Merry 
nodded and for a moment we ate in silence.

“I’m sorry, Halbarad, if you didn’t really want to give me your carving the 
other night.  I’ll return it if you like.”  The apology came without any sort 
of preamble and it took me a few moments to remember what Merry was 
talking about.

“Oh please don’t tell me you have been worrying about that, my dear.”  I 
said, feeling a little guilty.  “I was not at my best, then.  I’m sorry I made 
such a fuss.”

“I know you didn’t want to give it to me.”  Merry persisted, looking down.

“It wasn’t that Merry.  I just, well I had never given one to anyone before.  
I was a little surprised, that is all.  Please, if it is of any comfort to you, 
keep it.”

“Why haven’t you ever given one away before.  I know Strider would like 
one.”  Merry queried, finally looking up and gazing at me with earnest 
curiosity.  I could not help but grimace a little.  I had never offered one of 
my little creations to Aragorn.  What would he have done with one?  He 
had often commented- jokingly, of course- that he felt as though he were 
nothing more than a repository for the treasures of history.  Besides 
anything I made would clash remarkably with the Ring of Barahir and 
Anduril.  Even as a remembrance or a token of personal affection it was 
nothing compared to the Evenstar Pendant or Captain Boromir’s 
vambraces.  Aragorn, of course, being the way he was would have 
faithfully carried anything I gave him with him- no matter how useless or 
silly a gift it was.  I didn’t want to force him to put anything of mine along 
side some of the real symbols of himself.

“I suppose I haven’t given any of them away before because I didn’t think 
anyone would want one.”  That wasn’t all of it but I didn’t understand all 
my reasons myself.

“So you really don’t mind if I keep Marigold’s baby?”

“Beg pardon?”

“That’s how I think of it.”  Merry apologized.  “It really does remind me 
of my home and my friends.”

“Yes, do keep it.  I’m glad you have it.”  A strange mood had come upon 
me during this conversation.  I felt a little wistful, I supposed.  For some 
reason, I found I missed Aragorn.  I had seen him just this morning but, 
now, I felt very lonely for him.

I realized I was no longer hungry.  Merry, however, ate with gusto having 
been relieved of his worries about the carving.  Again I felt a small stab of 
guilt about being so ill-tempered as to cause the hobbit concern.  When the 
last of the food disappeared, Merry once again turned his bright and 
enthusiastic eyes upon me:

“Eowyn is very fond of Strider, isn’t she.”  The hobbit observed.  I 
shrugged my shoulders as though I had not noticed but was willing to take 
his word.  “I don’t suppose anything can come of it because of the lady 
Arwen, of course.”  Merry continued.  “I should hate to see it end in tears, 
though.  Eowyn has been very nice to me.”

“She is a very attractive and noble young woman.  I don’t doubt she will 
find someone who will be honored to make her happy.”   I replied, trying 
not to fidget.

“Ah, that would be nice.  Know you any such suitors for the lady?”  Merry 
asked and for some reason he was grinning.  I thought, from my 
conversations with Eowyn, that there had been an attraction between 
herself and Theodred but Theodred was dead and they had been first 
cousins.  I couldn’t remember if that was a bar to marriage in Rohan.  I 
wasn’t sure.

“Well, I’m sure there will be dozens willing to offer themselves.  Finding 
someone worthy of her will be the greater problem.”  I replied.  If Merry 
knew of someone pining for the lady- and the lad was good and of some 
rank- it might not be a bad idea to encourage the two.  “Do you know of 
anyone who might be suitable?”

“Oh there might be someone she would find acceptable, some kind and 
dependable man who would treat her well.”  I didn’t think Merry’s grin 
could get much bigger but it did.  “I’m sure it will only take a little time 
and attention before she starts to really notice him.  In fact, I heard her 
say-”  Merry broke off in a feigned coughing fit as the door opened to give 
Eowyn entry into the room.  I smiled behind my hand as Eowyn rushed 
over to pat the hobbit’s back cooing in concern.  I was glad to hear 
Merry’s assessment of Eowyn’s romantic prospects.  I certainly wished 
her happiness and I felt sure that Aragorn did not love her as she wished 
him too, though he regarded her with great fondness and respect.

“Are you all right, my dear?  Here, have some water.  I know you get 
hungry but you must chew thoroughly before swallowing, Merry.  Drink 
up.”  Merry took a few swigs of water and gave the lady a pained 
expression which she interpreted as consistent with his coughing fit.  
When he had subsided, she patted his head.  “That’s better.  Halbarad, are 
you ready?  I have to go see to my uncle in about an hour but I can’t go 
until I have some idea of what we’re going to do.”

I surveyed Eowyn carefully.  I could tell she had been riding for her hair 
was wind blown and there were splatters of mud on her dress.  She also 
looked flushed with exercise and though she was still a little more agitated 
than usual, I could tell that vigorous physical exertion had done her good.  
She was as ready as she was likely to get and I knew she would not be 
able to tolerate more delay.  At first, I told both her and Merry that I 
intended to pass myself off to Aille as an ally to his cause.  Two pairs of 
eyes widened in shock at this and before I could say another word Eowyn 
was speaking:

“He will never believe you, Halbarad.  You are obviously so devoted to 
the lord Aragorn.”

“It is obvious to you, Eowyn, but do you think Aille has been spending his 
time observing my manners.  Even if he has been watching me, I have 
spent most of time here with you which leads to what I would ask of you.”  
Eowyn nodded eagerly and I went on.  “You said that, for all Aille knows, 
your relationship is still friendly?”

“Yes, I’ve been avoiding him, actually.”  Eowyn replied pursing her lips at 
the unpleasant memory.  “I’m afraid I’ll start yelling at him if he dares 
regard me with that fatuous grin which I’ll wager anything he thinks is 
avuncular.”

“Do you think that you could seek him out and keep your temper?”  I 
asked and Eowyn stared up at me quizzically.

“If it was important, maybe.”

“The Dunedain will be telling everyone of my troubled relationship with 
Aragorn but you have observed me first hand.  He has used you as an 
informant before.  What you say, he will consider reliable, especially since 
he will not credit you with an understanding of the significance of the 
information you give him.”

“What do you want me to tell him?”  Eowyn’s expression was unreadable.

“Let him ask the questions, draw the information from you, as it were.  
But let him know I’m just the sort of person who would betray Aragorn 
and then lead the rest of the Dunedain straight back to where we came 
from.  It will take a great deal of quick thinking and creativity and you will 
have to conceal some of your feeling but as much as possible you should 
be truthful about you think of people.  The um,” I cleared my throat.  
“affection you and Eomer have for Aragorn is well known so be true to 
that.  You’ll have to thoroughly disapprove of me, though- sulking ingrate 
that I am.  Are you willing to do this?”

“I will do it.”  Eowyn answered sounding resolute.  “He will regret taking 
me for a fool.”  I nodded in satisfaction.  I was glad my plan would have 
the added benefit of allowing Eowyn to avenge herself on Aille for his 
earlier treatment of her.  It was only fair.

“Excellent.  Shall we practice?”

“Practice?”

“I shall play Aille’s part and question you.  It might help you get into the 
right frame of mind.”  It would also give me the chance to assess Eowyn’s 
improvisational skills.

“Yes, all right. go ahead.”  Eowyn said.  She was a little flustered but she 
collected herself quickly.

“Eowyn, my dear, it has been so long.  Where have you been hiding 
yourself?”  I started, trying to sound patronizing without being comical.

“It is good to see you, captain.  I’m sorry I have not had a chance to speak 
to you earlier, but the lord Aragorn asked if I might help with some 
research and I have been in the archives with Halbarad.”  Eowyn sounded 
a little too nice, a little too polite but I thought that would be less 
noticeable when she encountered Aille for real.

“Say: ‘one of the ranger captains’ rather than ‘Halbarad’.  We’re not 
chums.”

“I have been in the archives with one of the ranger captains.”  Eowyn 
repeated using my suggestion.

“Oh dear, what sort of research could justify keeping a sweet lady like you 
locked away from the outside world?”  I asked in my Aille persona.  

“We wanted. . . we were asked to see if Wormtongue had been favoring 
anyone of our people. . . bribing them.” Eowyn sounded flustered but then 
her expression changed and she continued breezily.  “And my lord 
Aragorn was interested in a genealogical question.  It seems that my great 
grandfather first rose to prominence as lord of some small territory in the 
east of Ithilien.  Now that Eomer is Theoden’s heir our family tree had 
become more important.”

“You mean your father’s grandfather was a vassal of Gondor’s Steward?”  
Taken by surprise I forgot to put on my Aille voice but Eowyn was too 
pleased with her sudden idea to chide me.

“So the lord Aragorn seems to think and I remember hearing something 
like that when I was younger.”  Eowyn sighed a little before finishing.  
“Wouldn’t it be nice to have another personal connection like that with 
Gondor.”

“Is that true about your great-grandfather?”  I demanded breaking 
character completely.

“Yes, my father’s mother’s father was a small land holder in Ithilien.  Is 
that a good thing to say to Aille?”  Eowyn questioned, studying me a little 
nervously.

“It’s brilliant.”  I assured her.  “I’m certain it will infuriate the man.”  
Eowyn smiled, pleased with herself and I smiled back but then I cleared 
my throat and became Aille once more:  “Oh yes, and how have you been 
getting on?  Have you found anything interesting?”

“The records are a muddle but I dare say we’d have made more progress if 
that man I’m supposed to be helping put more effort into it.  He-”  Eowyn 
would have continued but I interrupted.

“That’s enough for that question.  Let him interrogate you.  Some time 
early in the conversation you might throw in a question about his family or 
something else neutral.  Let him return to the important subject.”  Eowyn 
nodded and I took up the thread of our role play.  “Well, it’s difficult for 
men to stay indoors when the smell of battle is in the air.  I suppose he 
would rather be out and about mustering the troops.”

“I doubt it.”  The lady scoffed.  “He would rather be going home if one 
may judge by his complaints.”

“Oh, these rangers seem a quiet lot tome.”

“Maybe that is why the lord Aragorn has sent him to the library: to 
practice silence.  It isn’t working, though.  If I were the lord Aragorn, I 
would send him away, as a bad influence.  Now tell me captain, since you 
are free of the defeatist aura of any ranger, how fare our troops?”  Eowyn 
looked to me for approval, her face faintly flushed.  She was speaking a 
little more quickly than usual but her performance would be smoother the 
next time.

“That was extraordinarily well done.”  I told her sincerely.

“Do you think so?”  She asked smiling shyly.

“I do.  He will leave the conversation believing himself very clever but 
you will have had the better of him.”

“What do you think?”  Eowyn turned to Merry.

“You’re quicker than I am.  I wouldn’t have know what to say after 
‘hello’.”  The hobbit praised.

“Halbarad, are you certain he will ask questions, though?  He may not be 
interested in gossip.  How can you make sure he’ll take an interest?”  The 
lady queried, starting to worry again.

“I’ll send Merry with a message for him, asking for a meeting.  He’ll be 
very curious to learn as much about me as possible to prepare for the 
meeting.”  I answered before turning to address Merry.  “I would like you 
to be the one to carry messages between us.  As an outsider, I can’t ask 
one of the Rohirrim and as a traitor I cannot entrust the mission to one of 
my own people.  Will you help, Merry?”

“Yes, certainly.  But. . . but is that all you want me to do?”  The hobbit 
could not conceal his disappointment and his shoulders slumped.

“It is important, my dear, yet there is something more I would ask of you.”

“Yes?”  All the little one’s eagerness was restored.

“I will ask to meet Aille at a particular place, Eowyn will have to help me 
choose, and I would like you, master sword-thain to eavesdrop.”

Merry’s features went through a series of contortions and I knew that he 
was struggling mightily not to giggle and say ‘goodie’.  After a brief 
struggle, the hobbit mastered himself.  “All right, if that is what you think 
would help.”

To preserve the appearances, I kept my face in its familiar stern expression 
but Eowyn was grinning broadly.  “It could be dangerous if you’re 
caught.”  I warned.  I wanted a witness to my first encounter with Aille.  
The man might decide I was a spy and kill me and in that case Merry’s 
information would be important.  Also, having an observer would mean 
that I would not have to try to communicate with Eowyn or the Dunedain.  
I would be closely watched if I joined the traitor’s ranks and it might 
prove difficult to find a private moment to send whatever warnings were 
necessary.

“I won’t be caught.  I’m very good at eavesdr-  Well, I won’t be caught.”  
The hobbit blushed.  This time, my grin was as wide as Eowyn’s.  I 
couldn’t help it.

“Well,”  I said, laying one hand on Merry shoulder and the other on 
Eowyn’s.  “If we are decided then we should get started.  Find a room in 
the fortress where you, Merry, can exercise your special talent then deliver 
the message to Aille that I wish to meet him there, tomorrow at one 
o’clock.  Then, Eowyn, you should go about your usual duties, making 
sure you are available in case the captain seeks a private word.”  Both the 
lady and the hobbit nodded solemnly.  Eowyn touched the hand I had 
placed on her shoulder and Merry executed an attempt at a military salute.

“What will you do in the meantime?”  Eowyn asked solicitously.  I eyed 
the books of records speculatively.  I could try and research early 
instances of our quarry’s xenophobia.  It needed to be done and I would do 
it but I doubted I was up to the boredom, just now.

“I think I’ll go for a walk.”  I replied.  “Maybe do a little arms training.  I 
may as well shirk my responsibilities in my captain’s absence.”  I added 
with a small smile.
*
I wished the two luck before we left the archives and they were deep in a 
discussion about the best hiding places when we parted at the end of the 
corridor.  I felt restless.  I tried to tell myself that it was only nerves about 
whether I would be able to convince Aille to trust me with his plans or that 
my body objected to suddenly being so sedentary the past few days, but I 
knew these things only accounted for part of the problem.  I had a guilty 
conscience.  I had told Aragorn, my lord and beloved, a stupid, selfish lie 
and I was heartily ashamed of myself.

Leaving the fortress, I struck out east for no better reason than that 
Aragorn had traveled that way and I felt a slight tug in that direction.  It 
was good to breathe fresh air and as soon as I was far enough away from 
the people milling about I settled into a run.  I needed the exercise.  It 
would simplify my thinking.  It was very difficult to make shabby, highly 
technical excuses for oneself when one’s lungs burned for air and the 
blood pounded hard through straining muscles.

I wished I had told Aragorn the truth about the situation between myself 
and Arwen.  I had been given the perfect opportunity and if I had admitted 
everything right off then I could have put everything in the best light 
possible.  Now, Aragorn might find out all by himself at any moment.  A 
tremor ran through me as I imagined Aragorn sitting gravely through some 
long and boring village ceremony only to be assaulted suddenly with the 
full contents of whatever conversation Arwen and I had had in the orchard 
at Rivendell.  How could I have set my beloved up for that sort of 
experience?  It had been blind panic and a despicable cowardice that had 
caused me to evade that first time.  I needed to correct my mistake as soon 
as possible and hope that my revelation came before anymore of 
Aragorn’s memories returned to him.  I hoped Aragorn would forgive me 
my idiocy but the chance of forgiveness was not a proper consideration 
when it came to doing one’s duty.  I fully deserved my lord’s anger.

Having made what I knew was the proper decision, I stopped.  Sweat 
poured off me and I felt the exhilaration of pushing my body hard.  This 
was combined with the flood of relief that came from making a hard but 
necessary decision.  Much of my unease had evaporated and Aille seemed 
a less formidable adversary.  After a moment I continued east at a walk.  
Now I felt better able to appreciate the world around me.  A half mile later 
I saw a particularly tall tree and decided to survey the landscape from a 
higher vantage.  I climbed easily enough but I felt a slight protest from my 
left ankle.  Several years ago I had put my weight wrong making a hurried 
dismount.  It had been only a strain but the ankle had never been 
completely the same afterward.  I would have to expect more of that sort 
of thing as time went on, I knew.  Trying not to sigh I looked out over the 
tall grass of the prairie taking what solace I could from the beauty of the 
countryside.
*
I returned to the fortress in the late afternoon, resigned to doing a little 
work.  First though, I went to the room I had shared with Aragorn to wash.  
Then I put my pack together and headed toward the Dunedain’s camp.  
From the perspective of what I now pretended to be, I had no reason to 
want to stay in the rooms where I had been kept.  From my own 
perspective, it would only make me wistful and sleepless to try and find 
rest in that large comfortable bed by myself.

I was pleased to note that the camp had been opened and many blond 
heads mingled among the darker heads of the rangers.  Small groups of 
men sat about chatting or playing dice.  A few warriors napped in the 
afternoon sun and still others sharpened weapons.  Someone, somewhere 
had found a lyre and I could hear soft singing.  I did not show my 
pleasure, however.  Rather, I made a point of glowering.  I saw Glathe 
who gave a polite but formal greeting.  I scowled in response and moved 
on.  The few other, rather stiff, acknowledgments I received I treated in 
the same manner.  I noticed that several of the Rohirrim watched me with 
more than idle curiosity and I thought Glathe and the others had been 
doing excellent work.

I set up a small tent for myself, within the perimeter of the camp but well 
away from the others and left my pack there.  It would be safe there, even 
if I had anything worth pilfering and I didn’t.  After the first night, the 
Palantir had been moved to the camp to rest within the main tent along 
with Arwen’s banner.  There was no safer place than a Dunedain camp to 
store one’s possessions.  We shared so much as a necessity that the little 
personal property each of us had was sacred.

Having secured myself a place to sleep, I went to the food tents to beg a 
late lunch combination early dinner.  There I encountered more curious 
glances and I made a point of complaining that there was none of my 
favorite seasoning available.  I informed the cook that it was abundant in 
the north and that he was a fool for not bringing more.  Stalking off, I 
returned to the fortress and the archives.
*
Afternoon became evening and evening faded into genuine night as I 
worked.  Again, I chided myself for confining my first attempt at research 
to the time of Wormtongue’s influence.  Even a cursory examination of 
the earlier records showed me that it would take a very high fence indeed 
to make Aille into a good neighbor.  Among his other isolationist activities 
he had sponsored the publication of a pamphlet which was a 
condemnation of Sauron but contained many thinly veiled references to 
Galadriel.  Rohan for the Rohirrim seemed to be the man’s obsession.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at some of the things the little pamphlet 
alleged.  I was rereading a passage that averred that orgies and other 
sinister debauchery involving water sprites and fire demons took place on 
a regular basis in the lands where the ‘pale witch holds dominion’ when 
the door burst open and an exuberant Eowyn rushed in.  She closed the 
door behind her and ran to me- throwing her arms around me- fairly 
jumping up and down with excitement

“I did it!  It was so easy.  I couldn’t believe how easy it was.”  She 
enthused, releasing me.  “He was just like you said he would be.  I tried to 
change the subject twice but he kept coming back to you and what you 
were like.  You should have seen him try to pretend he wasn’t furious 
whenever I praised the lord Aragorn, so, of course, I kept doing it.  He 
tried to be subtle but he was slavering for information.  It was wonderful.”

“Well done!”  I told her catching something of her excitement.  “Well 
done, Eowyn.  If he believes me tomorrow I have no doubt it will be 
because of you.”  I was glad to see the lady so joyful.  She needed joy as 
well as the pride and confidence that came with successfully 
accomplishing difficult tasks.

“It was all I could do not to run here as soon as we finished talking, but I 
was very calm.  I did not break from my evening routine at all. I spent a 
few hours with Uncle and then I made sure that the servants had their 
chores for the next day.  I feel like I’ve had too much wine but I haven’t 
touched a drop.  Ah, Halbarad, I’m so pleased.”  Again she flung her arms 
about me and I returned the embrace, immensely gratified to see her so 
happy.

“Oh, excuse me.”  Merry said from the door, trying not to grin.

“Welcome, master sword-thain.”  I greeted, giving Eowyn a last 
reassuring squeeze before releasing her.  “Have you heard about our lady’s 
great triumph?”

“I saw them talking but I was attending on my lord and I did not want to 
seem too interested.  It went well?”  Merry asked moving into the room.

“Exceedingly well, my friend.”  Eowyn answered, stooping to favor the 
hobbit with a hug.  “Aille was always able to make me feel like I was 
nothing, like I was utterly powerless.  Ah but today, he was clay beneath 
my fingers.  I directed him and he knew it not.”

Merry squeezed her hand and smiled then he turned to me.  “Did you tell 
him where we found for the meeting?”  The hobbit asked Eowyn.

“Not yet, I suppose we will need to show him the room.  There is a cabinet 
in the room that is much too small for a man but a perfect size for Merry.  
It locks, too.  I can lock Merry in before the meeting and take the key.  
Then when it’s over I’ll come back to get him.  That way, Merry will be 
safe.  Aille won’t suspect anything.”

“Excellent, will you show me the room now?”  I asked.  Merry agreed 
readily and headed out of the room.  I moved to follow but Eowyn caught 
my sleeve and I waited.

“Halbarad, I found out what it means.”  Eowyn’s expression had changed 
and she now looked earnest and hopeful.  I didn’t know what she was 
talking about and my face must have said as much for she went on:  
“’Thangail nin’, I looked it up.  I know what it means:  My phalanx, my 
protector, my shield.”  I nodded warily.  My stomach was already twisting 
in pity.  “Don’t you see?  I am a *shield* maiden of Rohan.”

“You think there is some significance in that, Lady?”  I hated myself for 
the coldness of my tone but I knew it would be crueler to encourage her.

“Why should he not come to love me, Halbarad?  I would protect him with 
my life.  I can learn to do whatever. . . whatever he wants.  I can learn to 
be like you.  If you help me I know he could love me.”  Tears had started 
in Eowyn’s eyes and I was not far behind.  She suffered and I felt it but 
she was so young.  I doubted she even understood what she wanted from 
Aragorn.  Eowyn saw my expression and her face crumpled with anger 
and shame.  “But you’re not going to help me, are you.”

She turned to stalk out of the room but I caught her sleeve.  “Eowyn, I 
want to be your friend.  Let me be your friend.”  For a moment I thought 
she would pull away from me and hurry away but she didn’t.  With a little 
cry of anguish she let me pull her against my chest and hold her there as 
she trembled.

“You are my friend, Halbarad.  You’ve been a good friend to me.”  She 
said into the my shirt.  “I know I’m being a fool but I. . . I just know it 
would be so perfect.  We could be so happy together.”  I stroked her back 
and murmured softly.  There were many reasons for Eowyn’s infatuation, 
I knew, but I had hope her feelings would pass.  I would have to 
interrogate Merry about his seeming hint that there was another interested 
in the lady.  Perhaps I might nudge her in the direction of this other and 
help speed nature on its course.  I hated to see her pain.

“Are you coming?”  Merry queried from the door, finally realizing we 
hadn’t followed him.

“Just coming.”  Eowyn said, trying to sound cheerful but she couldn’t 
quite conceal the evidence of tears in her voice.  Merry looked suspicious 
as Eowyn moved behind me using me to keep the hobbit from seeing her 
face.  I gave him a reassuring smile and managed to find Eowyn’s hand 
and give it a squeeze.  Then I strode forward taking Merry’s shoulder.

“Yes, I am anxious to see your expertise in picking prime eavesdropping 
places.”  I said moving out the door with my hand still gripping Merry’s 
shoulder.  Eowyn would follow in a moment when she had collected 
herself.
*
I had trouble getting to sleep that night.  My mind whirled with plans for 
dealing with Aille.  I was in danger of making myself very nervous for the 
next day’s encounter so I forced myself to stop.  Even so, I could not 
sleep.  I was tired and tense.  For a little while, I permitted myself the 
extraordinary luxury of fantasizing about Aille’s final capture.  I had quite 
a few pithy things to say to the man as he was hustled to the dungeons by 
grim faced Rohirrim.  These fantasies, however, did not hold me long.

By the time I had bid my companions of the evening good night, Eowyn 
had been quite composed which was a relief.  I could not help but be 
moved by her situation.  The poor woman had been orphaned at an early 
age.  The kindly uncle who had taken her in had quickly become sick and 
enfeebled.  Eowyn was more a mother to the old king than he was a father 
to her.  She had been the object of the lascivious desire of the loathsome 
and oily little toad, Wormtongue.  Her brother, who must have been her 
only source of cheer and reassurance, was often gone and when he was 
with her his own responsibilities probably oppressed his spirits.  Into this 
morass came Aragorn: a hero out of legend, impossibly strong, kind and 
gentle- utterly kingly.  How could Eowyn have done otherwise than fall 
madly in love at first sight?

The hardest part was that they were not entirely ill-suited.  There was 
much to be admired in Eowyn.  She was young, of course, and many of 
the duties of a queen she would find onerous and unfulfilling but there was 
a bond between them and the potential for great friendship.  For a 
moment, I allowed myself to wish that Eowyn not Arwen was betrothed to 
Aragorn.  I had to stop that, though.  No good could come of it.  I was 
reasonable.  I knew that whatever it was that lay between Arwen and 
myself was just between us.  In all other ways she was an admirable lady.

Disconsolately, I shifted on my blanket.  The change in position did not 
make me any more comfortable and I sighed.  If I was honest, I would 
have to admit that the main reason I was subjecting Eowyn’s feelings for 
Aragorn to so much analysis was that I was afraid to think about how 
badly I had mishandled my own relationship with my captain.  I had 
allowed myself to grow complacent.  I should have better appreciated 
every moment we had together.  Now, I felt the time was approaching 
when Aragorn would no longer desire me as a lover.  When I confessed 
everything about Arwen and myself, Aragorn could easily take the 
opportunity to put an end to our erotic relationship.  The worst of it was, 
he would not do so out of anger, though I knew he would be angry, but he 
would do so thinking that it was best for me.  Because of me his domestic 
arrangements were in discord.  I knew he would be angry at me and 
Arwen both, but truly it was my fault.  Arwen, as his fiancée, deserved 
first place.  I should have done more to make it clear that I did not covet 
what was rightly hers.

I was overcome with sadness and great grief.  I tried to console myself that 
this was not such a world-destroying loss.  Sex was by no means 
everything.  This was a small comfort but I knew I would lose some of the 
intimacy I had always had with Aragorn.  I would no longer be allowed to 
hold him while he slept.  I would never wake up in his arms again.  Words 
had always been inadequate to express how much I loved Aragorn but 
now words would have to suffice for the language of body pressed to body 
was no longer available.  Eventually, I fell asleep, regretful and heart sore.
*
When I woke the next morning, my face felt grimy and my eyes were red 
and bleary.  I must have wept in the night.  The thought made me self-
conscious and I splashed water from my canteen on my face before 
leaving the tent so no one would see.  I realized I still felt miserable but 
the prospect of making progress against Aille gave me energy.  Aragorn 
would also be returning and even though I feared what he would say I 
could not help but be glad that I would be with him again soon.

I really didn’t have anywhere else to go so I returned to the archives to 
continue my research.  It didn’t matter so much anymore but if there was 
ever a trial then the information would be useful.  An hour after I started 
Eowyn arrived.  She looked cheerful and I returned her smile.

“Feeling nervous?”

“Just a bit, actually.”  I replied.

“I’m sure that by the end of an hour’s talk, you will have him confessed, 
reformed and ready to make reparations.”  Eowyn told me, patting my 
shoulder.

“I’ll be happy if I manage to make it through without one of us pulling a 
knife.”

“He is much more gullible then I could have imagined.  I told you he 
lapped up every word I said.”  Eowyn reassured, seating herself across 
from me and idly paging through one of the books.

“Yes, well, people are always gullible when they think they are the ones 
taking advantage of someone else.  He mistrusts me and will be highly 
skeptical.”  I lamented, hoping for some more sympathy or 
encouragement.

“I have absolute faith in you, Halbarad.  I wish I could be the one listening 
in.  Though, on second thought, it’s probably better that I’m not.  I 
wouldn’t be able to hold my tongue.  Do you think Merry will be able to 
stay quiet?”

“As he has said: he has experience overhearing what he shouldn’t.  I just 
hope he doesn’t fall asleep waiting for the action to begin.”  I said and 
Eowyn laughed as I had intended.  I did not worry about Merry’s part in 
the plan, though, I did wish that some of the things I would have to tell 
Aille for the sake of my credibility would not be overheard by the young 
halfling.

Just then the hobbit himself entered and wished us both a hearty ‘good 
morning’.

“Hello Merry, we were just speaking of you.”  Eowyn replied, smiling at 
the hobbit.

“Of course you were.  I am irresistible.”  The hobbit informed us, climbing 
into a chair.

“Someone is in a good mood this morning.”  I said fondly.

“I am, Halbarad, I am.  I had a dream last night where I was flying all over 
the shire.  Everything was just as I remember and it gave me such a sense 
of peace to look down and watch  all the goings on.  It was wonderful.”  
Merry explained.

“Well, I’m very glad for you.”  I announced, pleased at the hobbit’s good 
spirits.

Merry nodded complacently at my congratulations then said:  “I’ve heard 
it said that dreams of flying mean you are about to get a message from far 
away.  Don’t suppose there is any truth to that.  But even so, it would be 
nice to hear from Pippin and Gandalf- just to see how they’re getting 
along, you know.”

“It wouldn’t be the most impossible thing to happen lately.”  Eowyn said.  
“Though it doesn’t seem very likely.  What do you think, Halbarad.  Do 
you think Merry will receive a message?  Are not the men of Numenor 
blessed with prophetic dreams?”

“I don’t know as to Merry’s dram but I certainly hope that I am not so 
‘blessed’ my lady, or I am destined to be in several battles in which I am 
not only ignorant of who my opponents are but I also forget to bring my 
sword.”  Eowyn burst out laughing at my description of a recurrent dream 
I’d had off and on over the years whenever I was especially nervous.  For 
some reason Merry winked at me when Eowyn turned her face away still 
laughing.

“Well, I do hope that dream doesn’t come true, at least.”  Eowyn wished 
kindly.  “It is true though that the Dunedain can see the future?”

“Not many can.  I can’t.  It is not something anyone wants.  Those 
afflicted with visions are subject to awful and unpredictable fits.  Often 
what they see is cryptic if not downright nonsensical.  Everything they see 
is dutifully written down but it is not so useful as to make it worth what it 
does to the one who has the visions.”  I replied honestly.

“I’m sorry.  Should I not have asked?”  Eowyn said.

“Of course you should have asked if you were curious.  If I didn’t want to 
tell you I would not have.”  Both Merry and Eowyn nodded solemnly at 
that and for a while we left off talking.  It was not too long, however, until 
Merry made an innocuous comment about the day’s menu and for the next 
few hours the three of us chatted amiably.
*
“It’s nearly noon.”  Eowyn finally observed.  “Are you ready, Merry?”  
The young hobbit stood up and nodded gravely.

“I’m sorry you will have to spend so long in hiding, but I don’t want 
anyone to notice you slipping into the room right before Aille arrives.”  I 
said, feeling my stomach muscles tighten.  “Are you sure you won’t get 
claustrophobic, my dear?”

“I survived Moria, I can handle a linen cupboard.”  Merry replied with a 
grin.

“Good man.”  As soon as I said this I darted a quick glance at Merry.  
Either he did not notice my terminology or was not offended by it.  I rather 
hoped it was the latter.  If it was a sensitive issue I could probably train 
myself to say ‘good hobbit’ but somehow that sounded condescending.  
“Remember when Eowyn comes for you go straight to Glathe.  Tell him 
everything.”  I instructed.

“I won’t even stop at the kitchens on my way.”  Merry promised.

“Do tell him everything, Merry.”  I said, trying to conceal my 
nervousness.  “I’m going to have to say things, well, that I would prefer 
not to.  No one and nothing will be off-limits.  I know you won’t like 
repeating some of the things Aille or I might say but it’s important that 
nothing be left out.”

“I understand.”

“You know that I won’t mean what I say, that none of the horrible things I 
may have to say about. . . about Aragorn are true.  I would never say 
anything against him.”  I felt awkward.  Both Eowyn and Merry were 
looking at me sympathetically and I forced myself to stop explaining.

“I know that, Halbarad, don’t worry.”  Merry reassured me while Eowyn 
patted my shoulder.

“Well, good luck, then.”  I said making an effort to sound cheerful.  Merry 
and Eowyn wished me the same and left the room.
*
I stood outside the chamber in which I had asked to meet Aille.  The 
Rohirrim did not keep time precisely so I was not sure if I was a little early 
or not.  I guessed that I was, though, for my nervousness had sent me 
fleeing the archives a little before time and despite my best intentions I 
had walked quickly through the fortress.  I didn’t know if Aille was 
already within or not but if he wasn’t I didn’t want him to catch me 
loitering around the door like a nervous page.  Taking a deep calming 
breath, I opened the door and stepped in.

Aille had arrived before me and he stood with his back to the door 
studying a tapestry.  I sneaked a glance at the cabinet which hopefully 
contained one alert and calm hobbit before quickly looking back to Aille.  
He must have heard me come but he continued to examine the wall-
hanging.  If he expected me to begin this conversation with some clever 
and multi-layered comment about art and culture he was going to be 
disappointed.

“Captain Aille.”  I called, focusing all my concentration on the back of the 
man’s head.  “I would speak with you.”

“I don’t usually have time to admire the simple things.”  Aille reflected, 
lifting a hand to touch the tapestry.  “Yet it is simple things that give life 
its joy.”  Finally, he turned around to look at me as though I were an 
annoying interruption to his philosophical musing and asked:  “What 
would you say to me, Halbarad of the Dunedain?”

“First, let’s skip the repartee.  If subtlety was your strong suit I would 
probably not be here.  You have been trying to kill a man.  Your several 
failures are beginning to draw attention and I can no longer wait in silence 
hoping you’ll get it right.”  I announced, taking the direct approach.  
Aille’s eyes widened for a second but he mastered himself with admirable 
speed.

“I have no idea what you can be talking about.  I have tried to kill many a 
man in battle and I usually strike my mark but I do not think this what you 
mean.  I am known here, stranger.  Do you come out of the wilderness to 
level ludicrous accusations against me?”  Aille’s tone was bantering but 
the warning was obvious.  No one in Rohan would take my word over his.

“Oh do think, man!  If I opposed you, do you think you would still have 
breath in you to play these games with me?”  I said, trying to sound 
confident.

“You wouldn’t be threatening me, now, would you?”  Aille asked, soft 
and dangerous.  He let his hand drift to the sword at his belt and it was all 
I could do to pretend unconcern.

“No, I do not threaten.  I tell you, truly, as one who has been your friend 
though you knew it not:  Your exploits have not gone unnoticed.  The 
others of my kind are as tense as dogs who scent blood.  The elves hover 
malevolently ready to strike and the dwarf is always ready for a little 
carnage.  It has not been easy trying to convince everyone that your ham-
fisted attempts at assassination have been accidents.”

“And who have I been trying to assassinate, may I ask?”  Aille said.  I 
tried to gauge his expression, his voice.  I thought he was worried but he 
was still being careful, refusing to admit anything.

“Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Prophesied King of Gondor, Elrond’s adopted 
child, Hope of the West and a dozen other titles and descriptions each 
more pretentious than the last.”

“Now why would I want to do something like that?”  There was a feral 
glint in Aille’s eye and I knew he was feeling the intensity of this 
encounter.

I shrugged.  “I am not entirely certain why.  I’m sure you think your own 
reasons are good.  Perhaps you have seen how quickly Eomer’s sister has 
fallen in love with him and you are jealous.  Perhaps you think there will 
be greater glory and influence for you if Aragorn is gone.  Perhaps you 
think that the elves and other foreigners will leave if he should die.  For all 
I know you serve Sauron in Mordor and are doing his bidding.  Your 
motives don’t really interest me.”  I saw Aille’s anger grow as I spoke.  
His face was crimson by the time I suggested he might be an agent of the 
enemy.  I hoped he would now be provoked into justifying himself but I 
underestimated his self-control.

“I am no servant of Sauron.”  He hissed and I could see him struggle with 
the desire to say more, to explain to me the righteousness of his cause.

“Very well.  As I have said, it is of little moment to me.  If you care about 
your fellow Rohirrim, however, I suggest you be careful.  Aragorn can be 
charming when he wishes.  Many are devoted to him and will drown this 
land in blood if they suspect murder.”  One of my main concerns was to 
scare Aille away from making any other attempt against Aragorn’s life 
without my ‘help’.

“And it is concern for the Rohirrim that brings you here?”  Aille 
demanded skeptically, though through his bluster I saw his fear.  He had 
not realized that repercussions if Aragorn died under suspicious 
circumstances would be so dire.

“It is concern for my own people that bring me here.”  I answered sharply, 
trying to mimic the way Aille had sounded when I made cavalier guesses 
about his motives.  “We do not belong in this place.  Our home is in the 
north.  I do not want a fight with Rohan any more than I want a fight with 
Mordor.  Good men will die because of one man’s crazed messianic 
vision.  No one else sees it.  They follow him like dogs begging to be 
scratched behind the ears but he’ll be the death of us all.”  I stopped 
abruptly, as though I was embarrassed to have said more than I intended.  
For long moments Aille just stared at me.

“All this is preposterous, of course.”  The man said at last, speaking 
slowly.  “If I were to indulge your flight of fancy, however, merely for the 
sake of curiosity then what is it exactly that you are proposing.”

I snorted derisively.  “If it will help you come to the meat of the matter to 
speak in ‘what ifs’ then by all means let us do so.  What I propose 
‘hypothetically’ is that you draw upon my relationship with Aragorn in 
order to kill him in such a way that no one suspects murder.  That would 
solve both our problems and I could then lead my grief-stricken people 
back to their homes and family.”

“So it is fear of battle that has you so anxious to turn traitor?”  Aille spoke 
contemptuously but as soon as the words had left his mouth I had my knife 
drawn and I was advancing across the room at him.  It was satisfying to 
watch him hastily draw back.  I felt tempted to end this and stick my knife 
between his ribs.  Aragorn’s safety, however, depended upon catching all 
of Aille’s co-conspirators and exposing his politics for the dangerous 
short-sightedness that it was.

“I don’t like that word, Captain.  I serve my people.  I have no fear of 
battle but I will not see wives bereft of husbands, children left without 
fathers and friends deprived of friends for the sport of those who wish to 
believe themselves great lords.”  Still gripping the hilt I resheathed my 
knife, visibly struggling to compose myself.  “Since you have said the 
word, however, how does Theoden approve your plans?  Do you not 
betray your king by attacking his guest under his own roof?”

“Theoden is not himself and has not been for many years.  Even so, I 
would never raise my hand against him.  Aragorn is nothing more than a 
foreign meddler.  You, though, you are personally bound to your captain.  
You led your people to Rohan, seeking him.  You were entrusted with a 
gift from his woman.  By all right and duty, he is your lord and master.  
He trusts you.  He shares his rooms with you.  How does a man of honor 
sever such a personal bond?”

I took a deep breath.  This was the part of the conversation I had most 
dreaded.  I had been aggressive with Aille, occasionally insulting.  I had 
wanted to appear strong so that he would take me seriously but ultimately 
I needed him to believe he was capable of handling me.  I would have to 
let him believe that he was getting the better of me.  It took all my self 
control not to dart a quick apologetic glance to the cabinet where Merry 
listened.  I didn’t want the hobbit to hear this but it was unavoidable.

“I told you: Aragorn can be charming when he wishes.  He can also be 
vindictive and cruel.  It amuses him to make me his closest companion.  I 
went to him willingly only once- I was young and curious and he seemed a 
very admirable man to me.  I have been  paying for my folly for years 
now.”  My breathing had grown heavy as I tried to retain some measure of 
hold on my own emotions.  I was not acting.  I was trembling with barely 
suppressed rage and shame.  Aille could see this but he misunderstood the 
cause.

“My family has prospered under Aragorn’s leadership but their continued 
prosperity depends on his good will.  I have earned a place of leadership 
and respect but he twists my every deed until I seem naught but his loyal 
shadow.  He is always affable with my closest friends so that they suspect 
nothing.  Every way he traps me.  Yes, he shares his rooms with me and 
his bed but you are a fool if you thinks that makes me love him.”  By the 
time I finished I was nearly choking.  The blood burned fiercely in my 
cheeks.  I met Aille’s gaze, my eyes fever bright.

Aille regarded with mild disgust.  I knew that I had fallen in his 
estimation.  Not only would he think of me as a proud warrior but also as a 
vengeful harlot.  The latter opinion would be the one he preferred to dwell 
on, I suspected.  He could feel superior to me now and this would make 
him more likely to use me in his plans.  From his expression, I did not 
doubt Aille believed me.  He hated Aragorn so he had already convinced 
himself that my lord was pure evil.  I was only giving him evidence to 
support it.  Collecting myself I essayed to appear chagrinned as though 
only just now realizing I had lost a battle of wits.

“Do not upset yourself, my friend, I had to ask, I had to know.”  False 
sympathy was simply oozing from the man.  “It was not my intent to 
humiliate you.”  Everything about the man’s tone, manner and expression 
belied his words.

“You don’t know anything about humiliation.”  I told him as calmly as I 
could.  Aille did not try to dispute this.

“I must consider all that has been said between us, Halbarad.  We shall, 
certainly speak again.  I shall send someone when I am ready to… more 
thoroughly discuss our mutual problem.”  It was a clear dismissal and I 
could not help but be grateful the interview was over.

“Do not take to long Aille.  Time is against us.”  I said, scoring the last 
word.  I inclined my head to acknowledge we had an understanding then I 
left the room, hoping I would not end up being sick in the corridor.
*
I went to the archives because that was where I was officially supposed to 
be.  More than that, though, there was nowhere else for me.  I wrestled 
briefly with the idea of going to the camp and listening to the voices of my 
friends and comrades but I dared not disappear into the Dunedain ranks 
right after such a meeting.  I was certainly being watched and I did not 
want there to be even the suggestion that I was reporting back.  At least, 
alone in the library I wouldn’t have to sneer at my friends.

When I reached the room I had spent so much time in the last few day I 
went straight to the water decanter.  I took a mouthful, swishing it around 
in my mouth then spitting into the fire.  I repeated this ritual several times 
before finally taking a drink.  I felt drained but also listless.  When I tried 
to rest I was overcome with a nervous twitchiness that sent me pacing 
round and round the room.  I thumbed through several book which at any 
other time I would have found fascinating but it was useless.

All my efforts to distract or calm myself had failed miserably.  Heaving a 
weary sigh, I gave up.  I had no choice but to think upon the only subject 
that could soothe me:  Aragorn would be returning this afternoon.  Perhaps 
he was already back.  I wanted very much to check but even if he was 
back I dared not go to him.  I must not appear eager to see him.  I must 
stay in this little room and sulk like a good traitor-spy.  It was exasperating 
and I was able to take up close to fifteen minutes inventing elaborate and 
usually vulgar epithets for Aille.

After I had exhausted my entire vocabulary of insults, my mind raced 
unerringly back to Aragorn.  I felt guilty- not for the lies I had told Aille, 
not exactly but playing at betrayal was not easy for me.  In truth, I think it 
would have been easier if I did not already feel guilty about the situation 
with Arwen and the Palantir.  My feelings about that situation were 
bleeding over into my feelings about play acting for Aille, leaving me 
miserable.  Again I promised myself I would tell Aragorn everything at 
the first opportunity.  He would be angry and worse than that he would be 
hurt but at least then I could focus all my energy on making amends rather 
than on worrying about being found out.

I was granted a few moments of calm while I considered my resolve but 
soon enough I started to think about just how angry and how hurt Aragorn 
would be.  I hated to see him suffer- hated it.  I put my head in my hands 
and put pressure on my temples hoping to relieve some of the tension.  It 
didn’t work and I got to my feet and started to pace the room again.  
Thinking only served to agitate my already frayed nerves but I had no 
choice.  Again and again, my mind’s eye showed me Aragorn looking 
betrayed and confused.  I would have given a great deal to escape myself 
but no escape was possible.  My only hope was to be rescued.
*
Later, when I had worn a furrow around the room and I had paged through 
half the books in the archives, I sat tossing the few copper coins I had in 
my belt pouch at the empty water pitcher.  The object was to actually 
throw the coins into the pitcher but I was doing an exceptionally poor job- 
but then I wasn’t concentrating.  I had just cast a coin more than a foot 
wide of the target when the door to my prison opened and Merry entered, 
grinning at me.

“Hello Halbarad, what are you doing.”  Merry asked coming into the room 
and starting to collect the coins which lay scattered across the room.

“Oh Merry, I’m so pleased to see you!”  I exclaimed, vigorously patting 
the hobbit’s shoulder with a clammy palm.  “What has been happening?  
How long did you have to wait before Eowyn fetched you?  Did you tell 
Glathe everything?  What time is it?  Any word on when Aragorn will 
return?”

“Are you quite all right, Halbarad?  You seem a little agitated.”  Merry 
observed, handing me the coins he had collected.  I didn’t bother 
explaining what I had been doing.  Any explanation would have been 
embarrassing anyway.

“Yes, I’m fine, my dear.  I’m just a little jumpy being shut away like this.”

The hobbit nodded sympathetically and settled himself on a chair.  “Then, 
I’ll tell you what has been happening:  Aille left soon after you did.  
Eowyn came a few minutes later but it seemed like longer.  Then we went 
to find Glathe and he suggested Eowyn ought to leave and she nearly 
ripped his head off.  She told him that she was already involved and she 
had done more to help than he had and then she said something else that 
really wasn’t very ladylike.”  Merry giggled a little at the memory and 
then continued.  “I would have stood up for Eowyn but I never got the 
chance by the time she had stopped yelling Glathe had given in.”

“I told them everything, just as you said, Halbarad, even. . . well, I told 
them everything.  Eowyn thinks you are absolutely brilliant and Glathe 
was impressed, too, I could tell.  As for me, I really never heard anything 
like it.  It was like you were a different person.  The next time Aille wants 
to talk, I just know he’ll be ready to set up a plan and then he’ll be caught 
red-handed.”  Merry said giving me an approving smile.  I smiled back but 
it was a little strained.

“Merry, the things I said: you know I had to say them.  You know it was 
all horribly wrong, false: evil lies for an evil heart.  I would never. . .”  
Suddenly, I found I couldn’t go on.  I swallowed reflexively and looked 
pleadingly at the hobbit.

“Of course, you wouldn’t.  We’ve been through this already.  I know how 
you really feel and so does Eowyn and so does Glathe.  Don’t worry, 
Halbarad, we know you.  Trust us to see you as you are.”  Merry said, 
standing on his chair and leaning over to hug me.  Gratefully, I hugged 
him back.  I knew Merry spoke the truth but it was good to hear him say it.

“We were all terribly excited after I told them what happened, but Glathe 
said there was nothing more we could do now so we would just have to go 
back to our duties and act as normally as possible.”  Merry resumed.  
“Eowyn agreed and so that was what we did until Aragorn and Eomer 
came back.”

They’re back?”  I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

“Yes, they are having an open meeting in the council chamber.  Eomer has 
already reported to the king and now everyone’s talking- except for 
Elladan and Elrohir.  They’ve gone off somewhere.  We should get 
moving before all the food is gone.”  Merry informed me, rising.  My 
heart sank.  I would have liked to listen in on some of the discussions that 
must be going on now.  More, I would have liked to be near Aragorn. 
Even if we would not have privac