70: Epilogue: Shadows of the White Wizard

Ten years later:

"Are you sure I can’t change your minds?" Thengel asked one more time. He didn’t expect a positive answer but he felt he needed to ask.

He was alone in the main hall of Meduseld with Aragorn, Gilhael and Wídfara. The farewell feast had been held the night before and there was nothing left but for them to leave. The three had already said farewell to Thengel’s family, little Théodwyn, now five, clinging to Gilhael’s leg and weeping inconsolably. Théoden, now twenty, finally took her away with promises of taking her riding with him later on if she remained good. Morwen and her other daughters excused themselves to attend to their respective duties.

"It is time, lord," Aragorn said with not a little regret. He had grown to love the Rohirrim and their ways and had learned much about them and from them over the last decade, yet, he knew in his heart that it was time to move on. Gondor called and he greatly desired to look upon Minas Tirith and renew his friendship with Lord Denethor. They had not seen each other since the rebellion but they had exchanged letters and in each one from Denethor there had been a plea for him and Gilhael to come to Gondor. Now was the time.

"We will miss you," Thengel said simply with genuine sorrow.

"As we will miss you, lord," Aragorn replied, equally sad, "and Rohan. I thank you for welcoming my cousin and me and granting us a place at your side." Gilhael nodded but said nothing. "And we thank you for your letter of introduction to Lord Ecthelion."

"Your éored will miss you," Thengel replied, merely nodding in acknowledgment of Aragorn’s words.

"I doubt it," Aragorn said with a wry smile and both Gilhael and Wídfara snorted in amusement. Aragorn had taken to the captaincy of the éored Thengel had given him as if he’d been born to it (and, Gilhael reflected, that wasn’t too far from the truth). He had been hard but fair and had not shirked in taking on tasks other captains might consider beneath them. He had, in fact, won the undying devotion of the warriors under his command and both he and Gilhael would be sorely missed. "Besides, Dúnstan will do well enough as their captain now," Aragorn continued. "Gilhael and I trained him, after all."

Thengel nodded, well aware of the young Rider’s abilities. "Then, I suppose there is naught else to say, except may the Valar speed you on your way and see you safely to Minas Tirith."

The three men bowed. Then Thengel gave Wídfara a shrewd look. "I hesitated in allowing you to go with these two, as you know. I trust you will not do anything to bring shame to me or to our people."

"You have my word, Thengel King," Wídfara said solemnly, giving him a proper bow. Then he gave him a sly look. "Of course, I can’t vouch for my two traveling companions," he couldn’t help adding.

Thengel laughed. "I will not hold you responsible for their actions," he said.

"And I will not be gone long," Wídfara said then. "While I’m away, Hámafast and Isenhild will see to Alorharadsdale," he added, naming his steward and his wife. It had been a surprise to many when the youngest daughter of Isenbert and Reinhild of Upborn had consented to be his wife a couple of years after the rebellion. She gifted him the following summer with their firstborn son, whom they named Earnfród for their adopted ‘uncles’, Thorongil and Gilhael, though the boy was often called Thôreg by his family. Over the ensuing years, Wídfara had learned Sindarin with Thorongil and Gilhael’s help and was teaching his son. Isenhild made no attempt to learn to speak it, but father and son quickly discovered to their dismay that she had no trouble understanding the language. Now, with Earnfród a rambunctious seven-year-old, Wídfara felt secure enough to leave his family for a time to travel to Minas Tirith with his two closest friends. It was his fondest wish and he hoped to establish some trading ties with certain merchants while he was there.

"Then I will not delay your departure any longer," Thengel said. "I know you are anxious to be on your way." With that he accompanied them outside and went with them to the gates, the people of Edoras lining the streets to see them off. Morwen joined them there, having been alerted by one of the servants of their exit from Meduseld. She bore the traditional stirrup cup, bidding the three travelers a safe journey. With a final wave, they set out. Aragorn cast one last look at Edoras as the three made their way towards the Eastfold and Alorharadsdale, where they would spend a few days before continuing on to Gondor.

"Any regrets?" Gilhael asked him softly as they rode side-by-side.

"Not really," Aragorn said as he turned his gaze forward again. "My only regret is that we never did learn who was behind the Dunlendings and the orcs attacking the Westmark and the Westfold."

"We rid the area of both menaces, though," Gilhael pointed out.

"True, but for how long?" Aragorn replied.

"Thengel will keep a strong presence in the Westfold," Wídfara pointed out as he rode on Aragorn’s other side, "and Dúnstan is a good leader. He and his éored will help patrol the area and keep the Dunlendings from doing too much harm."

"We can only hope," Aragorn said somewhat pessimistically.

"You can always stay here in Rohan if you feel your presence is all that stands between us and disaster," Wídfara retorted, though he was smiling when he said it and they knew he was merely jesting.

"I do not think I’m that arrogant," Aragorn said with a smile. "No, going to Minas Tirith at this time is the right decision."

"Then let us ride," Wídfara said. "I would be in Mundberg sooner rather than later."

And they did.

****

Far to the northwest, in the valley known as Nan Curunír, the White Wizard pondered his options. His spies had alerted him to the fact that the Dúnedain Rangers who had taken service with Thengel were now moving on to Gondor. That suited him just fine. The two of them, especially the one known as Thorongil, had been thorns in his side ever since they brought an entire éored into the Westmark, taking up residence in Dunwulfstun. That had put a stop to his own plans for the Dunlendings and the orcs, some of them his own uruk-hai, to harass the settlements and make their way into the Westfold, sowing confusion and despair.

He had been forced to bide his time, just as he had been forced to do so earlier when the Dowager Queen had tried to usurp the throne. It had been a stroke of genius on his part to encourage the fool Léodward to contact Guthláf and have the man bring in the Umbari necromancer. Pity that his plan for Umbar to take control of Rohan did not pan out, but he had not counted on the Dúnedain interfering... or the blasted Elves.

He sneered to himself as he thought about it. Léodward and the others involved in the rebellion never knew that they were merely pawns in a much wider game. Éolind might have suspected, but she was dead and no longer a threat. Isenbert was also dead, killing himself about a year or so after his defeat. His guards had become lax and careless and the man had taken advantage of it. Léodward was still an imbecile, happily playing with the children at Alorharadsdale, no longer aware that it was even his own estate and he had once been its lord. The Wizard had once contemplated having the man eliminated but in the end decided it wasn’t worth it. Léodward was getting on in years and would soon be dead anyway.

And that was the one thing he had that the Rohirrim did not — time. Thengel was in his sixties and it was doubtful he would live too much longer. Théoden was young and if he took his father’s throne in the next few years he could be easily manipulated by those whom the Wizard placed in the king’s court.

He sat back and smiled, pleased with his analysis. Yes, time was on his side, for was he not immortal? He would wait a few more years and let the guard on the Westfold become lax, as it was bound to do. Mortals, after all, were prone to laxness and complacency when no threats were imminent. Yes, time... there was plenty of that for him. Putting aside the question of Rohan for the moment the White Wizard turned his attention to other affairs. He frowned and looked about his study.

Now where did he put those notes he’d been writing on improving the physical strength of his uruk-hai....?

****

Earnfród: Wise eagle; obviously a blend of Earntungol (Thorongil) and Tungolfród (Gilhael).

Thôreg: (Sindarin) Little Eagle, Eaglet; cf. honeg ‘little brother’.

****

Chronology of Stirrings of Shadow: an asterisk before a date indicates events that are true for this story but are not strictly canon.

2905: Thengel son of Fengel is born.

2922: Morwen of Lossarnach is born.

2923: Thengel leaves Rohan for Gondor and takes service with Turgon, then Steward of Gondor.

2943: Thengel weds Morwen ‘Steelsheen’.

2948: Théoden son of Thengel and Morwen is born.

2953: Fengel dies; Thengel recalled from Gondor to take the throne.

*2957: Aragorn and his cousin Gilhael take service with Thengel. The year of the Rebellion.

*2958: Thengel regains his throne.

*2960: Wídfara son of Éonoth weds Isenhild daughter of Isenbert and Reinhild of Upborn.

*2961: Earnfród son of Wídfara and Isenhild is born.

2963: Théodwyn, last child of Thengel and Morwen is born.

*2968: Aragorn and Gilhael leave Rohan for Gondor. Wídfara travels with them.

2980: Thengel, aged 75, dies; Théoden, now 32, becomes King of Rohan.