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A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower

CHAPTER 21

Under the clean blue of an early spring sky, the procession prepared to move over the Brandywine Bridge.

Side by side at the front rode Sir Meriadoc and Sir Peregrin. Just behind them were the standard bearers, Anwynd for Rohan and Borondir for Gondor. Next came the Master and the Thain, with Esmeralda and Pearl riding between them, and they were followed by Frodo, Sam, and Legolas with Gimli.

Éothain and Targon and the rest of their Men followed, with Leodwald leading the pack horses. Lastly came Bergil and Tip, leading the pack ponies.

The road leading from the Bridge was lined on either side with hobbits, most of them smiling, waving and cheering, but a few faces showed sullen hostility. Not everyone was ready to welcome Men into the Shire with open arms.

Frodo took note of it. He was sure that the further into the Shire they went, the more they would see of it. These hobbits from the Bridgefields had already spent several days observing the Gondorians and Rohirrim. But he was afraid that it would take more than shiny presents and pretty uniforms to overcome nearly a year of abuse by Saruman’s gang of bullies. It was one reason he was pleased that Aragorn had requested hobbits come to Gondor. It would be well for hobbits to learn that Men could also be good, not only bad.

Targon, too, had noted the occasional hostile face. He could see some of the reasons for it around him: the tree stumps, the charred places where buildings had been burned down, the ugly Man-sized structures that had yet to be pulled down. He knew also that the hobbits had suffered privation and abuse and even loss of life at the hands of evil Men. Not for the first time he blessed King Elessar for the careful instructions they had been given.

He recalled the day he learned he had been chosen to captain the small band from the Third Company to the North. The Steward had come to the breakfast mess, and had called out their four names. They stood, wondering what duty was to be required of them.

“You have heard,” said Prince Faramir, “of a delegation which is to be sent north, to the Shire, the land of the pheriannath. You are chosen for that embassy. Targon son of Cirion, you will captain this mission, and act as envoy. Your journey will begin in ten days. Starting this afternoon, you four have three days of leave before you begin your preparations to go. Targon, you will report to the palace at one hour past noon, for a private audience with our Lord King.” Although the Steward spoke firmly and formally, he gave them a warm smile. “Congratulations,” he said, before leaving the room.

Amid the cries of jubilation and envy, Targon felt a touch of trepidation, that he would be trusted with such a command, as well as the prospect of a personal audience with the King. He had met, and even spoken with the King before, but never to have a conversation with him privately.

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When Targon had arrived, he was ushered into a small chamber that the King used as an office. King Elessar was seated behind a table strewn with papers. He had laid aside his robes, and was comfortably clad in tunic, trews and boots.

“Please. Be seated.” He indicated a chair by the table. Then he picked up a small pouch and a pipe.

Targon watched in fascination. He had seen the halflings and the Dwarf indulge this habit, but never before had he seen the King do so, though he had heard the rumors.

“First of all,” said the King, sending forth a plume of smoke, “do not call them ‘halflings’. As Frodo’s elderly kinsman Bilbo told me once, ‘how would you like it if we called you twice-as-large-as-you-ought-to-be-lings?’ I know that Pippin has told you they call themselves hobbits and if you can remember that it would be well. Pheriannath would not be so ill, as most of them would not know what it means, and being Elvish, it sounds well.” He quirked a smile at the guardsman, who found himself quite forgetting this was a King, and not just a new and friendly acquaintance.

For nearly two hours, Aragorn  simply talked about his hobbit friends, and their homeland. Targon sometimes interrupted to ask a question, forgetting protocol completely, yet the King did not take it at all amiss, but answered amiably. One fact shone out more clearly than any other: he loved these small people dearly, and felt a deep and humble gratitude to them for the valiant part they had played in helping him attain his throne. Then he had dismissed Targon to his leave, with the admonition to enjoy himself before returning to prepare for the journey.

When they did return, Faramir had gone back to Ithilien, and it was the King himself who briefed them on their mission. Just two days before they left, Faramir returned and brought Targon’s dear friend Beregond with him. It was then they had asked about Bergil joining the mission, to act as a general helper, paging and squiring as needed. At first, Targon felt reluctant to take such a responsibility, but remembering how their dear Sir Pippin loved the boy’s company, he agreed.

The day they set forth, the Steward reminded them of the honor that would be due to the Ringbearers, especially on the first day of the New Reckoning. Then they had turned their mounts to Rohan, to meet the delegation from there.

The journey had been long, and mostly uneventful, until they reached Imladris. There he had met the Ringbearer’s kinsman Bilbo Baggins, and the Elf and Dwarf had joined their company. He had seen Legolas and Gimli briefly in the City after the War, but had not before met them; they turned out to be interesting traveling companions.

After a long War, a mission such as this was as good as a holiday, but he did not intend to forget the importance of it to his King. If he let these--hobbits--down, if he did not succeed in winning their approval and trust, he did not think he would be able to face King Elessar again.

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