Summary: In the spring of 2012, four American children find themselves thrust into an unfamiliar world and part of an unexpected adventure.  This story is AU, and blends Lord of the Rings book-verse and movie-verse.  This story also contains a lot of spiritual and religious content as a part of the AU elements.

Disclaimer: The world of Middle-earth and all its peoples belongs to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien; the three films of The Lord of the Rings​ belong to New Line Cinema and to Peter Jackson.  This story is not for profit, but is a gift for the enjoyment of those who read it.

Citations: In most chapters, there will be some quotations directly from both the books and/or the movies.  Quotations from Tolkien's books are in italics, and quotations from the movies are underlined.  Occasional quotations from other sources as well as silent dialogue, words spoken in emphasis, and passages from the Bible will also be in italics, and those citations will be footnoted at the end of each chapter in which they occur. We will also footnote research sources and credit the ideas of other people.

Thanks: We would also like to acknowledge the invaluable help of our beta, Linda Hoyland, another well-known and prolific LotR fanwriter, whose many wonderful stories also grace this site.

Chapter 89: Heigh-Ho!  Heigh-Ho!

"This is the last of it, Master McCloud."  The workman in charge of the draught horses looked with pride at the line of five waggons filled with dirt, gravel, and stones, and the crowd of day laborers who waited for their orders.

"Thank you, Master Berelach.  You've been very helpful.  The timing could not be better, since the field will be covered with tents and pavilions by this time tomorrow.  I think the new King will be very happy when he arrives."  Steve smiled and then looked around.  This particular spot was the last of the pits caused by the death throes of one of the mûmakil.  "Over there," and Steve pointed to another spot, a large, blackened depression in the ground, where the body of the fell beast belonging to the Ringwraith which Éowyn and Merry had slain had been burned.  The spot was still blackened, and foul fumes still came from it, even though it had been smoothed and seeded days before.  The nearby mound where the King of Rohan's white horse had been buried was already beginning to show grass sprouting.  Steve was somewhat confused, as both had been buried at about the same time.

"Take the waggon with mostly dirt and cover up the burned place again," he said.  "I hope it will at least stay covered up until after the Coronation."

Berelach nodded.  "'Tis cursed.  But perhaps it will not break through so quickly this time."

"I hope so," answered Steve.  "Let's get this last elephant grave levelled out with the remaining material, same way we've been doing it: gravel and rocks first, then level it out with the remaining dirt."

"Very good, Master McCloud."  Berelach went over to give the laborers their orders.  Many had been doing the same work before, but there were a few new ones in the group.  He told the new ones to watch the others and follow their lead.  He would oversee, to make sure they did it well.

Steve grabbed a shovel and walked over to help those who were working on the "cursed" area.  They wouldn't really need supervision so much as an extra pair of hands.  The workers did not look surprised; over the last few days, Steve had often lent his own arms and back to the work. None of them spoke, but as he worked Steve silently prayed that their work would bear fruit this time, and that at least the foul smell would be permanently banished.  Please, God, don’t let that place in the ground, or that foul stench reappear, ever.  Amen.

He was still hard at work with the others when he was startled to hear a voice behind him.  

"Master McCloud?"  The voice was that of Faramir.  "Perhaps you should halt, and rest."  He gestured to two servants behind him, who bore ewers of water.  Steve gestured to the others, who gratefully stopped, ready to take some refreshment.  Steve reached over and took up his long-empty waterskin, and one of the servants filled it for him.

After he took a long drink from it, he turned to Faramir.  "Thank you, Lord Faramir.  That's very thoughtful of you."

"You are most welcome."  Faramir looked around, clearly impressed.  An approving smile spread across his face.  "I do believe you have worked a marvel.  Few would realize that a battle was fought here."  

"I don't know about a marvel.  It's just, I kind of know how such damage to the ground can be put right.  We have devices in my homeland that can make fixing it a little easier and faster, but the actual methods are the same.  Grading the ground is much the same anywhere."  

"Well, it seems a marvel to me.  However, it appears that your task is done.  All is prepared now, and soon enough the returning Army will be setting up their own camp here.  By tomorrow night, they will all be here."

Steve's heart leapt.  He grinned.  "My kids...my children will be here!"  He sobered.  "Will we be able to see them right away?"

"That will all depend.  If it is still day, perhaps.  But if night has fallen, it is very likely that you will have to wait.  There will be much chaos, all of it coming from the preparations for the Coronation.  It is quite possible that you may not be able to find them until after the Coronation takes place."  Faramir put a hand on Steve's shoulder.  "Steven," he said softly, for the servants and workers were no longer near enough to hear him being informal.  "Take heart and be patient.  It will not be much longer until you and your wife are reunited with the rest of your children.  By day’s end, the day after tomorrow, they will be back in your care.  That is only two days from now."

Steve gave a bitter laugh.  "Well, I guess I was in need of patience.  But at least I know that they will be here.  But I'm not crazy about having to give the news to Gail."

"I still have some tasks of my own," Faramir said.  "Let us go back into the city, and you may accompany me."

Steve looked at himself and sniffed his armpit.  "I don't think I'm fit for the Steward's Heir at the moment."

Faramir laughed.  "I have been as dirty as that, and more so at times of my life.  But fear not, my first task is at the Citadel, and you may clean yourself and change clothing before we go elsewhere."

"In that case, 'lead on, McDuff'."  Steve laughed.

"'McDuff?" Faramir asked.

"It's just a saying in my homeland."  Steve wondered if he could even explain the saying.  He knew it was a saying from Shakespeare, but he wasn't sure he knew enough of the context to even begin to explain.  “It’s a line from a story that’s well-known where we come from.”

"Ah, I see.  Someday when we have time, I should like to speak of that book with you."  Faramir's face was lit up with pleasure and curiosity.

It was Steve's turn to laugh.  "In that case, give me some time to dredge my memory, and to see what I can recall.  I believe I was only about Kevin's age, or maybe a little older, when I last read that story in school, and that was years ago.  There were many stories by that particular author."

“And who was the author?”

“His name was William Shakespeare, and in truth, he was a playwright and a poet.  He wrote many plays that people acted out on the stage for others to watch, and many poems as well.  He lived and died several centuries before our time, but his writings live on, where we come from, and people still act out his plays.  Indeed, some of his works are required reading in school.  I had to read some of his plays when I was in high school and college, and Kevin’s been having to do the same since he started high school.”

"Well, I will look forward to our conversation when your memory is sufficiently dredged.  Shall we head to the City?”  Faramir led the way to the horses.  Steve's horse was already there on the picket line; he had come down on a horse from the Citadel stables.  And Faramir's horse was nearby, where his two guards awaited.

They mounted and began the ride back to the White City.

-oo000oo-

Gail and Mairen were dressing Kaylee and Megan for the day.  The two girls would be accompanying Gail to the Houses of Healing.

"Are you certain you do not wish for me to accompany you, Gail?" Mairen asked.

Gail shook her head.  "You and Avorn have had little time together since we got here, Mairen."

"Thank you very much."

After a breakfast of porridge with honey and fruit, Gail set out for the Houses of Healing, to Dame Ioreth's domain.  It was the same room in which Joey had first met Sador and some of the other errand lads, and it had been interesting to listen to the other boys telling little anecdotes of Joey and Bergil, and of some of the adventures her son had been involved in during his stay in Minas Tirith.

Dame Ioreth was waiting there to explain their task for the day.  A poulterer had recently donated five large bags of feathers and down to the Houses, for the making of new pillows.  The launderers had brought over some clean linen, old sheets which had been cut down to make the pillows with.  Gail, Mairen, and the children had spent the previous day sewing the rectangles of linen into tubes.  Today, Sador and Megan would spend the day stuffing the tubes, and Gail and Kaylee would sew the ends of the tubes up.  Gail's hand stitching had much improved over her time in Rivendell, but she was still a little embarrassed that her five-year-old daughter sewed a neater seam than she could.  Kaylee's tiny hands made very neat stitches.  At the same time, Gail was proud of her little girl for the skill that she had attained.  In truth, she was proud of both of her young daughters.

Sador was humming a little tune as he and Megan stuffed the feathers into the pillow forms.  There were bits of fluffy down floating about the room.  Megan started to hum along with Sador.  Then she asked, "What song is that?"

Sador smiled. “It's one I remember my grandfather singing when I was very young, before he died.  He was a tailor.”  He began to sing:

“There was a tailor had a mouse.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.

They lived together in one house.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.

“The thread follows the needle.

In and out the needle goes,

In and out the needle goes.
Hi diddle um come feed-al.

“The tailor thought his mouse was ill.
Hi diddle um come feed-al.
He gave him part of a blue pill.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.”

At this point, Gail and the girls joined in the chorus.

“The thread follows the needle.

In and out the needle goes,

In and out the needle goes.
Hi diddle um come feed-al.

“The tailor thought the mouse would die.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.

He baked him in an apple pie.
Hi diddle um come feed-al.

“The thread follows the needle.

In and out the needle goes,

In and out the needle goes.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.

“The pie was cut; the mouse ran out.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.

The tailor chased him all about.

Hi diddle um come feed-al.

“The thread follows the needle,

In and out the needle goes,

In and out the needle goes.
Hi diddle um come feed-al.”*

All of them were laughing at the end. 

Kaylee piped up.  "That part about the mouse being baked in a pie reminds me of a song I know:

“Sing a song of sixpence,

A pocket full of rye,

Four and twenty blackbirds

Baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened,

The birds began to sing—

Wasn't that a dainty dish

To set before the king?

“The king was in the counting-house,

Counting out his money.

The queen was in the parlor,

Eating bread and honey.

The maid was in the garden,

Hanging out the clothes.

Along came a blackbird

And snipped off her nose.”

The girls and Sador swapped off with new songs, and the singing made the finished work grow quickly.  Very soon they had ten plump, soft new pillows piled up.  They were slightly smaller than the pillows Gail knew at home, but the used linen was incredibly soft.  Megan took one of them up and squeezed it.  "I love these pillows!  They are so squishy and cuddly!"  She curled up on it holding it close.  "I wish our pillows were like this at home."

Just then, Dame Ioreth came in.  "Goodness!  I am surprised you have already finished!"  She picked up one of them and checked them.  "Stitches tidy, pillows nice and full!  What good work!"  She glanced over at Gail. "I came to see if you were hungry." She gestured at a basket she had placed on a table near the door.  "Bread, cheese, fruit, and a bottle of cold fruit tea."

Gail picked some bits of down out of Megan's hair, and then they washed up at the washstand at one side of the room.

After everyone had served themselves some food and drink, the children sat in a circle on the floor, cross-legged.  Dame Ioreth sat down on a chair near Gail's.  "I really am surprised you finished so quickly."

Gail smiled.  "They were having a lot of fun.  It's nothing like anything the girls have done before, so they thought of it as a game.  And the songs helped, too."

The Dame nodded.  "Song is always a good way to speed up the work—it is why there are so many work songs, after all."

Gail glanced at the children.  "Uh, Dame Ioreth, if you don't have anything else for us to do today, I thought I would take the three of them outside to the herb garden at the Houses of Healing after we eat.  It's a quiet walled space where they can play, and I will be able to keep an eye on them.  We'll probably stop by the kennels and pick up Lucy, first, so the children can play with her."

"That sounds like a good idea.”  Dame Ioreth nodded.  “I really have no other tasks for them today.  But when we finish our noon meal, I am going to give Sador his monthly stipend.  It is due him the last day of the month, which is on the morrow, but there will be so many last-moment things to do for the coronation that I do not wish to miss giving it to him.  The other lads will get theirs before the evening meal, but I do not know if Sador will return before then."

"Actually, I was going to ask you if it was all right to have Sador join us for supper, and perhaps play a few games with the girls before his bedtime."

"That will be fine.  Just be sure to have someone escort him back here if it is after dark."

"Of course!" said Gail, with a smile.

The old nurse shrugged.  "Usually, I would not worry, for it is only from the Citadel, but after his injury…"  As her voice trailed off, she furrowed her brow.

"I do understand, Dame Ioreth, and I'd be just the same if it was one of the girls.  Or my son, Joey."

Dame Ioreth grinned.  "I miss Joey.  He was a very hard worker, very cheerful.  And he learned so quickly!" 

Gail felt a surge of pride for Joey.  He’d had to learn quickly, what with being in a situation that she still felt he should never have had to deal with.  

They were soon finished eating, and Dame Ioreth called for Sador.  He came to her side.  "I am giving you your stipend a day early because of the Coronation," she said, drawing a small cloth drawstring bag from her capacious apron pocket. 

Sador took it and looked within with a smile.  "Thank you, Dame Ioreth."  He opened the bag and took out five copper coins, handing them back to her.  "Would you please put these in my box for me?"

"Of course, Sador.  And Mistress McCloud has asked for the rest of the day off for you to be with her and Kaylee and Megan.  You will take your supper with them as well, but be back here for your bedtime!"

Sador grinned.  "Oh, thank you!" he said, and he gave her a brief hug, before stepping back and blushing.

Dame Ioreth laughed and patted his back.  "Be off with you now, lad, and stay out of mischief."

As Gail left with her small charges, she asked Sador, "What was that, about a box?"

"Oh, well, some of us errand lads have a box. We give some of our wages to Dame Ioreth to keep for us in our boxes.  She locks them up there, and when we are no longer here as errand lads, she will give us our boxes to take with us."

“Like a piggy bank?” Kaylee asked him, wide-eyed.

"A what?" Sador asked.

“Something you save your money in.”

"Why did you call it a 'piggy'?" he asked, puzzled.

“‘Cause it’s shaped like a pig.”

Gail laughed.  “Most of them are.  They are usually made of pottery.  We call them piggy banks where we come from; they’re little containers you can store money in, to save it.  As Kaylee said, some of them are shaped like pigs, so we call them ‘piggy banks’.  They have little slots on top to drop coins through, and a place on the bottom you can open, to take the coins out.”

Sador still looked a little confused, but nodded.  He knew they had some strange customs in the land the McClouds came from.  "Why do they use a pig to put the coins in?”

Gail laughed.  "I have no idea, Sador!  I don’t whose idea it was to shape the containers like pigs.  It is just a tradition we have.  But don’t worry, we don’t attempt to feed the coins to live pigs!  We just store them in containers that are shaped like pigs—it’s a tradition where we come from."

Sador nodded.  He understood traditions.  Some of Gondor's traditions did not make much sense either.  At least, where the McClouds came from, they didn’t try to use real pigs to store the coins in.

They had arrived in the kennels, and Megan tried to dart off, but came up short, as Gail had a tight hold on her hand.

"Mommy!" squealed Megan.  "I wanna see Lucy!!"

"All right," Gail answered, “but stop there until I catch up."  It was a straight line-of-sight to the kennels, where Lucy was playing with some of the hunting dogs.  The little spaniel raced to the gate and started barking a welcome to her family.  The other dogs began to gather at the gate as well, but the groom shouted "Back!" and they backed up and sat down.  Since Lucy was so small, he did not open the gate, but leaned over it to pick her up.  He took her lead off a small hook by the gate and attached it to her collar, and then he gave the other end to Gail before setting Lucy on the ground.

He smiled.  "She's a well-behaved little dog, Mistress," he added.

"She should be," answered Gail, smiling back.  "She was trained by the Elves."  She took a silver coin from the belt pouch at her waist and handed it to him, smiling.  "Thank you for watching her today."

He smiled.  "Thank you, Mistress," he said, as the coin disappeared into his own belt pouch.

Gail turned back to her daughters and Sador.  “All right, children, let’s go.”

-oo000oo-

Steve had gone straight to their quarters, to wash up well.  He wished he could take a quick shower, but Minas Tirith seemed only to have baths, like Rivendell.  But he cleaned up as best he could and changed into clean clothing.  He'd been wearing his jeans and a travel tunic to work in, and he was glad the job was done so his dirty clothes could now go to the laundry.  He tossed them in the basket by the door.  He knew one of the Citadel servants would collect them before the next day.

He always felt a little silly in the dressier clothes that seemed common in Middle-earth.  Here in Gondor, the clothing was much like the dressier Elvish clothing in Rivendell.  It was like wearing a bathrobe in public.  At least the clothing he'd been supplied with was more styled like those of the younger men.  His soft grey robe was only calf-length, like those Faramir wore, and not like the full-length robes that the Steward and many of the older men wore.  He pulled on the matching leggings and a pair of shoes, all in the same shade of grey.

There was a gentle tap on the door of his room.  "Steven?"

"Yes, Avorn?"

The Elf stuck his head in the door.  "Lord Faramir is here.  He said he was collecting you."

Steve laughed.  Faramir had picked up a few of Steve's more modern expressions, finding them humorous.  "I'll be right there."

Avorn gave a sharp nod, backing out and shutting the door.  Steve grabbed the belt that had come with the outfit and his pouch, slipping it over the belt before tying it around his waist, and left the room.

He and Faramir headed down the wide marble corridor.  "I had a selfish reason for asking your company.  My first task is to report on the progress for the Coronation to my father, and as one of those reports will be on the progress of repairing the battlefield to make it fit for the King and the Army to camp there, I thought to have you explain your success yourself."

Steve laughed.  "I see.  You'll present me as proof that at least one job is done!"

"I see you are wise to the ways of such things," Faramir said, with a wry twist to his smile.  "My father is still as exacting as ever, though he is much less dour than he was before Sauron's defeat.  A bit of 'proof', as you say, will help to humour him.  It will also save us the trouble of finding food.  I have timed it so that our visit will fall at luncheon."

Steve grinned and shook his head.  "I'm not sure if you are clever, or just sneaky!"

Now Faramir laughed.  "Who is to say I am not both?  I am a Ranger, after all."  Steve snorted, and Faramir smirked.

The guard at the Steward's door allowed them in, and his chamberlain, Baranor, announced them.

Faramir and Steve approached Lord Denethor, with small bows of their heads, since they were in an informal setting.  Both men looked curiously at the other guest in the Steward's presence.  He was an unfamiliar Elf, black hair and grey eyes, like most of the Elves.  He was not as tall as Glorfindel, but was wider in the shoulders.

Steve wondered who he might be; he knew all of the Elves who had accompanied them to Rivendell, and he didn't know any other Elves in the City.  The Elf solved the problem by rising and placing a hand upon his breast with a slight bow of his own.  "My Lord Faramir, and Master Steven McCloud, I believe.  I am Elrohir Elrondion, sent by my brother, Lord Elessar, to discuss some details of the Coronation with the Steward."

Both Lord Faramir and Steve returned the Elf's gesture.  But Steve was surprised that Elrohir knew who he was.  It must have shown on his face, because the Elf smiled at him.  "You bear a great resemblance to your sons, especially to Sir Kevin.  I am sure that you are quite proud of both of them."

With a smile, Steve nodded.  "I am very proud of them."

Lord Denethor looked up.  "This is a fortunate time for you to arrive, my son," he said to Faramir.  The old man coughed slightly, and gestured for the newcomers to be seated, and Elrohir resumed his seated.  He turned his gaze on Steven.  "How goes the work upon the battlefield, Master Steven?  Is the Pelennor nearly fit to house the new King and his Army of the West?"

Steve kept a straight face.  He wanted to laugh because of Faramir's earlier confession, but he was also very pleased with the news he brought.  He exchanged a look with Faramir.  "Lord Denethor, I am pleased to tell you that the last of the work was completed this morning.  The field has been graded where necessary, and the ruts and holes and churned up ground has all been smoothed out.”

He frowned.  “My only concern is one spot in the ground which we have treated several times, but it keeps falling in, and the ground remains blackened.  It is in the spot where they killed one of the flying monsters.  We treated it again this morning, and we are hopeful that it will remain that way for a few days, anyway.  But it seems to be like a shallow sinkhole, if there could ever be such a thing.  Everything else is finished."

Denethor looked disturbed, but not surprised.  "Those Fell Beasts!  I cannot fault you in this, Master Steven.  I am sure the beast poisoned the ground."

Elrohir nodded. "Have a simple fence put up around the spot," he said, "and worry no more about it.  It is a sad thing the creatures came to, cursed and twisted by the evil of Sauron into something they were never meant to be.  They once were a noble breed, beings of beauty and majesty.  But they were made his slaves, and corrupted.  It was not their fault."

Steve and Faramir nodded, and Faramir said, "I will send out a message to put up a fence of a rod* out in every direction, and to make it high enough not to be easily overlooked."  He glanced at his father, who nodded.

Just then, the guard opened the door, and Baranor stepped forward as several other servants came in, rolling a wheeled trolley which was filled with covered dishes and a rather savoury smell.

As the four of them ate a meal of lightly broiled fish in a lemon sauce, with some steamed spring vegetables on a bed of cooked grain, Elrohir asked some questions about the first hours of the siege and spoke a bit of the journey from the Paths of the Dead to Minas Tirith.  Steve was amazed as the Elf told of Jennifer's brave actions aboard the ship, and in rescuing Halbarad.  "And your daughter, young Kaylee—I do not know if any have told her, but she, too, played a part in Halbarad's life being spared."

Steve looked surprised.  "How is it that happened?  Kaylee was way back in Rivendell."

"Chance, if chance you call it, as Mithrandir would say.  Kaylee gave a small stone she had picked up, placed in a small pouch that she had made for it, to Halbarad as a parting gift.  It was that stone which deflected the enemy's arrow.”

Steve shook his head.  "God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform," he quoted from the old hymn.**

"You speak with confidence in the ways of the One," said Elrohir, a hint of awe in his voice.

Steve shrugged.  "It is out of an old song where we come from, based on words from our Holy Book, in our homeland.  But yes, I do have confidence in Him."

Denethor shook his head.  "To me—really to my people and the descendants of Númenor—it seems presumptuous to speak of the One so boldly.  We do not often speak His name, lest we offend."

Steve thought for a moment.  "Perhaps there is something in that.  Many of our people in my homeland do speak of Him lightly and use His name in vain, which is wrong to do.  The Lord’s name is supposed to be treated with respect and reverence, and not everybody does that, I regret to say.  There is more profane language in my wo...homeland than I am comfortable with.  It's not the way of our family, or of those we worship with, but others—well, they are not very respectful sometimes."  Now that Steve thought of it, he had not heard much of any language like that here in Middle-earth.

"I would like to know more of the ways of your home," Faramir said, "as well as of that great poet you called Shakespeare."

Just then Baranor came over, bringing small dishes of cut up chilled fruit to end the meal.

As they ate the fruit, the Steward turned the topic back to the Coronation. He turned to Faramir.  "What of the other preparations for the ceremony, my son?  Have you much left to do?"

"From here, Father; we will go to the Hallows, to retrieve the Crown from the lap of Eärnil II, and to have it furbished for the ceremony.  Will you accompany us?"

Denethor sighed.  "Alas, Faramir, my Healers have forbidden that I venture so far for the next day or so, if I wish to be present at the Gates for the actual Coronation.  It seems I am always to be conserving my breath."

Faramir looked sad, but nodded his head.  He knew what would soon be coming.  "Very well, my Lord.  We shall return it here, for safekeeping until Coronation Day."

And so it was that Steve, along with several Guards and a gentleman that Faramir introduced as his uncle, Hurin of the Keys, made the journey to the Hallows, to the tomb of the last King of Gondor.  When they came to the Rath Dínen, Faramir whispered to Steve, "This is the Silent Street, the Hallows.  We must not speak again until we have left."  Steve nodded.

Soon they came to the tombs of the Kings, the first of which was the one they would enter.  There, they halted, as Hurin produced a ring of large keys.  He selected one, with which he opened the door of the tomb.

There in the centre was a stone plinth carved with an effigy of a tall king, and on the lap of the effigy was what appeared to Steve to be more of a helmet than a crown.  In fact, it looked very much like the helmets worn by the Guards who stood at attention around the dead tree in the courtyard of the Citadel.  But part of it was much shinier, though there were parts that showed tarnish.  And it had larger wings at the sides than the guardsmen wore. There were pearls inset, and some white gems that could have been diamonds.  It looked like it was very heavy.

Still with no speech, Faramir picked up the crown and turned to Hurin, who was holding open a wooden box one of the Guards had been carrying.  He carefully placed the crown into the softly lined box.  Hurin closed it, and the guard took it back, holding it while the Keeper of the Keys selected a smaller key, and locked the box.  As they left the tomb, the other guards surrounded the one who carried the box, and Faramir, Hurin, and Steve brought up the rear.

Once they left the Silent Street, Faramir told Steve, "We will take this back to my father's quarters; a silversmith will see to the tarnish on the silver.  That part which did not tarnish is mithril.  It is said that the original crown was solid mithril, but it was replaced with this one during the reign of Atanatar II."

"It doesn't look very comfortable," Steve said.

"It does not, and I am sure it is not," was Faramir's reply.  "It is meet that the crown of a king should be a heavy burden, that they not take their responsibilities lightly."  Steve grimaced.  Thank the Lord he would never have to be a king!  Being a monarch was indeed a heavy responsibility.

After they left the crown with Denethor, Hurin, and the silversmith, Faramir took his leave of his father, and once they were outside the door, Faramir grinned.  "I told the Lady Éowyn that I would seek her out, once my duties were done for the day.  And I am quite certain that you are ready to see your family."

"I am, thank you," Steve said with a grin.  "Please give my regards to Lady Éowyn."

Steve made his way back to his quarters, where Mairen let him know his wife and children were in the gardens of the Houses of Healing.

-oo000oo-

Steve could hear the laughter (and barking) in the garden as he came upon the sight of Kaylee, Megan, Sador, and Lucy playing a vigorous game of tag. 

Gail spotted him and smiled.  Steve put a finger to his lips, to keep silent until the kids noticed him on their own.  He slipped over and sat down next to his wife, and they shared a brief kiss of greeting.

"Eew!" shouted Kaylee.  "Kissy-face!" 

Megan squealed, "Kissy-face!  Kissy-face!"

Sador watched, eyes wide and blushing.

Lucy leapt into Steve's lap and interrupted with her own slobbery version of "kissy-face" as the little girls and Sador laughed out loud.  Gail just grinned at her husband as he tried to fend off the enthusiastic spaniel.

-oo000oo-

A/N: Sador's tailoring song is a combination of two traditional work songs in the public domain: “Thread Follows the Needle” and “The Tailor and the Mouse”.   Here is a link to where we found them: https://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2019/08/songs-about-tailors.html.  Kaylee's song is a traditional Mother Goose rhyme, in the public domain.

*A rod is 16.5 feet.

**This famous quotation is slightly misquoted from an old hymn written in 1774 by poet William Cowper, and set to music as a hymn.  The hymn tune London New comes from The Psalmes of David in Prose and Meeter of 1635.  In Common Praise, it is in D major.

“God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.”

That verse is itself an allusion to Psalm 77:19, but the “mysterious way” was Cowper’s phrase.