No king of Arthedain filled the seat at Fornost the way King Arveleg had. Maedeth stood alone at the foot of the marble throne. She could see him there as if it were yesterday. Tall and proud he was, hair greying but not yet conquered by age, shining grey eyes full of life and intellect, commanding the room.

For fifty years, he'd held back the forces of Angmar and Rhudaur as their king. For fifty years, she'd learned how to play politics in his court.

And then he died. Rínior rode into Fornost with Elrohir, tears in his eyes. She'd grabbed her brother without a second thought, so glad to see him safe. Rínior hadn't spoken before handing the Palantír to Araphor.

Araphor made his father proud. But the kings had never been the same. Argeleb II followed Araphor. Then came Arvegil, and Arveleg II after him. Araval, then Araphant, and now... Arvedui.

Last-king.

Maedeth turned from the throne. They couldn't afford guards inside the city anymore. The men who could hold weapons were off fighting. So she walked alone to the war room.

Maedeth had wanted to wring Malbeth's neck when the Seer had named the young prince. Araphant had looked stricken. But the words had been spoken, and all knew Malbeth would not err. So he was named Arvedui, Last-king.

Either he would unite the North and South kingdoms, or Arthedain would fall into ruin. Maedeth paused at the carved, wooden door. Well. She had no intention of allowing the latter to pass. She pushed the doors open.

Many different voices, overlapping and overtaking one another, greeted her at her entrance. At the head of the table sat Arvedui, frowning. The captains Mallenor and Hithren argued across the table from either side of him. Malbeth sat silent, stoic as usual. He was too old for their squabbling. Then came Tathreniel, the current head of the Healing House, Aeglosdil the King's Smith, and the leader of trade, Anorion.

Sitting with a polite smile on her face, flanked by Elladan, was the Lady Celebrían. She looked radiant as always. Maedeth wandered towards the table, few paying attention. Elladan looked about ready to punch Anorion in the jaw. The older man wouldn't stop pestering Celebrían. What else was new? Anorion always needed to know what trade deals could be cut with any visiting dignitary.

"Anorion, I think Mallenor had information for you," Maedeth said, moving to his other side. "Something about extra protections for the next caravan West?"

His face lit up and he excused himself. Maedeth smiled at Celebrían and Elladan as she took her seat across from them.

Elladan laughed. "Did you just–"

"I'll find some way to make it up to Mallenor later. How did you sleep, my lady?"

Celebrían shrugged. She leaned back in her chair, relaxing a bit more now that Anorion had left her in peace. "Well enough. The nights are cold here, colder than I like. But I am glad I could be here to support King Arvedui."

"Agreed," Maedeth said.

The doors opened again. Maedeth was glad to find Aranarth hurrying in, apologizing to the whole group for being late. With Aranarth's arrival, they would be able to start. Each member of the King's Council took their seats.

Silence stretched on for a moment. Maedeth offered Arvedui the smallest smile. He had been present and even led plenty of war councils in his lifetime. But this would be the first as king.

Arvedui sat back. "Thank you for your support in these hard days," he said. "I miss my father, of course, but he lived a long life which is something that cannot be said for many here in Arthedain. Lady Celebrían, we are honored by you and your son's presence here."

"Thank you, King Arvedui. It is an honor for me as well."

"Mallenor, you have news of our Eastern border?" Arvedui asked.

Mallenor nodded. He sat up straighter, gesturing to a few letters in front of him. "I've heard tidings from three companies on our Rhudaurin front. There's been an uptick in attacks by the Hill-men, and a decrease by orcs."

"What could that mean?" Anorion jumped in.

Maedeth bit her tongue. If Anorion would just let him speak-

"I am getting to that," Mallenor growled at him. He turned back to the king. "While we noted some shift like this in the past few years, there is a marked increase in the last month. It is possible the orcs are being moved further into Angmar."

"To what end? Could the Witch-king fear a renewed assault from Rivendell?" Aranarth looked at Celebrían.

Celebrían turned to Elladan. He cleared his throat. "While it is possible," he said, "I at least am not aware of any immediate plans for our limited force to assault Angmar directly."

"Agreed," Celebrían said. "My husband sends what aid he can, such as medicinal herbs and food stores. But we do not have the strength to send any meaningful troops."

Arvedui nodded. "And it is likely the Witch-king knows this. No, the orcs are not running in fear."

"Then it is likely they are regrouping for a renewed attack on our borders." Hithren sighed, and stood up. He grabbed a map from the side and rolled it across the table. "My forces in the North have reported similar movements, though in the reverse. The orcs are strengthened and it is rare we come across any of the race of men. There are even reports from Captain Gilroch that roving bands of orcs reach as far as the ruins of Annúminas."

"Have we had word from Rínior of our southern front?" Aranarth asked.

Maedeth shifted in her seat. She hated that her brother spent so long away from Fornost. She feared he would die alone someday, far from any help she could gather for him or his men.

"Not to any of us," said Mallenor. "Lady Maedeth?"

"Nay, not to me," she said.

Hithren waved a hand. "Rínior has held the line for centuries. I find it unlikely he is not doing so even now. He knows to send word if anything out of the ordinary threatens us."

"Agreed," said King Arvedui. "Assuming Angmar is building a new force to attack, what are our stores. Anorion, how are we on supplies?"

"We are always short, my lord. Here in Fornost we have two months in case of siege, but that relies on us controlling rats and other vermin," he said. "Not to mention criminals. After all, we are dearly short on guards."

"We are at war, Anorion," said Mallenor.

"Thank you, I had not noticed, Captain."

"Perhaps if you learned to pick up a sword instead of a quill-"

"Enough!" Arvedui pounded his fist to the table. "This is not the time for infighting!"

Celebrían spoke up. "You speak wisely, lord. Take heart, for you are not alone in these dark times though it can be hard to see. Rivendell is with you, as is Lindon."

"If they have not forgotten the old alliances." Tathreniel ran a hand over her long, golden braid. She sat up straighter, clasping her hands together. "Forgive me, my lady, but I have gotten little support for the healing house from the Elves of the Havens in the last decade, where as your people have supported us unfailingly."

"Agreed," Arvedui said. "We can count our list of allies on one hand."

"Then send for aid." Elladan gestured down to Arvedui. "If you ask, they will come!"

The table fell quiet again, so Maedeth sat up. It was her turn. "King Arvedui, they are correct. Perhaps it is time to send word to the other free peoples, beseeching them for aid."

"What treaties could we consider?" Arvedui asked.

"Lord Cirdan at the Havens should be the easiest to approach," Maedeth said. "Perhaps Prince Aranarth could be sent."

"Me?"

"Indeed. You are the heir now, and know more information than I about the exact threats Arthedain faces." Maedeth looked at Arvedui. "You spent time in your youth as an emissary to Lindon, do you not recall?"

The faintest smile slipped through his serious expression. He nodded. "I do. And I agree. Aranarth, this will be good for you."

"Yes, my lord."

"Then do you, Lady Maedeth, volunteer to go elsewhere?" Arvedui asked.

That was what she had done for hundreds of years, and it was what she would continue to do. She had been to so many places on behalf of Arthedain, she couldn't count them on her fingers anymore. But she had little desire to go now, not with the growing threat that weighed on her heart.

"Yes, my lord," she said.

Celebrían turned to her. With a gentle smile, she leaned across the table. "Come to Rivendell, speak with Lord Elrond. Perhaps there is more we can do."

Arvedui nodded. "That at least, you should do. We have asked much of Rivendell, but you are our closest ally. Are there others you would suggest we seek out, Lady Celebrían?"

"King Amroth of Lórinand may be open to sending aid," she said. "My parents have spent many years there, building relationships with the Sindar and Silvan elves. They would speak on your behalf, I am sure."

"That is a far journey," said Aeglosdil said. The older man had stayed silent beside Malbeth the Seer since they began, content to watch the back and forth. "I have been as far as the borders of Lórinand only once, as a young child. But I recall well the way my legs hurt by the end of the journey."

Maedeth nodded. "I am familiar with it, as well. But for my part, I would look forward to that journey. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn are among the wisest in Middle Earth. It is likely they would have insight for us, King Arvedui."

He leaned back in his chair, stroking his well trimmed beard. None spoke, waiting for his decision. He released his held breath. "Very well. It is worth the attempt, at least."

"Perhaps you could seek an audience with King Durin, along the way," Celebrían said.

"You think he would allow her passage?" Arvedui asked.

Celebrían shrugged. "I do not know. I have not set foot in Hadhodrond in a thousand years at the least. But it is possible."

Maedeth agreed. She had never been inside Hadhodrond, and a sudden spark of excitement lit a fire in her chest. "I agree we should try!" She turned to the king. Taking a deep breath, she decided to take a risk. "One other potential ally-King Eärnil of Gondor."

The room went absolutely silent. The glare that settled on Arvedui's face caused Maedeth to regret her words almost immediately. But she also knew that the King's anger at the South-kingdom for rejecting his claim to their throne clouded his judgement.

"It is only for love of my wife that I do not spit on that name," King Arvedui said. He clenched his fists, controlling his anger best he could. "For all his talk of kinship and aid, Eärnil has sent only words to us in the North since his ascension decades ago!"

Maedeth went to speak, but it was Malbeth who cut her off. He also had been silent since the beginning. When he spoke, all listened. "If you set foot in Lorien, it will be many years before you set foot in the South kingdom, Maedeth."

The room seemed to muffle, as breath and movement were held still. Though he had not spoken a prophecy, it held a similar weight. Maedeth didn't know what to say.

So Arvedui spoke instead. "Then it is settled. Aranarth shall go to Lindon. Maedeth shall go to Rivendell, and then to Hadhodrond and Lórinand. But we have few available to accompany you. I shall have to consider this."

"She can travel with us as far as Rivendell, King Arvedui," Celebrían said. "And from there, we shall see her safely on her journey. It is the least we can provide."

The king smiled. "Thank you."

Maedeth allowed the others to leave first. They followed the king in silence or supplication, but she had no time for it. The words of Malbeth rang in her ears. Not for the first time did she fear leaving Arthedain while her brother was out in the field. She did not want to return from long away only to find out her brother had been killed. But this was her job.

"When do you wish to leave," Celebrían asked her.

Opening her eyes, she realized Celebrían and Elladan were still present in the war room with her. She forced a smile at them that she knew they saw through. "It will take a couple of days to get a horse and supplies ready for me to take. But then we should leave as soon as may be."

"Two days it is," Elladan said.

She nodded. Two days. Two days to write letters, gather her parchments and food stuffs, and try to come up with the right words for each kingdom of the free peoples she had to ask for aid. She hoped two days would be enough.