Sienna

My heart was beating so loudly in my chest that I feared everyone present in the throne room could hear it.

Eldarion had never been interested in punishing me, that had been the job of my governesses or my mother. This time, however, it seemed different. I had spent the whole week in my chambers on his orders. It was quite possible that my father had simply decided to postpone the problem (i.e. me) until my mother returned.

On the whole, I was not interested in my punishment. Even though I was their only child and thus the heir to the throne, they placed only limited value on my education.

My musings were ended when I looked to the end of the room where both my parents were waiting for me. As protocol demanded, I curtsied deeply and remained that way for about a minute. No sooner had everyone else left the room than Eldarion signalled me to rise.

"What a nice surprise to find your own daughter exactly where she is supposed to be for once."

To my surprise, however, this cynical remark came not from my mother but from my father. I opened my mouth to say something back, but Eldarion gave me a warning look, so I kept quiet.

"Sienna, you are no longer a child and yet you act like one. I need not mention that your behaviour is damaging the reputation of our family. Since you are not being reasonable, your actions have consequences. The great council has been urging me for some time to betroth you."

I felt my blood freeze in my veins. "Father!" Tariél gave him a reproachful look. "Eldarion, I beg you. She is still too young for a man. We have talked about that more than once. Don't frighten her like that!"

The king grasped his wife's hand and smiled at her. "As you wish, mo leannan."

Then he turned back to me. "Mo nighean, you will leave for Dol Amroth tomorrow and live there in the household of Prince Elphir's wife. She will transform you from a naughty princess to a future queen of Gondor. I understand her daughter is also currently living in the city, so you will not lack for good company."

"Why are you sending me away father?", I rebelled. My home is here in Minas Tirith, not in Dol Amroth! What am I supposed to learn in a port city that stinks of fish? To mend nets? I belong here, at the king's side!"

Eldarion skilfully ignored my protest by rising and offering his hand to my mother. Tariél gave me an apologetic look before taking her husband's hand and following him out of the hall.

In the evening...

I had taken my dinner alone in my room and watched the two servants packing my things. It was not much that I wanted to take with me. I didn't plan to stay long in Dol Amroth. "I belong in Minas Tirith," I kept telling myself in my mind. Knowing Mother, she would come to my room later and tell me how long I had to stay in this city. I had only been there once, but I could hardly remember it. It must have been after the death of Prince Elphir, how long had it been?

My eyes fell on my maid who was busy putting my jewellery safely away in the large wooden box. "Rebekkah, please come to me." The girl froze, barely perceptibly, but obediently put down her work and came the few steps to my armchair, which stood beside the fireplace, and curtsied. "How can I serve you, my lady?" "I was told you were well educated, is that true?"

Her fawn eyes widened in surprise at the question, she nodded slightly. "When we still had a market stall I often talked to travellers, so I could learn a little about what was happening outside the city." A little uncertainly she added, "Not that Minas Tirith wasn't interesting enough my lady. It was just so fascinating..."

"Hearing stories about places far away, I realise that too," I interrupted her impatiently. "But tell me, how long ago did Lord Elphir die?"

"If I remember correctly, it was in the year 57 of the Fourth Age, that is, nine years ago. Since then, his son Alphros has been the Prince of Dol Amroth. His sister Ivrinel is the Lady of Ithilien."

"And do you know if Prince Alphros is married?" "No, I do not know that. But if you wish, I could certainly find out for you." "No, not necessary. I'll find out when I see him," I said thoughtfully. "What will you do while I am in Dol Amroth?" "I will help my mother to the market, my lady. And when you return home I will be waiting for you."

"I have a better idea. Rebekkah, you are my first maid. Come with me to Dol Amroth."

Actually, I had always been of the opinion that the maid was unhealthily pale, however, just at that moment she proved me wrong. All colour drained from her face, she looked up at me like a frightened animal. "My lady, I am honoured, but I cannot leave Minas Tirith! My family needs me here. My brother is a recruit in the army, until he is trained as a soldier I must take over some of his duties. My sisters are still too young to help mother in the market. Please, don't separate me from my family my mistress!"

I could understand the girl. King Elessar had introduced conscription for every able-bodied man a few years after the War of the Ring. This meant for every man to spend his seventeenth year in the army. The advantage of this strategy was clearly that Gondor was always ready for an attack. For many families, however, it also meant a year of poverty. The recruit earned his pay during his training, but the income was often not enough to give something to the family. The council had been trying to improve this situation for a long time, Eldarion had once told me. But as far as I could remember, after the war and the rebuilding of the city walls, Gondor simply lacked the money to pay the recruits better.

I couldn't change that, but I was determined to take my maid with me to Dol Amroth. She was the closest thing I had to a friend.

"Go to the Chief Stable Master and tell him I sent you. He is to provide your family with two stable boys during your absence. Your family shall want for nothing while you are in the service of the Crown."

"My lady, that is so generous of you, I..." I waved it off. "Go and be ready in the morning."

I sat in front of the mirror and brushed my dark brown hair, which reached my elbow. I had sent the rest of the maids away shortly after Rebekkah. Usually one of the maids brushed my hair before going to bed, the other prepared my clothes for the next day. Tomorrow I wouldn't need an elaborate dress for a reception or other event, just my travelling dress and matching bonnet. I could almost hear the reproving voice of my governesses: "It is not proper for a woman of noble birth to go out in public without a headdress." She had blushed bright red every time and lectured me for hours about how important good behaviour was for the heiress to the throne when she caught me without a bonnet.

"A nighean?" My mother entered and sat on the edge of my bed so I could see her in the mirror behind me. "I don't want to let you go without talking to you. You will settle in quickly, Prince Alphros and his family are close friends of ours. You will have much to learn." "A màthair. Save your lectures, please. How long am I to stay there?" "That has not yet been decided. Eldarion will bring you to Minas Tirith when he is satisfied that you have learned what it means to be heir to the throne."

"And what does it mean? Mother, I am important enough to live here in the palace and not be allowed out without a bodyguard, but not important enough to be allowed to travel to the coronation of this... pretender?"

Tariél sighed and removed the roundish bonnet, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder on it. The dislike of the large headdresses was one of the few things we had in common. "It was neither my nor Eldarion's decision that I was sent to Meduseld. The Council sent me as a sign that Gondor would accept a descendant of Arnor on the throne of Rohan. So that all of Middle-earth knows we make no claim. Alyndra is the Regent of Arnor, Celebrian the Queen of Rohan."

I did not share this opinion, but my curiosity eventually won out over my displeasure. "Will you tell me about her, a màthair? The servants tell each other she is as beautiful as one of the Eldar."

"Queen Celebrian takes after her mother. She thinks she can do what she likes because she has the title of Queen. But Elfwine was no fool. She was married before the coronation to a certain Théodred. He comes from an ancient family of Rohan, his ancestors having served the king faithfully. He has a handful of men in the army who report directly to him..." Shaking her head, she added, "A good choice, but Alyndra would surely have chosen a man of title for her daughter who would betray her at the first crisis."

"Mother! You are straying from the subject! What does she look like?" "She is tall and slim, like you. She has sapphire blue eyes, like her mother. Her skin is slightly tanned, she copied that from the Rohirrim. Her hair is her most extraordinary feature, it is copper red."

"Copper red? Neither Alyndra nor Elfwine had red hair as far as I know. Is she a bastard?" "Sienna, watch your words!" Mother looked at me in horror and rebuke. "Hair colour has nothing to do with ancestry, besides, even a princess from Arnor would never dare to betray her husband."

"But...", I tried again to raise an objection.

"Silence! Your lax tongue will one day be your downfall! Rohan and Arnor are untouchable, we have just been proven that. Middle-earth is finally experiencing some peace, you should be grateful for that!"

She sighed, picked up her bonnet and turned to leave. "Your time will come, a nighean, but it is not yet now. Ar righinn oig, fas as faic. Do thir, dileas fhein!"

No sooner had she closed the door behind her than I murmured softly, "Naoidhean bhig, ar righinn og..."