Spring, 66 Fourth Age, Celebrian

The sun had not yet risen when my entourage crossed the border to Rohan. We had been on the road for five days and five nights. Peering out of my carriage, I was disappointed to see little more than fields and a few isolated farmhouses So this is the land I am now to rule.

To the north I saw a forest from afar, that had to be Fangorn! How I would have liked to order my guards to turn back and take me there! But I said nothing, just shook my head and took my eyes off this new, fascinating environment. Even if I had been ordered to do so, I would not have been allowed. After the unexpected death of my father, it was necessary to bring me to the throne as quickly as possible. My mother's advisors wanted to prevent unrest in this way. For an unoccupied throne meant that the kingdom was weak and vulnerable, my father had taught me that.

Not wanting to indulge in dull thoughts any longer, I took out my journal, ink and quill from the small box under my seat, and began to record the last two days of my journey:

Spring 66 V.Z

"The journey is turning out to be as monotonous as I expected. They are very anxious to get me to Helm's Deep by the quickest route, into the care of a court that has served my father for years. Most of the time we move on in tense silence; apart from the captain in charge of this venture, no one speaks to me.

Despite these circumstances, I am cheerful because I get to ride for a few hours myself each day of our journey, what a welcome change it is from the bumpy carriage ride!"

My mother will return to Arnor immediately after my father's funeral, leaving me in Rohan. I wonder if she will come to my coronation after all?  

I waited patiently until the ink had dried completely and carefully stowed away the thin book on top of it again. The next two days also brought nothing interesting, as the rather barren landscape was sparsely populated. Apart from a few hikers and messengers, we had not encountered a soul. Helm's Gorge could be reached by me in the next few seconds, I was getting fed up with the tense silence.

Later...

"Your Highness?" It took me a few seconds to blink sleepily into the glare of the rising sun and look somewhat confusedly in the direction from which the voice had come. I sat up slowly. "Yes?"

Aldor, the captain, opened the door of my carriage and bowed hastily to me. "We have almost reached Helm's Deep. Your mother has had a tent provided so you can freshen up for the reception at your court."

I nodded, grasped his hand gratefully, and got out of the carriage a little stiffly. My hopes of being allowed to look at the surroundings even for a moment were dashed in a few moments when four maids rushed out of the tent behind the carriage and curtsied to me practically in unison.

"Your Majesty."

I wondered if five people could even fit in that tent at once, but nodded politely to the girls.         "I want to get to Helm's Deep as soon as possible, so let us begin. Don't bother with details, do you understand?" 

Silent nod. 

"Good."

I followed the maids in and the first thing I discovered was a knee-high pool of steaming water. What I'd give for a real bath! 

 Of course I didn't let on my slight disappointment and waited impatiently until two of my servants had undone all the fastenings from my outer dress and carefully stripped it off. I opened the petticoat myself with a flick of my wrist and quickly slipped it off, which earned me an indignant look from what must have been the oldest maid, but I didn't care.

"Now if you will continue, I am expected later today." She just nodded and mumbled an apology as she unlaced my stays.

When the supporting garment was stripped off me, I slowly stepped into the warm water that reached just above my knees and sighed comfortingly.

The youngest of the four servants twisted my copper-coloured hair into a knot and fixed it to the back of my head with a hairpin. I let her and waited in silence for my onward journey while they washed me.

Two hours later...

When my carriage stopped in front of the high fortress of Helm's Deep, I peered through the windows of the carriage one last time and caught a glimpse of the people who had gathered outside the walls of the fortress to see their new queen. 

How much easier this would be if mother had travelled with me or I knew Elfwine's court.

I brushed my white bonnet into place and slowly got out of the carriage. For a moment, time seemed to have stopped. All the curious eyes were now on me, on the Queen of Rohan, but then the fanfares echoed loud and clear from the rock walls, and I started to move as if in a trance. The women and men I passed fell to their knees, cheers could be heard from here and there.

The whole scene seemed so unreal to me, although deep down I knew that this was exactly the role I had been prepared for all my life.

I passed through the gate of the outer wall and was relieved to recognise my mother's white mourning dress shining in the shadowy courtyard of the Hornburg among the dark robes of the men. The thought that at least she would still be with me for the next few days comforted me a little. I stopped two steps in front of my mother and her advisors and sank to the ground with my eyes lowered in a display of virtuous humility.

My mother, as tradition demanded, sotfly placed both hands on my head and then raised her voice.

"Welcome to Rohan, my dear daughter!"

My heart was beating so loudly with excitement that I feared the assembled courtiers might actually hear it. Slowly, I rose from my curtsy and straightened up. As I slowly lifted my gaze, Mother smiled at me. She seemed to have aged years in the two weeks we had been apart. Her golden blonde hair seemed almost white under the light veil that was attached to her bonnet.

She has lost her husband and king, I should be ashamed of such thoughts! 

One of the men who had been standing quietly behind my mother Alyndra, Queen of Arnor, stepped in front of me with a deep bow, holding a wooden box in his hands.

"Your Majesty."

I opened the wooden vessel carefully and caught sight of a silver hairband, its fine wires forged like petals.

How beautiful it is! 

I touched the jewel fleetingly, just to make sure it was real, and smiled at the man holding it. "A well done hairband. Please tell the blacksmith that I like it very much."

I gave the Queen Mother one last reverent look and took little notice of the maid who had approached and was unfastening my bonnet. Mother gently took the jewel from the box and held it up in both my and the people's direction, before placing it on my head.

When i bowed my head, i was surprised how light the tiara felt.

"Long may you reign, Queen Celebrian!"

The cheers echoed from all sides, and for the life of me I didn't know where to direct my gaze first, or what exactly to feel.

 These are my people now, and by Eru, I will be a good ruler for them!