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Old 05-06-2004, 01:33 AM   #192
piosenniel
Desultory Dwimmerlaik
 
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Gondor – the King’s residence

‘Tomorrow, then, Arwen . . .’

Elessar closed the doors to the Queen’s chambers smiling as she bade him a good night. ‘A long night, more likely,’ he thought to himself as he trod the short distance to his set of rooms. There were several small stacks of agreements and forms to be got through before he rested. He nodded at the three guards stationed along the way; the one to the side of the Queen’s door, the one at the head of the staircase, and the guard at the entrance to his own chambers.

‘M’Lord,’ said the man said, opening the door as the King approached. A quick glance round the front room showed that all was in order as he ushered Elessar in. ‘Have you just come on, Halmir?’ the King asked as the man opened the other doors and checked them also. It was a routine he had done innumerable times, yet each time he did so, he looked with fresh eyes at the familiar surroundings. Halmir turned with a nod to Elessar. ‘I’ll be here until just past midnight, m’Lord,’ he answered walking back toward the entryway. ‘Just call out if anything is needed,’ he said as he went out closing the door behind him.

On his way to the small office just off the main room, Aragorn paused to open the shutters of the large window that looked southwest toward the Anduin and leaning on the sill, surveyed the night’s view. Most of the city had gone to their rest. But there were soft lights shining in a few of the windows of the Houses of Healing, and lamps scattered here and there along the pathway to the lower levels, safely guiding the footsteps of those few still out and about. And there, on the lower levels, still glowed the lights that marked the city’s busy taverns.

A fresh breeze blew in, riffling the sheaf of papers held in his hand; a reminder that he’d best be about his business if he wished to sleep at all. With a sigh, he entered his office. There to his right was his desk, the quill he had been using earlier in the day still lying where he’d left it on the green baize blotter. One of the servers, he saw, had filled his inkwell, in anticipation of his need for it tonight. Once in his chair, he pulled off his boots, and threw them toward into the corner. He was half tempted to fill his pipe, but stayed his hand; picking up, instead, the quill to sharpen its nib with his penknife.

Elessar turned up the small desk lamp and leafed through the first few pieces of parchment he’d laid on his desk. Through the small slit window above and behind him the occasional night breeze crept in, freshening the air in the room. Drawing out what appeared to be a particularly urgent missive, he bent over it, focusing his whole attention on what needed to be addressed . . .

Last edited by piosenniel; 05-06-2004 at 02:09 AM.
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