[ EU ] A Gondor soldier tells his child a tale about the mighty warrior Aragorn , son of Arathorn .

Eldacar walked down the bustling streets of Minas Tirith carrying a sack of apples for his family on his shoulder. The sun was bright that day, brightening the city of white stone. Eldacar was happy to see the once-dilapidated and crumbling walls of the city stand strong and bright again. The days of King Elessar were far greater than the days of Denethor or any other steward. 
 Suddenly, a small group of children came scurrying down the road and they stopped right in front of Eldacar. Among those children was Eldacar's daughter, Ioreth. Eldacar raised his eyebrows expectantly at the children, a smile on his face. 
'What business do you have with a lowly apple bearer like myself?' Eldacar asked. 
'We came to you for stories, Father!' Ioreth replied, excitedly. 
'Oh, I do n't know,' Eldacar said,'I do not have time for telling stories today. Perhaps some other time.' 
 The children looked disheartened, and they voiced a chorus of'aw.' 
 Eldacar shrugged.'I'm sorry, children. I am just far too busy this day. Run along now, and Ioreth, be home at a reasonable hour.' 
'Yes father,' Ioreth said sadly. With that, the children turned and left the man standing on the road with his sack of apples. 
 Eldacar rubbed his chin thoughtfully. It had been a long time since he told his only child a story. He then realized it was time he talked about the last days of the Third Age. The Battle of Pelenor Fields and the Black Gate; of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and his fellowship. 
 
 Later that night after supper, the moon rose high above the city, and Eldacar stood out on the balcony of his home, leaning against the stone wall. He stared out into Pelenor Field, to Osgiliath beyond. Osgiliath where his brother died, claimed by the terrible Nazgul. 
 Ioreth walked over to Eldacar and tugged on his trousers. 
'Goodnight Father,' she said. As she turned to leave, Eldacar put a hand on her shoulder. 
'Come with me,' he said,'And I will tell you a story.' 
 
 Eldacar held Ioreth's hand as they walked the streets of Minas Tirith, streets illuminated by bright torches on the walls of the homes. Ioreth was puzzled as to why her father was keeping her up this late. She was even more confused when they stopped at the gate that connected the second level of the city to the first level. 
'Here,' Eldacar said,'Is where I thought I would most certainly fall, many many years ago.' 
 Ioreth was confused. 
'Ioreth,' Eldacar said,'Let me tell you a story of the last days of the Third Age. When I was a soldier in the last battles.' 
 Ioreth's eyes widened and she beamed. 
'Tell me the story, Father!' 
'In the battle of Pelenor Fields, when the great Rohirim of Rohan and King Theoden came to Gondor's aid, the rest of us soldiers of Gondor were trapped here behind this gate. Monstrous trolls with maces and spears hammered at that gate with all their might. And despite our Steward, Denethor, having plunged to his death out of madness and fear, we all stood together behind the great wizard called Gandalf the White.' 
'I have heard of Gandalf the White!' Ioreth said excitedly.'Did you ever speak to him?' 
'No, no... but he certainly spoke to me. He rode around on his white steed shouting at us to stand our ground, to fight for our lives, that we were men of Gondor. He was what we needed for that time. But then it all appeared to be in vain, as we stood behind the gate, waiting for our doom. But then something incredible happened.' 
'What happened?' Ioreth asked.'Did someone save you?' 
'Oh yes,' Eldacar said,'We were saved by Aragorn, son of Arathorn. A mighty warrior and ranger of the north. You, however, know him as King Elessar. He arrived on the shores of Pelenor with an army of spirits that slayed all of the orcs and trolls in the city, winning the battle.' 
'Wow,' Ioreth said. 
'Yes,' Eldacar said,'But the story does not end there. The next day, I, along with all the remaining soldiers of Gondor and Rohan, marched on the Black Gate of Mordor with Aragorn, Gandalf, and their fellowship.' 
'Who was in their fellowship?' Ioreth asked. 
'You know the story,' Eldacar said,'Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas Greenleaf the Mirkwood elven prince, and two hobbits, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandibuck.' 
'I've never seen a hobbit before,' Ioreth said,'How tall were they?' 
'Oh, no more than three feet I'm sure. Now, Aragorn and his fellowship marched up to the gate to meet one of Sauron's servants, where he deceived them with false tidings of Nine Fingered Frodo Baggins' death. But rather than weep and fall to the ground, Aragorn took his mighty blade and he sliced off Sauron's servant's head!' 
 Ioreth gasped. 
'And then Aragorn and his fellowship returned to us soldiers, and he spoke to us as a king would. The king he most certainly was. He said that there may be a day that the courage of Men would fail and we would turn on our friends, but it would not be that day. That our shields would be broken and Men would fall, but it would not be that day. He told us to stand, Men of the West! His voice was powerful, yes it was, and it was just what us soldiers needed. One final stand. For Frodo, said he and the rest of his fellowship. For the Ringbearer. Together we fought through a sea of orcs. We faced the dreaded Nazgul until the Gods of the Sky came and dealt with them. We fought and fought with every piece of our strength until the great tower of Barad-Dur fell and the Ring was destroyed, and the legions of orcs fell before us. And as I looked on at Aragorn, son of Arathorn, raising his blade to cheer for his friend, Frodo Baggins, triumphant at the very end, seeing all of the men join in with him, I knew that there is one man I could call king. One man I would go to the ends of Middle Earth for. The great kings of Gondor had returned, at long last.' 
 Ioreth was in awe at Eldacar's story. 
'That was an amazing story, Father!' Ioreth said,'I want to meet King Elessar one day and see you two tell stories.' 
 Eldacar chuckled.'Yes,' he said,'That would be nice.' 
'Lovely story and all,' a voice said.'But there is one detail that you've gotten wrong.' 
 Ioreth looked at the source of the voice. He was an older man but at a strange height. He was about the same height as Ioreth. He had brown and gray curly hair and he had a pipe full of Longbottom Leaf. 
'I was well over three feet tall at Pelenor Fields, almost four feet to be exact.' 
 Eldacar's eyes widened when he saw the hobbit. Then he looked up and saw an even grander sight. 
'Pippin,' a grand voice said to the hobbit,'Be kind to the man.' The great man behind the voice looked at Eldacar. His crown and elegant evening robes left no question as to who it was. 
'King Elessar!'' Eldacar said, bowing his head. Ioreth looked at her father, then bowed herself. 
 Aragorn chuckled.'Rise, my friend,' he said.'A soldier of Gondor, did you say?' 
'Yes, your Majesty,' Eldacar said. 
'I remember you,' Aragorn said. He looked down at Ioreth and he patted her head of black curly hair.'Your father was a brave man, courageous, and one of the best warriors I have had the honor to serve with.' 
 Ioreth beamed. 
 Eldacar had tears in his eyes. 
 Aragorn smiled.'I will be seeing you, my friends. Come, Pippin.' 
 With that, Aragorn led Pippin up the road to the third level of the city. 
 Eldacar was in awe with what just happened. Ioreth saw her father, then tugged at his trousers again. Eldacar picked up his daughter and he hugged her tightly. 
'I'm proud of you, Father,' Ioreth said. 
'And I you, Ioreth,' Eldacar said with a sniff. 
'Now,' Ioreth said,'Can you tell me the story of Eowyn, the maiden of Rohan?'
