We have reached Minas Tirith hours after the first group did. We moved through the city towards our family home. Araithil was leading the three of us when he spotted Nethillon passing by. He wasn't even looking at us. He seemed really devastated as he passed. We moved to the door and as he opened it he felt stunned. I just watched with Iarvenil as we were confused with all that. Our parents stood there by the door embracing each other. We were standing there in silence until they let go of each other and looked at us. "Araithil, Iarnuil, Iarvenil... I am more than glad to see you here. Your brother, he was just here and... he told me." - Father soon spoke towards us and then Araithil looked like he was about to cry which was so strange for him. Father's eyes seemed full of tears as he looked at us. "How could this happen, what madness has befallen the Steward to order something like this. I can't lose you all..." - He continued then with a desperate voice. Araithil looked down. We watched them until he looked at us. "I am so sorry..." - He managed to say then glanced at us standing behind him again then back at his father before he moved so we were able to enter and so did our mother.
I looked from the parents to Araithil and then Iarvenil. "Nethillon tries to convince Steward to move us away from this task, but it's risky..." - I then said confessing Nethillon's intentions to the parents. Iarvenil just looked at everyone, he was the most silent one of us and so he only watched the whole thing. He seemed to don't care about the task. "We should talk." - Father then said inviting us inside and then to the table. - "Do you know what happened, the last time such an order was executed?" - He asked us and all three of us just shook our heads and then sat down. Our mother then suddenly left for another travel and after saying goodbye dad looked at us again. "The last time such an order was executed... I lost my father. Your granddad, who you never got to know because of it. He fell, and I was alone. A young man, not even twenty years old, without parents, left to fend for himself. The Morgul Vale is where people go to die, period. And I won't have it, lest I may join you, that I may die in your stead." - He then spoke with a concern both on his face and in his voice. "I am sorry dad, they would never allow you to come with us..." - Araithil then said as he shook his head analysing all that he just heard. Me and Iarvenil just watched, we had no words left to say. "I am a free man, and I have proven my worth to Gondor tenfold in my lifetime. I'd like to see them stop me from coming with you. I would gladly give my life to protect those I love. Is that not what being a soldier is all about? If I am to die, I shall die fighting. I'll request an audience with the Steward myself if I have to. He can't deny me to strengthen his force, nor can he deny me my death..." - Father then said hardly. I was against such a decision and I could feel that others were as well. Mother cannot suffer from that as well. "Mom needs you... what if we're all going to die? You cannot die with us and leave her alone with no one and no place to go..." - Araithil answered with a hard tone. Father then decided to use that argument against him. "And what about your own son?" - I heard his question then. "Eoric is following his own dream and as well he understands my job. Have you heard about Nethillon?" - Araithil then answered and then changed the subject. They talked a bit more then he took his leave, leaving me and Iarvenil here. We sat in a such weird silence for a while before father spoke once again. "I guess this is it boys. You are the glory of Gondor given form. And you shall be victorious and avenge my father, the one thing I never could in my time. And please, come back to me in one piece." - He then looked at us and gave us a hug and a strong handshake. "I hope that we will return..." - I then said to our father. - "We will avenge grandad. I don't care for anything more." - I heard Iarvenil speaking right before I left to join the other soldiers.
Two hours after we were already leaving the city. Many people were watching our leave for the war. We rode halfway to Osgiliath, staying out of sight for the enemies. Then it was the time to part our ways. Araithil approached Nethillon and then us. We embraced ourselves, all four of us and remained like this for a while. Then we split our ways, rode to the east and followed Nethillon to whatever may come.
