Confident they had found their man, the Captain cleared his throat and continued... "Gwaelion of Ost Lontir, you are requested to attend with caution upon his grace Denathor, the Steward of Gondor by the authority of Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth and Sword of the Free Peoples.'
Brushing the shoulder of his cobalt cloak back to expose the hilt of his blade, the Captain’s tone remained cold and business like 'You will lay down any arms you may carry and will come with us please, to stand trial for your life in the presence of the Steward.”
Perhaps a dozen knights in royal livery had entered with their Captain, now standing easy...these were clearly fighting men under orders.
Calidis turned and looked at Xandilif accusingly, wondering if this could have been some kind of trap, yet the Champion looked enraged, as did the princess...but the names Denathor and Imrahil had rendered both helpless.'
Eduwiges moved closer to Hawke, hand on her blade, but seeing all the Knights Hawke knew well that this was not a fight he wanted his friends to try. "Edu...go with the others."
The Captain continued..."Out of respect to the guests of the Princess of the Azure Sea, I request that none here present interfere with our duty.'
The Rohan girl was not convinced however. 'I will not let them take you without a fight...' Eduwiges muttered to Hawke, who looked like he might be ready to fight this himself...but looking at the bearing of the knights he thought better of it."Go," he hissed to her.
Nethrida was deeply confused, whispering to Addie, 'A dozen Knights to retrieve a single person...? Under order from the Steward himself?' Shaking her head she stepped forward and took the proud Eduwige’s arm to pull her away. "Come... To defy the Steward and the Prince benefits no one..."
A moment of tension, until finally Eduwiges allowed Neth to lead her away but stared challenges at the guards. Calling back to Hawke, she said 'We will get you out Hawke, we will do for you, what you have done for us...” The Knights straightened slightly, ready for anything, but remained silent on either side of Hawke.
The Captain stepped before the Princess and knealt, then rose, meeting eyes with Xandilif who stood beside Lothiriel. He nodded softly…clearly there was history between these two, and not all of it good. “Banshee....stay out of this." He muttered.
In response, Xandilif spat. Her eyes were angry and cold as she whispered "Watch your back, Gareth....'
Ignoring the Champion, the Captain cleared his throat again and returned his eyes to the official scroll he carried. "Gwaelion of Ost Lontir, you are requested to stand before the Steward and answer for the following charges... Conspiracy to commit treason, Treason, Criminal Trespass, Larceny, Fraud, Conspiracy to commit murder, and multiple counts of willful Murder.'
Nethrida just stared, 'What... In the name of Elendil... 'How old are these charges? And did these... alleged crimes happen in the White City?”
Hawke just frowned deeper. He wasn't sure what half those charges were, but a few of them he knew he had never committed, at least not in Gondor. One knight held two open shackles out in front of Hawke. Glancing back at his friends, his eyes burning with shame, he held out his arms.
The Knight closed the locks with a dull, iron snap and Gareth nodded. "The fact that you are being sensible will stand in your favor, bastard.'
When Hawke heard the word bastard he practically snarled and lunged for Gareth, manacled hands and all but the Knights beside him held him still. Gareth turned back to the onlookers as if he hadn’t even noticed and looked at Nethrida. "The age and location are irrelevant..these are charges concerning the lineage of the Royal line and the safety of the White Tree. Their truth, or falsehood, will be clear to the wisdom of the Steward. If this man be innocent, he will have nothing to fear.
Nethrida met the eyes of the Captain. Now that her trial was over, she was regaining more of her old courage.'... The Royal line? Anarion's Line was broken nigh a millennia ago... As was Isildur's...'
Hawke actively struggled against the heavily-armed guards. "What shite are ye spewin'? Ye need this many guards, coward?"
Gareth glanced over his shoulder at the prisoner, inwardly pleased to have a reason not to bandy arguments of Heraldry with the disgraced captain. '"We have brought this force to do you all due honor, Son of Merileth. To take you with a single sword would be an insult to your mighty forebears'
Hawke blanched at the mention of his mother's name and went silent even as Nethrida pushed forward. “The Steward is a wise man... But these allegations are so severe... Even a single one of them would serve up his execution. 'tis as if you're looking to see him perish...'
This comment seemed to land, and Gareth faced Nethrida again. 'These are not matters which concern me...I am simply Captain of the Hounds of Anarion and serve as bidden. The charges are as given, and the Hounds of Anarion have been tasked to bring the prisoner to Minas Tirith. This we shall do.” And with that Gareth, the Sword of Anarion, called Steelheart by his comrades, considered the matter closed and looked back to Hawke. “By virtue of your noble birth, I grant you a moment to take your leave of your companions, Son of Ost Lontir. Use it wisely.”
As the Knights stepped back a pace, Calidis found her voice, her dark eyes flashing. "Something is not right about this…H-How did you know he was here? Who told?"
Stepping more fully back, Gareth seemed to shrug in his enormous Cobalt coat. The way it made the face of the hound on his shoulder seem to look at her made Calidis wince. “I cannot answer that, for I have no knowledge of the answer, first born. I simply have my orders.”
Eduwiges stared at the Captain of the Hounds, “Mind you treat him well Gareth, Hound of Anarion, or you will deal with Eduwiges of Faldham.' She punched her hand with her fist as she did when angry and stared at the Captain, who looked impassively back. Clearly threats had little effect on the Sword of Anarion.
All he said was "The young prince will enjoy the honors of his house, as is his right”, then stood with his men.
Suddenly alone, yet still chained, Hawke nodded at Nethrida and Eduwiges. "Glad yer pardoned," he said to Neth first and clearly meant it. To Eduwiges he said, "Take care of them." Looking away from her, he added “…and take care of Xan.”
Eduwiges followed him and stared Hawke in the eyes with a fierce look, 'I will' She said, 'We will find a way to rescue you Hawke, If I have to scale Minas Tirith I will.'
Hawke didn’t approach Lif and the Princess. He couldn’t be sure they hadn’t had a hand in this. He glanced at Calidis. Maybe a little embarrassed? He just offered her a smile. She was a lot braver than she knew. At Edu's promise he shrugged. "That'd be a long climb from what I hear" yet he knew she meant it. He met Addie’s shocked eyes as well, and nodded. Despite starting on a bad foot, he had come to value the woman’s company very much.
Having said his farewells, Hawke looked out towards the gates to the Palace, some part of him expecting Xanderian, despite remaining back on Tol Lochul until the pardon was complete, to appear to make things alright or at least to say good bye.
Yet she did not appear. Perhaps his Elf Lady had run out of dramatic miracles.
Silently he went back to the guards.
Nethrida nodded at Hawke and put her hand on Edu's shoulder. "Calm yourself." She murmured and lowered her tone. "I know... Of some folk in the White City... It cannot sway the word of the Steward... But we will have news... "
As the Hounds prepared Hawke for transport, Princess Lothiriel, shaking with rage and embarrassment stepped forward. To think they would have the audacity to arrest her new friends in her very garden…but she had no authority to deny the writ of the Steward
Rasing her voice to its most sonorous and regal, Lothiriel said "Captain Steelheart....we have our eye upon this matter...The gaze from Tower of Regret can reach far, even into the halls of my Uncle Denathor…as can our voice'
Gareth nodded, unbothered by her implicit threat..."As well you should, your highness, for it was YOUR life which he is accused of conspiring against.”
At this pronouncement, Hawke met Lothiriel's gaze for the first time. In his dreams, repeating again and again for months, her face had held such open hatred for him, her eyes cold and full of suspicion. Now as they looked at one another, there was no hatred on her face..simply shock...and deep, deep concern.
As his men prepared to lead Hawke away, Gareth, Captain of the Hounds of Anarion knealt before the Princess. then as he rose looked at Lif. "Nothing personal, Banshee..." In response Xandilif spat directly on his boots. "You owe me a life, you cowardly piece of Balrog shite, yet you do THIS on my watch, to MY friend...I won’t forget this.'
Gareth simply nodded...and the guards formed up in two columns behind him, leading Hawke into the palace.
Hawke glanced back once at the others just before the portcullis fell, seeing their upset and rage and worry...and for that moment at least, he knew how well loved he was.
Addiela watched the guards disappear into the building with Hawke and collapsed down to the ground with her back against the wall of the fountain; her knees came up into her chest and she hugged them with her, burying her face as her eyes well up. "Sorry I failed you.." she muttered.
As they departed, Calidis sighed and made a decision. She had a letter to write. Striding up to Xandilif with more courage then most would expect, she asked. “Who is this Finchley you and Hawke have spoken of…and where might I send her a letter? This... 'Sweetmeat' of his... She should be told..lest it be too late.”
