Suspended

Frances left silently, joining Pippin at Merry's bedside, and listening to all that had transpired in Rohan while the grey company passed the fated 'Path of the dead'.

"Forgive me for asking, Frances, but how did you quell Faramir's curiosity about his father?"

Frances' eyebrow shot up as she turned to the rusty haired hobbit.

"I told him the truth…"

Pippin's gasp interrupted her, and she gave him a stern look.

"Most of it. There are things that no human being should ever be the recipient of, and the tidings of his father's true madness I kept for myself."

"But Strider?"

Frances' feature closed off, her teeth gritting at the thought.

"I know what Strider said and I will deal with the consequences, but the Lord Faramir deserved the truth about his father's death."

For a moment, she thought that Pippin would find the courage to argue. Until at last, he deflated.

"I am glad you did it. I have come to care deeply for Faramir, and felt bad lying to him."

Frances sighed in relief.

"You're welcome."

Not ten minutes had passed in Merry's room – or so she thought, having no watch to acknowledge time – before Elladan himself came to fetch her. Frances blushed as his grey eyes stared at her. Had he heard the previous conversation? In that case, she was in for a good scolding. Yet, his handsome features betrayed nothing.

"Frances. Aragorn would like you to attend the council we are holding presently."

"Me?"

"You."

The tight-lipped elf let nothing show of his amusement, but the twinkle in his eyes told her otherwise. Incorrigible elf. As she bade farewell to her companions and started walking alongside the twin, she tried to fish for some information.

"Does it make sense to you that I attend such a thing?"

"It might have to do with this 'Keeper of time' nickname."

Frances snorted. Nickname, right. She grabbed the elf's arm to slow him down a little as she struggled to keep up. They were descending the cobbled stones of the city at a greater speed than she could handle, and six levels were a loooong way down.

"Right. You are making fun of me, aren't you?"

This time, the corner of his lips quirked up. For an instant, Frances was lost in the beauty of his features. Most elves were unfairly gorgeous, but the twins had been graced with some rugged charm as well. Still, it could not compare to Legolas' blinding handsomeness.

"Me, fair lady ? I never could."

Frances made a face and stuck her tongue out.

"You certainly are a prankster when Elrohir is not around. But come, lead me to this great council of yours so that I can display my grandeur."

The elf slowed his pace, a frown marring his features.

"I think Aragorn will be most pleased with your grandeur, it would certainly cause him less worry that your recklessness."

"Me, reckless?" she added, her hand flying to her chest in a mocking gesture.

"I think the manner in which you decided to retire yesterday evening was quite unheard of."

Frances frowned, trying to remember the stupidities she might have told the twins before retiring. But her memory was blank. Damn, she had fainted here and there ! How very elegant !

"You mean passing out? I though well-bred ladies did it all the time."

"Not you", the elf deadpanned.

Frances raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Are you implying that I am not a proper lady?"

Elladan's gaze lingered for a second, piercing through her armour with frightening accuracy.

"Absolutely."

That seriousness, paired with the deadpan reply almost cracked her up. The young woman laid a wounded hand upon her chest with grandiloquence.

"Damn. You have shattered all my dreams."

"You are not an idle well-bred lady, Frances. You are tougher, stronger than that. Still, you had us all frightened."

There had been compliments in the midst of those reproaches.

"Er. Thank you, I think. And sorry as well."

The sensation of her energy leaving her body had been as confusing as it had been exhilarating. What an experience! But then, passing out in the middle of the room could have been avoided. A stray thought suddenly hit her square in the face. How she hoped that Legolas had not seen her in such a state! Would she even dare asking ?

"When you say all, who are you talking about exactly ?", she pried, feigning nonchalance.

"Well. Elrohir and I, Aragorn, of course, and the prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth as well."

A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and Frances could not help but jest.

"All right. Way to go to make a good first impression on the man, right?"

Suddenly, Elladan's hands were on her shoulders, his eyes intense as he stared at her face. "Frances. What you have done is an extraordinary feat, a feat that could have killed you."

Killed her ? Really ?

"Sorry. I mean, honestly, I have no idea how it happened. Next time, if there is a next time, I shall endeavour to be more cautious and to learn how to use this. But in the meantime, dire circumstances call for dire measures. You were as exhausted as I was, all of you. We could not let those people die because we needed a nap."

Elladan nodded, and he let her arm rest on his as he started walking again.

"You might be more of a healer that you give yourself credit for."

"If so, I would have cured people instead of giving my life force to the skilled healer of the room."

Elladan's sly look was the only answer as they passed the gates and crossed the encampment to Aragorn's tent. Frances tensed at his side, and one of his warm hands covered her own for support.

Voices filtered from the tent, most of them known to her. Eomer of Rohan, Imrahil of Dol Amroth, the gruff one of Gimli, son of Glóin, and the softest one of Legolas, Prince of Greenwood. And above all of them, oozing authority, the calm and resolute voice of Aragorn, King of Gondor and Arnor, seconded by Gandalf's wise and rumbling comments. A mighty reunion of Kings … and The Keeper of Time.

Wow. This was quite mindblowing.

A heavy silence settled as Elladan pushed the flaps and nearly dragged Frances into the tent. Neither Eomer nor Imrahil knew about the lady's lineage and, despite the familiarity she seemed to share with her company's royalty, were at loss about how to greet her in the midst of this council. The fate of middle earth hung in the balance; the presence of a young woman seemed strange to them.

Fortunately, they were both too well-mannered to remark upon it. A good man never questioned a woman's usefulness, especially when the future King asked for her… and she was escorted by a three thousand years old elf. Elrohir's eyes twinkled merrily, and in a single sentence, he laid the tension to rest.

"Aye, sweet lady, colours have returned to your face."

Frances beamed at the twin, a genuine smile that Legolas would have loved to be the recipient of. A moment later, Gimli was greeting her as well, and she answered cheerfully.

Legolas could not help but daydream of the moment they would set off and travel the land together. A dwarf, an elf and a maiden. A feisty company to unravel the wonders of middle earth. Aragorn's frown was lifted as he took in Frances' features. She looked much better than the day prior.

"I am glad that you could join us," the ranger said, setting aside thanks and reproaches alike.

"Lady Frances."

Both Eomer and Prince Imrahil bows were respectful, as if she were royalty. The young lady blushed before she returned the bow.

"My lords. I am sorry for having caused such worry. You have my most heartfelt apologies. And it seems that I must thank you, Prince Imrahil, for taking care of me last night."

"It was my pleasure, my lady."

The man stood tall, his long whitish hair framing his handsome face. He cut an impressive figure; but even men like him got tired after days of battle. And Pippin had told her that the Prince had all but led the siege before reinforcements arrived. A man after her own heart !

"You honour me, but I am quite mortified that you had to carry me such a long way."

There was a glint of steel in his light blue eyes.

"Think nothing of it, my lady. It was but a small repayment for taking such good care of my swan knights. Had you not given your strength, many of them might be dead by now."

The young lady smiled graciously. In manners as in speech, the Prince reminded her of Boromir in his better days. The twinkle in his gaze as he opened his mouth once more was a dead giveaway of the family trait.

"I fear I must be honest with you, for I did not carry you past the gate of the seventh level."

He paused, for dramatic measure, and was satisfied to see the puzzled expression on the lady's face. Legolas, on the other side, groaned; he knew payback had come for his rash behaviour against the Prince of Dol Amroth, and could do nothing as the man denounced him.

"A wood-elf stole you from my arms with a very deadly determination. I had no other choice but to surrender."

A boisterous laugh – Gimli - startled the company as Frances turned to Legolas, surprise etched on her face, cheeks reddening anew. For an instant, she saw the flicker of annoyance in his impossibly blue eyes. But then, the Prince was back to his charming self, and nodded to her. To his right, Gandalf's arm squeezed Gimli's shoulder to quell his laughing.

A meaningful look was exchanged between the twin sons of Elrond. Aragorn, amused, rolled his eyes. It felt good to think of better things than war and death. Still, the fate of middle earth had to be decided.

One last debate to decide of life and death of seven thousand men. The heaviest decision, for a King not yet appointed.