Chapter Twelve: Living Up Yonder Means Visitations
(It has been several months since last we saw our dearest Van and Halbarad, but since the joint wedding of the Dol Amroth siblings they have been terribly busy making many preparations to move back up North. More importantly, they have actually moved up North to Fornost, a historical and legendary component of Arnor before its destruction. In other words, they moved up yonder to an ancient hang out of the Dunedain.)
Van: So how did this all work out, Halbarad? What�s up with this place exactly, anyway?
Halbarad: (smiles) It�s rather complicated. Are you certain you want the history lesson?
Van: (pokes him) Yeah! I really want to know.
Halbarad: Well, you know all about Isildur died, right?
Van: Yeah, at the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, right? He was leaving Rivendell with his guys and a couple of his sons and they were attacked by orcs. The Ring was lost then, right?
Halbarad: Very good. He was heading to Gondor with three of his four sons when they were attacked and killed. The youngest was but a child and remained in Rivendell. Now what happened was that the Numenoreans had split Middle-earth into more or less two parts. Here, up north, was Arnor. Now the youngest son of Isildur was the rightful King up here and he acted as it. There would be ten more kings after him. Meanwhile, Isildur had a nephew who was the King of Gondor down south. You follow?
Van: Yeah, so far.
Halbarad: Good. Now, Arnor was having a slight problem. Their tenth and last king had been carried off by the Nazgul and he was never seen again. His three sons ended up dividing Arnor into three parts. One of them was called Arthedain. Up a ways to the northeast was the Witch King of Angmar, who was causing some problems. He kept waging war on Arthedain and eventually Gondor sent its armies up and destroyed Angmar, the Witch King was forced to go to Mordor. That battle was the Battle of Fornost. It didn�t really occur here, but this was the chief city of Arthedain.
Van: Oh, I see. Now, isn�t Aragorn from that line?
Halbarad: Yes, he is a direct descendant of Isildur right down through the Kings of Arnor. This place is a historical home to the Dunedain, and I am one of them. You are now too one of us. Do you understand it now?
Van: Yeah, that�s pretty neat. So we�re living in this historical land of your people. Cool!
Halbarad: It�s something I�ve always wanted to do�and I really didn�t think you�d enjoy living in the wilderness somewhere. Besides, there is one other thing I thought you might like.
Van: What�s that?
Halbarad: We�re extraordinarily close to the Shire, which means that you will be able to see your Hobbit friends soon.
Van: We can go and visit them?
Halbarad: No, that we cannot do. If you recall Aragorn passed that law banning men from entering the Shire. He doesn�t want anything bad happening over there. So, they�re coming to visit us.
Van: Dude, when are they coming?
Halbarad: Well, they should be here any moment now.
Van: (hugs him) I love you, you crazy rangery guy!
Halbarad: (kisses the top of her head) And I love you, my dear. Come on, let�s go sit under the tree and wait for them to arrive. If I guess correctly they should be here within the hour.
(And so the two do just that; sit under the tree and await the arrival of their wee hobbit friends. Halbarad was right in the fact that they would show up within the hour, for they hadn�t been waiting for more than half that time when the ponies could be seen in the distance. Soon enough the images of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin can be seen.)
Merry: Van! Halbarad! How good it is to see you again! Mighty good luck that you two moved up this far north so we can come by for a visit, isn�t that right, Pip?
Pippin: I must say so! This place is quite nice, you two. How are you?
Halbarad: We�re doing wonderfully now that we�ve settled down. What are you four up to?
Frodo: We�ll be here visiting you for the next few days, then Sam and I shall return to the Shire. Merry and Pippin will be heading down to Rohan and Gondor.
Van: You two are going back to the Shire?
Sam: Yes we are, Miss. Mr. Frodo�s health isn�t what it used to be and I have a Mrs. Gamgee to get back to at home.
Frodo: Not to mention all your kids.
Van: You have kids now Sam?
Sam: Uhuh. Two right now and a third one on the way.
Halbarad: Congratulations, Sam!
Sam: Thank you. How�s everyone else doing?
Van: Last I heard Kit and Amrothos had settled down in Dol Amroth. Stevie and Aragorn said Eldarion was just fine, save for a tad of a cold he had picked up.
Halbarad: Harper and Boromir moved back off to Tolfalas with Wynna the week after she was born. Lord Faramir and the Lady Eowyn have been rumored to be expecting a child, but they haven�t come out and said anything about it yet. Haldir and Arcane have even tied the knot.
Merry: How are Eomer and Lothiriel fairing? I�d like to be informed slightly before I end up down there.
Halbarad: We last saw them on our journey up here. They had been married for a few months already and they still act like giggling newlyweds.
Van: It�s sweet and Eomer is handling his kingship very well. How about you two trouble makers? Meet anyone special yet?
Pippin: (smiles dreamily) I have my Diamond. We�re going to get married soon.
Merry: I�m still working on that part.
Pippin: (stares at him) What are you talking about? What about Estella?
Merry: I met her a week ago at the Inn! That doesn�t mean anything.
Pippin: Well, no, that doesn�t mean anything, but I think the fact that you talked about her non-stop all the way over here does.
Merry: Shush Pippin! Do you have to go telling everyone?
Pippin: Frodo and Sam already know. You giggle and say her name in your sleep too. Besides, it�s just Van and Halbarad. We�re in the middle of nowhere anyway, not like anyone else can hear.
Merry: I do not say her name in my sleep!
Frodo: (smirking) Yes you do.
Merry: (groans) I can�t believe this. You are incorrigible, all of you. I need food.
Van: Well, then by all means, come inside. We have all sorts of Hobbity-type munchies for you to devour.
Sam: I feel so loved.
Halbarad: That was random.
Pippin: (running inside) I smell mushrooms! Ah!
Other Hobbits: (running after him) Mushrooms!
Van: I love hobbits. There so cute!
Halbarad: You can always depend on three things with a hobbit.
Van: What?
Halbarad: Shortness, cuteness, and a healthy appetite.
