[Envinyatar]

Darius and Protoren, accompanied by ten of Elessar’s personal guards, took the King upstairs to his apartments. Arwen was alerted and a healer was brought quickly to his chambers. Imrahil had accompanied the Queen to Elessar’s side, and stood back until she motioned him forward.

He clasped the King’s hand firmly and Aragorn raised himself up on one elbow and pulled him near, speaking raggedly. He bade the Prince tell him what had happened, his face becoming grim at the news from Dol Amroth. He urged Imrahil to leave the White City soon and speed back to his own land, taking what troops he might need.

The Prince demurred, saying Aragorn would have need of his troops here, until the White City was secured. When that was done, then perhaps Elessar would send troops as needed. ‘I will in fact leave tomorrow at first light. Now that I see you are not mortally injured, Elphir and I will set sail with our men and return as fast as we can to our land.’

The healer stood near wringing his hands worriedly, and Imrahil took the hint, withdrawing with a grin and a nod to the King.

Once outside the door, he called for Darius. ‘Where are Bebberyn and my son?’ Darius explained that they had continued on the trail of the necromancer, determined to capture him. ‘He didn’t act alone, you know,’ said the Prince, as he walked along the open hall with the guard. ‘There was was someone well placed in the palace who assisted him. That is the other viper you will need to find.’

Imrahil dismissed Darius once he reached his rooms. He called for his assistant, telling him to get every thing ready to go - they would be sailing in the morning. ‘Ask Elphir’s assistant to square away his things also.

The Prince called for some wine to ease his thirst and took his map case from the chest. He pulled out a detailed map of his land and the terrain surrounding the city, and spread it out on the table in his room. ‘Call the captains of my guard – at least the ones who have not gone with Elphir, to come and attend me,’ he directed the guard at this door. ‘And send someone to have the Captains of my ships attend me also. We have plans to make before we reach Dol Amroth.’