Thorongil and Elerína returned to Minas Tirith in the company of not only Eddil and his companions but also the rangers they had rescued.  They reached The White City after dusk and Captain Miller wanted Thorongil to come with him to see his commanders and possibly the King. Thorongil refused, insisting on going back to the inn at which they were staying and getting a night's sleep.  Miller could not force him to go - ignoring the fact that he owed him his life, he had witnessed Thorongil's power first-hand and had no interest in trying to compel him to do anything under threat of force.

Thorongil and Elerína retired to their room almost immediately after they returned to the inn.  Once away from prying eyes she unwrapped Thorongil's arm and put forth her power. Soon not a mark remained of his wounds.

Eddil went with Caranel to the Houses of Healing and stayed with her that night.  Aldamir and Gram spent a few hours telling Timothy the tale of their adventure. Timothy was especially interested in their encounter with Shelob.  He was well versed in history and knew that Shelob was no beast - she was an ancient spirit of malice and hunger in spider form. Many great warriors had faced her and few lived to tell of it.  That Shelob had traded words with Thorongil and seemed to fear a direct confrontation intrigued the scholar to no end.

"I was robbed of the chance to kill your mother," he mused.  "I don't suppose either of you know this, but Shelob's mother was Ungoliant.  I hope that name means something to you."

Aldamir nodded but Gram looked clueless.

"She helped Morgoth destroy the two trees," said Aldamir.

"That doesn't help much," muttered Gram.

"Did the horses eat all the books in Rohan?" exclaimed Timothy.  "Ungoliant was so powerful that at her greatest not even Morgoth could defeat her.  It took an army of Balrogs to drive her from the north."

"Even if it was a great boast, Shelob didn't mock him for it," he continued.  "Who would dare to tell Shelob that they wished they could have faced her mother in battle?"

Neither Aldamir nor Gram had anything to add, so all three retired to their rooms to sleep.

It was after sunrise when Thorongil and Elerína came to the common room for breakfast.  Before they even started their meal two Guards of the Citadel in full armor came into the inn and stood at attention on either side of the door.  After them came a tall man richly dressed. He was Elboron, son of Faramir the Steward, and he was on business of the king. He and his guard walked up to Thorongil's table.

"The King wishes to meet you," he said.

"And I wish to have breakfast," Thorongil replied, half a biscuit in his mouth.

"The King wishes to see you now," Elboron responded after a moment's shock.

"And we would be honored to meet him," said Elerína standing up.

"The King had better be providing breakfast," moaned Thorongil, rising as well.  "I ate almost nothing on that trip to Mordor I took to rescue your rangers."

"I am sure that can be arranged," replied Elboron, unsure how serious Thorongil was.

Elboron and his guard led Thorongil and Elerína up through the city.  It was a long walk and the sun was high in the sky when they reached the seventh level.  Elerína and Thorongil paused hand in hand as they passed the White Tree. As they gazed upon it their home in Valinor did not seem so far away.

They entered the throne room of Minas Tirith.  Aragorn sat upon the great stone seat with several of his counselors at his sides.  Captain Miller of the rangers was present as well.

"After I introduce you you will kneel until told otherwise," said Elboron.

"He won't, but thanks for asking," sighed Elerína.

"Your Majesty, I present Thorongil and Elerína..." proclaimed Elboron.  He said it as though there was more to say, but suddenly realized he knew nothing of them beyond their names.

Elerína knelt and Thorongil bowed his head for a moment.  Aragorn had already heard of Thorongil's daring rescue and confrontation with Shelob.  He knew Thorongil was not be trifled with, but was not encouraged by his defiance.

"In the lands of men it is customary to kneel before the king of whatever land you enter," said Aragorn, "as a sign of respect."

"I have a King, but he is far away," answered Thorongil.  "I did not kneel in Doriath or Arvernien, I do not kneel to Thranduil or Thorin, and I will not kneel here.  If I did not respect you I would not have come at your request."

Elerína cringed.  No king appreciates hearing their commands called requests - and Aragorn II, Elessar of House Telcontar, was no ordinary king.

"I owe you thanks for rescuing ten of my soldiers from Mordor, and I hear that you also aided Bergil in the North," continued the King, beckoning Elerína to rise.  "You have rendered me great services. I am in your debt."

Thorongil nodded respectfully.

"I like to know who it is that I am indebted to," continued Aragorn.  "I know the name 'Thorongil' well, for it once belonged to me. I wish to know your true names and histories."

"I do not think it wise to discuss that, especially in open court," replied Thorongil.  "I have aided your servants where I could, and ask for no reward beyond that which I may need.  I am aid unlooked-for, and thus I should remain."

"You may think it unwise," countered Aragorn sternly, "but in this hall it is the council of Aragorn Telcontar, King of Gondor and the North, which shall prevail."

"And yet they are my secrets to reveal at such time as I see fit," Thorongil replied, not at all intimidated.  "You have no way to compel me, unless you wish to threaten me, who has done you no wrong and aided your people.”

Then Thorongil’s voice lowered and with a hint of a smile he added: ”Even if that were your course, do you think you can succeed where Shelob failed?"

For a time neither Aragorn and Thorongil spoke.  Both wished to weigh their next words carefully. Elerína decided this posturing had gone on long enough.

"Gandalf trusted you, and he does not give his trust lightly," she suddenly said, drawing from behind her back a sealed letter.  It was Thranduil's letter explaining who they were. Thorongil stood aghast - he was certain that letter was in his own pack in their room on the first level of the city.  She walked proudly up to the throne and handed the letter to the King, speaking to him in a commanding tone.

"Reveal the contents of this letter to no one - and I mean no one - if you would have our trust as well,” she warned.  The counselors of the king stood in shock; who was she that dared speak to their king in that manner?

Aragorn quickly learned the answer.  He opened the letter and took his time reading it.  Having been a ranger he easily remembered the codes and signs of his ally Thranduil proving its authenticity.  The contents stunned him: Thranduil said in many words that before his throne stood Eönwë and Ilmarë, Manwë and Varda's greatest servants.  He advised him to treat them as royal guests, for they represented Arda's High King and Queen.

After many minutes of reading and thought, Aragorn rose from his high seat.

"Come, we should speak in private," he said softly, beckoning them to follow him into a small sitting room to the right of the throne.  Thorongil and Elerína followed him.

They sat down as Aragorn closed the door behind them.

"Next time you might wish to lead with that sort of note," advised Aragorn.

"I did not think we were going to give that to you yet," muttered Thorongil.

"Sometimes it is best to leave diplomacy to the professionals," Elerína replied.

"Lord Aragorn, it is important that you not depend on us," Thorongil continued.  "I would sooner you think of me as a nuisance than a trusted servant."

"The day may come", Elerína explained, "when we are needed elsewhere, and if you makes plans assuming our aid, that could be disastrous.  We are responsible for all Middle Earth, not only the lands you govern."

"I have worked closely with your kind before," said Aragorn smiling.  "I remember Gandalf well. He shared with me his plans and councils, and trusted me to make my own with as much knowledge as possible.  I hope you will do the same."

"In time, perhaps," replied Elerína.  "We do not have all the answers, and limited foresight can bias judgement.  It is often better to know nothing than hear the theories of another."

"Why have you come to Minas Tirith?" asked the King.

"Because we both feel we will be needed here first," said Elerína.

"I do not know if I should be glad or worried by your presence," laughed Aragorn.

"Do not be afraid on our account," she replied.  "When the time draws nearer, we will say more."

"You will need a place to live," said Aragorn.  "Would you like to stay here, on the seventh level?"  There are some well furnished rooms in the front of this building which rarely see use."

Thorongil was not enthusiastic about staying so close to the King.  He feared that it would create the appearance of favoritism and that they would be far from the troubles of common men.  Elerína disagreed, saying that that it would be easier to gather news from distant lands and coordinate their efforts with Gondor and Arnor's elite.  Both were right, and they argued back and forth in the mysterious tongue of the Ainur as Aragorn led them up to the second floor of the palace and into a beautifully furnished guest room.  It was truly fit for a king; it was meant for visiting monarchs. Ilmarë was almost impressed.

"We really shouldn't accept this," Thorongil began.  Elerína pulled back the curtain over the room's window and gasped.  The Fountain of the White Tree was clearly visible from the window.

"You can do as you wish, but I will be sleeping here, by the King's leave and great generosity," she said excitedly.

"We are honored to have you," answered Aragorn with a bow.  "Is there anything else you need?"

"I assume you will be sending a sortie to retake Cirith Ungol?" inquired Thorongil.

The King nodded.  "Eventually. You don't like to leave a job half finished, do you?"

"No sir.”

"Strategic briefings are at ten in the morning," said Aragorn.  "Shall I send a runner for you?"

"Please do," Thorongil replied with a grin.

Aragorn gave his guests the proper passphrases to move about the city and issued the appropriate orders to his guards.  Thorongil and a few guards of the Citadel went down to retrieve the maiar's belongings from the inn where they had stayed. Timothy noted that Thorongil's arm seemed to have healed.

That night they slept in what Elerína considered a proper bed for the first time since Thranduil's Halls.  The Guard of the Citadel on duty in the courtyard that night swore the next morning that the White Tree seemed to glow faintly of its own accord, and the stars shone a little brighter over The White City.