B2MeM Challenge; Storytelling, original character, canon character. A canon character tells a story about an original character.
Format: Short
story
Genre: Friendship
Rating: PG
Warnings:
none
Characters: Aragorn, Faramir, OMCS
Pairings:
Aragorn/Arwen, OMC/OFC
Summary: Aragorn reminisces about his first
visit to Harad.
The characters are the property of the
Tolkien Estate. No profit has been nor will be made from this
story.
A/n; Fadil’s time with Aragorn is told
from the merchant’s point of view in “A Gift of Tongues” and
his adventures in the desert are told in “Desert Skies”.
“I
thank you, honoured friends,” said Tahir, as he finished his meal
and licked his lips appreciatively. “You honour me beyond measure
by inviting me to your table and serving me with such delicacies. My
fair blossom will be most sad that she had to miss such
delight.”
“The
cook was happy to prepare your food in the way you like it,” said
Arwen. “We keep a supply of your favourite spices for when you
visit us. You must come again and bring Adiva when your little one is
recovered. Éowyn should be able to join us as she is in the City
next week too. ”
“Few
would be as kind to a former enemy as you are, esteemed friends,”
said the Ambassador.
Arwen
rose to leave the table and the men followed her into the living room
where Aragorn, Arwen, and Faramir settled themselves on comfortable
chairs and Tahir reclined on cushions that had been placed there for
him.
A
servant served drinks. When they had departed, Aragorn spoke. “Once
I believed, as some sadly still do, that all the Men of Harad were
cruel and violent and very different to the Men of the West. It was
not until I met Fadil that my opinion changed.”
“Who
was Fadil?” asked Faramir.
“You
have heard me speak of him before, melon nîn,” said Aragorn. “He
was the merchant whom I served for a while. He taught me to speak the
Tongue of Harad.”
“Ah
yes, I recall you mentioning a merchant,” said Faramir.
“You
were a servant to a merchant, esteemed Lord King?” Tahir sounded
horrified.
Aragorn
laughed. “I have been many things in my life. I found my time with
Fadil most profitable. It is a long story.”
Faramir
glanced at the Ambassador and noted the eager gleam in the eyes of
the Man of Harad. Tahir was far too well mannered, though, to demand
a story, so he said, “I should like to hear it, if you would share
it with us.”
“Gladly,”
said Aragorn. He took a sip of his drink and closed his eyes as he
remembered. “It was long ago. I had been serving in Gondor under
the guise of Captain Thorongil, but it was time for me to leave
there. I felt somewhat at a loss. I knew I should return north and
take up my duties as Chieftain again, but I felt I had not learned
all that I could in the South. I had fought against the Haradrim and
I desired to know more about them. They were after all, Men ,not
Orcs and I wondered if they all truly venerated Sauron or were they
simply in thrall to him.”
“By
no means, esteemed friend,” said Tahir. “Many of us never bowed
the knee to the false Lord of Gifts, even if it cost our lives.”
“I
had much to learn,” said Aragorn. “One day, I was in a tavern in
Umbar wondering how I might travel to Harad without arousing
suspicion, when I heard a dreadful commotion outside. I hastened to
see what had happened and found a young man writhing in agony on the
ground. From the angle of his leg, I could see that it was broken. He
had been kicked by a camel. To my dismay, everyone seemed more
concerned about the camels than the injured man. I realised he must
be a slave. His master seemed more angry with him than concerned. I
tried to offer my help. At least his master spoke the common tongue.
A soldier drew a dagger as if to despatch the poor fellow and the
slave’s owner looked about to agree. It was all I could do not to
draw my sword to defend the injured boy, but I was heavily
outnumbered and surrounded by angry Haradrim. My glare must have
impressed the slave owner, though, as he agreed to let me tend the
lad.”
Faramir
laughed. “There are few who can withstand your gaze!”
“Only
my lady, I believe,” said Aragorn, patting Arwen’s arm
affectionately.
Arwen
laughed. “Your glare pales in comparison to that of my beloved
Grandmother!” she said. “She taught me to flinch from the gaze of
neither Man nor Elf.”
Aragorn
stretched out his long legs and resumed his story. “I soon realised
there was more to Fadil, as he told me his name was, than I first
thought,” he said. “Once he had made up his mind to let me tend
his slave, he hired a room at the tavern and assisted me while I set
the broken leg, though I could see he had little stomach for the
task. When I examined the boy, whose name was Kedar, I found no marks
of ill treatment on him and he looked to be properly fed. I cannot
condone slavery, but it seemed that Fadil cared for Kedar in his own
fashion and Kedar cared for him. Fadil paid for a room at the inn
until he came that way again to collect his slave, though he grumbled
about the expense. He was concerned about the prospect of travelling
alone through the desert. It was then that I seized my chance and
asked to go with him as his servant if he would teach me the Tongue
of Harad. It was not easy to convince him as he had no love for
tarks.”
“Foolish
man not to realise the honour you were granting him!” exclaimed
Faramir.
“He
agreed in the end to take me in exchange for having tended Kedar,”
said Aragorn. “He first insisted that I change my clothes for those
worn by his people.”
“We
consider the clothes that Men of the West wear indecent,” said
Tahir. He looked uncomfortable. “My apologies, honoured friends, I
should not have spoken of such matters.”
“I
never knew that,” said Faramir. “Why is that, my friend?”
“We
believe all garments must cover the limbs and the form of the body,”
Tahir explained. “Your ladies follow our custom of decency, but not
your men. My people believe only undergarments should cling to the
limbs.”
“I
had to learn to become accustomed to wearing robes over close fitting
undergarments,” said Aragorn. “We set out into the desert a few
days later and I soon learnt my new duties of caring for
camels.”
“Not
an easy task, esteemed friend,” said Tahir.
“Indeed
not,” said Aragorn, “It felt simple, though compared with
learning your language.”
“Very
few Men of the West ever master it,” said Tahir. “We find it
easier to learn your Common Speech than to teach others our
tongue.”
“Fadil
was a hard taskmaster, but a fair one,” said Aragorn. “By the
time we reached Harad, I was proficient enough in the language and
customs so as not to stand out. The merchant said I could stay with
him as his servant. I had told him that I sought to make my fortune
to win a lady who had captured my heart.” He looked fondly at Arwen
as he spoke. “Fadil thought all I needed to do was earn sufficient
coin to buy a herd of camels to offer to your father as bride
gift!”
Arwen
and Faramir both burst out laughing.
“Whatever
would my father have done with a herd of camels!” Arwen
exclaimed.
“Fadil
was a good man in his own fashion,” said Aragorn. “Not that he
liked to be seen to do good. Those were harsh times when to show
kindness was to disobey Sauron’s edicts. Fadil was devoted to his
three wives and twenty children he never ill- treated his slaves or
those whom he employed. He was harsh but fair and honourable. I
learned a great deal from him, though servitude did not come easily
to me. I especially disliked having to scrub him in the hamam!”
“I
can well believe that, esteemed friend,” said Tahir. “A most
demeaning task for a great lord such as you.”
“It
was hot as Orodruin,” Aragorn replied. “I, naturally insisted on
keeping on my robe for decency. He would spend half the day
bathing.”
“Such
is our custom,” said Tahir. “If a man can afford his own baths,
he makes full use of them.”
“Did
Fadil revere the Dark Lord, though?” Arwen asked.
“I
think not,” said Aragorn. “Such matters were never spoken of
aloud, but never did I see him attend any of the sacrifices when
prisoners of war and those who disagreed with Sauron’s rule were
given to the fire. I would sometimes come across him looking up into
the night sky, but he always looked down quickly if he realised he
was being observed.”
I
believe he venerated the Lord and Lady of the Moon in secret,” said
Tahir. “I wonder if he were of the merchant line of my tribe?”
“I
often wonder what became of Fadil and his family,” said Aragorn. “I
worked for him for several months and then took my leave and told him
I desired to travel further to learn about the desert folk. He paid
me generously for my services and even insisted I take a camel, which
I had to sell before leaving Harad.” He took a draught from his
glass and looked thoughtful. “Fadil will be long dead now, but I
owe him a good deal for all he taught me. He was taking a risk in
employing one who could have been a foreign spy, which in a way I
was. He believed I was native to Umbar. I hope his family have
prospered.”
“I
will try to find out,” said Tahir. He rose to his feet. “I must
take my leave now, esteemed friends, my fair blossom awaits
me.”
Faramir
rose too. "I leave early in the morning for Ithilien," he
said."So I must bid you goodnight too."
“You
must dine with us again soon, Tahir,” said Aragorn. “We welcome
your company and your friendship. Fadil was my first friend from your
land and I am glad he was not the last.”