In the Seventh Level of the city, next to the Tower of Ecthelion, resides the Royal Palace. This proud and sombre building, made of stone, houses the King and Queen of Gondor. As you take your first step into the Guard Room, the majesty of the place overwhelms. Benches line the walls, and a giant fireplace keeps it warm in winter. For hundreds of years, guards have been trapped in this dank and dreary room, checking every visitor to the castle for weapons, before they are allowed to venture further inside.

A passageway cuts just inside the outer wall, with doorways leading off from it. It may seem dark and gloomy, but this adds a certain air of mystery and excitement. A plaque on the wall, now overgrown with moss, states that the previous lamps were all destroyed during an attack where numerous hobbits were catapulted over the walls of the city, some reaching far enough to soar through the windows of the Palace!

Leading off from the passageway, a door opens to reveal two stern-faced guards, and behind them, the Drawing Room. The Queen has placed guards here to prevent Aragorn from entering, in case he tips the precious vases on his head, or puts his muddy feet on the furniture. The large gold framed portrait you see on the wall is of Formenos, expertly painted by an anonymous Elf on commission from Arwen, and the exquisite white bone china bowl was a wedding gift from the Princess of Ithilien.

The door on the eastern wall next to the fireplace returns to the staircase. On the next level up, the Royal Bedchamber can be found. In fact, it is unfair to name it as such, for the Queen is the only member of the Royal Family to ever set foot in there. The 3-inch thick oak door, built to withstand the efforts of Aragorn, is bolted with many different locks, so the only way we can see into this beautiful room is through the keyhole.

The King is less fortunate. Being banished from the Royal Bedchamber means that he has to sleep in his own little box room, across the hallway from the Queen. To make matters worse, the Queen had the Palace Designer refurbish the King's room all in pink, in memory of the original City colours. It is rumoured that her bad mood was due to a particularly bad council meeting, where her embroidery thread had got knotted.

When the Royal couple are getting on well, they have romantic dinners together in their Dining Room, under the soft light of a chandelier.

This tower, one of the oldest parts of the castle, houses the Royal Library. The Great Library is down in the Third Circle, but here are when keeps a supply of interesting scrolls that she likes to read over breakfast. The bust you see there is a likeness of The Royal Master Healer, in her typical position with hands on hips and a bossy gleam in the eye.

From here, a secret passage, concealed behind an ornate tapestry of the King in battle, leads to the Royal Cellars. This is where Aragorn keeps his 27162 bottles of Merlot, all waiting to become moderately aged to perfection. It is also the most sought after room in the palace, from the point of view of many young nobles. They often bribe the guards to allow them in here for a quick drink, and the King never finds out. (Whom is that disappearing out the window?)

That concludes the tour of the Royal Palace, an important place that is very much involved with the day to day running of the city. From the beverages offered in the pub, to the politics of Gondor - this is the control centre of our land.



Many thanks to Anna Greenleaf for this tour.