The Tokens of Courtship
Author's Note: Words in italics are memories of spoken words. I don't own anything. Enjoy (I hope)!
She kept a small, sandalwood box in her finely carved wedding chest where her wedding gown and nightshift were stored amid sprigs of lavender. On their anniversary, she opened it to show her daughters.
.........
A bundle of folded parchments.
"May I write to you, My Lady?"
"I will look ever south for your messenger, My Lord."
She had learned Sindarin from his flowing script.
.........
A lock of raven's hair tied with a green silk ribbon.
"Whatever did you do that for, Eowyn?"
How nimbly, she remembered, she had cut. It was only after he had found the shears within the folds of her gown that he had known what she had been about. The ribbon had come to her the next morning. From him.
……….
A miniature showing a keen, grey-eyed gaze and his same thin-lipped, unsmiling mouth.
"Why must I sit for a portraiture? Cannot you remember me with the every closing of your eyes? I know I see your face at every blink."
"This has nothing to do with remembering you. I want it, and I shall have it, My Lord."
"I will not smile. I cannot bear having my portrait done."
He had done it for her. Did it every year since only for her.
……….
A tarnished brooch shaped as a raven and with a glint of rubies at the eyes.
They had been out riding together, escaping from their retinues. A low lying branch had snagged at her gown breaking a shoulder strap. He had taken the brooch from his cloak and pinned it at her shoulder. His fingers brushing against her skin had made her shiver and blush.
"You shall never have this back."
"You shall return with it in the spring, My Lady, to my eternal bliss."
……….
All the tokens of their courtship.
"Did not Ada already have your hand ere the King even was crowned?"
Eowyn looked fondly at her daughters who were now enviously eyeing the new mithril and sapphire necklace that she had worn ever since morning whence Faramir had clasped it about her neck.
"Aye, he did. But a wise man knows to never stop courting his lady."