Chapter Seven – One of Us
"Brother!" I cry excitedly, jumping down from my horse before any of the men can help me and running towards him, to his open arms.
"You are welcomed sister. You arrived here earlier than expected." His smiling eyes glance towards our horses and he spots Faramir, Éomer frowns. "Why is Lord Faramir here?"
"He was my guide and protector, and you shall treat him with kindness." I say, as Faramir comes over and bows to my brother.
"I thank you for serving my sister well, you are welcome here Lord Faramir."
"I am glad to be of service, my Lord. My men are tired, can they rest?"
Éomer nods and Faramir goes to speak with his men.
"You must've ridden hard; I thought it would be more like two weeks, than a week and a half." Éomer says.
"You forget I am used to distances like these and a soldier's march." Éomer nods, then looks over to Faramir, disapproval written across his face.
"Éomer, please. Lord Faramir has been very kind to me and…"
"Very kind, if the rumours are true." My brother looks at me with his grey eyes, judgement already forming.
"Please do not believe all the rumours and consider that Minas Tirith is almost four hundred miles hence. What you may have heard may have been changed or elaborated upon since it left Gondor. But I will confess to you now, that I do love Faramir."
He nods, my brother of Earth, accepting this as though it is some form of science, not love. He gives a quick, even smile to Faramir who walks towards us.
"You and your men are to stay with us for some time, until you are rested enough for travel." I say to Faramir, who bows his head in consent.
"I thank your ladyship."
I detest this mask of formality we now have, but I warned Faramir, while we travelled, that my brother would not take well to displays of affection. I longed for the touch of his hand on my back.
"So the journey was easy then? No bands of orcs?" Éomer asks.
"No, the journey was peaceful." I reply.
"Except for the weather, it is growing warmer." Faramir says, "We are going to have a long summer I believe."
"Surely better than being soaked to your skin and having not a dry place to sit?" Éomer says.
Faramir laughs easily, "That is certainly true."
"You will dine with us tonight?" Éomer asks.
"Certainly, if your majesty permits it." Faramir says. Éomer nods, but continues the walk to the King's Hall. I smile on seeing my home, though my heart somehow whispers I will be met by my Uncle when I reach the top of the stairs. My step falters knowing I will not. Faramir turns back to look at me, he walks towards me.
"Forgive me; my mind was drawn to the past." I say, he nods, understanding, quickly touches my hand.
"Come Eowyn. This is your home."
"These will be Lord Faramir's room, while he remains here." Éomer points to some of the finest rooms in our Hall, but I know he dislikes Faramir, whether from a brother's love or from Rohan pride I do not know.
"I thank your lordship." replies Faramir, he is very respectful, so I do not know how my brother can dislike him and both enjoy reading. Perhaps I can find a way to lure both to the library and then shut the doors from the outside. I smile and Faramir involuntarily smiles back, as though my happiness controlled his, Éomer frowns.
"We are having rabbit stew tonight–"
"My favourite!" I cry.
"I asked the cooks to prepare it especially for you." Éomer says.
"Thank you, I think I will go to my rooms and bathe first. The road was very dusty. Faramir if you wish to bathe you can order a bath too." I say, he nods his head.
"I think I will my lady." I shiver with delight, knowing in his heart he is saying 'my love', the manservant steps forward.
"Does my lord wish to bathe now?"
"We intend to eat in three hours' time." says Éomer. "It may be wise."
"Then I shall, thank you." The manservant walks off towards the kitchen and Éomer gives nod of his head to Faramir, who bows and then enters his room.
I smile at my brother, who rolls his eyes and begins to walk down the corridor towards my own rooms. I catch up with him.
"What is Éomer?" I ask playfully.
"I told you not to go husband-hunting." he says.
I laugh, "This was unintentional, believe me."
"Eowyn, I confess I think this unwise…"
"Why?"
"Because while the people of Gondor have great affection for you, I am unaware if the people of Rohan will love this Steward a good deal. They will see him as stealing you from them."
I laughed again, "Stealing me? As if anyone could steal me, I would not allow it. But even if the people did feel this way, they either have a choice of me being happy and being with the man I love, or me being completely miserable and being here. I know which one I'd prefer. But tell me if this is you speaking or our people?"
I walk into my room, happy to see my bed like an old friend.
"I just think…" begins Éomer.
"So it is you…Éomer, the enmity between our people and Gondor is over."
"I just think Eowyn; you could have better men…"
"Better men in comparison to Faramir? Faramir who would do anything for me, die for me if need's be." I feel my anger pour through my veins, no one, not even my brother, will judge my love.
"I am not saying he is a noble man, but he no longer has his great name and…"
"He is steward to the King, whom you hold allegiance to. The king sent his blessing for this household and kingdom, he trusts Faramir. Faramir is one of the King's greatest advisors and closest friends, and you say he is not fitting for me?"
"Eowyn, all I believe is that you do not need to marry Faramir for loyalty between Gondor and Rohan…"
"That wasn't my intention." I snap.
"The marriage could be used to create another alliance with a kingdom."
"Why don't you fulfil that wish then? I don't see you intending to marry anyone. I will not allow any man to dictate to me what I can or cannot do."
My brother looks at me carefully, "Forgive me, I did not mean to offend you or your love. But our family was never at ease with Faramir's family…"
"Not all family members are alike," I give Éomer a sly grin, "As you well know. Besides, Faramir was never at ease with his own family; his father hated him and adored his older brother, Boromir."
My brother sighs, "Perhaps it is just me then, I don't want to have my sister back so soon and then lose her again."
"You are not losing me; I will always be your sister, as I will always be the White Lady of Rohan, but now there is a new part to me, of loving Faramir and wanting to be his wife."
I had rarely been so honest with my brother, though we had always been close, but he allowed himself to remain cool and calm, whatever he was faced with. He sighed once more and gave a short bow to me.
"Prepare Lady Eowyn's bath, please." he said to my maid-in-waiting, he then turned to me, "We will discuss this more tomorrow and if Faramir asks for my blessing." I nodded and then curtsied, Éomer smiled.
"You are still my sister; you have no need to do that." I smiled back.
My maids bought in the wooden tub and steaming jugs of hot water, pouring it into the bath. I undressed and slipped into the warm water, the comforting feeling of heat surrounding my body and the softening of hard, worn skin from riding.
"You can go; I can do this by myself." I said smiling. They nodded their consent and left my room, Braenna my lady-in-waiting said she would wait in the chamber outside my main room, if I needed her. I rested back my head on the smooth, wooden edge. My soft hair dribbling into the water and flowing outwards like waterweed. I looked down to the water lapping at my arms, my breasts becoming soft and firm within the water. I closed my eyes with bliss and poured the hot water over my skin. I wondered vaguely to myself whether Faramir was bathing yet, perhaps when we were married we could bathe together. 'Mmm, that would be nice', I imagined his firm chest in the water; the soft light curls there, his brown hair growing damp… I forced my eyes open; my nipples had hardened at the thought and I was glad no one was present to witness my embarrassment.
It seemed strange to wear the soft gowns of my youth, no longer the rough gowns of the hospital or the ones I had borrowed from Arwen, who was taller than myself. They laughed and dressed me in the colours of Rohan; I wore an ivy dark, green dress with white slashing underneath and trimmings of gold. They brushed through my hair, anointing it with sweet smelling oils.
"There, you are our Lady of Rohan again." smiled Braenna. I smiled in return, but something in me knew that wasn't the truth. I didn't solely belong to Rohan anymore. I got up.
"Is dinner ready? I am hungry from riding and think I will go to bed when we are done."
"Yes, my lady."
I walk out of my room, into my antechamber and through the door in the corridor. Faramir is coming out of his own room and he gazes at me with longing. Braenna and my maids-in-waiting curtsey, though I can see there is something rather reluctant in their bows.
He gives me a bow and I give my hand, so he can lovingly kiss it, I do not know why but every time he does I know I soften completely. It is the tenderness and sweetness in the gesture, which makes me smile like a dolt. He falls into step beside me, talking clearly about the generosity and the kind welcome here. I see Braenna become more at ease, a handsome man praising the service here is not something she'll ignore. I hide my grin. I can see some of my maids-in-waiting have also allowed the charm of Faramir to turn their heads, though they seem more easily convinced than Braenna.
When we enter the main hall the men make such a noise for my return I am half amazed they don't thunder the roof off. Faramir steps back a little and is then led to one of our guest tables, where his men are also sat. They smile and cheer when they see me, though the men of Rohan almost look reproachfully at them. I wish I could invite Faramir to our own table at the end of the Main Hall, but I know my brother would not allow it.
The feast goes surprisingly well; Faramir speaks to some of the men of Rohan, who seem to like him, while keeping up the spirits of his own men. My old Uncle's advisors and some of the new welcome me back, they wish to know all about the books Minas Tirith has and we do not, they want to know all about my learning, there is a great rustle of awe when I speak about the salute I received from Minas Tirith when leaving.
"You got a better salute than I did!" remarks my brother, teasing me.
"Her lady is very wise to do so," said Gamling, "She's become an idol for the people of Gondor, someone they can follow with their hearts, as well as their minds."
My brother's eyes darken at the word 'hearts' and he moodily stares at his goblet for some time.
"Brother please?" I say.
"I've told you, I will think on it."
"The men like him." I gesture down the hall, where a Rohan man is laughing at something Faramir said, Faramir smiles with him. He catches my eye, smiles inquisitively and raises his goblet to me. I melt.
"Eowyn, stop looking like that." Eomer rips off some bread from a large loaf before him.
"Looking like what?" I ask, provocatively.
"Like a sop, that's what." I begin to laugh at my brother's uncomfortable nature with love.
"I know how to fix this; we shall have to find someone for you to fall wildly in love with." I look out across the hall. "How about Braenna, she is five and fifty, but I'm sure she'd make you happy?" I tease, Éomer gives me a look and I giggle. "She is from Rohan, nay?"
"Be that as it may, I can't marry Braenna."
I gasp, mock horror, "And why not?"
"I'd never get a moment's peace." he laughs and begins to eat his stew and I follow suit. At last a place where I am not judged if I finish my plateful. I just wish court dances were as common here as they are at Minas Tirith, there is no time for Faramir to hold me close to him and to whisper his love into my ear. There are beautiful songs, but these are not for dances, these are for the recounting of myth and great legends of men.
They're already singing a song about the War, called United at War; I smile to hear it is about two cousins and their respective armies, joining sides to fight a common enemy. Éomer avoids my eye. I am surprised when I hear my ladies have composed a song about me, 'One of Us'.
"She was lady-like and lively,
Not the type you would expect,
With a braver heart than many
and a slot-shot to respect…"
"For she was not the biggest fighter,
Nor one to make a fuss,
But I remember being proud that she was one of us."
My brother has to clap and smile with the rest of the court when they sing this.
