The Lady Eowyn set a goblet full of a foul-smelling liquid in front of Boromir. He smiled at her, nodding his thanks, and after a moments pause, she nearly smiled back.
"I think I am beginning to appreciate the lady more," Boromir commented. His gaze followed her as she walked away.
"Now that she is more favorably attired, she is fair to you?" Faramir asked, only a little annoyed.
"No, imbecile!" Boromir retorted. "Because she has sympathy for a man who has had a night of fun. Such ladies are a rare treasure."
Faramir gestured to the goblet. "You may think differently once you sample her cure."
"Rarely are there pleasant remedies for what ails me, so it would be naught to hold against her." Hesitating but a moment, Boromir downed the drink in one gulp, made a face, and leaned in, whispering knowingly, "But thank you for pointing out her attire to me. It appears you take notice!"
Faramir scoffed, "One of us should be astute."
"And you are doing an excellent job!" Boromir grinned from ear to ear. Faramir opened his mouth to continue the repartee when Boromir waved his hand, indicating that he wished to change the subject.
He spoke low. "So the King was gracious to you. Then it must be that the only one who does not want us here is that thing with the face of a horse's posterior. Who also happens to be a coward. It should not be difficult to fulfill our task."
"Truly?" Faramir asked.
Boromir replied, "Indeed! For we now are hopeful. Two ways lie before us: we stay in the king's graces, leave as friends, and he obliges us by dying soon. Theodred then helps Gondor."
"And the other way?"
"We stay awhile longer, court the lady and the king, then bring her home with us. We'll be assured of Rohan's help because of the marriage."
"In but a few weeks," Faramir mused.
"Why not? It happened with our mother." Bormoir lit his pipe. "It's a contract, not a renewed manifestation of Beren and Luthien's love, or other such nonsense."
"Love," Faramir nodded. "I agree that is not what we seek. But what if both plans fail-the king does not die or he won't let us court the lady?"
"Then Father seeks another way. That is for him to decide and us to obey."
Faramir sobered. "Indeed." He knew what obedience to his father cost.
Both men started as Eomer burst into the room, stumbling as a man blinded while attempting to find the bench where the brothers sat. Eowyn followed in his wake and served him the cure, affectionately rubbing his back as he drank. Eomer then turned to Boromir and suggested they go riding.
Enthusiastically Boromir rose from the table and the men were seen no more till dawn of the next day.
*
Left alone, Faramir sought out the library and set himself to reading. He opened the nearest scroll and found poetry, opened another, and found the same.
"It is all such." Faramir looked up from his scroll to see the Lady Eowyn watching him from the corner. She continued, "We in Rohan keep our history in song. Only of late, at my poor mother's request, were our stories put into written form." She looked at him. "Not many come in here."
"But you, my lady," Faramir observed.
"I am not fond of reading," she replied, "but rather I desire the quiet this room affords."
Faramir nodded, wondering what to say.
Eowyn wandered around, looking here and there, then silently took her leave.
And once more Faramir found himself unable to enjoy the library, distracted as he was by this poignant lady.
*
Applause erupted at the latest move Boromir performed. He was engaged in a sparring match with Theodred. Faramir sat near Eowyn observing the sport with many nobles and villagers. He was grateful that he was not a part of the show. Though he was an able warrior, he was not comfortable performing before crowds. Boromir rather was in his element and often flashed smiles at the groups of admiring ladies. Eowyn also smiled at the elder brother and he came to speak with her. Faramir stayed silent noting that Eomer and Theodred also had their admirers among the ladies. Those present would then be staying late for a feast held in the men's honor. Much anticipation was among all, for those not among the nobles had also planned a night of dancing in the streets of Edoras. Eomer in confidence had told Boromir that the feast would move there after things in Meduseld settled into quiet. The latter had smiled wickedly in answer.
Faramir sighed. It was to be a long night.
"I think I am beginning to appreciate the lady more," Boromir commented. His gaze followed her as she walked away.
"Now that she is more favorably attired, she is fair to you?" Faramir asked, only a little annoyed.
"No, imbecile!" Boromir retorted. "Because she has sympathy for a man who has had a night of fun. Such ladies are a rare treasure."
Faramir gestured to the goblet. "You may think differently once you sample her cure."
"Rarely are there pleasant remedies for what ails me, so it would be naught to hold against her." Hesitating but a moment, Boromir downed the drink in one gulp, made a face, and leaned in, whispering knowingly, "But thank you for pointing out her attire to me. It appears you take notice!"
Faramir scoffed, "One of us should be astute."
"And you are doing an excellent job!" Boromir grinned from ear to ear. Faramir opened his mouth to continue the repartee when Boromir waved his hand, indicating that he wished to change the subject.
He spoke low. "So the King was gracious to you. Then it must be that the only one who does not want us here is that thing with the face of a horse's posterior. Who also happens to be a coward. It should not be difficult to fulfill our task."
"Truly?" Faramir asked.
Boromir replied, "Indeed! For we now are hopeful. Two ways lie before us: we stay in the king's graces, leave as friends, and he obliges us by dying soon. Theodred then helps Gondor."
"And the other way?"
"We stay awhile longer, court the lady and the king, then bring her home with us. We'll be assured of Rohan's help because of the marriage."
"In but a few weeks," Faramir mused.
"Why not? It happened with our mother." Bormoir lit his pipe. "It's a contract, not a renewed manifestation of Beren and Luthien's love, or other such nonsense."
"Love," Faramir nodded. "I agree that is not what we seek. But what if both plans fail-the king does not die or he won't let us court the lady?"
"Then Father seeks another way. That is for him to decide and us to obey."
Faramir sobered. "Indeed." He knew what obedience to his father cost.
Both men started as Eomer burst into the room, stumbling as a man blinded while attempting to find the bench where the brothers sat. Eowyn followed in his wake and served him the cure, affectionately rubbing his back as he drank. Eomer then turned to Boromir and suggested they go riding.
Enthusiastically Boromir rose from the table and the men were seen no more till dawn of the next day.
*
Left alone, Faramir sought out the library and set himself to reading. He opened the nearest scroll and found poetry, opened another, and found the same.
"It is all such." Faramir looked up from his scroll to see the Lady Eowyn watching him from the corner. She continued, "We in Rohan keep our history in song. Only of late, at my poor mother's request, were our stories put into written form." She looked at him. "Not many come in here."
"But you, my lady," Faramir observed.
"I am not fond of reading," she replied, "but rather I desire the quiet this room affords."
Faramir nodded, wondering what to say.
Eowyn wandered around, looking here and there, then silently took her leave.
And once more Faramir found himself unable to enjoy the library, distracted as he was by this poignant lady.
*
Applause erupted at the latest move Boromir performed. He was engaged in a sparring match with Theodred. Faramir sat near Eowyn observing the sport with many nobles and villagers. He was grateful that he was not a part of the show. Though he was an able warrior, he was not comfortable performing before crowds. Boromir rather was in his element and often flashed smiles at the groups of admiring ladies. Eowyn also smiled at the elder brother and he came to speak with her. Faramir stayed silent noting that Eomer and Theodred also had their admirers among the ladies. Those present would then be staying late for a feast held in the men's honor. Much anticipation was among all, for those not among the nobles had also planned a night of dancing in the streets of Edoras. Eomer in confidence had told Boromir that the feast would move there after things in Meduseld settled into quiet. The latter had smiled wickedly in answer.
Faramir sighed. It was to be a long night.