The Strength Within Chapter 2
By: Frances
***
DISCLAIMER: I, of course, own nothing. ^_^
***
After several long days of riding, Boromir and Faramyn prepared for the final leg of their journey. They arose long before morning's first light and packed swiftly before heading into the darkness at intense speeds. The horses, appearing to sense the excitement about their riders, succumbed to the drive to push determinedly onward. The very air was thick with anticipation.
The travelers spoke very little that morning, although, in honesty Faramyn did not mind. Her heart was fluttering rapidly in her ribcage like a struggling bird responding to the pull of its nearby nest. The sound of pounding hooves was the only one to disturb the still of the morn. Through the deep, black oblivion they raced, until nearly two hours later it faded to blue. Boromir then pulled his stallion to a stop and his sister followed suit. Faramyn smiled knowingly at him as they nudged the animals up a steep hill that was the final obstacle.
As they rounded over the highest point of the mound, the sun began to bleed red in the distance, creeping above the horizon and reaching out with its delicate fingers of rose. It slowly spread over the still plane to greet them, and at that point Faramyn could swear it paused, as if to indulge them in their looking. There, below them, they could see the great stone city, solemn and proud. Her breath caught in her throat and she melted into the beauty of the surrounding canvas. All of it... everything around them... was perfect. Such a swelling in her chest she felt, that she feared she might burst. This was the home of her people and her heritage.
Beaming, she turned to look at Boromir. His gallant expression and rugged features made him look knightly and bold. Above his firmly set mouth the eyes of his mother spoke clearly of awe and happiness. All things considered, he was a brilliant man. Faramyn was in that instance filled with pride and love for him. A smile found its way across her face, identical to Eowyn's, but met by the glittering eyes of her father and framed by his thick dark locks. Laughing and flicking the reigns in her hands, she took off towards the city.
"Come along, then!" she cried over her shoulder with a slight smirk. "Would you have me beat you to the gates?"
But he was already in close pursuit.
~*~
The family of stewards resided in the castle alongside the royal family, as it was before Gondor lost its king. By the time Boromir and Faramyn reached it, they were both laughing unstoppably. A good-natured argument over who had won the race broke out, occupying their full attention even as they climbed from their saddles and handed their horses to a stable boy.
"You were leagues behind me from start to finish!" insisted Faramyn with a grin. "So far, in fact, that I had time to wonder whether you were coming at all or if you had merely returned your sights and your destination northward to Rohan." Nudging him delightedly, she continued. "Of course, in the time it took you to appear by my side, you may very easily have traveled home and back again!"
Boromir shook his head and smiled, leading her to the main entrance and into the great marble hall. "Setting the race aside, Sister, surely you see we are truly home at last." He gestured broadly before him and inhaled deeply of the familiar air. "And in conclusion to our debating," he smiled slyly, unable to resist. "We shall simply say that the best man took victory, as he usually does in all matters of competition." A laugh rose in his throat but he stifled it, winking at his fuming sibling. He knew full well that his figurative reference to an old saying would spark Faramyn's temper. Always she strived, attempting to prove that her gender in no way impaired her ability to handle herself.
"Oh, you think you're quite agile of tongue-" she began angrily, but was interrupted as a hurried woman came bustling into the corridor, smiling through misty eyes.
"Oh, Faramyn, how wonderful to see you again!" she exclaimed. Noisily she approached the pair and took Faramyn's hand, smiling respectfully at Boromir. "Master Boromir, your father requests your immediate presence." There was a brief silence. Then, smirking playfully at his sister, the man inclined his head and disappeared from sight. "Ah, dearest child!" resumed Elle, Faramyn's ancient handmaid. "You have been away so long!"
"It has indeed been ages," she responded as her anger melted. "I had forgotten how lovely a sight this place made when viewed from afar, and how my heart sings to embrace every detail of it." A sigh escaped her lips and she glanced contentedly around the old walls and numerous banners.
"It is indeed lovely," agreed Elle distractedly. "Look at you, dear! You've come of age so quickly! Here you are, a woman in my presence..." She frowned. "And dirty, at that. Come along, then, we must get you bathed and changed before the feast this evening."
"Feast?" Faramyn echoed dumbly.
"Yes, yes, of course. Have your brains failed you, child? There is a feast tonight, the first night of the festival. All the guests have already arrived!" Forcefully she took hold of Faramyn's shoulders and began leading her towards her room. It was a short trek up a flight of stairs and through a narrow passageway, a shortcut revealed to her by her father at a very young age. The tiny corridor also served as an excellent hiding place, though Elle always knew to find her there.
"Oh, yes. That feast. It certainly slipped my mind, I'm afraid." They stepped into her luxurious accommodations, where in a small white room to the left a bath had already been drawn. It reeked of expensive salts and the surface was steaming through a layer of flower petals. Gasping, Faramyn smiled disbelievingly at her old nurse. "Amazing, Elle!" she said warmly. "How is it that you always know precisely what I need?"
"That's enough of that," the woman laughed. "I am not so great. You are as easy to predict as the seasons!" She quickly removed the traveling gear strapped to Faramyn's waist before shooing her teasingly towards the tub. "Just enjoy it! I will be out here hemming your gown for the evening; call if you need me." They had established long ago that unlike most girls and women, Faramyn much preferred to bathe herself.
"Thank you," she gushed before hastily crossing to the awaiting cleansing. Quick work was made of her clothes and hairpins and in no time at all she was submerged in the bubbling water.
A sigh escaped her lips. She dipped beneath the water and pushed her hair away from her face, grinning in reminiscence as the sound of her nursemaid's humming met her ears. For several long minutes she toyed with the petals in the bath, watching insightfully as ripples pooled outwards from the disturbed tension. Only one thought plagued her mind, and it was not what she would have expected it to be.
She simply couldn't wait to see Legolas again.
It had been nearly six years since she'd seen him last. Far too long, she knew. After turning fifteen, however, she did not return to the city of her birth. It was in that year she had fallen in love with Rohan, and chosen to stay there indefinitely. As a girl the family had frequently traveled between the two countries, but it was not until her fifteenth birthday that she had awoken early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, and the people come out of their houses to begin the day's work. Transfixed, she had gazed from her window across the snow-peaked ranges for nearly two hours before she was forced to dress and eat breakfast.
The elf had always remained in her thoughts, however, regardless of where she lived. It was child's play, she knew... After all, he was not a man. His eyes had seen hundreds and hundreds of years slip through their notch in the hourglass, and they would see hundreds to come... Still, something inside her glowed upon the mention of his name. Perhaps it was only remnants of her girlhood crush.
"Elle?" Faramyn called lightly, cutting the stillness that had enveloped them.
"Yes, child?"
Biting her lip, she held back a smile. "Has... Legolas appeared much since his arrival?"
"The elf?" asked the nursemaid obliviously. "Yes, yes, he pops up all over the place. It makes me rather nervous, what with him prancing about, stalking around without making the slightest of noises. His kind has always set me on edge. Very mysterious, if I do say so."
"Hm..." Faramyn said noncommittally.
Continuing on, Elle pulled her needle tightly through the material across her lap and clicked her tongue. "He asked of you yesterday."
Sitting up abruptly, Faramyn could feel her heart jump in her chest. She cleared her throat and hid her intrigue expertly. "Did he?"
"Oh, yes. You and your brother, that is. He seemed to think that your journey shouldn't have taken half as long as it did." She snorted indignantly. "It would take an elf half the time, of this I'm sure, but what does he think you to be? Divine beings? I told him directly when he asked me if you had arrived yet. 'Master Elf,' I said. 'They won't be here until tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow morning at the best. The distance from here to Rohan is greater than you may think!' He disagreed, of course. Politely, though, I might say. He is a graceful man, but so mysterious."
Faramyn's stomach dropped alongside her spirits, but she said nothing for a long moment. "... I see." So, he had not asked about her alone. Indeed, he had most likely been more in search of Boromir than her. With a slight groan, she eased sorely from the tub and reached for the blanket that had been set nearby. Once fully dry, she picked up her discarded dress but was stopped by Elle's clear exclamation.
"No, no! You'll have to wear something clean, dearest," she remarked.
"But I'll only be wearing it for a few hours!" Faramyn laughed.
"That is of no matter," the maid scolded. "You'll be meeting with your mother and father this afternoon. Do you not want to present yourself as clean and beautiful?"
A thought crossed the young woman's mind and she nodded slowly. "Ah yes, you are right as always. Tell me Elle, what dressing do I have available?"
Bustling to a nearby cabinet, she pulled out several rather lavish dresses in numerous colors. "You always look so lovely in any one of these," she murmured absently, placing them on the bed. "Though I know you prefer nothing so fancy." Her hands continued to search through the large wardrobe until she came across the perfect gown. "Ah, here we are. You will look stunning, my dear."
The dress was somewhat plain in design, but its color was a crisp white. Next to her dark hair it *would*, indeed, look stunning. Smiling, Faramyn allowed Elle to lift it over her head and tie what ties it had. She was caught off-guard when the woman forced her into a chair and began vigorously combing through her hair. "What ridiculousness is this?" cried Faramyn in slight alarm.
"Hush, child," Elle laughed, taking up chunks of her curls and braiding a hasty halo that pulled the hair back from Faramyn's face. The rest cascaded down her back. "You aren't a young girl anymore. You must look like the woman you are!"
"Oh womanly indeed," she scowled. "You wait on me more in this instance than ever before!" Rising and shaking her head, she crossed to the full- length mirror than hung on the southern wall.
A grin broke across her face. Planting a fluttery kiss on the cheek of her maid, she waved and flew from the room. She had old friends to catch up with.
~*~
A/N: Okay, I promise it picks up and actually goes somewhere in the next chapter. ^^; We're getting there! I just needed these chapters to set the scene. Many thanks to my two reviewers, both of whom were anonymous! (Otherwise I'd slap their names up here. ^_^) I hope you like this chapter!
By: Frances
***
DISCLAIMER: I, of course, own nothing. ^_^
***
After several long days of riding, Boromir and Faramyn prepared for the final leg of their journey. They arose long before morning's first light and packed swiftly before heading into the darkness at intense speeds. The horses, appearing to sense the excitement about their riders, succumbed to the drive to push determinedly onward. The very air was thick with anticipation.
The travelers spoke very little that morning, although, in honesty Faramyn did not mind. Her heart was fluttering rapidly in her ribcage like a struggling bird responding to the pull of its nearby nest. The sound of pounding hooves was the only one to disturb the still of the morn. Through the deep, black oblivion they raced, until nearly two hours later it faded to blue. Boromir then pulled his stallion to a stop and his sister followed suit. Faramyn smiled knowingly at him as they nudged the animals up a steep hill that was the final obstacle.
As they rounded over the highest point of the mound, the sun began to bleed red in the distance, creeping above the horizon and reaching out with its delicate fingers of rose. It slowly spread over the still plane to greet them, and at that point Faramyn could swear it paused, as if to indulge them in their looking. There, below them, they could see the great stone city, solemn and proud. Her breath caught in her throat and she melted into the beauty of the surrounding canvas. All of it... everything around them... was perfect. Such a swelling in her chest she felt, that she feared she might burst. This was the home of her people and her heritage.
Beaming, she turned to look at Boromir. His gallant expression and rugged features made him look knightly and bold. Above his firmly set mouth the eyes of his mother spoke clearly of awe and happiness. All things considered, he was a brilliant man. Faramyn was in that instance filled with pride and love for him. A smile found its way across her face, identical to Eowyn's, but met by the glittering eyes of her father and framed by his thick dark locks. Laughing and flicking the reigns in her hands, she took off towards the city.
"Come along, then!" she cried over her shoulder with a slight smirk. "Would you have me beat you to the gates?"
But he was already in close pursuit.
~*~
The family of stewards resided in the castle alongside the royal family, as it was before Gondor lost its king. By the time Boromir and Faramyn reached it, they were both laughing unstoppably. A good-natured argument over who had won the race broke out, occupying their full attention even as they climbed from their saddles and handed their horses to a stable boy.
"You were leagues behind me from start to finish!" insisted Faramyn with a grin. "So far, in fact, that I had time to wonder whether you were coming at all or if you had merely returned your sights and your destination northward to Rohan." Nudging him delightedly, she continued. "Of course, in the time it took you to appear by my side, you may very easily have traveled home and back again!"
Boromir shook his head and smiled, leading her to the main entrance and into the great marble hall. "Setting the race aside, Sister, surely you see we are truly home at last." He gestured broadly before him and inhaled deeply of the familiar air. "And in conclusion to our debating," he smiled slyly, unable to resist. "We shall simply say that the best man took victory, as he usually does in all matters of competition." A laugh rose in his throat but he stifled it, winking at his fuming sibling. He knew full well that his figurative reference to an old saying would spark Faramyn's temper. Always she strived, attempting to prove that her gender in no way impaired her ability to handle herself.
"Oh, you think you're quite agile of tongue-" she began angrily, but was interrupted as a hurried woman came bustling into the corridor, smiling through misty eyes.
"Oh, Faramyn, how wonderful to see you again!" she exclaimed. Noisily she approached the pair and took Faramyn's hand, smiling respectfully at Boromir. "Master Boromir, your father requests your immediate presence." There was a brief silence. Then, smirking playfully at his sister, the man inclined his head and disappeared from sight. "Ah, dearest child!" resumed Elle, Faramyn's ancient handmaid. "You have been away so long!"
"It has indeed been ages," she responded as her anger melted. "I had forgotten how lovely a sight this place made when viewed from afar, and how my heart sings to embrace every detail of it." A sigh escaped her lips and she glanced contentedly around the old walls and numerous banners.
"It is indeed lovely," agreed Elle distractedly. "Look at you, dear! You've come of age so quickly! Here you are, a woman in my presence..." She frowned. "And dirty, at that. Come along, then, we must get you bathed and changed before the feast this evening."
"Feast?" Faramyn echoed dumbly.
"Yes, yes, of course. Have your brains failed you, child? There is a feast tonight, the first night of the festival. All the guests have already arrived!" Forcefully she took hold of Faramyn's shoulders and began leading her towards her room. It was a short trek up a flight of stairs and through a narrow passageway, a shortcut revealed to her by her father at a very young age. The tiny corridor also served as an excellent hiding place, though Elle always knew to find her there.
"Oh, yes. That feast. It certainly slipped my mind, I'm afraid." They stepped into her luxurious accommodations, where in a small white room to the left a bath had already been drawn. It reeked of expensive salts and the surface was steaming through a layer of flower petals. Gasping, Faramyn smiled disbelievingly at her old nurse. "Amazing, Elle!" she said warmly. "How is it that you always know precisely what I need?"
"That's enough of that," the woman laughed. "I am not so great. You are as easy to predict as the seasons!" She quickly removed the traveling gear strapped to Faramyn's waist before shooing her teasingly towards the tub. "Just enjoy it! I will be out here hemming your gown for the evening; call if you need me." They had established long ago that unlike most girls and women, Faramyn much preferred to bathe herself.
"Thank you," she gushed before hastily crossing to the awaiting cleansing. Quick work was made of her clothes and hairpins and in no time at all she was submerged in the bubbling water.
A sigh escaped her lips. She dipped beneath the water and pushed her hair away from her face, grinning in reminiscence as the sound of her nursemaid's humming met her ears. For several long minutes she toyed with the petals in the bath, watching insightfully as ripples pooled outwards from the disturbed tension. Only one thought plagued her mind, and it was not what she would have expected it to be.
She simply couldn't wait to see Legolas again.
It had been nearly six years since she'd seen him last. Far too long, she knew. After turning fifteen, however, she did not return to the city of her birth. It was in that year she had fallen in love with Rohan, and chosen to stay there indefinitely. As a girl the family had frequently traveled between the two countries, but it was not until her fifteenth birthday that she had awoken early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, and the people come out of their houses to begin the day's work. Transfixed, she had gazed from her window across the snow-peaked ranges for nearly two hours before she was forced to dress and eat breakfast.
The elf had always remained in her thoughts, however, regardless of where she lived. It was child's play, she knew... After all, he was not a man. His eyes had seen hundreds and hundreds of years slip through their notch in the hourglass, and they would see hundreds to come... Still, something inside her glowed upon the mention of his name. Perhaps it was only remnants of her girlhood crush.
"Elle?" Faramyn called lightly, cutting the stillness that had enveloped them.
"Yes, child?"
Biting her lip, she held back a smile. "Has... Legolas appeared much since his arrival?"
"The elf?" asked the nursemaid obliviously. "Yes, yes, he pops up all over the place. It makes me rather nervous, what with him prancing about, stalking around without making the slightest of noises. His kind has always set me on edge. Very mysterious, if I do say so."
"Hm..." Faramyn said noncommittally.
Continuing on, Elle pulled her needle tightly through the material across her lap and clicked her tongue. "He asked of you yesterday."
Sitting up abruptly, Faramyn could feel her heart jump in her chest. She cleared her throat and hid her intrigue expertly. "Did he?"
"Oh, yes. You and your brother, that is. He seemed to think that your journey shouldn't have taken half as long as it did." She snorted indignantly. "It would take an elf half the time, of this I'm sure, but what does he think you to be? Divine beings? I told him directly when he asked me if you had arrived yet. 'Master Elf,' I said. 'They won't be here until tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow morning at the best. The distance from here to Rohan is greater than you may think!' He disagreed, of course. Politely, though, I might say. He is a graceful man, but so mysterious."
Faramyn's stomach dropped alongside her spirits, but she said nothing for a long moment. "... I see." So, he had not asked about her alone. Indeed, he had most likely been more in search of Boromir than her. With a slight groan, she eased sorely from the tub and reached for the blanket that had been set nearby. Once fully dry, she picked up her discarded dress but was stopped by Elle's clear exclamation.
"No, no! You'll have to wear something clean, dearest," she remarked.
"But I'll only be wearing it for a few hours!" Faramyn laughed.
"That is of no matter," the maid scolded. "You'll be meeting with your mother and father this afternoon. Do you not want to present yourself as clean and beautiful?"
A thought crossed the young woman's mind and she nodded slowly. "Ah yes, you are right as always. Tell me Elle, what dressing do I have available?"
Bustling to a nearby cabinet, she pulled out several rather lavish dresses in numerous colors. "You always look so lovely in any one of these," she murmured absently, placing them on the bed. "Though I know you prefer nothing so fancy." Her hands continued to search through the large wardrobe until she came across the perfect gown. "Ah, here we are. You will look stunning, my dear."
The dress was somewhat plain in design, but its color was a crisp white. Next to her dark hair it *would*, indeed, look stunning. Smiling, Faramyn allowed Elle to lift it over her head and tie what ties it had. She was caught off-guard when the woman forced her into a chair and began vigorously combing through her hair. "What ridiculousness is this?" cried Faramyn in slight alarm.
"Hush, child," Elle laughed, taking up chunks of her curls and braiding a hasty halo that pulled the hair back from Faramyn's face. The rest cascaded down her back. "You aren't a young girl anymore. You must look like the woman you are!"
"Oh womanly indeed," she scowled. "You wait on me more in this instance than ever before!" Rising and shaking her head, she crossed to the full- length mirror than hung on the southern wall.
A grin broke across her face. Planting a fluttery kiss on the cheek of her maid, she waved and flew from the room. She had old friends to catch up with.
~*~
A/N: Okay, I promise it picks up and actually goes somewhere in the next chapter. ^^; We're getting there! I just needed these chapters to set the scene. Many thanks to my two reviewers, both of whom were anonymous! (Otherwise I'd slap their names up here. ^_^) I hope you like this chapter!