Disclaimer: The characters and places mentioned in this story are the
creation of J.R.R. Tolkien. I am merely borrowing them for a moment in
time.
Chapter 6- Longing
These last few days had been unbelievable. Spending time with Eowyn had made the time less dreary than it really was, but something was different today. The sky was gray as far as the eye could see, and the air was full of expectation. Life could change on the turn of a pin, and all knew it. All of Gondor hung to the hope of a future, knowing the odds were just as great that the end was near.
And with all this riding on two hobbits somewhere near Mordor, and a legion of Rangers in the West, I am left here in the Houses. I have been injured in battle, and can't go fight amongst my countrymen. Fighting had never been one of the highlights of my life, but it was my job. I am the Captain of the Rangers in Ithilien, and I am the leader of my men. Yet while they are off fighting a new battle, I remain here in the houses, bitter.
"Have you ever had a desire that could never be fulfilled," I asked whistfully as I turned to Eowyn, "and the more you thought about it, the more you resented your place in life?"
She looked at me for a long time before she answered. It seemed that there was some sort of debate going on inside of her and she was unsure of how to answer. After what I believed she thought was an inaudible sigh, she rose and joined me at the wall.
"Desire is one subject that is best forgotten," she began. "You hope for something so much that you blur the lines of reality, and don't see that what you want isn't perfect. Then when the truth finally appears, you are left resentful and sad by what you've lost."
"This thing you longed for seems to have taken control of your life," I commented.
"It did take a hold of me for a time, but hence I have realized my mistake. What I longed for was not what I went after, and I am now at peace with what I have," she responded in kind.
"Surely there is something you desire beyond the walls of Minas Tirith," I asked, not fully understanding what she was saying?
"To be sure, Lord Faramir. I would like nothing more than to be with my brother right now, fighting with the Rohirrim. I am a shieldmaiden in my very being and was raised amongst soldiers. Being here amongst those who are weak, forced to heal before I can go on is the last place I want to be," Eowyn said in a heated tone.
She turned away from me then, and I took the chance for a few moments reflection. Her words had spoken of resentment towards her life, but her tone was one of wishful thinking. She hated where she was, but was able to accept it without too much dissent. I then noticed she was shaking, and I at first thought she was crying. Knowing her to well to do such a thing, I realized she was shivering.
Where were my senses? It was bitterly cold out, and even I wanting for a few more layers. The lady must be freezing. I quickly motioned to my warden and told him to bring a cloak from my room.
When he reappeared a few minutes later, I gladly took the cloak and walked over to the Lady.
"Forgive me my loss of senses, Eowyn. I hadn't realized you were cold," I apologized as I placed the blue mantle on her shoulders.
"Do not worry, Faramir. There are things more important than my being cold," she said in jest. The cloak did to seem to warm her at first, but then a brisk wind arose and she shivered once again. I adjusted the width of my own cape so that I could fit another person in it, and draped it around her. I then wrapped my own arms around her, and rested my chin on her head so that we were in a comfortable position. After a while I felt her body warming up.
"Thank you again Lord, I am feeling warm again," Eowyn said, smiling back at me.
Seeing her in that blue rainment brought back harsh memories for me. The cloak had been my mother's, and was one of the few things I remember ever seeing her in. She had died when I was but a child, and the image I retain of her is of beauty and sadness, much of which I see in the White Lady.
I was about to respond when I felt another wind come about. But, this wind was warm, and revived our very beings. The sun seemed to break through the sky. Life had come back to Gondor, and my head began to feel light at the prospects. My hands groped the wall, searching for something to balance on, and they finally grasped something. Whatever it was brought me comfort and strength, though I have no clue what I grabbed.
--- A/N: Well I finally got back to it. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter, and as always feel free to review. - Malta
Chapter 6- Longing
These last few days had been unbelievable. Spending time with Eowyn had made the time less dreary than it really was, but something was different today. The sky was gray as far as the eye could see, and the air was full of expectation. Life could change on the turn of a pin, and all knew it. All of Gondor hung to the hope of a future, knowing the odds were just as great that the end was near.
And with all this riding on two hobbits somewhere near Mordor, and a legion of Rangers in the West, I am left here in the Houses. I have been injured in battle, and can't go fight amongst my countrymen. Fighting had never been one of the highlights of my life, but it was my job. I am the Captain of the Rangers in Ithilien, and I am the leader of my men. Yet while they are off fighting a new battle, I remain here in the houses, bitter.
"Have you ever had a desire that could never be fulfilled," I asked whistfully as I turned to Eowyn, "and the more you thought about it, the more you resented your place in life?"
She looked at me for a long time before she answered. It seemed that there was some sort of debate going on inside of her and she was unsure of how to answer. After what I believed she thought was an inaudible sigh, she rose and joined me at the wall.
"Desire is one subject that is best forgotten," she began. "You hope for something so much that you blur the lines of reality, and don't see that what you want isn't perfect. Then when the truth finally appears, you are left resentful and sad by what you've lost."
"This thing you longed for seems to have taken control of your life," I commented.
"It did take a hold of me for a time, but hence I have realized my mistake. What I longed for was not what I went after, and I am now at peace with what I have," she responded in kind.
"Surely there is something you desire beyond the walls of Minas Tirith," I asked, not fully understanding what she was saying?
"To be sure, Lord Faramir. I would like nothing more than to be with my brother right now, fighting with the Rohirrim. I am a shieldmaiden in my very being and was raised amongst soldiers. Being here amongst those who are weak, forced to heal before I can go on is the last place I want to be," Eowyn said in a heated tone.
She turned away from me then, and I took the chance for a few moments reflection. Her words had spoken of resentment towards her life, but her tone was one of wishful thinking. She hated where she was, but was able to accept it without too much dissent. I then noticed she was shaking, and I at first thought she was crying. Knowing her to well to do such a thing, I realized she was shivering.
Where were my senses? It was bitterly cold out, and even I wanting for a few more layers. The lady must be freezing. I quickly motioned to my warden and told him to bring a cloak from my room.
When he reappeared a few minutes later, I gladly took the cloak and walked over to the Lady.
"Forgive me my loss of senses, Eowyn. I hadn't realized you were cold," I apologized as I placed the blue mantle on her shoulders.
"Do not worry, Faramir. There are things more important than my being cold," she said in jest. The cloak did to seem to warm her at first, but then a brisk wind arose and she shivered once again. I adjusted the width of my own cape so that I could fit another person in it, and draped it around her. I then wrapped my own arms around her, and rested my chin on her head so that we were in a comfortable position. After a while I felt her body warming up.
"Thank you again Lord, I am feeling warm again," Eowyn said, smiling back at me.
Seeing her in that blue rainment brought back harsh memories for me. The cloak had been my mother's, and was one of the few things I remember ever seeing her in. She had died when I was but a child, and the image I retain of her is of beauty and sadness, much of which I see in the White Lady.
I was about to respond when I felt another wind come about. But, this wind was warm, and revived our very beings. The sun seemed to break through the sky. Life had come back to Gondor, and my head began to feel light at the prospects. My hands groped the wall, searching for something to balance on, and they finally grasped something. Whatever it was brought me comfort and strength, though I have no clue what I grabbed.
--- A/N: Well I finally got back to it. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter, and as always feel free to review. - Malta