All right, I know that the place that Denethor lives really isn't palace like, or is it? I don't know. I can't remember had my sister has hidden RotK so I can't go check so I hope that no one will get angry about that. And hey check this out absolutely no one has read this. Wow now don't I feel so special!
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When the Strong Soften
Chapter 2: Entrapment
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The warm water surrounded her skin and the smell of roses filled the air. Chastity lay in her bath collecting herself for the afternoon's dinner.
"Chastity you must get out now, or you will be late."
"Yes Orina. What a tragedy that would be." She added to herself. Orina, a thirty-year-old woman, was Chastity's maid.
Chastity then retired from the tub of water causing her to shiver when the cool air played across her skin. Quickly, she changed into a light green dress and began to warm once more. She did her hair. But like always, she left at least half of it down. Orina gave her an encouraging smile. Chastity returned a small smile of her own and left to the palace.
Once outside the door, the autumn air rushed to meet her and she was surprised at its coolness. The weather was swiftly forgetting summer and she was not too sad to see the season go. As she wished to stay outside and so, the trip to the palace quickly ended.
The building did nothing to lighten Chastity's mood. She thought living in a place with perfectly polished floors and no sign of living would become very tiresome. There was no color save the occasional black speck in the tile floor. And the only life was the servant running to fetch something. She shuddered inwardly; she would not want to live here.
A maid quickly found her and Chastity was led to a dinning room. The men had just arrived and waited for her to sit, and then they did also. There was Denethor and Norinths present in the most important seats. Other Lords sat around the table with the occasional wife at their side, their trophy. Across from her was an empty seat. She dared not raise her voice to even question of who it belonged to. But as the meal was set before her, she soon found out.
The doors to the room quickly opened and then shut. A young man entered and bowed to Denethor. "Sorry father I am late but there was much to be done with the plans."
"Sit and eat." Was his only answer.
Faramir sat in the vacant seat across from Chastity and smiled at her. She gave a slight nod and looked down at her food. Around her, the men conversed and ate. There was no hurry here, only their deathly slow pace. All Chastity wished to do was leave, but as a rule, no one could leave until Denethor rose and departed from the room.
Quickly she looked up at Denethor but he looked very content at staying where he was. Dejectedly, she went to stare back at the table, which had been under her scrutiny most of the meal. But before her eyes found the same spot on the table, Faramir caught her eye. The brown eyes told her to be patient it was not long now. A few minutes later Denethor rose, Norinths at his side and they quickly left the premises.
With the Steward gone all the Lords left. Chastity raised her body from the chair and let out a sigh. Her fingertips played with the ends of her hair as she walked towards the door, the sound of her steps echoed through the dining hall. But before she reached the door a hallow cough echoed over her steps. Chastity quickly turned around; there, standing behind his chair, was Faramir.
"I am sorry sir." Chastity hastily began to walk back to her empty chair.
"Please stop."
Chastity obeyed.
"You do not need to follow that custom in my presences. But will you please follow this one?" Faramir held his arm out to Chastity who placed her hand on it hesitantly.
"Don't be worried. I have something to show you."
The two walked from the hall and down a large corridor. Chastity would like to separate herself from the man at her side and be off to an adventure of her own. But tradition and laws had her playing a part. Deliberately disobeying tradition especially in the Steward's house was nothing short of jail or death.
The two stopped in front of a door. They had walked for some time and Chastity had seen them pass this door once. Faramir grinned at Chastity and opened the door. Inside she found living chambers. The room she saw was an entertainment room filled with chairs and cushions a table also. Once inside the room Chastity dropped her hand from Faramir's arm. She looked at the shelves placed around the room. Some held books, others weapons, and one gauntlets. Very slowly, she walked to the shelf with the gauntlets. Gingerly she ran her fingers over the designs in them, she had not seen these in many years.
A throat cleared behind her. Then, a hand picked up one of the gauntlets and gave it to her. She held it close to her for how long she did not know.
When many minutes had passed, Chastity heard a voice beside her. "You are correct, these are Eldacar's. You brother gave them to me before he died."
"You knew him well?"
"Yes, I grew up with him. But as we got older, he would separate himself from me. He would always be found at his home. Sometimes I could find him with tears in his eyes. But he would never explain why."
Chastity looked out the window. She knew the reason why her brother stopped being so cheerful. Then she noticed the light outside and gasped. "I'm sorry I must leave." She placed the gauntlet back on the self and started for the door.
"Wait Chastity."
Chastity spun around to see Faramir standing very close to where she had been. "I am sorry, I must go."
"Meet me tomorrow."
"I will try." She whispered while she flew out the door. As she walked quickly down the street, the sun disappeared from the sky. Few people were left on the street and as she journeyed down the road, the wind fiercely nipped her, preparing her for a storm.
Quickly Chastity opened the door and slipped inside. She was met with a slap across her cheek.
"Where have you been!"?
"I was at Ancalimë's."
"You know to be here before the sun falls from the sky." He sneered.
Chastity did not reply to this.
"And I did not allow you permission to go see this Ancalimë."
"I do not need your permission to visit my friends."
She was met with another slap.
"You will obey me, no matter the cost!"
Chastity quickly walked to her room. She would not give Norinths the pleasure of seeing her run. Quickly the door was shut and Chastity flung herself on the bed. A huff escaped her lips and she was ready to scream. But the tears in her eyes kept the outcry in her throat. She closed her eyes to find the image of her brother on the back of her eyelids.
As the night progressed Chastity did not fall asleep but rather sat at her window and stared at the house next door. The moon waved hello and then good-bye. The sun began its day trip before Chastity fell asleep on her window seat.
The rustling of cloth filled her ears and Chastity awoke. Coming in her door, she saw Orina. But before she could say a word, Orina put her finger to her lips. A tray was set on the chest at the foot of her bed before anything was conversed.
"Lord Norinths has ordered that you are not to be let out of you room today." Orina placed a cool cloth on Chastity's cheek. "There will be someone here to bring you your other meals. I must leave the children are sick."
Chastity's hand placed itself on top of Orina's. The young woman squeezed the older woman's hand. "Good luck." Chastity took the wet cloth from Orina then watched her friend leave her prison.
The door opened again later that day, Chastity pulled her eyes from the window. It was late afternoon and she had done nothing all day but stare out the window and think. The view that met her eyes made a smile visit her lips.
"It's not like I volunteer for these things."
Chastity raised an eyebrow.
"All right, I did. But don't let it get around."
There was a shake of a head and more smiling from the girl by the window.
"Come on I don't have much time! You know people have been looking for you like crazy."
"Somehow I really doubt that Thorongil."
"Okay well-are you going out the door or not Norinths is in a meeting-maybe I exaggerated a bit but really Ancalimë, Faramir, and myself were looking for you."
"Damn, I was suppose to met him today."
The two left the house after giving strict instructions to the watcher outside of Chastity's door that if anyone wished to see her she was sleeping. They now walked down the street in the opposite direction of the palace.
"Do you wish to see him?" Thorongil asked picking up their conversation where it had left off.
"No, I will see him later."
"Okay. Are you all right?" Thorongil asked indicating her cheek. It was still somewhat red.
"I am fine."
"Are you sure?"
A strong wind blew and Chastity's dark red hair danced. "A storms coming."
"It probably is. You've always been able to tell." A smile filled Thorongil's features. His friend was very good and avoiding conversation.
The two spent the rest of the trip in silence. They took a turn and the houses became sparse until there was none left. A lone building stood hundreds of feet in front of them. As they approached the smell of hay and horse was brought to their noses. They soon arrived at the stables and entered.
"I thought you would enjoy this." Thorongil responded to Chastity's wide smile.
"I always do." Thorongil always rescued her when she was locked in her room and brought her to the stables. Chastity grabbed a brush from the shelf on the wall and approached a chocolate horse with one white year and three white socks. On her approach, the horse whined softly.
"Hello Storm. It's good to see you." She whispered. Then she gave the horse a brushing. As she did so she reminisced on its name, it had been found during a storm by her brother and was name accordingly. After Chastity finished, Storm nudged her and kept looking behind her. Chastity placed a hand on the horse's face. "You know well enough that he is not coming back." But still the horse continued and Chastity felt a swish of air on her neck, but no one was behind her when she turned.
"Chastity you need to be getting back." Thorongil told her.
She nodded and looked at the horse. After kissing its face and giving it a sugar cube, she left. The two walked quickly back to the large house. Chastity looked around and carefully scaled the wall on the side of the house to her room.
Chastity managed to make it into her bed and closed her eyes before the door opened. Breathing deeply she calmed her racing heart and feigned sleep. The person quickly shut the door not bothering to be quiet. As soon as it closed, Chastity sat up and crept to the door. There she heard Norinths voice checking up with the guard.
"No sir. She has not left the chamber and only Orina has seen her as you specified."
"Good, good. She is to remain inside for another day."
"As you wish milord."
Chastity collapsed on the floor. Another day in her room! She couldn't believe it. She stayed on the floor peering at her ceiling. This is how Orina found her the next morning; eyes fixed on the ceiling with an expression of hate on her face.
With feet next to her head, Chastity shifted her gaze to Orina's face. "Two days and a slap for coming in after the sun had fallen." She murmured
"I was never the one to say he was fair, but never mention that." Orina helped Chastity into her bed. Once the young woman's head had found the pillows, she was asleep.
That day was spent in sleep. And when she did awake, she read a book. No one came that day to whisk her away. She was confined to her room and for once, she stayed in it.
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