Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters and/or places
Author's Note: The Shieldmaiden and I are still unsure about how this one will turn out, so we are unsure of the universe: book, movie, or alternate. We will make a note of it as soon as we know.
*****
Aragorn knows how to move without a sound. Not only a Ranger, as a child he had Elves to compete with. On this night, he only wishes to allow his comrades peaceful slumber, which eludes him, as he slips out into the hall. Where he is going he cannot say. After some wandering, he finds himself in the dining hall. He is about to leave, continue his wandering, when a yellow glow attracts his attention.
"My Lady?" asks Aragorn.
"Who is there?" Eowyn demands, hurrying to her feet. She did not hear him, and in the darkness cannot help but be slightly afraid.
"It is only I, Aragorn," he says.
"Oh." Emotions rush through her: anger at being disturbed, welcome for company, curiosity. Love? "Well, my lord, come and sit down. Bring a torch, so as not to trip, and that we might see each other."
Aragorn falters. He does not appreciate, though he recognizes, Eowyn's intentions. His thoughts turn to Arwen, and he is tempted to make some excuse to leave her alone, but then, she is only a child. And it would be a rude thing to do, in the hall of her uncle. Aragorn sits, bringing a torch with him.
"What plagues my lady this night?"
"Naught. I do not sleep often."
Aragorn raises an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"A warrior never knows when he will have the chance." Eowyn hopes to sound more like a warrior and less like a little girl.
"That is why we sleep when we can," Aragorn tells her.
"Well I want not sleep," she replies haughtily.
"Be iest lin." Aragorn realizes that this lady does not know his words and says, "As you wish."
Eowyn is at a loss for words. She is uncomfortable around this man, if only because she thinks herself in love with her. He seems perfectly comfortable around her, perhaps even unaware of her discomfort. What can she say to him? Nothing seems quite appropriate, after she has heard the beauty of Elvish he speaks. She can feel herself perspiring.
It is then that something happens Lady Eowyn could never have predicted. Aragorn reaches across the table, and actually comes into contact with her. His fingertips brush her forehead. Her heart pulses. He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. This is not a gesture of lovers, although it may be used that way, Eowyn can tell quite clearly that this is a fatherly gesture.
"We all need our sleep, my lady. I certainly hope you find yours."
Eowyn's anger rises, and she is angry with him at once. How dare he? She is not a child! She will not endure such treatment! Before she can calm herself enough to speak, he is gone, back to his quarters to catch sleep in the sun's first rays.
"Let him have his sleep," she mutters, "but I shall show him that not all of us need it." Anger spurs her on for the moment, giving her the needed energy that she will later find herself faking. As Eowyn cleans her shield, passing the time, her anger cools, and she thinks about Aragorn. Her heart beats rapidly again, and she wonders who this maiden is that has stolen the heart of the future King.
*****
TBC
Author's Note: The Shieldmaiden and I are still unsure about how this one will turn out, so we are unsure of the universe: book, movie, or alternate. We will make a note of it as soon as we know.
*****
Aragorn knows how to move without a sound. Not only a Ranger, as a child he had Elves to compete with. On this night, he only wishes to allow his comrades peaceful slumber, which eludes him, as he slips out into the hall. Where he is going he cannot say. After some wandering, he finds himself in the dining hall. He is about to leave, continue his wandering, when a yellow glow attracts his attention.
"My Lady?" asks Aragorn.
"Who is there?" Eowyn demands, hurrying to her feet. She did not hear him, and in the darkness cannot help but be slightly afraid.
"It is only I, Aragorn," he says.
"Oh." Emotions rush through her: anger at being disturbed, welcome for company, curiosity. Love? "Well, my lord, come and sit down. Bring a torch, so as not to trip, and that we might see each other."
Aragorn falters. He does not appreciate, though he recognizes, Eowyn's intentions. His thoughts turn to Arwen, and he is tempted to make some excuse to leave her alone, but then, she is only a child. And it would be a rude thing to do, in the hall of her uncle. Aragorn sits, bringing a torch with him.
"What plagues my lady this night?"
"Naught. I do not sleep often."
Aragorn raises an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"A warrior never knows when he will have the chance." Eowyn hopes to sound more like a warrior and less like a little girl.
"That is why we sleep when we can," Aragorn tells her.
"Well I want not sleep," she replies haughtily.
"Be iest lin." Aragorn realizes that this lady does not know his words and says, "As you wish."
Eowyn is at a loss for words. She is uncomfortable around this man, if only because she thinks herself in love with her. He seems perfectly comfortable around her, perhaps even unaware of her discomfort. What can she say to him? Nothing seems quite appropriate, after she has heard the beauty of Elvish he speaks. She can feel herself perspiring.
It is then that something happens Lady Eowyn could never have predicted. Aragorn reaches across the table, and actually comes into contact with her. His fingertips brush her forehead. Her heart pulses. He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. This is not a gesture of lovers, although it may be used that way, Eowyn can tell quite clearly that this is a fatherly gesture.
"We all need our sleep, my lady. I certainly hope you find yours."
Eowyn's anger rises, and she is angry with him at once. How dare he? She is not a child! She will not endure such treatment! Before she can calm herself enough to speak, he is gone, back to his quarters to catch sleep in the sun's first rays.
"Let him have his sleep," she mutters, "but I shall show him that not all of us need it." Anger spurs her on for the moment, giving her the needed energy that she will later find herself faking. As Eowyn cleans her shield, passing the time, her anger cools, and she thinks about Aragorn. Her heart beats rapidly again, and she wonders who this maiden is that has stolen the heart of the future King.
*****
TBC