Yet Another Author's Note: In chapter 3, we go back to Eowyn's POV. Once
again, I own nothing, corrupt everything. Muah! *ahem* This chapter gets
slightly gushy, so if that bothers you, don't read. Nothing really
explicit, though. Maybe PG-13, but I doubt it. Anywho...
*~*~*~*~*~*
Eowyn watched Arwen glide gracefully up the staircase. The queen's silvery satin train slid silently across the ebony steps with a beauty of movement the Shieldmaiden hardly dared hope to achieve. She sighed and turned to go back to her suite of rooms.
There was a slight draft in the hallway. Eowyn crossed her arms and rubbed them. Silk was beautiful, yes, but not warm. She examined the portraits of Gondorian nobles as she walked by. Stately and aloof, none of them smiled. For all their wealth and prestige, they didn't look happy. Whatever happens, she promised herself Faramir and I won't end up like that!
A smaller hallway opened to her right. Across from it hung the portrait of a beautiful young woman with dark hair and darker eyes. Where had she seen those eyes? Puzzled, she turned fully towards the painting. So intent was she on the art that she failed, uncharacteristically, to sense the person creeping silently up behind her.
A strong arm snaked suddenly around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides like an iron bar. At the same moment, a hand covered her mouth, and she was dragged out of the well-lit hall into the shadowed passageway.
Eowyn never panicked, she only grew angry. Twisting suddenly, she raised her hands to strike her assailant in the stomach- only to have her fist enclosed in his. He drew her close against him until her breasts were crushed against his chest. Her arms he pinned behind her back.
She kneed him in the groin.
"Oof!" a grunt of pain erupted from the attacker. "I should have known better than to sneak up on a lady of Rohan!"
"Faramir!" Eowyn ran to kneel next to the fallen Ranger. "Oh my dear- did I hurt you? I didn't kick you that hard, did I? I'm so sorr- " She broke off. "No! I'm NOT sorry! How dare you accost me?" Eowyn stood up and glared down at her fiancee.
"Oh, but my love, if I'd really wanted you in my power, all I had to do," Faramir rolled to his knees and tackled her. The enraged Shieldmaiden lay beneath him on a woven throw rug. "was kiss you." And he did.
For pride's sake Eowyn tried to resist. Her efforts were in vain, though, and in seconds she had melted against Faramir and wrapped her arms around his neck. I'm pathetic! She thought briefly, before surrendering completely. Faramir began to kiss his way along her neck. Eowyn tried to think clearly.
"What... what did you wish to see me about?" She tilted her head to give him better access.
"Hmm? Does a man need a reason-- besides the obvious-- to seek a brief assignation with his betrothed?" Eowyn laughed. Faramir drew away from her and grinned. "I haven't had a moment with you all day. I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you, but there's so much to do rebuilding the city, and reinstating bits of legislature that haven't been used since the last time there was a King..."
Eowyn pressed her fingertips to his lips. "Shh. I understand. I've been busy myself, what with the wedding, and dealing with Eomer, and learning my way around. I've missed you, though."
Faramir's eyes softened. He leaned down to kiss her tenderly, then helped her to her feet. Tucking her arm through his, he led her out into the main hall and began heading back towards the guest wing, where Eowyn's suite was.
"Speaking of Eomer. . . I saw your confrontation at dinner, and I can't help wondering what it was about. Is there anything I can do to help?"
What did I ever do to deserve such a kind man? Eowyn thought, love welling up in her heart. She squeezed Faramir's arm.
"It's nothing serious. He just thinks we need to be kept further apart until the wedding. As if I weren't perfectly capable of looking after my own reputation!"
"Well," Faramir chuckled, "To tell you the truth, if I had a beautiful, vibrant younger sister who was engaged to Eomer, I probably wouldn't want him hanging around her more than necessary, either. Men will be men..." He trailed off. Eowyn raised one eyebrow.
"Is your intent to seduce me before our wedding night, then?" She asked frankly. Goodness! A part of me wants him to say yes! She tried to look disapproving. A glint of pure mischief appeared in Faramir's eyes. They had arrived at her door.
He cradled her head in one arm and swept backwards over the other as she clung to his shoulders.
"My intent, dear lady," Faramir bent close to her face. "Is for the next three weeks to be on very long, very frustrating seduction, the culmination of which will occur after we are married." With that, he kissed her passionately.
I can't get enough of him! Eowyn marveled at the sensations racing through her blood. She returned the kiss eagerly.
"I can't leave the two of you alone for a moment, can I?" Eomer grasped Faramir's shoulder and jerked him roughly away from Eowyn. "I love you, sister, and for that reason and that reason only I will refrain from thrashing your betrothed." Faramir looked amused. Eomer was incensed.
Eowyn rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, gentlemen. Please don't kill each other. Arwen will be horrified if she finds blood on her beautiful floors." She turned and swept-- or tried to sweep-- into her chamber. Once she heard two sets of footsteps recede down the hallway, she walked to her dressing room and began rummaging through boxes. Her festival dress was around here somewhere, and she wanted to have one of the maids press it before the queen saw it the next day.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Eowyn watched Arwen glide gracefully up the staircase. The queen's silvery satin train slid silently across the ebony steps with a beauty of movement the Shieldmaiden hardly dared hope to achieve. She sighed and turned to go back to her suite of rooms.
There was a slight draft in the hallway. Eowyn crossed her arms and rubbed them. Silk was beautiful, yes, but not warm. She examined the portraits of Gondorian nobles as she walked by. Stately and aloof, none of them smiled. For all their wealth and prestige, they didn't look happy. Whatever happens, she promised herself Faramir and I won't end up like that!
A smaller hallway opened to her right. Across from it hung the portrait of a beautiful young woman with dark hair and darker eyes. Where had she seen those eyes? Puzzled, she turned fully towards the painting. So intent was she on the art that she failed, uncharacteristically, to sense the person creeping silently up behind her.
A strong arm snaked suddenly around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides like an iron bar. At the same moment, a hand covered her mouth, and she was dragged out of the well-lit hall into the shadowed passageway.
Eowyn never panicked, she only grew angry. Twisting suddenly, she raised her hands to strike her assailant in the stomach- only to have her fist enclosed in his. He drew her close against him until her breasts were crushed against his chest. Her arms he pinned behind her back.
She kneed him in the groin.
"Oof!" a grunt of pain erupted from the attacker. "I should have known better than to sneak up on a lady of Rohan!"
"Faramir!" Eowyn ran to kneel next to the fallen Ranger. "Oh my dear- did I hurt you? I didn't kick you that hard, did I? I'm so sorr- " She broke off. "No! I'm NOT sorry! How dare you accost me?" Eowyn stood up and glared down at her fiancee.
"Oh, but my love, if I'd really wanted you in my power, all I had to do," Faramir rolled to his knees and tackled her. The enraged Shieldmaiden lay beneath him on a woven throw rug. "was kiss you." And he did.
For pride's sake Eowyn tried to resist. Her efforts were in vain, though, and in seconds she had melted against Faramir and wrapped her arms around his neck. I'm pathetic! She thought briefly, before surrendering completely. Faramir began to kiss his way along her neck. Eowyn tried to think clearly.
"What... what did you wish to see me about?" She tilted her head to give him better access.
"Hmm? Does a man need a reason-- besides the obvious-- to seek a brief assignation with his betrothed?" Eowyn laughed. Faramir drew away from her and grinned. "I haven't had a moment with you all day. I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you, but there's so much to do rebuilding the city, and reinstating bits of legislature that haven't been used since the last time there was a King..."
Eowyn pressed her fingertips to his lips. "Shh. I understand. I've been busy myself, what with the wedding, and dealing with Eomer, and learning my way around. I've missed you, though."
Faramir's eyes softened. He leaned down to kiss her tenderly, then helped her to her feet. Tucking her arm through his, he led her out into the main hall and began heading back towards the guest wing, where Eowyn's suite was.
"Speaking of Eomer. . . I saw your confrontation at dinner, and I can't help wondering what it was about. Is there anything I can do to help?"
What did I ever do to deserve such a kind man? Eowyn thought, love welling up in her heart. She squeezed Faramir's arm.
"It's nothing serious. He just thinks we need to be kept further apart until the wedding. As if I weren't perfectly capable of looking after my own reputation!"
"Well," Faramir chuckled, "To tell you the truth, if I had a beautiful, vibrant younger sister who was engaged to Eomer, I probably wouldn't want him hanging around her more than necessary, either. Men will be men..." He trailed off. Eowyn raised one eyebrow.
"Is your intent to seduce me before our wedding night, then?" She asked frankly. Goodness! A part of me wants him to say yes! She tried to look disapproving. A glint of pure mischief appeared in Faramir's eyes. They had arrived at her door.
He cradled her head in one arm and swept backwards over the other as she clung to his shoulders.
"My intent, dear lady," Faramir bent close to her face. "Is for the next three weeks to be on very long, very frustrating seduction, the culmination of which will occur after we are married." With that, he kissed her passionately.
I can't get enough of him! Eowyn marveled at the sensations racing through her blood. She returned the kiss eagerly.
"I can't leave the two of you alone for a moment, can I?" Eomer grasped Faramir's shoulder and jerked him roughly away from Eowyn. "I love you, sister, and for that reason and that reason only I will refrain from thrashing your betrothed." Faramir looked amused. Eomer was incensed.
Eowyn rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, gentlemen. Please don't kill each other. Arwen will be horrified if she finds blood on her beautiful floors." She turned and swept-- or tried to sweep-- into her chamber. Once she heard two sets of footsteps recede down the hallway, she walked to her dressing room and began rummaging through boxes. Her festival dress was around here somewhere, and she wanted to have one of the maids press it before the queen saw it the next day.