Author's Note: Chapter 7 turned out a little more angst-y than I had
originally planned. You see, at the beginning, I really had no idea that
the plot was going to go this direction. It just kind of happened. Going
on from here, the story will probably deviate a little from my original
plans, so apologies in advance for unexpected twists. (
My standard disclaimer applies: I don't own any of these characters or places, they all belong to Tolkien and I'm not making any money off of any of this.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Arwen held Eowyn until her tears subsided. They walked silently back to the Palace together, and Arwen led Eowyn to her private garden. If servants looked at them strangely (it wasn't every day they saw a tear- stained Lady of Rohan in their midst), the Queen stared them into silence. Once again the two ladies sat on the bench under the ancient tree, and finally Eowyn spoke.
"I apologize for my behavior, Arwen. Embarrassing though that conversation was it was hardly an excuse for weeping like a child. But most of all I apologize to you for having to hear that..."
Arwen drew herself up until her back was stiff as a poker. "Whatever do you mean, Eowyn? I would think that hearing one's brother talking to one's fiancé about oneself behind one's back would make anyone distraught. And I don't regret knowing all about the situation, though I am sorry you didn't tell me yourself before I overheard it."
Eowyn's face turned scarlet. "Yes, well, about Aragorn...you must understand, Arwen, it was only a girlish infatuation. I thought that if he loved me he could take me away from all my problems at home, and when I learned he would not, I felt as though my last hope had gone. So I disguised myself as a man and ran away. But even death escaped me. My body healed, but my soul did not, until the freely given love of a noble man taught me that those who truly care for me would not expect anything of me except my own happiness. Faramir's love was unconditional, and when I realized that, I knew that I loved him in return. That will never go away, no matter how long they keep me from him." Eowyn's expression changed from sorrowful to determined as she spoke. Arwen's lips curved in a slight smile.
"Well! Then it appears all we have to do is convince Eomer and Faramir than you are truly in love, and harbor no secret affections for Aragorn!" Arwen stood and began pacing, looking thoughtful.
"But...what...you don't mind?" Eowyn stammered.
Arwen stopped and studied her friend. "What would I mind? That you realized your mind's error and found peace within yourself? That you're madly in love with an excellent man that everyone in the city adores? That you're happy—or will be, if your brother would stop meddling long enough for you to—that's IT!" Triumphant adrenaline rushed through Arwen's body, and she spun in a swift circle crying out in elation.
"That's what?" Eowyn sounded puzzled.
Arwen grabbed the Shieldmaiden's hands and pulled her to her feet. "Remember our plan to get you and Faramir alone tomorrow night?" Eowyn nodded. "Well, we're going to hold to that course, but with a slight change. While you're dragging Faramir off, I'll be distracting Eomer—and I think I know the exact means! Aragorn told me he became quite besotted with a maid he met in Rohan when you became engaged. Do you remember?"
Eowyn furrowed her brow. "Well...I was a bit preoccupied at the time; you know...I wasn't exactly paying attention to anyone besides myself and Faramir..." She looked slightly guilty, and Arwen laughed.
"Well, you're in for a surprise. According to the palace gossip, Eomer has become quite, shall we say, interested in a certain maiden from Dol Amroth...your very own cousin-to-be Lothiriel!" Arwen stifled her giggles at Eowyn's surprised look.
"Lothiriel? As in, the one who gave me my banquet gown? THAT Lothiriel? I've met her and I don't even remember? Oh, how awful!" Eowyn started in on what Arwen could see was in danger of becoming a rant. "You see, this is exactly what I'm talking about! Any real Lady would remember such an important person, but not me! No, I'm too busy making doe-eyes at my fiancé to pay attention to my own brother falling for a future relative!..." she was interrupted before she could continue.
"Never mind that. The point is, I'll see to it that Eomer is kept more than occupied by Lothiriel all night, and you'll be free to have a good long talk with Faramir."
Eowyn looked hopeful for a moment, but her face soon fell. "But you heard Faramir...he thinks we need time apart as well. What if he won't come away to the garden with me?" That thought had bothered Arwen as well, but she waved the possible difficulty aside.
"Don't worry. If that happens I'll think of something. Are you feeling better now?"
Eowyn nodded. "Thank you for understanding, Arwen. It's been so long since I've had a friend, I... well, thank you. And I do promise that I'm not infatuated with Aragorn anymore!" She said the last sentence in an attempt at bringing a light note to the conversation, but Arwen heard the shame in her voice.
"There's nothing wrong with a little crush on someone before you find your soul mate." Arwen rolled her eyes at herself. "Why, you wouldn't believe the number of Elves I thought I wanted to spend my life with when I was younger...I feel so silly looking back on it all!" She chuckled. Both ladies then noticed that the sun was beginning to set. Promising to meet the next evening to ready themselves for the festival—and the implementation of their scheme—they departed to their respective chambers. Arwen wondered if here husband would again be too tired to do anything but sleep by the time he came to their rooms, or if she would actually have a chance to talk to him. Though he never openly stated it, she knew the burdens of leadership weighed heavily on his shoulders. If only he would let her help him!
My standard disclaimer applies: I don't own any of these characters or places, they all belong to Tolkien and I'm not making any money off of any of this.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Arwen held Eowyn until her tears subsided. They walked silently back to the Palace together, and Arwen led Eowyn to her private garden. If servants looked at them strangely (it wasn't every day they saw a tear- stained Lady of Rohan in their midst), the Queen stared them into silence. Once again the two ladies sat on the bench under the ancient tree, and finally Eowyn spoke.
"I apologize for my behavior, Arwen. Embarrassing though that conversation was it was hardly an excuse for weeping like a child. But most of all I apologize to you for having to hear that..."
Arwen drew herself up until her back was stiff as a poker. "Whatever do you mean, Eowyn? I would think that hearing one's brother talking to one's fiancé about oneself behind one's back would make anyone distraught. And I don't regret knowing all about the situation, though I am sorry you didn't tell me yourself before I overheard it."
Eowyn's face turned scarlet. "Yes, well, about Aragorn...you must understand, Arwen, it was only a girlish infatuation. I thought that if he loved me he could take me away from all my problems at home, and when I learned he would not, I felt as though my last hope had gone. So I disguised myself as a man and ran away. But even death escaped me. My body healed, but my soul did not, until the freely given love of a noble man taught me that those who truly care for me would not expect anything of me except my own happiness. Faramir's love was unconditional, and when I realized that, I knew that I loved him in return. That will never go away, no matter how long they keep me from him." Eowyn's expression changed from sorrowful to determined as she spoke. Arwen's lips curved in a slight smile.
"Well! Then it appears all we have to do is convince Eomer and Faramir than you are truly in love, and harbor no secret affections for Aragorn!" Arwen stood and began pacing, looking thoughtful.
"But...what...you don't mind?" Eowyn stammered.
Arwen stopped and studied her friend. "What would I mind? That you realized your mind's error and found peace within yourself? That you're madly in love with an excellent man that everyone in the city adores? That you're happy—or will be, if your brother would stop meddling long enough for you to—that's IT!" Triumphant adrenaline rushed through Arwen's body, and she spun in a swift circle crying out in elation.
"That's what?" Eowyn sounded puzzled.
Arwen grabbed the Shieldmaiden's hands and pulled her to her feet. "Remember our plan to get you and Faramir alone tomorrow night?" Eowyn nodded. "Well, we're going to hold to that course, but with a slight change. While you're dragging Faramir off, I'll be distracting Eomer—and I think I know the exact means! Aragorn told me he became quite besotted with a maid he met in Rohan when you became engaged. Do you remember?"
Eowyn furrowed her brow. "Well...I was a bit preoccupied at the time; you know...I wasn't exactly paying attention to anyone besides myself and Faramir..." She looked slightly guilty, and Arwen laughed.
"Well, you're in for a surprise. According to the palace gossip, Eomer has become quite, shall we say, interested in a certain maiden from Dol Amroth...your very own cousin-to-be Lothiriel!" Arwen stifled her giggles at Eowyn's surprised look.
"Lothiriel? As in, the one who gave me my banquet gown? THAT Lothiriel? I've met her and I don't even remember? Oh, how awful!" Eowyn started in on what Arwen could see was in danger of becoming a rant. "You see, this is exactly what I'm talking about! Any real Lady would remember such an important person, but not me! No, I'm too busy making doe-eyes at my fiancé to pay attention to my own brother falling for a future relative!..." she was interrupted before she could continue.
"Never mind that. The point is, I'll see to it that Eomer is kept more than occupied by Lothiriel all night, and you'll be free to have a good long talk with Faramir."
Eowyn looked hopeful for a moment, but her face soon fell. "But you heard Faramir...he thinks we need time apart as well. What if he won't come away to the garden with me?" That thought had bothered Arwen as well, but she waved the possible difficulty aside.
"Don't worry. If that happens I'll think of something. Are you feeling better now?"
Eowyn nodded. "Thank you for understanding, Arwen. It's been so long since I've had a friend, I... well, thank you. And I do promise that I'm not infatuated with Aragorn anymore!" She said the last sentence in an attempt at bringing a light note to the conversation, but Arwen heard the shame in her voice.
"There's nothing wrong with a little crush on someone before you find your soul mate." Arwen rolled her eyes at herself. "Why, you wouldn't believe the number of Elves I thought I wanted to spend my life with when I was younger...I feel so silly looking back on it all!" She chuckled. Both ladies then noticed that the sun was beginning to set. Promising to meet the next evening to ready themselves for the festival—and the implementation of their scheme—they departed to their respective chambers. Arwen wondered if here husband would again be too tired to do anything but sleep by the time he came to their rooms, or if she would actually have a chance to talk to him. Though he never openly stated it, she knew the burdens of leadership weighed heavily on his shoulders. If only he would let her help him!