Chapter seven
In which our Heroine finds what her heart seeks
Eowyn left Grima with a joyful heart. She felt at peace at last, all traces of her inner turmoil had been cleansed from her mind and she smiled, feeling her cold heart thawing in the presence of Grima's love for her. She met Legolas not far from Grima's Hut and felt her feelings struggle to be told to the unbelieving and dumbfounded Elf. Grima loved her, her heart sang, and she was desperate to continue their talk as soon as she could get back to him. When Mirghast appeared she told him that she now understood Grima's reasons and that she felt he deserved to live and informed the Kingsman that he was to go on to Edoras and tell her brother that she was still alive. "But are you not returning with us, my Lady? You have completed your mission, have you not?" he said, shocked. "Not for a while at least. Legolas shall remain here with me, for my protection. I intend to talk with Grima more extensively. That is all you need know." She said haughtily. "I'm sure my Brother will pay you handsomely for your service to me upon your arrival at Edoras. Be sure to tell him that I am thinking of him." She said, in her coldest, stiffest manner, and left to return to Grima.
When she returned to the hut, Grima was nowhere to be found-his door left open and his fire extinguished. She found his grey cloak, flung carelessly on his bed, but no sign of where he had gone. She searched the village, but no one had yet awoken except the strange birds that perched on the roofs of the cottages, eyeing her with predatory animal menace. She found the house where the child Daigon rested, and knocked quietly upon the door, in case the inhabitants were still abed. The woman she had met the day before answered the door, and Eowyn was thankful, as she could see from the Woman's smile that the boy had indeed survived the night.
"You've come from Grimaulkin, haven't you? Do you want to see my boy? He fairs well this morning, as Grimaulkin promised. He is a wonder...come in! come in!" she said effusively. Eowyn followerd her to the child's bedside, where he was sitting up, drinking a bowl of milk, his colour returned and his eyes bright.
"Grimaulkin's Lady had come to see how better you are, my boy. Say thank you to her now." The woman told him.
Eowyn had not heard Grima being called by this name before, and so the remark about her being "His Lady" slipped by her, but was soon laughing when the little boy talked to her.
"Thank you for bringing my medicine, Lady." He said, his childish voice lilting and sweet, "Grimaulkin said I was gonna grow up to be big and strong, and protect the whole village! Do you think so,?" he said wide- eyed, looking to her for assurance. Eowyn had always felt comfortable around children, and felt nothing to hinder her response to this pretty, engaging boy-child.
"I'm sure you will, Daigon. If you practice hard and train every day, I think you'll be strong enough to defend everyone in the village." She said, smiling unrestrainedly. The boy reminded her of Grima very much, she noticed, with his hairless face and long dark hair. He also had those peculiar, white and grey eyes that had gazed into hers so many times. She patted his head and left soon after, continuing her hunt for Grima. She had been chasing him so long now, she thought to herself that she would not give up now.
By midday she had wandered into the forest of needles, weaving through the trees in her restless search. Soon she came upon the shore where she had rested the day before; pondering the effects that Grima had had upon her life, and had made her decision that he should be allowed to live. It was there that she found him. He stood gazing out to sea, his back to her; seemingly deep in contemplation, for he neither moved nor made a sound. He stood, wearing a course linen tunic and soft buckskin leggings, tucked into high leather boots, his hair so long and dark, flowing like a tangled river to his waist. His shoulders were much broader than she remembered, no longer bent and hunched, he looked lithe and strong. The wind blew cold from the inky waters before him, and she caught the scent of earth and leaves, of growing things and spring.
"What are you doing?" Eowyn said, hesitatingly, breaking the silence that lay before her, and announcing her presence to the man she had been compelled to seek, her journey taking more than two years, and she felt, nearing its end.
"I had hoped to avoid seeing you leave." He said, his voice sounding hoarse, like he had been crying again.
"I had not thought to leave for a time yet. Does my presence upset you? She asked puzzled. She had been under the impression that he had wanted her to stay; had she been so mistaken? It would not surprise her. Human emotions, she had always felt, were beyond her comprehension. Yet he had told her that he loved her....
Eowyn approached Grima, who had not moved, and reached out to place her hand upon his shoulder. He trembled at her touch, like a frightened animal.
"Do you want me to leave you?" she asked, cursing that she sounded so unlike herself, pitiful and vulnerable. Grima Turned to face her slowly. His expression was strange, half hope, half fear, and his eyes were red; he had indeed been crying.
"I would not keep you from whoever holds your heart. I want you to be happy, and that means you should forget me. I am not worthy of your presence, fair one."
"No one holds my heart. Why should they? It is a cold, wretched thing. I am frozen, incapable of feeling any tender emotion." She said, feeling the truth of her words and casting her eyes to the ground. Grima stepped closer, till she could hear his hesitant breath, and his scent, that made her think of the cold wind, and the strange smell of the needle-trees that surrounded them. He smelt feral, like a predatory animal. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, as he had done many years before. "Then you are alone." He whispered. "Do you still roam the golden halls of Edoras, like a restless spirit? Is there no one to love you?" he asked, his words like a sigh upon her ears, making her shiver. "There is no one..." she replied, "no one but you..." it was the truth of these words that emboldened her, and her feelings, her careful control broke, and she held herself out to him, welcoming his embrace and the strange, unknown comfort it had brought her before, and could bring her now.
"I do love you, my beautiful, enchanting Eowyn, my fearless Shieldmaiden, my Princess..." he whispered, realising that nothing now prevented him from showering her with the endearments he had for years longed to tell her, as he dared at last to claim from her a tender, fleeting kiss. This momentary touch from his velvet-soft lips made her heart beat faster than it had ever, on any battlefield, and she could not resist the compulsion to cleave to him, taking another kiss from him as he held her, astounded at her actions, having never thought such feelings possible. Eowyn felt a tremulous realisation swell within her. This was the only man who could thaw her heart, the only man who knew her for what she was, and loved her so intensely it was tangible in the air around them. His eyes promised unwavering devotion, and the passion of love unrequited.
"I love you, Grima...." She whispered, surrendering to her fate, her destiny, and what she knew her heart craved more than life itself. A fire in her heart melting her ice as well as her composure, she whispered; "I do love you..." It seemed to Eowyn that as she said these words, the pain she had carried for all these years, the loneliness and the sorrow, seemed to melt away at the tremulous, tearful meeting of their two bruised hearts, and their realisation that neither could be without the other half of their souls for ever after.
THE END
Author's notes.
What a corny ending!
Bad bad bad...*Slaps self*. I am destined for Mills and Boon....*Sigh*
This fic has been re-written, with the help of my co-writer and proof reader, Daedalus_Drowning, who writes like I wish I could.
I wish to thank all my reviewers, especially my best and most helpful critic, Proserpina- I look forward to your comments. Also, the Livejournal communities I have enjoyed writing to; Leechcraft, Grimafans, Yummy_Grima and Dourifites. I have been influenced by almost all the Grimafics I have found, and naming them here would take to long.
I have found that the music I have listened to over the course of my writing this fic have influenced it immensely. If you are inclined to know what they are, this is the list;
Grima; Strange and beautiful-Aqualung (ALL GRIMAFANS! Listen to this song!) Wherever you may go- The Calling. Love never dies 1, 2 and 3- Apoptygma Bezerk. Trust you-Mesh
Eowyn; Paint it black-Inkkubus Sukkubus (sp?) She's on the phone-St.Ettiene Martha's Harbour (Don't know the artist) Everything by the Cocteau Twins
Both: Roxette-Church of your heart (The male voice in Roxette sounds like Grima! Its his voice, I swear!)
In which our Heroine finds what her heart seeks
Eowyn left Grima with a joyful heart. She felt at peace at last, all traces of her inner turmoil had been cleansed from her mind and she smiled, feeling her cold heart thawing in the presence of Grima's love for her. She met Legolas not far from Grima's Hut and felt her feelings struggle to be told to the unbelieving and dumbfounded Elf. Grima loved her, her heart sang, and she was desperate to continue their talk as soon as she could get back to him. When Mirghast appeared she told him that she now understood Grima's reasons and that she felt he deserved to live and informed the Kingsman that he was to go on to Edoras and tell her brother that she was still alive. "But are you not returning with us, my Lady? You have completed your mission, have you not?" he said, shocked. "Not for a while at least. Legolas shall remain here with me, for my protection. I intend to talk with Grima more extensively. That is all you need know." She said haughtily. "I'm sure my Brother will pay you handsomely for your service to me upon your arrival at Edoras. Be sure to tell him that I am thinking of him." She said, in her coldest, stiffest manner, and left to return to Grima.
When she returned to the hut, Grima was nowhere to be found-his door left open and his fire extinguished. She found his grey cloak, flung carelessly on his bed, but no sign of where he had gone. She searched the village, but no one had yet awoken except the strange birds that perched on the roofs of the cottages, eyeing her with predatory animal menace. She found the house where the child Daigon rested, and knocked quietly upon the door, in case the inhabitants were still abed. The woman she had met the day before answered the door, and Eowyn was thankful, as she could see from the Woman's smile that the boy had indeed survived the night.
"You've come from Grimaulkin, haven't you? Do you want to see my boy? He fairs well this morning, as Grimaulkin promised. He is a wonder...come in! come in!" she said effusively. Eowyn followerd her to the child's bedside, where he was sitting up, drinking a bowl of milk, his colour returned and his eyes bright.
"Grimaulkin's Lady had come to see how better you are, my boy. Say thank you to her now." The woman told him.
Eowyn had not heard Grima being called by this name before, and so the remark about her being "His Lady" slipped by her, but was soon laughing when the little boy talked to her.
"Thank you for bringing my medicine, Lady." He said, his childish voice lilting and sweet, "Grimaulkin said I was gonna grow up to be big and strong, and protect the whole village! Do you think so,?" he said wide- eyed, looking to her for assurance. Eowyn had always felt comfortable around children, and felt nothing to hinder her response to this pretty, engaging boy-child.
"I'm sure you will, Daigon. If you practice hard and train every day, I think you'll be strong enough to defend everyone in the village." She said, smiling unrestrainedly. The boy reminded her of Grima very much, she noticed, with his hairless face and long dark hair. He also had those peculiar, white and grey eyes that had gazed into hers so many times. She patted his head and left soon after, continuing her hunt for Grima. She had been chasing him so long now, she thought to herself that she would not give up now.
By midday she had wandered into the forest of needles, weaving through the trees in her restless search. Soon she came upon the shore where she had rested the day before; pondering the effects that Grima had had upon her life, and had made her decision that he should be allowed to live. It was there that she found him. He stood gazing out to sea, his back to her; seemingly deep in contemplation, for he neither moved nor made a sound. He stood, wearing a course linen tunic and soft buckskin leggings, tucked into high leather boots, his hair so long and dark, flowing like a tangled river to his waist. His shoulders were much broader than she remembered, no longer bent and hunched, he looked lithe and strong. The wind blew cold from the inky waters before him, and she caught the scent of earth and leaves, of growing things and spring.
"What are you doing?" Eowyn said, hesitatingly, breaking the silence that lay before her, and announcing her presence to the man she had been compelled to seek, her journey taking more than two years, and she felt, nearing its end.
"I had hoped to avoid seeing you leave." He said, his voice sounding hoarse, like he had been crying again.
"I had not thought to leave for a time yet. Does my presence upset you? She asked puzzled. She had been under the impression that he had wanted her to stay; had she been so mistaken? It would not surprise her. Human emotions, she had always felt, were beyond her comprehension. Yet he had told her that he loved her....
Eowyn approached Grima, who had not moved, and reached out to place her hand upon his shoulder. He trembled at her touch, like a frightened animal.
"Do you want me to leave you?" she asked, cursing that she sounded so unlike herself, pitiful and vulnerable. Grima Turned to face her slowly. His expression was strange, half hope, half fear, and his eyes were red; he had indeed been crying.
"I would not keep you from whoever holds your heart. I want you to be happy, and that means you should forget me. I am not worthy of your presence, fair one."
"No one holds my heart. Why should they? It is a cold, wretched thing. I am frozen, incapable of feeling any tender emotion." She said, feeling the truth of her words and casting her eyes to the ground. Grima stepped closer, till she could hear his hesitant breath, and his scent, that made her think of the cold wind, and the strange smell of the needle-trees that surrounded them. He smelt feral, like a predatory animal. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, as he had done many years before. "Then you are alone." He whispered. "Do you still roam the golden halls of Edoras, like a restless spirit? Is there no one to love you?" he asked, his words like a sigh upon her ears, making her shiver. "There is no one..." she replied, "no one but you..." it was the truth of these words that emboldened her, and her feelings, her careful control broke, and she held herself out to him, welcoming his embrace and the strange, unknown comfort it had brought her before, and could bring her now.
"I do love you, my beautiful, enchanting Eowyn, my fearless Shieldmaiden, my Princess..." he whispered, realising that nothing now prevented him from showering her with the endearments he had for years longed to tell her, as he dared at last to claim from her a tender, fleeting kiss. This momentary touch from his velvet-soft lips made her heart beat faster than it had ever, on any battlefield, and she could not resist the compulsion to cleave to him, taking another kiss from him as he held her, astounded at her actions, having never thought such feelings possible. Eowyn felt a tremulous realisation swell within her. This was the only man who could thaw her heart, the only man who knew her for what she was, and loved her so intensely it was tangible in the air around them. His eyes promised unwavering devotion, and the passion of love unrequited.
"I love you, Grima...." She whispered, surrendering to her fate, her destiny, and what she knew her heart craved more than life itself. A fire in her heart melting her ice as well as her composure, she whispered; "I do love you..." It seemed to Eowyn that as she said these words, the pain she had carried for all these years, the loneliness and the sorrow, seemed to melt away at the tremulous, tearful meeting of their two bruised hearts, and their realisation that neither could be without the other half of their souls for ever after.
THE END
Author's notes.
What a corny ending!
Bad bad bad...*Slaps self*. I am destined for Mills and Boon....*Sigh*
This fic has been re-written, with the help of my co-writer and proof reader, Daedalus_Drowning, who writes like I wish I could.
I wish to thank all my reviewers, especially my best and most helpful critic, Proserpina- I look forward to your comments. Also, the Livejournal communities I have enjoyed writing to; Leechcraft, Grimafans, Yummy_Grima and Dourifites. I have been influenced by almost all the Grimafics I have found, and naming them here would take to long.
I have found that the music I have listened to over the course of my writing this fic have influenced it immensely. If you are inclined to know what they are, this is the list;
Grima; Strange and beautiful-Aqualung (ALL GRIMAFANS! Listen to this song!) Wherever you may go- The Calling. Love never dies 1, 2 and 3- Apoptygma Bezerk. Trust you-Mesh
Eowyn; Paint it black-Inkkubus Sukkubus (sp?) She's on the phone-St.Ettiene Martha's Harbour (Don't know the artist) Everything by the Cocteau Twins
Both: Roxette-Church of your heart (The male voice in Roxette sounds like Grima! Its his voice, I swear!)