Faramir shut the door quietly and smiled to himself. Poor Eowyn he thought,
knowing how much she despised the Ladies at court. Still, tomorrow they
would be in Emyn Arnen. He was glad he had kept that secret from her, he'd
been planning it for about two weeks now, hence all the long meetings with
the King, so that he could cover all the topics they needed to discuss so
that he could be with Eowyn. He'd already planned how they would spend
their time there. Eowyn loved to ride, but never got much chance while at
Minas Tirith, unless it was side-saddle which she found clumsy. She also
found the Gondor horses to be less well bred than the Rohan ones, so
Faramir had written to her brother, Eomer King and asked for a new horse,
in the hope of cheering Eowyn up and reminding her of home. So he had
planned to take her on riding days all over Ithilien, just like when they
were first married. His reason for doing this was not only to spend time
with her, but also to show her some safe riding routes in the hope that she
would be slightly happier when they had children and he wanted her to live
in Emyn Arnen the whole time. After the horrible memories he had of growing
up in the Stewards House, he didn't want his children growing up there.
Yes, it would probably was away some of the bad memories, like walking down
the hall passed his father's study, hoping that he wouldn't be noticed. He
still couldn't go in to that room without remembering the view he could see
from the window every time his father hit him, trying to concentrate of the
Pelennor fields instead of the pain. But also, for every new happy memory
he had, there would be and old sad memory its place, which wasn't what he
wanted. He had a new house in Emyn Arnen, his new world that he had created
with Eowyn, and that was were he wanted to create the new memories, only he
would use the Stewards House, unless the family came to Minas Tirith during
celebrations and ceremonies and state business. It would be their second
home, not their main one. He hoped Eowyn wouldn't mind.
"Good afternoon, my Lord Steward."
Faramir came to his senses and realised that some home and without knowing it, he had managed to get from his home to the White Tower. He nodded at the guard and walked through the open door.
"Ah Lord Faramir, here you are," King Elessar looked up from the table at which he sat.
' My apologies for calling you here, but I realised after you had left earlier that we had not gone over the plans for the new water system on level 3. Since you are leaving for Emyn Arnen tomorrow I wanted to sort this tonight. I hope I am not putting you out, or Lady Eowyn?' Faramir laughed,
"No of course not, Eowyn is looking forward to dinner with the Queen, it will be the last time they see it each other for a month so they will probably be up talking as long as we are!"
"I gather from that statement that you have informed your wife of the plans to return to Emyn Arnen then?" said Elessar as he beckoned to Faramir to sit down.
"Yes sire, I told her this afternoon."
He smiled at the memory, he could remember the last time that Eowyn has been so excited about something, maybe he should make more gestures of love and arrange more surprises. He knew that she loved him, but he also knew that, however small they were, she still had some feelings for the King. He wanted her whole heart, most of it wasn't enough, maybe pleasing her and making her life more exciting would help. It may also stop her missing the life of a shield maiden. 'The wild maiden of Rohan' as she had been called by court gossips was tamed slightly, but not completely, Faramir knew there were days when she missed her old life and the freedom it gave her. He hoped that eventually having a child would help solve that, in his experience, having children had mellowed even the wildest women. Still, that didn't look very likely, seven months of marriage and still no sign of a child. He sighed and then turned his mind to the matter at hand, the new water system on level 3.
"Well, that just about concludes our business for tonight." King Elessar began to fold up the plans,
"now all I have is to tell you of my plans for you. Now that we are planning a new town in Ithilien, I need someone to oversee it. The site it but an hours ride from your house at Emyn Arnen and since you take great delight in architecture and seem to prefer spending time in Emyn Arnen, as does your wife, I have decided that I shall give you control over the project. I will of course expect you back for the anniversary of my coronation, but apart from that, I don't expect to see you much in the White City for much of the next four or five years, save for a few social visits and when I desire your council. Does this suit you?"
Faramir was speechless, that suited him perfectly, now he wouldn't have to worry about Eowyn's reaction to staying in Emyn Arnen without him, and they could continue to build their own world without disturbance. This was wonderful news.
"I would be delighted to accept your offer, and I'm sure that Eowyn will not disagree with me. I will, of course, expect a few Royal Visits from King Elessar and Queen Arwen, not just a formal visit to oversee progress, but as friends."
"We would be delighted to accept your offer. And now I will say farewell, as it is late and we are both tired, I hope you enjoy your stay at Emyn Arnen and I look forward to your return for the celebrations in a months time."
He nodded and left the room. Faramir turned to leave, he wanted to return to the Stewards house quickly and tell Eowyn the good news. He could see no downside to this new appointment. Not only did he not really have to stay in the Stewards House, meaning that he was not faced with past fears everyday, but now that they lived in Emyn Arnen, Eowyn could ride as she pleased, practise her sword techniques without worrying about the scandal she was causing, not that she did anyway. This should please her more he hoped, it also meant that he could treat her as an equal. At court, customs dictated how much of an influence she had on his work, and it wasn't very much. This had been very trying for her since she had grown up giving her opinions on matters concerning the kingdom, and now she was being excluded. Well not any more, Ithilien was his land, and under his control, so he would dictate the customs. If the Steward can make the rules, he can break the rules too.
He entered their bedchamber to find Eowyn with her nightgown pulled up to above her waist, examining her tummy in the mirror. She stopped as soon as he entered and let the nightgown drop, looking guilty. Faramir guessed that there were a possible two reasons why she was doing that,
"If your worried about your figure, don't be, its perfect, and if your hoping for a child, then perhaps we should go to bed now and realise that hope."
He gave her a playful smile, hoping it was the second reason, he'd been wanting her all day, ever since the encounter in her study and very soon he was going to have her, but all this thought did was to fuel his desire for her. She smiled back at him, but not in the cheeky way she did when she was about to have sex with him,
"Your too late my Lord, the hope as already been realised."
It took this statement a moment to sink in, Eowyn just stood watching him as the smile spread over his face. She couldn't mean that she was pregnant? Was he really going to be a father?
"Eowyn" he whispered as he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms and held her as they both began to cry from happiness.
"Good afternoon, my Lord Steward."
Faramir came to his senses and realised that some home and without knowing it, he had managed to get from his home to the White Tower. He nodded at the guard and walked through the open door.
"Ah Lord Faramir, here you are," King Elessar looked up from the table at which he sat.
' My apologies for calling you here, but I realised after you had left earlier that we had not gone over the plans for the new water system on level 3. Since you are leaving for Emyn Arnen tomorrow I wanted to sort this tonight. I hope I am not putting you out, or Lady Eowyn?' Faramir laughed,
"No of course not, Eowyn is looking forward to dinner with the Queen, it will be the last time they see it each other for a month so they will probably be up talking as long as we are!"
"I gather from that statement that you have informed your wife of the plans to return to Emyn Arnen then?" said Elessar as he beckoned to Faramir to sit down.
"Yes sire, I told her this afternoon."
He smiled at the memory, he could remember the last time that Eowyn has been so excited about something, maybe he should make more gestures of love and arrange more surprises. He knew that she loved him, but he also knew that, however small they were, she still had some feelings for the King. He wanted her whole heart, most of it wasn't enough, maybe pleasing her and making her life more exciting would help. It may also stop her missing the life of a shield maiden. 'The wild maiden of Rohan' as she had been called by court gossips was tamed slightly, but not completely, Faramir knew there were days when she missed her old life and the freedom it gave her. He hoped that eventually having a child would help solve that, in his experience, having children had mellowed even the wildest women. Still, that didn't look very likely, seven months of marriage and still no sign of a child. He sighed and then turned his mind to the matter at hand, the new water system on level 3.
"Well, that just about concludes our business for tonight." King Elessar began to fold up the plans,
"now all I have is to tell you of my plans for you. Now that we are planning a new town in Ithilien, I need someone to oversee it. The site it but an hours ride from your house at Emyn Arnen and since you take great delight in architecture and seem to prefer spending time in Emyn Arnen, as does your wife, I have decided that I shall give you control over the project. I will of course expect you back for the anniversary of my coronation, but apart from that, I don't expect to see you much in the White City for much of the next four or five years, save for a few social visits and when I desire your council. Does this suit you?"
Faramir was speechless, that suited him perfectly, now he wouldn't have to worry about Eowyn's reaction to staying in Emyn Arnen without him, and they could continue to build their own world without disturbance. This was wonderful news.
"I would be delighted to accept your offer, and I'm sure that Eowyn will not disagree with me. I will, of course, expect a few Royal Visits from King Elessar and Queen Arwen, not just a formal visit to oversee progress, but as friends."
"We would be delighted to accept your offer. And now I will say farewell, as it is late and we are both tired, I hope you enjoy your stay at Emyn Arnen and I look forward to your return for the celebrations in a months time."
He nodded and left the room. Faramir turned to leave, he wanted to return to the Stewards house quickly and tell Eowyn the good news. He could see no downside to this new appointment. Not only did he not really have to stay in the Stewards House, meaning that he was not faced with past fears everyday, but now that they lived in Emyn Arnen, Eowyn could ride as she pleased, practise her sword techniques without worrying about the scandal she was causing, not that she did anyway. This should please her more he hoped, it also meant that he could treat her as an equal. At court, customs dictated how much of an influence she had on his work, and it wasn't very much. This had been very trying for her since she had grown up giving her opinions on matters concerning the kingdom, and now she was being excluded. Well not any more, Ithilien was his land, and under his control, so he would dictate the customs. If the Steward can make the rules, he can break the rules too.
He entered their bedchamber to find Eowyn with her nightgown pulled up to above her waist, examining her tummy in the mirror. She stopped as soon as he entered and let the nightgown drop, looking guilty. Faramir guessed that there were a possible two reasons why she was doing that,
"If your worried about your figure, don't be, its perfect, and if your hoping for a child, then perhaps we should go to bed now and realise that hope."
He gave her a playful smile, hoping it was the second reason, he'd been wanting her all day, ever since the encounter in her study and very soon he was going to have her, but all this thought did was to fuel his desire for her. She smiled back at him, but not in the cheeky way she did when she was about to have sex with him,
"Your too late my Lord, the hope as already been realised."
It took this statement a moment to sink in, Eowyn just stood watching him as the smile spread over his face. She couldn't mean that she was pregnant? Was he really going to be a father?
"Eowyn" he whispered as he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms and held her as they both began to cry from happiness.