Chapter Four
Eowyn sat in a chair disconsolately in the secret meeting room of Gondor. The guard had left with Faramir, so she was left to ponder his sayings on her own.
So the King loved another...good for him. And they were going to be wed. Wonderful. Make things so much better - instead of watching his unrequited love, she was going to be watching a totally happy Aragorn having the time of his life with some random maiden whom Eowyn would eventually grow to hate.
Things just kept getting better and better.
The possibility did enter her mind that this other was none other than Eowyn herself, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Impossible. That chance was destroyed many years ago.
These thoughts still strayed through her head when she heard footsteps. Eowyn stood quickly and drew her sword, something she never left her room without, even in these peaceful days.
Aragorn. Who else? Every time she began to think of him, he miraculously popped up out of nowhere.
He was taken aback at her presence. "Eowyn? How did you get here?"
She shrugged. "I got lost."
"I was looking for you, but I was looking to find Faramir here."
"He left," she said shortly.
"Ah." He delicately let the subject drop. "I come bearing news that should be pleasing to your ears."
"Such as?"
"We are having a visit from three hobbits I believe you are acquainted with."
Eowyn smiled. "Merry, Pippin, and Sam?"
"The very same. They have all gained titles now, and I have dubbed them Councilors to the North Kingdom. We were going to have a party of sorts to celebrate."
"Is it not a long journey for such small people?"
"They have fared worse before, I am sure they can manage. They left about a week ago. They should be here any day now."
"This is splendid," Eowyn said. The presence of the little ones was always a comfort, for they were such innocents...well Sam was. The other two...well...
"I was wanting to invite you to the party," Aragorn said.
"I shall be glad to come, Arago - your Majesty," she said hastily. She had to hide her smile.
"I will teach you yet, dear Eowyn," Aragorn said softly. "Would you like me to lead you out of this place?"
"If it be your wish," Eowyn said, still slightly embarrassed from her outburst.
He smiled and the two walked out into the hallway together. "They have all went and got married," Aragorn was saying. "I believe Sam married Rosie Cotton, a lass he'd always fancied, Merry married Estella Bolger, a lifelong friend of his, and Pippin married Diamond of Long cleeve - a new acquaintance since he has returned."
"Are they all coming, then?" Eowyn asked.
"I'm afraid not," Aragorn said. "Rosie is with child, though not very far along, and she did not want to travel. Estella and Diamond are staying to help her in case any difficulties should arise."
"That's understandable."
They made it back to Eowyn's room in very little time. "I will send word as soon as the hobbits arrive," he said. "Then we will begin the festivities."
"Do you think they'll be too tired from their journey to begin so quickly?"
Aragorn smiled. "I know these hobbits. They are never too tired for a good celebration."
Eowyn sat in a chair disconsolately in the secret meeting room of Gondor. The guard had left with Faramir, so she was left to ponder his sayings on her own.
So the King loved another...good for him. And they were going to be wed. Wonderful. Make things so much better - instead of watching his unrequited love, she was going to be watching a totally happy Aragorn having the time of his life with some random maiden whom Eowyn would eventually grow to hate.
Things just kept getting better and better.
The possibility did enter her mind that this other was none other than Eowyn herself, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Impossible. That chance was destroyed many years ago.
These thoughts still strayed through her head when she heard footsteps. Eowyn stood quickly and drew her sword, something she never left her room without, even in these peaceful days.
Aragorn. Who else? Every time she began to think of him, he miraculously popped up out of nowhere.
He was taken aback at her presence. "Eowyn? How did you get here?"
She shrugged. "I got lost."
"I was looking for you, but I was looking to find Faramir here."
"He left," she said shortly.
"Ah." He delicately let the subject drop. "I come bearing news that should be pleasing to your ears."
"Such as?"
"We are having a visit from three hobbits I believe you are acquainted with."
Eowyn smiled. "Merry, Pippin, and Sam?"
"The very same. They have all gained titles now, and I have dubbed them Councilors to the North Kingdom. We were going to have a party of sorts to celebrate."
"Is it not a long journey for such small people?"
"They have fared worse before, I am sure they can manage. They left about a week ago. They should be here any day now."
"This is splendid," Eowyn said. The presence of the little ones was always a comfort, for they were such innocents...well Sam was. The other two...well...
"I was wanting to invite you to the party," Aragorn said.
"I shall be glad to come, Arago - your Majesty," she said hastily. She had to hide her smile.
"I will teach you yet, dear Eowyn," Aragorn said softly. "Would you like me to lead you out of this place?"
"If it be your wish," Eowyn said, still slightly embarrassed from her outburst.
He smiled and the two walked out into the hallway together. "They have all went and got married," Aragorn was saying. "I believe Sam married Rosie Cotton, a lass he'd always fancied, Merry married Estella Bolger, a lifelong friend of his, and Pippin married Diamond of Long cleeve - a new acquaintance since he has returned."
"Are they all coming, then?" Eowyn asked.
"I'm afraid not," Aragorn said. "Rosie is with child, though not very far along, and she did not want to travel. Estella and Diamond are staying to help her in case any difficulties should arise."
"That's understandable."
They made it back to Eowyn's room in very little time. "I will send word as soon as the hobbits arrive," he said. "Then we will begin the festivities."
"Do you think they'll be too tired from their journey to begin so quickly?"
Aragorn smiled. "I know these hobbits. They are never too tired for a good celebration."