Author's Notes: Thank you for being so patient. I have been down in California for the last month, getting ready to move down there. Now that I am back up here, I am packing. I have a LOT more to post, but I wanted to get something up tonight so that everyone knew that we hadn't stopped. Actually, I probably have a good 10 chapters more that need to be uploaded. I am going to work hard to edit the stuff and get it uploaded. I hope you are still enjoying this. If so, let me know. We would hate to start to bore you and once it starts to be boring, I will stop posting.;)
Chapter38
Eowyn brings her sword in an arch, successively blocking the swing at her middle. Turning to the left, her back now to him for only a moment, she leads with her sword, though this time bringing it around and back between her arm and her side. She hears the laugh before she sees the smile as her body keeps moving. He had not bee expecting that, it was clear oh his face. And she knew that by the time they finished the match he would have a new respect for her.
Finishing with the turn, she twists her blade, effortlessly unlocking the two swords so she can brings hers back and upward, blocking the downward blow coming down at her head, the two swords stopping a mere breath from her forehead. "You are going to have to be better then that, Lord Boromir."
It had been only a few days since the party in his honor, but he had insisted that she finally give in and give him the match she promised him. So here they were, sparing in front of a choice few that had insisted on watching. That thought brings her to the next, that her fiancé and his brother were leaving in two days. It was the longest he could spare, now that she was no longer in any danger. She frowns and goes after him with a renewed vigor, her anger at him once more leaving him, especially when she knew he could stay longer if he wanted, coming through in her fast paced swings.
Lothiriel jumps a little when the two swords clash, leaning more against Eomer as she does. She threads an arm though his and smiles up at him, leaning in to kiss him before resting the side of her head on his shoulder. There weren't a lot of people around, so she didn't see any reason why she could be more affectionate. Except for Monica, there was only family in the room any way. She had been talking to Eomer about her stay thee and how it had to end when Faramir left. Eomer still couldn't understand, but at least he had stopped arguing with her over it. Faramir was her chaperone right now and especially now that she was engaged to him, they needed one. So she had to return in two days with Faramir. Hopefully soon they would be able to get back together.
Monica didn't know why she was there, she wasn't a family member and she wasn't romantically involved with anyone, she just felt out of place. This wasn't even something she normally would be at for the Lady.
Her eyes go to Lady Eowyn and she smiles. She was indeed show Lord Boromir that he would eat his words about how he thought a woman couldn't beat him with a sword. In fact, he was the reason she was there.
She shifts around, leaning back against the wall and looking down briefly at her hands. She held a set of crutches that she was holding onto and when this was over she would take him back to his room and make sure that everything was bandaged again and in order. That was why she was there... official. But her real reason was because she loved him and she wanted to make sure he was okay. It was just that only she would ever know that, and she knew it had to stay that way, it was her own little dream, she wasn't going to let any ruin the one thing she had to hold on to. So she would never tell anyone, she would just take her love to bed with her, and in the end, she would be the stronger for it all.
Even though Boromir was still unable to move his right arm, he had learned long ago that one could become disabled easily if their arm is broken. So he had practiced his sword skills with both hands. His right arm and hand was dominant but he could use his left. Which is what he was doing now. It was hard but he was showing just how talented he was with a sword.
He laughs as she does a complicated move, something he was not expecting. But he still keeps his concentration and takes another swing at her, smiling as she blocks it. He was close to her now, and if they were along he actually might have drawn her attention to it. But they weren't. Faramir was sitting near by, reading a book he had found in the library beside Eomer's study. Eomer and Lothiriel were there, as well as Monica who seemed to not want to leave his side.
He smiles and shakes his head. Just like his brother to have his nose in a book while there was a chance to practice his sword skills. He looks at Eowyn when she lowers her sword, he lowers his as well. "He has not changed. He still prefers books over weapons. Though he does not go anywhere without his bow and arrows. Let us take a break. My arm could use the rest." He smiles at her, then limps over to where Faramir was sitting reading the book. He had his head down and was distracted by his book so with a slight smirk he places the tip of his sword against Faramir's ear, something he had always done before. When asked what he was doing, the usual question, he replies with the usual answer. "Why checking for points of course. No. You still are my brother. Though you act more like an elf than a man."
Faramir wasn't really watching or listening. Not because he didn't think it interesting, but merely because of the fact he didn't want to see Boromir's face when Eowyn won. Or Eowyn's face when Boromir won. And the book was one he had never read before. And he could never resist an unknown book.
He doesn't look up when he feels cold metal against his ear. "What are you doing, Boromir?" He waits for the same answer Boromir always gave, then smiles and looks up. "Finished already? Has she humbled you, Dear Brother?" He looks past Boromir to Eowyn and smiles, love for her showing clearly in his eyes. He then looks back at Boromir. "I told you many times before, Brother. You should have paid more attention to archery."
Eomer keeps watching his sister, shaking his head when she over thinks a move or does something wrong, but smiling when she does something right. He had been the one she trained with, and he had taught her a few things as well. When the swordplay stops and Boromir moves over to Faramir he just shakes his head. Then he looks at Lothiriel. "Are they always like this?"
Eowyn smiles and with a nod walks over to where Faramir was sitting. She waits until his brother is done before she playfully smacks him on the back of the head. "That is for not watching your future wife beat your brother in the arena he chose." She looks at him expectantly, neither a smile nor a frown on her face as she does.
Monica pushes away from the wall and comes over to the two, handing Boromir the towel she had been clutching. Then she holds her hand out, taking his arm and nodding silently, she was always silent when around him when he was with others, not wanting for them to even see her if it were possible. She gets him to sit down on a nearby bench, sitting down next to him with a bucket or warm water she had insisted they have. She starts taking what was left of his bandages off and wash the angry redness around his open sores before loosely bandaging them up again. She look up at him then an just shakes her head. He had promised her that if she thought it was to bad half way through that he would stop. She now wondered of he would stand by his promise. They would soon see.
Lothiriel shrugs a little. "I did not see them all the time. Just from time to time. Though I do remember this argument. It happened often enough and their father would often be cruel and tell Boromir how he was glad to have him because he if had been stuck with Faramir as his first son the whole of Gondor would be lost because kingdoms were won in battles, not in books." Her face had gone sad as her tale had gone on, for she knew the end of it and where that particular pain came from. "I think that you need both to lead a good kingdom. I hope that you are as good with your books as you are with your sword." She tries to smile for him, to lighten the mood.
Faramir looks up at Eowyn and smiles. "My apologies, My Lady. I tend to get lost in books. And this being one I have yet to fully read, I was very much distracted." He hoped that would work for a good enough excuse. It wasn't he didn't want to watch her, it was just that, well like he said, he got distracted. The book, though more than likely something boring for Eowyn, fascinated him to no end. It was something to learn.
Normally, and back when Boromir was in full health, he would have argued with Monica. Insisted he was fine. But not now. Not when he felt tired and out of breath and sore. And his right shoulder was killing him. But he does sigh and nod to Monica when she shakes her head no, acting like he would rather continue. Though deep down he was glad she was making him stop.
He takes the offered cup of water from her and drinks it down before he looks at her as she starts to work on his right arm, wondering what she was doing. It was a lost cause. "Monica...you need not move that arm. It is not ever going to work again." Though he had noticed how when he shrugged his shoulder moved very slightly. And the healers had said that they didn't know why he couldn't move it. The injury had not been that bad. They had said that moving it as much as he could would help. But he had become frustrated quickly with the arm when he couldn't move it. Therefore he had given up.
Eomer shakes his head at her story. "It is sad. Even when my father disciplined Eowyn and I, we still knew he loved us. Uncle as well. I very much would like to know how Faramir survived a father like his and became who he is now." He then turns his head and looks at Lothiriel, shaking his head, but smiling. "Not exactly. Though I am far from ignorant, I am not the scholar Faramir is. I prefer my sword. But Uncle Theoden always made sure Eowyn, Theodred, and I had our studies done before our weapon classes. And before bed. He knew both were important."
Eowyn raises her brow at Faramir, deciding to tease him back, slightly hurt that he had not watched to see just who was the better one. Granted, Boromir was not at his best level because he was still healing. However, they did not have to spar to 'win', the people watching would be able to tell the extent of their talent by their movements, and Faramir hadn't seen any of it. So she was going to tease him a little, if to only ease her own hurt feelings a little. "Awwwwwww and your soon to be wife can't distract you from your book?"
Monica knew what he wanted but she wasn't going to give in like he was. "No, Boromir. I won't give up on you just because you and Eowyn have. So just drop it and deal with the fact that I'm keep massaging it every change I get." She doesn't say anything else, but instead she finishes what she started, re-banding it up before sitting back and looking him over. "Not too bad. She only nicked you in a few places." Then she carefully starts to clean those cuts, bandaging only the bad ones.
When she is all done she smiles lovingly down at him. "You are finished, Lord Boromir." She keeps her tone level, but she can't stop the twinkle in her eyes. She was only teasing him, she had seen his face the few times that Eowyn had gotten the upper hand. She had seen respect there. Respect and something else. Something she didn't want to think about, something that looked too much like love.
With that thought she turns quickly away from Boromir, taking the basin with the water in it.
Lothiriel looks at Faramir, listening to Eomer sadly, not saying anything until he was done. Finally she looks back at him. "He had Boromir. Boromir stood up for him, even when it would get him in trouble. He knew someone had to be on Faramir's side ever since they lost their mother. At first Uncle Denethor isolated Faramir more than even he was isolated. He claimed it was to make him strong and help him get over his mother's death so many years ago. No one really knows what went on behind those closed doors but he got quieter and quieter and finally he stopped going and he never said anything about it to this day. I know that Boromir started something that he still will do if he starts stressing out." She smiles at this part, because she had been there one time when they played the game. "It is a memory game. He would think of something that had to do with his mom, something happy, and tell us. Like the time that he accidentally knocked a pie off the counter and his mother had him get a pie plate and the put it on the corner of one of the preparation tables. She had him glue and nail it down." She laughs at the memory of Faramir's retelling of that particular tale. "Then from then on the pies would go in that plate to cool off and it didn't matter how hard you hit it, the pies never fell off the table and he wouldn't get in trouble." She had forgotten about the memory game. Of course it wasn't her game, it was his memories of his mother, and they would always calm him, but she did find it so useful.
Faramir looks up at her with an innocent smile. "You know that you can, Eowyn. I....am sorry for not watching. What may I do to sooth the situation?" He wasn't sure but he could have sworn the few times he looked up he had seen something on Boromir's face that signaled his older brother's true feelings for Eowyn. But as always he refused to think badly of his brother, or Eowyn, so he had figured it was merely respect. He could understand Boromir's feelings then. He too was quite pleased with the way Eowyn fought with a sword. "Anything my Lady asks of me shall be granted."
Boromir smiles at her, shaking his head. "You make me feel like I just had my hair trimmed." He stands and nods his head, still smiling. "Thank you, Monica." He then turns and walks, well limps, over to where Eomer and Lothiriel were, catching the end of Lothiriel's tale. "What was that, Lothiriel? Telling my secrets to your future husband are you?"
Eomer shakes his head. "He must be of strong quality to live with such.....hate." He shakes his head again and sighs, then he looks up at Boromir as he speaks. He smiles at the man for the first time. "Actually she was just informing me of how you were protective of your brother. Almost a father to him." He looks back at Faramir with Eowyn. "You did a fine job, Boromir. Though I do wonder how you did it being only 5 years his elder."
Eowyn shakes her head, her arms crossing in front of her chest. "No, no I am afraid it is too late for that. If you had wanted to do something, you should have thought of that before we finished. Boromir is leaving. You missed out on watching. I hope the book was important enough," she says as she tries to hide the smile that threatens to break through.
Monica finishes cleaning up there, they wouldn't need her any longer. With her pulling the plug like she had she knew they would talk but wouldn't get back into it. He would be stupid he did, she thinks as she finally picks up his few things including his sword. Carefully holding it she takes the things back to his room, knowing he would know who took the sword, or at least hoping he guessed right. Especially since the bandages and the other clothing was not there. She smiles as she imagines him thinking a magical creature took them. 'Faramir, I am telling you the truth! They had to have come right in and took it! Snatched it up to prove they were better then us.' She can't help but let out a hearty laugh as she turns a corner and heads to his rooms. She could see it now, Boromir fighting a wood elf or something bigger and all the while she had his sword. Little old Monica.
Lothiriel watches the interchange between the two and stays silent, waiting for a time that she could excuse herself. She had enjoyed the match but now felt like a walk in the village. She would be going back tomorrow, so she wanted to make the most of the last day she had there. Finally the men stop a moment and she jumps in.
"Eomer," she says with a light touch on his arm. "I was thinking of going for a walk through the village, it is just a nice day today, what do you think?"
Faramir looks at her, using the look he always used on Boromir to get him to forgive him faster. It was the look a puppy might give it's owner after being scolded. "Will you have me beg for your forgiveness, Darling?" He looks down at his clothes, then back up at her. "Will you have me get my clothes dirty?"
Boromir smiles at Eomer. "Thank you. It was not too difficult. Faramir is quite easy to love and he just makes one want to protect him, even though he is one of Gondor's deadliest warriors." He looks at his brother, then back at Eomer when Lothiriel asks him her question. "Well excuse me. I think I will go speak with my brother and Eowyn." He nods to the two of them before he walks over to Eowyn and Faramir. "Ah Faramir, you know that look does not work." Though he felt the need to hug his little brother suddenly. Oh he knew quite well that the look worked, as did Faramir. He smiles and takes a seat beside Faramir, looking up at Eowyn. "You must forgive him or he will be moping around for the rest of the day and night."
Eomer nods to Boromir, then looks at Lothiriel and smiles. "If it is your wish I will come with you, Lothiriel. Unless you wish to walk on your own." He stands and offers her his hand, helping her up. "Come Darling. Let us see how the people are doing."
Eowyn arches a brow at him, tilting her head to the side and not even registering that she had heard Boromir. "Does it really matter if you get your clothes dirty? I mean, after all, you are not the one that would be washing them." She puts a hand to her chest, putting on a slightly hurt look. "Now I would not be the one given that credit either. So who would be punished? Not you, for you would not be the one cleaning pants that didn't need cleaning yet till your fiancé made you kneel before her for forgiveness." She giggles, unable to stop herself. Then clearing her throat, she puts on a serious look and shakes her head. "No, it would not be you but the woman that next had to wash those pants. So to save her," she finally looks at Boromir and gives him a genuine smile, "And your brother," she looks back at him, "Then I suppose I will have to forgive you.
Monica finally makes it back to his room, entering it without even thinking she should knock, for she knew where both men were. She was in this room more then they were in it wasn't she?
Going to the bed she lays out the sword, being very careful with it, knowing how it made him feel. Only when she had put the bandages away as well as his other loose clothing does she go back to the bed and sit down, brining the blade over to rest it in her lap. That is where it stays while she starts to polish and oil it.
Lothiriel nods to Boromir, smiling at him as he leaves before turning her gaze to her Love, a blush toughing her cheeks. "By all means," she says as she takes his hand. "I could use a partner." She leaves the room with him, heading down the hall to the outside doors. She knew if she could get past them then they would be free to do what they wanted. She was almost holding her breath as she walked with him, nodding at some she passed and smiling at others.
Boromir can't help but laugh. "Oh just get your clothes dirty, Brother. She is not going to let you off the hook that easily." He pats his brother's shoulder with his good hand, then takes the book off Faramir's lap and starts to flip through the pages. "Children's stories, Faramir? I would have thought you would prefer something more complex?"
Faramir looks at Boromir when he takes the book and sighs deeply. "Children's stories are just as interesting as other stories. Besides, they are Rohirrim children stories." He looks back at Eowyn. Then with a deep sigh, a very dramatic deep sigh, he drops to his knees in front of her and takes her hand, bowing his head. "I, Faramir, Steward of Gondor, humbly seek for Lady Eowyn's forgiveness for my inattentiveness towards her sparring match with my brother Boromir of Gondor." He glances up at her, looking very serious, though his ever-expressive eyes give him away.
Eomer smiles, watching her a little as they leave the hall. "You will make a fine queen, Lothiriel. A fine queen indeed. And I must thank you again for helping with my paper work." He kisses her hand gently, holding it in his as he walks along the streets with her.
Eowyn can't help it, she just can't keep a straight face when he makes his so serious. She stands there, laughing till tears ran down her face. Just as she would be about ready to stop laughing, he gave another serious sigh and then made a face as if to say 'Would you please take me serious and stop laughing?' and that got her laughing all over again till finally she lets Boromir help her to a chair next where Faramir was still on his knees. She takes the piece of clothe that he gives her and wipes at her eyes, trying to get her laughing under control.
"It was nothing, Eomer," Lothiriel whispers, thinking she better start speaking to him more formally as they walk through the streets, not wanting people to hear her speaking so informally around him.
She moves in closer to his side, leaning against him to lay her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm as she walks, just enjoying his presence there. "I always dreamed that one day I would be walking like this with the man I love. I just didn't think for a moment it would be a king." The thing was, she didn't think of him as a king, not even when they first met. There was something about him that drew her to him, like a moth to a flame, He was a man to her, not something untouchable, he made himself that way, at least for her. That was why she loved him. She didn't think of him as this thing bigger then life, but as a man, who could hurt others and be hurt as well. And she knew that he was a man that had a lot of love to give. She just hoped that it would always be to her.
Boromir can't help but laugh, shaking his head as he gets up and takes Eowyn's hand and brings her over to the seat that Faramir had vacated a moment before. "Here. Sit down before you collapse." He shakes his head at the two of them. "You two will be the death of me. Honest. You act like children." He smiles though. "I fear for my future nieces and nephews."
Faramir turns when Eowyn sits down, then moves over to her, still on his knees. He looked quite silly but he honestly didn't care. That was his whole point. He takes hold of her hand again and kisses the back of it, smiling innocently up at her. "Have I been forgiven yet, my Love?"
Eowyn finally gets her breath back and she nods, the smile now plastered on her face. "Yes, Faramir my Love. You are forgiven. Now get up before you rip them as well as dirty them." She tugs on his hands, her eyes going to Boromir playfully. "He may be too old and needs your help to get up."
Faramir snorts and pushes Boromir's offered hand away. "I do not think I am old. I am only 35...well 36 in a few months but that is not the point. HE is 41!" He smirks and stands up, leaning over to brush the dust and dirt off his long over coat as well as his pants. He then takes the empty seat on Eowyn's other side. He reaches across her and takes the book back from Boromir. He notices his hand shook when he took the book but he ignores it, that is till Boromir grabs his hand back and turns it over, looking at his palm. He sighs deeply and pulls his hand back. "It is nothing."
Boromir snorts, shaking his head at his brother. He was truly worried about him. He looked pale today. And he knew he was hiding something. "Is that so? And yet you still avoid the issue of your health." He looks at Eowyn. "Perhaps you will tell me exactly why my brother always looks pale and why he favors his shoulder and his leg? And why he continually hides his Steward ring from me?" He looks back at Faramir. "You know of my injuries, Faramir. I may be almost blind in one eye but I'm not totally blind. I can see something is wrong with you."
Eowyn puts her hands up between the two of them standing up as she does. "Okay okay, no more fighting. You know what your brother told you happened. So why don't you tell ME what he told you and then I can tell you what was left out, how does that sound?" She looks at them both questioningly.
"He has not told me anything! Just that he sustained....what was the word, Little Brother? Minor injuries while trying to retake Osgiliath?" Boromir knew that any injury was never minor when taken during a battle. Orcs did not show mercy. If they did he wouldn't have been pierced with three poisoned arrows. He glares at his brother. "Why will you not tell me, Faramir? If you think it is a burden for me to know you were injured badly well do not think that. I am your older brother and I have seen you through worse! Or have you forgotten the illness you suffered through when you were 4? Or 5?" He glares at his brother, finally losing patience with him when he says it is not important. "Of course it is!" He stands up, Faramir standing to meet him. "Do not shut me out, Faramir. You know how I hate when you do that."
Faramir sighs and shakes his head. "It is nothing. Yes. Minor injuries. Nothing for you to worry over, Boromir." But that was the wrong thing to say. As Boromir explodes at him he himself stands, glaring at his older brother. Why couldn't he just let it go. Or at least not ask when Eowyn was in the room. "I am not shutting you out, Boromir. I simply do not feel that my current health is important enough to....to.....to discuss in front of everyone." Why was he so afraid to tell Boromir exactly what was happening with him? Because he didn't want to burden his brother with it. It was his to deal with. He always dealt with his health by himself. He set his own broken bones. He cleaned his own wounds and bandaged them. He could look after himself. He is about to say so when Boromir, beyond frustration now, hauls back and hits him, sending both of them to the floor. A memory flashes through his mind of someone else's fist connecting with his jaw in much the same way. He doesn't wince. He doesn't really do anything for a moment. But finally he sits up and looks at his brother. "At least I had the ring on so this time it did not cut me." He sighs. "If you wish to know that badly I will tell you. I was shot with a poison arrow, well....many poison arrows actually, while trying to retake Osgiliath. I will tell you WHY I was doing something so ignorant. Because Father insisted I go. He would not allow the orcs to win Osgiliath. And since you were presumed dead, and he wished I had taken your place, I agreed. All my men were killed. I survived. Now why do you think that is, Boromir? Why would I, the one he wanted dead, why would I survive and not you? I'm sure he asked himself that when he tried to burn us. You see, he thought I was dead when I was dragged into Minas Tirith by my horse. He did not wish for the enemy to desecrate our bodies so he decided death by fire would be the best. I was still alive. Now you know why I favor my shoulder and leg. But that is not it. The poison on the arrows. It still courses through my blood. It will not leave no matter WHAT the healers do. Or I. Not even the King or Gandalf can do a thing. I now suffer very painful headaches on a daily basis. I sometimes feel faint, or I sometimes feel weak. And it will just get worse until I die. Now do you still wish I had told you, Boromir?"
Eowyn stands there in shock. It wasn't just Boromir that didn't know all that, it was her as well. As Faramir had not told his brother, she did not know as well. He had kept the story and the results for the most part to himself. She knew that he was in semi bad shape, but what he has basically just yelled at his brother was that he was dying. That no matter what anyone did, he would die eventually from these wounds.
She starts to back up towards the door, shaking her head, her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide from this new fear that gripped at her tears "No.... no....no..." she says ever so softly, almost too softly. Then she turns around and runs full tilt, the tears flowing freely down her face this time as she pushes through the door and out of the building. The cool air hits her face first but she doesn't feel it. Without even pausing she heads down the steps to run out into the village at full throttle.
Boromir listens to his brother, sighing softly and shaking his head. "No. I would still wish to know. There must be someone, or something that can be done for you." He didn't like this. Even with the war over, well mostly, Faramir still suffered. And again because of their father. Why did Denethor hate Faramir? He wished he could have asked his father that once more before he died. He suddenly realizes something and he looks at Eowyn. She looked....well like she was about to burst into tears, or hit Faramir. When she rushes from the room he tries to get up. But is stopped by Faramir. He frowns and nods when Faramir says he will go after her. He waits for his brother to leave and then he suddenly feels very tired. He leaves the hall and returns to his room.
Faramir watches as Eowyn runs from the room. Oh now he had really messed things up. He hadn't meant to tell Eowyn like that. Standing, he informs Boromir he would go find Eowyn, then he turns and hurries out of the hall. He spots her running off into the stables and sighs. He knew what she was going to do. Hopefully he would be able to catch her before she rode off. He runs down the steps and down the stone roadway to the stables. He walks inside, dismissing the stable hands as he looks around for Eowyn. He walks over to the stall her horse was in. "Eowyn?" He sees her as she sets her saddle on her horse. "Eowyn I did not mean for you to find out this way." When she still doesn't acknowledge him he frowns and takes a step towards her, resting his hand gently on her horse's nose. "Eowyn? Will you not let me explain? Where are you going to?" He was getting frustrated with her. She still refused to answer him. He steps closer, reaching out to touch her arm. But she pushes his hand away. Oh yes. She was very upset with him. He prayed to Valar that he could make it right again. He should have told her. Should have made sure she knew everything. "Eowyn, I am sorry. I should have told you sooner. I just did not know how." He moves to the front of her horse, taking the reigns and holding them, keeping the horse calm and steady. His own horse was in the next stall, and he was clearly agitated by the emotions running between the two humans.
Eowyn was in the stables because she had to get away. Unfortunately her horse wasn't ready to go out and he was able to catch her in there. She was doing everything she could to not cry, pulling on her anger to fuel her actions. When he comes in and tries to stop her, she keeps saddling the horse, ignoring him, not even listening to his pleas so that she didn't back down. When he grabs the reins she is even more pissed, because he had not right to stop her. He didn't care about her, that was obvious, not to have hidden something like this from her. She gets the horse saddled and reaches for the reins, but he doesn't let go. So finally she looks at him, anger the only thing reflected in her eyes, the pain of his news she was keeping in her heart. "Let go."
Faramir knew he had hurt her. But he hadn't known how to tell her the news of his current health. "Eowyn....please. I did not wish to hurt you. I....I do not know when I would tell you. I think maybe I was going to tell you when I was..." He sees her stiffen as he goes to say the word dying. So he doesn't say it. Instead he watches as she finishes with her horse and gets up into the saddle. When she reaches for the reigns again he keeps a hold of them. "Please...stay. Let me explain why I have not told you." He sighs deeply as she yanks the reigns from his hands. He moves out of the way and lowers his head, sighing softly, tears filling his eyes as he listens to the sound of her horse leaving the stable, and hears the last words she says to him as she leaves. He looks up in time to see her riding down the hill towards the gate.
She didn't want to listen to him when he stands there begging her to. And when he says he was going to tell her when he was dying, before she even thinks that she thinks 'dead' and her body stiffens, her chin going up. It bothered her that he hadn't told her, he hadn't thought enough of her to let her in on this. She yanks the reins from him and mounts the horse. She looks at him one last time, his head bowed, and her anger doesn't let her heart see his pain, her anger focus' on her own pain. "You should have told me. You don't love me. Or you wouldn't have kept this from me." She spurs her horse on and rides out. She rides hard and fast, nearly missing her brother, not even seeing him and Lothiriel as she keeps going, her mind only on getting out of there and getting away from the lies and the pain. She finally allows herself to cry, finally allows the hurt to take over as she rides even harder, pushing her horse to it's limits, the wind whipping her hair around her face, drying her tears almost before they even wet her cheeks. The pain was so much that she doesn't even see Gandalf as she passes him at the gate, her tears clouding her vision as well, she rides off towards the hills and the woods, not thinking for a moment of the danger she was riding into. Saluman hadn't been found, nor Wormtongue, she was not in the clear when it came to them. But Gandalf had heard and he knew of the danger. He knew enough of Lady Eowyn to know that something was wrong if she was putting her self in this danger. So he turns and heads off after her, keeping up, yet keeping a safe distance, letting her ride it out.
Eomer smiles at her, letting go of her hand for one moment to go help a woman with a basket of vegetables that had fallen off the cart she had. He smiles, speaking with the older woman briefly before he straightens the cart and the woman continues on her way. He walks back over to Lothiriel, wiping his hands on his pants before he takes her hand again and continues walking with her. "I am glad that you are able to see where you will be living. I have forgotten to ask but....how do you like Edoras?"
Lothiriel smiles softly at him. "Aw, but my King, you have asked me. A few days after I first arrived here, before we fell in love. Is that it?" she asks as she pats his arm, hugging it again as well, loving the feel of his body pressed up against her side.
"Perhaps." He smiles at her, continuing along the road. He looks around, stopping to watch two boys practicing they sword skills. The boys looked to be about 12 and 10. And off to the side, there was a girl, much younger, but old enough to hold a wooden sword. The girl was mimicking the boys moves. He smiles as he sees this, reminded of his sister long ago. Ah yet another shieldmaiden in the making.
She wasn't the boys, she was watching his face. "What are you thinking, my Love? You have a look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. If I could take but a little off, I would." She rubs his arm, waiting for his answer.
"It is nothing. I was just thinking of simpler days. When Theodred and I would practice our sword skills and Eowyn would learn hers by copying our moves." He turns and walks over to Lothiriel, taking her hand again. "I do miss my cousin and my uncle."
She gives his hand a squeeze, pausing again as she does. "You will always miss them, they were a close part of your life. The trick will be to find other things to fill that void with. I know that I am not either of them, but it will be my pleasure to help keep you busy when you are feeling lonely."
He smiles at her, leaning down to kiss her gently. "I will hold you to those words, Lothiriel. For I need someone to love, other than my sister." He smiles. "Children, I must ask you about children. You do wish for some do you not?"
She blushes slightly and looks away. "Children? Yes, I would like them. Do you not?" She glances at him sideways, smiling shyly.
He smiles at her, nodding. "Yes. Children. I would like a few. But even if we only have one I would not mind." He looks up as he hears a horse moving fast down the road towards them. He watches as his sister goes riding past. He gets a confused look on his face, wondering where she was going. He had not gotten a good look at her face so he didn't know she was upset. "I wonder where she goes with such haste."
Eowyn brings her sword in an arch, successively blocking the swing at her middle. Turning to the left, her back now to him for only a moment, she leads with her sword, though this time bringing it around and back between her arm and her side. She hears the laugh before she sees the smile as her body keeps moving. He had not bee expecting that, it was clear oh his face. And she knew that by the time they finished the match he would have a new respect for her.
Finishing with the turn, she twists her blade, effortlessly unlocking the two swords so she can brings hers back and upward, blocking the downward blow coming down at her head, the two swords stopping a mere breath from her forehead. "You are going to have to be better then that, Lord Boromir."
It had been only a few days since the party in his honor, but he had insisted that she finally give in and give him the match she promised him. So here they were, sparing in front of a choice few that had insisted on watching. That thought brings her to the next, that her fiancé and his brother were leaving in two days. It was the longest he could spare, now that she was no longer in any danger. She frowns and goes after him with a renewed vigor, her anger at him once more leaving him, especially when she knew he could stay longer if he wanted, coming through in her fast paced swings.
Lothiriel jumps a little when the two swords clash, leaning more against Eomer as she does. She threads an arm though his and smiles up at him, leaning in to kiss him before resting the side of her head on his shoulder. There weren't a lot of people around, so she didn't see any reason why she could be more affectionate. Except for Monica, there was only family in the room any way. She had been talking to Eomer about her stay thee and how it had to end when Faramir left. Eomer still couldn't understand, but at least he had stopped arguing with her over it. Faramir was her chaperone right now and especially now that she was engaged to him, they needed one. So she had to return in two days with Faramir. Hopefully soon they would be able to get back together.
Monica didn't know why she was there, she wasn't a family member and she wasn't romantically involved with anyone, she just felt out of place. This wasn't even something she normally would be at for the Lady.
Her eyes go to Lady Eowyn and she smiles. She was indeed show Lord Boromir that he would eat his words about how he thought a woman couldn't beat him with a sword. In fact, he was the reason she was there.
She shifts around, leaning back against the wall and looking down briefly at her hands. She held a set of crutches that she was holding onto and when this was over she would take him back to his room and make sure that everything was bandaged again and in order. That was why she was there... official. But her real reason was because she loved him and she wanted to make sure he was okay. It was just that only she would ever know that, and she knew it had to stay that way, it was her own little dream, she wasn't going to let any ruin the one thing she had to hold on to. So she would never tell anyone, she would just take her love to bed with her, and in the end, she would be the stronger for it all.
Even though Boromir was still unable to move his right arm, he had learned long ago that one could become disabled easily if their arm is broken. So he had practiced his sword skills with both hands. His right arm and hand was dominant but he could use his left. Which is what he was doing now. It was hard but he was showing just how talented he was with a sword.
He laughs as she does a complicated move, something he was not expecting. But he still keeps his concentration and takes another swing at her, smiling as she blocks it. He was close to her now, and if they were along he actually might have drawn her attention to it. But they weren't. Faramir was sitting near by, reading a book he had found in the library beside Eomer's study. Eomer and Lothiriel were there, as well as Monica who seemed to not want to leave his side.
He smiles and shakes his head. Just like his brother to have his nose in a book while there was a chance to practice his sword skills. He looks at Eowyn when she lowers her sword, he lowers his as well. "He has not changed. He still prefers books over weapons. Though he does not go anywhere without his bow and arrows. Let us take a break. My arm could use the rest." He smiles at her, then limps over to where Faramir was sitting reading the book. He had his head down and was distracted by his book so with a slight smirk he places the tip of his sword against Faramir's ear, something he had always done before. When asked what he was doing, the usual question, he replies with the usual answer. "Why checking for points of course. No. You still are my brother. Though you act more like an elf than a man."
Faramir wasn't really watching or listening. Not because he didn't think it interesting, but merely because of the fact he didn't want to see Boromir's face when Eowyn won. Or Eowyn's face when Boromir won. And the book was one he had never read before. And he could never resist an unknown book.
He doesn't look up when he feels cold metal against his ear. "What are you doing, Boromir?" He waits for the same answer Boromir always gave, then smiles and looks up. "Finished already? Has she humbled you, Dear Brother?" He looks past Boromir to Eowyn and smiles, love for her showing clearly in his eyes. He then looks back at Boromir. "I told you many times before, Brother. You should have paid more attention to archery."
Eomer keeps watching his sister, shaking his head when she over thinks a move or does something wrong, but smiling when she does something right. He had been the one she trained with, and he had taught her a few things as well. When the swordplay stops and Boromir moves over to Faramir he just shakes his head. Then he looks at Lothiriel. "Are they always like this?"
Eowyn smiles and with a nod walks over to where Faramir was sitting. She waits until his brother is done before she playfully smacks him on the back of the head. "That is for not watching your future wife beat your brother in the arena he chose." She looks at him expectantly, neither a smile nor a frown on her face as she does.
Monica pushes away from the wall and comes over to the two, handing Boromir the towel she had been clutching. Then she holds her hand out, taking his arm and nodding silently, she was always silent when around him when he was with others, not wanting for them to even see her if it were possible. She gets him to sit down on a nearby bench, sitting down next to him with a bucket or warm water she had insisted they have. She starts taking what was left of his bandages off and wash the angry redness around his open sores before loosely bandaging them up again. She look up at him then an just shakes her head. He had promised her that if she thought it was to bad half way through that he would stop. She now wondered of he would stand by his promise. They would soon see.
Lothiriel shrugs a little. "I did not see them all the time. Just from time to time. Though I do remember this argument. It happened often enough and their father would often be cruel and tell Boromir how he was glad to have him because he if had been stuck with Faramir as his first son the whole of Gondor would be lost because kingdoms were won in battles, not in books." Her face had gone sad as her tale had gone on, for she knew the end of it and where that particular pain came from. "I think that you need both to lead a good kingdom. I hope that you are as good with your books as you are with your sword." She tries to smile for him, to lighten the mood.
Faramir looks up at Eowyn and smiles. "My apologies, My Lady. I tend to get lost in books. And this being one I have yet to fully read, I was very much distracted." He hoped that would work for a good enough excuse. It wasn't he didn't want to watch her, it was just that, well like he said, he got distracted. The book, though more than likely something boring for Eowyn, fascinated him to no end. It was something to learn.
Normally, and back when Boromir was in full health, he would have argued with Monica. Insisted he was fine. But not now. Not when he felt tired and out of breath and sore. And his right shoulder was killing him. But he does sigh and nod to Monica when she shakes her head no, acting like he would rather continue. Though deep down he was glad she was making him stop.
He takes the offered cup of water from her and drinks it down before he looks at her as she starts to work on his right arm, wondering what she was doing. It was a lost cause. "Monica...you need not move that arm. It is not ever going to work again." Though he had noticed how when he shrugged his shoulder moved very slightly. And the healers had said that they didn't know why he couldn't move it. The injury had not been that bad. They had said that moving it as much as he could would help. But he had become frustrated quickly with the arm when he couldn't move it. Therefore he had given up.
Eomer shakes his head at her story. "It is sad. Even when my father disciplined Eowyn and I, we still knew he loved us. Uncle as well. I very much would like to know how Faramir survived a father like his and became who he is now." He then turns his head and looks at Lothiriel, shaking his head, but smiling. "Not exactly. Though I am far from ignorant, I am not the scholar Faramir is. I prefer my sword. But Uncle Theoden always made sure Eowyn, Theodred, and I had our studies done before our weapon classes. And before bed. He knew both were important."
Eowyn raises her brow at Faramir, deciding to tease him back, slightly hurt that he had not watched to see just who was the better one. Granted, Boromir was not at his best level because he was still healing. However, they did not have to spar to 'win', the people watching would be able to tell the extent of their talent by their movements, and Faramir hadn't seen any of it. So she was going to tease him a little, if to only ease her own hurt feelings a little. "Awwwwwww and your soon to be wife can't distract you from your book?"
Monica knew what he wanted but she wasn't going to give in like he was. "No, Boromir. I won't give up on you just because you and Eowyn have. So just drop it and deal with the fact that I'm keep massaging it every change I get." She doesn't say anything else, but instead she finishes what she started, re-banding it up before sitting back and looking him over. "Not too bad. She only nicked you in a few places." Then she carefully starts to clean those cuts, bandaging only the bad ones.
When she is all done she smiles lovingly down at him. "You are finished, Lord Boromir." She keeps her tone level, but she can't stop the twinkle in her eyes. She was only teasing him, she had seen his face the few times that Eowyn had gotten the upper hand. She had seen respect there. Respect and something else. Something she didn't want to think about, something that looked too much like love.
With that thought she turns quickly away from Boromir, taking the basin with the water in it.
Lothiriel looks at Faramir, listening to Eomer sadly, not saying anything until he was done. Finally she looks back at him. "He had Boromir. Boromir stood up for him, even when it would get him in trouble. He knew someone had to be on Faramir's side ever since they lost their mother. At first Uncle Denethor isolated Faramir more than even he was isolated. He claimed it was to make him strong and help him get over his mother's death so many years ago. No one really knows what went on behind those closed doors but he got quieter and quieter and finally he stopped going and he never said anything about it to this day. I know that Boromir started something that he still will do if he starts stressing out." She smiles at this part, because she had been there one time when they played the game. "It is a memory game. He would think of something that had to do with his mom, something happy, and tell us. Like the time that he accidentally knocked a pie off the counter and his mother had him get a pie plate and the put it on the corner of one of the preparation tables. She had him glue and nail it down." She laughs at the memory of Faramir's retelling of that particular tale. "Then from then on the pies would go in that plate to cool off and it didn't matter how hard you hit it, the pies never fell off the table and he wouldn't get in trouble." She had forgotten about the memory game. Of course it wasn't her game, it was his memories of his mother, and they would always calm him, but she did find it so useful.
Faramir looks up at her with an innocent smile. "You know that you can, Eowyn. I....am sorry for not watching. What may I do to sooth the situation?" He wasn't sure but he could have sworn the few times he looked up he had seen something on Boromir's face that signaled his older brother's true feelings for Eowyn. But as always he refused to think badly of his brother, or Eowyn, so he had figured it was merely respect. He could understand Boromir's feelings then. He too was quite pleased with the way Eowyn fought with a sword. "Anything my Lady asks of me shall be granted."
Boromir smiles at her, shaking his head. "You make me feel like I just had my hair trimmed." He stands and nods his head, still smiling. "Thank you, Monica." He then turns and walks, well limps, over to where Eomer and Lothiriel were, catching the end of Lothiriel's tale. "What was that, Lothiriel? Telling my secrets to your future husband are you?"
Eomer shakes his head. "He must be of strong quality to live with such.....hate." He shakes his head again and sighs, then he looks up at Boromir as he speaks. He smiles at the man for the first time. "Actually she was just informing me of how you were protective of your brother. Almost a father to him." He looks back at Faramir with Eowyn. "You did a fine job, Boromir. Though I do wonder how you did it being only 5 years his elder."
Eowyn shakes her head, her arms crossing in front of her chest. "No, no I am afraid it is too late for that. If you had wanted to do something, you should have thought of that before we finished. Boromir is leaving. You missed out on watching. I hope the book was important enough," she says as she tries to hide the smile that threatens to break through.
Monica finishes cleaning up there, they wouldn't need her any longer. With her pulling the plug like she had she knew they would talk but wouldn't get back into it. He would be stupid he did, she thinks as she finally picks up his few things including his sword. Carefully holding it she takes the things back to his room, knowing he would know who took the sword, or at least hoping he guessed right. Especially since the bandages and the other clothing was not there. She smiles as she imagines him thinking a magical creature took them. 'Faramir, I am telling you the truth! They had to have come right in and took it! Snatched it up to prove they were better then us.' She can't help but let out a hearty laugh as she turns a corner and heads to his rooms. She could see it now, Boromir fighting a wood elf or something bigger and all the while she had his sword. Little old Monica.
Lothiriel watches the interchange between the two and stays silent, waiting for a time that she could excuse herself. She had enjoyed the match but now felt like a walk in the village. She would be going back tomorrow, so she wanted to make the most of the last day she had there. Finally the men stop a moment and she jumps in.
"Eomer," she says with a light touch on his arm. "I was thinking of going for a walk through the village, it is just a nice day today, what do you think?"
Faramir looks at her, using the look he always used on Boromir to get him to forgive him faster. It was the look a puppy might give it's owner after being scolded. "Will you have me beg for your forgiveness, Darling?" He looks down at his clothes, then back up at her. "Will you have me get my clothes dirty?"
Boromir smiles at Eomer. "Thank you. It was not too difficult. Faramir is quite easy to love and he just makes one want to protect him, even though he is one of Gondor's deadliest warriors." He looks at his brother, then back at Eomer when Lothiriel asks him her question. "Well excuse me. I think I will go speak with my brother and Eowyn." He nods to the two of them before he walks over to Eowyn and Faramir. "Ah Faramir, you know that look does not work." Though he felt the need to hug his little brother suddenly. Oh he knew quite well that the look worked, as did Faramir. He smiles and takes a seat beside Faramir, looking up at Eowyn. "You must forgive him or he will be moping around for the rest of the day and night."
Eomer nods to Boromir, then looks at Lothiriel and smiles. "If it is your wish I will come with you, Lothiriel. Unless you wish to walk on your own." He stands and offers her his hand, helping her up. "Come Darling. Let us see how the people are doing."
Eowyn arches a brow at him, tilting her head to the side and not even registering that she had heard Boromir. "Does it really matter if you get your clothes dirty? I mean, after all, you are not the one that would be washing them." She puts a hand to her chest, putting on a slightly hurt look. "Now I would not be the one given that credit either. So who would be punished? Not you, for you would not be the one cleaning pants that didn't need cleaning yet till your fiancé made you kneel before her for forgiveness." She giggles, unable to stop herself. Then clearing her throat, she puts on a serious look and shakes her head. "No, it would not be you but the woman that next had to wash those pants. So to save her," she finally looks at Boromir and gives him a genuine smile, "And your brother," she looks back at him, "Then I suppose I will have to forgive you.
Monica finally makes it back to his room, entering it without even thinking she should knock, for she knew where both men were. She was in this room more then they were in it wasn't she?
Going to the bed she lays out the sword, being very careful with it, knowing how it made him feel. Only when she had put the bandages away as well as his other loose clothing does she go back to the bed and sit down, brining the blade over to rest it in her lap. That is where it stays while she starts to polish and oil it.
Lothiriel nods to Boromir, smiling at him as he leaves before turning her gaze to her Love, a blush toughing her cheeks. "By all means," she says as she takes his hand. "I could use a partner." She leaves the room with him, heading down the hall to the outside doors. She knew if she could get past them then they would be free to do what they wanted. She was almost holding her breath as she walked with him, nodding at some she passed and smiling at others.
Boromir can't help but laugh. "Oh just get your clothes dirty, Brother. She is not going to let you off the hook that easily." He pats his brother's shoulder with his good hand, then takes the book off Faramir's lap and starts to flip through the pages. "Children's stories, Faramir? I would have thought you would prefer something more complex?"
Faramir looks at Boromir when he takes the book and sighs deeply. "Children's stories are just as interesting as other stories. Besides, they are Rohirrim children stories." He looks back at Eowyn. Then with a deep sigh, a very dramatic deep sigh, he drops to his knees in front of her and takes her hand, bowing his head. "I, Faramir, Steward of Gondor, humbly seek for Lady Eowyn's forgiveness for my inattentiveness towards her sparring match with my brother Boromir of Gondor." He glances up at her, looking very serious, though his ever-expressive eyes give him away.
Eomer smiles, watching her a little as they leave the hall. "You will make a fine queen, Lothiriel. A fine queen indeed. And I must thank you again for helping with my paper work." He kisses her hand gently, holding it in his as he walks along the streets with her.
Eowyn can't help it, she just can't keep a straight face when he makes his so serious. She stands there, laughing till tears ran down her face. Just as she would be about ready to stop laughing, he gave another serious sigh and then made a face as if to say 'Would you please take me serious and stop laughing?' and that got her laughing all over again till finally she lets Boromir help her to a chair next where Faramir was still on his knees. She takes the piece of clothe that he gives her and wipes at her eyes, trying to get her laughing under control.
"It was nothing, Eomer," Lothiriel whispers, thinking she better start speaking to him more formally as they walk through the streets, not wanting people to hear her speaking so informally around him.
She moves in closer to his side, leaning against him to lay her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm as she walks, just enjoying his presence there. "I always dreamed that one day I would be walking like this with the man I love. I just didn't think for a moment it would be a king." The thing was, she didn't think of him as a king, not even when they first met. There was something about him that drew her to him, like a moth to a flame, He was a man to her, not something untouchable, he made himself that way, at least for her. That was why she loved him. She didn't think of him as this thing bigger then life, but as a man, who could hurt others and be hurt as well. And she knew that he was a man that had a lot of love to give. She just hoped that it would always be to her.
Boromir can't help but laugh, shaking his head as he gets up and takes Eowyn's hand and brings her over to the seat that Faramir had vacated a moment before. "Here. Sit down before you collapse." He shakes his head at the two of them. "You two will be the death of me. Honest. You act like children." He smiles though. "I fear for my future nieces and nephews."
Faramir turns when Eowyn sits down, then moves over to her, still on his knees. He looked quite silly but he honestly didn't care. That was his whole point. He takes hold of her hand again and kisses the back of it, smiling innocently up at her. "Have I been forgiven yet, my Love?"
Eowyn finally gets her breath back and she nods, the smile now plastered on her face. "Yes, Faramir my Love. You are forgiven. Now get up before you rip them as well as dirty them." She tugs on his hands, her eyes going to Boromir playfully. "He may be too old and needs your help to get up."
Faramir snorts and pushes Boromir's offered hand away. "I do not think I am old. I am only 35...well 36 in a few months but that is not the point. HE is 41!" He smirks and stands up, leaning over to brush the dust and dirt off his long over coat as well as his pants. He then takes the empty seat on Eowyn's other side. He reaches across her and takes the book back from Boromir. He notices his hand shook when he took the book but he ignores it, that is till Boromir grabs his hand back and turns it over, looking at his palm. He sighs deeply and pulls his hand back. "It is nothing."
Boromir snorts, shaking his head at his brother. He was truly worried about him. He looked pale today. And he knew he was hiding something. "Is that so? And yet you still avoid the issue of your health." He looks at Eowyn. "Perhaps you will tell me exactly why my brother always looks pale and why he favors his shoulder and his leg? And why he continually hides his Steward ring from me?" He looks back at Faramir. "You know of my injuries, Faramir. I may be almost blind in one eye but I'm not totally blind. I can see something is wrong with you."
Eowyn puts her hands up between the two of them standing up as she does. "Okay okay, no more fighting. You know what your brother told you happened. So why don't you tell ME what he told you and then I can tell you what was left out, how does that sound?" She looks at them both questioningly.
"He has not told me anything! Just that he sustained....what was the word, Little Brother? Minor injuries while trying to retake Osgiliath?" Boromir knew that any injury was never minor when taken during a battle. Orcs did not show mercy. If they did he wouldn't have been pierced with three poisoned arrows. He glares at his brother. "Why will you not tell me, Faramir? If you think it is a burden for me to know you were injured badly well do not think that. I am your older brother and I have seen you through worse! Or have you forgotten the illness you suffered through when you were 4? Or 5?" He glares at his brother, finally losing patience with him when he says it is not important. "Of course it is!" He stands up, Faramir standing to meet him. "Do not shut me out, Faramir. You know how I hate when you do that."
Faramir sighs and shakes his head. "It is nothing. Yes. Minor injuries. Nothing for you to worry over, Boromir." But that was the wrong thing to say. As Boromir explodes at him he himself stands, glaring at his older brother. Why couldn't he just let it go. Or at least not ask when Eowyn was in the room. "I am not shutting you out, Boromir. I simply do not feel that my current health is important enough to....to.....to discuss in front of everyone." Why was he so afraid to tell Boromir exactly what was happening with him? Because he didn't want to burden his brother with it. It was his to deal with. He always dealt with his health by himself. He set his own broken bones. He cleaned his own wounds and bandaged them. He could look after himself. He is about to say so when Boromir, beyond frustration now, hauls back and hits him, sending both of them to the floor. A memory flashes through his mind of someone else's fist connecting with his jaw in much the same way. He doesn't wince. He doesn't really do anything for a moment. But finally he sits up and looks at his brother. "At least I had the ring on so this time it did not cut me." He sighs. "If you wish to know that badly I will tell you. I was shot with a poison arrow, well....many poison arrows actually, while trying to retake Osgiliath. I will tell you WHY I was doing something so ignorant. Because Father insisted I go. He would not allow the orcs to win Osgiliath. And since you were presumed dead, and he wished I had taken your place, I agreed. All my men were killed. I survived. Now why do you think that is, Boromir? Why would I, the one he wanted dead, why would I survive and not you? I'm sure he asked himself that when he tried to burn us. You see, he thought I was dead when I was dragged into Minas Tirith by my horse. He did not wish for the enemy to desecrate our bodies so he decided death by fire would be the best. I was still alive. Now you know why I favor my shoulder and leg. But that is not it. The poison on the arrows. It still courses through my blood. It will not leave no matter WHAT the healers do. Or I. Not even the King or Gandalf can do a thing. I now suffer very painful headaches on a daily basis. I sometimes feel faint, or I sometimes feel weak. And it will just get worse until I die. Now do you still wish I had told you, Boromir?"
Eowyn stands there in shock. It wasn't just Boromir that didn't know all that, it was her as well. As Faramir had not told his brother, she did not know as well. He had kept the story and the results for the most part to himself. She knew that he was in semi bad shape, but what he has basically just yelled at his brother was that he was dying. That no matter what anyone did, he would die eventually from these wounds.
She starts to back up towards the door, shaking her head, her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide from this new fear that gripped at her tears "No.... no....no..." she says ever so softly, almost too softly. Then she turns around and runs full tilt, the tears flowing freely down her face this time as she pushes through the door and out of the building. The cool air hits her face first but she doesn't feel it. Without even pausing she heads down the steps to run out into the village at full throttle.
Boromir listens to his brother, sighing softly and shaking his head. "No. I would still wish to know. There must be someone, or something that can be done for you." He didn't like this. Even with the war over, well mostly, Faramir still suffered. And again because of their father. Why did Denethor hate Faramir? He wished he could have asked his father that once more before he died. He suddenly realizes something and he looks at Eowyn. She looked....well like she was about to burst into tears, or hit Faramir. When she rushes from the room he tries to get up. But is stopped by Faramir. He frowns and nods when Faramir says he will go after her. He waits for his brother to leave and then he suddenly feels very tired. He leaves the hall and returns to his room.
Faramir watches as Eowyn runs from the room. Oh now he had really messed things up. He hadn't meant to tell Eowyn like that. Standing, he informs Boromir he would go find Eowyn, then he turns and hurries out of the hall. He spots her running off into the stables and sighs. He knew what she was going to do. Hopefully he would be able to catch her before she rode off. He runs down the steps and down the stone roadway to the stables. He walks inside, dismissing the stable hands as he looks around for Eowyn. He walks over to the stall her horse was in. "Eowyn?" He sees her as she sets her saddle on her horse. "Eowyn I did not mean for you to find out this way." When she still doesn't acknowledge him he frowns and takes a step towards her, resting his hand gently on her horse's nose. "Eowyn? Will you not let me explain? Where are you going to?" He was getting frustrated with her. She still refused to answer him. He steps closer, reaching out to touch her arm. But she pushes his hand away. Oh yes. She was very upset with him. He prayed to Valar that he could make it right again. He should have told her. Should have made sure she knew everything. "Eowyn, I am sorry. I should have told you sooner. I just did not know how." He moves to the front of her horse, taking the reigns and holding them, keeping the horse calm and steady. His own horse was in the next stall, and he was clearly agitated by the emotions running between the two humans.
Eowyn was in the stables because she had to get away. Unfortunately her horse wasn't ready to go out and he was able to catch her in there. She was doing everything she could to not cry, pulling on her anger to fuel her actions. When he comes in and tries to stop her, she keeps saddling the horse, ignoring him, not even listening to his pleas so that she didn't back down. When he grabs the reins she is even more pissed, because he had not right to stop her. He didn't care about her, that was obvious, not to have hidden something like this from her. She gets the horse saddled and reaches for the reins, but he doesn't let go. So finally she looks at him, anger the only thing reflected in her eyes, the pain of his news she was keeping in her heart. "Let go."
Faramir knew he had hurt her. But he hadn't known how to tell her the news of his current health. "Eowyn....please. I did not wish to hurt you. I....I do not know when I would tell you. I think maybe I was going to tell you when I was..." He sees her stiffen as he goes to say the word dying. So he doesn't say it. Instead he watches as she finishes with her horse and gets up into the saddle. When she reaches for the reigns again he keeps a hold of them. "Please...stay. Let me explain why I have not told you." He sighs deeply as she yanks the reigns from his hands. He moves out of the way and lowers his head, sighing softly, tears filling his eyes as he listens to the sound of her horse leaving the stable, and hears the last words she says to him as she leaves. He looks up in time to see her riding down the hill towards the gate.
She didn't want to listen to him when he stands there begging her to. And when he says he was going to tell her when he was dying, before she even thinks that she thinks 'dead' and her body stiffens, her chin going up. It bothered her that he hadn't told her, he hadn't thought enough of her to let her in on this. She yanks the reins from him and mounts the horse. She looks at him one last time, his head bowed, and her anger doesn't let her heart see his pain, her anger focus' on her own pain. "You should have told me. You don't love me. Or you wouldn't have kept this from me." She spurs her horse on and rides out. She rides hard and fast, nearly missing her brother, not even seeing him and Lothiriel as she keeps going, her mind only on getting out of there and getting away from the lies and the pain. She finally allows herself to cry, finally allows the hurt to take over as she rides even harder, pushing her horse to it's limits, the wind whipping her hair around her face, drying her tears almost before they even wet her cheeks. The pain was so much that she doesn't even see Gandalf as she passes him at the gate, her tears clouding her vision as well, she rides off towards the hills and the woods, not thinking for a moment of the danger she was riding into. Saluman hadn't been found, nor Wormtongue, she was not in the clear when it came to them. But Gandalf had heard and he knew of the danger. He knew enough of Lady Eowyn to know that something was wrong if she was putting her self in this danger. So he turns and heads off after her, keeping up, yet keeping a safe distance, letting her ride it out.
Eomer smiles at her, letting go of her hand for one moment to go help a woman with a basket of vegetables that had fallen off the cart she had. He smiles, speaking with the older woman briefly before he straightens the cart and the woman continues on her way. He walks back over to Lothiriel, wiping his hands on his pants before he takes her hand again and continues walking with her. "I am glad that you are able to see where you will be living. I have forgotten to ask but....how do you like Edoras?"
Lothiriel smiles softly at him. "Aw, but my King, you have asked me. A few days after I first arrived here, before we fell in love. Is that it?" she asks as she pats his arm, hugging it again as well, loving the feel of his body pressed up against her side.
"Perhaps." He smiles at her, continuing along the road. He looks around, stopping to watch two boys practicing they sword skills. The boys looked to be about 12 and 10. And off to the side, there was a girl, much younger, but old enough to hold a wooden sword. The girl was mimicking the boys moves. He smiles as he sees this, reminded of his sister long ago. Ah yet another shieldmaiden in the making.
She wasn't the boys, she was watching his face. "What are you thinking, my Love? You have a look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. If I could take but a little off, I would." She rubs his arm, waiting for his answer.
"It is nothing. I was just thinking of simpler days. When Theodred and I would practice our sword skills and Eowyn would learn hers by copying our moves." He turns and walks over to Lothiriel, taking her hand again. "I do miss my cousin and my uncle."
She gives his hand a squeeze, pausing again as she does. "You will always miss them, they were a close part of your life. The trick will be to find other things to fill that void with. I know that I am not either of them, but it will be my pleasure to help keep you busy when you are feeling lonely."
He smiles at her, leaning down to kiss her gently. "I will hold you to those words, Lothiriel. For I need someone to love, other than my sister." He smiles. "Children, I must ask you about children. You do wish for some do you not?"
She blushes slightly and looks away. "Children? Yes, I would like them. Do you not?" She glances at him sideways, smiling shyly.
He smiles at her, nodding. "Yes. Children. I would like a few. But even if we only have one I would not mind." He looks up as he hears a horse moving fast down the road towards them. He watches as his sister goes riding past. He gets a confused look on his face, wondering where she was going. He had not gotten a good look at her face so he didn't know she was upset. "I wonder where she goes with such haste."