Author's note: Finally, an update! Things have been busy lately and my mind has been elsewhere. But I finally punched another chapter out! Thanks so much for all the reviews! I'm glad that you're all still sticking with me! Here's the next chapter!
Rhovanoin's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
As soon as they passed into Edoras, Rhiannon knew immediately that there was something amiss at work here as the city was practically devoid of any activity. What few people lived here stayed hidden in their houses, watching them with untrusting eyes from cracks in their doorways. It seemed wrong as even the skies were dull and lifeless, promising the threat of rain soon.
She eased her horse up so that she was riding beside Eomer. "If I may ask, Lord Eomer, why do things seem so quiet here? It seems unnatural for a city to be so quiet, especially one in which the King of the Mark resides."
Eomer's face became solemn, and there was a sadness that lurked behind his eyes. "This is a trying time for Rohan, just as it is for Gondor. We are being attacked by Saruman's orcs, and Saruman himself has sent an advisor to the King that does nothing but allow this butchery and chaos to reign. He sits by my uncle's side and does nothing except whisper lies in his ear. The King he is no longer, but a puppet of Saruman the White."
She became quiet as she had not meant to pry where she didn't belong. "I am sorry," she said. "Please forgive my hasty questions."
He glanced over at her, a faint smile playing upon his lips. "Think nothing of it, Lady Elena," he said. "It is necessary that you know this so that when you do come before the King, you will not be so shocked at his appearance. He is not old in age, but appears so much older through Saruman's influence. He no longer thinks for himself, but relies on the advice of his counsellor. Do not expect that your arrival will be met with warmth, as there is none to be found here."
"Yet you have acted so graciously on our behalf so far," she replied. "We cannot begin to thank you enough."
"It is by your actions earlier that require me to give you all that I can," he answered. "You were of great assistance to us, and we are honor bound to repay you. I must say no more, for here is the Golden Hall of Meduseld where my uncle resides over his kingdom...or used to," he added scornfully.
She fell back behind Eomer and caught Boromir's eye, seeing within them the light of jealousy, and knew that before they left something was going to happen, one way or another.
True to his word, King Theoden said very little to either of them as most of the talking was done by a sniveling, cowering man clothed all in black, the only strength given to him was that of words which he used to great advantage. When his eyes fell upon her, a shiver raced up her back, one of revulsion so strong that even Boromir felt it, and he glanced over at her with a questioning light in his eye.
After the audience was done, Eomer begged their leave as he had to return to his duty of protecting Rohan, even though the man known as Grima thought it a waste of time and resources. Instead, he left them in the care of his sister, Eowyn, who led them to their rooms and invited them to dine with them tonight.
Rhiannon noticed that Boromir's eyes stayed on her retreating form a little longer than they should have, and that hers did as well, causing jealousy to well up within her. But she didn't understand why as he was free to pursue whatever women he wished. They had made no promises to each other, so why was she jealous of his wandering eye?
Boromir had seen the look in her eye, and he was allowed a small feeling of satisfaction as he had paid her back for all that she had done to him on their way here. Sure, he knew she had only been speaking of matters in Rohan to Eomer, but that was his place to do that, not hers. But he knew her well enough by now to know that she took matters into her own hands, a side effect of living alone for so long in the wild and one that probably had kept her alive.
Still, it was nice to know that she still had some feelings for him, and he planned to use this time to find out what was going on between them, if anything at all was going on.
They both took the time to bathe before it was time for dinner, Rhiannon feeling much better after the bath and in better spirits. Her jealousy from before had dwindled down to nothing more than an amusing aftermath, since she hadn't planned to act upon her emotions for the handsome Captain, and if he was interested in someone else then all the better for him. It would give her less to worry about, although a small part of her didn't want him to be with anyone else.
She had just gotten dressed when she heard a knock at her door, and she opened it to look upon a most handsome sight as the subject of her musings stood before her in a fresh set of clothing. He had taken the time to polish every bit of leather that was in his outfit: belts, boots, and armguards, where the symbol of Gondor glistened brightly. The chainmail that he wore underneath his surcoat shone brightly, and his hands were left uncovered, showing their size and strength which came from wielding a sword for so long.
"You look very nice tonight, my lord," she complimented him.
"So do you," he replied, his eyes never having left her the whole time. Since she had not had a dress of her own with her, she had been supplied with one which reflected a deep green tint and showed off her eyes beautifully. The neckline was low and the sleeves long, which flowed loosely around her arms, just as the skirt did around her waist. Her hair she had left long and flowing in midnight waves down her back as seemed to be the custom in Rohan.
All in all, she looked beautiful, and he was damned if he would let anyone else touch her but him tonight. He had waited long enough, having to spend all this time with her and swallow his emotions, and he had had enough. It was time for them to let each other know how they felt about one another before it drove him crazy.
He stepped close to her and offered her his arm, meaning to escort her to dinner as a gentleman should. She seemed to wish to humor him as she took it without question, a smile playing upon her lips. "You seem to be in good spirits tonight," she pointed out.
"Ah, but the night has just begun," he replied. "I imagine that before the night is over, I will have to deal with more than a few amorous men who wish to seek your favor."
She laughed. "As will I, for I doubt it not that you will catch the eye of many women tonight," she returned. "Perhaps it would be best if we do not go at all?"
He heard the door to her room shut behind her, and he turned towards her as he slowly backed her into it, leaving her no room to escape...if she even wanted to. He saw her breathing quicken as her chest heaved from it, and her eyes were wide with a mixture of desire and something else he couldn't quite make out. He brushed his hand lightly across her cheek and was pleased to see her eyes drift shut. "And what would we do if we didn't go?" he breathed against her ear, his warm breath caressing her neck.
She wanted to fight the emotions his nearness was causing within her, but they were too delicious to ignore any longer as she had fought against them long enough. Shivers raced through her body, and she backed up until she felt the hard wood of the door at her back, something to help support her in case her knees gave way beneath her. And wouldn't that just make the amusing sight for her to slide to the floor before he had even touched her?
"What would you suggest we do?" she asked breathlessly, her hands coming up to rest on his waist where she felt his hard body underneath the layers of clothing. She turned her head up towards his own neck, letting her own breath slide across his own skin, and she was awarded by the tightening of his arm around her waist.
A sound rumbled deep within his chest, and he pulled away slightly to look down at her, his eyes afire with barely surpressed desire. "Don't play games with me, my lady," he growled.
Even she was wondering what was going on as just earlier she was telling herself she didn't care about him, and now here she was literally throwing herself at him! Was her attraction to him so strong that she would go against her better judgment just to be near him? Apparently so as her body cried out for his own, wanting to be so close to him and never wanting to leave.
"Who's playing games?" she asked as she leaned forward to brush her lips across his, causing an answering reaction from him which had her nearly squealing in surprise as he lifted her in his strong arms and threw the door open to carry her inside. He kicked it shut with his foot and carried her inside where he lay her down on the bed to show her how she made him feel. Needless to say, neither of them made it to dinner that night as they shared in a different feast, that of the love they both felt for each other but didn't want to admit just yet.
***************
Looks like they're having fun. ^^ But what will this mean for the both of them?
Thanks for reading! C-ya!
Rhovanoin's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
As soon as they passed into Edoras, Rhiannon knew immediately that there was something amiss at work here as the city was practically devoid of any activity. What few people lived here stayed hidden in their houses, watching them with untrusting eyes from cracks in their doorways. It seemed wrong as even the skies were dull and lifeless, promising the threat of rain soon.
She eased her horse up so that she was riding beside Eomer. "If I may ask, Lord Eomer, why do things seem so quiet here? It seems unnatural for a city to be so quiet, especially one in which the King of the Mark resides."
Eomer's face became solemn, and there was a sadness that lurked behind his eyes. "This is a trying time for Rohan, just as it is for Gondor. We are being attacked by Saruman's orcs, and Saruman himself has sent an advisor to the King that does nothing but allow this butchery and chaos to reign. He sits by my uncle's side and does nothing except whisper lies in his ear. The King he is no longer, but a puppet of Saruman the White."
She became quiet as she had not meant to pry where she didn't belong. "I am sorry," she said. "Please forgive my hasty questions."
He glanced over at her, a faint smile playing upon his lips. "Think nothing of it, Lady Elena," he said. "It is necessary that you know this so that when you do come before the King, you will not be so shocked at his appearance. He is not old in age, but appears so much older through Saruman's influence. He no longer thinks for himself, but relies on the advice of his counsellor. Do not expect that your arrival will be met with warmth, as there is none to be found here."
"Yet you have acted so graciously on our behalf so far," she replied. "We cannot begin to thank you enough."
"It is by your actions earlier that require me to give you all that I can," he answered. "You were of great assistance to us, and we are honor bound to repay you. I must say no more, for here is the Golden Hall of Meduseld where my uncle resides over his kingdom...or used to," he added scornfully.
She fell back behind Eomer and caught Boromir's eye, seeing within them the light of jealousy, and knew that before they left something was going to happen, one way or another.
True to his word, King Theoden said very little to either of them as most of the talking was done by a sniveling, cowering man clothed all in black, the only strength given to him was that of words which he used to great advantage. When his eyes fell upon her, a shiver raced up her back, one of revulsion so strong that even Boromir felt it, and he glanced over at her with a questioning light in his eye.
After the audience was done, Eomer begged their leave as he had to return to his duty of protecting Rohan, even though the man known as Grima thought it a waste of time and resources. Instead, he left them in the care of his sister, Eowyn, who led them to their rooms and invited them to dine with them tonight.
Rhiannon noticed that Boromir's eyes stayed on her retreating form a little longer than they should have, and that hers did as well, causing jealousy to well up within her. But she didn't understand why as he was free to pursue whatever women he wished. They had made no promises to each other, so why was she jealous of his wandering eye?
Boromir had seen the look in her eye, and he was allowed a small feeling of satisfaction as he had paid her back for all that she had done to him on their way here. Sure, he knew she had only been speaking of matters in Rohan to Eomer, but that was his place to do that, not hers. But he knew her well enough by now to know that she took matters into her own hands, a side effect of living alone for so long in the wild and one that probably had kept her alive.
Still, it was nice to know that she still had some feelings for him, and he planned to use this time to find out what was going on between them, if anything at all was going on.
They both took the time to bathe before it was time for dinner, Rhiannon feeling much better after the bath and in better spirits. Her jealousy from before had dwindled down to nothing more than an amusing aftermath, since she hadn't planned to act upon her emotions for the handsome Captain, and if he was interested in someone else then all the better for him. It would give her less to worry about, although a small part of her didn't want him to be with anyone else.
She had just gotten dressed when she heard a knock at her door, and she opened it to look upon a most handsome sight as the subject of her musings stood before her in a fresh set of clothing. He had taken the time to polish every bit of leather that was in his outfit: belts, boots, and armguards, where the symbol of Gondor glistened brightly. The chainmail that he wore underneath his surcoat shone brightly, and his hands were left uncovered, showing their size and strength which came from wielding a sword for so long.
"You look very nice tonight, my lord," she complimented him.
"So do you," he replied, his eyes never having left her the whole time. Since she had not had a dress of her own with her, she had been supplied with one which reflected a deep green tint and showed off her eyes beautifully. The neckline was low and the sleeves long, which flowed loosely around her arms, just as the skirt did around her waist. Her hair she had left long and flowing in midnight waves down her back as seemed to be the custom in Rohan.
All in all, she looked beautiful, and he was damned if he would let anyone else touch her but him tonight. He had waited long enough, having to spend all this time with her and swallow his emotions, and he had had enough. It was time for them to let each other know how they felt about one another before it drove him crazy.
He stepped close to her and offered her his arm, meaning to escort her to dinner as a gentleman should. She seemed to wish to humor him as she took it without question, a smile playing upon her lips. "You seem to be in good spirits tonight," she pointed out.
"Ah, but the night has just begun," he replied. "I imagine that before the night is over, I will have to deal with more than a few amorous men who wish to seek your favor."
She laughed. "As will I, for I doubt it not that you will catch the eye of many women tonight," she returned. "Perhaps it would be best if we do not go at all?"
He heard the door to her room shut behind her, and he turned towards her as he slowly backed her into it, leaving her no room to escape...if she even wanted to. He saw her breathing quicken as her chest heaved from it, and her eyes were wide with a mixture of desire and something else he couldn't quite make out. He brushed his hand lightly across her cheek and was pleased to see her eyes drift shut. "And what would we do if we didn't go?" he breathed against her ear, his warm breath caressing her neck.
She wanted to fight the emotions his nearness was causing within her, but they were too delicious to ignore any longer as she had fought against them long enough. Shivers raced through her body, and she backed up until she felt the hard wood of the door at her back, something to help support her in case her knees gave way beneath her. And wouldn't that just make the amusing sight for her to slide to the floor before he had even touched her?
"What would you suggest we do?" she asked breathlessly, her hands coming up to rest on his waist where she felt his hard body underneath the layers of clothing. She turned her head up towards his own neck, letting her own breath slide across his own skin, and she was awarded by the tightening of his arm around her waist.
A sound rumbled deep within his chest, and he pulled away slightly to look down at her, his eyes afire with barely surpressed desire. "Don't play games with me, my lady," he growled.
Even she was wondering what was going on as just earlier she was telling herself she didn't care about him, and now here she was literally throwing herself at him! Was her attraction to him so strong that she would go against her better judgment just to be near him? Apparently so as her body cried out for his own, wanting to be so close to him and never wanting to leave.
"Who's playing games?" she asked as she leaned forward to brush her lips across his, causing an answering reaction from him which had her nearly squealing in surprise as he lifted her in his strong arms and threw the door open to carry her inside. He kicked it shut with his foot and carried her inside where he lay her down on the bed to show her how she made him feel. Needless to say, neither of them made it to dinner that night as they shared in a different feast, that of the love they both felt for each other but didn't want to admit just yet.
***************
Looks like they're having fun. ^^ But what will this mean for the both of them?
Thanks for reading! C-ya!