Deeply Still
Faramir sat beside the Queen drinking tea. The balcony they sat on afforded them an excellent view of the White City. The Queen had requested that he spend the afternoon with her, she wanted to hear of his trip to Edoras, and of how Éowyn fared. Faramir did not mind - he liked and trusted and Arwen, and enjoyed the time he spent with her.
It had not always been so - seeing her snub of Éowyn on her first night in the city had infuriated him. He had wanted to step in and defend his lady from her every accusation, but she was his Queen, and in any case Éowyn was not a woman who appreciated having her battles fought for her.
Her beauty had stunned him, like all who saw the Evenstar, yet it unnerved him too. She seemed too perfect, her face like a mask, showing nothing. She had seemed almost inhumanly beautiful to him, although as he reminded himself, she was. He could understand the hold she exerted over many hearts, but preferred Éowyn's face, on which her thoughts could be read, for those who had eyes to see. It was not until his visit to Edoras that he had started to gain some sense of the woman that lay beneath the exterior of elven perfection.
And once he came to known her, he liked her greatly. She had a truly warm heart, and he pitied her for the choice she had had to make, though in his heart of hearts he admitted he could never truly understand it. To give up immortality was impossible for him to comprehend - at his most basic level he could not even understand the idea of eternity.
She like him was intellectual - and they had spent a few afternoons debating the merits of various translations before he had left for Ithilien. She could argue such points until day turned to night, and Faramir found himself relishing the kinship. It was she who had helped him to persuade the King to write his memoirs - though Aragorn was unlikely to forgive either of them for that.
Since then they had spent afternoons together occasionally sometimes in conversation and sometimes in silence, and he always left their meetings with a sense of equilibrium. As her friendship with Éowyn increased the meetings had become less awkward, and he was glad for much as he liked his men, dusty tomes and histories were not their preferred topics of conversation, and since the death of his father he had had few outlets for such discussion.
Now they leaned back watching the sunset across the Anduin, and a comfortable silence stretched between them. As the sun finally sank beneath the horizon, Arwen looked at him and said, "I am glad of your friendship my lord Steward, not simply your loyalty, but your friendship. It is a gift." He looked at her face, soft in the twilight, and had no words, but simply nodded. A smile touched her lips, and she said, "How did Éowyn feel about our friendship Faramir?"
He looked at her and said, "At first I think it made her nervous, yet she came to see how it was, and asked me no questions. And when you became close it made it easier I think." Her eyes bore into his, and she asked, "Faramir what passed between you in Rohan?". He leant his head back, irony playing about his lips and said, "I rather stupidly questioned her love for me, and behaved like an idiot. I was taught the error of my ways."
The Queen inhaled, and said softly, "Was this about my husband?" Faramir sighed, and said, "Perhaps, yet I think it was more about my own foolishness.", he linked his hands behind his head, "Did it make you nervous when they became friends?". Arwen sighed and said, "A little, for I did not truly know how it was between them. It was not until I came to know her that I understood," she paused, "He sees much of himself in her I think, or perhaps it is that she will always be something of an innocent to him, for he would protect her always.", she continued, "How did Éowyn react?"
He sighed in turn and said, "She was angry and hurt at first, yet we mended it. I would not say such things to her again. I cannot forgive myself as easily as she has". Arwen's lovely face shone with understanding, and she said "You are a good man Faramir, a fact you are all too apt to forget. Éowyn sees that if you do not."
He smiled, and said, "I thank you my Queen.", and adding softly, "I miss her". The Queen nodded in understanding, and said, "Yet soon you shall be wed." He smiled and remembered the message Éowyn had told him to deliver before he left Edoras, "I thank you for your efforts in that Arwen, though Éowyn has instructed me to tell you, that if you even consider anything involving 'symbolic dances' we shall be forced to elope".
His King laughed as he joined them, "An idle threat Faramir, Éomer would never forgive either of you." He sat beside his Queen saying, "I think my love you may continue to plan the wedding to your hearts content." Arwen glared at them both, "You may laugh now, but you my lord Steward shall be grateful for my labours when the day arrives.". The two men laughed and sat back to enjoy the peace of the twilight.
* * *
Éowyn whooped with joy as she raced her brother. They were galloping wildly over the plains near Edoras as they had not since she was sixteen. As she always had, she won, for she was lighter and her horse was equally strong. And as he always had, her brother said he had let her win.
The past few weeks had been a chance to relive her girlhood. She had rediscovered the sense of comradeship she had shared with her brother until war and duties had conspired to keep him from her. While nothing could diminish her love for him, she had often felt as if the duties keeping them apart had lessened her knowledge of him.
Now, in these few months, she had got to know Éomer, and Rohan anew. She loved this land of her birth more and more, and knew that it would cost her some pangs to leave it. She did not regret her choice, but she was glad she had some ties in what would become her new home. A smile crossed her face at the thought of her wedding, which was now a scant three weeks away.
After all Faramir and her had parted company well, having mended their argument. Somehow she missed him less now than she had before, for she knew that soon all the waiting would be over. Two years was not very long for an engagement, she supposed, and in the end it had made them surer of each other, and of their love. Still, she was glad it was over.
She helped Éomer spread the blanket on the ground, laughing a little at the idea of Éomer Éadig, King Of Rohan, and Éowyn Wraithbane, settling down to anything as mundane as a picnic. This was one of the last full days she would spend with Éomer, for soon he would have to travel to Helm's Deep - hoping to see if it could be rebuilt - and after that they would leave for Minas Tirith.
She was loath to leave him alone in his kingdom, and might even have regretted it, had he not finally confided in her that he intended to ask Lothliriel of Dol Amroth to be his bride. She had exulted inwardly over this - Merry had been right. Now that her brother had admitted he was openly smitten however, it was almost impossible to get him to cease discussing his beloved's charms.
Finally Éowyn burst out laughing, for she could not help but find it comic to listen to - knowing also that Lothliriel was a formidable, and intelligent lady, who would no doubt impose her will successfully on all of Rohan, including Éomer.
Their conversation became more serious, and eventually she said, "I never thanked you brother, but I shall now. You tried to protect me from Grima, and I never told you how grateful I was."
He looked a little sad, and said, "But I did not succeed entirely did I?". She gasped, and he continued, "You never told me, but I knew that I failed you, I could tell". She looked at him and said, "You never failed me Éomer. And he is dead now, do not think on it. It no longer matters."
He looked at her and said, "I wish sister that you did not have to go so far away. I would have you by my side. It will not be home without you." She smiled and said, "You do not need me to rule Éomer, your people love you. And we shall be happy. After all Ithilien is not so very far away now."
"Yea sister, but it will not be the same". She smiled at him, and said, "I know, and I would change it if I could, but distance shall not change us. We shall begin our new lives together". He put his head in his hands and said mournfully, "If Lothliriel accepts me." Éowyn laughed, "Of course she will, though she may lead you a merry life after." He smirked at her and said, "I'm sure Faramir will say the same of you sister".
Resigning herself to the fact that he was probably incapable of speaking of anything else, she said, "I love you Éomer." He looked her straight in the eyes and said, "I love you too sister."
"Now tell me more about Lothliriel"
It was late when they returned to Meduseld, the sun painting the snow of the mountains red and stretching their shadows in front of them. A deep and peaceful quiet of late summer covered the plains of Rohan and never had Éowyn loved it more. But her harvest lay in Ithilien.
Faramir sat beside the Queen drinking tea. The balcony they sat on afforded them an excellent view of the White City. The Queen had requested that he spend the afternoon with her, she wanted to hear of his trip to Edoras, and of how Éowyn fared. Faramir did not mind - he liked and trusted and Arwen, and enjoyed the time he spent with her.
It had not always been so - seeing her snub of Éowyn on her first night in the city had infuriated him. He had wanted to step in and defend his lady from her every accusation, but she was his Queen, and in any case Éowyn was not a woman who appreciated having her battles fought for her.
Her beauty had stunned him, like all who saw the Evenstar, yet it unnerved him too. She seemed too perfect, her face like a mask, showing nothing. She had seemed almost inhumanly beautiful to him, although as he reminded himself, she was. He could understand the hold she exerted over many hearts, but preferred Éowyn's face, on which her thoughts could be read, for those who had eyes to see. It was not until his visit to Edoras that he had started to gain some sense of the woman that lay beneath the exterior of elven perfection.
And once he came to known her, he liked her greatly. She had a truly warm heart, and he pitied her for the choice she had had to make, though in his heart of hearts he admitted he could never truly understand it. To give up immortality was impossible for him to comprehend - at his most basic level he could not even understand the idea of eternity.
She like him was intellectual - and they had spent a few afternoons debating the merits of various translations before he had left for Ithilien. She could argue such points until day turned to night, and Faramir found himself relishing the kinship. It was she who had helped him to persuade the King to write his memoirs - though Aragorn was unlikely to forgive either of them for that.
Since then they had spent afternoons together occasionally sometimes in conversation and sometimes in silence, and he always left their meetings with a sense of equilibrium. As her friendship with Éowyn increased the meetings had become less awkward, and he was glad for much as he liked his men, dusty tomes and histories were not their preferred topics of conversation, and since the death of his father he had had few outlets for such discussion.
Now they leaned back watching the sunset across the Anduin, and a comfortable silence stretched between them. As the sun finally sank beneath the horizon, Arwen looked at him and said, "I am glad of your friendship my lord Steward, not simply your loyalty, but your friendship. It is a gift." He looked at her face, soft in the twilight, and had no words, but simply nodded. A smile touched her lips, and she said, "How did Éowyn feel about our friendship Faramir?"
He looked at her and said, "At first I think it made her nervous, yet she came to see how it was, and asked me no questions. And when you became close it made it easier I think." Her eyes bore into his, and she asked, "Faramir what passed between you in Rohan?". He leant his head back, irony playing about his lips and said, "I rather stupidly questioned her love for me, and behaved like an idiot. I was taught the error of my ways."
The Queen inhaled, and said softly, "Was this about my husband?" Faramir sighed, and said, "Perhaps, yet I think it was more about my own foolishness.", he linked his hands behind his head, "Did it make you nervous when they became friends?". Arwen sighed and said, "A little, for I did not truly know how it was between them. It was not until I came to know her that I understood," she paused, "He sees much of himself in her I think, or perhaps it is that she will always be something of an innocent to him, for he would protect her always.", she continued, "How did Éowyn react?"
He sighed in turn and said, "She was angry and hurt at first, yet we mended it. I would not say such things to her again. I cannot forgive myself as easily as she has". Arwen's lovely face shone with understanding, and she said "You are a good man Faramir, a fact you are all too apt to forget. Éowyn sees that if you do not."
He smiled, and said, "I thank you my Queen.", and adding softly, "I miss her". The Queen nodded in understanding, and said, "Yet soon you shall be wed." He smiled and remembered the message Éowyn had told him to deliver before he left Edoras, "I thank you for your efforts in that Arwen, though Éowyn has instructed me to tell you, that if you even consider anything involving 'symbolic dances' we shall be forced to elope".
His King laughed as he joined them, "An idle threat Faramir, Éomer would never forgive either of you." He sat beside his Queen saying, "I think my love you may continue to plan the wedding to your hearts content." Arwen glared at them both, "You may laugh now, but you my lord Steward shall be grateful for my labours when the day arrives.". The two men laughed and sat back to enjoy the peace of the twilight.
* * *
Éowyn whooped with joy as she raced her brother. They were galloping wildly over the plains near Edoras as they had not since she was sixteen. As she always had, she won, for she was lighter and her horse was equally strong. And as he always had, her brother said he had let her win.
The past few weeks had been a chance to relive her girlhood. She had rediscovered the sense of comradeship she had shared with her brother until war and duties had conspired to keep him from her. While nothing could diminish her love for him, she had often felt as if the duties keeping them apart had lessened her knowledge of him.
Now, in these few months, she had got to know Éomer, and Rohan anew. She loved this land of her birth more and more, and knew that it would cost her some pangs to leave it. She did not regret her choice, but she was glad she had some ties in what would become her new home. A smile crossed her face at the thought of her wedding, which was now a scant three weeks away.
After all Faramir and her had parted company well, having mended their argument. Somehow she missed him less now than she had before, for she knew that soon all the waiting would be over. Two years was not very long for an engagement, she supposed, and in the end it had made them surer of each other, and of their love. Still, she was glad it was over.
She helped Éomer spread the blanket on the ground, laughing a little at the idea of Éomer Éadig, King Of Rohan, and Éowyn Wraithbane, settling down to anything as mundane as a picnic. This was one of the last full days she would spend with Éomer, for soon he would have to travel to Helm's Deep - hoping to see if it could be rebuilt - and after that they would leave for Minas Tirith.
She was loath to leave him alone in his kingdom, and might even have regretted it, had he not finally confided in her that he intended to ask Lothliriel of Dol Amroth to be his bride. She had exulted inwardly over this - Merry had been right. Now that her brother had admitted he was openly smitten however, it was almost impossible to get him to cease discussing his beloved's charms.
Finally Éowyn burst out laughing, for she could not help but find it comic to listen to - knowing also that Lothliriel was a formidable, and intelligent lady, who would no doubt impose her will successfully on all of Rohan, including Éomer.
Their conversation became more serious, and eventually she said, "I never thanked you brother, but I shall now. You tried to protect me from Grima, and I never told you how grateful I was."
He looked a little sad, and said, "But I did not succeed entirely did I?". She gasped, and he continued, "You never told me, but I knew that I failed you, I could tell". She looked at him and said, "You never failed me Éomer. And he is dead now, do not think on it. It no longer matters."
He looked at her and said, "I wish sister that you did not have to go so far away. I would have you by my side. It will not be home without you." She smiled and said, "You do not need me to rule Éomer, your people love you. And we shall be happy. After all Ithilien is not so very far away now."
"Yea sister, but it will not be the same". She smiled at him, and said, "I know, and I would change it if I could, but distance shall not change us. We shall begin our new lives together". He put his head in his hands and said mournfully, "If Lothliriel accepts me." Éowyn laughed, "Of course she will, though she may lead you a merry life after." He smirked at her and said, "I'm sure Faramir will say the same of you sister".
Resigning herself to the fact that he was probably incapable of speaking of anything else, she said, "I love you Éomer." He looked her straight in the eyes and said, "I love you too sister."
"Now tell me more about Lothliriel"
It was late when they returned to Meduseld, the sun painting the snow of the mountains red and stretching their shadows in front of them. A deep and peaceful quiet of late summer covered the plains of Rohan and never had Éowyn loved it more. But her harvest lay in Ithilien.