Dusk was approaching: what little sun there was left was fading in
the west. Eldarion was in the courtyard, his shrieks of mirth echoing as he
was chased by an eager nurse. Arwen stood in the arched window, watching
him. Eowyn paused in the doorway. A cold wind blew, ruffling Arwen's raven
black hair, and a chill went down Eowyn's spine, lingering in the frigid
air. She said nothing, holding in a breath, as Arwen turned and gave her a
sad smile.
"My lady," Eowyn said formally, bowing her head. Her hair fell from her shoulders; she pushed it back impatiently as she rose.
"Eowyn."
Arwen walked forward and grasped Eowyn by the hands. It was a kind gesture, but it made Eowyn feel uncomfortable.
"Do you like it?" Arwen asked.
"There is much to like, my lady," Eowyn replied politely, willing the queen to let her go.
"You are being evasive. I am asking you if you like it."
Eowyn paused. "In many ways, yes, my lady. But..."
"But?"
"It makes me sad."
"Yes, it has that effect on me as well," Arwen smiled. "You should have seen it in its glorious days...it was once alive, and beautiful."
"I do not doubt that," Eowyn replied.
Arwen let go of her hands, and turned away, walking back to the window. "You have been distant and sorrowful on this journey, Eowyn. Do not deny it..." Arwen said quickly just as Eowyn opened her mouth to contradict her. "I can see it in your eyes."
Eowyn looked up at the ceiling, prying her mind for words. "I miss my daughter and husband."
"I see," Arwen replied quietly.
"If it is not too bold to say..." Eowyn began, "You seem mournful as well, my lady."
Arwen laughed. Eowyn almost felt happy to see the Queen smile again, but the feeling soon subsided.
"It is not too bold to say, Eowyn. And I demand that you cease your formalities. We are friends, my dear Lady Eowyn."
Eowyn felt a smile at her lips. "You are evading my question, Lady."
"Yes, I am," Arwen smiled, and sighed. "This was my home, not too long ago...and still memories fill my mind...I miss my father, and my people..." She closed her eyes. "I can almost hear my brothers calling my name," she leaned against the wall of the arched window, her back to Eowyn. "Sometimes I wonder if my decision...to forsake my people, and marry Aragorn, was the right one."
Eowyn felt offended by this, and bit her lip to suppress her anger.
"And then I see Eldarion, and remember how happy I am. I suppose I am just restless, being here again."
Eowyn tore her gaze from Arwen. These indecisive words made Eowyn wonder what would have happened if Arwen had gone with her elven father. If Aragorn would have married her...and then, with a pang of guilt, she remembered Faramir. She loved him dearly, though in a very different way. She loved him for loving her. He treated her as an equal. He was a good man: good to her, good to Theodwyn, good to all around him. Yet she still had feelings for Aragorn, and she could not suppress them, no matter how much she loved Faramir. She looked up at Arwen, and guilt swept over her. Arwen was good to her as well; respected her and treated her as a friend, despite her inferior status. Oh yes, and the fact that Arwen probably knew Eowyn had loved her husband. Arwen was looking at her pointedly.
"I suppose you are indeed restless, my lady," Eowyn said quietly.
"Yes, restless," Arwen said quietly, as if trying to convince herself it were true, and took a deep breath. "I have something I think you will enjoy."
Arwen crossed the room towards bookshelves lining a wall. "This was my father's library," she continued, as her glove hands ran over the titles. "I was surprised he did not give them to anyone before leaving, but he has employed some of our magic to keep them preserved, and untouched."
Eowyn waited in the doorway, not knowing quite what to say. She heard a shriek of delight from the courtyard, and couldn't help but smile.
"Here," Arwen said with satisfaction as she pulled a volume from the shelf. She walked to where Eowyn stood, and pressed the book into her hands. "A complete history of Rohan, from the beginnings of your kingdom to the coronation of your brother, the King Eomer. It was completed shortly after the Ring was destroyed, by my father himself," she opened it, and flipped to the last few pages, where an elaborate script met Eowyn's gaze. "It is in the Common Tongue, so you will be able to read it...Here you are. A detailed account of your defeat of the Witchking."
Eowyn looked at her in disbelief. "I'm in it?"
Arwen laughed. "Of course you are! You are the fair Shieldmaiden of Rohan, and all will know your name henceforth...revere you, one might say, for it is no ordinary feat to kill one that cannot be killed by the hand of man. If you are prepared to be revered, that is."
"I think I'll be able to handle it," said Eowyn. "This is a wonderful gift, if only I could give you something in return..."
Arwen shook her head. "Though if you will help me to persuade my husband to bring the books back to Minas Tirith, I would be much obliged."
"I would be honored. With the contents of this library, Minas Tirith would be the grandest collection in the world."
"Good. I am glad to hear it."
There was a silence, broken by shouts from the courtyard.
"Mother! Mother!" Cried Eldarion. Arwen and Eowyn exchanged a smile.
"I will go down to him. Will you join me?" Asked Arwen.
"If you don't mind, I would like to begin the book."
"Of course you may. When you are done, please, do join us."
Eowyn bowed her head as Arwen left, her cloak billowing behind her as her footsteps faded into the distance.
* * *
To all my reviewers:
Eregriel Gloswen, Starbrow, flipperjlw, Aerlinnuial, and Mercury Gray:
Thank you so much for the critiques—I really appreciated them. I hadn't realized at all how much I was screwing up the accents...so thanks for telling me! I've removed them, so I don't make anymore offsetting mistakes. About my language, I'm just trying to incorporate Tolkein into it a little bit, lay the foundation for my story. It's always fun to write with the whole son ofs and daughter ofs and elaborate language, but I'm going to keep reverting to my normal self, hopefully making a successful blend. You'll have to tell me if I've succeeded in that.
Just a note: I believe Arwen is a really great elf and all that, but she doesn't do anything. She's not even in the goddamn original Tolkein story. That's why I appreciate PJ giving her a little bit of the action, you know, saving Frodo. And apparently they filmed a few battle shots with her at Helms Deep. But the other parts of the movie she's just—and I'm sure she was like this in the behind-the-books sense—pining for Aragorn and being all mournful and what should I do? And Eowyn's out there, kicking the Witchking's evil butt and actually trying to get out of the conform-to- womanhood-Rohan-incentive. And I hated how, in the movie, they completely cut out the Eowyn-Faramir love affair. Because, if you're going to have Eowyn so in love with Aragorn, you better show that she doesn't get left with a broken heart! I wish they had cut the whole Arwen-pining-for-Aragorn thing and put in Eowyn and Faramir. But they didn't. And that made me mad. And I still think Eowyn and Aragorn are a much better match, but I digress. I shall quit my little tangent now. Shuddup, me, shuddup.
Anyway, tell me how you like this one and I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Later, Cheekymonkey (the one and only)
"My lady," Eowyn said formally, bowing her head. Her hair fell from her shoulders; she pushed it back impatiently as she rose.
"Eowyn."
Arwen walked forward and grasped Eowyn by the hands. It was a kind gesture, but it made Eowyn feel uncomfortable.
"Do you like it?" Arwen asked.
"There is much to like, my lady," Eowyn replied politely, willing the queen to let her go.
"You are being evasive. I am asking you if you like it."
Eowyn paused. "In many ways, yes, my lady. But..."
"But?"
"It makes me sad."
"Yes, it has that effect on me as well," Arwen smiled. "You should have seen it in its glorious days...it was once alive, and beautiful."
"I do not doubt that," Eowyn replied.
Arwen let go of her hands, and turned away, walking back to the window. "You have been distant and sorrowful on this journey, Eowyn. Do not deny it..." Arwen said quickly just as Eowyn opened her mouth to contradict her. "I can see it in your eyes."
Eowyn looked up at the ceiling, prying her mind for words. "I miss my daughter and husband."
"I see," Arwen replied quietly.
"If it is not too bold to say..." Eowyn began, "You seem mournful as well, my lady."
Arwen laughed. Eowyn almost felt happy to see the Queen smile again, but the feeling soon subsided.
"It is not too bold to say, Eowyn. And I demand that you cease your formalities. We are friends, my dear Lady Eowyn."
Eowyn felt a smile at her lips. "You are evading my question, Lady."
"Yes, I am," Arwen smiled, and sighed. "This was my home, not too long ago...and still memories fill my mind...I miss my father, and my people..." She closed her eyes. "I can almost hear my brothers calling my name," she leaned against the wall of the arched window, her back to Eowyn. "Sometimes I wonder if my decision...to forsake my people, and marry Aragorn, was the right one."
Eowyn felt offended by this, and bit her lip to suppress her anger.
"And then I see Eldarion, and remember how happy I am. I suppose I am just restless, being here again."
Eowyn tore her gaze from Arwen. These indecisive words made Eowyn wonder what would have happened if Arwen had gone with her elven father. If Aragorn would have married her...and then, with a pang of guilt, she remembered Faramir. She loved him dearly, though in a very different way. She loved him for loving her. He treated her as an equal. He was a good man: good to her, good to Theodwyn, good to all around him. Yet she still had feelings for Aragorn, and she could not suppress them, no matter how much she loved Faramir. She looked up at Arwen, and guilt swept over her. Arwen was good to her as well; respected her and treated her as a friend, despite her inferior status. Oh yes, and the fact that Arwen probably knew Eowyn had loved her husband. Arwen was looking at her pointedly.
"I suppose you are indeed restless, my lady," Eowyn said quietly.
"Yes, restless," Arwen said quietly, as if trying to convince herself it were true, and took a deep breath. "I have something I think you will enjoy."
Arwen crossed the room towards bookshelves lining a wall. "This was my father's library," she continued, as her glove hands ran over the titles. "I was surprised he did not give them to anyone before leaving, but he has employed some of our magic to keep them preserved, and untouched."
Eowyn waited in the doorway, not knowing quite what to say. She heard a shriek of delight from the courtyard, and couldn't help but smile.
"Here," Arwen said with satisfaction as she pulled a volume from the shelf. She walked to where Eowyn stood, and pressed the book into her hands. "A complete history of Rohan, from the beginnings of your kingdom to the coronation of your brother, the King Eomer. It was completed shortly after the Ring was destroyed, by my father himself," she opened it, and flipped to the last few pages, where an elaborate script met Eowyn's gaze. "It is in the Common Tongue, so you will be able to read it...Here you are. A detailed account of your defeat of the Witchking."
Eowyn looked at her in disbelief. "I'm in it?"
Arwen laughed. "Of course you are! You are the fair Shieldmaiden of Rohan, and all will know your name henceforth...revere you, one might say, for it is no ordinary feat to kill one that cannot be killed by the hand of man. If you are prepared to be revered, that is."
"I think I'll be able to handle it," said Eowyn. "This is a wonderful gift, if only I could give you something in return..."
Arwen shook her head. "Though if you will help me to persuade my husband to bring the books back to Minas Tirith, I would be much obliged."
"I would be honored. With the contents of this library, Minas Tirith would be the grandest collection in the world."
"Good. I am glad to hear it."
There was a silence, broken by shouts from the courtyard.
"Mother! Mother!" Cried Eldarion. Arwen and Eowyn exchanged a smile.
"I will go down to him. Will you join me?" Asked Arwen.
"If you don't mind, I would like to begin the book."
"Of course you may. When you are done, please, do join us."
Eowyn bowed her head as Arwen left, her cloak billowing behind her as her footsteps faded into the distance.
* * *
To all my reviewers:
Eregriel Gloswen, Starbrow, flipperjlw, Aerlinnuial, and Mercury Gray:
Thank you so much for the critiques—I really appreciated them. I hadn't realized at all how much I was screwing up the accents...so thanks for telling me! I've removed them, so I don't make anymore offsetting mistakes. About my language, I'm just trying to incorporate Tolkein into it a little bit, lay the foundation for my story. It's always fun to write with the whole son ofs and daughter ofs and elaborate language, but I'm going to keep reverting to my normal self, hopefully making a successful blend. You'll have to tell me if I've succeeded in that.
Just a note: I believe Arwen is a really great elf and all that, but she doesn't do anything. She's not even in the goddamn original Tolkein story. That's why I appreciate PJ giving her a little bit of the action, you know, saving Frodo. And apparently they filmed a few battle shots with her at Helms Deep. But the other parts of the movie she's just—and I'm sure she was like this in the behind-the-books sense—pining for Aragorn and being all mournful and what should I do? And Eowyn's out there, kicking the Witchking's evil butt and actually trying to get out of the conform-to- womanhood-Rohan-incentive. And I hated how, in the movie, they completely cut out the Eowyn-Faramir love affair. Because, if you're going to have Eowyn so in love with Aragorn, you better show that she doesn't get left with a broken heart! I wish they had cut the whole Arwen-pining-for-Aragorn thing and put in Eowyn and Faramir. But they didn't. And that made me mad. And I still think Eowyn and Aragorn are a much better match, but I digress. I shall quit my little tangent now. Shuddup, me, shuddup.
Anyway, tell me how you like this one and I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Later, Cheekymonkey (the one and only)