A/N: Transition chapter, and you all know how much I dislike writing these. Not enough of that lovely introspection I love doling out! Hope you like it.
Thanks to Susan and Miriel, for always being there for me when I need advice, and for reading.
Please review!
Chapter 36: Absence
A hooded figure moved silently through the dark halls of the sleeping Citadel. He crept along, casting looks back into the shadowy corners, as if afraid of someone following him, in the midst of the night. Taking a side door seldom used, he came into the open air of the White City in its dreams. His face still shadowed, he broke into a run, till he reached the stables. He crept in the door silently, seeing no stable boys at this hour, shut the door behind him, and sighed in relief, seeing no one there.
Striding over to his steed's stable, he found the horse asleep, though after sitting by him, and stroking his nose, the horse stirred.
"Ai, Cirion," he fed him the awoken horse an oat, stroking his nose and back. The horse snorted, and then nudged his master affectionately, "Are you ready to run? How would you like to see those Rohirric horses?"
After talking to his horse for a few more minutes, he went to grab the saddle. While strapping it onto Cirion's back, someone grabbed his shoulder.
"What do you think you're doing, Faramir?"
"Boromir!" he wheeled around, almost dropping the saddle, "What are you doing here?"
"I believe, my brother," Boromir's voice was level, "I asked you that first."
Faramir averted his eyes, and did not answer.
"Were you planning on taking that fine steed of yours for a nice run? All the way to Rohan?" His voice was sly, sounding like Denethor's.
Again, Faramir did not answer for a moment, but then asked, "What are you doing here?"
Boromir sighed, "If I tell you, then will you answer me truthfully?"
Faramir hesitated, but then nodded his head.
"I couldn't sleep," Boromir said simply, "The horses calm me down a bit. I didn't feel like drinking, and if I unsheathed my sword at this time, I would alarm the City. They would think there was either some grave danger, or that I was not right in the head."
"You come to the stables?" Faramir was in a bit of disbelief, "Keep that up you could be one of the Rohirrim," his eyes grew a bit angry at this mention of the Rohirrim.
"Now where are you off to? In the middle of the night?" It was Faramir's turn to look away.
After some silence, during which Faramir seemed to be making up his mind, and then straightened himself, and continued fastening the saddle onto Cirion's back, "I'm riding to Rohan, and not you, nor anyone else, can stop me."
"What?" Boromir was shocked. It was he, the elder, who was the rash one, who did things without thinking, not Faramir.
"You heard me Boromir, and I would firmly appreciate it if you would not hinder me," Faramir's voice was diplomatic and concise.
"Faramir, stay this madness!" Boromir was struggling to find words, "Father will skin you when he finds out!"
His younger brother wheeled onto him, his eyes burning with anger, "Father never approves of anything I do!" He screamed so loudly, a few neighboring horses awoke and starting neighing, "He does not approve of me anyway, so why not incur his anger on something worthwhile!"
Boromir closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, "Faramir. Please, hear me out. What do you intend to do in Rohan? They will not welcome you, unannounced, especially with all the gossip surrounding the two of you."
"All I want to do is to see her, see how she is," his voice was just above a whisper.
"Theodred will not take kindly to you visiting his wife," Boromir warned.
"What is wrong with it?" Faramir defended, "There would be nothing wrong with you visiting. Why must there be with me?"
"You know very well what the difference is," Boromir said, "I am her brother, nothing more, you, I don't know what to name you as anymore. Your eyes show that you love each other, even when she is this far, I can see it."
"I won't stay long," Faramir sounded like he was trying to convince both himself and Boromir.
"You'll break her heart if you go." Boromir knew where to hit Faramir the hardest to convince him.
Faramir did not need words to ask the question, just merely looked at his brother, who continued, "She is adjusting to life in Rohan, with her husband, yes, her husband Faramir," he repeated, seeing the anguish upon his face, "She does not need you, or even me, to turn up, and remind her of the life she left behind."
Boromir could not see the expression upon his brother's face, but from his clenched fists, he knew his words had struck home. Then, with something between a roar and a cry, Faramir kicked the bridle he had placed on the ground, and sank to his knees, which caused his horse to neigh and scamper to one side.
Sinking down on his own, Boromir comforted his little brother. "Come Faramir. She will visit us one day, when she is ready. We have a long day tomorrow, come." He felt like he was talking to Elentari, reminded of the night that sent shivers up his spine, when she had teetered at the window, gazing down upon the White City as if she wished to jump down.
"And besides," Boromir added, in a more light-hearted tone, "It's a dangerous ride from here to Edoras."
"If only they did kill me," Faramir moaned, "It would be better than this slow torture."
"Now Faramir don't say anything you don't mean," Boromir said, a pang of fear in his heart.
"What if she's forgotten me? What if she doesn't love me anymore?" he sounded so childish, but Boromir could see the earnest distress in his younger brother's eyes.
"I once heard an old wise man say, and no, I did not read it anywhere Faramir," Boromir said, "That absence does to love but wind to fire; it extinguishes the small, and inflames the great. Your love is great. Do not doubt her devotion." Faramir nodded, Boromir's words soothing him, and after drawing in a deep breath, rose up to stroke his horse, "I'm sorry I startled you Cirion. Looks like we will not take that long ride to Rohan tonight."
With Theoden's approval, Eowyn and Elentari often went out, or in Eowyn's case, rode, while Elentari rode in a litter, from her refusal to ride another horse, to a secluded grassland a safe distance away from Edoras. It was far enough from the village to escape the bustle, but not far enough for it to be dangerous and they could ride back within minutes. Of course, Theoden, especially with Eomer's insistence, before he left, sent soldiers to accompany them, but these men kept a respectful distance from the Ladies, and left them alone, unless they requested their presence.
"It's so beautiful out here," Elentari murmured, lying in the grass, the flowers curling through her spread hair. "It reminds me of Dol Amroth."
Sitting up from the tall grass, Eowyn gazed down at her friend and sister. She was still not in full health, but no one could deny her improvement throughout the last few weeks, especially since they had been coming out here. Even the healers relaxed a bit, only fawning over her at mealtimes, insisting that she eat. Her color was good, the wind flushing her cheeks, and she was steadily becoming rounder, especially about the waist.
"You speak of it often," Eowyn said, "Amroth, I mean, and always, with more endearment than of even Gondor. Your eyes light up, more than when you speak of anything, save maybe your brother. Tell me. What is it like?"
Elentari smiled at the memories, and did not fail to recognize the mention of Faramir, but made nothing of it. She knew that anyone with eyes could see her lighten when she spoke of him. "Have you ever seen the Sea, Eowyn?"
"No. We are far from the great waters," Eowyn said, "There are many rivers; the Great Anduin flows eastward, and we have numerous lakes big enough to pass for the Sea."
Elentari shook her head, still gazing upwards toward the sky; the one thing in Rohan she could see the Sea within, "It's all different there, by the Sea. The cool water washes over you, and though some find the white gulls, and all their cries quite irritating, but I find them quite soothing, and soon, you forget their cries, for the voice of the Sea, the lilting waves, the music of Lady Uinen overpowers you. Then, when you feel completely at peace by the waves, you hear them; they call to you, those that came before, from across the Sundering Sea."
Eowyn sighed, "I would like to see it, though I believe I would still find the grasslands of Rohan more preferable. At least, for riding."
"Rohan is the best for riding," Elentari ceded, "No wonder it is the land of the Horse-lords."
"And ladies," Eowyn added sharply. Elentari smiled, "Of course. We ride better than they do."
"Except they don't wish to admit it," Eowyn adjusted. Elentari scrunched her nose together in disgust. She closed her eyes, and placed her hands over them, and began to lightly sing an old tune.
Grains of sand slip through your hands
Never ceasing time
Fold your hands in silent prayer
Eternal peace you'll find
Like two rivers flow
To the open sea
Someday we'll reunite
For all eternity
Let the rain falling on your face
Run in to your eyes
Can you see the rainbow now
Through all the stormy skies
Like two rivers flow
To the open sea
Someday we'll reunite
For all eternity
Someday we'll reunite
For all eternity
When she opened her eyes again, there was someone leaning over her. It was not Eowyn, but Theodred, smiling down at her.
"I'm dreaming," she whispered, and shut her eyes again, but felt a familiar touch on her hand.
"Life is a dream," he murmured back, as he looked into her reopened eyes, his love and desire for her shining through.
"Theodred," she whispered, stroking his face in disbelief.
"I am here, my love," he kissed her, and pulled her to him so that she lay on top of him.
Eowyn quickly crept away and ushered the soldiers a good distance away swiftly, as she heard the lustful groans of Theodred mix in with her cries of pleasure.
Theodred stayed home for more than a month this time, and seemed determined to push all the worries of the nation away, and spend all his time with his wife. She rode behind him on Brego out onto the plains, and he told her stories about the wilderness, and even some problems of the state, which she seemed very intrigued in, and began offering him solutions, while she dragged him to the library, which she wanted to expand, and they discussed Numenor and the ancient battles. Each day that she spent with him, she seemed healthier, her color improved, the coughing all but disappeared.
Two months after Theodred left, Eowyn was sprawled on Elentari's bed, flipping through a book Elentari had recommended, while Elentari was sitting at her dresser, combing through her long hair.
"Eowyn? May I ask you something?"
"Yes?" she took her eyes from the book.
"As I recall, you are thirteen." Eowyn nodded. "Have you started your courses?"
Eowyn flushed to the roots of her hair, looked away, and nodded, "This is the third time."
Elentari smiled, "I remember my first time. I was so frightened." She stopped for a moment, clearly lost in the past, "Third time? It's been three moons since I last had mine," she added softly, almost as if she was confirming something to herself.
"What?" Eowyn was astonished. She had picked up enough from the gossip of the washwomen, that when a woman missed her courses, it meant she was with child. Was Elentari? Did this explain why she had begun vomiting again? Yet only in the morning? Though this time, there was no blood, and the healers seemed less worried. She always seemed to have a curious, self-knowing smile upon her face, and Eowyn had begun to notice that she grew rounder.
Just as this possibility was rushing through her head, a sharp knock was heard at the door.
"You may enter," Elentari called.
"My Lady," the elderly healer bowed, "You requested my presence."
"Yes," Elentari turned from the mirror, "Eowyn, would you give us a few minutes in private?"
Eowyn slid off the bed, book in hand, nodded politely to the healer, and left the room. It must be true then, or at least she believed to be, if she would consult the master healer in private. There was no doubt in Eowyn's mind what they were discussing.
How thrilled Theodred will be! And of course Uncle will be. He will think the throne is secure if Theodred has an heir as well, and of course, he will be a proud grandparent. The nation will celebrate. I will be, I will be an aunt! The idea both excited and frightened Eowyn.
Elentari and the healer emerged, and Elentari found the nearest servant girl, "Find me a messenger boy, as quick as you can."
A boy a bit younger than her was fetched without delay. "Ride to Lord Theodred, and tell him that Lady Elentari wishes him home immediately. There is news he must know."
So it was true, Eowyn mused. She couldn't wait to see the reaction upon Theodred's face when he learned. There would be grand celebrations, and messengers would be dispatched to Gondor, to Dol Amroth, all over, to announce this joyous occurrence. Gondor! Her brothers must be overjoyed to hear this news. The world will rejoice with Rohan, especially when the child is born.
How blind Eowyn would prove to be.
A/N: I hope you liked it!! Nayana-better than the other two before this? Please review! The song is "Two Rivers" by Avril Lavigne. Review!