A/N: Have fun...

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Rana Ninque

animebishieluver

For reviewing...

I'm an updating queen... ;-)

IIII

Ethwin is something like my fraternal grandmother; round, jolly, and red-cheeked. She was bustling around the kitchen when Boromir and I came in.

"How is Ethwin related to you?" I muttered underneath my breath.

"My father's cousin," Boromir replied and called out. "Ethwin! Auntie! I have a guest for you."

Ethwin turned around, her teeth a white line in her ruddy face. "How delightful! Are we having her for dinner, Bori?" Ethwin asked. Boromir grimaced at the embaressing nick-name. I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. Boromir looked quite cute when his face matched his hair. And then I blushed at that thought.

"No, Auntie. We are having her over for dinner. We aren't cannibals like those orcs," Boromir said. He frowned and said, "Well let's not talk about these things here. Anyway, she will have to stay with you for the time being, Auntie. Until she finds a way to return to her home."

Ethwin smiled. "Superb! Are you an Fari coming over soon?" she asked. Boromir nodded.

"As soon as we finish our duties for the day, Auntie. We should be here in time for supper," Boromir said.

Oh great, Faramir is coming over. Joy.

Boromir gave a deep bow and disappeared into the streets. I was left alone with Ethwin.

"Such a nice boy," Ethwin gushed. "Come on in, dearie. What did you say your name was?"

"I didn't say it. But it's Carrie."

"All right. Come on in Charis. Such strange names the people give their tykes these days!" Ethwin clucked her tongue. She went into the kitchen, I followed close behind. She was cubing carrots. I sat on a stool, unsureof what to do. "Where d'ye hail from, Cara?"

"Greenwood."

"Grandwood!" Ethwin exclaimed. "I've never heard of such a place before. But then again, such strange things are happening." Suddenly, the kitchen's window flew open and cold wind gushed in. Ethwin rushed over and closed the window. Her voice was suddenly low and dark. "Winter is coming earlier every year. Orc raids are becoming more frequent. A dark world we live in, Kari." I shivered for a second. We were silent. But then, Ethwin smiled and said, "Nay, nay. Let's not talk about this sort of thing, aye? Come. Be a dear and help me chop the carrots, alright Karin?"

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I could feel Faramir's glare over the dinner table as we ate. Did I offend him in a past life, or something? Boromir ate slowly. I could feel his stare too, but it was not as piercing as Faramir's. If this staring didn't stop, I'll melt.

We all ate in silence. Finally, I broke the silence by saying, "This is a wonderful meal. Thank you."

"Oh no problem, dearest," Ethwin replied. "I try to make my meals as scrumptious as possible. Especially for Fari." Faramir cringed and turned as red as the tomato in the stew. Ethwin leaned over and pinched his cheeks. "We need to fatten you up a bit, Fari. You've grown so thin in the last few years. I says to your father that you are too young to be a Ranger. And what does he say back to me? 'Oh no, Ethwin,' he says. 'All my lads are to be a Ranger when they turn fourteen.' Why aren't you eating, Bori?"

I looked at Boromir. I noticed he was staring at me. "Hunh?" he said, snapped out of his daydream. "Oh. It's good, Auntie. Really good. I was just... oh never mind, Auntie. It is really good."

Ethwin smiled with pleasure. "Oh. Corie helped too," Ethwin said.

Get my name right, I thought. She must be half-deaf or something.

After dinner, Boromir and Faramir were smoking their pipes--Juvenile smokers, I thought--in the living room. Ethwin showed me my room. It was next to hers, she said. It had a straw pallet on the floor. A burning candle sat on the window ledge.

"This is your room for as long as you like Cassie," Ethwin said. She started to babble again. "The lads have been coming over every Saturday night for ten years now. I still remember the first time they met me. I came home from Lossanarch. Bori was twelve, and Fari was seven. How old are you, Candie?"

"Fourteen."

"All right then. I will be in the next room. Fari and Bori will be in the front room. They always stay there 'til past midnight or so," Ethwin said. She smiled and left me.

I could see Faramir and Boromir from where I was. A piece of cloth that was suspended from the ceiling was pushed to one side and held in place by a hook. I lifted it off the hook. With one last look at Boromir, I pulled the curtain down and blew out the candle.

A/N: Don't expect any lip-action anytime soon.