Reluctantly, the group returned to Minas Tirith. Eowyn wondered at the laxity and freedom they shared. They could do as they wished, when they wished, were there not any duties to attend to.
They were warmly received by the people, and hot baths awaited them. Eowyn, taking her leave from the men, went gratefully to her quarters where she bathed and was dressed in fresh clothes, starched and scented.
Once attired, Eowyn was surprised to see that she had a guest awaiting her.
--
She was petite, raven-haired, and smiling from ear to ear.
Holding out both hands, she ran to Eowyn, kissing both her cheeks before sighing and declaring how happy she was to know her.
"And you are, my lady?" Eowyn cautiously asked.
"Why you betrothed's cousin, Lothiriel!" She exclaimed, "Didn't that silly Faramir tell you?"
"No," Eowyn slowly answered. Silly?
"Well!" she hooked her arm through Eowyn's, who with a great effort didn't pull back her arm, "you will have to tell me all about yourself. Edoras, your former suitors," with that she giggled in a high pitched manner that made Eowyn wish she had head-ache powders, "and of course your handsome brothers!"
"Only one is my brother," Eowyn said more coldly than she should have, "The Prince is my cousin."
"Oh yes, of course. The heir to the throne of Rohan." Lothiriel's lips pressed together musing, "How I wish to meet him."
And how he's going to hate her, Eowyn thought. She knew her cousin from their times together, how he wished to have intelligent conversation with women rather than be fawned over by a silly princess.
So it was that evening when both Theodred and Eomer transformed into slobbering, giggling fools in Lothiriel's company that Eowyn found herself in a fury unmatched since being in the presence of Wormtongue.
Indeed the men were honestly bewildered when Eowyn stomped off to her room with disgust after they remarked on the marvel of Lothiriel's wit.
--
Eowyn was standing by the window in the gloomy morning. The light was gray and no sign of light was forthcoming, only a hope of more rain. She had left the other room where Theodred sat and talked with Lothiriel, Eomer on the other side. They did not wish to go riding today, for Lothiriel did not care for active sports.
Faramir noted that she did not hear him tentatively approach.
"Eowyn?"
She did not turn, but still gazing out the window, despondently replied, "There is no warmth in the morning sun."
He stepped beside her, "It is only the damp of the first spring rain." He smiled gently at her, hiding his concern at seeing again the girl who had wept in the library of Meduseld. He was about to say more to lift her sprits when she startled him by bursting out, "Would you have felt sorry for me, asked for me, were I disfigured, or had bad complexion?"
Faramir was so astonished he did not speak for several moments. Finally he soothed, "But you are not disfigured." Another pause. "I've always thought you were beautiful."
Eowyn sighed. "Thank you, my lord, for your regard." Faramir smiled then, happy he had reassured her.
So it was that he was again aghast when she turned on him, her voice trembling and declared, "How sad then for ladies who need protection but are not fair."
They were warmly received by the people, and hot baths awaited them. Eowyn, taking her leave from the men, went gratefully to her quarters where she bathed and was dressed in fresh clothes, starched and scented.
Once attired, Eowyn was surprised to see that she had a guest awaiting her.
--
She was petite, raven-haired, and smiling from ear to ear.
Holding out both hands, she ran to Eowyn, kissing both her cheeks before sighing and declaring how happy she was to know her.
"And you are, my lady?" Eowyn cautiously asked.
"Why you betrothed's cousin, Lothiriel!" She exclaimed, "Didn't that silly Faramir tell you?"
"No," Eowyn slowly answered. Silly?
"Well!" she hooked her arm through Eowyn's, who with a great effort didn't pull back her arm, "you will have to tell me all about yourself. Edoras, your former suitors," with that she giggled in a high pitched manner that made Eowyn wish she had head-ache powders, "and of course your handsome brothers!"
"Only one is my brother," Eowyn said more coldly than she should have, "The Prince is my cousin."
"Oh yes, of course. The heir to the throne of Rohan." Lothiriel's lips pressed together musing, "How I wish to meet him."
And how he's going to hate her, Eowyn thought. She knew her cousin from their times together, how he wished to have intelligent conversation with women rather than be fawned over by a silly princess.
So it was that evening when both Theodred and Eomer transformed into slobbering, giggling fools in Lothiriel's company that Eowyn found herself in a fury unmatched since being in the presence of Wormtongue.
Indeed the men were honestly bewildered when Eowyn stomped off to her room with disgust after they remarked on the marvel of Lothiriel's wit.
--
Eowyn was standing by the window in the gloomy morning. The light was gray and no sign of light was forthcoming, only a hope of more rain. She had left the other room where Theodred sat and talked with Lothiriel, Eomer on the other side. They did not wish to go riding today, for Lothiriel did not care for active sports.
Faramir noted that she did not hear him tentatively approach.
"Eowyn?"
She did not turn, but still gazing out the window, despondently replied, "There is no warmth in the morning sun."
He stepped beside her, "It is only the damp of the first spring rain." He smiled gently at her, hiding his concern at seeing again the girl who had wept in the library of Meduseld. He was about to say more to lift her sprits when she startled him by bursting out, "Would you have felt sorry for me, asked for me, were I disfigured, or had bad complexion?"
Faramir was so astonished he did not speak for several moments. Finally he soothed, "But you are not disfigured." Another pause. "I've always thought you were beautiful."
Eowyn sighed. "Thank you, my lord, for your regard." Faramir smiled then, happy he had reassured her.
So it was that he was again aghast when she turned on him, her voice trembling and declared, "How sad then for ladies who need protection but are not fair."