Chapter 3 - No Place For A Woman
From her hiding place behind the large pillars behind the King's throne, Eowyn could see everything that her family had wanted to keep hidden. Careful not to let her skirts fly out and betray her and making sure to not to breath loudly lest her breath be heard, Eowyn stood with her back pressed against the marble pillar.
Daring to peek around the pole, Eowyn's brown eyes widened as they took in the strange collection of visitors assembled before her uncle. Her mind could hardly register the strange sight that her eyes beheld.
A scruffy looking man with long dark hair stood next to a feeble old man cloaked and capped with a large hat. The two men seemed worn and disgruntled. Why would her uncle have chosen to accept an audience with such boorish looking types? Well, as compared to the remaining companions, the two humans seemed perfectly in place in the main hall.
A stout dwarf, his face hidden behind a bushy red beard, stood next to what Éowyn perceived to be an elf. The little man barely reached below the elf's chest, but his proud chest and haute demeanor amused the princess truly. Letting her gaze sweep over the tall being that towered over the dwarf, Éowyn's heart contracted gently in her chest. Never had she seen so breathtaking a male.
Admitted, the Sheild Maiden was not usually paraded around with thousands of men, but she had certainly seen her fair share. The elf's long, muscled legs were hidden beneath green leggings, and his torso dressed in a darker green tunic and cloak. His lean physique screamed archery, and his still hands promoted a skill with the arrow and blade. Shyly letting her eyes travel up to his face, the smooth, fair skin nearly took her breath away.
She had heard of the beauty and magnificence of elves, but surely this one was exemplar... Her hazel eyes locked on his clear azure ones, and a quick blush heated her cheeks when the elf looked up and caught her gaze.
Quickly sweeping behind the marble pillar, Éowyn struggled to calm her beating heart. The muscle beat so hard against her chest that Éowyn put a hand over her breast, for fear that her uncle or worse, the elf, would hear the deafening pounding. Struggling to regain composure, Éowyn leaned back against the marble column.
So quickly did the hand cover her mouth that Éowyn had no time to scream. The pale, putrid smelling flesh stifled her cries , and the arm twisting her own back made it impossible to move.
"You should not be here, Lady. This is no place for a woman, even for one such as yourself"
The cold flesh of a cheek brushed against her bare neck, sending shivers through Éowyn's spine. The prick of a knife picked into the flesh of her palm. It dug into the hand held behind her back, and Éowyn felt a small rush of sticky warmth flood over her skin. A small snort in her hair made her want to retch, but she fought the urge, deciding instead to bring down a slippered shoe upon her assailant's foot. The hands released her as the small yet deadly heel of the shoe crushed some unlucky toes. Freeing herself of the hands, Éowyn quickly whipped around.
"How you dare lay your filthy hands on me! I should kill you Gríma"
Gríma Wormtongue's smirking face peered at her, causing her body to rock with nausea. Éowyn backed up against a wall as the man's feet stepped closer to her.
"But my Lady, no woman could ever execute a man in your uncle's court", he paused,
smiling sinisterly at her. "Not even you"
"Leave me alone, snake"
"Oh but you are alone", Gríma whispered, inching ever closer. " Who knows what you've spoken to the darkness, the walls of your bower closing in around you? A cage to trammel some, wild thing in"
Gríma chuckled softly at her stunned silence. Reaching out a clammy hand, he gently cupped the side of Éowyn's face in his palm.
"So fair, so, cold. Like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill. I could, warm you my Lady"
The dagger at Gríma's throat appeared so suddenly that Éowyn could not suppress the gasp that escaped her lips. Wormtongue's darting eyes were panicked, and his frozen body shook slightly in fear.
The elf that Éowyn had been watching suddenly dug the tip of his knife into his captive's throat, releasing a single bead of blood. "Go back to the gutters, you vile snake, or I shall cut your neck around"
As the elf released his hold on him, Gríma stumbled away awkwardly, keeping one hand on the wall to steady his steps. As he disappeared into the dark of a hall, Éowyn suddenly know not where to put her eyes. She felt the slow blush come back into her face, and she groaned inwardly at this show of weakness before her uncle's guest.
Knowing she had to say some kind of thanks, Éowyn once more met the stranger's gaze. His deep blue eyes drilled into hergrey ones, and Éowyn felt the strength leave her legs. He seemed to be looking not only at her but within her, peering down at her very soul. As the elf tentatively smiled at her, Éowyn was suddenly furious with herself. Here she was, acting as a foolish gossip of the court, blushing coyly and acting weak. She knew thanks were in order and she knew she was going to regret her next words. She knew she would be right.
"I needed no help, Sir. I had everything under control"
Éowyn half expected the elf to laugh at her, but the corner's of his mouth barely lifted in smile. His clear eyes held only that look of concern and worry. Carefully stepping closer, the elf held out his hand.
"Did he hurt you?"
The girl was so taken aback at his question that her normally quick tongue forgot how to move. Staring dumbly at the floor, Éowyn held out her hand before she could help herself. She thudded back into reality as she felt the elf take her hand into his much larger one. The warmth of his flesh startled her a little, and she scolded herself inside. How silly a girl she was being, to be surprised that living flesh felt warm, even the flesh of so magical a creature.
The elf raised her hand closer to his face, looking first into the cut, and then back up to her. Determined to keep his gaze, Éowyn stared back stubbornly and defiantly. With an amused smile,
the elf released her hand gently. Reaching into one of the flaps of his tunic, he removed a large peice of white materiel. Ripping the cloth easily, the elf took Éowyn's hand once more and tied the tourniquet securely around the injured palm.
" There was no poison on his blade", the elf whispered. " He merely wanted to frighten you.
" He did not succeed", Éowyn shot back. "I was perfectly fine. I can, Sir, take care of my own person, although I do...thank you...for"
Éowyn pulled her hand away, and the elf let it go without hesitation. Looking into his face, Éowyn did not see scorn or pity, but genuine concern, and maybe, admiration?
Smiling gently as he took a step closer, the elf whispered out to her so that those assembled just yards away could not overhear.
"You do not need to be so defensive, my Lady. I did not mean to offend"
His tone struck Éowyn with such sincerity that the anger she felt died a little within her.
"Please, do not apologize", Éowyn whispered back, "I am afraid my hot head sometimes gets the better of me"
"But there is no doubt in my mind that you are in fact capable of defending yourself", he said,
stepping even closer.
"Of course, I am completely dependant on my self for safe being", Éowyn replied breathlessly.
"Your strength is admirable, and undoubtedly your skills with blades and horses match those of any soldier of Rohan"
"Well, yes, I suppose"
"But I should hope, dear Lady, that you should never feel the need to protect yourself...", Éowyn inhaled sharply as her back pressed against a wall, "...From me"
Éowyn was incased. Held up against the wall with the elf's long arms entrapping her from either side, she felt her pulse quicken as she gazed at the elf's so close visage.
"No, not from you"
Her mind froze and her body trembled slightly as his lips came nearer to her face. Closing her eyes, Éowyn shut out the voices in her head, screaming at her to escape. She felt no danger, and even stranger still, she felt no desire to leave the encasement of this elf's arms. Her face tipped upwards slightly of it's own accord, and she waited, shaking, for his mouth to meet her own...
"Éowyn? Is that... You! Who are you? What are you doing to my sister"
Éowyn sprang away from the wall, pushing away at the elf's body that was already flinging itself away. Whirling to face the voice, Éowyn's eyes were caught by the furious stare of her elder brother. Éomer was shaking slightly in his rage, and his clenched teeth were grinding unconsciously. His hands clenched into fists at his side, his determined foot falls rang out on the stone floors.
"Éowyn! What are you, do you even know this, creature "
"Éomer, please! You don't under..."
"And you!", Éomer roared, pointing a finger at the elf, " Who are you to come into my home and have such blatant disregard for my uncle and his hospitality! Well? Speak"
Recognition suddenly blazed in Éomer's eyes as he whispered darkly, "You are that elf, the one I met on the plains"
The elf simply looked back at him. Éowyn heard the footsteps approaching before her uncle's voice rang out.
"What is all this yelling about? Éomer, explain yourself"
Éowyn's eyes caught those of her brother frantically, pleading with him. Shaking her head slightly, Éowyn begged her brother with no words. Éomer seemed to hear her as he always did, and sighed in frustration.
"I apologize Uncle, my King", he stammered. " I came and thought to have seen what couldn't possibly be true. I reacted to quickly. I am sorry"
Théoden stared incredulously at his nephew, but seemed to believe him. Sighing a little and shaking his head in disappointment, Théoden looked from Éomer to Éowyn, who quickly looked away. With a sweep of his hand, Théoden gathered the small band of people around him and ushered them back into the hall. Looking back quickly at her, the elf's eyes locked with her own for a moment. As he turned back and followed the king out into his throne room, Éowyn realized she had been holding her breath as a long exhale escaped her trembling lips.