A/N: Hey guy, it's me (Jedi Knight), well this chapter is all of my doing, so I hope that you all enjoy it!
Blood red Rose
Chapter two
Éowyn slowly entered the Palace and made her way to her quarters; what had happened just a few moments ago had taken her completely by surprise: Saphin had asked her to be his wife.
What was she going to do?
Before Éowyn could even process the question properly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She had nearly reached her quarters and was currently making her way down the mile-long hall when she heard someone behind her.
She whirled around and found herself face to face with Théodred, she visibly relaxed for she was relieved to know that it was Théodred and not Grima; however, the Prince of Rohan didn't have the feature smile that usually played across his lips whenever they would meet. This time he seemed a little agitated.
"I'm sorry that I startled you, Éowyn," Théodred apologized sincerely.
Éowyn let out a sigh. "It's not your fault, Théodred; I have been…quick to conclusions lately. Are you alright?"
Théodred looked away for a moment, wondering if it was his place to intercede in such a personal matter. "Perhaps I shouldn't have come," he thought.
"Théodred?" Éowyn asked, not having the slightest clue what was the matter with her cousin.
Théodred put the thought in the back of his mind. "Éowyn, perhaps it isn't my place, but I'm your cousin and you're like a sister to me, please know that I'm only looking out for you."
Éowyn cocked her head; "What are you saying?" she asked.
Théodred lowered his voice so that none would hear him. "Do you—do you mean to marry him?"
Éowyn looked startled, yet she knew of whom he spoke. "How do you know that Saphin asked me to marry him?" she asked. Théodred couldn't tell if she was angry with him for invading her privacy, or if she wasn't mad at all.
"I was there with father when he asked; I just want you to be happy, so please do not feel obliged to marry him because he asked you. It is your right to turn him down."
Éowyn could see sincere concern in Théodred's eyes…along with a tinge of bitterness. Aside from that, she knew that he was looking out for her.
"Yes," she said, embracing Théodred. "He asked me to marry him, but I have not yet made my decision; I will take your words into consideration and I thank you for wanting to look after me, but I assure you that I can take care of myself—especially when it comes to Saphin."
Minas Tirith
Faramir found Boromir outside, overlooking the Pelennor; it was obvious that Boromir thought himself to be alone. Faramir was a little nervous to approach, yet he wanted to set things right with his brother.
"Boromir," he said in a voice loud enough to make Boromir whirl around to face him. Boromir's face instantly twisted into a scowl when his eyes fell on Faramir, yet he didn't look half as angry.
"What is it?" he asked stiffly.
"About—about what happened, brother, how can you be cross with me for not celebrating a man's death? Nevertheless, I did not find you to argue about morals. Today has been one bad ordeal after another; may we at least agree to disagree? Surely you cannot excommunicate me because I stood up for what I believe in."
Boromir shook his head in disbelief. "Remove the scales from your eyes, little brother: you are a Gondorian. We uphold morals and honor! We do not sneak to the enemy and try to treat the barbarian with respect when he would not return it! These Haradrim are responsible for killing your fellow countrymen! And yet you visit him and try to grant him mercy when he gave your Gondorian brothers none!" Boromir spat the last words and averted his gaze back to the pelennor.
Faramir's jaw clenched; Boromir was still too sour to think clearly. "Very well, Boromir; be that way. In order to be honorable we must show the barbarian respect so that he will know that there is another way…" Faramir let his voice trail off as he walked away.
Edoras
Éowyn had been thinking about Saphin's proposal that night; and no, she didn't love him. But "Perhaps I could," she thought. She had already been thinking about it for some time and had come to her decision.
It was now dark outside, save the full moon. Yet, the house of Théoden was not yet sleeping. Éowyn strode out of her quarters and stood by one of the large windows in a Hall which was smaller than the main anteroom, though it did not lack in treasures. The marble floor was finely polished and mosaics lined the walls. Éowyn loved the feel of the wind whipping softly through her face.
She suddenly turned around when she heard the sound of someone padding across the marble floor. It was none other than King Théoden.
"Éowyn," he said smiling, "It is a wonderful surprise to see you here."
"The feelings are mutual, my lord," she said, smiling. "I need to talk with you about something of great importance."
Théoden settled down in one of the plush multicolored chairs. "I am listening, Éowyn."
Éowyn clasped her hands together in front of her. "As you know my lord, today lord Saphin asked me to be his wife."
Théoden's eyes gleamed with excitement. Could it be that Éowyn had said yes? "I might have heard of something along those lines," he responded.
Éowyn sat down beside him. "Well, he asked me to think about it…and I said yes."
Théoden's eyes gleamed with joy and a smile creased his face. "Oh, Éowyn!" he cried with glee. "You have chosen to marry an honorable man; words cannot describe my joy!" he said, embracing her.
Éowyn was surprised by her uncle's reaction; she hadn't expected him to be overjoyed, but she was just glad that he thought she was making the right decision, for his opinion was very important to her.
"Thank you for truly being happy, my lord," Éowyn said, returning the embrace.
"How can I not be? We must tell the entire household!" he exclaimed. "And we shall hold a celebration in you and lord Saphin's honor."
"I honestly do not know how to thank you, my lord," Éowyn said, choking back tears.
Théoden smiled. "You can thank me by being happy and having plenty of children."
Éowyn couldn't help smiling at the remark. "We are not yet married, my lord!" she laughed.
"Ah, but soon you will be; and I thank you for telling me first but I fear that lord Saphin must be in torture as he awaits your decision."
Éowyn's eyes widened as she remembered that she had failed to tell the Count of her decision, when he was the man she was going to marry!
"Do you think that he his still on the grounds, my lord?" Éowyn asked, running a hand through her long blond locks.
Théoden nodded. "He is here as we speak; I believe that he is almost leaving, though."
"Where might I find him?" Éowyn asked.
"In the main hall; I fear that he shall take an earlier leave if Eomer continues to discuss battle strategies."
Éowyn didn't even hear the last part of his sentence; she dashed out of the smaller hall and ran down the countless corridors until she finally found her way to the main hall.
And there he was; Saphin was, in fact, engaged in a conversation with Eomer, but Éowyn knew that she had to speak with him quickly. So taking a deep breath, Éowyn strode up to Saphin and spoke as confidently as possible. "My lord, if it would not be of any trouble to you, would you mind joining me on the Palace grounds?"
Eomer arched an eyebrow; he was completely ignorant to the situation, yet he knew that a normal Éowyn would never summon Saphin for a frivolous thing.
A small smile found its way to Saphin's lips, yet he wasn't completely sure if she had accepted his proposal. Could he handle the rejection?
"Of course!" he scolded himself. "I will take it as a man should."
He politely excused himself from Eomer and followed Éowyn outside. It was the second time that they had been on the grounds together that day; the air was still clean and crisp, and a slight wind whistled around them. It was the perfect setting for an acceptance, and a heartbreaking one for rejection.
Once they were away from the prying eyes, Éowyn stood in front of him and bored her eyes into his.
"My lord, this day you asked me to marry you, and you told me to think about it as I went to sleep, looking at the stars. Well, I did not need to do that, my lord; I have made my decision."
Saphin swallowed, and Éowyn was shocked to see that he was clearly nervous.
"You need not be nervous, my lord; I will marry you."
As soon as those words escaped her lips, Saphin thought that he was in a dream; never had he loved anyone before her, and he swore to himself that he wouldn't love anyone after her.
He uncharacteristically swept her up in an embrace. "I love you Éowyn," he whispered. "And I promise to make you the happiest woman in all of Arda."
The Following morning
That night, after Éowyn's acceptance, the two had agreed to keep their betrothal hidden until the following morning, so that they might announce it properly to Théoden's Court. Éowyn had went to sleep that night, thinking about how her life would be as a married woman, but every time she thought of it, that nagging question always slipped into her mind. "But do you love him?" She always tried to push it aside, convincing herself that she could love him.
She and Saphin had agreed to meet at the seventh hour of the morning, by then the entire Court would be awakened.
She stood in the small hall and waited for him; it didn't even occur to her that he might be late, for Saphin always arrived on time.
And sure enough, she heard his voice behind her.
"Are you ready, my lady?" he asked softly.
Éowyn whirled around and was instantly lost in his beautiful brown eyes. "Yes, I am ready," she said, taking his hand and walking with him to the main hall.
The guards opened the two large doors for the two as they walked in; they were no longer holding hands, but Éowyn wished that they were for she was nervous to see Théodred and Eomer's reactions when they realized that she was to marry lord Saphin.
Théoden sat on his throne in the anteroom, with Théodred at his right-hand side, and Eomer on the left; they had of course been told that an announcement was to take place, but they had no idea what it could possible be.
But when Grima saw Éowyn and Saphin enter together, his face instantly twisted into a scowl. He had hoped that he would one day find enough grace in Théoden's sight for the King to willingly give him his niece to marry. But he got a bad feeling the moment he saw her with him.
Éowyn and Saphin bowed accordingly as they stood before Théoden; Eomer and Théodred's faces were blank and unreadable.
"My lord," Saphin began. "With your blessing, I asked Lady Éowyn to be my wife," after saying his part, he turned to look at Éowyn, who somewhat nervously finished the speech.
"And I accepted his proposal."
There were so many murmurs from the court that Éowyn and Saphin didn't even know what was being said.
They now held hands as they awaited Théoden's response. Éowyn was not nervous about this, for the King had been overjoyed when she had told him.
Once again, a smile creased his face. "Very well, with my blessing, the two of you shall be wed!" he chortled.
Grima's face looked even worse; it was contorted with anger and disgust as he looked upon the lucky lord. "The King cannot do this to me!" he mind screamed; and then his corrupt eyes fell on Éowyn, who wasn't even making an effort to avoid him. Despite the death of his greatest hope, Grima held on to the greatest form of denial; he would have Éowyn, even if it was the last thing he ever did. It would take an effort to drive a dagger into Saphin's back—right?
Théoden's ranting continued. "I shall send messengers, inviting the lord's and ladies to come to the betrothal celebration of lord Saphin, and lady Éowyn," he turned to a waiting young servant. "Do it."
The servant instantly scurried out to inform the Rohirric messengers.
Minas Tirith
Many hours had passed, and night had fallen on Minas Tirith; Boromir and Faramir hadn't even seen each other since the heated argument. But as night fell, they knew that seeing each other again was inevitable, for the Steward had summoned them to dine with him that night.
They entered the Citadel through separate ways, but had no choice but to walk the same corridor together on their way to the dining hall. Faramir occasionally glanced at Boromir from the corner of his eye, and even though Boromir didn't look angry anymore, Faramir was not about to be fooled again.
Two guards opened the double doors as the Captains of Gondor entered; the room was surprisingly bland. The walls were a plain white, which did not show off the brilliance of the marble floors. The room was bare save a long table with white cloth draped over it—with Denethor sitting at the head.
"Come, my sons! I was beginning to think that you had forgotten about your father," the Steward remarked.
Boromir smiled, looking at Denethor's half cleaned plate. "No, my lord; I think that you had forgotten about us!" he laughed.
Faramir quietly took his seat as Boromir and Denethor laughed with one another.
Denethor rung a bell and the servants came in with various platters to satisfy the biggest of appetites.
Boromir licked his lips hungrily as he dug in. Faramir glanced at him from across the table, before taking his first serving.
Denethor leaned back in his chair. "And son," he said looking at Boromir. "I am so very proud of you for hunting that Haradrim dog down and giving him what he deserved—death!"
Faramir nearly choked on his mouthful of meat. He had hoped that the subject would be left alone and eventually die.
Before Boromir could reply, a young servant entered and bowed nervously. Denethor shot the servant an angry glare. "I did not call you!" he snapped.
"I—I know, my lord; but a messenger wants to see you and he will not wait!"
"What land does he come from," Denethor asked, as curiosity was beginning to get the better of him.
"He comes from Rohan, my lord; should I let him in?"
Denethor hesitated, but Boromir cut in. "It would not hurt to let him in father; we know not what tidings he brings."
Denethor nodded in agreement. "I will see him now," he ordered.
The servant bowed and left, only to return with a Rohirric messenger.
Denethor eyed the man sharply. "What brings you to my Realm?" he asked.
"A letter from King Théoden himself," the messenger answered, walking forward and handing it to Denethor. He did not move as Denethor's eyes quickly scanned the letter.
"What does it say, father?" Boromir asked as soon as Denethor had finished.
The Steward turned to the messenger first. "Tell your King that a representative of Gondor will be present."
The messenger bowed and left.
"What does it say, Father?" Faramir asked, repeating Boromir's question.
"Lady Éowyn of Rohan is to marry lord Saphin, and we have been invited to the betrothal celebration."
The room was silent, for a moment or two no one knew what to say until Denethor spoke up.
"I will send two representatives of Gondor: My two sons."
Boromir nodded. "It is an honor to be chosen, father."
"Yes," Faramir put in. "When is it to begin?"
"The day after tomorrow; it should be enough time for the both of you to make the journey and rest a little before the celebration."
"Will you not come with us, father?" Boromir asked; he knew how Denethor liked to travel to distant countries when he was able.
"No; if I do, then who will stay and keep things in order?"
An idea hit Boromir instantly. "A temporary Steward," he suggested.
Denethor laughed. "A Steward's Steward? I think not."
Faramir sighed. 'Very well, father; we will set out as soon as possible, for Anborn will readily take over for me at Henneth Annun."
Boromir tried to think of whom to leave his duties with, and in the end settled for his trustworthy friend, Marcus.
Edoras
After the announcement, Grima had made it his mission to get to Éowyn first; he was relieved when Théoden relieved him of his duty for part of the day. He instantly scoured the Palace, looking for Éowyn, she was no where to be found until he thought to look in the stables; and there she was, tending to her beloved horse, Windfola. He smiled crookedly to himself as he heard her singing softly to the animal.
He was determined get to her, one way or another. He would never let her out of his sight.
Well, whatcha think? Please feel free to review and let me know what you think. All opinions are appreciated!
