Chapter Eighteen: Always Be Welcome In Our House
Saeorii watched the world of swirling white outside the frosted windowpane as the fierce wind broke upon the palace of Rohan. She had forgotten the wondrous feeling of peace that the falling snow brought, the feeling of safety when nothing else could be seen. She turned from the window and moved towards the small trunk that Haelin had brought for her. They would spend at least this night within the palace of Rohan, King Eomer had insisted. He was young to be a king but Elessar had told her of the death of his uncle during the Battle of Pelnnor Fields. There was an air of grief about him that made him serious but his good heart and kindness had been easy for an elf to see beneath his stern exterior.
She smiled absently as she pulled out a dark dress and dry shift, beginning to unfasten her dress as remembered the kindness with which the young king had received them. She had remembered him the instant she had first seen him, standing atop the stairs and watching as they rode towards him. She remembered him from the night when he and Faramir had carried her from the Hall after Elessar had struck her. She knew also that his sister had not forgotten that night for she could sense the woman's mistrust of Elessar as they entered the palace together.
She stood in front of the blazing fire as she fastened her dress, revelling in the soft pelts beneath her bare feet as she stood and soaked up the fire's warmth. She sighed as the tension in her shoulders began to ease, here in this room away from strange men and strange places. Here she could listen to the words that the wind whispered as it rushed around the palace. Words of peace, words of safety, words of joy, and words of life that would return when the snow was gone.
She yawned, wondering how much longer it would be before Elessar returned from the throne room where he had lingered to speak with Eomer. She thought it strange that she should be tired, for she had slept well the night before but her eyes were so heavy that she could not resist the temptation to lie down on the feather bed and close them. Soon, she was lulled to sleep by the familiar moaning of winter's song and the soft whisperings of the Dunedain who kept watch outside her door.
Eowyn walked through the halls where she had once been a child. The halls that had become her home after the death of her parents. She knew them well enough to walk them blindfolded and so had no trouble finding the room that her brother had had prepared for Aragorn. Outside stood two of the men of the west and even Eowyn felt hesitant to approach them for she had never seen men like them, except perhaps Aragorn. However, it was not an issue for they heard her approach before she had even stepped into the warm glow of the torches that hung from the wall.
"Good evening, Lady Eowyn," the foremost stated, while the other moved to stand directly in front of the door.
"Good evening, my lord," she greeted cordially, as she stepped towards them, somehow reassured by the soothing deepness of their voice.
"If you wish to speak with King Elessar, he is still with King Eomer," the same one stated again and Eowyn was somehow surprised that they addressed her brother by his proper title.
"Nay, actually, I wished to speak with his lady, if she would permit it."
The one, who stood in front of the door, hesitated for a moment before knocking gently on the door behind him. A soft, voice answered and the man entered, returning moments later, and nodding to the other before both moved aside wordlessly and she hesitantly walked towards the door that had been left standing open slightly. She pushed it open as little as possible as she stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind her.
The room glowed softly with the light of many candles that hung from the wall and the blazing fire that burned brightly to her left. The dark drapes much like those that were in her own chambers were not drawn but left standing open so the Eowyn could see the swirling white as it rushed against the windowpane in the dark night. The room was silent except for the fire and the sound of the howling wind that made her shiver as she took another step further into the room. She remembered well what Faramir had told her before he would allow her to come and see the queen. In truth, his stern warning of the queen's timidity and shyness had surprised her, and his protectiveness of the lady was admirable if not slightly annoying coming from her beloved.
It took her a moment before she was able to spot the slight queen where she sat on the edge of the soft bed, pulling a pair of shining doeskin boots over her slender feet before she rose shyly to meet Eowyn. Here within the palace walls Eowyn could see even more of the lady's beauty for her dark eyes were enchanting against her alabaster complexion. Her onyx hair hung to the small of her back and the front of it was pinned back so that Eowyn could see her delicate elven ears. She walked as if she was floating and Eowyn could not help but be slightly envious of the way the wine-coloured dress fit her subtle curves. On her left hand was a ring, her only piece of jewellery, a simple silver band that spoke volumes for it told of her marriage to the most powerful man in all of Middle-earth.
She bowed slightly and was rewarded with a shy smile from the striking lady, who shook her head gently and motioned for her to stand again.
"Please, Lady Eowyn, this is your home. You shall not bow to me here. Especially as you are such a good friend to Prince Faramir and have known my husband in the past."
Eowyn blushed slightly at the mention of her prior acquaintance with her husband, remembering how smitten she had been with him when they first met. She wondered suddenly if he had told the Queen and worried that this knowledge might be a source of discomfort for the kind lady who stood before her. However, as she watched the Queen in silence for a moment she knew that even if she knew of the past, it would not matter for even Eowyn could see that Aragorn had eyes only for his wife and that he loved her above all others.
"As you wish, your majesty," she answered finally, wondering why she felt so inept here in the presence of this timid lady.
"Of what did you wish to speak with me," the Queen asked quietly and Eowyn was struck by the elegance that her strong accent brought to the common tongue as she motioned her to the chairs that had been placed in front of the fire.
Eowyn did not answer until they were both seated and she wondered now if it were her place to speak of such things as she fiddled absently with one of the many folds of her evergreen dress.
"If I may speak the truth, your majesty, I wished to speak of you," she began quietly, gaining a bit of confidence from the Queen's silence. "Perhaps you do not remember me from when I came to Gondor last, but I have not been able to forget you, nor what your husband did to you that day. I wish to know if he treats you well. I wish to know if you are afraid. I wish to know if you are happy or are merely held there by a promise you are forced to keep."
Now that she had finished, Eowyn wondered if perhaps she had said too much and her unease was not alleviated any by the Queen's silence. She could not bring herself to meet those dark eyes as she waited anxiously for an answer to her questions.
"Indeed, I do remember your face," the Queen began softly and the kindness in her voice was enough to cause Eowyn to relax, even if only slightly. "I remember that day and your part in it for Elessar told me the words you spoke that day but much took place that day and the months that have followed of which you are not aware. If you were you would not have to ask such questions for he treats me with such love and kindness, as I have never known. I have no fear of him, in fact I trust him with all my heart for I know, despite the past, that he would never harm me. As to my happiness, I can say that I have never been happier in all my life, which is longer than you would guess I am sure. I am not bound to him by any promise I was forced to make for he has released me of them. Instead, I am bound to him by love which I had never truly known until him."
Eowyn was silent. These were the last words that she had expected to hear but she could not say that she was sorry for having asked. There was something about the lady that made her wish to protect her and keep her safe, an almost maternal feeling of affection as she looked at the timid lady warmly.
"My heart rejoices at your words and I am most glad to find that I was mistaken," she told her kindly, "Oh, I had nearly forgotten why it was I was sent to you," she exclaimed suddenly, laughing at her own absentmindedness. "The others are waiting for us in the throne room, a meal has been laid," she explained as she stood, offering her hand to the lady as she continued. "I fear it is nothing so grand as what would be given to you in Gondor but we had no notice of your coming and so had not time to prepare."
The three of them sat in strange silence, each wondering which would be the one to break it. Legolas and Aragorn sat in two chairs near the fire that had been laid in Eomer's chambers off the throne room while Eomer himself stood at the window watching the tempest blast uselessly against the sturdy palace of stone. Eomer's thoughts were travelling in unproductive circles and it seemed that even his best efforts were useless in bringing any kind of order to them. He was still in shock that finally after all his longing, Aragorn was here but he was disappointed because now that the man was here he could not find the words to speak what he wished. He sighed heavily and laid his hand against the frosted window, feeling its coolness beneath his hand as the frost melted at his touch.
"I know not where to start, my friend," he finally stated, at a loss for any better words as he turned to face the great man who he counted as his truest friend.
The man smiled at him, understandingly, but answered with a hint of laughter in his eyes.
"Perhaps the beginning would be best."
Eomer could not help but laugh as he moved at last to sit with the other two, facing Legolas and Aragorn beside him.
"This I suppose is the great wisdom of Elessar that is whispered about among the companies of men?"
Aragorn's laughter was rich and deep and brought warmth to Eomer's heart. He found himself smiling as well and thinking that Eowyn would be happy as she said that he was much to stern and frowned too often.
"Of such whispers, I have heard nothing, my friend," Legolas answered, bringing more laughter, "And I must say that I have seen little of anything that could be called wisdom from this man."
"Now, now, Legolas, do not be so hard on me, you know that I cannot compete with the wisdom that your three thousand years has brought."
The elf scowled slightly but Eomer knew well that it was not the accumulation of years that offended him, as is the way with men, but the lack of years for among his kind he was still considered but a child. Moments of comfortable silence ensued between them before any spoke again.
"The words of your kingdom brought to me now are much better than in past days, my friend. Indeed, it is said that daily it resembles more the kingdom of old."
"Aye, someday it shall exceed what is remembered I believe but not by my doing alone for we all know that my doing is the reason that Gondor suffered so long before it began to be remade." Eomer did not speak for he knew that Aragorn did not expect answer. "After I left you, after the death of your uncle, I put all my energies into the lands around Gondor and my coronation that I might do more for my people. Your sister was there the day I was crowned, with Faramir at her side. Both were there that night when word came that Arwen had passed. I rode out from the palace that night and did not return for two months. The Council had given me up for lost, truly though I was lost. Never have I experienced anything like the feeling of emptiness that consumed me."
He paused for a moment but Eomer did not speak, afraid to break the spell that his deep words seemed to have cast over him.
"I became selfish, I had been hurt and in return pushed all away that could ever hurt me again. That meant anyone who had ever or could ever become close. It meant you, my friend and for that I ask your forgiveness. My grief is not an excuse for what I did."
"Please, my friend, you are only human. We all fall short of what we would like to be, that is what makes us who we are. The important thing is that you have returned to us."
"Aye, I was brought back by a beautiful elven maiden. The night of the Foreign Council was the bottom of my plummet when I woke from the shadow that had held me for so long. I did not recognise myself but knew that things could not remain as they were. The only problem was that I had pushed everyone away and so had no one to help and bring me back, no one to remind me that all I cared for had not perished and that I still had reason for living. I knew that you and Eowyn had left mere hours after the meal, not waiting for the guiding sun before fleeing from my anger and hatred."
"Instead I found myself drawn to she that shared my rooms and yet I had never acknowledged her existence, never spoken her name, never taken the time to hear her soft voice. I could bear it no longer when I saw her raw fear and knew that it was I, which was the cause of it. It was she who, despite her fears, came to me in my brokenness and sought to comfort me. It is she who has healed my heart and mended my spirit; she has made me complete."
Eomer smiled as he caught the tone of adoration and love in his friend's voice.
"I believe that she has bewitched you, my friend," he commented teasingly.
"Indeed, she has my friend and I wish never to be released from her spell."
Eomer paused for a moment; unsure of the question he now felt to ask.
"Aragorn, does she fear me?"
His friend seemed to stiffen for a minute before his shoulders grew weighted with a grief unfamiliar to him as Legolas sat forward, his grey eyes showing compassion for both Aragorn and his lady. Eomer braced himself for the words that would next be spoken but nothing could have prepared him for what was told.
"Do not despair, for it is not you who she fears," Aragorn stated quietly, and Eomer knew his confusion was plainly showed to the man as he continued. "You know not of her coming to Gondor for it was not of her own free will that she became my wife and queen. For many years she was held by our kind, neglected, abused or used for their pleasure. My words cannot tell you the raw fear and pain that she has felt, but let me tell you this: the few times that I have been shown even a part of it have pained me beyond any description of physical pain. Nay, it is not you whom she fears, Eomer, but men like you who to her may be nameless but whose actions cannot be forgotten."
For long moments silence reigned between them before Eomer was able to find the words to speak.
"I know not what to say. Had I known," he could not finish.
"Had you known there would have been nothing more that you could have done for her than what you have already done. You have welcomed her with kindness, shown her your kind nature and good temper. With time she shall trust you as she does few among our kind."
A soft knock at the door woke them from remembrance as a servant knocked on the door and announced that Queen Saeorii and Lady Eowyn had arrived.
Their meal was good and Saeorii felt no fear in the company the King of Rohan and his sister. She sat next to Elessar, who had insisted that Eomer sit at the head of the table here in his own home. Eowyn sat at his side while Legolas, feeling no hunger, went off in search of Gimli who he had not seen in some time.
"I am told that you have done well restoring Helms Deep to all that it once was," Elessar commented as Saeorii laid her head comfortably against his strong shoulder, her eyes heavy with sleep once more.
"Aye, indeed I have, although I must say that Eowyn was the last to visit and knows better than I."
"They have finished rebuilding the walls. They have stopped work for the winter makes it difficult but it is already well defended against any who should try to come against it."
"That is good to hear for the city is dear to my heart. I remember well its splendour during the time of Thengal, your grandfather."
Eomer laughed.
"It is still strange to me that you are so aged, my friend. It is astounding that you knew my grandfather well and yet I have never met him."
"Tis the life of a Dunedan. Many I have known have now passed to Mandos while I still remain," Elessar stated and Saeorii pulled closer against him in an effort to ease some of his pain.
He placed his arm around her shoulder, kissing her brow as silence fell over them.
"I have a request, Eomer," Elessar stated and Saeorii felt herself drifting to sleep at the deep rumbling of his voice as her head rested against his chest.
"And what might that be, my friend? I will grant it if it is within my power to do so."
"I ask that you would come with me when I return to Gondor and stay there with me for the winter months. I have missed your company."
Saeorii heard rushed footsteps in the hallway and opened her eyes, sitting quickly as she felt a tremor of fear. Beside her Elessar reached for her hand and held it soothingly as the great doors were opened wide and a snow covered messenger entered.
"My lord King Elessar," the messenger began breathlessly, "I have been asked to bring you to lord Faramir. He desires to speak with you, of what, he would not say to me. Although, he bid me tell you that it was not of an urgent matter."
Elessar nodded to the man and turned to her. All the concern and love that were written in his silver eyes were more than words could say. He knew of her fear here among the strange and somewhat rough men of Rohan. He knew that she did not feel at ease unless he was at her side. He would not leave unless she would be all right. She pressed his hand gently and he smiled at her tenderly before kissing her cheek softly and rising to leave with the messenger.
"If you will excuse me, Eomer, Eowyn."
"Of course," the two stated in unison as he strode briskly out of the room and she was comforted by the sense that he wished to return to her quickly.
"Of what are you thinking," Eowyn asked her brother quietly, and Saeorii stood silently and walked towards the windows that were black with the night.
She watched through them, able to see more than most would have guessed through the darkness and white snow and she saw the strong figure of her husband as he walked through the drifts towards the stables. The two behind her spoke softly for some time and though she could have caught every word she did not listen but thought of returning to Gondor, surprised to realise how much she longed to be there once more. She missed Maeve terribly and the children who she had come to love in the daily excursions on which Elessar took her throughout the fair city, her city. She tensed slightly as she heard the heavy footsteps of the Rohirric king as he approached her carefully. She did not turn to face him, but he did not seem offended as he spoke to her, his voice soft and gentle.
"Are you well, your majesty," he inquired and she turned to him, smiling warmly.
"Aye, I am, thank you," she answered kindly. For a moment he stood silent, looking far beyond her into the darkness of the night before she felt to speak again. "Come you to Gondor with us?" she asked shyly, unable to think of anything else that might be said.
"I know not," he answered wearily and despite her apprehension, Saeorii felt for the young man before her. "I long so to be with Aragorn. He is my greatest friend and I trust his word above all others and yet I know not if it would be right for me to leave my own people." He looked at her and she understood the look of doubt in his eyes, "I know not if my presence would be welcome."
She timidly took a step closer to him, clasping her hands in front of her in an effort to keep their tremors, however slight, from his sight as she spoke.
"You would be as welcome to me as any of my kin," she stated slowly and when he looked at her she knew he had been told of her past and was thankful for his kindness regarding the matter, as he seemed to be making every effort to limit her fear. "My fears will be made no greater by your presence, in fact I have no doubt that soon your presence, as Elessar's and Faramir's and many of the Dunedain, will soon bring me comfort instead of fear. Your heart is good, young king, and your kingdom shall not fade in the splendour of Gondor, but shall rise to its own heights. You and those who dwell within your borders shall be seen as just and kind, brave and truthful. You and yours shall always be welcome in our house, for as long as your years may allow."
He smiled and she noticed how much the expression changed his stern features as he reached slowly and took her small hands in his own massive ones. She smiled, and rejoiced to find she felt no fear as she returned his steady gaze.
"Such a kind offer, I could not refuse, my lady," he told her quietly and she was startled by his tender gesture as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, before leading her back towards Eowyn who smiled at them broadly.
To be continued…….
