II: The Shieldmaiden of Rohan
Éowyn breathed a sign of relief as she closed the door to the garden, angrily brushing away the tears that had fallen unbidden. The cool air inside the house cooled the feverish blush that had risen to her cheeks unasked for and she steadied her heartbeat as she stood within the hall. Never had a meeting with a man shaken her so much as the conversation she had just had with the Steward of Gondor.
Though now safely within the walls of the House of Healing, she could still feel his piercing gaze, unwavering as he had met her eyes. Though she had intended to remain strong and calm he had brought tears to her eyes with his kind words in the face of her cold demeanour. And whilst she suspected that many would have thought her concerns merely wayward and childish, he had respected her request and sought a solution – forcing her to doubt herself for the first time in many years. She doubted that even in Théoden's court had she met a man who was so stern and yet so gentle at the same time or one who looked so mild but who, she suspected, would be the match for any Rider of the Mark in battle. Calm once more, Éowyn determined to find out more about Faramir, Steward of Minas Tirith and, to this end she sought out Merry for she knew that he had spoken with the young Steward during their days within the Healing House.
She found the young Hobbit within his rooms, sitting in front of a roaring fire. Merry looked up as she entered and she returned his smile, recalling his bravery and valour that had protected her in her own fight.
"My lady" Merry said rising from his chair, "I did not expect to see you up and about so soon. The Warden told me that you had many days of rest ahead of you"
Bidding the Halfling to sit once more, for she could see that he was still recovering himself, Éowyn took a chair opposite him.
"The Warden wishes me to stay abed for seven days yet," she explained, "though my heart does not wish it for I cannot stay confined Master Merry, as you well know. Indeed I sought release from this place from Steward of the City but he would not grant it."
At her words Merry grinned and settled back in his chair, as if he guessed as to what Éowyn wished to ask. Indeed, she imagined that he did, for Merry was of a perceptive nature and had often seen what she had wished to hide when they talked.
"So, you have met the lord Faramir?" he asked, "And what did you think of him?"
Éowyn chose her words carefully in answering him for she knew that Merry would attempt to read into her interest in the Steward and would look for things that were not there.
"He is…a most singular person," she answered, truthfully, "and I do not believe that I have ever met anyone with so many contradictions in his character, not even within the court of Théoden king. So stern and yet so gentle, mild and yet strong"
"Indeed," Merry said smiling again, "He is so very different to his brother and yet also so alike, is he not?"
"I did not know he had a brother," Éowyn replied, "for I did not speak with him for long. He merely permitted me freedom to walk within the gardens of this House."
Merry looked up at her, as if guessing that the talk between the Steward and the Shieldmaiden had been of more importance to her than Éowyn suggested.
"Lord Faramir's brother was Boromir of Gondor," Merry explained, "who travelled within our party and fell attempting to save Pippin and myself from Uruk-hai. He was a most brave and valiant man and I know that Faramir loved him greatly, for he was the elder of the two and often protected his younger brother from their father's anger"
"Boromir of Gondor I have heard of," Éowyn replied, "for he visited our house when I was but a small child. He and Théodred were great friends in the days when the Steward of Gondor and my uncle were still in great alliance. I can remember them going out riding with my brother, though I was often left out of their games. I should have recognised the resemblance between the lord Faramir and his brother, yet I have not seen Boromir since childhood for as we all grew up, other cares weighed upon the minds of us all and childhood days were forgotten."
"They look alike," Merry agreed, "but that is really where their similarities end. Boromir was a valiant man indeed. He sought arms and battle and was proud of his country and his heritage. He was also proud and strong – maybe too proud and too quick to judge. Having met Faramir I deem that he is of gentler spirit and wiser in his judgement of matters. He told me of his enjoyment of learning as a child, how he had learnt off of Gandalf himself. Though he too is proud of his city and his race, I suspect that he takes up arms with reluctance and wishes rather to avert battle than seek it, though he too is valiant when the need calls for it."
"This too was my judgement," said Éowyn thoughtfully, "though I sense that something weighs heavy upon his heart at the moment"
Merry nodded silently and turned to look at the fire, roaring in the grate and Éowyn sensed reluctance for him to speak further upon the matter.
"Is there something wrong Merry? Or is something I have said out of place?" she questioned.
"No lady," Merry replied, "for you could not have known about the tragedy of Faramir's House. Pippin and Gandalf spoke of it to me though Faramir himself does not yet know."
"Then pray tell me of it," Éowyn asked, intrigued, "for I may speak with the Steward again and would not wish to say something to cause him greater woe."
"Very well lady," Merry replied, "Since it is you that asks and I know that you ask out of kindness and not for idle gossip. You have heard, I suppose, that the lord Denethor, Faramir's father is dead?"
"Yes. They say he was driven mad by the destruction of his city and was killed" Éowyn replied, recalling the gossip of her maid as they had talked of the siege and the battle whilst she had lain in bed.
"He was indeed and this much Faramir knows," Merry continued, "but there is more to the story than that. Denethor had been using the palantír of Minas Tirith and his mind had been driven to despair by the Dark Lord. He believed that both his sons were dead, though Faramir still lived and was but sorely wounded, and he sought to make a pyre to end the days of his House. For he could not face the destruction of his city nor the coming of the king and he ordered the abandonment of the guard posts and tried to kill both himself and his son. Gandalf and Pippin arrived in time to save Faramir but could not help the Steward and he killed himself in madness and grief"
Éowyn was silent as Merry finished the tale. She had thought that great grief lay within her own House, with the passing of her uncle and the death of his line. And yet here was a man robbed of both father and brother who was to learn that his father was driven mad by the agents of the Enemy. Suddenly, she understood why the lord Faramir had looked so troubled, though he knew only half of the story, and she determined to be gentler upon their next meeting and attempt to listen more closely to his words.
"Gandalf determined that Faramir should not know of this until he was well rested," Merry continued, "though I suspect that he will be told soon for he is of a perceptive mind and will soon hear of what befell his father."
"Well do not worry that I will tell him prematurely Merry," Éowyn replied, "for I would not wish to have that task for all the world."
"I do not worry on that count lady," Merry replied, "I only speak because I suspect that you will talk with him once again and I know that he will need a kind ear when he learns of the truth"
Éowyn nodded her agreement. "Yes. Though he should not look to me for comfort for I am a Shieldmaiden of Rohan and my hand is ungentle."
Merry grinned again and a glint of pure enjoyment came into his eye.
"That is as maybe lady," he replied, "but I suspect that it will be comfort enough to him that you listen, gentle or no"
Guessing that Merry was already reading too much into her musings, Éowyn fought to keep down the blush that rose unbidden to her cheeks and quickly moved the conversation onto safer territory, asking Merry about his own health and recovery. They spent a good hour whiling away the time with pleasant conversation after that yet, despite the good company, Éowyn could not tear her thoughts from the Steward of the City and resolved that, come the morning light, she would speak to him again.
Author's Note: A change of perspective in this chapter to Eowyn's point of view so I hope that it works! I'll be switching between the two characters on a fairly regualr basis so I hope that it isn't too incongrous in tome or OOC. Again, please let me know what you think- Emeraldstargazer -
