A/N: And so the story continues…
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Boromir stood there in shocked silence as Daphnaie walked towards the exit. He looked on as she turned her head, glancing back over her shoulder one last time, but her eyes did not meet his own.
"Gandalf?" She gasped. Boromir was…stunned. The room flooded with the sounds of whispers. She knew Gandalf? But how? If Boromir was stunned, then Gandalf was even more so. A look of shock and confusion was etched into his features.
"Have we met?" He asked in his raspy voice.
"Yes!" She cried, her expression somewhere between joy and panic. She broke away from Eomer, who did not seem much inclined to stop her, and ran to Gandalf. She stopped directly in front of him and stared into his eyes, pleading. "Please Gandalf, you know me. Say that you know me. We are old friends, you and I. You must remember." Leaning heavily on his staff, Gandalf took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up looking intently at her, searching for something. Boromir found the whole display foolish. Gandalf should not be humoring her last desperate efforts to lie her way out of imprisonment. But rather than push her away, Gandalf did something Boromir never expected. He recognized her.
"Yes…. yes I do know you." Gandalf said slowly dropping his hands to his sides. "You are that dryad from Amon Hen, my lovely friend the Laurel." He said with a smile. Her relief was immediately apparent. Tears of joy escaped from the corners of her eyes. Boromir started to feel sick to his stomach. Gandalf took his old, wise eyes off of Daphnaie and turned to Eomer.
"Cut her bonds." Gandalf ordered.
"What?" Boromir shouted.
"Stay where you are, Eomer." Theoden, who had been observing the events with growing confusion, commanded in a loud voice. "Gandalf, what is the meaning of this?" Gandalf put a comforting hand on Daphnaie's shoulder and addressed the king.
"My lord Theoden, all will be made clear, but first release this poor girl." Theoden hesitated for a moment then gave Eomer a swift nod. Boromir stepped forward to protest, but Aragorn grabbed his arm.
"Just wait," Aragorn said quietly. "Gandalf is no fool. Let us here what he has to say." Boromir silently nodded his assent.
Eomer crossed the room in a few long strides and ever so gently cut the ropes off Daphnaie's wrists. He leaned in and whispered something to her, something that made her smile, but it was said too quietly for Boromir to hear. Eomer stepped away as Gandalf began to speak.
"I have traveled through Amon Hen many times, Lord Theoden, and most times were uneventful. There was one day, however, that I felt something, another presence with me in the forest. Patiently I waited, and eventually my patience was rewarded. One of the rarest creatures in all of middle-earth, a dryad, revealed herself to me. And now to all of you. " He said gesturing at the men about the room.
"Forgive me, Gandalf," Theoden interrupted, "You'll have to refresh my memory. A dryad is a…?"
"A dryad is a woman that the Valar have seen fit to bless with immortality and task with keeping watch over the forest. In many ways, they are similar to Elves, but possess a much less…subtle kind of magic."
"And this woman in front of me is one of these beings?" Theoden asked. "Have you taken leave of your senses, Wizard? She's just a girl, a pretty little thing, sure, but no more like an elflike than I am."
"Certainly she is only human now," Gandalf said gruffly "but I assure you Theoden she is the dryad I met at Amon Hen. Let us give her a chance to explain how this came to pass." Theoden and Gandalf both turned to Daphnaie expectantly. She just stood there nervously, her lips tightly shut.
"See how she has become mute," Boromir whispered to Aragorn. "It is because she has no explanation. Gandalf is mistaken."
"We shall see," returned Aragorn.
"Well? Can you explain why, if Gandalf met you as a Dryad, you stand before us now mortal?" Theoden said. Daphnaie took a deep, steadying breath then raised her arm and pointed at Boromir.
"I did it for him." She admitted quietly. Boromir's heart thumped loudly in his chest. It couldn't be true. She wasn't a dryad. She continued, "It was all for him. He was dying. He was dead! I did the only thing I could think of. My magic, my…I lost everything to save him." She looked over at Boromir long and hard then. The sadness in her eyes pulled at him. It was as though she was communicating directly to him what it was like for her to lose everything. For a moment, he could feel the loss too. He believed her, he realized. The truth was right there in her eyes.
"Boromir." Boromir abruptly jerked out of his reverie. "Did she ever say or do anything to contradict the explanation she has provided?" Theoden asked.
"Never." Boromir answered without hesitation. Theoden nodded his head and addressed Daphnaie once again.
"Very well then." He sighed, sounding tired. "I will accept your story as true. You are no longer a prisoner, but I warn you. Do not take advantage of my trust. Gandalf, I leave her in you charge." Boromir thought the old man looked distinctly annoyed to hear that. "Now be gone with you. I have preparations to make. Tomorrow, we must ride to Isengard." Those that were not needed to assist Theoden began to depart. Nervously Boromir walked to where Daphnaie stood and gently reached out to place a hand on her back.
"Daphnaie I—."
"Don't touch me!" She hissed and stormed out of the room. Boromir moved to go after her, but Gandalf placed a restraining hand on his arm.
"I think, lord Boromir, it would be wiser for me to speak to her first." Boromir nodded his head, and Gandalf left to find Daphnaie. Aragorn took the place where Gandalf had been standing. Feeling the need to defend himself, Boromir turned to Aragorn.
"I truly believed she was a spy. If I had thought for…for a moment that she was innocent, I wouldn't…I would never have—."
"I know, Boromir." Aragorn said in that understanding way of his. "It was wise of you to be on your guard. Yes, you were wrong, but that is a good thing is it not? In this case, would you have truly desired to be right? Rather than an enemy, we have gained a friend, one with centuries of knowledge. Fear not. You have done no wrong that cannot be undone. All will be well." Boromir sighed.
"Thank you. I pray you are right. I pray she does not find me as unworthy of forgiveness as I feel."
"Well what are you two prattling on about?" Gimli said joining the two men. Boromir put his hand to his heart and feigned shock at Gimli's sudden appearance.
"Eru! Forgive me master Gimli, I'm afraid I didn't see you. I suppose had I been looking down at my boots, I would have noticed you sooner." Gimli's face turned beet red with indignation.
"What? Didn't see me? I ought to…." He drifted into some grumbling then that Boromir didn't quite catch, but he was sure it involved a curse or two. He chuckled aloud.
"Oh? Think yer funny do ya?" Gimli started up again. "Perhaps you should try to win back yer lovely lady with yer wonderful sense of humor. 'Forgive me my lady, I'm afraid I didn't realize you weren't a spy. I suppose had my head not been so far up my arse, I would have noticed that sooner." All were silent, Boromir looking sternly down at Gimli, and Gimli glaring right back. Maybe thirty seconds went by. Then all three men burst into laughter, relieved to be settling into old routines.
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Daphnaie sat alone, glaring angrily out a window overlooking the busy happenings of the lower keep. She had found an unused room up a narrow staircase and now sat there fuming over the morning's events. She wondered briefly as she looked down on the many soldiers moving about, where Leofric might be and if he would be cold to her next time they met. She wasn't upset with him. He had not accused her of anything. She was relieved to have been found innocent of any of Boromir's ridiculous accusations but that she had been accused at all still made her furious. How could he? After everything she had done, how could he not trust her?
"I wish I'd never met him." She said aloud to herself. "I wish I had never left Amon Hen."
"Now now, my dear. Things are not altogether as bad as they seem." Daphnaie's head jerked up, and her cheeks turned red with embarrassment when she saw Gandalf.
"Oh! I…I didn't hear you come in." She shuffled over awkwardly to make room for him on the old cot she was sitting on. He sat down heavily beside her flinging up dust.
"How long has it been since you left Amon Hen?" She wasn't sure what she was expecting him to say but that wasn't it.
"I…I'm not sure. I think it has been about a week." Gandalf nodded.
"A week. That is not so significant a length of time. Do you not think you should wait perhaps a little longer before condemning that decision? There is a chance, however unlikely, that things might yet work out. All you have to do is give it a chance. Or are you quite determined to be unhappy?"
"Well no of course I'm not determined to be unhappy, but what cause have I for happiness? Boromir has—."
"Oh, do not be so hard on Boromir." Gandalf interrupted. "He is not a bad man. He made mistakes, mistakes he was terrified of repeating, and in his fear he has wronged you, yes. But not out of a desire to harm you. I will not tell you to forgive him, you must make that decision yourself, but do not be so quick to pass out judgment Daphnaie. None of us is faultless. Now, I must go. I have many things yet to do." He made to stand but Daphnaie placed a hand on his arm.
"Thank you, Gandalf. I…I'm so happy you're here." She said truly. He patted her hand clumsily and stood.
"Yes well, I really should be going. I'm glad to see you again. You should go and eat something."
"Oh, no. I think I'd rather just stay up here out of the way for a while." She did not want to see him. Gandalf seemed to understand what she meant but he said only, "very well then," and took his leave. Then she was alone in the room again. She sighed and returned her attention to the people outside the window.
"Maybe he's right." She said aloud. "Perhaps I should—"
"Ah here you are." Eomer said from the doorway. Daphnaie jumped in surprise.
"Valar! Eomer what are you doing here?" She feared the worst, that the king had changed his mind or Boromir had brought up some new accusation against her.
"I thought you might be hungry." He said smiling. "There is some food prepared down below. I came to escort you to the meal." Relieved that it was nothing worse, she now had a new suspicion.
"How very considerate of you, my lord. I should be pleased to accompany you."
"It is no trouble at all, my lady." He returned with a cocky sort of grin offering her his arm. She placed her hand gently on it. As he began leading her down the stairs, she decided to have a bit of fun with him. He was looking much too pleased with himself.
"Thank you again for offering to escort me, Eomer. You are very kind." She said sweetly.
"Don't think on it another moment. It is an honor to escort a woman as lovely as you anywhere. I could not resist." He said looking down at her warmly. She paused only a moment.
"Tell me. Did you by any chance speak to Gandalf a moment ago?" His smile faltered fleetingly.
"Indeed. I met him in the hallway."
"I see. And did he suggest that you come fetch me to dinner?" His smile disappeared entirely.
"He…may have hinted that you were feeling a little hungry."
"That's very interesting." Eomer chuckled.
"Now now, I don't think this is behavior befitting a lady." If Eomer thought he could get her to give up the game that easily, he was in for a surprise.
"Whatever do you mean?" Daphnaie asked innocently.
"Lady Daphnaie, do you know that my men sometimes call me the "Lion of Rohan"?
"I did not." She replied wondering at his point.
"You should never tease a lion." He said as they entered the dining hall. She raised a challenging eyebrow at him. He leaned in and whispered, "that is, unless you want to be bitten." She froze. She was sure everyone in the room could see her blush. Eomer stepped away from her with a smirk. "Why don't you go find a seat and I'll go find us some food," he said taking off. She watched him go for a moment then looked around for an empty seat.
It was a large space though certainly no great hall. A lone fire burned in a hearth on the back wall and a few rough, wooden tables were scattered around the room. It was a gloomy place. It lacked all the warmth of Edoras. Daphnaie would find no lovely tapestries here. Men and women were sitting at tables or leaning on the grey stone walls talking and eating. Daphnaie saw a mostly empty table to her right, so she headed in that direction. She took a seat facing the entrance and let her mind wander for a while. What would she do now that she was free to do as she wished? Up till now she'd simply been following Boromir. That did not seem like much of an option at this point. She felt lost. She could stay with the Rohirric women to be a healer. They would likely return to Edoras. That wouldn't be so bad. She found the grass seas soothing and she'd have plenty of useful work to do.
But she would be alone.
Where would she stay? What would she eat? She was afraid of going off on her own. She wasn't ready. Her eyes fell on Eomer who was walking towards her with two plates. Perhaps she would go with him. He seemed to be an honorable man. He was very kind to her. When the King had been against her, and she had feared the worst, Eomer had cut her bonds and whispered that he would make certain no one harmed her. If she went with the soldiers to Isengard, he would look out for her.
Eomer joined her at the table a moment later, and set a plate down in front of her. It had some bread, cheese, and a little of some sort of meat. A meager portion, but Daphnaie was not particularly hungry anyway.
"Thank you." She said, then took a bite of cheese. He nodded in acknowledgement.
"My lady, I confess I find you fascinating." Eomer said with only a hint of a smirk.
"Oh really?" She laughed. "What is so intriguing about me?"
"Don't laugh. You were, for a time at least, an immortal being. There is nothing strange about me being curious about that." He took a large bite of his bread.
"Right, of course that. What would you like to know?"
"How old are you?" He asked animatedly. She rolled her eyes.
"That's a rude thing to ask a lady." She answered not really offended.
"Humor me." He said before taking a swig from his mug.
"Well I can't be sure, but I believe I'm around 3,000 years old." Eomer nearly choked on his water.
"3,000! That's incredible."
"It's not so impressive really." She said embarrassed. "There are plenty of elves older than that."
"But to live through ages! I can't imagine how much you've seen."
"Not much really. You'd be surprised how little. I'm actually quite jealous of you."
"Of me?" He looked utterly surprised.
"Yes. You're a horse lord. You must have traveled all over." One of the few good things about becoming mortal was that she was able to leave Amon Hen. She was so enjoying seeing new places, even places as dank as Helms Deep. Eomer rubbed the back of his neck.
"I've never left the borders of Rohan. I'm sure I've seen every inch of these lands but beyond them, nothing."
"Oh." Daphnaie said simply. There was a pause where neither said anything. Then Daphnaie laughed. She couldn't help herself. She tilted her head back and laughed joyfully. Eomer simply looked confused.
"Something funny?"
"I just cannot believe how boring we are." She said between laughs. Eomer understood then, and his eyes wrinkled in amusement.
"You're right. You must be the most boring 3,000 year old I've ever met."
"And you are truly the dullest future king I've ever come in contact with."
"My worst quality." Eomer said with mock sadness.
"I've never travelled beyond my own borders." Daphnaie said gruffly in her best "Eomer" voice. Then in her own voice, "Please Eomer tell me more!"
"Hey!" Eomer complained and swatted at her playfully from across the tabled. She avoided him, still laughing wildly. He said something else then, but she didn't catch it. Her eyes were glued to the entrance way, where Boromir had just entered. He stared right back at her.