Reminder:: I still don't own anything. Except this outrageous plotline. xD
Phew! I can't believe I've managed to get this far… Still, I fear this is as far as I will go before Christmas. I still have another Fanfiction to write that I've promised to get much much further on, so I have to chip away at that, too. Hope you understand! Don't hate me. x_x The most I can promise you is a major (and I mean major) event next chapter. See if you can guess what it is. =3
Happy Christmas and a Merry Yuletide to you all~!
Chapter Twenty-Seven :: Official
My dreamscape was blurry, but the smell was clear. I deeply inhaled the scent of fresh hay and wood smoke. Chickens clucked nearby and Huan barked. I opened my eyes. He was licking my face and I had to fight to get him off of me, giggling madly and rolling away.
"Huan! Here, boy!" Linius called.
I sat up from the grass, lying on my stomach now, and saw Linius running down the hill after us. Huan ran playfully up to greet him and licked his hands like a little puppy.
"What are you doing, Lady?" He asked, catching up to my spot on the brown grass.
"Watching the clouds." I replied, rolling back over. Linius sat down beside me and hugged his knees, looking out over the plain. "What do you see?"
"Nothing different." He replied. "What about you?"
I shrugged. I got up and sat next to him. The horses were grazing and galloping about in the pasture. A few rowdy foals were kicking and bucking, playing with one another and bothering their parents. Watching them made me want to rough house, too, so I randomly shoved Linius over and scrambled up, trying to run away.
Linius was the faster runner and he caught up to me without a problem. He tackled me to the ground as I squealed and pushed him away. He tickled me, making me scream for mercy.
"What's going on out here?" Beleg came out of the house, staring down at us with a smile.
"Father…! Help!" I gasped, not able to escape Linius.
Beleg came running, my hero, and lifted Linius off of me. He tickled his son, making Linius shout, and the two started to hit each other, wrestling on the ground like young boys.
I laughed at them as Huan came in to join the rabble. He barked and whined until they stopped and we all gave him our undivided attention.
"You're such a good dog! Good dog!" I cooed, scratching his neck.
"A spoiled dog! Lady's made a soft one out of you." Beleg light-heartedly scolded.
"Lady!" Linius called. He had left sometime in between and had his grey horse behind him. "Let's race!"
I couldn't think of a better thing to do. I stood up and whistled clearly, something I didn't know I could do until just now in my perfect world. Alatar miraculously answered my call from the fields. He ran straight for me, jumping the fence and hurtling towards me before reaching a gallop and then an easy trot. I hugged his face and stroked his nose to congratulate him.
Without a saddle, I hopped onto his back with ease and Linius appeared much the same on his horse beside me. "Ready?"
"Only if you think you can keep up!" I challenged, and set Alatar running.
And we were off. The wind whipped my hair back out of my face and the earth moved with Alatar. Huan chased after us, but he was much too slow to keep up with our rapid pace and soon his barks faded into the distance behind us. The grass weaved away from us and the clouds opened up, revealing the sun as we entered the pasture and ran into nowhere. I did not need to hold on; Alatar was protecting me. I spread my arms wide and threw my head back with laughter and ecstasy. Utter bliss! I was flying…! I could do anything!
And I had to wake up.
I slid out of bed, feeling a little cold, and looked down. Huan was not there.
I got ready for the day, putting on a fitting dress and washing my face. I was back in my old room with my beautiful bed and large balcony. I took one of the dried strands of rosemary and held it over my candle. On fire, I tossed it into a small dish to burn and I inhaled the strong fragrance for only a moment before leaving it behind to fill the room with the pulsating, healing scent.
I opened my armoire and with a quick look left and right, I reached into the very back and took out Linius' bow. My clothes from when I first arrived, my boy's clothes, were hiding peacefully in the back of the wardrobe. It was a place I hoped Ioreth wouldn't look. I remember she wanted to destroy all my old linens, but I had saved them at the last moment, storing them away. At least she didn't have a problem with my boots… I liked them very much.
The quiver of arrows was only an empty container. I had no arrows to shoot with the strained bow. Still, I strung the bow easily and held it up to my face, about to shoot an imaginary arrow at my wall. I sighed and put the string back, taking the bow apart and storing my things away back into the wardrobe.
I parted the curtains that blocked the balcony and stepped out. The air was very cold, but there was no wind today. Perhaps spring would come soon…
Not able to help myself, I looked East. There was something about the black land that was so… magnetic. I could so easily be drawn in; in an instant I may change my mind, drop everything, and lose all logic. I wanted so badly to reach out and just… touch. It was like a forbidden item. It was rarely talked about and everyone knew its dangers. But all the same, I was curious and I wanted to see. I had felt the power of Mordor's shadow in my nightmares and my restless days, but to actually see the source…? It was so unimaginable.
"Good morning! Already out of bed?" Ioreth stepped into my room with a smile. Since Huan died, she urged herself to be excessively cheerful to make up for the gap. It was very nice, but the thing I was more appreciative of was the lack of punishment for leaving the city. No lectures!
"Good morning, Ioreth." I stretched and walked back into the room from the balcony. "Yes."
"Nightmare?"
"Actually… no. A dream. A very good dream." I smiled.
"Good! Seems the rosemary's working." She sniffed at the cinders of the plant in the dish.
I nodded, not able to come up with any other conclusion. "I am feeling much better."
"Good, good!" Ioreth repeated, setting down our breakfast things. I drew out the writing table and an extra chair, setting up the plates so we could eat. She poured the tea as she talked: "It's good that you are feeling better. Very good! Very good!"
"Is… there something you want to say?" I guessed with a sly smile.
"Yes! How did you know?" She asked, looking a bit hurt that she didn't have a poker face. "The Steward has finally contacted the Warden of the Houses. He wishes to see you immediately!"
"Oh." I said. What was I supposed to say? Honestly, I was glad Denethor had left me alone for a few weeks. I did not think I could hold myself up in the state I was in in his presence, and besides – our last encounter was very awkward. He was drunk and had announced to his party guests that I was to marry his eldest son. Not exactly something to let go…
Ioreth was put out by my reaction. "Well, aren't you excited?" She asked, sitting down across from me.
As I buttered a piece of hard bread, I nodded. "I suppose so. Yes."
"I cannot lie and say I enjoyed your hesitation… This is big news!"
"Why?" I frowned. "I mean…" I took a few bites and swallowed. "Things will just go back to normal, won't they? I used to see the Lord Denethor every day. How is this any different? How is it special?"
Ioreth bounced up and down, trying to chew faster with her excitement. "Because! He has had time to think over his proposal – I think he wants to hear your formal opinion on a wedding."
"Oh." I said with more conviction. So that's what this is about… Poor Ioreth… She's too simple – she just hears wedding and goes 'Ooo!' without thinking what either party's circumstances are. Like… we've never even met.
"Right, then!" Ioreth clapped her hands, wiping her mouth and standing. "Time to get you dressed and ready!"
"What's wrong with this dress?" I whined, wanting to finish my food.
Ioreth stole the bread from my hand as I reached for some water. "Now don't gorge yourself, dear, you'll never fit into your old corset."
Ugggghhh.
The Steward Denethor rubbed his temples in only the slightest form of vexation. He had to face Finwen sometime. After all, he had put it off long enough and she will soon be a daughter of his. Officially, that is. In his eyes, she was quite good enough already, she just didn't have any credentials or a ring on her finger. She could not prove herself to be Finduilas, but she is the closest they come. Only the best for his son.
"The Lady Finwen." A guard who seemed to appear out of nowhere announced.
Denethor looked down at the man and waved his hand in response. "Yes, yes, show her in."
Sitting up straighter in his chair next to the king's throne, Denethor watched as the doors opened and Finwen stepped in after receiving a subtle push from the old woman of the Houses of Healing. She was wearing the dress she wore on the last day of Yuletide. Although a bitter reminder, it was still a very lovely dress.
Finwen stepped into the room with a deep intake of breath. She had to admit, she was finally facing a fear in a way. Not a fear of commitment, but a fear of committing to something bigger than herself. And now it was directly in front of her.
The girl walked up to the Steward and bowed before him properly with a curtsey like a lady should. Denethor was impressed with how much she seemed to age since he saw her last. There was definitely something different about her… It was not dark. Whatever it was. So that was comforting.
"Finwen! Lovely to see you, child. It has been far too long." Denethor rose and walked up to her. She took his hand and he led her to the usual table where he would eat, she would pick, he would talk, and she would listen. The two settled in and the silence began.
How to go about approaching a subject like this? Perhaps he was in a high enough position to just tell her like it was an order. But then again, that's not the best way to persuade her… Why persuade? Just tell her to do it and she should. If she does not, she is not the wife for Boromir. He needs a submissive girl to look after his house and many sons while he is off winning victories. Yes, Finwen could be that woman. If only she gained a little weight… She looks too fragile for bearing children.
Denethor cut off his thoughts with a clap of his hands, finally deciding what to say. Finwen looked up, surprised and slightly startled at the noise. "I would like to apologize how this subject was brought about to you – I wish I had consulted you first on the subject openly before announcing it so."
"I understand." Finwen answered dutifully. So she knew what was going on. Good. Makes things easier to explain.
"Good. As you know, Boromir is my eldest and most trusted son. He is the pure essence of Minas Tirith – at its finest! I would not want to disappoint him when choosing his bride."
Finwen remained silent. Denethor did not see her shrink ever so slightly.
"Therefore, after careful consideration… I have chosen you, Finwen. I am willing to ignore your status of birth and your obvious foreign nativity for your beauty, age, and simply for the fact that I have grown rather fond of you. What do you say to that?" He managed to make an impression.
Finwen stopped staring at the table and smiled at her lord. "It is an honor. The most important honor I could ever imagine."
"So you accept. Excellent. How does it feel to be officially engaged to my son?"
"Indescribable, my lord." She said.
"Ha! We feast!" Denethor announced and trays of food were brought before them.
As Denethor tore into his food, Finwen managed to eat something herself while her head and heart raced. So she had done it. She had believably presented herself to the Steward and fooled him into thinking she was happy about all of this. While her stomach threatened to repel anything she dared try to eat, Finwen tried to eat to her host's desire while her thoughts went wild with guilt.
Something inside Finwen finally clicked.
If only it was your other son…