faemused | Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

It surprises her a little that he has not heard more from Merry before the perian's departure, or from Aragorn or even Mithrandir; but then, Grima is harmless now, wherever he and his master are. There have been far more pressing matters for them all.

"The first I or any knew of him was when he became one of my uncle's counselors," she says finally, after much thought. "A position he gained on his own merits, by dint of clever tongue and clever thought, and at first he seemed able. We paid him little mind, for he was but one of many, and seemed dark and slight compared to other men."

Her lips thinned. "A grave error, that now seems to me. But how could we have known? For we were all much distracted. More and more bands of orcs roamed our lands, and Eomer and Theodred had much to do with driving them off, as Theoden-king grew older before our eyes. He had ruled for forty years, and at first it seemed understandable that he grew tired, more inclined to listen to his advisors and less to use his own judgement."

She sighs, looking down at Windfola's neck but not seeing it, and is silent for several minutes. "He grew...frail," she says finally. "Older he was, but should still have been hale, and yet his hair whitened and his eyes dimmed and his mind wandered. I cared for him as best I could, willingly acting as his nursemaid, for he was as dear as a father to me. I could not accompany my brother and cousin as they kept our lands safe, but that I could do. But he dwindled and dwindled, giving more of his power and responsibility over to Grima, who by then was called Wormtongue for the skill he had at bending people to his will with words. And then Theodred--"

Her voice chokes at that, and she must pause for a moment as sudden tears fill her eyes. When she had first returned to Edoras her grief for Theodred had been born anew, and she and Eomer had both wept for their lost cousin as much as for his father, for there had been little time to mourn him before.

He rides in silence by her, waiting patiently for her to gather her thoughts, nodding slowly as she describes the beginning - one that he can easily see, for it mirrors, a little, his own father's fall.

"Oh Eowyn." He grieves with her. Theodred he knows a little, although he was Boromir's friend, not his. "Was Grima... did he plan for Theodred?"

Her face steels a little. "It seems likely, now that we know he spied for Saruman. Theodred's army should not have been ambushed as they were, not without intelligence given to the other side." Her hands grip the bridle. "Thousands died that day. For us it was the true beginning of the war outright, as opposed to the endless skirmishes that had occupied and exhausted us for years."

Windfola whinnies and moves sideways under her, and Eowyn forces her tense body to relax, leans forward and brushes his neck with the palm of her hand in apology. She glances up at Faramir. "Understand, by that point we--Theodred, Eomer and I, and others--we had known for years we were besieged in our own Halls. Grima had many allies by then, and the king's utter confidence; indeed Theoden barely knew anyone else's name by that point. Not even mine."

Her gaze wanders again, looking back into the past. "He was subtle, subtle and poisonous. He could not act directly against Theodred, nor Eomer, for they were too respected and well-loved. But there was much he could do indirectly, much he could manipulate, to ensure both were away from the Hall as often as possible, unable to even attempt to influence king and council. His eyes were everywhere, always watching..."

He nods, solmemly, understanding how it can be.

"Betrayal from within." He says grimly. "Alas! Theodred deserved better. Although by all reports his death was noble, it does not change that he should not have died at all."

He reaches across to touch her hand and draw her back.

"Watching... you?"

She meets his eyes briefly, and her silence is answer enough. Again she clasps his hand, and this time keeps it held in hers.

"My brother would have slain him, if I had allowed it," she says finally. "Forgotten our laws and accepted whatever punishment was meted to him, even his own death. But that I loved Eomer too dearly to permit, and he was too badly needed. If the snake had ever touched me I might have slain him myself for his daring, and that would have been forgiven. A woman of the Mark is not trifled with, and a woman of the house of Eorl less so."

Her chin is held firm, and there is an echo of the woman who stood on the battlefield, high and terrible and grim. "But while he only watched, we could do nothing. So his eyes followed me, night and day, and it was not only my uncle he spoke to with forked and poisoned tongue."

She meets his eyes again, now focused. "Understand, he wanted me to come to him willingly. His was a dragon's seduction, the more dangerous because he used the truth to ill intent. He could make all things noble seem base, even my own house, until I could see nothing around me without shame and pity. Worse, he could see the truth of how trapped I was, how much I dreaded the future I saw before me, a cage I could not escape. He hoped in the end he would convince me to turn to him by proving only he could see who I was. Even my brother, blinded by his love for me, never saw so far. I loathed Grima, and would never have taken even a step towards him, but I could not deny he saw truly. That was the worst of it, to have my fears used to tie me to him, to be seen clearly only by him who I despised, a bond I could not break. It was not my foolish, hopeless love of Aragorn that taught me despair."

Edited 2018-07-03 23:43 (UTC)

Faramir cannot help the dark scowl at the thought of someone, let alone someone so base as Grima Wormtongue, shadowing Eowyn's steps.

"The Worm was not so foolish as to try, then." Eomer would have, Faramir knows him well enough to know. Likely, Theodred would have as well. Certainly, just the thought of it makes Faramir want to track him down himself, but he puts the sentiment aside as useless after a moment. Grima is gone, and good riddance.

He hisses in anger.

"I am sorry." He says grimly. "That one who could see clearly another's suffering and only use it as a whip...! I am so glad he is gone. If only I could erase his words from you as well!"

"Nay. That he desired me was plain, but he could not act on it." She shivers all the same, remembering the look in Grima's eyes whenever he watched her. Many men have desired her--she knows she is fair--but it was never admiration she saw in his gaze. It had been something darker, something that left her feeling covered in filth. That was what had roused Eomer's ire, had caused her discomfort if not fear.

She does not tell Faramir this. He is already angered, and there is no need.

"In truth, I almost wish he had," she says instead, in a lighter tone of voice. "For it would have been most satisfying to cut off his hands. Mithrandir was more kind than I, to let him freely depart; I would have slain him where he stood, for the service he gave to my country and my kin. But he and his master are unfanged now, wherever they may be, and I wish them joy of each other."

"As for his words..." She sighs a little, glancing back at the Meduseld in the distance. "I cannot deny they still affect me at times," she says finally. "It is only since my return that I have been able to think on all this, for there was little time before, and my thoughts were not clear. Much of his poison is drained, and yet...it is difficult to forget.

"But, Faramir--" She looks back to him, and now her smile is sweet and private. "It was not only our king who healed me, when I lay under the Shadow. Surely that you know, for you told the Warden yourself! The worst harm Grima caused me, you have more than undone."

Edited 2018-07-04 21:49 (UTC)

"Tis true that he would have reached a swift end, if he had tried." Faramir tries to match her levity and... well, he's only grinding his teeth a little?

Normally he advocates for mercy, but in this occasion...

He blinks and then flushes shyly, reaching for her hand to kiss her knuckles, a soft, reverent sigh on his lips.

"I am glad I was able to bring you joy."

His dark expression surprises her a little, for has never seen him look thus, not even when discussing the great Enemy. Perhaps that should not surprise her in the circumstances, and yet it does. "So much anger, for someone you never met!" she says, looking at the grim set of his jaw. "I have never seen you look so fell."

He blinks and smiles apologetically at her.

"I suppose it has never affected me this closely, before! But even this, it is sad to say, is also the work of the Enemy, e'en if only indirectly, and it upsets me that his reach would be so far with him defeated these last years."

"Never affected you so closely?" She eyes him with something like disbelief--for Faramir was as besieged as she was by the shadows of the Enemy, in his way, harried by Mordor's forces, by the Dwimmerlaik, by his own father's madness that was born of malicious design.

It is like him to be more angered on her behalf than his own, and yet...this time it is Eowyn who lifts his hand, kissing the fingers. "You do bring me great joy, and I hope I do the same for you, for certainly you deserve it," she says quietly. "We both fought the Shadow, before we ever were breathed on by the Dwimmerlaik on the Pelennor Fields. If we cannot undo those years of darkness, at least we may yet heal each other."

His fingers curl fondly around her own.

"We did. And my foes were ones I could strike! Father's were, as well, even if he could not do so directly - where yours...how hard it must have been for you, to be unable to touch him!"

He smiles at her.

"That, I would give all I have, if it would bring you healing."

"You have already promised to give me yourself, which is a treasure beyond measuring." Her thumb strokes the side of his hand. "And you offered me a purpose, which I sorely lacked: a land that needs healing as much as we do, and defending besides. I can look on my own country once more with pride, and look to the future with joy and resolve, where once I saw only a cage."

Her smile is quiet, but radiant. "I cannot imagine what more anyone could possibly desire."

He blushes, leans over to kiss her, trying with his gestures to show how much it means to him that she is happy with the small jewels of his life he has to offer her.

"I love you, Eowyn, so very much."

"I know it." In truth he has no need of gestures, for his eyes speak his heart most eloquently. But it is rare indeed that Eowyn refuses one of his kisses, even if when on horseback and awkward and too brief. Even if she is rapped on the knuckles for it by Hilde later, or they face her brother's glowers and all the teasing of Faramir's men. "And I love thee, most truly."

There's only so much craning over that their horses will allow, even one so fond of his rider as Windfola, so Faramir breaks away to sit properly before either can decide to express their disgust.

"Thank you, Eowyn, for sharing that with me."

"All things do I wish to share with you, both good and ill, keeping nothing hidden or held back," she answers, looking at him sideways. "And I wish very much I could show you the truth of my words, but I think our horses will not tolerate many more such displays."

Windfola cranes his head back as though glaring at her in agreement of this, and twitches his ear, and Eowyn laughs. "I think he believes we should abandon such frivolous talk and pick up the pace a little."

"In that, my lady, we think alike."

He smiles at her and laughs as Windfola responds and his own gelding prances sideways slightly in response.

"I do believe we have presumed on his patience for too long, aye! Forgive us, good Windfola!" He smiles at her. "I do not think we could keep up with you at a gallop, but we could increase to a canter, perhaps?"

"You would have us be merciful?" Her eyes twinkle at him. "Well, for your sake. I would not trample over Gondor's honor too much."

She pushes Windfola into a canter, and he hardly needs any reassurance. There is not much conversation for the rest of the ride, but none is needed; his company is enough, especially on a clear day with open space around them.

Dinner is a quieter, more informal affair than it has been of late; Eomer is closeted with Aragorn and Arwen for a private meal and conversation. Legolas corners Faramir, and Eowyn, after spending some time talking with Gimli, sits down next to Lothiriel, who is surprisingly uninterested in her meal or conversation, and keeps glancing up at the king's empty seat. "Something troubles you?" Eowyn asks quietly.

It is a glimpse of perfection, the two of them riding under a clear sky, and Faramir thinks that Rohan is beautiful, and he could live here, maybe, in this moment preserved.

Later, Legolas needs to speak to him, but he spies Eowyn going to Lothiriel, and turns aside to the conversation, feeling that it would be good for them to speak properly.

"Oh Lady Eowyn!" She looks up and smiles at her, more demure here in public then she is in private, leaning in close to whisper.

"Is it so obvious? Oh, but you will think I'm being a fooling girl. But I was only wondering where your brother went."

"He is dining with King Elessar this evening, I believe." Eowyn looks at the girl shrewdly, though not unkindly. "You seem very taken with him."

Lothiriel flushes a little.

"Is it that obvious? I suppose I rather am - he's very dashing, your brother! And he seems nice. To talk to, I mean.@

Eowyn has to chuckle, a little. She has heard many women praise her brother's virtues, but 'dashing' is new. Come to that, so is 'nice'. "I don't know that those are the words I would choose to describe him," she admits, still smiling. "But yes, he is kind under that gruff exterior, and is widely regarded as handsome. Though very different in his looks from those of Gondor."

Hardly a barrier, as she herself is an example of, and she glances briefly and fondly at Faramir's back across the room.

"Have you had much chance to speak with him? I have been...somewhat preoccupied, I fear, and had not noticed." And at that she does flush a little, for 'somewhat preoccupied' is understating the matter, as Lothiriel surely knows. As everyone in Edoras seems to know.

"He was kind to me, when he realised I was pretending to be the healer's apprentice in Minas Tirith."

She says shyly. "He's a bit straightforward, but there's nothing really wrong with that! We haven't really had a chance to talk, here."

She gigles at the blush. "I think everyone noticed that! You are very cute together, you know! I don't think I've ever seen Cousin Faramir look so besotted!"

"We of Rohan value plain speaking," Eowyn says, smiling a little. "And my brother in particular will rarely speak any other way save directly to the point. But I have heard very little of your meeting back in Minas Tirith. What happened between you?"

She is being nosy--but Eowyn values plain speaking herself, and Eomer is her only kin, and has spoken little of his meeting with Lothiriel. Which is interesting in and of itself, to her mind, for it seems less a silence born of thoughtlessness and more one born of too much thought.

Her blush depends as Lothiriel teases her, though she cannot deny its justification. "I should hope not," she says, just a little prim, though her mouth twitches at the corner. "Though at least you seem to find it endearing. Others have not been so approving."

I think given the timeline they wouldn't have heard about Grima and Saruman's death in the Shire yet

agreed

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keywords XD

yup, I caught that. ;) Also sorry Faramir your girl's a little bloodthirsty sometimes

XD He thinks it endearing

Faramir sweetheart your priorities are skewed.

he doesn't think so XD

he's blinded by smit

ssssh

So I read yesterday that according to Tolkien's notes they DO marry in Rohan instead of Gondor...

how excellent~

Most convenient. Though I bet Lothiriel would be much too happy to help them get some privacy...?

If they help her get time alone with Eomer it's a deal

Now there's an idea. How obvious is she being? ;) LMK if this doesn't work.

obviously VERY obvious XD

I definitely need to make an Eomer. Also Legolas wants to talk about making his elf-home in Ithilien

yesssssssss and Faramir would be glad to talk about that! But he'll be gone for a while XD

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