faemused | Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

"Is there any answer to that other than yes?" He teases back, but his hands as he pulls her close are as gentle as ever.

This kiss goes on for some time, but without becoming quite as...involved...as the one of a few minutes previous. Which is as well, for it is not long until the door opens and someone calls Eowyn's name. She steps away from Faramir reluctantly, with one last silent kiss of farewell, then picks up the books she came here to fetch and answers, leaving Faramir to make his own way out more quietly once she is gone. If her lips are swollen from kisses and her skin more flushed than usual, the servant is at least too polite to comment on it to her face. Though the story he tells later in the kitchens causes no small amusement, for no one ever saw Eowyn exiting a library looking so radiant.

Faramir follows after, and the next few days continue in like manner - stolen moments snatched in between long hours of negotiation and formal feasting, as well as the quieter, more personal dinners where the rulers of Gondor and Rohan all get to know each other better in general.

Inevitably, the time wears to a close and when Eomer and Aragorn announce that Faramir is appointed to the post of Ambassador, everyone somehow keeps a straight face. The first few days after the Gondorians leave is still busy, but much less so, now. Now, they have time. Time enough that Eomer agrees to allow them to go to Alburg without too much fussing.

It is a proper procession to get there, of course. But once there, they have even more time to themselves, and Faramir looks at Eowyn as they ride together and thinks that she belongs here, and he is very fortunate to have stolen her away.

Eowyn's heart lightens considerably when they leave for Alburg. It is not merely the fewer responsibilities pressing on her, or the fewer eyes watching them (and interrupting), or even the fact that Eomer has clearly given up on any attempt to guard her virtue.

("Don't be foolish, and in Bema's name don't tell me, I don't want to know," was about the run of it, and she'd merely laughed and pointed out the hypocrisy of it all given his own experience, and he'd covered his ears. A most satisfactory discussion between brother and sister.)

No, it is more being away from the Meduseld. It grieves her to acknowledge the fact, but there is no question that she has felt a certain constraint from being there...less present duties, and more dark memories. Already they fade, are rewritten by new and more joyous days, but still they linger. Still she feels herself torn between the past life that has not quite let her go, and the new life she has not quite begun.

There are fewer shadows to chase her heels in Alburg, and what griefs happened here were long ago, and easier to accept. She tells Faramir more of her father on the journey there: how angry she was at him for being so foolish as to get himself killed with his tendency to run headlong into battle (a tendency she does at least admit she and Eomer both share, though they at least try to keep it in check; their father never did).

She does not speak much of her mother.

But for all that lack, she is more at ease on the ride across the plains, and that remains once they reach the house. The staff there all knew her as a child, and have more than a few stories to tell. If most of them are at her expense, they are at least all told with affection. A few of the staff, most notably the cook, are at first inclined to treat this lord of Gondor coldly, but gradually they begin to thaw as they watch how he treats Eowyn. As they see how much she smiles when she is near him.

They have been here but two days, much of which has been spent in putting things to rights and ensuring that all in the area have what they need in supplies. But today, wonder of wonders! She and Faramir ride out so she may show him the lands around the house. Unaccompanied. They should not go too far, for all that it is unlikely any bands of orcs remain in this area, and they are armed (Eowyn with a bow, rather than a sword). But unaccompanied.

Small wonder that Eowyn is radiant.

Faramir has been enjoying himself throughout - he was always an able diplomat at need, but he flourishes, now, able to work without the fear of Mordor on his doorstep. But he cannot deny that the best time he's had in this whole trip has been the journey to Alburg, if only because he can see how Eowyn breathes easier.

(The unsupervised free time is a very big bonus)

"You smile brighter, out here."

"Do I?" She turns that smile on him. "I wonder why that could be. Might it possibly have something to do with your interrupted company? Or could it simply be the weather?"

For it is unseasonably warm today, or at least not so cold as it has been of late, and the winds are still. If they find something to delay them on this journey, at least they will hopefully not need to rush because of being too cold.

"Very much so." He smiles back, delighted to see her joy.

"And perhaps a combination of all three? The sun suits you very well."

She laughs, well pleased by the look of gladness on his face, which suits him at least as well. She leans over and takes a quick kiss; their mounts are all too used to this by now, and barely flicker an ear at the shifting weight of their riders. "Do not distract me with compliments, my lord, or we shall never reach our destination. And it is a place I particularly wish to show thee."

If the horses were inclined to spook, they are now well used to this behaviour from their riders, and Faramir is able to prolong the kiss just a little.

"Ah, well far be it from me to deny you such an opportunity!" He smiles at her. "Thank you for sharing your home with me."

Faramir might attempt to extend the contact; but Windfola, while now used to these antics, bucks just a little to jolt his rider back into sitting in a more comfortable position. Eowyn chuckles and strokes his neck.

"My childhood home," she corrects. "It is many years since I lived here, after all; the Meduseld has been home since I was seven. Or did you mean the Mark in general? For that it truly is a pleasure to show you. But what I will show you know is something more personal. See, there--"

She points, and ahead can be seen a small hill, with the White Mountains looming behind it. There is something of a ruin on top--it is small and overgrown, and all that remains are a few pillars and walls and one lone archway, but unusually for Rohan those are of stone rather than wood, which is likely how they still stand at all.

Eowyn leads their horses around to the side of the hill where it is less steep, and dismounts at the top, throwing Windfola's bridle over his neck. She has no fear of him running off, not with her here and plenty of grass around for him to graze on. "This was my favorite place to play, when I was a girl. Many times Eomer and I came here."

"Your childhood home has as many good memories for you as Meduseld does, maybe more." Faramir points out with a laugh at Windfola.

"So it is as much your home as the Golden Hall, I think. But I am glad to see Rohan in general, really. For this chance to wander with you for pleasure and not for war."

He looks to where she points and nods, following her to dismount and look around in wonder. He reaches over and squeezes her hand.

"Thank you for showing me this." He says softly, lifting her hand to kiss it. "It seems a wild and lovely place - very much like you!"

The smile she turns on him at that is more fond and bright than any she has yet worn this day. "Such flattery, man of Gondor!" she teases, squeezing his fingers. "But come, let me show it to you further."

Which she does. Small tales, simple ones. The flat area where she fought her earliest duels with Eomer (using sticks rather than swords), or a place where she painstakingly carved her name into the rock with her dagger (ruining the point entirely). She had expected to feel wistful here, for quite likely this is the last she will come here for many years. But she is too busy seeing it through Faramir's eyes.

And herself also, for he spends nearly as much time looking at her, and she at him, and they remain handfast all the while.

"I but speak the truth!" He retorts with a laugh and a smile, and is only too happy to be shown around, his eyes fond and in truth, more focused on her than the scenery.

He eyes the spot where she carved her name and grins at her, taking out his own dagger to carve his initials below hers.

"There. And now we both have ruined daggers doing the same."

Eowyn reaches out and runs her fingertip lightly over both their names, the one worn and the other freshly done, her expression unreadable.

Then she turns to Faramir, reaches up and caresses his face just as lightly. When her fingers reach his mouth she leans forward and kisses him, her heart too full for words.

He draws her close and deepens the kiss, out here alone under the wide blue sky, with the wind in their hair and the grass beneath their feet, and he is content.

Eowyn, in contrast, is deeply moved almost to the point of tears. It would be difficult to pinpoint exactly why, aside from love of Faramir, or perhaps the overwhelming sense of freedom she feels in this moment. But she kisses him with deep, serious passion, her hands cradling his face, her fingertips buried in his hair.

"My Eowyn." He sighs softly against her kisses. "How happy you make me."

"My Faramir," she says quietly against his mouth, leaning as close against him as she can manage. "I love thee. More than I have words to tell of it."

"And I thee." He cups her cheek with one hand and kisses her again.

"Oh Eowyn! I never thought to know such bliss."

"Nor did I." She pulls back enough to look him in the eyes, stroking hair back from his face. A faintly impish smile returns. "And I am most pleased to finally have a chance to show you such without fear of interruption."

It's another interesting point about this hill: you can see for miles. Chances of being caught unawares are extremely unlikely.

"Oh, I see." Faramir raises an amused eyebrow at her.

"Ulterior motives, my lady?"

"Awareness of an opportunity," she corrects, still toying with his hair and face with idle, affectionate caresses. She smiles again, flushing just a little. "Though I would be lying if I said the thought had not occurred to me earlier."

He grins shyly and kisses her fingers as they pass his mouth.

"I would be very surprised if it had not. But..." He breathes deep and kisses her gently. "... do you wish to wed me, Eowyn, as the First Elves did, under the sky in Eru's name? Or are we just enjoying the time spent together?"

"Oh!" She flushes deeply, a maid covered in confusion. "I had not--I would--"

Unable to find words, she buries her head in his chest. Clearly, for all her spirited boldness, she has not thought things through quite so far as she has intimated.

Edited 2018-09-11 21:33 (UTC)

He is beet red himself, and he chuckles a little breathlessly.

"I see you had not quite thought that far ahead." He kisses the crown of golden hair in his arms. "But I did not... wish to assume too much, or too little. And we are alone, after all."

should we timejump them here too?

I think so, but to where/when? Maybe just a generic ride alone? They'll manage it eventually.

that works! something like this?

Perfect except dammit now I have to BS Alburg! ;)

lol oops?

Ah well. Though she realize she will absolutely attempt to waylay him now that she has the chance.

he is not objecting to this idea!

we're gonna end up with multiple trysting in the woods threads. oh woe, alas, alack ;)

such a terrible fate! XD

however will we cope

with dignity and much giggling behind our hands

Dignity is overrated. ;)

sssh we musn't betray that secret to the plebs

but it'd save everybody so much time! ...and what would his initials be? /genuinely curious

Hm, I suspects something like F*D

Tempted to write a fic where Eomer later finds this, I should figure that out.

obviously I would not be opposed to this XD

Yay!

XD

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