faemused | Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

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From:

theywhowait

"Far be it from me to deny you your rightful prey!"

He laughs softly back at her.

"And I'm sure he does, growing up with you and loving you right well."

From:

withoutswords

She kisses him lightly at that, glad of his instant acceptance of her nature as a warrior, for all that she can no longer use a sword. Such acceptance is too often hard-won, in her experience, and the way he has never questioned it is part of why she cares for him so deeply.

But a brief, almost chaste kiss is all that can be managed, for they are nearly at the doors of the Meduseld. Reluctantly, she squeezes his arm and then releases it, squaring her shoulders to face whatever is to come. "Let us hope you are right then, my love, and we are not to be too grately chided for behavior neither of us regrets."

They are almost immediately separated by respective errand-runners come to lead them to their various interviews, and there is no chance for further leave-taking. And then it is time to bathe and dress for the evening's feast, and they are not seated near enough each other for easy conversation, so it is many hours until they speak again, not until the feast tables are moved aside to make space for the dancing adn drinking and music that the Rohirrim love so well.

Faramir finds Eowyn leaning against one of the pillars afterwards, speaking to an elder lady who excuses herself (with a meaningful look and a hint of a smirk for Faramir) as he approaches. Eowyn herself has looked somewhere between annoyed and chastened all evening, the latter unusual for her, though she brightens a little to see Faramir. "My brother is a better strategist than I credited," she says, as though no time at all has passed since they last spoke.

From:

theywhowait

"Let us hope so!" He agrees, and resigns himself to a long day parted from her. Still, the busy nature of the day is enough to ensure he has no time to dwell on missing her.

He smiles to see her, hurrying over and blinks curiously.

"How so?"

From:

withoutswords

Eowyn blushes a little and makes a face. "It was not he who waited to speak with me, but Hilde, the wife of Elfhelm." She knows Faramir will have met the man who is now Marshal of the East-Mark, one of her brother's most trusted advisors and commanders, as well as something of an unofficial uncle to her. "She dressed me down most thoroughly, and spoke in no uncertain terms of where our behavior would lead--and why we had better make certain it does not."

And indeed the color is high in her cheeks, though she still looks more defiant than repentant. Hilde, herself a mother several times over, was clearly more blunt and less embarassed than Eowyn's brother could have managed.

From:

theywhowait

He muffles a laugh behind his hand.

"O wise move! I had Aragorn, although twas less a scolding and more a gentle reminder that we are watched by many eyes and twould pay to be circumspect!"

He reaches over to take her hand.

"Still, I think we have done admirably well, considering!"

From:

withoutswords

To her credit, Eowyn at least seems to hold no resentment towards the lady for her admonishments, even if it is less clear whether or not she intends to adhere to them. She takes Faramir's hand with no hesitation, smiling at him warmly. "As do I. We were separated for many months, after all! And this visit will be all too brief, and then will follow more months of waiting."

She sighs and leans closer, her thumb stroking the back of his hand. "It is perhaps the first time I have wished to be a commoner. If I were, we could plight our troth here and now, and be done with it. Our wedding ceremonies are less complicated than yours in Gondor, from what I am given to understand. Though rather more...exuberant."

From:

theywhowait

He smiles, leaning against her in return.

"Ah, the hard life of a noble! But I suppose at least we will have many long days to look forwards to, in the future. I hope to upturn at least one tradition, and have a very simple ceremony - or at least, as simple as I can get away with. Especially considering we will have to have two."

From:

withoutswords

"I would prefer a simple ceremony," Eowyn agrees. "And it should not be hard, for all our countries' desire for celebration. Gondor had as grand a wedding as could be wished for its king and queen, and I have no desire to try and match it. And even less desire for it to be turned into an ocassion for political machination, used to cause tension between you and our liege-lord."

There are still those in Gondor not entirely happy with their new king, come from the north out of legend and mystery, and his Elven bride; they would prefer to continue with the line of Stewards as they are used to. Eowyn knows Faramir's loyalty to Aragorn is unshakeable, but others still seek to use him all the same. She is too shrewd not to expect it, well used to court politics herself.

A sudden gleam lights her eyes. "I wonder, could we convince them all to move the Rohirric wedding forward, to now? It would not count to Gondorian minds, but we would be wed by the standards of Rohan, for the remainder of this trip." Her grin is wicked. "And then we might share a bedchamber, and thus end all concern about our improper behavior."

From:

theywhowait

Faramir raises an eyebrow and smiles.

"My lady is wise and canny indeed! We could always try." There is only so much he can do in Gondor to minimise things - indeed, he's already started organising what may be organised without her - but some things are political, and he cannot be either too simple, nor too grand. But here, in Rohan, in her home ground...

"Should we ask?"

From:

withoutswords

"That depends." She needs her head closer still, resting her forehead against his, entirely heedless of the company and merriment around them. They have a small bubble of intimacy amidst the noise. "On if you would be willing to wed your wild shieldmaiden as soon as may be."

From:

theywhowait

They're so close he can feel her breath, and he doesn't even think before he closes the distance and kisses her, her lips warm under his.

"I think." He murmurs as he backs away. "That this poor captain of Gondor would be utterly delighted, if she would have him."

From:

withoutswords

"If?" Her laugh is a quiet but infinitely joyous thing, as is the kiss that follows. It is not unchaste for all its sweetness, though it perhaps goes on longer than it should.

It's broken off abruptly when Éowyn makes a startled squeak of not-quite-pain, as the lady she was speaking to earlier has just rapped her on the head and now eyes Faramir, clearly wondering if she can administer the same to him without causing some sort of diplomatic incident. This, clearly, is Hilde, and obviously she is taking her appointed duty seriously. There is amusement and understanding I'm her measuring gaze, at least, rather than outright reproach.

Edited Date: 2018-06-27 09:05 am (UTC)

From:

theywhowait

Faramir makes a startled sound when Eowyn squeaks, and when he sees the lady, long-ingrained manners promptly bring his hands down from where they were around Eowyn's waist.

"Ah... good even, mistress?" He tries.

From:

withoutswords

Eowyn almost rolls her eyes at this interruption, and stands. "I will speak to my brother," she says pointedly, briefly taking and squeezing one of Faramir's hands as she walks by.

Hilde makes a small tut noise at her charge's back, and turns back to Faramir with a raised eyebrow. "My lady has ever fought against her jesses," she says, meeting his eyes squarely. "But I've heard you described as a man of both sense and wisdom, my lord Steward. I hope you are not going to disprove your reputation."

From:

theywhowait

"I will see you soon then." He smiles at her and squeezes back, before turning his attention to Hilde.

Faramir flushes a little, the scolding tone reminding him of his own nurses from his youth. But he stands straight and politely nods.

"Yes mistress. I apologise for my, er, forwardness. I love your lady very much, and will do my best to not disgrace either her, nor myself."

From:

withoutswords

"The way you feel about her is moderately obvious," the lady says dryly, taking a seat and gesturing for him to do the same. "Don't mistake my meaning. It's a pleasure and a relief to see her so happy. She hasn't looked so since...oh, years, long before even the Worm's coming. And those years were dark indeed." She shakes her head. "He was too well named, that one, and good riddance to him."

From:

theywhowait

Faramir sits obediently, but his eyes darken when she mentions the Worm.

"She speaks little of those days." he says grimly. "But the little I can glean is none too pleasing. I am sorry for your king! A poor counselor is unfortunately not always escapable, but one who speaks words of poison to king and people alike is a terrible burden."

He pauses, hesitantly. "He did not... hurt her?"

From:

withoutswords

Hilde looks a little grim, remembering. "I doubt in the way you mean; he was not a man to take direct action when he could have others do it for him. But there are ways and ways of hurting." She waves a hand. "You would do better to ask her yourself. If she has not spoken of it, all the more reason she should."

From:

theywhowait

Faramir's face darkens.

"Wretch." He says softly. "I am glad he is dead. I will, if you think it would help her."

From:

withoutswords

Hilde raises an eyebrow. "You would know better than I if she is at all troubled by such memories," she says bluntly. "Or her brother the king, perhaps. Guilt over that time weighs heavily on his conscience still."

She glances towards the front of the hall. where Eowyn and Eomer are standing a little apart, engrossed in conversation. Eomer looks serious at first, then says something that makes Eowyn push him on the chest--not lightly, from the looks of it, though he doesn't budge--and both laugh. Hilde chuckles. "But here, let us have peace between us. I'll make amends for taking you to task for your forwardness--" There's a slight dig in the way she emphasizes the word he used earlier, though no unkindness in her gaze, "--by telling you a few stories of the lady's youth, if you'd like to hear them. And you can even the trade by telling me about the land you're taking her to. Is it a fair offer?"

From:

theywhowait

Faramir nods, understanding, his eyes gentling with fondness as they find her and Eomer talking.

"I would with good will, my lady, for I love Gondor right well, and I wish her who holds my heart to love my land too."

He has no time that evening - but the next day they have their lunch together, and in the semi privacy of a ride he wonders if he should broach the subject.

"Eowyn?"

From:

withoutswords

Éowyn had returned to find her betrothed chuckling as Hilde told a tale of the first time she'd disarmed an opponent, and been so overexcited and determined to follow through that she'd tripped and fallen into a nearby haystack. She'd ended the conversation as quickly as possible before more embarrassing tales could be told, and the rest of the evening had passed happily enough.

The next morn saw more work for them both, but then a private lunch, where she revealed that Éomer had promised to think on her idea and discuss it with Aragorn, but no further.

A ride was a welcome diversion into fresh air for them both, not least as the weather had gentled. "Hmm?" she said, looking across the plains and only half-attending.

From:

theywhowait

He watches her, for a moment distracted by her very clear joy at riding.

"The Lady Hilde ... loves you very much. She expressed... her concern for... a darker time in your life. If... I don't wish to push, but Eowyn, you know you can talk to me about anything, yes?"

Idiot he berates himself.

From:

withoutswords

His hesitation and unease catch her attention, for both are very unlike him. Understanding dawns rapidly, and she walks her horse a little closer to his and reaches out to take his hand and squeeze it briefly.

"I do know." She tilts her head, fixing him with her direct gaze. "Just as I hope you know you may ask me anything, love. I had not realised you wondered."

From:

theywhowait

He relaxes, now that it is clear he has not upset her by asking.

"I try not to." he confesses. "But it does bother me a little, not knowing how you were hurt, despite that I could not have known at the time, nor been able to do anything, e'en should I have known."