Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

[questionablewit]

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Brilliant ideas and clueless flailing all welcome.
AUs and cross-canon, drama and comedy and shipping.
Just throw stuff at me. It's all good.

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[withoutswords]

"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."

[leftbehindthesea]

Lothiriel flushes shyly.

"Well. I only thought... I mean, I am learning, but I'm not really good with a sword, you know, so it would have upset papa and mama if I'd gone to fight, but I didn't want to stay home and be useless! SO, when we came to Minas Tirith, I pretended to be one of the healer apprentices. There are ever so many, you know, who is going to notice one more? Amorthos knew, and he promised he wouldn't tell, so long as I didn't put myself at undue risk, and I was ever so careful! But I do like your Riders! They're all so different to the knights, and some of them were very young and afraid, you know, since they didn't speak Westron well. So I would sit by them and sing to them sometimes, and bring them flowers, and things! And your brother, he'd come and visit them, and he seemed nice, and ... he is very handsome, so I didn't really mind... And then one day he caught me sneaking back into our house, and he laughed very hard, but he was very nice about it, once he understood, and he said he wouldn't tell papa."

She looks at Eowyn earnestly.

"I promise, he was very proper, even when he didn't know who I was."

[withoutswords]

Eowyn sits and listens to this monologue patiently, easily picturing the described events. Oh, she can well imagine the delight of the Riders, at having a vision of loveliness and laughter such as this girl visit them where they lay wounded and afraid. To them she would have seemed the embodiment of Vana herself, lady of spring, lady of flowers...small wonder they welcomed it.

Small wonder it made such an impression on her brother, as she now sees it must have.

"I do not doubt it," Eowyn says, her voice serious but her eyes much amused. She searches for words, trying to be more tactful with a maid of Gondor than she would with one of Rohan. "My brother has...much experience of the world, but he would not be less than noble, whether you were a lady or the lowest servant. And if you made him laugh as much as you say, then he must have liked you very well. The more so if you took good care of his men, for he values them highly."

[leftbehindthesea]

Lothiriel blushes.

"Well. I mean. I did think he was fond of me? He certainly seemed so. And it wasn't hard to help! They were all very brave, and bravery should be rewarded, don't you think? But this trip he's been so very busy we've only been able to talk once..."

Eomer *definitely* wants to talk to Faramir. About several things. ...possibly now.

[withoutswords]

"He is the king," Eowyn points out, a little wryly. "Do not think me unsympathetic! I know what it is to compete with duty for a loved one's attention. But he is not only king, he is a young king new to his throne, and untrained, for it was our cousin Theodred who was raised to rule. Eomer does well, better than he thinks, but I know it weighs heavily on him."

Even so, Eowyn decides she will need to take a hand herself, if only in determining what her brother's thoughts are on the matter. Possibly Lothiriel is another innocent victim of her brother's charm and handsome face and has misread things, in which case she deserves comforting. But it is equally possible Eomer needs a kick in the head, and who better to deliver it than his sister?

For now, however, she changes the subject. "Have you been seen any of the men of the Eored who you tended in the Houses since your arrival here? For I imagine they must have been delighted to see you again, after your kindness in their hours of pain and waiting."

WELL THEN, how about we do this: TWO THREADS AT ONCE GO XD

[theywhowait]

Although he would much rather be spending time with Eowyn, there are still matters of state to discuss, so when Eomer smiles and gestures for him to join him, he does not hesitate to head over. It is no great burden, for Rohan's young king is earnest and hard-working, and eager to learn.

"My lord king, what can I do for you?"

GASP SURELY THAT'S NOT ALLOWED

[rednightfall]

Éomer has spent much of the evening closeted with Aragorn and his wife for a private meal, in which much of policy and necessity was talked of as well as more private matters. Such is the life of kings, he knows. Even on a feasting evening such as this, the work is not done.

Éomer's gaze shifts to where his sister and the Steward's cousin sit deep in conversation. Whatever they talk of clearly has Éowyn's full and thoughtful attention, though now and then she smiles, even laughs. He can only see the back of Lothíriel's head from this vantage, but can well imagine her bright eyes and expressive face. His eyes linger briefly on her dark hair...but then Faramir reaches him, and he wrenches himself back to more important matters.

He smiles again briefly for his kinsman-to-be, and gestures for him to follow. "A few minutes of your time, if you will spare it. There are matters we should discuss."

He leaves unspoken that the noisy alehall is not the best place for such conversation, instead walking towards the side door, waving aside the guards who would follow. They will not leave the Meduseld, and he anticipates no danger.

Once they have left the noise of the crowd behind him he relaxes a little, though his expression remains serious, as it usually is. He is not a man who often looks--or is--at ease. "There is also something I would show you, though I will ask you as yet not to speak of it to my sister. It is a harmless secret to keep, I promise."

TOO BAD >3

[theywhowait]

Faramir bows, mindful of propriety in the public setting, but his eyes, too, follow Eomer's to the two ladies sitting together, one dark hair and one light.

"My time is at your disposal right now."

He assures him, following him through the crowds to the relative peace of outdoors.

"Of course." He blinks and tips his head in acknowledgement. "What is it?"

oooh new icon

[rednightfall]

It is not a far walk. The building he seeks is near the Meduseld, though down the hill a little. As they walk down the slope, Eomer speaks again. "I have already thanked you for your part in healing my sister," he says. "But I would say it once more. There was a time when I had thought I would never hear her laugh again, and much did the thought grieve me."

well old icon that I found XD

[theywhowait]

Faramir ducks his head shyly.

"I am honored by your thanks - but I did little! Your sister is strong, my lord, and I only showed her a little of the way. The rest she did herself."

[rednightfall]

Eomer shakes his head, not disagreeing but not entirely agreeing either. "When I left her in the Houses of Healing, the morning we left to ride to the Black Gate--she was pale as death, and there was no light in her eyes even for me. I had only just learned how much of her despair I had overlooked or misunderstood, and for how long. It smote me to the heart to leave her in such state."

They leave the hill and turn a little, following a well-worn path. Eomer holds his hands behind his back as they walk, and looks out at the night sky while clearly remembering a darker view. "That sight I carried with me as we rode to the world's end, and even after victory was ours it was all I could see as we returned. To defeat our great Enemy seemed an easier thing than to bring my sister back from under the Shadow. I could not see how it might be done, the more so as she did not wish it." He takes a long breath. "And then I returned, and found her renewed, able to laugh as she had not done since we were children! Sweeter to me was that sound than the ringing of bells, or the singing of Eagles."

[theywhowait]

Faramir nods, remembering the look of her.

"It is hard, when one you love falls to despair." He says softly. "And difficult, to breach the divide to where they have hidden themselves. But my lord, I am glad that Eowyn allowed me to reach her, for hers is a spirit that brightens all around it, and I would have grieved terribly if it had faded."

[rednightfall]

"I know it." They reach a long building with many windows, and Eomer opens the door, busies himself with lighting a lantern as Faramir follows him in, holds the light up.

The room contains a huge tapestry loom, easily fifteen feet across. Smaller looms are more common for everyday cloth needs, and even most tapestry work is done on smaller machines than this. This is for making great works, of the sort only kings and nobles can afford.

Eomer steps forward and holds the light, so Faramir can see the few inches that have been completed. "This will take years to complete, but ultimately will show the meeting between Eorl and Cirion, our ancestor and yours, when the Oath of Eorl was sworn, binding Gondor and the Mark as allies." He reaches and runs a finger along the wooden frame of the loom. "A wedding gift for you and my sister, though a belated one. By the time it is finished I trust you will have a room large enough to display it."

Abruptly he retracts his finger, turns and for the first time since they left the Hall he looks full into Faramir's face. "Eowyn asked of me the boon of moving your wedding date forward. I tell you all this so you will know it is not because of a low opinion of you nor disapproval of the love between you and my sister that I intend to refuse her."

[theywhowait]

Faramir follows him in and stops with a gasp of wonder, standing and marvelling at the loom and the colors already blossoming across it.

"It is beautiful my lord, and I am sure it will be even more so." He says softly. "It will have pride of place in our new home."

He blinks at the statement and turns to face Eomer rather than be distracted by the great work lying before him.

"Might I ask why, my lord?" He asks, puzzled.

[rednightfall]

Eomer grimaces a little and turns back to the loom. "Were I a coward, I could claim practical reasons. There are many. Eowyn has had the ordering of the king's house for years, and knows it as no other; she has much knowledge to impart. But the truth is simply that I am not yet ready to be parted from her."

Again he reaches for the loom, carefully threading his hand between the taut strings so that he might touch the growing work being made upon it. The corner is dark green and grey, grass and rock, and there is the start of a horse's hoof there. Even in Gondor the skill of the Mark's tapestry weavers is admired, as is the superiority of their wool. One of the many, many things being discussed and traded between the two countries, and being negotiated before the wedding. "Eowyn and I have ever been each others' most trusted friends and counsellors, in all matters. I saw long ago that she was not happy in the Mark, but I had thought at the time that it was because of Wormtongue, or our uncle's sinking state. Mithrandir showed me how wrong I was. Her happiness lies elsewhere, and when the time for our parting comes I will accept it with good grace.

"But...do not let that day come just yet. For I will miss her more than I have words to speak of it, and there is no one more dear to me." He retracts his fingers, rests his hand on the loom, and for a moment looks not like the king he is but merely a young man, overburdened and wistful.

The moment passes, and he turns back to Faramir. "Aragorn and I have made compromise, and agreed that if you wish it you shall remain here for a time, that neither you nor my sister should suffer being parted." A wry grin glints across his face, startlingly like Eowyn's, the kinship between them suddenly marked. "We could give practical reasons for that as well, but the truth is he said you worked too hard and could use the rest. And I would as lief not be made to endure more months of Eowyn making mooncalf-eyes towards the south whenever she thinks she is unobserved."

[theywhowait]

Faramir listens quietly and comes over to touch Eomer's arm in understanding.

"It is hard to imagine life without the one who has always been there. Easier for me I think, as Boromir and I always knew we would have to part. I wish I did not have to cause you grief but could reassure you, my lord! I do not think I could do otherwise but love her, and I am very grateful for you to be willing to part with her at all, although I think we both know we cannot stop her doing as she will, once her mind is set." He adds wryly, and flushes a little at the suggestion that he has been working too hard.

"In my defense, there has been much work to do! And... I am sure the only reason I have not been making eyes towards the north is that I have been busy." He admits shyly.

"I miss her every day already, strange as it may seem."

[rednightfall]

In fact Aragorn and Arwen have both said that the young Steward's gaze strays all too often and too wistfully towards the north, or at least to the gardens of the Healing Houses, despite his workload and determination to be equal to it. But Eomer spares him this knowledge.

To the rest of Faramir's words he only nods acceptance, and grimaces a little ruefully at this reference to his sister's determination--which is a tactful word for her willful nature. "I am glad to know my sister is so well loved, for she deserves it. I would not be willing to part with her else."

A hint of amusement crosses his face, and he adds, "Speaking of her will--until such a time as I wed and have children of my own, any born to her are my heirs. I trust you know your business and will not embarass her, but..." He shrugs. "We are more pragmatic about such things in the Mark, less inclined to count the days between a trothplighting and a wedding. Though in Bema's name, try to be discreet if you can. There are some things a brother does not need to know."

[theywhowait]

Sssh he thinks he's hid it Real Well.

He flushes and ducks shyly.

"We will do out best to ... hold out. And I will certainly remind her that I have no wish to scandalise anyone! Too much."

[leftbehindthesea]

"Oh I know." Lothiriel blushes and looks down.

"It is terribly selfish of me to want more time with him! And father says they still have all the treaties to sign! Although I don't think they're really arguing about anything further, as father seemed very pleased."

She looks up and says earnestly, "Oh, but father is very impressed with Eomer, that is, with your brother the king! He says he is very forthright, and knows when to stand his ground on important things! So you mustn't worry about him, as I'm sure he will be fine!"

She brightens and nods

"Oh yes! I saw Alfric just this morning - he only needs to use one crutch now, and he assures me the prosthetic no longer chafes. At least, I think that was what he said...?"

[withoutswords]

Eowyn is very impressed with how impressed Lothiriel is with her brother, and wonders that she did not notice the extent of it before, despite her own distractions.

"I have utmost faith in my brother--in most regards," she says, not without humor. "I do not doubt he will lead our people well. Nor, I think, does he fear it; it is merely that he is overwhelmed. The War left Rohan in poor state, as it did everyone, but we have few resources with which to trade for goods to tide us over until the land recovers. It all requires much diplomacy, and that is not his strong suit."

She waves this off. "But we are fortunate in our allies and our friends, and he takes great care with his advisors." If only their uncle had done the same--but she does not say it. This is not a night for dark rememberings. "Are you learning our language now, then? You said you could not speak it before, when you first met the injured of the eoreds."

I swear I posted this before the weekend BUT CLEARLY NOT

[leftbehindthesea]

"It musst be terribly hard." Lothiriel sighs in understanding. "Dol Amroth was hard hit by the war too, but we're a port city - the traders didn't take long to come back once it was over! I know papa wishes to do his best to help, but there's charity and there's practicality, mama says - you can't be SO charitable that you can't look after yourself, and you don't want to insult someone about their ability to get back on their feet, either! But Papa says that Eomer, that is, your brother the king, that he's very sensible, and he likes that."

She nods eagerly.

"Yes! Oh, I do want to learn, it's such a lovely sounding language, all rolling gently! But it's very hard as there aren't very many people I can speak to except in the Healing Houses, and there are no books either."

Well, now we have 4 threads instead of 3! Might want to halt this until the guys return though

[withoutswords]

Eowyn considers this. It is true that in the Mark they mostly speak their own language; not everyone is as fluent in Westron as she and Eomer, though all know at least some of the language. "It should not be hard for you to learn," she says slowly. "We could arrange for lessons, at the least--you are to be my cousin, and your father is now a great friend of the Mark. And there should be a few books that might help with your instruction, though it is true our books are used more for the keeping of lore and less for lessons. But there are some set aside for the teaching of the royal family, if nothing else, and I know where they are kept."

true true, let's leave it here briefly

[leftbehindthesea]

"Oh could you really?" Lothiriel brightens, clapping her hands in excitement before recalling herself and setting them demurely in her lap.

"It would be such fun! And something I could tease Amrothos with, when I know something he does not!"

agreed, we can pick up when Eomer and Faramir are done.

[withoutswords]

Eowyn smiles. "Then tomorrow we shall meet in the library of Queen Morwen, my grandmother--who was also kin to you, I believe--and we shall see what we shall see. But as for lessons, let us begin now."

And for the next while she tells Lothiriel the names of things, and the basics of courtesy, greetings and titles and how to use them.

[leftbehindthesea]

Lothiriel is a quick study, although she stumbles over pronounciation, once she has a word down, she does not forget it. And she clearly loves the study of it, if nothing else, delighting in the knowing, and asking questions as they go.

When Faramir returns leading Eomer she brightens, but he does no more than nod to them before leaving, and she cannot help that she deflates a little with a sigh.