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.

Comments

This okay? Also which of them shall we injure?

[withoutswords]

She laughs and bids him tell her the tales, and so they while away the time, until they are rejoined by their companions and all settle for the night, returning to Ithilien in the morning.

The days pass sweetly, turning to weeks, and then months. Elboron grows, passes the usual benchmarks of learning to roll over, then to crawl a little. Eowyn begins to get more sleep at night, and she and her husband are able to spend more time together without needing such extreme measures to achieve it.

Faramir returns to his duty, for both Ithilien and Aragorn greatly need him, but although he travels more between his home and Minas Tirith. Eowyn begins once more to pick up her own work as Ithilien's Lady and an apprentice healer. But they steal time, here and there: private breakfasts in Ithilien, in the sunny room Faramir had built just for the purpose, only now Elboron often joins them. Evenings reading to one another, or playing chess, or simply sitting in each others' arms and talking. Nights asleep spooned side by side.

The days pass, and the seasons turn. But they bring ill news with them.

The armies of Mordor disbanded with the loss of their Dark Lord, but have never fully vanished or dispersed. It has always been a risk that there would be bands of orcs roving through Ithilien, and both Faramir and Eowyn have kept the land's defenses strong and well guarded in expectation of it, even as they also strive to rebuild. But no danger has ever ventured near Eryn Arnen.

Until now.

hmmmmmmmmmmm. Well Eowyn has to start her healer training somewhere XD

[theywhowait]

Faramir hears the news with solemn gravity, and in the council that follows he hears what his captains have to say and agrees to the drafted plans to ride out in force and seek to find the source of the increased numbers and eradicate it, if they can.

It is only later, in their private rooms, that he holds his son and his wife in his arms and trembles.

"I have to go."

They both know it, but saying the words...

True! Her turn for some worry. Ish.

[withoutswords]

Faramir has been true to his word, as he ever is; whenever he can he joins Éowyn for Elboron's evening feed, to support her. Elboron himself now sleeps, curled against her shoulder. Éowyn holds his head. The contrast between the sweetness of the moment and the gravity of the subject could not be greater.

But all Éowyn's life has been spent watched those she loves ride to risk and war while she remains behind. She feels very different about it now than she once did, but she remembers. "I know." Her free hand she lifts, placing it against his cheek. "They will have much need of you on the battlefield. And rightly so."

lol

[theywhowait]

"I would I could take you with me." He says softly, leaning against her hand and memorising the warmth of them in his arms.

Not to war, for she might never chose the way of the blade again, but to have her by his side, a stalwart presence to ward away the night, even if only in the healing tents, would have been a salve to his soul. But they have responsibilities to more than themselves, to more than Ithilien, now.

[withoutswords]

She smiles at him warmly. "I know," she says again, softly. "And it means much to me that you do." That he would bring her if he could, would trust her on a battlefield in any capacity, would never leave her behind and dismiss her by saying war is the province only of men.

But she looks down at Elboron, sleeping quietly. "But I must remain, to watch over Ithilien and our son." A duty she now sees the honor of, as she could not before in younger days. But more, it is her wish, little though she likes being separated from her husband. Eowyn has had enough of battlefields.

[theywhowait]

"Yes." He murmurs, running a gentle finger over Elboron's cheek, careful not to wake him.

"Ah my son! I will miss you both, these next few weeks. I hope he does not forget me."

[withoutswords]

"He will not, for I will tell him of you every night before he sleeps. But speaking of sleep, make your farewell for now."

Carefully, so carefully, so as not to wake Elboron, she lifts him from her shoulder and hands him to his father. They will see him off properly when he and his company ride away, but that will be very different from this quieter moment.

[theywhowait]

"Goodbye, my son." Faramir accepts him carefully, rocking him and memorising the smell and weight of him.

"I go to fight for your future, as your mother remains to safeguard your present. Do not be too quick to grow, for I will be home soon!"

[withoutswords]

Elboron does not stir, wrapped in dreams as he is. But Éowyn memorized the sight, to keep with her: the small, still bald head, the large hand gently cradling it. Strength and fragility, side by side. "See that you are," she answers, for herself and Elboron both. "Soon, and unharmed, for we have great need of thee."

sliding just a liiiiiiiitle bit ahead

[theywhowait]

He leans over their son to kiss her softly.

"I will do my best! For all our sakes."

The next morning the Rangers of Ithilien ride out in solemn company. No bright banners or bright armor, but the dark colors of the woods to better blend in. But their faces are set and calm, looking forwards resolutely. Faramir is not the only one thinking of those who will wait to see them return, but they all have their duties to perform.

diiiiiiitto

[withoutswords]

Eowyn watches them ride out, and her heart tugs at her, and briefly she wishes she were accompanying them. But their son lies sleeping in a room behind her, and that pull is stronger yet, binding her here.

She does not resent the binding as she once would have. There is work to do, and she does it, speaking with the captains Faramir has left to tend Ithilien's defences in his absence, ordering the house, assisting the healers when she may. They know that however the battle goes, there will be much need of...many things.

Eowyn is no stranger to organization, nor to being prepared. Nor to defence.

Nor to waiting.

It is three weeks before the battle is wholly ended, and a rider comes ahead to tell Ithilien's lady that among those worst wounded is her own lord, and to beg for healers to be sent at once.

Eowyn rides with them, her face so fierce with determination that none dare gainsay her.

[theywhowait]

The healers are met by the outriders, the wagons pulling those unable to ride or walk, and amongst them, Faramir lies, breathing shakily around what looks to be nasty bruises on his chest, and bandages on his arms.

He opens his eyes when Eowyn approaches and smiles up at her faintly, eyes dark with pain.

"I am home, my love. In a rather bruised package, I fear."