Post by Eowyn on Jan 23, 2013 19:14:48 GMT -5
Eowyn listened as Belethorn talking about the attacks on Aras. As he described the carnage of his homeland, the woman shook her head sorrowfully. Rohan, too, had faced such destruction, the slaughtering of entire villages in a single night. But the devastation was not as horrific as what the knight described. The open plains of the Riddermark were filled with farming communities and there were very few large cities. Edoras itself was the only one to have a high-walled defense, designed to keep the citizens safe. The attacked villagers of the smaller hamlets would have a chance of escape. The people of Edoras and of Aras were trapped like pigs for the slaughter.
Her attention was caught when his voice hushed. She could see that he was trying to fight against his emotions and took a small step forward. She would not draw attention to the frailty in his voice, the wetness of his eyes, but she wanted him to know that she was close and understood his pain.
"I am sorry," she said when he finished his tale. "I was wrong to judge you on the road as a threat. It has become a defense mechanism of my people and it was my folly to wrap you into our problems. Forgive my assumptions."
At the mention of the Queen's memory, the White Lady smiled softly. "I do remember the strong love of my parents from my childhood. So strong that my mother could not live without my father, dying from the grief of his passing. My brother told me that she yearned to have a love as strong as her brother, King Theoden. If anything can save my uncle's soul, it would be memories of such a strong love."
While surprised by the arrival of the maidservant, Eowyn was angered by her interruption. As Belethorn stood up and withdrew his touch, the woman felt her body yearn for the warm sensation to return. The feeling surprised her. No man had given her such a comforting feeling in her life, not one that was not her kin. The most recent memories of men were of Grima and that held no happiness.
Turning to Belethorn as they were left alone, she saw the laughter in his eyes. "She will keep her silence," she assured him. "My girl is very loyal and knows that I would be most displeased if this misunderstanding was known to others." Her grey eyes darted to the shadows of the corner, knowing who that "other" person was, the figure that haunted her in the dark.
Stepping towards the door, she turned back to Belethorn. "You may stay here if you wish and I will have food brought. It would be best if you stay out of sight for a time. The Hall of Meduseld is not known for keeping secrets anymore."
Giving him a soft smile, she opened the door and made her way to the dinning hall.
Her attention was caught when his voice hushed. She could see that he was trying to fight against his emotions and took a small step forward. She would not draw attention to the frailty in his voice, the wetness of his eyes, but she wanted him to know that she was close and understood his pain.
"I am sorry," she said when he finished his tale. "I was wrong to judge you on the road as a threat. It has become a defense mechanism of my people and it was my folly to wrap you into our problems. Forgive my assumptions."
At the mention of the Queen's memory, the White Lady smiled softly. "I do remember the strong love of my parents from my childhood. So strong that my mother could not live without my father, dying from the grief of his passing. My brother told me that she yearned to have a love as strong as her brother, King Theoden. If anything can save my uncle's soul, it would be memories of such a strong love."
While surprised by the arrival of the maidservant, Eowyn was angered by her interruption. As Belethorn stood up and withdrew his touch, the woman felt her body yearn for the warm sensation to return. The feeling surprised her. No man had given her such a comforting feeling in her life, not one that was not her kin. The most recent memories of men were of Grima and that held no happiness.
Turning to Belethorn as they were left alone, she saw the laughter in his eyes. "She will keep her silence," she assured him. "My girl is very loyal and knows that I would be most displeased if this misunderstanding was known to others." Her grey eyes darted to the shadows of the corner, knowing who that "other" person was, the figure that haunted her in the dark.
Stepping towards the door, she turned back to Belethorn. "You may stay here if you wish and I will have food brought. It would be best if you stay out of sight for a time. The Hall of Meduseld is not known for keeping secrets anymore."
Giving him a soft smile, she opened the door and made her way to the dinning hall.