Rain and wind pelted the men from Gondor as they trudged up to the gate at Edoras, their horses in tow. Their servant knocked loudly on the gate. When nobody answered, the brothers looked at each other quizzically. They should have been expected. At length, the door was opened with no greeting but a
"Who knocks so late?"
"The captains of Gondor," the servant replied.
The eyes widened at the pronouncement. "Of course, enter, please."
Forth they went into Edoras and slowly climbed the slippery steps to the Golden Hall, the wind chilling them. Before them creaked open the dark hall of Meduseld. There the men were bidden to wait. And wait.
No room were they given, nor any refreshment
"This discourtesy is inexcusable" Boromir growled to his brother. "Is this how it stands between Rohan and Gondor?"
"Wait, brother," Faramir said gently, "For we know nothing as of yet."
"What we know is that Princes of Gondor are left waiting in a dreary hall without so much as a greeting," Boromir replied, and brooded in silence.
At length a figure appeared, dark and menacing. Boromir steeped up to him and without preamble demanded to see Theoden, King of the Golden Hall.
"He wishes not to see you," the man replied.
An astonished silence. Slowly Boromir gained composure and said in measured words, "Very well, then. We wanted a message from Rohan and I believe that we have received it. Come, brother."
Faramir dutifully followed, but stopped Boromir before the door. "Surely they will not leave us to be sent out into the rain. Wait but a minute," he counseled in a low voice.
As though in reply to Faramir's plea, a servant approached. "My lords, we wish you to stay and accept our hospitality until the morrow. I will show you to some rooms. "
"We accept, gladly," Faramir said quickly, before Boromir could reply.
They were led to a dark room. "A fire will be lit," the servant said. "Food and drink will arrive presently."
"We thank you," Faramir said.
"Help from Rohan does not seem to be forthcoming," Boromir commented.
"Help from the King," Faramir corrected. "But I have heard rumors that the King is failing. His young son may soon be King. We should use this time to seek to speak with him."
"And his cousin, the Lady Eowyn. Father was keen that we court her. "
Faramir bit his lower lip uncomfortably, "Indeed, so that Gondor could gain a foothold here."
Boromir laid a hand on his shoulder, "To ally together against Mordor."
Farair quietly added, "Or take control."
"If need be. These are dark times and we cannot afford to wait while our lands are taken from us. But I would rather an alliance." He smiled wickedly, "And I would prefer that you do the duty. My bachelorhood is presently keeping me well content!"
Faramir called him a name never said in front of ladies and replied, "We will do as our father wishes! But I hope neither of us is compelled to ask for her hand. Marriages should not be made in times such as these, and in a land so troubled."
Boromir nodded, and the men sat again to drink when a knock was heard on the door. They stood as a young lady entered cautiously. A watchman stood by her.
The lady appeared tired, pale, and she spoke in a low voice, "My lords, please accept our apologies. My Uncle is not well, and there was a miscommunication. I beg of you to tarry here longer than the morrow. My brother and cousin, heir to the throne, should arrive within this day or the next. They have been eager to meet with you."
Boromir's face immediately transformed into a charming smile, "Then I understand that my brother and I have the honor of speaking with the Lady Eowyn?"
She nodded in assent.
He and Faramir exchanged glances. "We are indeed sorry for the confusion. We accept your kind invitation."
"Thank you, Lord Boromir. And Lord Faramir. You are welcome here." Eowyn looked ill at ease and excused herself.
Boromir cocked an eyebrow at Faramir. "You have again with your voice seemed to conjure the person we needed."
Faramir ignored the comment being pensive, "Fair she is, but unwell."
Boromir nodded, "In spirits at least. Which would appear to benefit us. I am heartened that she believes Theodred would speak to us. Indeed, brother, much can be learned at Rohan over the next weeks. It would indeed benefit us to stay. This could begin the alliance we have been looking for."
"So it would seem." Faramir agreed. "The heir at least has something to say to us. Much can be accomplished. Father was correct in his instincts. Again, he seems to have known more than we."
"A gift of his," Boromir agreed, drinking deeply from his ale. "Now I will find it hard to sleep, my curiosity peaked as it is."
Faramir laid himself on the bed. "Then you wait with the night. I will take my rest."
Boromir replied with an affectionate curse and a kick, and laughing, Faramir closed his eyes.
"Who knocks so late?"
"The captains of Gondor," the servant replied.
The eyes widened at the pronouncement. "Of course, enter, please."
Forth they went into Edoras and slowly climbed the slippery steps to the Golden Hall, the wind chilling them. Before them creaked open the dark hall of Meduseld. There the men were bidden to wait. And wait.
No room were they given, nor any refreshment
"This discourtesy is inexcusable" Boromir growled to his brother. "Is this how it stands between Rohan and Gondor?"
"Wait, brother," Faramir said gently, "For we know nothing as of yet."
"What we know is that Princes of Gondor are left waiting in a dreary hall without so much as a greeting," Boromir replied, and brooded in silence.
At length a figure appeared, dark and menacing. Boromir steeped up to him and without preamble demanded to see Theoden, King of the Golden Hall.
"He wishes not to see you," the man replied.
An astonished silence. Slowly Boromir gained composure and said in measured words, "Very well, then. We wanted a message from Rohan and I believe that we have received it. Come, brother."
Faramir dutifully followed, but stopped Boromir before the door. "Surely they will not leave us to be sent out into the rain. Wait but a minute," he counseled in a low voice.
As though in reply to Faramir's plea, a servant approached. "My lords, we wish you to stay and accept our hospitality until the morrow. I will show you to some rooms. "
"We accept, gladly," Faramir said quickly, before Boromir could reply.
They were led to a dark room. "A fire will be lit," the servant said. "Food and drink will arrive presently."
"We thank you," Faramir said.
"Help from Rohan does not seem to be forthcoming," Boromir commented.
"Help from the King," Faramir corrected. "But I have heard rumors that the King is failing. His young son may soon be King. We should use this time to seek to speak with him."
"And his cousin, the Lady Eowyn. Father was keen that we court her. "
Faramir bit his lower lip uncomfortably, "Indeed, so that Gondor could gain a foothold here."
Boromir laid a hand on his shoulder, "To ally together against Mordor."
Farair quietly added, "Or take control."
"If need be. These are dark times and we cannot afford to wait while our lands are taken from us. But I would rather an alliance." He smiled wickedly, "And I would prefer that you do the duty. My bachelorhood is presently keeping me well content!"
Faramir called him a name never said in front of ladies and replied, "We will do as our father wishes! But I hope neither of us is compelled to ask for her hand. Marriages should not be made in times such as these, and in a land so troubled."
Boromir nodded, and the men sat again to drink when a knock was heard on the door. They stood as a young lady entered cautiously. A watchman stood by her.
The lady appeared tired, pale, and she spoke in a low voice, "My lords, please accept our apologies. My Uncle is not well, and there was a miscommunication. I beg of you to tarry here longer than the morrow. My brother and cousin, heir to the throne, should arrive within this day or the next. They have been eager to meet with you."
Boromir's face immediately transformed into a charming smile, "Then I understand that my brother and I have the honor of speaking with the Lady Eowyn?"
She nodded in assent.
He and Faramir exchanged glances. "We are indeed sorry for the confusion. We accept your kind invitation."
"Thank you, Lord Boromir. And Lord Faramir. You are welcome here." Eowyn looked ill at ease and excused herself.
Boromir cocked an eyebrow at Faramir. "You have again with your voice seemed to conjure the person we needed."
Faramir ignored the comment being pensive, "Fair she is, but unwell."
Boromir nodded, "In spirits at least. Which would appear to benefit us. I am heartened that she believes Theodred would speak to us. Indeed, brother, much can be learned at Rohan over the next weeks. It would indeed benefit us to stay. This could begin the alliance we have been looking for."
"So it would seem." Faramir agreed. "The heir at least has something to say to us. Much can be accomplished. Father was correct in his instincts. Again, he seems to have known more than we."
"A gift of his," Boromir agreed, drinking deeply from his ale. "Now I will find it hard to sleep, my curiosity peaked as it is."
Faramir laid himself on the bed. "Then you wait with the night. I will take my rest."
Boromir replied with an affectionate curse and a kick, and laughing, Faramir closed his eyes.