Tales From Emyn Arnen - Chapter 3

Eowyn and Faramir were sitting together in the drawing room, each engaged in separate activities - he absorbed in a book and Eowyn embroidering Rohirric flowers on the sleeves of a new dress - which was not unusual. The tense silence surrounding them, however, was. They'd quarreled about something earlier, a trifling matter Faramir could not now even recall clearly, and had not spoken since. He was simply waiting out her ire as he had in the Houses so many months ago, hoping it could be resolved so easily now as it had then. But his wish was not to be so.

After half an hour Eowyn stood and threw down her work, crying out in frustration, "Oh! You are infuriating!"

Faramir raised his eyes from the page at her outburst and considered his words carefully. "May I know why, exactly, my lady?"

She pointed an accusing finger at him. "Because all you do is sit and hope a problem will go away! You do not stand up and fight a way through!"

With sigh he set aside the book and leaned forward, resting elbows on his knees. "Eowyn, please do not take my answer as an attempt at manipulation for that is not my intention. But I have spent the whole of my life witnessing and being party to violence I never had the heart for. Here in my own home I desire the peace that was seldom present in the house where I grew up and all the years of life that came after it."

Eowyn's anger deflated at his sincerity and she closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Perhaps then my lord you have chosen the wrong lady with whom to spend all the rest of your days, for I am often very quick to temper and I do not possess your patience or skill for quiet resolution. Where then are we left?"

Faramir rose and went to her, taking both his wife's hands in his and kissing them. "My beloved bride, I would have no other at my side. I know your moods Eowyn. I have seen you in bouts of melancholy, heated though brief spats between you and your brother, and filled with a joy I never thought possible in the early days of our acquaintance. I have also experienced the fierce, deep, loyal love you show to those who make it inside your heart and I count it an honour to be among them."

Her eyes still looked so sad and her expression troubled, so he caressed her cheek and kissed her softly. "We will have disagreements the Shieldmaiden and Captain, we will experience many challenges the Prince and Princess of Ithilien, we will be parted by duty the Steward and White Lady of Emyn Arnen. But as long as we, Eowyn and Faramir, are able to rest in the security of our love and commitment by the time we ready for bed at night, I am convinced nothing will ever come between us."

A tear slipped from beneath her lashes. "Would that I had your way with words gentle Captain, for I am overwhelmed by your understanding and know not how to match such sentiment with what is in my heart."

Faramir smiled and looked deeply into her bottomless blue eyes. "It is fortunate then that I can see into the hearts of men and women." His lips brushed hers once more. "I treasure what I see in your heart beloved."

She threw her arms around his neck, meeting his gentle caress with such ardour that he couldn't help feeling as giddy as a young man finally winning the favour of the maiden he'd set his sights on. The passion she displayed as part of her personality he would not trade for all the world. If this became how they made up from disagreements, perhaps they should have more of them in the future.