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Alone
May 23, 2005 21:40:23 GMT -5
Post by eowyn on May 23, 2005 21:40:23 GMT -5
There it was again. She froze at the sound of footsteps momentarily before ducking into the nearest room. He was following her, always following her, and he wasn't even trying to be secretative anymore. He was frightening, and he had better hope that he never snuck up behind her while she was holding a sword, or it would be the last thing he ever did.
Once she was sure that Worm Grima had passed by, Eowyn sighed loudly. She felt so.... so totally and completely alone. A year ago, Eomer and her uncle surely would have noticed Wormtongue's advances and he would have been gone. But now everything was different. Theoden was aging so rapidly, deterioting day by day, and the weight of keeping Rohan safe that had suddenly fallen on her brother was practically crushing him. She could help, and she told Eomer that often, but he told her to keep safe here. Well, she was excellent at keeping safe. If that were some sort of competetition, she would undoubtedly win, since she was not allowed to do anything else.
The problem with staying safe, though, was that she felt caged. And the problem with being caged was that she was so completely alone.
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Alone
Feb 26, 2006 17:18:27 GMT -5
Post by eomer on Feb 26, 2006 17:18:27 GMT -5
The footsteps did not belong to the black clothed worm that lived amongst the horsemen. They belonged to her brother. The Rohan Captain, wearing not his armour as usual, but a set of brown, common clothing. For many weeks he had not found the time to spend with his sister. How he missed her, it even felt as if he was losing her. Theoden was a good king, but something wasn’t right with him at the moment. His uncle was growing old, but the pace at which this was happening was truly ridiculous. Dark feelings started to raise lately, feelings of a traitor. And there was only one that he considered unworthy for these halls. Grima Wormtongue, the foul piece of filth that was after his sister.
Oh yes he was well aware of this, but there was nothing he could do. Grima was and would be the King’s adviser until Theoden decided he was no longer needed. But with the current state of things King Theoden wouldn’t be giving many orders.
For the past weeks Éomer had almost daily, sometimes a few days in a row, been out on patrol. Protecting the borders of his green country. Each day there were reports of Orcs entering the forests of Rohan. And as Captain of his Eored it was his duty to lead his men in battle.
But right now was no time for his mind to be on battle. He came here for one thing only, to talk to his sister. Having seen one of the doors close he stopped and knocked at the one that had his sister inside. “Eowyn? It’s Éomer. I want to talk to you dearest sister.”
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Alone
Feb 27, 2006 23:12:42 GMT -5
Post by eowyn on Feb 27, 2006 23:12:42 GMT -5
"Eomer!"
His voice had the miraculous quality to put a smile on her face. There were few things that could accomplish that these days, but her brother still could. He had been her best and only friend as she grew up, and now he was the only person other than Grima in Rohan that paid her any heed.
She flew to door and flung it open. He had been so preoccupied lately, so busy. Eowyn wished terribly to be able to help him, to ease his burden and take over some of Eomer's responsibilities. But that was a man's work. Eowyn refused to let that thought cloud her countenance as it normally would have done. Her brother wished to speak with her now, and she would do anything for him. Not that he could ever know that, though.
Her eyes alight, she surveyed Eomer critically. All of his work had taken a definite toll on him. He looked so tired, so exhausted. Eowyn had to restrain herself from flinging her arms around her brother's neck. From what she was hearing, the fighting was getting worse and worse and the casualties were mounting, on their side especially. There was the lurking worry that she brother would leave her all alone in Edoras forever.
With her relief, she also could not contain a brief pang of jealously. She wished to be out slaying Orcs as Eomer was doing, out doing something to help her home.
She could hide this, though, for the jealously was overshadowed by her happiness to see Eomer. She smiled widely. When he was home at Edoras, everything simply seemed to get much brighter, and Eowyn felt so much younger and freer. "How have you been, Eomer?" she asked.
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Alone
Feb 28, 2006 2:44:08 GMT -5
Post by eomer on Feb 28, 2006 2:44:08 GMT -5
Seeing her expression as she opened the door was enough to warm his heart and bring a smile to his own face. Right there he saw what he was fighting for, to make sure that smile would never fade from the lands of Middle Earth. Having entered the room he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up in a close hug. “My dearest Eowyn, how I have missed you. Have you been able to keep busy. I know I haven’t been around that much and I’m sorry.”
Shaking his head he gently put her down, sitting down on the chair behind him. “Things have been chaotic. Everywhere they’re breaking through. Our sentries are being slaughtered. Forests get cut down to fuel the fires of Isengard. I fear there are too few men to stop if Saruman unleashes his hordes.” With a soft shaking of his head he looked up and tried to smile. “Don’t worry about it Eowyn, we’ll manage. I shall keep fighting so you don’t have to.”
Éomer was well aware that she would gladly pick up a sword and ride with him to war. But that was something he couldn’t allow. He couldn’t fight if his sister, who was more important than anyone would be on the field of battle as well. Shaking away those thoughts he looked down and sighed deeply. “Have you been left alone by him?” Knowing perfectly well that whenever he was gone Womrtongue would make his move and try to gain access to her heart. Something he nor she would ever allow.
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Alone
Feb 28, 2006 22:37:33 GMT -5
Post by eowyn on Feb 28, 2006 22:37:33 GMT -5
She could not repress a slight giggle as her feet left the ground. Eomer was her brother and he was safe and for a few precious seconds that was all that mattered in the world.
The news of the sentinels was disheartening. True, Eowyn resented that she could not be with them on the battlefields, but as of now she could not be with them and she only ever wished them well in battle. They were her people, and she would gladly die before she saw any harm come to them. She would argue for her chance later. She was stubborn, but that mulishness was tempered with wisdom and a devotion for those whom she loved. She knew now was not the time to be pleading for the opportunity to wield her sword against the Orcs. She could plead later. Now was the hour for her to speak with her brother for it had been long since their last talk.
"Edoras has been empty without you, Eomer." Eowyn's smile faded slightly. "I fear that I am not as busy as I wish to be," she said, putting her feelings of containment and insignificance in the lightest terms possible. Her brother had enough on his mind without being preoccupied with her problems. She wished that she could pour out her soul to him, to lay all of her depression out for him to see. He might be able to help her, to comfort her. Or maybe he would just be able to listen. Anything would do. Anything was better than her confided in Grima.
Eowyn's face fell as her brother mentioned the advisor's name. Everything was always so clear with Grima when Eomer was around. Grima lusted after her and she loathed him. It was too simple. But with the despair that marked her brother's long absences came Wormtongue. He seemed to know when she was most vulnerable; he was able to catch her at the very moments she let a tear break through the dam she did her best to maintain.
"I..." She had no idea how to voice her thoughts, how to make Eomer understand how she could possibly be weak enough to allow Grima so much access. "I... I have been so alone lately..." Her voice got quieter with every word and trailed off.
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Alone
Mar 1, 2006 9:42:15 GMT -5
Post by eomer on Mar 1, 2006 9:42:15 GMT -5
Éomer’s smile faded as quickly as hers did, hearing how she went through a hard time he felt a certain sadness spread throughout his body. He knew something had to be done, and there was nothing he wanted more in the world then to stay in Edoras and make sure his sister was smiling. But his country needed him, and with the death of Prince Theodred the army could not afford to leave any able soldier at home.
With soft steps he walked towards her, gently placing his hand underneath her chin, lifting her head so their eyes met. “Tell me everything that’s troubling you Éowyn. I am your brother I will do whatever I can to bring a smile to your face, even though there is not much reason to smile these days. Edoras is but a grave if your smile isn’t warming the heart of every inhabitant of our beautiful country. I fight to make sure that smile doesn’t have to disappear.” Placing a soft kiss on her forehead he lowered his gaze and looked into her sad eyes. “I’m here now, and willing to listen to you. I am not certain when I have to depart again, but I will be spending most of my time with you dearest sister.”
He gently took her hands in his and sat down with her on the side of the bed. Listening to her avoiding his question about Wormtongue, he felt as if he had failed as a brother. Ever since their father had been slain, he had taken the responsibility of looking after her. And even from a young age it became very clear that their father’s blood was also running through her veins. Her skills with a sword were impressive, even better than some riders of the Rohirrim. But how could he ever take her into battle. The thought of seeing his beloved sister walking across the battlefield, looking for survivors or even worse, Éomer looking for her body amongst the many lifeless sons of Rohan. It was no secret that only half, if they were lucky, of the riders returned home after every attack on invading Orcs or Úruks. The last thing he wanted was to expose her to the mindless and meaningless violence these evil creatures brought along.
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Alone
May 24, 2006 22:43:33 GMT -5
Post by eowyn on May 24, 2006 22:43:33 GMT -5
Eowyn bit her lower lip as she registered the worried, the deep concern that her brother felt for her. She looked at the lines that were starting to prematurely form on his face. Eomer was too young for wrinkles and for so much stress. With their uncle's strange transformation, Eomer carried the fate of all of Rohan on his shoulders. He did not need to add her petty grievances to his list. She was selfish for ever even thinking of unburdening her problems on him.
Eowyn took her brother's rough hand in her own and forced a smile to cover her face. "Do not lose sleep over my girlish, petty problems, brother dearest," she said to him. She forced a laugh. "It has just been so empty with you gone, and I worry for your safety. Such worry is taxing, as you are well aware."
She wasn't being dishonest. Eowyn had never been a dishonest person, and lying to her brother was impossible. She just wasn't telling him everything because she needed his thoughts to be about his well-being when he was in battle. Eomer needed to concentrate on himself while he was fighting, not on her. Eowyn had lost too much already. All she had left was her brother. She would not lose him.
"Must we speak incessantly about me, Eomer? I want to hear news of you."
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Alone
Jun 4, 2006 0:17:29 GMT -5
Post by eomer on Jun 4, 2006 0:17:29 GMT -5
“I know the emptiness of which you speak. I feel it in my heart whenever I leave for yet another mission to repel Orcs or inspect our borders. I always leave Edoras with the same thought. Will I ever again return to look upon my smiling Eowyn.” He sighed and shifted his eyes from Eowyn to the floor. “Our time is a dark one, so dark the end is hidden from me. But as always we’ll do what we must to defend our beloved people.”
With a smile he turned his attention back to his sister, her question was one he had been waiting to hear. She always did ask about what he had been doing, and he told her every time, but it left him guessing. Guessing if the stories weren’t feeding her thoughts of riding into battle with him. Eowyn was not like the other women of Rohan. Though the others are strong, Eowyn possessed an inner strength that showed on the outside, it was that strength combined with a smile that made it possible for her to make a tired Eomer feel relaxed and at home.
“These are hard times for our people, almost every day we come across Orc tracks or even Orcs themselves. At night a dead silence is spread over the encampment, were there would be merry talk and drinking, there is now silence and caution. Not once have we returned with as many riders as we left. The look of terror and loss in the eyes of the women, the children that scream and cry for their fallen father…” He closed his eyes and did his best to control his breathing, a mixture of hatred towards Isengard and compassion, sadness for the families that have suffered losses.
After several minutes of silence he continued in a soft whisper, keeping his eyes on the door just in case someone would enter. “I’m worried about our king, Eowyn. Whenever I return he has aged many years. He no longer seems interested in whatever goes on inside his kingdom. Maybe it’s because of Theodred, or is it that greasy Grima we should suspect of performing some dark spell, enslaving King Theodon to his will.”
Yet another silence filled the room, a silence that seemed to press onto him as if it were a giant fist. He gave a gentle squeeze to her hand as he turned his head from the door to his sister. “I hope we’ll one day be able to see lighter times again.”
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Alone
Jun 19, 2006 20:16:03 GMT -5
Post by eowyn on Jun 19, 2006 20:16:03 GMT -5
Her brother's talk of Orcs got Eowyn's blood pumping and fingers twitching for a sword. She was better at hewing limbs from these vile creatures than many of the men under Eomer's leadership, and she loved Rohan more than most. She knew loss as his men did, and she could die as well as any man could. The demand to accompany them was practically bursting from her chest, but her request had been answered time and time again, always in the negative. She now knew better than to ask. Eowyn would never get her brother's permission to ride into battle, so she knew that she must bide her time. Someday, perhaps, she would find herself in a position that was above needing permission. She was a naturally impatient person, though, so waiting was difficult.
Eowyn's face did not betray any of these thoughts. Right now her job in the war effort was to be her brother's confidant and light. It was difficult to smile when her own life was so dark, but she would do anything for Eomer. Her small smile stayed resolutely on her face, and this in itself was a small victory for her.
"Théoden has worried me," she voiced. "He... he isn't our uncle anymore, Eomer. He has become..." Eowyn had to stop to think of the correct word. "He has become little more than a shell of his former self, and his face is aged far beyond his years." She shook her head. "There is some evil underfoot, and, though Grima is most definitely part of it, I fear it might be something larger than just him. I... I cannot make sense of it, Eomer."
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Alone
Jun 22, 2006 16:09:56 GMT -5
Post by eomer on Jun 22, 2006 16:09:56 GMT -5
He could tell how this was worrying her, it was worrying him too. Afteral, it was Théoden that took them in after their father’s death. It was Théoden that treated them as his own children, Eomer was grateful for the military training alongside Theodred. They were as close as brothers, fought together and always trying to do better than the other. Eomer grinned on the inside when he thought back about those wonderful days, yes it was hard at times, military training was to be taken serious but it was still fun.
“Our uncle is a strong man Eowyn, but still I am worried. Our people are afraid, they fear the future if their king will succumb to this evil. And yes Eowyn, I am certain Grima is involved somehow, and it is larger than just him. The Orcs we fight…” Eomer gave a soft sigh as he closed his eyes. “… all bear the white hand of Saruman. I think it is safe to say that he has betrayed us. He wants these lands Eowyn, and it is no surprise to me that Grima has chosen his side. I do not like to leave Edoras if it means leaving you alone with him, neither leaving whit you having to take care of our uncle by yourself. You keep this kingdom together Eowyn.” He turned and looked deep into her eyes, his voice dropping to a soft whisper.
“I wish I could keep an eye on him Eowyn. His presence is not making me feel safe. What worries me the most is not the fact that he might try to get me out of Rohan, but that he will try to get you. Nobody will every look at you wrongly or accuse you of murder should you strike him down if he harms you.” Eomer looked down and let out a troubled sigh, slowly getting to his feet. “I have too much on my mind at times. Orcs, Theodred, Theoden and you here alone, for once I wish I could leave on patrol and not worry about Grima trying to brainwash you with his words.” He turned to Eowyn and tried to make his worried look turn into a soft smile. “But as much as I hate that feeling, it gives me the strength I need to fight, to fight harder so I can return faster. We’re the last of our line and my body will lay broken on the stairs of the Golden Hall before any Orc will get to you. I shall always shield you from danger Eowyn.”
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Alone
Jul 19, 2006 16:33:21 GMT -5
Post by eowyn on Jul 19, 2006 16:33:21 GMT -5
Eowyn smiled. "You are a good brother, Eomer, and a good man. We here in Rohan are lucky to have you."
She forced the smile to stay on her face. "As for Grima, I am more than a match for him. You know fully well that I was taught to wield a sword. I doubt Grima possesses the same skill."
Eowyn had to ponder her brother's words. What would happen if she killed Grima? The people of Edoras would certainly be overjoyed. Theoden... Theoden might at first condemn her actions, but perhaps it might lift the spell from him. Perhaps it might bring her beloved uncle back to his former glory.
But Eowyn knew that she could never do it. She was torn because she was sure beyond all doubt that she hated the man. However, if he were gone and Eomer left again, no one in Edoras would care whether she lived or died. At almost all times Eowyn despised the attention she received from Grima, but it was attention nevertheless. She could not endure more loneliness heaped upon her.
Throughout these thoughts, Eowyn kept the smile plastered on her face. It might not have looked as genuine as it was originally, but she did not want to trouble her brother any further.
Returning her gaze to Eomer, she said, "Stop such morbid talk, brother! You're gallantry is commendable and most noble, but I'd rather never hear anything else about your broken body ever again. I really prefer you to be alive. You'll protect me better that way." Her eyes sparkled for a second. "As if I really need protecting."
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Alone
Jul 20, 2006 14:53:12 GMT -5
Post by eomer on Jul 20, 2006 14:53:12 GMT -5
“It is not Grima’s skills with a sword that worry me, for I know he has none. It is his ability to work his way into your mind, to turn you against those that love you. His lies poison the minds of honourable men. He is an evil that must be stopped.” Eomer closed his eyes and wished for their king to be healed, for him to be able to see Wormtongue as he really is, a traitor to the throne and the people of Rohan.
It was with Eowyn’s next words that he opened his eyes and gave a soft but merry laugh. It had been ages since he last laughed like this, since he last even felt like smiling. He looked at her and took her hand in his, the smile still present on his face. “Oh really, my my little sister so assured of your own abilities?” He laughed again and squeezed her hand before letting it go. “Well I think I can admit that you are more stronger than the other women of Rohan.”
His smile faded as his thought became more serious, a dark feeling seemed to wrap around him as he spoke ever softly, no sign of the previous joy on his face. “Why do I have the idea that one day you will be riding out to rescue me?” He sighed and shook away the thought of the darkness. Desperately looking for a chance of topic.
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