Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 1, 2010 11:56:58 GMT -5
“Oh…well, I don’t suppose Meleth would say no now,” Gilwen said, once more smiling. “I certainly won’t mind seeing all of you.” She had not even realized that the children would have been banned from the room. It was sad, really. Gilwen loved all of the little siblings that Faeldor had, and she loved being able to spend time with them. Still, she was no longer ill and now the rule could perhaps be lifted. If Faeldor was not going to be overprotective for the sake of her healing, at any rate. It would really do her nicely to see them. Children made Gilwen’s heart glad.
And Diore was certainly easing Gilwen’s spirit now. Her endless and bright chattering was bringing the lady to smile at the little girl. What a lovely little thing! All the while, Gilwen watched her. Diore prattled on, lifting the soap bowl from the side of the tub to let it float on the water. "See! It floats... Fael gives me and Haliel a bath sometimes when Miriel is ill and Mama is tired, and he showed me how it looks like a little boat." Gilwen smiled slightly. “Yes, it certainly does look like a little boat,” she commented. Though, truly it only looked as what she thought a little boat looked like. She had never seen a ship in person; though, she had grown up well enclosed in a stone city. She had never seen such bodies of water up close before. That is why she had never been taught to swim, or why the tales of ships and sails and sea were often nothing more than fantastic stories in her mind.
Suddenly, the little girl bolted from the tub, and Gilwen snapped to attention once more. “Be careful,” she hummed gently. Gilwen was in no shape to try and follow, though for a moment she did try to sit herself up better to try and climb out of the tub. Still, the girl was graceful and seemed to do her stunt with a great ease.
Diore lit back over, slowing down to place something gently on the water before climbing back in carefully. "Fael carved this and Grandmama put the sail on, and it is even better than the soap bowl!"
Gilwen smiled at the wooden boat as it bobbed over the water. “He carved this?” She asked quietly. She had never seen him whittle or carve anything before, nor seen anything he had done. A part of her was surprised, though she did not rightly know why. While whittling took time and Faeldor had very little of such a thing, he always strove to be the best at everything, and to provide in all ways for his family. If that meant carving a lovely boat, then he would do it.
Diore blew the sail, and the boat glided forward. Gilwen smiled brightly, enjoying the little toy just as much as Diore was herself. Gilwen had never had such things as a child; bath time was not playtime.
“Fael can blow it so hard that it tips over! I can't blow on it that hard! He says his lungs are strong because he likes to sing, and that if I sing maybe some day I can tip the boat over. I like to sing. Eoric likes when I sing to him. He doesn't sing though. He barely even talks yet."
“Eoric will sing someday, too,” Gilwen said lightly. “All of your family seems made of music.” Everyone sang and played instruments and danced; it was an overwhelmingly wonderful talent the family shared. Gilwen often felt out of place with such things. She did not sing, she did not play an instrument. But she could dance, and Faeldor liked to dance with her.
Faeldor was a marvelous son of Gondor. Gilwen could hardly help but let her mind begin to weave its way through some forward thoughts. He whittled for his siblings, and bathed them when he was needed. He was such a wonderful man, and someday he would be more than just a father figure. He would be a father, and Gilwen would be the lady of the luckiest House in all of Gondor. For Faeldor would be sitting with her children and bathing them, giving them little wooden boats such as this and teaching them to sing and fill the house with cheer and music.
A bit of water splashed up on Gilwen’s cheek, and immediately the woman gasped and blushed. What an improprietous time to think of such things! She was thinking tenderly on the man she loved, while she herself was nude and in a bathtub. Heavens, they were not even engaged! Still, the thoughts did not slip away completely, and in the back of Gilwen’s flustered mind was the perfect vision of Faeldor sitting beside the tub bathing little girl with pretty grey eyes.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 1, 2010 12:39:14 GMT -5
"Gilwen, I hope you don't mind Hali coming in. As soon as she found out that you were up and out of bed she started crying for want to see you, and she became even more upset when I asked her to wait until you were done with your... Heavens, Diore, it is not your bath time. What are you doing?"
Meleth was entering the room again and upon coming around the corner and laying the new dress across the lounge chair, she looked up to see the little golden haired girl soaked and playing in the water of Gilwen's bath. "Gilwen is playing with me..." she said happily, seating herself back on the woman's leg.
The mother looked confounded for a moment. "Goodness sake, Gilwen how did you get that little one in the bath? She will never get in for me," she questioned half heartedly, though then realized that Gilwen could not have possibly lifted her.
"I thought you had died!" Haliel exclaimed as she entered right behind her mother, seeing Gilwen in the tub she dropped her cane and ran towards it, though the little girl slipped on the water that Diore had left on the floor and tumbled down, scraping her knee on the stone. Her mother came to catch her and help her up, but Haliel was too quick and had finished the distance between the puddle and the tub by crawling, and pulled herself up against the side by Gilwen, wrapping her little arms about the woman as well as she could from her position, and kissing her cheek.
"Hali, don't pull on her, she is weak and cannot get up right now," Meleth scolded gently.
"Mama I want in too," Haliel cried. "I want to sit with her."
"Children, we need to let Gilwen rest and recover. Then she can play with you," Meleth tried. Haliel cried harder, and Diore crossed her arms.
"We are playing," Diore protested, not making a motion to listen to her mother.
Meleth sighed, "I am sorry dear. I thought you would have more peace in the healing houses but Fael did not want you there. Do you mind the children? I will send them out..."
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 1, 2010 13:10:14 GMT -5
Meleth came in, and Gilwen lifted her eyes to watch her as she crossed with the dress to set it upon the lounge chair. She had not truly listened to anything the woman had said; she had been affixed upon the yellow dress. Meleth had told her the color before, but she had not registered it. She could see it, though. It was yellow.
“It is yellow, just like the sun!”
She had had a dress of that color before; her father had gotten it for her when she was young. It seemed she had dropped out of reality for a moment, though once more registered her surroundings when Meleth addressed her. "Goodness sake, Gilwen how did you get that little one in the bath? She will never get in for me." “She wanted to play,” Gilwen said quietly in response. She did not have time to answer fully, though. Haliel had appeared and her words had cut into Gilwen’s tender heart as a knife. "I thought you had died!"
Haliel began to race toward her, slipped and fell but was unphased by it. “Haliel!” Gilwen said quickly, though worriedly. It seemed the girl was in no need of worry, though. She was quite fine and intent on wrapping her arms about Gilwen’s neck.
“No, Haliel. I have not died. I am all right,” she whispered, working herself about in such a way as to give Haliel a small kiss upon her cheek. She was wet, after all, and she could not properly hug the fully clothed girl.
“I am sorry dear. I thought you would have more peace in the healing houses but Fael did not want you there. Do you mind the children? I will send them out..."
Gilwen shook her head. “No. It is fine,” she loved children, and such a thing was clear in her tone of voice. She definitely did not want to go to the Houses now. She simply wanted to let her heart heal; it needed tending to as much as her body. She needed to love and be loved, and there was nothing greater than children for such a thing.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 1, 2010 13:11:01 GMT -5
Meleth came in, and Gilwen lifted her eyes to watch her as she crossed with the dress to set it upon the lounge chair. She had not truly listened to anything the woman had said; she had been affixed upon the yellow dress. Meleth had told her the color before, but she had not registered it. She could see it, though. It was yellow.
“It is yellow, just like the sun!”
She had had a dress of that color before; her father had gotten it for her when she was young. It seemed she had dropped out of reality for a moment, though once more registered her surroundings when Meleth addressed her. "Goodness sake, Gilwen how did you get that little one in the bath? She will never get in for me." “She wanted to play,” Gilwen said quietly in response. She did not have time to answer fully, though. Haliel had appeared and her words had cut into Gilwen’s tender heart as a knife. "I thought you had died!"
Haliel began to race toward her, slipped and fell but was unphased by it. “Haliel!” Gilwen said quickly, though worriedly. It seemed the girl was in no need of worry, though. She was quite fine and intent on wrapping her arms about Gilwen’s neck.
“No, Haliel. I have not died. I am all right,” she whispered, working herself about in such a way as to give Haliel a small kiss upon her cheek. She was wet, after all, and she could not properly hug the fully clothed girl.
“I am sorry dear. I thought you would have more peace in the healing houses but Fael did not want you there. Do you mind the children? I will send them out..."
Gilwen shook her head. “No. It is fine,” she loved children, and such a thing was clear in her tone of voice. She definitely did not want to go to the Houses now. She simply wanted to let her heart heal; it needed tending to as much as her body. She needed to love and be loved, and there was nothing greater than children for such a thing.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 1, 2010 22:18:19 GMT -5
"I suppose they needed a bath today anyhow. Oh, look at your knee Hali. Careful, there. Diore, did you splash that water on the floor? I know Gilwen did not."
"I had to get the ship," Diore answered, looking up at her mother stoically, not accepting any form of punishment for simply receiving her toy.
"I see," Meleth answered. "Well next time you best get your toy before you get in the tub. You might have slipped and fallen, and now Hali slipped in your puddle."
Diore pouted for a moment and Meleth shook her head. She was a stubborn little thing! But so darling all in the same. Perhaps more unmanageable than any of her own sons and daughters had been. It was a wonder what she would grow up to be.
Haliel was removing her dress and carefully her shoes and stockings, sitting them nicely in a pile, whereas Diore had simply tossed hers upon the floor, then waited for her mother to come and lift her into the tub, still unable to do so on her own. As soon as Haliel had been placed in the tub, she scooted right to the side of the tub beside Gilwen, hugging her halfway about the waist and letting her black, half wet head curl against her shoulder. With all the people now in the tub, the water came near to her chin, but Haliel was a lover of water and did not mind.
"Girls, I do not think that Gilwen expected a party in the tub with her, so you play gently now. No splashing. Diore, come over here, I am washing your hair now." The little girl was just about out of Meleth's reach even as the words finished from her mouth, but the mother grabbed the little slippery body and pulled her over to the other side of the basin, reaching for the soap.
"No! Mama no!" Diore shrieked, thrashing slightly.
"Child, why do you insist on fighting?" the mother asked almost pathetically. Diore never seemed to stop struggling. She was such a sweet child, and usually well behaved. Just energetic often, but when it came to the bath, there was no helping her behavior.
"I like my hair dirty!" she shouted, grabbing the soap and tossing it beneath the water so that Meleth would have to go searching for it, but Haliel was quick enough to spot the soap by her toes and went nearly under the water to retrieve it, handing it back to Meleth.
"She wants her hair dark like ours, Mama, she told me so. She was putting mud in her hair in the garden," Haliel chimed in. Tattling on her siblings was a forte of hers, and while she usually received a stern response for such, this time her mother stared at her, and then at the little golden head, which she began to wash. Meleth was wordless for quite the while before willing her words back to her. She had never heard such a thing!
"Gilwen, isn't this golden hair the loveliest? Who ever heard of a blonde Gondorian? It is very special Diore, and we would never wish you to have dark hair. I like you the way you are. And clean," Meleth's voice held an intonation of amusement, though she tried hard to hide it and not seem to be laughing at the little one. She made quick work of the hair washing and released the little one back to her playing.
It was perhaps the screaming that drew Marileth toward the doorway, wondering what on earth could be happening to cause such a riot, she swung the door open, and soon enough began to giggle. "Gilwen, why are you bathing with the little girls?" she asked bemusedly.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 2, 2010 9:14:13 GMT -5
Everything was moving quickly. Gilwen was a bit uncomfortable, though with all of the commotion, it was hard to read upon her face. Never had someone other than her own parents seen her bared like this; and here she sat, three people who were not of blood around her. And two were now in the tub with her.
The newest arrival pressed herself close to Gilwen, and for a split moment, the lady was stiff. Still, the loving nature Haliel possessed soon outweighed all of Gilwen’s misgivings, and she let an arm slip around her in response, kissing the top of Haliel’s wet head with a sigh.
Haliel was very dear to Gilwen. She was the first member of Faeldor’s family, other than Faeldor himself, to love her. And she could feel right now that she still did, and Gilwen felt quite guilty that she had frightened her so. She had terrified all of them.
"Haliel thought you had died. I am glad you are not died. Brother is very sad.”
The words seemed to echo within her, and Gilwen frowned. Faeldor had been a wreck; she had hurt them all. It was never her intention to make anyone sad, especially her Horse Master. There was nothing she could do it about it now, she thought finely, except to make up for it. And so, the lady did not protest or send Haliel and Diore out of the room for a more private bath. And when Faeldor got back from work that night for the entire evening, she would sit with him and cuddle in close. She would love him.
A it of a ruckus broke out in the room, and immediately Gilwen’s attentions snapped back to a squirming Diore and a flustered Meleth. It escalated until the little body beside her chimed in with the true reason Diore was putting up such a fuss. Immediately Gilwen caught her breath and a strong flood of sorrow swept through her doe-eyes.
The color of Diore’s hair had given her an upset already; that day at Haliel’s picnic had brought it to Gilwen’s attention. And she had assured her that golden hair was equally as fine as dark, if not a bit more special. For Meleth was right, there was no such thing as a blonde Gondorian. “Your hair is like the sun, remember?” Gilwen offered slowly. “You and Eoric are the sun that warms the rest of us.” It was clear Diore was troubled over her differences, and Gilwen understood. A part of her grew somewhat offset every time she thought about eyes. Faeldor’s family had such lovely ones, and Gilwen herself had brown. And she did not even have a crown of golden locks to make her break from the plain people of the city. Perhaps when Diore and Gilwen were alone, she would speak to her on it and relate to the girl. Oh, but the little blonde-haired girl was beautiful! She would surely be one of the most desired girls in all of Minas Tirith.
"Gilwen, why are you bathing with the little girls?"
Gilwen snapped her head to the doorway. Beautiful Marileth stood in the door, giggling uncontrollably at the entire scene. Gilwen blushed and tried to sink back against the side of the tub once more, trying to make certain her scars were well hidden. After all, with so many little ones inside, if they should take notice, Faeldor would certainly hear of it from them. And then he would be angry and upset, and partially at her for not telling him.
She did not know how to respond to the question though. “Well, they joined me,” she answered innocently. Her cheeks blazed with color. Marileth might as well go ahead and shut the door and join them herself…bath time was seeming like a party.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 2, 2010 18:36:58 GMT -5
“Your hair is like the sun, remember? You and Eoric are the sun that warms the rest of us.”
Diore smiled for a moment after Gilwen spoke. “The sunshine is warm,” she happily agreed. Finally Meleth finished with scrubbing the little girl’s hair and body, and Haliel moved from Gilwen’s side to be next, as Diore started to play with the little boat once more. Marileth managed to still her laughter as she entered, shutting the door behind her.
“Fael said that someday he will take me to see the boats on the sea and maybe we can even ride on one! He says that Grandpa makes boats, and lives in a big city by the sea. Do you know our other Grandpa?” Diore asked of Gilwen. “Fael says he has not seen him in a few years, but we will see him again soon.”
“They will visit shortly,” Meleth agreed with a smile. “To celebrate the New Year with us this year, and perhaps to bring Beleth, if I have any say in the matter.”
“I remember them!” Haliel put in. “Grandpa has a big beard on his face. Not like Fael’s beard but very long.”
“Is it dark?” Diore asked curiously, in hopes that perhaps one of the family still had hair like her own.
“No it is light grey. And Grandma’s hair is white,” Haliel recalled.
“You have a good memory, little one,” Meleth put in, and the family continued to chatter for a little while, as if any of them were sitting around the dinner table, and not enjoying a bath in the most unclothed of manners; about ships, Faelon’s parents, Belfalas, when Beleth would return home, and all the like. Meleth finally sat still on the stool after adding more hot water to the bath, and Marileth had sprawled upon the lounge, while a long while had passed.
Finally, a hesitant knock sounded on the door.
“Mother…” Faeldor had started, feeling unable to address Gilwen directly, what with the fact that she was bathing.
“I really must not tarry from work for too long today… there are new horses coming in near noon,” he continued on, not wishing to seem that he were rushing them. He was surprised to hear so many voices coming from the room, though did not question it at the moment.
“Has that much time passed already!” Meleth wondered aloud, looking down to Gilwen. “We best get you out. I do not want you trying to walk and I cannot carry you up those stairs myself,” she mused, and then called to Faeldor that they would be ready in a few minutes. “Mari, get three towels,” she asked the eldest girl in the room, and one by one, proceed to pull the two children from the tub and wrap them up to dry. “Come here, Gilwen, I don’t mind getting a little wet.”
Meleth and Marileth together helped the young woman to stand, and before Gilwen was even out of the tub, Meleth reached in and wrapped a warm towel about her. She caught her eyes. There was no need for the little ones to see the old scar wounds upon her back and ask questions; such things did not need to be discussed at a time like this when they had all already been at such shock of seeing the woman so ill and indeed, near death’s very door.
As soon as Gilwen had left the basin and been settled upon the lounge to slip into the new dress and a pair of fresh undergarments which had been made just for her, Meleth smiled. “A pretty color for you,” she concluded.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 2, 2010 20:21:43 GMT -5
Gilwen had settled in silence once more, taking that as her comfort amongst the throngs of people that had now gathered in the bathing room around her. She listened to the talk of the family, and Gilwen listened curiously. Grandparents were not family members she had had in her life for a long time. Niniel’s mother had died in childbirth, and her father had followed her into the Halls when Gilwen had been a mere six years of age. Beregar’s parents had both moved from the city, and all contact had been lost. Beregar had since concluded that they had passed, though the manner of which and time were unknown to the little family that still lived within the white stone walls of the city. To hear that the children had two sets of grandparents was astounding, and suddenly Gilwen found herself somewhat excited by the idea of meeting them.
She wished to see the sea. She wished to see a boat, though she doubted she would have the nerve to venture on one herself. She wished to see Belfalas. Faeldor spoke of it so often and so fondly. She had very little she could show him of the things that she had cherished as a child; it was a likely thing he would not find them as dear as she did. But she desired very much to learn and love what he did growing up. Someday, she said quietly to herself. Someday, maybe he would take her and show her. Until then, she would wonder on it, and learn to love it before she even ventured there.
A hesitant knock on the door instantly brought Gilwen’s cheeks to flame red, and she instinctively wrapped her arms about herself to hide her body, as if Faeldor could see through the very wood of the door and lay eyes upon her.
“Come here, Gilwen, I don’t mind getting a little wet.”
Gilwen had slowly allowed herself to release the tight hug she had placed upon herself in favor of letting Meleth help her rise from the tub. Her heart had begun to panic as she stood, her mind already hearing the horrified gasps and squeals of the youngest children as they caught sight of her ravaged back. Such sounds would surely alarm Faeldor, and he would come in, too. Her shame would be too much! The lady bit her lip tightly as if to steady herself for it, though nothing happened. Meleth had gotten a towel about her before she even had realized it.
It was a bit of a task getting dressed, but the lady was smiling as she was set back down on the lounge. Gentle fingertips traced over the yellow fabric, and something of a happy glow emanated from her cheeks and brown eyes.
“A pretty color for you.”
Gilwen looked up to her girlishly and smiled. “Thank you; it is lovely!” A dress. She needed it. She had never owned a day dress so lovely and finely made. She owned nothing else, now. But how fine this was! The yellow was the same shade as the one she had had as a little girl, and with such a reminder, fond memories flicked back into her. Her heart was warmed by the time Meleth had finally moved to open the door. She raised her brown eyes immediately to catch sight of her horse master, and it had been some time since such radiating joy had been on her face for him, it was a certainty.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 2, 2010 22:21:36 GMT -5
“I am glad you like it,” Meleth smiled, speaking softly and looking down at the girl for a moment before moving to reach behind her and tighten the laces slightly. She was quite relieved that they managed to give a bit, and that the dress did not look oversized on the small woman. In fact, it did brighten her appearance. The mother smiled fondly as Gilwen sat and fingered the fabric, looking more pleased than she had been in a long while.
Eventually Faeldor was allowed in the room, his eyes immediately trailed to Gilwen, though he looked about at each of the girls present, confused a slight that the little ones had bathed as well. Diore ran to her brother and put her arms out to be lifted up, dropping her towel as she did so, and Faeldor laughed, reaching down for both the little girl and the towel, glancing at Gilwen again as he dried Diore’s hair and tickled her with his fingertips, and then his beard.
“You will be cold, Beloved, did you take a bath with Gilwen?” he asked her.
The little girl simply giggled and wiggled in Faeldor’s arms as he bunched the towel about her again. “She was already in before I had a chance to stop her. Gilwen certainly has a touch with both her and Eoric,” Meleth answered.
“I want to always take a bath with Gilwen,” Diore giggled even more than before.
“Me too,” Haliel answered as Meleth dried her off.
“I doubt that there will be much time for that,” Faeldor answered, purposefully not looking back at his lady for fear that she would be entirely embarrassed by such talk in front of him. He gave it a moment, attempting to change the subject. He finally placed the little girl on the ground.
“I suppose you are ready to rest again,” he offered, eventually looking at the woman.
“Not before she eats something,” Meleth chimed. “Come on girls, go upstairs and start getting dressed,” she prodded the little ones out the door before her. “I will bring something up for you to eat,” she informed Gilwen as she saw to the children, and went toward the kitchen, and Faeldor lifted the light lady up into his arms.
“I like you in yellow,” was his only comment as they moved down the hallway and up the stairs, before placing her right back onto the bed. The sheets and blankets had been changed to a fresh set, and the covers pulled back. Faeldor tucked them carefully about Gilwen’s legs, and then settled down beside her on the bed for a moment, reaching to brush through her damp hair with his fingertips, and quite transfixed for the moment on the woman’s eyes.
“When I return home tonight, I will get you out of this room again,” he glanced finally toward the doorway, and then back to Gilwen smiling. “Do not mention it to Mother. She will not like the idea. But I am certain it will be well worth it.” He almost hummed the words, entirely happier than he had been in a long while as his thoughts trailed to his plans for the evening. He leaned forward to kiss Gilwen’s forehead slowly.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 2, 2010 23:15:46 GMT -5
Something of it seemed somewhat natural when Faeldor walked into the room. Diore instantly took off toward him, and after a brief moment of catching Gilwen’s eye, he dropped his attention to the lively little girl. The towel was dropped, and he worked it back about her, drying her hair as he did so. Quietly and somewhat joyously, Gilwen watched.
For a moment, she did not see a blonde haired child. She saw a girl with brown hair; the same curls as Faeldor, the same grey eyes and lovely smile. Her heart was eased and filled with the lovely vision; their own children would have warm arms to run to, too.
The thoughts did not seem too alarming now that she was clothed.
Apparently, walking in and finding three wet figures rather than simply one had confused Faeldor, and he inquired as to whether they had bathed with Gilwen or not. She blushed slightly, dropping her gaze, especially as the two girls responded.
“I want to always take a bath with Gilwen.” “Me too.”
This was hardly something that needed to be discussed; Gilwen was flattered, certainly. She loved those little girls as her own family, and while such was the case, she hardly thought talk of her own bathing time was suited for talk in front of Faeldor. They were in love, yes. But they were not married, and Faeldor held some of the same urges and forward thoughts as Gilwen did herself, if not more of them. He hardly needed to be given any reason to think on her clothes-less and in a tub.
Her own thoughts caused a deeper blush in her cheek, and it was only quelled upon hearing Faeldor’s words: “I suppose you are ready to rest again.” She looked up to him, catching his gaze upon her as she did so. Yes, she was ready to rest. It had hardly been a relaxing experience to bathe this time. Just as she opened her mouth to say so, though, she was interrupted by Meleth.
“Not before she eats something.”
Gilwen looked to her for a moment. She was only a little bit hungry, and in truth she really just desired to sleep. That had been a lot of energy spent in a simple short time. Faeldor came and lifted her into his arms, and she rested herself against him happily. “I like you in yellow.” She smiled and looked up to him, sighing and nuzzling tighter against his chest. “Meleth said you chose it…” She said quietly. “I like it, too.”
She was laid in the bed and tucked in, though for a moment Faeldor seemed to hinder as he looked into her eyes. Slowly, his hand came to run through her wet hair, and she simply watched him.
“When I return home tonight, I will get you out of this room again.”
She smiled, and closed her eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “I shall say nothing,” she said quietly. “I have had enough of these walls.” Something was certainly stewing in him; she could read it in his expression. She knew well enough not to ask; he would hardly tell her.
She lifted a hand to brush his cheek softly and she smiled. “Do be safe with those new horses today, Fael. Hurry home,” she whispered. Those last two words seemed to roll right from her tongue, and for a moment the lady was startled. To hear her say such a thing as “hurry home” sparked thoughts of the days in their future where she would be able to say that to him every morning; the words of a wife to speed the husband to and from the house, and give them strength enough to make it through the day. It pleased her.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 4, 2010 20:37:29 GMT -5
“I shall say nothing. I have had enough of these walls.”
“That is what I thought,” Faeldor smiled. He also thought that the sound of Gilwen’s voice held a slight curiosity, though he said nothing more to give away his gladness. He could reach into his bedside drawer and take out the pretty ring which he had waiting for her right now to offer.
Yet, Faeldor was a man who took pride in making the moment perfect, and a perfect proposal did not allow Gilwen to be laying in a sick bed. No, he would take her out to the gardens, and let the fresh air and solitude offer the perfect timing.
“Do be safe with those new horses today, Fael. Hurry home.”
“Hurry home to my beloved,” Faeldor smiled, planting a kiss on Gilwen’s cheek. He liked the sound of her words. There was nothing more fine than her pretty lips saying such a thing to him, and very soon, he would hear it from her daily. He knew that well, for he would propose to her, and she would say ‘yes’. Faeldor did not doubt those loving eyes, however weary they might be at the moment.
“I will come home with no bruises for you to seek after, fear not,” he finally said after lounging comfortably by Gilwen’s side for another minute or two. He rose for a moment and then took up another small lap blanket from the backside of his chair, and moved back to the bed to carefully wrap it about Gilwen’s shoulders, pulling her wet hair up and out so it would not chill her. It would do well to keep her warm while she was sitting up and waiting for his Mother to bring her lunch.
With that, Faeldor departed. He could have stayed with Gilwen all day yet again, but his work called, and there were many things to do and catch up on; and after all, he had said he would hurry home, so he would not be a moment past his expected time for supper.
---
Meleth shortly returned to the bedroom with a steaming bowl of soup and a small roll. It was more food than Gilwen had taken for quite some time, and she knew that the young woman had likely lost most of her appetite, but with a few encouraging words along the lines of;
“Faeldor has been so worried for you, dear. You have gotten so thin and weak for not eating, and he wishes you to be strong again.”
It was true, she knew her son was worried, though he had not said as much to his mother. She may have added some words to her son’s mouth, yet, she knew it would be appreciated by him nonetheless. Meleth recalled that when she was a young woman, and very much in love with her own Faelon, she would have done anything to still his worry, and to please him.
---
Afternoon waned on into early evening, and the Lady of the household had made certain for the children to let Gilwen rest once more. Diore and Haliel had, as soon as they dressed, been ready to play with her and sit with her. Yet Meleth knew that the morning had been tiring, and she needed to sleep again. True rest was what would bring the lady back to them.
On his word, Faeldor returned home from work right before supper, whistling as he came. He made quick work of washing up, and insisted that he take his meal upstairs by Gilwen’s bedside, so as the sun lowered itself into the sky, forming an orange haze outside the window, Faeldor slowly made his way back into the bedroom, balancing two plates in his hands, and two cups of water within his elbows, smiling in the same way as before, as if his grin had not left him the entire day.
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Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 4, 2010 22:04:33 GMT -5
“Hurry home to my beloved. I will come home with no bruises for you to seek after, fear not.”
He pressed a quick and bristled kiss to her cheek, and Gilwen smiled slightly. He stood from the side of her bed to tuck another blanket about her shoulders. Immediately, the woman nestled back into it gratefully and let her eyes trail after him as he departed from the room. “I love you,” she whispered, sighing.
It did not take long before Meleth had come from the kitchen with a heaping plate of portions for Gilwen to eat. The little lady’s immediate surprise and desire to protest taking such portions must have been apparent; Meleth countered immediately with words that caused her much guilt and strong desire. She did not wish to make Faeldor worry. So, without so much as a complaint, Gilwen tried to finish everything. She came close, though did not succeed; a bit of the soup was left over, but she had done her best. Her little stomach felt full by the time she was finally able to lay down and begin to rest, and for a while she was unable to fall asleep by the sheer discomfort she felt from it. Still, her exhaustion outweighed her discomfort and she fell into a peaceful sleep.
She woke up hours before dinner, though was still alone. There was nothing for her to do but sit there, and so she did. She thought, though. And her thoughts stayed pleasant. Shortly she watched the sun, counting the hours until Faeldor would return to her as he had promised.
--
He waltzed in with the same grin that he had left with, carrying a load of food to her bedside. “Fael! You’re home!” She exclaimed brightly, though quietly. Her face lit up immediately and she sat herself up as quickly as she could, doe eyes sparkling with an inner joy.
“How were the horses?” She asked quietly.
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Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 5, 2010 10:56:21 GMT -5
“Don’t you look nice,” Faeldor laughed upon seeing how quickly Gilwen sat herself up when he entered. He was inwardly pleased for the fact that she had been able to do such an act on her own, for it meant that her strength was definitely returning to her. Just the day before she would have needed his help to sit her up like that.
The man crossed the room and managed to get the plates and cups upon the small bedside table without overturning anything, and then leaned over Gilwen to kiss her. “Your eyes are so lovely… there is something about them when you look that way. I just want to… kiss you.” He grinned and pressed his lips against hers again.
“How were the horses?”
“They are finely bred and well tempered. No incidents in the least today. The stablelads set none riled up, and even Faelon came over to visit me and meet them. Under close supervision of course as he is still a bit young, but I tell you, he is a calm boy about those horses.” All the while as he spoke Faeldor had gone within his closet to pull off and hang up his work tunic and stable shirt.
“No bruises,” he said happily, stepping out of his closet shirtless for a moment to prove his words to Gilwen, before pulling another shirt over his head. “He told me he would like to work in the stables with me, like I did under Father. Though, I had to tell him that I believe nine years old is a bit young for doing work. He can work at home and do his chores to help Mother for a few more years, and then we will see if he is ready. Though I did promise to take him out for a ride soon in honor of his birthday. He turned nine last week, though he knows I have been busy. In a couple of days perhaps,” he added thoughtfully, sitting down again in the chair by Gilwen.
“Mother said that she fed you well a lunch, and now here is your supper. He smiled at the two plates in hand and settled himself down on the chair beside her bed. One plate was piled high with portions; certainly Faeldor’s plate, as he had mentioned to his mother that the afternoon work had left him starving. The other was of the same food, though much less, and cut into very small pieces.
Faeldor placed the full and heavy plate upon Gilwen’s lap, teasing her with his eyes. “Eat up, darling,” he jested, grinning for a few moments before finally switching the plates to their rightful consumers, then beginning to eat his own, while watching Gilwen to see if she could manage her own fork.
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Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Jun 5, 2010 21:42:44 GMT -5
Faeldor came in and set down the plates he carried, and Gilwen watched him happily. It was a relief for her to see him; his grey eyes were a comfort to her after such a long time alone. It was his presence that soothed her; he was well, so was she. The perfect end to a day, looking in his eyes.
The man swept up her lips and smiled at her. “Your eyes are so lovely… there is something about them when you look that way. I just want to… kiss you.” And then her lips were taken again. She certainly glowed healthily as he drew away, and she smiled. “I am glad everything went well,” she said sweetly. She laughed slightly as he modeled his bruiseless torso for her before donning a new shirt.
He spoke to her, and Gilwen adored the bit of conversation. It had been too quiet, even for Gilwen, and his voice was a nice distraction from the mundane solitude. “His ninth birthday?” Gilwen said almost horrifically. She had not known! “I did not know,” she murmured sadly. She did not know most of his siblings’ birthdays. But gracious, there were so many of them! How was she to ever keep up with them all?
Faeldor reached for the plates once more and Gilwen finally studied them. One was piled higher than the other, but both looked and smelled delicious. “Eat up, darling.” The larger plate was dropped into her lap, and Gilwen looked horrified. She knew Faeldor was worried; she knew he needed her to eat. But that! That was far too much, and she looked up at him in a way that told him so.
Still, he laughed and changed the plates again, and she relaxed. The smaller plate still looked too large. She was still full from lunch. She had taken much to eat then. Slowly she reached for her fork. It was a slow process, but soon the lady was eating on her own. Dreadfully hard it was to make sure the fork was not piled too high, and she took small breaks between her bites to let her strength return to her arm. It was as if every lift was like lifting a basin of laundry, and surely she was working hard. Still, she said nothing to complain, nor did anything to allow Faeldor to have the chance to come and whisk her fork from her and begin to feed her. She did not wish to be fed by him once more.
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Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
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Post by Faeldor on Jun 6, 2010 22:38:15 GMT -5
“It is all well, I do not think I had even mentioned it to you. Birthdays come and go around here… in fact… Beleth’s is this week,” the man paused for a moment, knowing that she had never celebrated her birthday away from her family before. He hoped that his Uncle Linnon and Aunt Ivren would give her a celebration of sorts, and the man contemplated sending her a letter. He had of course given her Thissel as an early gift, though, that had been some months ago now, and it seemed wrong to keep his little sister away for so long. If the roads were safer, he told himself.
“Miriel’s, the beginning of the year. Mother and Marileth in the early spring, and Grandmother and Grandfather in early summer. We do not know of Eoric and Diore… so I suppose that we shall celebrate them on the day that they came to us, right between mine and Haliel’s,” he mused. “And you in the early autumn. We have reasons to celebrate all year long, don’t we?”
Faeldor was finishing his meal much more quickly than Gilwen her own, and soon enough he had completed his portion, and even taken down his tall glass of milk. He smiled, “I am glad you can eat again.” Eating obviously tired the woman, and Faeldor longed to simply take her fork away and do the work for her, yet, he stilled himself, sitting back in the chair for a moment and looking at her, though, realizing that doing such a thing would hardly help her, he moved to stand up and set his empty plate on the table.
He made a bit of time pass as he moved about the room and organized a few of his things which had gone forgotten and out of place the past few weeks, and put a few articles into the drawer of his nightstand, of which he secretly slipped a precious and small piece of jewelry from the drawer to his pocket while the young woman was distracted with her plate. He looked to Gilwen aside to see if she had noticed, but he had been quite sly with the movement and nothing should have been peculiar to her. Then he moved to kiss her forehead, sitting back down in the chair, and slumping back to watch her again.
Her little hand seemed to struggle with lifting the fork to her lips, and she dropped it heavily down again after each small bite. He smiled, watching her hands. They looked much nicer than they had in the past. They had certainly been through much toil, but slowly they were healing, and perhaps even more healing would come of it, for Faeldor would never allow her as his wife to go into such work again. Surely she would clean and scrub their own home, but nothing so tedious and tiring as those long hours she had spent in the palace halls.
As the man thought, he began to frown. Such little hands they were, but even more slender they had become. The ring so nicely tucked in his pocket would surely slip right off of them, and the man was not about to wait to get that band resized for hands that would certainly mend again in the time of a month or so.
“Keep eating, I need to go ask Mother a question, but I shall be right back,” he winked finally, and taking up his empty plate made his way down the staircase to find Meleth at the table with the children and her parents.
---
“Mother, might I speak with you?” Faeldor interrupted the meal.
“Of course…” Meleth had a concerned look for a moment, and moved to stand, folding her napkin and sitting it on the chair as she rose to meet Faeldor in the doorway, though is face had no grave look upon it.
“Mother do you have… a chain of sorts?”
“A chain?”
“To go around the neck. A necklace chain?” He brought the little ring from his pocket to show his mother, who had seen it once before when he had brought it home months ago. “I will not wait any longer to ask her,” he started, and as he did so, Meleth began to smile. “But she is so thin, it will very well not stay on her finger right now. I know she will wish to wear it though, so for now, perhaps a chain she can borrow?”
“I have just the thing...” Meleth answered, delighted that she could be of assistance. “Will you ask her tonight?” the woman stopped in her tracks, as she had started to lead her son up the hall.
“Yes,” Faeldor smiled.
---
In Meleth’s bedroom, the mother led her son to a small chest, where all the children knew that she kept her precious articles.
“This…” she started, “Shall work just fine.” Meleth pulled a small silver chain out of her jewel box drawer. Strung on it was a small pendant with a little white pearl in the center of a silver sun, and the woman slid the pendant off, placing the chain in her son’s hand. “Give her this for it. It will be perfect… and this, well, I will give her this part myself, to wear at her wedding,” she held up the little pendant. “I have something here for each of my daughters,” she looked for a moment at her jewel box. “And for my new daughters, of which my sons will eventually marry. This will be for Gilwen.”
Faeldor smiled appreciatively, and Meleth clasped her hands together in quite a state of joy. “She will adore it.”
Meleth nodded, “She will be a good wife to you. I have always known it. Oh! I can hardly wait, a wedding to plan!”
“You best let me to ask her first,” the man laughed. “And I do not doubt that her mother will wish for some say in the plannings.”
“Niniel will be thrilled as well, I know it. You will have to call for her tomorrow to tell her, and her husband.”
Faeldor flinched a bit at the thought of taking a trip down to the first tier. His last encounter with both Gilwen’s mother and father had not been at ease; for it had been the one that had led him to learn that Gilwen had been sent onto the streets to live. He frowned, and Meleth read his every thought.
“You cannot blame her mother… she certainly did not wish her own daughter out of the house,” Meleth started quietly.
“Perhaps she did not wish it, but she did nothing to stop it,” Faeldor’s voice was low.
Meleth thought for a moment before continuing, “Not all women are as outspoken as those in our family…”
Faeldor did not answer. In his mind, he could think of no reason why Niniel could have allowed her only daughter to be sent out. Had Faeldor’s father made motion to send a child onto the street, which is something he never would have done, his mother would have stepped in. Perhaps… well perhaps Beregar had threatened his own wife. It could have been a reason, yet Gilwen had spoken on how gentle he was, and how he loved his wife, so there was nothing to even back up that idea. The picture of the rage filled drunken man that had greeted him the day they had met came into his mind again.
“Do not worry on it now, Fael,” Meleth cut into his thoughts. “Whatever your grudge, do not let it stop you from going after your heart.”
“Oh, it will not stop me. It has not before,” the man said, releasing a tension filled sigh.
“Go back to Gilwen, enjoy your time with her now,” Meleth smiled, patting her son’s shoulder, then embracing him. The man hugged his mother for a few moments, before finally speaking again.
“I’m sure you will be the first to hear the good news,” he grinned.
“I best be,” Meleth laughed, shooing her son from her bedroom and sending him off again down the hall toward Gilwen’s doorway, returning back to the dining room and the rest of her children.
---
“Sorry I took so long,” the man smiled, apologizing as he entered his bedchamber again. “You’re about done?” he studied her plate, which was much more empty, to his satisfaction. It seemed that the woman could force more down than he had expected, and he did not wish her to become ill for eating too much after such a long time without, and so he carefully took her plate and fork from her. “I am certain that you can take a bit more every day, and it will not be long until you are back to normal, and fitting nicely back into that pretty silk dancing gown.”
He moved to the closet, smiling as he felt his pocket for the chain and ring once more, and after just a moment he brought to the bed Gilwen’s riding coat, which had been painstakingly cleaned and mended by Tinuves, from her time wearing it out in the storm all those days. “They are all in the dining room, and I think now will be the best time to sneak out without being caught and sent back to bed.” The man grinned mischievously as he moved to the bed to help Gilwen pull back the blankets and bundle herself up in her warm coat.
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