[ That grimace of hers is unusual enough that Chris can't help the way his eyebrows lift, surprised by the depth of feeling on display. He's come to know that Éowyn is very firm in her convictions, and does not shy away from expressing herself, but he's also come to know that she's usually better at schooling her face than that. ]
Hm. Maybe I'm just overcomplicating things.
[ If the rest of her people feel similarly about scholars as she does, claiming to be of their numbers might not be a good idea, no matter how well the shoe might fit.
He hasn't actively been in a studying environment for years, anyhow. And certainly he hasn't taught much more than a seminar for decades. Maybe he should stick closer to the truth. ]
Your story is probably the most believable. What's the largest city I could conceivably be from west of here? Preferably far enough away that most people around won't have visited recently.
[She is quiet a moment, and if her expression were not so carefully-schooled, she might look embarrassed.]
In truth, I do not know.
We trade little beyond the west of the Mark: that way lie Dunland and Isengard, and travellers from the Mark would find no safety there. Of old there was Tharbad on the Greyflood, but for a century and more it has been abandoned... beyond, I do not know. Old Eriador, where we have never roamed.
But if you name any place - name your Mohave, if you will - then most will believe it. Not the White Wizard, but he is not here. Only his lieutenant.
[ Her pause, as blank as it is, is almost as surprising as her earlier grimace. Chris would have assumed, being a princess, that Éowyn would have a strong grasp of geography, expected to marry for geo-political reasons as she no doubt must be.
But then again, he needs to stop imposing his own world's historical trends on this one. Who knows how such things are treated, here? Maybe she will get to marry for love, one day.
He hopes so. ]
Well. Honestly, that's probably for the best. I'll come up with something.
[ So the White Wizard definitely is a person, then, and not a mountain. He was pretty sure that was the case, but it's good to have it confirmed. ] So who's this lieutenant? That Wormtongue fella you were talking about before?
Ah. I was going to say, that's one helluva name, but now I see it's more of a descriptor, hm?
[ He gives her the classic thin-lipped smile of understanding in lieu of a nod, following her lead there, and then puts the matter of the man's name aside. He'd love to find out more, of course, why he was given such an evocative descriptor and whether or not everyone around here gets one like that, but that's a conversation for another time.
Resisting the urge to clap her shoulder or nudge her in some way, he softens his expression. ]
Don't worry about me. I made a career out of diplomacy, I can handle difficult men. Even well-informed ones.
[She gives him a look designed to make her dubiousness clear. It is one thing to be a diplomat, that look says: it is another to be an unwanted guest in an enemy's land.]
I will trust you. But trust me, also, and call on me if you must.
Come, would you like to see the stables? [They may as well do something while the storm rages, and he seemed interested enough in horses before. Besides, the horses may need calming, as the wind seems to be rising.]
[ Her look, as polite as her silence may be, startles a chuckle out of him, his eyes crinkling at the corners. ]
Promise. [ He doesn't really think that high-tailing it off to where the lady of the hall might be to avoid questions he doesn't want to answer will work as a long-term strategy, but hopefully neither of them will have to find out. If he's only here a little while, they'll both be fine.
Probably.
Her offer to take him to the stables has him perking up. ] If you have the time.
I imagine whatever time I have while you are here, I will spend it in your company.
[Which means there are limits on the things she can reasonably do, and, frankly, she is relieved by that.]
Besides, I meant to spend the next hour or two in practice drills, and I shall not have a useful field for it in this weather. Come, then. If you admired my horse, you must see Snowmane.
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sforzinda
no subject
Date: 2025-09-25 12:55 am (UTC)Hm. Maybe I'm just overcomplicating things.
[ If the rest of her people feel similarly about scholars as she does, claiming to be of their numbers might not be a good idea, no matter how well the shoe might fit.
He hasn't actively been in a studying environment for years, anyhow. And certainly he hasn't taught much more than a seminar for decades. Maybe he should stick closer to the truth. ]
Your story is probably the most believable. What's the largest city I could conceivably be from west of here? Preferably far enough away that most people around won't have visited recently.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-25 04:40 pm (UTC)In truth, I do not know.
We trade little beyond the west of the Mark: that way lie Dunland and Isengard, and travellers from the Mark would find no safety there. Of old there was Tharbad on the Greyflood, but for a century and more it has been abandoned... beyond, I do not know. Old Eriador, where we have never roamed.
But if you name any place - name your Mohave, if you will - then most will believe it. Not the White Wizard, but he is not here. Only his lieutenant.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-25 04:51 pm (UTC)But then again, he needs to stop imposing his own world's historical trends on this one. Who knows how such things are treated, here? Maybe she will get to marry for love, one day.
He hopes so. ]
Well. Honestly, that's probably for the best. I'll come up with something.
[ So the White Wizard definitely is a person, then, and not a mountain. He was pretty sure that was the case, but it's good to have it confirmed. ] So who's this lieutenant? That Wormtongue fella you were talking about before?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-25 06:45 pm (UTC)[She nods, though, a small nod that could not be seen too clearly from a distance. Just in case.]
And I hope you will not meet him - but I do not expect it. He has his eyes and ears in more of this hall than I would like.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-25 08:39 pm (UTC)[ He gives her the classic thin-lipped smile of understanding in lieu of a nod, following her lead there, and then puts the matter of the man's name aside. He'd love to find out more, of course, why he was given such an evocative descriptor and whether or not everyone around here gets one like that, but that's a conversation for another time.
Resisting the urge to clap her shoulder or nudge her in some way, he softens his expression. ]
Don't worry about me. I made a career out of diplomacy, I can handle difficult men. Even well-informed ones.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-26 02:59 pm (UTC)I will trust you. But trust me, also, and call on me if you must.
Come, would you like to see the stables? [They may as well do something while the storm rages, and he seemed interested enough in horses before. Besides, the horses may need calming, as the wind seems to be rising.]
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 02:24 pm (UTC)Promise. [ He doesn't really think that high-tailing it off to where the lady of the hall might be to avoid questions he doesn't want to answer will work as a long-term strategy, but hopefully neither of them will have to find out. If he's only here a little while, they'll both be fine.
Probably.
Her offer to take him to the stables has him perking up. ] If you have the time.
no subject
Date: 2025-10-03 12:58 pm (UTC)[Which means there are limits on the things she can reasonably do, and, frankly, she is relieved by that.]
Besides, I meant to spend the next hour or two in practice drills, and I shall not have a useful field for it in this weather. Come, then. If you admired my horse, you must see Snowmane.