There are times when Éowyn is unfairly, unbearably beautiful; this is such a one, as she rolls over and looks up at Galinda with those clear grey eyes, still a little dishevelled from sleep, and Galinda has to swallow hard so that she can answer. If only she could say there are hours yet, if only she could say she was mistaken, it is not today - but she cannot, and will not.
"An hour, perhaps," she says softly, and bites at her own lip, almost hard enough to make it bleed. "Time to eat and dress, and then I will take you down to see your men."
They were Galinda's men, until those few days ago, at least in theory - she could never command them in practice, not the way Éowyn can (not the way Éowyn will), and she does not feel the loss of them in any very real way. Unlike Éowyn, she is only a figurehead, not a queen in her own right, not someone they will listen to. Galinda has made a point of attending at meals with the men as often as she can, descending from the high table to walk amongst them, smiling and bowing her head in answer to their greetings and - above all else - listening.
They will follow Éowyn. They speak of her with admiration, with awe; like Galinda, they have fallen under her spell, they understand the rightness of her cause. To them she is the undoubted Queen of Rohan, and the Wormtongue nothing but an usurper who sits upon a stolen throne. And if these men, who owe her nothing, will follow so easily, then Rohan will surely rise as she rides to reclaim her crown. Galinda would, if she were a Rohirrim boy. In truth she would follow as she is, and the only thing that holds her back is the knowledge that she can do nothing but get in the way and distract the men and their commanders. The only choice for her is to stay here, and wait, and hope.
A tap on the door is swiftly followed by it opening to admit a maid, a tray of bread and cheese and honey and wine in her hands. Galinda rises to take it, dismissing the girl with a smile she does not really mean. Breakfast means that time is drawing on, and soon Éowyn will leave.
"Come, dearest," she says, doing her best to put cheer into her voice. "They have prepared a feast for you, and you must eat, you will need your strength."
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sforzinda
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Date: 2025-07-22 02:46 am (UTC)"An hour, perhaps," she says softly, and bites at her own lip, almost hard enough to make it bleed. "Time to eat and dress, and then I will take you down to see your men."
They were Galinda's men, until those few days ago, at least in theory - she could never command them in practice, not the way Éowyn can (not the way Éowyn will), and she does not feel the loss of them in any very real way. Unlike Éowyn, she is only a figurehead, not a queen in her own right, not someone they will listen to. Galinda has made a point of attending at meals with the men as often as she can, descending from the high table to walk amongst them, smiling and bowing her head in answer to their greetings and - above all else - listening.
They will follow Éowyn. They speak of her with admiration, with awe; like Galinda, they have fallen under her spell, they understand the rightness of her cause. To them she is the undoubted Queen of Rohan, and the Wormtongue nothing but an usurper who sits upon a stolen throne. And if these men, who owe her nothing, will follow so easily, then Rohan will surely rise as she rides to reclaim her crown. Galinda would, if she were a Rohirrim boy. In truth she would follow as she is, and the only thing that holds her back is the knowledge that she can do nothing but get in the way and distract the men and their commanders. The only choice for her is to stay here, and wait, and hope.
A tap on the door is swiftly followed by it opening to admit a maid, a tray of bread and cheese and honey and wine in her hands. Galinda rises to take it, dismissing the girl with a smile she does not really mean. Breakfast means that time is drawing on, and soon Éowyn will leave.
"Come, dearest," she says, doing her best to put cheer into her voice. "They have prepared a feast for you, and you must eat, you will need your strength."