Eowyn laid down her pen and, looking up from her
Orc map, glanced out of her study window.
Two servants, having slipped into the courtyard belowher
gardenand being unaware that their mistress could see them,
were groping urgently, the man quickly hoisting the girls
skirts, the girl pulling open the mans leggings
Eowyn caught a sudden glimpse of stiff flesh and turned away.
Such behaviour was forbidden; Eowyn thought of sending someone
down to stop them for, as mistress of the household, she was personally
responsible for the honour of her maids...
But how could she deny them a joy that she envied?
My Lady...
Startled, Eowyn turned towards the door. Legolas!
The elf placed his hand upon his heart and bowed his head. Good
morning.
Good morning! Come in!
Since the day he had found her sitting, miserable, in her gardenwhen
he had held her, and sung to herthey had grown less formal
with each other. Eowyn rose from her desk and, taking the elf
by the arm, guided him to a group of chairs clustered, cosily,
around the fireplace. To what do we owe this pleasure?
Legolas waited for her to sit before taking a seat himself. I
have been summoned to Minas Tirith, he said, and it
seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a little detour and
bring you this.
Hardly a little detour. She took the wooden
box from him and looked at it curiously. It was tall and narrow
with a hinged door; it looked like the one of the cases that wine
merchants used to protect their most precious vintages, except
that it had holes drilled in the top. What is it?
Open it and see.
Smiling, Eowyn slid back the catch and opened the door. A
flower.
Legolas laughedso fondly that Eowyn found herself blushing.
Not just any flower, híril nín,
he said. A very rare flower.
Eowyn looked at the plant more closely. It was about as big as
her hand, with deep red petals and thick, succulent leaves.
It is called a hûnlass, said Legolas,
and the edain of South Ithilien credit it with very special
powers.
Eowyn frowned, suspiciously, for there was still a hint of laughter
in his voice. Powers? Is it used in healing?
Of a sort.
What does that mean?
Look at the shape of its leaves.
They are like little hearts. Could it be used
to make love potions? she wondered.
It is believed, said Legolas, to bring joy
to all who see it.
See it? Eowyn looked up at him, only to find that he
was looking at her, his eyes lingering upon her face. She
blushed again. Thank you.
It was growing in the middle of the Doro Lanthron road,
he explained, dispensing much joy, but causing even more
chaos. So one of the colonists dug it up, and asked me to find
a safe home for it. Shall we take it outside and settle it in
your garden? He rose from his seat, and strode over to the
window.
Yes,Eowyn remembered the amorous coupleoh
no! No, wait! But the elf was already staring
down into the courtyard. Are they still there? she
asked, faintly.
Yes, said Legolas.
Andexcept in battleit was the only time that she
had ever heard him sound angry, and she was surprised by it.
By the time they reached the garden, the lovers had disappeared.
Legolas stood, hands on hips, staring at the plants they had crushed
underfoot.
I am sorry, said Eowyn, anxiously. I should
have stopped them, I know, but I
This garden is not theirs to make free with,
said the elf, bitterly. It is ouit is yours.
Eowyn blushed deeply, and Legolas must have sensed her sudden,
inappropriate, thoughts for he turned to her, and he seemed
to be blushing, too. Is there anything we can do?
she asked, desperately. Is there an elven blessing
that will...?
But he took her arm and patted her hand, already himself again.
We will dig up the injured plants and take them inside,
he said, referring to the little glasshouse that he had had built
in another courtyard. Perhaps, with care, they will flourish
again. Then, we will plant our new friend over here, well away
from the walls, where it may grow safely. And, after that, my
worried Lady,he smiled down at her, expectantly,
and Eowyn felt her frown melt into an answering smilethat
is better! After that, I am at your disposal.
He bade her sit down on one of the stone benches, and went to
work, carefully lifting each battered plant from the trampled
earth and setting it in one of his wooden traysall the while
suggesting places they might later ride out to, sights they might
see together.
And Eowyn, one hand resting on the little hûnlass
in its wooden box, listened, smiling. She did not care where they
went; she would gladly spend the afternoon in the garden.
She was happy.
But the edain of South Ithilien were wrong, she thought.
It was not their plant that brought me joy.
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