milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

The Steward of Gondor is in the bar tonight, doing what one generally does in a bar:

Drink.

He seems... curiously blank tonight. Neither in a good mood or a bad. Simply... somewhat detatched. Deep in thought. Daydreamy.

Security badge is, as usual, clipped to his belt and in plain view.

Lost in thought he may be, but he always welcomes company.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She is wise.

"Poetry," he answers, smiling. "Some humble songs, histories I have studied at length, but my tales... I have never seen fit to pen. Mainly poetry. It is not a talent I have ever been given freedom to indulge."

"Do you indulge in it now?"

Nerdanel did not compose.

It was an art she never had the knack for.

"I have taken it up more of late, yes. In my free time. It is enjoyable. But I have yet made nothing extraordinary. Nothing, certainly, polished enough to be shared yet."

He's shy of it: unlike Bilbo and the free artistic environment of Rivendell, Faramir's talents were discouraged and as a result, he hesitates to share them.

"Someday, you must share something with me, Prince," she says gently. "I am always happy to listen. I often prod Gorlim into sharing his own with me."

"He writes?" Not that this surprises him MUCH. "Is he any good?"

Her smile is slow, but proud.

"Very. His words paint pictures, and his voice almost sings the poem. It's quite beautiful to hear."

"It seems there are few skills this man does not possess," Faramir says, impressed. "One of the true elders of my people. Even fallen, he exemplifies our blood to its highest degree."

"Or we are so in love with him that whatever faults he may possess we are blind to," Nerdanel points out. "But I doubt that."

Her smile is now smug.

She is very proud of Gorlim.

He can see that.

He... almost envies something about it. He can't quite name WHAT. A parental aspect he's never known, nor will he for some years yet. It bothers him to be unable to understand the source of the feeling, for it is not an entirely pleasant one. He does his best to shove it aside.

All in good time. He'd learn.

"Yet if tales are to be believed, he has faults in plenty, as do we all. I suppose he is a man like any other; still, he fascinates me."

"Then you will have to run him down. He is often in the trees out back. The woods hold memories for him. Comfort him when Lord Mandos cannot."

She had gone to the clearing Gorlim and Mandos often visited, and she had tried to give them something special by planting heather all around the edges of the clearing to scent it. A memory for Gorlim.

Home.

"I shall track him, if I can." Faramir grins. "I can see this being an exciting challenge. When does he usually go out?"

"He likes dusk and dawn. I don't know why, but those are the times I see him most. In a tree, watching the sun, or staring at the water. Sometimes he goes to a place on the far side of the lake where I see him moving about, speaking to a fox."

Yes, she keeps an eye on her son.

She worries for him often.

Faramir chuckles. "I should let you find him for me. You'd have made quite a Ranger yourself, my lady. Does he know you follow him?"

The foix he could understand. He himself keeps critter-company sometimes. They seem to like him well enough.

She flushes lightly.

"No. He doesn't know I observe him. Watch him. I know when I finally get a moment to ask him questions, he will evade them or scurry away in some fashion. So, I follow him about. That way, I don't have to ask questions that he doesn't want to answer."

"Are all mothers so caring?" he asks, half amused that she would take such care for a grown man.

"I would hope so, but I doubt they are."

She smiles.

"Feanáro gave me little else to thrive with, and so I thrived with my sons. Gorlim benefits from that."

"He is very lucky," Faramir decides. "Boromir thinks I'd have benefitted from having a mother somewhat longer than I did. He was ten when she died, he remember her far better."

"All children benefit from having their mother close for as long as possible," she says softly. "All children should have the security."

Faramir tosses back the rest of his drink.

"I'd agree with you in theory," he says. "But I'm afraid I can't speak for how it might have been different."

She smiles.

"Aye, that is true."

Nerdanel looks at the time and shakes her head.

"I need to go check on Gabriel once before I go to bed. I do hope we can speak again soon, Prince, and I will be sure to encourage Gorlim to find you." She stands, pausing as she passes him.

"All sons need their mother, no matter how old they become," she murmurs before kissing his cheek softly and then walking away, leaving behind her scent of berries and sage.

He smiles.

"Good night, lady. And dream beautifully," he murmurs as she leaves him.

He turns back to his table and looks out at the stars over the lake, calmer than he had been before.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only